Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Lahad Datu invasion: The real story?
- BN using Anwar to confuse voters?
- Populist policies will hit us hard
- Silence is easy
- A manifesto that hoodwinks voters
- Busy fighting the enemy within
- Hey, where's my share?
- Can PI Bala deliver anything for Pakatan?
- Pakatan generals and sweaty palms
- Suaris Interview: Future of Malays #5
- Coping with inevitable Evil created by Government
- The war for military votes
- Is Pakatan Really Ready To Rule?
- Pakatan: Life beyond Anwar Ibrahim
- Of election manifestos
- Can SUPP rise to the challenge?
- How Malaysia Press Ignored 'Gangnam Style' Pratfall Ahead of Elections
| Lahad Datu invasion: The real story? Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:23 AM PST
It appears that the heavily armed group wants to turn the "occupation" into an international issue, specifically to draw attention to its plea for an independent Sulu sultanate. Amir Ali, FMT The sultanate has little resources at its disposal to run the 'government' of Sulu. Thus a fresh deal with Malaysia will help it keep the ball rolling. The Lahad Datu "invasion" is not merely about a group of armed men intruding into Sabah. After weeks of a tense standoff between the "occupiers" and Malaysian security forces, a clearer picture has emerged. It appears that the heavily armed group wants to turn the "occupation" into an international issue, specifically to draw attention to its plea for an independent Sulu sultanate. But the sultanate is financially not in good shape and hence, the group turned its attention to Sabah where it claimed the Sulu sultan has "rented out" the state to Malaysia. The Sulu sultan told AFP on Feb 27 that the Malaysian government is paying the sultanate RM5,300 yearly in exchange for agreeing to let Sabah become a Malaysian state. It appears that the group wants to renegotiate for a higher "rent". By seeking a higher payment, the sultan hopes to keep Sulu afloat. However, the Malaysian government has not acknowledged the existence of such a "rent". The group probably decided that the best way to force the Malaysian government to renegotiate a better "deal" is to occupy the village in Lahad Datu. According to observers, the sultanate has little resources at its disposal to run the "government" of Sulu. Thus a fresh deal with Malaysia will help it keep the ball rolling. Manila's war against "terror" did not include the province of Sulu. But still the province was engulfed in this war as the Abu Sayyaf group spread its wings across the Muslim majority areas. As a result, Manila sent its armed forces to Sulu in its campaign against terrorism. But the Sulu people did not see the presence of the Philippine armed forces as part of the war on terror. Instead, they deemed it as an occupation force, attempting to control the territory and at the same time exploiting the vast riches of the region. It is reported that its natural wealth includes minerals and oil and gas reserves in the Sulu waters. According to observers, the Philippines has so far failed to carry out its oil extraction activities in Sulu. By forcefully entering Sabah, the "Sulu Sultanate Royal Army" hopes to renegotiate the annual fees and also to get Malaysia to extract the oil in Sulu. According to some reports, Manila and its foreign partners have stopped extracting oil in Sulu because of frequent breakdown in the drilling machine.
Independence declaration A little-known event occurred in November 2010 when the sultan of Sulu, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, officially declared the Sulu province an independent state from the Philippines. The Tausug people (the people of the Sulu sultanate are from the Tausug tribe) see themselves as independent, free and have adopted the syariah as their constitution. This piece of news was not reported in the Malaysian mainstream media. In the peace deal concluded between Manila and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the Sulu province was not included. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/02/lahad-datu-invasion-the-real-story/# |
| BN using Anwar to confuse voters? Posted: 01 Mar 2013 11:14 AM PST
The 11th hour faux pas by a PAS delegate has been picked up and highlighted with the usual hype and spin by the Barisan Nasional-controlled media and turned into a firestorm threatening to engulf Pakatan. Selena Tay, FMT It is very obvious that BN keeps creating issue after issue to finish off Pakatan while, at the same time, giving out cash to woo the rakyat. The mainstream media is continuing to harp on the so-called disagreement among Pakatan Rakyat component parties over the choice of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister. This is done with the intention to create a perception among the public that Pakatan is constantly at loggerheads due to this issue and therefore unfit to govern. PAS has been blamed as the main culprit in this matter because during the PAS muktamar (general assembly) in November last year, an overzealous PAS member had proposed that PAS president and Marang MP, Abdul Hadi Awang, be the prime minister should Pakatan succeed in gaining control of Putrajaya in the 13th general election. The 11th hour faux pas by a PAS delegate has been picked up and highlighted with the usual hype and spin by the Barisan Nasional-controlled media and turned into a firestorm threatening to engulf Pakatan. Pro-BN political analysts plus various individuals have also joined in the fray criticising Pakatan as failing to reach a consensus. On Feb 26, a mainstream English daily has even reported that PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, has refrained from openly endorsing Anwar. This is in contrast to the stand made by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng who firmly endorses Anwar as the candidate to be the prime minister due to his good performance when he was the finance minister. The same English daily also reported that there was talk that a compromise has been reached between PAS and DAP leaders for Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, the long-time and current Gua Musang MP, to be considered as the prime minister-designate. This report certainly paints DAP in a bad light, making it seem that while Guan Eng is openly endorsing Anwar, at the back of it, DAP leaders are secretly making deals to put in another candidate. Thus BN's media is now working overtime in attempting to portray DAP and PAS as going against PKR by stabbing PKR's back. This is done with the intention of causing Pakatan to be destroyed from within.
Media propaganda A PKR strategist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, opined that the 13th general election will only be called once big cracks appear in Pakatan. This is because fence-sitters will be influenced by what they perceive as Pakatan breaking up and therefore the best bet would be to stick to voting for BN which has been continuously portrayed as being firm, steady and united. BN's use of massive media propaganda is a factor that cannot be underestimated. Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/02/bn-using-anwar-to-confuse-voters/# |
| Populist policies will hit us hard Posted: 28 Feb 2013 02:44 PM PST
Tay Tian Yan, TMI There is a country well endowed with natural resources and boasting a highly efficient, incorrupt government. Her citizens nevertheless have to pay pretty hefty taxes. Income tax rate is as high as 40 per cent, not to mention an additional 10 per cent consumer tax. This country is most positively rich. I'm not going to keep you in suspense. It's Australia. But sorry, Australia doesn't provide free tertiary education. On the contrary, tuition fees are sky high, about A$30,000 (RM96,000) a year for an ordinary university, and this figure is growing at an annual rate of 10 per cent. There are three ways young Australians can gain access to universities: 1. Their families provide part of the expenses, and some parents actually emphasise they have secured loans for their children's education. 2. Bank loans, which will have to be paid back upon graduation. 3. Part-time jobs such as restaurant waiters, apple pickers, etc. It's hard indeed, but for the sake of better future prospects, exorbitant prices still have to be paid. Australian students are a very practical lot. All that they can wish for is not-so-drastic increases in tuition fees and more humane bank interest rates. Alternatively, they can count on their parents to fork out a little more. They don't take to the streets, demanding the government take over their burdens for the simple reason that they made the choice of attending the universities themselves, and should therefore not get the public to share their burdens. The opposition parties never pledge free tertiary education as they know they won't be able to honour it anyway. There is another country endowed with reasonable resources. The government is of mediocre efficiency and accountability levels. The tax rate in this country is not that high, being capped at 26 per cent, but given the not-so-high income levels of ordinary wage earners, such a rate appears to be pretty unbearable. This country is by no means a wealthy state, at best a middle-income country. You might have guessed it. It's Malaysia. It won't be too hard for young Malaysians to attend universities. There are so many of them around, in fact way too many! Tuition fees can be as low as RM2,000 to RM3,000 a year for public universities, RM30,000 to RM40,000 (non-medical courses) for private universities. Young Malaysians need not beg for bank loans or work part-time to pay their tuition fees. If they go to a government university, 90 per cent of the expenses have already been absorbed by the government (from taxpayers' pockets to be exact). The remaining 10 per cent can be settled with PTPTN loans (which many use to acquire the latest smartphones). If they opt for a private university, they need both the PTPTN and family support.
