Dr Ms racial politics outdated, says Pakatans young leaders

Dr M, seemingly getting more and more detached from younger voters, Pakatan leaders thinkKUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers lambasted former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for frustrating the nations efforts to move forward, calling his remarks stale and irrelevant to the needs of younger Malaysians.

They said the country should do well focusing on bread and butter issues rather than harp on issues from the 1960s, such as the circumstances surrounding Singapores expulsion from Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir, in his latest blog post, had claimed that Racism in Malaysia is clearly the result of Singapores membership of the country for just three years.

He was responding to the island republics founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, who remarked in his New York Times interview that Malaysias inter-racial relations would have been if Singapore were not expulsed from the federation.

PKRs Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, one of a clutch of rising young political stars in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) stable, sent out this message on his Twitter site earlier this week: Lets focus on the future. Theyre fighting the cultural wars from the 1960s. We have more urgent battles to fight.

The first-term Seri Setia assemblymans views were echoed by PR colleagues Nurul Izzah Anwar, the DAPs Liew Chin Tong and Dzulkefly Ahmad from PAS.

The trio observed that Dr Mahathirs arguments were growing increasingly stale among the younger generation of voters who are more concerned with how Putrajaya handles bread-and-butter issues in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

Harping on the events of August 9, 1965 wont resolve anything, said Nurul Izzah, the eldest daughter of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, referring to the date Singapore was booted out of Malaysia.

The Lembah Pantai MP observed that the long-standing battle between the two former prime ministers had n! othing c onstructive to work on in the way of nation-building today.

We have to learn the past, but focus on the current if we want solutions.

Nik Nazmi: Lets focus on the future. Theyre fighting the cultural wars from the 1960s. We have more urgent battles to fight.What we decide to do today will shape Malaysias future; and the current tit-for-tat shouldnt distract us from managing issues such as the need for Malaysia to implement economic reforms, improve quality of education in the country and continue to address alleviation of poverty, she stressed.

Liew, who is Bukit Bendera MP, subscribed to Nik Nazmis observation likening the verbal jousts between Dr Mahathir and Lee as an outdated cultural war from the 1960s that had no place in the present day society.

That cultural war has nothing to do with us. I think we have moved beyond the question of if Singapore should be out or in, said the DAP international secretary.

I think we should not be distracted by Dr Mahathir. Let him do whatever he wants. He was a racist, and then he was inclusive...hes changing colours every decade. He should not concern Malaysians pondering their future, he added.

Liew observed that Dr Mahathir had been racist in his approach in the first half of his term in office in the 1980s but had switched to preaching inclusiveness after he nearly lost to Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh in the 1990 general elections.

Political scientist Agus Yusoff echoed the two first-term legislators and called Dr Mahathirs argument irrelevant.

I disagree with Dr Mahathirs argument that Singapore is to blame for racism in Malaysia. Its irrelevant. Why should we care what Lee Kuan Yew says in Singapore or in New York for that matter? the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) lecturer said.

What we have to concern ourselves with is whats happening in our own country. Racism is a problem in Malaysia because there ar! e organi sations like Perkasa, he stressed.

We dont have many politicians who support the prime ministers concept of 1 Malaysia. They dont even understand what the concept is all about, he added.

Agus warned that Malaysia would not be able to go far in fighting racism as long as there are political groups championing the rights of a single ethnicity.

We cant go far if even in the BN, if there are political groups that fight for only the rights of one racial group, Malay rights, Chinese rights... Thats why racism keeps happening in this country, he insisted.

Nurul Izzah: What we decide to do today will shape Malaysias future; and the current tit-for-tat shouldnt distract us from managing issues such as the need for Malaysia to implement economic reforms, improve quality of education in the country and continue to address alleviation of poverty.PAS lawmaker Dzulkefly Ahmad said Dr Mahathir is the nations biggest obstacle to racial harmony and pegged him the Father of All Racists, paraphrasing minister Datuk Seri Nazri Azizs criticism against the ex-premier in a rare show of support across the political lines.

The Kuala Selangor MP slammed the elder statesman for not owning up to his failure to stop the rift from widening during the latters 22 years in office.

He had 22 years and the longest premiership. What was he doing all those years? He cant blame an event in history or attribute the problems to another country, Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider.

The PAS central working committee member pointed out that Dr Mahathirs argument was flawed and only served to highlight the gravity of Malaysias inter-racial rift.

He himself is admitting there is a serious racial divide in no uncertain terms. His only denial is that he is the catalyst for that, Dzulkefly said.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was at least trying to enhance racial relatio! ns by ta king an inclusive, market-friendly approach.

He contends the 85-year-olds patronage of hawkish Malay rights group Perkasa had further fanned racial conflicts here.

He is now calling for racially-biased politics and reminding the current PM, in fact, coercing the PM not to ever debate those politics and not to marginalise Perkasa for fear of losing the Malay vote, Dzulkefly said.

The PAS man warned that Umno was at a most crucial political crossroads and its survival to stay relevant with the Malay community depended on whether it would choose Najibs reform-minded inclusiveness or continue to parade itself as the most supreme Malay party on Earth.

courtesy of Malaysian Insider

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Azmin sets up battle royal with Zaid in PKR

Don Amache

COMMENT And so it’s official. PKR vice-president Azmin Ali has announced on Malaysia Day that he is contesting the party's deputy presidency at the upcoming polls.

This sets the stage for a likely battle with Zaid Ibrahim for the No.2 spot in the Opposition group.

One commentator has described the tussle between the two party archrivals as “fiery”.

While division leaders may be in favour of Azmin, some say the majority of grassroots prefer Zaid - “a thinking man who is first Malaysian.”

While the contest was more or less expected, the timing and announcement made in Sabah, considered a Zaid stronghold, came as a shock to party members.

Azmin’s candidacy, timing and place of the announcement has led to inferences that the fight is going to be a brawl, dispensing with Queensbury rules that is associated, usually, with gentlemen and boxing…and very rarely in politics.

Azmin nonchalantly denied that the contest with Zaid would split the party and said that he had consulted top party leaders including incumbent deputy president Senator Dr Syed Husin Ali who had stepped down earlier this week from defending the post.

Even greenhorn politicians know that any “fiery” contest at this stage of a party’s genesis has the potential of festering into a divisive and dangerous tumour long after the results and winner have been announced.

Zaid, the former de facto law minister, is also a PKR supreme council member. While in the government, he had pushed for legal and judicial reforms that would have removed many of what have been described as “shackles to democracy” like the ISA.

But his reformation platform did not go down well with the Umno teammates who saw it as an erosion of their powers and he was eventually sacked from the party after several dubious allegations and his criticism over the arrests of DAP MP Teresa Kok, blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin and journalist Tan Hoon Cheng under the ISA.

Azmin, the Bukit Antarabangsa assemblyman, on the other hand , was once party de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim’s aide when the latter was in government

He has received the support of 20 PKR MPs and the majority of state lawmakers in Negri Sembilan and Selangor.

PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin, who is expected to announce his decision to contest one of the four vice-presidents' posts has thrown his support behind Azmin.

