Najib and the Queen We all live in a yellow submarine

Deans John writes about UMNO/BNs insanity in dealing with events and matters from Najibs administration arresting people in yellow T-shirts and being ambushed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on Najibs official visit to Buckingham Palace. Read for yourself Deans sarcastic writings on UMNO/BN going totally bananas:

BN goes totally bananas

Dean Johns
Jul 20, 11
1:11pm

10 friends can read this story for free

The madder the Malaysian people get with the antics of the Umno/BN regime, the loonier this bunch of fruit-loops behaves. Which makes sense in a crazy kind of way, I suppose.
If, as has often been said, insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting a different outcome, then they're insane by definition. Criminally insane, in fact, as they clearly expect to get away forever with their ceaseless cheating, thievery and deceit.
And now that their megalomania, kleptomania and delusions of grandeur and privilege are so seriously threatened by Bersih 2.0 and its massive popular support, they've gone so totally bananas that even the sight of the colour yellow drives them into a phobic frenzy.
There was a time when Umno/BN was able to keep its inanity and insanity pretty well local and under wraps. But following its psychopathic response to the Bersih 2.0 rally, its batty behaviour is out there for all the world to see.
With waves of yellow greeting Najib Abdul! Razak w herever he goes on his global flights of fancy, and protestors singing 'Yellow Submarine' to remind him of both Bersih 2.0 and persistent suspicion of his involvement in the Scorpene scandal.
And even Queen Elizabeth, bless her heart, ambushed him and the dotty Rosmah by wearing yellow when they turned up for their PR coup and photo-op at Buckingham Palace.
Such a radical reality-check clearly hasn't brought Najib to his senses, however, as he's proceeded with his daft scheme to drop in on the Pope, and kept on making loony claims as to the moderate nature of his rotten regime to whoever will grant him an audience.

And while he's been away on his overseas ramblings, he has had his chief lackey Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz read a speech on his behalf at the opening of the Commonwealth Magistrates' and Judges' Conference 2011 in Kuala Lumpur.
This was a bid to entertain delegates from 32 countries with the zany claim that "safeguarding and ensuring the continued independence of the judiciary is an ideal that Malaysia is wholly committed to.
Huh? Do Najib and his mouthpiece Nazri imagine that lawyers and judges from all over the Commonwealth are so gullible as to believe such garbage? Or such idiots that they're unaware of the political show-trials of Anwar Ibrahim, and the no-trials of Umno/BN bigwigs for suspected corruption, abuse of power and even murder?
Do Najib and Nazri think jurists around the world live such sheltered lives that they've never heard of such cock-eyed miscarriages of justice as the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder trial, the A Kugan death-in-custody whitewash, the iniquitous inquest findings of neither murder nor suicide in the death of Teoh Beng Hock, and the su! spicious withholding of royal commission report into Teoh's case?
Apparently so, as Najib's speech went on to subject the hapless audience to such gibberish as strengthening the judiciary as an institution is a continuously evolving process. In Malaysia, a pluralist society, it is critical that the court meets the needs of its citizenry, by improving and increasing access to justice.

Nutters galore
But Najib is by no means the only Umno/BN nutter out there making nit-witted statements. Home Minister Hishammuddin 'Who's sane?' Hussein, staunch advocate of government supporters' right to protest, went so berserk over Bersih 2.0 that he declared it an illegal organisation and, in a fit of characteristic paranoia, illegally 'empowered' his crackpot cops to arrest people wearing yellow, even to the extent of seeking them out in hotels and other premises without search warrants.
Hishammuddin's most demented move, however, was to order the pre-rally arrest of six members of Parti Socialis Malaysia, Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, A Letchumanan, M Sukumaran, Sarasvathy Muthu, Choo Chon Kai and Sarat Babu, under the Emergency Ordinance on charges of 'spreading communist ideology' and 'waging war' against the Agong. They have yet to be released.
It would be difficult to make the government look more dangerously deranged than Hishammuddin does, But Najib's joking dismissal of injuries inflicted by police on Anwar during the Bersih 2.0 rally certainly went close. As did the entire Umno/BN regime's total lack of sympathy for the death of Baharudin Ahmad in the course of the march.
Another act of Umno/BN lunacy has been the denial by Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai of the fact that police ! fired te argas into the grounds of Tung Shin Hospital during the rally.

Even video evidence and declarations by hospital doctors that he was wrong, have failed to bring Liow to his senses, as he then claimed that criticism of his erroneous statements had been designed by people who were out to get him.
Not to be outdone, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has been frothing at the mouth with threats against Bersih 2.0 and its supporters, as in a recent diatribe against creating public hatred towards the government.
Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen blamed the rally for costing KL hotels and retailers the fanciful figure of RM100 million in lost revenue. Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussin demanded the freezing of the assets of the rally organisers if it could be proven that the movement had received funds from foreign NGOs. And on the same money-mad theme, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim idiotically implied that protestors had been paid to attend the rally.
However, it was the mainstream media over which Rais presides that made the most maniacal claims, with Utusan Malaysia, which had earlier blamed Christians and Communists for supporting Bersih, now trying to pin suspicions on the Jews; and the New Sunday Timesand Berita Minggu running a clearly doctored picture purportedly showing a protestor armed with a knife.
And as if all the aforementioned hasn't been enough Umno/BN dementia to be going on with, UiTM has called for nominations for the Ibrahim Ali Leadership Award, in 'honour' of the leader of the government-sponsored racist pressure-group, Perkasa.
Talk about going bananas to an extreme, self-destructive extent. But what other optio! n have t he screwballs of Umno/BN left themselves?
They're finally aware that they have one foot on a banana skin and the other foot in the grave.
Maybe they figure that, when they're politically dead and buried and put on trial for all they've done that has been unsanitary, at least they can plead insanity.

DEAN JOHNS, after many years in Asia, currently lives with his Malaysian-born wife and daughter in Sydney, where he coaches and mentors writers and authors and practises as a writing therapist. Published books of his columns for Malaysiakini include 'Mad about Malaysia', 'Even Madder about Malaysia', 'Missing Malaysia' and '1Malaysia.con'.

Cleaning up after Bersih

Cleaning up after Bersih, posted with vodpod

Filed under: Journalism

The Article that is Banned by Najib - Read Here

EDITOR'S NOTE: Courtesy of The Economist magazine.

Political affray in Malaysia

Taken to the cleaners

An overzealous government response to an opposition rally

Jul 14th 2011 | SINGAPORE | from the print edition

MALAYSIA is one of South-East Asias stabler nations; but a rally in Kuala Lumpur on July 9th in demand of electoral reform turned surprisingly nasty, leading to the arrest of more than 1,600 people. The police fired tear gas and water cannon into the crowd, and one man died of a heart attack. All those arrested were released fairly quickly, but Amnesty International, a London-based human-rights group, called it the worst campaign of repression in the country for years. The governments reaction showed a lot of nervousness about how much opposition it can tolerate.

