| Are we Malays weak? Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:40 AM PDT 
But only one in six Malays is an Umno member. There are more of us and less of them. Even if one Umno member dies today, there are still five other Malays around to champion Islam and preserve the Malay sultanate. Mohd Ariff Sabri Aziz (FMT) I have a special note for the Malays and Bumiputeras in this country. As long as Malays are articulate and as long as there are laws that govern our existence and regulate the conduct between persons, it is we who must look out for our own interest. Not Umno. Malays form 61% of our 28 million population. Umno members are 3.2 million. But only one in six Malays is an Umno member. There are more of us and less of them. Even if one Umno member dies today, there are still five other Malays around to champion Islam and preserve the Malay sultanate. It's not true that if Umno dies, Islam and the sultanate will die too. It's not true that if Umno dies, the Malays are destroyed. What is true is this: those who will die are Najib Tun Razak (Prime Minister), Dr Mahathir Mohamad (former premier), Muhyiddin Yassin (Deputy Prime Minister) and Noh Omar (Umno Selangor deputy chief). The other Malays will survive. Likewise, if MCA dies, the Chinese will be strong. If MIC dies, the Indians will still survive. So, why then are we (Malays) depending on Umno? Does Umno even has the capacity to look out for us? Are Malays weak? The last time I heard, even Mahathir assailed the quality of the Umno people. He said Umno is rotten to the core and consists of half-past six fellows. He said Umno is corrupt from the bottom to the very top! How then can the fate of this country be made to depend on mediocrity? We must also reject Umno's instigation that if it loses, the Chinese will take over the administration of the country. Seriously, can this happen? Malays are six people, Chinese three and Indian one. Can three Chinese take on more than six Malays? Even if they teamed up with the Indians, can four non-Malays quash more than six Malays? Are we Malays that weak and incapable? Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2012/09/05/are-we-malays-weak/ |
| Saiful not like a normal sexual abuse victim... Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:22 AM PDT 
"I feel the victim would want to quickly have a shower to remove the perpetrator's body smell. In some cases of sexual abuse, the victims would scrub their bodies until nearly wounding themselves, to remove the smell," said Trowell, who is a Queen's Counsel. tumpang sekole...? For Mark Trowell, an experienced Australian criminal lawyer, alleged sodomy victim Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan does not strike him as a "normal" sexual assault victim.
The author of 'The trial of Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II', which has been on the bookshelves since last week, said it appeared Saiful loved to hog the media limelight and he did not mind it - not at all like any other sexual assault victim.
Trowell, who is also an observer for the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and LawAsia in courts around the world, said it was also not normal for a sexual assault victim not to have a bath for two days.
"I am made to understand that a Muslim, after sexual intercourse, is required to have the ritual bath before he or she can perform prayers. So, the question remains as to how Saiful did his prayers.
"In my 25 years of experience in criminal law, I have never seen someone not bathing for two days to preserve forensic evidence.
"On the contrary, I feel the victim would want to quickly have a shower to remove the perpetrator's body smell.
"In some cases of sexual abuse, the victims would scrub their bodies until nearly wounding themselves, to remove the smell," said Trowell, who is a Queen's Counsel.
Familiar with Malaysian customs
The senior lawyer, who provides reports for the IPU from the trials he observed, has worked extensively both as defence counsel and prosecutor in Australia.
Interestingly, Trowell did have some connection to Malaysia - his father lived in Ipoh during the pre-Merdeka era and as such, the West Australian lawyer is familiar with Malaysian customs.
 His reports helped the IPU - the world organisation of Parliaments - to take an informed stand on Anwar's Sodomy II trial.
Trowell's 306-page book is published by Marshall Cavendish Editions and was released at all major bookstores in Malaysia last Wednesday. Read more at: http://alditta.blogspot.com/2012/09/saiful-tak-macam-mangsa-diliwathappy.html |
| Suaram Exposes the Real Foreign Lackeys Posted: 04 Sep 2012 09:11 AM PDT 
Recently, it was even rumoured by some quarters that a tycoon is funding Suaram. This is an insult to Suaram – there are certainly more than one tycoon supporting us! Dr Kua Kia Soong, Suaram Adviser Ever since SUARAM's complaint to the French courts regarding the suspected corruption involved in the purchase of the two Scorpene submarines, the BN government has been behaving like a cat in a tin pot republic. The theoretically "above politics" civil service – the Companies Commission, Perkeso and even the Inland Revenue - have been roped in to try to pin something on SUARAM. Finally, yesterday (3.9.2012) the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister claimed that "a 'high level of suspicions' has been found in the accounts of Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, a company "linked" to prominent human rights NGO Suaram." According to Ismail, it was found that only 0.06 per cent of the company's activities considered were as trading, while the rest was "money collecting". He further alleged that the sources of the donations included NGOs from Washington and New York as well as the German Embassy in Malaysia. Well, let me assure SUARAM supporters that our company lawyers tell us that our accounts are well above board… THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT IS THE BIGGEST RECIPIENT OF FOREIGN FUNDS So is it a big secret that Malaysian NGOs have been receiving foreign grants among other donations all these years? You mean, the Malaysian government has been ignorant of this all these years? And the Special Branch too? And CCM, Perkeso and the Inland Revenue too? The fact is that practically EVERY Malaysian NGO working on human rights, women's issues, indigenous peoples' issues, migrants and refugee issues and such issues have been supported by foreign funders all these years. The fact is that the BN government does not really care about such issues as human rights since it has been an inveterate violator of human rights all these years. But what Malaysian NGOs receive from foreign funders is peanuts compared to what the Malaysian government gets from foreign funders. Practically every mega project in Malaysia since Independence has been financed by foreign backers. The same goes for mega arms deals. In 1994, I blew the whistle on the 'Aid for Arms' deal with the British government. It is a good example of how much funding the Malaysian government gets for just one project: In 1994, a scandal erupted concerning the UK funding for the Pergau hydroelectric dam in Kelantan. Building work began in 1991 with money from the UK foreign aid budget. Concurrently, the Malaysian government bought around £1 billion worth of arms from the UK. The linkage of arms deals to aid is illegal in Britain and it became the subject of a UK government inquiry from March 1994. In November 1994, after an application for judicial review brought by the World Development Movement, the High Court held that the then-Foreign Secretary, Douglas Hurd had acted ultra vires by allocating £234 million towards the funding of the dam, on the grounds that it was not of economic or humanitarian benefit to the Malaysian people. So, for just one project, namely, the Pergau dam, the Malaysian government received GBP 234 million. Can you imagine how much foreign funding the Malaysian government has been receiving all these years since Independence? WHAT? A MALAYSIAN TYCOON SUPPORTING SUARAM TOO? We also try to raise funds locally through annual fund-raising dinners and such. Recently, it was even rumoured by some quarters that a tycoon is funding Suaram. This is an insult to Suaram – there are certainly more than one tycoon supporting us! Some state governments also support us and it is time the federal government donates to SUARAM too since SUHAKAM also appreciates the work done by SUARAM! We welcome donations from any source but don't expect SUARAM to compromise its commitment to justice, equality, democracy and human rights. SUARAM's PRINCIPLED ANTI-IMPERIALIST STAND The foreign funders know full well that SUARAM is a unique human rights organisation because it cannot be corrupted into betraying its anti-imperialist principles nor can it be cowed by an authoritarian government. That is why we have existed this long. For instance, name the Malaysian NGO that has been the main coordinating secretariat for the Anti-US demonstrations and protests all these years? Yes, it is SUARAM. We are part of the "Stop the War Coalition" and have coordinated Anti-US demonstrations and protests against the US-led occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan and Israeli atrocities in Gaza. The Malaysian government usually pours cold water on our efforts by directing the police to train their water cannons on anti-war demonstrators at the US Embassy. No organisation should claim to be anti-imperialist if they have done nothing to protest the US and NATO coalition wars. The following is a list of anti-US imperialism protests and statements coordinated by SUARAM in recent years: - 4th anniversary protest against the occupation of Iraq at the US Embassy, 18 Mac 2007; - 3rd Anniversary Protest at US Embassy, 19 Mac 2006; - 2nd Anniversary Protest against the Occupation of Iraq, 20 Mac 2005; - World-wide protest against the Iraq War at US Embassy, 15 Feb 2003; - Anti War protest at US Embassy, 15 Feb 2002. As a founder and director of SUARAM, I have spoken out and written articles condemning US imperialism consistently as follows: - "Non-aligned movement and double standards", condemning US intervention in Latin America, notably in Cuba, Chile and El Salvador and Britain's duplicity in the Falkland Islands (The Star, 30.3.83); - "Superpowers and apologists" condemning the US invasion of Grenada (The Star, 23.11.84); - "Libya, superpowers and self-determination" condemning the US bombing of Tripoli and Benghazi (Nanyang Siangpau, 14-16 May 1986); - "Peace and self-determination in the Gulf", condemning the US invasion of Iraq during the Gulf war (NST and Sinchew Jitpoh, 24.1.91); - "Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia", my latest book exposes the efforts by US, British, French, Russian governments in unscrupulously selling arms to countries like Malaysia (Suaram, 2010) Which other Malaysian organisation has been as consistent in opposing and condemning US imperialism all these years? SUARAM also played a key role in the last important peace conference for East Timor in 1996 together with other NGOs. We have also been an active component for the campaign for democracy in Burma. WHO ARE THE REAL FOREIGN LACKEYS? This is a snippet taken from my 2010 title "Questioning Arms Spending in Malaysia: From Altantuya to Zikorsky". From this, Malaysians will be able to judge who the real lackeys of the foreign powers are: "Brothers in Arms: The Non-Aligned Movement was founded upon the principles of peace, neutrality and impartiality to the Superpowers. A genuine non-aligned policy can therefore go a long way toward ridding us of the need to procure expensive arms. But despite Malaysia's avowed non-aligned policy and Dr. Mahathir's anti-US posturing during his term in office, Malaysia has all along been partial to the US. Both countries have been holding joint military exercises since the early 1970s. Then, when Mahathir visited Washington in 1984, this relationship was formalized in an agreement signed by the Malaysian Prime Minister and the then US Defence Secretary Caspar Weinberger: 'At Malaysia's request, the agreement on Bilateral Training and Educational Cooperation has been kept secret. One reason for the secrecy is that Malaysia has championed nonalignment and has strongly argued for the creation of a Zone of Peace, Freedom and Neutrality in Southeast Asia.' "Speaking to newsmen after opening the Third Defence Services Asia 1992, then Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said that Malaysia supported the continuing American military presence in the region. Malaysia signed an acquisitions and cross-servicing agreement in 1994 that allowed US Navy ships to visit Malaysian ports for repair and replenishment. The contract was renewed during Abdullah's tenure in 2005; each year, US Special Forces train at Malaysia's jungle-warfare school and bilateral military-to-military cooperation is growing rather than diminishing. The administration of US President George W Bush was also rather appreciative of Malaysia's security and counter-terrorism efforts. "President Barack Obama has also been making a concerted effort to engage Malaysia and other Muslim nations since he came to office. The current Prime Minister, Najib Razak, has become much more open to the USA. His government, for example, has been trying to reach a free trade agreement with the Americans and after his much publicised audience with Obama in April 2010, has immediately fallen in with the US policy to impose sanctions on Iran. The US and Malaysia carried out a number of joint exercises in 2008, including a special forces exercise involving a US Delta Force unit and Malaysian Special Forces: 'The trend is expected to continue steadily in the coming years particularly given the good relations between the senior officers of the Malaysian armed forces and their US counterparts.' "At a time when Najib and other UMNO leaders are trying to allege that the Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has 'CIA connection', this excerpt of a speech by Najib on 'Malaysia-U.S. Defence Cooperation: the Untold Story' at the U.S. Heritage Foundation on 3 May 2002 should put Malaysians in the true picture of who has been holding secret liaisons with the U.S.: 'For many years U.S. and Malaysian forces have cooperated on a wide range of missions with virtually no fanfare or public acknowledgement. And in spite of its success, our bilateral defence relationship seems to be an all too well-kept secret…Historically, Malaysia has been a steady, reliable friend of the United States. Our multitude of common interests includes trade and investment on a sizeable scale and security cooperation across a range of fronts… 'Malaysian forces regularly conduct joint training with United States counterparts and the United States routinely enjoys access to Malaysian airfields and ports. Also, Malaysia provides one of the few bases outside the United States for U.S. military jungle-warfare training. U.S. troops are warmly welcomed in Malaysia and enjoy training there. In particular, there have been more than 75 U.S. military ship visits in the past two and a half years. The United States conducts training exercises with the Royal Malaysian Air Force, flying with and against them in mock battles. U.S. Navy SEALs conduct training in Malaysia twice a year. The U.S. Army does field exercises with the Malaysian army. Finally, 1,500 Malaysian defence personnel have benefited from the U.S.