Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News
Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News |
- Jeffrey wants Orang Asal, Allies as ‘Force to be Reckoned With’ in mainstream politics
- Sabah security in fits-and-starts
- Who knows what the truth is these days?
- When Musa said what he said
- Lahad Datu – a bizarre crisis
- Waiting to gobble up Selangor
| Jeffrey wants Orang Asal, Allies as ‘Force to be Reckoned With’ in mainstream politics Posted: 15 Mar 2013 04:55 PM PDT
Joe Fernandez Activists from Sabah strongman Jeffrey Kitingan's various NGOs are mercilessly bludgeoning both sides of the political divide, even mosquito parties, with sledgehammers of sorts. Apparently, Jeffrey is leaving nothing to chance as the countdown to the 13th General Elections is set to begin after the Christmas and New Year festive cheers. This is politics in the jungle at its best. Jeffrey's inner circle points out that even if the other Opposition and ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) "did not ask for it", they would be "morally obliged to make mincemeat of all those who are against the Agenda Borneo". The Agenda Borneo, in a nutshell, stands against everything that the "agenda parti parti Malaya in Borneo" or "Agenda Malaya" stands for in Sabah and Sarawak. The Borneon in Jeffrey alleges that the Agenda Malaya is a thinly-disguised policy of internal colonisation in Sabah and Sarawak, waged against the Orang Asal in particular -- Murut and Dusun including Kadazan or urban Dusun in Sabah and Dayak in Sarawak -- and Borneons in general. Jeffrey accuses Peninsular Malaysia-based coalitions and local parties aligned to them of stealing seats in Parliament which belong to the "Nations in Borneo" to further facilitate internal colonisation policies. Sabah and Sarawak, he never tires of pointing out during his Borneo Tea Party sessions, were pledged a minimum one third plus one parliamentary seats under the Malaysia Agreement and other constitutional documents. In short, both BN and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) should stay out of the fray in Sabah and Sarawak.
Towards this end, as Daniel John Jambun put it starkly in a statement earlier this week, his fellow activists are pledged to literally chase out the Malayan parties and their local allies from Borneo. Daniel is Deputy Chairman of the United Borneo Front (UBF), an ad hoc apolitical human rights NGO movement working across the political divide in Sabah and Sarawak. UBF activists will contest the 13th GE under the symbol and flag of the State Reform Party (Star), a Borneo-based national political party pledged to put a 3rd Force in the Malaysian Parliament "to steer evenly between BN and PR". The thrust of Jeffrey's politics, one long flogged by him, is to bring back the Orang Asal in particular as a force to be reckoned with in the mainstream of Malaysian politics. This is easier said than done. Successive administrations in Putrajaya have systematically marginalized and disenfranchised the Orang Asal. One way, in Sabah, has been by Putrajaya allegedly padding the electoral rolls with the names of illegal immigrants issued MyKads by the backdoor.
Sinister move to reduce Orang Asal, Christians in Malaysia To add insult to injury, non-Muslims with bin or binte in their names are routinely, by a policy directive, being classified by the National Registration Department (NRD) in Putrajaya as Islam on the face of their MyKads. Those who protest are advised by NRD in writing to get a Ruling from the Syariah Court that they are "no longer Muslims". The NRD emphasis is on "no longer Muslims" and on "not Muslims". The manner in which the NRD words its advice in writing on getting the said Ruling, makes it virtually impossible for the Syariah Court to issue a "no longer Muslim" Ruling. It was estimated by a former Sabah Attorney General, not so long ago in one newspaper statement, that no less than 600,000 Dusun are missing from official statistics "in a move designed to reduce the number of Orang Asal and Christians" in Malaysia. Jeffrey stands accused of dividing the Orang Asal further through his politics. He has denied the charges in stressing that absolute unity might be an impractical goal somewhat "given the fact that various Orang Asal parties themselves are willing to be stooges to the local proxies of Putrajaya". Instead, the Star chairman is more focused on denying both BN and PR the 112 seats that they would need to form a Federal Government with a simple majority. For this, he doesn't need absolute Orang Asal unity. He has pledged to do this (deny 112 seats) by, among others, taking away Orang Asal seats held by parties other than the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), indisputably the premier force par excellence among the original inhabitants of Sabah.