In fact the crackdown started a few weeks ago after Bersih 2.0 announced that it was going to stage the rally. Bersih, also known as The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, is a loose alliance of NGOs and activists (bersih means clean). It argues that all candidates should be given access to the mainstream media and that indelible ink should be used to stop people voting more than once.

It all sounds uncontroversial, but not to the government. Bersih was declared illegal on July 1st and about 200 activists were rounded up. The march itself was then banned, although the authorities offered Bersih a stadium to meet inand then withdrew the offer.

Perhaps the government was looking back nervously to the first Bersih march, in 2007. On that occasion, too, thousands protested against the Barisan Nasional (BN)! coaliti on government and demanded reform.

Subsequently, in the 2008 general election, the BN lost its largest share of votes since 1957 when it started ruling the country after the British left. The current prime minister, Najib Razak, deputy prime minister in 2007 before taking over the top job in an internal party coup, must have feared that the second Bersih rally might be a similar portent. He has to hold an election before 2013, but wants to do so earlier to win his own mandate. Opposition politicians were quick to join Bersih.

The pre-eminent leader of the opposition, Anwar Ibrahim, was shoved to the ground and injured in the affray.

None of this bodes well for Malaysia. The heavy-handed police tactics have provoked a lot of anger; the government has conceded an official investigation into claims of police brutality. In one instance (caught on film), police seemed to fire tear gas and water cannon into a hospital where protesters were sheltering from a baton charge. Few old laws were left untouched in the attempt to round up suspects before the march. It was reported that 30 people arrested in Penang were investigated under Section 122 of the Penal Code for the charge of waging war against the king.

Dragging in the constitutional monarch, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, seemed particularly desperate, reminiscent of the abuse of the monarchys position in neighbouring Thailand. On the eve of the rally, the king came out with a statement reminding everyone that street demonstrations bring more bad than good, although the original intention is good.

Mr Najib defended the police and accused the marchers of sowing chaos. Dismissing the motives of Bersih, he cast it as a desperate attempt by Mr Anwar to grab power. The immediate upshot is that Mr Najib may choose to delay calling for an election for some time, to let things settle down.

He presumably hopes that if he waits long enough, people will hav! e forgot ten about this ugly incident. But the longer-term effects are hard to judge. It might also help to unite a fractious opposition against what they portray as an assault on democracy.

Detaining Jeyakumar a great mistake

YB Dr Michael Jeyakumar, as I know him, is a man of great concern for the downtrodden and the marginalised in our society. He has sacrificed a greater part of his life and career for uplifting the poor in our society, a rare virtue these days.

He is known for his extraordinary passion for the poor and marginalised and goes out of the way to fight for their rights and justice, which had often met with the wrath of the authority. He is a caring and dedicated physician, a duly elected MP, an ardent worker for the welfare of the poor and most of all a good and decent human.

The government has made a great mistake in arresting a man of such virtuous character who should instead be rewarded. Detaining such a great man under deplorable conditions for extreme charges is a great travesty of justice that is condemned by all right thinking Malaysians.

There can be no greater injustice than detaining this great man under draconian laws meant for terrorists and hardcore criminals.

All Malaysians, regardless of race or creed, are united in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Jeyakumar and five others detained with him.

'Why I am a socialist and intend to remain so' - Dr. Kumar in detention

Written in detention,
Dr. Jeyakumar Devaraj

Hey Kumar! Still tilting at windmills are you? a doctor friend greeted me at an MMA function 4 years ago. There had been some news regarding the Parti Sosialis Malaysia in the media that previous week.

For many, the socialist experiment had already been assigned to the dustbin of history and only deluded people would still work towards socialism.

But in the PSM, we believe that socialism has an important, even crucial, role to play in averting a collosal economic-ecological disaster that will occur within the next 30-60 years!

We believe that the world has to find a workable alternative to an economy driven by corporate greed. We advise 3 main arguments for this position.

1. Malaysias current economic course recommends to a "Race of the bottom"

The global owners of capital and technological expertise who control market access are a relatively small number of corporations about 500 to 1000. They have become all powerful in the unipolar world of today and they can bargain hunt. Even the biggest governments cant control them.

The measures that Malaysia is taking to attract! investo rs into Malaysia include

Lowering corporate tax and supplementing tax income by enacting a GST. The tax burden is being shifted onto ordinary Malaysians

Enhancing labour flexibility. This is a misnomer - it undermines job security and workers rights through allowing contractualizing of labour and by weakening unions.

Privatization of basic services such as health care and tertiary education.

All these measures pile economic pressure on the lower 70% of the population.

And these are measures other developing countries are also taking each outdoing the neighbor in the mad rush for FDI. It is very difficult to build a caring society within this framework of development.

2. Chronic under consumption leading to massive growth of financial capital and increasingly volatile financial bubbles

The ability of large corporations to bargain hunt in the cheapest sites to station their factories has meant mega-profits for these corporations but at the same time has stunted the aggregate consumption power of the global economy. When a US or European firm lays off 100 US workers by shifting to China and hiring 100 Chinese workers at 1/7 the wage, the total buying power of the working class is reduced.

The absence of robust growth in consumer demand dictates that the profits of the corporations cannot be invested in the production of more consumer goods. So the corporations need to try other alternatives to make money such as the Futures Market, Currency Trading, the Share Market, and other financial products like derivatives.

This tendency is highlighted by the fact that Quantitative Easing the release of more money into the US economy in an effort to stimulate industrial production thus reducing unemployment has backfired into the creation of more financial bubbles in various parts of the world. The problem is sluggish consumer demand, not a lack of productive capital.

The issue here is not insufficient regu! lations but a misdistribution of the worlds wealth! To address this problem, the power of the corporations has to be challenged!

3. We are reaching the environment limits of growth

The global economy is heavily dependent on petroleum. This commodity is going to run out within the next 50 years or so. We urgently need to think not only of alternatives sources of fuel, but also of much greater fuel efficiency!

Global warming is with us. How soon and how fast sea levels are going to rise is still a matter of conjecture but does that mean we can afford to ignore the issue if it only impacts our grandchildren and not us?

An economic model that requires a global average rate of growth of 4% per year to avoid downturns is clearly not sustainable! Not for the next 50 years! We need to redistribute the wealth we already are creating more equitably. We have to cut down waste! Growth cannot be endless.

