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Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• 152,000 lose study loans due to poor results
• The souring of a mega deal
• Sex, Lies and Videotape in Malaysia
• Bersih denies it’s anti-govt
• Don’t walk away from democracy

152,000 lose study loans due to poor results Posted: 24 Jun 2011 02:26 PM PDT (Bernama) - TEMERLOH: The National Higher Education Fund Corporation has withheld loans to 152,000 students for scoring a Semester Grade Point Average (SGPA) of 2.0 and below. The corporation's chairman, Datuk Ismail Mohamed Said, said students with poor results received loans totalling RM632mil. "But if they are able to get a SGPA above 2.0 in the next examination, the loans will be released," he told reporters after presenting loans to 100 public and private university students from the Kuala Krau parliamentary constituency in Jengka yesterday. Of the 132,180 blacklisted students who defaulted on their loan repayments, he said 12,400 had repaid the loans amounting to RM113.9mil. — Bernama

The souring of a mega deal Posted: 24 Jun 2011 02:01 PM PDT By Anita Gabriel, The Star AN ignominous flop. That may sound harsh but it befits a deal that was trumpeted would create the most valuable Malaysian bank in South-East Asia, steered by the unwaveringly powerful Bank Negara and executed by no less than the country's top influential bankers Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar. As it turned out, Malayan Banking Bhd and CIMB Group Holdings Bhd's battle to take over RHB Capital Bhd, led respectively by Wahid and Nazir, which had a three-month deadline for completion took merely three weeks to go belly up. On Thursday, just one week before both banking giants' competing offers were scheduled to land on the table of RHB Cap directors, the banks revealed that they had scrapped talks and were bowing out of the merger plan. Their carefully-crafted statements to the stock exchange, this time around, did little to mask the disenchantment. Based on the expectations of key stakeholders "we do not believe that we will be able to arrive at a value creating merger ... we prefer not to prolong our discussions unnecessarily," said Nazir. Maybank's note, as terse as it was, was unusually revelatory; it said it was calling off the talks "in the light of recent developments." Little guessing was needed to figure out what that was. Wahid elaborates on the "recent developments" to StarBizWeek: "... the recent transaction has set an expectation among certain shareholders on the valuation of RHB. We believe that a transaction that will benefit all stakeholders, including our own shareholders, may be challenging to achieve based on the price expectations that have been created." On hindsight wisdom, it's near impossible to have two deals a sale of a strategic block and a wholesale acquisition involving the same entity, taking place almost concurrently without jeopardising someone's interest. Therein lay the writing on the wall. From the glass half-full perspective, an astute corporate observer appears relieved: "I'm pleased that the parties have the discipline not to push ahead when good sense dictates they should stand down. What would be bad is inspite of all these (high) expectations, they went ahead. That would show indiscipline and lack of maturity and would have done injustice to Maybank or CIMB." "What would have been ideal is to exchange the shares at realistic prices and reap the gains in the uplift of share price after the merger," he adds. The strong arm of the regulator Bank Negara's regulatory hand, guided by the overriding compass for industry consolidation, in the entire saga is hard to miss right from the start. Without the central bank's blessings (or was it cajoling?), the two banking juggernauts may not have stepped up to the plate as fast as they did to start merger talks with RHB Cap. Their almost mirrored and closely-timed statements on receiving the regulator's nod to talk to RHB Cap board and its substantial shareholders somewhat reflect this. Cementing this notion is the twin step late this week by both to bow out of the merger plans. "If one had walked out of submitting an offer while the other stayed, it would be easier to believe that the central bank had little to do with this. They were competing with each other for RHB Cap. But instead, both pulled out together, which is telling," says an observer. The merger idea was largely dictated by a single denominator the race for scale. Whichever way it swung (Maybank-RHB Cap or CIMB-RHB Cap), it could have created the largest banking group in the region in terms of market value, a clear market leader in Malaysia and bolster their overseas operations. The merged entity would have also cosied up even closer to three of Singapore's banking heavyweights, which have held the near-indomitable top three spots based on the assets in the region. Now, wouldn't that have been something to cheer about? Even so, the potential grandeur was somewhat muffled by the murky synergistic benefits and potential substantial duplication issues which could arise from the merger with either one. Credit Suisse in an earlier report had cited "substantial overlap resulting in excess staff and branches" as a key challenge in the potential merger. Given the upcoming general elections, which it said is likely in 2012, "we doubt authorities would agree to allow either bank to shed excess staff." In other words, not many were convinced by the cost synergies to be extracted from the union. It is for this very reason that OSK Research wasted no time (one day after Maybank and CIMB nixed the deal to be exact) to echo a rumour of AMMB entering the RHB Cap merger fray, given it's a better fit, hence a "marriage of equals." The local research house also expressed that it was not surprised by the turn of events: "This piece of news did not entirely come as a surprise given the fact that the proposed merger with RHB Capital was rumored to have been at the invitation of the central bank rather than initiated by CIMB or Maybank. As such, pricing and the rationale for a synergistic merger were key stumbling blocks from the start." While the central bank had steered the banking stalwarts towards a merger with RHB Cap, it was too late to stop Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank from divesting its 25% stake in the country's fifth largest bank, despite the potential red flags. Such concerns turned into grim reality over the week. The harbinger The cracks in the merger plans emerged following the RHB Cap stake sale by ADCB to another sovereign-owned agency Aabar Investment Agency PJSC on June 17. The harbinger of a doomed merger was the all-important determinant in the sale, as in any transaction the price tag. At RM10.80 a piece, the strategic block would change hands, from left to right that is, at 2.25 times the book value of RHB Capital. "It wasn't so much about the price. Remember, this is a merger involving a share swap. CIMB could have been willing to pay RM10.80 per share for RHB Cap on a fully-valued basis. In return, it would also fully value its own shares at say, RM12. Why would it undervalue its own shares while fully valuing that of RHB Cap? This in turn, would determine the swap ratio. The problem is that RHB Cap shareholders were not warmed up to such a plan as their shareholding would be significantly diluted in the enlarged entity," says an observer. Still, determined not to allow the exercise to derail the consolidation agenda, Bank Negara slapped two conditions on the deal. Firstly, Aabar must support a merger with another Malaysian bank. But it was the other condition - that the sale price be adjusted accordingly if the merger offer price came in below - which had peeved not just the Middle Easteners but also the keeper of 12 million Malaysians' retirement savings and 45% owner of RHB Cap, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). "How can the central bank force non-market conditions on the market? If I were the regulator, I would have allowed Maybank and CIMB to submit their proposals and the RHB Cap board and shareholders to evaluate them. If good, let's merge and if bad, it will be rejected. Free market forces should reign. Not this ..." says an irate source who is close to the deal. Was the central bank right? Opinions are mixed depending on who you talk to on whether the central bank did the right thing. "You can appreciate the central bank's concern. If the transaction is done at an unrealistic price, it would jeopardise the entire merger process. That's a legitimate concern. If it really wanted to interfere, it could have disallowed the sale (of 25% in RHB Cap). Bank Negara has authority to approve all major transactions in respect of banks. This sale involved a related party transaction. It had the right to conclude that the sale, done at a higher price, was impairing the merger possibility, hence it imposed those conditions," says an astute observer. In fact, he says, there was no compelling reason to allow a financial investor like Aabar to engage in a strategic stake in a bank, drawing a parallel with buyout firm Primus Pacific Partners' purchase of a 20% stake in EON Cap in 2008. "It's a strategic block. EPF needs a strategic partner not a financial investor. ADCB was at the least, ostensibly, a strategic investor. "So, in the absence of a strategic partner, EPF needs a strategic merger ...," he says. But opponents of the central bank's "encroaching style" say it was unreasonable to set such conditions, especially as ADCB was a public-listed company (it is listed on Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange). Significant pressure and criticism was piling on the central bank due to the unpopular decision. That was the beginning of the end. And as feared, the transaction posed an insurmountable psychological barrier for the merger plans to move ahead. "Nazir's a fighter. But things were getting complicated and the truth was getting lost amidst all the spinning. Our best guess was the deal was not doable," said a source close to the deal. One meeting, two calls Those involved, particularly the regulator and bankers, were beginning to feel uneasy. Against this highly-charged backdrop, it is believed that EPF chairman Tan Sri Azlan Zainol met up with central bank governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz and deputy governor Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus on Monday (June 20). According to a source, EPF felt as if it did not have enough say in the merger process. The issue of pricing was also discussed as understandably, the Fund was eager to fetch the best valuation for a bank it controlled and successfully strengthened over the years. (EPF also has a 10.4% and 12% interest in Maybank and CIMB respectively. If the deal had happened and involved largely stock, EPF could have ended up with between 17% and 20% in the enlarged entity.) According to sources, while Maybank had indicated a better offer price for RHB Cap, it was CIMB Group which was deemed a better fit with a stronger management to lead the charge for the merged entities. "Maybank was willing to bid higher. But CIMB's management made it a more compelling partner," says the source. At one point of the impasse, it is believed that an idea was floated for EPF instead to acquire CIMB although it cannot be ascertained how far this is true. "There was a counter proposal. If CIMB deemed 2.25 book for RHB Cap too expensive, then EPF could acquire CIMB for 2.65 times. It would mean a tidy exit for Khazanah and in line with EPF's investment focus on dividend and capital appreciation," says a source in the loop. The pitch failed to pique interest but it drove home the point that EPF was keen to remain on the driver's seat of a banking group. By late Monday, the deal became wobbly. "There was a risk of the merger, which was meant to enhance value, suddenly turning into a value destructive exercise. The regulator was not pleased with the direction of the whole process and had a change of heart after the meeting with EPF," said a source. The very next day, on Tuesday, sources said the central bank made two calls - one to Nazir and the other, to Wahid which would be the game changer. The regulator asked both men to pull the plug on the deal with the possibility of revisiting it some other time when normalcy resumed. On late Wednesday, sources said the Finance Ministry had finally given the consent for the deal to be called off. Merger still on the cards Even so, all may not be lost yet. Market wags expect the parties to resume talks again down the road. "It could take a further 3 months, maybe six months ... That may happen," says a source. Maybank's statement to Bursa that it has called off the talks "at this juncture" has further fanned such expectations. "Ultimately, there will be a merger but one that is fair and transparent and mutually agreed by all parties and that is value enhancing for both groups," says a source. RHB Cap's counter has had a wild ride this June. Just days after the banking giants announced their merger plans on May 30, the shares surged to an all-time high of RM9.98. In contrast and as testament that the counter's sugar rush in recent weeks was largely on the back of the potential merger, it sufferred a massive smack down this week, losing some 9% of its value or 85 sen to finish the week at RM8.75 on news that the deal has fallen out. At the current share price of RHB Cap or what one would say pre-merger talk levels, it could be a lot easier to return to the drawing board with RHB Cap's board and shareholders to discuss again merger plans. It's hard to resist the nagging suspicion could this have been part of the plan? Sadly, even as RHB Cap echoes the cliche that things are very much business as usual, it may be the most impacted from this entire debacle. The auction conducted for ADCB's stake sale earlier had drawn a bid by Japan's largest lender Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group. But the strategic block landed on Aabar's lap instead as the ongoing merger plans with Maybank and CIMB had created some uncertainty for the prospective shareholders. Lest you forget, this could also inadvertently disadvantage EPF, whose deadline to pare down its stake in RHB Cap to 30% is looming closer. Let this episode serve as a lesson on the indelible power of a strategic block, if the "Primus case" hadn't already, especially for a sector as pivotal and ironically as highly regulated as banking.

