Rabu, 27 Februari 2013

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Suaris Interview: Future of Malays #5

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:37 PM PST

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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?

 

Coping with inevitable Evil created by Government

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:23 PM PST

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Joe Fernandez

The latest statistics available from a variety of sources on the National Debt Burden of Malaysia make very disturbing reading. The people should keep cash. This is no time for investments. Cash is King.


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.

 

Pakatan's tolls policy: a polls ploy?

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:17 PM PST

Pakatan's highway tolls policy as announced in its Manifesto is a dishonest carrot dangled before unsuspecting voters. It is a fraud designed to trap voters into thinking that tolls will be abolished immediately. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Mohamed Tahir Ismail 

 

The pledge has no substance and what it promises is no different from the current practice.

 

The Manifesto reads: "The Pakatan Rakyat government will take over the highways in stages for the purpose of abolishing tolls. As promised in the Orange Book (Buku Jingga), Pakatan Rakyat will take over the highways with the intention of gradually abolishing tolls."

 

Under the existing 'build-operate-transfer' concession agreements, all highways will eventually revert to the Government at the end of the concession periods. The Government then is at liberty to abolish tolls if it so wishes. So, what Pakatan is promising is exactly what the BN government had been practising all along.

 

To hold Pakatan to its promise therefore, the people will have to wait until the expiry of the concession period which could be anything from 10 to 20 years from now!

 

So, Pakatan will not have to do anything for the next decade or two (assuming it assumes power and stays in power for that period of time).

 

Even if Pakatan wishes to abolish tolls (albeit in the far distant future), this promise is a red herring. Because, tolls are a fact of life and an accepted way of life all over the world. It is a more equitable method of taxation because it only taxes the users unlike income tax.

 

Tolls are a common practice in all countries that have privatised the construction, operation and maintenance of public infrastructure. Even decades after their operation and long after the end of concession periods, hefty highway tolls are collected in the US, Japan, UK as well as in newly-emerging economies.

 

Ha, Ha, Pakatan's tolls policy is a polls ploy!

 

Politics, Manifestos and the difference between a Sponsorship guy and a Marketing man

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:11 PM PST

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Anas Zubedy 

 

Once I was asked to consult for a bank. 

 

The top management was to listen to a marketing plan prepared by the new Marketing Director. Within minutes I knew that this was a Sponsorship guy pretending to be a Marketer.

 

He spent the next 45 minutes showing his plan to build the Brand via sponsorship and giving away goodies to thousands and thousands of potential customers thus winning them over to the Brand.

 

Those in the meeting were non-marketing people and as such were somewhat impressed with the presentation, including the Bank's second in command – the person who employed the new Marketing Director.

 

The Second in Command (who did not agree that the MD engaged us) turned cockily towards me and asked, "Hah…Consultant, ada apa-apa nak komen ka? ".

 

I smiled and asked the new Marketing Director, "Brother, you have shown me how to spend money. Can you show me now how you are going to make them? "

 

The meeting was adjourned.

 

SYA : 17 Reasons Why Pakatan Rakyat Manifesto Is A Reason That We Should Not Vote For CHANGE

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 12:01 PM PST

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I would like to ask and challenge any Pakatan Rakyat supporter and leader to tell me where and in which page, sentence or word of their manifesto http://www.pakatanrakyat.my/files/ENG-Manifesto-BOOK.pdf that there is anything allocated or promises for Indian, Chinese and Youth in Malaysia? 

1. Women Humiliation
Our women's empowerment policy aims to meet a target of 30% participation of women in managerial, leadership and administration of both public and private sectors by 2017. The Malaysian Women's Agenda shall be fully implemented to further enhance the position of women in society. – Pakatan Rakyat Manifesto

It is a great lie that Pakatan Rakyat plan to empower our women to meet a target of 30% participation of women in our country when even less than 1% of the Women Leaders in Pakatan Rakyat make it to the hierarchy and organization system in DAP, PKR and PAS.

If they cannot even promote their own women leader in their political party to be inside their party National and State organization with even the rate of 5% then what false hope of 30% are they trying to give to our Malaysian Women?

How on earth in Pakatan Rakyat PAS version of Islamic policy that restrict our Malaysian Women on billboards and to perform on stage can further to empower our Women in the nation?
 
Every wife shall be entitled to the Malaysian Women's Contribution Fund, a social safety net programme to protect their welfare.Husbands will be legally obliged to provide towards a contribution fund, proportionate to their income (between RM10 per month to RM100 per month). The contribution sum may be withdrawn by wives under certain circumstances such as divorce, natural disasters, accidents and upon reaching the age of 50 years old. –Pakatan Rakyat Manifesto

Such fund contradicts with their vision to empower our women in our country where earlier they claim that they wanted to increase women to play a role in part of our nation building and now they allocate a special funds to women as if humiliating and insulting women in Malaysia is least capable and independent than the man and male in our country.

Such fund is giving an impression that Malaysian Women need to be dependent and rely on man to survive.

At the same time, Pakatan Rakyat disrespecting the women who do not get married in our country when this fund is only allocated specially for married women. Perhaps they should rephrase it to Wife Fund rather than women fund.

No wonder in Selangor they had cheated more than 10 000 poor, pitiful and lonely single mother of their fund allocation promises (they are no longer a wife).
If they really have faith in their policy to increase more women workforce in our country , then why should they even allocate a monthly RM 10 – RM 100 to only WOMEN WHO ARE MARRIED (wife) in our country? Is Pakatan Rakyat actually empowering our destroying our Malaysian Women for discriminating and disrespecting them?


2. Funds For The Animals From A Firaun ( Devil )

When Barisan Nasional gave RM 500 (BR1M) to all the needy in Malaysia, PAS President claim that it is an act of Firaun and their Spiritual leader Nik Aziz claim that those who receive the fund are like animals.

Please do not forget that in their manifesto there an allocation to give RM 1000 each senior citizen aged 60 and above. Welfare assistance paid by the Social Welfare department will be increased from RM300 a month to RM550 a month. All families with income below RM 500 a month will be eligible to receive welfare assistant in order to eradicate hardcore poverty.
How on earth can by giving RM 550 a month Pakatan Rakyat dare to declare that they are being able to eradicate poverty?

