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‘Boot out BN to stop RM500 mil dam’

2012-01-29T08:43:00.000-08:00

Luke Rintod | January 29, 2012

As long as Barisan Nasional rules Sabah, there is no assurance that it won't drown Tambatuon with a new dam.

KOTA BELUD: The only way to stop the building of the proposed RM500 million Tambatuon Dam is to end Barisan Nasional rule in Sabah. This was the advise Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) gave the frustrated Tambatuon villagers.

According to SAPP supreme council member Peter Marajin, it was no longer logical for the villagers to hold onto any promises made by Kota Belud MP Rahman Dahlan.

“We cannot hold onto any of the pledges made by BN leader on not to go ahead with the controversial dam.

“Even the Kota Belud MP’s own words are not an assurance it will not be built.

“It maybe not this year, but they will surely build it later, maybe in 2013. We never know with their (BN) kind of words,” said Maraji.

“What Rahman said was the dam would not be built without the consent of the villagers.

“In fact he has been asking the villagers to reconsider their opposition to the half-a-billion ringgit dam,” Marajin, who is from Kadamaian, said.

Tambatuon controversy

He said the villagers had also expressed their disappointment with their village head Amin Goling who had allegedly gone along with Rahman.

Marajin said Amin’s premature support for Rahman’s statement was aimed at confusing and hoodwinking the villagers into believing the BN government is now not going ahead with dam, which is not true.

“My observation was further corroborated with the Tambatuon villagers now insisting on a black and white assurance if indeed BN is not going ahead with the dam,” said Marajin.

The Tambatuon dam has become a flashpoint of opinions here with the majority of the Dusun Tindal villagers against it.

In fact they have taken ritual vows over slaughtered buffaloes and chickens that they would defend their kampung with their blood if machines start coming to Tambatuon which many claimed to be a beautiful village.

They have also put signboards and other warnings at the entrance to their kampung that they are against the proposed dam and those who perpetrate to promote its building would be dealt with accordingly.

The Kadamaian PBS assemblyman, Herbert Timbon Lagadan, stands alone among his community over the Tambatuon dam.

He has become a target for criticism for his open support of the dam which he claimed would benefit not only the Tambatuon folks but the whole district as it supplies both electricity and water to paddy farms.

Marajin, not mincing his words, said “to cancel the dam, just cancel BN, lock, stock and barrel with Umno allies PBS and UPKO!”

‘Overseas M’sians must assert right to vote’

2012-01-29T08:42:00.002-08:00

Aneesa Alphonsus | January 29, 2012

Bersih co-chairman A Samad Said may be 76-years-old, but he's not 'leaving' without letting Malaysians know that they 'must fight for their country'.

KUALA LUMPUR: National laureate A Samad Said wants Malaysians abroad to assert themselves and demand their right to vote in the 13th general election.

Samad, who is now the co-chairperson of Bersih coalition, believes that there is no sound enough reason why Malaysians living and working abroad should be deprived of their most fundamental right.

“All Malaysians abroad should fight for that (their right to vote) from where they are.

“They should insist that their voices be recorded, that they have a right to vote and they must vote.

“If their right to vote is denied than as Malaysian citizens, they can deny the elections.

“I can’t stand intimidation, fraud, dishonesty. I think everyone, every Malaysian should go and fight against this so they can get the kind of country they want.

“You want to see a change? Then vote and insist on it.

“If I don’t remind them to do this, I’m not carrying out my responsibilities,” he told FMT recently.

Pak Samad, as he is fondly known to many Malaysians, went on to add that the question of difficulty should not take precedence over what needs to be done.

He said it was the duty of every Malaysian abroad to fight for their right to vote.

‘Overseas Malaysians must demand rights’

He said Malaysians abroad should let their respective embassy representatives know of their right and desire to vote.

The right to vote for overseas Malaysians was one of the eight demands that Bersih 2.0 made to the Election Commission. The EC however has not weighed this yet.

Pak Samad said it was not enough that in-country Malaysians fight on behalf of their brethren abroad for the right to vote.

“Malaysians (abroad) too must be willing to take steps towards making this a reality.

“They can change things. If all Malaysians abroad don’t fight for this, what are they doing outside there?

“I’m not saying it’s their sole responsibility to make this happen, but they should be accountable for the positive changes this country can achieve.

“If they allow the country to go on like this for another five decades in the hands of Barisan National, what will happen then?

“We are not talking about another five years of the government being in power, it’s five decades. It’s time. It’s the right time,” he said vehemently.

‘Everyone must band together’

Until July 9, 2011, Pak Samad was best known as author. These days, he’s being celebrated as an activist as well.

At the height of the massive Bersih rally, Pak Samad became a national phenomenon when he lost his slippers in the crowd and walked barefoot all the way to the gates of the palace.

At 76, Pak Samad is ready to die but not before he has said his piece.

When presented with the notion that many of the Malaysians abroad feel apathy towards their right to vote and are disillusioned by vote-buying, Pak Samad had this reply: “Irrespective of these things, you still have to vote. It is your right.

“If everyone bands together, it will work.

“Don’t allow the government to use racial, religious issues against us. Don’t allow them to say they are enriching the country. They are not enriching the country.

“Why aren’t these Malaysians doing anything? If things go on like this, we can be on the verge of bankruptcy.

“So if we don’t do what we can, don’t blame (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak) or Nazri Aziz, or (Dr) Chua Soi Lek.

“We should blame ourselves. We must fight, otherwise don’t complain,” he said.

It must be noted that a test case filed by six Malaysians working in Britain to have the right to cast their ballots abroad failed when it was over-ruled by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Jan 6.

The court dismissed their application by ruling that the Election Commission was following the rules in not allowing them to cast their ballots abroad.

The six had wanted the court to compel the EC to register them as absent voters and amend its regulation within two weeks to allow all Malaysians to vote overseas.

Cara berfikir Umno amat purba

2012-01-29T08:42:00.001-08:00

FMT Staff | January 29, 2012

Sikap ini adalah manifestasi dari lesunya daya fikir dan intelek kepimpinan mereka dalam menghadapi realiti politik semasa dunia yang mengamalkan budaya telus dan terbuka.

PETALING JAYA: Cara berfikir pemimpin-pemimpin Umno amat purba kerana mereka gentar untuk berbicara secara bersemuka mengenai hak rakyat, demikian ditegaskan Ketua Penerangan PKR, Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty.

“Jelas, Umno belum berhenti dari muslihatnya terus memperbodoh dan menindas minda rakyat. Dengan ini, kuasa memerintah negara terus kekal di tangan dan pelbagai penyelewengan mudah diteruskan tanpa sekatan.

“Apa yang kita pasti, sikap ini adalah manifestasi dari lesunya daya fikir dan intelek kepimpinan mereka dalam menghadapi realiti politik semasa dunia yang mengamalkan budaya telus dan terbuka,” katanya dalam satu kenyataan media.

Beliau mengulas perkara ini berhubung sikap Perdana Menteri dan juga Presiden Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yang berkali-kali enggan menyahut cabaran Ketua Pembangkang dan juga pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat untuk berdebat.

Anwar secara terbuka mengajak Najib berdebat mengenai beberapa isu kritikal semasa – politik, ekonomi dan kebajikan rakyat - yang sedang hangat diperkatakan kini.

Dr Manuty berkata, alasan yang diberikan begitu memual dan menjengkelkan. Sikap ini menampakkan betapa purbanya cara berfikir kepimpinan parti ini dan betapa gentarnya Umno untuk berbicara secara bersemuka mengenai hak rakyat.

Debat – amalan tradisi pemimpin

Sesungguhnya kata beliau, PKR ingin menegaskan pendirian bahawa debat antara pemimpin adalah tradisi mana-mana kepimpinan silam bagi semua tamadun. Di dalam Al Quran sendiri Allah SWT menjelaskan:

“Serulah ke jalan Tuhanmu (wahai Muhammad) dengan hikmat kebijaksanaan dan nasihat pengajaran yang baik, dan berdebatlah dengan mereka (yang engkau serukan itu) dengan cara yang lebih baik; sesungguhnya Tuhanmu Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang yang sesat dari jalanNya, dan Dia lah jua yang lebih mengetahui akan orang-orang yang mendapat hidayah petunjuk.” (An-Nahl: 125).

Beliau menegaskan pada hakikatnya, budaya debat adalah amalan lumrah para ilmuan dan kepimpinan silam. Melaluinya, kebenaran akan lebih terserlah dan “insight” baru dapat dicernakan demi kepentingan negara dan rakyat.

Lebih penting katanya, rakyat diberi peluang menilai secara empirikal dan adil akan ketrampilan dan keikhlasan kepimpinan yang akan diberikan amanah mengurus negara pada masa depan. Inilah demokrasi sebenar yang dituntut oleh rakyat.

“Kita pun merasa aneh mengapa pula Najib tidak punyai keberanian menyahut cabaran ini sedangkan, beliau sendiri dikatakan selalu mempamirkan gaya pidato yang tidak kurang hebatnya semasa berucap di khalayak umum di mana-mana.

“Beliau sebenar lebih beruntung kerana dikelilingi ratusan pegawai dan pembantu yang bersiap siaga dengan bekalan idea dan maklumat jika diperlukan.

“PKR merasa kesal akan betapa hina dan rendahnya pandangan Umno-BN terhadap rakyat Malaysia yang bersifat majmuk ini,” tegas beliau.

Hindraf not against Malays

2012-01-29T08:40:00.000-08:00

Athi Shankar | January 29, 2012

A national coordinator also believes that Hindraf's struggle was slowly returning to its mainstream position since joining the ABU bandwagon.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf Makkal Sakti is not against the Malays or any other ethnic groups in the country.

It’s solely a grassroots movement fighting for the rights, interests and benefits of ethnic Indians, especially the working class, said Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam.

Speaking at a Hindraf – ABU (Anything But Umno) forum in Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, last night, he said that the movement’s main agenda was to coerce the government to recognise and uphold ethnic Indian citizenry rights.

He said Hindraf wanted the Umno-helmed federal government to end its racist policies discriminating ethnic Indians.

“We are not questioning what the government is giving others

“We are only asking the government to give what is rightfully ours,” Sambulingam clarified to FMT on his speech.

Some 700 people attended the forum, with Indians making up about a third of them, while the rest were dominantly Malays.

Also present were ABU leader Haris Ibrahim, Solidarity of Malaysian Youth (SAMM) chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin @ Chegubard and Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad.

Sambulingam said that one main Hindraf demand was for the government to give land for Tamil schools and gazette them all as fully-aided schools.

Among other demands are affordable housing, business and employment opportunities for the needy and deserving working class Indians.

Back in mainstream politics

He said Hindraf would definitely field candidates to contest the next general election as it was “high time for Hindraf to provide a strong voice for the voiceless.”

Gauging the growing support among Indians and non-Indians to Hindraf vis-à-vis close ties with ABU, Sambulingam believes that the movement was back on track after seeing a lean isolated spell for the past two years.

After the heydays of 2007 – 2008 period, combination of self-inflicted tactical blunders and concerted demonisation by others have sidelined and outcast Hindraf from mainstream political activism.

But since joining the ABU bandwagon, Hindraf believes that its struggle was slowly but surely returning to its rightful mainstream position.

Even the violent disruption caused by some thugs on Hindraf – ABU forum in Klang on Jan 21 failed to deter Hindraf activists.

“Now the Malays and others can accept Hindraf’s views and demands on Indian issues.

“Hindraf’s struggle is definitely back on mainstream agenda.

“We will now intensify it with support of other ethnic brothers,” Sambulingam told FMT.

Dont Vote BN for abolishing PPSMI

2012-01-28T18:12:00.002-08:00

Since the Government had abolished the PPSMI, the Government should be voted out in next election to show the frustration and disrespectful BN to Malaysian standard education.

I was invited to attend a meeting and a Press Conference organised by Datin Azimah Rahim's PAGE (Parents' Action Group for Education) which seeks to ask the Government NOT to abolish the PPSMI (the teaching of Maths and Science in English). The Government has said that the PPSMI will be abolished for the school year beginning January 2012.

You can visit PAGE's website here

The Governmenmt has to really ask itself whose interest they are representing when they want to abolish the PPSMI? Indications are the majority of the population, especially the Malays support the PPSMI.

I think this is also why the Government is shying away from conducting a referendum to directly ask the people their views. The Government knows that a referendum will support the PPSMI. The Government is taking a huge risk with the future of the nation, especially the Malays, just to avoid embarrasment.

PAGE is trying to raise one million signatures in a petition to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister to keep the PPSMI. You can read the Petition online here .

Please go to the page and sign the petition. It will take not more than one minute. It is for the future of all Malaysians. Here is the short petition :

To: Malaysians

To,

YAB Datuk Seri Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak

The Prime Minister of Malaysia.

YAB Tan Sri Muhyiddin bin Yassin

Education Minister of Malaysia.

cc.

Tun Dr. Mahathir bin Mohammad

Former Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE).

PETITION TO MAINTAIN THE TEACHING AND LEARNING OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS IN ENGLISH (PPSMI) IN SCHOOLS

I, the undersigned, am in favour of maintaining the teaching and learning of Science and Mathematics in English (PPSMI) in schools.

This letter endorses my mandate and full support to any representing party that is seeking to maintain PPSMI in schools.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

(Datin Azimah, I think we need one in Bahasa Malaysia as well. Many parents who cannot speak English still want to support this petition).

DEAR BLOG READERS, THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AT CITIZEN AWARENESS AND CITIZEN GOVERNMENT. PLEASE COPY AND PASTE THIS PETITION AND THE WEB ADDRESS IN YOUR BLOGS, IN YOUR EMAILS AND POST IT TO ALL YOUR CONCERNED FRIENDS. LET US HELP PAGE GET THE 1 MILLION ONLINE SIGNATURES.

This is a Vote for the PPSMI. Please lets hang together on this one or our kids will surely hang separately.

We are already close to the Club of Doom. If we abolish the PPSMI we are much closer to the Club of Doom.

Talking and listening to so many people at the meeting, there is a huge undercurrent against abolishing the PPSMI. The majority of Malaysians, especially Malays, support the PPSMI. They really want their children to be educated in English, at least in Science and Mathematics.

I think for the Government to ignore all these voices of protest is to take significant risks. Abolishing the PPSMI may become yet another election issue. People are already not happy with the Government over so many things.

People will vote FOR the PPSMI and they will vote against any attempt to abolish it.

If the Government abolishes the PPSMI, the Government stands to lose a significant number of votes. The Bloggers are still fighting to regain support back for the BN Government. So I dont think it is advisable, at this juncture, for the Government to alienate a substantial block of voters who want the PPSMI.

There were two big surprises for me at the PAGE meeting. The first was seeing Suara Perkasa (the newspaper of the ultra right wing Malay rights pressure group) writing a page length in support of PPSMI.

Titled 'PPSMI : Apabila emosional mengatasi rasional' the article took issue with certain parties who have made the most emotional and nonsensical claims to support the abolishment of the PPSMI. One such person is the muallaf and very confused ustaz Ridhuan Tee Abdullah, a Chinese convert who is now more Arabic than the Arabs and more Melayu than the Melayu.

The other surprise was the presence of another Malay NGO Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) whose president Azwanddin Hamzah showed the results of a survey done by the JMM covering 27,200 parents from predominantly rural areas. 70% of the people surveyed were Malays. Their 4 month research findings showed that 55% of PARENTS wanted to retain the PPSMI.

Only 13% of parents are opposed to the PPSMI. 32% said 'Belum Pasti'.

Of the students who were surveyed in the same areas (mostly rural areas) 79% of students said that they wanted the PPSMI to continue.

Therefore, when the Government says they want to abolish the PPSMI, I am curious to know whose voices are they representing? It is NOT the suara rakyat.

Is this a Government of the people or not? If the majority of the people and the majority of students want the PPSMI to continue, then why is the Government going against their wishes? What is wrong with the Government?

Someone said there is no need for the Government to conduct a referendum for or against the PPSMI because the Government knows what it is doing. I think the person who said this will not qualify to audition as a clown for Malaysian Idol. He is making sick jokes. Even the Prime Minister has said that 'The days of 'Government knows best' are over'.

I agree fully with the PM. And on this PPSMI issue, the Government has totally lost the plot.

OK you can disagree with me. I can disagree with you. That is ok. But why does the Government refuse to listen to the majority who want the PPSMI? Why doesnt the Government conduct a free and fair referendum on this matter. Or at least the Government engage an independent consultant and conduct a wide ranging survey to get at the truth? The people want the PPSMI.

And here is something else. While Maths and Science in English is being abolished, the Maktab Rendah Sains Mara or MRSM will have entire campuses devoted to teaching in the English Language !! Macam mana pula?

"Di samping itu mulai tahun 2011, MARA juga aka melaksanakan program Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) di MRSM Tuan Abdul Razak, Pekan, Pahang. Pelaksanaan program Cambridge IGCSE di MRSM bersesuaian dengan hasrat MARA melahirkan pelajar yang global, cemerlang dan kompetitif" Sijil Cambridge IGCSE merupakan kelayakan peperiksaan yang berprofil tinggi dan bereputasi cemerlang serta diiktiraf di kebanyakan universiti di peringkat antarabangsa".

So the IGCSE will "melahirkan pelajar yang global, cemerlang dan kompetitif". Habis anak orang lain semua boleh jadi kurang global, kurang cemerlang dan kurang kompetitif. Banyak cantik lah.

There is already an MRSM centre in Seremban that prepares students for the International Baccalaureate examinations in English.

Then we have also allowed the International Schools which are now mushrooming all over the country. Rich people, anak Menteri and anak VIPs can now send their kids to International Schools where children are educated in English and prepare for the British 'O' Levels, 'A' Levels and such.

The ordinary people can send their kids to Governmenmt school where they will get a more ordinary education yang mungkin kurang global, kurang cemerlang dan kurang kompetitif. How does the Government answer this little oversight?

Pasai apa pula kita wujudkan sistem pendidikan yang mempunyai aliran elitis dan aliran untuk marhaen (rakyat biasa)? Aliran elitis seperti MRSM Pekan dan Seremban mengajar pelajar terpilih dalam bahasa Ingeris, dan untuk mengambil peperiksaan peringkat antarabangsa (IGCSE dan International Baccalaureate). Kemudian "International School" pula dibenarkan untuk orang kaya, anak Menteri dan anak VIP. Anak orang biasa pula boleh jadi haprak ke? Pasal apa bahasa Inggeris dikhususkan untuk golongan elit saja?

There is something seriously wrong with the Government's thinking here.

There were many other things discussed. The Kamus Dewan Bahasa is a disgrace to the Malay race. The kamus Dewan Bahasa is written by pengkhianat bahasa. The Kamus Dewan Bahasa has ciplak hundreds and thousands of words from the English language, mostly scientifik words or "saintifik" words. Words like saintifik, genetik, DNA, elektron, mikron, fizik, mikroskop are all ciplak words from the English language. And the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka fellows say that they are pejuang bahasa! Pi dah mabuk!

There is a simple reason why the pengkhianat bahasa at the Dewan Bahasa continue to ciplak words especially scientific terminology, from the English language and put it into their kamus. Because there is no "language infrastructure" yet in the Malay language to support concepts like saintifik, DNA, electron orbits, valence and such. "Konsep" atau concept pun belum ada bro. So that is why the Dewan Bahasa ciplaks words from the English language.

But there is a major problem here. The kids in the towns, cities and kampongs cannot go home and engage their parents, uncles and grandparents in simple everyday conversation using words like elektorn, mikron, mikroskop and such. Why? Because not only these words but the concepts behind them are still alien in the Malay language. It is going to take time, a long time, before the Malay language evolves to abosrb and even create these concepts by itself.