Sex, Lies and Videotape in Malaysia Posted: 23 Jun 2011 08:58 PM PDT Three who exposed Anwar video – if it was him – are  happy to plead guilty  Anwar's strategy may have backfired, since it allowed the three, who appeared in court Friday, to deliver what they said was an analysis by experts from Dartmouth College in the United States that the video was authentic. Thamby Chik's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah later told reporters that the experts said it was "99.99 percent certain" that the man in the video was Anwar.  Asia Sentinel Three men known collectively as "Datuk T" pleaded guilty Friday in a Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court to screening a videotape in March allegedly featuring Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim having sex with a Chinese prostitute earlier this year. The three are former Malacca Chief Minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, a stalwart of the United Malays National Organization, Shazryl Eskay Abdullah, formerly a close friend of and fundraiser for Anwar, and Shuib Lazim, former treasurer of the Malay supremacy NGO Perkasa, which is closely aligned with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.   The three said they had made the video to demonstrate that Anwar wasn't qualified to be prime minister. The three are Datuks, a minor honorific about equivalent to the British title of squire and the lowest level in the country's list of titles bestowed on businessmen and others.  They entered the courtroom wearing broad smiles and waving to the crowd. Anwar, his family, his political party Parti Keadilan Rakyat and the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat have continued to insist that a stunt double made the film, which was shown to reporters under mysterious circumstances at a prestigious hotel.  They have been demanding that charges of distributing pornography be lodged against the three over the video, which has since pretty much gone viral across Malaysia. That strategy may have backfired, since it allowed the three, who appeared in court Friday, to deliver what they said was an analysis by experts from Dartmouth College in the United States that the video was authentic. Thamby Chik's lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah later told reporters that the experts said it was "99.99 percent certain" that the man in the video was Anwar. "Results of the analysis by experts from Dartmouth College, Handover, New Hampshire in the US verified the authenticity of the video, that there was no tampering or any act of super-imposing and that it originated from a DVR camcorder taken from Datuk Shazryl," deputy public prosecutor Kamalluddin Md Said was quoted as saying in local media. Anwar's allies insist that whether the video was or wasn't tampered with, it wasn't Anwar in the picture. In fact, the video so far appears to have done little damage to Anwar's reputation. He has been ensnared for months in a long-running trial for allegedly having homosexual sex a then-23-year-old aide.  He was imprisoned for six years on similar charges in a trial that is universally regarded as having been trumped up. READ MORE HERE