Barisan Nasional BR1M is according to needs but Pakatan Rakyat fund is according to age limit where is only for those who are above 60. Perhaps is an indication of having too many old politicians in Pakatan Rakyat that is easily above 70 year old that do not want to give way to young blood like Hadi Awang , Nik Aziz, Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Chua Jui Meng and etc etc who need the RM 1000 from Pakatan Rakyat manifesto fund more.

Perhaps what Hadi Awang say is true that those who receive money, fund and help from Firaun/Devil (Pakatan Rakyat) are animals? I am not so sure about this.


3. Pakatan Rakyat Continue To Uphold The Supremacy of the Malays ,Bumiputera  and Islam while Neglecting the Others

 

  •  UPHOLD THE NATIONAL LANGUAGE, ENSURE
  • THE RIGHTS OF MOTHER-TONGUE LANGUAGES AND IMPROVE THE COMMAND OF ENGLISH IN A NATIONAL EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT GUARANTEES FREE EDUCATION FOR ALL MALAYSIANS
  • PRESERVING ORANG ASLI CUSTOMARY LAND
  • RIGHTS AND WELFARE
  • 5,000 educational scholarships will be awarded annually to Orang Asli children from school to university level
  • RESPECTING THE POSITION OF ISLAM AS THE OFFICIAL RELIGION
  • REFORMING ISLAMIC AND RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS

 

The administration of Islamic institutions will be strengthened with higher and better allocations (such as allocations for Islamic religious departments in Pakatan Rakyat states)Add value to wakaf land that will generate economic welfare for the people Enhance the Islamics institutions' image in the eyes of the people by freeing them from political manipulation Target to double the current Tabung Haji fund amount within ten years of Pakatan Rakyat administration – PR Manifesto

What equality and fairness are they (Pakatan Rakyat) talking about when they only have special policy, promises and manifesto for the Malays, Bumiputera, Malay Language and Islam in our country while neglecting the Chinese, Indians, Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and both Chinese and Tamil languages at the same time?

Why in Pakatan Rakyat policy there special allocation for the Islamic institution but they do not even allocate a single cent for the Buddhist, Christian and Hindu Institution?
Why should they (Pakatan Rakyat) neglect our Temples and Churches in Malaysia?

Why should they (Pakatan Rakyat) continue to give false hope to deceive and manipulate the non Malays and Muslims in our country for either Anwar or Hadi Awang to further their Malays Supremacy and Islamic agenda in our country while discriminating the rest?

Why should they  (Pakatan Rakyat) shout for meritocracy in our education and scholarship system but there a special scholarship allocated just for BUMIPUTERA only?


4. Should The Rakyat Continue To Trust Pakatan Rakyat Technical Error Lies?

Increasing royalty paid to oil- and gas- producing states from 5% to 20%

The conspicuous absence of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as states entitled to full oil royalties in the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto was due to "human error", says PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Kuala Selangor MP attributed the oversight to a "typo", saying that the final version included all oil-producing states."I'm not sure how this error came about but we are most certainly not excluding the other three states."

However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said it was "an error by the manifesto committee"."It should have read oil-producing states', and this not only covers Sabah and Sarawak, but also Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang."

DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran admitted that an error had been made on the manifesto but said Pakatan would explain in detail at a press conference today.

The 10-point manifesto, which was revealed on Monday, has drawn flak for listing only Sabah and Sarawak as oil-producing states that will receive royalties from Petronas should the Opposition come to power.

During DAP latest internal election fraud they put the blame on Microsoft Excel and now again they want to put the blame on Microsoft Word ? Even earlier Kedah impose a law where women performer cannot perform on stage during Chinese New Year was reported as a technical error in their state official letter?

How Pakatan Rakyat wanted the people to trust them to rule and govern when there always so much technical error and lame excuses as their political defence?

Read more at: http://1sya.com/?p=5027 

PR Manifesto has opened the doors wide for HINDRAF to talk to Najib

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:56 AM PST

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The HINDRAF blueprint was submitted to PR leaders who in general had agreed in 'principal' to it but it is rather surprising that they had not made a mention of it in their Election Manifesto.

Paraman Subramaniam

FELDA vs DISPLACED ESTATE WORKERS, TRANSCENDING RACIAL GROUPS?

FELDA (Federal Land Development Authority) which is one of the world's largest association of plantation owners and managers, covering over 2 million acres of rubber and palm oil plantation estate and having more than 115k families which some believe consists of more than 98% Malays/Muslims, is doing extremely well. Recently it was announced that as of Dec 2012, 112,635 FELDA settlers will receive a dividend of almost RM 1k.

Not only FELDA settlers are provided the best of facilities and technology to maintain and increase the productivity of their lands, they are also provided with an admirable support system in terms of facilities, healthcare, housing, education for their children and much more. Looking at it macroscopically, FELDA through federal aid provides 'cradle to grave' assistance to these settlers in their everyday needs.

In terms of education, facilities available like community rehabilitation centres, family literation centres, Permata, Semai Bakti Hostel, FELDA Tuition Schemes and Science Learning Centres, is truly remarkable. Children from age one onwards can be enrolled. Tuition for students in standards 5 and 6 and forms 3 and 5 numbering close to 59k are provided to assist them to get good grades for the government exams like UPSR,PMR and SPM.

370 schools which consist of 100 secondary schools and 270 primary schools have been provided for the convenience of FELDA settler's children.

Subsequently the government provides certificate courses (6 to 24 months), diploma courses (2 1/2 to 3 years) and major courses like Licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (LAME), Trainees Junior Technician (TJT), cadet pilot etc.

FELDA scholars also get to enroll in top varsities of the world.

With just a minimum grade of at least 2A's in the SPM examination, they may be able to get scholarships from FELDA/PSD/MARA/Petronas to do degree courses in medicine, dentistry, actuary, computer science, engineering and accounting.

FELDA management also has started the FELDA Entrepreneurship Incentive Scheme (SIUF) whereby the younger generation of FELDA settlers are encouraged to get involved in non-farm activities such as processing or manufacturing poultry, seafood, fruits or vegetable businesses so that they can become future leaders and entrepreneurs. Some of these settlers claim they lead a very comfortable life, earning more than RM 5 k salaries per month which is even more than what junior doctors and lawyers earn in the govt.

In terms of housing, hundreds of millions of ringgit has been earmarked under the FELDA Family Housing Scheme (PWF), with its aim to provide the new generation of settlers a chance to own affordable and comfortable homes costing around RM 35-42k for a 3 room unit, where loans are easily available. 

