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PKR banks on ex-deputy minister to win back Wangsa Maju
Hindraf: Pakatan risks losing 25 seats without us
MIC man calls on Hindraf to woo BN
‘Pakatan’s Allah decision is official’
Postal voting: M’sians abroad have until dissolution of Parliament
Australian govt to fight Xenophon deportation
Anwar caught in another video controversy
Australia’s former PM Rudd tells Canberra to be ‘robust’ on Xenophon expulsion
Xenophon says Malaysian democracy in ‘dire and critical state’
Hadi: Pakatan ties smooth but PAS will quit pact if Islam, Malays lose out
Najib creates history as first PM to attend Dong Zong CNY

PKR banks on ex-deputy minister to win back Wangsa Maju

Posted: 17 Feb 2013 01:46 AM PST

Md Izwan, The Malaysian Insider

PKR is banking on a former deputy minister to take back the Wangsa Maju urban constituency needed to seize federal power in Election 2013.

Former Deputy Minister Land and Cooperative Development Datuk Dr Tan Tee Kwong had started reconnecting with the voters to increase his profile on the ground since incumbent Wangsa Maju representative Wee Choo Keong quit the party in 2010 and turned Independent though pledging support to the Barisan Nasional (BN) federal coalition.

In a recent Sunday walkabout, Dr Tan told The Malaysian Insider that he is now more comfortable and confident after meeting Wangsa Maju residents regularly.

"After two years, the walkabouts and contributions to the needy have started to show positive result," said the former Gerakan MP.

He also confessed that the hardest task is to convince the voters who question his loyalty to PKR, and to assure them that another party-hopping incident will not repeat itself.

"The first time I was here, almost everybody I met asked what assurance can I give them if I win," Dr Tan added.

Two high-ranking PKR leaders have also acknowledged that Dr Tan was given the responsibility to take care of the area's party branch after Wee left.

"(Dr Tan) was given the responsibility to restore the party's image and strengthen the election machinery," said PKR Secretary-General Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

"The possibility of him contesting (in Wangsa Maju) is there."

PKR Communications Director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad also echoed Saifuddin's view of Dr Tan's chances.

"A full decision is yet to be made, but that's it... maybe Tan will contest that seat," the Seri Setia assemblyman said.

Dr Tan's presence was lauded by Mohammad Hamdi Mohd Said, who was part of the election machinery's backbone which contributed to Wee's win back in 2008.

"Almost every week, (Dr Tan) would go to the ground to meet the residents," the Wangsa Maju PKR Youth Chief said.

"After Wee left, it became a bit chaotic, but since Tan took over, situation has changed.

"Tan is a true politician, and he is not shy to go to the ground, unlike Wee who did so rarely.

"His character is so different to the old candidate, because in 2008 we made a big mistake by putting a parachute candidate."

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 07:05 PM PST

Meena Lakshana, fz.com

Pakatan Rakyat risks losing 25 parliamentary seats in the upcoming general election without Hindraf's partnership, the Indian-based movement claimed today.

Hindraf chairman P Waytha Moorthy said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration has gained traction in the Indian community, and the community was "not at war with the government as they were in 2007 and 2008."

"The Najib administration has done tremendous work on the ground and if they are successful in gaining 55% of the total Indian voters, Pakatan is likely to face risk in 25 parliament seats," he said in a statement.

"We have educated and empowered the people politically. They are no longer the naive community who would agree to what is promised prior to elections.

"We earnestly hope Pakatan would do some real on-the-ground investigation instead of relying on information from their own diehard supporters. BN did the same mistake in 2008 and paid a heavy price," he added.

Waytha Moorthy said Hindraf, with its 200 volunteers, is prepared to do the ground work for Pakatan to gain support among the Indian community.

He also said Pakatan should endorse the Hindraf blueprint in which the group spells out policies that if feels would help alleviate the problems faced by the Indian community.

"Hindraf has been questioned by the Indian community throughout their road shows as to the reason for Pakatan's reluctance to sign the document. We have no concrete answer to give them," he said.

Waytha Moorthy repeated his claim that a strategic partnership with Hindraf would ensure delivery of 50% of the undecided Indian voters.