Bersih denies it’s anti-govt Posted: 23 Jun 2011 08:34 PM PDT ... if the government is for free and fair elections, says Haris Ibrahim in FMT RAW's maiden broadcast "If the government is going to wake up to the need to clean up, and effect these reforms, why would anyone be against the government? We say again and again, Bersih is not pro-Pakatan Rakyat. Neither are we anti-Barisan Nasional. We are pro-reform." He said Bersih sent invitations to both sides of the political divide, but "it's not our fault if BN chooses to stay away". Teoh El Sen, Free Malaysia Today A Bersih 2.0 leader today sought to correct a misconception that the movement is anti-government. "If the government stands for free and fair elections, then we are not anti-government," said Haris Ibrahim, who sits on the steering committee of Bersih 2.0. "But if the government is going to stand in the way of free and fair elections, we are against anyone who is against free and fair elections." He made his remarks in an interview on FMT RAW, a half-hour online broadcast that made its debut at 3pm today. Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin recently accused Bersih of having a "dirty political agenda" in its plan to rally Malaysians for a "Walk for Democracy" on July 9. In the interview with FMT reporter Stephanie Sta Maria, Haris said the conduct of the recent Sarawak election underlined the need for electoral reform in Malaysia. He added that a post-mortem showed that "it was corruption upon corruption upon corruption". Elaborating on Bersih's purpose, he said: "We are just acting against anyone acting against the interest of the rakyat. We have eight simple demands. I think they are all legitimate demands. "If the government is going to wake up to the need to clean up, and effect these reforms, why would anyone be against the government?" "We say again and again, Bersih is not pro-Pakatan Rakyat. Neither are we anti-Barisan Nasional. We are pro-reform." He said Bersih sent invitations to both sides of the political divide, but "it's not our fault if BN chooses to stay away". nOujvlBn5bE  SEE VIDEO ON YOUTUBE HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOujvlBn5bE Pre-emptive arrests He renewed his invitation to all parties to participate in the rally. "Join us," he said. Referring to plans by Perkasa and Umno Youth to hold their own rallies, Haris said he respected their "right to peacefully assemble and  I hope they respect ours". However, he accused the two organisations of attempting to taint Bersih's objectives with their racial rhetoric. "Every time they get involved in something like this, they bring in the race issues." But he added: "Malaysians are more mature, and are not so easily swayed by race rethoric, thank God." On the possibility of police action against the rally, Haris said Bersih was hoping that the police would realise that their function was to facilitate. "Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the rakyat the right to peacefully assemble," he said. It supersedes the Police Act, which was enacted by Parliament. READ MORE HERE

Don’t walk away from democracy Posted: 23 Jun 2011 04:16 PM PDT The Bersih spirit will live long enough to surface again with greater force when the whole country walks to the polls for democracy. It is unlikely that Bersih will light the fuse to blow up the country. Trouble makers like Perkasa and all those self-anointed sentinels who have lodged police reports are more likely to do the incendiary job. The government's "goon squads" have always disrupted peaceful forums in the past while the law enforcers stood idly by.  Editorial, Free Malaysia Today There is nothing wrong if tens of thousands take to the streets in a stroll for democracy, come July 9. It is the right of citizens to express their displeasure when the government of the people, by the people, for the people becomes a government of the few for the few. People elect politicians to high office on the understanding that they will respect all the venerable institutions that govern the lives of the people. When the elected misuse their powers and undermine the vital organs of the government, they have lost the right to stay in office. There are two ways to punish political perverts who have raped democracy: vote them out or take to the streets. The ballot box is the ideal choice, but the date with destiny has not been fixed. In the meantime, the people can send a strong message to the recalcitrant government to mend its ways – by taking to the streets. The streets are the most effective platform to bring a wayward government to its senses. They are better than pumping fists or making pointless speeches in the stadiums. Stadiums are meant for concerts, football matches, circus shows. More often than not, a new country is born in the streets. But this is not a "spring offensive". The walk for democracy is not designed to overthrow the government by violent means or to whip up public hysteria. Its aims are simple: "to press for electoral reform, take a stand against corruption and strengthen public institutions". It is not a cheap tactic to gain political mileage. The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih) is a civil movement fighting for these causes that the government has long ago abandoned. It has become the voice of the people and has taken up the cudgels on their behalf. Unfortunately, the picture has been deliberately muddled by the government to make demons out of the organisers of the peaceful march. If you believe the government's tall tale, the rally will create chaos and in the ensuing mayhem, the whole country will slide into anarchy. Foreign investors will take to their heels and all those grandiose economic plans will lie in ruins. People will suffer and perhaps die of starvation. It is unlikely that Bersih will light the fuse to blow up the country. Trouble makers like Perkasa and all those self-anointed sentinels who have lodged police reports are more likely to do the incendiary job. The government's "goon squads" have always disrupted peaceful forums in the past while the law enforcers stood idly by. Instead of clamping down on the interlopers, the organisers were given the stick. Any attempt to show up the weaknesses of the government were foiled by thuggish third parties. Yet again, the government is displaying the same pattern of loutish behaviour when Bersih announced it will take its peaceful fight in the open. It tacitly encouraged the trouble makers to jump into the fray and organised its own rally. Right on cue, the seemingly concerned ministers raised the alarm that the country is heading towards the brink with two opposing rallies on collision course. Perkasa, helmed by an addled brain demagogue, and all the other like-minded dimwitted firebrands are determined to turn the walk for democracy into a run for life. READ MORE HERE

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Klik GAMBAR Dibawah Untuk Lebih Info

Sumber Asal Berita :-

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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• Jeyakumar, 30 PSM members arrested over Bersih rally
• Malays should know who Ambiga is, say analysts
• Have cops work with Bersih, Lim tells Hisham
• Muhyiddin insists Bersih political, threat to security
• Boycott Utusan, PAS tells Muslims
• Despite open day, public still find GLCs a mystery
• Fight against Interlok goes global
• ‘Clear proof of conspiracy to destroy Anwar’
• Police to act against rally-goers
• Police thwart Bersih’s first roadshow
• Malaysia No. 2 in Asia-Pacific for cargo theft
• Bar Council says ‘shocked’ with sex video screening in court
• Muslim body urges leaders, royalty to condemn death threats

Jeyakumar, 30 PSM members arrested over Bersih rally Posted: 25 Jun 2011 12:38 AM PDT (The Malaysian Insder) - KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 — Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj was among 31 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members who were arrested today in relation to the July 9 Bersih rally. The group, which had been travelling on a bus from Kedah for a planned Bersih roadshow in Penang, were intercepted by police at the Sungai Dua toll plaza near Kepala Batas this afternoon. The 17 men and 14 women are presently being held at the Seberang Perai Utara police station, on suspicion of attempting to distribute "inflammatory" material such as T-shirts and flyers. Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is planning a massive rally on July 9 to push for electoral reforms, with PAS aiming to galvanise all one million of its members to take part in the assembly.   READ MORE HERE.

Malays should know who Ambiga is, say analysts Posted: 24 Jun 2011 07:45 PM PDT   Ambiga declared an enemy of Islam  (Bernama) - Analysts are asking Malays to know who it is that is asking them to take part in an illegal assembly on July 9. They said that Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, the former Bar Council president planning to lead the demonstration, has a history of provoking Muslims.     They noted that she defended apostate Lina Joy, and as Bar Council president accepted a memorandum on the formation of an inter-faith commission, which made 14 demands that in effect questioned the position of Islam as the official religion and contradicted the constitution.       Despite objections from Muslims, she held a forum on an article in the constitution concerning syariah law.     Now, she is planning a demonstration in defiance of the law which she expects the Malays to join in droves, the analysts said.     Analyst Datin Paduka Prof Dr Ramlah Adam of  Universiti Teknologi Mara wonders how Malays can want to have anything to do with someone who is so openly against their interests.     "As a lawyer, Ambiga knows better than most that an  assembly  without a police permit is illegal. I don't understand why she is planning to go ahead with it despite protests from various groups," Ramlah said.     Other observers question the independence and motive of Ambiga, who is chairman of the Coalition for Free and Fair elections.     If elections in the country were not free, they said, how could the opposition have won six states in the last polls?     In any case, Ambiga could express any dissatisfaction that she might have with the Election Commission through the media instead of having an illegal assembly that could lead to clashes, they said.     Political observer Prof Datuk Dr Zainal Kling of the Sultan Idris Teaching University said the leaders of the planned assembly were fighting the cause of political parties which were themselves not clean.     "They should demonstrate as a political party rather than a non-governmental organisation. Then people will know what their real objectives are," he said.     Zainal said their objectives had something to do with "the chaos in the opposition, in PKR which is not clean, in DAP which is autocratic and PAS which has abandoned its original struggle".     He said the planned assembly was to hide the dirtiness of opposition parties trying to give Malaysia a bad image.     Zainal said the opposition parties were trying to create the kind of chaos they see in several countries which they hope to exploit to gain power.

