Rabu, 20 Mac 2013

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Posted: 19 Mar 2013 08:56 PM PDT

Long before 1970, the Chinese, led by Siew Nim Chee, the economic adviser to Lim Goh Tong, approached the Finance Minister, Tan Siew Sin, to propose a sort of economic policy to help the Malays. The Chinese realised that sooner or later there would be turmoil in the country if the economic imbalance between the Chinese and the Malays were not addressed.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Yesterday's article, The Chinese and Indians screwed up, was a good experiment in readers' mentality, comprehension skills, and IQ level.

Firstly, I cut my normal 3-4-page article to just one page in response to some readers who complain that they cannot understand long articles. If they feel that a 3-4-page essay is too long to understand, imagine what they would say if I wrote a 200-page thesis. This thesis would probably be lost on most of them.

Apparently, even if the article is a short one-page article they still do not understand what I am saying, as most of the 146 comments have proven. Hence it is not the length of my articles that is at fault but the brain of the readers that is to be blamed. Short article or long article, they still do not understand what they read.

Secondly, yesterday's article was in response to the whining, moaning, bitching, grumbling, lamenting and complaining regarding the New Economic Policy (NEP). When I revealed what happened in 1982 and then what happened again in 1992, most readers were caught off-guard. They were not aware about the 1982 and 1992 episodes. However, not wanting to admit their ignorance, they started posting comments that were way off the mark.

And most of these comments were not based on facts or eyewitness accounts but were based on conjecture, assumptions, guessing and speculation. I was there in 1982 and 1992 and was involved with what happened. Those who posted comments were not, but they still posted comments as if they knew what happened for a fact.

Thirdly, everyone assumes that the failure of the NEP was solely and entirely the fault of Umno and the Malays. Now that I reveal that the Chinese and Indians had been given an opportunity to correct the faults in the NEP and even end it and replace it with something else, but they did not do so, the readers deviate from the issue and raise all sorts of lame excuses such as the fear of Operasi Lalang, about Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad being a dictator, that even if the Chinese and Indians speak up no one would listen, and so on.

Let me tell you something else that most of you are probably not aware of.

Long before 1970, the Chinese leaders, led by Siew Nim Chee, the economic adviser to Lim Goh Tong, approached the Finance Minister, Tan Siew Sin, to propose a sort of economic policy to help the Malays. The Chinese realised that sooner or later there would be turmoil in the country if the economic imbalance between the Chinese and the Malays were not addressed.

Siew Sin, however, did not take up the idea and when May 13 erupted in 1969, those Chinese who were in the know and who had tried to do something actually blamed Siew Sin for the race riots.

That's right, while you blame Umno and Tun Razak Hussein for May 13, the Chinese who had attempted to avoid such a thing as May 13 blamed Siew Sin for not listening and for not doing what the Chinese had proposed.

Ironical, don't you think so?

When Dr Mahathir took over as Prime Minister, he tried to get the Chinese to 'take over' the job of reducing the economic imbalance between the Malays and the Chinese so that the government could end the NEP in 1990. The Chinese, however, thought that this is not their job to nurture the Malays. Let the government worry about the Malays. Why should the Chinese worry about it?

The Bumiputera share of the 'corporate pie' in 1970 before the implementation of the NEP was just 1%. Hence the target was set at 30% although the Bumiputera population was 60%. By the time Dr Mahathir took over in 1981, the Bumiputera share had grown to 4% -- or 19% if you include the 15% share of the trust agencies and GLCs. By 1990, it still remained at the same level as in 1981. In short, it had stagnated mainly because of the economic slump of 1985-1987.

The main question and bone of contention then was can the 15% share of the trust agencies and GLCs be added to the 4% personal share of the Bumiputeras considering that the trust agencies and GLCs belong to the government and therefore to the nation? For example, does Petronas belong to the country or to the Malays?

That was one main disagreement between the Malays and the government. The government says that the Bumiputeras own 19% of the corporate pie while the Malays insist it was only 4% -- since what is owned by the nation does not belong to the Malays individually.

Nevertheless, while the argument was about whether it is 4% or 19%, whatever the case may be it was still short of the 30% target.

In 1991, the Malay Chamber of Commerce wanted to organise the Third Bumiputera Economic Congress to discuss the NEP. Dr Mahathir summoned the Committee to his office to inform us that the government will take over the organising of the Congress.

I was in that delegation to the PM's office and was appointed as the spokesman. I was told to protest the move by the government to 'hijack' the Congress. However, there were no two ways about it. The government will take over and there was to be no further discussion on the matter. Furthermore, we were told that the government was going to invite everyone to participate in the Congress.

When we were told this we protested. I stood up to argue that how can we call it the Bumiputera Congress when the non-Malays were going to be part of the Congress and would decide on what the new post-NEP policy was going to look like? But Dr Mahathir's decision was final. The government will be organising it and the non-Malays were going to be part of it. Accept that or the government will proceed without the involvement of the Malay Chamber of Commerce.

We were mad as hell but could not do anything about it. Clearly the Malay Chamber had lost its monopoly on the NEP. The non-Malays were now going to have a say in what happens post-NEP. And that was when many of us in the Malay Chamber swung over to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah's Semangat 46.

Dr Mahathir and Umno had 'abandoned' the Malays and had opened up the new policy post-NEP to the non-Malays. This was a betrayal of the Malay cause; the way we saw it then. And Dr Mahathir was no longer regarded as the trustee of the Malays.

Surprisingly, Dr Mahathir had 'given the non-Malays a knife' but they did not use it. Dr Mahathir was in the mood to end the NEP and replace it with something else. We did not know what that something else was going to look like but surely with the non-Malays having a say in what it was going to be could not be something favourable to the Malays.

But the non-Malays did not pick up the knife offered to them. Dr Mahathir was clearly very angry. His response was that the government had given us the opportunity to sort this out amongst ourselves and since we had failed to do that then we have given the government no choice but to unilaterally decide what the new post-NEP policy was going to look like.

In 1990, Barisan Nasional won only 53.4% of the votes and 70.55% of the Parliament seats (and lost Kelantan to PAS-Semangat 46).

In 1992, the Third Bumiputera Economic Congress was held.

In 1995, Barisan Nasional won 65.2% of the votes (the highest ever: even better than in the 'historical' 2004 general election) and 84.38% of the Parliament seats.

The 'message' from the 1995 election result was that the people were happy. Hence I decided to leave the Malay Chamber of Commerce. It was futile to continue if the people were happy with the government and all our effort regarding what to do with the NEP, or post-NEP, had gone to waste.

