PERKASA and ME: a cheong hei reply

Now, whenever Dr Mahathir is criticised about how he ran the country or whatever, he always says that he does not make sole decisions. All decisions are Cabinet decisions. The largest financial scandal, the PKFZ disaster, was a Cabinet decision, not the sole decision of the Prime Minister.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

You have probably already read Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamads Blog posting, PERKASA and ME, plus the replies -- PERKASA and MEa short reply to Tun!, 'My Reply to Tun Mahathir Article Pembinasa and Me' and Reading Tun Dr Mahathir.

Well, now let me reply as well.

How many of you remember the Broadway musical of 1951 called The King and I? It was later made into a movie, which launched Yul Brynners botak head look. Actually he is not botak (bald) at all. Like me, he shaved his head. And to prove I am not botak I am now keeping my hair long again.

So the Umno people can no longer call me botak gemuk (bald fatty). Justgemuk. And I may even go on a diet and become kurus (thin) again as well. I might even launch an anti-ISA hunger strike in London and really lose weight.

Anyway, lets see about that one.

Now, why am I mentioning The King and I? Simply this. Dr Mahathir should have titled his piece PERKASA and I, not PERKASA and ME. After all, the play/movie was called The King and I, not The King and ME.

So there you have it. Bad English. Wouldnt you say I love you and not me love you, unless you are a Native American (a.k.a. Red Indians)?

Okay, lets get serious. By the time Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as Prime Minister on 1st November 2003, Malaysia had already seen independence (Merdeka) for 46 years. Almost half that 46 years was with Dr Mahathir as Prime Minister -- slightly over 22 years. A few more months and Dr Mahathir would have ruled Malaysia for half ! that 46 years.

Abdullah ruled Malaysia for slightly over five years. Considering that one term is five years, this means Abdullah was only a one-term Prime Minister -- although he took the country through two general elections. Dr Mahathir, however, was a five-term Prime Minister.

When Abdullah took over as Prime Minister, he inherited the policies, Cabinet, problems, and whatnot, of the previous regime. He would have needed one term to dismantle the old policies and address the ills and wrongdoings of the previous regime, and then implement his own policies and changes, which would take him another term.

This means we need to evaluate Abdullahs performance over two terms, not one term. One term is not enough.

But Abdullah was first of all not allowed to introduce any changes. As soon as he tried, Dr Mahathir attacked him. And then he was ousted before he could serve his second term. So we will never know whether, if Abdullah was allowed a second term, he could have turned things around. Therefore, is the failure due to the incompetence of Abdullah or is it because he was blocked from implementing his plans?

Now, whenever Dr Mahathir is criticised about how he ran the country or whatever, he always says that he does not make sole decisions. All decisions are Cabinet decisions. The largest financial scandal, the PKFZ disaster, was a Cabinet decision, not the sole decision of the Prime Minister.

Okay, if this is how decisions are made, then how can Abdullah take sole responsibility for whatever went wrong? And remember, Abdullah inherited Dr Mahathirs Cabinet when he took over. This was not Abdullahs Cabinet but the Cabinet of the previous regime that Dr Mahathir headed for 22 years.

When Dr Mahathir makes mistakes the Cabinet has to be blamed. Mistakes made during Abdullahs term of office are Abdullahs fault entirely, nothing to do with the Cabinet.

Finally, I would have imagined that Dr Mahathir, as a seasoned enough politician, would not unwittingly admit that he ! is behin d PERKASA. His latest Blog posting, however, reveals that he calls the shots when it comes to PERKASA. I cant imagine him making this mistake.

Then again, did he really make a mistake? Dr Mahathir is too clever to make such mistakes. I can only suspect that it was intentional. It was to send a message to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak that he opposes the1Malaysia in favour of Ketuanan Melayu and that he will use his PERKASA to do this.

I smell another ouster in the cards. When Dr Mahathir said he does not understand what Abdullahs Islam Hadhari means and that he only knows one type of Islam, this was the beginning of the end for Abdullah. Now Dr Mahathir says the same thing about 1Malaysia and I see this as also the beginning of the end for Najib.

When Abdullah tried dismantling Dr Mahathirs legacy, the latter went for the formers jugular. Would Najib now dare try what Abdullah tried? If he does then he will suffer the same fate as Abdullah. However, if he does not, then he becomes merely a proxy Prime Minister with Dr Mahathir as the de facto Prime Minister. Either way Najib will suffer.

When Najib proposes 1Malaysia and all those other reforms, Dr Mahathir opposes him. But when Najib proposes a RM5 billion 100-storey building even grander than the KLCC Twin Towers, Dr Mahathir supports it and says it is good for the country.

Do you get my drift now? Najib is running this country and implementing policies the way Dr Mahathir would like them to be. That is the only way he can stay on as Prime Minister. And when Najib tries to break away and launch his 1Malaysia, Dr Mahathir launches his PERKASA through proxy (Ibrahim Ali) and challenges it.

That, in a nutshell, is what is going on.

By the way, Umno is most likely going to win the Galas by-election today. And the Umno people are going to say that this is Tengku Razaleigh Hamzahs win and not Umnos win. If Najib had gone down to Galas to campaign then PAS would have won instead.

Some say PAS purposely allowed ! Umno to win as a favour to Tengku Razaleigh who is fighting hard to get the oil royalty for Kelantan. The word on the ground was that the PAS machinery was told not to attack Tengku Razaleigh. This, in fact, happened in 2008 and that was why Gua Musang went to Tengku Razaleigh. And I got this from the horses mouth.

And of course the Batu Sapi by-election in Sabah is a foregone conclusion.

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

LIVE ! Polling Results For Galas & Batu Sapi By-Election

Due to technical reasons, LIVE ! Polling Results For Galas & Batu Sapi By-Election are posted HERE http://www.bonology.com/2010/11/live-update-of-galas-batu-sapi-by.html

Newest updates from polling day for Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections.

Newest updates from polling day for Galas and Batu Sapi by-elections.

Barisan Nasional takes Batu Sapi and Galas

November 4, 2010

Barisan Nasional takes Batu Sapi and Galas

Barisan Nasional has scored a double victory in the Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections, giving Prime Minister Najib Tun Razaks administration a resounding stamp of approval and sending the Anwar Ibrahim-led opposition back to the drawing board.

For the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat in Sabah, BN candidate Linda Tsen won with a landslide victory, chalking up a margin of 6,359 votes over her nearest rival, PKRs Ansari Andullah. Her majority was even greater than her late husband Edmund Chongs in 2008 when he got 3,708-vote majority. The latters death in a traffic accident had paved the way for the by-election.

Tsen garnered 9,773 votes while Ansari got 3,414. The other contender in the three-way tussle, SAPP president Yong Teck Lee came in a disappointing third with 2,031 votes despite initial projections that the former chief minister would win the seat.

Observers noted that while Tsen managed to secure support from both the Malay/Bumiputera and Chinese voters, Yong had lost out to Ansari on the Malay/Bumiputera votes.

Despite his defeat, Ansari can take some comfort in the fact that he managed to rope in more votesthan the taiko Yong despite being written off by observers.

The BN victory gives embattled Chief Minister Musa Aman some respite and on the surface, blunts the political significance of his detractors and the opposition.

Batu Sapi has 25,582 voters, of whom 1,535 are postal voters. The Election Commission revealed that the voter turnout for the contest was 61%.

Blue wave sweeps Galas too

In the peninsula, the BN wave swept across the Galas political landscape in Kelantan, drowning PAS in its wake. The ruling coalitions candidate Abdul Aziz Yusoff snatched the for! mer PAS state seat with a majority of 1,190 votes.

Abdul Aziz garnered 5,324 votes while his PAS rival Dr Zulkefli Mohamad got 4,134 votes, with the voter turnout being recorded at 83%. The results also indicate that the Chinese voters have backed BN after ditching the national coalition in 2008.

The Galas by-election was called following the death of PAS assemblyman Che Hashim Che Sulaiman, who won the seat with 646-vote margin in the 2008 general election.

Pundits predicted that the double victory could prompt Najib to call for a snap general election. The ruling coalition appears to be on track to redeem itself following its worst ever performance in the last general election, which saw it lose, for the first time in history, two-thirds majority in Parliament and several states.www.freemalaysiatoday.com

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Kit Siang rejects Berita Harian's excuse for "Umno infidel" quote

Lim Kit Siang

Berita Harian’s “correction” does not amount to an apology but has added insult to injury, compounding the offence committed and the falsehoods perpetrated by the report on Tuesday, 2nd November 2010, under the headline “Tindakan Kit Siang tuduh UMNO kafir melampau”.