All of these are only possible if we are ready to challenge the paradigm that unchecked greed will lead to the best possible outcome for the worlds majority because Adam Smiths Invisible Hand is still operating in todays corporate led globalization.

The ordinary people of the world need to take power to dictate the direction of the national or world economy away from the hands of the 560 richest corporations of the world.

We need to empower the marhein of the world to take on these tasks through a democratic process. These are the tasks facing 21st century socialism. These are not easily attainable goals.

But the problems we are facing are extremely serious. Unchecked they could lead to an ecological, food or climatic disaster that will lead to a decimation of the worlds population.

This is not the world that I wish to bequeath my grandchildren. That is why I am a socialist and intend to remain so despite the EO/ISA arrest!

Ku Li backed Bersih 2's call for electoral reforms...

Umno veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah backed Bersih 2.0s call for electoral reforms, describing them as fair demands.

This puts him on collision course with the partys official line, which deems the polls watchdog as illegal and insisting that the countrys election system is clean.

While many of his party members including Prime Minister Najib Razak are hellbent on demonising Bersih, the Kelantan prince said the demands made by the loose coalition of 62 NGOs should be heeded if the present administration genuinely advocates justice and fairness.

I dont know what their intentions are. I dont know them personally but as a democrat given that Umno itself had vowed to protect democracy in this country, it is a must to consider all their demands, he told a press conference in Gua Musang on Sunday.

It is not like they are looking to topple the government, he added, referring to the repeated accusation by government leaders that Bersihs planned rally was a masked coup detat attempt.

The Najib administration also accused Bersih 2.0 of being an opposition stooge while Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia had gone as far as accusing the NGO of being foreign agent in a Western conspiracy to wrest federal power.

Razaleigh, affectionately known as Ku Li, suggested that it was normal for the opposition to support the groups demands.

They want to put in their candidates and contest too so let the voters decide. If they decide to vote for the opposition, what can we do? That is the democratic right of the voters.

How are we developed?

Razaleigh, the Gua Musang MP, said one of Bersihs demands a 21-day campaign period to replace the current seven to eight day period i! s reason able.

He cited Sarawak whose interiors are hard to access making campaigning extremely difficult for the opposition given its limited election machinery compared to Umno and Barisan Nasionals powerful resources.

He also said that it is rightful for the opposition to be given a level playing field in media coverage, which is also one of Bersih 2.0s demands.

The government is forced to be on the defensive over its handling of the Bersih rally. The heavy- handed response to the July 9 peaceful gathering has compelled the authorities to go into damage control mode, with Najib himself having to deflect international criticism.

The clampdown on Bersih and opposition leaders received widespread coverage in the foreign media and brought negative international attention. Authorities used what Bersih leaders called draconian laws to arrest more than 1,700 Bersih supporters.

While most have been freed and some still being detained, Razaleigh criticised the use of such laws to quell dissent, saying it was a violation of human rights.

How can we say we are developed when our mentality is not developed? Control here and control there we cant do this. It is against human rights, he said.

source:FMT

UiTM: We 'overlooked' Ibrahim Ali Award

The institute that announced the award jumped the gun, as it has yet to be approved by the university senate, says UiTM's VC.
Facing objection from certain quarters of the society, UiTM today clarified that the controversial Ibrahim Ali Award has not been approved by the university authority.

"However, it was overlooked because there was a department that publicised it through Internet," said UiTM vice-chancellor Sahol Hamid Abu Bakar in a short message on his Facebook page.

He said that the award was suggested by Pasir Mas Independent MP Ibrahim Ali and it is still pending approval from the university senate and board of directors.

"UiTM did not choose the name or make any suggestion on the award. The suggestion came from Ibrahim Ali himself. I just requested it to be referred to the senate for decision. If it is agreed (by the senate), only then will it be brought to the board of directors for endorsement."

Sahol further explained that the process will take a long time as there are 60 professors, deans and campus rectors in the board.

"Everyone of them acts as an individual. They cannot be lobbied. It is a strong and independent body in UiTM," he said.

"UiTM is concerned about the current situation and will not accept the award without an! y approv al from the senate and board of directors. With this explanation, I hope the issue will not be raised again," Sahol added.

The introduction of the Ibrahim Ali Award by UiTM to commend students who have proven they have clear and consistent principles in upholding their race has received brickbats from several quarters, including from within BN as well as opposition figures.

They were of the view that the lawmaker does not deserve such recognition as they have perceived some of his statements as being harmful to national harmony and unity.

The annual award was mooted by Ibrahim himself and announced by UiTM's Institut Pemikiran dan Kepimpinan Melayu (Impak).

The closing date for nominations is Sept 15, and the winner will be given a cash prize of RM5,000, sponsored by the Perkasa president himself, said Impak.

Ibrahim is a UiTM alumnus, having studied from 1971 to 1974 in the local university established to cater to the educational needs of bumiputeras.

Kronologi Isu Cincin RM24.4 juta (Ehsan CheguBard)

NOTA EDITOR: Kronologi isu cincin Rm24.4 juta yang dikaitkan dengan Rosmah dibawa oleh Chegubard di blog beliau

Imelda Rosmah masih berdiam.

Sudah hampir dua minggu pendedahan mengenai wujud satu kemasukan belian bernilai RM24.45 j terkait nama Imelda Rosmah. Sejak itu dia diam dan membisu cuma 'pengampu-pengampu' dia yang sibuk bertungkus lumus menjawab. Mulanya pengampu Imelda mengatakan bunti tersebut palsu dan kini sudah tidak boleh menyangkal setelah SPRM mengesahkan dokumen tersebut maka muncul pula borang kastam kedua kononya belian tiu dibawa keluar 4 hari selepas itu. Kononya belian itu untuk satu pameran belian yang diadakan secara sulit, di tempat yang sulit dengan tetamu-tetamu yang sulit. Semua yang sulit itu sedang diusahakan dan disusun skripnya.

Klik bahan - bahan di bawah untuk membaca mengenainya.

