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Is M’sia ready to legalise drugs? Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:48 PM PST Addiction experts say incarcerating drug addicts is not having the desired effect and countries embracing harm reduction approaches are seeing better results. The Portugal case has been repeatedly referred to and touted as a resounding success, with impressive results. It has reduced addiction, HIV infections, drug-related crimes and drug-related deaths; and more addicts are seeking treatment. It has also freed Portugal police to concentrate on big-time dealers. Teoh El Sen, Free Malaysia Today Malaysia has been urged to consider the decriminalisation of drugs as a new policy to better deal with the country's perennial drug problem. Several experts voiced support for this radical view and said more countries around the world are beginning to accept that drug addiction is a disease which can be treated. Many countries have found that treating drug addiction as a criminal issue has failed, and are considering addressing problem as a health and social issue. "Decriminalising" means that a person possessing small amounts of drugs for personal use does not constitute a crime. Drug trafficking is still considered a serious crime. Internationally, policymakers and experts have taken note of Portugal, which in 2001 decriminalised all drugs including cocaine and heroine. Those found with 10 days worth of drugs would not be arrested, but sent to a Dissuasion Commission which assesses the person's needs and tailors an optional programme for them. The Portugal case has been repeatedly referred to and touted as a resounding success, with impressive results. It has reduced addiction, HIV infections, drug-related crimes and drug-related deaths; and more addicts are seeking treatment. It has also freed Portugal police to concentrate on big-time dealers. Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) president Zaman Khan said he fully supports the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use in this country too. "Possession of drugs in small amounts should not be treated as a crime. Rather, the addict should be regarded as a patient needing rehabilitation," said Zaman, a former federal CID director and Prisons Department director-general. "I'm not supporting the taking drugs for fun, and I'm not saying go ahead and smoke your drugs," he added. Change in perception However, public acceptance was important, and a crucial a paradigm shift in perception must occur for the anything to work, said Zaman. "I think we are ready. But our people are not making a cry for it yet. You can't expect politicians to go for this without the support of the community. "I believe the government is already looking into this possibility, and are just waiting for us to voice up," said Zaman, who said discussions and debates on this topic were needed. Zaman said top leaders in the country, including Bukit Aman narcotics director Noor Rashid Ibrahim, are beginning to see that criminalising drug addiction was erroneous. Years of experience in the police force and prisons taught Zaman that the old ways of arresting addicts and forcing them to kick the habit have not been successful. "Caning is no solution either. It just drives them deeper underground. And if police are free from catching small-time addicts, you can pay attention to the big-time traffickers,' he said. Prisons are no help as there is access to drugs there and Zaman was quick to admit that. "I would be the last person to deny that drugs never came into prisons. Prison walls are pervious and the drugs somehow came in despite all my efforts to change things." For years, medical professionals and addiction therapists have been advocating the use of drug substitution therapy or medical assisted therapy, which Zaman said has proven to effective worldwide. Zaman said that needle exchange programmes, which was introduced in 2006, was vital in bringing down HIV/AIDS cases in Malaysia. Zaman found it puzzling that on one hand, the government supports medical assisted therapy and needle exchange; but on the other, still regard drug addiction as an offence. "That's a problem. Because addicts who want to get better would not come forward when the an arrest is just waiting outside these clinics and centres," he said. READ MORE HERE

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• Bersih: Assembly law changes another Najib ‘flip-flop’
• Najib tells Umno to close ranks, prepare for ‘war’
• Malaysia to amend contested protest law
• Bar Council plumbs for Parliament panel to review peaceful assembly bill
• PKR vows to field ‘principled’ candidates
• Johor an uphill task, says PKR chief
• PKR insists can trounce BN in Johor
• Dr M’s selfish plea for the Umno upper class
• Peaceful Assembly Bill may affect ceramahs
• Entri’s sacking: S’wak BN leaders concerned

Bersih: Assembly law changes another Najib ‘flip-flop’ Posted: 25 Nov 2011 10:20 PM PST By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — Bersih leaders have criticised the Najib administration for not putting enough thought into the Peaceful Assembly Bill after the government said it will amend several sections in the proposed law following opposition from civil rights groups.  Calling it yet another "flip-flop" by the prime minister, Bersih deputy chairman Maria Chin Abdullah said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should not have disregarded the wishes of the people before tabling the Bill earlier this week.  "He does this all the time. First, he says yes, yes, yes, and then after that (no, no, no)," she told The Malaysian Insider.  Maria lamented that that Najib had fallen short of his Malaysia Day pledge to allow greater freedoms, pointing out that the prime minister had similarly reneged on his promise to stop using the Internal Security Act (ISA).  "We are actually in the process of seeing the ISA taken out... and then suddenly, they arrest 11 persons under ISA.  "What on earth is going on? I think if he continues in the manner... there will be some strong reaction (from the people)," she said.  Bersih steering committee member Wong Chin Huat said the government should scrap the "fundamentally flawed" Bill altogether rather than try to amend portions of it.  He likened the Peaceful Assembly Bill to milk powder lace with heavy metals and said it was unacceptable for Putrajaya to merely attempt to reduce the level of contamination.  "No, that won't work. You have to throw it away... It's so shameful that Najib should rethink the whole thing," he said.  The government need only amend the Police Act to allow freedom of assembly, Wong said, adding that if the authorities wished to implement other changes, the consultation process would have to start anew.  Putrajaya has agreed to amend seven sections in the Peaceful Assembly Bill following nationwide protests criticising it as more repressive than current laws.    READ MORE HERE.

Najib tells Umno to close ranks, prepare for ‘war’ Posted: 25 Nov 2011 10:19 PM PST By Yow Hong Chieh, The Malaysian Insider Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak has called on his party to close ranks and prepare to go to polls ahead of next week's Umno general assembly, widely expected to be the last before the next general election. In an interview with Bernama today, Najib, who is also prime minister, said Umno must focus all its efforts on improving training, knowledge, logistics and the mindset of members to strengthen the party and ensure electoral victory. "We should be prepared in a holistic and comprehensive manner, either in terms of training, knowledge, logistics or in terms of our mindset, our frame of mind, to focus on efforts which could strengthen our party, and to avoid engaging in acts that could weaken the party. "So it is incumbent that our approach must be able to create a strong front, we must close our ranks and we must show the kind of strength that will strike fear among our opponents," he said, according to the full transcript of the interview on Bernama Online. Likening the election to war, Najib said Umno must bolster its strategy, logistics and equipment well before even the first shot is fired. He added that "fundamental values" like loyalty and allegiance, discipline, commitment and teamwork are also qualities that are needed to be fostered in the party ahead of elections. "All these are fundamental values which we must internalise and which we must not compromise. Otherwise, our party will stand to lose in certain areas," he said. Umno needs to have mental strength and fortitude if it wishes to endure the psychological and emotional stress when competing in enemy territory, Najib also said. "If we are mentally resilient and our spirit is strong, we shall overcome... even if the playing field is not level, like in Jakarta," he said, drawing an analogy with the Malaysian football team's SEA Games success in Indonesia. Najib desperately needs to win a two-thirds parliamentary majority in the next election to secure his mandate. His government has moved aggressively into the opposition's Middle Malaysia fortress in recent months, armed with promises of greater freedoms and civil liberties. To date, the prime minister has repealed three Emergency declarations, pledged to abolish the Internal Security Act (ISA), tabled the Peaceful Assembly Bill, set up the parliamentary select committee on electoral reform and given more leeway to university students to participate in politics.   READ MORE HERE.

