Ahad, 21 April 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

0 ulasan
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


The NATO Syndrome

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 04:45 AM PDT

And how many of you signed the petition asking for Dr Wan Azizah to be given a seat to contest the coming general election? Do you know and do you care? Well, let me tell you. From the more than 13 million registered voters, less than 2,000 signed the petition. So that comes to only…hell, who cares anyway?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The nation reeled in shock last week as private investigator P. Balasubramaniam abruptly passed away, just days before, declaring he would continue to seek justice for the murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu.

But as the shock wears off and Malaysians move on, his family is left picking up the pieces of a shattered life – a life already strained five years ago, when Balasubramaniam's declarations regarding the prime minister forced his family to flee the country.

Now, with Balasubramaniam dead, his wife, A Santamil Selvi, and three teenaged children are stranded in Malaysia with diminishing funds and a rapidly dimming future.

Funeral expenses, education fees and mortgages are weighing heavily on the widow's mind, who is currently homebound in accordance with Hindu tradition.

"I visited Bala's wife last night to talk about how her family was coping – she showed me her IOUs, how she is well in debt. She has even resorted to pawning the items she owns," Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gow Burne told reporters today.

"Unfortunately, despite Bala's sacrifice for the country, his family is now in serious trouble."

In a bid to keep the bereaved family afloat, Loh is now initiating a fund-raising campaign and is appealing to the public to donate any money they can spare for the widowed Santamil Selvi and her fatherless children.

"The priority is for Bala's children to be given the opportunity to finish their education, and to ensure that someone who sacrificed all he had for the nation, would not have his family left in poverty," said Loh.

Balasubramaniam's lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, said the funds would immediately be used to help Santamil Selvi and her children return to India, where they had been residing for the past five years.

"His children must go back to India as they have been schooling there for five years. It would be too difficult for them to adapt to the school system here, especially after all the trauma they recently went through," said Americk.

"The funds will also go towards basic requirements such as food, clothes, mortgage, education… Monthly expenditure can easily reach up to RM15,000," he added.

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

The above was what was reported one month ago on 20th March 2013. Do any of you reading this know where Bala's family currently is? Do you know how much money was collected and are they now out of their financial predicament? Are Bala's children back in school in Chennai?

I think a more important question to ask is: do any of you care now that Bala is no longer of any use to the ABU cause? Yes, tell me honestly, do any of you reading this know and care?

Malaysians suffer from the NATO Syndrome. Do you know that 53% of the voters are women? And do you know that the manner in which Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was treated will have some effect on the women voters, especially the Malay women from the Malay heartland?

Yes, I bet you did not know this.

And how many of you signed the petition asking for Dr Wan Azizah to be given a seat to contest the coming general election? Do you know and do you care? Well, let me tell you. From the more than 13 million registered voters, less than 2,000 signed the petition. So that comes to only…hell, who cares anyway?

And then when the Malay women vote Umno you scream and say that the Malays are still sleeping. Really? Is it the Malays who are still sleeping or is it you who is still sleeping?

Haris Ibrahim posted this in his Blog early this morning:

A bad case of rhinitis in the early hours of Saturday morning kept me from going to the nomination centre to lend support to Arul's candidacy in Semenyih. Later that day, tracking all the nominations and seeing so many multi-cornered fights, especially in Sabah, only served to remind me again why I am pro-rakyat, and not pro the opposition parties.

I would just like to say "welcome home Sam." I thought I had lost you. I am glad that we still share the same doctrine -- which is we are pro-rakyat and not pro-party, either ruling or opposition.

I admit that we may have different methods in trying to meet our objective but, as we say in England, there are many ways to skin a pussy, or even pricks for that matter. And we must admit that Malaysian politicians are a bunch of pricks, no doubt about that.

Well, you as an avid Qur'an believer will be very familiar with the verse 'show me the straight path' and 'to you your path and to me mine'. Ultimately, our journeys are both the same -- to seek the truth. And while there are many routes to the truth there is only one truth.

I trust now that Nomination Day is over and we are all awaiting Polling Day, you can reflect on the fact that God made us of different creeds on purpose, as Islam says, so that we may know one another, and that you can accept that this diversity, therefore, makes us differ in how we think and do things.

Nevertheless, as long as we can remember that we were placed on the face of this earth to serve the ummah and not the rulers, then God's mission and vision would have been served. And that, in the final analysis, is what it is all about as we wait to take our place in the land of the dearly departed just like how our comrade Bala did recently and whom we shall all be joining in the not too distant future.

My salam to you my friend and comrade and may we accept whatever happens as takdir or God's will, the ultimate decider of all things.

 

On the Eve of Nomination Day (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 18 Apr 2013 07:21 PM PDT

Marina could not explain what those rocket flags meant other than, "Itu bendera parti PAS Cina (those are the flags of the Chinese PAS party)'. 'PAS' here meaning 'opposition', of course, just like 'Colgate' means 'tooth paste', 'Lux' means 'bathing soap' and 'Panadol' means 'pain killers', etc. Never did Marina suspect 20 years ago that 'PAS Cina' would one day become a reality.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Kit Siang: RoS move may hamper DAP win in Gelang Patah

(TMI) - DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang today admitted that his chances of winning in the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat may be affected by the Registrar of Societies' (RoS) move to block the DAP from using its party logo for the 13th general election.

"My chances of winning in Gelang Patah from 50-50 before the announcement to field Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, then 45-55 with Ghani's candidacy.

"With the ban on using DAP's symbol, my chances are only 40, while Ghani's is 60 per cent," an emotional Lim said at a press conference at the DAP headquarters here, referring to his decreasing chances against his rival from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition with the surprising turn of events just two days before tomorrow's Nomination Day.

Lim, who was seen shedding tears during the press conference, said voters would be confused if the DAP is forced to borrow the symbols of its coalition partners in Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

"If until 3pm this afternoon, RoS does not issue a retraction letter, we will use the logos of component parties," Lim said, referring to the DAP's two allies in PR, PAS and PKR.

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

DAP to contest under PAS, PKR tickets

(The Sun Daily) - DAP will not be able to use its rocket symbol in the coming general election, following two letters issued by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on Wednesday – just three days before nomination – which in effect render the party's office-bearers impotent.

As a consequence, the DAP at an emergency meeting last night had decided it will contest under the PAS logo in the peninsula and the PKR logo in East Malaysia unless the Registrar of Societies (ROS) revokes its April 17 letter which de-recognised the party's office-bearers by 3pm today.

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

PAS VP welcomes usage of party logo by DAP

(The Sun Daily) - PAS vice president Datuk Husam Musa welcomes the usage of the party's logo by DAP to contest in the upcoming general election.

Husam said this move would also help increase votes for both the Islamic party and its partner DAP.

"This I believe is the real unity for Malaysians," he said in a press conference at the party's media centre here today.

He said PAS has also started preparing the surat watikah (authorisation letter) for DAP to use the Islamic party's logo for the election.

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

(Bernama) - The People's Progressive Party (PPP) will come up with respective manifestos for each of the five seats allocated to the party in the 13th General Election.

Its president, Datuk Seri M. Kayveas, said the pledges in each manifesto of a parliamentary constituency and four state seats would differ, according to the importance and needs of the people in the respective areas.

"Each manifesto will have eight points on why they (the voters) should choose Barisan Nasional (BN), and also the promise to enhance their living standard," he said.

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

We have less than 24 hours to go to know who is going to be contesting where and how many three-, four-, five-, six-, or more-corner fights we are going to see on 5th May 2103. Nevertheless, for sure this is NOT going to be a one-on-one general election as we had hoped for and had tried to fight for back in 2010.

Yes, three years ago, back in 2010, just two years after what many regard as the 'historic' 2008 general election, some of us such as Haris Ibrahim and I already anticipated that we would be seeing what we are seeing today. And we discussed this with anxiety and decided to try to do something about it.

No, I will not say 'I told you so' because many of you are going to get angry mainly because, as the Malays say, siapa makan cili dia rasa pedas -- and many of you rasa pedas for sure even without me having to say 'I told you so'. Hence I will not say 'I told you so'.

Do you remember the various reasons why we launched the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) in London back in 2010? And do you remember that one of these various reasons was to see a one-on-one contest and to avoid three-, four-, five-, six-, or more-corner fights? And do you also remember the meeting we from Friends of Pakatan Rakyat had with Anwar Ibrahim when he visited London around that same time and which we reported about? And do you remember, as well, the public dialogue session in London that we had with Anwar, Tian Chua and Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, which you can see on YouTube (where I 'waved' in Anwar's face a copy of The People's Declaration that was signed with Pakatan Rakyat in February 2008)?

No, I am not saying 'I told you so'. I am just reminding you of all these events because 'Melayu mudah lupa', as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is fond of saying.

Then we who mooted the idea of MCLM were accused of attempting to trigger three-corner fights in the coming general election in spite of us explaining that our objective was to prevent and not to trigger three-corner fights. Whatever we said was not accepted and Pakatan Rakyat still insisted that our objective was sinister and aimed at triggering three-corner fights.

That was when I decided to announce that we are abandoning the 'independent candidate initiative' since Pakatan Rakyat is opposed to it and is saying that this initiative is aimed at sabotaging Pakatan Rakyat. Then Haris Ibrahim turns around and whacks me and says that this was never discussed and agreed upon (which means the initiative was not abandoned) and then he subsequently resigned from MCLM.

Anyway, as I always say, all I need to do is keep quiet and wait because eventually, even if it takes ten years, what I say will be proven. And, today, it has been proven.

So there! But I am still not saying 'I told you so'.

Next issue. In an emotional press conference yesterday, Lim Kit Siang said that if DAP can't contest under its own logo then this would cost the party some votes and maybe even some seats.

This is actually quite true. And that was why Barisan Nasional was formed more than a year before the 1974 general election. The voters recognised the kapal layar logo of the old Alliance Party but not the dacing of the new Barisan Nasional so they needed enough time to promote the new logo. Hence if DAP contests under a 'new' logo this may confuse the voters.

If this was 40 years ago back in 1973 I can understand that the voters might be confused and need more than a year of 'education' to understand that the dacing has replaced the kapal layar. I mean, back in 1973 the voters were not that educated. However, today, 40 years later in the era of the Internet and the information revolution, are you saying that this is still a problem?

So you see, when I said that the Malaysian voters are still not that mature enough I meant it. The Malaysian voters are not the thinking type of voters. Even in the west or more advanced nations this is also true to a certain extent. In the UK the voters vote for Conservative, Labour, LibDem or any of the other parties. And they will still vote for these parties even if these parties contest without any logo. But not in Malaysia, it seems.

I remember 20 years or so ago my wife, Marina, and I, together with our son and daughter, made a trip to Ipoh and the town was flooded with party flags and my son, Azmir, asked about those strange rocket flags. Being from Terengganu, he had never seen these flags before.

Marina could not explain what those rocket flags meant other than, "Itu bendera parti PAS Cina (those are the flags of the Chinese PAS party)'. 'PAS' here meaning 'opposition', of course, just like 'Colgate' means 'tooth paste', 'Lux' means 'bathing soap' and 'Panadol' means 'pain killers', etc. Never did Marina suspect 20 years ago that 'PAS Cina' would one day become a reality.

DAP's 'angry bird' logo for East Malaysia that I propose

Next issue. It appears like we have the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat Election Manifestos plus each political party has its own separate manifesto plus separate manifestos for each state. Wow! It looks like we are going to end up with 350 different manifestos in the coming general election. This must certainly be a world record of sorts.

Why can't they all make it simple and reduce it to just one 'universal' election manifesto and simply declare that The Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 10th December 1948 is going to be adopted after the general election is over?

Do you know that even after 56 years of Merdeka Malaysia is still not a signatory to The Universal Declaration of Human Rights? And, may I ask, why not? Our neighbours such as Thailand and the Philippines are. Even 'rouge' nations such as Iran, Iraq, Cuba, Afghanistan, Burma, the Republic of China, etc., are. So why can't Malaysia adopt The Universal Declaration of Human Rights as our 'election manifesto'?

It is no use presenting hundreds of different election manifestos when we refuse even to endorse a simple, complete and precise 'manifesto' such as The Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

And if you adopt The Universal Declaration of Human Rights then 90% of the problems facing the country would be automatically solved. And go read it here to understand what I am talking about.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

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

提名日前夕

我的妻子,馬麗娜,想不到其他方法向他解釋,只好說:"那是華人的伊斯蘭黨黨旗(bendera parti PAS Cina)"。'伊斯蘭黨'在此的意思是'反對黨',就像'Colgate' 是'牙膏', 'Lux' 是'肥皂','Panadol' 是'止痛葯'一般。馬麗娜當時沒想到在20年后'華人的伊斯蘭黨'會成真。


原文:Raja Petra Kamarudin
譯文:方宙

林吉祥:社團註冊侷的舉動可能會阻礙行動黨在振林山獲勝。

(TMI) – 行動黨顧問林吉祥今天承認他在振林山獲勝的機會可能會因社團註冊侷阻止他在大選時應用行動黨黨徽而受到影響。
(下文省略)

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

行動黨會以伊斯蘭黨及公正黨黨徽出戰

(The Sun Daily) – 此屆大選中行動黨將無法應用他們的火箭標誌。這個決定是續社團註冊侷在星期三,既題名日前三天,對行動黨發出的兩封不承認黨内幹事的信件后作出的。
(下文省略)

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

伊斯蘭黨副主席歡迎行動黨運用他們的黨徽

(The Sun Daily) - 伊斯蘭黨副主席Datuk Husam Musa 表示歡迎行動黨在此次大選中運用他們的黨徽。
(下文省略)

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

(Bernama) – 人民進步黨在此屆大選中會就他們被分配到的五個選區提出不同的選舉宣言。

黨主席Datuk Seri M. Kayveas表示,在一個囯席四個州席裏,他們會以選民們不同的要求做出個別的選舉宣言。

"每個宣言將會有8個要點來道出爲什麽他們(選民們)應該選擇囯陣和承諾提高他們的生活素質,"他如此表示。

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

在少過24小時内我們將會知道此次大選會有誰參加和會有多少個三角,四角,五角,六角戰。。。等。無論如何,這將不會是個我們在2010年所希望能看到的一對一大選。

是的,三年前,就在08年的'歷史性'大選的兩年后,我們(就好像Haris Ibrahim 和我)就預測到我們會看到今天的情景。我們當時很憂慮地討論了這個課題,然後決定我們應該做些事情。

不,我不會說'我告訴過你了',因爲你們當中肯定會有人生氣。就像馬來人講的'誰吃辣椒誰就會覺得辣',你們當中在我還沒開始講'我告訴過你了'以前就嘗到辣了,所以我不會告訴你'我告訴過你了'。