So without a supporting language infrastructure, it will be that more difficult for the kids to grasp these ideas. The Malay langauge spoken at home cannot accelerate their understanding of scientific concepts yet. Why? Sebab bahasa Melayu masih belum mempunyai kapasiti untuk membawa konsep besar disebalik setiap perkataan saintifik yang baru diciplak dari bahasa Inggeris.

But the English language can. So instead of Dewan Bahasa 'stealing' words like saintifik, elektron, mikron, DNA, genetik, fizik, konsep, hipotesis, tesis and such from the English language - which has contributed very little to moving our nation forward, the easier (and more effective option) is to teach the kids science and mathematics in the English language. Orang kita akan maju dengan lebih cepat lagi.

Tujuan kita ialah untuk majukan bangsa kita, bukan untuk membantu Dewan Bahasa menjual kamus yang penuh dengan perkataan yang di ciplak daripada bahasa Inggeris.

Some very poorly informed people have also said that we can translate English materials into Malay. These are very poorly informed people who do not understand many simple things. Out of interest, I buy and read English books about Nuclear Submarines. I know of only one other person who may read such books. So I know only two people who may read books on submarines.

If we wait for Malay translations, no one in their right mind will translate and publish a book about nuclear submarines when only two people or a handful of people will read those books in Malaysia. The same goes for solar energy, DNA genetics, animal husbandry, hydroponic farming etc. The market will be too small to translate such books from English to Malay. So if I cannot read English, I will not be able to access these books in Malay. I will become a katak di bawah tempurung. Worse I may become poor.

We must just stick to the PPSMI. We switched from English to 100% Malay sometime in the 1970s. The result is there for everyone to see. Are we happy with our achievements? We are producing unemployable university graduates and school leavers who cannot even count.

In 2003, we switched back to English (for Science and Mathematics only). It will take time but we are beginning to see some results. This PPSMI generation is moving up the learning curve, faster than the previous generations. To switch back now will be disastrous.

There will also be an English speaking and non English speaking divide in the country. The International School kids, the elite MRSM schools that teach in English and those who send their children overseas will become the elite. The non English speaking will end up working for the English speaking (just like now).

Sadly it will be the Malays who will get the short end of the stick. This is a certainty.

No tolls if Pakatan captures Putrajaya

2012-01-28T18:12:00.001-08:00

Athi Shankar | January 28, 2012

Pakatan Rakyat pledges to be a caring federal government if it comes into power.

GEORGE TOWN: Pakatan Rakyat will abolish toll collections in the North-South highway and on Penang Bridge and it will also hand out RM1,000 annually to senior citizens, if it captures Putrajaya in the next general election.

These pledges, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Pakatan will never “run away from”.

He said people can put their faith in Pakatan’s promises.

“If we capture Putrajaya, we will immediately abolish the North-South Highway toll.

“We will also abolish toll collections on Penang Bridge.

“We will not run away from our promises,” Lim told a cheering crowd at a Chinese New Year open house co-hosted by Seri Delima assemblyman RSN Rayer and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh.

Also present were state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh and Jelutong MP Jeff Ooi Chuan Aun.

Karpal was however, absent due to a prior engagement.

Lim said while Pakatan will abolish toll collections on road which were already enjoying huge profits, it will retain concessions in other areas.

Lim, who is Penang Chief Minister, pointed out that PLUS had collected RM24.3. billion in toll collections on the North-South Highway, which was built on a RM6 billion budget.

“Cut-throat” BN government

Lim said given that PLUS had raked in a RM18.3 billion profit, it was now time to abolish it.

He slammed the Barisan Nasional federal government’s plans to increase current toll rates and continue its collections for years to come.

He said the people must be ready for change to stop the ‘cut throat’ toll collections of BN and PLUS.

Lim called on the people to vote for Pakatan if they wanted to want tolls to be abolished.

“BN said it cannot be done. Yes it cannot be done if it is BN.

“But under Pakatan, it can be done,” he promised.

Lim, who is Bagan MP, said Pakatan would also gift RM1,000 cash yearly to all senior citizens, regardless of their race, religion or political backgrounds.

He said Pakatan would not discriminate against senior citizens, even if they were from Gerakan or MCA.

“We will even hand out the cash to Gerakan president Koh Tsu Koon if he wants it too,” Lim said.

He also said that Penang aims to be the cleanest, greenest and safest state in the country and his government would work hard to achieve the goals.

Temiar blockade: How not to win Orang Asli votes

2012-01-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

The Orang Asli community in Gua Musang are waging a struggle to preserve their ancestral land in Kelantan from the onslaught of loggers. What do BN and PR politicians have to say?

The Temiar rise in protest - Photograph: Siti Kasim/COAC

Why can’t they wait until the Orang Asli community there have completed mapping their lands?

Nine people were arrested today. They were all released late at night.

The struggle continues. But what is the stand of the Kelantan government on Orang Asli native customary rights land?

Will the Pakatan show a more enlightened approach to land rights? I still recall the Pakatan state government in Selangor supported the Orang Asli in their struggle. What’s happening to Kelantan then, Nik Aziz?

Najis issued another threat against the Rakyat

2012-01-28T08:48:00.000-08:00

Lord Najis has issue a warning that if there is a protest, the Paramilitary People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) estimated 20,000 will stop it at all cost.

I am surprised that even when there is no protest, there is chaos created by some of these Rela volunteers and UMNO members like the recent ABU Ceramah in Klang. Instead of helping, the Police and Special Branch were seen helping the bullies and acting aggressive toward the people presence at the Ceramah.

Then we have many protest organized by Perkasa – a Malay organization out to create chaos for the opposition, Chinese and Christian. What did Rela do? Again instead of stopping the protest, Rela gave helping hands to them.

So our money is used to pay these volunteers to BASH US UP. This is the kind of Government we have today. More reason to KICK UMNO OUT

How to super kill the Chinese in one go

2012-01-28T08:45:00.000-08:00

The Super Racist and his gang who have been going around fighting for the right of the Malays now wants to invite the Chinese to their so-called Chinese New Year Open House at Kampung Baru tomorrow.

Is this a trap to poison all the Chinese who turn up at the Open House? First the Super Racist tells the Chinese they are Pendatang and show his Keris as a sign of threat. Then before Bersih 2.0, he warned the Chinese to keep food pile at home, again a threat to stop them from turning up at the protest. Then again the Racist tells his men to put pig heads at the Masjid in Johor to frighten the Malays and put the blame on the Chinese. Not satisfied the Racist got the Malays worked up claiming that DAP will convert all to Christian, if the opposition win in the 13^th GE. The latest chaos at the ABU Ceramah in Klang was staged by Perkasa.

So Ladies and Gentlemen, I don’t know about you but I smell rat poison. So if you don’t want to die before 13^th GE, if there is even an election, go anywhere but that trap hole in Kampung Baru.

PS...this Super Racist has been going to China to have bodily contact with Chinese girls. Wonder whether the Trio have some tapes of this too? I mean may as well go for other insurance, yeah.

I'll give you 10 extra minutes to debate, Anwar tells Najib

2012-01-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has again issued a debate challenge to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, this time promising to go easy on the premier.

“He can speak for 20 minutes, I will speak for 10 minutes. He can reply for 20 minutes, and then I will reply in 10 minutes,” he said in a Twitter posting.

Anwar (left in photo) who is also de facto PKR leader, has challenged Najib (right in photo) numerous times, the most recent being a challenge to debate on national policies issued during the 3rd Pakatan Rakyat Conference in Alor Setar, Kedah on Jan 14.

Thus far, Najib has not responded to Anwar’s recent series of challenges.

However, in January last year, Najib had said he was not afraid to debate Anwar but the latter should first resolve his sodomy case and other personal issues.

Anwar was acquitted of the sodomy charge on Jan 9 this year but the prosecution has appealed the case.

Meanwhile, in a statement today, PKR information chief Dr Muhammad Nur Manuty said that Najib’s refusal to debate showed that he had something to hide.

“Leaders who refuse to meet eye to eye (to debate) give the perception of insincerity and dishonesty. It shows that there are secrets to hide. What is being hidden from the people?” he said.

Muhammad Nur added that Najib should trust in the wisdom of the people by debating and allowing the people to make their own empirical judgment.

ANWAR & 1MALAYSIA!!!!

2012-01-27T19:19:00.000-08:00

'Umno laying groundwork for Sex Video 2.0'

2012-01-27T19:18:00.000-08:00

Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia's front-page report yesterday quoting one of the 'Datuk T' trio about a new sex video allegedly involving Anwar Ibrahim is yet another attempt to further tarnish the opposition leader's reputation.

"The statement by (former Perkasa treasurer) Shuib Lazim in Utusan Malaysiais a clear attempt to lay the groundwork for the release of new fabricated sex videos aimed at tarnishing Anwar's reputation," PKR vice-president N Surendran (left) said.

"We expect that more such porn tapes will be fabricated and distributed as the 13th general election nears," Surendran said in a statement late yesterday, adding that these were the "dirty and uncivilised" tactics of Umno and BN.

The 'Datuk T' trio of Shuib, businessperson Shazryl Eskay Abdullah and former Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik screened a sex video of a man resembling Anwar with a woman appearing to be of East Asian descent to journalists at the luxury Carcosa Seri Negara hotel in Kuala Lumpur in February last year.

Umno's fingerprints on sex video

Responding to the Shuib's threat that Anwar either disproves the first sex video through forensic tests or else new sex videos on him would be released, Surendran dismissed it as a "shameless and desperate" tactic of Umno.

"The sex video is widely disbelieved throughout the country, and there is no need for Anwar Ibrahim to resort to forensic tests to persuade the public that the video is a fabrication.

"Having themselves been responsible for creating and spreading the fabricated sex video against Anwar, it is simply outrageous that 'Datuk T' are now issuing challenges to Anwar," Surendran said.

And with Rahim (left), a former Umno Youth chief, being involved in releasing the previous sex video is proof of Umno's fingerprints being all over the first sex video episode, he added.

Anwar has lodged a police report denying that the man in the first sex video was him, while the Datuk T trio were fined for screening pornography in public.

However, police are now using this police report by Anwar toinvestigate him under Section 182 of the Penal Code for giving "false information to injure another person".

Only the rakyat can put a stop to all these unethical abuse of cards in the coming 13th general election.

2012-01-27T19:15:00.000-08:00

If both Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat were alive today, it would be easy to tell which political party they will support, going by the statements they have made.

This is Hang Tuah’s statement: “Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia” (the Malays will never vanish from the face of the earth).

And this is Hang Jebat’s statement: “Aku Jebat, rakyat biasa. Pangkat aku untuk kepentingan rakyat. Bergerak aku untuk membuat jasa kepada rakyat dan aku rela mati untuk rakyat kerana aku mahu keadilan, keadilan. Keadilan!” (I am Jebat, an ordinary citizen. My rank is for the people’s well-being. I work for the good of the people and I am willing to die for the people because I want justice, justice. Justice!)

No doubt about it. Umno glorifies Hang Tuah in order to cement firmly the support of the Malays to the party as Umno is all about Ketuanan Melayu or Malay supremacy. And this is clearly epitomised in Hang Tuah. This is the reason why Hang Tuah is glorified in our history textbooks – to imbue young Malay minds to worship Hang Tuah so that these children will grow up thinking that the Malay is the greatest race on earth. This then is the Hang Tuah card played by Umno.

Umno and Ketuanan Melayu are Siamese twins. Malay supremacy is the lifeblood of Umno. Gluing the Malays to the concept of Ketuanan Melayu is Umno’s trump card and there is no way Pakatan Rakyat can break this stranglehold.

The battleground is now for the votes of the Malays, especially the rural Malays. But the Malays have always been taught to fear the Chinese while the Chinese have been taught to fear a repeat of an incident which occurred in 1969. The Barisan Nasional federal government thus controls the citizens by using fear as a weapon and what a mighty weapon it is.

Together with the weapon of fear is the weapon of Malay supremacy. So strong are these weapons that even PAS as an Islamic party has failed to counter them. The Malay support for PAS is only about 36 to 38 percent. And not many Malays support PKR either because they think that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has given too much leeway to the Chinese and the Indians.

Has Umno programmed the Malays to be selfish and to only look after their own interests at all costs?

There is no way the Malays will let go of Ketuanan Melayu and opt for Ketuanan Rakyat which is all encompassing and all inclusive. And this is also the reason why Pakatan will never win the general election. It is because the concept of Malay supremacy has locked up the Malay votes for Umno.

Due to Ketuanan Melayu, the Malays tend to view DAP with suspicion and this has led to them to ostracise DAP. MCA does not suffer such a fate in BN as MCA is merely Umno’s lackey while DAP is on an equal footing with PAS and PKR in the Pakatan coalition.

Umno’s bogeyman

Umno uses Ketuanan Melayu to frighten the Malays into thinking that the DAP is a threat to the Malays. This is, of course, untrue as has been proven in Penang but the rural Malays are unaware of this because they only have access to the mainstream media which is controlled by BN. Therefore, DAP is always used by Umno as a bogeyman to scare the Malays.

Not only does Umno play the race card against DAP, MCA does it too. And that is why MCA has been labelled as worthless eunuchs by the Chinese. In addition to the race card, both Umno and MCA also play the religion card against DAP but in opposite methods. Umno says DAP is anti-Islam while MCA says DAP supports hudud law. The religion card is used against DAP but played differently to different audiences.

To sum up, this is the way Umno and MCA woo their respective race groups:

Umno says this to the Malays: by supporting PAS, you will make DAP very powerful; and

MCA says this to the Chinese: by supporting DAP, you will make PAS very powerful.

Looks as if Umno and MCA are still sticking to the old ways of communal politics – back to pre-Merdeka era style of doing things. With the existence of these types of political parties such as Umno and MCA, how is Malaysia ever going to achieve a clean, vibrant and matured democracy? Therefore it goes without saying that BN must be booted out to put an end to the era of communal politics.

However, as the Malay votes are the deciding factor, Umno is cunning in cornering the Malay mindset. Or course there are goodies for MCA and MIC too in order for them to toe Umno’s line and get the votes of their respective communities, all for the benefit of Umno. Umno channels these goodies to MCA and MIC for them to keep their mouths shut.

This will be a never-ending game of race and religion orchestrated by Umno. And you can add in the Hang Tuah card, too, unless the rakyat will put a stop to all these unethical abuse of cards in the coming 13th general election. As it is now, the cards are heavily stacked against Pakatan.

Is gov’t dictating terms to Ambrin?

2012-01-27T19:12:00.000-08:00

Jeswan Kaur | January 28, 2012

If indeed the word “mess” was not used in his 2010 report to describe the state of affairs in the NFC, why did the Auditor General take three months to issue a clarification.

Three months ago, the Auditor-General declared the National Feedlot Centre project worth RM73.64 million was in a ‘mess’, so much so he suggested that the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry ministry talk with the Finance Ministry to determine the “direction of the project”.

Now, Ambrin Buang is saying that his report at no point mentioned that the NFC project was in a mess. The term “mess” he says was conjured by the press. Ambrin told the MCA-owned The Star that his team had never used words such as “mess”, “chaos” and “misappropriation” to describe the project.

Ambrin said: “These words were used by other parties and the department should not be held responsible. The department is of the opinion that if there are any elements of misappropriation in the implementation of this project, it would be up to the authorities such as the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate.”

If indeed the word “mess” was not mentioned by the report, why did it take Ambrin three months to clarify? Is it not obvious that he has come under pressure from the ‘powers that be’ to do some damage control on this issue which has opened up a can of worms?

The feedlot project, located in Gemas, Negri Sembilan, is aimed at reducing beef imports and make the country the centre of beef production. But what happened was otherwise; the programme produced 3,289 cattles in 2010 compared to the targeted 8,000 heads of cattle.

The Auditor-General’s report released in October last year also found weaknesses in project management, while facilities remained unused or improperly maintained. “The area where grass that was supposed to be grown for animal feed or fodder was filled with acacia trees,” it said.

Not only was the project a flop, allegations surfaced that the funds allocated for the project were abused, used to purchase a luxury condominium worth RM13.8 million in Bangsar and another condominium worth RM9.9 million in Singapore, a Mercedes Benz at RM534, 622, two plots of land in Putrajaya for RM3,363,507 and a sponsored-trip to Mecca for NFCorp chairperson Mohamad Salleh to undertake his umrah.

Mohamad Salleh is the husband of Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Jalil. It was not long after that calls demanding for Shahrizat’s resignation were made, both by the rakyat and even Barisan Nasional politicians.

Shahrizat, 58, who is also Wanita Umno head has denied any wrongdoing and instead pressed defamatory charges against her nemesis, Parti Keadilan Rakyat Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin and its strategic director Mohd Rafizi Ramli.

If all that rabble was not bad enough, in jumped deputy prime minister and Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin who provided the ‘hurricane lamp’ to Shahrizat saying there was no reason for her to quit her ministerial post, which by the way came about through a ‘backdoor’ entry.

In the 2008 general election, Shahrizat lost her Lembah Pantai constituency which she had held on for 13 years to newcomer Nurul Izzah, daughter of opposition pact Pakatan Rakyat advisor Anwar Ibrahim.

The furore over the abused funds prompted the MACC to step in and conduct an investigation. On Jan 13, Shahrizat announced that she was taking a three-week break from her ministerial duties to apparently make away for the MACC investigation. Her clever exit also saw Shahrizat shifting all pressure pertaining to the NFC to Muhyiddin.

Safeguarding reputation of office

Does Umno have a hand in forcing Ambrin to sing a different tune now, looking at how the NFC scandal has gone on to earn the rakyat’s wrath, jeopardising BN and Umno’s chances in the coming general election?

Mohamad Salleh is claiming that the Auditor-General in his 2010 Report had confused NFCorp, a private entity, with the NFC, which is owned by the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry.

Mohamad Salleh said NFCorp is not the entity criticised in the Auditor-General’s Report for being “a mess”.

Meanwhile, Perkasa, the Malay-rights wing entity, has urged Ambrin to openly declare that NFC was not plagued by any scandal as depicted by the opposition leaders via documents and e-mail copies showing massive financial misappropriation.

“We urge him to issue an official statement and be fair to all quarters so that one is defended or punished based on confirmed facts, not on political perception,” said its chief Ibrahim Ali.

Also, Ambrin’s about-face has prompted opposition party DAP to issue him a caveat.

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said: “The Auditor-General must be forewarned that he would be destroying the credibility of the sole national institution which had kept its reputation intact in the past few decades if he succumbs to improper pressures to “whitewash” the RM300 million “cattle condo” scandal, be it the National Feedlot Centre (NFC) or the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp).

“I have re-read the Auditor-General’s 2010 Report on the NFC project and there is nothing to justify Salleh’s claim that the Auditor General had made the most elementary mistake of confusing the two entities, mistaking NFC for NFCorp or vice versa.

“Salleh should not try to escape responsibility and accountability for the RM300 million NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” on such a technical and ridiculous ground.”

The DAP veteran said Ambrin was correct when he said that the word “mess” was never used by the latter to describe the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC); rather the term originated in the media reports on the Auditor-General’s criticisms on the NFC project.

Lim added: “The whole NFC/NFCorp scandal later ballooned to outrageous proportions with the expose of one scandal after another relating the financial hanky-panky of the NFCorp in the disbursement of the RM250 million government loan for the NFC project when prime minister Najib Tun Razak was chairman of the Cabinet Committee on High Impact Projects and Muhyiddin the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry under Abdullah Badawi in 2006/7.