Malaysia to amend contested protest law Posted: 25 Nov 2011 08:35 PM PST (AFP) - Malaysia will amend a new law banning street demonstrations, a report said, amid further protests on Saturday by critics who say the bill clamps down on their right to peaceful assembly. Prime Minister Najib Razak has announced a slew of reforms aimed at expanding civil liberties to shore up support ahead of snap elections widely expected to be called next year. But one of his initiatives, the Peaceful Assembly Bill, has come under intense fire for what critics say restricts the right to peaceful protest rather than safeguards it. The Star daily quoted de facto law minister Nazri Aziz on Saturday as saying the Cabinet had agreed to amend several sections of the bill despite Mr Najib defending the law after tabling it in parliament this week.

Bar Council plumbs for Parliament panel to review peaceful assembly bill Posted: 25 Nov 2011 08:28 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - Bar Council chief Lim Chee Wee is pushing Putrajaya to refer the controversial Peaceful Assembly Bill to a parliamentary select committee (PSC) for review instead of making a further mess of the proposed law. In an email statement to The Malaysian Insider today, Lim noted the government's decision to amend seven provisions in the proposed law was "mildly positive" but stressed it was not responding to the real problem. "It is being rushed with unholy haste into law without adequate public consultation," the lawyer said. He noted that much of the government's amendments to the proposed law remained unknown, except for the plan to shorten the advanced notice to the police for a "static assembly" to be held, from 30 days to 10. Lim pointed out there were many other "objectionable" provisions in the proposed law that also bans street demonstrations, or as he called it "assemblies in motion". In comparison, he said in the UK, no notice is required for static assemblies, while "assemblies in motion" only needed a six-day advanced notice. In Finland, organisers only needed to give notice six hours ahead of the planned assembly. "This is outrageous," Lim said, and cited a famous English judge, Lord Alfred Denning, who had said that "freedom of assembly is a hard-earned freedom not to be taken for granted". He added that history is full of warnings against suppression of such rights and reminded the Barisan Nasional government of Umno's 15,000-strong march against the colonialist government's Malayan Union idea, which disregarded the Malay interest. READ MORE HERE

PKR vows to field ‘principled’ candidates Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:23 PM PST Party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail promises that candidates for the coming polls will be committed to PKR's struggle and not be lured by money. (Free Malaysia Today) - PKR, which witnessed several of its elected representatives abandoning ship in the aftermath of the 2008 general election, vowed not to repeat the mistake. Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, party president and wife of opposition supremo Anwar Ibrahim, said PKR would not pick "suspicious" candidates for the coming polls. "We (PKR's top leadership) guarantee that we will consult the divisions and grassroots in choosing the candidates. "The candidates should be those who are qualified, hold true to the principles of the struggle and will not be tempted by the millions of ringgit from the enemy (to defect)," she added. Speaking to more than 2,000 people while opening PKR's eighth national congress in Johor, Wan Azizah stressed that the party would not compromise with the enemies within. She said the party leadership received feedback on some of its elected representatives who were ill qualified and performed poorly either in Parliament or state assemblies. Those who neglected the plight of the "rakyat" would also face the stick, she said. Blessing in disguise She however said it was a blessing in disguise that the party had discovered traitors (PKR elected representatives who had left the party to become independents) early. "They have now become the tools of corruption," she said. READ MORE HERE

Johor an uphill task, says PKR chief Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:11 PM PST (The Star) - PKR has acknowledged that it will be an uphill task to capture Johor, the birth place of Umno. PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail said the party had to be realistic about its chances. Speaking at the party's national congress here, she said, however, the party was not short of candidates to field in the general election and gave the assurance that only those committed to the party would be fielded. PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said he was optimistic that the party has more support from the people than five years ago.

PKR insists can trounce BN in Johor Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:05 PM PST (The Malaysian Insider) - PKR reaffirmed its confidence today in toppling Barisan Nasional (BN) in its Johor bastion, claiming the current sentiment on the ground is similar to Perak and Selangor prior to Election 2008. Saifuddin is confident PKR can take Johor in the next polls. Its secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said in his welcoming address at the party's national congress here that "the signal is clear, whether explicit or implicit, Johor is the state that we will take." "The signal we get is the same as in Perak and Selangor before. We have planned 20 ceramahs each night and the reception... we never got this five years ago," the Machang MP told a press conference later. He told delegates at what is likely to be the party's last national meet before polls expected early next year that PKR has also previously held its national meet in Kedah, Penang, Selangor and Perak before Election 2008. Pakatan Rakyat (PR) grabbed all four states as well as Kelantan in the March 2008 polls and also denied BN its customary two-thirds majority in Parliament. The Malaysian Insider reported that Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman summoned district officers on Thursday morning to brief them on "limiting the impact" of PKR's ceramahs. "MB is taking PKR's presence this weekend seriously," a source said, noting that this was on top of Abdul Ghani's already hectic pre-election schedule that sees him pounding the pavement at least four days a week in "hot seats" across the state. Despite this, the party has refused to be drawn into talk of a mentri besar candidate. Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also told reporters today that PR "won't talk about MB candidate" but would work together to capture the state first. Johor was mostly unaffected from the March 2008 "tsunami" that swept 82 PR lawmakers into Parliament. PR won just one federal and six state seats out of 26 and 56 respectively on offer in Johor in 2008 and none of the winners were from PKR.