你還記得我們于2010年在倫敦發動馬來西亞國民自由運動(Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement,MCLM)的理由嗎?你還記得其中一個理由是我們想看到一對一的選舉而不是三角戰,四角戰,五角戰,六角戰。。。嗎?你還記得在我們這些民聯的朋友和安華展開的會議嗎?你們還記得我們在倫敦和安華,蔡添強和東姑阿都阿玆的公開對話嗎?(你可在YouTube 上看到,我當時還在安華面前甩了甩民聯在2008年2月所簽署的'人民宣言')

不,我不是正在告訴你'我告訴過你了',我只想提醒你這些事件的存在,因爲真如敦馬所說,'馬來人是健忘的'。

我們這群想出MCLM這個主意的卻被指責說我們的目的是要在大選裏促使三角戰的發生,雖然我們不斷的解釋我們的目的是要'避免'而不是'觸發'三角戰。我們所講的都沒人要聼,民聯還是咬定我們的目的是險惡和注重在觸發三角戰的。

我當時就想宣佈我們要放棄'獨立候選人運動',因爲我們得不到民聯的贊同而且他們還認爲那個運動的目的根本就是要破壞民聯。Haris Ibrahim 過後來個大回轉,他反過來干屌我和講説我們根本就沒進行討論(意思是我們並沒有要放棄'獨立候選人運動'),然後他就退出MCLM了。

無論如何,就像我經常講的,我所需要做的就只是站在一旁保持沉默,我所提到的最終都囘成真,哪怕我得等十年。但我不必等這麽久,我之前提到的今天就發生了。

你看吧!但我還是沒有說'我告訴過你了'。

下一個課題,在昨天的記者會裏,林吉祥激動的表示如果行動黨不能以他們的黨徽競選的話那他們可能會流失一些選票,甚至是一些席位。

這其實是很正確的。這就是爲什麽囯陣要在1974年大選的前一年就組成。選民們只會認得舊聯盟的'帆船'標誌而不是新囯陣的'天秤',所以囯陣要用足夠的時間來'推銷'他們的新標誌。所以如果現在行動黨用新標誌的話有些選民可能會感到混亂。

如果我們談及的是40年前的1973年,那我會很了解爲什麽選民們會困惑而需要一年的時間來明白'帆船'以被'天秤'取代了;1973年選民們的教育水平沒有那麽高。但,在40年后資訊爆發的今天,你告訴我這還是個問題?

所以你可以看到,儅我說馬來西亞選民不成熟時其實我是對的。馬來西亞選民並不是會用腦筋思考的那一群。對比西方國家的選民我們也可以證實這一點。在英國選民們會把票投給保守黨,工黨,自由民主黨等。即使這些政黨沒有用他們的黨徽英國的選民們還是會把票又給他們要投的黨,然而在馬來西亞我們選民們看起來並不會那麽做。

我還記得在20年前我和我家人一同到怡保遊玩而當時城裏挂滿了各黨的黨旗。我的兒子Azmir問我那些奇怪的火箭到底是什麽,久居登嘉樓的他從沒看過這些旗子。

我的妻子,馬麗娜,想不到其他方法向他解釋,只好說:"那是華人的伊斯蘭黨旗(bendera parti PAS Cina)"。'伊斯蘭黨'在此的意思是'反對黨',就像'Colgate' 是'牙膏', 'Lux' 是'肥皂','Panadol' 是'止痛葯'一般。馬麗娜當時沒想到在20年后'華人的伊斯蘭黨'會成真。

再下一個課題:看起來其他政黨,就像民聯和囯陣一樣,都擁有自己的大選宣言。不只如此,他們還為每個選區做出不同的宣言。哇靠!看起來我們將會看到350個不同的宣言,這次真的是破世界紀錄了。

爲什麽他們就不要能簡單一些只用一個'統一'的宣言,把聯合國在1948年12月10日大會裏採納的'國際人權宣言'用為他們大選的宣言呢?

你知道嗎,國家都已獨立56年,但我們還未簽署那份國際人權宣言。在此我想問句"爲什麽不呢"?我們的鄰居泰國與菲律賓都已經作了,就連那些比較'紅色'的國家如伊朗,伊拉克,古巴,阿富汗,緬甸,中華民囯等都也簽了,爲什麽大馬就不能以'國際人權宣言'作爲競選宣言呢?

儅我們連一個簡單、完全、和精准的國際人權宣言都接受不了時,無論我們搬出多少個不同版本的宣言都是没用的。

如果我們能夠用上國際人權宣言,那我囯90%的問題將會自動地被解決。去讀讀以下鏈接的宣言吧,你就會懂我的意思了。

國際人權宣言: http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml

 

Your slip is showing (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 17 Apr 2013 06:35 PM PDT

That is just one example of many similar comments. I find that the Chinese always like to boast about how pragmatic they are due to their 5,000 years of civilisation. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that the Chinese are very pragmatic and he lamented that the Malays are too emotional and feudalistic and not pragmatic like the Chinese.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

One reader sent me an email complaining that his comment was 'rejected'.  He accused me of blocking his email address but when I tried posting the comment that he sent me I discovered that his comment is too long. And that was why he could not post the comment. He should have broken the comment into two parts. Nevertheless, he assumed that I had blocked or rejected his comment.

The 2,000 character limit is to ensure that spammers do not copy and paste nonsense running into 20 pages or more and post them in Malaysia Today. They have done this before. Furthermore, the spammers post many copies of the same comment. Hence we have had to set a time gap of three minutes between postings.

Another problem we face is DDOS attacks. Over the last month we have been under severe attack almost 24-7, as have many other websites and news portals. These attacks come from all over the world and I was told that hackers take control of millions of computers all over the world to launch these attacks. And that is why we find it so difficult to track them down and block them. They are using 'middlemen' to attack us.

Your computer may be one of those millions of computers all over the world commandeered by the hackers to launch these DDOS attacks. Hence you may find your IP address blocked by our server. I suppose we shall have to treat that as collateral damage until the 5th May 2013 general election is over. According to our technical people, this mode of attack would cost a lot of money so whoever is financing these attacks must have very deep pockets indeed.

Below is one comment from a reader regarding my two articles on principles.

Sometimes, pragmatism trumps over principles. How many dinners does one need to organise to raise hundreds of millions for Nurul Izzah to counter Raja Nong Chik's hundreds of millions? The idea was dead from the start.

That is just one example of many similar comments. I find that the Chinese always like to boast about how pragmatic they are due to their 5,000 years of civilisation. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted that the Chinese are very pragmatic and he lamented that the Malays are too emotional and feudalistic and not pragmatic like the Chinese.

I suppose 'pragmatic' is a better word than 'unprincipled' -- such as 'meticulous' rather than 'leceh (slow)', 'friendly fire' rather than 'oops', 'collateral damage' rather than 'kambing hitam (sacrificial lamb)', 'flexible' rather than 'wishy-washy', 'firm' rather than 'pig-headed', 'decisive' rather than 'uncompromising', 'faith' rather than 'lack of evidence', and so on. It is merely a choice of words and what people would call 'politically correct' rather than 'propaganda'.

In short, what this reader is saying is matlamat menghalalkan cara (the ends justify the means). I actually like that doctrine. My doctor friend tells me that a glass of wine a day is very healthy and a glass of brandy helps cure your cough. Can I, therefore, drink a glass of wine a day and down a glass of brandy every time I cough (and I cough a lot as those who phone me can confirm)?

My objective is to stay healthy and cure my cough so the wine and liquor that I drink would achieve that. And does not the ends justify the means or matlamat menghalalkan cara? So haram becomes halal just as long as your intentions are noble (matlamat yang mulia).

Talking about noble intentions, Islam says that all Muslims are brothers/sisters. So, in the interest of noble intentions and for the sake of maintaining the Islamic brotherhood, if a Chinese candidate from the opposition contests against a Malay candidate from Umno, whom should we support?

Remember, as the Chinese say, we need to be pragmatic and not idealistic or emotional. The pragmatic thing would be that if we support a Malay candidate against the Chinese candidate then we would be able to strengthen the Muslim brotherhood, as Islam wants us to do.

So, do you really want to choose pragmatism over idealism?

Now back to the issue of the fundraising exercise for Nurul Izzah. One reader posted a comment saying that people refuse to support the fundraising exercise not because they do not support Nurul Izzah but because they hate me.

I like it when people get snared in my traps.

Actually, there were two fundraising dinners. One was organised by Nurul Izzah's own team and the other by someone else but I sponsored the whole event. Hence I was not involved in the first and only a handful of people knew about my involvement in the other -- at least until the dinner was over. And both dinners managed to raise about the same amount of money.

Hence how goes your theory that people did not support Nurul Izzah's fundraising exercise because they hate me? Even Nurul Izzah's own team could not do much better. Using that same logic, if you hate Azmin Ali then is it okay if you do not support Pakatan Rakyat Selangor? What if you hate Anwar Ibrahim? Is it okay then to not support PKR?

Why do you people not want to admit your failings and shortcomings? Why always try to deflect and put the blame on someone else? Just admit that you are all talk and no action. The more you squirm the deeper you get snared.

So now it is okay to not support the cause if you hate one person. That gives me the moral high ground to not support Pakatan Rakyat because I hate certain people in Pakatan Rakyat. These are your ground rules and we are just playing according to your ground rules.

This is typical of Malaysians, in particular the Chinese, Indians and natives of East Malaysia. Dr Mahathir proudly said that in five general elections he never lost his two-thirds majority in Parliament and then you turn around and whack Dr Mahathir and blame the Malays and ask the Malays to 'wake up'.

Dr Mahathir said he never lost his two-thirds majority in Parliament in 22 years but in 1990 Kelantan, which is in the Malay heartland that has more than 97% Malay voters, was lost to the opposition. In 1995, DAP garnered only 12% of the votes and won 9 Parliament seats while PAS-Semangat 46 garnered 15% of the votes and won 13 Parliament seats plus they retained Kelantan.

In 1999, the opposition won Kelantan and Terengganu and Umno lost its two-thirds majority in the Kedah State Assembly (after the Lunas by-election) plus Umno lost more than half the Parliament seats in that state. PAS also won the most number of seats and the PAS President became the Opposition Leader in Parliament while Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh lost their seats in the 'Chinese heartland'.

So what do you have to say about that? What do you mean that the Malays have to wake up? Why try to deflect and not admit who is to blame for this? Why try to blame others for your failings and shortcomings? And Nurul Izzah can't raise enough money because people hate Raja Petra Kamarudin konon and not because you are all talk and no action.

What utter bullshit! You are so full of shit I can smell it all the way from Manchester. So, nak cakap lagi? What is the word they use? Kiasu?

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

你快站不住腳了

這只是其中一個留言。我發現華人很喜歡吹噓他們在5000年歷史的洗禮下變得如何的務實。就連敦馬哈迪也承認華人是很務實的而他為馬來人的情緒化與封建感嘆。

原文:Raja Petra Kamarudin

譯文:方宙

 

一位讀者給我發了封郵件,向我投訴他的留言被'拒絕'了。他指責我'封'了他的郵址,但儅 我嘗試著要把他的留言放上網時我發現他的留言實在是太長了。這就是他放不上的原因,他應該把留言分成兩段。無論如何他假定這是我在阻止他發言。

那2000個字的上限是爲了防止那些垃圾邮件发送者在MT上拷貝和張貼那些可以長達20頁的胡言亂語,他們之前曾那樣做過。不止這樣,他們還會重復的張貼同樣的留言,所以我們設下了3分鐘才可以張貼第二段留言的設置。

另外一個問題是DDOS攻擊。在這個月裏我們受到很嚴重的,近乎24小時的攻擊。其他的新聞網站也一樣。這些攻擊的發源地來自全球各地,而我還被告知那些駭客同時閒操作著上百萬的電腦來進行這些攻擊。這就是爲什麽我們很難將他們定位和封鎖他們的原因。

你的電腦可能是這上百萬被駭客用來進行攻擊的其中只一,所以你可能發現你的IP地址會被我們的服务器封鎖。我猜想直到5月5號我們還是會遭到這大選的'附带损害'。根據我們的技術員,這類的攻擊是很耗錢的,背後操手的口袋肯定很深。

以下這段留言是一名讀者對我那兩篇有關原則的文章所發的:

有時候實用主義會勝過原則。你要舉辦多少個晚宴才能幫努魯湊獲上億元來對付 Raja Nong Chik's 呢?這個主意打從一早就失敗了。

這只是其中一個留言。我發現華人很喜歡吹噓他們在5000年歷史的洗禮下變得如何的務 實。就連敦馬哈迪也承認華人是很務實的而他為馬來人的情緒化與封建感嘆。

我想'務實'比起'沒原則'更好聽吧----就像是'細緻'對比'leceh(慢吞吞)','誤傷'對比'噢慘了','附帶損害'對比 'kambing hitam (代罪羔羊)','靈活'對比'左右搖擺','堅定'對比'固執','決定性的'對比'永不妥協','信念'對比'缺乏證據'等等。這只是名詞上的選擇而以,就像很多人會說'政治上是正確的'而不是'宣傳'。

簡短的說,這位讀者要表達的是matlamat menghalalkan cara(目標可以合理化方法)。我其實很喜歡這個講法。我的醫生朋友告訴我一天一杯紅酒對身體有益,而一杯白蘭地會幫你止咳。這是不是代表我每天就可以喝一杯紅酒和每儅我一咳嗽時我就應該來一杯白蘭地呢(那些曾打電話可我的人可以證明我會經常咳嗽)?

我的目標是保持健康和醫好我的咳嗽而紅酒和白蘭地可以幫我做到。這不就是目標可以合理化方法嗎?所以Haram可以變成Halal,只要你的目標是高尚的 (matlamat yang mulia)。

講到高尚的目標,回教談到所有穆斯林都是兄弟姐妹。爲了維護這個高尚的目標,在大選裏儅一個華裔候選人對壘一個來自巫統的馬來裔候選人時,我們應該支持誰呢?

記住,正如華人常講的,我們應該是務實的而不是情緒化或理想化的。而在此踏實的選擇將會是支持那個馬來候選人來鞏固穆斯林之間的手足關係,真如回教教義要我們如此做般。

所以你真的要放棄理想來選擇務實嗎?

現在讓我們回到努魯的課題。另一位讀者指出人們不支持湊款活動不是因爲他們不支持努魯而是因爲他們討厭我。

儅有人被套入我的陷阱時我是很得瑟的。

其實湊款晚宴一共有兩場,一場是努魯的隊伍自己舉行,另一場的籌備者其實是另有其人而我只是負責出錢而已。所以說我並沒有參與第一場而只有少數人知道我參與第二場----大多數人是事後才知道的。這兩場晚宴湊到的款項都大概一樣多。

請問你那"人們不支持努魯是因爲他們討厭我"的理論要如何站得住腳呢?就連努魯的自己人也做得沒有比我好。用囘你的理論邏輯,那如果你不喜歡阿玆敏那是不是就等於你不支持雪州民聯?那如果你也不喜歡安華呢?你是不是就可以不用支持公正黨?