• Pendedahan antara bukti yang diperolehi "gambar screen komputer kastam" yang mengandungi maklumat kemasukan belian bernilai RM24.45 j. Nilai ini saya sebut dari awal dalam RM bukan USD cuma mungkin ada blogger terkeliru dan menukarnya dalam USD. klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/imelda-rosmah-dan-cincin-nilai-rm244.html sebaik sahaja bukti ini disiarkan pengampu - pengampu Imelda terus mengatakan ia gambar photoshop palsu
• Tidak kuarng juga yang konon cabar kalau berani che'GuBard tampil buat laporan SPRM. maka pada 13 Jul. che'GuBard bersama tem,an-teman SAMM Pulau Pinang bersama juga wakil Dewan Pemuda PAS dan AMK P.Pinang h! adir ke SPRM P.Pinang untuk membuat laporan SPRM dengan menyerahkan juga bberapa bukti yang masih belum disiarkan. klikhttp://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/samm-tampil-buat-laporan-sprm-isu.html
• Ketika membuat carian mengenai barang-barang kemas Imelda Rosmah terjumpa pula gambar Rosmah Mansor yang sedang menggayakan gelang tangan yang sememangnya dari Jacob & co yang merupakan syarikat pengeluar belian RM24.45j tersebut. klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/imelda-rosmah-memang-penggemar-jacob-co.html ini menguatkan hujah bahawa Imelda Rosmah memang peminat barangan Jacob & co.
• Pengampu makin hilang punca dan menyerang yang kononya tidak masuk akal belian bernilai RM24.45 j wujud. Posting ini hanya untuk buktikan bahawa belian lebih mahal juga wujud dalam dunia yang mana manusia rakus mengejar kemewahan ini. klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/masuk-akal-atau-tidak-cincin-bernilai.html
• SPRm tidak boleh berdolak dalih perlu tampil untuk nyatakan pendirian mengenai kewujudan belian ini. Klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/sprm-kena-muncul-menyatakan-pendirian.html posting ini membuktikan bahawa sememangnya beberapa hari sebelum belian ini masuk ke Malaysia, Rosmah dan suaminya Najib baru sahaja pulang dari New York untuk lawatan ke sana.
• Sah bukan dipalsukan bukti tersebut kerana SPRM telah menyerbu KLIA dan A.Krishnan (yang tidak bersalah) diambil dari petang hingga subuh. Siasatan SPRM pula tumpu kepada bagaimana cukai boleh kosong. nampak sangat SPRM tidak buat kerja rumah. Najib pada belanjawan yang lepas sememangnya telah menghapuskan cukai perbagai perkara se! perti pa kaian, perhiasan dan seumpamanya. Kini baru rakyat sedar bahawa pemasuhan cukai itu mungkin ada kena mengena dengan perangai Imelda Rosmah yang akan bawa masuk perbagai barang hiasan mewah. Sistem kastam juga telah 'diganggu' selama tiga jam. http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/sistem-kastam-down-3-jam-semalam-dan.html dalam posting ini juga dinyatakan rupanya gelang Rosmah yang dibeli dari Jacob & co itu bernilai RM1.6 juta (paling murah) berdasarkan respon email Jacob & co sendiri
• Pengampu panik bukti tersebut bukan palsu dan ternyata benar belian RM24.45 j masuk dan ada terkait Rosmah di dalam dokumen tersebut maka mereka masuk fasa baru dalam mengampu berkenaan isu ini. maka muncul borang kedua kononya belian itu dibawa keluar dari Malaysia ke Singapura pula selepas 4 hari di Malaysia. Konon belian itu untuk pameran di tempat rumah VVIP rahsia dengan tetamuVVIP rahsia. Semua sedang bertungkus lumus menyiapkan skrip. Namun borang kastam kedua itu banyak kelemahan klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/usaha-terdesak-untuk-lindungi-imelda.html
• Tiba - tiba jumlah pelayar blog ini meningkat mendadak, jumlah komen juga meningkat. Hampir semua komen diluluskan kecuali yang mencarut dan lucah melampau. ternyata pengampu Umno terpaksa bertungkus lumus menjawab. kebanyakan komen dari IP yang sama termasuk yang mencarut kemudian hantar pula hadis nabi. Ini pula posting yang menyatakan komen seorang orang lama dalam Kastam mengenai kewujudan pembelaan kononya barang tersebut untuk pameran klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/07/maklumat-dari-orang-kastam-edyess.html

Persoalanya mula - mula tuduh pendedahan palsu, kemudian tuduh pula untuk pameran... tetapi Imelda Rosmah ! tetap di am.

Rosmah yang samalah yang selama ini membazir bukan sedikit wang rakyat.

• http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/06/ketika-rakyat-susah-jom-tengok-beg.html
• http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/01/najib-terus-dipersenda-kerana-rosmah.html

Ada pula geng pengampu Imelda yang tuduh kononya komplot serangan ini ada kaitan dengan Khairy Jamaluddin jawapanya ialah ia tidak ada kena mengena. Kalau mereka ada masalah antara mereka pun che'GuBard tak minat campur. klik http://chegubard.blogspot.com/2011/04/khairy-mengelabah-konon-orang-nak.html

Why I am a socialist and intend to remain so - Jeyakumar (written in detention)

Hey Kumar! Still tilting at windmills are you? a doctor friend greeted me at an MMA function 4 years ago. There had been some news regarding the Parti Sosialis Malaysia in the media that previous week.

For many, the socialist experiment had already been assigned to the dustbin of history and only deluded people would still work towards socialism

But for us in the PSM, we believe that socialism has an important, even crucial, role to play in averting a collosal economic-ecological disaster that will occur within the next 30-60 years!

We believe that the world has to find a workable alternative to an economy driven by corporate greed. We advise 3 main arguments for this position.

1. Malaysias current economic course recommends to a Race of the bottom

The global owners of capital and technological expertise who control market access are a relatively small number of corporations about 500 to 1000. They have become all powerful in the unipolar world of today and they can bargain hunt. Even the biggest governments cant control them.

The measures that Malaysia is taking to attract investors into Malaysia include

• Lowering corporate tax and supplementing tax income by enacting a GST. The tax burden is being shifted onto ordinary Malaysians
• Enhancing labour flexibility. This is a misnomer - it undermines job security and workers rights through allowing contractualizing of labour and by weakening unions.
• Privatization of basic services such as health care and tertiary education.

All these measures pile economic pressure on the lower 70 % of the population.

And these are measures other developing countries are also taking each outdoing the neighbor in the mad rush for FDI. It is very difficult to build a caring society within this framework of development.

2. Chronic under consumption leading to massive growth of financial capital and increasingly volatile financial bubbles

The ability of large corporations to bargain hunt in the cheapest sites to station their factories has meant mega-profits for these corporions but at the same time has stunted the aggregate consumption power of the global economy. When a US or European firm lays off 100 US workers by shifting to China and hiring 100 Chinese workers at 1/7 the wage, the total buying power of the working class is reduced.

The absence of robust growth in consumer demand dictates that the profits of the corporations cannot be invested in the production of more consumer goods. So the corporations need to try other alternatives to make money such as the Futures Market, Currency Trading, the Share Market, and other financial products like derivatives.

This tendency is highlighted by the fact that Quantitative Easing the release of more money into the US economy in an effort to stimulate industrial production thus reducing unemployment has backfired into the creation of more financial bubbles in various parts of the world. The problem is sluggish consumer demand, not a lack of productive capital.