-sponsored IMET (international military education and training) program... 'As you can see, cooperation between our two nations started long before September 11, 2001. But the horrific events of that day galvanized our relationship as never before. Prime Minister Mahathir has been vocal in condemning the attacks, and we have been happy to provide an elevated level of cooperation with the United States on a range of fronts. For example: The United States averages more than 1,000 over flights per year. Since September 11, this number has increased dramatically, and all requests have been approved... 'The United States has excellent access to Malaysian intelligence. Malaysia occupies a strategic location along the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea, and devotes considerable resources to maintaining safe and free shipping lanes for commercial and military vessels. Since September 11, Malaysian forces have been protecting U.S. ships in the Straits… 'Over the years, some in the United States have misinterpreted some of (Dr. Mahathir's) straight talk. Let me be clear: Strong friendships can withstand strong words. Malaysia and the United States have been close for decades. Our multi-faceted relationship will have its high and low points, but the core values our nations share endure…'" (Kua Kia Soong, 2010:8-11)
What Does SUARAM Do With Its Funding?
The funding we get goes into nurturing young activists in human rights work. We employ a handful of dedicated young staff that would normally be dynamic leaders earning higher salaries in the private sector but have chosen this path of service in human rights work. The elder members of the SUARAM secretariat like me have always been non-staff volunteers in overseeing the running of the organisation. SUARAM is the main NGO opposing detention without trial - SUARAM was born after Operation Lalang in 1989. Since then, it has been the main coordinating secretariat for the Movement against the ISA and other detention without trial laws, the EO and the DDA. Our office serves as the refuge for those whose family members have been victims of state oppression. We send Urgent Appeals throughout the world whenever any detention or other violations of human rights happen. SUARAM's Annual Human Rights Report - Despite its small staff, SUARAM publishes the only credible and detailed Human Rights Report every year without fail and has been doing so since 1998. Such a report is an invaluable service to all the peoples of Malaysia irrespective of ethnicity, religion or creed. SUARAM's Coalition Building Work - Since its founding, SUARAM has worked toward a healthy democratic movement in the country and we could well say that Gagasan Rakyat and all the efforts by SUARAM in the last 20 years have produced today's two-front system and the political tsunami of 2008. Human Rights Education and Training - Throughout its existence in the last 20 years, SUARAM staff and secretariat have been involved in human rights and environmental education, giving talks, organising seminars and providing training. Campaigns for indigenous peoples and marginalised communities - SUARAM has initiated campaigns against the Bakun dam, the Selangor dam to protect the interests of indigenous peoples, the environment and the interests of Malaysian tax payers. We have also supported marginalised communities such as the urban settlers, estate communities and refugees when they have met eviction and state oppression. In other words, SUARAM has always scrupulously fought for justice, equality, democracy and human rights in Malaysia and spoken out against imperialism and militarism in the rest of the world… |
| When D-day comes for Malaysians … Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:57 AM PDT 
Is it wrong for the people to follow, adhere and practice leadership by example? No it is not wrong. But the example is not exactly right! That is the problem with Malaysia. Lim Victor STOMPING and burning of pictures of community and political leaders was a democratic Western culture now common in the violent Middle-East. In Malaysia, it is becoming a popular culture today – thanks to the Barisan Nasional (BN)-Umno culture. The stomping of the picture of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak on the eve of Independence Day (Merdeka Day) on Aug 30 just shows how some Malaysians hate him. Not an iota of respect for the man who, after more than four years, still doesn't have the guts to call for a national poll to secure his own mandate to rule. Well! It has been a long wait and this coward can hang on till latest next June. This, however, is not the theme of this blog post because a coward does not deserve any recognition. My theme for this blog post is 'Leadership By Example!', at one time propagated by the evil and Satanic believer Mahathir Mohamed, our Prime Minister for 22 years – good riddance. Now, is it wrong for the people to follow, adhere and practice leadership by example? No it is not wrong. But the example is not exactly right! That is the problem with Malaysia. To all Malaysians, please reflect just who started all such "violent" and uncouth show of disrespect to their community and political leaders in Malaysia in recent times? Umno-Perkasa-Utusan Malaysia-Jati and now, soon-to-be Mat Rempit policing! Now, does that not ring the bells! When the actions and behaviour of Mat Rempit – which the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM) labelled as road thugs (hey! Don't tell me you have forgotten that? I have not, you Hishammuddin shit-head) – are endorsed by the law, it is time for the lawlessness and looting culture. When the Mat Rempit starts to loot, what is the PDRM going to do? Nothing my friend, because it is endorsed and supported by Umno, just like how Perkasa can run amok for all you care and there is still no crime. Now, BN-Umno, may I remind your shit-head that whatever hate or evil recourse that you resort to, it is a double-edged sword. You swear, you burn, you stomp, you abuse, you lie, others can also do the same. So continue to fan more discord and hatred and try to divide this nation! You will surely fail in this ICT (Information Communications Technology) era. The people are more informed to make their own judgment, they are also more educated and intelligent – unlike BN-Umno and its lapdogs who continue to live in their cocoons and give blind loyalty, no matter how their dignity is stomped on. To all Malaysians who will have their day to cast their ballots to elect the government of the day in the 13th General Election, don't blame others for the government that you elect. After 55 years, that is long enough a time for you to decide what is right and good for your children and country. |
| Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC) urges public to show support to the Raub ... Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:52 AM PDT 
This will be the last chance for the Bukit Koman, Raub residents to seek justice through legal channels. Therefore, we urge the public to support us on Sept 6 (Thursday), 9am at Palace of Justice, Putrajaya. We hope to see you there! Himpunan Hijau Raub (FHHR) and Ban Cyanidei n Gold Mining Action Committee (BCAC) was encouraged by the turn out of 15,000 people from all walks of life at the peaceful Green Gathering held in Raub last Sunday @2 September 2012. The Committee wishes to take this opportunity to entend our heartfelt gratitute to individuals and organizations that help us to organize this gathering, especially comrades from other green movement, civil societies and organizations; lawyers that offered legal aids and observers; PDRM that facilitated security and traffic control; medical team that provided medical aid; volunteers and all the sponsors. Last but not least, we wish to thank those who participate the gathering and stay until the end of the gathering despite the hot sun, your participation gives a boost to our movement. Although the gathering is a success, and we had voice out our strong objection against the use of cyanide and other hazardous chemical compounds in extracting the gold which will continue to harm the health of the residents and pollute our living environment, but our struggle has not end yet. The Federal Court will hear the appeal of leave application of judicial review brought by the Committee on Sept 6 2012, to seek review of the Department of Environment's approval of the Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment report submitted by Raub Australian Gold Mining SB (RAGM). On 2009, The High Court dismissed the leave application for judicial review with the ground that the residents were out of time to apply for judicial review. On 2011, the committee appealed to Court of Appeal but the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of High Court. The Committee then decided to appeal to Federal Court and was granted leave to appeal. This will be the last chance for the Bukit Koman, Raub residents to seek justice through legal channels. Therefore, we urge the public to support us on Sept 6 (Thursday), 9am at Palace of Justice, Putrajaya. We hope to see you there! Ban Cyanide in Gold Mining, Reclaim our safe homeland! Court case background: • 13 Jan 1997, DoE approved the PEIA submitted by RAGM without the residents' knowledge. • 4 Dec 2006, residents learned about the usage of cyanide in the nearby gold mine and formed the "Bukit Koman Action Committee Against the Use of Cyanide in Mining of Gold" (Committee). • October 2007, after various effort and attempts, the residents finally got hold of the PEIA and appointed experts to review the documents. • 21 March 2008, the Committee through its lawyers filed an application for leave for judicial review to request among others the following: a) The setting aside of the approval of the PEIA given on 13-1-1997 by the Director General (DG) of the DoE; b) The setting aside of the DG's decision that a Detailed EIA is not necessary; c) Submission of a fresh DEIA by RAGM including the requirement for public participation. • 1 June 2009, High Court dismissed the application with no order as to costs on the ground: "The application for leave for judicial review should have been brought within 40 days from the date of the approval of the PEIA or the date the villagers knew about the approval of the PEIA." • On 3August 2011, the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court decision in holding that the residents were out of time in seeking for leave for judicial review (the decision). The appeal was dismissed with no order as to costs. • On 7 August 2011, the villagers decided to appeal to the Federal Court. • On 11 Jan 2012, a three-man Federal Court panel chaired by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum allowed the residents' application for leave to appeal against the High Court's decision. The appeal will be heard by the Federal Court on 6 September 2012. |
| Only the 21st-century generation can make a whole complete change Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:47 AM PDT 
To some, the present government may be performing alright but just give it a thought! The new government might even perform much better. The results can only be known if you go for change, otherwise it is fruitless to keep on arguing and complaining about the present government. Richard Loh There is still a slight chance for change in the coming GE 13 if the fence-sitters, present younger generation and those who claim to be non-partisan can come to their senses that the present ruling government will not forgo their in-depth luxury, extravagant lifestyle and power in order to perform their national duty to serve and care for the rakyat.