爲什麽你們就不會承認你們的失敗和缺點呢?爲什麽就只會把錯怪在他人身上呢?你承認你是只講不做就好了嘛。你越蠕動,你就會被套得越深。

所以現在儅你討厭一個人時你是可以不用支持那個理念的。那好,我現在有了道德的注腳,可以不用支持民聯了,因爲我討厭民聯内的某些人。 這就是你的規則而我們只是遵照你的規則而已。

這就是典型的大馬人,特別是華人,印度人和東馬土著。馬哈迪很光榮地說在他期内5屆大選他從來沒喪失過2/3的多數席位,而你們就轉過來干屌馬哈迪和怪罪馬來人,要馬來人'醒過來'。

馬哈迪說他22年來在國會從沒輸過,但在1990年他輸了吉蘭丹的州權,一個97%都是馬來選民的馬來州屬。1995年,行動黨只贏了12%的選票而拿下了9個囯席,但精神黨-伊斯蘭黨贏了15%的選票和拿下了13個囯席。他們也成功地衛冕了吉蘭丹。

1999年,反對黨在吉蘭丹和登嘉樓獲勝和在吉打取得多於1/3的州席。巫統也在吉打州輸掉一半的囯席。伊斯蘭黨贏得了最多的議席,伊黨主席成了反對黨主席。當時林吉祥和加巴星在他們的華人區輸了。

你現在還想講什麽?馬來人必須醒起來是什麽意思?爲什麽要閃躲不願承認誰該爲此擔罪呢?爲什麽要把你的失敗和缺點全怪在其他人身上呢?還有,努魯湊不到錢是因爲人們都討厭Raja Petra Kamarudin而不是你只講不做。

真他媽的廢話!你全身都是用來裝屎的,臭得連我在曼徹斯特也嗅得到。所以,nak cakap lagi? 那個詞是什麽來著? Kiasu 驚輸!

 

 

The Islamic concept of niat

Posted: 15 Apr 2013 08:48 PM PDT

In Islam, your niat is more important that the act itself. Hence the niat determines whether one receives blessings (pahala) for one's act or whether one should be condemned for the (dosa or sinful) act.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Niat (Bahasa Malaysia and نیّة in Arabic) is an Islamic concept referring to the intention one evokes in one's heart to do an act for the sake of God (Allah).

'Umar b. al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet (S) said: "Deeds are [a result] only of the intentions [of the actor], and an individual is [rewarded] only according to that which he intends. Therefore, whosoever has emigrated (hijrah) for the sake of Allah and His messenger, then his emigration was for Allah and His messenger. Whosoever emigrated for the sake of worldly gain, or a woman [whom he desires] to marry, then his emigration is for the sake of that which [moved him] to emigrate." -- Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim.

Scholars of Islam give two meanings to niat. The first refers to the intent (matlamat) while the second refers to the sincerity (ikhlas) of the act.

In Islam, your niat is more important that the act itself. Hence the niat determines whether one receives blessings (pahala) for one's act or whether one should be condemned for the (dosa or sinful) act.

For example, if you are driving and your car skids and you accidentally kill someone that is not murder in Islam because there was no niat to commit murder. However, if you spot your enemy crossing the road and you intentionally knock him/her down and kill him/her, then that is murder because the niat was to kill (or hurt) that person.

Hence the same act of killing someone with your car can be considered either an accident or murder depending on your niat. But then how would others know your niat and whether you intended to kill that person you knocked down? Well, that is why Islam says only you and God will know your niat. Others will not know what is in your heart.

So, in Islam, a niat must precede your act, as an act without a niat is not counted. And a good niat even without any action is still counted (your receive pahala) whereas a bad niat without any action is not counted (you don't suffer dosa).

For example, say you leave your home with RM1,000 in your pocket with a niat to donate that money to an orphanage. Along the way you bump into a friend who is in dire need of financial help. You then give that RM1,000 to your friend instead. You will still receive blessings (pahala) for the niat of donating that money to the orphanage although you did not in the end give the orphanage the money. Further to that, you also receive blessings for helping out a friend in need.

Hence your niat is even more important than your actual action. Everything in Islam is about niat.

The same applies to your niat of becoming a wakil rakyat (member of parliament or state assemblyperson).

If your niat is purely to serve your community and your country, then it is a sincere (ikhlas) act and you will receive blessings for that. But if you have other niat behind wanting to become a wakil rakyat then you will not receive any blessings.

But then, as I said, only you and God know what is in your heart. And Islam says unless we can prove that a person's niat is not sincere then we must assume the niat is sincere and not doubt that person -- in other words, innocent until proven guilty.

Islam is actually quite simple is it not? But humankind makes it complicated whereas in actual fact it is not. Hence I will give you the benefit of the doubt and not suspect your niat behind your intention to become a wakil rakyat unless and until it is proven otherwise.

Now, what is your niat for voting for a certain person or a certain party? Well, only you and God will know that niat, which is in your heart. Whatever it may be, if your niat is ikhlas, then you would not go wrong. However, if you have a bad niat in your heart then most likely you would end up suffering disappointment in the end.

That is how it works in Islam. So let your act be preceded with a noble niat and not a self-interest niat.

 

I love it when I can say, “I told you so” (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 14 Apr 2013 06:02 PM PDT

I think two submarines failing to prevent 100 illegal immigrants from entering Sabah is a pretty good track record considering that the US has 71 nuclear-class submarines and they still can't stop 11 million illegal immigrants from entering the country.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Bishop Paul Tan said that despite the government knowing that Sunday is a holy day where Christians must go to Church and worship God, EC has fixed May 5th for polling. "This disrespect of the government of the Christian rights is to be denounced. It just proves that the government is not sincere in its 1Malaysia slogan."

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

"That is not democracy, that is communism," said Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. "If you want to vote, go vote. But don't force people into choosing a party."

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

"Even I never worked that hard. But I must admit that the support (for BN) was very obvious (when I was PM). That's why I won five elections, each one with a two-thirds majority (in Parliament)," said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

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

So far it has been, as a friend remarked the other day, "a very American election". With its mobilising and symbolic focus on PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the GE13 "pre-campaign" has been nothing if not "presidential". When an election is focused, through one key initiative, upon the fate of the national leader who is uniquely identified with that measure, we may well characterise the campaign as presidential. -- Clive Kessler.

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

As I write this, 87 comments have been posted in my article Should Tun Dr Mahathir be put to death? The comments would have been more than 100 had I not deleted about 20 or 30 comments that were so out of topic.

Those 20 or 30 comments I deleted talked about the reason and manner that Tun Dr Mahathir should be killed. Others debated Christianity and the New and Old Testaments and so on.

If you are a student of English literature and if you had read George Orwell's Animal Farm then you will know that the book is not about animals or farms. It is about Communism. Can you imagine Malaysia Today's readers reading that book and then debating as to why pork is haram in Islam (and Judaism) and therefore pigs should not be elected the leader of the animals?

Nevertheless, that would be exactly what Malaysia Today's readers would do. One reader said that I should go to Oxford and take an English language course so that I can learn how to write properly and, therefore, people can better understand what I am saying in my articles.

Sivarasa Rasiah, the 'caretaker' Member of Parliament for Subang, gave a talk in Kota Damansara two nights ago (with Bersih Chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan in tow) and he commented that Malaysia wasted so much money buying two submarines and yet they could not stop the Filipinos from sneaking into Sabah. The United States has 71 submarines and yet they too can't seem to stop the 11 million illegal immigrants from entering the country.

I think two submarines failing to prevent 100 illegal immigrants from entering Sabah is a pretty good track record considering that the US has 71 nuclear-class submarines and they still can't stop 11 million illegal immigrants from entering the country.

Anyway, why is Ambiga escorting Sivarasa to a PKR ceramah when she said she is not campaigning for PKR? As they say in the legal fraternity (and Sivarasa and Ambiga are both lawyers): justice must not only be done but must also be seen to be done. Hence, being impartial is not good enough. Should you not also be seen to be impartial?

Bishop Paul Tan is angry that the government has fixed Polling Day on a Sunday. This, he appears to believe, is disrespectful to the Christians. In some Malaysian states, people have to work on a Sunday -- while the day off is Friday. And this has been going on since long before Merdeka in August 1957.

Should now all the states in Malaysia fix Sunday as the day off while Friday be declared a working day? And will the Pakatan Rakyat run states make these necessary changes to show more respect to the Christians seeing that this is very important to the Christians?

Anyway, polling is from 8.00am to 6.00pm. Do Christians sit in church for 12 hours from 7.00am to 7.00pm? Would there not be at least 30 minutes free time in between church on Sunday when Christian voters can run out to cast their vote?

And what about when the elections and by-elections are held on a Saturday (which has happened before)? Is this not disrespectful to the Jews (and there are some Jews in Malaysia)? Would fixing elections on a Saturday be considered anti-Semitism?

Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat has classified those who force people into choosing a party as Communists. That is very interesting. That would mean many of you who post comments in Malaysia Today forcing others to support Pakatan Rakyat are Communists. And, as many of you said, Nik Aziz would never lie. Hence you people are definitely Communists and not Democrats as you pretend to be.

An even more interesting comment was the one by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. "I won five elections, each one with a two-thirds majority," said Dr Mahathir.

So, if 50% of the Malays voted opposition (PAS and Semangat 46 at that time) and yet Barisan Nasional won all the elections with a two-thirds majority, is it the Malays who are the culprits? I love it when I can say, "I told you so".

Finally, Clive Kessler said that the 13th General Election has been transformed into a US Presidential election. That is what I said last month and now Clive Kessler is saying the same thing.

I love it when I can say, "I told you so".

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

儅我有機會說"我已經告訴過你了"時,我是很得瑟的。

美國的71艘核能推動潛水艇阻止不了1千1百萬非法移民,相比之下我覺得馬來西亞的那兩艘表現得不錯了:他們只阻止不了100多名非法移民。


原文:Raja Petra Kamarudin
譯文:方宙

陳保儸主教表示,雖然政府很清楚星期天是基督徒必須去教堂祈禱的聖日,但選舉委員會還是選擇在5月5號舉行選舉:"我們應該譴責政府對基督徒權益的不敬。很明顯的,政府根本就不像1個大馬口號般的真誠。"

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

"這不是民主而是共產主意,"拿督聶阿芝如此表示。"如果你要投票那就去投吧,但請不要強迫其他人選(你的)黨。"

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

"即使是我也從沒這麽用功過。但我必須承認(對巫統的)支持是很明顯的(儅我還是首相時)。這就是爲什麽我贏得了5次大選,而且每次都是(在國會裏)超過2/3的支持率,"前首相敦馬哈迪如是説到。

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

至今爲止這是個,就像我朋友所講的,"很美式的選舉"。過於注重首相納吉的個人形象把第十三屆大選的'選前活動'弄得很'首領化'。儅一個選舉過於注重在那個國家領導人時,我們可以把那個選舉歸納為'首領化'。----- Clive Kessler

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

正當我編寫這篇文章時,我的《敦马哈迪应该被处死吗? 》這篇文章已吸引了87個留言。留言總數本來是可以過百的,但我刪除了二三十個完全離題的留言。

那二三十個留言談的是馬哈迪應該被處死的原因,或他應該被處死的方式。有些談到的是基督教義,新約和舊約等等其他的。

如果你修讀英文文學或曾經讀過George Orwell的'Animal Farm'的話,你肯定知道那本書講的根本就不是動物或農場;那本書談的是共產主義。你可以想象得到,儅MT讀者讀了那本書以後他們開始爭辯"豬肉對穆斯林來講是Haram的所以豬不能被選為動物首領"的情景嗎?

這正是MT讀者們會做的代誌。有一個讀者勸我去牛津進修英文以便我能正確地書寫文章,進而讓其他讀者能夠更清楚我寫的到底是什麽。

梳邦選區的'代理'國會議員Sivarasa Rasiah于前天晚上在Kota Damansara給了個講座(Bersih主席安美嘉也有在場)。他批評大馬政府在花了那麽多錢購買兩艘潛水艇以後都還阻止不了菲律賓非法移民進入沙巴。美國擁有71艘核能推動潛水艇,但他們還是阻止不了1千1百萬非法移民的入境。

美國的71艘核能推動潛水艇阻止不了1千1百萬非法移民,相比之下我覺得馬來西亞的那兩艘表現得不錯了:他們只阻止不了100多名非法移民。

話説回來,爲什麽安美嘉會陪同Sivarasa 參與公正黨的講座呢?她不是講了她不會替公正黨助選嗎?法律人士常講的(安美嘉和Sivarasa倆都是律師):公義不僅僅要被維護,它還需要被其他人看到它會被維護。所以說做事情只做一半是不好的,她又何必去做一半給人家看呢?

陳保儸主教為政府把投票日定在星期天感到生氣,他把這看成是對基督徒的不敬。在馬來西亞有些州屬星期天是工作天而星期五是休假日。這種情況是自我囯在1957年獨立以來就有的。那現在是否所有州屬都必須把星期天定為周末而把星期五定為工作日呢?而民聯的管理州屬又會否這樣做來表達他們對基督徒的尊重呢?

無論如何,投票時段是從上午8點到下午6點。那請問基督徒們必須花12個小時,從早上7點到下午7點來上教堂嗎?他們找不到30分鐘的空隙走出教堂來投票嗎?

那之前都舉行在星期六的大選和補選呢?這不會對猶太人不敬嗎(有小部分的猶太人定居在馬來西亞)?把投票日定在星期六會否被看成是反猶太主義呢?

聶阿芝把那些強迫他人一定要選他們本身的黨的人定位為共產主義者。這真的是很有意思,這代表了你們當中那些強迫他人一定要支持民聯的都是共產主義者。正如你們很多人所說,聶阿芝是不會説謊的,所以你們一定是共產主義者而不是民主主義者。

而更加有意思的是前首相敦馬的言論:"我贏得了5次大選,而且每次都是超過2/3的支持率。"

所以,儅50%的馬來人都投給反對黨(當時的伊斯蘭黨和46精神黨)但囯陣卻還能擁超過有2/3 的多數席位時,請問馬來人是罪魁祸首嗎?儅我有機會說"我已經告訴過你了"時,我是很得瑟的。

最後,Clive Kessler 説這次的大選已經變得很美式。這是我上個星期所說的,而直到現在Clive Kessler才講出同樣的東西。

儅我有機會說"我已經告訴過你了"時,我是很得瑟的。

 

Should Tun Dr Mahathir be put to death? (UPDATED with Chinese Translation)

Posted: 13 Apr 2013 10:48 PM PDT

Now, let us assume that the person who asked this question happens to be a Christian. How would I answer the question without being accused of insulting Christianity? Considering that the Christians are as sensitive to perceived insults to their religion as Muslims are, we need to be very careful that I am not perceived as insulting Christianity.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Someone posted a comment in Malaysia Today asking me my opinion on whether Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be put to death. The way this person asked me that question sounded like he or she agreed that Tun Dr Mahathir should be put to death and this person was just testing me and was trying to extricate a response from me.