Berita Harian today carried an inconspicuous one-paragraph correction that reads:

“Ralat – Ucapan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam dalam ceramahnya, DAP semakin berani mencampuri urusan agama Islam di peti Kampung Baru Hulu, Gua Musang, seperti disiarkan Berita Harian semalam, bukan merujuk kepada Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang. Kesilapan dikesali. – Pengarang".

Berita Harian’s “correction” does not amount to an apology but has added insult to injury, compounding the offence committed and the falsehoods perpetrated by the Berita Harian report on Tuesday, 2nd November 2010, under the headline “Tindakan Kit Siang tuduh UMNO kafir melampau”, viz:

Tindakan Kit Siang tuduh UMNO kafir melampau
2010/11/02
Berita Harian


GUA MUSANG: DAP semakin berani mencampuri urusan agama Islam dengan menuduh orang UMNO kafir dalam siri ceramah untuk menarik sokongan pengundi Melayu menyokong PAS pada pilihan raya kecil Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Galas.


Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, berkata tindakan itu adalah hasil ajaran pemimpin PAS yang menjual agama dan tidak menghalang apabila bukan Islam menuduh orang Melayu tidak menyokong PAS sebagai kafir.


Katanya, kenyataan Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang itu dibuat di hadapan Mursyidul Am PAS, Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat dan Penasihat Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim pada ceramah di Rancangan Pemulihan Tanah (RPT) KESEDAR Sungai Terah.


“Yang kita sedihnya apabila Lim menuduh orang Melayu parti UMNO kafir disambut dengan laungan takbir ‘Allahuakhbar’ oleh pemimpin PAS bersama penyokongnya yang dianggap menjual agama Islam kepada kaum lain.”


“Inikah parti yang melaungkan perjuangan Islam yang patut kita sokong dan sudah jauh terpesong akidah sebenarnya,” katanya ketika berceramah kepada pengundi di peti undi Kampung Baru Hulu, dekat sini, petang kelmarin.


Mohd Ali yang juga Ketua Menteri Melaka, berkata mungkin pengundi di DUN Galas baru sedar tindakan Kit Siang yang mengutuk orang beragama Islam tetapi pada masa sama ia halal di sisi perjuangan PAS demi kepentingan politik pembangkang.


Beliau berkata, gelagat pemimpin DAP mencampuri urusan agama Islam sejak bergabung dalam pakatan pembangkang kerana mendapat restu PAS untuk mengutuk orang Islam yang tidak sokong parti itu.


Katanya, pengundi di DUN Galas patut mengambil ingatan dengan sikap melampau DAP itu yang menuduh orang UMNO kafir dan perbuatan itu pula seolah-olah direstui PAS.

This Berita Harian report was a double lie, as I never made the allegation calling UMNO Malays “kafir” for not supporting PAS in the Galas by-election and I never attended the PAS ceramah at Kesedar Sungai Terah as alleged by Ali Rustam.

Yesterday, when Perak DAP Pasir Pinji state assemblyman Thomas Su, Negri Sembilan DAP Assemblyman for Bahau Teo Kok Seong and Perak DAP Jalong Assemblywoman Leong Mee Meng lodged three police reports against Ali Rustam and Berita Harian for the defamatory and seditious falsehoods in the Berita Harian report as well as against the Putrajaya UMNO Youth leader Mohd Hishamudin Yahaya for lodging a false police report and disseminating false news against me, they were told by Gua Musang police that Berita Harian would apologise to me and that Tuesday’s Berita Harian report was the result of “silap tulis”.

I cannot figure out how “silap tulis” can be used as an defence, excuse or justification for such a malicious, irresponsible, defamatory and seditious report, seeking to incite racial and religious hatred in a multi-racial and multi-religious society and totally against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia concept.

Be that as it may, Berita Harian has not made made any apology and has added insult to injury by by implying -- without producing any proof -- that Ali Rustam was right in accusing a DAP national leader of having called UMNO Malays as “kafir”s.

I have therefore asked Karpal Singh, acting as my lawyer, to proceed with all dispatch against Berita Harian and Ali Rustam in legal proceedings. I also call on the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Ismail Omar to ensure that the police does not cover up this matter in closing all investigations but to uphold the law by instituting criminal defamation and other charges against Berita Harian and Ali Rustam.

On the part of the Prime Minister and UMNO President, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he should immediately suspend Ali Rustam as Malacca Chief Minister as he has shown himself unfit, unqualified and unworthy of being the head of a state government in so irresponsibly disseminating racial and religious illwill and hatred based on a pack of lies – which makes an utter mockery of his 1Malaysia policy.

(Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser and MP for Ipoh Timur)

P185 Batu Sapi N45 Galas - BN Menang.....

9,773






















3,414




















2,031











Majoriti - 6,359










5,324













4,134













Majoriti - 1,190

Tahniah

kepada yang kalah jangan putus asa cuba lagi......


cheers.

See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

DAP to sue despite Berita Harians correction

By Rahmah Ghazali

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP is going ahead with authorised movement against Berita Harian as well as Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam over a inform accusing celebration strongman Lim Kit Siang of referring to Umno members as infidels.

Unimpressed with Berita Harians attempt during creation amends, Lim pronounced currently which DAP would record a writ of court order against a paper as well as a arch minister during a Kuala Lumpur High Court this Monday.

The celebration is suing a two for insult despite Berita Harians announcement of a correction which reads:

Ralat Ucapan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan UMNO Melaka, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam dalam ceramahnya, DAP semakin berani mencampuri urusan agama Islam di peti Kampung Baru Hulu, Gua Musang, seperti disiarkan Berita Harian semalam, bukan merujuk kepada Penasihat DAP, Lim Kit Siang. Kesilapan dikesali. Pengarang.

(CorrectionThe statement by a Chairman of a Malacca Umno Liaison Committee, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, in his speak (entitled) DAP has turn bolder in interfering with Islamic eremite affairs during a balloting district of Kampung Baru Hala, Gua Musang, as published by Berita Harian yesterday, was not in anxiety to DAP Advisor Lim Kit Siang. The error is regretted.Editor.)

Lim told reporters which a supposed correction, carried in a writings Page 8, did not amount to an apology as well as in fact added insult to injury because it pragmatic which Mohd Ali was right in accusing DAP of interfering in Islamic affairs.

DAP authority as well as putting in service warn Karpal Singh will be Lims warn in a case.

Asked if he had sought construction from Mohd Ali, Lim said: No need. Besides, he has kept quiet for a past 48 hours. He could have pronounced which he was misquoted by Berita Harian. Maybe he can take authorised movement against a paper too.

Karpal t! old repo rters he would outlay tomorrows Deepavali holiday as well as a week end scheming a authorised papers.

If they wish trouble, they have come to a right place, he said.

Lim additionally told reporters which he had tabled a parliamentary motion looking a RM10 deduction from Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patails salary because he had closed investigations in to opposing statutory declarations made by in isolation questioner P Balasubramaniam regarding a purported impasse of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in a attempted murder of Mongolian beauty Altantuya Shaariibuu.

He pronounced Ganis preference had increased doubts about a integrity of a judicial system.

He pronounced he would seek a similar deduction from a salary of a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission arch Abu Kassim Mohamed for Malaysias poor performance in Transparency Internationals Corruption Perception Index (CPI).

Now Mustafa wants 'unfair' PKR polls postponed

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR; PKR emissary presidential carefree Mustafa Kamil Ayub has assimilated his rival Zaid Ibrahim in expressing restlessness over a celebration elections.

In a matter today, a celebration vice-president called for a polls to be deferred until all grouses have been resolved.

Mustafa as well as Zaid, a Federal Territories PKR chief, have been embroiled in a three-cornered tussle, that additionally includes vice-president Azmin Ali, for a series two slot.

Azmin, who is pronounced to be celebration supremo Anwar Ibrahim's preferred choice, is now leading a pack.

Meanwhile, Mustafa pronounced to safeguard a expansion of PKR, a party's central choosing cabinet should additionally be dangling until confidence in a choosing system is restored.