Even with all these existing benefits, the PR Election Manifesto sees the need for 'Justice for Felda Settlers'. It goes on to state that PR will defend the dignity, performance and reputation of FELDA to ensure the economic position and land ownership of the settlers. PR will also review all compensation claims as a result of the Grade Extraction Rate (GER) and pay compensation to affected FELDA settlers. 

The HINDRAF blueprint which is based on social justice as the foundation, had proposed specific pointed and targeted program of rehabilitation measures to a specific group of community, Displaced Estate Workers (DEW),

An independent study from the Centre for Policy Studies concluded in 2000, that 600,000 estate workers had been forcibly displaced. This massive forced displacement is a direct result of state development programs operating in the milieu of Institutional Racism. It is the spurious outcome of the Malaysian socio-economic political system. That number of DEW is estimated to be more than 800,000 today. In being displaced, these estate workers lost everything from their jobs, homes, schools, communities, temples, social system, and opportunity for ancillary income. They now constitute a significant section of the urban poor. It is no wonder that the DEW who constitute the poorest section of the Indian community primarily, have the lowest demographic index in the country.

The measures advocated in the HINDRAF blueprint are: 1) DEW Land allocated farming program 2) DEW Housing Program 3) Rebuilding the DEW youth through retraining and reskilling 4) DEW places of worship and burial grounds.

The HINDRAF blueprint was submitted to PR leaders who in general had agreed in 'principal' to it but it is rather surprising that they had not made a mention of it in their Election Manifesto. It is even more distressing to note that PR can openly support the multi billion ringgit existing Felda settlers program for more assistance but cannot even begin a DEW program from scratch for the needier marginalized Indians. How could one accept that the PR Election manifesto transcends racial groups whereas in the DEW issue it very clearly does not?

 

Picture worth thousands of votes?

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:54 AM PST

http://www.mole.my/sites/default/files/images/IMG_8269.storyimage.JPG 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words.  Yes, this picture speaks for itself. In fact, it speaks volumes about the lack of adequate political representation in Pakatan Rakyat. Not only is this picture worth a thousand words, it is also worth thousands of votes. Thousands and thousands of votes, but not for Pakatan.  The votes will go to BN.
P.M. Sivalingam 

Why? These will be the protest votes by groups which have been marginalised by Pakatan.

For starters, the Indian community will not give Pakatan its vote. Why? Look at the picture again.  How many Indians do you see? This photo was taken during the recent Pakatan Rakyat Convention in Shah Alam.

Also, where are the natives of Sabah and Sarawak? Pakatan comprises three political parties while in the Barisan there are 13, representing all nationalities in the peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak. 

But the most glaring of all is the absence of Indians, despite Pakatan's claim to look after the interests of the Indian community. 

Surely Indians will teach Pakatan a lesson they will never forget, come GE-13. Having ridden on their backs to clinch crucial electoral gains in GE-12, Pakatan has effectively ditched Indians, as dramatically seen during the Kampung Buah Pala episode in 2009. 

Said an observer at the Pakatan convention: "Pakatan's slogan was Bersihkan Malaysia, and they are using the Indians as the broom. This is the ultimate insult". 

When asked why Indians were left out in the Pakatan Manifesto, Anwar Ibrahim offered a feeble response: He said their manifesto 'transcends racial groups'. How then does he explain the specific references to Orang Asli?  In that document, there are no less than nine references to Orang Asli but only one reference to Indians. 

Anwar is a master at deflecting questions by changing the subject. When pressed for an answer, he said Tamil and Chinese schools, along with mission schools, would be assisted. Hullo, what do you think the BN government, and before that, the Alliance, has been doing these past 55 years? 

Again he was quoted as saying: "This is the manifesto of the rakyat where we address issues of rising prices, commodities, lodging, good governance and support for all types of schools."  Hullo again, what do you think the BN government, and before that, the Alliance, has been doing these past 55 years? 

Then, typically, Anwar throws in the red herring: "I met leaders of the Indian community last night in Hulu Selangor and generally, they are very receptive as education is a major problem, issues of marginalisation of the community and crime had been raised," he said. How does this tie in with the question of ignoring Indians in the manifesto? 

The rainbow does not have enough colours for this chameleon that is now facing the toughest challenge of his political career.  And that challenge comes, not from outside, but from within the opposition coalition. 

Ever since his ouster from the Barisan Government in 1998, Anwar has been single-minded about his plans to Occupy Putrajaya.  With that aim, he cobbled together a coalition with DAP and PAS and went to the polls in 2008. He thinks he is now perched for his final political onslaught and onwards to the coveted Premiership. 

But then comes the spoiler - PAS.  PAS leaders have openly questioned Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's candidacy as Prime Minister should Pakatan Rakyat win. 

"PAS top leaders said it was 'haram' (illegal) for Anwar to ask for the Prime Minister's post," a PR source told an online media recently, quoting discussions at a secret meeting between PAS and PKR leaders last Sunday. 

Anwar will have to bow not only to PAS sentiments but also to political realities.  Should Pakatan win, the chances are that there will be more PAS candidates in Parliament than PKR. Obviously since the choice of Prime Minister will not come from the DAP, the contender will have to come from either PAS or PKR. With more seats than PKR, PAS will have more clout if there is a showdown. 

When push comes to shove, Anwar will surely be the loser, unless he can persuade the rainbow to display more colours in its spectrum for another chameleonic change or shed his skin in the year of the snake.

 

The war for military votes

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:46 AM PST

http://fz.com/sites/default/files/styles/1_landscape_slider_photo/public/military-votes-280213-FZ.jpg 

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

http://cdn.malaysiandigest.com/images/idanadirah2/PR_flags.jpg 

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.

Meanwhile, things aren't so rosy in the Pakatan camp either. Despite the PAS Syura Council's final decision – or rather indecision – on the usage of the word 'Allah' by non-Muslims, there seems to be no closure on the issue. There are protests against the decision not only from DAP but from within PAS itself. But the 'Allah issue' is not the only thing that Pakatan have been shilly-shallying over. Forget about the non-existent shadow Cabinet, the most vital matter over who will be Pakatan's choice as Prime Minister should Pakatan wrest federal power is still in question.

Many would have thought the three Pakatan parties would unanimously pick their Opposition chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as their 'chosen one' but this is not the case. PAS of late have expressed its hesitance to accede to Anwar becoming PM despite agreeing to it previously. In addressing this matter, its information chief Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man Tuan Ibrahim had said that at the moment, in theory, all component parties will follow Pakatan's status quo.