Now, first of all, which crime are you referring to? Did Tun Dr Mahathir murder someone? Which murder case was this? We need to first know the details of the crime.

Or are you talking about the crime of treason, which carries a death penalty? Now, not all cases of treason carry the death penalty. There are many types of treasonous acts. Selling secrets to a foreign power. Spying for a foreign power. Sabotaging our security and national defence to weaken Malaysia so that a foreign power can invade Malaysia and occupy the country.

We need specifics.

We also need to know whether you are talking from a legal/law point of view or a moral/religious point of view. Which section of the law are you talking about and does that section of the law carry the death penalty? Then the issue of evidence comes into play. What is the evidence you are talking about that a crime has been committed under that section of the law that carries the death penalty?

I fear that some people talk about the law but have very limited knowledge of the law. For example, they ask why the Malaysian government does not extradite me. They do not seem to know that the first issue to be considered in an extradition application is dual criminality. Do they even know what dual criminality means? Hence if there is no dual criminality then Malaysia cannot extradite me.

Secondly, they need to convince the UK court that a crime has been committed (after first establishing dual criminality). And that would mean they need evidence to do this. To just tell the UK court that I have insulted Islam is not good enough because in the UK insulting Islam is not a crime.

To the Malaysian government, my crime of insulting Islam is because I whacked the religious department for saying that non-Muslims are the enemy of Islam. The UK government will not only reject the argument that condemning the religious department for saying that non-Muslims are the enemy of Islam is a crime, they would probably give me the key to the city for opposing what the UK would regard as a hate crime. I may even be given 24-hour protection and be listed alongside Salman Rushdie as a protected species.

So you see, before I can even comment as to whether Tun Dr Mahathir should be put to death, we need to go through the long and tedious process of the indictment, the trial, the appeals or counter appeals, the pardon, and only after the process has been completed and all avenues exhausted can the death sentence be carried out. And considering Tun Dr Mahathir's age, he would most likely leave this world long before you can complete the process. Hence the process and my comment would be purely academic.

Now, let us assume that the person who asked this question happens to be a Christian. How would I answer the question without being accused of insulting Christianity? Considering that the Christians are as sensitive to perceived insults to their religion as Muslims are, we need to be very careful that I am not perceived as insulting Christianity.

Christianity says 'thou shalt not kill'. Hence if I say that Tun Dr Mahathir should be put to death that would mean I am saying that Christianity is wrong. How would the Christians react to my statement that says 'thou shalt kill' Tun Dr Mahathir when Christianity says 'thou shalt not kill'?

Can you see my dilemma I am facing here? As it is, people like Keith Pereira are already accusing me of being a Christian hater. Do I want to risk contradicting the Ten Commandments by suggesting that you kill Tun Dr Mahathir?

Okay, you may say that the Bible says an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But the Bible also asks you to turn the other cheek. Hence which version of the Bible should I use? And if I were to say that I am confused because there appears to be contradicting versions of the Bible, again, the Christians would whack me and preach to me about the Old Testament and the New Testament, as if I am ignorant about the religion when in fact I probably know more about Christianity than Christians themselves.

So you see, your question is a difficult question to reply to. Maybe if you can be more specific then I may be able to give you a reply to that question. Until then I await your more detailed response so that I can offer you the reply that you seek.

Meanwhile, take care and don't worry too much about putting people to death. Eventually we are all going to die anyway. It is only a matter of when. And there is always a chance that you may die before Tun Dr Mahathir does. After all, 10,000 Malaysians die every year due to traffic and other accidents so you never know when your time is up.

******************************* 

敦馬哈迪應該被處死嗎?

現在,讓我們假設提出上述這個問題的人是個基督徒。那我應該怎樣回答他才能不被講説我是在侮辱基督教呢?基督徒們和囘教徒一樣都是很敏感的,他們很容易會把別人的動作看成是侮辱他們的宗教,所以我必須格外小心才不被儅成是侮辱基督教。

原文:Raja Petra Kamarudin

譯文:方宙

有人在MT上留言問我敦馬哈迪應不應該被處死。從那個人的問法我看得出他或她很贊同敦馬哈迪應該被處死,而這個人只是想測試我,要從我的口中得到一個答復。

那好,首先請問你指的是哪宗罪?敦馬殺了人嗎?這是哪宗謀殺罪呢?我們必須先知道犯罪的内容。

還是你指的足以判死刑的叛國罪?並不是所有的叛國都帶死刑的。這世界存在很多种叛國的行爲:販賣國家機密,為其他國家進行間諜活動,破壞國防來削弱國家實力以讓其他勢力更容易地侵犯我國等。

我們需要具體的説明。

我們也有必要知道你是從法律觀點出發還是從道德/宗教觀點出發。你是從哪一條法律來看而那條法律是否又帶死刑呢?然後我們要談到證據。你能夠為那條帶有死刑的法律提供證據嗎?

我擔心的是有些人大談法律但他們根本就不懂法律。給你個例子,很多人都問爲什麽大馬政府不要引渡我。他們看起來並不知道引渡嫌犯的首要條件是'兩國共認罪行'(dual criminality)。他們到底懂什麽是'兩國共認罪行'嗎? 如果'兩國共認罪行'這個條件不成立的話那馬來西亞是不能引渡我的。

其二,他們必須説服英國法庭我的確有犯罪(當然'兩國共認罪行'條件必須先成立)。爲此他們必須提出證據。只是告訴英國法庭我污辱回教是不夠的,因爲在英國污辱回教不是罪行。

對大馬政府而言,我污辱回教是因爲我就宗教侷發表'非穆斯林是回教敵人'的談論而幹屌宗教侷。然而,英國政府不止不會接受我譴責宗教侷發表'非穆斯林是回教敵人'言論是個犯罪,他們還會因我做出了以上的行爲而保護我(宗教侷的以上言論在英國是件仇恨罪)。我甚至還能像Salman Rushdie 般申請24小時貼身保護。

所以你看,在我能發表敦馬是否應該被處死之前,我們必須經過起訴,審訊,上訴,赦免等等繁重複雜的程序。只有在經過這些程序和和沒有其他上訴途徑以後一個人才會被判死刑。想想敦馬現在的年齡,在走完這些程序以前他可能就不于人世了。所以說這些程序和我的評論可以說只是學術爭論而已。

現在,讓我們假設提出上述這個問題的人是個基督徒。那我應該怎樣回答他才能不被講説我是在侮辱基督教呢?基督徒們和囘教徒一樣都是很敏感的,他們很容易會把別人的動作看成是侮辱他們的宗教,所以我必須格外小心才不被儅成是侮辱基督教。

基督教義很清楚的説明'汝不可杀戮'。如果我說敦馬應該被處死的話那就代表我認爲基督教義是錯的。試想,基督徒提倡'汝不可杀戮'而我講的是'汝可杀戮',他們對我的'褻瀆'會有什麽反應呢?

你看到我正在進退兩難了嗎?已經有人,就像是Keith Pereira,指控我是個仇恨基督徒者了;我還敢低觸基督教的十誡,跟你說敦馬應被處死嗎? 

好,你可以講說聖經有提到可以以牙還牙。但聖經也提到'有人打你这边的脸,连那边的脸也由他打',那我到底應該應用哪個版本呢?如果我現在跟你說我對聖經的矛盾感到困惑,那肯定會有基督徒跳出來幹屌我,然後再把我當成很無知般的用舊約和新約跟我講道。事實上,我對基督教的認知應該比大多數的基督徒來得多。

你現在應該知道你的問題有多難回答了吧。如果你能夠更加具體的話我或許能夠回答你的問題。我會等待你的詳細答復,然後再給你你要的答案。

與此同時,我希望你能珍重和不要太過擔心別人被處死的問題。

我們最終都會死掉的,問題是什麽時候而已。你有可能比敦馬還要早去世;畢竟,大馬每天有1万個人因車禍和其他意外而死亡,所以你永遠也不會知道你的限期究竟是幾時。 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

0 ulasan
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


Let race decide

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 07:32 PM PDT

At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(Channel News Asia, 21 April 2013) - Actress Michelle Yeoh has defended her decision to openly support Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The actress has been heavily criticised since she announced that she would be attending a banquet held for the prime minister by the Chinese association in Selangor (which was held last night).

A Facebook page supporting the Malaysian opposition drew more than one thousand comments condemning the actress as a traitor and a government stooge. However Yeoh has urged netizens and her fans not to judge her negatively.

She said: "This is a democratic country. We're all free to voice our opinions. I think people shouldn't be personal. I think all of us want to do good for our own country. And I believe they want to do the same thing."

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

Jean Todt, the president of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the Formula One motor sports governing body, with his wife, Michelle Yeoh.

RM1m for ex-Ferrari F1 boss to promote Malaysia

Sharon Tan, The Edge, 25 June 2009

Tourism Malaysia has allocated RM1 million for former Ferrari F1 boss Datuk Seri Jean Todt to promote the country.

The sum is for a two-year budget that has been set aside for Todt, who was appointed ambassador for Tourism Malaysia in May.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was clarifying a statement by Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR) that Todt was offered RM1 million to be ambassador for Tourism Malaysia.

"The RM1 million allocated to him is not cash to him," said Ng. "It is given when he travels, and whenever he meets people.

So this is a two-year budget set aside for him.

"We need him to go and promote the country. When you want to go on a promotion in Europe, RM1 million gets you nothing. So yes, he has been allocated the money, but not in his pocket. It is in the ministry," she said during a press conference at the parliament lobby on June 24.

Ng said Todt's presence and connectivity in Europe and around the world would be able to bring more visibility to Malaysia.

"We also want him to promote the Malaysia My Second Home programme," she said. Tourism Malaysia would spend accordingly and would be transparent and accountable, said Ng. The money would be used on air tickets and meetings.

Ng said that Tourism Malaysia had yet to spend the allocation for Todt.

"This budget is not for his pocket. This budget is for expenses incurred when he needs to go (and) meet people such as top media people or top television people," she said, adding that Todt also arranged for her to meet top film producers while she was in Paris.

She said the appointments would not have been possible without his help.

Ng also dismissed Azmin's allegation that Todt and his fiancee Datuk Michelle Yeoh were offered a piece of land in Pulau Besar, Terengganu.

Earlier, Azmin had raised the question in the House during the question and answer session but Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Sulaiman Taib Mahmud had refused to answer as it was not related to the original question.

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

Tony Fernandes and Michelle Yeoh named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors

(January 2013) - DAVOS: AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh have been named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland.

The Malaysian Night held on Friday was the highlight of Malaysia's participation in this year's World Economic Forum in Davos.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak attended the function, which highlighted Malaysia's best success stories and potential for the international market to see.

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

Jean Todt (the then General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari) and his fiancé (at that time), Michelle Yeoh -- guests-of-honour of Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Seven years ago back in 2006, Malaysia Today published the photograph above that proved the close relationship between the Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, and his then fiancé, Michelle Yeoh, with those that walk in the corridors of power (at that time Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). Malaysia Today also revealed that the couple had been appointed Malaysia's 'unofficial tourism ambassadors' with a generous fee that included fully paid expenses, which was expected to run into millions of ringgit.

Many whacked me for that expose and alleged that the only reason I am raising this matter is because Michelle Yeoh is Chinese and a Malaysian Chinese heroine to boot. Hence it is all about race, alleged my detractors.

I understand that the best form of attack is to make allegations of racism. That will cause most people to back down. So I decided to back down and allow this matter to rest since everyone was not concerned about the millions that were going to be spent but rather the fact that Michelle Yeoh is Chinese.

Even the issue of why Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh should both receive the title of Datuk Seri (meaning what have they done for the country?) when they were already being handsomely rewarded with great sums of money for the 'ambassadorial' work they are doing was regarded as 'nitpicking'. (And note that Michelle Yeoh has her own Datuk Seri title and she is not Datin Seri by virtue of her husband's Datuk Seri title).

Anyway, now it seems that the Chinese are upset with Michelle Yeoh after all. And this is because she attended Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's dinner in Kelang last night (but it is okay for her to attend Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's dinner). And this, I suppose, is because the Chinese view this as a boost to Barisan Nasional and hence a setback for Pakatan Rakyat.

I am not concerned about who Michelle Yeoh supports politically but more whether the millions she spent is productive and brings benefit to the country's tourism industry. If it has resulted in a boost in tourism then well and fine. But we will need tangible figures to convince us that the millions spent were well worth it.

At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support?

Take the Kamilia Ibrahim and Jenice Lee issues as another example.

Kamilia Ibrahim of Umno has been hailed as a heroine for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate in the coming general election on 5th May 2013 while Jenice Lee of DAP is being called a traitor for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate.

That is what many of you are commenting in Malaysia Today. Some comments that I deleted were downright nasty -- such as you wanting to insert your dick into her mouth, and so on. I just don't understand why many of you are so crass and uncouth in your comments. It is like you never went to school and yet the Malays from the kampong who also did not go to school are not like that at all.

I suppose what Tun Dr Mahathir said in June 2006 in his speech in the dialogue that Malaysia Today organised explains everything. You can read the text of the speech below.

Do you know that many of the top leaders from DAP, PAS and PKR attended that dialogue and even went up to Dr Mahathir to shake his hand and joined him for tea afterwards? They even invited Dr Mahathir to other events that the opposition was planning.

Yes, in 2006 Dr Mahathir opposed Umno and the Prime Minister and the dialogue session that Malaysia Today organised was the platform for him to launch his attack and declare war on Umno and the Prime Minister -- that eventually resulted in Barisan Nasional getting a beating two years later in March 2008. Hence the leaders of DAP, PAS and PKR supported Dr Mahathir and attended the dialogue session.

What about the 22 years of draconian rule under Dr Mahathir? What about the 22 years of corruption and abuse of power under Dr Mahathir's rule? What about the damage to the legal system and judiciary that Dr Mahathir did? Are all these no longer issues?

Apparently they are no longer issues now that (meaning in 2006) Dr Mahathir is attacking Umno, the government and the Prime Minister. Hence he is now a friend -- and therefore the DAP, PAS and PKR leaders have no problems attending the dialogue session and treating him as a friend.