In announcing his candidacy on Thursday, Azmin claimed that he fulfilled the criteria set by outgoing deputy president , which included having "high moral values."

The reference to “moral values” is ominous.

During the closely fought Hulu Selangor by-elections earlier this year when Zaid narrowly lost to BN, doctored pictures of the de facto law minster holding a bottle of alcohol surfaced among other questionable allegations which at the end of day, counted for nothing.

The by-election results were too close for the “moral values” to be of any significance.

But Zaid may have pushed the envelope a little too far in trying to bring reforms now to PKR. He has also asked Anwar to contest the post of presidency to legitimise his (Anwar) position in the party.

This may not have gone down well with Anwar who says he will decline all nominations.

So far, Zaid has not received any endorsement from any senior party leader.

But the veteran lawyer is said to be popular among Sabah and Sarawak PKR members as well as the non-Malay populace within and without the party in West Malaysia.

An indication that Azmin has already been endorsed by the powers comes straight from the proverbial horse’s mouth during Thursday’s announcement: “After taking into account the views of senior leaders and party members and following direct discussion with Dr Syed Husin Ali, I, in all humility, wish to offer myself for the position.”

One reader at Malaysian Insider has described Azmin’s bid for the No 2 spot as “just might be what the BN wants...an election that rips the party apart…UMNO '87 elections come to mind. So be it. Be eternally remembered as the man who destroyed a promising party and opposition. Que Sera Sera.”

The party obviously will not come apart because of this contest but what is critical is for the right man to win the spot and eventually lead the party.

Nominations for national posts and divisional meetings begin this weekend. The divisions will vote for national leaders on weekends, from October 29 to November 21.

Que Sera Sera, indeed.

RPK File: Aide links IGP to triads, dirty tricks

from malaysian media & other matters by uppercaise

THE RPK FILE

A personal aide to Musa Hassan, then Inspector-General of Police, has accused his former chief of having links to triad bosses, ordering a dirty-tricks campaign against a former deputy home minister and allowing a triad leader to manipulate postings and promotions in the police force. Images of a statutory declaration by the aide, Asst Supt Noor Azizul Rahim bin Taharim, made in August last year, were posted by Raja Petra Kamarudin with his latest article at the Malaysia Today website this evening.

In his article Interference in the Malaysian police force Raja Petra said copies of the sworn statement had been distributed to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former IGP Tun Hanif Omar, and other senior officials of the government.

Raja Petra said no action had been taken to put ASP Noor Azizul Rahim on trial for making a false declaration, if it was untrue, because “then the truth would surface. So they did noting at all”.

He said the document spoke of interference in the affairs of the police by external forces — and contrasted that to the complaints made by Musa Hassan recently of interference in the police by others in the government, later pinpointing the home ministry.

Raja Petra also contrasted the treatment accorded to ASP Noor Azizul Rahim and that given to him after he filed a statutory declaration in which he said he had been informed of the involvement of Rosmah Mansor, wife of prime minister Najib Tun Razak, in the murder of Mongolian part-time translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

No action was taken against the ASP even though his allegations involved the country’s top policeman. Yet Raja Petra himself was charged with criminal defamation, even though he had merely related what he was told about Rosmah who, RPK pointed out, had no official role in the government structure; private investigator P Balasubramiam, who also filed a statutory declaration about the murder, had threats made against his life and was taken out of the country.

Raja Petra himself subsequently left the country with his wife and they now live in exile in Britain.

Below is a mirror posting of RPK’s article and the three accompanying images, which were published at Malaysia Today. They are reposted in the interest of free speech and a free press as Malaysia Today suffers constant cyber-attacks and may not always be available, and links may not work.

• FULL ARTICLE continues after the turn
Three images are posted, one to a page. Click on the Page numbers at the bottom of the posting.

http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/34557-interference-in-the-malaysian-police-force

Interference in the Malaysian police force

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Thursday, 16 September 2010

Actually, they took no action against ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan, because they know that the allegation is true. And if ASP Noor Azizul Rahim was arrested and charged in court then the truth would surface. So they chose to do nothing at all.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin

When I signed a Statutory Declaration back in June 2008, they arrested me and charged me for Criminal Defamation. And my Statutory Declaration is just against two junior army officers plus the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The wife of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a government employee or an official position. She is just that, the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, of no ranking in the Malaysian government structure.

When P.I. Balasubramanian signed a Statutory Declaration two weeks later, they threatened the safety of his family and made him retract what he alleged by signing a second Statutory Declaration the following day. His second Statutory Declaration 24 hours later contradicted his first one.

This means one of the two Statutory Declarations is false. They did not, however, arrest Balasubramanian and charge him for Criminal Defamation. They did not even charge him for the more serious crime of signing a false Statutory Declaration under the Statutory Declaration Act 1960. Instead, they whisked him out of the country.

A year later, on 28 August 2009, ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC (aide-de-camp) of IGP Musa Hassan, signed a Statutory Declaration alleging many damaging things about his boss the IGP. (See the copy of the Statutory Declaration below).

A copy of this Statutory Declaration was given to one-time Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who in turn gave it to ex-IGP Tun Haniff Omar. ASP Noor Azizul Rahim also informed many other people about this matter, as mentioned in his Statutory Declaration.

Either ASP Noor Azizul Rahim is lying or he is telling the truth. Either ASP Noor Azizul Rahim signed a false Statutory Declaration or IGP Musa Hassan is guilty as alleged in ASP Noor Azizul Rahim’s Statutory Declaration.

Either way we will never know because nothing was done about the allegation. No investigation was launched to determine whether IGP Musa Hassan is really guilty as alleged or, instead, ASP Noor Azizul Rahim is guilty of the crime of signing a false Statutory Declaration.

Now IGP Musa Hassan is bellyaching, whining, grumbling and bitching like a crybaby about interference in the police force and about how ‘they’ directed him on how he should run the police force.

Actually IGP Musa Hassan is not totally wrong. The only thing is, according to the ten or so Statutory Declarations signed by various police officers as well as two underworld figures, it is the underworld that directed IGP Musa Hassan on how the Malaysian police force should be run.

Why were these many Statutory Declarations never investigated? If the Statutory Declarations are false then why did they not arrest and charge these police officers and underworld figures for Criminal Defamation like they did me?

More importantly, the Statutory Declaration below was signed by IGP Musa Hassan’s own ADC, not by just any police officer. And many senior police officers plus the ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia were given copies of this Statutory Declaration and are aware of the matter. But still nothing was done.

If the Statutory Declaration below is true then IGP Musa Hassan should by now be sitting in jail. If, however, they are implying that the Statutory Declaration below is false then why was the maker of the document not dragged into court and charged like what they did to me?

Note that my Statutory Declaration is against someone who is merely a wife of the Deputy Prime Minister and therefore someone of no official standing in the government. ASP Noor Azizul Rahim’s Statutory Declaration is against the top cop in Malaysia, the IGP. This makes it more serious and is covered under both the Criminal Defamation law as well as the Statutory Declaration Act 1960.