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| Posted: 28 Feb 2013 12:08 PM PST
Let's start by speaking up. I am Muslim. And I love dogs. Elza Irdalynna, Free Malaysia Today By now, many Malaysians are aware of Pak Mie and his heroic deeds of rescuing and caring for over 500 dogs in Alor Setar, Kedah. Most of us are amazed by his spirit, and have even rallied together to help him in his cause. Yet a note that keeps recurring in the articles and videos that feature Pak Mie and his wife is one that disgusts me, as I'm sure it has for anyone with a heart. Despite Pak Mie's purest intentions, a majority of his Malay community has shunned and condemned him, labelling him as an infidel and morally corrupt. Why are the Muslims of this country (particularly the Malay Muslim group) so filled with hate toward the canine species? Growing up, I was ill-informed and learned that Muslims weren't allowed to own dogs. I later understood that this was a simplified version of the teachings, and untrue. Dogs are considered to be dirty, and there are specific ways to cleanse oneself according to Islam when touching a dog when it's wet or its feces and urine. However, it was and had never been haram for a Muslim to own a dog. Why the silence? Yet it is common for many Malaysians to see dogs getting beaten, objects or hot boiling water thrown at them, and I've even heard of cases where razor blades are stuffed into sausages and fed to the dogs. A friend of mine had his dog poisoned by his Malay neighbour. Dogs aren't just considered a nuisance by this group of people; they're a target for violence. Still, what angers me most is not the cruelty of these misguided Malay Muslims. What makes me angry is the silence of other Muslim dog lovers. I know there are plenty of us out there who not only are against cruelty towards dogs, but are also Muslims who own dogs. Yet whenever such disgusting acts take place, where is your voice? Why must we keep our ownership a secret? We fear judgment and so we leave the fight for the rights of these animals to the non-Muslim community. Last October, I lost my six-month-old Shetland Sheepdog in a hit-and-run. We were coming back from our morning walk, and his leash fell out of my hand. He ran back to the park near our house. When I caught up to him, his dying body was twitching in the middle of the road, his head soaked in blood. As I cradled my baby, neighbours rushed to my side. I was touched by their assistance – one ran back to her house to get some blankets, another went to get a bag, and two other dog owners walked me home, comforting me. I am forever grateful to them for their kindness. Jaqen was a very friendly dog. He was popular among the kids and other dog owners at our park, and would show off his "fetching" skills when we played ball. But I recall little kids who played with him, asking me, "Are you Malay?", and upon my reply would say, "My mother says Malays cannot have dogs." I would patiently correct each misinformed child but I was annoyed at how parents nonchalantly pass this information to their children. It's bad enough you hate dogs; must you also teach your children to do the same? Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/03/01/silence-is-easy/
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| A manifesto that hoodwinks voters Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:52 AM PST People in a peaceful rally against the Selangor government for failing to provide preschool allowance as promised in the 12th general election manifesto. Selangor menteri besar has stated that a manifesto is not a promise. NOT COST-EFFECTIVE: It's baffling why Pakatan is insisting on emulating bankrupt countriesTun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, NST PAKATAN Rakyat has unveiled its manifesto. It is all about reducing government revenues and increasing spending. This is to be achieved by lowering taxes, reducing the number of taxpayers by raising tax-free allowances, doing away with tolls, and more. On the other hand, the salary bill will be increased because of an increase in minimum wage, there will be free education for everyone and roads and highways will be built and maintained. With 1.1 million employees, the government's salary bill is very big. By increasing the minimum wage to RM1,100, not only will those drawing less than the minimum wage get an increase but those earning more must also be given a wage increase to maintain their status as superiors to those below them. The salary scales of all grades will have to be increased in order to do this. It is not about raising the salaries and wages of those earning below the minimum wage only. This will be in addition to the RM2 billion because of the recent rise of the minimum pay to RM900. The cost of education will also increase by more than RM2 billion because of free education. The repair and maintenance of highways will also run into several billions of ringgit. Currently, the cost of petrol subsidies is about RM18 billion. If petrol prices were to be lowered, then several more billions of ringgit will have to be added to government subsidy. On the other hand, revenues will decrease by several billions of ringgit with taxes lowered, the number of people paying taxes reduced and highways made toll-free. Revenues will also decrease as higher wages for the business sector are bound to reduce profits as well as the taxes paid to the government. Some businesses may have to close down or move to other countries. There will be less investment, both foreign and domestic. And more unemployment.
At one time, the manufactured goods sold in Malaysia carried European brands. Today, they are almost all from Japan, Korea and China. Except for German cars, all the motor vehicles on the roads are from Asian countries. For decades, the Europeans and Americans have been increasing wages and providing perks to their workers. The prices of their products increased accordingly and could not compete in the market. They lost the market. But they keep increasing their high cost of living. Today, they are facing an irreversible financial crisis. Greece, Spain, Portugal and even Italy are on the verge of bankruptcy or have become bankrupt. Even Britain and France are in financial trouble. The United States is also in deep financial crisis. It faces the need to reduce government spending (sequestration) or increase taxes. Sequestration will mean less money for education, healthcare and defence. The number of teachers would have to be reduced. Even the control towers at some airports would have to cease operations. Military bases, weapons and personnel would have to be reduced. An austerity programme will slow down growth and increase unemployment. Like the Europeans, the Americans also do not like to reduce their spending. They refuse to pay more taxes. In fact, the rich are demanding tax reduction. The financial crisis in Europe and America is basically because of overspending. Until they cut back on their spending and increase taxes, their economy will not recover. Pakatan's manifesto advocates the very things that have bankrupted Europe and America. If Pakatan is responsible, it should work out the cost. It is not too difficult to do this as government employees' salaries as well as developmental and maintenance needs are known. We know the number of people who will get a pay increase; we know the cost of maintaining educational and healthcare institutions; we know the cost of maintaining roads and highways; and we know the cost of development. Instead of merely commenting, economists and financiers should work out the mathematics. Then, the people will understand what the manifesto really represents. But, on the other hand, Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim has said a manifesto is not a promise. Obviously, Pakatan is preparing to renege on its manifesto. This is not surprising. In Selangor, the Pakatan government has failed to honour its promise, including providing free water and allowance for single mothers. Pakatan's manifesto is obviously meant to hoodwink the electorate.