“Ambrin should be very jealous of the efforts (and very successful ones at that) by previous Auditor-Generals like Ahmad Nordin who became a legend and was synonymous with accountability and integrity in his lifetime, to protect the credibility and integrity of the Office of Auditor-General.

“These efforts by a whole line of sterling Auditor-Generals have resulted in the Auditor-General’s Office remaining as the only national institution to keep its reputation, credibility and integrity intact unlike other key institutions be it the judiciary, the Elections Commission, the MACC, Police, etc. who have lost their professionalism and integrity.”

Auditor-General’s image at stake

Lim said the proper place for the Auditor-General to clarify his 2010 report with regards to the NFC/NFCorp scandal would be the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) and not by succumbing to undue pressure applied by NFCorp or various organisations or individuals with political agendas of their own.

“This is also why I’m shocked that the PAC had been so tardy and not met urgently to conduct immediate investigations into the NFC scandal when it has virtually become a daily staple for Malaysians the past three months.

Attempts to undermine the credibility and reputation of the Auditor-General should be new and added reason why the PAC chairman, Azmi Khalid should convene a meeting of the PAC in the next few days to decide whether the PAC is to rise up to the challenge to conduct immediate and full investigations into the NFC scandal or face censure in the March meeting of Parliament for gross failure and irresponsibility,” said Lim.

How does Barisan Nasional and Umno intend to react to DAP’s take on this issue? Has the Auditor-General’s office become the latest casualty of cronyism and nepotism, corrupted by the hands of unscrupulous politicians out to safeguard their own interests?

Mahathir gagal tingkatkan kualiti pelajar Melayu

2012-01-27T19:10:00.000-08:00

Zefry Dahalan | January 28, 2012

Beliau menghina dengan menyatakan pelajar Melayu tidak cemerlang dan dalam masa yang sama mendabik dada bahawa beliau adalah ahli politik yang bijaksana.

SEREMBAN: Ahli Majlis Pimpinan Pusat (MPP) PKR, Dr Mohamad Rafie Abdul Malik hari ini membidas bekas perdana menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad kerana gagal meningkatkan kualiti pelajar Melayu di Malaysia seperti yang beliau akui sendiri.

“Mahathir menghina dengan menyatakan pelajar Melayu tidak cemerlang dan dalam masa yang sama mendabik dada bahawa beliau adalah ahli politik yang bijaksana.

“Jika benar Mahathir ahli politik yang bijaksana dan telah diberi peluang mentadbir Malaysia selama 22 tahun (1981 – 2003) tetapi beliau gagal untuk meningkatkan kualiti pelajar-pelajar Melayu di Malaysia seperti yang beliau akui sendiri

“Bukankah jika benar lulusan Melayu lemah, AUKU (Akta Universiti Kolej Universiti) memberi sumbangan untuk memalapkan daya fikir dan daya kritis di dalam membantutkan cara berfikir pelajar Melayu.

“Tetapi adakah benar pelajar Melayu lemah? Jika ini benar pejuang bangsa Melayu iaitu Umno dan Perkasa wajar berdiri di barisan hadapan untuk mengatasi masalah ini. Jika ini tidak benar mereka perlu menangkis penghinaan Mahathir dan bukan menikus”, tegas Rafie.

Rafie yang juga merupakan Timbalan Ketua Cabang PKR Seremban berkata seandainya kenyataan yang sama dikeluarkan oleh mana- mana pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat, isu menidakkan kecemerlangan pelajar Melayu ini sudah pasti akan meletup menjadi isu yang besar.

“Sudah tentu Umno dan Perkasa akan mengadakan bantahan dan membuat ratusan laporan polis di seluruh negara dengan alasan pemimpin Pakatan menghina pelajar Melayu dan melabelkan sebagai pengkhianat bangsa Melayu.

Umno, Perkasa membisu

“Tetapi bila Mahathir yang membuat kenyataan menghina pelajar Melayu, Umno dan Perkasa membisu ibarat tiada pegangan diri”, ujar Rafie.

Mahathir dalam akhbar Sinar Harian (27 Januari) dipetik berkata mahasiswa Melayu perlu menghargai peluang tawaran ke universiti kerana kemasukan mereka ke universiti bukan kerana pencapaian tinggi atau keputusan cemerlang berbanding bangsa lain.

“Saya bukan rasis tapi budak Melayu ini kelulusan tak tinggi, orang inilah yang nak sangat hapuskan AUKU. AUKU tidak relevan kalau kita tahu menjaga diri,” katanya.

Bernama pula melaporkan Mahathir berkata “Kita fikir (jika) tak demonstrate (berdemonstrasi) tak boleh jadi ahli politik yang baik. Saya dulu tak dak demonstration pun tapi boleh jadi ahli politik yang ada kebijaksanaan juga”.

Malaysian want development, minus corruption

2012-01-27T19:08:00.000-08:00

January 27, 2012

First, why is corruption bad for business and society? Because it does not promote the best use of economic resources and guarantees that the wrong person gets the job. Productivity means using the least resources to produce the most results. Corruption gets in the way of productivity as more resources than necessary are spent.

When the wrong person gets the job, the final product or service is never at its best; and sometimes they are not even up to par. What Malaysians need is well planned, sustainable development. We want modern services and a better standard of living; we want up-to-date medical facilities at par with the world’s best, available to every Malaysian. We desire strong and efficient infrastructure and support systems for a superior quality of life.

We want good schools, roads, hospitals, offices, shops and homes. We want institutions of higher learning where our children can thrive and when they graduate, we want growth that ensures they have secure jobs with increasing incomes. We want progress and we are entitled to want to move forward towards a brighter future for everyone.

We are not against building bridges and big infrastructure projects – what we are wary about is hearing about the equally big corruption that comes along with them. We want progress, but we do not want the corruption that comes with it, corruption that saps our budgets and the integrity of our people and nation.

When bribes are paid, when someone who should not get the job gets it because of corruption, everyone loses, even the very people that got the bribe and the work. The one who gets the bribe does not learn how to get his work done through proper means, the one that takes the work does not do their job well because there is no need for them to.

When there is dishonesty and corruption anywhere in our nation, every Malaysian loses. And we do not want to put up with it any more. Enough is enough, please!

As for the individuals, you and I, we must know that while society can create institutions, legal frameworks, rules and laws to deter corruption, the last line of defense lies squarely on the individual, on us.

In our strategy to combat corruption we must focus on ourselves too. We must convince each individual that we all stand to lose and that corruption will ruin all in the end. Let’s tell our leaders that we want development minus corruption while at the same time promise ourselves that we too will not succumb to it, even if just to run away from getting a police summons.

AIM fund won’t help Indians, says PKR

2012-01-27T19:02:00.000-08:00

B Nantha Kumar | January 27, 2012

Najib is urged to remodel the micro credit scheme.

KUALA LUMPUR: A PKR leader today called for a remodelling of Budget 2012’s micro credit scheme for poor Indians, saying the fund, as currently managed by Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), had no way of meeting its objective.

“What can one do with RM3,000?” said PKR Malacca vice-chairman G Rajendran in reference to the maximum amount a participant in the scheme can borrow.

He suggested that the amount be increased to RM30,000 and the credit, instead of being restricted to women, be offered to youths as well.

The budget allocates RM100 million for the scheme.

Rajendran said his call was a challenge to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to lend some credibility to his claim that he cared about the plight of poor Indians.

It would be a chance for him to prove that the scheme was more than just an election gimmick, he added.

He said RM3,000 was not even enough to set up a business premises. “At the most, one could probably set up a stall selling garlands, or vending nuts and other titbits or taking orders to tailor clothes.

“I can imagine that if 3,000 women in Malacca get the maximum credit, then we will have 1,000 flower stalls, 1,000 nut vendors and 1,000 seamstresses. The competition will be so stiff that no one will make any profit.”

He accused Najib of trying to buy votes through the scheme and said he was insulting the Indians by assuming that their support was cheap.

“If they give RM3,000 per person, then more than 33,000 people will get the loan. That means 33,000 families will be forced to vote for BN.”

He said many young Indians were interested in starting businesses of their own but could not get loans from banks and government-linked bodies because these institutions would entertain only those applicants with at least two years of business experience.

The scheme should not exclude them, whatever their gender, he added.

Tabung Haji rampas ribuan hektar tanah adat

2012-01-27T18:50:00.000-08:00

B Nantha Kumar | January 27, 2012

Tanah-tanah NCR tersebut merupakan kawasan hutan rayau, bercucuk tanam dan kawasan sungai menangkap ikan.

PETALING JAYA: PKR mengecam tindakan Tabung Haji Plantations Sdn Bhd, anak syarikat Lembaga Tabung Haji bermaharajalela dengan merampas beribu-ribu hektar tanah adat (NCR) milik pribumi Sarawak di Krian yang terletak dalam daerah Saratok, Bahagian Betong.

Penyelaras PKR Parlimen Pasir Salak, Abdul Razak Ismail berkata, tanah-tanah NCR tersebut merupakan kawasan hutan rayau, bercucuk
tanam dan kawasan sungai menangkap ikan bagi masyarakat Iban, Bidayuh, Melanau dan lain-lain kaum pribumi Sarawak.

“Tanah-tanah itu sekarang ini telah diterokai oleh Tabung Haji Plantations dengan pembukaan ladang kelapa sawit secara besar-besaran,” katanya kepada FMT hari ini.

Katanya, antara tanah NCR dikenalpasti telah dan sedang diterokai oleh Tabung Haji Plantations ialah kawasan Selambong-Jengara-Sedan (Lot 410, Block 18, Awik-Krian Land District), Sungai Gruyu, Saratok (Lot 3, Block 16, Awik-Krian Land District) melibatkan tanah hutan seluas 1,270 hektar dan tanah di Jalan Pusa-Sessang, Roban (Lot 121, Block 19, Kalaka Land District) seluas 1,520 hektar.

“Dari segi moralnya adalah tidak wajar Tabung Haji, sebagai sebuah agensi kerajaan yang mengendalikan urusan jemaah haji ke Tanah Suci Mekah menggunakan keuntungan dari hasil pelaburan dalam sektor perladangan melalui Tabung Haji Plantations.

“Tetapi pada hakikatnya sumber tersebut diperolehi melalui cara penindasan dengan merampas tanah milik orang lain, ujar Abdul Razak.

Razak bersama Exco Selangor dan juga Adun Taman Sri Andalas, Dr Xavier Jayakumar dan 30 petugas parti dari Selangor terlibat berkempen selama lebih sebulan dalam pilihan raya negeri Sarawak April lalu di Dun Krian yang dimenangi oleh Ali Biju.

Sementara itu, Ali Biju berkata, masyarakat pribumi tidak hanya berpeluk tubuh terhadap perampasan tanah adat mereka.

Sebaliknya mereka telah membawa kes tersebut ke mahkamah dan kes mereka dikendalikan oleh peguam dan juga Adun PKR-Ba’kelalan, Baru Bian dan John Antau.

Anwar wants debate with Najib after trading blows on economic policies

2012-01-27T18:49:00.000-08:00

By Shannon Teoh

January 28, 2012

DENGKIL, Jan 28 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim again challenged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to a debate after both rivals had lashed out at each other’s economic policies yesterday.

Opposition Leader Anwar had said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal the prime minister’s policies benefited cronies despite embarking on an economic reform programme.

But Najib returned fire in the evening, saying the opposition’s promises of abolishing tolled roads, writing off study loans and reducing fuel prices were “a recipe for economic disaster” as the government would have to absorb RM40 billion in study loans alone.

Anwar (picture) issued at least his fourth challenge to the Umno president in front of over 1,000 who attended a ceramah here last night despite Najib so far declining to go head-to-head with the former finance minister.

“Najib said our policies will destroy the country. So I say, let’s have a dialogue. He can speak for 20 minutes, I will speak for 10. He can reply for 20 minutes, and then I will reply in 10.

“He said he is not afraid of Anwar but afraid he will give me a fever. But I will use the space (in a debate) with respect,” the PKR de facto leader said.

BN chief Najib has previously demurred by saying that political parties were more important than individuals in Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy.

Anwar’s call for an open debate has so far been answered only once — in July 2008 — by then-Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabeery Cheek, an event broadcast live on national television.

Independent pollsters Merdeka Center revealed earlier this week that focus group discussions showed that most Malay professionals would like to see the two go toe-to-toe on policy issues.

“There appears to be a change in what the people want. They want a new culture of debate rather than smear campaigns,” Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian had said.

A survey commissioned by PKR in August last year showed that Najib was more popular than Anwar especially among Malays despite being seen as indecisive and a poorer communicator.

The poll noted, however, that Anwar could combat Najib’s “surface appeal” by leveraging on his image as a strong, decisive leader with good communication skills and an understanding of economic issues.

Anwar: Judgment "very strong", "difficult" for Najib to appeal Sodomy II

2012-01-26T23:30:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR—Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said he isn't worried about state prosecutors' move to appeal a court decision acquitting him of sodomy earlier this month, and said he remains confident it won't derail his campaign to lead a new government to power in elections expected later this year.

"The judgment [in the sodomy case] was very strong" and "difficult to appeal," Mr. Anwar said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal at his political party's headquarters here Thursday. He said the appeal process, which began Jan. 20, would likely take at least six months, meaning it could loom over and outlast the election campaign.

Prime Minister Najib Razak has to call an election by March 2013, but under Malaysia's parliamentary system of government, many analysts predict it will be called much sooner, triggering one of the most fiercely fought electoral contests this resource-rich nation has ever seen. Mr. Anwar said he believes the election is unlikely to take place later than June.

Since the Jan. 9 verdict by a High Court judge—who acquitted Mr. Anwar of violating Malaysia's strict sodomy laws citing a lack of witnesses and flawed DNA evidence—the 64-year-old opposition leader has begun mobilizing support in this multiracial country, promising reforms to dismantle a decades-old affirmative-action program designed to give a leg up to the majority ethnic-Malay population while also targeting what he describes as widespread cronyism in Mr. Najib's government. If elected, Mr. Anwar said he will accelerate privatizations and do more to enable free markets to operate more efficiently, such as improving transparency in the bidding for government contracts.

Mr. Najib, 58 years old, is also keen to brand himself a reformer in part to win back ethnic-Chinese and Indian voters who in recent years largely have thrown their support behind Mr. Anwar's opposition alliance. Mr. Najib has also embarked on a series of sales of government assets to spur growth. Earlier this month, a government state investment fund sold its stake in car marker Proton Holdings Bhd. to conglomerate DRB-Hicom Bhd., and last year government-linked funds swapped shares in state-run Malaysian Airline System Bhd. with budget airline AirAsia Bhd.

"The overall principle is that we want the government-linked companies to sell off their noncore and noncompetitive assets," Mr. Najib said in an interview two weeks ago. "We are always looking out for how to add value to the country."

Mr. Anwar, though, criticized the way Mr. Najib's government pursued these privatizations, saying that without open, public tenders, key companies remain controlled by a well-connected few.

Privatization "looks good, but look again at the procedures," said Mr. Anwar. "The issue is not about privatization, it is blatant corruption."

Following the Proton deal, state investment fund Khazanah Nasional said in a statement that it chose the best suitor for the job and the country.

A Malaysian government spokesperson said Thursday the government is "fully committed to openness and transparency in all privatizations and divestments of state-owned assets and to tackling corruption wherever and whenever it is found." The spokesperson noted that Malaysia has introduced a new online database of government contracts so that anybody can alert authorities to any potentially improper actions.

"We are determined to ensure that all government contracts are awarded through a process that is fair and open to scrutiny," the spokesperson said.

After being embroiled in the sodomy trial—which he claims was politically motivated—Mr. Anwar is now shifting gears from defending his reputation to fighting to win an election.

Once a high-ranking member of the United Malays National Organization that has run Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957, he was sacked from the party and lost his post as deputy prime minister after challenging former leader Mahathir Mohamad in the 1990s. He was subsequently charged for sodomizing his driver and his speechwriter, and spent six years in prison before his conviction was overturned.

After leading the opposition to one of its strongest-ever showings in 2008's national elections, Mr. Anwar was accused by former aide Saiful Bukhari Azlan of sodomizing him, setting in train another marathon, headline-stealing trial which Mr. Anwar again said was designed to end his political career. Mr. Najib and his government have repeatedly denied having anything to do with the case.

Now, after Judge Zabidin Diah acquitted Mr. Anwar, ruling that the forensic evidence presented against the opposition leader was flawed, Mr. Anwar argues that he isn't just "anti-UMNO" but has his own set of policies geared toward restoring Malaysia's competitiveness in a global economy where countries such as Vietnam and Indonesia are emerging as alternative magnets for investment.

"We must always compare Malaysia to Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan," said Mr. Anwar. "That's what we were."

If elected, Mr. Anwar said he would speed up the removal of racial quotas for university places and focus on helping lower-income groups regardless of race instead of solely aiding ethnic Malays.

In the interview, Mr. Anwar also clarified his position on homosexual rights and Malaysia's sodomy laws, and also the Muslim-majority nation's relationship with Israel.

"I support all efforts to protect the security of the state of Israel," said Mr. Anwar, although he stopped short of saying he would open diplomatic ties with the Jewish state, a step which he said remains contingent on Israel respecting the aspirations of Palestinians. Malaysia has consistently refrained from establishing diplomatic relations with Israel, although limited commercial ties exist between private companies in the two countries.

In response to recent local reports that he supported gay marriage, Mr. Anwar said they were wrong and that he "believes in and supports the sanctity of marriage between men and women." The opposition leader is suing government-linked newspaper Utusan Malaysia for defamation, alleging that it implied he supports and wants to legalize homosexuality.

Still, Mr. Anwar said that Malaysia's sodomy laws are "archaic" and could be amended.

"It is not my business to attack people or arrest people based on their sexual orientation," he said.

-ASIA NEWS

Young Voters want 'more food and less fear' and whichever coalition - Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat - wins this argument will control politics

2012-01-26T23:25:00.000-08:00

By Selvaraja Somiah

This is going to be a cold election. Neither candidate nor party will be able to waft on hot air.

If the Barisan National wants to succeed, it has to remember a key fact: the young voter is outgrowing communal rhetoric.

He wants more food and less fear. At the moment he is getting the reverse.

My take is that Najib Tun Razak and Anwar Ibrahim should debate about “more food, less fear, for future Malaysia.”

But this is not going to happen. Why? Because the government has a vested interest in fudge.

After all, there can be no opposition if there is no position.

Barisan Nasional’s best hope is to muddle through the 13th general election and return with roughly the same numbers through a strategy of least resistance

Take Umno, it has one advantage – Malays, its main vote bank. Malays do not vote for something; they vote against someone.

Stripped off illusions

This suits the Umno perfectly. It feeds fear to Malays, and offers development to other electorates.

Success breeds imitation, but change, the slogan which dazzled the US when Barrack Obama became President of America, will be insufficient in Malaysia.

Frustration has stripped the Malaysian voter of illusions. Offer him change, and he will demand to know to what.

Promise him a job and he will ask where, when, how and to whom.

The relevant slogan is not the one that ousted Pairin Kitingan’s Sabah government in the 1994 state election despite PBS (Parti Bersatu Sabah) securing a victory. The issue that laid out Pairin 18 years ago was “the economy”.

No government in its senses would want to contest an election on the economy.

Just look around, jobs are disappearing in cities and farmers are finding it hard to sell their produce because of the escalating prices on seeds, fertilizers and chemicals and even the rising animal and poultry feed prices is hitting poultry processors hard.