"The choosing routine contingency be dangling until a celebration or a brand new choosing cabinet takes active movement to remedy a flaws. This movement is needed as we do not want whatever problems that have cropped-up to recur, he added.

Mustaffa additionally pronounced he has finished a chit containing proposals upon ways to improved a choosing cabinet as well as it will be submitted to celebration boss Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who additionally oversees a committee.

"The party's good intention to allow any part of to opinion to collect inhabitant leaders will come to zilch if a appointed choosing cabinet is not effective.

We don't want a members to be cheated by a little for their own domestic career. We have been fighting for probity as well as a voice of a grassroots members contingency be given a probity it wants," he added.

'Seen to be receiving sides'

Without mincing his words, Mustafa pronounced a choosing cabinet has unsuccessful to safeguard integrity in a choosing process.

"The party's choosing routine! (to col lect inhabitant leaders) began upon October 29, however a goal to get a satisfactory electoral routine from a choosing cabinet is disappointing.

"Although there were a series of objections lifted upon a choosing routine until now no movement has been taken to address a issues, he said.

"The integrity of a cabinet is now being questioned by assorted parties. There have multiform incidents as well as clear irregularities in a choosing routine with a cabinet seen to be unprofessional as well as receiving sides.

This includes a inconsistency in a announcement of sum votes performed by possibilities generally involving a emissary president's post," he added.

PKR became a first domestic celebration in a nation to introduce a one-member, one opinion system where typical members have been allowed to collect inhabitant leaders.

The celebration is now conducting its polls to collect inhabitant leaders, with polling in three states starting last weekend.

Since a choosing began, assorted allegations have been levelled against a celebration headquarters as well as a choosing committee.

Also read:

Battle for PKR No 2 post takes another twist

Zaid's camp: Halt PKR polls immediately

Happy Deepavali, 2010

November 4, 2010

HAPPY DEEPAVALI, 2010

My wife, Dr.Kamsiah and I wish all Malaysians of Hindu Faith and those around the world a HAPPY DEEPAVALI. Let there be peace and harmony among us all as we greet this great Festival of Lights which falls on November 5, 2010.Let us spare some moments as we celebrate this occasion to think of our fellow Malaysians in Kedah and Perlis, and East Coast who are braving the monsoon rains and the floods. Let us also remember for our Indonesian neighbours, who are experiencing hardships as a result of the tsunami and the eruption of Mount Merapi, and express our sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones in this human tragedy.Dr. Kamsiah and Din Merican

Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

Investigating Officer: Beng Hock's letter not a suicide note

Malaysia Chronicle

MACC chief counsel Abdul Razak Musa, who made a fool of himself and his agency during his interrogation of forensic expert Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand, did it again on Thursday when he insisted on insinuating a letter retrieved from Selangor political aide Teoh Beng Hock's bag as an "alleged suicide note".


This despite the fact that police investigating officer ASP Ahmad Nazri Ismail had told the court early on that the letter was not a suicide note.

Ahmad had said the letter did not satisfy the usual requirements of a suicide note. He said he had checked with an expert - a Dr Badiaah Yahya from Hospital Permai, Johor - and found that a person who commits suicide would usually pen a note giving reasons why he chose to end his life.

This was not apparent in the letter retrieved from Beng Hock's bag, Ahmad said.

However, MACC's Abdul Razak Musa repeatedly called the undated letter the alleged suicide note although even the Coroner pointed out that there was no conclusive evidence to show Teoh had penned the note.

The controversial note caused public uproar after Attorney-General Gani Patail produced it out of the blue and tendered it in court as evidence some 10 months after the inquest started last year. Gani was accused of trying to douse or discredit the evidence due to be presented by Dr Pornthip, who has maintained that Teoh did not commit suicide and the case was a probable homicide.

The A-G's department incurred further controversy when a court-appointed interpreter admitted to using Google Translate to translate the note written in Chinese to Bahasa Malaysia, casting further doubt as to its accuracy.
See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Kuala Krai Puteri chief claims attack by PAS member

GUA MUSANG: Kuala Krai Puteri Umno conduct Suzaini Adlina Mohd Shukri was slightly harmed today when she was pounded by the PAS Muslimat (Women's wing) part of while courtship electorate during Sekolah Kebangsaan Cina Gua Musang here.

This brought to two, the incidents of trouble upon polling day in the Galas by-election, after the initial which involved the quarrel between PAS as well as Barisan Nasional supporters during Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Wangi during 8.30am.

In the ultimate incident during 11.30am, Suzaini Adlina, 37, pronounced she was pounded from behind by the PAS Muslimat part of with the PAS dwindle pole, giving her slight injuries to her front as well as nose.

"At which time, the PAS supporters were upon the right side as well as we was upon the left, accompanying the voter to the polling centre, with both sides courtship the voter.

"Suddenly, the Muslimat part of strike me twice (with the dwindle pole) from behind as well as when we turned around, she strike me again," she recalled when met by reporters after lodging the inform during the Gua Musang district military headquarters.

Suzaini Adlina pronounced when she saw which her attacker was an elderly woman, she did not respond as well as the lady was quickly taken away by her celebration supporters.

"I regret which this incident happened when such an act of charge should not be committed during all by the part of of the celebration which calls itself an Islamist party," she said.

Kelantan Puteri Umno arch Noor Wahida Patuan, 30, pronounced the incident had been moving since the polling centre opened, with irritation as well as written abuse by PAS supporters against BN supporters.

"We did not retort as the Puteri Umno inhabitant conduct Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin had told us to be well-behaved in the approach. What PAS members did was barbarian as well as against ! the prin ciples of democracy," she said.

- Bernama

Also read:

Galas kicks off with tension during polling station

EC unhappy with unruly behaviour of supporters

VOTERS IN GALAS OFFERED RM250 BY BN

Voters in Galas were given a brown envelope containing RM250 by the Barisan Nasional after they had cast their votes, reports Malaysiakini.
It seems that the BN is extremely desperate in gaining control of the Galas State seat.
More to come
Letter & Opinion From Joe Public

By-elections to test mood ahead of polls

KUALA LUMPUR: Polling non-stop this sunrise in two by-elections seen as a pointer of voter view ahead of national elections which could be reason as early as next year.

Strong wins by a ruling Barisan Nasional bloc would vigilance a turnaround for a supervision after its jot down losses in a 2008 general election, as well as concede Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to reason early national polls which aren't due until 2013.

Najib also needs to measure a convincing win in both races to secure a charge to pursue economic reforms which would put Malaysia back upon a map of foreign investors.

"If a BN wins strongly in both seats afterwards a probability for snap elections next year is there as it would vigilance which electorate are in truth commencement entrance back to them," pronounced political researcher Shaharuddin Badaruddin.

A thin margin of victory or losses in a single or both seats could threaten a gait of reforms to boost investments such as vital funding cuts as well as a products as well as tax services.

Speculative "hot" income has flowed into a Malaysian bond marketplace this year as well as pushed a ringgit to 13-year highs opposite a dollar, though faster reforming neighbours such as Indonesia have eroded Malaysia's attractiveness.

The competition in a council chair of Batu Sapi in a coalition's stronghold state of Sabah pits a BN member celebration opposite antithesis leader Anwar Ibrahim's PKR as well as eccentric candidate Yong Teck Lee.

The alternative by-election, for a state chair of Galas in a northeeastern state of Kelantan bordering Thailand, pits Najib's celebration opposite a country's categorical Islamist party.

- Reuters

Also read:

Chinese audience great pointer for SAPP

Galas kicks off with tragedy during polling station

Galas as wel! l as Bat u Sapi go to polls

HRP rejects UMNO’s social contract that does not exist, special position of Malays is only ...

End UMNO racism and religious supremacy and Malaysia being the world’s most racist country

Hindraf has done it’s homework at the Public Records Office (National Archives) in Kew, London on 3^rd June onwards. To start off with there is no such thing as the social contract as UMNO has been repeatedly proclaiming, insisting and conveniently implementing their bully racist and religious supremacist policies.

The social contract is a very recent phenomena created by a mere UMNO Member of Parliament. In 1986 Datuk Abdullah Ahmad the Member of Parliament for Kok Lanas, Kelantan he said;

"The political system of Malay dominance was born out of the sacrosanct social contract which preceded national independence. Let us never forget that in the Malaysian political system, the Malay position must be preserved and that Malay expectations must be met. There have been moves to question, to set aside and to violate this contract that have threatened the stability of the system”.