"But I believe we will have to take into consideration the election results as well.

"We need to see which party is more dominant in terms of winning contested seats because it can determine who should become the PM," Tuan Ibrahim had told The Mole.

He said there will be two deciding factors which will determine a leader's appointment to the post. 

"Firstly, it depends on the number of seats won by the party. Secondly, all parties in Pakatan Rakyat must agree on the person to be appointed as the Prime Minister."

Meanwhile, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh had maintained that Anwar will be PM if Pakatan wins in the next general election and dismissed such talks as a mere speculation. However, there are widespread rumors of PAS' Syura Council rejecting Anwar's as Prime Minister in waiting though it has not been officially confirmed or denied by the council.

There are also rumors saying that Pakatan is also keen to have Umno MP for Gua Musang Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as the candidate for the opposition coalition's Prime Minister. Tuan Ibrahim, however, dismissed these rumors as baseless speculations as Razaleigh or better known as Ku Li is not a member of any Pakatan parties.

While there are mixed reactions to the current administration of Pakatan-ruled states (Penang-DAP, Kelantan-PAS, Kedah-PAS and Selangor-PKR), the uncertainty over who will be the coalition's chosen candidate for the PM post is a cause for concern for all Malaysians as election draws near. It has been more than four years since the last election and yet, Pakatan have failed to finalize on the matter…and it looks like the shadow Cabinet will never see the light of day.

Read more at: http://www.malaysiandigest.com/top-news/268472-is-pakatan-really-ready-to-rule.html 

 

Ulama need reformasi for PAS to move forward

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:40 AM PST

http://fz.com/sites/default/files/styles/1_landscape_slider_photo/public/MatSabu-280213-FZ-HH_0.jpg 

(fz.com) - There is a need for reformation among the PAS ulama (religious scholars) so that they would be more closely guided by Islamic principles, said PAS Deputy President Mohamed Sabu and if need be, they should re-learn these principles from non-Muslims who are practising them.

Mohamed, who is better known as Mat Sabu, said that ulama should not merely polish their appearance, but also update themselves on issues of corruption and social justice. 
 
"Our ulama are not willing to read any books on socialism or communism, to know what these are about, and they need to open up more to the world. It is not only in Malaysia but the world over. There should be reform in Al Azhar University," he said. 
 
"It will take time for one to change, but the top ulama have to accept that it is time to reform their thinking. You can keep your jubah and serban, but thinking has to be more open, especially on social justice," said Mohamed. However, he acknowledged that it will take time for Malaysian Muslims to stand up to seek reform among the ulama.
 
He was replying to the question of why PAS had failed in its governance of the Kedah state, as reflected in the Auditor-General's Report 2011, which had noted the weak financial performance of the state. 
 
Since PAS took over the state in 2008, many of the promised projects for the people in Kedah had failed to take off.
 
The present menteri besar of Kedah Datuk Seri Abdul Azizan Razak is considered a member of the ulama as he is a graduate of Al Azhar University and was head of the Sharia' Department of the University of Malaya.
 
Mohamed said that in comparison, PAS has managed to rule Kelantan effectively as menteri besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat is an alim (religious scholar) who is also very open in his ideas.
 
"But then again, Nik Aziz is a gift of God to PAS," said Mohamed.
 
Mohamed warned that if ulama do not reform before they are given power, they will stray from the will of the people and become like the Mughals of India.

 

Read more at: http://fz.com/content/ulama-need-reformasi-pas-move-forward 

Kedah MB sidelines ringleader and drops two others as GE candidates

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:39 AM PST

http://starstorage.blob.core.windows.net/archives/2013/2/28/nation/kedah-azizan-n1.jpg 

(The Star) - Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak has made his move against the rebel group that had tried to topple him as Kedah Mentri Besar.

He has sidelined the ringleader and dropped two other rebels in his list of candidates for the general election.

Azizan, who is Kedah PAS commissioner, has cut off group leader Datuk Phahrolrazi Mohd Zawawi from the succession line by putting him in a parliamentary seat that is seen as an Umno stronghold.

Phahrolrazi has been moved from the Pengkalan Kundor state seat to Jerlun, according to the list that Azizan submitted recently to the party's central leadership. Jerlun is now held by Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir.

Assemblymen Dr Ismail Salleh and Dr Hamdan Mohamed Khalid, who were seen to be among the rebels, have been dropped as candidates in their respective constituencies of Alor Mengkudu and Tanjung Dawai.

According to a highly-placed source, the new list was leaked recently, causing anger among supporters of Phahrolrazi and sparking public protests against Azizan.

Several protesters have gone to the extent of asking Azizan to resign as Mentri Besar. More protests are reportedly being planned.

Phahrolrazi's relocation is seen as an attempt to undermine his power base in the Kuala Kedah division where he is PAS chairman.

This will pave the way for deputy Kuala Kedah chairman Datuk Amiruddin Hamzah, a strong ally of Azizan, to move up.

Azizan, however, may not get his way. PAS secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali confirmed that Azizan had submitted a fresh list that was different from an earlier list of election candidates but added that the central committee will have the final say on who will contest and where.

Mustafa did not elaborate on either list.

"We have received feedback from some people who are dissatisfied with the new list," he said.

Azizan insisted that the changes were "a matter of strategy".

"A lot of people qualify to be candidates but not everyone is suitable. Adjustments have to be made when issues crop up, if the candidate has problems," he said.

He, too, declined to comment on specific names affected by the changes.

"Elections are like giving birth. Before a baby is born, you can tell whether it will be a boy or girl but usually we won't name it yet," he said.

The new list has also ruffled the feathers of some people who are not among the rebels. Pendang MP Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman is believed to be unhappy about being moved from his parliamentary seat to the Sungai Tiang state seat, currently held by Kedah Umno's rising star Datuk Suraya Yaakob.

The Pendang seat will go to PAS deputy president Mohamed Sabu, who has been looking for a winnable seat.

In the original list, Dr Mohd Hayati was supposed to contest in Tokai where PAS has a strong base. But Azizan has reinstated Tokai assemblyman Datuk Taulan Mat Rasul, who is his close ally. Taulan, a syariah lawyer, was to have retired because he will be 71 this year.