Star accused of being pro-BN, financed by it Star is prepared to support either BN or PR, but not both, in Parliament to form a Federal Government with a working majority. The party does not see itself as being part of the Federal Cabinet of such a Government. However, it wants a third of other Government positions, according to party strategists, if the Federal Government comes to power with its support in Parliament. PR has gone to town with Star's admission that BN stands an equal chance of forming the Federal Government as the Opposition Alliance. This is being propagated by PR as Star being pro-BN or even worse being financed by it. This beating of the drums of war by PR may be fuelled by its fears that BN, as the incumbent, may stand a better chance of forming the Federal Government with Star's support in Parliament. One factor, it's said, is PBS President Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Jeffrey's elder brother in politics. Star only sees itself as being in the Federal Cabinet when it can initiate, form and lead the Federal Government on its own accord. The party's strategists reckon that Star and allies like Hindraf Makkal Sakthi would need 50 parliamentary seats at the very minimum to head the Federal Government as the minority partner to either BN or PR as the majority partner. The party insists on holding the Prime Minister's post as the minimum condition in a Federal Government headed by it. That might be some way down the road. As an alternative to denying both BN and PR 112 seats in Parliament, Star favours the 45 per cent minorities in Malaysia -- the component of the population divided by geography, economics, ethnicity, language, culture and religion -- heading a Federal Government in alliance with a moderate third of the 55 per cent majority community who are united by language (Malay) and religion (Islam). Moderate, in Star's language, means NO to a list of issues: hudud, Syariah, Islamisation, ketuanan Melayu, the Prime Minister's post being held permanently by Muslims, non-Muslims being forced to become Muslims, and internal colonisation.
Star leaders delusional, biting off more than they can chew, say critics Moderation among Muslims, in the Star language, also means secularism, diversity in the Government sector, freedom, democracy and respect for human rights. Critics say that Star leaders are delusional, or at the very least, are biting off more than they can chew. In Star's defence, it can be said that Putrajaya's politics of putting its hand in the National Cookie Jar under various guises has caught up with the powers that be to haunt their future. Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's reported US$ 44 billion wealth salted away in Japan and other locations abroad and a damaging international report on Malaysia suffering US$ 200 billion flight of dirty money last year alone are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Historical opportunity for Sabah, Sarawak to right wrongs by Putrajaya Not surprisingly, the 55 majority community is irreversibly split with Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Pas and Democratic Action Party having sizeable portions of the Malay vote bank with them in Peninsular Malaysia. Umno, at best, commands no more than 45 per cent of the Malay vote bank, with the rest held by the three opposition parties and fence sitters who are neither for BN or PR. The 45 per cent still with Umno is expected to be considerably whittled down by the 13th GE if Prime Minister Mohd Najib Abdul Razak does not move against Mahathir over his reported ill-gotten gains and remove him from the political equation. The more that Mahathir pontificates sanctimoniously in public, the worse it will be for Umno come the 13th GE. Star sees the political disunity and divisions in Peninsular Malaysia as a God-sent historical opportunity for Sabah and Sarawak to emerge as Nations in Malaysia in line with their choosing independence as their self- etermination on 31 Aug 1963 and 22 July 1963 respectively. Malaysia, as Jeffrey preaches, will remain an aberration in Borneo for the Orang Asal in particular so long as the Nation status of Sabah and Sarawak in the Federation are ignored by Putrajaya and the "States in Malaya".