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had previously said the coalition's Buku Jingga, a master plan of policies it would enact if it were to take over Putrajaya, would address the woes of the Indian community.

Pakatan's discussions with Hindraf to form an electoral pact hit a wall after the group reportedly demanded that its representatives be fielded as candidates in seven parliamentary constituencies and 10 state seats.

Waytha Moorthy clarified later Hindraf representatives are only seeking to contest in constituencies that are currently held by MIC.

MIC man calls on Hindraf to woo BN

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:49 PM PST

Since Pakatan does not appreciate the efforts of Hindra, KP Samy says the movement should turn to BN instead.

K Pragalath, FMT

Days after Hindraf announced that its courtship with Pakatan Rakyat has soured, a former Hindraf activist wants the movement to woo MIC and Barisan Nasional.

Ex-Hindraf activist KP Samy wanted the movement to reveal Pakatan Rakyat's shortcomings to the Indian community.

"Hindraf should agree that MIC is the sole Indian representative. They should work with MIC to strengthen the community.

"Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has been doing his level best for the past four years," said the MIC central working committee member.

He also said Hindraf's efforts to build a working relationship with Pakatan was not appreciated by the federal opposition alliance that helms four state governments.

"Hindraf should go back to the Indian community and reveal Pakatan's insincerity. A large number of Hindraf supporters have left Pakatan," he told FMT.

Samy said that Hindraf's contribution that led to Pakatan's victory was neither valued nor recognised.

He added that Pakatan should have honoured the five Hindraf leaders held under ISA and provided financial backing for the hundreds of Hindraf supporters who were detained.

Instead, he said Selangor executive councillor Dr Xavier Jayakumar only announced financial assistance for Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga when the federal government initiated a suit against Bersih.

Samy also requested Hindraf to consider the Indian equity factor. "Only one race – the Chinese – have maximised their equity in Selangor. The Indians remain the same," he added.

He added that in terms of positions within the government, Pakatan had only fulfilled its pledge by giving the Penang Deputy Chief Minister 2 post to P Ramasamy but in Selangor that was not the case.

"Jayakumar's exco post is the eighth in the list. All the important exco positions are held by Chinese representatives from the DAP and PKR," he said, citing Teresa Kok and Elizabeth Wong as examples.

Meanwhile, Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy still hoped that Pakatan would continue courting Hindraf.

"Hindraf has made clear from the outset that it supports Pakatan and wishes to work closely with Pakatan to achieve its objectives of addressing the 56-year marginalisation of the Indian community in this country," he said in a press statement.

He also emphasised on Hindraf's vital role in swaying Indian votes for Pakatan.

READ MORE HERE

‘Pakatan’s Allah decision is official’

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 06:46 PM PST

Karpal Singh says that the PAS majlis syura's decision cannot overwrite the stand taken by Pakatan Rakyat.

Athi Shankar, FMT

Pakatan Rakyat's decision that the term "Allah" can be used by non-Muslims is the coalition's official stand that should be respected by its allies, said DAP national chairman Karpal Singh.

He said Pakatan's decision was binding on DAP, PAS and PKR notwithstanding the parties' respective stand on the issue.

Hence, he said the decision by PAS' majlis syura, the party's highest decision-making body, that non-Muslims cannot use the term would not overwrite Pakatan's stand.

He said Pakatan's official stand was collectively and unanimously adopted by its leaders – PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang to safeguard larger public interests and rights.

He pointed out that majlis syura was just a small entity in a party that was part of Pakatan.

"Mathematically, it can't overwrite Pakatan's decision. Pakatan is the bigger entity. The three Pakatan parties agreed to it unanimously. All allies should stand by Pakatan's decision," he said.

He was commenting on media reports about groups protesting against the stand taken by DAP and PKR leaders, like Karpal, Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, Anwar and Azmin Ali on whether Christians could use the term Allah in the Malay edition of the Bible.

Claiming to be current and former PAS members, the groups criticised DAP and PKR leaders for stirring Muslim sentiments and undermining the Majlis Syura decision.

Karpal criticised certain Barisan Nasional-controlled media for playing up the issue to irk Muslim sensitivities against Pakatan leaders like him.

"Publishing pictures that are defamatory is a serious matter," he cautioned.