Such is the concept of an enemy of my enemy is my friend while a friend of my enemy is my enemy. That means this is no longer about freedom of association. It is about no matter how bad you are but if you are an enemy of my enemy then I can forgive all your evil deeds and take you as my friend.

Is this what 5th May 2013 is all about?

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

Saya dulu pun pernah dapat sokongan macam itu. Ada yang cium tangan, banyak. Dia sokong, tapi sekarang barulah saya tahu, sokongan itu tidak ada kualiti sama sekali.

Kata Shahidan Kassim, kata Tajol Rosli, kami sokong pasal dia Perdana Menteri. Jadi saya jadi Perdana Menteri, mesti sokong, kalau saya buat apa pun sokonglah?

Saya ingat, dulu, mereka sokong kerana apa yang saya lakukan untuk negara. Itulah sebabnya mereka sokong saya. Itulah pendapat saya. Tapi sekarang, baru saya tahu, mereka sokong saya pasal saya Perdana Menteri. Saya buat apa pun kami sokong.

Saya baca Hikayat Hang Tuah. Dalam Hikayat Hang Tuah, apabila sahaja Raja memberi arahan, titah, maka jawab Hang Tuah dan lain-lain juga, Bendahara pun jawab, mana titah patik junjung. Mana titah patik junjung. Saya macam dengar yang ini. Bila menteri saya sokong, mana titah patik junjung.

Sebab itu entahlah Hang Tuah suruh bunuh kawan dia pun, dia bunuh. Dia begitu sekali taat. Kita taat pada-padalah. Saya dulu pun, tahulah masa Tunku pun saya tak begitu taat. I am not a very loyal person. I am loyal only to what you do, not what you are. I am sorry. Buat benda yang betul saya sokong, buat benda tak betul saya tak sokong. (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

 

TEXT UCAPAN

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Dialog Bersama Malaysia Today

Kelab Century Paradise

Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur

24hb Jun 2006

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH HERE: http://kasitarukaje.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/teks-ucapan-tun-dr-mahathir-mohamad.html

 
Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

0 ulasan
Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info
Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News


Insight: Malaysia opposition sees state model guiding path to power

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 11:34 AM PDT

http://s1.reutersmedia.net/resources/r/?m=02&d=20130421&t=2&i=724558708&w=&fh=&fw=&ll=700&pl=300&r=CBRE93K1NA300 

(Reuters) - "It would be a model to say that if we are financially prudent, with a little money we can do a lot of things," said Tony Pua, a leading opposition parliament member. "There's a lot more we can do with the federal budget."

Lim Guan Eng, the hyperactive chief minister of Malaysia's Penang state, is not the type to miss a good photo-opportunity, so there were plenty of witnesses when he handed over the keys to his government Mercedes ahead of a May 5 general election.

Integrity is a central battle cry for Malaysia's disparate three-party opposition as it pursues its best chance of ending 56 years of rule by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

"The official cars should not be misused for our own personal use," Lim, a 52-year-old ethnic Chinese, told reporters as his administration shifted to caretaker status this month. "This is the integrity held by the state administration."

Five years after the opposition took control of four state governments, northwestern Penang will be Exhibit A in its case that it can make Southeast Asia's third-largest economy cleaner and more competitive.

Malaysia's second-smallest state topped the state investment league for the first time in 2010 and again in 2011, bolstering its position as a hub for high-tech manufacturers such as Intel and Honeywell.

Overall investment doubled in 2008-12 compared with the previous four years, a powerful rejoinder to the BN's claims that the opposition cannot be trusted to run the economy.

The BN, or National Front, led by Prime Minister Najib Razak, points to a 73 percent slump in Penang's investment last year and mounting traffic congestion in the state, which also draws tourists to its beaches and the colonial elegance of its capital Georgetown, as evidence Lim's touch is wearing thin.

But the opposition hopes Lim's reforms to tackle corruption linked to laws favoring majority ethnic Malays will resonate with a bulging younger generation of voters angry at graft and less attached to race-based politics.

Polls suggest a narrow win for the BN, which lost the two-thirds parliamentary majority that allowed it to change the constitution for the first time in 2008.

POTENTIAL SHAKE-UP

The "Penang model" also highlights risks to investors from an opposition victory, which promises to unravel five decades of cozy relations between the government and business in what would be the biggest shake-up since independence from Britain.

Led by former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, it says it will review suspicious contracts and cancel some, including a controversial $800 million rare-earths plant built by Australia's Lynas Corp. Its manifesto also pledges to break up "monopolies" in certain sectors.

"We wouldn't want to take any action that would destabilize the market, but at the same time it doesn't mean they can get off scot-free, no," Lim, who will campaign nationwide, told Reuters in an interview. "The imperative should be there are no crony-driven contracts."

Major firms and tycoons seen as having close ties with the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the dominant party in the ruling coalition, could suffer.

"On individual stocks, (it would be) disastrous, I should think," said Gerald Ambrose, managing director at Aberdeen Asset Management in Kuala Lumpur, adding that the overall stock market had likely priced in some risk of an opposition win.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/21/us-malaysia-election-opposition-insight-idUSBRE93K0D920130421 

The NATO Syndrome

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 04:45 AM PDT

And how many of you signed the petition asking for Dr Wan Azizah to be given a seat to contest the coming general election? Do you know and do you care? Well, let me tell you. From the more than 13 million registered voters, less than 2,000 signed the petition. So that comes to only…hell, who cares anyway?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The nation reeled in shock last week as private investigator P. Balasubramaniam abruptly passed away, just days before, declaring he would continue to seek justice for the murdered Altantuya Shaariibuu.

But as the shock wears off and Malaysians move on, his family is left picking up the pieces of a shattered life – a life already strained five years ago, when Balasubramaniam's declarations regarding the prime minister forced his family to flee the country.

Now, with Balasubramaniam dead, his wife, A Santamil Selvi, and three teenaged children are stranded in Malaysia with diminishing funds and a rapidly dimming future.

Funeral expenses, education fees and mortgages are weighing heavily on the widow's mind, who is currently homebound in accordance with Hindu tradition.

"I visited Bala's wife last night to talk about how her family was coping – she showed me her IOUs, how she is well in debt. She has even resorted to pawning the items she owns," Kelana Jaya MP Loh Gow Burne told reporters today.

"Unfortunately, despite Bala's sacrifice for the country, his family is now in serious trouble."

In a bid to keep the bereaved family afloat, Loh is now initiating a fund-raising campaign and is appealing to the public to donate any money they can spare for the widowed Santamil Selvi and her fatherless children.

"The priority is for Bala's children to be given the opportunity to finish their education, and to ensure that someone who sacrificed all he had for the nation, would not have his family left in poverty," said Loh.

Balasubramaniam's lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, said the funds would immediately be used to help Santamil Selvi and her children return to India, where they had been residing for the past five years.

"His children must go back to India as they have been schooling there for five years. It would be too difficult for them to adapt to the school system here, especially after all the trauma they recently went through," said Americk.

"The funds will also go towards basic requirements such as food, clothes, mortgage, education… Monthly expenditure can easily reach up to RM15,000," he added.

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

The above was what was reported one month ago on 20th March 2013. Do any of you reading this know where Bala's family currently is? Do you know how much money was collected and are they now out of their financial predicament? Are Bala's children back in school in Chennai?

I think a more important question to ask is: do any of you care now that Bala is no longer of any use to the ABU cause? Yes, tell me honestly, do any of you reading this know and care?

Malaysians suffer from the NATO Syndrome. Do you know that 53% of the voters are women? And do you know that the manner in which Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was treated will have some effect on the women voters, especially the Malay women from the Malay heartland?

Yes, I bet you did not know this.

And how many of you signed the petition asking for Dr Wan Azizah to be given a seat to contest the coming general election? Do you know and do you care? Well, let me tell you. From the more than 13 million registered voters, less than 2,000 signed the petition. So that comes to only…hell, who cares anyway?

And then when the Malay women vote Umno you scream and say that the Malays are still sleeping. Really? Is it the Malays who are still sleeping or is it you who is still sleeping?

Haris Ibrahim posted this in his Blog early this morning:

A bad case of rhinitis in the early hours of Saturday morning kept me from going to the nomination centre to lend support to Arul's candidacy in Semenyih. Later that day, tracking all the nominations and seeing so many multi-cornered fights, especially in Sabah, only served to remind me again why I am pro-rakyat, and not pro the opposition parties.

I would just like to say "welcome home Sam." I thought I had lost you. I am glad that we still share the same doctrine -- which is we are pro-rakyat and not pro-party, either ruling or opposition.

I admit that we may have different methods in trying to meet our objective but, as we say in England, there are many ways to skin a pussy, or even pricks for that matter. And we must admit that Malaysian politicians are a bunch of pricks, no doubt about that.

Well, you as an avid Qur'an believer will be very familiar with the verse 'show me the straight path' and 'to you your path and to me mine'. Ultimately, our journeys are both the same -- to seek the truth. And while there are many routes to the truth there is only one truth.

I trust now that Nomination Day is over and we are all awaiting Polling Day, you can reflect on the fact that God made us of different creeds on purpose, as Islam says, so that we may know one another, and that you can accept that this diversity, therefore, makes us differ in how we think and do things.

Nevertheless, as long as we can remember that we were placed on the face of this earth to serve the ummah and not the rulers, then God's mission and vision would have been served. And that, in the final analysis, is what it is all about as we wait to take our place in the land of the dearly departed just like how our comrade Bala did recently and whom we shall all be joining in the not too distant future.

My salam to you my friend and comrade and may we accept whatever happens as takdir or God's will, the ultimate decider of all things.

 

Kedah police deny arresting Anwar look-alike

Posted: 21 Apr 2013 12:27 AM PDT

(The Star) - Kedah police denied arresting any "clone" of Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Kedah CPO Datuk Ahmad Ibrahim said they did not come across any individual from Thailand who looked like Anwar.

"Allegations that we detained Anwar's clone is baseless," he said, adding that looking like someone else was not a criminal offence that warranted arrest.

He said this in response to an article on an online portal that claimed that Anwar's clone had returned to Thailand and vowed to return (to Malaysia) to reveal the truth.

PKR's Sungai Acheh candidate Badrul Hisham Shahrin had reportedly claimed that two individuals from Thailand had failed to attend the "Revelation of Anwar clone" ceramah in Permatang Pauh on Friday because the police had arrested them in Kedah.

The ceramah was aimed at clearing Anwar's name following the release of a sex video two years ago showing a man resembling Anwar in compromising positions with a female dubbed the "China doll".

 

Let race decide

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 07:32 PM PDT

At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

(Channel News Asia, 21 April 2013) - Actress Michelle Yeoh has defended her decision to openly support Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. The actress has been heavily criticised since she announced that she would be attending a banquet held for the prime minister by the Chinese association in Selangor (which was held last night).

A Facebook page supporting the Malaysian opposition drew more than one thousand comments condemning the actress as a traitor and a government stooge. However Yeoh has urged netizens and her fans not to judge her negatively.

She said: "This is a democratic country. We're all free to voice our opinions. I think people shouldn't be personal. I think all of us want to do good for our own country. And I believe they want to do the same thing."

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

Jean Todt, the president of Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the Formula One motor sports governing body, with his wife, Michelle Yeoh.

RM1m for ex-Ferrari F1 boss to promote Malaysia

Sharon Tan, The Edge, 25 June 2009

Tourism Malaysia has allocated RM1 million for former Ferrari F1 boss Datuk Seri Jean Todt to promote the country.

The sum is for a two-year budget that has been set aside for Todt, who was appointed ambassador for Tourism Malaysia in May.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen was clarifying a statement by Azmin Ali (Gombak-PKR) that Todt was offered RM1 million to be ambassador for Tourism Malaysia.

"The RM1 million allocated to him is not cash to him," said Ng. "It is given when he travels, and whenever he meets people.

So this is a two-year budget set aside for him.

"We need him to go and promote the country. When you want to go on a promotion in Europe, RM1 million gets you nothing. So yes, he has been allocated the money, but not in his pocket. It is in the ministry," she said during a press conference at the parliament lobby on June 24.

Ng said Todt's presence and connectivity in Europe and around the world would be able to bring more visibility to Malaysia.

"We also want him to promote the Malaysia My Second Home programme," she said. Tourism Malaysia would spend accordingly and would be transparent and accountable, said Ng. The money would be used on air tickets and meetings.

Ng said that Tourism Malaysia had yet to spend the allocation for Todt.

"This budget is not for his pocket. This budget is for expenses incurred when he needs to go (and) meet people such as top media people or top television people," she said, adding that Todt also arranged for her to meet top film producers while she was in Paris.

She said the appointments would not have been possible without his help.

Ng also dismissed Azmin's allegation that Todt and his fiancee Datuk Michelle Yeoh were offered a piece of land in Pulau Besar, Terengganu.

Earlier, Azmin had raised the question in the House during the question and answer session but Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Sulaiman Taib Mahmud had refused to answer as it was not related to the original question.

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

Tony Fernandes and Michelle Yeoh named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors

(January 2013) - DAVOS: AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Seri Michelle Yeoh have been named as Malaysia Brand Ambassadors at the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland.

The Malaysian Night held on Friday was the highlight of Malaysia's participation in this year's World Economic Forum in Davos.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak attended the function, which highlighted Malaysia's best success stories and potential for the international market to see.

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

Jean Todt (the then General Manager of Scuderia Ferrari) and his fiancé (at that time), Michelle Yeoh -- guests-of-honour of Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Seven years ago back in 2006, Malaysia Today published the photograph above that proved the close relationship between the Ferrari boss, Jean Todt, and his then fiancé, Michelle Yeoh, with those that walk in the corridors of power (at that time Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi). Malaysia Today also revealed that the couple had been appointed Malaysia's 'unofficial tourism ambassadors' with a generous fee that included fully paid expenses, which was expected to run into millions of ringgit.

Many whacked me for that expose and alleged that the only reason I am raising this matter is because Michelle Yeoh is Chinese and a Malaysian Chinese heroine to boot. Hence it is all about race, alleged my detractors.

I understand that the best form of attack is to make allegations of racism. That will cause most people to back down. So I decided to back down and allow this matter to rest since everyone was not concerned about the millions that were going to be spent but rather the fact that Michelle Yeoh is Chinese.

Even the issue of why Jean Todt and Michelle Yeoh should both receive the title of Datuk Seri (meaning what have they done for the country?) when they were already being handsomely rewarded with great sums of money for the 'ambassadorial' work they are doing was regarded as 'nitpicking'. (And note that Michelle Yeoh has her own Datuk Seri title and she is not Datin Seri by virtue of her husband's Datuk Seri title).