The issue here is not insufficient regulations but a misdistribution of the worlds wealth! To address this problem, the power of the corporations has t! o be cha llenged!

3. We are reaching the environment limits of growth.

The global economy is heavily dependent on petroleum. This commodity is going to run out within the next 50 years or so. We urgently need to think not only of alternatives sources of fuel, but also of much greater fuel efficiency!

Global warming is with us. How soon and how fast sea levels are going to rise is still a matter of conjecture but does that mean we can afford to ignore the issue if it only impacts our grandchildren and not us?

An economic model that requires a global average rate of growth of 4% per year to avoid downturns is clearly not sustainable! Not for the next 50 years! We need to redistribute the wealth we already are creating more equitably. We have to cut down waste! Growth cannot be endless.

All of these are only possible if we are ready to challenge the paradigm that unchecked greed will lead to the best possible outcome for the worlds majority because Adam Smiths Invisible Hand is still operating in todays corporate led globalization.

The ordinary people of the world need to take power to dictate the direction of the national or world economy away from the hands of the 560 richest corporations of the world.

We need to empower the marhein of the world to take on these tasks through a democratic process. These are the tasks facing 21st century socialism. These are not easily attainable goals.

But the problems we are facing are extremely serious. Unchecked they could lead to an ecological, food or climatic disaster that will lead to a decimation of the worlds population.

This is not the world that I wish to bequeath my grandchildren.! That is why I am a socialist and intend to remain so despite the EO/ISA arrest!

Scorpene subs: The French edge closer to Najib....

The noose could be tightening on one of Malaysia's greatest military procurement scandals, the US$1 billion purchase of French-built Scorpene submarines commissioned by then-defence minister Najib Abdul Razak in 2002.

The latest developments come at a time when Najib, as prime minister, toured Europe, meeting with Queen Elizabeth and Pope Benedict XVI in an effort to repair an image battered by an ugly crackdown on July 9 against tens of thousands of protesters asking for reforms of Malaysia's electoral system, which is regarded as rigged to keep the ruling national coalition in power.

The scandal allegedly involves French politicians, the giant state-owned DCNS defence contractor and politicians and military procurement units across the world.
The scandal netted a company owned by Najib's close friend Abdul Razak Baginda, 114 million in commissions, according to testimony in Malaysia's Parliament. Some of the money is rumoured to have been kicked back to French and Malaysian politicians.

French investigators have been pouring over DCNS records for months in connection with the larger scandal. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has declined to investigate the scandal, maintaining that the giant commission was payment for legitimate services. It is likely that in September we should have access to the first police conclusions from all the investigations that have taken place over the last 18 months, Paris-based lawyer William Bourdon told Asia Sentinel. We know that the police seem to have obtained quite crucial documents.
Bourdon, the leader of a team of lawyers investigating the case, is to visit Kuala Lumpur today! to conf er with Suaram, the NGO that has filed a complaint with French authorities over the scandal.

The question in France is whether, under French law, an NGO can act as a complainant. That will be decided in coming days by a French judge, Bourdon said. He added that he is confident that he will succeed.

Kept under wraps

For years, Malaysian authorities have been trying to keep the scandal under the carpet. The matter broke into the open in 2006, however, with the gruesome murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu, who had served as a translator for part of the submarine deal.

She had been shot in the head and her body was blown up with military explosives. Her last words, according to a confession by one of her killers, was that she was pregnant. The fact that her body was blown up has led to suspicions that the killers were trying to hide evidence of who the father might be.

The French prosecutors are not expected to investigate Altantuya's death as such. Instead, they are following the case on the basis that it is illegal to pay or take kickbacks in France. If the 114 million is found to be a kickback, the French prosecutors can act, Bourdon said.

According to Altantuya's final letter, which was found in a hotel room after her death, she was supposed to have received a US$500,000 fee for her work. After a whirlwind courtship in which she was given thousands of dollars and whisked off to Paris and other destinations by Razak Baginda, who is married, according to testimony, Altantuya was jilted and ended up in front of his Kuala Lumpur house, calling him a bastard and demanding that he come out to face her.

Shortly after that, a sedan full of Malaysian police officers pulled up and took her away. She was never seen alive again. In the letter left behind at her death, she said she had been blackmailing Razak Baginda, at that time a well-connected political analyst.

Two of Najib's bodyguards have been convicted and sentenced to death for her murder. Abdul Razak was acquitted in a trial seemingly held to make sure top government officials' names would not come out.

International scandal

French investigators have been going through the state-owned DCN's records for months. In France, the scandal has major implications. Tied to the global sales of weaponry have been deaths and scandal not only in Malaysia but in Pakistan, Taiwan and France itself.

Allegations of kickbacks being examined by French prosecutors go clear up to former French president Jacques Chirac, former prime ministers Dominique de Villipin and Edouard Balladur and the country's current president, Nicholas Sarkozy, in addition to an unknown number current and former French defense executives. Military procurement officials in Taiwan, India, Chile and Brazil may be involved, in addition to Malaysia.

Lawyers for the families of 11 French engineers killed in a 2002 bomb attack in Karachi were quoted in April as saying they would file a manslaughter suit against Chirac, allegedly because he cancelled a bribe to Pakistani military officials in the sale of three Agosta 90-class submarines to that country's navy.

In Malaysia

At about the same time the French engineers were murdered in 2002 in Karachi, Malaysia placed its US$1 billion order for two Scorpnes in the deal engineered by Najib. In exchange, a company wholly owned by Najib's close friend, Abdul Razak Baginda, was paid the 114 million in commissions, according to testimony in the Malaysian parliament.

Although the Malaysian government has done its level best ! to ignor e the case, it remains alive in France. In April, Bourdon, Renaud Semerdjian and Joseph Breham filed a case with prosecutors in Paris on behalf Suaram, which supports good-governance causes and, Malaysian officials charge, is closely linked to opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Any investigation into corruption at the levels now underway in France is inherently unpredictable given the interests involved. What began as a ripple in Paris may yet build into a tsunami threatening individuals and plans previously thought impervious to such a threat. Questioning Abdul Razak Baginda in the UK might be a place to start.

source:malaysiakini

cheers.

Buang Subsidi Gula Untuk Beli Cincin RM78juta?

Pada 16 Julai 2011 harga gula telah dinaikkan 25 sen sekilo dari RM1.60 kepada RM1.90 sekilo.

Dikatakan pemotongan subsidi gula sebanyak 25 sen baru-baru ini telah member penjimatan kepada kerajaan sebanyak RM116 juta setahun.