“The May 1969 riots arose out of the challenge to the system agreed upon out of the non fulfillment of the substance of the contract. The New Economic Policy (NEP) is the programme after those riots in 1969 to fulfil the promises of the contract in 1957."

The NEP must continue to sustain Malay dominance in the political system in line with the contract of 1957. Even after 1990 there must be mechanisms of preservation, protection and expansion in an evolving system (Abdullah Ahmad, quoted in The Star newspaper, 31, Viii 1986) – Marvis Puthucheary – Malaysia’s “Social Contract” in the book Sharing the Nation by Noraini Othman and two others at page 12.

Written records of the interparty discussions of the Alliance leaders indicate that the Constitutional provisions on the “special position” were understood more as a protective measure for the Malay community which was then socio-economically disadvantged. Referred to by Raja Aziz Addruse and Helen Ting (NST 6/7/08 page 22).

In their oral submissions to the Reid Commission the Alliance leaders requested the insertion of a constitutional provision for the review of the “special position” of the Malays 15 years after independence. Though subsequently removed, this implies that the Alliance leaders themselves did not intend the provisions to be a permanent feature of independent Malaysia.

The founding political bargain was later construed as and renamed “the social contract.” The original alliance “deal” or pragmatic compromise was “rebounded” and given legitimacy by association with modern liberal and democratic political philosophy and it’s core idea of the “social contract” of free and equal citizens as joint stakeholders in the political order. Marvis Puthucheary – Malaysia’s “Social Contract” in the book Sharing the Nation by Noraini Othman and two others at page 20.

For example, earlier work suggest and the recently published memoirs of Tun Dr. Ismail confirm that the “special position” of Malays in the Constitution was interpreted as nothing more than ‘a temporary measure to ensure their (Malay) survival in the modern competitive world (Ooi 2006 : 83), a temporary ‘handicap’ as in golf to encourage and support Malays in the key competences of modernity while they so to speak, lifted and improved their game. These special Malay rights, Tun Ismail held, should not apply in perpetuity, only for a very limited period, and would not last any longer than that. The ‘slur” of their continuing existence would ensure their termination before very long at Malay insistence and from a determination to uphold Malay self respect. Marvis Puthucheary – Malaysia’s “Social Contract” in the book ‘Sharing the Nation’ by Noraini Othman and two others page 23.

Kebakaran HQ PAS hanya melibatkan pantri

Oleh Jamilah Kamarudin

PETALING JAYA: Pejabat Agung PAS di Jalan Raja Laut Kuala Lumpur mengalami kebakaran kecil di bahagian pantri di tingkat 1 selepas berlaku litar pintas kira-kira 8.30 pagi tadi.

Kebakaran itu dikatakan berpunca daripada kegagalan fungsi cerek elektrik lama di pantri tersebut sehingga meletup dan tercetusnya kebakaran kecil di bahagian itu.

"Cerek itu meletup dan merosakkan kabel utama sehingga menyebabkan berlakunya litar pintas serta kegagalan talian telefon dan sistem yang lain di seluruh bangunan," kata Mohd Khairol Anwar Mat Zuki, pegawai khas Setiausaha Agung PAS kepada FMT.

Beliau berkata keadaan pejabat bahagian pentadbiran di tingkat 1 itu yang berhawa dingin dan tingkap yang tertutup menyukarkan laluan udara sehingga menyebabkan asap terkumpul menjadi tebal.

"Tingkap berada di bilik pejabat pegawai pentadbir tapi berkunci kerana ramai sudah pergi bertugas di Galas," katanya.

Namun tindakan pantas kakitangan pejabat melaporkan kebakaran itu berjaya ditangani pihak Bomba dan Penyelamat Chow Kit setengah jam kemudian tanpa merebak ke bahagian lain.

"Hanya bahagian pantri sahaja yang terjejas, bahagian lain, peralatan serta dokumen pejabat semuanya terselamat," katanya.

Ketika kejadian, katanya, hanya lapan kakitangan yang terdiri daripada kerani pejabat sahaja ada di bangunan tersebut dan semuanya berada dalam keadaan selamat, manakala yang lain bertugas untuk pilihan raya kecil di Galas.

Mohd Khairol bagaimanapun menafikan wujudnya sebarang unsur sabotaj daripada pihak tertentu yang menyebabkan kebakaran itu sambil menegaskan ia hanya satu insiden yang tidak mampu dielakkan.

Beliau berkata pihaknya sehingga kini masih lagi menunggu laporan penuh daripada pegawai Bomba dan Penyelamat Sentul tentang insiden itu serta jumlah kerugian yang dialami.

[gambar dari harakahdaily]
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Chinese turnout good sign for SAPP

By FMT Staff

SANDAKAN: As during noon today, a solid stream of Chinese retiress as well as Muslim Bumiputeras have been seen expel of characters their votes for their elite claimant in a competition for a Batu Sapi parliamentary seat.

Since it is not a legal holiday in Batu Sapi, many operative adults are expected to make use of their lunch break from 12pm to 2pm to practice their constitutional right.

An spectator pronounced which a Barisan Nasional (BN) camp was assured despite a low voter audience this morning.

"Despite low audience so far, BN is assured it will be to a advantage. We're awaiting a aloft audience in a afternoon. It will be good," pronounced a observer.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) camp, however, is upbeat with a great audience of Chinese voters..

"The older Chinese have come out already so that's a great pointer for Yong (Teck Lee). It shows which they wish to make their voice heard," pronounced a observer.

He pronounced a opposition was assured of entertainment 80% of a Chinese votes here.

"The younger electorate as well as office workers have not come out yet.

"It's a operative day here so we goal they'll begin trickling in a afternoon," a spectator said.

Steady upsurge of voters

Meanwhile, a random check with a twelve polling centres in Batu Sapi showed a solid upsurge of electorate to a centres.

A campaign workman upon a ground pronounced many of a electorate who came were farmers as well as fishermen who came to support BN.

Yesterday, a Election Commission pronounced it was awaiting an 80% voter turnout, but a same workman pronounced this was unlikely, since which until midday there was less than a 40% turnout.

"There would have to be a real surge of electorate in a afternoon for EC to strike a 80% projection," pronounced a camp! aign wor ker.

Polling ends during 4pm in some places as well as 5pm in others. Counting starts during 6.30pm.

In this three-cornered tussle, BN's Linda Tsen as well as SAPP president Yong are seen as a strongest contenders. The third contender is PKR's Ansari Abdullah.

Earlier in a day, electorate arrived by boats as well as lined up during Pulau Timbang choosing by casting votes centre. All were ferried in tiny boats from various islands from a initial light of dawn.

They expel their votes during SK Pulau Timbang in Kampung Tronglit where 984 voters, often Bajaus as well as Suluks living in water villages, are registered. The centre will be initial to conclude choosing by casting votes during 3pm.

The furthermost polling centre is Kampung Seguliud, about 70km from here. Farmers of a Sungai village also incited up early during SK Segaliud, which has 785 voters. It will close during 4pm as well as a remaining 10 centres will conclude choosing by casting votes during 5pm.

According to a EC, a voter audience stood during 36.2%, or 9,261 voters, during noon today.

Sarawak PKR slams 'White Paper' motion

from Free Malaysia Today - Free and Independent by FMT Team

By Joseph Tawie

KUCHING: Sarawak PKR has questioned the motive behind the a motion to publish a White Paper on the so-called disruptive activities of members of the opposition, individuals, organisations and media from outside Sarawak.

“To us, there seems to be an ulterior motive to publish the White Paper...,” said PKR secretary Abang Zulkifli Abang Engkeh.

“The BN government is trying to stop our leaders from the peninsular from coming to Sarawak to campaign in the next election.

“They have done it (the ban) to PKR leaders such as N Gobalakrishnan, the MP for Padang Serai and Sivarasa Rasiah, MP for Subang.

"Banned in 2008, the two leaders cannot come into Sarawak. I am sure they are going to use their immigration powers to stop our leaders from coming to Sarawak in the coming election,” he stressed.

Abang Zulkifli was commenting on the move by Asajaya assemblyman Abang Abdul Karim to introduce a motion, which was also passed, at the state legislative assembly yesterday.