Let me repeat that. Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the then Deputy Prime Minister, has no official standing in the government. On the other hand, IGP Musa Hassan is the top police officer in Malaysia. You can’t be charged for Criminal Defamation for making an allegation against someone who is not holding a government post (although they did in my case). But you can be charged for Criminal Defamation if you make an allegation against Malaysia’s number one policeman.

Actually, they took no action against ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan, because they know that the allegation is true. And if ASP Noor Azizul Rahim was arrested and charged in court then the truth would surface. So they chose to do nothing at all.

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

Musa’s allegation not to be taken lightly

(Sin Chew Daily) – Outgoing Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has made an allegation before leaving the office that there is a third party interference in police work.

Why didn’t he mention it during his term of office as the IGP over the past four years? In addition, Musa also admitted that there are different factions in the police force and he has actually eliminated many of them.

Since the problems have existed for a long time, and an external force has prevented him from reforming the police, causing him to implemented only 48% of his five-year restructuring plan, as the head of a professional disciplinary force, Musa should report to the higher level once he found out the problems. It is because of the lack of a channel, or poor communication?

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam have both denied Musa’s claims of third party interference in the police force.

However, it is a very serious allegation. The cabinet should make a thorough investigation to see whether there are people interfering in police work in the name of the Home Ministry. The police must carry out its tasks independently and freely. Any interference might prevent the cause of justice.

The inquiry should not only investigate the police but also extends the scope of investigation to protect the independence and professionalism of all law enforcement agencies.

For example, former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Shafee Yahya claimed that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had prevented the ACA in 1998 from investigating the then director-general of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister’s Department.

In addition, former Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff, who has been acquitted of a charge of being involved in business when he was a civil servant, claimed in October 2007 that the high level officers in the ACA, the Attorney-General’s Chamber and the police were unfair.

Ramli had accused the ACA of framing his subordinates while the police did not protect them. Three policemen were accused to have involved in forgery when conducting an investigation on a Chinese loan shark in Johor. Ramli claimed that the Commecial Crime Investigation Department took actions against the suspect based on the instructions given by the then deputy minister of the Internal Security Ministry (the current Home Affairs Ministry).

On the other hand, PAS has said that the police had received reports in 2002 and 2005 claiming that former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chairman had involved in the RM8 billion loss. Ramli had suggested charging the person involved but the authority took no action.

The inquiry must investigate all similar allegations and incidents and develop a set of guidelines and laws to prevent third party interference in law enforcement and prosecution units.

Undeniably, the police has established a professional image, particularly in intelligence gathering, since the British colonel era. In particular cases, such as the destruction of religious places, the police have shown its capability in solving the cases and maintain social stability. In terms of wiping out violent criminals, the police have also shown a high efficiency.

The Malaysian police force is doing much better if we compare it to the error-prone approach used by the Philippine police in rescuing Hong Kong hostages on a bus hijacked in Manila.

However, the role of the police has been on dispute after the March 2008 general election. The government must uphold the images of the police force and other law enforcement units to restore public confidence.

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

THREE IMAGES OF STATUTORY DECLARATION
by ASP Noor Azizul Rahim,
aide-de-camp to Inspector-General of Police
Tan Sri Musa Hassan

THE IMAGES ARE POSTED ONE TO A PAGE
Click on the page numbers at the bottom of this posting

PEACE AND HARMONY…..A DREAM OR REALITY?

By Muralitharan Ramachandran- http://malaysianminorityindians.blogspot.com

September 16 marks another chronological mile stone to all Malaysian and the pledge given by Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to protect Malaysians from the destructive acts of racism and extremism is really heartwarming. There were a series of scores from all levels of people on racism including the former premier Tun Mahathir Mohammad. The former premier’s statement which supported Perkasa the right wing of UMNO’s stance and the editorial column in UMNO’s Utusan Malaysia is rather seditious and provocative to other races in Malaysia.

Although the Prime Minister feels these people tend to be small in numbers but it is indeed an alarming situation. Keeping an eye alone is not enough and it should be ‘nipped in the bud’ to prevent it from growing any larger. There were a multitude of episodes on the crackdown of people and organizations which seemed to have sparked racial sentiments in the eyes of the government. Perkasa is still a legal body where else Hindraf an organization which raised the rights of Malaysian Indians were labeled as terrorist, illegal movement, the legal advisors were arrested using the draconian law and revoked citizenship of the chairperson. A few politicians from the opposition party and activist were also arrested using the same draconian law back in the 1980’s in the pretext of constructing racial tension. The chairman and the Patron of Perkasa is still out and crafting racial tension which could destroy the harmony of our beloved soil while the main stream media of UMNO, Utusan Malaysia writes supportive articles of the duo which is a hindrance to Malaysia.

Why is the double standard being practiced here? The law should be the same for everyone. Here again, Malaysians are against the draconian ISA act and it is called to be abolished. To show the commitment of Datuk Seri Najib’s 1 Malaysia concept the duo should be charged in an open court under the sedition act, Perkasa and Utusan Malaysia should be banned. These actions will be cheered by many peace and harmony loving Malaysians. To the question of security threat which of course will occur due to dissatisfaction by supporters, it will be definitely in a very tiny percentage which the peace keeping forces in our nation will be able to handle it amicably because majority of Malay ethnic group are also against the movement and also feels disturbed by the comments of Tun Mahathir and this proves that there will not be much of a threat to the nation.

For a start of this Memorial Day Datuk Seri Najib should show his seriousness in combating racial tension and working towards his 1 Malaysia concept.

Wishing all Malaysians A Happy Malaysia Day.

Waiting for promises made three generations ago

Leon Donald, 36, wonders if he'll live to see piped water and electricity running in his Sri Aman longhouse promised since his grandfather's time.

SRI AMAN, Sept 16 — As we celebrate Malaysia Day, my thoughts roll back to my 95-year-old grandfather in Sri Aman.

He has shared many a story with me on how his grandmother brought him to Kuching to meet the Rajah in court, reminisce on the hardship during the Japanese occupation and then continue on the tragedies he had to go through during the early days of Malaysia during the Confrontation and Communist insurrection.

Then he would tell me about the hardship of campaigning with his cousin, the Paramount Chief of the Ibans, the late Tun Jugah anak Barieng, trying to convince the Ibans to agree to the formation of Malaysia.

He must be wondering the same as I, why only now, the government declares a public holiday on September 16?

Malaysia was formed 47 years ago, not 53 years mind you as Umno would lead us to believe, and only now there is an urgency to recognize the date.

For the past 47 years, we in Sarawak and Sabah have seen this auspicious date pass by without any fanfare.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Ghazali Shafie used to visit Sarawak frequently in the early ‘60s to convince the indigenous people to join and support the formation of the federation of Malaysia.

Strong were their convictions that by agreeing to join Malaysia, the indigenous people would be living a better life.

We — the indigenous people of Sarawak and Sabah are generally categorised as Bumiputera, clustered together with the Malays — however, nowadays I am sad that when leaders in the government, including the prime minister, address the various races in the country, only the Malays, Chinese and Indians are mentioned.


I am always upset when I have to fill forms at government offices. The official myopia regarding the

Leon: Is this what we the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak been reduced to: lain-lain and fourth class citizens?

indigenous races of Sarawak is also apparent in a number of forms where applicants have to tick one of the four boxes to identify the racial group they belong to: Malay, Chinese, Indian and Lain-lain.