Looking for substance

But the BN/Umno seems poised to offer a virtuous trinity of vitality (Khairy Jamaludin), morality (Najib) and nobility (Rosmah Mansur).

The voter will, however, check for substance behind the advertising.

The arithmetic of a cold election will be determined by the sum total of regional numbers.

The formation of the next government could depend on how well the allies, rather than the principals, do.

The Pakatan’s partners seem more confident than the Barisan Nationals’ friends.

But such is the perceived fluidity of options displayed by Anwar (PKR), Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS), Lim Kit Siang (DAP), who see themselves as possible occupants of Putrajaya.

They may not agree on anything else, but they believe that neither the BN nor the Pakatan coalition will cross the 111-seat mark necessary to become the plank on which a government can rest.

The politics of the 90′s and the 20′s has seen the rise of flexible morality leading to an explosion of opportunity in March 2008 GE.

Younger, newer leaders likely

Will the politics of the 2010′s be different? Yes.

There is likely to be fatigue in West Malaysia with the insular dynamics of regional parties in Sabah and Sarawak, trapped in concentric rings of family and state and a yearning for political formations that offer more than stagnant regional horizons.

The next government in Putrajaya, like this one, might be less than the sum of its parts, rather than more.

There are no institutional methods of re-nourishment once the leaders of small parties in Sabah and Sarawak become vulnerable to age or accident.

You might then, with good reason, consider 2008 the semi-final election.

The finals will take place in the elections after this, probably this year 2012, when the BN and Pakatan square off in most parts of the country.

They will have younger, if not newer leaders, creating the base for Sabah and Sarawak to be the kingmakers in Putrajaya.

But the problem will not have been resolved. Whoever wins the argument on food and fear in 2012 will control the decade.

Najib doesn’t have the political will and personal strength to push through his transformation programmes.

2012-01-26T23:22:00.000-08:00

JAN 27 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak was crowned the “Father of Moderation and Transformation” by the World Chinese Economic Forum (WCEF), which said the prime minister’s “fair and just leadership” had benefited the Chinese community “tremendously”. WCEF chairman Datuk Michael Yeoh said in his speech at the conferment ceremony today.

This was the major news item of the day. WCEF is a gathering of Chinese hongs and towkays eager to seek business favours from the PM. How does Michael Yeoh come by his assessment?

Among others, Yeoh praised Najib’s 1 Malaysia platform, his administration’s decision to increase allocation to Chinese schools and the introduction of tax exemptions for churches and temples, saying the initiatives were proof of the prime minister’s commitment to “fairness and justice”.

Fuyoh! I had to pinch myself. Never have I heard such outpouring of boot-licking averments which Michael sought to prove by stating the material I placed in italics above.

Let me steal the thunder from Michael’s shameless sycophantic offerings.

Two weeks ago, I sat down with Dr Richard Cockett, SEA correspondent for The Economist. Also present was Wan Saiful Wan Jan, head of IDEAS. Richard posted the question to me as to whether Najib will succeed in his transformation ideas.

He will not succeed, I said. But let me say some nice things about Najib. Najib is a personable fellow and if you get close enough to him, you will have to be a black-hearted person NOT to like him. But that is as far as I can go. He is a nice and a personable fellow.

He has his heart at the right place, but as I wrote some time back, he is a political invertebrate. He doesn’t have the political will and personal strength to push through his programmes. I was ready to concede later that Najib, on account of his exterior rhetoric, may indeed have a backbone but still, I find difficulty to locate where on his anatomy.

Take the case of his New Economic Model. Nowadays we hardly hear about it. At the 2011 Umno General Assembly, Najib did not even mention it. Instead he devoted much of his speech sounding very combative and full of vehemence. What he has done was to actually retrograde to Umno cavemen politics. You disagree with us, we bash you in the heads with our swing sticks.

Ask yourself. How will Najib, for instance, push through his economic agenda? Answer: He will revert to the tested ways of selecting cronies, of giving direct negotiated projects masked by seemingly transparent methods to the chosen few. Those chosen few too will be recommended by the Man who can walk on water. He will continue with the patronage system instead of pushing his transforming ideas through.

The only transforming sensation that Najib will achieve is perhaps playing with his Transformers toys and watching the film starring Shia LaBeouf. His eyes will probably focus more on Megan Fox.

At the 2010 Umno General Assembly, for instance, all his big ideas were rejected and thwarted by Umno delegates, obviously mirroring the general objection to Najib’s adventurist ideas which were his alone and, most probably, scripted by expensively paid consultants. His idea of 1 Malaysia with the hazy notions of inclusiveness and outward readiness to “We must pool our collective talents in the interests of our nation so that together, we will win out.” Fulamak!

That to be read as: we must pakat pakat to swipe clean the country’s wealth and make hay while the sun shines. We will carry out the agenda of guatolonglu-lutolonggua win-win policies.

The delegates at that assembly immediately rejected Najib’s 1 Malaysia by insisting on Malay-first policies on everything. So what 1 Malaysia is Najib talking about?

His plans to transform the economy and especially that of the Malay economy through his NEM founded on the equally hazy notions of affirmative policies based on free market economics and affirmative policies based on merits were met with howls from delegates insisting on the continuation of NEP-like policies.

In the end, Najib could only muster his last trump card — to claim that after all he is the son of Tun Razak. That, no one can dispute. Genetically he is, but culturally, he isn’t. He doesn’t have the leadership qualities of Tun Razak.

How can he push his liberalist economic agenda through a mindset accustomed to patronage? Will the Umno warlords, who have only known survival through the patronage system of Umno, allow some anointed successor, albeit the son of Tun Razak, dismantle a system that has provided them with succour? That would be suicidal.

Najib will be sacrificed rather than allow a system that has spawn hordes of tenderpreneurs being replaced by an adventurist Najib Razak with a blasphemous idea.

In short, Najib faces a brick wall and he has nowhere to go. Either he faces the Umno firing squad or capitulate. At the 2011 Umno assembly, he has done that exactly — retreated shamelessly. That gutless and shameless position was effectively masked by his recalcitrant and combative rhetoric.

How will he push his transformation programmes through a sea of stubborn tenderpreneurs and obstinate rent-seekers?

So in answer to Richard Cockett, Najib can’t transform. He can only dream of becoming Optimus Prime. — sakmongkol.blogspot.com

Najib’s economic policies benefit cronies, says Anwar

2012-01-26T23:20:00.000-08:00

By Debra Chong

January 27, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has lashed out at Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid to reform Malaysia’s economy and spur growth, saying his political rival’s ideas regarding corporate deals would only benefit the well-connected few.

With the Sodomy II trial out of the way, the battle to win voter support in the next general election between the prime minister and his political arch-foe appears wholly centred on the economy.

Prime Minister Najib (picture) has been styling himself a reformer and has also embarked on a series of sales of government assets to spur growth.

Earlier this month, a government state investment fund sold its stake in carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd to DRB-Hicom Bhd .

Last year government-linked funds swapped shares in state-run Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) with budget airline AirAsia Bhd.

“The overall principle is that we want the government-linked companies to sell off their non-core and non-competitive assets,” Najib told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) two weeks ago.

“We are always looking out for how to add value to the country,” he said.

State investment fund Khazanah Nasional said in a statement that it chose the best suitor for the job and the country, after the Proton deal.

A government official told the WSJ that the administration was “fully committed to openness and transparency in all privatisations and divestments of state-owned assets and to tackling corruption wherever and whenever it is found.”

The official added that Malaysia had introduced a new online database of government contracts so that anybody can alert the authorities to any potentially improper actions.

In an interview published today, Anwar told the WSJ that Najib’s series of sales of government assets to private entities without open public tenders would continue to place key companies in the hands of a few well-heeled and politically-connected individuals.

Privatisation, the former finance minister-turned-opposition leader, said “looks good, but look again at the procedures”. He added that Najib’s economic policies will result in greater cronyism.

“The issue is not about privatisation, it is blatant corruption,” Anwar told the WSJ.

The economic adviser to the Selangor government, the resource-rich country’s wealthiest state, has been drumming up popular support especially from among the ethnic Chinese and Indians with promises to abolish Najib’s affirmative action policies aimed to give a leg up to the 28 million population’s majority Malays.

The de facto chief of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) bloc told the daily he will propel privatisation and do more to free up markets to operate more efficiently by making government contracts more transparent.

In the article, the 64-year-old pushed his series of economic reform policies to promote transparency and accountability, especially in the award of government contracts and end widespread corruption under the current Barisan Nasional (BN) government led by Najib.

Anwar told the WSJ that he was not just “anti-Umno” but wanted to ensure that Malaysia would emerge on top as it competed with neighbouring countries like Indonesia and Vietnam that was pulling in foreign investments.

“We must always compare Malaysia to Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan,” he told the WSJ.

He told the daily that he would push for more privatisation programmes and free up the markets to run business more efficiently.

Malaysia, once among the top economic magnets in Asia, has been criticised for continuing with economic policies that benefit only one race to get in the way of trade and investments.

Why patriotic Malaysians must unite as one and in loud and clear voice demand for a RCI into the RM336.64 million NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” scandal

2012-01-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

Four things are clear.

First, that there is something very rotten about the RM336.64 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC)/National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) “cattle condo” scandal – what with a RM250 million soft loan at 2% interest to promote cattle production used to buy two units of luxury condominiums in Kuala Lumpur and another condominium in Singapore, purchase of land in Precinct 10 Putrajaya, close to a million ringgit expenditures on overseas trips and extraordinarily high salaries for the family members of Datuk Seri Shahrizat, Minister for Women, Family and Community Development.

Second, that very high-level personalities are involved whether in the scandal or in the decision-making process resulting in the scandal, and that the personalities who must clear themselves include not only Shahrizat but also the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak who was then Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on High Impact Projects which approved the NFC project in 2006, Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was then the Minister for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries, Datuk Seri Nor Omar, current Minister for Agriculture and Agro-Based Industries, even the former Prime Minister, Tun Abdullah as well as the entire former Cabinet before the 12th General Elections on March 8, 2008.

Third, the initial reactions of the various authorities unanimously trying to avoid touching the NFC/NF Corp scandal with a “barge pole”, although the Auditor-General, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang signed off the Auditor-General’s Report 2010 on 8th July 2011 with copies sent to the various relevant authorities, including the Cabinet – which probably explains the irresponsible inactions for more than six months, the delayed presentation of the Auditor-General’s Report in Parliament on October 25 when it should have been tabled in Parliament more than three weeks earlier on the first day of the Budget Parliament on 3rd October; the initial five-month refusal of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the scandal; the refusal of the Public Accounts Committee Chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid to allow the PAC to conduct immediate and urgent investigations into the scandal although the PAC may cease to exist any time with the imminent dissolution of Parliament for the 13th General Elections and the continued refusal of the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister to agree to a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the scandal.

Fourth, latest efforts by various personalities in a “cover up” and to wriggle out of responsibility for the “cattle condo” scandal – whether by using semantics claiming that the Auditor-General had never used the word “mess” in his report (when the facts that have emerged reveal that it was more than a “mess” and was indeed a “terrible mess”) and that the Auditor-General had mixed up the two entities of NFC and NFCorp.

All in all, the building block for a grand conspiracy to cover up the NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” scandal.

Such a conspiracy must not be allowed to succeed, as the NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” scandal has become a symbol of the utter lack of seriousness of the Najib administration to combat corruption and head an accountable and transparent government, making nonsense of all the alphabet soup of GTP, NKRAs, MKRAs, etc as all propaganda with little real meaning.

Even without the RM336.64 million NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” scandal, Malaysia has plunged to the worst ranking of 60th place and lowest score of 4.3 in 17 years in the 2011 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.

With the continued obstruction and impediment placed in the way of a no-holds-barred investigation and full public accounting into the NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” scandal, Malaysia can expect an even worse ranking and score in the 2012 Transparency International Corruption Perception Index.

Patriotic Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation should unite as one to demand in a loud and clear voice for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the NFC/NFCorp “cattle condo” scandal. - MP Lim Kit Siang

WHAT INDONESIA CAN TEACH ‘MODERATE’ MALAYSIA

2012-01-26T19:30:00.000-08:00

I have just returned from a four day visit to yet another Indonesian city and this time, Padang in the island of Sumatera. Padang, the land of the Minangkabau is a city of of more than 850,000 people. This gracious people have an eye for business in their genes and can compete on equal or better terms with the Chinese. No need for quotas or AP’s. Maybe that’s why there is comparably a smaller Chinese population in Padang than other cities. Incidentally, there is also a very small Tamil… yes Tamil population in Padang.

This time, instead of flying from Johor Bahru and then lounging aimlessly for hours in LCCT cattle station at Sepang, KL to catch a flight to Indonesia, I decided to first take a ferry from Stulang ferry terminal at the Zon, Johor Bahru to the island of Batam, Indonesia. The journey is about 90 minutes and there is a ferry every hour from Stulang (and vice-versa). I took the first ferry out at 8.30 am. Batam is on Waktu Indonesia Barat and an hour behind Malaysian time, which means when you arrive in Batam you have gained an hour. I arrived at Batam Center at 10 am Malaysian time or 9 am Indonesian time.

The 90 minute ferry ride is a pleasant ride, though there is nothing much to do save for looking at the wide blue sea and reflecting life unless you want while-away reading the New Straits Times or Star and get high blood pressure and thus spoiling your holiday.

Arriving at Batam Center ferry port, it is only a Rp70,000 to the Airport or called Bandara (Airport) Hang Nadim. Incidentally there is more flights taking off from Batam Airport than from our Senai “ghostport”.

I had decided to try an Indonesian airline instead of travelling by Air Asia. Incidentally, had I chosen Air Asia, I would not be able to take Air Asia’s morning flight to Padang since Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur leaves from Johor Bahru at about 8.30 am and Air Asia’s morning flight to Padang from LCCT Sepang, KL is also around that time . The afternoon flight to Padang by Air Asia leaves from LCCT late afternoon. That means travelling to Kuala Lumpur in the morning and then lounging aimlessly in the LCCT cattle station before catching the late afternoon flight to Padang. Travelling via Stulang and then from Batam gives me an early start not to mention savings on the time difference.

Anyway, from Batam, I took Sriwijaya Air. Paid Rp350,000 (@RM125.00 all in) one way for Batam-Padang sector. Looking at the logo on the livery I sensed this maybe an airline owned by Indonesian Chinese. That was confirmed once inside the plane when reading Sriwijaya Air’s in-flight magazine. Apparently Sriwijaya Air is a Jakarta based airline founded by Chandra lie, Lie Hendry (a little on this guys later and which I really want to highlight), Andi Halim and Fandy Linga and commenced its first service in 2003. It now flies to almost all major cities in Indonesia and regionally it has a flight to Singapore and to Penang. It is categorized as a medium service airline which means alight refreshment is served in a box to all passengers. It has good leg space and eye pleasing stewardesses’.

Here is a little piece of history of Sriwijaya Air as extracted from the in-flight magazine.

(SEJARAH SRIWIJAYA AIR)

Now, as I said earlier among the founders of this airline are Chandra Lie who is the President-Director of the airline. Here is his welcoming message as extracted from the in-flight magazine.

( 2012 LAYANAN TERBAIK UNTUK PELANGGAN )

Look at the introduction. Despite not being a Muslim, Chandra Lie starts his message with the Muslim greeting “Assaalamu’alaikum wr wb”. He ends his message with “Wassalamu’alaikum wr wb”. Amazing isn’t it a Non Muslim using Islamic greeting. Imagine Air Asia’s Tony Fernandez in his in-flight magazine doing the same. No NGO’s, religious scholars, or any group has objected or protested Chandra Lie using such greetings. Imagine, if Non Muslim in Malaysia use such greeting. Imagine the reaction by Perkasa, Perkida, Hassan Ali, Harussani and other NGO’s may get into a hissy fit.

Now, here is something really unheard of. Again it is extracted from the in-flight magazine.

(DOA-DOA PERJALANAN)

This must be a first ! It is the first time I have seen prayers seeking God’s providence and blessing in all faith. Islam, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Buddha and Confucian. Will we ever see a Malaysian airline do the same ? In fact do Malaysia Airlines or even Air Asia has the gumption to do what Sriwijaya Air has done? In fact, at first I thought that was a unique gesture by Sriwijaya Air. In the return flight from Padang to Batam, I travelled on Lion Air. Guess what in the seat pocket, there is a laminated prayer sheet and again for denomination. Maybe it is the norm in Indonesia.

Malaysia always bleats how moderate they are et all…and have international conferences trumpeting its “moderation”. Indonesia by action shows what is acceptance, tolerance and moderation. There are many things we can learn from Indonesia.

Lastly, here is a page extracted from the in-flight magazine of Sriwijaya. It shows a Christmas fellowship for all its staff and business associates at Sriwijaya Air’s prayer house.

(NATAL BERSAMA SRIWIJAYA AIR)

The picture shows, Sriwijaya Air’s President-Director Chandra Lie, his wife and his children participating in the celebration. The four girls singing are his daughters. Haven’t heard any Sriwijaya staff or business staff complaining that the event was an attempt to change their “aqidah”.

Comments at anfalaw@streamyx.com

This is a series on reflection from Indonesia. Norman Fernandez intend to visit Manado, Indonesia next. Feel free to send any information about Manado if you have visited there.

Mahathir, who is to blame if not you?

2012-01-26T19:29:00.001-08:00

YOURSAY 'If he is saying disparity of income exists despite 40 years of NEP, who else but the doctor should be held accountable?'

Dr M: Scrapping raced-based policies will lead to riots

Cala: Blame yourself, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad. After 40 years of NEP (New Economic Policy) under the thumbs of the Umno-led BN regime, the doctor is saying that he has not done enough to help out the Malays as he claims that the dismantling of such policies would lead to racial riots.

The question one needs to ask is: Have not the Malays made great strides in gaining admission to tertiary education, employed as professionals in various fields, dominating the civil service and securing sizable government contracts (even if many did not go through bidding processes)?

If Mahathir is saying disparity of income exists despite NEP, who else but the doctor should be held accountable?

Hang Babeuf: If these remarks do not amount to a ‘blanket' endorsement and justification, in advance, of any and all intimidation and violence by those who imagine themselves aggrieved, then I do not know what would.

Those who lend themselves to the unconditional advance exculpation of those who would inflict mayhem upon their fellow citizens should be ready to take responsibility for the implications of their words and for the consequences of their actions.

Statesmanship? I think not.

Jiminy Qrikert: This senile ex-PM is lost in a time-warp created by his own desire to still influence the politics of Malaysia and his greed to keep his fingers in the pie.

The only great divide that exists now is between the BN elites and the rest of the rakyat. Indians face the same great divide between the MIC elites and the poor masses, who are willing to continue to be enslaved by BN for a pittance dished out at election time.

The Malays have a huge growing middle-class, but the poor Malay masses are growing faster than the NEP can spoon feed them.

The small Chinese divide is slowly but surely disappearing because the middle-class are leaving the country in droves.

The poor Chinese and the remaining middle-class ones left behind are too few in number to want to riot with anyone, let alone the Malays who outnumber them by three to one, not to mention that the Armed Forces are also predominantly Malay and will readily take sides.

So, who the hell wants to riot?
2party: People have forgotten about race, but this old ruthless man keep on reminding, instigating and stirring the racial feelings of the rakyat against one another.

As shown in the Bersih 2.0 rally, people of all races have already come together to protest against electoral corruption. Yet, this racist par excellence keep on harping about riots and instilling fear.