The Allah issue aside, he said the relationship among Pakatan allies were generally good as the parties had good understanding on many common and pressing issues.

He also commented on Pakatan's leadership seeking clarification from Hadi over his flip-flop on the issue following the majlis syura's decision and pressure from party grassroots.

"The issue does not arise. Pakatan's stand is clear," said Karpal.

Postal voting: M’sians abroad have until dissolution of Parliament

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:50 PM PST

Applications through the 1B Form received after midnight on the day of dissolution will not be processed, says the EC.

(Bernama) - Registered Malaysian voters living abroad have until the dissolution of Parliament to apply for postal voting for the 13^th general election.

Election Commission (EC) deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said applications through the 1B Form received after midnight on the day of dissolution would not be processed.

Since Jan 21, the EC had received 2,485 applications from Malaysians living overseas of which the highest were from Australia with 574 applications, United Kingdom (449), United States (195), China (132), Qatar (116) and United Arab Emirates (97), he told Bernama.

Besides them, 2,651 Malaysian students and civils servants and their spouseshave also registered for postal voting for the coming elections.

He said Malaysian citizens could refer to the guideline for filling in the 1B Form on the EC website for any question they might have regarding form completion to ensure it was done properly.

Completed forms need to be sent to the EC headquarters in Putrajaya by e-mail (upup@spr.gov.my), fax (+603-8881 1201/ 1202/ 1187/ 1192) or by post.

Wan Ahmad said each application would be immediately processed and the applicants would be informed of their application status.

"Malaysians abroad should keep themselves updated on EC's announcements by visiting www.spr.gov.my from time to time," he said.

For the first time in the country's election history, Malaysians living abroad who are registered voters can vote and be involved in determining the future of the country.

Previously, only full-time students and civil servants and their spouses were eligible to use the postal voting facility.

Besides being a registered voter, they must also have been in Malaysia for not less than 30 days within five years before Parliament and state assembly are dissolved.

Malaysians living in Southern Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Kalimantan are not eligible for postal voting and are required to return to cast their votes on polling day.

Australian govt to fight Xenophon deportation

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:38 PM PST

(World News Australia) - Independent senator Nick Xenophon says he'll use the Malaysian courts to try to get his name removed from the country's watch list.

The federal government will continue demanding explanations from Malaysia after failing to convince authorities to let South Australian Senator Nick Xenophon stay in the country.

The independent senator was detained and deported from Malaysia upon arrival over the weekend - a decision he says came from "the highest levels of the Malaysian government" because of his support for pro-democracy reform.

He arrived in Melbourne on Sunday after an eight-hour return flight, saying he believed he was the first Australian MP ever to be deported and he was ready to fight such a travel ban in court.

"I'm now on a watch list," he said.

"I don't know how many years or decades it will be before I'm allowed to set foot in Malaysian soil, which is a great pity."

Senator Xenophon had been travelling to Malaysia as the head of an unofficial parliamentary delegation to review the country's electoral system.

He and other Australian MPs were to meet Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, as well as the minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Mohammed Nazri, and members of the group Bersih - the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.

But immigration officials told Senator Xenophon there was a technical glitch with his passport when he arrived in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

He said he was then detained and deported upon being found to be a security risk.

"I think that they've made a big mistake," he said.

"This was going to be a low key visit ... I think it's spectacularly backfired on them."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said her government had immediately tried to convince Malaysia to allow Senator Xenophon into the country.

"We will continue to pursue this issue with the Malaysian government," she told reporters in Melbourne on Sunday.

Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he had already spoken with his Malaysian counterpart to express his surprise and disappointment at the deportation but hoped the incident would not erode bilateral relations.

"I said I thought no ill could come of having an Australian senator there to observe the elections," Senator Carr told reporters at Sydney Airport on Sunday.

But the Malaysian government took strong objection to foreign interference in their election campaign, he said.

Local Malaysian media reported that Senator Xenophon was barred because he had attended a banned demonstration last year.

"Malaysia is a free and democratic country but no one is above the law," a government-issued statement said.

Former prime minister and foreign minister Kevin Rudd said Australia's response should be "robust," considering the senator's treatment.

"Detaining any member of an Australian parliament, in the way in which Senator Xenophon appears to have been detained, is just unacceptable," he told Sky News on Sunday.