Is this what we the indigenous people of Sabah and Sarawak been reduced to: lain-lain and fourth class citizens?

What hope do we from Sarawak and Sabah have in securing government employment if our ethnic identities and names have been omitted from the official records?

Is this present government going to do anything about this?

Will this current administration advocate some form of affirmative action that will help us, the minority in Sarawak and Sabah.

Back then, before the formation of Malaysia, promises were made and study trips were done for the leaders from Sarawak and Sabah, showing them the villages in the Peninsular that had piped water and electricity, promising these developments will all be done in the rural areas once we form Malaysia.

It was these promises that prompted our leaders to campaign vigorously to the people in Sarawak and Sabah to agree to support the formation of Malaysia to the Cobbold Commission and the United Nations Fact Finding Team.

Now we are going into the implementation of the 10th Malaysia Plan.

Many of the leaders that campaigned for the formation of Malaysia have died without seeing piped water, proper roads and electricity reaching their villages and longhouses.

My own longhouse here is without electricity and piped water. I hope I do not have to die first before these developments reach my longhouse.

* Leon Donald is a Sarawak DAP member and plans run for the Sri Aman seat in the upcoming state elections. - themalaysianinsider

In Memoriam: Kg Buah Pala the last Indian traditional village in Penang demolished. Kapitan Lim Guan Eng not forgiven nor forgotten

One year has passed today since Kg Buah Pala, the last traditional Indian village in Penang was demolished, of all dates 16/9/09, ie Malaysia Day, but the promised double storey houses for all the villagers community hall and a Hindu temple by Towkay Kapitan Lim Guan Eng and who got his DCM II Indian mandore to repeat it over and over again, using the Tamil dailies, remains a false promise, as it was never intended to be fulfilled in the first place.
To add insult to injury this towkay a few months later even demolished the cattle sheds of the said Indian victims which was even outside the land in the Court Order. Lim Guan Eng obviously sided with the Chinese capitalist developer and the Malay Koperasi in the interest of his pocket and the DAP coffers. But never mind the poor Indians kena nyaya.
Kg Buah Pala is a unique case where a traditional Indian village was handed over to a Malay koperasi, who then handed it over to a Chinese developer for a share of profits arrangements.
DAP and Lim Guan Eng will be remembered in the 2012/2013 General Elections.
Every dog has it’s day. So too does Hindraf and the victims of Kg Buah Pala.
Rights not Mercy.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Happy Birthday Malaysia! GE13 also on the cards?

Don Amache

So we are officially one now after 47 years. And as a birthday gift, are general elections on the cards soon to commemorate the momentous occasion and once and for all, and for all time, cement our relations with our brothers and sisters across the South China Seas?

Well, it would seem like a logical outcome. As Sarawak focuses on the upcoming state election, there are rumours that a snap 13th general election will be held simultaneously.

“There is a possibility that both elections will be held at the same time,” one commentator speculated on a web portal recently.

“It will be a master strategy for the Barisan Nasional leadership to have both elections at the same time as it will prevent Peninsular-based Pakatan Rakyat leaders from campaigning in Sarawak,” reported Free Malaysia Today.

National general elections would handicap Pakatan leaders, “keen on capturing Sarawak to provide a boost to their pursuit of Putrajaya,” as they will be confined to campaigning in their respective constituencies.

Commentator JK Jayan feels that Sarawak’s landscape and the short campaign period usually allocated for general elections, that Pakatan leaders from the peninsula would “dare not to waste precious time in Sarawak.”

“The Sibu by-election has taught some bitter lessons to the BN leadership. It revealed what will happen if key Pakatan leaders are allowed to campaign in Sarawak”, he feels.

But Sarawak BN faces a political conundrum. Whether to allow Chief Minister Taib Mahmud to lead the coalition?

“Sources familiar with Sarawak politics say that while Pakatan is heading into Sarawak with some confidence, BN is in a Catch-22 situation, saddled with problems and issues associated with Taib,” the report concludes.

If BN keeps Taib as chief minister, they will be facing a barrage of questions and criticisms from the opposition regarding the myriad allegations of corruption against him.

But if the BN drops Taib, they will be losing one of the most experienced and seasoned leaders in the history of Sarawak politics.

The coalition will then be faced with the unenviable task of naming a capable leader to lead the BN thrust in Sarawak.

“The BN will be torn between naming a Melanau Malay or a Dayak as the next chief minister and Sarawak BN leader.”

But by naming a Dayak, the BN will be able to drastically change the current political situation in Sarawak by “soothing the feelings of the community and knocking out a key political strategy mooted by the Pakatan leadership - to name a Dayak leader as chief minister in the event they win the state election.”

But the odds of carrying out simultaneous elections at the Federal level with Sarawak seem a little remote.

Detractors feel that too many thorny issues have cropped up in too short a time in the very recent past.

Perhaps, the biggest thorn, is the Perkasa issue and the apparent divisiveness it has created among Umno members and the subsequent fall out with the coalition partners.

And not forgetting the PKFZ scandal and the arrest of some very big wigs, the impending GST will hit hard the voters pocket and just might tip the scales against the ruling coalition in the event of a snap GE 13.

Added to this are the Felda cases that have gone against the federal government - and the BN needs the support of these settlers badly in a crunch battle.

Also the cost of financing a general election is no walk in the park and would bleed depleting coffers.

But as Shakespeare says in Hamlet, “thrift” may be the reason for holding simultaneous elections. When asked why his mother married his uncle so soon after his father’s death, he replies that they saved money by using the leftover meats from the funeral for the wedding banquet.

Would a prudent and astute politician call for a general election with so many negatives factors in the air?

Unlikely. But then, stranger things have occurred during trying times.

Dr M’s racial politics outdated - from the 1960s : Pakatan youth

from Malaysia Chronicle by admin@ malaysiachronicle

Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR (Malaysian Insider) - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers lambasted former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for frustrating the nation’s efforts to move forward, calling his remarks stale and irrelevant to the needs of younger Malaysians.

They said the country should do well focusing on bread and butter issues rather than harp on issues from the 1960s, such as the circumstances surrounding Singapore’s expulsion from Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir, in his latest blog post, had claimed that “Racism in Malaysia is clearly the result of Singapore’s membership of the country for just three years.”

He was responding to the island republic’s founding father, Lee Kuan Yew, who remarked in his New York Times interview that Malaysia’s inter-racial relations would have been if Singapore were not expulsed from the federation.

PKR’s Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, one of a clutch of rising young political stars in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) stable, sent out this message on his Twitter site earlier this week: “Let’s focus on the future. They’re fighting the cultural wars from the 1960s. We have more urgent battles to fight.”

The first-term Seri Setia assemblyman’s views were echoed by PR colleagues Nurul Izzah Anwar, the DAP’s Liew Chin Tong and Dzulkefly Ahmad from PAS.

The trio observed that Dr Mahathir’s arguments were growing increasingly stale among the younger generation of voters who are more concerned with how Putrajaya handles bread-and-butter issues in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

“Harping on the events of August 9, 1965 won’t resolve anything,” said Nurul Izzah, the eldest daughter of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, referring to the date Singapore was booted out of Malaysia.