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| Sabah security in fits-and-starts Posted: 15 Mar 2013 04:12 PM PDT
It appears that the reason why Malaysian security forces have been slow in responding to the Lahad Datu intrusion and Standoff may be more due to the fact that the PMD was solely responsible for security in Sabah. Joe Fernandez Sabah security in fits-and-starts just won't do. We are now told that the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) will be responsible for security along the newly-created Eastern Sabah Security Command (ESSCOM) stretching from Kudat in the North to Tawau in the south-east corner, past the wolf's mouth segment on the map of the territory. Mindef takes over from the all-powerful Prime Minister's Department (PMD) which had hitherto been apparently responsible for security in Sabah. Indeed, it appears that the reason why Malaysian security forces have been slow in responding to the Lahad Datu intrusion and Standoff may be more due to the fact that the PMD was solely responsible for security in Sabah. Both these items, Mindef and PMD, are news to Sabahans and probably most Malaysians. The PMD, according to 2010 figures, employed 43,544 people and had a budget of RM 3.9 billion. It was a hyper ministry but labeled Department, a misnomer. We still don't know whether the PMD would be responsible for security in the rest of Sabah and who is responsible for the security situation in neighbouring Sarawak which has a long border, albeit for the most part difficult mountainous terrain in jungled territory, with Kalimantan.
Nur Misuari should be given benefit of the doubt In any case the PMD has no business getting involved directly in security matters, internal and security, except through the National Security Council (NSC) headed by the Prime Minister. Is it any wonder therefore that the intelligence services, both Special Branch and Military, have been caught "napping" in a way on the Lahad Datu intrusion by terrorists from the nearby Sulu islands. In fact, they were not napping at all. They weren't responsible for the security of Sabah. No wonder illegal immigrants continued flooding into Sabah over the decades as Putrajaya, by all accounts, looked the other way. One exception was the period after the Sipadan hostage incident in 1999-2000 when Ramli Yusuff became Commissioner of Sabah from 2001- 2004. Upon the specific instructions of then Chief Minister (2001-2003) Chong Kah Kiat, Ramli formed a Special Task Force with Army Commander of Sabah, Brig-Gen Mohd Yassin, to expel thousands of illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia in particular. On another score, we must take Nur Misuari's statements on Malaysia's involvement in training the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) seriously. Of course, it's an open secret in Sabah that not only Malaysia but Libya from the days of the Mustapha regime has been arming the MNLF. But this is the first time that Nur Misuari himself has directly admitted what has been only openly talked about in the warongs for decades. Between Nur Misuari's admission and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad's outright self-serving denial, the benefit of the doubt can be given to the former.
Parliament should act on Eastern Sabah Security Zone Taking the announcement on ESSCOM at face value, it seems that not everything is above board. It has often been said that a Government, on paper, has the power to do anything, even the "illegal" if necessary, and detractors can resort to the Court by way of an Application for Leave to secure a Judicial Review either by Mandamus (to compel) or Certiorari (to squash) any errant Government decision by administrative law – not law at all but policy in action -- on any matters of state. Questions abound! Under the Federal Constitution, the Prime Minister has no legislative power, not even in an emergency situation, points out Star chairman Jeffrey Kitingan, for one. Apparently, the power lies with the Yang Di Pertuan Agong and Parliament. Under Article 150, "if the Yang Di Pertuan Agong is satisfied that a grave emergency exists whereby the security, or the economic life, or public order in the Federation or any part thereof is threatened, he may issue a Proclamation of Emergency making therein a declaration to that effect." Under Article 149, it is for Parliament to pass the necessary laws if there is any "action has been taken or threatened by any substantial body of persons, whether inside or outside the Federation -…(f) which is prejudicial to public order in, or the security of, the Federation or any part thereof,"
Long-term diplomatic and political solution for Sabah The area from Kudat to Tawau involves 11 Parliamentary seats and 27 state seats. The Parliamentary seats affect the whole of Malaysia, not just Sabah. No doubt the internal security problems and international issues facing Sabah, including the claim to Sabah or parts of it by the Philippines and/or Sulu, culminated in the Lahad Datu Standoff. Sabah requires require a long-term diplomatic and political solution, not a military one, a point which is gathering consensus among most people in the state. The United Nations (UN), whose Secretary-General has urged the Malaysian government to find an amicable solution in the wake of Lahad Datu, should be brought in to help resolve issues involving Sabah in Malaysia. No Referendum was held on Malaysia in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Malaya. The Cobbold Commission was not a Referendum of the people but a sampling survey of community leaders with only Suluk and Bajau leaders agreeing to Malaysia. The Malayan and British Governments dragged Sabah and Sarawak into Malaysia on 16 Sept, 1963 AFTER both Nations had obtained their independence on 31 Aug, 1963 and 22 July, 1963 respectively. Security in Malaysia, for Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei, -- against the crocodiles in the region viz. Philippines and Indonesia -- was an afterthought when it emerged that others were reaping the real benefits of Federation and not the people in Borneo: Britain could consolidate its commercial empire in the region through Malaysia; Singapore obtained independence through merger with Malaya via Malaysia; and the Malaya-led and dominated Federal Government virtually had unlimited access to the resources and revenue of three potentially rich Nations in Borneo. Brunei staying out of Malaysia at the 11th hour floored the argument that the Orang Asal populations of Borneo were needed to facilitate the merger between Chinese-majority Singapore and non-Malay majority Malaya. Not surprisingly, Singapore was expelled from Malaysia two years later as the Malay-speaking communities in Malaya felt demographically threatened by Singapore despite the added numbers of the Orang Asal in Sabah and Sarawak. However, Sabah and Sarawak were not likewise allowed to exit Malaysia. These and other matters, including the so-called Sulu claim, should be resolved by the UN Security Council lest there be an even greater flare-up in Borneo one day when the Orang Asal react violently against their marginalization and disenfranchisement given the continuing influx of illegal immigrants into their countries.