Dr M’s selfish plea for the Umno upper class Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:38 PM PST By Joe Fernandez, FMT Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 86, appeared on national television Wednesday night on a TV3 programme to flog the age-old line that has so far benefited only a mere handful of "Malays" at the expense of the community itself and the nation. Oblivious to continuing criticism of his "Malay Dilemma" approach, Mahathir reiterated that "the Malay struggle" – whatever it means – was still not over. He argued that the community still needed to be protected by the government until they "duduk sama rendah, berdiri sama tinggi dengan kaum kaum lain". He made no mention, during his selfish plea, of the large numbers of natives of Sabah and Sarawak and the Orang Asli who lie at the bottom of the heap. This kind of skewered political thinking fails to take into account the stark reality that it was the distortions and deviations in the implementation of key legislation and government policy that did and continues to do the Malays in. Besides, it has created a situation where as many Malays as non-Malays continue to flee the country in record numbers to escape the mediocrity culture that has gripped the country. Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, and by extension the New Economic Policy (1979-1990), lie at the heart of the so-called Malay Dilemma. The Federal Constitution, it must be stressed, does not state that the Malays are the natives or original people of Peninsular Malaysia. Nevertheless, Article 153 promises a special position – not special privileges as often claimed by Umno – for the Malays, along with the natives of Sabah and Sarawak and the Orang Asli of Peninsular Malaysia. The special position reserves, for the aforesaid communities, a reasonable proportion of opportunities in four areas viz. intake into the civil service; intake into government-owned institutions of learning and training privileges; government scholarships; and opportunities from the government to do business. Article 153 is not a "sapu bersih" (clean sweep) provision in the Federal Constitution. It recognizes, at the same time, the legitimate aspirations of the non-Malay communities i.e. meaning those other than Orang Asli and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak. The bottomline line is that except for a handful of Malays from the ruling elite, the vast majority of Malays like other Malaysians are being denied the fruits of Article 153. Ali Baba syndrome Likewise, the NEP which is an extension of the fourth special position in Article 153, has been an abysmal failure in the wake of the Ali Baba syndrome and successive kleptocratic chief executives heading the federal and state governments. Any business with and from the government – be it contracts, tenders, procurements and the like – cost the tax payer, in the ultimate analysis, anything from twice to ten times the actual figure. The difference is pocketed by the many on the gravy train created by the politics of patronage. This is akin to stealing from the public treasury. One result has been that the Umno government has failed to ensure that the Orang Asli, natives and Malays will own, manage and control 30 per cent of the nation's corporate wealth – i.e. the publicly listed companies – by 1990. Twenty years after the NEP was to have officially ended, the state and federal GLCs are being passed off as the 30 per cent. State-owned assets cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, be considered as being owned by just one community in Malaysia, and to the exclusion of other citizens. READ MORE HERE.

Peaceful Assembly Bill may affect ceramahs Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:35 PM PST By Tarani Palani, FMT PETALING JAYA: With the Peaceful Assembly Bill it looks like the police will have the final say on political ceramahs. Now, a police permit is no longer required to hold an assembly. But the orgnanisers must inform the police 30-days in advance before organising such gatherings or assemblies. The Pakatan Rakyat MPs fear that this new ruling will hamper their election campaigns. During a debate over the matter, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim had raised that the fact that the bill further complicates the opposition front's capacity to hold ceramahs and to reach out to the people. DAP MP for Rasah Anthony Loke said political ceramahs was a major way to reach-out to the voters. Under the current law, he said opposition political ceramah activities are already at the mercy of the OCPD. However, with the new law in place, it is more difficult to reach out to the public through these talks. "Usually the crowd, especially the Malay crowd depends heavily on political ceramah. With the current Police Act, we are already heavily depended on the discretion of the OCPD. "If you get a reasonable OCPD, its easier (to attain a permit). If you get an unreasonable OCPD it gets harder," he said. Loke also took issue with the lengthy notification period. "Political activities don't work this way. Within 30 days, the issues would have already died down, "Within two, three days when an issue come to the fore, you need to have forums or briefing sessions to inform the public. Thirty days is unreasonable when we live in an age where information flows within seconds," he added. Huge fines Fellow MP and DAP publicity chief, Tony Pua agreed that ceramahs were an important means to reach out to the public. "We have no control over print and broadcasts media. Our opinions only get published in (the) online media which have limited reach. "We rely on direct communications on the ground to get our message across," said the Petaling Jaya Utara MP. Another issue, which may land MPs in a sticky situation is the of fines imposed on wrong-doers which can disqualify MPs as parliamentarians. As it stands now, MPs could lose their seat if they are fined an excess of RM2,000 or a jail sentence of one year is imposed on them. If a MP is found guilty, under the new bill, he could face a maximum of RM10,000 and RM20,000 for some offences. Loke brushed aside arguments made by Barisan National MPs that it is up to the judge's discretion to issue the fines which may not reach the maximum amount stipulated by the Bill.   READ MORE HERE.

Entri’s sacking: S’wak BN leaders concerned Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:34 PM PST By Joseph Tawie, FMT KUCHING: Sarawak Barisan Nasional leaders have expressed concern over the effects of the sacking of Sylvester Entri, the Marudi assemblyman from SPDP. The SPDP vice-president and assistant minister of public utilities was sacked last Friday after he was found guilty of leading a group of eight leaders to rebel against the party leadership in January last year. Among the first to react to the sacking was Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud who said that he would discuss the matter with SPDP leaders. "Let things cool down first. I will meet the party leaders," added the state BN chairman, who had earlier described the issue as a "family problem" and not a crisis. State BN secretary-general Stephen Rundi said Entri was still a member of BN. "Entri is not partyless. Whatever it is, we all are still BN men. We will solve the problem," he said. Commenting on the same issue, PRS president James Masing wanted Entri and the other four elected representatives to remain with BN at all costs to prevent them from joining the opposition. BN leaders held an emergency meeting on Friday night at the residence of the chief minister after news of the sacking broke. Entri is no ordinary assemblyman; he was not only hand-picked by Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) leaders to contest in Marudi in the 1996 state election donning the SPDP shirt but he was now a Muslim after marrying a woman related to Taib. 'Saddest day of my political career' In announcing the sacking, SPDP president William Mawan said: "Today is the saddest day of my political career. After due process and consultation with the supreme council, with regret I announce that YB Sylvester Entri is no longer a member of SPDP with immediate effect. But the seat of Marudi which Entri is representing remains with the party." Mawan recalled the incident in January last year when Entri staged a walkout, followed by Peter Nansian, senior vice-president and Tasik Biru assemblyman, Dr Tiki Lafe, vice-president and MP for Mas Gading, Rosey Yunus, vice-president and Bekenu assemblywoman, Paulus Gumbang, information chief and Batu Danau assemblyman, supreme council members Peter Gani, George Garai and Cr Eda Egar. "I have consistently maintained that SPDP's door was always open for them. Instead, Entri and his group continuously distanced themselves from the party by not attending supreme council meetings and made sustained attacks on me, challenging and ridiculing my leadership through one press statement after another. "These acts created unnecessary tension and anxiety amongst our party members and can even threaten the existence of our party," he said.   READ MORE HERE.