Among others, the White Paper to be prepared by the state government, will contain guidelines and measures to check these activities to preserve peace, harmony and unity among Sarawakians and to ensure the state security and economic interests are not jeopardized.

In moving the motion Abdul Karim cited the recent Sibu by-election as an example of the need for the White Paper.

Rising fear

He said the campaign tactics used by the opposition leaders were aimed at 'arousing the people's disatisfaction with the government.'

He also said the DAP had 'fanned anti-religious sentiments' which were unacceptable in the state which comprised some 26 different ethnic groups of differing religions.

Responding to these remarks, Abang Zulkifli said that PKR is very disappointed at the passing of the White Paper purportedly aimed at “keeping out the unhealthy peninsular style of politics”.

“The party totally objects to this latest undemocratic and unethical position taken up by the BN state government.

"They should stop misleading the people with their untruths and unsubstantiated statements regarding the people’s right to exercise their democratic rights and freedom.

“Their actions in passing this paper is a slap in the face of law enforcement agencies and made a mockery of current legislations,” he said, pointing out that there are already existing laws to prevent and act against such wrong doers.

He said: “If there is any breach of the law, the appropriate way is for them to report to the police so that the so-called allegations can be investigated and acted on.

“PKR is disappointed with the BN members of the Dewan Negeri as they deemed it more important to pass such a paper and at the same time withhold their support for a bipartisan approach to ascertain the source of the recent logjam issue.

"They missed the golden opportunity to be one voice to remedy the situation which is of foremost concern to the rakyat,” Abang Zulkifli said.

Also read:

Stringent rules to control 'outside' politics in S'wak

Ops Lalang haunts, 23 years on

A similar swoop of more than 100 people under the ISA is unlikely to happen again, but the underlying ferment threatening the fragile stability of the country remains, no thanks to irresponsible politicians.

By M. VEERA PANDIYAN, The Star

TOMORROW is Deepavali, the Hindu festival of lights. In its simplest form, it means an “array of lights”.

Its significance is to lead from darkness to light, from negative to positive or from evil to good.

Personally, for the past 23 years, this has always been a time to remember one ominous event in our history – Operasi Lalang (Weeding Operation).

On Oct 27, 1987, five days after the festival that year, 106 people – Opposition and Barisan Nasional politicians, academics and leaders of NGOs – were nabbed under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

It was also the day when the licences of three national newspapers – The Star, Sin Chew and the now defunct Watan – were withdrawn.

Among the notable detainees were then Opposition Leader and DAP secretary-general Lim Kit Siang, MP Karpal Singh, former Aliran head Dr Chandra Muzaffar and then and still MP for Pasir Mas Ibrahim Ali, now of Perkasa fame.

Most were released early but 40, including Kit Siang, his son, present Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Karpal, and several PAS leaders and social activists were held for two years.

The developments that led to the second largest ISA crackdown in our history – exceeded only by those detained during the May 13, 1969 riots – were triggered by rising political tensions with intense racial overtones.

The White Paper tabled in Parliament a year later stated that various groups had played up “sensitive issues”, creating “racial tension” in the country.

But it smacked of being orchestrated and allowed to escalate before the swoop took place, in a dangerous strategy of brinkmanship.

Let me share memories of the dark days when my colleagues and I were jobless for five months.

The most productive and fruitful use of time must surely be attributed to current group chief editor Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai.

Apparently, the then reporter in the Penang office put aside his troubles to pursue one of his biggest challenges – courting a girl in a bank who had caught his eye.

That girl, a former state athlete, is now his wife, Datin Seri Flo­rence.

Three other colleagues in Penang set up a pizza outlet while others drove taxis, set up pasar malam stalls and such.

N.D. Raj, now production editor, who had blown most of his money on his wedding earlier in the month and the rest on a lavish Deepavali bash, was among those in dire straits.

He took a job as a carpenter, mostly turning screws into an endless number of hinges each day.

As for me, then Malacca staff correspondent, I accepted the first job that came along – fisherman.

Together with Charles Cham, the head of the editorial art department in our headquarters in Peta­ling Jaya (who has since made a name for himself as an artist around the world), I went fishing with the father and son team of Lionel and Martin Theseira.

Two days of being tossed about in a tiny boat made us both sea sick and put paid to any chance of my making it a career.

The Star only paid us a quarter of our meagre salaries during the five months, making life truly tough.

The first few days of Ops Lalang were particularly daunting, especially when almost all the politicians whom I knew well in Malacca were detained, beginning with the first two to be picked up – Guan Eng and Kerk Kim Hock.

One friend in the police Special Branch gave hints that journalists might be in the “next wave” of arrests, suggesting that the racially sensitive Bukit China development issue which I had focused on, could include me in the dragnet.

So, I was mentally prepared to be taken away and often woke up to the slightest sound of barking of dogs or cars passing by outside my house.

One night when my wife, who was then working in an electronics plant, was on the graveyard shift, a car stopped outside the house at around midnight and there were tapping sounds on the iron grille.

I was so ready that I had even packed a plastic bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste, sarong, a T-shirt, underwear and two books to read.

After kissing my sleeping two-year-old son, I went to open the door.

But it was a major anti-climax. The expected “SB” turned out to be my two sisters and a relative who were returning from a temple event.

A relative had dropped them off and they had forgotten the house keys.

As for work, it was a terrible time of inaction and lethargy. At our headquarters in PJ, most reporters ended up in the office playing scrabble. (It was long before the Internet or computer games era.)

It was a great relief for all of us when The Star’s licence was reinstated in March 1988.

For many of us, the five months showed who our real friends were, especially from among the usually publicity-hungry politicians.

It’s highly unlikely that a similar swoop of so many people under the ISA would ever happen again but the underlying ferment that threatens the fragile stability of Malaysia remains, no thanks to irresponsible politicians.

Many politicians on both sides of the fence (some have since crossed over and re-invented themselves) are guilty of creating tension in the last three weeks of October 1987. They know who they are.

Malaysians must be wary that these manipulators of emotions can still lead them to the brink of catastrophe, in their pursuit of power and ambitions.

It’s this kind of politicians who should be weeded out when the time comes.

Associate Editor M. Veera Pandiyan likes this line from an old nursery rhyme: A man of words and not of deeds is like a garden full of weeds.

PAS asks you to vote early cos it's likely to rain in the afternoon ...

Keluar mengundi awal, petang dijangka hujan

GUA MUSANG, 4 Nov: Calon PAS, Dr Zulkefli Mohamed ketika ditemui Harakahdaily menyeru kepada pengundi Galas agar keluar awal menunaikan tanggungjawab ekoran cuaca tidak menentu dan dijangka hujan petang ini.

"Saya menyeru semua pengundi keluar awal, kita risau kalau hujan turun, akan mengganggu perjalanan kita untuk membuang undi," ujarnya.

Beliau yang mewakili Pakatan Rakyat ditentang calon BN, Abdul Aziz Yusoff.

Proses pembuangan undi berjalan lancar.

Voting in Galas 'tense but peaceful'

Harakahdaily

GUA MUSANG, Nov 4: Polling day in Galas started off with some tension between supporters from PAS and Barisan Nasional, with exchanging jibes outside the SK Gua Musang polling station. Kelantan Menteri Besar Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was seen accompanying PAS candidate Dr Zulkefli Mohamed to tour polling stations early morning with their first stop at SK Tengku Muhammad Fakri, Sungai Terah, known to be a PAS stronghold in the Galas constituency. Speaking to news station Astro Awani this morning, Nik Aziz, who is also PAS Murshidul Am, urged the voters in Galas to choose for the party which fought for Islam and urged supporters to avoid provocations that may lead to unnecessary confrontation between the two parties. “PAS has proven that we are not a party who likes to create trouble, we are moderate,” he was quoted as saying. The Galas by-election is the country 12th by-election since the 2008 general election, following the death of PAS's Che Hashim Sulaiman. The late Che Hashim won by a majority of 646-vote, securing 4,399 votes against BN's Saufi Deraman who gained 3,753 votes – despite losing in 7 out of the 13 polling districts - six Orang Asli districts and a rural Chinese village of Kampung Pulai. This time, BN fields Abdul Aziz Yusof, a loyalist to Gua Musang member of parliament and UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. 11,553 voters will have to cast their votes before 5pm today at 13 polling stations. The by-election result is expected to be known after 7.00 this evening.