"We want a good, reliable and honest Government," is the clarion call from the younger generation of today. But is this enough to change the mindset of the ruling government which has ruled the nation for 55 years?
The present younger generation is well-educated and connected with one another, locally and worldwide, thanks to modern technology. But, yet again, how far can they achieve what they want?
Many so-called non-partisan NGOs are sprouting to put pressure on the government not to ignore the people's voices about the many wrongdoings and the heinous laws being enacted. Yes, the NGOs are happy that the government finally gave in to their demands but hang on! Don't celebrate as yet. The government is smarter than you think. It allows you to take 1 step forward but cleverly pushes you two steps backwards.
Some NGOs are just happy with this but others know they have to start all over again pushing for a total revamp. Can they do it? With the mood and actions lately, I presume everyone thinks that they can. I choose to differ.
The younger generation is fighting against a well-entrenched older generation of leaders. These are leaders with mindsets of their own, who still think they know what is best for the country and have no intention whatsoever to make the right changes or correct their arrogant, racist and corrupt attitude?
With all these, it boils down to a decision : if you really want a good, reliable and honest Government you have to change the government of the day. But, honestly, how many of them want that to happen? The thinking of the present younger generation is that they are non-partisan. And by doing what they are doing now, they think they can somehow persuade the present government to bow to their demands. I wish them best of luck.
There are a few NGOs run by the older generation of leaders that can see it is futile to convince the ruling government to stop being arrogant, racist and corrupt. They want to see a change in government but they have worries of their own and are undecided which party to trust to take over.
So therein lies the complication : they want to change the present government but can't trust anyone else to take over. They claim that all politicians are the same, that there are no good people around and once elected, they will forget that it is their duty to serve.
Funny thing is, these people, young and old, keep complaining the present government is no good and the opposition is no good as well but they don't realise that a government is formed by politicians. When you reject all politicians, you will not have a government to run the country.
You want a third force or independent candidates but ain't they politicians once they contest in a general election? A zero-sum game! Read more at: http://ousel.blogspot.com/2012/09/only-21st-century-generation-can-make.html |
| Malaysians lose fight for 1948 'massacre' inquiry Posted: 04 Sep 2012 08:37 AM PDT  The campaigners say the 24 people killed were innocent villagers
(BBC News) - Campaigners seeking an inquiry into the killing of 24 male villagers in Malaya in 1948 by British troops have lost their fight at London's High Court. Judges upheld a government decision not to hold a public hearing into the alleged massacre in the former colony. They said it would be "very difficult" to establish now whether the actions of the Scots Guards had been "deliberate". Relatives of the victims plan to appeal, and said evidence in the case proved those shot were not insurgents. Missing documents The killings occurred at Batang Kali in the Malayan state of Selangor in December 1948, at a time when the country was part of the British Empire. The so-called Malayan Emergency, which lasted until the late 1950s, saw British troops put down a communist-inspired revolt.  Chong Koon Ying's father was killed at Batang Kali in 1948 At the time the British government said the villagers had been suspected insurgents killed trying to escape. A later claim that the killings were premeditated was subject to a police investigation in the 1960s, but this was dropped because of a lack of "sufficient evidence". The government rejected a call in 2009 for a public inquiry, saying two previous investigations had found insufficient evidence to pursue prosecution and that without new evidence, it would take no further action. In his ruling Sir John Thomas, president of the Queen's Bench Division of the High Court, sitting with Mr Justice Treacy, said: "In our judgment, the decisions of the secretaries of state were ones that took into account the relevant considerations and were not unreasonable. "There are no grounds for disturbing their conclusion. In our judgment, they had regard to the relevant factors and weighed them carefully and reached a conclusion which it was plainly open to them to reach." Sir John added: "The first matter in relation to the purpose of inquiry is to consider whether it can establish the facts. "There are obviously enormous difficulties in conducting an inquiry into a matter that happened over 63 years ago. Most of the contemporary documents are missing and most of those who were engaged are dead. "All in all, it would appear to be very difficult at this point in time to establish definitively whether the men were shot trying to escape or whether these were deliberate executions. "Nor, in our view, would it be any easier to determine whether the use of force was reasonable or proportionate." 'Deeply regrettable' At a hearing in May, the High Court heard there was no dispute that 24 people were killed by the Scots Guards in Batang Kali, but the question was how and under what circumstances. The court was told police and the Attorney General of the Federation of Malaya - a British colony - investigated the killings at the time and concluded that those who were killed were suspected insurgents shot while trying to escape. Malaysia gained its independence in 1957, and in 1970 the director of public prosecutions asked the Metropolitan Police to investigate Batang Kali after revelations in The People newspaper suggesting the 24 had been deliberately executed and a massacre covered up. The newspaper interviewed four of the Guardsmen, who said those who died had not been trying to escape but were killed on the orders of the two sergeants. The sergeants were also interviewed by the paper but stuck by their original statements from 1948. Further probes into the killings were made in the 1990s, but in their ruling the judges noted that it was "difficult to escape the conclusion" that John Major's Conservative government decided to "progress any inquiries with as much delay as possible". In 1992 a BBC documentary, In Cold Blood, sparked another blaze of publicity but the Crown Prosecution Service considered there should not be a prosecution. And a fresh investigation by the Royal Malaysia Police between 1993 and 1997 "obtained virtually no assistance" and was met with an "uncooperative attitude" from the UK, the judges said. After Tuesday's ruling, a government spokesman said: "This was clearly a deeply regrettable incident and we extend our sympathy to the families and survivors for the loss of life and suffering. "We have always said that a public inquiry would not be able to reach any credible conclusions given the length of time passed. "Furthermore, we did not feel that the interests of justice would have been served by spending significant sums on further investigations for which there have been a number of previous inquiries." 'You have to ask why' But Chong Koon Ying, whose father was killed, said in a statement: "I am disappointed with the finding that no inquiry is required. The truth has not been fully revealed." John Halford, a solicitor representing the relatives, said they would be asking the Supreme Court to overturn the High Court decision. But he called on the government to "do the right thing" and "end the ongoing injustices at the heart of this case". He said the judges' ruling backed the families' long held contention that the victims had been unarmed and in civilian clothing at the time. It also stated the government legally had "command and control over the Scots Guards" at the time, and Mr Halford pointed out that this was something ministers had always disputed. Mr Halford added: "The ruling makes it clear that the British government decided to be uncooperative to the Malaysian police... "The Malaysian police investigation was scuppered by British civil servants, and you have to ask why that was." |
| The Istana influence in politics Posted: 03 Sep 2012 06:56 PM PDT 
The Istana influence in politics and elections should not be downplayed or underestimated. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah understood this well when he said that the Rulers are the symbol of kedaulatan Melayu. Hitting out at the Rulers would be as 'criminal' as someone stepping on the Malaysian flag. What harm is there in stepping on the Malaysian flag? Has anything been lost? NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin Malaysia's 1990 general election was the worst election performance for the ruling party since 1969. Barisan Nasional won only 53.4% of the votes and 70.55% of the seats. The opposition, which won 46.6% of the votes, performed almost as good as it did in 2008 when it garnered 46.76% of the popular votes. The biggest blow to the ruling party, however, was that it got massacred in the state of Kelantan, which fell to the opposition and has remained opposition ever since. DAP, which for the first time was in a loose coalition with Semangat 46 -- called Gagasan Rakyat -- won 20 Parliament seats. PBS, another Semangat 46 'partner' in Sabah, won 14 seats while the Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah or APU coalition with PAS won 15 Parliament seats plus the Kelantan State Assembly. Now, what is so special about the 1990 general election? 1990 was the first general election after the (second) Constitutional Crisis of the 1980s (there were two incidences in the 1980s but Umno lost the first one and won the second one). And in that Constitutional Crisis Annuar Musa, the Umno Chief for Kelantan, called the Kelantan Sultan stupid in a speech he delivered in Kelantan while Anwar Ibrahim called His Highness a smuggler (regarding the Lamborghini incident). This infuriated the Sultan who openly declared war on Umno and which resulted in Umno getting whacked big-time. Even Umno members voted opposition in huge numbers. Since then both Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Umno have learned their lesson. The Monarchy may be only a Constitutional Monarchy and without executive powers, and some may even view the Monarchy as outdated and no longer relevant, but the Malays still regard the Monarchy as a 'sacred cow' that should not be dragged though the mud -- just like how they feel about Islam, the Malay language and kedaulatan Melayu. No doubt 'modern' Malaysians cannot grasp this 'weird' sentiment and they just do not understand why those 'old' values can still have a bearing on how Malays vote. This is, of course, a very 'rural' thing -- hence urban Malaysians would not understand this. But if you have lived in a kampong, like I did for 20 years from 1974-1994, then you will appreciate how the Malay mind works and what makes them tick. I mean, you may not see the significance of Malay 'values' just like how Malays would not understand the significance of the colour red over white when you hand out ang pows during Chinese New Year. Every ethnicity has strange 'values' that the others do not understand. The Istana influence in politics and elections should not be downplayed or underestimated. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah understood this well when he said that the Rulers are the symbol of kedaulatan Melayu. Hitting out at the Rulers would be as 'criminal' as someone stepping on the Malaysian flag. What harm is there in stepping on the Malaysian flag? Has anything been lost? It is not the physical loss that people are concerned about but the significance or symbolism of that act. Stepping on the Malaysian flag means pissing on Malaysia. Hence 'stepping' on the Rulers (Raja-Raja Melayu) also means pissing on the Malays. Strange, don't you think so? I suppose no stranger than believing that white envelopes bring bad luck while red envelopes will make you rich and prosperous -- or that giving someone money in a white envelope during Chinese New Year equates to pissing on the Chinese. And isn't the crucifix also about symbolism? If not then why can't Muslims wear a crucifix? What 'physical' harm does it do? I cautioned my friends in the DAP (YB Ronnie Liu can conform this) that the Selangor State Government has to step very cautiously when dealing with the Rulers. You can't always say yes, no doubt, I told Ronnie. Sometimes you may need to say no. But you must know the 'correct' way of saying no so that 'no' is not taken as a rebuke or a snub. And that is the most difficult thing whenever protocol is involved. And proper protocol 'education' is not something you are born with. It is something you acquire along the way. Even the underworld has certain protocol, which you need to observe. Just walking requires protocol as well because walking side-by-side, walking in front, and walking behind, mean different things and will send different messages (read: Rosmah Mansor). But observing proper protocol requires putting aside egos. Observing proper protocol is an admission that you are subservient to convention. Walking upright into a room where an elder or senior is seated or walking slightly 'bent' means two different things. Gesturing or pointing with your finger and gesturing or pointing with your thumb also means two different things. Those of you who complain that you were extorted or beaten up by triad members back in your schooldays in the 1960s probably failed to understand the importance of protocol -- the correct and incorrect hand gestures, when to and when not to have eye-to-eye contact, etc. Yes, even the underworld practices protocol, as does the Istana. And if you need to deal with the Istana you had better learn the proper manners or else limit your dealings as far as possible. Of course, when you are in government this is not always a choice open to you. I know…I know…many of you are now going to say that you don't care a damn and that this is so feudalistic and outdated and whatnot. That is well and fine maybe from where you sit. But when the majority of the Malays are still feudalistic and when many of the seats are Malay-majority seats it matters. And let us not discover the hard way like Umno did in 1990 that what they thought does not matter, in fact, does matter and then we pay a heavy price for our arrogance and ignorance. Oh, and one more thing, Anwar Ibrahim, alongside Dr Mahathir, of course, is viewed as an enemy of the Monarchy. Hence it is even more important for Anwar to not rub the Istana the wrong way. Between Najib Tun Razak -- an 'orang Istana' -- and Anwar, the Rulers would rather see Najib as Prime Minister. So be warned.  THE ANTI-MONARCHISTS OF THE 1980S CONSTITUTIONAL CRISIS |
| Arguing for an anti-party hopping law Posted: 03 Sep 2012 04:41 PM PDT 
In conclusion, the current need for an anti-party hopping law reflects poorly on us as a democracy. Malaysia needs to move forward and away from merely voting according to party lines to voting because of individuals. Voting according to party lines restricts the voices of the people as MPs are tied to the party line and cannot represent the actual views of the people which may at times be at odds with the party he/she represents. Galvin Wong, The Malaysian Insider Recent events have focused on the topic of whether or not there should be restrictions on MPs switching sides. The hopping of Beaufort MP Lajim Ukin and Tuaran MP Wilfred Bumburing has definitely brought back memories of what happened in Perak few years ago. The former event, together with Lim Guan Eng's proposal of an anti-hopping law, has generated much debate from both sides of the political divide. In this article, I attempt to frame the arguments for MPs to step down and be given a fresh mandate if they intend to switch parties and also try to counter-argue against those who disagree with the need to do so. In 2004, it was clear that the people voted mainly based on national issues. Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's message of reform caused major casualties such as Abdul Hadi Awang and very nearly Karpal Singh. These were capable, popular candidates, only through an added emphasis by voters on national issues could they have lost or, in Karpal's case, nearly lost. In the 2008 GE, it was clear that the trend continued. This was proven by how Nurul Izzah Anwar and Tony Pua, two newbies to the political scene, upset established candidates such as Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and Chew Mei Fun in the urban seats of Lembah Pantai and PJ Utara as well as how Michael Jeyakumar beat S. Samy Vellu the rural seat of Sungai Siput. As mentioned earlier, this is a clear indicator that people essentially voted according to party lines. This means that the candidates who are elected are expected to support party stands in Parliament. Not only that, when issues not discussed during elections come up during their term, the decisions on what stands to take are also the party's to make in our system of representative democracy. The candidate's mandate is to merely to support the party. When one MP changes parties, this will mean that he/her stands change accordingly. This is extremely undemocratic as people have not approved this and there is the likelihood that he/she is not representing his/her constituency's views. That there may be ethical issues involved in which he/she may have hopped because of position or cash rewards strengthens the case against party hopping. An anti-hopping law pushes for a by-election to be called and for the people to decide whether they agree with he/her decision and whether or not they should retain him/her despite the ethical issues. One can argue that if he/she changes parties but maintains his/her stands, a new by-election should not be called. However, I would have to say that this is unlikely due to the fact that in Malaysia our political parties practise strict toeing-of-the-party line. An example of this is Tunku Abdul Aziz who claimed that he was forced out from the DAP for failing to agree with the party's stand on Bersih 3.0. In addition, one must not forget that defections do not merely affect the representation of a few constituencies. At times, a few defections would mean an entire change in a state government. The Perak constitutional crisis in 2009 is an example of this. A change in the state government is not the most of it. The next election will likely be a closely fought one. Proof of this is Merdeka Center's survey which indicated that 49 per cent of people were happy with the government, which might mean that almost half of the number of Malaysian voters might go for Pakatan Rakyat. If both parties have close to the same number of seats after the elections, it is highly likely both sides will attempt to tempt MPs over. And this may result in an entire federal government changing due to defections. One does not need to be a rocket scientist to figure out how bad this is. The government will be one that does not reflect the wishes of the majority. That's how high the stakes are. Let's take a look at the arguments for party hopping. Wan Saiful Wan Jan, CEO of IDEAS, was quoted in The Sun as stating that if a politician believes that his party is making the wrong stand for the people, it would only be fair to the rakyat if he changes parties. Another argument that has been circulating is that Malaysians would very soon be voting for the individual candidate and not the party. Thus, legislation forbidding party hopping would not be needed. Wan Saiful brings up an excellent point. However, his point is only valid in a situation where the mandate a MP receives is one where people support him according to his own personal stands and he has the mandate to make decisions for them on his own accord. As has been said, this is simply not the case in Malaysia. Therefore, if an MP decides that a party's stands are wrong, it is only right for him to resign and for a by-election to be held to make sure of what the people want. Moving on to the second argument. The truth is that even though surveys show people want to start voting based on individuals, there is a significant lack of information for them to do so. If a voter wants to vote based on a candidate's stands or track record/CV, he or she requires such information. This is a problem in Malaysia as there are few newspapers that publish such details. Mainstream and online media like The Star, The Sun, The Malaysian Insider and Malaysiakini report news only on high-profile party leaders such as Khairy Jamaluddin and Tony Pua. Lesser-known representatives are given little or no attention whatsoever. Local newspapers such as the Selangor Times are solutions to such a problem. They publicise actions taken and stands by state assemblymen and local MPs, allowing the people to effectively evaluate the performance of their representatives. There has to be local newspapers which are neutral as well, portraying actions and stands of candidates from both sides of the political divide in order for the people to make effective, informative decisions when voting for a candidate based on his record. The government has also come up stating that such a law would be against freedom of association. Both Roger Tan and P. Ramakrishnan have both written lengthy articles in The Star and Aliran respectively on this point and I would not add much additional value by elaborating further. Instead, I would like to comment on what should be done if, say, an anti-party hopping law is ruled unconstitutional. The fact of the matter is, even though an MP has the right to associate with different parties, he has the responsibility to make sure that his decision and stands will first reflect that of the people. Therefore, if formal methods are declared unlawful, the only way would be an informal method. I propose that each party's MPs publicly declare that they would stand for a by-election if they choose to hop. The party should highly encourage the current term MPs to do so and once the 13th general election concludes, the new MPs as well. In conclusion, the current need for an anti-party hopping law reflects poorly on us as a democracy. Malaysia needs to move forward and away from merely voting according to party lines to voting because of individuals. Voting according to party lines restricts the voices of the people as MPs are tied to the party line and cannot represent the actual views of the people which may at times be at odds with the party he/she represents. A freer and much increased flow of information as well as a slacker system of toeing the party line are measures that must be taken. Hopefully when the 14th GE is held, there will no longer be a need for an anti-hopping law. |
| Remember we did this in primary school? Posted: 03 Sep 2012 04:11 PM PDT
Do you remember back in primary school when we were still kids and when we quarrelled we would 'step on your father's head'? We did this by throwing a piece of paper on the ground and then declaring that it was the head of our enemy's father before we stepped on it. After more than 50 years we are still doing that. Actually, we have never really grown up much even though we may have grown old. Our body became big but our brain remains tiny.
NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin 
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| One in seven shops in UK vacant Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:53 PM PDT 
(Reuters) - Nearly one in seven British shops remained vacant at the end of June as retailers struggled in a double-dip recession, a report from Local Data Company (LDC) said on Tuesday. The consultancy reported that there had been no improvement in the second quarter from March's UK shop vacancy rate of 14.6 percent, the highest level since June 2008, and that it did not expect the situation to ease any time soon. Vacancies increased in all regions apart from London over the past 12 months. The rate in the capital fell from 10.7 percent to 10.1 percent. Retailers have closed poorly performing outlets, while some have gone out of business, hit by the combination of constrained consumer spending, muted wage growth and government austerity measures. Video games retailer Game went into administration in March, and last week struggling sports goods retailer JJB Sports warned investors that their shares may be worthless. "Normal service is unlikely to be resumed any time soon as far as retailers are concerned," LDC said. "For the high street, and especially for secondary shopping centres, it is clear that the current high levels of vacancy are likely to remain."
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| Next GE could be Anwar's last one Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:44 PM PDT 
Although such a role is widely acknowledged, a disastrous election outcome may spark a rethink among his coalition partners, some of whom may decide to go their separate ways. If that happens, Anwar may indeed have to pack up and retire a disappointed man. The Straits Times (Singapore) Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has floated the idea of retiring from politics if the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition which he leads fails to take over Putrajaya, the seat of the federal government, in the general election due in the next few months. He first spoke about his retirement plans in a July interview with the Financial Times and repeated it at another occasion on August 18, to the consternation of his supporters and critics. "If we don't get the mandate, then we should give space for the second-liners in leadership," he said during an online forum broadcast on YouTube. As a dominant figure in Malaysian politics, his absence from the scene would be felt and would certainly trigger some realignment in the opposition ranks. Political observers may dismiss his remarks as just another of his posturing in the lead-up to the election to gain voter sympathy. But his talk of retirement may have been dictated by the political reality that he is confronted with. First, the former deputy prime minister is running out of time. At 65, he is not as agile a politician as he was before he was sacked by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in 1998 and later imprisoned for corruption and sodomy. He was released from jail in 2004 after the sodomy conviction was overturned, and returned to Parliament quickly. The coming general election will be his last shot at the premiership if he can lead his coalition to topple the Barisan Nasional, which has ruled for more than half a century. By the time the 14th general election is held in 2017, he will be 70, and likely too old to lead the coalition. Second, over the next few years, the opposition leader will be preoccupied with defending himself in court against a lawsuit. The prosecution has filed an appeal against his acquittal on a second sodomy charge by the High Court in January. After the third rally for electoral reforms by Bersih in April, he was detained and charged in May with inciting an illegal street protest. If he is convicted in both cases, he will be behind bars for many years. Even if he is acquitted of all the charges, Anwar would have been busy attending court hearings that would leave him with very little time for party work. It would also sap his energy and would render him less effective as a political leader. Third, his popularity ratings have declined compared to his arch rival, Prime Minister Najib Razak. Anwar is a popular leader with charisma, but many surveys have shown that voters are not as keen on him being prime minister. For example, in a survey by the University of Malaya in January, some 27 per cent of Malaysians see Najib as the more capable leader in managing the country's economy compared to Anwar, who scored 21 per cent. Part of the reason for this is his chequered record when he was an Umno superstar and deputy prime minister until he was sacked. Fourth, his credibility as a leader has suffered in recent years. One glaring incident was his promise that he would march to Putrajaya to claim his place on Sept 16, 2008, when enough Barisan Nasional MPs would have crossed the floor to give his coalition a simple majority in Parliament. The much-promised switch never took place, to the embarrassment of him and his PR colleagues. Another example was his failure to announce the opposition's shadow Cabinet line-up as he had promised in 2009. Finally, his critics have questioned his leadership of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PR. The sodomy charges against him and the alleged sex video purported to involve him have sullied his reputation as a leader, even though the courts have cleared him and no conclusive evidence has been found to prove his involvement in the scandal. The Economist, in an assessment of him, said in its Jan 14 issue: "Although Mr Anwar remains a charismatic figure and a forceful speaker, his reputation has been tarnished. That won't matter to his acolytes, but at 64, he also seems a distant and untrustworthy figure to many younger Malaysians." Another observation is that he has not allowed a second generation of leaders to develop within PR, hence preventing the emergence of younger opposition figures who could challenge him in the future. Given the reality that he is facing, Anwar may choose to step aside after the election if PR fails to unseat the Barisan Nasional. But his critics think otherwise, given the man's resilience and commitment to politics. He may want to stay on, thinking he is still needed because of his role as the glue that unites the disparate forces of the coalition and as the politician who brought together the secular Democratic Action Party and the Islamist Parti Islam SeMalaysia into one entity. Although such a role is widely acknowledged, a disastrous election outcome may spark a rethink among his coalition partners, some of whom may decide to go their separate ways. If that happens, Anwar may indeed have to pack up and retire a disappointed man. |
| Analysts: have election soon, or Pakatan will strike Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:13 PM PDT 
He also pointed out that urban voters have remained receptive towards Pakatan which, he claims, have also made inroads in rural areas in the Peninsular mainly through PAS. "In the urban areas there is a strong feeling of change. It's the rural areas that will decide the outcome. You'll see in rural areas now Umno and PAS are almost running back to back. There is no clear middle in the rural areas now so this is why I say it's 50-50." Syed Zahar, Malaysian Digest Speculation that the 13th General Election will be held in November may have some ring of truth to it after all. With a renewed buzz over a possible November polls following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's strongest hint yet on it on Sunday, political analysts believe Barisan Nasional (BN) would be better off if it was to hold the pivotal election in November or even earlier.
Political analyst Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam opines that, for BN's sake, "it is better earlier than later."
When asked on whether the election is going to be held in November, he said, "Very likely."
"To wait beyond that (November) they may face seasonal problems – the monsoon season – and this is not good for voting and they'll have a lower voter turnout.
"From the government's point of view, it may be the right time to hold the election soon after the Budget (expected to be tabled later this month). And considering the school holidays, it (election) might be in November or even earlier," said Ramon. When contacted by Malaysian Digest yesterday.
Ramon, who is also a prominent economist, said economic conditions would be a big factor on the election date.
"The international economy has not been growing and may slide further. The outlook of the Malaysian economy is still not bright and it may get worse in the second half of the year and following year," he said.
By delaying the election, the parties and its candidates would risk getting a lower voter turnout as people could get put off and end up not voting, said Ramon.
"People are getting tired of waiting (for election to be called) and are getting impatient, therefore they may lose interest. This could affect the voter turnout as there could be more people who will be reluctant to cast their votes because they are fed up," he added.
Monash University's political analyst Prof James Chin also believes that, despite speculations of the slowing down of Malaysia's economy at year-end, BN would still be in a more advantageous position if it was to hold the election in November.
"November is a good time for Najib and most analysts say 2013 will be a difficult year for the international economy. It is very likely that the European financial crisis will hit Asia in 2013.
"Another reason for an election perhaps even earlier than November is that BN parties are suffering from election fatigue. Most of the Umno machinery has been quite ready since last year and it's very expensive to keep the machinery going," Prof Chin told Malaysian Digest yesterday.
Dodging Pakatan's Next Assault
Prof Chin also believes that by holding the election before 2013, BN would avoid the political assault which, he claims, is being planned by Pakatan for the early part of next year.
"The major reason Najib would have an advantage (in having November polls) is because the opposition is planning to bring up new scandals come New Year. So the sooner he holds the election the better (it is for BN)," said Prof Chin.
He said Pakatan's main ammunition would be the Scorpene hearing in France which is expected to be held at the end of this year.
"The main thing for the opposition is the French court. Right now the judge is compiling the initial draft report for the Scorpene scandal and will go to hearing. In the French system the investigative judge will have to face another judge who would confirm the findings. Something will happen by the end of this year," he added.
Is BN Ready for November Polls?
Asked if BN is ready to face Pakatan – which appear to have grown more formidable since the last election – in November, Prof Chin said, "Right now it's 50-50."
However, he said BN has a bit of an upper hand due to Najib's strong branding though this may not last as Malaysians, he said, "tend to be ungrateful."
"BN has a slight advantage now because the 'Najib brand' is very strong. But the problem with any brands and products is the longer it's been in the market the less attractive it becomes.
"The best way to look at it is like a launch of a new Proton car. The first year after it's launched everyone becomes excited about the Preve. Today you ask people (about the car) they will not remember already.
"You can have brand new products like the Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia and others, but it will only work for a very short time. Another thing to remember is that the Malaysian public is very ungrateful. They get something from you today and they'll only remember it for a very short time until the next festive celebration. It's always like this.
Meanwhile, Ramon feels that BN is ready to take on Pakatan in November.
"BN have been ready for some time because they've been campaigning in one way or another. If they are not ready by now they don't deserve to win.
"Overall, BN seems to have an edge and it's particularly because of the PM's popularity," said Ramon.