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All eyes will be on Shahrizat Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:32 PM PST The Wanita Umno ladies have committed to stand by Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who has been badly hit by the cows and condos issue. But will the men be as kind to her at the Umno general assembly next week? No one may ask Shahrizat to step down as Wanita Umno chief or from her Cabinet post. But as many have pointed out, she is no longer viewed as a winning candidate in the general election and that is something which she has to think about in the months ahead. Joceline Tan, The Star THE last few weeks have been awful for Wanita Umno chief Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil. The cows and condos controversy has really rocked her and her family. She returned from performing the umrah on Thursday night a little calmer, but the pressure is building up again as she prepares to face the Umno general assembly next week. Were it not for this issue, Shahrizat would be riding high into the Umno assembly. She has done an excellent job as the Wanita leader and her Ministry of Women, Family and Community development has lived up to its name. The senior ladies in Umno speak glowingly of her. She has brought women's issues back to the centre stage and fought for a bigger role for women in the party, government and the corporate sector. She may look like one of those society ladies who attend lunches and little else but she has been like a tigress on issues affecting women and the family. Shahrizat had to battle Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz for the post but she has since shown that she deserves to be there. She has also worked well with the men in the party. They like the direction in which she has led the wing and also the way she carries herself. Under her, the 1.3 million-strong wing has remained the party's most loyal and steadfast group and is poised to play the role of the backbone of Umno in the general election. "We are with her. She has brought change to Wanita Umno, allowed new faces to come to the forefront," said Cheras Wanita Umno deputy head Zurainah Musa. The Wanita Umno wing is standing by her. But outside of Wanita Umno, the mood is less unanimous. For instance, while Zurainah is committed to supporting Shahrizat, her boss, Cheras Umno chief Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshi is finding it hard to defend the issue. Cheras is an urban constituency and Syed Ali is dealing with a critical and informed Malay base. "People have been calling me to ask about this issue and they don't like it. I don't want to whack her, I like her as a leader, but we want to win the election. I hope everybody understands that," said the outspoken Syed Ali. This Umno assembly is focused on the general election and, as several Umno leaders have pointed out, the scandal has hurt the party and the Barisan Nasional. Shahrizat's husband and National Feedlot Corporation executive chairman Datuk Dr Mohamed Salleh Ismail has gone to great lengths to explain the multi-million ringgit cattle project but public reception has not been good. The fact that the project went to her family makes it hard for party members to defend her, and buying those upmarket condominiums took the cake. Syed Ali spoke for many in Umno when he said that Shahrizat cannot disassociate herself from her family on this project. He is also unhappy that instead of defending herself, she is relying on the other leaders to defend her. "What I am saying is that she has to accept responsibility. If she loves the party, she must make the right decision," Syed Ali said. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in an interview with The Star, said Shahrizat has to "take the blame". The question on everyone's lips is whether Shahrizat will face the heat at the Umno assembly. The feedback is that she will sail through her Wanita Umno assembly on Wednesday. Her ladies will not criticise or attack her. They may not even touch on the issue at all. But will the men at the main assembly let her off? Many are comparing the controversy to the AP (Approved Permit) issue that almost derailed Rafidah's career in 2005. On the evening of the Wanita Umno assembly, Rafidah had cried and declared her innocence before the Holy Quran. The next day, the women showed their loyalty to her and there was not a single mention of the AP issue during the debate. But on the final day of the main assembly, as Rafidah stood onstage to defend herself, some men in the audience booed and jeered her. It was not a pretty scene. Shahrizat may not get the same horrible treatment because she has a good rapport with the men and has not alienated them the way her predecessor had. Although Shahrizat has not said much publicly, she has personally addressed her Wanita exco members and explained the issue to the wing's division chiefs and information heads. She has appealed to them to go home and explain what they have heard to the Wanita grassroots. Syed Ali will be one of the speakers debating the motion of thanks on the president's speech but he has decided to not bring up the NFC issue. "I am reluctant to further damage the party. I have conveyed my views to the leadership and they know where I stand." No one may ask Shahrizat to step down as Wanita Umno chief or from her Cabinet post. But as many have pointed out, she is no longer viewed as a winning candidate in the general election and that is something which she has to think about in the months ahead. READ ALSO: The helicopter view approach

Najib gives M’sians more freedom Posted: 25 Nov 2011 01:43 PM PST The reforms help distract and reduce the rakyat's worries about electoral fraud and the National Feedlot Corporation's alleged misuse of RM250 million of taxpayers' money. In contrast, a pro-government party member believed that the new laws should make it easier for the authorities to stifle political dissenters. "The ISA was a burden. They (the authorities) had to plant Che Guevara T-shirts or Mao propaganda leaflets in bags of people who were potential trouble-makers. Arrests are only possible when national security is threatened." Mariam Mokhtar, Free Malaysia Today With dizzying speed, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak tabled several new laws to fulfill an earlier pledge to give Malaysians the "best democracy in the world". Meanwhile, political pundits criticise Najib's "rash of reforms" saying that they were an over-reaction to public sentiment in the run-up to GE-13. Their skepticism stems from the action of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who promised envoys from the UN Security Council, that he was "committed to the reform process." The Syrian uprising has left 3,500 dead, scores injured and thousands detained. Other cynics said, "Najib is not capable of a rash reform. The only rash he knows is when he was hospitalised with (chicken) pox last year." Perhaps "better late than never" could be another Barisan Nasional slogan. BN has taken four decades to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 and should be praised for being receptive to the mood of the nation. Nevertheless, reforms help distract and reduce the rakyat's worries about electoral fraud and the National Feedlot Corporation's alleged misuse of RM250 million of taxpayers' money. At the weekend, BN confirmed that they were wooing young voters. Foreign PR consultants, which cost the Malaysian taxpayer millions, are finally proving they are value for money. They gave BN leaders some useful advice. They confirmed our long-held belief that our youth is well versed in the use of digital media. As a result, Najib and his home minister have their own version of the mobile phone and music shop sales pitch: "Trade in your old law for two new ones". Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, earlier announced two new laws to replace the ISA. The students were promised an amendment to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1974 (UUCA) so that they could join political parties at 21. The PM said he valued "the maturity and wisdom of undergraduates". Like any other wise parent, Najib exercises caution by ensuring that our youth is not troubled by too many liberties. He barred them from bringing partisan politics onto campuses. He cherishes the old-fashioned view that students cannot make sound judgements without consulting their parents, the university's governing body or the authorities. Maybe he is worried that studies would be disrupted. He probably read about UK students wreaking havoc in the centre of London, whilst increasing public awareness about cuts in education. It is probable he didn't want copy-cat acts similar to the Tunisian street vendor, an allegedly unemployed student, who immolated himself, when he was harassed by the police. As expected, the home minister reiterated that the two new laws to replace the ISA would still include detention without trial. Najib's giant step But many political observers were surprised when Hishammuddin stressed that the process of replacing the ISA had begun two years ago. Someone who had been arrested during the ISA protest at Amcorp Mall in August 2010 said, "I suppose we were so busy protesting, that we failed to notice that the government had started dismantling the ISA." A "Gerakan Mansuhkan ISA" protester based in England, known to religiously attend every Saturday afternoon protest outside the Malaysian Tourist Office in Trafalgar Square said: "Perhaps it's for the best. Protesting in summer is like a day out. What could be better than downing ale whilst watching pretty girls walk past? But winter is depressing. When it's wet and cold, I can easily imagine what it feels like to be in a damp cell in Kamunting." Hishammuddin's justification for Malaysia's detention without trial is centred on the United States Patriot Act and the Anti-Terrorism Acts in the United Kingdom and Australia. BN supporters are afraid that in trying to be like the UK and US, Malaysia might also have to curb its human rights abuses. They disagree with the western emphasis on human rights: "See what happens when you are soft on people. They riot. Then they rob you. We should be thankful that BN does not riot." In contrast, a pro-government party member believed that the new laws should make it easier for the authorities to stifle political dissenters. "The ISA was a burden. They (the authorities) had to plant Che Guevara T-shirts or Mao propaganda leaflets in bags of people who were potential trouble-makers. Arrests are only possible when national security is threatened." Last week, Najib announced the Peaceful Assembly Bill 2011, which he termed a "revolutionary" law and a "giant step" towards improving individual freedom. He denied claims that the Act choked the freedom to assemble. He assured protesters of a fine and spared them time behind bars. A political observer said, "BN is desperate for money. They need to buy votes in GE-13 and the coffers are empty. Taxpayers' money has been directed into emergency funds overseas, in case the BN leaders need to escape." Najib said that gatherings were only prohibited in, or near, selected sites. He rambled on whilst reading his short list which included hospitals, schools, petrol stations, fire stations, airports, railways, land public transport terminals, ports, canals, docks, bridges, places of worship, kindergartens, schools, dams, reservoirs and streets. He rubbished claims that assemblies were banned "anywhere and everywhere". READ MORE HERE