Have cops work with Bersih, Lim tells Hisham Posted: 24 Jun 2011 06:15 PM PDT   By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein should direct the police to end its "hostile" stance towards the Bersih rally and work with its organisers instead, Lim Kit Siang said today. The DAP parliamentary leader said mutual co-operation between the two would ensure a peaceful assembly on June 9. "Hishammuddin should direct the police to end its hostile, combative, confrontational and repressive stance against the Bersih 2.0 rally on July 9 and to undergo a sea-change for the police to co-operate with the Bersih 2.0 organisers to ensure that the peaceful Bersih 2.0 rally is held successfully," said Lim in a statement today. The veteran politician pointed out that the police have begun arresting people for simply wearing the yellow Bersih t-shirts, reportedly the reason for deputy PKR Youth chief Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin's arrest last night. Police have, however, denied arresting him, saying they merely wanted to take down his statement. Lim also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to embrace the July 9 rally to show that Malaysia was mature enough to handle mass public gatherings. "The Malaysian prime minister at the time and other Umno leaders had praised these worldwide anti-war peaceful protests. "Why, then, are the Umno and [Barisan Nasional] leaders in the year 2011 so silent and not prepared to help to ensure the successful holding of a peaceful Bersih 2.0 rally for free, fair and clean elections, especially if it is to set a new record in Malaysia for crowd turnout?" Lim asked.  READ MORE HERE

Muhyiddin insists Bersih political, threat to security Posted: 24 Jun 2011 06:10 PM PDT   By Melissa Chi, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has deemed the July 9 Bersih rally as politically-motivated and a threat to national security as well as the country's reputation. Apart from calling in the organisers for questioning next week, police also insist they will not issue permits for at least three rallies planned on the day. "As far as the government is concerned, we have made a decision and we think that the assembly is illegal and if the purpose is to send out a message that there are disagreements, that there are suggestions that they want to make about the rules of elections to the SPR (Election Commission), there are process and procedures for that. "Because of that, we think the rationale given by Bersih to have the rally is not relevant. That's why we say this rally is politically-motivated," the deputy prime minister told reporters after touring the booths at the GLC Open Day here at the KL Convention Centre. Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is planning a massive rally on the day in Kuala Lumpur to push for electoral reforms, with PAS aiming to galvanise all one million of its members to take part in the assembly. Umno Youth and right-wing group Perkasa have also promised to carry out separate rallies to rival Bersih's. Today, Muhyiddin defended the counter rallies and said it was "normal" to have counter groups to any movement. "Whether it is right or wrong, that is up to our interpretations, but we see this as something that can erupt situations that will not benefit the country, that will ruin the country's image internationally, in the context of our hard work to develop the nation, attract investors, build our image globally as a peaceful and developed country," he said. Muhyiddin acknowledged Umno Youth's pledge to rally but reiterated the prime minister's remarks that the authorities have the right to take actions against anyone who participates in the assembly that is deemed illegal. Police have repeatedly warned they will treat the rallies as illegal assemblies. "So we leave it to the wisdom of the Umno Youth and Barisan Nasional leaders to decide on whether that is the right move or what is the right action they should take," he said. Muhyiddin then claimed news coverage of the rally, if it proceeds, will be used to falsely depict Malaysia as being in a state of unrest. "We in Malaysia know that after decades, that is not our culture. So I know their trick. We are not stupid, we are also experts in politics and understand their bad intentions. "So this has bad intentions. They did it on purpose so the people will be in fear and there will be eruption of unwanted incidents and internationally, Malaysia will be seen as a country that is unsafe, tourists will stop coming, investors will not invest because of the unrest, that is their intention," he said. The first Bersih rally in 2007 saw up to 50,000 people take to the streets of Kuala Lumpur before they were dispersed by police armed with tear gas and water cannons.  READ MORE HERE

Boycott Utusan, PAS tells Muslims Posted: 24 Jun 2011 06:09 PM PDT   By Humayun Kabir, FMT IPOH Perak PAS held a demonstration against Umno Malay daily Utusan Malaysia for allegedly insulting Islam in two caricatures in its June 15 edition and called for a boycott of the paper. In one of the  caricatures, a religious officer tells a rape victim that she must produce four witnesses as proof of the incident, while the other shows a police officer telling the same victim that she can lodge a police report without any conditions. About 200 PAS supporters, after attending Friday prayers at Masjid Negeri, gathered outside the mosque amidst heavy police presence to protest against Utusan's slight against Islam. State PAS chief Abu Bakar Hussain, information chief Mohd Akmal Kamarudin and party assistant secretary Safarizal Saleh took part in the demonstration which lasted 20 minutes. Safarizal said that there was no need to produce four witnesses under Islam in the case of a rape as witnesses were only required for zina (illicit intercourse). "It shows Utusan's lack of knowledge of Islamic law. It has insulted the religion," said Safarizal. Amidst shouts of 'Hancur Utusan! (destroy Utusan) and 'Boikot Utusan' (Boycott Utusan )', the protesters demanded Utusan apologise to Muslims. The crowd also set alight  copies of the June 15 edition of Utusan.  READ MORE HERE

Despite open day, public still find GLCs a mystery Posted: 24 Jun 2011 01:54 PM PDT By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider But perhaps the biggest question is still whether GLCs are working in the interests of the public, or Barisan Nasional (BN). KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Stand in Maybank's bright yellow booth in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in the city, and it will probably take all of ten seconds before someone notices you milling about. You'll be offered an Apple iPad if you open an account, asked if you would like a new credit card or some other banking product. However, if you were hoping to find out more about how Maybank functions as a government-linked company (GLC) at the GLC Open Day, you'll probably be disappointed. The event billed itself as "a showcase of five Government-linked Investment Companies (GLICs) and 18 GLCs which will share how they have contributed towards the development of the Malaysian economy, and in doing so, touched the lives of every Malaysian." But visitors who spoke to The Malaysian Insider found that aside from exhibits set up by the government to showcase its Economic and Government Transformation Plans, most other exhibitors seemed to think it was a trade fair to sell their products, rather than showcase their role according to the theme of "nation-building, touching lives." "They have a lot of props to show their good points, but none of the staff could really explain to me the things I was interested in," said Nor Alyshia Daud, a 20-year-old law student looking for scholarships. She came with Wan Nazrin Wan Anuar, 20, a recently trained pilot who said outright, "they're not doing a good job of meeting the event's objective." When launching the event, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had said that the real beneficiaries of GLCs are the people of Malaysia who are given "the opportunity to share in the wealth of the country." Besides two bankers who were pleased to have made possible business contacts - but still said that the open day was not really supportive of business-to-business linkups - others did not find out about their slice of the pie. "I see a lot of projects around Brickfields where I live, but I have no idea what they are and what they are for. Instead of open days, why not spend more time in public consultation?" said Rowena Ramachandran, who works in a legal firm in the city.   READ MORE HERE.