Alasan yang diberikan adalah untuk menyelamatkan Malaysia dari bangkrap kerana Malaysia banyak sangat bagi subsidi pada rakyat. CEO Pemandu, Idris Jala, mengatakan Malaysia telah membayar hampir RM74 billion untuk subsidi pada tahun 2009.

Rupa-rupanya, semua ini adalah sandiwara semata-mata. Rakyat disuruh berjimat manakala orang-orang besar boleh beli perhiasan yang berjumlah puluhan juta ringgit.

Diberitakan cincin yang dikaitkan dengan Rosmah baru-baru ini bernilai lebih kurang RM78 juta.

Tulang Besi baru sedar penjimatan subsidi gula untuk rakyat tersebut perlu kerana tanpa pemotongan tersebut tidak mungkin pihak2 tertentu mampu membeli cincin dan perhiasan serta beg yang berjumlah berpuluh-puluh juta ringgit.

Kalau Rm116 juta dijimatkan dari membayar subsidi gula, maka jumlah tersebut lebih dari cukup untuk membeli cincin bernilai RM 78 juta dari toko milik seorang Yahudi Turkmenistan bernama Jacob and Co.

Ditambah dengan perhiasan-perhiasan lain yang berjumlah berjuta-juta harganya seperti gelang, beg tangan dan sebagainya.

Maka, penjimatan subsidi gula adalah perlu demi memastikan isteri orang-orang atasan di Malaysia dapat membeli perhiasan serta perhiasan yang berjumlah puluhan juta.

Walaupun di laman web rasmi PEMANDU dinyatakan dengan jelas tujuan pemotongan subsidi gula seperti berikut:

...manakala subsid! i gula p ula membolehkan kita mempromosi gaya hidup sihat.

Nasihat Tulang Besi adalah bangkai gajah sampai bila boleh kita tutup dengan daun nyiru. Lambat laun orang kampung akan tahu juga.

Izinkan Tulang Besi mengakhiri artikel saya dengan mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia berkenaan dengan slogan Satu Malaysia tajaan APCO:

SATU MALAYSIA. RAKYAT DIDAHULUKAN. PENCAPAIAN DIUTAMAKAN.

Slogan hanya tinggal slogan. Perlaksanaan nyata jauh berlainan.

Terima kasih

Tulang Besi

THINKING OUT LOUD

QE2: I like yellow flowers, and my dress was specially tailored to meet you months ago.

I chose yellow before you showed your true colours.
Do you like my yellow dress then?

Najib: Yes, yes, yes I like yellow now!

QE2: Jolly good, old chap,.you can call me .Eliza-bersih-2 although I am Queen Elizabeth the 2nd. Incidentally what is the No.1 you are wearing on your lapel?

Najib: (In cold sweat, hisses to himself, I thought I was in U.K. Ulu Kelang, forgot that U.K. is the United Kingdom)
Errhmmm I am No.1 in 1MALAYSIA.

QE2: Indeed! Are you Xanthrophobic?

Najib: Whats that Santa-fat-pig?

QE2: Xanthrophobic is The fear of anything yellow incolour.

Najib: No, no not at all.

QE2: So you have no respect or fear of me like what you did to your King, telling you and all not to have street Demonstrations. You forced the people to be on the streets and set the police on them.
You also banned all things yellow, T-shirts, etc. and let the police arrest those caught with yellow artifacts.
Is the ban still on?

Najib: Arr Urrr, let me check with my Home Minister. Not to worry, your Majesty, you are safe. I am here and I am No.1, all will do as I say, except those who enjoy a day out on the streets, who would not even listen to the King and defy my orders to stay indoors.

QE2: Now what are you here for? Are you submitting a petition to me about HINDRAF or BERSIH 2.0? Perhaps its about the Malaysian Constitution?

Najib: Oh no! Just hoping to introduce my wife to you so that she can get on with you while I mingle with your Mayor and your PM at No.10. Cheerio.

BERSIH: The demands for fair play

• A few days ago, I highlighted the issue of my wife who tried to use a SPR political agent (UMNO BA) to register herself and 5 others family members as a voter in DUN Bukit Antarabangsa and Parliament Ampang. Being the wife of blogger who speaks strongly against BN and thinking that she would likely to vote for PR, her application to change of voting place was not processed. It did not even reach SPR.
  

• This morning, my wife told me that after her calls being transferred from one department to another; she was informed that her name does not appear in the electoral roll search on the web because she has been designated as a postal voter. The officer at SPR cannot even say for sure under which area that she is supposed to be a postal voter. This is indeed shocking to me as she had voted before in Kg Baru as a regular voter on at least 2 occasions. Why is she being designated as a postal voter after I have left the military more than 10 years ago? Come GE13, which Corporal will mark her ballot paper?
  

• Coincidently this morning I received an email from a friend who gave me the list of voters that stays in the same address. The email suggests that At P44 PERMATANG PAUH & N10 SEBERANG JAYA, 152 people lives in two houses. Not to accept things blindly, I took 10 IC numbers that was given and put in the electoral roll search
  at SPR website. I was shocked to see the result. One group has a house address with the number 1138 (64 people) and the other is 1155 (88 people). Its truly 1-Malaysia because the list contains people from different ethnic background in the same house. Anyone who wants the information, please drop me a request and I will forward to you the email so that you can make your own conclusion.
  

• We all know P44 is An! war parl iamentary area and N10 is Dato Ariff Shah (Dato Amin Shah Brother). A quick search shows that in GE12, Ariff shah won N10 marginally with a majority of 553 votes. Clearly there is a concerted effort to import voters into N10 and P44 to reinforce Ariff Shah winnings and to probably dislodge Anwar. This is probably the tip of the iceberg that we know off.
  

• There could be many more as it is not easy for the public and political party to verify the database in detail. I believe SPR system can do a search using various strings to find commonalities. The question is whether they want to do so? For the record EC has made a statement that they cannot remove the list of 152 people in the list without the owners coming forward. That shows the integrity of EC in ensuring that they have a clean roll. Is the demand to be BERSIH is unfair? By the way, I found out that Malaysiakini also did a write up about it HERE.
  All I can conclude is harapkan pagar,

Maklumat Dari Orang Kastam [edyess] !!

Sedikit maklumat baru masuk, sebuah persoalan yang diketengahkan sendiri oleh pegawai kastam dengan 20 tahun pengalaman. Maklumat ini sangat berguna untuk menunjukkan ada lagi satu kesangsian daripada beberapa kesangsian dalam entry sebelum ini.

Ikuti pengakuan pegawai kastam di bawah;

Satu perkara persoalam saya, sya seorang agen kastam yg telah bertugas selama 20 tahun, persoalan nya.