Now you know why I get very vocal and abrasive with people who shout and scream about the NEP. And don't even try to give excuses as to why all this happened. I know what happened. I was there. You were not. And all your comments and views are based on conjecture, assumptions, guessing and speculation.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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GE13: Big battle for the silver state

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 05:17 PM PDT

Barisan Nasional is going all out to retain Perak after ousting the Opposition from a short-lived victory.

The Star

PERAK remains a hot state in this general election and all eyes are on whether Barisan Nasional can continue its grip on the state.

The Opposition wrested the state in the 2008 polls with a combined number of 31 seats won by the DAP, PKR and PAS as against Barisan's 28 seats.

But their victory was shortlived after three assemblymen – Datuk Hee Yit Foong (DAP-Jelapang), Osman Mohd Jailu (PKR-Changkat Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (PKR-Behrang) – quit their respective parties and Barisan regained control of Perak in less than a year after a court battle.

While some political observers believe the anger over the power change has since subsided, the resentment towards the trio continues.

Jelapang is likely to go back to DAP and Hee's political shelf-life is essentially over.

But the scenario may be different in Behrang and Changkat Jering. With a weak PKR and the Malay rural vote returning to Barisan, the ruling party is set to take back the two seats.

The Opposition bench was further reduced to 27 seats in June 2010 when Malim Nawar assemblyman Keshvinder Singh, who won on a DAP ticket, quit the party to become another Barisan-friendly independent assemblyman.

Come nomination day, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir and Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Husni Hanadzlah, who is Tambun MP, will be among the most-watched candidates.

There has been speculation that Dr Zambry will vacate his Pangkor state seat and move to the Federal level, while Husni will contest a state seat and take over as mentri besar.

Two parliamentary seats that will be watched are Ipoh Timur, where Lim Kit Siang is the incumbent, and Batu Gajah, now held by cili padi Fong Po Kuan.

Lim has moved to Johor and will contest the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat, and he is likely to take Fong with him.

Lim's transfer is taking away his party's focus in Perak but it will still be tough for Barisan to take back the two seats from DAP.

There are 59 state seats in Perak, and Umno is confident of winning up to 32 seats – improving its tally by five from the previous polls.

The MCA, which fielded candidates in 16 seats in 2008, won only Chenderiang through Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon.

It hopes to retain this seat and regain four more – including Teja and Keshvinder's Malim Nawar, besides Kepayang.

Pokok Assam, which the DAP won, is said to be another seat where the MCA has a "fighting chance".

MCA president and state MCA chairman Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek, with Dr Zambry's help, has resolved long-standing land issues that had plagued some 1,500 farmers, including ornamental fish breeders in the state. Many of them are in Teja and Malim Nawar.

The state government has also given 1,011ha of land to nine Chinese independent schools while Dr Mah is said to be instrumental in getting representatives from the school boards and the private sector to set up a joint venture in oil palm plantation.

The venture, the first of its kind in Malaysia, saw the schools jointly getting RM3mil a year for 30 years, beginning last year.

Meanwhile, the MCA has also set up a team to take care of the electorate in Malim Nawar. It is headed by Kampar MP Datuk Lee Chee Leong as the state seat comes under his parliamenatry constituency.

In Kepayang, Perak MCA secretary Datuk Tan Chin Meng continues to serve the people despite losing to little-known Loke Chee Yan of the DAP.

There is talk that Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming has offered to stand in Kepayang but his bid has reportedly irked party colleague and Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran.

The state seat is within his parliamentary area and Kulasegaran is said to be eyeing it for his assistant,

Nga and Kulasegaran have not been on good terms with both men often seen attacking each other. In a way, they have paved the way for the MCA to increase its chances of winning Kepayang.

The MIC does not have any state seat in Perak but the MCA, in the Barisan spirit of cooperation, is said to be also willing to give it the Buntong seat if its ally has a winnable candidate.

Meanwhile, at parliamentary level, the MCA is confident of retaining Tanjung Malim, Kampar and Lumut while it also sees Gopeng, which it lost to the PKR's Dr Lee Boon Chye, as a winnable seat this time around.

In Gerik, incumbent MP Datuk Tan Lian Hoe from Gerakan is not certain if she will be fielded again there as there is talk that Umno also wants the seat.

In Beruas, where Perak DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham is the incumbent, could also prove to be tough for Perak Gerakan chief Datuk Chang Ko Youn to oust him.

Political observers say the chances of the Gerakan winning any seat in this election is anything from slim to nil.

There are 24 parliamentary seats in Perak; with the Barisan holding 13 via Umno (eight), the MCA (three), Gerakan and MIC (one each). The other seats are held by the DAP (six), PKR (three) and PAS (two).

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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Future dim for PI Bala’s family
MACC to ‘act accordingly’ on new video expose evidence, says director
'Rulers are above politics'
Dr Boo in tight spot over Kit Siang’s candidature
Anwar says may not defend Permatang Pauh seat
‘Kiram target of Malaysian hit squad’
Anwar mulls contesting in Perak
‘Husam may lose in Putrajaya’
They want to frame me, says Taib
Parliament dissolved? Not true
PKR claim Azzimuddie is Malaysian
Undercover sting exposes Malaysia land-grab
Action against lawyer in Sarawak exposé clip, say advocates group

Future dim for PI Bala’s family

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 11:21 PM PDT

With Balasubramaniam's death, his wife and three children are now in dire financial state.

Anisah Shukry, FMT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"The priority is for Bala's children to be given the opportunity to finish their education, and to ensure that someone who sacrificed all he had for the nation, would not have his family left in poverty," said Loh.
Balasubramaniam's lawyer, Americk Singh Sidhu, said the funds would immediately be used to help Santamil Selvi and her children return to India, where they had been residing for the past five years.

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

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

Urgent monetary woes

The lawyer dismissed rumours that Bala had received RM5 million for retracting his claims that Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor were linked to Altantuya's murder .

"If Bala had never revealed the truth, then maybe he would have got the RM5 million. But he stuck to his stance that the first statutory declaration was the truth, and the funding stopped," said Americk.

Americk also clarified that the RM750,000 businessman Deepak Jaikishan had given the family in 2008 had already run out as the family had no other source of income.

"Bala and his wife have not been working for five years. Because they are Malaysian citizens, they were not able to gain employment in India."

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 09:44 PM PDT

By Zurairi AR and Mohd Farhan Darwis, TMI

Ongoing investigations against Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud will continue following new leads that have emerged, the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) said today.

This follows a 16-minute covert video revealed by Global Witness (GW) implicating Taib (picture) and his family with shady land deals, which surfaced in the media yesterday.

"The investigation has been ongoing. With the new evidence that has emerged the MACC will act accordingly," its director of investigation Datuk Mustafa Ali told The Malaysian Insider by text message here.

The corruption watchdog had two years ago confirmed that they were investigating Taib over allegation of timber corruption.