The sources claimed that Azizan regarded Dr Mohd Hayati as a threat because the medical doctor's name had been bandied about as a potential mentri besar.

 

Cabinet & Parliamentary Rebalancing (Part 3): A Weightier Parliament and a Slimmer Cabinet

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 11:31 AM PST

http://refsa.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/Beef-up-parliament-V2-b.jpg 

Imagine that you are the owner of a restaurant. Would you ask a waiter to oversee the manager's performance? No? But that is exactly what is happening with the management of our country!

Refsa 

In our Westminster-style model of democratic government, Parliament is supposed to be the watchman making sure the federal government acts in the best interests of the rakyat. However, less than 60% of Barisan Nasional members of parliament (MPs) are free to perform that role. These MPs also tend to be junior, as their senior colleagues are subsumed into the massive Cabinet mess of 68 ministers and deputies.

It is no surprise, then, that BN ministers escape unscathed from scandals after scandals. Junior BN MPs have, by and large, shrunk back from critiquing their ministerial peers. It is the Pakatan Rakyat federal opposition and civil society that shoulder the burden of check and balance on the government. This makes it easy for ministers to shrug off criticism as 'opposition-led' or 'politically-driven', much like our under-performing restaurant manager can say  'It's just my competitors bellyaching'.

Read more at: http://refsa.org/focus-papers/cabinet-parliamentary-rebalancing-part-3-a-weightier-parliament-and-a-slimmer-cabinet/ 

 

Public Opinion Survey 2013

Posted: 27 Feb 2013 05:07 AM PST

Hindraf: Pakatan manifesto a big letdown

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 06:17 PM PST

Its supremo, P Waythamoorthy, accused Pakatan of completely ignoring the needs and interests of the Indian community in its election pledges.

He summed up Pakatan's so-called people's manifesto as one that has disappointed Indian Malaysians and does not value the community's support or needs.

"In one stroke, the manifesto has said so many things that disappointed us. It is deeply distressing, not so much by what it says, but by what it does not say.

"It failed to even acknowledge, let alone recognise, the community's longstanding woes," the Hindraf chairman said in a statement.

In recent talks with Pakatan leaders, especially PKR, he said they failed to take note that Hindraf had been diligently working with them to bring solutions for these serious problems.

When questioned on this, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said that Pakatan's manifesto transcends racial groups as well as subgroups including the Indian community.

"If this was the case, how does Anwar justify specific pledges to the Malays, Chinese, Orang Asals, Sabah and Sarawakians, the ex-armed forces and Felda settlers in the manifesto?

"The provisions there do not seem to transcend racial groups and subgroups," said Waythamoorthy.

"Enough has been said of Pakatan moving away from racial politics but that is more a statement of its intent than the frame for its policies.

"Pakatan has been using this once too often as a cover to ignore the problems of the Indian poor and marginalised.

"That should leave anyone with a strong liberal and democratic conscience, disturbed," added Waythamoorthy.

He said that it was time to address the Indian problem permanently, to eliminate its root cause – the institutional discrimination – and bring back the almost 1.3 million poor and working class Indians into the mainstream of economic development.

He cited an independent study from the Centre for Policy Studies concluded in 2000 that 600,000 estate workers have been forcibly displaced in the country.

- See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/27/hindraf-pakatan-manifesto-a-big-letdown/#sthash.mUvchnrg.dpuf
Election pledges completely ignores Indians and even Anwar's pledge to resolve the 350,000 stateless Indians issue within 100 days is not mentioned, says Waythamoorthy - See more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/02/27/hindraf-pakatan-manifesto-a-big-letdown/#sthash.mUvchnrg.dpuf

Election pledges completely ignores Indians and even Anwar's pledge to resolve the 350,000 stateless Indians issue within 100 days is not mentioned, says Waythamoorthy

Athi Shankar, FMT

Pakatan Rakyat election manifesto has sidelined, isolated and marginalised the already much maligned ethnic Indian community, charged Hindraf Makkal Sakti today.

Its supremo, P Waythamoorthy, accused Pakatan of completely ignoring the needs and interests of the Indian community in its election pledges.

He summed up Pakatan's so-called people's manifesto as one that has disappointed Indian Malaysians and does not value the community's support or needs.

"In one stroke, the manifesto has said so many things that disappointed us. It is deeply distressing, not so much by what it says, but by what it does not say.

"It failed to even acknowledge, let alone recognise, the community's longstanding woes," the Hindraf chairman said in a statement.

In recent talks with Pakatan leaders, especially PKR, he said they failed to take note that Hindraf had been diligently working with them to bring solutions for these serious problems.

When questioned on this, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said that Pakatan's manifesto transcends racial groups as well as subgroups including the Indian community.

"If this was the case, how does Anwar justify specific pledges to the Malays, Chinese, Orang Asals, Sabah and Sarawakians, the ex-armed forces and Felda settlers in the manifesto?

"The provisions there do not seem to transcend racial groups and subgroups," said Waythamoorthy.

"Enough has been said of Pakatan moving away from racial politics but that is more a statement of its intent than the frame for its policies.

"Pakatan has been using this once too often as a cover to ignore the problems of the Indian poor and marginalised.

"That should leave anyone with a strong liberal and democratic conscience, disturbed," added Waythamoorthy.

He said that it was time to address the Indian problem permanently, to eliminate its root cause – the institutional discrimination – and bring back the almost 1.3 million poor and working class Indians into the mainstream of economic development.

He cited an independent study from the Centre for Policy Studies concluded in 2000 that 600,000 estate workers have been forcibly displaced in the country.

Pakatan taking the same path

He added that Hindraf estimated the figure had reached at 800,000 now.

"This massive forced displacement is a direct result of state development programmes operating in the milieu of institutional racism," said Waythamoorthy.

By ignoring the problem with the "transcends race argument" and the acceptance of serious violation of human rights, he accused Pakatan of taking the same Umno-led BN path.

He pinpointed that Anwar's pledge to resolve the 350,000 stateless Malaysian Indians issue within 100 days "found no mention in the manifesto".

In its various meetings and communications, he said Hindraf had stressed to Anwar and Pakatan allies the need for a targeted and pointed programme to address this serious accumulated problem arising from all the human rights violations of the past 56 years.

He said Hindraf's proposals were stipulated in its five-year blueprint for the Indian community submitted to all Pakatan parties – PKR, DAP and PAS.