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• What now Anwar?
• Politics - play safe, play the race
• Dissolution of Parliament in March
• Untuk mengelak Bill Perhimpunan Aman terus dilaksanakan - jangan beri lagi mandat kepada UMNO

What now Anwar? Posted: 25 Nov 2011 04:16 PM PST No it is not me going PKR bashing again! Be rest assured that my bashing of UMNO and Barisan Nasional is  more relentless and sustained. What I do not want PKR to be are the debris of history  - leaving nothing tangible that could help our people and our nation to survive UMNO and Barisan Nasional. This is what I wrote of Anwar on the 22nd of February in 2009 – almost three years ago. Nothing much has change – not Anwar and certainly not my opinion of him! But what will haunt Anwar will be this: Too many friends and allies have now become his nemesis. Anwar listens but does not hear. He looks but does not see. What now Anwar?   READ MORE HERE

Politics - play safe, play the race Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:12 PM PST For a start, I am troubled by many factors – UMNO's advantage of incumbency, our remarkable EC and other state apparatus (which performance had been amply demonstrated in Perak, Selangor and during the earlier days of the Pakatan-governed Penang), increasingly royal political activitism, the judiciary, etc. But the most worrying factor has been the centrifugal policies and behaviour of Pakatan itself. We witnessed a sampling of this in the period of campaigning leading to the last Sarawak state election and its sour-grapes aftermath, PAS increasing reversion to its intrinsic hudud-inclined stripes, as well as in recent remarks by PKR leaders. The new PKR ethnic hero is Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin, its Youth Chief, who has borrowed (or inherited) a leaf from his mother organization, UMNO Youth, by selling his and his party's appeal on a Malaysian sure-fire best-selling platform, definitely one to warm the cockles of the heartland, namely, Ketuanan Melayu or Malay-supremacy. While UMNO Youth under KJ has quietened down a wee bit (perhaps because KJ wants to present himself as a less crude and more cosmopolitan politician, or because UMNO Youth has already farmed out its brown-shirts and steel jackboots to Perkasa), PKR Youth has instead eagerly adopted its ethno-centric tactics. The acorn sure as hell doesn't fall far from the oak tree. According to Malaysiakini Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin called for a constitutional amendment to state that only a Malay can be appointed prime minister. Jettisoning his party's mantra of (wakakaka) reformasi, he justified his ethnocentric persuasion, stating: "The lack of such a constitutional provision allows irresponsible quarters to manipulate Malay anxieties about their future (should a non-Malay be appointed PM). This is because of the suspicions they have of those from other ethnic backgrounds. Such manipulation can cause them to feel unsafe and create tensions. This way, the Malays will always pin their hopes on these so-called Malay champions, who turn out to be the real enemies." And he comes even complemented with a very supportive BN-type lapdog in the person of his deputy Chan Ming Kai, who stoutly defended his Taikoh's siren call to the heartland. READ MORE HERE

Dissolution of Parliament in March Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:08 PM PST There will be a motion to repeal the ISA in March and depending on the outcome of the elections the new government if it is led by the BN will reinstate the ISA if they win with  a clear majority, or the bill may be held in ambiance as it will then be awaiting Royal consent and accordingly it will either receive or not receive Royal consent. This is  the game being played and a plan of this government, fearing that they might be ousted in the next General Elections they are taking all measures to protect themselves. They fear that the armed forces and the police may break ranks and follow the orders of the government of the day, and so in order to ensure that they can use whatever means within their power they may try and retake Parliament by foul means, and if they fail take flight from the country, to do this safely they'll have to revoke the  ISA lest they become victims of their own folly. An UMNO source says this was the brain child of the Attorney General who himself is afraid of being held accountable should the Barisan lose the next General Elections. It has received the tacit approval of Mahathir and Najib and the possibility of the formation of another National Operations Council (NOC) is very real, the irony is it is being put in place by Najib Tun Razak – like father like son. The NOC idea is to be the first option should they lose the General Elections. Huge sums of money are being transferred out of Malaysia on a daily basis, it is worst than the Indian Black market, and the only person capable of making such transactions is none other than an Indian who masquerades as a Malay, he has a an entire brigade of money changers working for him, he does not need sophisticated banking systems to take that money out. The situation is rife the man who said what is happening in Syria, and  Egypt cannot happen in Malaysia is now rather quiet, he sees the possibility that it will happen here, the people are fed up, and they want their dignity back.  The people of Malaysia want their country back and in that process there will be assemblies, peaceful or otherwise, no Malaysian rally has been violent,  it only became violent because the government made it violent by use of brutal police force, and the people who participated in those rallies were victims of violence. It has been proven  in the Tung Shin Hospital incident.  It happened time and time again in Malaysia. Malaysian football crowds were never violent, they shouted they jeered, they cheered but they were never violent, violence is not our way of life and many a foreigner will attest to that. But his government in pursuit of its own agenda are and have proven to be capable of turning rallies violent if it suits them, safety and human life seems to take a back seat when their own interests are involved. Elections are due after the March sitting of Parliament, a lot of issues need to be ironed out and as Mahathir put it, Najib has done nothing since he came to office, he has been more preoccupied with his foreign travel, his shopping trips for Rosmah, his promotion of Rosmah to first lady and the immense importance he has given her in Malaysian politics that she is sometimes made to look as the defacto minister of foreign affairs. Whilst Rosmah basks in her popularity, and her ability to appear daily in the press, more often than the Deputy PM and even the PM, in fact more often than any minister and members of Parliament, the Malaysian community and more particularly the Malays are angry at her arrogance, and her lavishness and though many may not be familiar with the famed Maria Antoinette, they are with Imelda Marcos and have drawn a parallel between the two. READ MORE HERE