The Lembah Pantai MP observed that the long-standing battle between the two former prime ministers had nothing constructive to work on in the way of nation-building today.

“We have to learn the past, but focus on the current if we want solutions.


“What we decide to do today will shape Malaysia’s future; and the current tit-for-tat shouldn’t distract us from managing issues such as the need for Malaysia to implement economic reforms, improve quality of education in the country and continue to address alleviation of poverty,” she stressed.

Liew, who is Bukit Bendera MP, subscribed to Nik Nazmi’s observation likening the verbal jousts between Dr Mahathir and Lee as an outdated “cultural war from the 1960s” that had no place in the present day society.

“That cultural war has nothing to do with us. I think we have moved beyond the question of if Singapore should be out or in,” said the DAP international secretary.

“I think we should not be distracted by Dr Mahathir. Let him do whatever he wants. He was a racist, and then he was inclusive...he’s changing colours every decade. He should not concern Malaysians pondering their future,” he added.

Liew observed that Dr Mahathir had been racist in his approach in the first half of his term in office in the 1980s but had switched to preaching inclusiveness after he nearly lost to Kelantan prince Tengku Razaleigh in the 1990 general elections.

Political scientist Agus Yusoff echoed the two first-term legislators and called Dr Mahathir’s argument “irrelevant”.

“I disagree with Dr Mahathir’s argument that Singapore is to blame for racism in Malaysia. It’s irrelevant. Why should we care what Lee Kuan Yew says in Singapore or in New York for that matter?” the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) lecturer said.

“What we have to concern ourselves with is what’s happening in our own country. Racism is a problem in Malaysia because there are organisations like Perkasa,” he stressed.

“We don’t have many politicians who support the prime minister’s concept of 1 Malaysia. They don’t even understand what the concept is all about,” he added.

Agus warned that Malaysia would not be able to go far in fighting racism as long as there are political groups championing the rights of a single ethnicity.

“We can’t go far if even in the BN, if there are political groups that fight for only the rights of one racial group, Malay rights, Chinese rights... That’s why racism keeps happening in this country,” he insisted.


PAS lawmaker Dzulkefly Ahmad said Dr Mahathir is the nation’s biggest obstacle to racial harmony and pegged him the “Father of All Racists”, paraphrasing minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz’s criticism against the ex-premier in a rare show of support across the political lines.

The Kuala Selangor MP slammed the elder statesman for not owning up to his failure to stop the rift from widening during the latter’s 22 years in office.

“He had 22 years and the longest premiership. What was he doing all those years? He can’t blame an event in history or attribute the problems to another country,” Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider.

The PAS central working committee member pointed out that Dr Mahathir’s argument was flawed and only served to highlight the gravity of Malaysia’s inter-racial rift.

“He himself is admitting there is a serious racial divide in no uncertain terms. His only denial is that he is the catalyst for that,” Dzulkefly said.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was at least “trying to enhance racial relations by taking an inclusive, market-friendly approach”.

He contends the 85-year-old’s patronage of hawkish Malay rights group Perkasa had further fanned racial conflicts here.

“He is now calling for racially-biased politics and reminding the current PM, in fact, coercing the PM not to ever debate those politics and not to marginalise Perkasa for fear of losing the Malay vote,” Dzulkefly said.

The PAS man warned that Umno was at a most crucial political crossroads and its survival to stay relevant with the Malay community depended on whether it would choose Najib’s reform-minded inclusiveness or continue to parade itself as the “most supreme Malay party on Earth”.

Anwar renews call to restore federalism

September 16, 2010

Anwar accused the government of usurping the spirit of federalism by hoarding power all to itself. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim sounded out a rallying cry today to restore the spirit of federalism, which he says has been abused by the ruling elite to remain in power to the detriment of the nation’s global progress.

“There is no longer any restraint on the centralisation of power to the federal government. The understanding of federalism, the rule of law and the spirit of federalism is being set aside for the sake of keeping the elite in power,” the opposition leader said in his Malaysia Day statement today.

He noted that the spirit of federalism — the system of sharing power between member states and a central administration — was one of the mainstays when Malaysia was formed in 1963 and was once upheld in the Federal Constitution, but stressed it was being eroded daily.

The Permatang Pauh MP pointed out that power had been channelled unchecked towards the federal government over the years, leading to discrimination in the development of the states, with some states remaining backward while others enjoy the fruits of their natural resources.

“It’s no wonder we see states like Kelantan, Sarawak and Sabah denied their rights even despite being endowed with natural resources,” the economist said.

“Sweet promises are being scattered throughout Sabah and Sarawak, for example, where they are regarded as a ‘deposit’ for victory in the elections,” the PKR advisor added in a thinly-veiled reference to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) alliance.

Anwar’s concern over the matter was likely triggered by widespread speculation that the Najib administration will call for snap polls in the next six months.

The next general election is due only in 2013, but Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his political colleagues have been stepping up their interaction with the grassroots in a nationwide tour to drum up greater support for the BN, which lost its traditional two-thirds control in the Dewan Rakyat for the first time in 53 years during Election 2008.

Anwar noted the citizens of those “oppressed” states had become “indifferent and pessimistic to the desire to strengthen the federation” as a result of suffering unfair treatment over the years.

“Clearly we cannot blame them and should work harder to generate energy, thinking and aspire to eradicate discrimination.

“It would be unfortunate for the nation if its government acts to exclude and deny the rights of its own people because of differences in politics, race and culture,” said the 63-year-old whose ambitions to become the next prime minister are well known.

He vowed that his party and the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will work hard to ensure justice to all the states in the federation, in bid to swing support, especially in the two East Malaysia states, to his side.

“On this day, September 16, 2010 let us together make a commitment to continue to aspire and fight to restore the spirit of federalism… to achieve the status of a sovereign and independent nation on a level position with other nations in the world,” he said.

Karpal wants IGP, AG to throw open books on murders

By Yoges Palaniappan

September 16, 2010

Karpal claimed that incompetent investigations and prosecutions have resulted in the accumulation of unsolved murders. — file pic

GEORGE TOWN, Sept 16 — DAP national chairman Karpal Singh today demanded the IGP and Attorney-General’s (AG) Chambers disclose the number of murder cases reported and prosecuted since the shooting of former IGP Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Hashim in 1974.

Karpal also wanted the AG’s Chambers to provide a detailed breakdown of successful prosecutions for the crime, together with those that did not result in convictions.

In the wake of the high profile murders of Datuk Sosilawati Lawiya and three others, which now appear to be connected to several more unsolved cases, Karpal said murder cases that remained open needed re-examination by the authorities.

“Let Abdul Rahman’s murder be the cutting point. This is one of [the] high profile cases that went unsolved,” Karpal told a press conference here.

“We want the figures disclosed before the next sitting of the Parliament. We will definitely bring up this issue and having the figures will help in the debates,” he said.

Karpal claimed that many high profile murders in Malaysia were not solved “due to incompetent investigation and prosecution”.