"We are investigating Taib Mahmud and whatever our action is, we cannot reveal at this moment," MACC commissioner Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed was quoted as saying in June 2011.

Civil society groups had earlier today demanded an immediate response from Putrajaya and MACC, which they claimed had been toothless in probing the Sarawak chief minister over his alleged ill-gotten riches.

The group of civil society organisations had also asked for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on the matter before the 13th general elections which are expected very soon.

"This is very terrible for Malaysia ... (We need) nothing less than RCI. We call the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to call an RCI to investigate this issue," Sarajun Hoda, a representative of reform movement Aliran.

Meanwhile, the Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) has indicated that they will investigate and act against the lawyer featured in the GW clip.

The Sarawak lawyer, identified as Alvin Chong, allegedly represented sisters Fatimah Abdul Rahman and Norlia Abdul Rahman who were recorded in the video describing potentially illegal deals.

Both are daughters of former state chief minister Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'akub and first cousins with the incumbent CM Taib.

"AAS will take appropriate action after due inquiry. One of the possible courses of action is to refer any complaints received on this matter to the Advocates Inquiry Committee," a spokesman from AAS told The Malaysian Insider.

READ MORE HERE

'Rulers are above politics'

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 07:05 PM PDT

Perak Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah (left) speaking at Istana Iskandariah in Kuala Kangsar yesterday. With him Raja Kecil Besar Perak Raja Datuk Seri Iskandar Dzulkarnain (centre) and Perak finance officer Datuk Ghazali Jalal.

ROYAL REMINDER: Do not drag palace into partisan politics, says Raja Dr Nazrin

(NST) - ALL parties and groups with political leanings have been reminded not to drag the palace into their partisan politics just to shore up their image.

Perak Regent Raja Dr Nazrin Shah issued the stern reminder following actions taken by certain political quarters who manipulated the content of his royal addresses and speeches to push their own political agenda.

Without naming anyone but pointing out that he had been informed that such manipulation had been taking place lately, he said the tone of his speeches was altered to imply that it was he who had delivered them.

"This was done to increase the influence of the political groups and degrade their opponents.

"The act gives an incorrect impression and can create misunderstanding among a large number of people as though I have directly expressed support for a certain group and derided the other group.

"Any act that links my name and person to gain political support can actually be deemed as having dragged the palace into partisan politics.

"This is improper and has breached manners of civility and prudent political order," he said in his address at Istana Iskandariah here yesterday.

He said this in his speech when officially launching "Meletak Kerja" (start of work) in conjunction with the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah's 85th birthday celebrations at Istana Iskandariah.

He said political parties and groups should not desecrate the nation's cultural customs and traditions in the excitement of garnering political support.

"The royal ruler and the throne will remain above party politics, will be neutral and will not favour any political groups."

He pointed out that the same message was stressed in the Perak Royal Council's 151st meeting on March 12 where council members were reminded to be vigilant and careful with their words and actions so as not to misrepresent the role of the royal institution.

Council members had been reminded to reflect on their independent nature and not to be involved in programmes organised by political parties for their own political aims, he added.

"With the current political scenario becoming increasingly fragmented, council members need to be smarter and make intelligent interpretations so that the (Perak) royal institution and the (Perak Ruler's) council are able to maintain an independent image and stay above partisan politics.

"The ruler has never expressed support for or against any political parties.

"I have instructed council members instead to take on the role of wise men who can play the role of mediators to resolve problems within the community."

Dr Boo in tight spot over Kit Siang’s candidature

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 06:50 PM PDT

(Bernama) - DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang's decision to contest the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat and spearhead the party's Johor election machinery has been likened to a vote of no confidence against state DAP chairman Dr Boo Cheng Hau.

Gelang Patah Umno division head Datuk Abdul Aziz Sapian said Lim's candidature would cause dissatisfaction not only among Dr Boo's supporters in Gelang Patah, but also Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) members.

"It's clear that DAP top leaders have lost faith in Dr Boo to lead the state election machinery by sidelining him. The cracks in Johor DAP are worsening," Abdul Aziz told Bernama.

Kit Siang's candidature was confirmed by PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Skudai last night.

Abdul Aziz, who is also Nusajaya assemblyman, said PKR members would be angry for they had lost a seat they had been contesting in previous general elections.

"Dr Boo's supporters may not be able to accept the decision for their boss had been openly embarrassed," said Abdul Aziz, adding that this was the culmination of cold relationship between Dr Boo and Kit Siang and his son, Lim Guan Eng, who is DAP secretary-general.

Dr Boo, who is also Skudai assemblyman, had been eyeing for the Gelang Patah seat to unseat incumbent Member of Parliament Tan Ah Heng of Barisan Nasional who won by a majority of over 8,000 votes in 2008.

Dr Boo had been embroiled in an open verbal war with Johor PKR chairman Datuk Chua Jui Meng over the right to contest the Gelang Patah seat.

However, Dr Boo declined comment when asked about Kit Siang contesting in Gelang Patah.

Anwar says may not defend Permatang Pauh seat

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 06:17 PM PDT

By Mohd Farhan Farwis and Emily Ding, TMI

Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim may leave his Permatang Pauh seat and contest in Perak or Selangor instead.

"There is a likelihood, but it means… I haven't made a definite decision because there have been suggestions that I should go down to Perak or Selangor, and I'm weighing the possibility of going down to Perak," he said today, in response to media questions at a press conference in PKR's headquarters.

Anwar (picture) did not say, however, who would replace him in Permatang Pauh.

When asked whether PKR vice president Nurul Izzah Anwar would replace him in his current constituency, he said: "She's focused on Lembah Pantai, why disturb her? Let (Datuk Raja) Nong Chik alone disturb her ok lah," he said.

Anwar also announced five PKR candidates who would contest in Sarawak.

They are Baru Bian in Limbang, Ali Biju in Saratok, Roland Engan in Barak, Abun Sui in Ulu Rejang, and Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh in Batang Lupar.

‘Kiram target of Malaysian hit squad’

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 05:09 PM PDT

The sultanate's spokesman says Malaysian commandos are in the Philippines to liquidate the Kiram family.

(Agencies) - MANILA: The Sulu Sultanate revealed an elaborate assassination plot against its leader, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, and members of the royal family.

Abrahim Idjirani, spokesman of the sultanate, said a Malaysian colonel named Sunny Ng had entered the Philippines with four Malaysian commandos with a mission to liquidate the Kiram family and their supporters.

Speaking at the Kirams' residence in Taguig City, Idjirani said the Malaysian commandos have enlisted the help of the New People's Army recruits from Quezon to carry out the assassination.

The mission, Idjirani said, was relayed to them by a Filipino lawyer who was approached by Malaysian businessman named Kenneth Lee to talk to the Malaysian assassins.