Untuk mengelak Bill Perhimpunan Aman terus dilaksanakan - jangan beri lagi mandat kepada UMNO Posted: 25 Nov 2011 06:59 AM PST Cadangan ini adalah bercanggah dengan kehendak perlembagaan yang membenarkan rakyat menyuarakan pandangan dan pendapat mereka melalui perhimpunan secara aman. Demokrasi hanyalah dalam bentuk packagingnya sahaja tetapi sebenarnya di alam packaging itu penuh dengan elemen dictatorship dan jika BN mengambil kesempatan untuk mendapatkan kelulusan dengan sokongan 'simple majority' di parlimen ia tidak lain dari tindakan menekan terhadap gerakan fikiran rakyat untuk melakukan perubahan. Bagi pendapat saya secara peribadi, BN akan teruskan membentangkan bill ini dan akan mendapat kelulusan 'simple majority' di dewan parlimen. Tidak ada siapa yang boleh menyangkalnya jika BN masih mahukan akta yang menekan ini untuk dikenakan kepada rakyat. Perhimpunan tidak dibenarkan di semua tempat dan ini adalah cara BN untuk mengelakan insiden seperti Bersih 2.0 untuk berlaku sekali lagi. Tentunya bill ini merupakan tanda-tanda yang kerajaan BN tidak akan melaksanakan pilihanraya secara adil dan bill ini penting untuk mengelakan reaksi marah rakyat yang ramai. Saya tidak mahu komen banyak tentang isu ini. Hanya saya hendak bersama dalam isu menentang bill ini kerana ianya akan menjadikan negara ini sebagai apa yang dikatakan sebagai 'police state' dan ianya tidak ada bezanya dengan sebuah negara yang berkepimpinan diktator yang bersalutkan demokrasi. Saya telah sebutkan beberapa kali yang demokrasi di negara ini telah beransur-ansur mati. Jika pilihanraya di adakan kali ini saya berkeyakinan yang isu ini akan dapat di atasi jika semua rakyat bersatu; tidak kira apa bangsa sekali pun untuk pergi ke peti undi dengan aman dan terus sahaja memberikan undi kepada mana-mana parti selain dari UMNO dan BN. Dengan cara ini tidak payah lagi kita hendak bertengkar dan berbahas. Bagi saya masa untuk berbahas sudah tidak ada lagi kerana UMNO dan BN tidak akan dapat mengubati penyakit rendah diri itu lagi. Penyakit itu sudah menjadi kanser tahap empat. UMNO tidak akan berubah lagi. Kita sepatutnya tidak merasa bersalah lagi untuk meninggalkan UMNO itu kerana ianya lebih membawa penyakit dari membawa yang baik untuk rakyat. Rakyat tidak di berikan kebebasan untuk berfikir. Kita hanya dibenarkan untuk menganggok sahaja dan tidak dibenarkan mengeleng. Jika ini cara UMNO memimpin dan membina pembangunan rakyat, kita akan menjadi rakyat yang tolol dan tidak boleh berbeza fikiran lagi. READ MORE HERE

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• Najib: Ahli Umno kena terbuka terima calon boleh menang
• Anwar: ‘Umno jangan mimpi nak tawan negeri dipimpin Pakatan’
• Perhimpunan Aman: Kaji balik peruntukan tak praktikal, kata Chandra

Najib: Ahli Umno kena terbuka terima calon boleh menang Posted: 25 Nov 2011 08:30 PM PST Perdana Menteri berkata sekiranya jentera parti menolak, seseorang yang ada kebolehan atau mempunyai rekod kerja yang baik pun pada akhirnya tidak akan berjaya, seterusnya parti akan kalah dan kehilangan kuasa.  "Kalau kita sebagai anggota parti tidak ada sikap yang terbuka dan kita tekankan orang tu (calon itu) mesti merupakan calon yang ikut hierarki (parti) tapi calon kita itu tak mungkin berjaya, calon kita akan gagal," katanya kepada Bernama semasa wawancara khas menjelang Perhimpunan Agung Umno 2011, hari ini.  Dipetik Bernama Online, Presiden Umno itu menegaskan pentingnya semua pihak dalam parti memahami maksud calon boleh menang yang mahu ditonjolkan semasa pilihan raya.  "Kalau tidak, sukar nak mencapai kejayaan. Kalau calon boleh menang  tu ditampilkan dalam kelompok dalam bahagian tanpa mengambil kira kehendak pengundi teramai, calon itu pun tak akan berjaya," kata Najib.  Beliau mengakui adalah sukar untuk memuaskan hati semua pihak, terutama di peringkat bahagian Umno.  Tetapi menurutnya, "rumusan calon boleh menang itu adalah supaya setiap kerusi yang ditandingi mempunyai peluang terbaik untuk menang."  Bagaimanapun katanya, proses pemilihan calon belum muktamad dan penilaian akan dibuat bukan sahaja secara subjektif tetapi juga objektif.  "Ini yang paling penting sekali, bukanlah orang yang kita sukai secara peribadi tetapi orang yang boleh diterima sebahagian besar pengundi dalam kawasan berkenaan. Itulah yang mesti kita lakukan," katanya.  Katanya soal menentukan calon ini adalah satu perkara yang sangat mencabar dan sukar dilakukan dan mustahil parti dapat memuaskan semua orang.  "Mengikut pengalaman saya 35 tahun dalam politik, tak pernah berlaku dalam pilihan raya (calon yang dipilih memuaskan hati semua orang).  "Tapi apapun yang dibuat parti, keputusan parti, pada kesudahannya kita kena terimalah, sebagai orang parti keputusan parti walaupun keputusan itu tidak mengikut selera atau kehendak kita," katanya.  Najib berkata, banyak juga peristiwa di mana beliau melihat orang yang setia kepada parti, walaupun keputusan parti tidak disenanginya tetapi menerimanya dan akhirnya calon akan menang.  "Sebaliknya kalau dia terus menentang, dia nak kata apa nak jadi-jadilah, aku nak menentang. Jadi maknanya dia tak setia pada parti dan calon itu kalah dan maknanya parti akan kalah. Dia patut sedar bila parti kalah makna kita akan kehilangan kuasa," katanya.  Najib juga mengakui bahawa di peringkat bahagian pun, anggota parti tidak sependapat mengenai calon terbaik di kalangan mereka dan apa yang harus ada ialah disiplin parti. READ MORE HERE

Anwar: ‘Umno jangan mimpi nak tawan negeri dipimpin Pakatan’ Posted: 25 Nov 2011 05:09 PM PST Kenyataan itu dikeluarkan Anwar pada Ceramah Perdana PKR di pejabat Angkatan Muda Keadilan cabang Gelang Patah malam tadi sempena kongres tahunannya di sini. "Umno jangan mimpi nak tawan negeri-negeri Pakatan Rakyat, mustahil, ... Umno tidak akan berjaya untuk menawan kembali Selangor," tegasnya di hadapan 300 penyokong parti itu. "Negeri-negeri PR sudah membuktikan kami mampu mentadbir dengan berhemah dan cekap, buktinya di Selangor, hasil pentadbiran yang cekap, kami mampu untuk memberikan air percuma kepada rakyat Selangor," katanya lagi. Tambah Ketua Umum PKR ini, Johor juga tidak akan mampu menahan arus perubahan yang sedang melanda politik negara dewasa ini. "Sekiranya pimpinan Umno-BN masih lagi mengamalkan corak pentadbiran sedia ada, mengabaikan hak dan kepentingan Melayu, tidak mustahil kami akan menawan negeri ini, walaupun ia kubu kuat Umno, ini sudah dibuktikan di Ijok. "Dahulunya Ijok juga merupakan kubu kuat Umno, tapi kita lihat apa yang jadi? Bila rakyat bangkit menolak pemimpin yang korup, PR mampu menawan Ijok," katanya. Namun begitu, Anwar juga memberikan teguran kepada pimpinan PR supaya tidak mengikuti sikap pemimpin Umno-BN yang menurutnya takbur, dan lupa diri. "Ingat, pimpinan PR jangan jadi seperti pemimpin Umno-BN, jangan takbur riak, dan lupa diri apabila sudah memerintah, utamakan hak rakyat dan bukannya pentingkan diri sendiri," katanya memberi peringatan kepada pemimpin parti berkenaan. Penasihat Ekonomi Selangor ini juga berjanji sekiranya parti pimpinannya berjaya menawan Putrajaya, tarif elektrik negara dan harga minyak akan diturunkan dalam masa seminggu pemerintahannya. "Ini janji saya, sekiranya PR berjaya menawan Putrajaya, harga tarif elektrik dan minyak akan saya turunkan. "Umno-BN akan cakap saya hanya buat janji kosong, tidak berasas, negara boleh bankrup sekiranya saya laksanakan perkara ini, tapi mereka lupa, lapan tahun saya pegang jawatan Menteri Kewangan, bodohkah saya?" katanya mempersoalkan tuduhan kerajaan terhadapnya.