There is no basis for his comment. He just wants to create fear to maintain status quo for Umno.

Free & Fair Election: "A lot of Malay students gained entry into universities not because of their academic achievements," said Mahathir.

Now you are telling the Malays they aren't what they are based on their own merit? It's a very sad truth to tell a child who has grown to be a man that he only look clever because his father has been making him think he is clever.

In fact, he would be nobody if not for the father. Not too far south of Malaysia, their cousins never felt incompetent when it came to doing a task. The reason Malay Malaysians cannot handle challenging task is because they have been spoon fed all their lives.

I see no reason why Malay Malaysians cannot be like those from the neighbouring country. It's tough, but that's the way life is. You cannot be living in an illusion all your life. Wake up.

Onyourtoes: Mahathir, perhaps the affirmative programmes are still needed. But look at the implementation.

My concern is not giving privileges to bumis for university admission or for award of government contracts.

My concern is unqualified bumi are allowed to pass their examinations and they are now holding all kinds of positions of importance in the government, GLCS (government-linked companies) and the private sector, and many are doing a poor job.

So too are government contracts. We know most government contracts are executed poorly -either the price is too high or the job shabbily done.

Bumi students must re-sit exam again and again till they are deemed fit to pass. We cannot lower the standards just to allow them to pass.

I think the adverse ramification of unqualified people holding important positions is beginning to show in this country. You claimed you are not racist; well, I am not racist too when I am telling you this.

JBGUY: With people like this racist ex-PM, we will surely face riots if race-based policies were to be eradicated.

While most Malaysians are working hard to eradicate racial polarisation, we have politicians and ex-politicians who have milked this country dry, wanting race-based policies to remain so that they can continue their atrocities.

This small group is prepared to even go against Islamic teachings on fairness and justice. If only Dr M had remained ostracised - Tuanku Abdul Rahman saw him for who he was - Malaysia would have become heaven on earth.

Anonymous_4182: Malaysia now needs a new NEP - a policy to transfer the wealth of rich Malays to poor Malays.

This is difficult because the rich Malays are in power, thus the lawmakers. No one will pass a law to make themselves poorer.

IamMsian: With a strong two-party system, multiracial appointments at all levels of private and public institutions based on transparency, meritocracy, with checks and balances in the executive, judiciary and the monarchy, there will be no chaos and riots.

Bob Teoh: To begin with, Mahathir is no economist hence the failure of all his economic policies from NEP to heavy industries.

Mahathir is simply a racist. In his address to one of the Umno assemblies before stepping down, his speech ‘Melayu mudah lupa' speaks eloquently of the failure of the NEP.

It is unfortunate in his twilight years he has to defend his failed policies. The sooner we put an end to Mahathirism, the better for both Malays and non-Malays alike.

Malaysiakini

Students, PAS Youth all for Najib-Anwar debate

2012-01-26T19:28:00.001-08:00

The now-popular suggestion for a public debate between prime minister Najib Razak and parliamentary Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on policy matters received support today from influential Islamist students coalition, Peninsula Muslim Undergraduates Union (GAMIS).

Chairman of the coalition's council on national politics, Muhammad Hafizuddin Muhamed Noor, saying the students community and Malaysians in general had been eagerly looking forward to such an event, said GAMIS would be willing to organise the public debate.

"We are anxiously waiting for Najib to state his readiness to participate in the debate. Anwar has already stated his intention long ago.

"The undergraduates are ready to organise this debate," Hafizuddin told Harakahdaily.

Earlier, think tank Merdeka Center said based on its discussions with Malay professionals, there has been intense interest among them for both leaders to debate on matters affecting the nation.

"They prefer a new culture of debate, not personal attacks,” the think-tank's director Ibrahim Suffian said.

GAMIS meanwhile agreed that the debate should focus only on issues of governance and public interest, and not personal attacks.

"We also reject the idea that such a debate cannot be held in Malaysia," Hafizuddin added, referring to UMNO information chief Ahmad Maslan, who described public debates as "a Western culture" which had yet to find acceptance locally.

Live telecast

Meanwhile, PAS Youth also welcomed the suggestion, saying the idea of a debate should be seriously considered as a new political dimension in the country.

"With a biased media coupled with propaganda against opposition leaders for so long, a debate is needed to evaluate the views of both leaders.

"With the changing times, people have become more open and wise in their evaluation of a certain information," said the wing's information chief Riduan Mohd Nor to Harakahdaily.

Referring to MCA president Chua Soi Lek's claim that Najib was more popular than Anwar, Riduan said this was all the more reason for Najib to accept an invitation to a public debate.

"Najib should not have any worry in confronting Anwar on a debate platform," he stressed, and added that any such debate must be televised live nationwide.

-Harakahdaily

Post-listing Felda faces RM1.5 bil annual deficit

2012-01-26T19:26:00.002-08:00

National Felda Settlers’ Children Association (ANAK) has warned the possibility of Felda turning into another entity requiring continuous government aid if Felda Global Ventures Holding was listed in accordance with the much-criticised plan.

Revealing to the media a lease agreement between Felda Holdings and FGVH, the group said Felda could see a huge fall in revenues as FGVH would only pay RM251 million in rental and also 15 per cent of profits from its oil palm plantations, which amounts to RM257 million at the projected price of RM2,900 per tonne of oil palm fruits for the 360,067-hectare land mortgaged by Felda Plantations to FGVH.

“Felda’s revenue which is around RM2 to RM 2.3 billion a year, will be left with a mere RM508 million. Even that is subject the price of the commodity remaining stable as it is now,” said ANAK's economic advisor Dr Rosli Yaakob.

Rosli, who served Bank Negara Malaysia as a deputy director, also said that Felda had turned in a profit of only RM400 million in 2010.

“Felda’s expenditure in 2010 exceeded RM1.98 billion. Felda will suffer a deficit of RM1.5 billion. Who will bear this cost?” he asked.

Felda has been self sufficient since the 1990s, having been able to generate its own income.

Meanwhile, ANAK chairman Mazlan Aliman said the lease agreement between FGVH and Felda Holdings was being revealed as many settlers had been kept in the dark over details of the listing.

“If the agreement is signed, everything will fall to FGVH and Felda will lose its role as the institution for the development of Malay land. Felda will be reduced to a mere puppet, with its business deals managed by FGVH without interferences,” he added.

In addition, Mazlan said part of the agreement also made it incumbent upon settlers, who wanted to obtain assets from Felda cooperative Koperasi Permodalan Felda, to sell their palm oil to factories owned by FGVH.

Mazlan said Pakatan Rakyat-controlled states had agreed not to sign any land deal which transfers ownership of lands in these states to the proposed listed company FGVH.

-Harakahdaily

Judiciary far from truly independent — Ronald Benjamin

2012-01-26T19:26:00.001-08:00

January 27, 2012

Since Anwar Ibrahim’s acquittal, political commentators and prominent intellectuals have made statements that the judiciary has shown independence. Prime Minister Najib Razak has said that the High Court decision is testimony that he has not interfered with the judiciary. Is the PM implying there was indeed interference before?

Is our judicial system built on such shaky grounds that it has to depend on the goodwill of a prime minister in office for its independence? While it is true recent cases such as the judgment on the Universities and University Colleges Act and the conviction of a prominent state politician have suggested the independence of the courts, these rare decisions do not make the judiciary independent.

One of the greatest truths in any meaningful reforms is the ability to dig deep beyond the surface to discover the root cause of the judicial rot and accepting the widespread perception that interference of judiciary may have occurred. The culprits must be nailed and remedial solutions must be found. Atonement must be shown for past mistakes, and we can then look forward to a lasting solution that would allow us to leap forward into a new era.

This requires honesty and truth seeking. Has our judiciary undertaken such soul searching in its quest to become truly independent? Some commentators have argued that over the years the judiciary has shown independence by taking action against both government leaders and opposition politicians and this by itself shows independence. But this argument is simplistic because the judicial process is not merely based on the judgment in a given case. The details of the process of justice itself, whether it meets the standards of natural justice and its ability to adhere to the supreme objective law of the constitution, are other major considerations. This is where the Malaysian judiciary system appears to have failed compared with other countries with a more well developed and independent judiciary.

Here are a few points to support my assertion.

First, the Lingam tape scandal that resulted in the formation of a royal commission of inquiry. The commission’s findings were never acted upon. This has been widely seen as one of the greatest judicial scandals. The roots of this scandal have never been addressed and the culprits remain unpunished. The whole episode was not brought to a conclusion and this itself has damaged the judiciary beyond redemption.

Why the reluctance on the part of the Attorney-General to charge the accused and to direct further investigation on individuals who were named in the report? Going to the root of a corrupt system would entail exposing a strong corrupt cable of complex relations in a court of law. It would also involve questioning the office of the Attorney-General and prominent politicians, and that would have severely dented the credibility of the ruling BN coalition. Besides this, measures to root out a corrupt system and ensure that lawyers or politicians are not able to bribe or gain influence over judges were never put in place.

The independence of the judiciary cannot be seen in isolation, because a system that encourages corruption is still in place. The Malaysian judiciary needs reforms such as putting in place credible judges and unravelling a corrupt cabal of complex relations. What happens now is that when we have a new head of judiciary, he would normally come up with lofty ideals but fall short in actually reforming a system that tends to corrupt the judiciary in the first place. The interaction between the judiciary and the dominant political ideology is reflected in the system. Therefore to say that the government supports the independence of the judiciary is merely a political statement with no substance.

Second, in terms of the details of the justice process in the Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy 2 trial, a glaring miscarriage of natural justice took place when the accused was not given the opportunity to skim through documents that could have been beneficial to him such as medical records and notes that could help him prepare his defence. Charges were amended just to tarnish the character of the accused before the court of public opinion. For example, the charge levelled against Anwar was for consensual sex, but his accuser was spared from prosecution. Before facts could be determined in its complete form the alleged victim’s testimony was deemed to be credible.

There is always a reluctance by the courts to insist that top politicians such as the PM enter their testimony. Because of such developments in the case, many perceived the case to be one-sided and against the grain of natural justice. This has brought about a negative perception of the impartiality of the judiciary in the minds of discerning Malaysians, even though the judgment turned out otherwise (and now there is an appeal). Does not natural justice demand the right to fair access to information so that the accused can prepare a credible defence?

Third, the continued existence of anti-liberty laws such as the ISA, the Official Secrets Act, the Sedition Act and the new Peaceful Assembly Act clearly shows that our judiciary has submitted to the power of the executive instead of protecting the civil liberties of Malaysians as enshrined in the constitution. This is also true regarding the rights of the minorities especially over freedom of religion. Even though there have been judges who have made courageous decisions in the lower courts, their decisions are usually overturned in the higher courts.

To say that our judiciary is truly independent is something that does not make sense especially after witnessing the crisis and the complacency of the institution over the years. The type of response the government has initiated does not go to the very root of what corrupts the judiciary.

It is not easy for vested interests in a corrupt system to voluntarily give up their leverage. Only a change of government can bring about the desired results, but this too depends on the seriousness of those who come to power. — aliran.com

Verdict on Ling’s case put off to March 9, during GE13

2012-01-26T19:23:00.002-08:00

January 27, 2012

The High Court judge says he need more time to make a decison on whether the former transport minister should enter his defence.

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court postponed the much-awaited vedict on former transport minister and MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik’s Port Klang Free Zone ( PKFZ) cheating trial to March 9.

Judge Ahmadi Asnawi had originally set today for a decision on whether Ling will enter his defence.

But today, Ahmadi said he needed more time to make a decision.

“I need more time to make my decision, hence I postpone the decision to March 9,” he told the court, before apologising.

He did not offer any explanation for the postponement.

Asked later what he thought of the postponement, Ling said: “(I just have a) normal feeling. No view.” He refused to comment further.

Ling, 68, is currently facing an amended principal charge for cheating the government of RM1.08 billion.

He was accused of deliberately hiding the additional interest rate of 7.5% a year over the purchase price of land in Pulau Indah based on RM25 per sq foot from the Cabinet.

The total amount came to RM1,088,456,000.

Ling is also accused of not telling the Cabinet about the facts related to the interest rate, as well as allegedly leading it to believe that the facts over the land purchase were certified, and that he knew that no such consent was given.

Anwar eyes polls, says not worried about sodomy appeal

2012-01-26T19:23:00.001-08:00

By Debra Chong

January 27, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — The 13th general election and not the Attorney-General’s appeal against his acquittal from a sodomy charge is what is occupying Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s mind in the aftermath of Sodomy II.

The de facto chief of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact told the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in an interview published today that he was not worried about public prosecutors appealing the High Court’s decision to acquit him of a sodomy charge as the judgment was “very strong” and “difficult to appeal”.

Trial judge Datuk Zabidin Mohd Diah, in announcing his decision to acquit Anwar, said the DNA evidence had been compromised.

Anwar (picture) said the appeal process would take at least six months, which meant it could outlast the campaign for national polls that the PKR leader has confidently said will propel his PR bloc to Putrajaya.

The A-G filed a formal appeal on January 20 but the Court of Appeal is still waiting for the judge to send in his written grounds of judgment. Zabidin has eight weeks or roughly two months to do so.

The influential international paper observed today that post-Sodomy II, Anwar has been shifting from defence to offence in his bid to form the next federal government.

“We must always compare Malaysia to Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan,” he told the WSJ.

He told the daily that he would push for more privatisation programmes and free up the markets to run business more efficiently.

Malaysia, once among the top economic magnets in Asia, has been criticised for continuing with economic policies that benefit only one race to get in the way of trade and investments.

Anwar also said he would quicken the dismantling of racial quotas in higher education and aid for lower-income groups instead of solely aiding ethnic Malays.

The married grandfather, who has been attacked for his statements on homosexual rights, told the WSJ he denied supporting gay marriages as he “believes in and supports the sanctity of marriage between men and women.”

“It is not my business to attack people or arrest people based on their sexual orientation,” he told the paper.

Anwar, who has been projecting himself a Muslim liberal leader to the West, had labelled Malaysia’s sodomy laws as “archaic”.

Would Malays vote for an Umno clone?

2012-01-26T19:22:00.001-08:00

CT Ali | January 27, 2012

Why would the Malays give their votes to Pakatan when they know that Pakatan is committed to dismantling Ketuanan Melayu and mirroring Umno?

Would you as a Malay really give up the high ground and take your place on a level-playing field with the others?

The suspicion that the Malays will not, is a talking point among the non-Malays. As if among the Malays it is not!

We all – Malays and non-Malays – need to ask ourselves what will the Malays do when push comes to shove? This is a question we need to ask ourselves now.

Now rather than in the early hours of the morning when the critical results of the 13th general election start to come in.

Now rather than when we are faced again with the prospect of another term of Umno rule.

We need to ask ourselves this question now because Umno is banking on the Malays coming to their rescue because it needs the Malay votes to survive.

I have asked myself this question many times and until today I can only say this: “I am not sure”.

I am not sure if the Malays will give their votes to Pakatan Rakyat.

Why would the Malays give their votes to Pakatan when they know that Pakatan is committed to dismantling Ketuanan Melayu (Malay supremacy)?

Why would the Malays give their votes to Pakatan when what they see within Pakatan mirrors what they see in Umno?

Najib or Anwar, it’s all the same

In Najib Tun Razak and Anwar Ibrahim, both Malays with unimpeachable Umno pedigree, the Malays can hardly see any discernible difference in the way they each manage their politics.

Self-interest and questionable personal ethics can be attributed to both of them.

What Anwar has ahead of Najib is a family that has been more a plus to his political ambitions when compared to the negative picture that Rosmah (Mansor, his wife) has ably demonstrated from the time of her self-accredited FLOM (First Lady of Malaysia) appointment.

In the past these doubts were only answered after the general election when the results were tabulated and an assessment made of who voted for whom.

In the last general election we know it was Sabah and Sarawak that dragged Umno and Barisan Nasional over the finishing line.

At that time the Malays took a more cavalier attitude of wanting to teach Umno a lesson – that the votes they cast against Umno was a “protest vote” against the corruption, the money politics, the duplicity and the arrogance of Umno.

Now the Malays know that that protest did not register in the Umno psyche. There is still corruption. There is still money politics. There is still duplicity and arrogance within Umno.

So now what will the Malays do?

Malays must decide

Will they really vote against Umno? Against their own kind? Against the only political organisation that promises to uphold the economic and religious interests of the Malays?

It will be a difficult decision for any Malay to make. It will be for Pakatan to provide a viable alternative to the politics of Umno.

For the Malays, I want to remind them that you cannot have your cake and eat it too.

You either choose to be one people with the others who call Malaysia their home or you opt for being first among equal – and this can only possibly happen under Umno.

I say possibly because despite Umno’s promise for Ketuanan Melayu, it has still not happened in its 50-over years of rule in Malaysia.

Does Umno really need another term in office to make it happen? Will Umno really have learnt its lesson after its “near death” experience in the run-up to this 13th general election?

What will the critical mass of Malays do to ensure victory for either Umno or Pakatan? Will they leave it in the laps of the Gods?

It would, however, help Pakatan’s cause if the Malay mass understood what it is they need to do.

Of course, it is presumptuous of me to think that Pakatan has not thought this possibility through.

But one fact remains. Instead of consolidating its gains from the 12th general election, Pakatan and their leader Anwar are now in a worse situation than they were after the 2008 polls.

You do not win a general election against the mighty Umno this way!

We want ABU

So let me reiterate this again. Pakatan must somehow unleash a tsunami of sorts against Umno if it wants to form the government after this general election.

What Pakatan is today is not even close to being a tsunami.

We want ABU (Anything But Umno)! We are ready for change. We need change.

But change to what?

Just as we have questioned the sanity of allowing Umno to continue with its rule over us, we are now questioning Pakatan as to what it will replace Umno with.

This is no unconditional support that we extend to Pakatan. Many are now of the opinion that it is better to be with the devil you know than the devil you don’t.

Many of us are not prepared to give Pakatan the “chance” to govern in the hope that it will do better than Umno.

Nothing thus far being put forward by Pakatan gives us too much hope for a better future under Pakatan.

There have been glimpses of promising possibilities in the states under Pakatan, but then these are to be expected. The people are not a forgiving and forgetting lot.

We know about the fight to try and claim the spoils of war in Selangor. We know how the PKR party elections were managed.

Ketuanan Melayu

We know that questions are still being asked about the veracity of your leader’s ability to do the right thing in his personal and public life.

And if truth be told, the first-tier leadership within Pakatan is more inclined to a “steady as she goes” style of politics than to give the rakyat what they aspire to – good governance with personal freedom and guaranteed liberty of the rakyat.

Time is of the essence. Do all this and I think the Malays will come on board by the millions.

That is the only way you could possibly draw them away from Umno. An Umno that promises them Ketuanan Melayu.

An Umno that promises to champion Islam. And an Umno that has the ability to make good its promise if, as it claims, the Malays returned the party to power.

In whatever way you may choose to look at this promise by Umno to the Malays, you cannot deny that it is one that the Malays will have to seriously ponder as we head towards our 13th general election.

Don’t sidetrack probe, TI-M tells NFCorp

2012-01-26T19:21:00.001-08:00

By Shannon Teoh

January 27, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) slammed today the National Feedlot Corporation (NFCorp) for attempting to divert attention from investigations over allegations of abuse of public funds in the controversial RM250 million national cattle-farming project.

The graft watchdog said in a statement that the Auditor-General had only clarified that he did not call the project “a mess” but confirmed the project had not fulfilled its objectives for reasons including the failure of NFCorp, which belongs to the family of minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, to meet obligations.