Hard to Predict
Ramon, asked on his prediction on the outcome of the next election, said it was difficult to do so as "there's too many slips between the cup and the lips."
He said a late election would only make both sides of the political divide more susceptible to making more mistakes.
"At any time, anyone can make a blunder somewhere and say the wrong thing."
"Both sides of the political divide may suffer from the possibility of putting their foot in their mouths as they make mistakes along the way and they are more likely to trip."
"For all these reasons, it is better to get it over with and only then can we get back together and move forward."
Meanwhile, Prof Chin said it's hard to come up with an accurate prediction as he believes GE13 is going to be a close call.
"You can't really predict (the outcome) because both sides seem to have detailed plans for their campaigns. All we know is the campaign is going to be a very short one as the Election Commission won't allow a long campaign period so the election momentum is going to be very different this time."
He also pointed out that urban voters have remained receptive towards Pakatan which, he claims, have also made inroads in rural areas in the Peninsular mainly through PAS.
"In the urban areas there is a strong feeling of change. It's the rural areas that will decide the outcome. You'll see in rural areas now Umno and PAS are almost running back to back. There is no clear middle in the rural areas now so this is why I say it's 50-50."
"People always misjudge government programs for government support. By now we all know that when a minister comes and there's free makan and other free stuff a lot people would come but it doesn't mean support at all. People in rural areas are savvier now," he added. |
| ‘Why don’t you stand, Ambiga?’ Posted: 03 Sep 2012 03:04 PM PDT 
Two groups are calling for the Bersih co-chairperson to contest in the next general election, saying she can raise the standard of Parliament. RK Anand, FMT She is one of the most adored and abhorred personalities, depending on political vantage points. But even her detractors possess a grudging respect for her courage. In a nation which struggles with the bane of racial polarisation, she had managed to bridge the divide and her appeal transcended colour and creed. And despite her poor grasp of the Tamil language, she had also become the sweetheart of the Indian community of all classes, causing concern for the lovelorn MIC. But S Ambiga refuses to enter the political ring. And after the 13th general election, the mother of two said she would relinquish her post in Bersih as well in order to allow the next echelon to spearhead the electoral watchdog. The former Bar Council president said she would focus on other issues as well as concentrate on her legal practice. Politics is a noble pursuit However, the Malaysian Indian Business Association (Miba) was adamant that Ambiga should not fade into oblivion or reduce her role. According to its president, S Sivakumar, she should contest in the next general election as an independent candidate. Ambiga, he added, would make an excellent politician and leader as well as serve as an inspiration to others to join in the fight at the frontline. Commenting on her recent interview with FMT, in which Ambiga had urged voters to reject incompetent candidates, he asked: "Why doesn't she stand?" "Instead of telling us 'don't vote for this and that candidate' and stress on the importance of competent candidates, she should stand and Malaysians of all races will vote for her. "Politics is a noble pursuit but unfortunately it lacks noble people because these people don't want to get involved. So the door is left open to unscrupulous politicians," he said. Sivakumar pointed out that Bersih and other civil society groups comprised numerous respected individuals who could raise the standard of Parliament if elected into the August House. The current political climate, he said, made it possible to bring in more independent voices to raise the bar in Parliament. "The civil society should capitalise on this call for change, where the political landscape is gravitating away from the traditional practice of party politics. "The civil society should look into fielding distinguished Malaysians with a track record of serving the nation, people who are non-partisan," he added. He said since these individuals were not members of any political parties, they would receive the support of those who do not subscribe to both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. Furthermore, he added, their views would be constructive for good governance. READ MORE HERE |
| Police detain student suspected of trampling picture of PM Posted: 03 Sep 2012 02:54 PM PDT 
(The Star) - Police have detained one suspect believed to have been involved in trampling on pictures of the prime minister during the Janji Demokrasi gathering on Merdeka Eve. Federal CID principal assistant director SAC Datuk Abdul Jalil Hassan said that police have arrested a 19-year-old college student who would be brought to the Dang Wangi police station for further investigations. "We received a public tip-off on his whereabouts before locating him at his college. The police also spoke to two other witnesses who were there during the event," he told reporters after detaining the student on Tuesday. It was reported Monday that police had set up three task forces to investigate three reports involving incidents at Dataran Merdeka, an attack on the People's Independence Tour bus and on the contravention of the Peaceful Gathering Act 2011 by Himpunan Janji Demokrasi organisers. |
| London luxury home market risks price crash Posted: 03 Sep 2012 02:46 PM PDT 
(Reuters) - Developers rushing to build top-quality London homes to cash in on strong overseas demand are in danger of being stung by a price crash as they flood the market, property consultancy EC Harris said. Over 15,000 homes in developments worth more than £38 billion (RM187.81 billion) are due for completion in London's most expensive neighbourhoods in the next 10 years, a 70% jump on last year, an EC Harris report said Monday. The total floor area covers almost 20 million sq ft — equivalent to the size of the London Olympic park — and includes properties in upmarket Mayfair, the City of London financial district and the south bank of the river Thames. "Developers are racing to get first to site because they don't want to miss out on the boom that's happening," said Mark Farmer, head of residential at EC Harris. "There is a danger that if all these schemes happen that you'll have a massive oversupply." Prices for luxury homes have surged in recent years after economic turmoil in Europe and political uprisings across North Africa drove investors to the relative safety of central London property. Signs of a slowdown appeared after the UK government said in March it would clamp down on tax avoidance by overseas buyers of homes costing more than £2 million. Prices for the best central London homes rose 1.8% in the three months to August, the weakest quarterly growth since November 2010, property consultant Knight Frank said Monday. About 4,000 high-end homes are scheduled to be built in 2016 alone, an eight-fold increase on the average number built in London each year. The risk of over-building may be tempered by a tight supply in development finance, Farmer said. Recent entrants to the market include offices and shops developer British Land, which said in July it would redevelop a block in Mayfair into luxury flats, and Malaysian developers SP Setia and Sime Darby, which plan to build over 3,000 homes at Battersea Power Station. Such developers have been described as "late to the party" by some residential players. A May report from Development Securities warned that London luxury home prices could halve if the eurozone broke up. Other risks include further devaluation of the euro, which would make London property look more expensive, and changes to the UK planning system that make it easier to convert offices to homes and add to the pipeline, EC Harris said. "The reality is that no one knows what the conditions will be in five or 10 years," he said. |
| What I’d Like For GE are My Two Front Teeth… No Crime… Posted: 03 Sep 2012 02:05 PM PDT 
Dina Zaman, The Malaysian Insider When will the General Elections be held? Asking Malaysians on what they think the outcome of the General Elections only elicit shrugs. Everyone is tired of everything: the politics, rising cost of living, lack of work-life balance and crime. Many feel that come GE 13, nothing will change. "Same old, same old. Voting Pakatan Rakyat won't mean a better future." What is there to hope for, asks a majority of professionals. They view Pemandu suspiciously, because they don't experience what the organisation touts. If the national bowler can be let off scot free for raping a 13 year old, what protection and rights will their children have, is another question. Malaysia seems to be lawless — it's a cowboy town. In a closed group the writer is a member of, members are vocal and frustrated. The topics discussed in the group range from jokes to issues on religion, diversity and politics. On the topic of Pemandu's GTP, a member commented that, " I think it offers more of the same — quick wins and low-hanging fruits, which are all well and good, but sooner or later, you're going to run out of quick wins and low-hanging fruits and then what? Also, the measurement biases/moral hazard problems haven't been solved. Take the crime NKRA for instance, all v 2.0 does is set new targets based on the same measurements, but they'll still be reported by people whose performance these targets are meant to measure, so there'll still be the tendency for crime figures to be underreported and in some cases, mis-reported." Another member added, "Notwithstanding the arguments and discussion given above, I think the main problem with our public policy formulation is not the actual process, but rather the primary data that we based our initial assumptions on. For some reason, government agencies are reluctant to share their statistics on numerous public policies with Institute of Higher Learning, or Research Groups (read OSA). That in itself is not necessarily a bad thing, if the said agencies are prepared to carry out analysis on these statistics themselves. Most of the time, that is not the case, thus the data gathered are most of the time lumped together, and any Tom, Dick or Harry who happens to be in charge can make his/her assumptions on those findings (which explains why we get merepek policies)." "Personally, I think PEMANDU is a wonderful idea. Too long had our agencies played the role of both formulator and implementer, (even govt have the legislative and executive branch kan ?) for it to be fair and consistent." Back in Glitzy Kay El…  Glitzy Kuala Lumpur now seems to have lost some of its steam. — AFP pic Kuala Lumpur seems to have lost some of its steam. It never really shook off the gloom when Reformasi overtook the hearts and soul of angry Malaysians and the 1998 recession set in. Yes, there are a lot more luxury cars on the road and luxury high-rise condominiums, which are mostly empty. Yet, life in the city has