1. Kenapa tidak d gunakan borang Ata Carnet.
2. Kenapa pada k2 boleh di amend tanpa pengesahan pegawai kastam.
3. Mengapa tidak ada examption clause pada borang k2 dan k1 mengatakan ade tax examption
Sila jawab pada yg lebih arif.

Dibawah sya bg info ttg ata carnet.

The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows the holder to temporarily (up to one year) import goods without payment of normally applicable duties and taxes, including value-added taxes. The Carnet eliminates the need to purchase temporary import bonds. So long as the goods are re-exported within the allotted time frame, no duties or taxes are due. Failure to re-export all goods listed on the Carnet results in the need to pay the applicable duties. Failure to remit those duties results in a claim from the foreign customs service to the importers home country.

The acronym ATA is a combination of French and English phrases "Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission."

Borang ATA Carnet sepatutnya digunakan untuk kes jika nak buat 'Pameran ke apa bagai ke' untuk tempoh maksima setahun. Ini bermakna, penganjur pameran harus guna borang ATA ini tetapi tidak digunakan.

Ada di kalangan mereka yang mempersoal tentang harga cincin yang mencecah RM24juta seolah ia tidak masuk akal. Namun keluarnya borang K1 dan K2 menunjukkan memang pihak kastam akui benar harganya sekitar RM24Juta (walaupun dikurangkan sedikit jumlahnya). Dalam tamadun hari ini, RM24juta bagi pengejar 'hall of fames' adalah tidak mahal untuk sebentuk cincin berlian, ditambah lagi ianya keluaran Yaco! b Arabo si yahudi yang pelanggannya terdiri daripada selebriti kelas dunia.

Harus diingat! Jika gelang 'Zebra' keluaran Jacob n Co pernah menghiasi pergelangan tangan Imelda Rosmah berharga hampir RM2juta, apatah lagi jika aksoseri itu bernama cincin berlian! Jangan biarkan diri terpedaya dengan helah-helah demi selamatkan Imelda Rosmah, kononnya dengan alasan cincin untuk tujuan pameran, rupanya pameran sulit di tempat sulit dan untuk VVIP yang serba sulit. Jahanam negara nie kalau ada yang percaya cerita sulit menyelamatkan Imelda Rosmah Malaysia...

http://edyesdotcom.blogspot.com/

sumber :

Serious Repercussions

It really looks like Najib has bitten off far more than he can chew.

The rally on the 9th could have easily been a forgotten affair by now
had Najib joined in and promised electoral reforms or merely allowed the
rally.

You could not pay me enough to be in Najib's shoes right now. It must be
totally shameful to be booed by one's own countrymen in a foreign
country.

It must have been awkward meeting a yellow-clad Queen.

Then it all looked fine when he met the Pope.

But the embarrassment came from his own government this time, or rather
his government mouth-piece - the rag called Utusan Malaysia.

There is no limit to Utusan Malaysia's ludicrous claims - you and I know
that - but this one is a special little gem:

'When the drums are pounded hard in the name of human rights, the
pro-Jewish people will have their best opportunity to interfere in any
Islamic country. We might not realize that the enthusiasm to support
actions such as demonstrations will cause us to help foreign groups
succeed in their mission of controlling this country.'

Yep. When in doubt, always create a Jewish conspiracy.

This is not working to Najib's benefit though. I can imagine he might
have been just a little mortified in the presence of people far more
intelligent than his fellow UMNO goons.

It's too late now, but if only Najib had made wiser decisions prior to
the rally, things would have been far different.

Read more here:
http://the-diplomat.com/asean-beat/2011/07/19/najib-the-queen-and-the-po
pe/

PEMBODEK MENJAHANAMKAN UMNO/APCO

Perihal UMNO/APCO bersifat feudal dan dipenuhi insan pembodek sudah lama diketahui umum, bukan baru-baru ini saja. Feudalisme bermukim dalam jiwa ahli-ahli UMNO/APCO lantaran dirinya ditubuhkan di istana. Oleh sebab itu, kebangsawanan menjadi ciri-ciri utama semua pemimpin mereka. Maka berlagak hebatlah mereka seumpama raja yang berkuasa mutlak. Kerjanya hanya mengumpul kekayaan untuk diri sendiri dan kroni. Orang Melayu yang menyokong mereka secara tidak berbelah bagi dikhianati sehingga tidak dapat duduk sama rendah dan berdiri sama tinggi dengan bangsa-bangsa lain di tanah tumpah darah mereka sendiri.

Namun, rakyat jelata sentiasa mengintai tabiat buruk mereka. Menteri bodek Najib. Semua yang diucapkan ialah perkara yang boleh menyenangkan hati bos. Media kongkongan bodek Najib habis-habisan. Apa-apa juga yang dibuat oleh Najib diberi kredit. Fiil buruk Najib ditutup kemas-kemas. Jika ada kritikan pedas kepada kerajaan, jangan harap berita itu hendak disiarkan. Jika ada berita yang boleh memburukkan Pakatan Rakyat, berita itu diualang-ulang selama beberapa hari.

Pembodek-pembodek inilah yang akan menjahanamkan UMNO/APCO. Rakyat masa kini terlalu sukar untuk makan bodek. Mereka sudah tahu, rakyat diulit dengan ampu bodek untuk membolehkan pemimpin tidak bertanggungjawab ini mencuri kekayaan yang sepatutnya menjadi milik mereka. Sang penguasa yang biadap ini akan kecundang juga akhirnya. Rakyat Malaysia sedang menanti dengan penuh debaran saat itu.

Pakatan vows to keep Bersih movement alive

We'll push the demand for electoral reform in the rural areas and tell the people what Bersih is all about, says the DAP's Teo Nie Ching.
The Pakatan Rakyat leadership has pledged to keep the momentum of the Bersih 2.0 rally going by taking the initiative in pushing for electoral reform to the rural constituencies.

"We are aware that Bersih's impact was limited to the urban areas and today, it was proposed that we maintain the impetus by going to the rural areas to tell them what Bersih is all about," DAP's assistant national publicity secretary Teo Nie Ching (left) said.

This was among the top agenda items discussed at Pakatan's leadership retreat held in Petaling Jaya today to amass support for the 13th general election, which must be held in 2013.

The day-long retreat was held to, among others, synergise media relations among the three coalition partners, PAS, PKR and DAP.

Tens of thousands of people had taken to the streets of Kuala Lumpur on July 9, demanding an overhaul to the electoral system on grounds that the process is not transparent and is often rigged.

The rally was led by Bersih 2.0, a coalition of more than 60 NGOs for clean and fair elections.

The government came down hard on both the organisers and supporters of the rally prior to the event, and has been accused of endorsing heavy-handed police action during the rally.