“The NFC should not divert attention from the investigations being carried out by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the police to determine if there was any misuse of public funds that were meant for the feedlot project.

“The recent statements on what words were actually used in the A-G’s report should not distract attention from... whether public funds for a national project were being used for other purposes,” said TI-M secretary-general Josie M. Fernandez (picture).

NFCorp, which was awarded the project in 2006, had thanked Auditor-General Tan Sri Ambrin Buang yesterday for clarifying that he had not called the company a “mess” in his 2010 report, saying the explanation would help strengthen public perception of its operations.

The company said the Auditor-General’s statement on Friday would help put to rest months of “tireless bashing from hardline critics” against NFCorp, which operates the scandal-ridden National Feedlot Centre (NFC) project.

The RM250 million federally funded cattle-farming project was first coined a “mess” in an article in English daily The Star after it made it into the pages of the A-G’s 2010 Report.

The term was later repeatedly reused by various media organisations to describe the NFC after PKR launched a series of exposes to prove the project’s funds were being abused.

PKR had claimed that at least RM27 million was used for land, property and expenses not related to cattle farming by Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat and her family.

But the women, family and community development minister has sued PKR’s strategic director Rafizi Ramli and Wanita chief Zuraida Kamaruddin over the claims.

She is due to return to ministerial duties next week after taking three weeks’ leave to facilitate investigations.

Can Putrajaya clarify whose assets were frozen, Kit Siang asks

2012-01-26T19:20:00.001-08:00

By Debra Chong

January 26, 2012

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 — DAP’s Lim Kit Siang pushed the federal government to explain the prime minister’s asset freeze announcement on the scandal-tainted RM336.64 million national cattle farming project.

The veteran lawmaker said that the government needed the clear the air over allegations of confusion between which NFC it had acted on, whether it was the national feedlot centre project, or the national feedlot corporation that it picked to run the operations.

“With the claim that the Auditor-General had confused the two entities, NFC and NFCorp, Malaysians want to know whether the freezing of assets announced by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak earlier this month was with regard to NFC or NFCorp or both,” he said in a statement today.

“Who can give this clarification?” Lim (picture) pressed.

The Ipoh Timor MP denounced NFCorp chairman, Datuk Seri Mohamad Salleh for fussing over “semantics” instead of taking responsibility for a multi-million ringgit national project using taxpayers money.

He said the husband to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil deserved public censure for trying to divert attention by claiming that the Auditor-General had confused the two entities that share the same NFC initials, when Tan Sri Ambrin Buang had done no such thing in the 2010 audit report.

“Is Mohamad Salleh seriously claiming that the NFCorp owes no duty of public accountability and responsibility for any misuse of public funds given to NFCorp,” he asked.

He pointed out the massive sums of money involved, from the RM73.64 million from the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry in development and operational costs to the RM13 million start-up grant approved to NFCorp in September 2007 and to the RM250 million soft loan awarded to the corporation in an agreement signed on December 2007.

Ambrin was reported saying again today that there were several weaknesses in the implementation of the feedlot centre project.

“Why else would the government have, in May 2009, postponed the implementation pending viability and business model studies on the centre?” he was quoted as saying today by The Star newspaper.

“Whether there are elements of misappropriation is for authorities like the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate,” he was quoted saying, adding that his audit department made no mention of misappropriation of funds as it was beyond the scope of its powers.

Ambrin said the audit was to determine whether the centre had been carefully planned, prudently carried out and met its objective.

“Audit analysis showed the objective of the centre had not been fully met and this was due to various factors as explained in the Auditor-General’s Report 2010,” he said.

In his report, the project did not meet its production target of 38,600 head of cattle in 2010 because the Entrepreneur Development Programme involving 130 satellite farm entrepreneurs had not been implemented.

He also said NFCorp was a RM1 share registered company with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated, adding that the RM1.1 million in paid-up capital had been contributed by Agroscience Industries Sdn Bhd, owned by the Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Ministry.

The publicly-funded company hit the headlines following last year’s Auditor-General’s Report, and has continued to hog the limelight after it was linked to minister Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family.

PKR has since made several revelations relating to the scandal, including NFCorp’s purchase of two luxury condominium units in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur, and the alleged use of project funds to pay for Shahrizat and her family’s personal expenses.

The opposition party has also alleged that Shahrizat’s family used nearly RM600,000 from NFCorp’s funds to settle their credit card bills in 2009.

But the management of NFCorp has maintained that the credit card expenses were solely for business purposes.

Najib's ETP high-income promise is a practical joke

2012-01-26T19:18:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s promise of high wage by 2020 is nothing but a deception, said Research for Social Advancement (Refsa), echoing past accusations from various quarters.

In its periodic critical report of the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP), the group sought to debunk the blueprint’s key aspects.

It said that there was nothing transformational about the administration’s aim to double gross national income (GNI) per capita to RM48,000 by 2020.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is betting on three key pillars of the ETP to stay in power, but analysts and opposition leaders say the “highly glossed” targets are questionable and lacked data transparency.

“The most prominent one is to double GNI per capita to RM48,000 by 2020 from just RM23,700 in 2009.

“That will be the indicator that Malaysia has arrived as a developed nation according to Pemandu, the government agency charged with driving the ETP.

“What Pemandu has been less than transparent in communicating is that the RM48,000 target is for nominal income per capita, not real income. The difference is all important,” said Refsa.

It said Pemandu had “avoided” including inflation rates in its projection, meaning the figure given would be much lower in terms of purchasing power.

“Malaysians would remain not far off from where they are today. The sum of RM48,000 in 2020 will be worth a lot less than RM48,000 today, thanks to ever rising prices,” said the Refsa report.

‘Basic maths all wrong’

Refsa also said Pemandu had inflated the target figure through “afflicting data”.

Malaysia was already achieving a growth rate that could have produced a nominal GNI per capita that would exceed RM48,000 by 2018.

This means the target set by the government was easily achievable if the growth rate could be sustained and there’s “nothing transformational” about the goal.

“Even the basic maths is wrong” said Refsa on Pemandu’s projections method.

The group also zoomed in on the “murkiness” around the data which Pemandu used to project its GNI per capita target.

This includes the absence of real information in four key areas of the ETP – the number of projects, its investments value, GNI contribution and job creation.

Refsa said they were “shrouded in haze” with missing key data. “These omissions raise the question of how the total expected investment GNI contribution and job creation headlines at each ETP updates, of which there have been eight so far, are calculated.”

For that, Refsa said it was grading the government’s data transparency as “E”. While Pemandu can be highly rated for its public relations activities, “sadly, the substance comes nowhere close to the style paraded”.

“Pemandu deserves an ‘A+’ for public relations but it gets an ‘E’ for data integrity,” said the report.

Race and Malaysian

2012-01-26T19:17:00.001-08:00

If Malaysia is exceptional, it is not because — like so many other modern nations — it is culturally pluralistic and socially diverse but because official government policy has been erected upon the idea that such diversity is not simply ineradicable but both abnormal and dangerous.

Government in Malaysia stands upon the “enshrining” of the idea of the fundamental, inescapable and eternal political salience of that diversity — and, however benign the intentions of its greatest statesmen may be, upon its necessarily “sectional” and hence ultimately divisive official management.

If Malaysia has a “race problem” it is not because of a malign historical fate but because Malaysian governments have offered and justified themselves over the years since independence as the authoritative manager of racial divisions and antagonisms.

The Malaysian government has always presented itself as the wise manager, and as the sole available broker and arbiter, of a basic dichotomy which it says it wishes to overcome but upon which, and upon whose continuing power, it remains dependent.

That is its political basis and rationale.

This idea of the fundamental nature of such cultural differences and of their inescapably conflictual character has been established and elevated as the “ultimate political truth.” It is the central doctrine, or credo, of the reigning “national political theology.”

Malaysia, as it is now established and has been managed, especially since 1970, rests upon, presumes and requires that particular form of “racial” difference, separation and antagonism which the government yet continually pleads it wishes to overcome.

A strange, contradictory, even silly idea, really.

It is a silly idea precisely because it is contradictory — and no coherent, sustainable policy may be built upon an evident contradiction.

But where would BN be without it?

The question answers itself.

Yes, Malaysia does have an unusual “racial” problem.

Malaysia’s is decidedly a “racial” problem — provided one recognises, as modern social theory does, that “race” denotes not mundane cultural diversity and social pluralism themselves but their antagonistic political, ideological and doctrinal “sanctification” as the ultimate or core human reality.

To see that human diversity as irreconcilable, and as the basis of inevitable antagonism rather than as a source of creativity and engagement and hope, is a political choice.

It is a fact, or the dubious gift, not of insuperable past events but of contemporary and continuing human choice, of ideological and political preferences.

Brother: It’s Uthayakumar’s personal view

2012-01-26T19:15:00.000-08:00

Athi Shankar | January 26, 2012

P Waythamoorthy clarifies that it is his brother's personal view not to back the 'Anything But Umno' movement. Hindraf's stand, he adds, is different.

GEORGE TOWN: P Uthayakumar’s statement that Hindraf Makkal Sakti has withdrawn its support for the Anything But Umno (ABU) movement is his personal stand, said his brother.

According to Hindraf Makkal Sakti chairman Waythamoorthy, the movement respected Uthayakumar’s view, but had reached a collective stand to the contrary.

He said Hindraf’s official stand was to fully support and cooperate with ABU because “ousting Umno from Putrajaya is a common goal for all.”

“We in Hindraf respect his views though collectively we differ from his personal opinions. Hindraf’s voice is a mix of its grassroots supporters, not based on an individual,” he added.

Yesterday, Human Rights Party (HRP), Hindraf’s political offshoot, information chief S Jayathas issued a statement that a five-member Hindraf supreme council had decided to pull out from ABU.

The statement advised supporters not to attend any future ABU forums, in light of the violent attack on Hindraf activists in Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam on Jan 21.

The statement also listed Uthayakumar as Hindraf’s de facto leader.

However, when contacted this morning, Jayathas failed to clarify who appointed Uthayakumar to this post and when was it done.

Asked why Uthayakumar had previously declared Waythamoorthy as Hindraf’s leader and that he was only a legal advisor, Jayathas said it was to stop certain quarters from manipulating the issue.

A few minutes later, Jayathas uploaded a 2007 Wikipedia posting on the HRP website which referred to Uthayakumar as “Hindraf de facto leader.”

On the five-man supreme council, Jayathas claimed that it was formed well before Hindraf’s mammoth street protest on Nov 25, 2007 and its members were P Karuna, P Siva, K Waran, besides Uthayakumar and himself.

Asked why the supreme council was never publicised before, he said: “We laid low. But now, we want to be active.”

‘We can’t do it alone’

Meanwhile, Waythamoorthy stressed that Hindraf’s collective official stand was to support any third force from the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak to “dethrone Umno and its mandores from Putrajaya”.

He said Hindraf would continue to work in tandem and move forward with any force that had a similar agenda to ABU’s.

“We will work with anyone to end Umno and their mandores’ atrocities against society, especially the poor and marginalised communities,” the London-based activist told FMT.

Hindraf’s decision to adopt a multi-pronged strategy and engage with any third party forces to oust Umno was made at the movement’s second annual convention held on Dec 4, 2011.

Uthayakumar did not attend the convention.

Waythamoorthy said Hindraf had consistently fought to end Umno’s rule but realised that it could not do this on its own.

He said Hindraf’s cooperation with third forces against Umno was solely based on a consensus that human rights and equality should be across the board starting with the poorest groups.

He said Hindraf coordinators unanimously agreed that a concerted effort from all parties irrespective of race, religion or creed was the best way to address the issue of the poor and marginalised Malaysian Indians and those in a similar position.

“Hindraf can never do it alone, without cooperating with others who have common goals,” he said.

How many MIC nominees are there in GLCs?

2012-01-26T19:14:00.000-08:00

B Nantha Kumar | January 26, 2012

Branch leader demands full disclosure from party president.

PETALING JAYA: A local MIC leader today demanded that party president G Palanivel reveal the number of nominees placed by the party in government-linked companies (GLCs).

V Thiagarajen, chairman of MIC’s Taman Mujur branch, accused Palanivel of treating the party as his personal fiefdom and appointing his clansmen to positions in these GLCs.

He said party members were still in the dark over the number of party nominees in the GLCs and their roles in these GLCs, but he added that he had learnt from a veteran party leader that there were more than 100 places allocated for MIC.

All Barisan Nasional member parties are allowed to place their nominees in the GLCs.

“Until today, no one apart from the party president can say for sure how many positions are exactly connected to MIC,” he said.

“He must also reveal who the directors of these companies are.”

He also asked Palanivel to explain the benefits that the Indian community had derived from MIC’s association with the GLCs.

“Parties like Umno and MCA get contracts from GLCs, but where the MIC is concerned, members are still in the dark over their operations.

“MIC must live up to its corporate social responsibility and be transparent with members about it dealings with these GLCs.”

He called on Palanivel to put himself in line with the Najib administration’s avowed intention to govern with transparency and accountability.

Altantuya Killers' Appeal Up Soon

2012-01-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

Case reopens doubts about Malaysian justice system

By Razak Baginda's own cautioned statement to the police, he grew tired of Altantuya and broke up with her after a year-long affair in which he gifted her thousands of dollars. However, she flew to Malaysia to demand as much as US$500,000, according a letter found after her death. The two bodyguards, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, were to be paid RM50,000 to RM00,000 to kill Altantuya, according to a confession by Sirul which was never produced in court.

Written by John Berthelsen, Asia Sentinel

The politically-charged appeal of two elite Malaysian police bodyguards who were sentenced to death two years and nine months ago for the 2006 murder-for-hire of Mongolian translator and party girl Altantuya Shaaribuu is due on Feb. 10 in Malaysia’s Court of Appeal.

The High Court trial, in which everything appeared to have been done ignore the question of who hired the two killers, stands in vivid contrast to the appeal filed by prosecutors on Jan. 19 in the case of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, in which everything appeared to have been done to bend the evidence to try to put the 64-year-old Anwar behind bars. As Judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah pointed out in his not-guilty verdict, “the court cannot be 100 percent certain that the DNA evidence against Anwar was not contaminated.”

The two bodyguards, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, were to be paid RM50,000 to RM00,000 to kill Altantuya, according to a confession by Sirul which was never produced in court.

Although the three-judge court is expected to hear arguments, it is unsure if the verdict on the appeal by the two will be concluded on that date. Even if it is, according to criminal defense lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon, that is unlikely to be the end of the case. If the two are found guilty once more, they have the right of appeal to the Federal Court, Malaysia’s highest tribunal. That could take as long as another 2-1/2 years, Dhillon said in an interview.

Although the Malaysian court system has been working to shorten the length of time appeals take, delays remain. However, the length of time this particular case is taking is extraordinary, Dhillon said. Indeed, however, he said, the appeal in Anwar’s case could take a similar amount of time. As with the Sirul-Azilah case, Anwar’s appeal to the Federal Court could also take another two and a half years after the appellate verdict.

The murder case been linked to the fortunes of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak. Azilah and Sirul served as bodyguards in an elite police unit supervised by Najib, then the country's deputy prime minister. It has continued to dog him as bloggers and journalists from France and other countries have continued to question his involvement. Also on trial with the two, but acquitted without having to put on a defense, was Altantuya's jilted lover and one of Najib's best friends, political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda.

From the start of the year-long trial, during which prosecutors and the judge were hurriedly switched without warning, to the end, when the verdict was delayed since February 2008 until after the United Malays National Organization convention that named Najib party leader and thus prime minister, the case has appeared more about suppressing evidence than determining the guilt or innocence of the accused.

Asked about the failure of investigative agencies to attempt to discover why no attempt had been made to ascertain who had hired the two to kill the woman, Dhillon responded: “Frankly, that is ridiculous. It clearly shows the intention of the investigative agency. If you are a hired killer, someone has hired you, and he is a far greater criminal, whoever it is. If I am the head of the investigative agency, I would want to know who the mastermind is. Everybody wants to sweep this under the carpet.”

The murder was one of the most gruesome in recent Malaysian memory. It is a tale worth repeating. By several accounts, the then-28 year-old woman, who was executed with two bullets to the head in a jungle clearing near the suburban city of Shah Alam and whose body was blown up with military explosives, was at the center of a massive scandal over the purchase by Malaysia of two French submarines and the lease of a third.

The sale of the submarines and other vessels by the French government-linked military contactor DCN to Malaysia, Pakistan, Taiwan. India and other countries have been investigated sporadically by prosecutors who have alleged it involves a string of murders and kickbacks paid to some of France’s top political figures.

Altantuya, then Razak Baginda's lover according to Razak Baginda’s testimony to police, reportedly was a translator in the purchase, which cost Malaysian taxpayers €1 billion (US$329.1 billion in current dollars). The purchase netted a company controlled by Razak Baginda €114 million in "commissions," according to testimony in Malaysia's parliament.

By Razak Baginda's own cautioned statement to the police, he grew tired of Altantuya and broke up with her after a year-long affair in which he gifted her thousands of dollars. However, she flew to Malaysia to demand as much as US$500,000, according a letter found after her death. Other reports alleged the payment was for her part in the purchase of the submarines.

As she stood in front of Razak Baginda's house, demanding that he come out, the two policemen, accompanied by a policewoman, swooped down on her, tossed her into the back of a car, and she was never seen alive again.

In a cautioned statement that was never introduced in court, Sirul testified that in her last moments, Altantuya begged for her life, saying she was pregnant. Sirul said he and Azilah had attached explosives to the woman's legs up to her abdomen and her head, raising questions why they had sought to destroy her abdomen rather, for instance, than her hands, which could identify the body. Presumably the explosives would have destroyed any DNA samples of whose baby was inside her, if any.

P. Balasubramaniam, a private detective hired by Razak Baginda to keep the woman away from him, swore in an intensively detailed statutory declaration that he was told by Razak Baginda that Altantuya had been the lover of Najib as well, that she liked anal sex, and that she had been passed on to the analyst because Najib intended to become prime minister and didn't want a sex scandal hanging over his head.

In the declaration, Balasubramaniam said he had seen text messages from Najib after Altantuya disappeared, telling him to "be cool" and that he would take care of the matter. After delivering his statutory declaration, Balasubramaniam was summoned to a Kuala Lumpur police station, where he was forced into a total recantation of the document. He and his entire family disappeared. There apparently was never an attempt made by the court trying the three men to find him and ask him to testify as to the accuracy of the statement.

Malaysia Today

Pakatan perlu ambil tindakan tegas terhadap Azizan

2012-01-26T19:11:00.000-08:00

Jamilah Kamarudin | January 26, 2012

"Kalau nak sokong AUKU, masuk Barisan Nasional (BN) lah. BN pro AUKU," kata Aziz Bari.

SHAH ALAM: Pakatan Rakyat digesa mengambil tindakan tegas terhadap Menteri Besar Kedah Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak kerana menggunakan Akta Universiti Kolej Universiti (AUKU) untuk mengenakan tindakan disiplin terhadap pelajar Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) di Kedah.

Pakar Perlembagaan Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari berkata tindakan Azizan itu jelas bertentangan dengan janji Pakatan yang mahu menghapuskan AUKU seperti yang tercatat dalam Buku Jingga.

“Pakatan Rakyat perlu bertegas dalam hal ini kerana tiada pemimpin Pakatan yang harus ingkar perjanjian bersama dalam Buku Jingga,”
katanya selepas menghadiri wacana bertajuk Masih Relevankah AUKU di bangunan Kumpulan Media Karangkraf di sini hari ini.