"We are robust about our democracy and therefore we should be robust in our response to our friends in Kuala Lumpur."

Senator Xenophon said his planned court appeal will likely mean he'll have to testify via video link since he was no longer allowed into Malaysia.

Anwar caught in another video controversy

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:31 PM PST

(The Star) - A new controversy is swirling over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's recent trip to Sabah to woo voters there, this time for remarks he is claimed to have made against PAS leaders.

A video of his speech, being circulated by pro-Barisan Nasional bloggers, seems to show him belittling the PAS leadership to stress that Pakatan Rakyat had not changed its stand on the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims.

Among the remarks heard in the one-minute clip are his accusations that PAS mursyidul am Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat no longer understands Islam and his description of PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang as a mere follower.

It is the second controversy to hit the PKR following Anwar's visit to Sabah. The first is the alleged conferment of the Huguan Siou (paramount leader) title to Anwar that angered Sabahans, because the revered title is traditionally bestowed only on members of the Kadazandusun community.

In the video clip, Anwar claims that Umno is campaigning against him, and says: "Tok Guru Nik Aziz? Tok Guru Nik Aziz also does not understand Islam now.

"Ustaz Hadi Awang? He also doesn't know, he only follows."

The video clip is part of a recording of Anwar's speech at a PKR Chinese New Year open house at a hotel in Sabah last week.

It has been reported that Anwar and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali had called on PAS to stick to a decision made by the Pakatan Rakyat presidential council on Jan 9 to allow non-Muslims to use the word "Allah".

The PAS Syura Council had on Jan 13 objected to the use of the word in Malay Bibles.

In the clip, Anwar says the Pakatan leadership had reached a consensus on the issue after discussions with Hadi in his capacity as PAS president.

Anwar is heard in the video as saying that Pakatan had agreed that non-Muslims could use the word "Allah" but they should not "dishonour, ridicule and smear" the sacred term.

When contacted, PKR vice-president Tian Chua said Anwar clearly stated in the video that it was Umno that had been going around claiming that Nik Aziz does not understand Islam and Hadi was a mere follower.

Australia’s former PM Rudd tells Canberra to be ‘robust’ on Xenophon expulsion

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:11 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd condemned Australian senator Nick Xenophon's detention in Malaysia as unacceptable and urged Canberra to be "robust" in response.

Xenophon (picture) arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning to call on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.

"Detaining any member of an Australian parliament, in the way in which Senator Xenophon appears to have been detained, is just unacceptable," Rudd told Australian news channel Sky News today.

"We are robust about our democracy and therefore we should be robust in our response to our friends in Kuala Lumpur," he added.

Xenophon was to review the country's electoral system with a delegation of other Australian MPs and senators that would arrive later, but his colleagues have cancelled the trip in response to his deportation.

Rudd said today that Australia was a "good friend" to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, but that Putrajaya's action warranted a response.

"He's an elected member of the Australian Parliament and should be treated with the appropriate respect," added Rudd, referring to Xenophon.

The deportation order issued by the Malaysian Immigration Department to Nick Xenophon.- Picture courtesy of Nick Xenophon's office

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said yesterday that Xenophon was deported and barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act 8(3) because the senator had made statements that allegedly tarnished Malaysia's image.

Alias highlighted Xenophon's remarks about the Malaysian government being "authoritarian" in handling last April's Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections.

In Xenophon's observation of the rally, he noted that the police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water in what had been a largely peaceful protest.

His comments were also laid down in the final report of a fact-finding mission on elections in Malaysia as part of an international polls observer group that included six others, including representatives from neighbouring Indonesia, the Philippines, India, Pakistan and Germany.

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 03:03 PM PST

Australian senator, Nick Xenophon (left) seen here with Opposition Leader, Datuk Sri Anwar Ibrahim.

Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

Australian senator Nick Xenophon said today that his deportation from Malaysia yesterday revealed how "dire and critical" the state of Malaysian democracy was.

The independent lawmaker was also quoted by Australian media as saying that his deportation was a "big mistake" as it had backfired on Putrajaya.

"But if it means more Australians in the region are aware of how dire and critical the state of Malaysian democracy is and how Malaysian democracy is at the crossroads, then that unambiguously is a good thing," Xenophon was quoted today as saying by Australia's national broadcaster ABC News.

"Australia and Malaysia are the greatest of friends. This shouldn't affect the relationship but I think if the Malaysian government thought that they were doing the smart thing, I think it spectacularly backfired on them," he added.

Xenophon also said that Australia had a moral obligation to intervene in the coming Election 2013 to ensure that it was clean and fair, despite the polls having a "veneer of democracy", according to Australian newspaper Herald Sun.

"Millions of Malaysians see Australia as a shining beacon of democracy in the region and seek our help for independent election observers," he said.

Australia's former prime minister Kevin Rudd has condemned Xenophon's detention as unacceptable and urged Canberra to be "robust" in response.

Xenophon arrived in Kuala Lumpur yesterday morning to call on Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and Election Commission (EC) officials next week, but was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang and subsequently deported late at night.

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 02:58 PM PST

(TMI) - Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang has said that the Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) three partners are working well with each other but PAS will not hesitate to quit the pact should Islam and Malays lose out in coalition politics.

The Islamist party president's declaration last night, reportedly made in front of a 10,000-strong crowd in Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, appeared an attempt to shore up support from the country's biggest demographic group ahead of Election 2013.

"If that pact does not benefit Islam and Malays, PAS will exit PR! Without a doubt," he was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian, which carried the news on its front-page today.

The Malay daily reported Hadi (picture) saying there were no issues currently within the three PR partners and that he was confident their collaboration would not impact the Malays in a negative wat, who are constitutionally defined to also be Muslims.

The Marang MP was also reported saying the PR political partnership with DAP and PKR had in fact empowered the Malays and Islam.

"In fact, we have succeeded in making a paradigm shift with the victories of candidates like Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, Fuziah Salleh who fought with non-Malay Muslim candidates and were won by Malay and non-Muslim voters.

"That's the big change we have created," the opposition leader was reported saying.

Dr Siti Mariah is PAS MP for Kota Raja while her PKR colleague, Fuziah, is MP for Kuantan. Both are urban federal seats with a mixed racial demography.

Recently, an unsettled feeling among the country's biggest demographic group has been perceived to be growing amid widespread rumours that their constitutional rights were being challenged by minority groups.

The issue of race and religion — which are inseparable subjects in Malaysia — have become major electoral fodder ahead of national polls that must be called by April when the ruling Barisan Nasional's mandate expires.

In particular, debate over the use of the word "Allah" to call god among non-Muslims remains a hot-button topic as many Muslims nationwide believe the Arabic word to be exclusive to Islam, despite a 2009 High Court ruling it otherwise.

Najib creates history as first PM to attend Dong Zong CNY

Posted: 16 Feb 2013 02:56 PM PST

(Bernama) - Datuk Seri Najib Razak became the first prime minister to have attended a Chinese New Year celebration organised today by the United Chinese School Committees Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) since it was established 59 years ago.

Najib (picture) was received on arrival at 9.45am at the Dong Jiao Zong Higher Learning Centre, by Dong Zong chairman Dr Yap Sin Tian and several other representatives of the association.

Also present were Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon, MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The prime minister took part in the "lao shang" and tried his hand at Chinese calligraphy, writing the words which meant celebrating the new year together.

The calligraphy session was also joined by Yap, Dong Zong deputy chairman Chow Siew Hon, United Chinese School Teachers Association (Jiao Zong) chairman Ong Chiow Chuen and Merdeka University Berhad chairman Foo Wan Thot.

Najib and the more than 5,000 guests then enjoyed the spread served while watching a cultural performance that included a lion dance, and Chinese music and traditional dances.

The crowd was excited with the prime minister's presence and took the opportunity to shake hands with him as he was leaving the function at about 10.30am.

The celebration was organised in collaboration with Jiao Zong, Merdeka University Berhad, United Chinese Associations of Hulu Langat District, Dong Jioa Zong Higher Learning Centre, Chinese School Committee Association of the respective states and New Era College.

Chow when met by reporters said the prime minister's presence was a good start towards enhancing further Chinese education in the country.

"The prime minister's presence at our function shows his sincerity and we are delighted with his presence," he said.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Ahad, 17 Februari 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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