stalled somewhat. Fashion insiders report of budgets being slashed, and what used to be fun and boisterous events are now muted. Parties and clubbing have toned down. Even political forums and activist gatherings are not as "dynamic as before," a jaded observer remarked. Of course, on the upside, there's Bersih, and Malaysians are more politically informed. They aren't shy about making their voices heard, and social media has aided them tremendously. Nadia Jalil is a young mother, highly educated, and views Malaysian politics with great humour. She is the quintessential young Malaysian success story: brilliant, went to the right schools, literate, witty with a bite, married with a child. She wears the hijab fashionably, and despite the rather masculine work that she does, is girly. Her husband has quit the rat race and is now focussing on a food-and-beverage business. Both their families help care for their daughter, and because of the rising costs of housing, they live with Nadia's parents. They own one car, and rely on public transport for work and to get to wherever they want. Like many other young Malaysians, she wonders what will happen to her country. Her election wish-list is long, and realistic. "Obviously I cannot ask for a total cessation of mudslinging, but maybe if there's sex involved, the mudslinging doesn't have to be conducted on the front pages of national newspapers for our children to see," Nadia says. A relatively "clean" election, without last-minute appearances of postal votes and/or voters who are dead is another, and she would like candidates who have a minimum IQ of 100, and are literate in BM, English or either one. Nadia can be described as a policy-wonk, and some of the policies she would like to see are a repeal of the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 to allow for local elections. This would mean more accountability and more empowerment for the people in charge of our cities; a smaller government: fewer, not more, ministries and agencies. Revamp the current JPA system — currently promotions are based on availability, not expertise, so someone who's been working on international trade for years can find themselves transferred suddenly to the Forestry Department simply because there's a vacancy there in that position. This needs to change, and lastly, the Department of Statistics to provide access to data, especially for research. Malaysian data access is one of the worst in the world. This hampers research, which then hampers educated policy-making. She would also like an actual rationalisation of subsidies, licences and rents. "This is absolutely wishful thinking, especially since 1MDB's inexplicable purchase of Tanjung, but those IPP contracts need to be re-negotiated. While you're at it, take a look at the long-term procurement contracts for all the GLCs." She does concede that there are success stories. "The myEG online government thing. If it is a crony running it, at least it's a competent crony. Improvements to the immigration process have been great. Hooray for automated passport renewal! And I like those new garbage bins provided by DBKL." The Boys (and Girls ) in Blue  Supporters of Barisan Nasional seen with a party flag. — AFP pic Right across Subway and Silverfish Books on Jalan Telawi, is the Barisan Nasional Youth Volunteer 2012 (BNYV) headquarters which sprouted within a month. When the cornerhouse was being renovated, it sparked off great interest among the tight-knit Jalan Telawi community of shopowners/tenants and households. It was a dental clinic. Looked like a new boutique. Maybe it was a pizza parlour. Oh, it's blue – it's a police station. Hold on. Oh my. Barisan Nasional is our new neighbour. And running it is a young man passionate about politics and volunteerism and is a familiar name to readers of this website and also Free Malaysia Today. Zaidel Baharuddin is the director of BNYV 2012. His nomination to lead the group has been a pleasant surprise, and his mantra to the volunteers is straightforward, 'Low Cost, High Impact.' The headquarters is all white and blue on the outside and inside, and all the furniture and appliances have been donated by corporations and individuals. There's a campus-like feel to it, though seeing people's heads bobbing past the living room window can be unnerving, especially in the middle of the night. Zaidel is proud and excited about the venue and BNYV 2012. In a nutshell, it's a platform for young Malaysians aged from 19 to 25 to voice out their opinions on everything and anything to the Government. "Here's the thing; BNYV may sound like a political platform, but it is not. It's an avenue for Malaysians youths to tell the Government what they think. It does not claim to be the voice of Malaysian youths, or backed by them." But yes, he knows that the public may not buy the sentiment. So when is the GE, Zaidel? "I don't know. God's honest truth. This (BNYV 12) was also set up to get volunteers to help out with the GE but we don't know when it will be. If GE is next year…" he scratches his head as he frowns, "I guess we may have to change our name!" Of course he wants BN to win. Of course he wants an increase in youth votes, another term for the current Prime Minister, and for the ETP and GTP to work and be effective. All these are a given. But he also wants to instil a spirit of volunteerism and activism among the young. "I'm very inspired by Ron Paul's grass roots campaign and our UMNO 1946. Orang sanggup gadai rumah, kereta, untuk politik! (People were willing to mortgage their homes and cars just for politics.)" Look, he says, he's a product of a local tertiary education. His parents are working to middle class people. He knows what the rakyat feels. How is he going to marry if he can't even afford a house? Have people seen the quality of houses now, despite the six star price tag attached to them? Education and childcare are another concern for him. As a young uncle to a special needs child, he knows what the parameters are like. He may be in BN but he's not raking in the money. He's like everyone else with dreams and worries. "This AUKU and freedom of speech thing," he observes, "I'm all for freedom of speech but I have a caveat. Just because you are young it does not mean that you can voice out at any time. No. You voice out when your work is effective, your deeds are righteous and ideas are good." Will BNYV be relevant post GE? Oh yes. He wants to take it beyond the elections, and turn the volunteerism machine into something bigger. "I know that there is a silent majority which supports us, but have all sorts of reasons for not being involved in politics. The narrative is hijacked by a noisy minority. This setup does not guarantee any volunteer any payment; in fact, we don't pay anyone. Everything is on a limited budget here. But we're confident of growing big." What a taxi driver has to say  Cab drivers too have something to say about the current political climate in Malaysia. — AFP pic Driving up and down Jalan Tun Razak is not for the impatient. And having a cab driver like W ("Oh no, you can't mention my name, I just renewed my permit. Nanti the authorities will take my taxi away, how?") who drives at a pace which can only be described as monotonous, it's a miracle that you get to your destination on time. Somehow, you do. And like all cab drivers in the city, W has seen and heard many things. He's seen snatch thefts and smash and grab crimes in front of his taxi as he ferried passengers to their destinations, and his car has witnessed joy and heartbreak. He must know something about the GE. "Aiyo. I wish the government would just get the elections over and done with. That's my wish. Then it'll give us time to see who we want, and vote for. If we have snap polls… how are we going to vote? So little time." The cost of living is another issue he wants the Government to focus on. Subsidies should only be for the working to middle income Malaysians. "Why should the rich benefit from subsidies?" Even the expatriates who have come to work, complain. They feel that they have been tricked. "Kuala Lumpur is not cheap. Every week the prices go up and up in the supermarket. And this is not a high-class supermarket, you know?" But he has high hopes for Malaysia. He believes the country will right itself, providing that the ruling government knows what to do with resources. "I just hope it's soon. I think we're fed up of waiting-lah."  In some areas in Malaysia, party flags are out in full force but they remain flapping from houses and lampposts. Malaysians don't seem to be enthusiastic about the upcoming general election. - AFP pic It's a mixed bag, asking for reactions from Malaysians. Both Wilayah Persekutuan and Selangor are wealthy, and a good percentage of Malaysians living in these areas are middle income, educated and professionals. They are also Internet savvy, and more likely to debate and engage with others on current and social issues. In certain areas like Bangi, Sg Buloh, party flags are out in full force but they remain flapping from houses and lampposts. In fact, the bridge leading to the Sg Buloh hospital is lined with faded BN and PAS flags. What an enthusiastic welcome to the elections. There isn't an air of general cheer in these areas, and despite the flags and ceramahs, there's little excitement on the ground. Most of the population living in these areas are more concerned about other things, like paying the rent, saving up for old age and illnesses. Bread and butter issues. Attempts at on the spot, impulsive interviews were met with smiles and hands waving "No." They're too busy, not interested, and not keen to have their opinions published. Maybe we could try up ahead, the people there may talk. On Facebook…. Luckily there is social media to help with interviews with Selangor-ians.  On Facebook, Malaysians are sharing their thoughts about the upcoming general elections. — AFP pic Facebook has been a revelation for Malaysians in and keen on politics. Politicians have a love/hate relationship with social media, and no one underestimates its power to influence and make or break a career. Mark Zuckerberg's creation has become a platform for concerned Malaysians, who use it for any cause they feel passionate about. Malaysians against the 100 Storey Tower; Malaysians Against Rape, Assault And Snatch (M.A.R.A.H) and of course Bersih. It (Facebook) forces people to engage on concerns. Hazri Haili, Mimi Ahmad and Clayton Koh, who work in Selangor, may not be friends in real life, but on Facebook, they have come together to talk about their concerns. The three work in very diverse fields: education, social work and public sector. Are they anticipating the elections? It's mixed. While Clayton is not bothered, Hazri and Harlequin are anxious to see the aftermath of the GE. They want it to happen so they can get on with their lives. They also hope that politicians really know the true scenario of the country; Clayton wants both the Government and Opposition to work together "… to get the work done (for the country)…" It's frustrating to see both at loggerheads with each other and not working for the rakyat. Clayton's work allows him to observe both sides. He's blasé about the situation, but "If I am the PM, I will include the opposition in all discussion so that we have an open discussion on what really needs to be done for the people and not only for those who will put money in our pockets. Look into long term policies and not just focus on short term policies that benefit the ruling government." Hazri thinks both parties have a good chance of winning: BN with their strong party machinery and their solid economic plans and Pakatan Rakyat backed by the frustration of the people and strong economic performances in Selangor and Penang. "I wish PR is more solid in their economic outlook," he says. Mimi sounds fed-up. "I'm hoping for more peace and stability in our country as an outcome from the next GE. No more hanky panky and riots, and please ELIMINATE all those LEMBU ministers." READ MORE HERE |