Katanya, ini bukan kali pertama Azizan menimbulkan ‘kontroversi’ yang tidak selari dengan prinsip Pakatan dalam hal ehwal pentadbiran Kedah.

“Kalau nak sokong AUKU, masuk Barisan Nasional (BN) lah. BN pro AUKU,” kata bekas pensyarah undang-undang, Universiti Islam Antarabangsa itu.

Pada Mei tahun lalu, lima mahasiswa Kuin dibicarakan dan digantung pengajian kerana didapati terlibat dalam demonstrasi menyatakan
bantahan terhadap pembinaan Sekolah Insan Bestari yang menggunakan bangunan tahfiz.

Mereka membantah pembinaan dikawasan tersebut kerana dilihat tidak strategik dan akan mengganggu proses pengajian dan pembelajaran mahasiswa tahfiz

Atas kesalahan dibawah peruntukan AUKU, empat daripadanya digantung satu semester manakala seorang lagi dua semester.

Resign or Election for Najib

2012-01-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

As much as I would like to stop writing about PM Najib administration, the plot just got interesting and I think he may just hit the bull’s eye as far as my prediction that his downfall may be faster than his predecessor, Abdullah Badawi, is concerned. Compared with Najib, Badawi now seems like a cute adorable little kitten, who merely likes to sleep (on the job). Malaysians tend to be more forgiving on lazy prime minister but not a prime minister who lies, cheats, brutal, dirty (allegation on Mongolian Altantuya’s murder), hypocrite but above all stupid yet arrogant.

One cannot help but fell off the chair laughing after read that Najib said he cancels a family vacation because he wants to spend more time with Malaysians. This was perhaps the best joke ever by premier Najib since he took over from Abdullah Badawi. This joke actually worth a thousand “Like” on his facebook page. Forget about Bersih 2.0 because this guy may quit under pressure – not from opposition parties or Bersih 2.0 but from his internal UMNO party. Boy, if it was true that the US$24 million controversial diamond ring indeed belongs to his wife Rosmah Mansor, that ring is cursed.

Anyone notice the deadly silence from Mahathir after the Bersih 2.0 rally that instantly flush Najib’s popularity into the toilet bowl? I’ve wrote earlier that Najib administration’s extreme stupidity in tackling the simple issue of Bersih 2.0 made the whole episode smells rat. Najib can’t be that foolish (or was he?) and even if he was indeed stupid, his wife would have save the day, unless of course the plan to unseat him has been brought forward by his own circles. Mahathir doesn’t like Najib for two main reasons - his wife and his close connection with Singapore Government.

It seems Najib may have to quit soon, probably before his term expires in 2013. And if Najib plans to stay until next year to enjoy more free overseas holidays using taxpayers money under his capacity as the prime minister, his dream is now short-lived based on his emergency return to take control of Putrajaya. How on earth could everything turns upside-down before his “shopping” trip to United Kingdom and Italy ends? It appears he has no other option but to call an early election, possibly before 11-11-2011 in order to neutralize his enemy from within UMNO, if he’s able to do that.

1) Perkasa Ibrahim Ali

Ibrahim Ali, the guy whom you love and hate has successfully performed his duty, if indeed it was true that he was actually a mole, regardless whether he was planted by Anwar or Mahathir. His job was to create chaos and racial disharmony. Both Anwar or Mahathir knew the Malay votes and to a certain extent the Indian votes have return to UMNO under Najib’s leadership. If the Chinese voters were to go back in droves to UMNO- led National Front coalition, then the opposition is toast and Najib would become very powerful, so much so that he can ask Mahathir to fly kite.

One has to remember Mahathir is a master in the game of divide-and-rule. As long as Ibrahim Ali can continuously feed the racial hatred cookies to both ethnic-Malay and ethnic-Chinese, Najib’s strength is being checked. And wasn’t Ibrahim Ali a director in Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Group, one of the closest cronies during Mahathir administration? Well, if Najib truly believed that Ibrahim Ali was God-sent Angel to help fish runaway Malay votes for his administration, then he deserves what he’s getting now.

2) Deputy PM Muhyiddin

One needs to see the bigger picture on how the deputy PM seems to be pouring kerosene everytime his boss, PM Najib Razak, starts a new project in his bid to gain voters’ support. When Najib was shouting till foam at mouth his 1Malaysia concept, Muhyiddin declared he was Malay first and Malaysian second. And of course Mahathir almost swear he doesn’t actually understand the concept of 1Malaysia. Muhyiddin is indeed a strong deputy as he was one of the warlords who enjoys ground support.

Najib doesn’t like a strong deputy because it would make him looks weak, which is true because his political rising star was purely based on his father’s name, the second prime minister Tun Razak. In short, Najib was born with silver platter hence he has never been known to be a risk-taker. The fact that Muhyiddin together with Mahathir were extremely quiet post-Bersih 2.0 rally speak volume about how both were equally pleased with the public and international criticism on Najib administration in handling the peaceful demonstration. Muhyiddin can almost smell the aroma of the premiership.

3) Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein

Given the option, Muhyiddin would like to become the Prime Minister yesterday but there’s another opportunist who like to climb the ladder and he’s none other than Najib’s own cousin – Hishammuddin Hussein. In Malaysia, it seems only the elite groups have the priviledge to become the prime minister. Just like how Najib leveraged on his daddy’s priviledge name, Hishammuddin was drooling about becoming the next prime minister since his father was the country’s third prime minister.

Needless to say, Mahathir was also architecting the plan to build his own dynasty. Time is the luxury Mahathir doesn’t have considering his current age. Going by his plan, he would like to see his own son takes over the throne while he’s still alive – after Muhyiddin warmed the seat. But with Hishammuddin controlling the police force, this little obstacle needs to be neutralized and what better way than to promise a deputy prime minister-ship to Hishammuddin after Mahathir’s son gets to sit on the throne? Hishammudin must be a fool to believe such a promise but then he is not a very clever fellow nonetheless.

He’s an opportunist who would not think twice about jumping ships, cousin or not. Judging by how he declared the Bersih 2.0 an illegal organization, made wild but laughable allegations that PSM-6 were waging war against the King and linked them to communism but later accused them of being involved as “movers and activists” to Bersih 2.0, arresting people for wearing yellow T-shirts and whatnot goes to show how he tried to make Najib administration looks very foolish. As fast as he plucked from the sky the accusations on PSM-6, he disappeared with equal speed after Bersih 2.0; leaving the police taking care of their own mess. Has Najib ever wonder that his own cousin has jumped ship to Mahathir-Muhyiddin tag-team?

4) Bersih 2.0 and Marina Mahathir

Many people praise Mahathir’s daughter, Marina, for taking part in the Bersih 2.0 although strangely she didn’t participate in Bersih 1.0 (or did she?). Of course that was after she blogged about it and fortunately she didn’t get tear-gassed by the police. Silly me, of course she didn’t get to taste the water cannon or tear-gas because she didn’t lead the marchers. It would be fun to see if the police would still spray her knowing she’s the daughter of former powerful dictator Mahathir Mohamad.

Coincidently Mahathir was deadly silent while the daughter suddenly become super vocal in condemning Najib administration. She can’t possibly speak on her daddy’s behalf in pouring fuel into the fire in the plan to unseat Najib, can she? But how could anyone suspect Marina’s noble intention in supporting the Bersih 2.0. For goodness sake, she won’t kill an ant so how can she has ill-intention towards Bersih 2.0. Compared to her monster daddy, Marina is such a charming angel so let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.

At most, Marina may have “consulted” his daddy and his daddy “encouraged” her to “speak as she sees fit” (*grin*). Maybe Marina should speak about the brutality in Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani or Kugan’s death in the hand of MACC and police as well, no?

5) Utusan Malaysia

The only role of Utusan, the newspaper owned by UMNO, was to publish racial articles – the more the merrier. The justification of doing so was to drum the support of Malay voters. The rural illiterate Malay voters will always support UMNO while the urban educated Malay voters are with the opposition parties. The fence-sitters will swing to whichever side depending on the respective party’s campaign. But assuming the Utusan is still under Najib’s control, won’t it be over-kill to not only fans the racial hatred, Christianity would take over from Islam as the country’s official religion and opposition trying to revive communism but also in taking the slingshot at Jews?

Utusan’s latest loose cannon was aiming at Jews by alleging that the Bersih 2.0 rally could open the door to Jews and Israel to infiltrate Malaysia. B’nai B’rith International, a Jewish humanitarian organisation, called the allegation “preposterous” and “offensive” and which only serves to perpetuate an anti-Semitic attitude. Heck, if there’s one thing you do not wish to disturb, it’s in toying with anti-Semitic game. Mahathir had learnt his painful lesson in sticking the nest of anti-Semitic and certainly the coward Najib won’t dare to even think about such idea.

The fact that Utusan was happily sowing anti-Semitic hatred while Najib administration was busy doing damage-control by explaining to the international media and foreign government about police repression and intimidation on peaceful protestors goes to show that Najib was not in control of Utusan. If Utusan was not within Najib’s control, then Utusan is reporting to someone much more powerful than the prime minister.

6) Matthias Chiang

Mahathir’s die-hard fan and adviser, Matthias Chiang had slammed Najib administration about its handling of the country economy and practically didn’t put any hope that Najib could overcome the global financial crisis. To be fair, Matthias Chiang was also super critical about Abdullah Badawi and his son-in-law administration. Heck, this guy would even criticise Abraham Lincoln and Queen Elizabeth because his only idol was his former boss, Mahathir Mohamad, simply because Mahathir can do no worng as the former premier was the only visionary ever born in this world, literally.

Before the Bersih 2.0 rally, Matthias wrote that Najib should just let the rally proceed and not make a big fuss out of it, something which I wrote earlier as well. But knowing Najib’s arrogance, such advise would not reach his ears. Maybe Matthias was giving Najib last opportunity, after consultation from Mahathir, to stop, think and act rationally rather than emotionally (or rather stupidly). The water is under the bridge now and Najib has to face the consequences of his stubbornness and arrogance.

7) Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah)

Don’t you smell rats (what’s wrong with my nose?) that UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah chose to launch his new group, Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah), at this hour? Suddenly this Kelantan prince called on the silent majority to voice their discontent against “rife corruption, cronyism and racial crisis” despite his many decades serving UMNO as if he has just awaken from hibernation. The fact that he’s still not willing to quit UMNO and focus in this so-called third force raised many questions and doubts.

It’s not difficult to conclude that his new Amanah is more of a political movement set up to take advantage of the current chaos within UMNO and the huge support Bersih 2.0 is enjoying. The fact that the group consists of political veterans (or rather rejected) such as former tourism minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, former Sabah Chief Osu Sukam, former MCA president Ong Tee Keat and others triggered suspicious about its real intention. If you believe these people have Bersih (Clean) themselves, then you also believe Paris Hilton is still a virgin.

Wasn’t Kadir Sheikh Fadzir the person who tried to parachute a proton car into South Pole to impress his boss Mahathir only to find out the oil used couldn’t handle the low temperature? And wasn’t Osu Sukam the guy whom gambling debts snowballed to RM7.1 million that two foreign casinos, London-based Ritz Hotel Casino Ltd and RHC Ltd, had to seek High Court help to recover the debts, despite the fact that as a Muslim Osu Sukam should not had gambled? Sure, they have repented and become the good guys and are now on a mission to save the world (*grin*).

Anyway, is Razaleigh trying to hijack the situation in an attempt to lock-in discontent votes especially from Bersih 2.0′s 709 Facebook revolution and UMNO rejected warlords or little Napoleans who are about to be dumped by Najib in the next general election? As much as Razaleigh tries to lead the third force, he couldn’t even explain the real role of his new pet project, let alone in assuring people that his movement is indeed neutral and not another power broker opportunist. Maybe Razaleigh sensed this will be the golden opportunity for him to become the next prime minister after all.

In a scenario where opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is sent to prison and both opposition and Najib coalition locked in a stalemate in the next general election, PM-wannabe Razaleigh would play the role of the kingmaker, if his Amanah managed to capture some strategic seats. Hey, he didn’t say his Amanah group is purely a NGO and not a potential political party, did he? Mahathir is more than willing to offer the prime ministership to Razaleigh than to lose it to opposition while the opposition would see Razaleigh as a good fit in case of a vacuum left by Anwar Ibrahim.

Razaleigh is old – the most he can walk the corridors of powers is one-term so it seems everybody would favours him, in case of a stalemate. Whether Amanah is the brainchild of Razaleigh or was indirectly sponsored by Mahathir is immaterial. The objective was to unseat Najib Razak as he carries too much baggage so much so that he may bring UMNO down to a level which is beyond repair. When that happens all the corrupt UMNO warlords would need to take the first flight out of the country so you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to decide whether it’s worthwhile to keep Najib Razak. Gosh, the plot thickens and become super interesting.

8 ) Bourdon-French-Scorpene Connection

French human rights lawyer William Bourdon was already in the country since earlier this week and the government had full knowledge about the purpose of his trip and yet the Immigration Department did not refuse him entry into Malaysia, until PM Najib Razak rushed back from his unfinished shopping trip. Surely it can’t be that the Immigration Department was sleeping on the job. Obviously some very senior and influential leaders (more powerful than PM Najib) were pulling the string in allowing the French lawyers into the country to do maximum damage by embarrasing Najib Razak.

The moment Najib rushed home, the French lawyer was deported. Bourdon was arrested after Immigration officials boarded his plane which landed in KLIA from Penang. As expected, the excuse given for the deportation was that the French lawyer violated the conditions of his visit to Malaysia. But if even my cat can tell that it was the government’s RM7.3 billion purchase of submarines from French shipbuilder DCNS that got Bourdon deported, who is Najib administration to bluff?

9) Mahathir Mohamad

There’re two main things that Mahathir doesn’t like about Najib administration – his wife and his close relationship with Singapore, not to mention the dictator just realized Najib is another Abdullah Badawi clone – slogan king without substance. It’s perfectly alright to corrupt but the country’s economy gravy train has to continuously churning out moolah. The pace of corruption and economic progress have to work hand in glove. If you wish to take 100 bucks you have to make sure the economic train can generate at least 200 bucks. But the way the country’s economic is moving, it seems it was in reverse order - too many hands in the cookie jar.

During Mahathir’s era, the corruption was done in a systematic way, you let the goose lay its golden egg before you take it and not the current way of slaughtering the goose hoping to get all the golden eggs. When there’re not enough eggs to be distributed, chaos erupts as everyone would get anxious, panic and greedy thus triggering the process of massive corruption. This is bad for next UMNO leaders (such as Mahathir’s own son or dynasty) as there would be nothing more left. Suddenly it appears bringing Najib down is much more easier than Abdullah Badawi.

However, there’s a risk that Mahathir’s plan may backfire if the opposition manage to capture Putrajaya in the next general election. And that was why Razaleigh’s Amanah is in the picture now. Razaleigh’s Amanah would be able to split the votes which would otherwise ended up in the opposition’s bag as well as to act as bargaining chip should Najib needs them to stay in power. Razaleigh is noble enough to act as the airbag to absorb impact in case of a sudden car crash. Razaleigh doesn’t play dirty politics as he put priority on his dignity as a Kelantan prince. Time will tell if he’s still a fool to be played out, again, by Mahathir. But after more than 20-years since his defeat, maybe Razaleigh is mature and smart enough this time around and may spring some surprises for Mahathir.

Now, Najib’s choices reduced to two – to resign honourably, which is highly unlikely, or to call a snap election this year. PM Najib actually doesn’t have much choice and he has only himself to blame. If only he would listen to the voice of bloggers, the Bersih 2.0 rally would proceed and the whole problem would be non-existent. Negotiate and comply with probably half of the Bersih 2.0′s demands and he can still win handsomely as Sabah and Sarawak are still the fixed deposit. Ambiga is not a politician and surely she would be more than happy if Najib can promise half the demands, buy some time until the next delineation exercise takes effect (another round of gerrymandering) and Najib can still remains as the prime minister.

The National Feedlot Centre (NFC) scandal is just snowballing into a public relations disaster for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. This comes months after the 2010 Report was made public and PKR’s subsequent claims that the NFC management had used money meant for the cattle farm to buy luxurious properties in upscale Bangsar.It’s fine for Najib if he wants to save Wanita Umno chief Datuk Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s blushes as the NFCorp is owned by her husband and children.

Misappropriating Zakat Funds or Public Funds are both criminal offences as stated in the Penal Code.The ingredients required to prove the cases are the same. If misusing the zakat funds temporarily even for a day is an offence, so would it be in the case of misuse of public funds.

If for misusing RM 19.510 of tithe funds, Reduan Mohd.Said got 4 years and 3 strokes of whipping,then Sharizat’s family members should get more, proportionate to the amount they have misused for their own benefits.

Each and everyone of the 28 million people of Malaysia, you and I included not forgetting our children and grandchildren stand to lose RM9/-each of our rights to make up the RM 250 million granted to Sharizat and the children to do whatever!

Even the so called Productivity Incentive Bonuses for 95,945 Felda settlers come to only RM102.58 mil which was about 40% of the amount given just to Sharizat’s family of 5 (equivalent to RM50 mil each).

Of course, he can still gamble his last chip by calling a snap election this year, before Mahathir pull his string from behind getting UMNO Supreme Council warlords demanding Najib’s resignation. Either way, it’s quite difficult for Najib to win two-third majority when his own people are sharpening knifes for his head. It’s game over for Najib Razak. He already made his moolah and can retire young retire rich, at Port Dickson. And Abdullah Badawi may call him from his iPhone poking joke why Najib resigns sooner than his (Badawi) term.

Isn't this policy is unconstituional and multiple double-standards against Malaysians?

2012-01-25T19:36:00.000-08:00

This Cambridge program clearly is violating the Malay language status as the official teaching language in the public funded schools as stipulated in the constitution.

The bumi first apartheid policy in MARA is not just discriminated against non-bumis, a number of bumis who study in the normal schools also being discriminated and made disadvantage to compete with UMNO-chosen MARA students.

It’s not a singe double-standard, there are multiple double-standards in this program.

Stop using English in all normal schools is designed to make your children stupid and inward thinking, and destined to serve elite class as cheap worker, drawing RM1,500 per month as a fresh graduate.

Vote BN out if you are sick with UMNO apartheid policy!

Cambridge programmes at Mara Junior Science Colleges by 2016

PUTRAJAYA: By 2016, the Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education, one of the most recognised qualifications in the world, is expected to be offered at 45 Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) nationwide.

Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) director-general Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad said currently, the programme was only offered at the Tun Abdul Razak, Pekan and Pahang MRSM, from early this year.

Next year, he said, the programme would be available at six more MRSM located in Parit (Perak), Johor Bharu and Batu Pahat (Johor), Sandakan (Sabah), Kota Putra (Terengganu) and Baling (Kedah).

He was speaking to reporters at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here Saturday.

Ibrahim said, so far, response towards the programme had been encouraging, especially from the parents of 180 students already in the programme, as it provided students another certificate besides the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia, to help them pursue their studies abroad.

“We want our students to be global, but at the same time, maintain the character that is synonymous with Malaysia,” he added. – Bernama

Mahathir and his 3M Team are worried and here's why....

2012-01-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

It’s been 50 years since a U.S. Secretary of State stepped foot in Myanmar, now shattered and isolated after decades of military rule. Hillary Clinton’s upcoming visit to the country, which was formerly known as Burma, is something many never expected to see especially after years of paranoid authoritarianism and Soviet-style economic management under military junta. However one can only do so much under international isolation and finally the new president, U Thein Sein, a former general, admitted he needs international legitimacy and recognition.