He said the blueprint sought to address issues of institutional discrimination and equal rights of land procurement for economic purposes, equal business opportunities which included business loans, permits and educational opportunities.

He said the annual budget required to fully implement the blueprint was a mere RM4.5 billion or 1.8% of the 2013 annual national budget.

This sum, he insisted, was a reinvestment on human capital to stimulate progress and development in lives of marginalised people.

"Our proposed solutions are permanent, practical and comprehensive. Pakatan confirmed verbally that it was in principle agreeable with the blueprint," said Waythamoorthy.

READ MORE HERE

 

Are Filipinos Malays?

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 05:03 PM PST

Yet Philippine hero Dr. Jose Rizal is often called the "pride of the Malay race." Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, for instance, has recognized Rizal as the "greatest Malayan," calling Rizal an "Asian Renaissance Man."

Mong Palatino, The Diplomat

If asked about their race, most Filipinos would identify as being Malay. Filipinos are taught in schools to be proud of their Malay heritage and encouraged to strengthen their ties with other Malays in Southeast Asia.

But Filipinos wishing to migrate in Singapore have to deny this fundamental identification because the Singapore government rejects the classification of Filipinos as Malay. But if Filipinos are not Malay, what ethnicity are they? Officially, Singapore recognizes immigrants from the neighboring Philippines as part of the racial category referred to as "Other."

But why refuse the Malay background of Filipinos in the first place? Perhaps it has something to do with the special privileges accorded to the Malay minority in Singapore. Article 152 of the Constitution of Singapore states that the government "shall recognize the special position of the Malays, who are the indigenous people of Singapore, and accordingly it shall be the responsibility of the Government to protect, safeguard, support, foster and promote their political, educational, religious, economic, social and cultural interests and the Malay language."

Some legal issues could arise if new immigrants from the Philippines are identified as Malays. They could be given special privileges as well. If this were to happen, the indigenous Malays in Singapore might not be in favor of it.

In fact, the recent publication of the government's population strategy triggered a parliamentary discussion on the race status of Filipinos. Zainal Bin Sapari of Singapore's Pasir Ris-Punggol district and a Malay-Muslim member of parliament asked for a clarification on the official race category for immigrants from the Philippines.

He said: "There are those who said that citizens from the Philippines (who are) accepted as Singaporean citizens will be categorized as Malays because historically they are considered to have the same roots as Malays. Is this true? If it is true, this would mean that even though the percentage is maintained, the identity and the meaning of the label 'Malay' will change."

Singapore's Immigration and Checkpoints Authority immediately replied: "This is not true. New Singapore citizens of Filipino origin are not classified as Malays. They are typically classified as 'Others' under the race category."

READ MORE HERE

 

PR manifesto is ‘hardly transformational’

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 04:06 PM PST

(The Star) - Pakatan Rakyat's manifesto has been described as "hardly transformational". Political analyst Khoo Kay Peng said the manifesto gave the impression that a Pakatan-run government would have a "bottomless" treasury, with little said on how its promises could be achieved.

"The manifesto may appeal to certain voter groups but it is hardly transformational," he said in his blog khookaypeng.blogspot.com.

Khoo added that the document failed to explain how the Opposition would fund various subsidies, grants and other payments if it came to power.

He also said the manifesto did not focus on reform policies and seemed to suggest that money was the solution to Malaysia's problems.

Khoo called it a "political document", saying that it was aimed at pleasing various voter groups in the general election.

****************************************

Oil royalty blooper blamed on typo

The conspicuous absence of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang as states entitled to full oil royalties in the Pakatan Rakyat manifesto was due to "human error", says PAS central working committee member Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

The Kuala Selangor MP attributed the oversight to a "typo", saying that the final version included all oil-producing states.

"I'm not sure how this error came about but we are most certainly not excluding the other three states."

However, PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said it was "an error by the manifesto committee".

"It should have read oil-producing states', and this not only covers Sabah and Sarawak, but also Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang."

DAP vice-chairman M. Kulasegaran admitted that an error had been made on the manifesto but said Pakatan would explain in detail at a press conference today.

The 10-point manifesto, which was revealed on Monday, has drawn flak for listing only Sabah and Sarawak as oil-producing states that will receive royalties from Petronas should the Opposition come to power.

Pakatan will always have Malay bedrock, says DAP

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:51 PM PST

Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will always stand on a Malay foundation, whether in government or as the opposition, the DAP said today, countering a study predicting minority dominance in the federal opposition pact post-Election 2013.

The statement comes after the Chinese language media reported think-tank ASLI projecting a larger share of seats for the DAP, considering much of PR support stems from the predominantly-Chinese urban areas.

It also predicted the status quo would see the Malays and Chinese pitted against each other, with the former making up the government and the latter the opposition.

"I don't know what is the intent of the report... but if you look at the seats distributions, we will always be a Malay-majority opposition," DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua told reporters at a party function here.

The Petaling Jaya Utara MP explained that his party's study projected the predominantly-Malay PKR and Islamist PAS to win 85 out of the 125 targeted seats needed for PR to garner a simple majority and form the new government.

PKR and PAS have both said they will contest the lion's share of the 222 available parliamentary seats, while the DAP is aiming to run in slightly above 60.

Although PR has said the seats allocations talk have not been finalised, it is likely that the three component parties will stick to this formula.

Pua noted that the DAP will also be looking to "possibly" field more Malay candidates at the upcoming polls, to preclude accusations of Chinese dominance within PR.

READ MORE HERE

 

Removal of Defamatory Links

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:41 PM PST

Your news articles contains defamatory content and defamatory headings which is illegal posting under the Malaysian Penal Court. You must delete these posts because it's a very serious issue otherwise a court order will be issued against your website. Kindly take this matter seriously and remove those links as earliest.

Riswan Habib   riswanhabib@brooklinshaw.com

I would like to bring a very serious matter to your attention. There has been several links on your website against "NAJIB TUN RAZAK" Honorable Prime Minister of Malaysia. These Links are consistently harming his reputation in a negative manner. It seems to be illegally posting under the defamation act of 1957 act no. 286 under the section 7. So, terminate these links before it moves to some large legal court action. 