Joe Fernandez is a mature student of law and an educationist, among others, who loves to write especially Submissions for Clients wishing to Act in Person. He feels compelled, as a semi-retired journalist, to put pen to paper -- or rather the fingers to the computer keyboard -- whenever something doesn't quite jell with his weltanschauung (worldview). He shuttles between points in the Golden Heart of Borneo formed by the Sabah west coast, Labuan, Brunei, northern Sarawak and the watershed region in Borneo where three nations meet.
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| Who knows what the truth is these days? Posted: 15 Mar 2013 04:06 PM PDT
Kee Thuan Chye How do you decide what is truth and what is falsehood as the build-up to Malaysia's 13th general election heats up? So many bizarre twists and turns have emerged in recent days that Malaysians must be in a state of shock and awe. First, businessman Deepak Jaikishan openly alleged that Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor were involved in forcing private investigator P. Balasubramaniam to make a second statutory declaration to contradict his first, which had implicated Najib in the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu. Then Bala returned from exile earlier this year to affirm that he stood by his first statutory declaration, reinforcing the revelations made by Deepak about how the second declaration came about. The latest twist is Azlan Mohd Lazim's announcement that Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is innocent of the charge of having sodomised Azlan's son, and that Anwar is the victim of a political conspiracy. Taking everyone by surprise, including apparently Saiful as well, the father attests that his son was "used by several unscrupulous individuals", including a special officer of Najib's, to tarnish Anwar's image. READ: Saiful's father joins PKR, defends Anwar READ: Saiful's dad apologises to Anwar, says son was 'used' Saiful, however, disputes his father's testimony. He stands by his accusation of Anwar, which had led to the Sodomy II trial, debunks the claim of political conspiracy, and insists that it is his father who is being used. He actually lashes out at Anwar and warns him not to "use my father to twist the truth, no matter how desperate you are". Is Anwar desperate? He was acquitted of the charge by the High Court in January last year, but the attorney-general appealed, and the hearing has been scheduled for July 22. By that date, the general election should be over, and if Anwar's coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, is in control of Putrajaya then, he might be able to get his new attorney-general to quash the case, but if it isn't, he could be in for troubled times. If the Court of Appeal finds him guilty and subsequently, upon his expected appeal, the Federal Court upholds the verdict, he could be shut away for years. In that sense, he might truly be anxious – if 'desperate' is too strong a word – to avoid being in the soup. But then again, would getting Azlan to denounce Saiful's claim be of any help to Anwar at the appeal hearing itself? Unless Azlan is called as a witness and has new evidence to clear Anwar, his denunciation will be of no consequence in court. The only value it may have for now is in creating a perception among the public that Anwar is indeed innocent and a political victim, as this would boost his image and help his coalition's chances at the polls. But even so, discerning Malaysians are already waxing sceptical about Azlan's sudden turnaround. He was, after all, quite forceful in urging the attorney-general to file an appeal after Anwar's acquittal. They are also questioning his motive and the timing of his announcement. And why he was accompanied at his press conference by Johari Abdul, an Opposition member of Parliament. Such circumstantial indicators promote speculation that the coalition might have engineered the new twist to aid its chances of winning Putrajaya so Anwar could escape further prosecution, but other questions arise which confound that theory, like why would a father discredit his own son? Then there's the other theory that is being bandied about a lot – of promised rewards to Saiful that have not been fulfilled prompting retaliatory action by his father. And another popular one – that the recent bombshell developments, starting with Deepak's revelations, followed by Bala's return and now Azlan's volte face implicating Najib or at least his men, are the work of Najib's own party rivals plotting his downfall. Although this seems foolhardy and potentially suicidal for his party since the general election is so near, one never can tell in politically surprising Malaysia, especially with so much intrigue piling up almost every