| Adakah PKR mengajar rakyat yang bukan-bukan? Posted: 03 Sep 2012 01:55 PM PDT 
SURAT FMT: Dari Jeg Hui, melalui e-mel Beberapa bulan yang lalu, negara dikejutkan dengan telatah segelintir remaja yang mengadakan demonstrasi jalanan mendesak kerajaan melupuskan hutang PTPTN. Tindakan tersebut telah dipelopori sebuah parti politik yang tidak asing lagi, Parti Keadilan Rakyat atau umumnya, PKR. Para remaja yang mengikuti rusuhan jalanan yang pada pandangan saya, memalukan negara di kaca mata dunia ini tidak terlepas daripada melakukan aksi yang tidak senonoh untuk mendapat perhatian media. Demonstrasi Hapuskan PTPTN ini hanyalah membawa mesej yang negatif kerana hutang apakah yang tidak perlu dibayar? Rakan sekerja Democratic Action Party (DAP) tidak mengikut serta propaganda licik dan tidak beretika ini atas dasar prinsip dan tahu yang PTPTN ini sebenarnya membantu. Seorang anggota PKR yang diketahui umum membongkar penyalahgunaan dana pinjaman mudah (soft-loan) oleh sebuah syarikat milik suami seorang pemimpin kini bertindak seperti seorang hipokrit apabila mengalu-alukan pinjaman bantuan PTPTN tidak dibayar oleh bekas pelajar yang sudah pun bekerja dengan alasan "Pendidikan Percuma Untuk Rakyat". memberi mesej yang membimbangkan kerana rata-rata pelajar yang mengambil pinjaman ini ramai yang liat untuk membayar walaupun bayaran ansuran sangatlah kecil, bukannya beribu-ribu dan membebankan. Mudah bukan? Syarikat "kroni" yang gagal hutangnya diambil alih kerajaan. Inilah yang dicanang oleh PKR. Tetapi di bawah janji-janji PKR, pelajar yang gagal hutang mereka pun akan diambil alih kerajaan. Kedua-duanya menggunakan wang rakyat. Adil atau hipokrasi? Saya sendiri berasa adalah tidak adil jika hutang PTPTN dilupuskan begitu sahaja. Dana PTPTN adalah bertujuan membantu pelajar untuk menjadi lebih cemerlang, bukan untuk membeli telefon mudah alih yang baru dan canggih atau membikin motor atau kereta supaya gadis mudah cair. Nak dijadikan cerita, saya mendapat bantuan PTPTN di waktu pelajar yang mendapat ijazah kelas pertama tidak perlu membayar balik pinjaman PTPTN dibekukan. Alhamdulillah, PTPTN telah mempertimbangkan dan meluluskan permohonan saya untuk tidak membayar balik atas dasar keputusan yang cemerlang. Mengapa pula pelajar yang gagal tidak perlu membayar balik pula? Siapakah mereka ini? Apabila saya menyebut pelajar yang "gagal", saya yakin ini adalah pilihan perkataan yang tepat. Pelajar yang cemerlang dengan kelas pertama tidak perlu membayar balik pinjaman PTPTN. Pelajar yang tidak mendapat kelas pertama tetapi tidak gagal kerana berjaya mendapat pekerjaan dan bayaran ansuran dalam lingkungan RM70 sehingga RM150 sebulan. Jika bayaran ini dilihat membebankan, ini adalah sama ada bekas pelajar ini gagal mendapat pekerjaan, gagal menamatkan pelajaran, malas, tidak mengenang budi, pencuri dana PTPTN dan korup. Itulah persepsi yang diberikan oleh mereka yang berdemo tempoh hari. Ya, sama seperti syarikat kroni yang dipukul canang oleh PKR. Tamat isu PTPTN, kini datang pula kempen Turunkan Harga Kereta. Saya sebenarnya terkejut kerana yang mendalangi kempen ini salah satunya adalah seorang cerdik pandai, akauntan bertauliah yang bersuara penyet serta dikatakan pernah dibayar RM30,000 sebulan oleh sebuah syarikat gergasi nasional. Apa sahaja yang beliau dibayar kini tidak pula diceritakan olehnya mungkin takut orang merompaknya (atau karier politiknya terjejas atas kerana bayaran yang begitu banyak). Empat isu telah saya bangkitkan menerusi laman Twitter tetapi oleh kerana bekas akauntan ini telah "block" saya (atas sebab yang tidak dapat dipastikan, selalunya adalah masalah ego dan keangkuhan manusia bergaji besar), terpaksalah saya ajukan permasalahan penting yang harus diambil kira kepada rakan sejawatnya yang juga seorang kawan dari kolej. Umum diketahui rakyat di Lembah Klang kesesakan lalu lintas adalah ditahap yang kritikal. Kekadang itu lucu kerana tol dibayar tetapi terpaksa juga mengharungi lautan kenderaan pelbagai rupa ada yang seperti kotak tisu pun ada. Jika kempen ini dilaksanakan, kesesakan akan bertambah kerana kereta kini lebih murah dan mampu dimiliki. Ada juga penyokong kempen yang menyatakan saya ini tidak fikir tentang rakyat miskin di luar bandar atau luar Lembah Klang. Betul, harga kereta di Malaysia adalah mahal tetapi terfikirkah anda walaupun mahal, rakyat masih lagi berdegil untuk membeli kereta termasuklah yang berjenama. Mungkin ini adalah kerana pengangkutan awam yang tidak boleh diharap tetapi bukankah jaringan My Rapid Transit (MRT) sedang giat dibangunkan? Bagi soal golongan yang kurang berkemampuan di luar Lembah Klang, sepatutnya disarankan untuk juga mendesak kerajaan untuk menambah-baik pengangkutan awam. Jika kenderaan juga yang mereka mahukan, sepatutnya PKR mencadangkan agar mereka dibantu dari segi kewangan (subsidi), bukannya menurunkan harga kenderaan khususnya kereta import dengan menyahkan tiga cukai duti, eksais dan jualan sekaligus. Wakil rakyat saya YB Tony Pua akan saya ingat sebagai seorang pemimpin yang secara ikhlas mahukan Lembah Klang bebas daripada kesesakan lalulintas dengan mencadangkan supaya jaringan integrasi pengangkutan bas sejajar dengan kemudahan MRT yang bakal disediakan. Beliau tidak memilih jalan populis tetapi mahu rakyat benar-benar bebas daripada kesesakan jalan raya secara total. Mungkin inilah bezanya orang DAP dan PKR. Jika diumumkan Turunkan Harga Kereta sebagai suatu polisi kelak, walaupun dengan tempoh implementasi lima tahun, harga kenderaan yang ada sekarang akan terus jatuh mendadak. Nilai kenderaan di jalanan kini akan jatuh merudum rata-ratanya ke tahap setengah harga. Mungkin para penyokong kempen cuma berangan-angan seperti Mat Jenin untuk membeli Toyota Wish, Cardina atau Porsche Cayenne (aneh, ketiga-tiganya idaman masyarakat Melayu Malaysia). Mereka tidak sedar yang nilai kereta mereka yang sedia ada akan jatuh menjunam dan perkara ini bukanlah boleh dipandang enteng. Hutang bank yang ada masih perlu dijelaskan. Kali ini, jangan harap kerajaan PKR akan membayarnya juga seperti hutang PTPTN tetapi setakat ini, janji bulan dan bintang adalah perkara normal kini jadi saya tak akan terkejut lagi! Encik dan Puan Jenin terpaksa menambah lebih banyak wang kerana kenderaan sedia ada yang mahu dijual balik akan susut nilai. Jika masih lagi berdegil mahu "upgrade kepada Wish", fikirlah dua tiga kali. READ MORE HERE |
| BN is losing the battle Posted: 03 Sep 2012 01:51 PM PDT 
Anwar Ibrahim has probably grown immune to the system to the point that the system is crashing under his weight. Amir Ali, FMT The tactic of targeting Anwar Ibrahim – using ruffians to throw stones and bottles at pro-Pakatan Rakyat supporters – is a definite sign of reckless behaviour by the ruling coalition. This, coupled with the holding of ceramah next to the Pakatan rallies, is an indication of the bankruptcy of Barisan National. The events at Pantai Dalam some months ago where Umno thugs disturbed, under the nose of the authorities, the rally organised by PKR is not only shameful but also further tarnished the image of BN and its leaders. After Perkasa, which attacked the opposition in its ceramah and rallies, it is now Umi Hafilda Ali and Tibai (Tolak Individu Bernama Anwar Ibrahim) doing the same shameful acts. The disturbance created by the hooligans wearing the "Patriot" T-shirt – who did not garner support during Bersih 2.0 – is something of grave concern. It shows that BN is growing desperate. Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad's constant accusation that Pakatan will turn violent if it loses the next general election is another indication of the panicky state of affairs in BN. Despite the supposed success of Umno's 66th anniversary rally in August, BN is facing bad times. Its problem is that Pakatan is winning the battle. BN has been waging a psychological war against Pakatan and Anwar since the latter won the Permatang Pauh by-election. BN and Umno are doing everything to divide Pakatan, from the secret talks with PAS to the poaching of opposition members. But they did not make any headway. Since 2008 in the aftermath of the worst electoral debacle for BN, we have seen numerous examples of the psychological warfare waged by the BN machinery. These include the Perak takeover, the Sodomy II affair, the Bersih 2.0 and 3.0 rallies, the Apco issue and many others. Anwar more upbeat There have been many accusations against Anwar but no one from the BN side dared sue the opposition leader. On the contrary, Anwar has sued most of his accusers albeit the courts rejected the cases, at times on flimsy grounds. BN thought the "court defeats" would destroy Anwar's political career, but they had the opposite effect: Anwar is more upbeat now. The Perak takeover will come back to haunt the BN come the 13th general election. It will be seen as a mistake, which was proven when the former menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin won a by-election by a large margin. Following his victory, the state has not really recovered from the shock of the overthrowing of the Pakatan-led government. The BN is saying it has the edge in Perak but on the ground it says otherwise. The fact that it took the courts years to deal with the Sodomy II case is an indication that the Pakatan de facto leader is a tough nut to crack. The Sodomy II case is a landmark defeat for those who plotted the case against him. The case came to light before the massive "Arab Spring" in the Middle East and, at first, it looked as if the opposition leader was doomed to a jail term. But the turn of events – not that these were the reasons why Anwar was proclaimed innocent – in the Middle East with the fall of several Arab regimes, made it virtually impossible to put the leader behind bars. From the beginning of the Sodomy II trial, it was evident to many observers in the country that Anwar was not guilty. The appearance of medical reports denying there was sodomy was sufficient for the public to come to that conclusion. BN is today in a state of shock following the Bersih rally which created waves while the Bukit Jalil gathering was an obvious "flop". The repeated delays in the announcement of the 13th general election date is not playing into the hands of BN as well. The hesitation is leaving fissures in the ruling coalition and this is being shown by the violence organised by thugs at Pakatan rallies. READ MORE HERE |
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