Commenting on Sosilawati’s murder, Karpal said the case “deserved attention from the highest quarters” and that it was important that the prosecution proved its case in the court.

“I call upon the AG to empanel a team of competent and experienced prosecutors for this case. I hope in this case, those who are responsible for the murder of Sosilawati and the three others are given a fair trial in the court,” he said.

Sosilawati, 47; her driver Kamaruddin Shamsudin, 44; lawyer Ahmad Kamil Abdul Karim, 32; and CIMB Bank officer Noorhisham Mohammad, 38, went missing on August 30 after they had gone to Banting, Selangor, over a land deal.

Police found out that the four had been killed, their bodies burnt and the ashes thrown into rivers near Ladang Gadong in Tanjung Sepat near Banting, and have detained eight suspects, among them two lawyers.

Following the extensive coverage of the case, Karpal also criticised the police force for making public their investigations into the murders.

“Media trial is a contempt of court … sub judice. It is unfair to the suspects. No matter how heinous of a crime a person has committed, he still deserves a fair trial in the court,” he said.

He added that the police, especially CID director Commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Bakri Zinin must stop publicising the investigation process.

“Investigation papers are considered to be under the Official Secrets Act [1972]. To put it bluntly, he (Bakri) is incompetent,” he said.

PKR Youth chief guns for vice-presidency

By Adib Zalkapli

September 16, 2010

Shamsul said he was bidding for the post to give the youth of the party greater representation. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 16 — PKR Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin today confirmed he is running for one of the four vice-president posts in the upcoming party polls.

Shamsul, who inherited the youth wing from its founder Ezam Mohd Noor in 2007, said the choice was made in order to increase the youth members’ participation in the party’s decision-making process.

“After considering the reality that the youth must play a greater role in strengthening democracy in Keadilan and after taking into account the wishes of the younger generation for their idealism to be taken seriously, I am offering myself to fill the post of Keadilan vice-president,” he told a press conference here.

Shamsul said with his decision, he would also get more Youth leaders to contest in the party’s main body.

“This is not just about the vice-president contest. It is a package, we are sending more candidates to contest the supreme council,” said Shamsul.

When asked he was part of Team Azmin in the party election, Shamsul said it was still too early to be associated with any of the deputy president contenders.

“I think it is too early to say that. I also just heard Azmin Ali will also contest the position, but let us wait for nomination,” said Shamsul.

“Even my decision is not final, if I don’t get any nominations I can’t contest,” he added.

Vice-president Azmin is expected to face PKR supreme council member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who made the decision to contest the deputy presidency late last month.

Shamsul said he would make his stand clear on the deputy presidential contest after the end of nomination process.

When asked if he has received Azmin’s blessing to contest, Shamsul said it was immaterial as party members decide the outcome.

“I enjoy the support of Azmin and also all party members. This is a direct election,” said Shamsul.

Shamsul had previously hinted that he would be defending his current post.

With Shamsul’s withdrawal from the PKR Youth race, the contest to head the movement is now a three-way tie involving aide to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Rafizi Ramli, supreme council member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, and Parit Sulong division chief Hasmi Hashim.

On the contest for the Youth chief post, Shamsul refused to back any of the three candidates.

“Rafizi is here. Hasmi Hashim and Badrul promised to come. So all of them support me and I support all of them,” said Shamsul.

“This is a direct election so I cannot say anything,” he added.

Shamsul however received the backing of Rafizi who said that Shamsul’s vision was consistent with his objectives for contesting for the youth chief post.

“Out of seven vice-presidents at least one must represent the youth, so when we takeover Putrajaya, issues affecting the youth can be addressed accordingly,” said Rafizi who also spoke at the press conference.

PKR constitution allows for four elected vice-presidents and three appointed.

“Shamsul’s rationale for contesting is similar to mine,” said Rafizi who is the chief executive at the Selangor economic advisor office.

Nominations for national posts and divisional meetings begin this weekend.

The party’s 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings; one for the annual general meeting and election of divisional leaders, and a second meeting to vote for national leaders.

The divisions will vote for national leaders on weekends, from October 29 to November 21.

With polls looming, Pakatan launches Sabah arm

By Debra Chong

September 16, 2010

Lim said Najib’s lamentations on the rise of extremism only showed him to be a weak leader. — file pic

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 16 – The opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) launched its Sabah secretariat here last night to rally local support in a bid to oust the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) from Putrajaya.

Blowing raspberries at the prime minister’s Malaysia Day message expressing “sadness” at the rise of extremism in a multicultural nation, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said it showed Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be a weak leader who lacked the support of his own Cabinet when it came to setting the nation-building policies necessary to move the country forward.

“He said he is ‘saddened’ that despite living in an independent multi-cultural nation, there are still those who cannot tolerate, much less accept the benefits of a diverse society and reject the 1 Malaysia concept and policy propounded by him since becoming prime minister in April last year.

“Najib’s job as prime minister is not just to express sadness at the rise of extremism but to provide leadership to stamp out racial bigotry and religious extremism especially when they come from Umno and allied or outsourced groups,” the veteran opposition leader pointed out.

“In contrast, Pakatan Rakyat formed by PKR, PAS and DAP is offering a completely different formula of nation-building and governance based on ‘Unite and Rule’ — to unite the various races, religions, cultures and regions in the country as one national identity to fulfil Malaysia’s potential for greatness which we have lost along the way in the past five decades of Barisan Nasional stewardship,” Lim told a crowd of some 1,500 people at the launch on the eve of Malaysia Day, which celebrates the formation of the federation and made a national holiday for the first time.

“This is the significance of the official launching of the Pakatan Rakyat Sabah secretariat tonight… to embrace and endorse the Pakatan Rakyat’s ‘Unite and Rule’ to govern and Sabah Malaysia in rejection of Umno/BN’s discredited formula of ‘Divide and Rule’ which ultimately benefitted only a handful from the various racial groups and their cronies” he added.

The Ipoh-Timur MP warned that the nation’s oft-touted unity and progress was at risk under the BN leadership.

Lim pointed out that extremist views have been loudest in the last 17 months since Najib became PM.

“What compounded the problem was that the racial bigotry and religious extremism were all coming from one direction — Umno and its allied or outsourced groups, raising the fundamental question whether Najib has the political will and leadership to stand up and be counted to stamp out extremism coming from his own camps,” he said, in apparent reference to Perkasa, the truculent non-governmental organisation championing what it describes as Malay “special rights”.

“Who, for instance, is the most prominent antagonist of Najib’s 1 Malaysia policy if not his Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin?” Lim asked.

Lim said he had challenged the BN in Parliament to clarify Muhyiddin’s “Malay first and Malaysian second” stand and that the coalition’s ministers had kept mum.

He, however, stressed that the PM’s policy had a noble aim — to build a country where the people identified themselves as Malaysian first and ethnicity took a back seat.