The lawyer, whom Idjirani refused to name, previously worked as a legal counsel of Pastor Saycon, the sultanate's political adviser.

"In the light of this development, we would like to ask the government: Have we surrendered the sovereign control of our country that we allow a Malaysian hit squad to perform its terrorist acts in the Philippines?" Idjirani told reporters.

Idjirani said Ng's group met Saycon's former lawyer at the Genting Palace, a restaurant at the Resorts World in Pasay City around noon on Monday. The Malaysian squad stayed at the Maxim's Hotel, also located at Resorts World.

Ng had asked Lee to trace the home address of Sultan Kiram, who in turn contacted the lawyer.

"The lawyer told us that he is willing to confront the Malaysians and stand as witness against them in court," Idjirani said.

Kiram urged the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the military to investigate into the reported assassination plot by Malaysia.

"We have to call on the policemen and the NBI to investigate this matter. Unless they believe that we are foreigners, it's their responsibility to protect us because we are Filipinos," Kiram said.

Anwar mulls contesting in Perak

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 05:06 PM PDT

The opposition leader is considering moving out of his traditional stronghold in Penang in the coming general election.

G Vinod, FMT

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim may contest a parliamentary seat in Perak in the coming general election.

He said this when questioned on whether he would defend his Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Penang.

"Some say I should go to Perak or Selangor but I am thinking of the former. But no decision has been made. I'm still considering it," said the PKR supremo.

However, Anwar dismissed speculation that he might move to Lembah Pantai, where his daughter Nurul Izzah is the incumbent MP.

"Let her stay in Lembah Pantai. Why would I want to disturb her? [Raja] Nong Chik [Federal Territories and Urban Well-Being Minister] is already disturbing her enough," he said, with a chuckle.

Earlier this week DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang was announced as the candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in Johor, moving away from Ipoh Timur.

Anwar made the announcement when addressing a 10,000-strong crowd at a field near Sutera Mall, Skudai, for the 47th DAP party anniversary celebrations on Monday.

Speculations are rife that top guns from Pakatan Rakyat would be moved out from their strongholds to tough seats, in order to increase the chances of winning federal power.

Anwar has been the Permatang Pauh MP since his days in Umno until he was sacked from the party in 1998 and jailed on corruption charges.

Nevertheless, the constituents backed his wife, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in three general elections until she relinquished the seat in 2008, to make way for Anwar.

He won back the seat with over 15,000 votes majority in the by-election.

Anwar also announced that Sarawak PKR chief Baru Bian would be contesting for the Limbang parliamentary seat in the general election.

He also announced other candidates; Ali Biju ( Saratok), Roland Engan (Baram), Abun Sui (Hulu Rejang) and Abang Zulkifli (Batang Lupar)

"These are other people we have decided for now. We will announce on other candidates later on," said Anwar.

READ MORE HERE

‘Husam may lose in Putrajaya’

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 05:01 PM PDT

Malay daily Sinar Harian says the parliamentary seat is a BN stronghold and the potential PAS candidate must offer something substantial to win over urban Malay voters.

(FMT) - If PAS fields Husam Musa as its candidate for Putrajaya, chances are he would be doomed as Putrajaya is a Barisan Nasional stronghold, reported Malay daily Sinar Harian.

Husam is currently Kelantan state exco, Salor assemblyman and PAS vice-president. He was Kubang Kerian MP from 1999 to 2004.

Yesterday, Sinar Harian reported Husam's willingness to contest the Putrajaya parliamentary seat currently held by Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who is also Umno secretary-general.

Jayum Jawan of the National Council of Professors, however, did not totally discount Husam's chances of winning as he is well-versed in issues affecting the middle class.

Jayum, who is deputy head of the council's politics, security and international affairs, said Husam is a man of integrity and stands a good chance if PAS and Pakatan Rakyat pick him for the seat.

"The urban Malay voters needs to be served with food for thought if PAS truly wants to capture Putrajaya parliamentary seat," said Jayum.

'Nizar's move not official'

Berita Harian, meanwhile, reported Perak PKR chairman Muhammad Nur Manuty's displeasure over PAS' move to announce Nizar Jamaluddin as a candidate for Changkat Jering.

Nur Manuty, who was named as candidate for Bagan Serai parliamentary seat, said that the decision to field Nizar in Changkat Jering was not the official stand of Pakatan.

READ MORE HERE

They want to frame me, says Taib

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 04:57 PM PDT

A video detailing the inner workings of a land deal along with ways to circumvent government policies has riled Chief Minister Taib Mahmud.

KUCHING: Against mounting speculations of a bid to oust him, a visibly angry Sarawak Chief Minister Taib Mahmud has dismissed as "naughty" a 16-minute covertly recorded documentary which included interviews with his estranged cousins – the Rahman sisters – and lawyers over a land deal.

Even as one of the lawyers in the video vehemently denied volunteering information, claiming that he was "trapped", Taib said the secret video was an attempt to "frame" him and that the "evidence" was subjective.

"You look at that [video]. I think it is a bit naughty of them to use their big power to blacken my name.

"They want to create something … [then] create something more credible. They are trying to frame people like me with evidence from [just] anybody… with evidence that can be interpreted [either way]… even you can say [to someone] 'you come [with me] I go [to] see chief minister but is it me [asking] or something … " Taib said in response to London-based NGO Global Witness' incriminating video, excerpts of which were aired over Al Jazeera on Monday.

In the video documentary, Global Witness posed as a foreign investor seeking to buy land for oil palm plantations in Sarawak.

The ensuing interviews, caught by a hidden camera, detailed how the sale process would be handled, how the natives will be dealt with, taxes avoided and how "personal kickbacks" would allegedly be paid to Taib.

But Taib has questioned the authenticity of the video and allegations that he had intermediaries working for him.

Said Taib: "Back in the 1980s, I was in charge of forestry… I made a public declaration and I said nobody is my intermediary because I don't believe in deals. Everything got to be done according to government procedure."

Asked if the video evidence was proof of corruption, Taib retorted: "OK. If that's what is so-called proof.

"[But] could it not be someone trying to promote themselves to become an agent to get favours from me? [In which case] it has nothing to do with me, right?"

'Easy' access to Taib

Neither admitting nor denying the allegations in the video, Taib continued to say that he had estranged ties with his uncle, former Sarawak chief minister Rahman Yakub, and his cousins.

In the tape, Rahman's daughters allegedly claimed they had "easy" access to Taib and that all land transactions were legitimate as it came via directives from the Chief Minister himself.

When asked about the women, Taib spewed: "Do you know that cousin?

"Did you find out what was the relationship between their father and me… is it friendly or not?

"We were fighting at one time. [Surely] that cousin cannot be my most trusted… but it's up to you."

Taib was referring to the 1987 attempt to oust him by Rahman. The bid was branded as the Ming Court Affair. Two years earlier, Taib had removed Rahman from the position of governor of Sarawak – which incidentally he gave Rahman – following a fissure between uncle and nephew over Rahman's "influence" over state matters such as land development permits, government contracts and timber licences.

With Rahman out of the way, Taib has lorded over Sarawak and its vast lands since. Much of Sarawak's rainforest has allegedly been deforested under the pretext of development, largely displacing the indigenous communities.

READ MORE HERE

Parliament dissolved? Not true

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 04:53 PM PDT

A SMS from an unknown source creates a stir that Parliament would be dissolved today.

(FMT) - A SMS message, claiming that Parliament has been dissolved today, created a buzz among Malaysians this afternoon warranting the Prime Minister's Office to dismiss it as a rumour.

"Khabar angin yg menyatakan Parlimen akan dibubarkan hari ini, oleh Perdana Menteri @NajibRazak, tidak benar sama sekali (the rumour that Parliament will be dissolved today by the Prime Minister is not true)," the Prime Minister's Office said in a Twitter message at about 1pm today.

This was followed by another Twitter message from the Prime Minister's press office stating: "Talk that the Parliament will be dissolved today allegedly by the Prime Minister is false."

The nation is eagerly waiting for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to dissolve Parliament to pave the way for the country's 13th general election.

Analysts, politicians and political pundits have all predicted the dates on the impending polls, with many saying that Parliament would be dissolved this month.

The current Parliament term ends on April 28. However, Najib is very unlikely to go the full stretch and is expected to call for election anytime now.

This morning, a SMS in Bahasa Melayu caused a stir that Parliament had been dissolved.

The SMS read: "Following is the full transcript of the Prime Minister's statement at a special press conference at the Prime Minister's Office, Putrajaya at 12.35 this afternoon;

"I wish to announce about the dissolution of Parliament, after having an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has consented to the dissolution of Parliament effective today to pave way for the 13th general election.

"The Yang di-Pertuan Agong has signed the Parliament dissolution consent declaration. With that, state governments are also advised to dissolve their state assemblies effective today. The Election Commission has been informed of this development."

Below is the original text which was spread via SMS:

READ MORE HERE

PKR claim Azzimuddie is Malaysian

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 12:59 PM PDT

(fz.com) - In a shocking revelation, PKR has claimed that Raja Muda Azzimuddie Kiram, the self-proclaimed crown prince of Sulu and leader of the armed group that intruded into Sabah, is a Malaysian.

In a press conference today, PKR strategist Rafizi Ramli claimed Agbimudin @ Azzimuddie Kiram was a public officer at the district office of Kudat.

Azzimuddie Kiram had led his followers, who numbered around 200 and were armed, to Lahad Datu on Feb 9 and holed up in Kampung Tanduo.

Following three weeks of failed negotiations, the Malaysian government launched Ops Daulat offensive against the Sulu terrorists on March 5 after they killed eight policemen in Lahad Datu and Semporna on March 1 and 2.

The death toll currently stands at 10 Malaysian security forces (including two soldiers) and 63 terrorists.

More to follow at: http://fz.com/content/pkr-claim-azzimuddie-malaysian

Undercover sting exposes Malaysia land-grab

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 12:47 PM PDT

Allegations of corruption get louder following secret tapes showing plunder of resource-rich Sarawak province.

Florence Looi, Aljazeera

Plantations and logging are ravaging Malaysia's majestic Borneo region and indigenous people who have lived for centuries here say they are increasingly being uprooted from their once-pristine lands.

Watch Al Jazeera's video at: http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2013/03/2013318131755948174.html

But as the timber and palm oil companies swarm over the rugged landscape of resplendent rivers and ancient rainforests, villagers in Long Napir in the country's biggest state Sarawak have vowed to thwart any further land-grabs.

The village is a settlement of longhouses, the traditional communal housing favoured by indigenous people in eastern Malaysia's Borneo island.

Under the Sarawak Land Law, indigenous people have rights over areas as long as they can prove they have lived in or used the lands prior to January 1, 1958.

But the surrounding ancient rainforests that are so essential to their traditional way of life is under threat because of logging and plantation companies. Over the past 30 years, Sarawak - one of the richest Malaysian states - has become one of the largest exporters of tropical timber.

Despite its wealth, profits have failed to trickle down, and the people here are some of the poorest in the country.

Long Napir villagers lay the blame for their plight squarely on one man: the state's powerful chief minister, Abdul Mahmud Taib, who is in charge of all land classification and the allocation of lucrative forestry and plantation licenses.

"He lives, the rest of us suffer," Tamin Sepuluh Ribu, a former village headman, told Al Jazeera. "We have no land to farm, our rivers have become muddy, there's hardly any fish left anymore."

'Coterie of cronies'

Global Witness, a non-governmental organisation working against environmental exploitation, has investigated and exposed the situation in remote eastern Malaysia.

An undercover Global Witness investigator posing as an investor was offered several opportunities to purchase land in Sarawak by company officials linked to Chief Minister Taib. In each instance, the land in question was occupied by indigenous communities, who have valid claims to ownership rights under Malaysian law.

Global Witness said the indigenous areas were being sold by companies with close personal or political ties to the chief minister.

Taib has held the post since 1981, and has been repeatedly accused of corruption during his nearly 32-year rule.

The US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur noted in one cable released by WikiLeaks: "Chief Minister Taib Mahmud … doles out timber-cutting permits while patrolling the underdeveloped state using 14 helicopters, and his family's companies control much of the economy."

The American cable added that, "All major contracts and a significant portion of land to be converted to palm oil plantations [including on indigenous 'customary land rights' that the state government has refused to recognize] are given to these three companies."

People in Sarawak are "fed up" with Taib's administration, "seen as only enriching his family and a small coterie of cronies", it said.

Under investigation

Global Witness released a November 2012 report titled, "In the future, there will be no forests."

"Taib's powerful executive position and personal responsibility for the issuance of lucrative logging and plantation licences has enabled him to systematically extract 'unofficial payments' from the state's timber tycoons for the enrichment of himself and his family," the report said.

Taib, meanwhile, denied the corruption allegations as "wholly untrue and malicious", said the report.

In 2011, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission launched an official investigation into Taib, which continues at present.

In secretly taped negotiations provided to Al Jazeera, the Global Witness investigator discussed buying land with company shareholders Fatimah Abdul Rahman and Norlia Abdul Rahman - Taib's first cousins. Fatimah admitted the parcel of land under discussion had been transferred to them by Chief Minister Taib.

"Yeah, he's the one who gave us the land. He's my cousin," Fatimah said, laughing.

In 2011, Taib gave his cousins 5,000 hectares of land for about $300,000 dollars, according to leaked land registry documents. Having secured agriculture and timber licences, they were trying to sell it a year later for more than $16mn.

Later, discussing the ease of receiving a forestry license, Fatimah told the Global Witness investigator: "The Land and Survey Department, they are the ones that issue this licence. Of course, this is from the CM's [Chief Minister's] directive, but I can speak to the CM very easily."

Fatimah and Norlia did not respond to Al Jazeera's requests for comment.

Action against lawyer in Sarawak exposé clip, say advocates group

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 12:45 PM PDT

(The Malaysian Insider) - The Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) will investigate and act against the lawyer featured in a covert video by Global Witness (GW) implicating state Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud and his family with shady land deals, said a spokesman.

The Sarawak lawyer, identified as Alvin Chong, allegedly represented sisters Fatimah Abdul Rahman and Norlia Abdul Rahman who were recorded in the video describing potentially illegal deals.

Both are daughters of former state chief minister Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'akub and first cousins with the incumbent CM Taib.

The Advocates Inquiry Committee is an independent statutory body separate from AAS, consisting senior lawyers from the state appointed by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak. The lawyers in both Borneo states are not under the jurisdiction of the Malaysian Bar, which only represents lawyers in the Malay peninsula.

The Malaysian Insider understands that complaints against AAS members can be lodged by the public or its members themselves.

Kredit: www.malaysia-today.net

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Stop the Buku Jingga lie
GE13 – Make the right choice
When the Fog of War lifts on Lahad Datu Standoff!
Political suicide or stroke of genius?

Stop the Buku Jingga lie

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 07:12 PM PDT

Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy pens his political thoughts while on his 11th day of hunger strike.

By P Waythamoorthy, FMT

Today is the 11th day of my hunger viratham (hunger strike). I continue to feel weaker with each passing day.

The variety of visitors is broadening. Among the visitors yesterday were several politicians. I would like to thank all the politicians who visited me to show their concerns for my condition during my viratham.

However what I would also like to tell all my politician friends is that the time spent in coming all the way to the temple in Rawang to visit me probably is better spent in lobbying within their respective political parties to get their bosses to endorse the Hindrag Blueprint.

This is the best way for them to show concern. The condition for my going off the hunger strike is very clear:

The Malaysian government led by Najib Tun Razak must endorse Hindraf's 5-Year Blueprint in a binding manner to commit to a plan of implementation of all the six proposals in the blueprint as long as they remain the government,

The government-in-waiting of the Pakatan Rakyat led by Anwar Ibrahim must endorse the blueprint in a binding manner and commit to its implementation, should they be forming the next federal government.

My request to my politician friends is to help us to realize the blueprint.

Today I would like to lay out some of my thoughts on Pakatan's Buku Jingga and Hindraf's Blueprint.

It is a lie to say that the Buku Jingga covers Hindraf blueprint proposals.

Xavier's photo opportunity visit

I would like to make mention of an incident with one PKR politician Dr Xavier Jeyakumar who visited me yesterday.

When asked by one of the other visiting wellwisher as to why Pakatan was reluctant to sign the blueprint, he replied with a question of his own: "Why should we sign your blueprint when it is all in our Buku Jingga?"

The wellwisher then requested Xavier to show where exactly the Buku Jingga covered the Hindraf blueprint proposals. She got silence for the answer.

We were left wondering if Xavier had made that long trip just to convince me to drop our demands for the blueprint endorsement because Pakatan had it all covered.

Isn't it making a mockery of my basic purpose for the hunger strike, which Xavier made an occasion of, to visit?

He being a professional politician just came for the photo opportunity, that is all. If he really felt as he answered, then there clearly was no other purpose for his visit.

In any case, I would like to make it very clear that the Buku Jingga consists of the Common Policy Platform of the parties representing the Chinese interests and a section of the Malays and the Pakatan Agenda which covers eight broad areas and a 100 day action plan.

In all these, what you get other than broad statements of intent are some targets. There is no serious discussion in the Buku Jingga about the plans for realising any of these.

Another great lie

The Buku Jingga broad statements and goals just cannot cover the specific proposals of Hindraf's blueprint. It is apples and oranges.

Pakatan politicians have to stop lumping together what is logically incompatible. It is a lie. There is no way any Pakatan politician can answer the lady yesterday to show where the blueprint proposals are covered in the Buku Jingga. They are not!

The NEP had the stated goal of poverty eradication and economic restructuring so as to eliminate the identification of ethnicity with economic function. The NEP policy document much like the Buku Jingga stated their intentions in these kinds of broad statements, but then we all know how much of a lie the NEP had become.

It became a vehicle for hijacking the national resource – sapu bersih. In fact NEP was initiated in 1970, just the time the massive displacement of the Indian plantation workers began.

Instead of eradicating poverty for the Indian plantation workers, they were pushed deeper into a poverty trap by the development plans arising from the NEP. RM1.1 trillion were spent in the 10 development plans in the name of NEP.

How much of that went to eradicating poverty among the displaced estate workers?

READ MORE HERE

GE13 – Make the right choice

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 04:44 PM PDT

The choice at GE13, to me, is clear. A new government will assuredly give us reform.

By Kee Thuan Chye

Voters, you have to decide soon. The 13th general election has to be held at the latest within two months of April 28, when the current government's term expires. It may even be called next month if Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak has the gumption for it.

Meanwhile, if you haven't decided yet which coalition – Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat – should win federal power for the next five years, consider this.

After 55 years of ruling this country, where has BN got us?

The country is more divided than ever. We have been polarised on racial and religious lines for decades, but now we are divided by political leanings as well.

What about our economic progress?

According to International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, Malaysia's GDP per capita based on the Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) methodology amounted in 1980 to US$2,331. South Korea's was lower at US$2,302, and Taiwan's was slightly higher at US$3,571.

But in 2011, South Korea's figure rose to US$31,220 (an increase of 1,255%), Taiwan's to US$37,716 (up 956%), while Malaysia's stood at US$16,240 (up 596%).

What happened? How did South Korea overtake us and in 2011 record a figure that is double that of ours?

Some people say the GDP (PPP) per capita is not so comprehensive, so let's look at per capita income instead.

In 2011, South Korea's per capita income was US$22,424 and Taiwan's was US$20,083. How much was Malaysia's? US$9,656. Again, half that of South Korea's, and also Taiwan's.

Najib pledges to make us a high-income nation with a per capita income of US$15,000 in 2020. By that time, what do you think the per capita incomes of South Korea and Taiwan would be? Furthermore, would US$15,000 still qualify as high income then?

By the way, our neighbour, Singapore, that used to be part of Malaysia, has a per capita income of US$46,241, which is almost five times ours. And they don't have natural resources like we do.

In the last few years, the government has hardly been talking of making Malaysia an advanced nation, which is the goal of Vision 2020, tabled in 1991. It has been more than 20 years since, enough time to consolidate efforts to attain the goal, but we are apparently not near it. The talk these days is only about becoming a high-income nation instead. That's not the same as becoming an advanced nation.

Corrupt practices and economic leakages

Clearly, wastage, leakages, imprudent government spending and, above all, corruption have retarded our growth. And the problem is compounded by the ruling party itself being mired in corruption.

Is BN therefore likely to address this issue in a serious and concerted manner? Has it been doing so, apart from hauling in a few culprits from time to time?

Shouldn't we bring in a new government that is not so entrenched in this system of corrupt practices and economic leakages?

If we should, the 13th general election may be the only time to do it. Because if BN wins again, it is likely to gerrymander the electoral boundaries afterwards to its advantage and make it even harder for the opposition to win future general elections. In which case BN will be ruling Malaysia for many more years to come.

Would it then be likely to bring reform? Or would it rather continue to maintain the status quo to ensure it holds on to power and reap the rewards of being in government?

However, if the opposition coalition, Pakatan, were to win, what would be the biggest benefit to Malaysians? I think it would be the concretisation of the reality that a two-coalition system can work and is here to stay.

And isn't this what we need? If not for the March 8, 2008, electoral result, would we be feeling as important as we do today as the people who decide who should govern us? Would we be feeling that our votes do count? Would the government be listening to us as much?

A two-coalition system provides for a stronger opposition, and this is always good for applying pressure on the ruling party to do what is right and what is of benefit to the rakyat. When BN had its two-thirds majority, it enjoyed a monopoly. It could push anybody aside and any laws through Parliament. It could be arrogant. Even now, it still is but less so.

Do you think that if BN were not voted out come GE13 so that it would experience what it's like to be in the opposition, it would be able to reform itself in order to serve the people better rather than its own interests?

Look at Umno, the biggest party in the BN coalition. It is dominated by warlords – big ones and small ones. To them, losing their fiefdom is losing almost everything.

Holding office, even a relatively small one, opens the door to potential riches for the office holder and his supporters. The bigger the office, of course the greater the wealth. He will therefore not want to give it up.

That is why Umno's leaders are going around appealing to the party's members not to sabotage candidates selected to stand at GE13; the leaders know that those who are deprived of the opportunity will be envious of those who supplanted them, and they will be motivated to seek revenge against the latter.

This may be cutting off their noses to spite their faces because the act of sabotage can result in a defeat for the Umno candidate and therefore the party, but they don't care.

The point is, they lost their chance to stand – and with it their passport to wealth, like the extra percentage they load onto the costs of public projects to line their own pockets with or the kickbacks they get for giving approvals.

Their supporters, who will also lose out in terms of influence, business opportunities, etc, will go along with their act of sabotage. Why else is our prime minister merely half-hearted in weeding out corruption? Because it's too deeply rooted within his own party.

So how can we continue to give our votes to such a party or its coalition partners, like the MCA, the MIC, Gerakan, PBB, PBS, etc?

Posted: 19 Mar 2013 12:55 PM PDT

Patriotism in Sabah begins with Sabah and does not end with Malaysia.

Joe Fernandez

We have not heard the last of the Lahad Datu Standoff if it degenerates, as it appears more than likely now, into prolonged guerrilla warfare as in the southern Philippines, but perhaps more low-key.

There's a huge security vacuum in Sabah.

Witness the fact that 1.7 million foreigners, mostly illegal immigrants, flooded into Sabahby 2005 alone to dwarf the 1.5 million local population as Putrajaya looked the other way in a wink wink relationship with rogue elements. It's unprecedented in world history.

An estimated 800,000 of the foreigners including illegal immigrants are Suluks, many with MyKads which in the absence of state government sanction as the initiating party on a case by case basis, they are not entitled to obtain and not eligible to hold in Sabah. They may be matched in number only by the Bugis from Sulawesi in Indonesia. There's no love lost between these two large immigrant groups, the local Suluks in particular in the east coast having a strong sense of proprietorship, but that's another story.

Nature, according to the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, abhors a vacuum. (Aristotle was a student of Plato, a Greek philosopher, and a teacher of the Macedonian Alexander the Great who became King of the Greeks. Plato, in turn, was a student of Greek philosopher Socrates.)

The reasons for Lahad Datu, given the fog of war, may keep changing during the course of such a conflict.

The first casualty in a war is the truth.

Beheadings, mutilations a Public Relations disaster of highest magnitude

However, to accuse Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim of having a sinister hand in Sabah and Sulu is a simplistic notion, if not cheap politics of hitting below the belt, which will not camouflage Putrajaya's sins in Borneo and the southern Philippines. It will not cover up the fact that the Administration has blood on its hands on both sides of the Sulu Sea. Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Tian Chua was right to imply Putrajaya's bloody hands in his numerous statements reported recently on Sabah.

It cannot be denied that the current security situation in Sabah was created solely by Putrajaya which is responsible for the matter.

For starters, they dillydallied for three weeks in an act of extreme weakness if not desperation and to play politics with the issue because security in Sabah until recent days was under the Prime Minister's Department -- so more illegal immigrants can come in and enter the Electoral Rolls -- and not under the Police or Armed Forces.

Who trained the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) and gave them safe havens inSabah? MNLF leader Nur Misuari's recent statement on these issues must be taken seriously as he, more than Putrajaya, gets the benefit of the doubt in a balance of probabilities.

By the same token, we don't know whether the Sulu terrorists admitted to carrying out beheadings and other mutilations in Sabah during the on-going Lahad Datu Standoff. The Suluks have more to lose for such dastardly acts, if true. It would be a Public Relations disaster of the highest magnitude; play into Putrajaya's already bloodied hands, and turned the local population against them.

The truth, as usual, may be somewhere in between.

There may be rogue elements involved, if not on one side, then the other.

Or, it could be a distasteful display by the population within that specific locality for any number of reasons.

We can only await a special Parliamentary session on the crisis, a Royal Commission of Inquiry or a White Paper with bated breaths. Meanwhile, Tian Chua's sedition case should be stayed and not be used for cheap politics by the Najib Administration.

Malaysia has no stomach for war in Sabah after southern Philippines

In a reversal of the high stakes cheapo war game played for so long in southernPhilippines by Malaysia, Sulu "terrorists" in Sabah or from Sulu -- or freedom fighters in their language -- will have safe havens in the southern Philippines if the flare-up in Sabahcontinues. They will also have access to arms, men and material from the MNLF and its breakaway Abu Sayaff, noted for its kidnappings along the east coast of Sabah.

Malaysia will have no stomach for such a war after being allegedly engaged, overtly and covertly, in the long-simmering conflict in the southern Philippines.

If push comes to shove, and if there are no "beheadings" and similar atrocities on the part of the militants, the people of Sabah will not back Malaysia in a war against the Suluks, whether in Sabah or from Sulu. Put it down to their historical grievances over the unfinished business of Malaysia in Sabah and Sarawak and their ties to the Suluks. The Suluks, if they take advantage of the widespread anti-Malaysia feeling in Sabah and Sarawak, will be like the fish swimming in a sea of popular support. Patriotism in Sabah begins with Sabah and does not end with Malaysia.

The "heirs" know that possession is nine-tenths of the law when it comes to the negotiating table for a diplomatic and political solution. Even so, the Suluks in Sabah or from Sulu would have to unconditionally surrender any territory seized when the country (Sabah) regains its independence.

Defunct Sulu Sultanate no leg to stand on in Sabah

The "heirs" of the defunct Sulu Sultanate -- citing marginalisation and disenfranchisement -- may grab at least Felda Sahabat centred around the Tungku Township in Lahad Datu, this being part of the territory in the Sabah east coast which covers the waterways where Sulu used to extort tolls from the terrified traffic along them. This would force The Issue on Sabah & Sarawak: the UN would have to address the fact that No Referendum was held in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Malaya on Malaysia. Already, the UN has offered in the wake of Lahad Datu to intervene in Sabah.

The Cobbold Commission in 1962 was not a Referendum but a sampling of community leaders. Ironically, only the Suluk and Bajau communities polled agreed to Malaysia. The others, including the Orang Asal, were against the idea of Malaysia in Borneo to facilitate on demographic grounds the merger between Chinese majority Singapore and non-Malay majority Malaya.

Singapore held a Yes or No Vote on independence through merger with Malaya viaMalaysia.

Brunei stayed out of Malaysia at the 11th hour largely because of a rebellion in the sultanate against the idea of Malaysia.

The defunct Sulu Sultanate, of course, does not have a leg to stand on in Sabah or parts of it.

It has no private property rights to Sabah or any part of it.

It cannot claim sovereignty over Sabah.

Suluk marginalisation, disenfranchisement does not equate Sabah claim

All the "heirs' have is the 1939 Mackasie Ruling of the High Court of Borneo which recognises their right to collect RM 5, 300 per annum collectively from the Sabah Government. This is a token or fragment of history having largely only symbolic significance.

The defunct Sulu Sultanate's so-called transfer of sovereignty over Sabah not so long ago to the Philippines Government by Power of Attorney -- now expired -- is a nullity from the very beginning in international law.

The sovereignty of Sabah rests with its people.

The Sulu Sultanate died out, recorded the Madrid Protocols of 1877 and 1885, when its last Sultan died without leaving a male heir. Spain which was ruling the Philippines gave up all or any territorial claims in North Borneo under the Protocols with the United Kingdom and Germany. Read:

http://www.lawnet.sabah.gov.my/Lawnet/SabahLaws/Treaties/Protocol%28Madrid%29.pdf

The Suluks in Sabah, claiming marginalisation and disenfranchisement since 1963, given the continuing influx of Bugis illegal immigrants in particular and Usno being deregistered to make way for Umno, is another matter altogether. This cannot be related to the so-called Sabah claim.

Sabah became British colony after World War II

The Brunei Sultanate has denied giving any part of Sabah to the Sulu Sultanate.

Read:
http://www.malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/special-reports/54937-sabah-and-the-sulu-claims
http://www.bt.com.bn/golden-legacy/2013/03/07/sabah-and-sulu-claims

The entire land area of Sabah belongs to or potentially belongs to the Orang Asal under Adat as Native Customary Right (NCR).

Adat and the Orang Asal came long before the Sulu Sultanate's "Agreement" with the British North Borneo Chartered Company which obtained a Crown Charter from the Queen of England to rule Sabah on her behalf.

Sabah was never conquered in a battle or war by any party except by the Japanese during World War II, and this too was an unprovoked war in Sabah and therefore amounted to war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Japanese in Sabah were "defeated" by the British and subsequently surrendered.

So, by a legitimate Act of Surrender, War and Conquest, Sabah became British Territoryuntil it was returned to the Orang Asal and other Sabahans on 31 Aug, 1963 by self-determination. Even so, the Colonial Office in London agreed to purchase Sabah from the British North Borneo Chartered Company for 1.2 million pounds sterling.

Sarawak independent for 150 years under a Rajah

Malaysia (Malaya) does not have leg to stand on either in Sabah or Sarawak. Sabah and Sarawak, two independent countries, were dragged by the Malayan and British Governments against their will into Malaysia on 16 Sept 1963.

Sarawak became independent on 22 July, 1963 after a brief period of British colonial rule after World War 11 during which the Japanese occupied the country. Sarawak was an independent country under a Rajah for over 150 years before the Japanese marched in.

In an interview with Veronica Pedrosa of al Jazeera on Sun 17 Mar, 2013 at his home in Mindanao, Nur Misuari -- tagged the original Muslim rebel by the station -- said Malaysiahad no right to be in Sabah and Sarawak. http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2013/03/201331421944766446.htm

l
He challenged Malaysia to appear before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and prove its case on Sabah and Sarawak.

He said that Malaysia was a colonial occupying power in Sabah and Sarawak and accused it of using the MNLF-breakaway Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) as an instrument of its colonial policies.

He said peace would only come to the southern Philippines when Malaysia is removed from the equation. He expects MNLF-Manila peace talks to resume sometime this month in Jakarta.

On Sabah and Sarawak, Nur Misuari hinted that Malaysia "will be inviting some crisis" if it does not end the colonial occupation of these countries.

The chickens are coming home to roost

Even so, pending UN intervention; the Registrar of Societies (ROS) should allow the registration of Usno to pacify the Suluks in Sabah.

It should also rule that the parti parti Malaya have no business being in Sabah andSarawak. This is a violation of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement, one of the many constitutional documents making up the unwritten Constitution of Malaysia. It would become clear once the fog of war lifts that the presence of such parties in Sabah is among the reasons, albeit indirectly, for the Lahad Datu Standoff.

The chickens are also coming home to roost after the Election Commission, on the directive of a self-serving Putrajaya, naively divided the Electoral Rolls in Sabah as composed of Muslim Bumiputera, non-Muslim Bumiputera, Chinese and others.

The so-called Muslim Bumiputera on the Electoral Rolls is packed with illegal immigrants at the expense of local Muslims.

The non-Muslim Bumiputera category tries to drive a wedge between the majority Christian Orang Asal and minority Muslim Orang Asal when they are related to each other.

Rabu, 20 Mac 2013

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News

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