other day. So far, Najib has said or done hardly anything to counter the serious allegations against him, and this is something that greatly befuddles the public. It could mean that there is truth to the allegations or that he is someone who doesn't bother with what others say about him and prefers to let his performance as prime minister do the talking. But even on that score, Najib has been coming across as a rather weak leader, and his confidence of winning the elections seems to be waning. He may have to drop a few bombshells of his own to blow up his rivals' chicanery and set a course for not just winning the elections but winning big. As such, in the coming days, Malaysian politics could get even dirtier than it already is. And the public could become more bewildered trying to figure out truth from lies, reality from fiction, and the other way around. As it looks so far, the 13th general election will certainly be the dirtiest one ever. * Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians, and the latest volume, Ask for No Bullshit, Get Some More!
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| Posted: 15 Mar 2013 12:11 PM PDT
(fz.com) - So why did Musa say what he said, despite going on record saying "I am still very much an Umno man". WE all know what Tun Musa Hitam said. Yes recently. Yes, about the country not going bankrupt if a regime change happens after the general election. To recap, the former deputy prime minister had said: "If the opposition were to rule, they would not make foreign investors run away. They will not do so and bankrupt the country." And he said it would be foolish for anyone to say the country would be destroyed should the opposition come into power. "Do not insult the intelligence of the electorate," he said. To supporters of Pakatan Rakyat, that is a "very good" endorsement for the opposition pact in their "march to Putrajaya". To the "neutrals" – well at least those who posted comments on the internet – when big name former Umno leaders make such a statement, it not only lends credence to Pakatan but could also mean "they (the leaders) know what's going to happen and talk of change of government after this GE could very well be true". And Musa is one such leader who many see as "credible" and with "integrity", thus "highly respected". And he is also a "gentleman", they say, pointing to his "willingness" to quit the DPM post over "irreconcilable differences with then PM Datuk Seri (now Tun) Dr Mahathir Mohamad". In short many hold him in awe. Datuk Ariff Sabri, a former Umno man who was once in PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak's inner circle, has this to say: "Musa has set himself up for a lynching over his comments." And he added: "Musa Hitam isn't a man unfamiliar with or afraid of controversy". That was part of what he posted on his blog Sakmongkol AK47. Arif was information chief of the Pekan Umno division, whose head is, yes, Najib. He is now a DAP member. But according to an Umno strategist, the party does not have to attack Musa. "It's important that Umno does not overkill Musa's statement, let it be," he said, stressing that the party should instead focus on the Pakatan manifesto, calling it "a fraud". However, "attacking" the Pakatan manifesto is something BN have been doing every chance they get – since the opposition unveiled it weeks ago. According to news portal Malaysian Insider, BN lawmakers it spoke to reacted with "dismay and cynicism at Musa's assertion that Malaysia will not go bankrupt if Pakatan captures Putrajaya in the next election". To some political observers, "Pakatan had always expected BN to attack their manifesto. When Najib and everybody in BN hammer it, that would lead to people to want to see what's the manifesto all about. That's why they released the manifesto very early". Back to the things Musa said. The Umno strategist feels the former DPM's statement "would not have any adverse effect on BN as "Musa is not an economist, one who is not in the economic sphere". But he agrees that "Musa is credible". Still, he insisted, "even Nobel Prize winners cannot defend the stupidity of that manifesto". Yet there are many who feel what Musa said is, or can be, damaging to the BN and "is a slap" on the faces of many a BN leader. Almost all in BN – including, or rather especially, Mahathir and Najib – had said the country will "go bust and be destroyed if Pakatan takes over". Musa did not name names. Neither did he point fingers when he said such remarks were "political statements". So why did Musa say what he said, despite going on record saying "I am still very much an Umno man". Perhaps Musa was being Musa. One who speaks his mind, regardless of the official party line (what more he has "quit active politics"). He has always maintained that his actions and statements "are for the good and betterment of the agama, bangsa and negara (religion, people and country)". Read more at: http://fz.com/content/when-musa-said-what-he-said