Fight against Interlok goes global Posted: 24 Jun 2011 01:48 PM PDT By B Nantha Kumar, FMT PETALING JAYA: After being mired in controversy, the Interlok novel issue is expected to go global, with a PKR leader declaring that he would be meeting an Indian and Canadian member of Parliament  with the hope that they would highlight the plight of the Indian community in the country in their respective parliaments. The local opposition party has also decided to handover a memorandum to the Indian and Canadian governments wanting them to pressure the Malaysian government to withdraw the novel from schools. "I will make a trip to India mid-next month to send the memorandum to one of the central ministers. We are presently trying to get an appointment to see him," PKR Malacca vice president G Rajendran told FMT. "Our motive is not to tarnish the name of Malaysia but to expose how the Barisan Nasional led government is practising blatant racism," he added. The Bahasa Malaysia novel Interlok kicked-up a storm after the Education Ministry decided to introduce it as a text book for Form Five. The book contains derogatory words, deemed as an insult to the Malaysian Indian community. Despite repeated calls by the community for the removal of the book from the school syllabus, the government, especially the Education Ministry, has refused to budge. The community wanted corrections to about 46 pages of  factual errors in the book before it is used in schools. However, the Ministry only amended nine such mistakes. 'Withdraw the book' Rajendran said he had also prepared another memorandum to be sent to the Canadian parliament. "We have a Tamil parliamentarian (Rathika Sitsabaiesan) in Canada and hope she can press our government to remove the novel," he said. He said Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition coalition, would remove the book from the school syllabus if it came to power at the next general election.   READ MORE HERE.

‘Clear proof of conspiracy to destroy Anwar’ Posted: 24 Jun 2011 01:44 PM PDT   By G Vinod, FMT PETALING JAYA: PKR claimed that the court proceeding of the "Datuk T" trio yesterday was proof that there is high-level conspiracy to destroy Anwar Ibrahim's political career. Yesterday, the trio, former Malacca chief minister Rahim Thamby Chik, former Perkasa treasurer Shuib Lazim and businessman Shazryl Eskay Abdullah pleaded guilty at the Kuala Lumpur magistrate court to screening a sex video to the public. The trio screened a video allegedly showing the opposition leader engaged in illicit sex with a prostitute to several journalists at Carcosa Seri Negara in March. In the proceeding yesterday, one of their defense attorney, Muhamad Shafee Abdullah told the court that forensic analysts from the US confirmed the man in the video was likely to be Anwar. In a statement today, PKR vice president N Surendran said the alleged identity of the person in the video and it authenticity was completely irrelevant to the case yesterday. "And by not being a party to the proceedings, Anwar had no opportunity to defend himself against the allegation," said Surendran. The PKR leader then lashed out at the prosecution team for not reprimanding the trio's defense lawyer when the latter was smearing Anwar. Surendran added that it was also worrying that the courts have allowed itself to be used by certain quarters for unlawful and unjust purposes.  READ MORE HERE

Police to act against rally-goers Posted: 24 Jun 2011 01:33 PM PDT   (The Star) - KUALA LUMPUR: Police have warned that they would take appropriate and necessary action including preventing and obstructing anyone from participating in the Bersih 2.0 rally planned for July 9. Acting City Chief Police Officer Senior Asst Comm Amar Singh said police would take such action in the interest of public safety. "The rally is illegal as no one has applied for a permit. "Even if they did apply, we will not approve it in the interest of public order and safety. "Those intending to carry on or participate in the rally will be courting trouble and will have to face the music if caught," he stressed. SAC Amar said they were concerned as there were two other groups opposing the Bersih 2.0 rally and he feared things might get out of control, which could pose a security and public order situation. He said that besides traffic coming to a standstill, businesses in the city could be badly affected. "The situation in the city could be tense and we cannot allow that to happen. "I appeal and urge the organisers of the rally, including those opposing it, to heed police advice and to call off their plans," he added. SAC Amar said to date, police have received more than 800 reports nationwide demanding for police to act against those organising and planning to participate in the rally. In a related case, the Serdang MIC lodged a police report urging the Home Ministry to act against the organisers of the Bersih 2.0 rally as well as against Perkasa and the Umno youth. Its division chairman N. Rawi­sandran, who lodged the police report with the Kajang police yesterday, said every effort must be taken to prevent any untoward incident. In JOHOR BARU, police thwarted an attempt by members of the Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) to hold an illegal gathering and distribute flyers on the upcoming Bersih 2.0 rally in Kangkar Pulai. And, in shah alam, police confirmed that a man distributing leaflets at Shah Alam Uptown, identified as Khairul Anuar, was arrested.

Police thwart Bersih’s first roadshow Posted: 24 Jun 2011 12:45 PM PDT   By Boo Su-Lyn, The Malaysian Insider SHAH ALAM, June 25 — A Bersih 2.0 roadshow was cancelled last night after police mounted roadblocks here and arrested PKR Youth deputy chief Khairul Annuar at the electoral reform gathering here. Khairul, who wore a yellow Bersih T-shirt, was handcuffed when he approached an empty stage at Uptown in Section 24 here that was barricaded with police tape. Former Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, who was the scheduled speaker at the event, did not turn up while no one else could be seen wearing Bersih T-shirts. Several businessmen at the Uptown market told The Malaysian Insider that their customers were not allowed in by police at the roadblock, which was located at the turn-off leading to Section 24. "The businessmen are unhappy. We should have been operating since 8pm, but no one is coming in," said Firdaus Zakaria last night, who sells men's wallets, bags and belts. "There are usually a lot of customers on Friday and Saturday nights," added the 28-year-old businessman, as other stall owners echoed his remarks. Acting Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh said earlier yesterday that authorities were planning to derail the July 9 Bersih rally and its two counter-protests scheduled for the same day. Election watchdog Bersih 2.0 is planning a massive rally on the day in Kuala Lumpur to push for electoral reforms, with PAS aiming to galvanise all one million of its members to take part in the assembly. Umno Youth and right-wing group Perkasa have also promised to carry out separate rallies to rival Bersih's. READ MORE HERE

Malaysia No. 2 in Asia-Pacific for cargo theft Posted: 24 Jun 2011 12:42 PM PDT By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — Cargo theft in Malaysia is now the second highest in the Asia-Pacific by value and looks to increase as more cargo from Singapore, the world's busiest port, is routed overland through the Malay peninsula, the New York Times has reported. The US daily, quoting figures compiled by the Transported Asset Protection Association, said more than US$22.7 million (RM68.9 million) worth of goods was reported stolen from Malaysian ports, airports, warehouses and trucks from 2007 to 2010. Only Hong Kong reported higher losses, but the refusal of Malaysian police to share data with the association and the reluctance of companies to report losses that could impact insurance premiums mean that the total value of goods stolen here is likely higher. While transporting goods through Asia-Pacific countries is generally safer than other parts of the world like the Americas, Africa and Europe, "there's little question that cargo theft and supply chain risk have increased throughout Asia", the New York Times quoted FreightWatch International as saying. "Malaysia, which lies along a number of important trading routes, is a particular concern," the paper added. "The country is increasingly becoming a key thoroughfare, as more companies ship their goods to and from neighbouring Singapore... which is connected to much of the rest of Southeast Asia by road through Malaysia." FreightWatch International singled out Malaysia and the Philippines as countries in Asia that report frequent occurrences of in-transit cargo hijackings with violence or the threat of violence. Weapons used to hold up trucks include guns and knives.   READ MORE HERE.