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| Busy fighting the enemy within Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:39 AM PST
Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has survived several health scares and is moving to secure his Mentri Besar post as well as to put in place his choice of successor in Kedah. Joceline Tan, The Star IT is quite fortunate that Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has a great sense of humour given the periodic speculation about his health. The Kedah Mentri Besar has grown quite used to people imagining that he is about to meet his maker. For instance, there was a death in his house on the outskirts of Alor Setar last Sunday. His sister-in-law, the elder sibling of Azizan's first wife, had passed away and there were cars parked outside the house and people milling about. When a reporter called to tell him that people had wondered what was going on, he quipped: "Is that why you phoned me? To ask if I had died?" That is why many reporters like him he is terribly witty when in a good mood and sharp-tongued when feeling grouchy, but never boring. Actually, Azizan is looking quite healthy these days. He seems to be responding to treatment after a series of health scares over the past year. He has put a bit of weight back on and looks like his old distinguished self. However, curiosity over the activity at his house last weekend had more to do with his political health. For the last week or so, PAS supporters had been staging protests against Azizan with some of them going to the extent of asking him to step down. As such when people heard about the busy scene at Azizan's house, they thought he was bowing to the pressure to call it a day. It was wishful thinking because that is the last thing on his mind. Azizan has made it clear that he will be leading his party into the general election. He intends to defend his Sungai Limau seat and he has not discounted the fact that he will still be Mentri Besar after the election. His supporters argue that if Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, who is 81 and sickly, is still contesting the election, Azizan who is 13 years younger can do the same. But the problem is that Azizan is planning to put his opponents in PAS out of his way. He has submitted a fresh list of election candidates to the PAS central leadership that will effectively cut his opponents off from below the knee. In the new list, Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi, who is Azizan's chief threat to the Mentri Besar post, will be sent from the Pengkalan Kundor state seat to the Jerlun parliamentary seat. Datuk Dr Ismail Salleh andDatuk Dr Hamdan Mohd Khalid, the two assemblymen aligned to Phahrolrazi, will be dropped. It was as good as sending Phahrolrazi, who is the party's No 2 man in Kedah, into political exile. Phahrolrazi's state seat is located in the Kuala Kedah area where he is also the PAS division chief. Being sent to Jerlun is akin to being plucked from a tree in his own garden and chucked into a new and hostile backyard to grow anew. But who can blame Azizan for wanting Phahrolrazi out of the way? Phahrolrazi's group had tried but failed to topple Azizan when he was lying on a hospital bed recovering from a heart attack. Azizan would have to continually look over his shoulder if Phahrolrazi continues as an assemblyman. Last year, Phahrolrazi declined to be reappointed as a state exco member. The PAS central leadership had to intervene and when Phahrolrazi relented and rejoined the state exco, Azizan demoted him to a less important portfolio and promoted another loyalist Datuk Taulan Mat Rasul over Phahrolrazi. The state civil servants say the two men are barely talking. However, the two nemeses exchanged broad plastic smiles and even shook hands in front of their president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang during the Chinese New Year do in Alor Setar. Phahrolrazi was on a talk show on Astro Awani last week during which he described his boss as a three-cylinder engine car. As everyone knows, a three-cylinder car is economical to maintain but it cannot go as fast as, say, the BMW, which has a six-cylinder engine. Phahrolrazi is an engineer and it was his way of saying that the Mentri Besar was under-performing when he should be zooming ahead at the speed of a BMW car. And if that was not enough, he said he was prepared to take on the top job if that is what the top leadership wanted. It was a touchy interview and the boss did not appreciate being described as a three-cylinder vehicle. Read more at: http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=joceline&file=/2013/3/1/columnists/joceline/12774309&sec=Joceline
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| Posted: 28 Feb 2013 10:31 AM PST
The irony is, all these goodies are coming out of my tax dollars. Yet, because I am single, over 30, earn a living income and already have purchased an apartment (closer to hovel when you consider property prices in PJ), I get zippo. N. Shashi Kala, fz.com I HAVE a confession to make... with all the talk of elections and goodies being handed out willy nilly, I'm feeling kinda left out. I mean, there's BR1M for senior citizens and for those from poor households, RM200 smartphone rebate for youths under 30, RM200 book vouchers for students, RM100 school aid for each child, Kedai Makan 1Malaysia for cheap meals, KR1M for household goods, PR1MA for first-time house buyers, TR1M for taxi drivers and a host of other goodies. The irony is, all these goodies are coming out of my tax dollars. Yet, because I am single, over 30, earn a living income and already have purchased an apartment (closer to hovel when you consider property prices in PJ), I get zippo. Yes, I fall squarely in the middle class with high taxes and few reliefs or rebates (the yearly RM1,000 book rebate is one few I enjoy). The rich – who usually have their own businesses – tend to find ways to avoid paying or at least substantially reduce the amount of taxes they pay (thanks to creative accounting and undeclared income stashed overseas). But for salaried employees like me, the IRD gets first dibs on my money even before I do. It has been years since the government has shown any kindness to those like me, for whom finishing a 7-year car loan is cause for celebration – never mind that the repairs bills have been on the up and up. Also, I suspect that those in this group are among the more regular charitable donors, as they have more disposable income. You could say that, hey, you're not exactly suffering, so why do you need help? But that's not quite true. My generation bought our homes by ourselves – we did not have the luck of having our parents put down a hefty down payment for it. We left home right after school (to work or go to uni) and never moved back in. When I wanted to buy my first car, I used my savings and took a loan to buy a small, second-hand Charade. The monthy loan repayment cost RM384, a huge sum for someone pulling slightly less than a thousand salary. Nowadays, most of the twenty-somethings I know drive brand new Myvis or Protons paid for by their parents. I guess the point I am trying to make is that nothing was given to us – we worked hard to get here. And cost of living increases strike us just as hard. Escalating cost of private healthcare, and car prices that border on the ridiculous (seriously, paying 300K or more for a depreciating asset is ludicrous, unless you are very rich) are just some of the examples. We are stuck in between the rich – for whom shelling out 20K for a handbag is just a shopping footnote - and the poor who end up diluting infant formula purchased at Kedai 1Malaysia to make it last longer. We are stuck in middle class hell and it feels like all our hard-earned money is being siphoned off as handouts to special interest groups. But these kind of populist, one-off measures do nothing to improve the lot of the poor.
Read more at: http://fz.com/content/hey-wheres-my-share |
| Can PI Bala deliver anything for Pakatan? Posted: 27 Feb 2013 02:43 PM PST
I do not know what has been promised to Bala to ensure that his personal safety will be guaranteed. I do not know and I do not care because we will never know the whole truth – not even if Pakatan Rakyat is to win this coming general election. What we do know is that with the coming back of Bala to Malaysia, another nail has been hammered into Najib Tun Razak's coffin. Another nail into Umno and Barisan Nasional's coffins, too. Whether enough nails have been hammered into these coffins will not be known until after the general election – but be warned, the stakes are getting higher by the day. We know that in Malaysian politics it is a "winner takes all" situation. Everybody in the opposition and all of us who support Pakatan Rakyat – including Bala – understand what that means. And more critical so do Umno and Barisan Nasional. "Tiada maaf" for those on the losing side. So take sides if you must. All the "berani mati" foot soldiers must now take their position at the front of the army for Pakatan or BN, and be prepared to face whatever comes their way. Damaged goods For Bala, I know this: he has considered all options, financially and on a personal level. Like many others, he knows that he has to make a stand if he is to have any advantage over the result of the 13th general election. So far, we have seen that Deepak Jaikishan and Bala may have well tipped the scale against Najib on a personal level, but to what advantage to Pakatan? - See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/02/28/can-pi-bala-deliver-anything-for-pakatan/#sthash.KxDjc7td.dpuf
I do not know what has been promised to Bala to ensure that his personal safety will be guaranteed. I do not know and I do not care because we will never know the whole truth – not even if Pakatan Rakyat is to win this coming general election. What we do know is that with the coming back of Bala to Malaysia, another nail has been hammered into Najib Tun Razak's coffin. Another nail into Umno and Barisan Nasional's coffins, too. Whether enough nails have been hammered into these coffins will not be known until after the general election – but be warned, the stakes are getting higher by the day. We know that in Malaysian politics it is a "winner takes all" situation. Everybody in the opposition and all of us who support Pakatan Rakyat – including Bala – understand what that means. And more critical so do Umno and Barisan Nasional. "Tiada maaf" for those on the losing side. So take sides if you must. All the "berani mati" foot soldiers must now take their position at the front of the army for Pakatan or BN, and be prepared to face whatever comes their way. Damaged goods For Bala, I know this: he has considered all options, financially and on a personal level. Like many others, he knows that he has to make a stand if he is to have any advantage over the result of the 13th general election. So far, we have seen that Deepak Jaikishan and Bala may have well tipped the scale against Najib on a personal level, but to what advantage to Pakatan? - See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/02/28/can-pi-bala-deliver-anything-for-pakatan/#sthash.KxDjc7td.dpuf
I do not know what has been promised to Bala to ensure that his personal safety will be guaranteed. I do not know and I do not care because we will never know the whole truth – not even if Pakatan Rakyat is to win this coming general election. What we do know is that with the coming back of Bala to Malaysia, another nail has been hammered into Najib Tun Razak's coffin. Another nail into Umno and Barisan Nasional's coffins, too. Whether enough nails have been hammered into these coffins will not be known until after the general election – but be warned, the stakes are getting higher by the day. We know that in Malaysian politics it is a "winner takes all" situation. Everybody in the opposition and all of us who support Pakatan Rakyat – including Bala – understand what that means. And more critical so do Umno and Barisan Nasional. "Tiada maaf" for those on the losing side. So take sides if you must. All the "berani mati" foot soldiers must now take their position at the front of the army for Pakatan or BN, and be prepared to face whatever comes their way. Damaged goods For Bala, I know this: he has considered all options, financially and on a personal level. Like many others, he knows that he has to make a stand if he is to have any advantage over the result of the 13th general election. So far, we have seen that Deepak Jaikishan and Bala may have well tipped the scale against Najib on a personal level, but to what advantage to Pakatan? - See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/02/28/can-pi-bala-deliver-anything-for-pakatan/#sthash.KxDjc7td.dpufSo far, we have seen that Deepak and Bala may have well tipped the scale against Najib on a personal level, but to what advantage to Pakatan Rakyat? CT Ali, FMT Finally, somehow, private investigator P Balasubramaniam is back in Kuala Lumpur. I do not know how much money (if any) has been paid into what account to "persuade" PI Bala that he should become the White Knight coming to rescue the people, this nation from the plundering and pillaging of the Barisan Nasional government. I do not know what has been promised to Bala to ensure that his personal safety will be guaranteed. I do not know and I do not care because we will never know the whole truth – not even if Pakatan Rakyat is to win this coming general election. What we do know is that with the coming back of Bala to Malaysia, another nail has been hammered into Najib Tun Razak's coffin. Another nail into Umno and Barisan Nasional's coffins, too. Whether enough nails have been hammered into these coffins will not be known until after the general election – but be warned, the stakes are getting higher by the day. We know that in Malaysian politics it is a "winner takes all" situation. Everybody in the opposition and all of us who support Pakatan Rakyat – including Bala – understand what that means. And more critical so do Umno and Barisan Nasional. "Tiada maaf" for those on the losing side. So take sides if you must. All the "berani mati" foot soldiers must now take their position at the front of the army for Pakatan or BN, and be prepared to face whatever comes their way. Damaged goods For Bala, I know this: he has considered all options, financially and on a personal level. Like many others, he knows that he has to make a stand if he is to have any advantage over the result of the 13th general election. So far, we have seen that Deepak Jaikishan and Bala may have well tipped the scale against Najib on a personal level, but to what advantage to Pakatan?