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| Posted: 15 Mar 2013 08:25 AM PDT The sultan should seriously get a life and or get a job. How long can he and his band of merry men last if they continue to go around pretending to be royal consorts of an imaginary kingdom? Iskandar Dzulkarnain, FMT Apparently, our billion-ringgit jet fighters missed their targets, as mopped-up operations failed to turn in any bodies, while the chief of the militant group, "Prince" Agbimuddin Kiram, has appeared on Philippine national TV live in a telephone interview. So, there was no total victory as reported and the siege has not ended. The stand-off is turning more bizarre as the Philippine media reported a conspiracy involving the Philippine opposition under former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Coincidentally, the Malaysian government is also pointing its fingers at the involvement of the opposition here. Representatives of the self-proclaimed Sultan Jamalul Kiram III were alleged to have attended the Umno annual general assembly last year, while some Sabah Umno representatives are alleged to have close ties with the Sulu Sultanate. So, it is not merely the case of a simple band of 200 opportunistic marauders landing on Sabah's shores with the high hopes of staking a claim on Sabah. Apparently, there is more at stake involving the governments or opposition of both countries. "Princess" Jacel Karim of the Sulu Sultanate has come up with contradicting statements, adamant that the Malaysian government has agreed in principle to pay compensation to the Sulu Sultanate, a few months before the onset of this conflict. She is also reportedly unhappy with the terrorist label and claims that the intruders are armed with the "truth". "Sultan" Jamalul Kiram III describes the 200 intruders as the "Royal Sulu Army" – men of honour, disciplined, peace-loving, who have returned to stake their claim on their long-lost homeland. They want to live among Sabahans, share their land with us including the riches and spoils of Sabah. They also want to install a Sultanate and enforce the Syariah code. Sabahans can also look forward to a Sultanate and become his loyal subjects. Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) chief Nur Misuari seems to be taking a great interest in the crisis by initially offering to mediate a ceasefire. Later, he warned that MNLF will not sit idly by and watch the Malaysian army annihilate the intruders. President Benigno Aquino III will not be forgiven for standing back while Malaysia rained bombs on Filipino citizens in Sabah, Nur Misuari has said. "Aquino should be more decisive and stop Malaysia's attack on Jamalul's men in Sabah instead of siding with his southern neighbour. What he has done is very bad." "And for what reason is he [Aquino] aligning this country with Malaysia, a colonial power occupying the land of our people? I am totally against that with all my soul. The country will be in total chaos if they [Malaysia] arrest the Sultan, I promise you." From his statement, Nur Misuari is adamant on prolonging this conflict for whatever reason best known to him. And basing on his actions, Nur Misuari has proven himself to be a mischief-maker bent on war and destruction. Why would anyone want to quote him defies the imagination. The Philippines and Malaysia should leave him alone to his little toys and avid imaginations of grandeur. Ironically, the Christian Filipino government has just signed a peace treaty with the Muslim rebels, signalling a ceasefire in the Southern Philippines. Are the restless freedom-fighters now eyeing other easy targets to the South? About 800,000 Filipinos from the Tausog tribe are known to be residing in East Malaysia with many holding blue ICs and citizenship. The MNLF has warned that another 10,000 Tausogs have set sailed for the coast of Sabah to reinforce the 200 intruding militants. The USS Guardian, an American warship that ran aground in the Sulu Sea three weeks before the invasion, has set off speculation that the US may be involved, and equated the incident to the migration of the Sulu militants to Sabah. Whatever it is, Sabah has chosen to unite under the Malaysian federation in 1963 and it is an undeniable part of Malaysia. Malaysia should not entertain any opportunists, whether the Sultan of Sulu or the Filipino government, that are trying to stake a vague claim on Sabah. Whether there was any conspiracy in the Lahad Datu stand-off, the Malaysian government must move quickly to resolve this crisis before it blows out of proportion. An alternative