Bar Council says ‘shocked’ with sex video screening in court Posted: 24 Jun 2011 12:39 PM PDT By Syed Mu'az Syed Putra, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 — The magistrate's court should not have screened the sex video allegedly featuring Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday because the "Datuk T" trio had already pleaded guilty to the crime, says the Bar Council. Bar Council president Lim Chee Wee described that the court's decision in allowing the video to be shown as "shocking" and "extraordinary." He stressed that there was no reason to do since those accused of screening the video had readily admitted to the crime. "There is no need to because they have already pleaded guilty; I am surprised why the sex video was shown in court. "This is an extraordinary procedure, I am shocked as to why it happened... if a person has already pleaded guilty there is no need to (reveal the evidence)," Lim told The Malaysian Insider. The lawyer said the court's action was inconsistent with standard procedures in such cases, where evidence is only revealed during the course of a full trial and when the accused maintains his or her innocence. Former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik, businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and former Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim, all of whom make up the "Datuk T" trio, were fined yesterday for their involvement in the screening of the sex video at Carcosa Seri Negara Hotel here on March 21.   READ MORE HERE.

Muslim body urges leaders, royalty to condemn death threats Posted: 24 Jun 2011 11:35 AM PDT (Harakah Daily) - KUALA LUMPUR, Jun 25: A body representing Muslim professionals in the country has expressed outrage over the death threats on leaders of electoral reform group Bersih, and calling on both political leaders and royalties to condemn such an act. "The silence of the national leaders in the face of this racist and deplorable death threat is  also cause for concern. All Malaysians who love this country must unequivocally condemn this dastardly and cowardly act of extreme provocation," said a statement by Muslim Professionals Forum. "The royal houses whose existence depends on continued peace in Malaysia must also be in unison in unreservedly condemning this vicious threat to the very fabric of  our pluralistic society," it added, responding to racist remarks and death threats targeted at Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan by parties opposed to the July 9 rally in Kuala Lumpur. The statement, signed by MPF chariman Dr Mazeni Alwi among others, reminded that while rhetorics were part of democracy, it did not however mean one could resort to violence "Regardless of one's feelings about the correctness or otherwise of the planned gathering on 9 July 2011, nobody other than the insane or racial supremacist will be in agreement with the obnoxious wave of highly coordinated text messages aimed at  Dato' Ambiga and her like minded colleagues," it said. GETTING PERSONAL ... Two middleaged supporters of Perkasa showing leaflets condemning Ambiga [pic courtesy of The Malaysian Insider] UMNO's sister organisation Perkasa had earlier said it would gather its supporters on July 9 hoping to clash with the Bersih rally, which in 2007 attracted more than 50,000 people in the city. Calling Ambiga a "dangerous Hindu woman", Perkasa leaders backed by pro-UMNO members of parliament also raised the spectre of a racial riot should organisers press on with the rally. This was followed later by a lengthy and racially-toned message to Ambiga's phone, threatening to kill her. 'Dereliction of duty' Calling on the authorities to act, MPF warned that any failure to apprehend those behind the threats "will be dereliction of duty of the highest order" and would render the '1Malaysia' slogan meaningless. "Unless genuine political will deals firmly with such racial supremacist provocations, the slogan 1Malaysia will paradoxically be long  remembered as an era of 'heightened racial tension' and 'intense religious conflict'," it stressed. Earlier, several other Muslim scholars and groups have condemned Perkasa over its racist comments, and said the Bersih rally had noble aims in line with Islam.   READ MORE HERE.

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• The saga of economic (s)hitman 2
• Pakai T-shirt Bersih ditangkap - KDN belilah mesin pengimbas, periksa seluar dalam sekali
• Funny Business in Hong Kong

The saga of economic (s)hitman 2 Posted: 24 Jun 2011 04:41 PM PDT How can you demonstrate against something that has not taken place and yet the Malaysian police gave him a permit? We have been watching too many ghost stories including our men and women in blue! My friends were gawking at the photos of the beauties displaying cardboards condemning Ambiga. And my friend Jali who is a permanent fixture at Cengkih restaurant in Taman Tun says he wants to get to know the photogenic beauties cornered by Ibrahim Ali. He reckons if Ibrahim Ali can get these girls to demo, he has a chance to score. This Ibrahim Ali is a tireless operator. He went through a heart bypass a few months ago. Today he is up and about directing street demos. He hasn't lost it since the ITM days. Perhaps he has received a blood transfusion with super-budu formulations. He hasn't lost his flair of mobilizing crowds to any cause he chose- laughable or not. On a serious note, the stand taken by our police is puzzling. It's not consistent at all. Demonstrations carried out by organizations supporting the government were and are often given permission. Condoleezza Rice visited Malaysia the last time, was given a loud reception by the UMNO ketua Pemuda. Demonstrations in support of anti-Israel and pro Palestine causes are easily allowed. Other organizers not supporting the government get arrested. Either you give everyone permission or you don't give at all. If demonstrations are not allowed, and the law also works retrospectively arrest all those involved a few days ago, who protested aggressively against Bersih and Ambiga. Otherwise, give permission for all to hold demonstrations in big stadiums. Then we term that as guided demonstrasi. READ MORE HERE

Pakai T-shirt Bersih ditangkap - KDN belilah mesin pengimbas, periksa seluar dalam sekali Posted: 24 Jun 2011 04:24 PM PDT Ini merupakan satu tindakan yang agak keterlaluan dan ini membuatkan orang ramai merasakan tidak lagi merasakan hidup secara bebas yang lazim diamalkan oleh rakyat negara yang bebas dan demokratik. Jika tekanan terhadap rakyat dilakukan sampai sedemikian rupa ini menunjukan secara terang yang pihak yang sedang memegang kuasa itu sudah tidak berkeyakinan lagi akan diberi mandat oleh yang yang memilih. Takkan lah dengan memakai baju T Bersih sudah menjadi kesalahan. Kenapa hendak menekan sampai ketahap ini. Rakyat akan merasakan kebencian terhadap kita dengan lebih teruk lagi dan kita juga yang akan menerima kesannya. Kita boleh melakukan apa-apa tindakan yang munasabah untuk mempertahankan apa yang kita dapat dari rakyat, tetapi jika kita terpaksa menekan sebegini rupa semata-mata untuk mengekang desakan rakyat ini sudah melampaui batas yang bermoral. Kita hendakan kesinambungan sokongan rakyat, tetapi jika rakyat benar-benar tidak lagi mahu memberikan mandate kepada kita, ia tidak bermakna kita ada kuasa secara moral dan undang-undang menekan manusia sehingga kepada pakaian yang kita pakai. Kita telah mendesak rakyat supaya tidak menyokong rally yang bakal di adakan pada 9hb Julai nanti. Kita tidak mengeluarkan permit untuk penganjuran itu. DAN sekarang mereka dicegah memakai baju T Bersih itu merupakan satu tindakan yang 'autocratic' yang tidak ada batasnya. Jika kita hendak menjadikan pakaian yang bersimbulkan gerakan rakyat dan parti-parti politik maka kita juga mesti melakukan larangan terhadap mereka yang memakai baju UMNO, PKR, PAS, DAP, MCA dan mana-mana parti politik dan pertubuhan NGO yang lain. Presiden Marcos merupakan seorang dictator tetapi dalam pemerintahannya masih ada dua tiga saluran TV yang terang-terang menentang kerajaan. Saluran itu terus beroperasi dan Marcos dictator itu tidak pula menangkap dan menahan mereka yang mengendalikan saluran TV itu. Jadi kita boleh bertanya kepada diri kita sekarang ini. Jika diktator Marcos boleh membiarkan saluran TV beroperasi dengan agak bebas, apa pula hendak kita katakan terhadap pemimpin kita yang begitu takut dan marah untuk mendengar rungutan rakyat? Bukankah ianya lebih teruk dari pemerintahan dictator? READ MORE HERE