The defamatory links on your website are:

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/54253-its-too-late-for-sabah-umno-bn


http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/40515-wikileaks-releases-cables-on-najib-and-altantuya

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/54332-shahrizat-blows-it-for-umno-in-swak

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/newscommentaries/54421-deepak-wants-najib-out-muhyiddin-in

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/54183-kpru-najib-as-the-most-indecisive-prime-minister-of-malaysia

http://malaysia-today.net/archives/archives-2012/50454-yet-another-nail-in-najibs-coffin

http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/guest-columnists/54354-the-decline-and-fall-of-najib


Advocate Riswan Habib,
Senior Legal Advisor,
Office of The Prime Minister Main Block,
Perdana Putra Building,
Federal Government Administrative Centre,
MALAYSIA

 

Pakatan vows to phase out NEP

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:36 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has pledged to replace race-based affirmative action with means-tested policies that will see the eventual removal of the New Economic Policy (NEP) if it captures Putrajaya in Election 2013.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli stressed that the opposition pact was focused on increasing household income to RM4,000 monthly, instead of pursuing a 30 per cent Bumiputera quota.

"We are going to move from race-based to needs-based policies and that will automatically phase off the NEP," said Rafizi at a press conference at the PKR headquarters here today.

"It's a matter of time [before] all these race-based policies are irrelevant," he added.

Rafizi pointed out that under a PR government, Bumiputeras would enjoy equity exceeding 30 per cent.

PR unveiled its election manifesto last Monday, promising a complete revamp of the country's economic approach with the aim to ensure every Malaysian household draws a minimum monthly income of RM4,000 by the end of its first term.

The pact also enforced its pledge to drop fuel prices and electricity tariffs, scrap toll payments, reduce car prices, free education, as well as increase the ceiling for taxable income to those who earn a minimum of RM400,000 annually, instead of the current RM250,000.

READ MORE HERE

 

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."

READ MORE HERE

 

Of election manifestos

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.

 

British investors sue ex-Umno treasurer Azim over RM12.8m

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 03:01 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

Sixty British investors have sued former Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi and his IT company, Doxport Technologies Sdn Bhd, for allegedly misappropriating US$4 million (RM12.8 million) in 2009.

Their lawyer, Hasnal Rezua Merican, said today that the British investors ― based in London and comprising both male and female professionals aged between 40 and 55 years, including bankers ― filed the suit in the High Court here last Wednesday against Doxport chairman Azim, director and CEO Sivalingam Thechinamoorthy, accounts department staff Gurmeet Kaur, and the firm.

"They (the claimants) invested money into purchasing Telekom switches and equity in Doxport," Hasnal told The Malaysian Insider today.

"They were promised that the Telekom switches would be theirs and they would hold it under equity in Doxport... but documents were falsified, just to give them an appearance that the switches are running in Malaysia," he added.

Hasnal said that the 60 British citizens had invested about US$4 million into Doxport Technologies in January 2009, when Azim was Umno treasurer. Azim, who is currently the Bukit Bintang Umno division chief, was replaced by Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah in April 2009.

Hasnal (left) and Kamarul said that the police's Money Laundering Investigation Division only started investigations last month. — Picture by Boo Su-LynHasnal said that the investors lodged a police report in 2011 after discovering that there were no such Telekom switches operating in Malaysia.

"Some documents were generated to show that the switches were receiving calls through them. All these were given to our clients to believe that the switches were operating. But finally when they came down to Malaysia, no switches were visible... So they ended up without any equity in Doxport and without any switches," he said.

The lawyer added that the investors had aimed to generate income from the traffic of calls recorded by the switches, which Doxport claimed would run in Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines.

Hasnal said the investors had come to know of Doxport after the company's lawyer approached a British citizen in the Pakistani community in London.

"The investors were duped into believing that Doxport was carrying business activities in Cambodia. On the strength of the representation, they were asked to invest. But it was found out later that Doxport was never licensed to operate anything in Cambodia," he said.

The lawyer added that the police have sent investigation papers to the Attorney-General's Chambers, noting that the investigation took 14 months.

He said that the investors had also lodged a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in 2011, but pointed out that the regulator later decided not to press charges.

"The complaint was they (Doxport) were operating without licence. (But) the finding made by the investigators of MCMC is there seems to be no evidence that they are operating any business at all," said Hasnal.

The lawyer said that the investors were suing for the return of their investments, besides seeking general and exemplary damages.

READ MORE HERE

 

Pakatan targets RM49.5b yearly savings to fund programmes

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 02:56 PM PST

Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) aims to save about RM49.5 billion annually on federal government procurements and projects in order to finance economic programmes costing RM45.8 billion annually, should it win Election 2013.

PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli told reporters today that the opposition pact would emulate the Selangor PR government that saved 24 per cent on road projects from January to September 2012.

"We'll save RM49.5 billion, which is 24 per cent of the (RM206.4 billion) expenditure," said Rafizi, referring to the cost of existing government procurements and projects this year.

Rafizi pointed out that PR's economic agenda would cost RM45.8 billion, comprising the scrapping of toll payments, the reduction of excise duties, a national housing scheme, teachers' special allowances, dismantling the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN), and 20 per cent oil royalties

Other initiatives include the Caruman Wanita Nasional scheme, bonuses for senior citizens, a fund for minimum wage, People's Pioneer Scheme to train school-leavers, 20 per cent contribution to the Armed Forces Fund board (LTAT), veterans' dividends, an increase of buses in the Klang Valley, free wards at government hospitals, and an increase in welfare aid.

PR unveiled its election manifesto on Monday, promising a complete revamp of the country's economic approach with the aim of ensuring every Malaysian household draws a minimum monthly income of RM4,000 by the end of its first term.

READ MORE HERE

 

Standoff nearing point of no return

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:52 PM PST

Three extensions to the followers of the Sulu Sultan to leave Lahad Datu have expired and all indications are that they are going to dig in and stay.

MANILA: The Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) has indicated that it will send reinforcements if hostilities break out between the Filipino followers of the Sulu Sultan and Malaysian authorities.

MNLF special branch service chief Khaber Sampang said they will send reinforcements once hostilities break out.

He said "a full-blown hostility could erupt" once the Malaysians manhandle the heirs or followers of the Sultanate of Sulu.

"War is not far away," said MNLF peace panel member Cesar Absalom, referring to the threat of Malaysia to forcibly evict the Royal Sultanate Army in Sabah.

The Philippine Interior and Local Government Secretary Manuel Roxas said on Tuesday that the Malaysians are running out of patience.