Anyway, now it seems that the Chinese are upset with Michelle Yeoh after all. And this is because she attended Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's dinner in Kelang last night (but it is okay for her to attend Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's dinner). And this, I suppose, is because the Chinese view this as a boost to Barisan Nasional and hence a setback for Pakatan Rakyat.

I am not concerned about who Michelle Yeoh supports politically but more whether the millions she spent is productive and brings benefit to the country's tourism industry. If it has resulted in a boost in tourism then well and fine. But we will need tangible figures to convince us that the millions spent were well worth it.

At the end of the day, the reason for the objection does not appear sincere. Why were the Chinese not upset seven years ago back in 2006 when clearly she not only supported the government but was also well paid for that support as well? And why now when she continues to support the government, as she always has, has it become an issue? Is this not her democratic right to support whoever she wants to support?

Take the Kamilia Ibrahim and Jenice Lee issues as another example.

Kamilia Ibrahim of Umno has been hailed as a heroine for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate in the coming general election on 5th May 2013 while Jenice Lee of DAP is being called a traitor for defying her party and for contesting as an independent candidate.

That is what many of you are commenting in Malaysia Today. Some comments that I deleted were downright nasty -- such as you wanting to insert your dick into her mouth, and so on. I just don't understand why many of you are so crass and uncouth in your comments. It is like you never went to school and yet the Malays from the kampong who also did not go to school are not like that at all.

I suppose what Tun Dr Mahathir said in June 2006 in his speech in the dialogue that Malaysia Today organised explains everything. You can read the text of the speech below.

Do you know that many of the top leaders from DAP, PAS and PKR attended that dialogue and even went up to Dr Mahathir to shake his hand and joined him for tea afterwards? They even invited Dr Mahathir to other events that the opposition was planning.

Yes, in 2006 Dr Mahathir opposed Umno and the Prime Minister and the dialogue session that Malaysia Today organised was the platform for him to launch his attack and declare war on Umno and the Prime Minister -- that eventually resulted in Barisan Nasional getting a beating two years later in March 2008. Hence the leaders of DAP, PAS and PKR supported Dr Mahathir and attended the dialogue session.

What about the 22 years of draconian rule under Dr Mahathir? What about the 22 years of corruption and abuse of power under Dr Mahathir's rule? What about the damage to the legal system and judiciary that Dr Mahathir did? Are all these no longer issues?

Apparently they are no longer issues now that (meaning in 2006) Dr Mahathir is attacking Umno, the government and the Prime Minister. Hence he is now a friend -- and therefore the DAP, PAS and PKR leaders have no problems attending the dialogue session and treating him as a friend.

Such is the concept of an enemy of my enemy is my friend while a friend of my enemy is my enemy. That means this is no longer about freedom of association. It is about no matter how bad you are but if you are an enemy of my enemy then I can forgive all your evil deeds and take you as my friend.

Is this what 5th May 2013 is all about?

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

Saya dulu pun pernah dapat sokongan macam itu. Ada yang cium tangan, banyak. Dia sokong, tapi sekarang barulah saya tahu, sokongan itu tidak ada kualiti sama sekali.

Kata Shahidan Kassim, kata Tajol Rosli, kami sokong pasal dia Perdana Menteri. Jadi saya jadi Perdana Menteri, mesti sokong, kalau saya buat apa pun sokonglah?

Saya ingat, dulu, mereka sokong kerana apa yang saya lakukan untuk negara. Itulah sebabnya mereka sokong saya. Itulah pendapat saya. Tapi sekarang, baru saya tahu, mereka sokong saya pasal saya Perdana Menteri. Saya buat apa pun kami sokong.

Saya baca Hikayat Hang Tuah. Dalam Hikayat Hang Tuah, apabila sahaja Raja memberi arahan, titah, maka jawab Hang Tuah dan lain-lain juga, Bendahara pun jawab, mana titah patik junjung. Mana titah patik junjung. Saya macam dengar yang ini. Bila menteri saya sokong, mana titah patik junjung.

Sebab itu entahlah Hang Tuah suruh bunuh kawan dia pun, dia bunuh. Dia begitu sekali taat. Kita taat pada-padalah. Saya dulu pun, tahulah masa Tunku pun saya tak begitu taat. I am not a very loyal person. I am loyal only to what you do, not what you are. I am sorry. Buat benda yang betul saya sokong, buat benda tak betul saya tak sokong. (Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

 

TEXT UCAPAN

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Dialog Bersama Malaysia Today

Kelab Century Paradise

Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur

24hb Jun 2006

READ THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH HERE: http://kasitarukaje.blogspot.co.uk/2010/12/teks-ucapan-tun-dr-mahathir-mohamad.html

 

Army peers in JB reject PKR’s Hashim

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:58 PM PDT

Malaysia Ex-Army Association's chief Onn Mohd Yassin described former servicemen who supported the opposition as an "ungrateful" lot who sulked because they didn't get enough from BN.

Leven Woon, FMT

PKR's attempt to ride on Hashim Hussein's reputation as a former army chief to attract Malay voters in the Johor Baru parliamentary constituency has hit a snag.

Some 200 former army officers, in uniform, here rallied together today and loudly rejected him.

Calling Hashim "ungrateful", the members of Malaysia Ex-Army Association's (PBTM) Johor chapter gathered at a canopied spot outside the BN election operation room today and decried Hashim's candidacy under the PKR ticket.

"PBTM Johor supports BN, rejects the hobo former general who joins the traitor of race, religion and country," read one banner.

The emcee of the anti-Hashim gathering also led the crowd to read a pledge declaring their support to BN and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak before BN's incumbent candidate Shahrir Abdul Samad.

The emcee also led the crowd to chant "Vote BN, reject Hashim".

PBTM Johor chapter chief Onn Mohd Yassin, in his speech, said ex-servicemen who supported the opposition were those who sulked because they did not get the things they wanted from BN.

"They are never grateful about what was given. They only want more," said Onn, who is an outgoing BN assemblyman in the state.

Taking over the microphone, Shahrir first expressed gratitude to the crowd waving the BN flags before he went on to criticise PKR for using ex-servicemen in their campaign to bring BN down.

"PKR's recruiting of ex-servicemen is nothing but a movie play. (PKR de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim only intended to show the world that the ex-servicemen, corporate leaders and lecturers have risen against the  Najib administration," he said.

"What do PKR and Anwar have in mind for the future of Malaysia? Reduction of fuel price?

"This has proven to be inapplicable in Indonesia," he said, adding that Indonesia is now suffering an economic backlash due to heavy subsidies on fuel price.

READ MORE HERE

 

Battle intensifies for eight super hot seats in Sarawak

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:50 PM PDT

Sulok Tawie, The Sun Daily

Saratok tops the list of super hot seats in Sarawak as the State Barisan Nasional is fending off relentless onslaughts by the Opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the parliamentary election on May 5.

PR is aiming to win the maximum 13 seats, with most of these would come from the urban constituencies.

Up for grabs are 31 parliamentary seats. Before the dissolution of parliament on April 3, BN has 29 while the Opposition (DAP) has two seats.

The other hotly contested seats are Stampin, Sarikei, Baram, Sibu, Lanang, Mas Gading and Bandar Kuching.

Saratok becomes a hot seat after Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) president Tan Sri William Mawan was named as the SPDP-BN candidate, replacing incumbent and caretaker Deputy Transport Minister Jelaing Mersat in the last minute.

Over 300 SPDP members in Saratok, including some from the supreme council, resigned a day after Mawan was named as the candidate on April 16.

Mawan will be facing Sarawak PKR vice chairman and Krian State Assemblyman Ali Biju, who in the April 16, 2011 state election, convincingly defeated SPDP deputy president Datuk Peter Nyarok.

The third candidate is former State Election director Datuk Abang Roselie Abang Paleng, who stands as an Independent.

Sararok has 27,096 eligible voters comprising 57 % Dayaks, 36 % Malays/Melanaus and 7 % Chinese.

Another super hot seat is Stampin, where caretaker Deputy Works Minister Datuk Yong Khoon Seng is fighting an electoral battle of his life, against a 34-year aerospace engineer Julian Tan Kok Peng of the DAP.

The third candidate, Lina Soo,54, of State Reform Party (Star), is a mere bystander in the battle.

The DAP wants to retire Yong, 73, after he reneged on his pledge not to contest anymore.

The election on May 5 could well be Yong's last.

The three state seats under Stampin – Batu Lintang, Kota Sentosa and Batu Kawa – were won by PR in the last state election. The total number of votes garnered by the Opposition from these three seats was 33,268 compared to 19,520 obtained by SUPP.

Stampin has 84,273 eligible voters, the highest in Sarawak. They comprise 76 % Chinese, 12 % Dayaks, 11 % Malays/Melanaus and 1 % others.

Sarikei is a seat to watch. Incumbent Ding Kuong Hiing, 56, won the seat after beating his nearest challenger, Dr Wong Hua Seh of the DAP, by a mere 51 votes, in a five-cornered fight.

This time around, Ding's sole challenge is Andrew Wong Ling Biu of the DAP. Wong is a former political assistant to Datuk David Teng Lung Chi, SUPP's present treasurer-general.

A serious internal squabble among the SUPP members in Sarikei could result in the party and BN to lose the seat to the Opposition. Members of the rival faction are reported to be throwing their support to the DAP.

Moreover, the two state seats of Repok and Bintangor under Sarikei were won by the DAP in the 2011 state election.

Sarikei has 36,324 eligible voters comprising 70 % Chinese, 26 % Dayaks and 4% Malays/Melanaus.

There are too many controversial issues that make Baram a super hot seat.

The fight for Baram is between Anyi Ngau of SPDP-BN, lawyer and Christian preacher Roland Engan of PKR and businessman Patrick Sibat Sujang, an Independent.

For years, Dayak-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been fighting hard against issuing of provisional leases to plantation companies on lands the natives claimed they have customary rights over.

Hundreds of thousands of hectares of lands have been leased to plantation companies over the years.

The natives, with the help of the NGOs, have also been opposing the issuing of licences to log timber from tropical rainforests in middle and upper Baram.

The state's proposal to build a RM4 billion dam in Baram is also being vigorously opposed by the natives. Some 20,000 natives will have to be resettled elsewhere once the construction work on the dam begins.

Baram has 29,024 eligible voters comprising 83% Dayaks, 11% Chinese and 6% Malays/Melanaus.

Sibu is another seat to watch. It has always been a traditional seat of SUPP until the party lost it to the DAP in a by-election on May 16, 2010, caused by the death of SUPP vice chairman Datuk Robert Lau Hoi Chew.

Sarawak DAP chairman Wong Ho Leng edged Robert Lau Hui Yew of SUPP-BN by only 398 votes.

Wong is not defending the seat, but instead his personal assistant Oscar Ling Chai Yew, 36, is contesting.

SUPP, on the other hand, is fielding tycoon Lau Lee Ming, 56, to reclaim Sibu from the DAP.

A government pensioner Narawi Haron is contesting as an Independent candidate.

Nangka and Bawang Assan, two of the state seats under the Sibu parliamentary constituency are held by BN and while the third, Pelawan, is held by the DAP.

Sibu has 64,381 registered voters comprising 67% Chinese, 15% Dayaks and 18 % Malays/Melanaus.

Lanang is an interesting super hot seat to watch. SUPP-BN is letting Sibu Municipal Council chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King, 67, to defend the seat which he has won for many terms.

Tiong, coming from one of the richest families in Malaysia, is facing DAP Sibu Women chief Alice Lau Kiong Yieng, 32, a pin-sized daughter of another tycoon, who happens to be a senior member of Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), a component party of the BN.

Lanang consists of the two state seats of Bukit Assek and Dudong, both won by the DAP in the April 16, 2011 state election.

Lanang has 56,830 registered voters comprising 76% Chinese, 19% Dayaks and 5% Malays/Melanaus.

National Service Training Council chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe's presence is making Mas Gading a super hot seat. He was denied by the BN leadership to be a direct BN candidate so he could defend the seat, which he won three terms.

Though he is contesting as an Independent candidate, political observers believe that his chance of retaining the seat, which he won in 1999 on Sarawak National Party (SNAP) ticket, is good.

His main challenger will be Anthony Nogeh Gumbek, a former senior government officer, of SPDP-BN.

The other candidates in Mas Gading are political novice Mordi Bimol of the DAP and battle-hardened Patrick Anek Uren of Star.

Mas Gading has 25,493 registered voters comprising 74% Dayaks, 21% Chinese and 5% Malays/Melanaus.

The SUPP-BN is making all efforts to capture Bandar Kuching by fielding SUPP Youth chief Tan Kai against Sarawak DAP secretary Chong Chieng Jen.

Though it is quite an uphill task for SUPP-BN to win in this predominantly Chinese majority seat, they are not about to surrender.

In the 2008 parliamentary election, Chong, the Kota Sentosa State Assemblyman, beat Alan Sim, then SUPP Youth chief, and in 2004, he defeated Datuk Wee Kok Tiong, a son of the Tan Sri Wee Boon Ping, a famous Sarawak tycoon, in Bandar Kuching.

It is, therefore, natural for SUPP-BN to win in Bandar Kuching, being the State Capital of Sarawak and the pride of all Sarawakians.

The two state constituencies – Pending and Padungan – are currently held by the DAP.

Bandar Kuching has 53,374 registered voters comprising 91% Chinese, 5% Malays/Melanaus and 3% Dayaks.

 

‘PAS tried to sabotage Chegubard in Sg Acheh’

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:45 PM PDT

Supporters of PKR's Badrul Hisham Shaharin claim that members of Penang PAS youth wing had tried to sabotage the former from filing his nomination papers yesterday.

(FMT) - Trouble is brewing between PAS and PKR over the Sungai Acheh state seat in Penang.

Sungai Acheh is one of seven seats being contested by both PAS and PKR, resulting in a three-cornered fight with Barisan Nasional.

In Sungai Acheh, Badrul Hisham Shaharin, who is better known as Chegubard, will face off Pakatan Rakyat partner PAS' Mohd Yusni Mat Piah and BN candidate Mahmud Zakaria.

The seat was won by Mahmud in 2008 by defeating PKR's Dr Azhar Ahmad by 250 votes.

While leaders from PAS and PKR had said that they would resolve this issue in the next couple of days, a close associate of Badrul today revealed the extent of which PAS members had gone to ensure Badrul would fail to stand as a candidate for this seat.

Blogger and an official from Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM), Edy Noor Reduan, said members of PAS youth wing from Penang had attempted to stop Badrul from filing his nomination papers in Nibong Tebal yesterday.

"The PAS youth members and their voluntary unit members tried to stop Badrul from entering the nomination centre yesterday morning.