"Ho! wever, t his decision will also be talked over with (Bersih 2.0 chairperson) Ambiga (Sreenevasan)," said Teo, who is also the Serdang MP.The retreat, in which 30 representatives from the tri-party coalition took part, also met to iron out the kinks in their coalition especially in tackling controversial issues.

Leaders agreed that recent squabbles following the PAS-led Kedah government's move in attempting to impose a ban on entertainment outlets during the whole of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan in August, had left them open to attacks from political opponents.

DAP and PAS have both expressed our concerns today and whichever way this issue is tackled, one way or another the opponents will find ways to create a rift, said a leader, who requested for anonymity.

Approached earlier today at the closed-door retreat, PAS Shah Alam head Khalid Samad said the leaders were frank in their ongoing meeting.

DAP's publicity chief Tony Pua added that the meeting was fruitful as it allowed the leaders to trash out issues, without further elaboration on what they were.

States told to start seat talks

Teo added that the state-level Pakatan leadership has been given the nod to start negotiating seat allocations in gearing up for the next general election.

Although Pua had earlier commented that the meeting did not touch on seat allocations, he also said it was only agreed to allow the states to suggest their top guns.

However, we have advised those not chosen from going to the media to air their frustration and then try to sabotage the party from within, she said.

Pua added that the selection process will be left to the states and only when they cannot reach a conclusion will it be brought to the top leadership.

Complaint to Pope on Najib's high-handed tactics

A group of 365 Malaysian Christians have written to the Pope on Najib's crackdown on Bersih rally.
A group of 365 Malaysian Christians, including Catholics, have signed a letter addressed to Pope Benedict XVI, complaining about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's crackdown on the July 9 peaceful protest for electoral reforms.

They also expressed concern over the timing of Najib's visit to the Vatican, and pointed out the lack of religious freedom in Malaysia, citing the Lina Joy court case and the seizure of books on Christianity as examples.

The 365 signatories also expressed concern that Najib's visit to the Vatican at this time could be seen as securing popular support for the coming 13th general election, which must be held by mid-2013, and which could result in him clinging to power.

The letter, titled Recent Political and Social Developments in Malaysia: Towards a more comprehensive understanding of realities in Malaysia, and published in full by the NGO Aliran, is addressed to the Pontiff, with a copy also sent to Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, who is based in Singapore.

In the letter, the group said the crackdown on Bersih 2.0's call for electoral reform saw the coalition of more than 60 NGOs suffering a clampdown by the authorities in Malaysia, which has all along been ruled by the same coalition of political parties, now led by Najib.

It said the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism (MCCBHST), of which the Catholic Church of Malaysia is a part, had affirmed Bersih 2.0's right to conduct its peaceful walk for what it considered 'just demands'.

The signa! tories a lso said that Bersih 2.0 had deferred to the Agong, who intervened to head off a potential confrontation.

However, the government continued to declare the movement an illegal organisation and rejected its proposal to hold the gathering in Stadium Merdeka.

After his visit to the Vatican yesterday, Najib said Malaysia and the Vatican have agreed to establish formal diplomatic relations to promote bonds of mutual friendhip and strengthen cooperation between both sides.

Najib and Pope Benedict XVI met at at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, outside the Italian capital Rome.

Concern over rights and religious freedom

The letter also sought to urge the Pope to critically understand the political and social realities in Malaysia, and not to hold a one-sided view.

They acknowledge the meeting would help promote Christian-Muslim dialogue, an initiative the Church undertook in 2005.

This was also something Najib has espoused upon, being a leader of moderate Muslim country, but the group noted that political leaders in Malaysia had manipulated ethno-religious sentiments all these years, and mobilised ethno-religious grounds in order to stay in power.

Describing the Najib-led BN government as anything but moderate, they described him as someone who does not do what he preaches and does not walk the talk.

They expressed concern in the government's repression of civil society groups fighting for clean and fair elections.

Explaining further on the street protests, the signatories claimed it was a result of frustrations from the inadequate electoral system that the MCCBHST took part in the peaceful Bersih 2.0 protest.

They are worried that foreign governments and leaders who host Najib could be influenced by his talk of moderation, whereas the government had used excessive f! orce, ti me and time again, the most recent being the Bersih 2.0 crackdown earlier this month.

They also noted that Najib and other BN leaders had manipulated ethno-religious sentiments irresponsibly and attempted to demonise the leaders of Bersih 2.0 as anti-Islam.

The signatories also expressed their suspicious concern over Najib's political agenda in winning electoral support from Christians in Sabah and Sarawak, where they noted 43 percent of the population belonged to that faith.

The 365 also noted that with Sabah and Sarawak being considered the BN's fixed deposits, they were worried over Najib's political agenda in the matter.

The letter said while the Malaysian constitution protected the freedom of religion, there have been curbs to this right, which is a universal fundamental human rights.

As a result of all these, they hoped and prayed the pontiff would see Najib's true intentions when dealing with the Malaysian government.

Free censorship service for misleading reports

PUBLIC NOTICE
Following yesterdays announcements by various public authorities, the uppercaise blog is pleased to announce a free public service to correct misleading reports that appear in newspapers, magazines and all kinds of printed matter. Readers are invited to submit or nominate misleading or untrue reports that appear in the printed press, so that corrective action can be taken to ensure that citizens are given the correct picture of what really happened, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the police force, or whoever is pointing a licence at your head.

Here is an example of how citizens may demonstrate their loyalty to the ruling party or the head of the ruling party (or nearest offer). The following is a report in The Star (rumoured to be a newspaper), which we have corrected based on the Home Ministrys way of thinking.

Home Ministry: Parts of Economist article blacked out were incorrect, misleading

PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry blacked out parts of The Economists article on the recent Bersih 2.0 rally for being incorrect and misleading.

Its Publications Control and Quranic Text Division secretary Abd Aziz Md Nor said the sentences contained incorrect statements and could mislead readers.

He said the decision to instruct the magazines publisher to black out the sentences was made after consulting the police.

We went through the article and found the incorrect statements. Subsequently, we told the publisher to black out those sentences, he said when contacted Tuesday.

Abd Aziz said they received the July 16 edition about a week before it went on sale for clearance, which, he added, was the normal procedure.

The article chronicles the July 9 rally, incl! uding th e arrest of more than 1,600 people.

You see how easy it is. You can even do it yourself. All you need is a news report printed in a Malaysian newspaper, and a black marker pen.

Submit your entries now. The best entry submitted will receive a yellow tee-shirt and several days free accommodation in the nearest police detention cell.

Disclaimer: This notice was not paid for by Pilot Pens, but all payments will be quietly accepted.

Filed under: Humour, Politics