Wild allegation by Aide to Anwar Ibrahim R.Suresh Kumar

from Cryingvoices..Arena of Justice! by rwindraj

This is my personal opinion which was published in cryingvoices.webs.com. Thank You

March 11,2010

Citizen Journalist Arvind Raj

R.Suresh Kumar the aide of Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader who is going through sodomy trials in Malaysia has called the Human Rights Party as an ” Illegal organisation and Maybe a worst scenario than a Terrorist” in a rather one sided video produced by Malaysiakini [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cOEAkxEhvE]. Human Rights Party at the other hand produced another video to explain its intentions in organising the protest in front of the PKR Headquarters[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmaGLDQs-k8] which was not explained or said in the video produced by Malaysiakini. HRP Party Pro-Tem Sec.General Mr.P.Uthayakumar has stated his dissatisfaction towards the online news portal, accusing them for acting similar to the Mainstream Medias, which is biased and one sided with their own political agendas. R.Suresh Kumar agreed that he was part of the demonstrators in the Nov 25,2007 Hindraf Rally, and now giving a shocking statement that HRP is an illegal Organisation, despite knowing that Hindraf was the main subject and factor that lead the Pakatan Rakyat to win overwhelmingly in the past March 08 GE. The sense of appreciation was not there in his interview to Malaysiakini, which can be clearing seen in his defensive statement against the protest by HRP. The Motive of HRP in organising the protest is to defend the poor and helpless Indians, and in the frustration over hope that has been shattered and promises that has not been fulfilled by Pakatan Rakyat since even before the 08 General Election. The issues that has been brought are Tamil School land issues, Temple issues, Graveyard Land issues and rights of the Indians as promised by the Pakatan Rakyat Government. In the same video by Malaysiakini, R.Suresh Kumar said that HRP has to have a discussion with the BN ruled State Government Chief Ministers before meeting the PR ruled state Chief Ministers but one new information in the Video is, Chief Minister of Johor Bahru which never been heard before, I hope that R.Suresh Kumar will explain his statement regarding the Johor Bahru Chief Minister. Why must HRP need to speak to the Chief Ministers of the BN ruled states? People voted them out and replace the Government to Pakatan Rakyat in the “HOPE” that they will bring changes to the normal 50years marginalisation and unfair system by Barisan Nasional. The system has not changed since Pakatan took over the 3 states, instead the pattern can be seen in the administration of the Pakatan Rakyat Government too. Ego, Unfair, Ignorant and not transparent. Why must be the Aide of Anwar Ibrahim, talk about the Barisan MP’s and he is justifying the act of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, what Anwar and his alliances has to do with the Barisan Nasional Government? Any Hidden agendas? Secret and unknown future collabration? Pakatan Rakyat top leaders must have been at least present there to discuss and treat the protesters with more cautious with respect, since HRP the child born from Hindraf, was one of the main influence to the victory of Pakatan Rakyat and to make Anwar Ibrahim as the Oppositon leader from no where. I think appointing R.Suresh Kumar as the representative or on behalf of Anwar Ibrahim to accept the Memorandum is an old technique used by the UMNO regime and it is the disastrous decision made by Anwar Ibrahim. We are unsure of the role of P.Vasanthakumar’s presence in the protest against the protest by HRP. Pakatan Rakyat has lost the trust of the supporters due to the ala UMNO way of handling protesters in a disrespectful manner. In the times of critical turmoil within the party and its coalition, Pakatan Rakyat could have handle this protest in a more fragile and cautious manner. This is a critical time where people are confused and unsure of the genuine intentions of political parties in which Pakatan has to make every move cautiously, sincerely and with their promises fulfilled.

Rwindraj

www.cj.my/cryingvoices

Sabah promised autonomy under Pakatan rule

KOTA KINABALU: Autonomy will be granted to Sabah when Pakatan Rakyat comes to power, the top leaders of the opposition coalition promised yesterday, the eve of Malaysia Day.

Anwar Ibrahim followed by Lim Kit Siang and Nasharudin Mat Isa of PKR, DAP and PAS respectively also pledged to grant Sabah political independence during a special gathering here to formally launch Pakatan Sabah, the opposition coalition.

Earlier, Anwar said the launch of Pakatan Sabah is the start of granting Sabah full autonomy to manage itself within Malaysia, a demand the people in the state have been making for 47 years since independence from Britain in 1963.

Sabah affairs will be determined by Sabah, he said, adding that the coalition would not in any way condone nor tolerate abuse of power or corrupt practice.

He also said Pakatan is committed to defending the constitutional rights of all Malaysians, unlike the Umno-led Barisan Nasional coalition which is still defending the NEP, which essentially benefits only a certain race or ethnic group in the country.

Anwar also warned of the worsening political and socio-economic situation in the country under the 53 years of BN rule, saying the people must rise to reject the corrupt regime.

He said the people must reject Umno because "it is corrupt, racist, and arrogant".

'People have voice and power'

Describing it as a battle of two forces -- the people versus the corrupt regime -- Anwar warned that the present regime must not underestimate the wisdom of the masses.

The people have the voice and power, he said.

The supportive crowd of close to 1,000 guests applauded Anwar, Lim and Nasharudin when they likened the coming Umno-BN versus Pakatan fight as a battle for justice, compassion and meritocracy against that of race and religion.

Our understanding is! not rac e but justice for all, Anwar said to applause.

A victory over the ruling BN coalition in the coming general election would be a victory for the people and not any individual political party, he added.

He also said meritocracy is important for the country to progress and to be able to compete with the rest of the world.

But he assured that the poor and needy would not be neglected as it is the duty of the government to protect them.

Anwar is convinced that the Sabah Pakatan Rakyat secretariat will help consolidate the opposition coalition to better develop the state.

Present at the function were Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman, PKR vice-president Azmin Ali, DAP MPs Lim Lip Eng (Segambut) and Teo Nie Ching (Serdang) , Sabah DAP chief-cum-MP for Kota Kinabalu, Dr Hiew King Cheu, its deputy president-cum-Sri Tanjung assemblyman, Jimmy Wong, and its publicity secretary, Dr Edwin Bosi.

Sabah PKR leaders who were also in attendance were Ahmad Thamrin Jaini, Jeffrey Kitingan, Ansari Abdullah, and Christina Liew, among others.

courtesy of FMT

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Rakyat Selangor Pun Tak Hingin Khir Toyo Jadi MB Kembali

Khir dilaporkan oleh MAlaysiakini berkata beliau sudah tidak mahu lagi menjadi MB Selangor kerana beliau mendakwa negeri Selangor sudah hancur kerana diperintah PAkatan Rakyat.

Saya sebagai anak jati Selangor ingin menyatakan kami pun tak hingin Khir Toyo kembali jadi MB Selangor. MAlahan, saya meminta Khir Toyo menjual villa mewah beliau Glenmarie dan pindah ke negeri lain. TIada tempat untuk orang macam Khir Toyo di negeri Selangor ini.



EXCLUSIVE There will be no return to glory for former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

Ousted in 2008 when Pakatan Rakyat wrested the state in a surprise general election coup, Khir said he is no longer interested in the post because he cannot bear the damage done to the state which he had led for eight years.

khir toyo interview 150910I will tell you honestly that I have no interest in becoming an MB any more because the damage done (by the current government led by Pakatan Rakyat) is too bad [sic], it is un-repairable in a short time, he said.

This is not because he is shirking the tough job, he said, but because he thinks others should be given a chance.