"He was also assaulted by these people, his wife and children were shoved…all this so that he would not be able to submit his nomination papers," claimed Edy Noor. Badrul is the chief of SAMM.

He said that there were many witnesses to this act of sabotage by the PAS members against Badrul.

Edy Noor said after failing to stop Badrul from entering the nomination centre, the PAS members had then tried to spread rumours that the PKR man was contesting as an independent, or that he was withdrawing from contesting.

He said PAS had been involved in this psywar from the very beginning in their attempt to derail Badrul's chances of contesing for this seat.

"If the same was done by Umno, we would have had a good go at them…but if it is done by our own ally…we are just confused by what's happening," he said.

READ MORE HERE

 

Ansari questions PKR’s choice of Ku Li’s men

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:20 PM PDT

Tuaran PKR chief Ansari Abdullah will lodge an official complaint with ROS about APS' involvement in politics.

Queville To, FMT

Tuaran PKR division chief Ansari Abdullah has accused PKR leaders of preaching and practicing 'fake justice'.

"How can we proclaim ourselves as a party that is fighting for the people's justice when we can't even ensure justice within the party?"

He was alluding to the PKR central's contentious decision to field members of Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS) led by former deputy president of Upko Wilfred Bumburing.

Bumburing is contesting under the PKR ticket for the Tuaran parliamentary and Tamparuli state seats. Another APS candidate is Gulabdin B Enjih who is contesting the Sulaman state seat.

Ansari, a lawyer, has questioned the propriety of APS joining the fray since it is supposed to be a NGO, which he said is contravening the Societies Act.

He said he would lodge an official complaint with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) on the matter.

According to Ansari the only bonafide PKR candidate is Rhodes B Panilau for the Kiulu state seat.

"After 14 years of hard work building up the party in Sabah, I only manage to get one PKR member to stand as a candidate while Amanah (APS) got three candidates, courtesy of Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who is currently still a Umno member," he lamented.

Bumburing is a vice president of Razaleigh-led Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) which  seeks to reinstate the policies and spirit expounded by first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman,

Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li, is an Umno member and is defending his seat in Gua Musang in Kelantan.

READ MORE HERE

 

Anwar defends taking Sg Acheh seat for Chegubard

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:17 PM PDT

Both PAS and PKR are contesting for the state seat. 

(Bernama) - PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim defended his decision to field Badrul Hisham Shaharin or better known as Chegubard for the Sungai Acheh state seat although the decision was opposed by PAS.

He said PKR and PAS were fielded for the state seat due to a misunderstanding between both parties when nominating their respective candidates.

"Give us another two or three days to resolve the matter," he said during a political campaign at Kampung Tok Keramat, near here, last night.

Sungai Acheh will see a three-cornered fight featuring Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Mahmud Zakaria, PKR's Chegubard and Mohd Yusni Mat Piah from PAS.

In the 12th general election, Mahmud beat PKR's Dr Azhar Ahmad by 250 votes.

 

 

Candidate vs party: How to choose?

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:12 PM PDT

Eventually one of them turned to me and asked which party I would support. "Depends on who the candidate is, I suppose — if he is a good person or not," I said. They laughed and did not take my comments seriously. One even joked that "he meant it depends on who pays more."

Kharie Hisyam Aliman, TMI

I remember a time in my early teens when I sat near a group of adults discussing the pros and cons of BN and the opposition at a local kenduri

Eventually one of them turned to me and asked which party I would support. "Depends on who the candidate is, I suppose — if he is a good person or not," I said. They laughed and did not take my comments seriously. One even joked that "he meant it depends on who pays more."

I felt slighted, of course, but I said nothing and walked away. To me, individual merits should have as much importance as which political ideology the candidate subscribes to. 

In light of the confirmation that DAP's candidates can contest GE13 with the party's rocket symbol, we are now left to wonder how people would have voted if DAP's candidates had been forced to contest under the logos of PAS and PKR respectively.

It would have presented interesting questions that should be considered even if the RoS–DAP episode never occurred. Would you vote based on which party the candidate represents or the individual merits of the candidate themselves? Which factor do you give more weight to?

Some, like former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, urged voters to cross BN's logo regardless of who is contesting. "We should come out in full force to vote for BN, don't care who the candidates are, don't look at their faces, and just cross the balance scale. The voters should remember that it is the party that forms the government, not the candidates," Tun Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying.

But then again, the party that forms the government comprises the candidates. These are the people who will be considering each Bill and proposed policy change which in turn will affect our lives and our country's progress. 

They will be debating and arguing in Parliament on our behalf. Their personal leanings, what issues they feel strongly about (and don't) would affect what things they would fight for and against the hardest, and vice versa — would your representative reflect what you actually want?

So what sort of people we want to represent us in Parliament should matter as much as which party they belong to. Indeed, many grassroots leaders from both sides of the political divide appear to be well meaning, honest folks who genuinely care for the local community.

We like them because they help us with our grievances, issues, problems, and they are also accessible. The only obvious difference between them is which political party they belong to.

But as pointed out by a friend: "That in itself is a big difference ... what policies they support and champion."

READ MORE HERE

 

GE13: PKR and PAS chaos over Panti seat

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:08 PM PDT

(The Star) - At least 10% of the 82 parliamentary and state seats in Johor will see multi-cornered fights.

In the Panti state seat, for example, Barisan Nasional, PKR and PAS will battle it out. This came about after a PAS candidate filed his nomination papers, thinking that there was no PKR man for the seat.

However, the PKR candidate turned up five minutes before nomination closed at 10am and filed his papers.

PAS deputy commissioner Dzulkefly Ahmad, when contacted, claimed that PAS did not sabotage PKR for the Panti seat as PKR had requested for a PAS candidate as they could not find a suitable one.

The Mengkibol seat is being contested by incumbent Ng Lam Hua from DAP who has decided to fight it out as an Independent against Johor DAP Youth chief Tan Hong Ping.

This led to Johor DAP deputy chief Norman Fernandez saying that the state DAP would recommend that Ng be sacked from the party.

The Gambir state seat will see a four-cornered fight with Johor MIC secretary M. Asojan, state PAS commissioner Datuk Dr Mahfodz Mohamed and two independent candidates slugging it out.

Other "crowded" fights include the parliamentary seats of Kulai and Penggerang; the state seats include Johor Jaya, Bukit Batu, Puteri Wangsa, and Bukit Naning.

Businessman K. Surendiran, 42, is standing as an Independent in Bukit Batu and the Kulai parliamentary seat.

Overall, there are eight independent candidates, the largest number ever in Johor.

 

Candidates' list for the 222 parliament and 505 state seats in the 13th GE

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 05:03 PM PDT

Hindraf’s objectives remain the same

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 03:19 PM PDT

Hindraf's national advisor N Ganesan answers frequently asked questions on the latest developments involving the movement.

Indian rights movement Hindraf has come under the spotlight after signing a memorandum of understanding with its 'enemy' Barisan Nasional last week to uplift the plight of the Indian community in this country.

Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy is now calling for the Indian community to back BN in the polls, and this has come under severe criticism.

Here Hindraf's national advisor N Ganesan gives answers to questions being asked about Hindraf's new alignment with BN and Najib Tun Razak.

About Hindraf's new relationship with Umno/BN

1. Is it not a betrayal of the Indian cause to team up with Umno/BN?

What is the Indian cause if it is not an expression of the yearning of the average Indian for a shot at an equal and dignified life? Inequality and indignity are systemic outcomes caused by the skewed distribution of the national resource of this country. The Indian cause is not served by political alliances per se, but by what the alliance will deliver. There is no religion to this, as some armchair progressives will have us believe. The negotiations around the blueprint over the last several months are really all about that. The Indian cause in Malaysia is best served by a political alliance that delivers the Indians the means for a better life. If BN/Umno can deliver that and when Pakatan has plainly refused to, what would be a betrayal to the Indian cause not to take it up or to have gone with Pakatan in spite of their known negative policies towards the Indian poor.

2. Has Hindraf given up its principles in partnering BN and gone with hat in hand to them, in spite of the bashing Hindraf supporters took on Nov 25, 2007?

Hindraf's primary objective is to bring the Indian poor into the national mainstream of development. This objective is based on the principles of social justice, equality and dignity. In 2007 the bashing that the Indians received on the streets was the beginning. It was a major emotional event for the Indians. From that painful start Hindraf has been through many challenges to get to where it is today – with potential and credible solutions in hand, though and with an unexpected partner. When these plans get implemented in the next 5 years there will be tangible changes to the lives of the marginalised Indians. We have been absolutely guided by our principles in this journey. We have gone to BN not with hat in hand, but with wisdom in our minds and integrity in our hearts.

3. Is this a sellout of Hindraf by its leaders?

What has not been possible for 56 years is being accomplished right under our noses now by some very skilful leadership within the span of a few months. A     new relationship with a past enemy for mutual benefit cannot be a sellout. Was there a sellout when rapprochement occurred between France and England who were at war with each other for a hundred years or between Russia and the US the cold war foes, or between Germany and Japan on the one hand and the US on the other, the second world war foes. Purveyors of the sellout theme must have some very personal reasons that they cannot see these developments in a positive light.

4. Has there been a secret pact between the leaders of Hindraf and leaders of BN?

The entire process of these negotiations has been transparent from when we began in August last year with the return of Waythamoorthy. The calls to both sides Pakatan Rakyat and BN have always been transparent. If there had been any secret pact with Umno/BN, then that tack taken would have been inappropriate. For, if Pakatan had come through with the endorsement earlier it would have screwed up any secret arrangements that may have existed. Pakatan did have the first shot, after all. They did not come through. Serious discussion started with Umno only on March 25, barely a month ago and they came through on April 18. Up till the April 15 we were ready for discussion with Pakatan, but they totally failed. Secret pact, hmm….

The conspiracy theorists from Pakatan have been working overtime on this theme of a secret pact. This way they want to confuse the people on this historic deal. We will see the result of all this on May 5.

5. Hindraf has been extremely critical of Umno's past policies, what happens to all that criticism now? Has Hindraf forgotten the 56 years of Umno's policies that have resulted in the marginalisation of Indians?

The past will not go away. Our views of the past will also remain. What will change will be the way those views will determine our future actions. We will continue with our push for change. Hindraf will continue as a human rights NGO regardless of any involvement in government. Our current priority is the economic program for the upliftment of the Indian poor with this blueprint. We will continue our human rights work, only we believe we will now have more leverage over national policy in these areas, given our experience. We will continue to be change agents. Our detractors will shoot this down as highly improbable, that is their preroragative.

6. Will BN honour their part of the agreement?

No Malaysian prime minister has ever apologised publicly to the Indians for past lapses. No Malaysian government had ever signed anything like this in full public view. 1.8% of the annual budget of the government for the next five years to solve a longstanding and nagging problem is a very small price. The opportunity to hold Hindraf responsible for the delivery of the blueprint plans is a gift.

All the BN government needs to do is to provide the funds, the authority and supervise for consistency with all the rest of what they do.

Why will they now want to play around, especially with Hindraf who is known to be able to kick up storms quite readily, unless they mean what they are signing up to?

Besides, in a recent risk analysis that we performed, BN came out 2 to 1 better in the risk rating compared to Pakatan in the risks of implementation.  Yes there is risk, but we have assessed the risk and think it is worth taking, considering the potential benefit.

About the relationship with Pakatan

7. Pakatan stands for change, why are you not embracing change?

Pakatan say they stand for change. The change they talk about at best will only serve the business community, not the poor, not the Indian poor for sure. From the squirming we have experienced with Anwar Ibrahim, we are convinced that all talk of change is no more than mollifying rhetoric. And look at how Lim Guan Eng promotes mega projects in Penang despite noisy protests from the people. Opinions of the people do not seem important in their worldview. So, what change are we talking about?

We are for change. But Pakatan is not the change that we need. Pakatan is not the change the country needs. We need changes in policies, not in names and faces only.  We have no problems embracing true change. However Pakatan does not represent true change to us.

8. Pakatan stands for multiracialism, that is why they could not accept Hindraf's Blueprint?

Pakatan says they stand for multiracialism. If that were really the case they should dissolve their individual parties and merge into one large truly multiracial party,     why do they not? So, are they really all that multiracial as they say, or is it just some more rhetoric? The way they handled the recent Pakatan manifesto, shows the big gap between what they say and what they do. They said it transcends racial boundaries when it clearly did not and then go and eat humble pie when they have to run and add a few more pledges to the Indians, making the manifesto no more race blind contradicting their earlier protestations. Then DAP     plagiarises our blueprint, which in the first place they said was a racially orientated document and call it a grand declaration violating their policy of transcending race. They do not mean any of what they say when it comes to the affairs of the poor Indians.

9. Has Hindraf been inept in dealing with Pakatan?

We had 24 meetings with Pakatan, all at our behest. We saw how they were bungling in the way they went about the meetings. The words did not match their thoughts. Left hand did not know what right hand was doing. We had to deal with three different paradigms. There either was no understanding of the Indian problem or there was only a slanted understanding, at best. In spite of all these setbacks we did not give up. If calling out impostors as Mandores amounts to ineptness and that is the reason for the failure, all I can say is this is a very convenient way of passing off something fundamental as a minor aberration.

About the Memorandum of Understanding between BN and Hindraf

10. The MOU is an understanding it is not an agreement. So what is the worth of the MOU signed between Hindraf and BN?

The MOU clearly states that it is a binding agreement between BN and Hindraf. Further we consider it binding when the document is signed in full view of the whole country. All the naysayers, say there is no honor in BN. Afterwards they say BN will just leave you high and dry, despite the agreement statements and the high profile signing.

However our recent experiences and analysis brings us to other conclusions. In Umno's world view they do not see the Indians in the country as a threat to their hold on long term power. Their fears come from elsewhere. We have just been party to collateral damage in the past, and the Blueprint now helps to address that collateral damage.

This MOU document, further serves as a record our understanding of the     changes what we have agreed upon. When it comes to implementation this document will be the reference. Will there be differences later on in the interpretation? I am sure there will be. But we do not consider that a major risk. The major risk is whether there is honour behind the words. From what we see now, there does seem to be.

11. Why did the prime minister not sign the MOU, why Tengku Adnan Mansor? And who is Tengku Adnan?

The agreement is between Hindraf and Barisan Nasional. Tengku Adnan is the secretary general and the administrative head of Barisan Nasional. It is well within legal norms for him to be the signatory. The prime minister was the witness to the event.

12. Is the MOU valid as it is signed only by the caretaker government?

The MOU is not signed by the caretaker government. It is signed by Tengku Adnan on behalf of the Barisan Nasional.

13. What if there is a change in the leadership of Umno/BN – will the MOU still be valid?

The MOU is between two organisations and their successors in titles and P Waythamoorthy and Tengku Adnan signed respectively for their organisations.