Perhimpunan Aman: Kaji balik peruntukan tak praktikal, kata Chandra Posted: 25 Nov 2011 02:53 PM PST Rang undang-undang itu telah dibentangkan untuk bacaan kali kedua kelmarin dan akan dibahaskan minggu depan. Chandra (gambar) berkata peruntukan mewajibkan penganjur perlu memaklumkan pihak polis 30 hari sebelum perhimpunan tidak masuk akal. "Oleh itu, kerajaan perlu mengkaji semula rang undang-undang ini," kata beliau selepas membentangkan kertas kerjanya pada Seminar Kebangsaan Pemahaman Wasatiyyah & 1 Malaysia anjuran Biro Penerangan Umno hari ini. Katanya, beliau bersetuju dengan penggubalan rang undang-undang itu tetapi ia perlu diteliti semula kerana memberi kuasa yang lebih kepada pihak polis. Katanya lagi, malah ada peruntukan dalam rang undang-undang itu sudah ada dalam akta lain, jadi ia perlu dikaji semula. "Ada yang baik tentang rang undang-undang ini supaya tidak perlu memohon permit polis serta tidak perlu mengheret kanak-kanak, tetapi kerajaan perlu meneliti beberapa frasa lain yang mengkongkong kebebasan rakyat," katanya. Terdahulu ketika membentangkan kertas kerjanya dalam seminar tersebut, kata beliau Malaysia merupakan contoh terbaik telah mengamalkan wassatiyah atau kesederhanaan. "Pada keseluruhannya rakyat dan kerajaan Malaysia mendukung dan mengamalkan prinsip wasatiyyah yang telah termaktub dalam gagasan 1 Malaysia," katanya. Katanya lagi, itu adalah kunci kejayaan negara kita dan inilah rahsia keamanan dan keharmonian kaum serta kestabilan masyarakat negara ini.

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4 years after the Hindraf rally – we are still looking Posted: 24 Nov 2011 11:40 PM PST It does not matter if the politicians are Right Wing Extremists or Centre Right or Centre Left, Moderates, or Socialists or Communists. They all cannot be trusted with power. They all begin to run riot after they are elected. By N.Ganesan, National Advisor to Hindraf Today the 25th of November 2011 marks the 4th anniversary of the Hindraf Rally that shook the Malaysian polity. It sounded the death knell for the old and heralded the beginning of the new. Much is happening around in the world today that mirrors what took place on that fateful day, 4 years ago. It behooves us now, to take stock. One very clear change that has occurred in our country is the heightening of political contention among the various political forces in the country. The fact that BN had lost its long held ground and that the opposition in the country had gained ground  now makes BN try harder to regain the lost ground and Pakatan to hold on to and increase the ground gained. A lot of the politics you experience today is all about that. BN is still essentially UMNO with a multiracial mask and Pakatan claims to be multiracial but has very little to show for that, at best is biracial. The basic policies of the two coalitions are not fundamentally different. Nothing earth shattering has changed for most of us, beyond the illusions. Their policies are essentially the same, only they pander to different factions of the elite both in the country and internationally. Anyone who disputes this either does not understand political economy or just want to conceal this fact as it is obviously detrimental to their cause. The much touted two party system is nothing more than an illusion of a better democracy. Just having two parties and going through the rigmarole of choosing one over the other does not make for democracy as many in the elite will have us believe. What is happening around the world today is revealing – very revealing of this political process we call democracy, where we go to the polls once in every so many years to choose one over the other. Look at what is happening in the Middle East, in Egypt, in Syria, in Bahrain, in Yemen – specifically in Egypt. Look at Portugal, France, Germany, Italy, Greece, Ireland in Europe. Look at the Occupy movement across the United States. Some countries which have not even seen election based democracy, as in the Middle East, are already sensing the lie in that. And they are attempting to go beyond that. The people in the European countries and in the US who have had this brand of democracy for almost forever, are fast losing hope in what it can bring them. Mass based organizations are springing up all over the world questioning the worth of this brand of Anglo Saxon democracy. The people are all fed up. Fed up of the nonsense the politicians spew – politicians of all shades. The democracy as we know it now is in shambles. Even as parliamentary polls are scheduled for the 28th of Nov 2011 in Egypt, the people are rallying in Tahrir square as I write this, and asking the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces who are calling the polls, to step aside and go back to their barracks. The people have whizzed past the politicians with an understanding of how the system really works, way beyond the understanding any politicians of the country. They understand that the sacking of Husni Mubarak is not the end of their revolution, but rather the beginning. Until they get the iceberg underneath of the ruling class out, they have not achieved anything from their revolution. It is the people of Egypt who should be ruling Egypt and the army should, like all the other departments of government be in their barracks. The elite - there is no more elite. This is the understanding the people of Egypt have mustered in their short foray into public policy. The Egyptian politicians have not gone as far as the people. Not that they do not know of such possibilities, they just probably do not seek it themselves. They have not sought out true change. They just seek to give the current politics, new faces. That fits their real purpose. Of course if you asked them, they will reject such a scheme and say that they are really making the revolution happen. The Egyptian people have called their bluff. It does not matter if the politicians are Right Wing Extremists or Centre Right or Centre Left, Moderates, or Socialists or Communists. They all cannot be trusted with power. They all begin to run riot after they are elected. Yet the politicians will tell us we need a vanguard group or party, to work out what is in the best interest of the people, because the people are ignorant, they do not know. But yet look at Egypt, the people are showing wisdom way beyond anything the politicians and the elite are capable of. The people are showing that they can well decide what is right for them. They are turning that conventional wisdom that the people do not know or cannot understand and must be led by a vanguard – upside down. This brings me to the point about all of this on the 4th Anniversay of the Hindraf Rally. What we need in Malaysia is not a democratic revolution or democratic reform, that leads to nothing more than a two party system – what we need in Malaysia is a neo–Democratic revolution. A revolution that brings into place people oriented supervision of the elected representatives so they do not run away with the loot, after they are elected, as experience time and again shows. The elected representatives have to be continuously supervised and held accountable by the people. This is the role we in Hindraf have tried to play in the last 4 years for the marginalized and the poorest in our society. For 51 long years the BN created, unfettered, the marginalized sections of our society. Then Pakatan in the 3 odd years after they took over in 5 States have just kept the marginalized where they had always been and nothing of any substance was changed in their lives inspite of all the "Makkal Sakthi" rallying calls by these same politicians. Just promises, promises and failed promises. Or some lame excuses for their inability. The Hindraf that rose 4 years ago, will continue to hold all our politicians accountable - politicians of all shades. The lesson we are learning from what is happening around in the world now, only reinforces what we instinctively have picked up. We will continue on this path of the neo-Democratic Revolution till others begin to see the wisdom that is so required, to bring about true change to our country and join us to ensure the politicians do what they really should be doing and do not run off every time.