is to provide a safety corridor for all the militants to return to the sea peacefully. All foreigners without valid documents should be asked to leave Sabah before our government embarks on a high-profile operation to crack down and rein in all the illegals. Besides, there should not be any illegals residing in Sabah or anywhere else in Malaysia, according to the law. Secondly, the Malaysian navy should take concrete steps to seal our porous borders against any future illegal intrusions. Trade can continue as long as foreigners are in possession of legal documents. It is time to solve Sabah's longstanding immigrant problems once and for all. We believe that the majority of legal Filipino Malaysians residing in Sabah would be loyal to Malaysia and would not want any conflict to jeopardise the peace and tranquillity of the state which they have chosen to call their homeland. In short, they are no more Filipinos but legal Malaysian citizens who speak the Malay language, like what former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has said.
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| Posted: 15 Mar 2013 08:20 AM PDT In BN's mission to regain Selangor, three major factors are used as weapons. They can be classified as the 3Ws: water, welfare and waste. Najib's special project has always been to get back Selangor after having successfully regained Perak through diabolical means. Selena Tay, FMT The Selangor State Legislative Assembly will be automatically dissolved on April 22. This has lent some credence to the rumours that polling for the 13th general election will be held in April, adding fuel to fire that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had the April month in mind since the beginning of this year as he had planned to get back Selangor after the general election. Polling in the month of April will thus prevent the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government from going for separate polls. With the Selangor electoral roll being the dirtiest in the whole of Malaysia, the tremendous advantage certainly belongs to Barisan Nasional. Recently, Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim, who holds the state seat of Ijok, located in the parliamentary seat of Kuala Selangor (held by PAS MP, Dzulkefly Ahmad), has highlighted some facts in regard to the discrepancy in the electoral roll. Khalid brought to light that in Bestari Jaya Utara in Ijok, the population stands at 1,788 but the number of voters is 3,589. "It certainly does not make any sense that voters can outnumber the population who will surely include those below the voting age of 21 and those who are not even registered voters," said Khalid, who is also the Bandar Tun Razak MP. PAS Shah Alam MP, Khalid Samad, said that Najib always avoid issues concerning the electoral roll. "I am of the view that the Election Commission [EC] will be used by BN as the main weapon to stay in power. All the efforts spearheaded by the Pakatan Selangor government in collaboration with Bersih to clean up the electoral roll have been ignored by the EC and the BN federal government is also silent on this matter," said Khalid. This shows that the EC could not be bothered whether the electoral roll is clean and accurate or not. "The EC is acting in BN's interests and this is wrong. I wish to remind the chairman and deputy chairman of the EC not to be the enemy of the state," added Khalid. BN's Machiavellian politics wherein the end justifies the means is only all too obvious. In Perak, BN stole the Silver State using the frog service and in Selangor it will be the phantom and alien factors. "Currently, the BN federal government is bringing in more Bangladeshi workers. This is because the Bangladeshis who have obtained their Malaysian citizenship can be relied upon to vote for the incumbent government because they know nothing about the Malaysian political scenario. "[On the other hand], the Indonesians who have stayed here a long time sometimes may prefer to vote for the opposition as they know that price increase in goods will affect their income," said a PKR strategist who spoke on condition of anonymity, adding that PKR grassroots workers had obtained this information from survey conducted among the Indonesians. Therefore this simply means that the prime minister is being economical on the truth. He talks about "moderation, model democracy, noble values" and so on and so forth, but his words are empty and meaningless because at the back of it all, he intends to strangle and kill off Pakatan by using or rather misusing the government's heavy machinery. Najib's special project has always been to get back Selangor after having successfully regained Perak through diabolical means.
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