14. Why did we give up on items 5 and 6 of the original Hindraf Blueprint?

Though it looks like we have given up on those two items, the IPCMC and police brutality and the UN covenants, we have just postponed those issues for later so it will help move on the other more urgent economic issues that affect the Indian poor now. Besides the way we see the world moving it is inevitable that these changes are going to happen, BN or Pakatan. It is the times. And we will continue to be agents of change.

15. Is the MOU a mockery of the Hindraf Blueprint?

The MOU is no mockery of the Blueprint. It is a document that takes into account the reality of today's situation. The moral issues underlying the Blueprint are important and we have taken the tack to address them obliquely, for the immediate.

When the poverty situation is addressed effectively, social development will occur as a direct consequence. This will see a reduction of the involvement of Indian youth in crime. Today many of the killings in custody can be traced to a complex web between these youths, crime syndicates, their bosses, the police and even some who are well placed in society. But when we reduce the input into that web, the problem will reduce significantly.  This is the oblique opportunity we have today with the current plan.

As for the UN covenants on human rights, the proposals when completely implemented will reduce the racial discrimination in the system that the Indian poor will face. We have established a clear quota based regime for all benefits deriving from the government on the basis of the participation in numbers in the population. As for bringing the laws of the country to be consistent with theseinternational norms of human rights we believe social values will have to first change. And we plan be involved in that effort too.

READ MORE HERE

 

Feiz Mohammad: Radical Muslim Preacher Who Inspired Boston Marathon Bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 03:03 PM PDT

http://img.ibtimes.com/www/data/images/full/2013/04/19/363679.jpg 

(International Business Times) - Although it is widely reported he is now living in Malaysia, where he continues to give regular lectures, some suggest he has returned to Australia – even though the Sydney government has repeatedly condemned him.

Feiz Mohammad, the radical preacher cited by dead Boston Marathon bomber Tamerlan Tsarnaev, is a former boxer who blames women for being raped and called for a prominent Dutch politician to be beheaded.

Widely known as 'Sheikh Feiz', the preacher was born in Australia circa 1970-1 but fled to Lebanon, the homeland of his parents, eight years ago after becoming one of the world's most controversial Islamic lecturers.

He has been investigated by Australian police for inciting violence and terrorism, and was even captured on a British TV documentary encouraging children to become martyrs for Islam six years ago.

Feiz has been described by some as Australia's most dangerous sheikh, because of the number of connections he holds to known terrorists.

Although it is not known whether the hardline sheikh has any direct links to Al-Qaeda, he has regularly broadcast sermons from the group's spiritual leader, Anwar al-Awlaki, on his website.

Read more at: http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/459253/20130419/feiz-mohammad-tamerlan-tsarnaev-boston-marathon.htm 

 

Open letter to Nurul Izzah and Raja Nong Chik

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 02:56 PM PDT

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6IhUTITFNB0/Tgid4ILJk3I/AAAAAAAAEB8/9hdB-GUFT8g/s320/Zubedy.jpg 

I hope to catch both of you before May 5th. I have not decided who to vote for, and I am likely to make my choice the night before May 5th. But you can help me hasten my decision by doing the following.
 
Anas Zubedy 
Dear Nurul and Raja Nong Chik,

Firstly, congratulations on being chosen as the respective candidates for PR and BN. Both of you deserve the honour. I vote at Lembah Pantai. I am one of those non-partisans Malaysians, one without a party. I would like to believe I belong to a third block of Malaysian voters – The Third Force.

I hope to catch both of you before May 5th. I have not decided who to vote for, and I am likely to make my choice the night before May 5th. But you can help me hasten my decision by doing the following.

I would like to have a contract, albeit a halal one, with the two of you. I have a wish list that I would like you to look into before I make my decision. I do not expect both of you to agree to every item, but the one who agrees and promises to do more will get my vote. I would like to videotape your promise if chance permit.

Here are my wishes:

Read more at: http://letusaddvalue.blogspot.com/2013/04/open-letter-to-nurul-izzah-and-raja.html 

Report card on Nong Chik

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 02:37 PM PDT

http://harismibrahim.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/k_.jpg?w=594

Double-parking throughout the day just 50 metres from DBKL's branch office at TTDI. 

Singa Terhormat

Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur is an upmarket residential area. It houses many political and corporate leaders, professionals and successful businessmen. Included amongst its residents is the FT Minister, Raja Nong Chik.

As FT Minister, Raja Nong Chik is responsible for attending to the relevant needs of the people within FT and has included under him Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) to assist him in performing his duties.

Exactly how well has he performed in discharging his duties?

One would reasonably expect that with him living in TTDI and thus being present there regularly, if not daily, he would ensure that TTDI is well-managed by the authorities that answer to him, principally DBKL.

Seeing him always smiling one would think he is pleased with his performance.

I was however appalled during a recent visit to TTDI to visit an aunt, to find that TTDI is poorly managed.

There are illegal stalls operating everywhere and I understand from residents there that this has been going on for ages, with the authorities turning a 'blind eye' to them.

Rumour has it that some DBKL personnel are on a 'retainer basis' with these stall-holders and hence no action is taken against these stall-holders, despite many complaints by residents.

Read more at: http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/report-card-on-nong-chik/ 

 

Malaysia GE13: A clenched fist - and a RM40,000 problem

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:59 PM PDT

http://www.straitstimes.com/sites/straitstimes.com/files/imagecache/story-gallery-featured/lmfist20e.jpg 

(ST) - In the end, it came down to perception more than anything else, says a key strategist of one of Pakatan's component parties. Mr Ismail Yusop, the election director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Perak, says: "We have no problem with the party, but politics is about managing perception." 

Dozens of people turned up in bright red T-shirts to support the nomination of Pakatan Rakyat's Sungai Siput candidate Michael Jeyakumar on Saturday, but their specially printed tops will have to be packed away when campaigning heats up.

The T-shirts are the latest victims of a concerted effort by Malaysia's two main political coalitions to rid their image of any negative connotations- whether real or imagined - as they try to woo voters from now till the election on May 5.

The Democratic Action Party (DAP), a key member of Pakatan Rakyat alliance, may have hogged headlines for its recent wrangle over the right to use its famous rocket logo during campaigning. But a similar tussle has been taking place in Sungai Siput constituency in Perak state.

Up until Friday - one day before nomination - Dr Jeyakumar was neck deep in negotiations with key members of Pakatan who were dead set against the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (socialist party) member using the red clenched fist logo on his campaign.

The reason: The logo had communist overtones, and may cost Pakatan votes in other states where locals have especially bad memories of Malaysia's communist insurgency, which ended as recently as 1989.

It didn't matter that Dr Jeyakumar, Sungai Siput's incumbent MP, is well known for helping underclass communities like squatters. The mild-mannered medical doctor tells The Straits Times: "We have been here for 10 years, people know that we are not terrorists."

In the end, it came down to perception more than anything else, says a key strategist of one of Pakatan's component parties. Mr Ismail Yusop, the election director of Parti Keadilan Rakyat in Perak, says: "We have no problem with the party, but politics is about managing perception."

Dr Jeyakumar was issued an ultimatum: Drop the logo, or Pakatan would send a candidate to Sungai Siput to start a three-cornered fight. He relented, registering as a PKR candidate in the Sungai Siput contest on Saturday.

"To bring changes, you need authority," he explained, and that authority can only come if Pakatan parties win enough seats to control the state. The opposition won a majority of seats in the state assembly in 2008, but lost power one year later after three of its politicians defected.

Ironically, Sungai Siput will see a three-cornered fight anyway, as an independent candidate S.P. Nagalingam registered for the race on Saturday. But Dr Jeyakumar brushed off the challenge from the relative unknown. His main rival would be deputy minister S.K. Devamany, who was moved from his old seat in neighbouring Pahang state to help the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition regain Sungai Siput.

Read more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/se-asia/story/malaysia-ge13-clenched-fist-and-rm40000-problem-20130421 

Malaysia elections: Sex, sabotage and videotape in Malaysian campaign

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:50 PM PDT

http://www.asiaone.com/A1MEDIA/news/04Apr13/images/20130421.123925_me3.jpg 

(AsiaOne) - Malaysia's ruling establishment has been accused of resorting to "gutter politics" as a bruising election campaign starts amid outrage over sex videos and opposition charges of sabotage.

The May 5 vote looks to be a typically hard-fought and polarising Malaysian election as a 56-year-old regime faces the fight of its life against a rising opposition.

But analysts warn negative tactics in the campaign that officially began on Saturday could backfire on the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

Premier Najib Razak had pledged to oversee a civil election run but advocates for a clean campaign have cried foul over alleged improprieties in what one group has warned will be Malaysia's "dirtiest election ever".

A top figure in an opposition Islamic party in the Muslim-majority nation was forced recently to deny involvement over an online video claiming to show him in a tryst with a young woman.

The opposition said more such videos were expected, including one purportedly involving Nurul Izzah Anwar, the parliamentarian daughter of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who was himself targeted in a 2011 sex video claim.

Reports of election violence have mounted, mostly involving attacks on opposition supporters, with one man reportedly in a coma after being beaten.

Adverts have run in some areas suggesting the opposition would impose Islamic law on non-Muslims, which the opposition decries as dangerous religious fear-mongering.

"I deplore gutter politics and demand that Prime Minister Najib have the decency to not only condemn but also to ensure those behind the sex videos and political violence face the full brunt of the law," Nurul Izzah told AFP.

Najib's office did not respond to a request for comment.

UMNO became notorious for hardball tactics under authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad, who dominated Malaysia for 22 years until retiring in 2003.

Read more at: http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Malaysia/Story/A1Story20130421-417443.html 

 

If I were Chua Soi Lek

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:43 PM PDT

http://www.thenutgraph.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Chua21042013N-489x580.jpg 

I WOULD hate to be Chua Soi Lek at this point in time. With the general election looming, and Chinese Malaysian support for Barisan Nasional (BN) at an all-time low, it seems like the MCA is in for the toughest fight of its political life. So what can Chua do in the face of the seemingly insurmountable task to perform well in the elections? Here are some ideas that I would try, or would have tried, if I were him.

Chan Kheng Hoe, The Nut Graph 

1_orangeNEW Nominate Ong Tee Keat for Gelang Patah

For sure, no politician would like to take on Lim Kit Siang in a Chinese-majority seat if they could help it. This means it would have been an excellent strategy to place Ong Tee Keat there, although the opportunity is now gone since the MCA has a nominated  candidates' list sans Tee Keat. If Ong had been fielded and won, it would have been a major boost for the MCA and the BN. And if Ong had lost, then good riddance to him. Either way, it would have been a win for Chua.

2_orangeNEW Praise the DAP's Chinese credentials sky-high

The Chinese Malaysian vote seems to be lost anyway. So, this election is really about winning over fence-sitting Malay Malaysians. If these Malays sway to the BN, then it is all well and good. Otherwise, the BN itself would be at risk. So why not go after these fence-sitting Malays by promoting the DAP's Chinese credentials? Tell everyone how great the DAP is to the Chinese. Publicise how the DAP favours the Chinese over everyone else. Explain in detail how a "Malaysian Malaysia" would ultimately be good for the Chinese over every other race. By this, Chua would be driving fence-sitting Malays to the BN, which includes the MCA, of course.

Read more at: http://www.thenutgraph.com/if-i-were-chua-soi-lek/ 

Kerjaya politik Ong Tee Keat berakhir?

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:37 PM PDT

https://encrypted-tbn2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQtv5x2JdHFbOzEU_d9JPWHL-Iu1599zD6NaV5n7_XNTvnnKy4zQQ 

Pertamanya, adakah beliau benar-benar bersara terus daripada politik? Keduanya, adakah keputusan untuk tidak bertanding bermakna Tee Keat masih berpeluang untuk kembali bersaing untuk jawatan tertinggi pada pilihan raya parti akan datang? Ketiga, mungkinkah juga Tee Keat kini sedang memikirkan terus untuk berhijrah ke Pakatan Rakyat? 

Markus Lim, TMI 

Terkejut dan tidak disangka-sangka!

Demikian reaksi pertama penulis selepas mendapati perkhabaran bahawa Ahli Parlimen Pandan, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat tidak akan bertanding pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13.

Sememangnya, keputusan di saat-saat akhir oleh Tee Keat untuk tidak mempertahankan kerusi Parlimen Pandan sesuatu yang mengejutkan.

Lebih-lebih lagi, tidak ada pun petanda-petanda bahawa Tee Keat akan memilih untuk tidak bertanding. Sedia maklum, perwatakan Tee Keat yang keras dan tidak mudah menyerah meyakinkan ramai bahawa beliau akan terus bertanding sebagai calon di Pandan.

Perkhabaran ini sudah pasti mengecewakan ramai pengikut setianya yang telah menyokong beliau selama ini. Malah beberapa hari sebelum penamaan calon, beberapa pertubuhan bukan kerajaan dan rakyat setempat mengadakan protes bagi membantah tindakan MCA tidak mencalonkan Tee Keat.

Bagi kumpulan pengundi tersebut, mereka hanya mengenali Tee Keat dan tidak akan mengundi mana-mana calon selain Tee Keat. Bagi mereka nama Tee Keat merupakan satu institusi di Pandan.  Tee Keat adalah Pandan dan Pandan adalah Tee Keat.

Malah mereka juga mengancam untuk memberikan undi kepada calon Pakatan Rakyat jika tuntutan mereka tidak dipenuhi.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/opinion/article/kerjaya-politik-ong-tee-keat-berakhir/ 

 

Zul Noordin confident of his image, Selangor BN sweep

Posted: 20 Apr 2013 01:18 PM PDT

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/images/uploads/2013/april2013/zulkiflinoordin8ssf.jpg 

(TMI) - In the interview, Zulkifli said Najib was brave to field a "rare species" like him in the upcoming elections and that Malaysians should appreciate that. 

Perkasa's Datuk Zulkifli Noordin believes his image does not need any repairing with any demographic in the Shah Alam race, saying he is also confident of Barisan Nasional (BN) recapturing Selangor in Election 2013.

The incumbent Kulim-Bandar Baharu MP has riled the Indian community with his comments about their faith, but he told the fz.com news portal that his BN candidacy was "living proof" of coalition chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak's commitment to political transformation.

"I am what I am," Zulkifli said in a video interview uploaded in the news portal yesterday.

"It is a proof of Najib's commitment to transform the political scenario in Malaysia, thinking outside the box. So I am the living proof of that transformation programme," he claimed proudly, referring to his candidacy as someone not affiliated to any of the BN component parties.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/zul-noordin-confident-with-his-image-selangor-bn-sweep/ 

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net
 

Malaysia Today Online

Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved