A KEY QUESTION FOR TAIB

Whois a owners of a Taib familysreal estate fortune?

By Sarawak report

Sarawakians have been entitled to a transparent answer, corroborated by documentary evidence,as towho actually owns a Taib familys massiveproperty portfolio. A statesman such as Abdul Taib Mahmud ought underneath law tobe compulsory to acknowledgement all his assets, so which he can be held accountable. However, he does not.

The Chief Minister earns only 20,000 Malaysian Ringgit a month, yet his family owns a skill sovereignty worth hundreds of millions US dollars in countries opposite a world. So far, thestory which a Chief Minister has sought to maintain is which his complete family (male as well as female, immature as well as old), have been excellent commercial operation people, who unexpected as well as concurrently discovered theirtalents in a early 1980s, rightafter he took power, as well as built their fotune through bona fide means or grand marriages towealthy foreigners.

Property worth billions of ringgit

Surely this highly dubiouscontention needs during slightest to be proven opposite a distant more obvious end which a idealisation ownership of much of thisproperty stays with a Chief Minister, who hasamassed aphenomenal happening during a expense of his people?

The Chief Minister should lay out prior to a Legislative Assembly proof which he is not a owners or beneficiaryof any of his familys resources as well as contention to independentfinancialscrutiny, as is routinelydone in countries like a UK. Not to do so would be to admit to a electorate which he is indeed a agedkleptocrat (an oldthief who rules)that he is widely considered to be.

H ome is a place to start

In laying out these proofsTaib should initial residence a questions surroundingSarawaks largest commercial operation conglomerate CMS. This outrageous association is largely made up of resources which have been privatised from a State, meaning which these assetsonce belonged to a people. Yet, according toCMSs own annual report of 2009,over 85% ofthe shares of this publicly listed association aredirectly owned bythe Chief Ministers closest family members.Given a privatisation ofthe CMS holdings wasoverseen by Taib Mahmud in his genius as combinedFinance Minister as well as Chief Ministerduring a 1990s andgiven his familys almost total acqusition of this publicly listed company, he needs to insist how there could have been no dispute of interest.

This means a Chief Minister contingency spell outhow a privatisation of a state association in to a personal familypossessioncould have appeared to have been in a public interest, which is his avocation in bureau to uphold. The increase of CMS now go but delay in to a Taib family bank accounts instead of a public purse. At current stock market prices a 329,445,840 shares listed in a CMS Annual Report of 2009 have been worth 823,614,600 Malaysian Ringgit. This means which CMS aloneis worth well over half a billion ringgit to a Taib family.

The Chief Minister also needs to insist how his wife managed to become a companys largest shareholder, notwithstanding carrying brought no money to their matrimony as well as carrying pursued no manifest career. Sarawakians contingency also be intrigued to know how, according toCMSs latestAnnual Report published Mar 2010, she has one after another to action in this genius a full year after her unhap! py demis e. In Sarawak, clearly,the strangest things can happen!

After Laila, Taibssons as well as daughters arethebiggest shareholders in Sarawaks greatest company. Taibs oldest son, Mahmud AbuBekir Taib, whois a Director, owns shares but delay as well as indirectly to a worth of200,000,000 MYR, (as does his hermit SulaimanAbdul Rahman Taib). He needs toexplain a start of hisgreat wealth, given a misery of his fathers family as well as a actuality hehadno manifest career prior to being appointedGroup Executive Director of CMSin 1995 elderly only 32. Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib serve needs to uncover which he is not holding any of those CMSshares in trust for his father.

A glance abroad

Likewise, how did thrusting business-woman Laila Taib as well as her quick-wittedchildren conduct to acquireshareholdings of $1.9 million Australian dollars each inSitehost Pty Limited in Australia at a back of in 1993? According to central companyrecords Taibs wife as well as kids, along with an engaging trio of commercial operation partners, invested $10 million altogether in to a association which owns as well as manages a Adelaide Hilton Hotel. The 3 commercial operation partners were Ting Sie Ping, Ting Sie Chuong as well as Ting Sie Huong, thesons of theSarawak businesstycoon Ting Pek Kiing.

The Ting familycontrol large logging interests as well as palm oil plantations in Sarawak andhave beenmajor constructors on a Bakun Dam. Their companies rest on a lucrative supervision contracts as well as timberlicenses which Taib Mahmud controls. Sarawakians have a right to know what suit of a money laid out in shopping a shares in Sitehost Pty Limitedwas provided by a Ting family.

Conflict of Interest

Abusing a position of political authority in orderto endowment contracts to a commercial operation partner is we! ll known as dispute of

interest.It is a very critical form of corruption. The Chief Minister needs to surprise his people how his relations with a Ting family in Sitehost Pty Limitedcan be explained in any other way.

Likewise,back homeTaib Mahmud, inhis positions as Chief Minister, State Planning Minister andFinance Minister, hasregularlyawarded his own familys company, CMS, outrageous supervision contracts at a back of closed doors as well as but an open tender. These contractsare in spin frequently sub-contracted for a fat profit inside of days.Just one e.g. isthe new parliament building. Itwas primarily awardedto CMS,however CMS thenimmediately sub-contracted a work for a transparent profit of a little 70 million Malaysian Ringgit a approach raid on Sarawaks poortax-payers.

Taib Mahmud contingency therefore infer which he is not a customer of CMS shares nor a genuine owners of a Taib resources abroad. More than ever it is time for transparency.

Filed under: corruption Tagged: Anak Sarawak Bangsa Malaysia, Barisan Nasional, Sarawak, Sarawak politics, Save Sarawak
See What ! Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Power shift in Selangor

Azmin Ali tactical pierce to take over a Selangor PKR care eventually becomes a reality. we contingency admit which we am not arcane to a complete sum of a problem inside of Selangor PKR though from pieces as well as pieces which we gather from a little inside man as well as what is being published in in between a lines, it is transparent which Azmin Ali is upon a roll. He is not distant from meeting his idealisation objective. we dont consider we need to spell it here but, it is coming which Khalid will remove his job as MB inside of a next few months.

Khalid presence as MB very much depends upon a support of PAS as well as DAP members. we design Selangor PAS will throw their support for Azmin, a same cannot be said about DAP. While both DAP as well as PR holds a same number of seats in Selangor, PAS will be a kingmaker. we am certain which Azmin group has done their task before rising a inner assault. There will be let things simmers down a whilst before coming a Sultan as Azmin appointment as MB is during a wish of a Sultan.

To a little it is vaporous upon who becomes a MB as quite clearly past 2 years PKR has been trying very tough to destroy themselves. Many doubt which it will make any disproportion during a rate of inner squabbles inside of PKR for a quarrel of in front of as well as power. In my last writing ,I have suggested which celebration positions as well as supervision in front of is too be separated. we goal which is a pierce which is taken by PKR. The inner fighting inside of a Party contingency stopped as well as domestic infrastructure need to be strengthen.

It is goal which Azmin right away can start to devise as well as groom professionals as potential possibilities for a next General Election. we goal Azmin will not focus in bathing his most appropriate friend or his patriot though focus upon a bathing a most appropriate chairman for a job.

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As a resident of BA, we welcome Azmin appointment as Selangor PR arch as well as maybe a eventual appointment as MB. we goal right away he can pierce a Selangor supervision during greater profitableness in assisting a abandon housing areas in my area. It is hoped which we will get a little income for infrastructure as well as highway improvements. The downside of it is that, from what we was told Azmin is understanding of KLORR.

He has not made any open central stand upon this matter. What is capricious would be a building a whole upon a blank couple in between BA as well as Taman TAR where Azmin resides. This is something which is long owing as well as is partial of a master devise of BA when a community first opened. we consternation what is Azmin central in front of upon this matter where a highway can internationalized (or mengantarabangsakan) Taman TAR.

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

PKR Retreat : Much Ado over Nothing

June 27, 2010

PKR Retreat : Much Ado over Nothing

By Debra Chong as well as Yow Hong Chieh

As a PKR retreat ended, celebration officials disclosed that only Selangors administrative problems were lifted during a list as well as not an purported coup to replace a mentri besar.

The embattled Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim was blank for most of a partys two-day talks, that saw appearance from some 80 leaders from a national, state as well as division levels. Khalid, who is also PKR Selangor chief, made a late appearance around noon during a tighten of a brainstorming sessions, though refused to speak to reporters.

Party report arch Latheefa Koya pronounced a Khalid emanate was not mentioned during all. Deputy president, Syed Husin Ali, discharged rumours of a rift between Khalid as well as alternative celebration leaders as small media hype.Its a whimsical creation of a media, he told The Malaysian Insider.

But celebration elections executive Fuziah Salleh certified Selangor was discussed during a back of closed-doors.She pronounced a celebration broadly talked about a states weaknesses as well as strengths in conditions of concept, principles, citation as well as strategy; as well as how to make firm a administration department to propel a Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bloc towards Putrajaya.

Fuziah denied Khalid being pounded for not following up upon his previous pledges to a partys central leadership during a inhabitant convention earlier this month.I would disagree with that. During a congress, in fact, a mentri besar pronounced he would do a few things, she said, citing Khalids preference to appoint a new executive of communications for PKR Selangor.

Maybe [its because] Khalid is wearing dual hats, she said, pointing to a corporate captain-turned-politicians twin role as state celebrati! on arch as well as state CEO.

Maybe there is a confusion there. Maybe one hat is bigger than a alternative so maybe people do not realize that hes wearing [two hats], pronounced Fuziah in his defence. She also denied PKR Selangor members expected to be funded from a states coffers, as had been alleged.

The celebration has never been run by state money. It is wrong, she stated firmly.

The celebration has always been run by the own fundraising, the own money, she claimed. Party members should not design to easily embrace funds upon that score, she pronounced as well as combined a top leaders have explained this to members during a reduce levels.

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Would new Transport Minister support Port Klang Authority in withholding the next payment of RM772 million to KDSB turnkey contractor for the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ)?

Would a new Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Kang Cho Ha await Port Klang Authority (PKA) in self-denial a subsequent remuneration of RM772 million subsequent month to Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd. (KDSB) a turnkey executive to Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ)?In Sep 2007, we was given a inform of repayments by PKA to KDSB for RM4.6 billion from 2007 to 2017 in tie with holds raised by KDSB as well as which plunged a country in to a RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.The inform of repayments as reported to Parliament by a afterwards Parliamentary Secretary to a Finance Ministry, Datuk Seri Dr. Helmi bin Yahya stipulates a following repayments to KDSB:Year Amount (millions)2007RM510
2008RM660
2009RM660
2010RM772
2011RM487
2012RM733
2013RM170
2014RM170
2015RM170
2016RM170
2017RM179
Total` RM4,681PKA has repaid KDSB RM1.83 billion from 2007 to 2009 as well as is scheduled to repay a RM772 million due this year in 4 tools between Jun thirty to July 31.As PKA had filed dual polite suits against KDSB final Sep for overcharging for a PKFZ project, alleging which KDSB had done a fake claim of RM83 million for dual development works, as well as with a PKA study alternative claims against KDSB, a new Transport Minister should acknowledgement either he is supports a PKA secrete repayments of RM772 million to KDSB.Transparency International Malaysia boss Paul Low has referred to which an escrow comment be set up to reason a funds tentative a outcome of a lawsuit as PKA competence not get a money back if it makes a remuneration now as well as wins a suits later.In this connection, Malaysians have been entitled to know what has happened to a promise done by a Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail in Dec final year which more as well as bigger fishes would be prosecuted for a RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal, apart from a 4 management team arrested as well as charged in court.Abdul Gani had spoken in a participation of a head of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Datuk ! Abu Kass im Mohamed as well as a Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan which a charge of 4 management team were only a tip of a iceberg, which more people were to face charges in propinquity to a PKFZ liaison as well as which there were still several stages of review in to this case.This is a New Straits Times inform dated 11th Dec 2009 upon Ganis press discussion announcing a charge of 4 management team in tie with a PKFZ scandal:This is only a initial proviso of investigations as well as there will be more, Gani said. He additionally pronounced his office, together with MACC as well as a police, had been investigating a liaison for several months. There have been lots of issues involved, legal as well as factual, which have been not usually complex, though need substantial amount of hours of
evidence gathering. The offences investigated embody blurb crime, money laundering, abuse of energy as well as corruption. We have to look during so many people as well as brand who is conspiring with whom. If we ask me, everybody concerned is a large fish. Gani pronounced a agencies had to brush as well as separate all available materials to establish a box against a perpetrators. This is positively not a finish of a make a difference though only a beginning. He stressed which they must answer for their purposes as well as actions. we decided to cite charges against these people as we could not wait for for a authorities to complete their investigations in to a whole intrigue as which will take a long time. Other people will be charged in stages. Gani added which a agencies were really serious about a box as well as had not been influenced by any quarters. We have been really objective. The military as well as a MACC have done a excellent job. It cannot be denied which it will take us a long time to complete a examine though do not pull us as this can outcome in an unfair investigation, he said.After Ganis talk about This is positively not a finish of a make a difference though only a commencement ! as well as They must answer for their purposes as well as actions, Malaysians have been entitled to know what has happened to a assorted phases of a MACC review in to a PKFZ liaison as well as either a thunderous overpower in a past six months is because there is not going to be further movement whatsoever upon a PKFZ files in both a MACC as well as a Attorney-Generals Chambers?
See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

The Rosli Dahlan Trial gets a new Judge in the 11th Hour!

June 27, 2010

The supernatural similarities in a Trials of Anwar Ibrahim as well as Rosli Dahlan

by Din Merican

I worked with Anwar Ibrahim in Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR). you know his values, his ideals as well as his domestic vision. you supported his aphorism to struggle for a improved Malaysia.(Harapan Baru Untuk Malaysia). Circumstances shift as well as you have selected to do investigate as well as a little serious writing.

Quite detached from all that, you additionally know him personally. My personal knowledge of him was a basement for my idea which a sodomy charges were nothing some-more than domestic persecutions. Many Malaysians believe these shameful events will perpetually remain as a mark in a domestic as well as legal history of a country.

The benefaction global domestic meridian is one of openness, of transparency as well as great governance as well as of possibilities as well as hope. The goal of a improved universe is regenerated with a depart of George W. Bush as well as a recent improved Blair-Brown Laborites in USA as well as UK respectively. These leaders of a dual superpowers, who lied to a universe in sequence to invade Iraq, left office. The insolence of goal was reflected in a rise of Barrack Hussein Obama as President of a USA.

UMNO rejects improved family with Pakatan controlled states

In Malaysia, a goal for check as well as balance appears to be delivered upon Mar 8, 2008 when BN mislaid a 2/3 infancy in Parliament as well as 5 states fell to Pakatan Rakyat, a loose as well as right away uneasy coalition of PKR, DAP as well as PAS. The BN sovereign supervision was given a chance to uncover a acceptance of a concept of fede! ralism b y working with a state governments in these opposition controlled Pakatan Rakyat (PR) states. Did BN, as dominated by UMNO, accept this event for change? No, it did not.

Instead, UMNO went upon a usual shrewd approach to criticise a opposition governments in these 5 states. Being in carry out of a comparison manager arm of government, UMNO used a MACC to grasp a design of harassing, intimidating as well as forcing cross-overs of a diseased PR wakil rakyats so which UMNO/BN can seize carry out as well as form a supervision in these states.

Perak Saga

What UMNO could not grasp via a list box, they did by a force of might. So, a PR supervision of Perak fell. The peoples hopes as well as reverence in a Sultan of Perak, as a former Lord President as well as a most enlightened of a Malaysian royalty, who would urge a Rule of Law evaporated almost immediately. Reverence incited to scorn.

Teoh Beng Hock Case

In Selangor, a abuses of a MACC is best illustrated by a death of Teoh Beng Hock, killed by being thrown out of a window of a MACC Selangors office. The try to cover up this attempted murder angry Malaysians generally but some-more so a Chinese community. As an appeasement, an Inquest was held, usually to grasp a design of relegating it to turn stale news, as it right away appears to be.

The culmination of stupidity is when a Home Minister, Dato Hishammuddin Hussein Onn, as well as a de facto law Minister, Dato Nazri Aziz, publicly abused as well as challenged a famous Thai debate expert, Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, as an dangerous foreign expert witness. . Before you do that, they should ! have ref erred to a judgement of Judge Supang Lian who had laid open IGP Musa Hassan as an dangerous witness whose evidence is not to be believed.

Political Tsunami of GE12(March 8, 2008)

The results of GE 12 brought about a realization to UMNO which Sodomy you did not utterly finish off Anwar. UMNOs aphorism which Anwar Ibrahim is a domestic has-been was similar to senjata makan tuan. The unprecedented success of a PR fondness has resurrected Anwar as a saviour of real shift in Malaysia. UMNO realised which it could be in grave risk come subsequent GE13. UMNO indispensable to move Anwar down for a second time. There was a ready model in Sodomy I!

Sodomy 1

In Sodomy I, you saw a competence of a comparison manager (Mahathir bin Mohamad) in suborning a judiciary. The shameful legal papers of a assorted compromised judges have been all over a wall, generally of which Irrelevant Judge Augustine Paul, who is right away confronting boundless visualisation in his grave. It is there in a legal annals. Just open these law journals as well as you will assimilate a mishap which a judiciary went through given a sacking of a former Lord President of Malaysia, Tun Salleh Abbas. Unlike a Sultan of Perak, this commoner Lord President was done of sterner stuff. His warding off to produce to UMNOs demands, changed a legal landscape permanently.

Today, Malaysia has a eminence of carrying sacked a Lord President as well as multiform alternative Judges of a Supreme Court. If there was ever any great in a Abdullah Badawi administration, it was which his supervision done an reparation as well as paid compensation to these judges. But even so, which goodness is ! to be cr edited to a then Minister of Law, Dato Zaid Ibrahim. The irony is, today, Zaid Ibrahim is with PKR .

Devoid of any improved idea, PM Najibs think tank came up with Sodomy II. The environment in Sodomy II is worse, as well as not usually given it is a poor duplicate of Sodomy I. The frightful scene you have currently is a combination, never seen before, of a 3 branches of supervision i.e. a executive, a judiciary as well as a legislative, to move down one man.

The frightening unfolding is this IGP Musa Hassan as well as A-G Gani, as a tested comparison manager tool, have been regulating all their resources to support Anwar. The judiciary is headed by an UMNO allocated Chief Justice, Tan Sri Zaki Tun Azmi. Parliaments Speaker, Pandikar Amin Mulia, will chair a special cabinet which will decide upon Anwars fate as a partial of of Parliament in a APCO (Israeli infiltration) box brought about by Law as well as Parliament Minister, Dato Nazri Aziz.

I have been shuttling in between a dual justice bedrooms during a Jalan Duta Courts Complex to observe Anwars conference as well as Lawyer Rosli Dahlans trial. Anwars box is receiving publicity from a categorical tide media (MSM), nonetheless no longer front page, given he was a former DPM, a politician as well as a stream opposition leader. Anwars box is being reported by a mainstream media given there is propaganda worth to demean him by publicising a purported passionate exploits in a Malaysian society spooky with perverted sex stories.

The Lawyer Rosli Dahlan Trial

By contrast, Lawyer Roslis conference is being blacked out given he is usually a professional lawyer who got snared in a swindling to mislay a director CCID, Dato Ramli Yusuff, who was about to expose IGP Musa Hassans complicity with a underworld. Rosli was brought down given he defied A-G Gani who wanted ! to recov er a well known rapist Goh Cheng Poh @ Tengku Goh as well as tighten a box involving MASs RM 8 billion losses caused by a former chairman Tan Sri Tajuddin Ramli. It has right away turn necessary to mothball Roslis box in to unconcern given a MACC witnesses as well as DPPs have been right away badly bashed as well as unprotected in justice as law coercion officers who abused their powers. That a MACC is an agency which has gone rotten during a really pregnancy is amplified by a tragedy which befell Teoh Beng Hock who, similar to Rosli, was usually another witness, usually which former finished up dead!

The box opposite Anwar as well as which of Rosli have been as distant detached as well as as unfriendly as can be. Or is it? As you compared my records upon a trials of Anwar as well as Rosli which have been taking place almost during a same time in opposite justice bedrooms of a same Jalan Duta Courts Complex, you was astounded by a similarities in between a two.

From a start, Anwar insisted which a benefaction sodomy assign opposite him is a support up by a Barisan National Government regulating IGP Musa Hassan as well as A-G Gani. Anwar swore he will quarrel this to a end. Rosli as well insists which he has been bound up by IGP Musa Hassan as well as A-G Gani by regulating a MACC. This fact seems really transparent given all of a MACC witnesses have right away admitted which Rosli was never a suspect for any offence. He was merely indispensable as a witness. Since a day he was charged, Rosli had maintained which he was a victim of a swindling opposite his client. Apparently, Rosli had been advised to have a created illustration to A-G Gani to seek a withdrawal of a charge. But Rosli, similar to Anwar, is additionally a unapproachable Leo, as well as h! as refus ed to be seen as begging as well as grovelling to a scumbag similar to Gani Patail. Roslis quarrel to expose this trumped up assign deserves open attention generally given a MACC is right away being stripped exposed in court.

The accusers in both cases have been declared Saiful. In Anwars box it is Saiful Bukhari given a MACC IO who lodged a inform opposite Rosli is Saiful Ezral. In Anwars case, a faggot purported Anwar buggered him. In Roslis case, a faggot DPP Kevin Morais lied countlessly in sequence to cover up his lies (see my earlier article: The Liar Kevin Morais Buried In His Lies!).

Musa Hassan (the Mattress Carrier) as well as Gani Patail fabricated evidence opposite Anwar in Sodomy you as well as had mercuric promotions after which to give them a powers to right away harmonise Sodomy II. These same culprits have been a dark hands in a swindling opposite Dato Ramli Yusuff as well as a false assign opposite Rosli.

Anwar was during one time a President of a International Islamic University (IIU). Rosli was a first collection of law graduates from IIU, as well as substantially perceived his graduation scroll from Anwar.

The charge group opposite Anwar enclosed comparison DPP Nordin Hassan who was additionally a graduate of IIU. Nordin had a mercuric rise after Sodomy you as well as is right away additionally partial of a charge group in Sodomy II. In Roslis case, Dato Nordin Hasssan, given then promoted as Director of Prosecution MACC, was a dark hand behind Kevin Morais actions. In fact a DPPs prosecuting Rosli namely DPP Dzulqarnain as well as DPP Sophian have been additionally IIU graduates, both of them many years Roslis junior. Perhaps they learned from their senior, Nordin Hassan who prosecuted a IIU President as well as perceived fast track promotions as well as became a Dato.

People similar to Nordin Hassan, Dzul! qarnain as well as Sophian would do whatever which is necessary to please their bosses in any box which they sell out their comrade or brother in Islam. They have been no opposite from graduates of a alternative physical universities when it comes to jockeying for positions as well as promotions. It mattered little to them which their actions betrayed a principles of Amr Maaruf, Nahy Mungkar (Encourage good, daunt wrongdoing) which they were taught in IIU. That was usually a aphorism to them. It is little wonder which a Muslim universe is so diligent in strife!

Mainstream Media sued by Anwar as well as Rosli

Anwar has sued a MSM for shaming him in their reports of his prosecution. Rosli as well has sued Utusan Malaysia, The Star as well as The NST. Utusan Malaysia had tendered an unequivocal open reparation to Rosli for a untruthful essay admitting which a reports exceeded a parameters of ethical journalism. For all which apology, Utusan Malaysia as well as 15 alternative defendants, a MACC as well as their individual officers included, have been right away potentially probable to pay Rosli damages for RM50 million. That is what happens when you support innocent people, they quarrel back!

A new Judge for a Rosli Trial

In Anwars case, they keep becoming different a goal post. Unfortunately for Rosli, a same is about to happen to him. Judge Abu Bakar Katar who has been conference Roslis box which is right away during a tail end, has, given 1st June, been transferred to Malacca. So when Roslis conference continues upon Monday June, 28, it will be a opposite judge. This is where a similarities turn some-more uncanny. The Judge who will take over Roslis box is Puan Rozilah Saleh. She was a justice registrar who assisted Justice Augustine Paul in PP v Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim (No. 3). A feeling of eeriness contingency right away envelope Rosli simi! lar to b eing in Twilight Zone. While Rosli can usually goal which Judge Rozilah would remain impartial, this total box is sounding some-more as well as some-more bizarre.

Mahkamah Jalan Duta

These supernatural similarities might be a boundless vigilance to both Anwar as well as Rosli. To Anwar, it is time which he ponders a failings of his PKR parliamentarians as well as state assemblymen which might be causing widespread disenchantment amongst a Malaysian electorate.. Unless Anwar identify better, stronger possibilities who share his ideals as well as domestic values as well as vision; unless Anwar field possibilities with firmness who have been conjunction simply bought over nor intimidated; unless Anwar arrest this complaint of cross-overs, a PR fondness stands in jeopardy in a subsequent GE13.

Time for Lawyer Rosli Dahlan to hold up a means of Civil Liberties

To Rosli, it is time which he looks beyond his cushy profession as well as ponders if he truly cares for justice or either it is usually justice for himself when others less advantageous than him can usually bend to a will of their abusers. If Rosli believes which justice is for all, then he should ponder either a incident which befalls him right away is to have him come to his loyal calling to take up a cudgels of governing body or quarrel in a means of civil liberties by being active in a multiform NGOs which have been badly in need of professionals of his calibre.

In his Barrack-room Ballads, Rudyard Kipling pronounced which East is easterly as well as West is west, as well as never a twain shall meet. While Anwar as well as Rosli might appear as distant detached as a twain, there have been some-more supernatural similarities in between them than they ever realise.

Rudyard Kipling

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

The View from Asia

June 27, 2010

The View from Asia

by Simon Tay*

In Shanghai recently, we dined during a in vogue restaurant set among a row of designer shops. It felt as if we was having dinner in New Yorks Manhattan district, as well as when a bill came we realised it was only as expensive.

Over in New York, meanwhile, friends discuss it me which their summer sales have been putting a Great Singapore Sale to shame. It seems prices in vital Chinese cities keep rising, whilst most in parts of America they have been removing some-more affordable than ever.

The proclamation by a Peoples Bank of China which it will allow some-more flexibility in a value of a yuan ends a yuans fast exchange rate with a US dollar, set in July 2008. China will now manage a banking opposite a weighted basket of currencies, including a greenback, probably with a creeping peg.

Many expect a banking will appreciate; a only subject is how most as well as how quickly. The pierce might be a start of a end of China as a cheap destination.

That change is important not only to a two countries. Just about everybody in Middle East trades with China as well as additionally a US. There have been implications not only for a price of goods, though additionally for exports as well as competitiveness.
Economic stroke aside, however, a primary stress is political.

Tensions have been growing over banking values with a Obama administration department as well as Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner pulling for a yuans appreciation. Chinas statement will assistance keep family on an even keel forward of a G-20 meeting this weekend.

But stabilising US-China ties will take some-more than statements. Many US lawmakers as well as commentators remain distrustful of how far China will go. When China managed a float in between 2005 as well as 2008, ther! e was on ly a marginal appreciation. Unless China is seen to do more, American attitudes will harden.

Take Democrat Senator Charles Schumer, for example. The senator has pushed to shorten Chinese imports as well as was quoted as believing which only clever legislation will get a Chinese to change.

Despite Chinas shift, a emanate will continue to simmer. Facing mid-term elections in November, most American politicians will be tempted to pierce a emanate to a boil to gain votes by hitting out during China. In a arise of a crisis, most Americans have been still without jobs as well as feel which astray trade as well as globalisation have been hurting them unfairly. To them, a face of astray globalisation is Chinese.

That can hurt not only China though a rest of Asia, since a regional prolongation network hubs have been around China. Unless China as well as others in a segment pierce on their currencies, pressure will grow in a US for action opposite imports from opposite a Pacific.

But does China really want to conclude a yuan? A change to a some-more flexible rate as well as a stronger yuan can assistance reduce alien inflation. The next step for China might be to adjust a interest rates. This would assistance quell a housing as well as alternative asset froth which most see in a stream exuberance opposite a country. The risk is which if this is done as well quickly or as well harshly, direct as well as a Chinese manage to buy could be hit. But with expansion currently hitting almost 10 per cent, there seems to be room for Beijing to stratagem a economy.

Political room for stratagem might be trickier. Decades ago, an American Treasury Secretary once quipped about a falling US dollar: It is a currency, though your problem. This still seems true currently so prolonged as a dollar stays a de facto common banking for Asian trade.

It stays to be seen how alternative Asian countries will in front of their currencies vis-a-vis a falling US dollar as well as a taking flight yuan. But if ! we think in US dollars, hope for for some-more expensive dinners in China.

* Simon Tay is Chairman of a Singapore Institute of International Affairs as well as writer of a newly released book, Middle East Alone: The Dangerous Post-Crisis Divide from America.Today

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Civil Awareness and Activism: People Power

June 27, 2010

Civil Awareness as well as Activism

by Hazlan Zakaria (www.malaysiakini.com June 26, 2010)

Bersih Protest: People Power in Action

I believe which if you vaporize as well as condense a hint of polite activism as well as bottle it, you can grade them according to republic of origin. you call it a Nandos theory.

Developed from long incisive dinner-table discussions with my associate nationalistic duck lovers, a theory took figure from a 4 sorts of salsas youll find upon suggest at a duck dish sequence store: Lemon & Herbs, Mild, Hot as well as Extra Hot.

As you dig in to a meal, my friends as well as you once proposed which if a duck is a nation, then a salsa is surely a state of polite recognition as well as activism.

As a ruling celebration or coalition (whose distinctions have been mostly blurred) sup upon a duck (.i.e. nation) with gusto, a salsa (civil recognition as well as activism) serves as a check as well as shift as well as a essence of their severity.

The spiciness of polite multitude ensures which one does not sup too hastily, forgetful to give some-more than mere left overs to a populace, a really people who elected them in to power. Obviously, Lemon & Herbs equates giveaway energy plunder, Mild indicates a blinkered downtrodden public, Hot keeps a powers which be in check, as well as Extra Hot signals peoples power.

When it comes to Malaysia, you regularly give it a thumbs down, hovering in between Lemon & Herbs as well as Mild, frequency ever upon top of that.We attribute this to two vital failings.

Tidak Apa attitude

The initial is structural: a Malaysian publics infamous tidak apa (couldnt caring less) attitude. It is a a okay, supervision know most appropriate as well as theres nothing you can do genius which a republic has unfortunately taken to heart.

It is a distant cry from a multiracial multitudes who, during a early inception, thronged a streets to defend a nations supervision as well as a Malay Rulers opposite MacMichaels Malayan Union.

After 50 years of being buttered up as well as lulled by holidays, subsidies, a plume rub-down of a government, you have lost which you have wings. We have been hobbled, clipped as well as live in a enclosure of a own making.

The second failure is a governments consistent branding of peoples energy as a Western invention which is mortal to a Asian values.

Despite a ruling parties origins as well as roots in a mobilisation of a proletariat to bring about change, they now do their utmost to stifle polite activism in a new generation. Witness, a Universities as well as University College Act (UUCA) as well as a plethora of draconian acts (ISA, EO, DDA, PPPA) used to overpower dissent.

Our really own Zionists?

Somewhat similar is a use of Israel, whose origins hark back to terrorism opposite a British. Indeed the initial Zionist premier Ben Gurion was related to a really Jewish terror group, a Stern Gang, which assassinated a territorys British apportion resident.

But a ruling Zionist system of administration now clamp down upon any illusory opinion of terrorism among a Palestinians, whose land they take up with neurotic certainty.Knowing a energy of terrorism initial hand, a Israelis want to ensure there is no repeat performance with themselves at a reception end.

Similarly, a BN system of administration now clamps down upon those really same! dissent ing voices as well as polite activism which once put them in power. It appears they have been also like a Israelis, afraid to remove what they deem is theirs forever.

They dont think about it is not theirs to begin with, but usually borrowed in return for service. It is one social stipulate they chose to ignore, notwithstanding harping upon an additional social stipulate which they claim grants leverage to some.

No longer modest or mild

But a essence of internal governing body may have changed, as Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak sannouncement late last night showed. For a initial time, multitude has collectively risen to pressure a once-mighty ruling coalition (or party?) to a knees. The salsa is no longer Mild.

The spectacular reversal of a issuance of a sports betting looseness due to extensive pressure as well as nationwide protests by polite multitude was unanticipated, as well as at this level unprecedented. My round of Nandos patriots have been thereby forced to reassess a Malaysian polite activism rating from Mild, inching ever so slightly towards Hot as well as hopefully in future, to Extra Hot.

The incident has sent a budding apportion a clear message: The salsa is no longer mild. The advent of internet media as well as independent publications have forcefully lifted a deceive of suffocating domestic tenure as well as carry out of a mainstream media is a vital contributing factor.

The propaganda blinkers which once covered open perception have been pushed back. Two things will hopefully outcome from this. For a powers which be to take notice as well as no longer feed us usually polite activism list bits from a generous offerings upon a own plate, as well as for a open to realize which you do have a energy to reclaim ownership, notwithstanding supervision mos! t approp riate efforts to have us cower.

People Power!

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

You want a sandiwara? we give you another sandiwara

Remember the two cops who mudered? Sentensed to death, where are they now?

You wann know the truth? They're having roti canai teh tarik righ in your neighborhood ... and they're called Ali and Baba!

- Rumor -

MACC to record PI’s statement next month

(The Star) - The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has fixed July 5 to July 7 to record P. Balasubramaniam’s statement in London.

Balasubramaniam, who is popularly known as PI Bala, would be giving his statement on a case involving murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.

MACC investigations director Mustafar Ali said Bala’s statement would be recorded at a hotel in London.

“We have requested that he bring all the relevant documents,” Mustafar said yesterday.

Mustafar said three officers from the MACC investigations department would go to London to record Bala’s statements.

Lawyers Manjeet Singh Dhillon and Americk Sidhu had said in previous news report that their client Bala was ready and willing to have his statement recorded.

MACC would also allow the lawyers to be present when Bala has his statement recorded.

On July 3, 2008, Bala made a statutory declaration relating to the murder of Altantuya but withdrew it the next day through a second sworn declaration.

The MACC has so far recorded statements from the Prime Minister’s brother Datuk Mohamad Nazim Razak and businessman Deepak Jaikishan, both of whom were mentioned in Bala’s first statutory declaration.

Why we need a 3rd Force in the form of humanity

I think Martin Jalleh in Malaysia Today wrote an excellent article to depict the current scenario. It is not about politics, it is about what we individually want in a collective sense when it is the truth and reality that faces those who hope in despair.

By R. Shan (Human Being)

UMNO and its coolies are full of themselves to maintain their status quo; PAKATAN is forever riddled with their in-fighting, justifications and everything under the sun in their new-found power bestowed by the Makkal Sakthi,a clarion call of People Power naturally after the uprising of HINDRAF. These days, they would even antagonize and chastise this for their political survival.

The public is now in full-fledged flailing mode. Just two years ago, everything was Makhal Sakthi on a platform of hope and change. Hope that things would improve, by moving away from the UMNO facism of the previous 53 years.

Frankly, what difference have PAKATAN made?

As we ramble through life, we can observe that the true political spectrum in our society does not range from right to left, but from top to bottom. This is how any economic and political system really stake out; with each of us located somewhere up or down that spectrum - mostly down, in the perspective of material needs, and not one of humanity.

Right to left is political theory, top to bottom is the reality we actually experience in our lives every day when we continue to patronize either UMNO or PAKATAN when we are not even within shouting distance of the politics of the day.

This can change, if we the people form alliances with those who speak the truth and reality on the ground rather than appeasing UMNO though the main media and PAKATAN through the so-called alternative media.

I think Martin Jalleh in Malaysia Today wrote an excellent article to depict the current scenario. It is not about politics, it is about what we individually want in a collective sense when it is the truth and reality that faces those who hope in despair.

The 3rd force can only materialize if it is one that is built on faith without any hope as those who engage in the 3rd force are ready to plunge themselves in activities no matter how it is played out in the main media or the so-called alternative media. And this 3rd force seems pretty saturated these days to ensure that the cause that they have embarked on is fair and just for all who continue to be a scapegoat for political ploys.

The freedom of mind in an individual can only be unfettered if one can understand that humanity is beyond politics.

We should not be dependent on political or economical forces, but one that embraces and are able to deal with what is the truth and the reality.

PSD scholarships – to scrap or not to scrap

“The problem now is, we have too many top scorers for only 1,500 scholarships on offer. We should use pre-university qualifications as the benchmark as it is of a higher threshold and students would have then gained admission into top-class universities.”

By Ken Vin Lek, Free Malaysia Today

Every year around the months of May and June, hundreds of “straight A” SPM students receive the news of not being offered the “illustrious” Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship.

Thousands of complaints are made by various parties, the issue becomes politicised and many people start crying out about the injustice and inequality existing in the system of allocating scholarships.

Recently, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced that PSD scholarships would be phased out over time, and he was promptly supported by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Nazri Aziz, who said that the move is an effort to “reduce brain drain” and that the government “lacked capacity” to fund students.

FMT has made an indepth study into the arguments surrounding the PSD scholarship issue, and we leave it to the public to make up their mind on what’s right and what’s wrong.

Allocating scholarships based on SPM results

Many parties have questioned the suitability of using the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) as a benchmark for PSD scholarships.

PJ Utara MP, Tony Pua, questioned the process of awarding scholarship at SPM level and instead suggested that students be picked based on their pre-university qualifications.

“The problem now is, we have too many top scorers for only 1,500 scholarships on offer. We should use pre-university qualifications as the benchmark as it is of a higher threshold and students would have then gained admission into top-class universities.”

“What we are doing now is, we are pre-determining whether one is suitable for courses like Medicine and Law based on the SPM results without the students receiving any offers from universities to pursue these subjects,” he added.

Pua also criticised Nazri for linking the phasing-out of scholarships to an effort to reduce the brain drain.

“It is nonsense to say that phasing out scholarships can actually reduce the brain drain. We all know foreign institutions are capable of developing talented leaders in their various fields,” he said.

Meanwhile, some also question the quality of obtaining an A+ in SPM level subjects.

An admininistration manager from a private company in charge of recruiting employees said: “Some of these students with an A1 (A+) in English cannot even converse fluently in English. The grade simply cannot be trusted.”

A number of teachers interviewed said that for some subjects like Physics, students had to score only 60% to obtain an A+ in SPM.

“There is a graph which shifts every year so that there is a 'consistent' trend of straight As students year after year,” a SPM examiner who refused to be named said.

To make matters worse, there have been medical student hopefuls who obtained the PSD scholarship and yet failed to make the grades at A levels to qualify for medical school in the UK.

These students obtained woeful results at A levels, failing to obtain the 3As necessary to qualify for medical school.

Guan Eng says Najib’s gaming reversal proves Pakatan right

By The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 — DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today praised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s decision not to issue a football betting licence as being in line with Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) stand on the matter.

He said Najib’s move to withdraw a permit issued earlier to Tan Sri Vincent Tan’s Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd was a correct decision which coincided with the stand of PR state governments.

Lim (picture) , who is also Penang Chief Minister, said Najib’s reversal was proof that his PR state government was right to ban any existing gaming outlet from offering football betting.

Last night, Najib capitulated to popular public opinion when he announced the government will not issue a football betting licence, weeks after tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan said his Ascot Sports Sdn Bhd had received approval for an old licence.

Najib said the government had earlier agreed to issue the sports betting licence but with strict condition such as banning Muslim involvement in the activity.

On whether Ascot Sports would be compensated Najib said there is no such requirement in the law.

The football betting issue had sparked protest from various groups, including from within Umno. But the government had appeared adamant earlier to proceed with the issuing of the licence, with Cabinet ministers and BN parties campaigning heavily for the idea of football betting.

In reversing the decision, Najib has conceded his government’s unwillingness to risk political capital on football betting.

This is the latest in a series of policy reversals which has marked Najib’s administration since he took office last April.

“It is a good decision. We were criticised heavily over our stand,” DAP’s Lim said today in Penang.

He also dismissed suggestions made earlier that legalising football betting was actually one method to control illegal bookmaking activities.

“We cannot simply legalise something. Take for instance, sand mining. It is claimed that such illegal activities were going on and a high volume was exported to Singapore. Should we legalise sand mining then?” he asked.

The answer to curbing illegal activities, he said, was in enforcement. Tan’s listed Berjaya Corporation Berhad had announced the approval for a football betting licence in a filing to Bursa Malaysia last May 12 but Najib denied it in Parliament on June 7.

Making the murky even murkier

There certainly must be something wrong with Selangor when those who supported you in 2008 now want to turn their backs on you. And these are people who have invested heavily in Selangor and can determine the future direction of the state’s economy.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

You can read below what Wong Choon Mei wrote today in the Malaysia Chronicle. I would say that Choon Mei’s analysis of the Selangor situation is quite off the mark. For example, the comment that Free Malaysia Today is an Umno-friendly online portal is certainly off the mark.

Just because certain websites or portals take a stand and that stand may not be favourable to the opposition does not make them pro-Umno. Free Malaysia Today is trying to maintain a neutral stand and take the middle road as far as it possibly can. So sometimes it whacks the government when the government is wrong and sometimes it whacks the opposition when it too is wrong. Has that not been the stand that Malaysia Today also takes?

The last two days I have been receiving many phone calls from people asking me why I have not written about the current goings-on in Selangor. My response was that I had already written many pieces about Selangor since Perak first fell more than a year ago. I have already said what I want to say so what more can I say? I told you so?

Yes, if I write about Selangor that is probably what I would say: I told you so. But I have written so many ‘I told you so’ pieces in the past I do not want to sound like what some people accuse me of being: a stuck or broken record.

Anyway, I must respond to Wong Choon Mei’s piece -- which just made what is murky even murkier. First of all, there is no G15, Gang of 15, or Group of 15. And there is no conspiracy, unless it is a conspiracy of one involving just Azmin Ali.

Just because 15 people talk with one voice does not make them a gang of conspirators. I too agree with some things that Khairy Jamaludddin says and I can support him on those stands or statements. Does this mean I am now in Khairy’s team and that I am one of his ‘conspirators’?

Or should I oppose Khairy even when he is right to demonstrate that I am anti-Umno? So, when Khairy opposes the licencing of sports betting, especially the way it was awarded to Vincent Tan on an award without tender to the highest bidder basis, then I should support the giving of the licence to Vincent Tan just to take the opposite view to Khairy.

Well, if I oppose the giving of the licence to Vincent Tan, just like Khairy, then Wong Choon Mei will say I am pro-Khairy and am an Umno mole whose aim is to create problems in the opposition. Better I oppose Khairy by supporting the betting licence to prove I am not an Umno mole.

That is silly. And it is equally silly to spin the G15, or Gang of 15, conspiracy theory just because all 15 share the same view as to the precarious situation Selangor is in.

I have been getting much feedback from many Chinese business people in Selangor who have indicated they are disappointed with Pakatan Rakyat and come the next election they may vote Barisan Nasional if the situation in Selangor persists. These are people who hate MCA and despise Umno. Yet they want to go back to Barisan Nasional, and not because they love MCA or Umno, mind you.

There certainly must be something wrong with Selangor when those who supported you in 2008 now want to turn their backs on you. And these are people who have invested heavily in Selangor and can determine the future direction of the state’s economy.

We must listen to the ground. We need to get our fingers on the pulse. And these 15 Members of Parliament, the so-called G15, have done just that. And the feedback they get is not reassuring. If the Selangor State Assembly were to be dissolved today and a new state election were to be called in 10 days time, Selangor would most likely fall to Barisan Nasional. That is the reality of the situation.

No, there is no conspiracy, in particular an Umno conspiracy. There are no Barisan Nasional moles amongst those 15 Members of Parliament. There is no Gang of 15 either. But there are 15 Members of Parliament who have received the same feedback that I have received -- and that is the people who supported us in March 2008 now no longer do so because they are disappointed with the Selangor state government.

And just because 15 Members of Parliament share the same view does not make them a gang of conspirators.

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

PKR retreat: Enough, the time has come to take strong action

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Most of PKR’s supreme council members are looking forward to their two-day retreat in Shah Alam beginning on Saturday. The exceptions though may be those guilty of having helped stir up the media frenzy against Selangor Mentri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

Nonetheless, the majority of PKR leaders are eager and looking forward to finding out what is happening to ‘poor Khalid'.

Is there really a revolt? Who is this G15 or Group of 15 federal lawmakers? And has Azmin Ali really reached the point of no return with Khalid?

Firstly, there is no revolt. As Khalid has pointed, what erupted in the past few days was overdone media speculation by the mainstream press including Umno-friendly online portals FreeMalaysiaToday and The Malaysian Insider. Their aim - to destabilize PKR.

That is indeed their ultimate objective. Already, former Umno MB Khir Toyo has rushed to take a bow because he knows that when the retreat ends on Sunday, this entire episode will once again be exposed to be what it really is – a collaborative attempt between Selangor Umno and saboteurs within PKR to weaken the party and Pakatan Rakyat.

As usual, Khir could be counted on to resort to gutter and racial polemics. Quick as a flash, he told The Malaysian Insider that Khalid will not be unseated because he is being propped up by the DAP. He omits to mention that Khalid cannot be toppled because he has the support of the great majority of Pakatan state assemblymen including those from his own PKR party.

Who then is unhappy with Khalid? The G15? But aren't they federal lawmaker, i.e. members of Parliament? Do they have the locus standi to oust Khalid? But no, Khir and the online portals conveniently overlook this point. What they say boils down to this - wake up! The Chinese are now in charge in Selangor! Look at how the Malays in the state are being bullied - even poor Azmin has to quit his directorship in PKNS ... and all because Khalid appointed a new political secretary without informing him and the other Malays!

But isn't Khalid's new pol-sec is also a Malay? This is the logic and the spin of the Umno media. To be fair, they are ably abetted by saboteurs still embedded in PKR, intentionally leaking false news and stirring up trouble. If past reports are true that guys like Ezam Mohd Noor, Salehuddin Hashim and their cronies were dangled huge carrots to jump ship, then their jobs are still far from done and you can expect them to keep rocking the PKR boat for a while more.

Fortunately, PKR is getting a bit smarter at dealing with this. The Malaysian public is also getting immune to it. And as vice president Sivarasa Rasiah has pointed out the G15 that is supposedly led by Azmin is “a fiction of someone’s imagination”. Even if true, there is a solution. PKR co-ordinator Zaid Ibrahim has minced no words - the whole bunch should be sacked for their "blatant show of indiscipline".

Because this group of 15 – if it exists - is following in the tradition of Khir Toyo, Ezam, Salehuddin and so forth. According to the news reports, they are out to squeeze goodies, fat allowances and perks from Khalid and Khalid's crime was to have been un-diplomatic enough to deny them.

Should Khalid lower his standards and allow what he deems to be unsuitable candidates to help themselves to the Selangor vaults? Is this what Selangorians want? Perhaps not advisable, especially when it has not been confirmed that they are not still paying for Khir’s monster RM24 million Bali palace, Disney trips and so forth.

How about Azmin? Well, this is why PKR’s top decision-makers will be paying close attention this weekend. No dozing off because they will all want to hear with own ears what Azmin has to say. They want to see with their own eyes his body language, especially when he and Khalid bump into each other.

Also, will Zaid, Azmin and Khalid mingle at tea breaks, etc? Is it really true there is such awesome bad blood between the three men and what about the Supreme Commander that they are each supposedly plotting to replace? How does Anwar Ibrahim feel about the whole issue? Who among the three does he really prefer?

PKR leaders may not get the all the answers they seek, but for sure, they will be expecting firmness and direction from Anwar at this retreat. Words of advice that he gave at last month’s annual congress have obviously not worked. So tougher action must be taken or PKR may really be destabilized.

The Opposition Leader must do something like he did in the Zul Noordin episode – make the party's stand crystal clear and also take steps to ensure that the Malaysian people get to hear and know the true story. He must not allow PKR to be sidestepped by silly media opportunism and internal sabotage. And Zaid’s advice - as always – is worth a deeper look.

PKR faces many enemies, and the Selangor chief faces a ‘Brutus’?

A point to note is that DSAI and Kamarul were roommates at Malay College Kuala Kangsar. Kamarul had joined his ally from schooldays and UMNO, dismissing the talk about Anwar’s sodomy offences as ‘all nonsense”. Knowing the gentleman that Kamarul is, it’s quite unlikely he would be involved in a plot - playing a minor Brutus’ role to the bigger, more ambitious Azmin.

YL Chong, Malaysia Chronicle

In politics, arrows shot by the enemy contain poison, but are expected and can be countered by preventive firing of the first bullets. It’s the enemy from within that any party has to be most watchful, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat can easily sing this clichéd woe. With such friends like departed MPs Zulkifli Noordin and Wee Choo Keong, my citation as examples, who needs enemies?

If one were to believe the mainstream media like the NST and The Star, one would think the Selangor Menteri Besar is truly under near-fatal siege from within, and the Brutus-in-brewing is PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, who resigned as PKNS director last Wednesday.

The NST report yesterday headlined it as “Shah Alam showdown”, citing party insiders as saying that “15 PKR MPs (are) seeking to oust Selangor MB”. Incidentally, being both an MP, and state assemblyman for Bukit Antarabangsa, Azmin is hence the obvious replacement to take over the chief ministership of the most developed state in the country should Khalid be indeed overthrown by an internal coup. In that case, Azmin would then be deemed to be motivated chiefly by self-interest, but I think his ambitions reach out to farther horizons encompassing even the Prime Minister’s throne, not a mere state honcho vista.

The Star reported, quoting an unnamed MP, as saying that “the MPs were also unhappy with Khalid’s inability to make quick decisions, which they felt could threaten Pakatan Rakyat’s position in Selangor.

Khalid’s decision to appoint Faekah Hussin to replace his previous political secretary Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad without first consulting the party’s political bureau and other leaders was the last straw for the group.”

This was scoffed at – the last straw reference by The Star – by PKR insiders, who admit that the party would continue to see differences among the ranks, but this is because the party has opened up public discourse and won’t go the way of Barisan Nasional’s big brother in dictating to its siblings, whether at federal or state levels.

A reliable source told the Malaysia Chronicle that he definitely knows there is no “plot” as far as top leaders in PKR are concerned. He admitted there are indeed “moles” who had penetrated the party to create instability and havoc, helped along by the mainstream media spin that always exaggerates any internal strife within any PR party, be it DAP, PAS or PKR.

He stressed that Khalid as MB had always given encouragement and opportunities to newer, especially the younger members, to serve in key positions within the State administration, and the process of “talent-hunting” would be stepped up.

Party sources said that Seri Setia assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s move to PKR headquarters as Communications chief (to replace Jonson Chong) – and the subsequent appointment of Faekah, a party loyalist, as Nik Nazmi’s successor was precisely one of several impending changes taken by the party to improve overall performance. It is the appointment of “outsiders” – including froggie MPs like Wee Choo Keong, ex-MDP, and Tan Chee Beng, ex-Gerakan, as PR candidates in March 2008 – that PKR has now learnt to beware as potential moles wreaking havoc from within.

My take is that Khalid will not allow himself to be pushed into a corner and be stabbed in the back – as fatally as did best friend Brutus plunge his ‘most unkindest cut of all” into Julius Caesar’s chest eon years ago at Da Capitol in Rome, an episode yet so relevantly fresh in any creative and politically-informed writer’s mind.

De-facto party chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) is going to be the decision-maker at all important crossroads that the party reaches. The takeover of the federal government depends on the remaining two to three years on how PKR-led Selangor government performs, and Anwar will not allow recalcitrants to derail the Putrajaya horizon now already within the PR’s sight.

Indeed, RPK, your shrill counter-attack has made it even murkier

And let me tell you once again - with the greatest conviction - I believe that FreeMalaysiaToday is a clearly an enemy website – for the PKR and the Pakatan. Just as is The Malaysian Insider, Utusan, Berita Harian, the Star and the rest of that stable.

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

This is my response to RPK’s Making the murky even murkier (see his full article here). Firstly, let me say categorically that for me – based on my experience in the news line – FreeMalaysiaToday is definitely pro-Umno. To me, it releases articles – not all but enough – that are aimed at stabbing PKR in the bank.

This is my opinion, and if you don’t like it, F@## You, dear RPK!

It is as simple that. Really, you should look in the mirror and rid yourself of the hypocrisy you accuse others of.

By all means, side whomever you please. You can write one para pro-Pakatan and the next pro-BN or you can rotate on a day-basis – today I am pro-Pakatan and tomorrow I am pro-BN. Or you can be all the way pro-Pakatan or do-or-die pro-BN until you decide they are not the team for you after all.

It is your choice. It is MY choice. Get it, my dear RPK?

While I did not ask you to agree with my analysis, I don't mind you attacking it either. You are free to say what you wish. I don't how my story can make what is already murky murkier but people think and read differently. So give it another go.

Read again and you will see that I rejected the conspiracy theory tossed around in the media of there being a G15. But I uphold that a conspiracy indeed there is - both external and internal. Very normal for a political party but when exacerbated by a press controlled by the enemy, especially the hidden ones, then the damage is worsened 100 times.

What I take exception to however, my dear RPK, is why did you keep spelling out my name throughout your article? Are you trying to discredit me? Why?

READ MORE HERE

Footnote: No, I never intended to discredit you or to make any personal attacks against you. I am very sorry and publicly apologise if I gave anyone that impression. Please accept my most sincere apology.

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In the eye of the PKR storm : He who wields the unsheathed dagger

Here’s the list: Manikavasagam of Kapar, Gwo-Burne of Kelana Jaya, Rashid Din of Merbok, Abdul Aziz Abdul Kadir of Ketereh, Kamarul Baharin of Teluk Kemang, Azan Ismail of Indera Mahkota, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff of Balik Pulau, Zuraida Kamaruddin of Ampang, and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid of Kuala Langat.