Roxas said that the Malaysian government has given three extensions to the deadline for Agbimuddin Kiram and his followers, who encamped at Lahad Datu for the past two weeks, to leave Sabah and return to the Philippines.

The sultanate is no longer recognised by any state as a sovereign entity, but Malaysia has been paying token rent to the Kirams ever since. Agbimuddin Kiram, who claimed Sabah is their home, has ignored calls from Malaysia to return to the Philippines.

Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin said the flow of commerce between Sabah and the several islands in the southern Mindanao has stopped because of tight control of movement of people between the two countries as a result of the occupation.

"The consequence of this incident is that barter trade has stopped. Prices of basic commodities in Tawi-Tawi jacked up," Gazmin said.

"Kasi and Tawi-Tawi get its supply of basic commodities and trade its products at Lahad Datu in Sabah, which is closer than Zamboanga City," he said.

Gazmin said Kiram's defiance could result in Malaysian government crackdown against undocumented Filipinos in Sabah, which was estimated at 800,000 and their fates are in the hands of Kiram.

Political allies of President Beningo Aquino also joined calls on Kiram to end the standoff in Sabah and consider the welfare of Filipinos, who are now stateless because Malaysia considered them illegal immigrants.

"Bringing the supposed Sabah heirs and government representatives in one table would allow discussions on the complex issues involved in the Sabah claim, including the plight of Sabah residents who have Filipino roots," Senator Francis Escudero said.

"The immediate concern of the government should be the welfare of Filipinos who were born and raised in Sabah, which is the bigger humanitarian issue that must be addressed through diplomatic channels," he said.

"The welfare of our countrymen, who consider Sabah as their homeland, should be the focus of any government negotiation with the Malaysian government," Escudero said.

Sultan unmoved

The ailing Kiram sounded unmoved by Aquino's warning to stand down.

At a news briefing in his house in Taguig City, Kiram rejected the president's appeal for him to immediately recall his men who have been occupying a part of Sabah for nearly three weeks.

"I have already given my order to them. And they have to stay put in that area," Kiram said in a muffled voice.

He said his men would not go back home "until an arrangement has been done by our officials and the president, and if that will be arranged accordingly with a written agreement signed by the parties concerned".

Kiram said that in the last conversation he had with Agbimuddin on Monday, his younger brother told him that he and their 235 followers were firm in their decision to stay despite a food blockade ordered by the Malaysian authorities.

Asked what actions Agbimuddin and his men might take if the deadline for them to leave Sabah expired, the Sulu sultan said: "I asked them to wait for orders from me or from my [other] brothers."

READ MORE HERE

 

Wan Azizah tidak bertanding PRU13

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:49 PM PST

Perkara ini disahkan oleh Timbalannya, Azmin Ali walaupun mengakui wujud permintaan dan sokongan penuh akar umbi dan pimpinan tertinggi parti yang mahu Wan Azizah bertanding semula.

Jamilah Kamarudin, FMT

Presiden PKR, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail tetap dengan keputusan untuk tidak bertanding dalam mana-mana kerusi pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13).

Perkara ini disahkan oleh Timbalannya, Azmin Ali walaupun mengakui wujud permintaan dan sokongan penuh akar umbi dan pimpinan tertinggi parti yang mahu Wan Azizah bertanding semula.

"Beliau dah buat keputusan. Terpulang kepada tuan empunya badan. Kita tak boleh nak paksa," katanya.

Berikutan itu, menurut Azmin nama Wan Azizah tidak disenarai sebagai calon PRU 13 dan menghormati hasrat bekas ahli parlimen Permatang Pauh itu yang mahu fokus kepada tanggungjawab sebagai Presiden parti.

"Jawatankuasa PKR Pusat akur dengan keputusan itu," katanya.

Wan Azizah yang juga bekas ketua pembangkang pertama kali terjun bertanding di kerusi parlimen Permatang Pauh pada tahun 1999 dan berjaya mempertahankannya selama tiga penggal berturut-turut.

Beliau kemudiannya melepaskan kerusi itu bagi memberi laluan kepada suaminya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim bagi mengukuhkan kedudukan pembangkang di Parlimen dan juga dalam arena politik negara untuk menentang Barisan Nasional (BN).

Tindakan itu menyebabkan beliau dilarang daripada bertanding semula di kerusi parlimen, namun tidak menyekatnya daripada bertanding merebut kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN).

READ MORE HERE

 

Shocking! Ridhuan teaches ethnic relations

Posted: 26 Feb 2013 01:37 PM PST

Colleagues of the associate professor reveal how students have complained about the sensitive issues raised during his lectures.

RK Anand, FMT

Ridhuan Tee Abdullah's drivel in Sinar Harian incensed a MIC leader to the point of threatening to call on the Indians to vote for the opposition if the authorities failed to act against him.

Now, S Vell Paari was both shocked and horrified to learn that the Muslim scholar was assigned to teach ethnic relations to this nation's future military leaders.

Ridhuan's colleagues from the National Defence University, who met the MIC strategy director at his residence yesterday, claimed that the associate professor was preaching ethnic cleansing instead.

"I was told that there had been complaints from his students, including Malay students, about the sensitive things he mentions during lectures.

"This man's views threaten racial harmony. Someone should lock him up in a dungeon and throw away the key, let alone give him a teaching job," Vell Paari told FMT.

Accused of plagiarising

Furthermore, he said there was also the allegation that Ridhuan plagiarised the works of other academics in seeking promotion.

"This is a serious allegation. I was given documentary evidence about this. Ridhuan is accused of copying word for word of one Dr Airil Sametok on the topic 'The Importance of Research'.

"In his paper, Ridhuan claimed that it was his original work," he added.

Vell Paari said if the allegation was true, then it was disappointing that a Muslim preacher and a recipient of the Maulidur Rasul award would stoop to such a level.

"For someone who appears on television talking about Islamic values, this is nothing short of cheating and being a fraud," he added.

The MIC leader also said that he was informed of how Ridhuan managed to obtain the associate professor title in just three years.

"I was told that it takes between five and seven years, and the person's publications and international reputation are also taken into account.

"So I am wondering if Ridhuan is a genius of sorts," he added.

Vell Paari said Ridhuan's colleagues considered him an embarrassment to the academia and a liability to the university.

Apart from this, the MIC leader said he also found it disturbing when told that Ridhuan, a Chinese Muslim convert, was hostile towards his Chinese colleagues and staff.

READ MORE HERE

 

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