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| Pakatan generals and sweaty palms Posted: 27 Feb 2013 01:05 PM PST
A rumour has surfaced that the opposition's top brass will ditch their sure-win seats to tackle more hostile constituencies in the quest to capture Putrajaya. RK Anand, FMT Pak Cik Kassim stared at his palms. The blisters and scars were testimonies to his hardship. But it was the sweat that worried him. Toiling in the farm was back-breaking labour and the returns never justified the effort. But he was grateful that Allah had given him the strength to earn an honest living. When confronted with trials and tribulations, he found solace in his faith. He had never given much thought about politics until now. In the past, whenever there was an election, he would cast his ballot for the Barisan Nasional candidate and return to work. He had heard strange rumours about this Datuk Seri and his wife but never paid much attention to such slander. To do so was a sin. But when he read the newspaper this morning, it shook him to the core, caused his palms to sweat and his fingers to tremble. He was in a dilemma, and his decision could affect both his life here on earth and his afterlife. At this point of time, it was difficult to be a Muslim in Pekan. To his horror, the newspaper had revealed that Tok Guru Nik Aziz would be contesting against Najib Tun Razak and that nagging voice in his head kept reminding him of the venerated Islamic leader's warning that those who voted for Umno would land in hell. He felt that it was wrong to brand Muslims who do not subscribe to a particular view as infidels but since he was not well-versed in the religion like Nik Aziz, he could be wrong. And that notion frightened him. Pak Cik Kassim did not want to go to hell. He was afraid of fire. Imagine if the PAS spiritual leader decided to challenge the caretaker prime minister in the latter's traditional stronghold in the coming general election. With all the skeletons said to be dangling between Najib and his wife, it would be interesting to witness Nik Aziz rummaging through their closets and pulling out bone after bone during the campaign period. And like Pak Cik Kassim, Najib's well-groomed palms would be perspiring as well. Perhaps a tad little more than the farmer's. Moving into hostile seats During times of war, generals hole up in shelters to churn out strategies and devise ridiculous code-names for the various operations to which troops would be dispatched for a rendezvous with death. As for the coming mother of all electoral battles, should she ever come, a different stratagem might be used. It was one that would place the generals in the line of fire instead. A rumour had surfaced that the top brass in the opposition bloc could step out of their respective comfort zones and move to hostile seats in their assault on the administrative capital while leaving the safe seats to the second or third echelons. Take Permatang Pauh. It was the fortress of Anwar Ibrahim and even if his neighbour's cat was nominated as the candidate, the BN hopeful would face an uphill battle in convincing the voters that he was a better choice. But that was until the last general election, when Penang was still under the rule of BN. Some observers now claim that the Malays were disenchanted with the DAP state leadership and this might affect the opposition leader's support. But to most, he was still the undisputed champion. Therefore, instead of retaining his title in the Permatang Pauh ring once again, Anwar could put on his boxing gloves for a punch-up elsewhere. Perhaps he could travel south to Lembah Pantai to knock out heavyweight and federal minister Raja Nong Chik. The latter was considered a serious contender for the seat held by Anwar's daughter, Nurul Izzah. For symbolic reasons, one observer suggested Kubang Pasu, the former seat of his arch nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad. If Anwar was victorious there, it would be a bitter pill for the doctor to swallow. With her charm and intellect, Nurul had managed to step out of her father's shadow to become a brand name in her own right. The princess of Reformasi was now a queen in the hearts of all races. Among others, she could be pitted against Umno's Oxford edition Khairy Jamaluddin, who was rumoured to be moving from Rembau to Kepala Batas, the seat which belonged to his father-in-law. Hadi versus Muhyiddin? To be fair to Najib, the opposition must ensure that Muhyiddin Yassin and the Muslim voters in Pagoh suffer from sweat-stained palms and premonitions of hell as well. This could come in the form of PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang. PAS number two Mohamad Sabu and the Mandarin-speaking Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin could train their guns on the likes of Hishammuddin Hussein and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi instead. Meanwhile, the father and son team in DAP as well as Teresa Kok and other senior leaders could embark on a mission to assassinate the political careers of MCA bigwigs, including that of Chua Tee Yong. Karpal Singh, on the other hand, could be sent to Segamat to put Dr S Subramaniam in a rocketship to the moon. Whereas DAP's Professor P Ramasamy could drive up Cameron Highlands to ensure that the MIC president, who was expected to contest there, came tumbling down the hill. Fearful of such a prospect, the rumour mills claim that G Palanivel had struck a deal with the opposition to safeguard his position. - See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/02/28/pakatan-generals-to-the-frontline/#sthash.ORTrk8Wq.dpuf
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| Suaris Interview: Future of Malays #5 Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST
We are obsessed with hudud and hijab while drug abuse and abandoned babies are rampant in our community. Why should we emphasize hudud and not zakat? We should be mandating zakat on every Muslim including the sultans. It is one of the five pillars of our faith; hudud is not. M. Bakri Musa Suaris Interview: The Future of Malays #5: It appears that you are cynical towards things labeled "Islam." Many feel that you do not subscribe to conservative Islam as practiced by the vast majority of Muslims rather the basic teachings of our faith. What is your comment? [The original was posted on suaris.wordpress.com on Feb 13, 2013.] MBM: I am a Muslim, by birth and through practice. I believe in God and Muhammad, s.a.w, as His Last Messenger, as well as the five pillars of our faith. That of course is the belief of all Muslims. What is the essence of the teachings of our Holy Koran and Prophet Muhammad, s.a.w.? Command good and forbid evil! That is repeated many times in our Koran and hadith. That too is agreed upon by all Muslims. That is the "golden rule" of our faith. I am less interested in labels, those can be easily printed. Content is something else. If a state does not subscribe to the creed of doing good and forbidding evil, then I do not consider it to be Islamic regardless of the label. It is easy to carve the names "Allah" and "Muhammad" on arches and buildings; likewise for leaders to don overflowing robes and huge turbans. The question is whether corruption, bribery, and abuse of power are deemed "avoidance of evil." Likewise, if leaders ignore the sufferings and deprivations of their citizens, could that be considered "doing good?" When I make judgment on whether a state is Islamic, those are the crucial factors, not how often the leaders have been to Mecca or how exquisite their recitation of the Koran. A Singaporean once asserted that his country is more Islamic than neighboring Indonesia. In Singapore there is no corruption or abuse of power by its leaders. Citizens too are well taken care of and not poverty stricken. Poverty invites impiety, goes an ancient wisdom, and impiety in turn leads to infidelity to our faith. Visit nearby Riau and the wisdom of that observation would be readily self evident. The abject poverty there assaults your sensibilities. We cannot blame those poor Indonesians. The Chinese too were like that when they were plagued with poverty in their not-too-distant past. Based on the foundation of our faith – command good and forbid evil – it is hard to dispute the view of the Singaporean. I do not quite understand the meaning of conservative versus liberal as applied to Islam. While I understand the meaning of those two words in their original English, in Malay those terms have acquired diametrically opposite meanings. That is why I refrain from using either. It would be more meaningful if I were to give an example of an Islamic society and leader I hold in high regards and compare both with another I would be very hesitant in emulating. It is not my place to