Funny Business in Hong Kong Posted: 24 Jun 2011 11:31 AM PDT We can also demonstrate how a number of Taib-linked companies are now owned or being managed out of the BVI by one of the Philippine's top bankers Franciso C Sebastian, who started his career as a Financial Advisor in Hong Kong.  We suggest that investigations in Hong Kong hold the key to tracing the early development of Taib's international web of global investments as the profits from felling Sarawak's rainforests escaped abroad. The Shea Kin Kwok connection The first job that needs doing is to interview Mr Shea Kin Kwok.  Shea was long regarded as a mysterious businessman with several links to Taib family companies.  However, Sarawak Report has now confirmed that he was in fact the paid secretary to Taib's brother Onn Mahmud.  His job was to manage Achi Jaya company affairs out of Hong Kong, in particular to control the Achi Jaya linked companies into which payments were being made.     The Hong Kong Company Register shows a number of companies, including Regent Star listed under the ownership of Shea Kin Kwok and a fellow employee Kho Eng Beng This activity became public in April 2007, when the shipping kickbacks scandal broke after the Japanese tax authorities prosecuted timber exporters for not declaring millions of dollars paid to Regent Star Company Ltd, which was one of the companies directed by Shea Kin Kwok out of his office in Connaught Road.  The Japanese timber exporters explained they had been forced to pay the kickbacks to Regent Star in order to get their shipping licences.     READ MORE HERE.

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• The 2-Party Political System Re-Visited
• Why Is The Bersih Rally Pronounced 'Illegal'?
• KDM membership in Umno a moral surrender

The 2-Party Political System Re-Visited Posted: 24 Jun 2011 06:02 PM PDT By batsman  Many activists, bloggers and commenters believe very strongly that it is sufficient to have a 2-party political system as the target or objectives of the reform movement. Bersih 2.0's struggle proves beyond the shadow of the doubt that this is still insufficient. UMNO knows this is insufficient. This is one of the reasons why UMNO is fighting with might and main as well as with dirty tricks to prevent Bersih 2.0 from getting a serious hearing. If Malaysians and Malaysian public opinion start to think that Bersih has a case, UMNO knows there is a very high likelihood that it will lose everything. This is why it will use dirty tricks and everything in its arsenal of legal and illegal tricks as well as it's cronies in the public service, religious institutions, NGOs and GLCs to prevent Bersih 2.0 from getting a serious hearing.  Why do I say this? Let me explain by using a very simple everyday example. Take a football match. Each side represents the 2-party political system. If this is all it takes then there is no need for a referee. Unfortunately football is no longer football without a referee.  Some people say that it is sufficient to have the voters as the referee. This is like saying the registered adult spectators of the football match can become the referee. At the end of the match, they can take a vote on which side won the match. This is as ridiculous as a football match without a referee. In all likelihood, even the end of the match will be in dispute and no one is sure when the match ended.  The only equivalent of a referee in terms of the 2-party political system is just, fair and uncorrupted laws and professionals who are neutral and without any bias who carry out such a set of just and fair laws honestly and with integrity. Spectators cannot be the referee unless they are football professionals or retired professionals. Most of them have not been adequately trained on the rules of the game and have no experience in being referees. Only an adequately trained and competent professional who has no interest in the outcome of the game is properly equipped for the job of being the referee.  If the referee has an interest in the outcome of the match, he is said to be biased. There are many ways to create this bias in a referee. One of the ways is with money, status and position. So those people with money, status and position are in a position to influence the referee. In the west, this is what happens in their 2-party political systems. The law, the media and public opinion is heavily biased towards those who have money, property and position.  The other way to influence a referee is to influence his values. If a referee can be turned into a racist, then in any match where one side comprise mainly black players and the other side is mainly white (say), the racist tendencies of the referee will ultimately manifest itself in the way he referees the game and calls his decisions.  In Malaysia both money and racism have corrupted our democratic institutions. This makes a 2-party system unworkable in the interests of democracy and in the long term interests of the country and the people. It has to be repaired and reformed to make sure it function properly to ensure the utmost freedom, fairness and democracy for as many Malaysians as possible.  Bersih 2.0 believes very strongly that the electoral system in Malaysia is broken and unable to function with honesty and integrity anymore. It has called for reforms. This is all it is asking for – the repair of a corrupted and dysfunctional electoral system and its institutions. It deserves a chance, don't you think?

Why Is The Bersih Rally Pronounced 'Illegal'? Posted: 24 Jun 2011 03:20 PM PDT By democracy4now The mainstream press and the ruling politicians are sticking to the description of the Bersih march as `illegal' - but why `illegal'? This question is very important as it may be where rationality/argument/public choice-based democracy depart from arbitrary/capricious/discretionary/haphazard dictatorial rule! So let us examine the likely `reasons' for making the Bersih `illegal'! Does it affect the traffic? Many official functions involved closing of roads eg National Day procession. Traffics are diverted in pre-announced orderly way. There are some inconveniences-but few people will complain about it beyond a short period. So why can't the police re-direct traffic for Bersih march? It will reduce business of the shops along the way? Affected they will be -some positively as there are more people dropping their cafe, restaurants, convenient shops etc. Surely some few shops may lose some business-just like what a rain may have caused. This may not be a really likely reason-of all reasons! Then you have the `threat to national security' excuse which had been invoked often enough. Does it mean that there will be weapons used by the marchers? Does it mean that there are marchers who have proven tendency to use violence? The first Bersih march in 2007 disproved these suspicions. De-facto Minister Nazri's reported remark that there is no `peaceful' gathering in the Malaysian laws speak for itself. If we go by that interpretation surely all government gatherings should also be stopped-including the National Day procession! A derivative of that reason is: the official functions have police permit. But this is a circular argument-which does not excuse the giver of `permit' viz the police, from giving the reasons why a gathering is considered `illegal' while others are `legal'. When a police said that a gathering is `illegal' simply on account of lacking a police permit, it just means that the police had not provided the reason why they don't approve the permit for the gathering. If they had a good reason they should come out with it to sound more credible and convincing! In addition there is also another smart sounding argument: demonstrations scare away foreign investors! The facts are: without so many demonstrations foreign investors are leaving Malaysia to other countries! Another fact: foreign investors come from democracies where peaceful protests are daily occurrences and they are going to other countries where there are also common occurrences of peaceful demonstrations! Freedom seems to attract FDI-not lack of it! Obviously some of those chambers of commerce people who regurgitate such arguments against public assembly are from the ruling parties who feel pressured by the issues brought up by the protestors! Then the un-tendered reasons: is it because it is organised by the civil society and not endorsed by the ruling party? Apart from being discriminatory on political ground this excuse basically disrobe all the `reasons' above as mere naked excuses to suppress the citizens' rights to hold a gathering! The related reason that Opposition parties will be involved fall under the same excuse as there is no laws saying that Opposition parties cannot hang around a gathering organised by themselves or others. When the police hide behind their discretionary power to deny the public any credible reasons for them to exercise their power they actually degrade their credibility and professionalism because they open themselves to suspicion of pushing political agenda on behalf of the political bosses! If Bersih is disapproved simply on political ground then the people are entitled to march without regards as their right to march is then similar to their right to vote freely. It is the people's rights to make their political choice freely-even though they may suffer the violence from the politicians who abuse their power over the police to get the police to attack their political challengers/opponents. The planned attacks on the marchers certainly is an abuse because the police will not be addressing violence from the people -who are peaceful, but create violence under the order of the ruling politicians! From the keeper of law and order the police would have been mis-directed to become a political lap-dog of the ruling politicians! The PDRM are also part of the civil/public servants. As such they should act to serve the people-not the ruling politicians especially not as their political attack dogs. The voters didn't vote them to act this way. The ruling parties lack a legitimate basis to abuse the police who are also paid for by tax payers from all political persuasions. Only dictatorial regimes abuse the state security apparatus to attack its people and to protect not the national security but the security of the regime! Compare to if you hire a security guard: if the guard start to beat you up for failing to heed his orders to you would you still want the security guards or their supervisor? While the ruling party could be used to assuming the role of the `supervisor' of the security guards of the nation their abuse is not something the people are ready to put up for too long! At the end of the day the people do want the police to exercise their power on a rational transparent way. They should act on clearly spelt-out, non-discriminatory set of rules that are free of political manipulations. This is the kind of police force a democratic country would provide. Based on the performance of the police so far it is sad to say that we have a`regime protecting' police force than a people protecting security force. Their lack of transparency on their refusal to protect peacefully assembled citizens lose them respect. They deserved to be fired at the nearest opportune time-which could be when a more people friendly party take over from the dictatorial regime now!