Mother demands probe over non-halal food caning at school

Angela Jabing (left) and PKR vice chairman Voon Shiank NiKUCHING - A 10-year-old boy from a mission school here was allegedly caned 10 times for bringing non-halal food to school.

Basil anak Beginda was asked to see the school's assistant principal, Iskandar bin Fadeli, and subsequently reprimanded for bringing 'fried rice cooked with pork sausages' to St. Thomas Primary School, one of Malaysia's historical school, on Oct 15.

It was alleged that the boy was caned 10 times on his palm.

The incident sparked off a wave of anger among the PKR women who held a press conference on Wednesday to condemn the act.

They had called for the Education Ministry to investigate the matter and take action against Iskandar.

The boys mother, Angela Jabing (pic) with the PKR State Women Chief, Ibi anak Uding, her deputy Nurhanim Hanna Mokhsen, vice chairman Voon Shiank Ni and other representatives wanted Iskandar to be transferred.

Jabing said her son was traumatized following the incident as he did not want to bring food to the school when she insisted that he is allowed to do so.

Jabing explained that she had went to the school seeking for clarification from the headmistress, Alice Chung, four days after the caning on Oct 19.

Chung was with Iskandar when I met her and the latter denied that he caned my son. He then said he would call Basil to explain himself. When my son came to the office and saw Iskandar, there was fear in his eyes but I coaxed him to tell the truth, said Angela.

According to Jabing, Basil told them what happened and had told Iskandar that his parents always advised him not to offer non-halal food to his Muslim friends which he had never done so.

Jabing and PKR women comittee representatives in press conference WednesdayAfter Basil finished his explanation, Iskandar allegedly had said, 'Jangan besar-besarkan' hal kerana isu ini isu yang cukup sensitif di kalangan orang orang islam."

According to the headmistress, Iskandar had announced earlier February this year during the assembly that students are prohibited to bring any non-halal food products to school even for their own consumption as a noble act to respect the Muslim students.

I am baffled by this explanation. What about the Buddhist and Hindu? Ask the children not to bring beef then. What about those who are Vegetarian? Ask the children not to bring any kind of meat then, said Jabing.

Not satisfied with the explanation given on Oct 19th, Angela wrote a letter to the school asking for a written reply on the rules of bringing outside food into the school compound.

On Oct 28, she went to the school again with a legal advisor and was given a written reply from the headmistress the next day.

Being a non-Muslim, I am concerned as my son was arbitrarily punished and is now in fear of the school, she said demanding that the Education Department clarify the matter to avoid confusion and doubt.

PKR vice chairman Voon, who was not satisfied with the school's letter of explanation, said she wanted to know why Basil was caned and whose instruction was that to disallow pupils to bring non-halal food.

"Is it instruction from the Education (Ministry) or the school? Children must all sit and eat

together, not segregated. This is what unity is about. They must start young to learn to appreciate each other, said Voon.

PKR deputy state woman chief Nurhanim said as a Muslim living in Sarawak, she is baffled with the incidence.

This is certainly not the spirit of 1Malaysia. We are the best in th! e nation in terms of living harmoniously in a multi-racial state.

"If the school has no such regulation and wanted it as such, then put it in black and white. How can a teacher from here tell the pupils not to bring non-halal food during assembly and caned him 10 times for doing so. What wrong has the boy really done?

Nurhanim asked for a probe and said Basil is only ten years old and should not have underwent such unnecessary treatment.

She added that the school should know that Sarawak is a multi-racial state where everyone lives together and therefore should not force the people apart through actions like Iskandar.

Nurhanim has also urged for action to be taken against the teacher concerned.

When contacted by MM, headmistress Chung said she was not allowed to make any comments as there is a directive from the Education Ministry.

Initially she denied being aware of the incident, but when told that she had written a reply to the student's mother, Chung said she did not want to comment.

When asked to give advice to parents about bringing outside food to school, Chung said there is no directive which states children are not allowed to bring non-halal food.

Chung further went to say that children are allowed to bring their own food. - Malaysian Mirror
See What Barisan Nasional Gotta Say?

Hindraf challenges opposition to define the Pakatan vague politics

Pakatan can't go on the rhetoric of change without defining its true meaning. Since gaining tremendously in the last GE they have been talking about the change that is needed for Malaysia.

By P Waythamoorthy

Many have forgotten that Pakatan and the agenda to capture Putrajaya at 12th general election (GE12) became a reality after the tsunami of Hindraf on November 25, 2007. Till then, even the top leadership of Pakatan never for once imagined the prospect of reaching so close to Putrajaya.

The cry of Makkal Sakthi reverberated in every household irrespective of race or creed. Yes, there was a shift of the mindset of the grassroots Indians which was the main cause of the now forgotten impact caused by the Indian voters.

The great tsunami brought about the 'change' much spoken about by the PR leadership.

Pakatan can't go on the rhetoric of change without defining its true meaning. Since gaining tremendously in the last GE they have been talking about the change that is needed for Malaysia. Promises of accountability, openness and eradication of corruption have been made to convince Malaysians of their agenda for 'change'.

But let us be honest - these promises are good on paper but the true change starts with what is being done for the poor and discriminated. Every aspiring politician speaks those words which are no more than than vague promises made without commitment or convictions. (What we call kosong politics)

For a human rights movement like Hindraf/HRP, which represents the poor, and underclass, those promises are meaningless. Honestly, it does not matter to the poor man suffering on the ground level if politicians are corrupt. It does not matter to the poor if the country will be provided with good governance should there be change of government because the poor man needs to be fed first. He needs an income. He needs a house.

What's 'change' to stateless Indians?

The almost half million internally displaced Indian labourers' from the estates need to be provided with compensation for their displaced lives, training opportunities to cope with their displacement, proper relocation and affordable housing. Since 1975, they have become the new urban poor and underclass who are suffering on a daily basis. A large number of them are stateless and a good 150,000 such stateless children are not attending schools because the Umno government dictates so.

By virtue of being stateless, many are unable to avail of the basic benefits of healthcare, social welfare, employment, driving licenses, acquire property etc. How does it matter to these men and women if a new PR government is not corrupt or can provide good governance? These offers of promises of change do not matter to them.

Pakatan should understand their version of change is only cosmetic when viewed from the point of view of the common man, leave alone the underclass. True democracy requires much more inclusive change, not continuing benefits to only those who are already benefiting from the Umno crafted system. Instead they need to come out with a bold new commitment for true change and draw a road map for true democracy.

It is time the main component parties of Pakatan (I will further pinpoint that PKR is filled with BN rejects) shed their Umno, MCA and MIC mentality and start thinking seriously about getting rid of the regime. The Umno regime has been monopolizing, bullying, plundering and shortchanging the country and its people for a good 53 years and everyone realizes this.

So talk of capturing Putrajaya should be backed up with a concrete commitment for change instead of mere rhetorics.

So what democratic changes are we looking for?

Read more at: http://english.cpiasia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2059:hindraf-challenges-opposition-to-define-the-pakatan-vague-politics-&catid=216:others

Berita Harian admits its error over Kit Siang's 'Umno kafir’ remark

KUALA LUMPUR - Berita Harian admitted today that it had made an error over remarks which it had attributed to DAP’s Lim Kit Siang during a PAS ceramah at Singai Terah, Gua Musang on Monday.

The Umno-owned daily had yesterday accused Lim of saying “orang Umno kafir” (Umno members are infidels) to “influence Malays to vote for PAS” during the now ongoing Galas by-election.

The article quoted Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam as saying that Lim’s alleged remarks were made in the presence of PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim during a ceramah in Sungai Terah.

However, in an about-turn today, Berita Harian claimed the Melaka chief minister’s remarks were taken from his speech during a ceramah, and that Ali Rustam’s remarks was not made in reference to the DAP advisor.

“The speech by Umno Melaka liaison chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam, where he said that DAP was becoming bolder in interfering with Muslim affairs in Kampung Gua Hulu, Gua Musang was not referring to DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang,” said the one-paragraph correction on page 8 of the daily today.

The DAP said yesterday that it will initiate legal action against both Ali Rustam as well as Berita Harian for making “false allegations” against Lim, maintaining that the action would proceed even if both parties came out with a public apology.

Lim has denied uttering the remarks, and maintained that he had not been present at the function.

The Malaysian Insider now understands that Lim as well as DAP national chairman Karpal Singh will be holding a press conference later today to decide on the party’s next course of action.

“Well, I saw the apology, I just do not know how they can misquote someone like that, especially the Melaka chief minister.

“We will leave it to the press conference later to address our next course of action,” Lim told The Malaysian Insider today. - Malaysian Insider

Student caned for bringing non-halal food from home

By Joseph Tawie

KUCHING: A 10-year-old schoolboy here perceived 10 whacks upon his palm for bringing boiled rice with pig sausages to eat in propagandize during recess.

A comparison clergyman during the St Thomas Primary School here caned Basil anak Baginda 10 times upon his palm for bringing non-halal food to school.

His mother, Angela Jabing, disclosed this incident during the press discussion yesterday much to the startle of multiform PKR women leaders who were present.

"My son Basil anak Baginda, elderly 10, has been with St Thomas Primary School, Kuching, since his kindergarten years.

On October 15, we rebuilt boiled rice with pig sausages for my son to bring to propagandize for his recess. However, we was shocked to learn which he was punished as well as caned 10 times upon the palm by the comparison partner for bringing non-halal food to school," she said.

"I have never perceived any written round from the propagandize which young kids cannot bring non-halal food to the school," added the up in arms mother.

Unsatisfactory explanation

Jabing pronounced upon October 19, she went to the propagandize to seek the clarification of the incident.

"I met the principal who was during the time sitting with the comparison partner in the comparison assistants room.

"Instead of clarifying the reason for my sons punishment, the comparison partner pronounced which he could not recollect the incident, Jabing said.

According to her, the comparison partner had summoned her son to his office to insist himself as well as had after told her not to blow up the incident as it was the sensitive matter.

Jabing pronounced which the headmaster had also told her which in Feb this year, the comparison partner had announced during the propagandize assembly which the students were ta! boo from bringing any non-halal foodstuff to school, even for their own consumption as an action of apply oneself for the Muslim students.

I was not confident with the explanation, so we wrote in asking for the written reason inside of three working days.

"On the third day, we perceived the call from the principal who requested to meet me upon October 28. we still insisted upon the written reply upon the make the difference as well as was told by him to pick up the minute the following day.

The minute did not scrupulously answer my question upon why my son was caned 10 times for eating boiled rice with non-halal sausages. Is this the justified action taken by the propagandize upon schoolchildren? she asked.

Ministry contingency investigate

Jabing also longed for to know whether the propagandize was perplexing to exercise this non-halal food manners upon childrens food brought from home.

She also longed for to know if the instruction came from the Education Ministry.

Meanwhile, PKR women leaders benefaction during the press discussion have demanded which the ministry investigate the incident.

They pronounced if left alone, the issue could spin very ugly generally in the mission school.

[File photo used]

Bala's lawyer: Najib trying to halt probe into brother Nizam, Rosmah over Altantutya SDs

Bala and Americk

Malaysia Chronicle

Prime Minister Najib Razak has been slammed for trying to halt a probe into several people including his brother Nizam for forcing private investigator P Balasubramaniam into signing a statutory declaration to overturn an earlier one where Bala had implicated Najib and his wife Rosmah in the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaarriibuu.

According to Bala’s lawyer Americk Sidhu, the Attorney-General's decision to close the file was aimed at halting embarrassing information from surfacing to implicate Nizam, Rosmah’s business associate Deepak Jaikishan and his brother and a police officer named Inspector Suresh.

This group is believed to have acted with the motive of trying to protect Najib, then the deputy prime minister, and destroy the credibility of the information contained in a previous statutory declaration.

“The A-G can't afford to investigate further as a whole can of worms would be opened up. That is the reason why he AG closed the file,” Americk told Malaysia Chronicle.

“Nothing is going to happen to the culprits because they are all sitting on the correct divide of the political fence. I don't think it is a good outcome. It is another attempt at sweeping stuff under the carpet again. This is something they are experts at.”

Powerful hands behind her killing

The murder of the beautiful 28-year old Altantuya, whom Bala had revealed in his first statutory declaration was Najib’s mistress before he passed her on to his close associate Razak Baginda, has gripped Malaysians for years now.

She was killed in a remote jungle clearing in Selangor in 2006 in a most horrific way. Despite telling her killers she was pregnant, two of Najib’s former bodyguards shot her in the head and blew her body with C4 explosives to prevent identification.

Months after the discovery of her body, rumors began circulating of powerful hands behind her killing. Altantuya, who speaks four languages including Russian and French, had played a role in helping Razak Baginda close a multi-billion ringgit submarines purchase for Najib, who was then the Defense minister.

Bala had been hired by Razak Baginda to stop Altantuya from harassing him for what she had said was her share of the submarines commission paid by French vendor DCNS. It amounted to US$500,000 while Baginda’s firm was allegedly benefitted with a 214 million euros side-deal.

In 2008, after harassment over his police statement which had contained some of these details, Bala decided to blow the whistle. With the help of his lawyers, he made a statutory declaration detailing all the information that had come to his hand while working for Baginda.

Why weren't Nizam, Deepak and the rest investigated

It was the first time that Najib and Rosmah were publicly implicated in the muder although speculation of their involvement had already been circulating round the country for more than a year.

But within 24 hours of the release of Bala’s statutory declaration, he was forced to issue a second one to retract the first. He then fled Malaysia with his family, only to resurface in late 2009, where he said in an interview recorded on video that it was Nizam and the other people in the group who had forced him to issue the second declaration.

Greed behind the Scopenes deal led to the murder and graft

Several police complaints were lodged and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission was tasked to investigate Nizam and the others for having allegedly bribed and intimidated Bala into signing the second statutory declaration.

Earlier this year, the MACC made a half-hearted attempt to go after Bala but at the 11th hour cancelled a meeting with him in London. Although Najib’s minders rushed to defend the MACC's withdrawal, it was clear the agency had been instructed by powerful people to stop digging - lest the dirt they found became uncontainable.

“Have the police investigated the culprits who threatened Bala to retract his first SD -Deepak and his brother, Inspector Suresh, Nizam Razak, Rosmah Mansor and the Military Intelligence?” asked Americk.

“If they had, this file certainly would not be closed. If they had done their job properly all the above named persons, including Bala's 'lawyer' Arunampalam (who drew up the second SD) would be in the dock being charged for a variety of offences.”

Americk was responding to Nazri Aziz, the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, who announced on Wednesday that the government would be closing the file on the two "conflicting" SDs.

"Although there are contradictions between the two statutory declarations, it did not at all affect the Altantuya trial. Moreoever, it is believed that the individual (Balasubramaniam) is still abroad," Mohd Nazri had said in a written reply to question posed in Parliament about the status of the government's probe.

Najib's two former bodyguards have been sentenced to hang but the obvious question remains unanswered, who ordered the murder?

Malaysia Chronicle appends below a copy of the police complaint lodged by Americk on July 8, 2008 after the second Statutory Declaration emerged. .


I, AMERICK SINGH SIDHU NRIC NO 561129-71-5251 hereby lodge the following complaint :

(1) I am practising as an Advocate and Solicitor in Malaysia.

(2) I was instructed by one Mr Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal ( NRIC NO 600928-08-6235 ) in respect of documenting the facts and circumstances involving him in the Altantunya matter.

(3) This led to the affirmation of a Statutory Declaration by Mr. Balasubramaniam on 01.07.2008 . The affirmation of the said Statutory Declaration was done in my presence and I have personal knowledge of the facts and circumstances leading to the production and affirmation of the said Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008 .

(4) Mr Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal held a Press Conference on the 04.07.2008. I am informed by media reports that another Statutory Declaration affirmed by Mr. Balasubramaniam and dated 04.07.2008 was made public on that day. The contents of the said 04.07.2008 Statutory Declaration suggests that the earlier Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008 was made ‘ under duress ‘.

(5) I acted in good faith in documenting the facts that led to the production and affirmation of the Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008 and i am satisfied it was made voluntarily and without any duress whatsoever.

(6) By reason of the matters stated above , I have reasonable grounds to believe that the second Statutory Declaration dated 04.07.2008 is suspicious on the face of it . The said document’s contents amount to criminal defamation of my character both personal and professional. I strongly believe person and or persons have induced , threatened and caused the production of the 04.07.2008 Statutory Declaration by unlawful conduct.

(7) I request that an investigation be carried out to ascertain the person and or persons who unlawfully caused the said Mr Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal to state that the earlier Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008, which was made in my presence, was made under duress. I believe the offence of criminal conspiracy to cause criminal defamation would have been committed by this and/ or these persons.

Dated this 8th day of July 2008

Americk Sidhu

Galas kicks off with tension at polling station

from Free Malaysia Today - Free and Independent by FMT Team

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid & Teog El Sen

VIDEO INSIDE GUA MUSANG: The Galas by-election kickstarted as a scuffle broke out between PAS and Barisan Nasional (BN) supporters just outside the SK Gua Musang polling station.

The shoving and verbal war between some 100 supporters from both sides ignited when BN workers claimed their PAS rivals were crowded out the space while both were trying to canvass support.

Police had to create a barrier between the two groups with a police truck after tension heightened following escalating verbal assaults between them.

From trading verbal barbs, it went on to physical aggression when both BN and PAS supporters began pushing each other while some attempted to pull down the party flags and banners from each other.

"Mampuh mu BN! (to hell with you BN)," PAS supporters were heard shouting towards their BN counterpart who retaliated with shouting "khalwat (adultery)" in an insult to PAS candidate Dr Zulkefli Mohamad.

The local medical doctor was accused of adultery by pro-Umno blogs in an attempt to discredit him but Zulkefli, who is also the party's Gua Musang chief, had denied the allegation.

He had recently lodged a police report against Umno.

All peaceful elsewhere in Gua Musang

Meanwhile, polling elsewhere here has been peaceful while turnout at press time has been good, standing at more than 2,775 or 24% amid chilly weather following last night's downpour.

Galas has more than 11,000 registered voters. Malays form 60% of the electorate while the Chinese make up 20% and Orang Asli 18%. Others make up the rest including Indians who comprise 1% of the electorate.

Zulkefli, accompanied by Pakatan Rakyat national leaders like DAP's Lim Kit Siang, PKR chief strategist Chua Tian Chang and influential Kelantan PAS Menteri Besar Nik Aziz Nik Mat, visited the main Gua Musang Chinese school polling station as early as 8.45am.

Zulkefli is facing Umno Gua Musang division secretary Abdul Aziz Yusof who himself made the rounds to polling stations in the constituency as early as 8am.

Both candidates are not registered voters for Galas.

The Galas by-election was triggered following the death of incumbent Che Hashim Sulaiman of cancer. Che Hashim beat BN's Mohd Saufi Dareman with a razor-thin 646 majority in the 2008 general election.

Polling data from the general election showed PAS maintaining good support or 55% of the Chinese electorate while BN is heavily backed by the Orang Asli with 65% support.

Malay support remained divided between the two parties.

Polling will end at 5pm and the results are expected to be announced as early as 7.30pm.

The Election Commission estimated voter turnout to be at a high of 81%. As of 11am, the turnout stood at 39.72%, or 4,589 voters, not including the Orang Asli voting centres of Pos Brooke, Belatim, Balar, Bihai and Ladoi.

Dey ... how will you spend your $1,000,000?

By G. Sunil (Malaysian Beggar Dog)

So ... HINDRAF is suing the British Crown. For bringing us Malaysian Beggar Dogs here to be ... beggars and dogs. Looks like we are going to get a Million each.

As for me, I need to settle all my hutang with the Banks and Ah Longs soon. Normal whatt ... being Malaysian. The money will be very useful ... if it ever reaches our hands.

Maybe some of us will use our payouts to migrate. To anywhere lah ... which place can be worse than this one?

While Tuan Malays and Towkay Cinas argue about 30 percent and 70 percent, we beggar dogs are laughing to ourselves, as we know we aren't in the running for even 0.001 percent. We beggar dogs must know our place ... kan?

Even Sabah and Sarawak have had enough. They met with Waythamoorthy in London to join forces. Maybe Waytha and Co. need to realize that its not just Indians who are the beggar dogs of Malaysia.

Sabah and Sarawak will leave Malaysia, and they will take their rich resources with them. I don't blame them. Who wants to exist on an unequal playing field anyway?

But then again, maybe things aren't so bad for us beggar dogs, lah. After all, remember what Siti Inshah the Kulai School Principal said? "Chinese can go to Foon Yew Chinese School or go back to China and Indians' prayer strings remind her of dogs." Notice that Siti Inshah DID NOT say "Indians can go back to India". That's significant, I think.

Even the Katak of Perkasa says "Indians are like the Malays ..."

Maybe the prevailing sentiment is against the old-fashioned Asian Yellow Jew mentality i.e. Chinamen.

Now I have good friends of all races, including Malaysian Chinese. Its true that the younger generation Malaysian Chinese are different from their ancestors. The way they live and do business is different. Very few of them resort to Yahudi Kuning practices of the older generation; for example what RPK experienced when he was selling motorcycles in the East Coast. Even Marina told RPK that this was how the Yahudi Kuning did business then.

Maybe there is still hope for a better future for us all after all, million ringgit payout notwithstanding.

And if any Malaysian Indian still feels insulted by what Siti Inshah said, I suggest they cool down and watch a movie instead. I recommend "SlumDog Millionaire."

Blue wave sweeps over Batu Sapi and Galas

By FMT Team

FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has scored a double victory in the Batu Sapi and Galas by-elections, giving Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's administration a resounding stamp of approval and sending the Anwar Ibrahim-led opposition back to the drawing board.

BN wins big in Batu Sapi, regains Galas

(FMT) KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional has retained the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat by a massive majority and is all set to regain the Galas state seat in Kelantan from PAS, giving Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's administration a boost and sending the Anwar Ibrahim-led opposition back to the drawing board.

Linda Tsen, the BN candidate for the Batu Sapi parliamentary by-election, secured a commandable lead of nearly 6,000 votes over SAPP president Dr Yong Teck Lee and PKR's Ansari Abdullah.

She obtained 9,773 votes to gain a whopping victory over her rivals with a 6,359-vote majority, even bettering the 3,708-majority gained by her late husband in 2008.

Trailing behind her was Ansari who garnered 3,414 votes and coming last was Yong who received 2,031 votes.

Tsen is the widow of the former incumbent Edmund Chong, who died in a traffic accident on Oct 9, paving the way for this by-election.

It also appears that SAPP's Yong has failed to capture on his popularity among the Batu Sapi voters. The unofficial numbers show him falling behind PKR's Ansari who was widely predicted to be the whipping boy.

Observers note that while Tsen had managed to solicit support from both the Malay/Bumiputera and Chinese voters, former chief minister Yong however had lost out to Ansari on the Malay/Bumiputera votes.

PKR meanwhile will look at the results as work-in-progress as the party has high hopes of making inroads in both Sabah and Sarawak for the next general election.

Chinese back to support BN

In the peninsula, BN candidate Abdul Aziz Yusoff is also ahead of his PAS rival Dr Zulkefli Mohamad in the Galas state by-election in Kelantan, with pundits predicting a victory in the region of 1,000 votes.

According to votes tallied from polling streams, Umno's Abdul Aziz managed to pip Zulkefli by 1,190 votes, reversing the 646 majority gained by PAS in 2008.

Abdul Aziz garnered 5,324 votes as opposed to Zulkefli's 4,134.

The results from the various streams also indicate that the Chinese voters have backed BN after ditching the national coalition in 2008.

Read more at: http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/fmt-english/politics/barisan-nasional/12470-n-poised-for-double-victory

BN takes Galas and Batu Sapi

from Malaysia Today - Your Source of Independent News by admin-s

(TMI) Unofficial results show Barisan Nasional (BN) has wrested the Galas state seat in Kelantan from PAS and retained the Batu Sapi parliamentary seat in Sabah, in a significant victory for the ruling coalition.

The wins will give a major fillip to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and BN amid widespread speculation that he will call snap polls by the first quarter of next year.

In Galas, with more than 80 per cent of votes counted, BN’s Abdul Aziz Yusoff is already ahead of PAS’s Dr Zulkefli Mohamed by more than 1,000 votes.

And in Batu Sapi, PKR has already conceded defeat with BN’s Datin Linda Tsen Thau Lin and her campaign workers already celebrating victory ahead of official results later tonight.

More to come at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/bn-takes-galas-and-batu-sapi/