say which one is more Islamic and would enter Paradise. Only Allah knows that, and He is not telling me or anyone else. There are fewer than 15 million Ismailis in the world, about the same number as Malays in Malaysia. Those Ismailis do not even have a country of their own, but their power, influence and contributions to the world generally and Muslim community specifically far exceed their number. Ismailis emphasize the giving of zakat (tithe), and with that money they build schools and universities, as well as invest in companies that among other things manufacture pharmaceuticals. The Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan was built only in 1985 but it is already a well known center. The Ismailis could not care less whether their women don their hijab; they are more concerned that their women be trained as doctors, teachers and engineers so they could contribute to society, to be makhlok soleh (exemplary beings). Compare them to the Talibans in Afghanistan. Taliban means students, but those students are busy burning schools and splashing acids on young girls wanting to go to school. Taliban youths are busy leaning how to use C4 explosives and high-powered AK47 rifles; young Ismailis are busy solving problems in science and calculus. A society reflects its leaders. The leader of the Ismailis is the Aga Khan. Yes, he is wealthy, raises thoroughbreds, and his father was once married to Rita Hayward, the famed American actress. The current Aga Khan however, graduated from Harvard; he leveraged his networking with American intellectuals to entice them to teach at the universities he built in Asia. The leader held in high regards by the Taliban was Osama. He too was wealthy and qualified as an engineer from a Saudi university, but he expended his wealth and skills to destroy buildings and kill people. Who better "command good and forbid evil," Aga Khan or Osama? I let readers determine whether Malay society today is closer to the Ismailis or the Taliban. Again, I leave it to readers to decide whether the Ismailis or Taliban we should emulate. We are obsessed with hudud and hijab while drug abuse and abandoned babies are rampant in our community. Why should we emphasize hudud and not zakat? We should be mandating zakat on every Muslim including the sultans. It is one of the five pillars of our faith; hudud is not. If everyone (save the poor) pay their zakat (2.5 percent of their assets), and then we employ the smartest economists and investment bankers to manage those funds, there would be no end to the good those would bring. That is exactly what the Ismailis are doing, building schools and hospitals with their zakat. What are the benefits of the Taliban's zakat? If we emphasize hudud, many would end up with their hands chopped off. Who will feed them and their families? We best demonstrate our Islamic values by not tolerating the corrupt and incompetent, as well as those who have abused our trust in them. Our Koran commands thus. Yes, we have to accept Islam in its totality; we do not have the privilege of picking and choosing only those parts that please us. The crucial question is why should we emphasize hijab and the chopping of hands but tolerate rotten education and gross corruption? What should be our priority? That reflects our values. Consider education. Hamka once said that God gave us two Korans; one, the Koran we are all familiar with; two, the universe outside and within us. For the first, Allah had given us a prophet in the person of Muhammad, s.a.w., to guide us in studying it. For the second, God had blessed us with an intellect so we could reason and distinguish between good from evil, truth from falsehood. We have an obligation to study both Korans. Scientists elucidating the secrets of the polio virus could be viewed as studying this second Koran. The result was the discovery of a vaccine that had spared millions from the devastating disease. That is "doing good." The Taliban however, view the vaccine as a poison perpetrated by the infidels. Consequently polio still afflicts many in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Again based on the golden rule of our faith, is that "doing good?" In the early centuries of our faith, our ulama did not differentiate between worldly and religious knowledge. Both ultimately originate from God. Those ancient ulama were also proficient scientists, competent physicians, and skilled mathematicians. They were as diligent in studying this second Koran as the first. Today's ulama however, totally ignore this second Koran. To them it is not worthy of study. The ummah takes their cue from the ulama; consequently, Muslims have not contributed our share for the betterment of mankind. We should be concerned with such critical issues as how to educate our young so they could make their rightful contributions to society. Do good in this world and God will look kindly upon you on the Day of Judgment. He is after all Most Just! Consider this ahadith (approximately translated): A prostitute was admitted into heaven because she once saved a dog dying of thirst by giving it water. Do you think such women wear hijabs? Another ahadith has it that a man was admitted to Heaven because he once removed a thorn from a road. If that deed was worthy of admission to Paradise, imagine the rewards for someone who actually built the road, meaning, the engineers! Again, we best demonstrate our Islamic values by building safe roads and bridges. There is no point carving "Allah" and verses of the Holy Koran on such structures if our architects and engineers are incompetent, and the roofs they designed and build would collapse in the first storm and injure many, or if their bridges have more water flowing above than below! A few years ago there was a public debate between Datuk Asri Zainal Abidin and Astora Jabat on tajdid (reform in Islam). I admire both individuals; they are among the most thoughtful. However, in that three-hour debate, they argued on the minutiae of hudud, on whether a woman's hair is considered aurat and thus must be covered. Only towards the end did a brave soul ask why we should be bothered with hijab when our nation is crippled with rampant corruption. His query was never addressed. We must reform Islam so we could address pressing social problems that now blight our society. Don't be obsessed with hijab. The typical religious discourse on radio and television or at our mosques and universities is unidirectional, from speaker to listeners. The bulk of the time would be consumed with excessive salutations and endless quotations of Koran and hadith. When both are cited, discussions would have effectively been shut down. The Koran and hadith should be the beginning, not the ending of a discussion. Consider the ahadith that says the community would be divided into 73 sects, only one of which is true and genuine. The remainder 72 would presumably be headed for Hell. How we interpret that hadith has consequences. If every ulama feels that his is the only true sect, then he would have a messianic zeal to correct the rest, with the rationale of helping them enter Heaven! That's what motivates those Taliban to splash acid on schoolgirls. Statistically speaking, you have only one chance in 73 to be correct, less than 1.5 percent! That probability should humble and motivate us to learn from the others in the hope that one of them is the one true faith! I am blessed to live in America with its freedom. I can read Shia and Ahmaddiyah literature without being harassed by religious officials. There are none in America! In Malaysia, I would be jailed without trial, treated just like the communists of yore. Would such a stand conducive to peace and understanding or breed suspicion and enmity among Muslims? Like Astora Jabat, I do not subscribe to any figh (sect). I do not as yet know which of the 73 sects is genuine. What I do know is that piety, justness and wisdom are not restricted to any community. I can still learn from the Shias, Ismailis, Salafis and Wahabis, among others, on the truth and beauty of our faith. On the Day of Judgment, we would be held accountable for our deeds on this earth. We could not give the excuse that we were merely following the teachings of this ulama or that. Our faith is blessed not to have a defined clergy class. We have to think for ourselves. We decide whether to follow the ulama who command us to hate non-Muslims and consider those Muslims whose politics we disagree with as infidels. Back to the beginning, my understanding of Islam is simple and straightforward: Command good and forbid evil. The rest are but examples and illustrations. Cont'd: Suaris Interview The Future of Malays #6: Continuing on, what is your view on PAS and its leaders? Will their policies and activities usher Malays forward?
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| Coping with inevitable Evil created by Government Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:23 PM PST
Joe Fernandez The Government continues to take solace in the fact that the vast majority of the people in the kampungs remain blissfully unaware and apparently continues to root for it under the tainted electoral system. Government borrowings, if used prudently as in the case of Singapore, is the key to the health of the financial system and the economy when coupled with foreign direct investment. Government borrowings by themselves, no matter how much, poses little systemic risk if most of it is sourced domestically as in the case of the US, the Government has the ability to repay and it (borrowings) is for prudent purposes. Otherwise, it will spook the economy no end. Foreign lenders and share market investors can cause a run on the currency as in 1997 during the Asian Financial Currency Crisis when Malaysia suffered, so we are told, from the contagion effect. Unfortunately, in Malaysia's case, we are headed for bankruptcy as an inevitability if the Barisan Nasional (BN) continues to remain in power for much longer. Ironically, the BN is saying that the Opposition will bankrupt the economy if it comes to power, indeed a belated acknowledgement of the fact that we have already reached the point of no return on the issue. There's no way that the Opposition, on its own, can bankrupt the economy in five years. The private sector is biting their nails and foreign investors are getting more jittery by the day. Things, they have decided, will get a whole lot worse before they become any better, if at all. They are tightening their purse strings and some like Tony Fernandes of Air Asia and Ananda Krishnan of Maxis have already voted with their feet after taking their businesses private. Tony F is placing his new hopes on untapped potential in Indonesia and India. In Ananda's case he re-listed locally not so long ago, amidst a scandal in India, but before long he will pull the same stunt of going private in Malaysia only to flee overseas with his cash for richer pickings. He can probably sell only to someone who can put their hands in the National Cookie Jar to pay him if he can't find anyone with deep pockets and a kamikaze mindset. Vincent Tan of Berjaya Group, emulating Ananda, wants to dispose half his assets for the right price, ostensibly to hand them over to certain charities. Selling in this market? Soon, Khazanah and other GLCs will probably be beating a path to his door with our money to pick up his assets at overpriced sums. Who's he kidding? Tan knows that Cash is King. He wants to be ready for the pickings when it comes. Syed Mokhtar al-Bukhary, a known Mahathir Mohamad nominee and crony, wants to buy Malaysia Airlines after picking up the considerable assets of Proton, selling a worthless car, at a song. This is the same stunt pulled by Tajuddin Ramli on the tax payer. History is repeating itself. How many times is Malaysia Airlines going to be sold, declared bankrupt and bailed out? They should change the script and let it go to the wall like Bank Bumiputra which became a giant Ponzi Scheme to survive for a time after it insisted on lending only to people who had no intention of paying back the huge sums they borrowed. Much of Government borrowings have been clearly siphoned off by the ruling elite to feather their own nests overseas or to save them and their cronies from financial ruin after embarking on hare-brained schemes. It seems that the Government, like a gold digger looking for the non-existent precious yellow metal in the wrong place, cannot dig itself out of the financial and budgetry hole it finds itself in. We will only know the full extent of our financial and economic malaise when the ruling party falls from grace as in Greece. Under these circumstances, much of the analysis by well-meaning do-gooders who themselves profit, directly or indirectly, from our financial follies are worse than useless. Who will remember their upbeat newspaper headlines written by ang pow journalists when we become yet another failed state? Malaysia is not too big to fail. It's too small to succeed especially when headed unfortunately at the same time by a band of self-serving scoundrels for more than half a century. It's up to the people to decide when they should act. We should be running scared, to borrow a phrase which Lee Kuan Yew used to constantly remind Singaporeans in the early years after the island republic was expelled from Malaysia in 1965. Even so, the system myopically created by the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) in Singapore carries with it the seeds of its own destruction. The PAP can no longer remain in power and the labour-intensive economy can no longer function without opening the floodgates to foreign immigrants. The PAP needs foreign votes as much as the economy needs foreign labour. It's not talking so much about the Brightest and the Best from around the world leading the way for all in the island republic. The people in Singapore, low birth rate or no lo birth rate, will no longer stand for the continuing influx of foreign labour which can only be as before at their expense. This means the economy, as it's constructed, will fail and the PAP will fall from power one way or another to allow for a new Government to restructure the economy to be free of foreign labour. Call it karma for criminally exploiting the labour force, especially Malaysians and foreigners, for so long. Switzerland, the richest country in the world and with no foreign labour, points the way for the Singapore of the future. No people want their Government to continue to create jobs for foreigners when they themselves have numerous needs unmet. In Singapore, the PAP Government lives in fear of the people. In Malaya, at least one thing is sure. The people are against indefinite BN rule. If they are convinced that the BN cannot be dethroned by the electoral and democratic process, they will take to the streets either for an Interim All-Party Government which will clean up the electoral rolls for free and fair elections; or create a Revolution as in Egypt where Mubarak used to win every presidential election. Revolution in Malaya will be the liberation of Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia. Malaysia has become weak and is getting weaker by the day as evident in the fact that we are unable to act, and act decisively, when a rag tag bunch from the Philippines seizes our territory in Lahad Datu, Sabah. The Lahad Datu intruders know that the BN Government cannot ensure the security of Sabah which is now at the mercy of the wolves in the region. We are fast becoming a laughing stock in the region with our two submarines in Sabah and yet the BN Government continues to keep up pretences instead of biting the bullet and taking the bull by the horns. We will all know what is going to happen in Sabah when the two submarines are scuttled or flee for dear life to Malaya. Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak is going beserk as his voice gets squeakier by the day in a betrayal of his deepest fears and misgivings. He convinces no one and no wonder his popularity continues to fall, 61 per cent now compared with the 74 per cent enjoyed by his ill-fated predecessor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in 2008. Mahathir, the Architect of All Evil in Malaysia, is trying to convince the people that any Government head by the Opposition will be (as) corrupt and that nepotism, cronyism and collusion will (also) be the order of the day. So, is he suggesting that we keep BN as the lesser of two evils? So-called social scientist Dr Chandra Muzzafar, another Malayalee, thinks that corruption will not end with a change of Government. In short, he seems to be shamelessly suggesting like Mahathir that it's better to keep the BN warts and all. Where are his principles? Since when did he sell his soul from a future reincarnation as well to the devil (Mahathir)? Between Najib, Mahathir and Chandra, the future of the BN is being prophesised.
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| Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:46 AM PST
Mohsin Abdullah, fz.com SEVERAL more retired armed forces "big wigs" are said to be joining Pakatan Rakyat anytime soon. This however cannot be independently verified. But what we do know is that the four retired high-ranking officers who joined PKR recently are already hitting the ceramah circuit with "guns blazing"(pardon the expression) against what they say are "irregularities, corruption and abuse of power of the BN regime". The four are Datuk Abdul Ghafir Abdul Hamid, Datuk Abdul Hadi Abdul Khatab, Datuk Najmi Ahmad and Imran Abdul Hamid – ranked from General to Lt General to Admiral. All had held high and important posts when serving the forces. The main target group is definitely the men and women of the Malaysian Armed Forces. There are some 161,000 personnel and spouses eligible to vote in the upcoming general election. Add that to the number of retired personnel, we'll have a massive figure to say the least. And don't forget the spouses. The four retired generals are attracting attention. So far. Take the ceramah held in Keramat Wangsa in Kuala Lumpur a couple of weeks ago. It was well attended. A strategist closely linked to the Umno president's office put the crowd at "around 3,000". He had gone to the ceramah "to see and study the situation". So what were his "observations"? One was "the four generals are not whole-heartedly with Anwar – more of personal issues with the government and the BN leadership". Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was present at the ceramah. "Of the four generals, three are more Islam centric. They should be at PAS ceramah, not PKR. Wrong place," said the Umno strategist. Except for Abdul Hadi Khatab, the other three donned kopiah and were attired like PAS leaders. The strategist went on to say "ceramah did not have much traction in the area. Mostly outsiders came but not many non-Malays attended. Maintain same issues, Scorpene, missing jet engines etc, no meat." The venue for the ceramah was in the vicinity, so to speak of Mindef and a military camp. Obviously meeting the "criteria of the Pakatan's target group". What more, the issues brought up – Scorpene, jet engines are all said to be close to the heart of armed forces personnel". The strategist was right that many outsiders came, considering there were armed forces personnel in the crowd. Chances are they had come from the nearby military quarters and Mindef. And as admitted by the Umno strategist "they were overawed by the presence of Najmi Ahmad". Najmi was former director for the armed forces religious corp or Kagat and brother of PAS leader-turned-Umno man Datuk Nakhaie Ahmad. "Najmi... yes, he might be a little bit of problem," said the Umno strategist. But said the Umno strategist, of the four generals "Abdul Hadi Khatab is the fiercest but lacks oratory skills and is repetitive in his arguments. He said he will reveal all after the election. What for? Reveal now if he really has the facts. Talk rubbish." Abdul Hadi Khatab had promised to expose more "scandals in the armed forces" after the election "so that action can be taken". His supporters believed he was talking in the context of Pakatan coming into power after the election. However, flyers alleging Abdul Hadi Khatab's "involvement" in the missing jet engine issue have been widely distributed. But the retired general countered by saying "all these allegations came only after I joined PKR". To a retired army major, "Umno/BN are very worried with this development."
Read more at: http://fz.com/content/war-military-votes |
| Is Pakatan Really Ready To Rule? Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:42 AM PST
Would voters blindly vote for Pakatan parties without knowing who will be the country's leader if the opposition coalition happens to win? We will have to wait and see.
Syed Zahar, Malaysian Digest EVERY Malaysian is well aware that the pending 13th General Election (GE13) would be the best chance for Pakatan Rakyat to take over the Federal Government. In terms of odds, many are saying that the possibility is 50-50 while others insist the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) will have no chance in reclaiming their traditional two-thirds majority in Parliament.
The extent of the loss of confidence in BN is arguable but the signs are there. For one, many agree that, despite the extensive time, money and effort spent on media campaign, particularly in the cyberspace battleground, the ruling coalition is losing its ground in the propaganda game.
In the run-up to the crucial polls, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had been going around stating that BN is going to win big in Penang and Kedah, but the reality is, the decision on who will end up ruling any state lies in the hands of the voters. So, it's always a better bet to listen to the voters rather than politicians to know the truth on who voter favors in the run-up for polls. Muhyiddin is anything but disillusioned, however, at this point of time, the deputy BN chairman's far-fetched statements are seen by those who know better as desperate attempts to propagate BN's confidence.
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| Pakatan: Life beyond Anwar Ibrahim Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:27 PM PST
Ooi Kok Hin, The Malaysian Insider Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim flirted with his smartphone throughout the Fourth Pakatan Rakyat Convention on Monday. The fact that he took the convention so nonchalantly and let others run the show is a sign of how much things have changed in the opposition camp. Back in 1999 when DAP, PAS and Keadilan first formed a pact, the Barisan Alternatif, he was the shadowy overarching figure behind bars. Anwar Ibrahim, the man, was the glue, the purpose and the Messiah. Anwar is so deeply intertwined with the very existence of Pakatan and its predecessor that many people couldn't imagine how Pakatan can move together when Anwar is no longer around. However, while the former deputy prime minister is still a very influential leader, Pakatan has outgrown the man. The Making of Anwar and Pakatan To know how Pakatan can take on a life of its own beyond the PKR de facto leader, we have to understand why Anwar is so important at first. He's able to play the mediator role like no other politician, and in no small part, this is due to the fact that he and Tok Guru Abdul Hadi Awang has known each other for more than 30 years since their days in Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (ABIM). In fact Anwar was so closely associated with PAS in his youth days and him joining Umno was seen as an act of betrayal by some. But the bond they once shared was not broken, in fact resurrected in 1999. Anwar's relationship with PAS is a clue to understanding his political journey. He understands PAS's ideology, its values and its history. He knows how things work according to the party's tradition. Hence he is able to fit in and accepted by most leaders and members, discounting those who have personal feud with him or find his history in Barisan Nasional too much to swallow. The same principle applies to his association with DAP. Anwar's ability to churn out verses from the Quran is as good as his ability to quote Shakespeare and Edmund Burke. He's incredibly informed about secular and democratic principles which are cherished by the DAP. DAP's leaders and supporters have no better representation of an ideal Muslim-Democrat than Anwar, the Newsweek's Asian of the Year in 1998. This is no small matter in demonstrating why he's able to fit in. He understands them and they accept him as a man who knows their tradition and values. This is someone they can trust. That is also the main reason Anwar Ibrahim is Pakatan's prime minister candidate as agreed by Tok Guru Nik Aziz Nik Mat, Lim Kit Siang and well, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail. Hadi Awang is the preferred candidate by some in PAS but that's precisely the limit of that claim. Lim Guan Eng is even more unlikely. This is something worth clarifying. It is not that a non-Malay cannot become prime minister. It is constitutionally legal as Article 43 makes no prohibition on this matter. But the prime minister must be someone trusted not only by the majority in Parliament but also by his or her political allies from the top to grassroots level. A non-Malay or/and a female will only become prime minister when he or she gains such trust on a large scale, like Barack Obama. And of course, good governance, fluency in the national language and appreciation of Islamic values improve one's chances. Beyond the man On December 2010, Anwar did not speak at the Second Pakatan Rakyat Convention. The rejuvenation process has started without many of us noticing. Anwar was planting trees under whose shadows he would not sit. It seemed that his colleagues and him agreed that it was necessary to not be over-dependent on him and hence let others take to the platform and shine. Over the last four years, we have seen the result of such deliberate strategy through the younger batch of leaders like Rafizi Ramli, Tony Pua and Mujahid Yusof Rawa who are playing more important roles. Faces which we barely recognize years ago are now the key spokespersons for their parties. Just like how Anwar, Hadi Awang and their cohorts first developed their association, Pakatan's next generation leaders are having the same, in fact more opportunity to cultivate trust and bonds. After five or more years of working together in their 30s and 40s, the crucial years in which one's political career, they must have established at least a working, if not a much appreciated relationship. More of such cross-party collaboration, understanding and unity are catalysts for creating trust among those young leaders. Indeed there are much more dynamic cross-party interaction and cooperation in Pakatan than ever before, especially in Selangor. At the Shah Alam Convention Centre, Rafizi, Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad and M. Kulasegaran presented the coalition's new election manifesto. Pakatan's decision to let the next generation leaders craft and deliver the manifesto is a clever one. Indeed this is something Barisan must learn. Celebrated football coach Jose Mourinho said, "Individuals don't win you trophies. Teams win you trophies."
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| Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:19 PM PST
PKR deputy president Azmin Ali disclosed that once the Pakatan Rakyat is in power, the New Economic Policy (NEP) will be replaced by a non-racial economic policy. It shows that Pakatan Rakyat knows the crux of economic stagnation. In addition to changing the policy, however, there should also be reforms in economic structure to release economic potential, increase the people's incomes and alleviate the burden of life. Lim Sue Goan, My Sinchew Pakatan Rakyat has unveiled its election manifesto even before the Parliament is dissolved, reflecting the opposition pact's high degree of confidence. The manifesto is divided into four parts, namely The People's Well-being; The Fraternity of the People; The People's Economy; and The People's Government. Commitments under the People's Well-being alone are attractive, including abolishing toll charges and the AES while lowering fuel prices, car prices, as well as water and electricity prices. It seems like the Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto has further implemented the welfare state idea of PAS. However, the country and the people have been caught in the middle-income trap with stagnated political reforms, declining management performances, rising cost of living and increasing number of livelihood problems. Pakatan Rakyat must explain how it will settle these problems once it is in power. Pakatan Rakyat has put forward some new ideas in economic and government transformations, such as creating one million of jobs in plantation, manufacturing and service sectors. It would also like to reduce one million of foreign workers by the fifth year after taking over the office. It is our first political party or coalition to include the target of reducing the number of foreign workers in election manifesto. However, the key lies on execution. PKR deputy president Azmin Ali disclosed that once the Pakatan Rakyat is in power, the New Economic Policy (NEP) will be replaced by a non-racial economic policy. It shows that Pakatan Rakyat knows the crux of economic stagnation. In addition to changing the policy, however, there should also be reforms in economic structure to release economic potential, increase the people's incomes and alleviate the burden of life. Pakatan Rakyat is quite forward-looking in government transformation, which has been neglected by Barisan Nasional. It includes the commitment to reform the judicial system, Attorney-General's Chambers, MACC and the police force to free them from political interference. The Parliament will also be reformed to enhance its overseeing function. All one sided regulations and laws limiting media freedom will also be repealed, including the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 ( UUCA) will also be repealed. In fighting for swing votes, Pakatan Rakyat also promised to stop the operation of Lynas rare-earth refinery and review the Refinery and Petrochemical Integrated Development (RAPID) project in Pengerang, directly hitting BN's vital spot. Pakatan Rakyat also promised to recognise the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC). The BN might face difficulties in gaining Chinese votes if it does not announce the recognition for the UEC before the election. Pakatan Rakyat is also concerned about law and order, as well as public transport. However, there is a fly in the ointment as no specific strategy to fight housing price rise is mentioned. The manifesto of Pakatan Rakyat is close to the people and it will indeed pressure BN. In fact, BN is also aware of its governance weaknesses. That is why Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak introduced the Government Transformation Plan (GTP) covering seven National Key Result Area (NKRA), namely reducing crime, fighting corruption, improving student outcomes, raising living standards of low income households, improving rural basic infrastructure, improving urban public transport and addressing cost of living. The coverage of the seven NKRAs is similar to Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto, but the standards of some areas have not yet been achieved. If Najib wishes to fight for the return of votes with this transcript, he should then work harder, particularly in terms of livelihood issues. I hope that the Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto can drive a healthy competition between the confronting coalitions, particularly in terms of policy, as well as political and economic transformations, instead of encouraging them to continue competing in social welfare which diverts the focus and cause their election manifestos to lose meaning.