After all, he said, when he was first-appointed MB at the age of 33, the state reserves were down to RM200 million and all the government-linked companies were in the red.

Alhamdulillah, not many people have criticised me about the development of the state of Selangor, on procedures, etc. But politically, people say I am not a good leader. That's why (I say) give it to other people, he said.

As is the case of the Selamatkan Selangor (Save Selangor) campaign, he is happy to just follow in the shadow of Selangor BN deputy chairperson Noh Omar and recently appointed BN senator Ezam Mohd Nor.

Noh Omar firsNONEt, then Ezam and then me, said Khir, who is now Opposition Leader in the state legislative assembly.

His stark absence during the roadshow, however, marks what some believe is an increasingly steep downward slide for once ! high-fly er.

According to Khir, his choice to trail Noh and Ezam is less because he is a liability to BN, and more because he feels guilty for BN Selangor's defeat in 2008.

When (BN fell in Selangor), of course I felt guilty. The responsibility was mine. I met with (then deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak) and said that I did not want a large responsibility and that I would rather get to know my supporters in my constituency.

I had only served as a state assemblyperson for eight months when I was appointed MB. I was not close to my constituents. I felt guilty of this too, so now I am rectifying my faults.

Asserting that he is out of the spotlight by choice, Khir discounts talk that he is has been 'sidelined' as he is now a liability to BN, what with the incessant allegations of graft against him.

I am not a liability. I don't feel that. When I speak people still listen. If I am really a liability then (Pakatan) doesn't need to get so personal with me.

If people don't like me, then they don't have to worry so much about me. But they get so personal with me. Whenever I make a statement, they have to attack back.

Why he stays on

He also said that, ever since he became Opposition Leader, Pakatan representatives have tried hard to scare him into submission but he remains unfazed by this brand of mafia and childish politics.

So many people have come up to warn me, some came themselves, and then sent representatives (to say), 'Don't make too much noise. We have more (on you)'.

I am not worried. I am responsible (for criticising the state government) because I am the Opposition Leader. If I don't point it out (their mistakes), then who will?

But his efforts to keeNONEp the state government in check, he said, have not gained much support from the media, not even the Umno-owned daily Utusan Malaysia.

When the 'opposition coalition' became the government, I found that there has been a tendency for the media to not criticise them. That's! what I see. I don't know why. As if criticising the government is an offence. This is not right. We have to change our attitude, he said.

Nevertheless, he admitted that this was probably the case when he was in government as well, with the exception of social media.

Unlike DAP, PAS and PKR which enjoyed much support from this medium, said Khir - who is also a blogger - social media have snubbed the opposition (BN in Selangor) this time around.

Not getting much love either from his party (albeit by choice), the media or the state government, one wonders why this former top politician is still in the game.

Already raking in RM50,000-60,000 in monthly pay before he was made MB - he is a dentist by profession - it is also not the state assemblyperson pay-cheque that he is playing for.

At the end of the day, he said, it is a question of loyalty.

I don't want people to say that I am a leader who forgets his party. I will be with the party forever. I will serve my party well, I will serve my leader well, he said.

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Malaysia Day

from A Little Taffer's Room by Melvin Mah

This is the first time ever in 47 years that Malaysia gets to celebrate its own day - in the proper fashion.

A few hours ago, I went to collect a package that I ordered from a shop near home. As I was waiting for the package, a girl asked the shopkeeper, what is Malaysia Day? And the assistant said, "1 Malaysia". The girl went to ask another shopkeeper next door to get the answer. No one was able to answer exactly.

That's the problem. People in the Peninsular can hardly know what is Malaysia Day, except those in Sabah and Sarawak. In fact, it is the day where these two states joined the peninsular to form Malaysia. If you remember history, the original date was supposedly to be on 31 August 1963 but was delayed pending ratification by the United Nations before its declaration today.

In fact it just come too late to have Malaysia Day declared as a national holiday. If you ask this question during Madey's time, he'd say there's too many public holidays already in the annual calendar!

Here's one problem. In the past 47 years, Sabah and Sarawak are just starting to realize that Federal government is forgetting about honoring the 20 point agreement that was made prior to the joining of the federation. And where has both states grown from 1963 onwards? Not much really. Poverty level in both states are still in poor. Sarawak, despite having vast natural resources, remains poor because those were robbed by the wealthy barons including the state's first family. Sarcastically, I'd say that it's nice to see an anti-Taib or Taib Must Go campaign to tell the CM that 30 years plus is enough and the plundering has gone to the peak point already.

The one common myth that we're told is that the struggle to form Malaysia is done without bloodshed. That is not true. In fact, there are some left-wing parties, even including KMM, AWAS, API that started the struggle of forming Malaysia way earlier than United Malays National Organisation. In fact "Merdeka" slogan was first uttered by KMM (notable figure was Ibrahim Yaacob) Read more here.

Malaysia is already 47 years in formation, almost half of my age. And to commemorate this, read the join statement here.

Hishamuddin Rais: AA UU AA UU

from A Little Taffer's Room by Melvin Mah

Continuation over part 1 by Hisham Rais titled: Negara Ciplak.

You be the judge.

Popout

KELANTAN HOLDS SPECIAL STATE ASSEMBLY SITTING TO AVOID PROBLEMS ON NEW SULTAN

The Kelantan State government is convening a special sitting of the State Assembly by this month to overcome any possible obstacles that may come about in the installation of the new Sultan, Sultan Tuanku Muhammad Faris Petra who had been replaced by an existing Sultan, Tuanku Ismail Petra Almarhum Sultan Yahya Petra who had been described as been unable to perform his official ruler's duties.
The State government with its latest amendment of the State Constitution, valid as of 2 September 2010 covers this aspect under Article 23A, feels that the best platform to overcome any future problems is to get the consent of the people's voice, the State Assembly, to approve and accept the new appointment of the Sultan and also granting whatever rights, payments and peers to the old Sultan, who is still alive but unable to perform his official duties.
This bold step by the PAS State government need to be commendated since they respect the laws of the country and also the rights of its citizens.

There were comments made that the inability of the existing Sultan were never made know while the appointment was made in a rush, creating suspicion that some hanky-panky may have taken place. There were also reports indicating problems in the royal family household on the matter of succession.
Given the benefit of doubts, the existing Sultan is receiving medical treatment in Singapore and could be not in a position to carry out his duties, while his illness has now been for a considerable term of time while jeopardising the State government to perform and serve the people effectively.
While the State Succession Council who ha! ve the a ctual powers to install a new Sultan have already given their approval on the new appointment as provided for by the State Constitution.
With this appointment, the State government is no longer paralyse and the continuity is maintained.

But this could not be said of Perak, when the Opposition State government was 'toppled' while the Constitution, if interpreted and applied correctly, only gives the State Assembly the powers to replace,("although now the Courts feels that they have the inheritant powers to decide against the State or Federal Constitution").
Just because of certain political masters who desperately want to capture and regain this State, they used the Courts and the Palace to' circumvent' this golden rule.











Kelantan does not want to be trapped by these opportunist and be burden by long delayed court cases that will undermined the State administration while showing their people that the rule of law does still exist and is always respected and adhered to.
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public