The People's Parliament

You get on a packed bus headed to Taiping.

Same journey for all 50 passengers, but each having their own agenda in wanting to reach that common destination.

The same can be said of the group of 15 PKR MPs, now called ‘G15′ by certain quarters, who are reported to be pushing an agenda to displace Khalid Ibrahim as MB of Selangor.

My sources tell me that G15 actually numbers 11.

Khalid claims to be in the dark about this agenda.

Yeah, right!

As does Azmin, even as he conceals the unsheathed dagger beneath the cloak of political intrigue and deception.

“I don’t know of any move by MPs to start a petition on this matter. I am not denying it, I don’t know. How could I agree or disagree when I have no access to information…I am not part of this so I wouldn’t know, I was not at the meeting, when was the meeting honestly? Let me check with my colleagues” , Malaysiakini reported Azmin as saying of this rumoured uprising.

“If I wanted to pull him down, I would have done it after March 8 general election. Why now? His term is expiring soon, so why now? If that was my game, I should have done it before” , FreeMalaysiaToday reports Azmin as responding to suggestions that he is behind moves to topple Khalid as MB.

Yet, the truth, as known by anyone who is anything in PKR, is that Azmin has long wanted to bring Khalid down, the former coveting the MBship of Selangor for himself even as the dust of the 12th GE began to settle.

PKR’s Elizabeth Wong has called on the G15 members to ‘show their faces’.

Huh!

The truth, again, is that anyone who is anything in PKR knows who they are.

That necessarily includes Anwar.

Indeed, at the just concluded PKR national congress in Kota Baru last month, the MP for Teluk Kemang, representing 10 other PKR MPs, brought to Anwar’s attention their grievances about Khalid’s leadership of the Selangor government, and their demand that Khalid be immediately relieved of the office of MB.

Anwar, I am told, assured Kamarul that their grievances would be looked into and addressed.

The next day, after delivering her presidential address, and at a press conference, Wan Azizah made it clear that Khalid would remain as MB of Selangor.

In her presidential address, she defended Khalid against the criticism leveled at him.

“He has defended the principles of transparency and accountability by chipping away at the wastage and corruption that have become part of Umno’s culture. The courage of the Selangor government in introducing Selcat – exposing all, is the renewal that we can be proud of” , Malaysiakini reports her as saying.

Did Anwar, then, renege on any assurances given to Kamarul? Were there any assurances given to placate the group?

Only Anwar and Kamarul can tell us.

I had sms’d Anwar several times asking to meet in the hope of clearing this with him.

No response.

I guess he’s been too busy.

Now slighted by the president’s defence of Khalid, the group of disenchanted MPs began to make their moves.

And as they did, some from within their ranks, big boys within the party set up who, until then, were said to be aligned to he who wields the unsheathed dagger, either grew somewhat alarmed with the direction the group was taking or came to be viewed with suspicion, given the plot that was being hatched.

Whatever the reason, he who bites, another who holds the party purse strings and one of the party’s v-ps, either withdrew or were dumped from G15.

And in their place stepped in Gwo Burne and Kapar Mike.

So who make up the 11 in G15 now?

Here’s the list.

READ MORE HERE

PKR did not discuss call on Selangor MB to resign

(Bernama) - The Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) retreat today did not discuss the call by the Pact of 15 Members of Parliament (MPs) from the party who wanted Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim to relinquish his post.

Instead, PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the meeting merely discussed issues on the party's preparation to face the next general election and the election of the party's supreme council members in November.

"I don't know anything and there was no discussion on the matter," she told reporters when met outside the meeting hall, here.

Meanwhile, several PKR MPs denied the alleged existence of the Pact of 15.

Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas said he did not know of any development on the issue and questioned the existence of the Pact of 15.

"Why 15, why not 20 or 29? They are just numbers as claimed by someone," he said.

Asked on the allegation that he was the leader of the pact, Kamarul Baharin said: "In the party, I head the Members of Parliament (MPs) and State Assemblymen Secretariat. If you are referring to that, then it's correct.

"The question raised in the media was not discussed specifically. There's no petition, no memorandum. If there is, certainly I would know."

However, he did not rule out the possibility that it might be discussed if it were raised at the Party Leadership Council Meeting tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Gombak MP Mohamed Azmin Ali said he had never asked Abdul Khalid to resign.

"We criticise, we did not ask Tan Sri Khalid to be removed. We never said that Tan Sri Khalid must be removed. There is no Pact of 15 MPs. What we have is only the Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

However, a small group of PKR MPs were not happy with the problem of bureaucracy in Abdul Khalid's administration and the delivery system was still weak, he said at the two-day PKR retreat.

Terenco Netto on Selangor PKR crisis

PKR Selangor crisis is NOT a zero-sum game

by Terence Netto (www.malaysiakini.com)

Contrary to the gloom and doom reports, the current crisis in PKR over Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim’s stewardship is not a zero-sum game.“It’s not a question of either Khalid vacating the MB’s post or else the critics of his leadership will want out of the party,” said a PKR MP who spoke toMalaysiakini in the background.

The MP has empathy with both sides of the argument in the present controversy. “I don’t think it is a zero-sum game. That’s too extreme a reading of what has transpired so far,” said the parliamentarian who is not from Selangor state.

Nik Nazmi returns to PKR HQ

He said a zero-sum reading would be as inaccurate as the view of Khalid as adept at handling economic issues and daft at managing political ones. “Khalid is strong on economic issues, no doubt. But to think of him as good on economics only and poor at politics would be misleading,” said the MP.

He explained that a tendency to take a dichotomised view of the issues at stake in the controversy – that Khalid’s facility at economics came at the price of political ineptness, and that government and party are separated in Selangor – were to misperceive the situation even more.

He, however, noted that Khalid did not help matters when he did not attend several of the political bureau meetings of PKR that discussed and decided issues pertaining to Selangor. “This matter of him being asked to appoint a new political secretary which the political bureau chose arose when it appeared that Khalid needed someone who could gather feedback from divisional leaders and channel it to him,” said the MP.

“It was felt that Khalid’s previous political secretary Nik Nazmi (Nik Ahmad) was better was handling the information aspects of PKR work and so should be reassigned accordingly.”

The MP opined that the politburo’s choice of Azman Abidin as political secretary to Khalid was sound because he was the division leader in Bandar Tun Razak where Khalid is the MP. “Azman has been doing the work of holding the fort at Bandar Tun Razak for Khalid and he has been doing a good job. The choice was endorsed by the politburo and approved by Anwar,” he said.

Khalid rebuffs political directives

In the event, lawyer Faekah Husin (photo below, far left), former political secretary to PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, was appointed by Khalid to replace the reassigned Nik Nazmi.

The MP said this move was seen by those long unhappy with Khalid’s seeming indifference to the party’s political directives as unwarrantedly provocative.

“Azman is good at listening and conveying and was chosen to help the MB with feedback from the divisions,” he said.

He said the issue of a new political secretary only arose when it was felt that Nik Nazmi could be put to better use elsewhere (communications) and that allowed for the vacant position to be filled by someone with the strengths to shore up Khalid’s supposed weak flanks.

The MP said he personally viewed Khalid as a competent enough MB who has erred in reversing what ought to be the PKR module of political ingratiation with the people.

“First, you ought to strive to endear yourself with the people by immersing yourself in their problems,” asserted the MP.

“Then you roll out the more sophisticated modules of socio-economic development. To enlist the people’s support for these modules would be easier after you have done the work of winning their affections,” he said.

He said the current crisis should not eventuate in one or the other side’s capitulation. “It just warrants that each side concedes that politics matters as much as economics and government and party are not separate spheres but interconnected,” he opined.