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| Can SUPP rise to the challenge? Posted: 26 Feb 2013 11:07 AM PST
Ng Ai Fern, fz.com THE absence of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) Sibu branch chairman Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh at the recent Chap Goh Mei celebration in Kuching on Feb 21 caught the attention of many political observers, including the guest-of-honour Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak. In an apparent reference to party strongman Wong, Najib, in his speech said he would like SUPP to "play your part". Agreeing with the views of Pehin Sri (Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud), Najib said SUPP must be united, "you must set aside some of your personal differences, and become one unit. Only with the unity of SUPP, can you command the support and respect of the Chinese community." He then exhorted the party to prove it can be strong once more. "SUPP must rise to the challenge. SUPP must be the party of choice for the Chinese community, that is what we hope and that is what Pehin Sri hopes as well," said Najib, who celebrated the joyous occasion for the first time with some 10,000 people in Kuching. Despite Najib's clarion call, can the reconciliation of the different factions in SUPP help the party rise up to the challenge? Can SUPP once again be a force in Sarawak politics? Party infighting Briefly, the internal tussles within SUPP, Sarawak United People's Party – the oldest political party in Sarawak – began seven years ago after the party's dismal performance in the 2006 state election. It was between the then president Tan Sri George Chan and Wong, who was the deputy secretary-general at that time. In the last party election in 2011, Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui was elected as the new president, after Wong and his group staged a walkout. Wong and his group, who comprise the majority of SUPP's elected representatives, claim that Chin's election and that of his office bearers was not valid because of irregularities during the branch elections. He has since refused to work with the new president. The quarrel between Wong and Chin is also being perceived as a tug-of-war between the state BN leadership and its Federal counterpart. Chin is the federal Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister, while Wong is the Minister of Local Government and Community Development, the only full minister from SUPP in the state cabinet. Chan, who is now the party's advisor, was present at the Chap Goh Mei dinner. As noted by a veteran journalist, it would have been news if Wong Soon Koh was present. All's well with PM and CM During the dinner, both Taib and Najib appeared very much in sync, both in their attire (they were wearing identical red colour Chinese shirts) and in their message. Taib asked the people to give a stronger mandate to Najib, like in 2008, or greater. Najib, in return, said BN would work with closely with Sarawak BN under the leadership of Taib to ensure Sarawakians can enjoy a brighter future. After tossing the yee sang, Najib immediately served the colourful dish to Taib, who was sitting on his right, while his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor simultaneously served Taib's wife Puan Sri Ragad Kurdi. Mindful political observers had not forgotten that less than two years ago before the state election in April 2011, Najib had announced a succession plan for Taib – a move that was widely believed orchestrated to get the support of the Chinese. This was due to the community's strong negative sentiment against the longest-serving chief minister and the corruption allegations that have dogged him. However, the announced succession plan – which Taib refused to acknowledge – did little to win over the Chinese electorate. In the 2011 elections, SUPP suffered a big blow, losing 13 of the 19 seats they contested in to DAP and PKR. Many senior politicians lost to DAP's new faces, including the then deputy chief minister Chan. All the election promises, grand development and economic transformation plans, as well as concerts with free Tupperware, lucky draws, free 1Malaysia goodies and many others that were generously given out during the campaign period did little to win over Chinese support. This time around, BN has changed tact. Read more at: http://fz.com/content/can-supp-rise-challenge
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| How Malaysia Press Ignored 'Gangnam Style' Pratfall Ahead of Elections Posted: 26 Feb 2013 10:59 AM PST
Newspapers such as The New Straits Times, The Star and My Sin Chew are linked to governing parties, and for the most part omitted any sense that the Psy gig -- seen by many as an electioneering stunt -- could have backfired. Simon Roughneed, MediaShift On Feb. 17, Malaysia's still-influential former Prime Minister Mahithir Mohamed weighed in on an ongoing debate about freedom of the press in Malaysia, a rising Southeast Asian economy. "Frankly I would rather have the government censoring me ... [I]f I don't like what the government is doing, I can work for the rejection of the party which forms the government. But there is nothing I can do to stop people who may wish to deprive me of my freedom through the alternative media," wrote Mahathir on his blog. He was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, the longest such stint in Malaysia's history. Mahathir was reacting to videos posted online showing sections of the crowd mocking current Prime Minister Najib Razak at a Chinese New Year event in Penang, an electronics hub and tourist draw in Malaysia's northwest. Mahathir's comments come as Malaysia gears up for a national election due sometime in the first half of 2013, with the country's print and online media both slated in various quarters for partisan coverage. ARE YOU READY?The prime minister was warming the crowd up for the appearance of Psy, the Korean pop star, who flew in for the event at the invitation of Malaysia's governing parties, which are getting ready for parliamentary elections. Asking three times if the crowd was ready for Psy, Najib was met with a resounding round of "yes." He followed up by asking, again three times, "Are you ready for BN? (BN stands for Barisan Nasional, the governing coalition in Malaysia)." Sections of the crowd in Penang, an opposition stronghold, yelled back "No!" as you can clearly hear in this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=GxjjmnxlCUc But going by some of the coverage in Malaysia's long-established print press, you would not think the prime minister was on the end of such a rebuke, lighthearted as it was. Newspapers such as The New Straits Times, The Star and My Sin Chew are linked to governing parties, and for the most part omitted any sense that the Psy gig -- seen by many as an electioneering stunt -- could have backfired.
"People from all walks of life gathered for the festive event that saw Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak conveying well-wishes to all Malaysians celebrating the Lunar New Year," reported the New Straits Times. For Keng Khai, from Penang, the event was all about Psy. Speaking an hour before the Korean took to the stage, he told MediaShift that "we're here for Gangnam, I think most people are," acknowledging however that he supports Malaysia's opposition parties. MOON-WALKINGSuch reporting is suggestive of how local newspapers have long been kept on a short leash by Malaysia's press licensing system, which until recently required publications to apply annually for a permit renewal. That provision, which critics said prompted self-censorship as publications feared that licenses could be revoked if the government took umbrage at unfavorable coverage, was amended last year. However, Malaysia's government can still revoke a license if a newspaper prints anything deemed "prejudicial to security, morality, public order public interest or national interest." Ross Tapsell, of Australian National University, told MediaShift that "critics have since labelled this 'moon-walking,' giving the illusion of moving forward but actually doing a backpedal that goes nowhere. And while the government has enhanced civil liberties in a number of areas in recent years, there are concerns about an April 2012 amendment to Malaysia's Evidence Act, which makes online publications liable for comments made by third parties. While anonymous or pseudonymous "cyber-troopers" often post partisan remarks on stories published online, a phenomenon that should be reined-in, say some, the introduction of "intermediary liability" for third-party comments is making editors and moderators increasingly likely to block, edit or delete any and all remarks that could land the website owners in trouble, such as questioning the place of Islam in Malaysian law or insulting the country's royalty. BIAS IN REVERSEWatching for such comments is a new concern for online news outlets -- who though not entwined by the licensing restrictions around print-only counterparts -- have been accused of acting as echo chambers for opposition policies. However, a slight majority of Malaysian news readers interviewed by MediaShift do not regard online media as pro-opposition. "I don't think the likes of Kini (Malaysiakini) are biased," said Wong Siong Kiat, a 33-year-old engineer. "The government has control of the other papers so we have to read around." K. Kabilan is editor of FreeMalaysiaToday, an online news and comment publication. He told MediaShift that there are several reasons why online media can come across as opposition-leaning. "The reforms sought by the online media are almost similar to what the opposition wants. As such, there seems to be a common cause between the two," he acknowledged. Kabilan says that the opposition has little option but to pitch its message to Internet-based news outlets. "The print media has denied total access to the opposition, leaving them only the online media to reach out to," he pointed out. Malaysia is formally a democracy, but critics say that incumbency tilts the playing field toward the BN, as seen in the pro-government leanings of the print media. The BN, which means National Front in English, has ruled nonstop since independence from Great Britain in 1957, overseeing Malaysia's rise from poor country in the post-independence era, to "upper middle income" today, with a per head gross domestic product of around $8,000 and having the 30th biggest economy in the world, by U.S. government measurements. Read more at: http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2013/02/how-malaysia-press-ignored-gangnam-style-pratfall-ahead-of-elections057.html
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