KDM membership in Umno a moral surrender Posted: 24 Jun 2011 12:24 PM PDT   By Daniel John Jambun Datuk John Ambrose, the Umno head for Penampang, has claimed that the Umno KDM task force has been in existence from the very beginning of Umno in Sabah, initially led by Tan Sri Kasitah Gadam and Datuk John Ghani, and yet the state Sabah BN Youth Treasurer, Bahrul Razha Chuprat does not recognize it, hence insisting that the movement be endorsed by the coming Umno general assembly, saying "We, the youth leaders, need to know whether this KDM task force has been given the blessing by party President Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak. And whether only a certain group of party leaders or all leaders can use it." Wait, who is supposed to endorse this, the Umno assembly or the umno president? Already, there is confusion about the matter in the state BN. Interestingly, John Ambrose, trying to justify his  membership in Umno, had implied that KDMs who are in Umno should no longer be seen as traitors to the KDM community.  And so now there is suddenly a new interest to revive the Umno Sabah KDM task force to garner more support from the KDM people. As a move in this direction Umno gave away a token gift of RM50,000 to poor students in nine schools in Papar last month, with the nice rationale from the task force's Treasurer Datuk Peter Anthony that "There is nothing wrong in wanting to help those in need" – yes, especially if you have an axe to grind (LOL)! But then, is this money for poor students taken from the government's (the people's) coffer, from the Umno bank account, or from the private sector? If it is from the government why is it not distributed by the Papar's YBs under the state or federal budget, and why is this being doled out by Umno for Umno's campaign purpose? Has Umno the right to use the people's money for its own campaign? If it is from the private sector the Department of Inland Revenue should look into the account of this Santa Claus. I cannot help smelling a rat in the whole thing. This sudden generousity by Umno through the KDM task force has raised several very important questions. Why this move to revive the task force suddenly after ruling Sabah for 17 years? Is Umno abandoning the BN spirit in Sabah, and now thinks that the KDM-based parties (PBS, Upko and PBRS) are no longer necessary for BN? Is Umno saying that these parties have failed to get the support of the KDMs for the BN, and now Umno is stepping in to get these KDMs to come into BN through Umno instead? Is Umno preparing to rule the state all by itself after getting the KDM support, and by that time it can say to PBS, Upko and PBRS that "Now, you can leave BN if you want!"? It looks like it. Umno has become so arrogant that it thinks it can rule the state all by itself soon, as indicated by its moves to ask for KDM and Chinese seats to be given to it in the next general election. Even Datuk Marcus Mojigoh had said, "Go ahead, take my seat!" and Tan Sri Joseph Kurup had threatened to reevaluate its position in BN if Umno insists on taking his sole and precious Pensiangan seat. Does this mean Umno is trying to pinch away support from the KDM-based parties? But Umno itself had started whining recently accusing "other BN components" of pinching away its members! So is Umno saying it is alright for it to do this kind of thing to its fellow BN components but won't stand for it if the other components do the same to Umno? There is a name for that kind of attitude – hypocrisy! Another issue to the whole thing is the matter of morale for the KDM community. Let's not forget what Umno does at every Umno general assembly. The number one emphasis is always for the future of the Malays – Malay this and Malay that – Malay future, Malay special rights, Malay privileges, Malay shares, Malay rulers, and of course, Malay superiority and supremacy. How does a KDM Umno member feel in the middle of those shouting and holding up of the kris during the general assemblies every year? Even just by watching the whole thing on TV, there is a whole lot of alienation and blatant discrimination against non-Malay members from Sabah in the whole tone of the assemblies. I can never forget the time Datuk John Ghani speaking with high spirit in one of the assemblies in his Kadazan costume because it was to incongruent and against the spirit of the KDMs. Datuk John, thankfully, has since withdrawn from the whole charade. At one time Datuk Seri Chua Soi Lek left the assembly hall saying, the whole thing did hurt his feelings. So far no KDM Umno leader had ever said anything about how they felt. I bet many are not happy, even ashamed of their own political struggle in Umno, but they are too cowardly to say it. Some may even try to psycho themselves into thinking that they are Malays. But we all know that the rationale of it all, even when using the "rumpun Melayu" rhetoric, KDMs are still KDMs, and Umno is still a Malay party from the Peninsular. Before independence there were no Malays in Sabah. Let's us not forget that Umno was established for the cause of the Malay history and struggle, with the unending shout of "Hidup Melayu!" and "Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia!" At one time many people suggested that Umno be change to United Malaysia National Organisation but it was rejected outright by those who believe that, do or die, Umno must remain as a Malay vehicle forever. It is only inSabah that Umno has compromised on the terms of its membership by allowing non-Malays to become members (including Chinese!) all for political expedience. But the moment they step off the plane inKuala Lumpur, they become anomalies among the Malays, and seen only as political instruments (or traitors) for the conquest of the stubborn Land Below the Wind. We can see that now, because of our own weaknesses, we are splintered into so many political parties. Our own leaders who were too corrupt and easily swayed could not even unite us under own political umbrellas. The Huguan Siou has been a failure and is no longer fighting for our future. If only he had focused solely on uniting the KDM and not got himself embroiled in politics by leading another KDM party, our fate would have a lot different.   Is it too late for a revival of a true Huguan Siou leadership? Maybe, maybe not, but PBS is too much in a dilemma today to do what is right, which is to sever its ties with Umno/BN once again and start a new revolution. This is all despite the fact that it was Umno who robbed power from PBS and thereafter caused so many of our problems in Sabah. It implemented the infamous Projek IC and caused a drastic increased our population within a few years, and worse, it made Sabah the poorest state in Malaysia. Whatever the KDMs' excuse for being in Umno, we know very well that the arrangement will always lead to self-destruction for the community in the end. Many reason that "We need to move forward," but joining Umno is a moral defeat and surrender for us. History has proven it, but we never seem to learn anything from the hard and painful lessons.

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