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The helicopter view approach Posted: 24 Nov 2011 05:37 PM PST Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali whacked me to kingdom come and made all sorts of snide remarks against me during PKR's annual general assembly in Penang. Azmin had venom is his tone when, during his speech, he looked at me and said that all those who collaborate with Dr Mahathir can take a hike. I detected the smirk on Anwar's face when Azmin took that swipe at me. NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved. All warfare is based on deception. Be extremely subtle, even to the point of formlessness. Be extremely mysterious, even to the point of soundlessness. Thereby you can be the director of the opponent's fate. He who knows when he can fight and when he cannot, will be victorious. It is essential to seek out enemy agents who have come to conduct espionage against you and to bribe them to serve you. Give them instructions and care for them. Thus doubled agents are recruited and used. Strategy without tactics is the slowest route to victory. Tactics without strategy is the noise before defeat. Thus, what is of supreme importance in war is to attack the enemy's strategy. The above are just some of Sun Tzu's quotes. Nevertheless, these few are enough to give us an idea of what both Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim are doing right, and wrong. Incidentally, my wife sent me a book on Sun Tzu's quotes back in September 2008 when I was under detention in Kamunting and it took me only a day to read it from cover to cover. I must admit I found it most enlightening. It was the only book I ever re-read three days in a row. I too have my own panduan peperangan (guide to warfare), which I once wrote about, probably ten years or so ago, long before I had read Sun Tzu. These go as follows: Those who fight and run away live to fight another day. Never fight your enemy in his terrain, which he knows best. Draw him into your terrain, which he is unfamiliar with. The best form of defence is to attack. When an enemy chases you, run away. When he is resting, launch a sneak counterattack. A dead hero is of no use to his country other than for declaring national holidays. Never face a more powerful enemy head-on. Ambushes always work better. Your task is not to die for your country. Your task is to make your enemy die for his country. When faced with defeat, surrender and sue for peace. Once you have gained the advantage, wipe out your enemy through treachery. Take a smaller enemy of your larger enemy as your friend. Once you have defeated your larger enemy then you can turn on your smaller enemy. Never allow principles to stand in the way of your strategy. Victory is still victory even if gained in unethical ways. Okay, I admit, not all my quotes are originals. Some are stolen but they still make good sense. The objective of war is to win and it is not how you play the game that counts. I know, you would probably surmise that, judging by my quotes, I would clearly not hesitate to do a Datuk Maharaja Lela on JWW Birch, the British Resident of Perak who was stabbed in the back while taking a shit in the Perak River. But who the hell ever said that war is about playing fair? War is about winning, at whatever cost, even at the cost of collateral damage, if it has to come to that. Let me give you one example. The opposition is hell-bent on bringing down Shahrizat Jalil regarding the cowgate fiasco. No doubt RM250 million of the taxpayers' money has gone bust so she should be made to pay for it. Or should she? Now, there is currently a tussle over the Lembah Pantai parliament seat, currently held by Nurul Izzah Anwar who wrested it from Shahrizat in March 2008. Shahrizat wants to contest that seat again, as does Raja Nong Chik. If Shahrizat were to contest that seat then there is a strong possibility that Nurul Izzah would, again, win. However, if Shahrizat is brought down, and chances are she might since the cowgate fiasco is hurting the government bad, then Raja Nong Chik would most likely get that seat. And if it were Raja Nong Chik versus Nurul Izzah, then Nurul's chances of winning would be reduced. It would have been better to spare Shahrizat so that she is chosen as Barisan Nasional's candidate for Lembah Pantai. Then, once the nomination papers are filed, you can go to town and bring her down by using the cowgate issue. Raja Nong Chik is a stronger candidate than Nurul Izzah and allowing him to contest the Lembah Pantai seat is not a wise move. But with Shahrizat out of the picture, that can now most likely happen. Raja Nong Chik is certainly a smart cookie. His people leaked the information on Shahrizat's cowgate fiasco and the opposition gleefully grabbed at it. They are now doing Raja Nong Chik a favour by bringing down Shahrizat. And because of that Nurul Izzah may be brought down as well. Anyway, that is one example and there are many more. Another can be: why attack Najib too much? I would be 'gentle' with Najib, which actually I am (although this has attracted allegations that Najib has bought me off). If you want me to attack Najib I can do that as well. But why the hell do I want to bring down Najib just so that the opposition supporters would stop alleging that I have been bought off? I do not need the opposition supporters to sing my praises. They can condemn if that makes them happy. After all, small things please small minds. If Najib is brought down and Muhyiddin Yassin takes over as Prime Minister, the chances of the opposition forming the next federal government is slim. With Najib leading the charge in the next general election, the disgust most people have with First Lady Rosmah Mansor is going to cost Barisan Nasional a lot of votes. Rosmah is to Najib what Khairy Jamaluddin was to Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, an albatross around his neck. I would rather have Najib as Prime Minister when we face the next general election than Muhyiddin. Najib has a lot of internal enemies within Umno, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad included. And I would rather have Dr Mahathir on our side, like in the 2008 general election. What, you do not think that Dr Mahathir is still relevant and a factor? Hey, if not for Dr Mahathir, do you think Pakatan Rakyat could have done so well in the March 2008 general election? Why do you think I supported Dr Mahathir back in 2006 and 2007? Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali whacked me to kingdom come and made all sorts of snide remarks against me during PKR's annual general assembly in Penang. Azmin had venom is his tone when, during his speech, he looked at me and said that all those who collaborate with Dr Mahathir can take a hike. I detected the smirk on Anwar's face when Azmin took that swipe at me. I know what I was doing. Sure, that attracted a lot of snide remarks about how Dr Mahathir had bought me off and was financing Malaysia Today and whatnot. But then these are remarks from people devoid of a brain that can think clearly. They are guided by emotions and not by logic. And the way they are trying to bring down Najib and Shahrizat is evidence of this. Anyway, enough said. You play the game according to your strategy and I will do so according to mine. At the end of the day the test of the pudding is in the eating, as President Bush said. READ ALSO: All eyes will be on Shahrizat

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