Surely the new president has to agree to a democratization process, though it could come at a snail-pace speed, and Clinton’s visit is all about that – to see and hear the commitment from the military government. But Myanmar, seen as a pariah-state by the West, immediately attracted comparison with another country, Malaysia, for the wrong reason. Suddenly, Malaysia, under Najib Razak administration, become the laughing stock because its citizens now have less freedom compared to Myanmar, thanks to the recently rushed Peaceful Assembly Law.

Mahathir Mohamad, former premier who ruled with iron-fist, immediately voiced his support for the controversial law, as expected. However there’re other interesting yet mind-boggling opinions from Mahathir that you should pay attention. In fact, this is good news to the opposition and to a certain extent, Najib’s camp. Mahathir, together with his 3M members are actually panic. Mahathir is a master in mind games and he likes to play reverse psychology with his enemies. He claimed he was confident Arab Spring, in referring to Middle East style revolts, was unlikely to spread to Malaysia – but in actual fact he was deadly worried that such uprising could happen anytime.

If it’s easier for the world to end in 2012 than for such revolts to happen in Malaysia, why on earth would the old man waste his time and breath on such minor topic? He knew it could happen, what more with the blatant super-corruption scandals, one after another being exposed with very little interest from the government to combat it. The latest RM250 million NFC Cowgate scandal was awarded to Shahrizat’s family, led by her husband and three children, all of whom know nuts about cattle-rearing except eating beef-satay. It’s amusing that Shahrizat shamelessly, proudly and arrogantly declare that her family deserves it because they were hard-working.

There’s no doubt that Mahathir started the engine of corruption but he has definitely underestimate how the corruption spread like wildfire since he left office. Worse still, almost 99.99% of UMNO members think there’s nothing wrong with the RM250 million scandal which saw the taxpayers money were used instead to purchase luxury condo, overseas trips, plots of land, half a million ringgit Mercedes Benz CLS 350 CGI and whatnot. Envy of Shahrizat’s new found fortune, the delegates from UMNO Wanita openly urged Najib administration to allocate (more like giveaway) projects to the women wing as well.

And this is sending shivers down Mahathir’s spine simply because it confirms the next problem – internal sabotage. Corruption, giveaway projects, easy money otherwise no votes, inflated contractors have become Mahathir’s (new) UMNO’s new nightmare. Heck, the whole system has become so polluted and messy that AirAsia Berhad’s (KLSE: AIRASIA, stock-code 5099) boss, Tony Fernandes, has declares war with “Say No to Airport Tax Increase” campaign today against government-linked company, MAHB, simply because Malaysia Airports wants to get easy revenue instead of being innovative and efficient.

The joke going around – do you know how “well-fed” UMNO delegates who blindly threw their support to their leaders are? Well, look at how obese they are, of course. While the average-Joes are struggling with escalating cost of living, UMNO leaders are munching away the nation’s fortune, at an alarming speed. Hence, the plan to fill only “winnable” candidates in the next general election is tantamount to invite internal sabotage and back-stabbing since all the (“un-winnable”) warlords have been practically milking riches doing nothing. That was the reason Mahathir was not in favour of Najib’s winnable-candidates-only strategy.

Shahrizat’s Cowgate scandal was a good example why winnable-candidate strategy won’t work. The scandal is also a good litmus test to see how serious Najib was with the plan because obviously Shahrizat is not a winnable candidate. But Najib can’t boot Shahrizat out of the list because she’s the leader of the women wing, not to mention she a very close ally of Muhyiddin, the deputy PM and PM wannabe. Muhyiddin has openly defended Shahrizat in the Cowgate scandal and that speaks volume and the reason why warlord Shahrizat was so arrogant and cocky.

Najib is expected to call a snap election early 2012, probably after the Chinese New Year. That was the reason 28-year-old Nazifuddin, Najib’s son, resigned in lightning speed as director of Harvest Court Industries Berhad after his controversial appointment. Mahathir has every reason to worry since the opposition is expected to play to the fullest UMNO’s scandals – Shahrizat’s RM250 million Cowgate, Auntie Rosy’s RM24 million diamond ring and the latest naughty jokes of Shahrizat’s RM26,000 bra (*grin*). This also means the government can kiss the Chinese votes goodbye.

Mahathir also tried to joke that smarter voters are giving the present government headaches especially with the advancement in information technology, not to mention the popular social networking. You can bet that he was relieved in a way that such technology did not flourish during his 22-year-rule. Indirectly he hinted he was lucky to have stupid or fools who voted and worship him as if he was the Egyptian’s Greatest Pharaoh. But that doesn’t hide his worry that UMNO may not be able to win a comfortable victory in the coming 13th general election even with the tens of thousands of cheating illegal workers’ votes behind them.

Mahathir can’t do much about the young voters who worship internet and despise government controlled media. The government cannot brainwash the Facebook and Twitter generation and this is worrying Mahathir. You can’t fool that the RM1.8 million spent on Facebook was a freaking good idea. From the global support for the previous Bersih 2.0, Mahathir knows the Middle East style uprising is real and could explode anytime if the right ingredients are put in place. And that was why the Peaceful Assembly Law was rushed before the general election. Mahathir is praying hard there won’t be any hung Parliament – it could spark the peoples’ revolt if Najib administration blatantly bulldoze against the result and claim the government, never mind without international legitimacy and recognition.

Yes, Najib’s administration will most likely win the next general election but Mahathir is deadly worry about the result of the election as well. If Najib win too big, Mahathir-Muhyiddin’s plan to unseat Najib would be affected. If the status quo remains, there’s a possibility of the opposition taking over the government. Anwar has learnt the lesson from his previous Sept 16 takeover plan, and he’s not going to repeat his mistake twice. He’s well prepared for the eventuality of a hung parliament. In actual fact, as we speak, Anwar has pretty much secured a latest list of possible frogs from Najib’s administration. In order to form the next government, these frogs would get whatever they demand to jump over to Anwar’s camp.

Nevertheless between the two, Muhyiddin is more desperate than Mahathir and this can be seen by how the deputy PM played the Malay sentiments to the tip of mount Everest, using DAP as the punching bag. Poor DAP was accused of being anti-Malay, anti-Islam, insults civil servants, disrespect royal institution, wanted to turn Malaysia into a republic and whatnot. Heck, if possible Muhyiddin would like to even accuse DAP of having a role in Andy Lau’s wife, Carol Chu’s pregnancy. This is understandable because Muhyiddin is the next in line to become the Prime Minister.

Next year, 2012, will indeed be an extraordinary year. Times will tell if Najib’s latest formula of “extraordinary work to get extraordinary victory” will work or not. It could turn out to be an extraordinary defeat or victory for either the present government or the hungry opposition. It could also trigger an extraordinary uprising due to extraordinary cheating by Najib’s administration. It could also bring about an extraordinary internal sabotage within UMNO that even the opposition couldn’t believe it themselves. But for Shahrizat, she has already made his extraordinary moolah and enjoys her extraordinary luxury condo, extraordinary huge plots of land, extraordinary comfortable Mercedes Benz and extraordinary piece of bra.

BN political patronage under scrutiny after scandals uncovered

2012-01-25T19:27:00.000-08:00

By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 — Disclosures of financial scandals involving top Umno politicians in recent months are set to put political patronage under the spotlight in a year in which a general election is expected, observers say.

While allegations of impropriety in Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil’s family-run RM250 million National Feedlot Centre (NFC) has dominated headlines since November, scandals of lesser amounts linked to current and past members of the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration have also captured public imagination.

Political observers told The Malaysian Insider that with the nexus between politics and business coming under growing public scrutiny, “these scandals will stick.”

“People are going to ask whether this government is serving the interests of politicians, or the majority of Malaysians who are not politicians,” Centre for Public Policy Studies chairman Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam told The Malaysian Insider.

Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M) president Datuk Paul Low said the watchdog has seen public interest in corruption surge recently, with a survey last month showing 90 per cent of Malaysians would seize the opportunity to fight graft.

“It’s clear that the public now won’t just let this go away. These scandals will stick,” he said.

PKR has repeatedly accusing Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat and her family of abusing public funds in the national cattle farming project including up to RM27 million in land and property unrelated to cattle farming.

It has also led calls for Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom to be charged for allegedly abusing zakat funds after accusing the minister in charge of Islamic affairs of paying legal fees using RM63,650 in alms money.

An anonymous blogger TheWhistleblower711 has also alleged that former Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman and Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Awang Adek Hussin received RM300,000 and RM100,000 in bribes respectively from Gerbang Perdana managing director Yahya Abd Jalil.

But both Umno leaders denied the claim, with Azalina stating that it was payment for the sale of a classic car and Awang Adek saying the cash was for social programmes in Bachok, where he is division chief.

Former federal minister Tan Sri Datuk Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir also recently claimed that BN handed out up to RM1,000 in previous election campaigns in attempts to buy votes, a tactic known as “bomb”.

“People have always known these things happen. But Barisan Nasional is more vulnerable today and as Najib is trying to bring about political transformation, he cannot afford that kind of scandal.

“Now that Najib is pushing for reforms, any scandal can be magnified and cause damage,” political consultant Ong Kian Ming said.

These recent disclosures have come in quick succession and potentially undermine the Najib administration’s Government Transformation Programme (GTP) where fighting corruption is one of seven National Key Result Areas (NKRA).

The recent declaration of assets by the Penang executive council has also ensured the spotlight is firmly focused on political patronage, with Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng repeatedly pushing for the Cabinet to follow suit.

Chief Justice Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria also announced that judges will soon be required to declare their assets in order to ensure judicial integrity.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) advisory panel then upped the pressure on the federal government by stating that Najib has agreed in principle for Cabinet members and their families to declare their assets to the anti-graft body.

Although the BN chief has not commented on the announcement, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said ministers should only declare their assets to the PM.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli, who has made repeated exposes over the NFC, said even though there were billion-ringgit deals under scrutiny such as the RM9 billion for naval patrol vessels being pursued by DAP, they did not resonate with the grassroots.

“They don’t encounter these things on a daily basis. But when it comes to being paid off to give a contract here, or a license there, the public can relate because they also have had to pay,” he said.

Is Umno racist?

2012-01-25T19:23:00.000-08:00

Make no mistake, UMNO is out to win at all cost and this is powered by the greed of its many division chiefs who see the political party as a means to reap huge monetary rewards, once they get a seat on the gravy train. And this is why, there is constant infighting for position at an UMNO General Assembly. It is truly a dog-eat-dog race.

Non-Malay Bumi members

So far, the gravy train has been laden with enough goodies to keep everyone on the Umno pirate ship happy. But the fact remains. UMNO is racist. Just ask any Chinese, Christian or Hindu. Over the years, it was UMNO that used the racial and religious card to keep their voter camp in check.

Pick up a copy of the UMNO-owned paper, Utusan Malaysia, and see to what extent its writing promote togetherness amongst the Malays in stark contrast to its lack of acknowledgment of the rights of other ethnic groups in the country.

Take a second look at the covert UMNO sub-group – PERKASA, and one can clearly see the party’s overtly racist nature. UMNO can claim that they are not racist, but even the apparatus linked to it are.

Malay rights or Umno-putra rights

It is arguable but perhaps there is nothing wrong with a political party championing the rights and issues related to their own ethnic group. Political parties around the globe do this. But certainly, it is wrong when a party like UMNO uses the guise of “Malay rights” to demean, insult and abuse other minority groups for their own gains.

Yes, the Malays are the majority stakeholders who have maximum control over every government and economic apparatus in Malaysia. The Malays are not only defined but also protected under the Federal Consitution of Malaysia. The main-stream media projects the Malay culture as being the Malaysian culture world-wide. The Malays have had all the privileges this fair country can offer bestow upon them, yet that seems to be not enough to satisfy them.

This is the greed that will doom Malaysia if allowed to continue. Essentially, this greed can traced back to UMNO and how its leaders have taken their time to suck the riches of this fair country.

The mother of all corruption in Malaysia

Muhyiddin alleged that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s image as a leader was tarnished . But he forgets his own image, which like his boss Prime Minister Najib Razak, is also sullied by corruption scandals.

Muhyiddin was seen to have ‘overdone’ it in Johor, while for Najib, the Scorpene Scandal, the Altantuya murder, grand abuse of public money to fund his overseas trips and family’s lavish lifestyle actually make him the most unsuitable and unqualified PM ever for any country. Even Italy booted out Berlusconi in the end.

But here in Malaysia, UMNO puts in charge of the country’s coffers someone who has already been accused of pilfering from it. This is also the arrogance of UMNO. Malay supremacy means none of the Malay leaders can do any wrong. Dishonesty, it seems, pays in UMNO.

The unconditional support of the UMNO Wanita for their embattled leader Sharizat Jalil seems commendable, but it also shows how easily UMNO would support and defend its own ‘cheats’, who allegedly embezzle public funds while demonising other Malaysians for wanting to voice out their dissatisfaction at the corrupt election procedures.

In this regards, UMNO is not merely racist but also a den of thieves. And they are proud of it.

Night vs Day

UMNO cannot be compared to DAP, PKR or PAS. For years, the Pakatan Rakyat threesome have had to fight as under-dogs in a political landscape carved out by UMNO and Barisan Nasional.

It is to the Pakatan Rakyat and the people’s credit that in 2008, change came about in a big way for Malaysia. Bear in mind, UMNO has total control over every election in Malaysia. The Election Commission, the police, main-stream media; all kowtow to UMNO and making any headway, such as what Pakatan Rakyat did in 2008, is a small miracle.

In 2008, the biggest thrust for change came from the minority group that is essentially non-UMNO and non-Malay. But even in the Malay areas, it would take a mere 5% swing for the constituency to go Pakatan Rakyat’s way. What does this imply? Even the Malays are not happy with UMNO’s overly corrupt and racist ways.

Muhyiddin Yassin is wrong to the core, UMNO is racist. The events of this year alone prove it. UMNO has supported the demeaning and demonizing of other ethnic groups in the country so as to keep the Malay electorate scared and insecure. UMNO has supported the corrupt practices of its leaders in order to keep the rural Malays poor, backward and dependent on its hand-outs.

For this reason alone, Malaysians have to stand up and stop the rot that UMNO is wreaking and encumbering Malaysia with.

The video clearly shows the disruption caused by the outsiders and yet the police said nothing happened?'

2012-01-25T19:21:00.000-08:00

Police must explain tardiness in taking action

Six nabbed over disruption of ABU ceramah

Not Confused: This incident, and the following statements by Selangor police chief Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah shows clearly how the senior police officers in this country are so out of touch with reality and hopelessly ignorant of public sentiments, or worse, don't really care.

He obviously doesn't understand how acts by thugs like this can go viral on the Internet in minutes. To state that nothing happened is crass stupidity.

The facts are clear for the rest of us to see in our own homes. The sooner the upper echelons of the PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) are consigned to retirement, the better for this country.

So the organisers have to inform the police in advance of such events "... so that they can be prepared, and respect local sensitivities on the subject matter of speeches to avoid anyone from being unhappy with their event".

Let me get this right, if an event is organised that doesn't meet the approval of local residents, then it cannot proceed? Is that right?

The organisers therefore have to canvass local opinion (or worse still, the police will have to), before any event can be held.

How many residents have to object, and how many have to approve before the police are happy that it proceeds? What about freedom of association and speech?

Pemerhati: Umno seems to follow the same modus operandi when it wants to create trouble and tension.

It probably has a group of thugs on its payroll, who, before starting any sort of incident or demonstration, are most probably briefed by Umno ring leaders together with the police as to how they should act.

Notice at all the nasty incidents in the past such as Apcet II, the cow-head incident, etc, the police would either only show up after the Umno thugs had caused havoc or if present, they would allow them to cause some havoc before pretending to stop them.

In this particular case, the police only arrived after the thugs had caused havoc and serious injury.

The involvement of the police here is clearly indicated because Selangor CPO Tun Hisan lied blatantly to protect the thugs by saying that nothing happened, even though the video evidence clearly showed the havoc caused by the thugs.

Ferdtan: It is obvious that the purpose of the trouble makers in the ABU (Anything But Umno) ceramah in Shah Alam was to instigate racial conflict; in this case against the minority - the Indians.

The reason is that this is not the first time such political strategy was being used - remember the cow-head protests in 2009 whereby Muslim protesters threatened bloodshed over the construction of a Hindu temple in Section 23 of Shah Alam?

There were only 20 rowdies, some were seen wearing Umno T-shirts, not only causing ruckus but injured one person. The reactions of the early crowd of peaceful Malays and Indians were magnificent in the face of such provocation.

The ABU members, especially those from the Hindraf deserved praise - they remained cool. If the police do not arrest and charge the intruders quickly, especially the fat man who was so clearly identified in YouTube to be abusive, then this will confirm a political plot by Umno with the connivance of the police.

PB Win: The police are always trapped by their own words. Why were the men detained and allegedly being charged under Section 148 (possession of weapons, including sticks, in a riot)?

So the police do agree that there was a riot-like atmosphere originating from the pro-Umno group. Then they ought to have also known that there was a pre-planned ceramah and the possibility of a riot or a ruckus being instigated.

Were the men detained for holding sticks and wandering aimlessly around the area? What next - the fat man (who was caught on video) accidentally walked into the wrong ‘dewan' (hall) and disrupted the wrong ceramah?

Changeagent: How can detaining six youths who were "not part of the incident" be of any assistance in the police investigations?

I may have zero policing experience, but my common sense tells me that detaining the culprits who were actually part of the incident could assist the police more.

This ineffective, lethargic and insipid response by the Selangor police really demonstrates the lack of common sense, honesty, justice and ethical standards in the force.

Onyourtoes: What happened to the rest who were directly related to the incident? The police are blatantly inefficient, stupid and biased.

They can't see the pain of injustice committed on others. The police are nurturing and inculcating a hooligan culture which will come back to haunt them, just you watch.

Dingy: Why should ordinary people disrupt the ABU (Anything But Umno) ceramah? It doesn't make sense.

It has to be pro-Umno or Umno members who did it. Many Umno youths are fanatics. They will do whatever their Umno big brother asks them to do.

PM Najib Razak had called on Umno to defend Putrajaya at all costs. I am not surprised if BN were to fall in GE13, Najib would deploy the army, police, Umno Youth, Perkasa and silat groups to stop Pakatan Rakyat and the rakyat from marching to Putrajaya.

Hopefully Anwar will not celebrate the victory and remain calm to avoid clashes with pro-Umno troublemakers. Najib needs an excuse to declare emergency rule should Pakatan come to power.

Sha’ani upbraids cops over ‘stupid’ statements by Malaysian senior police

2012-01-25T19:19:00.002-08:00

Human rights commissioner Mohd Sha’ani Abdullah blew his top today over what he deemed as the “stupidity” and immaturity of senior police officers and their statements about a recent disturbance during an anti-BN ceramah in Klang.

“As senior officers, their standards are way higher. They must know their facts and know their responsibility,” he told reporters at the commission’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

“I cannot accept their statements. They should work to earn our respect and not just show that they are the boss.”

Mohd Sha’ani (right) however clarified that this is his personal viewpoint, though he will table it to the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam).

He saidthe police are meant to represent all of society, not just the majority.

He chastised the police for seemingly making excuses for the aggressors, empowering them to do as they please, to the detriment of the human rights of those who are the victims of the assault.

“Malaysia’s eminent institutions do not understand human rights principles,” he lamented, equating any compromise on human rights for “security purposes to an abuse of power”.

He contended that the police are supposed to keep the peace and prevent untoward incidents, not compromise and reduce the rights of Malaysians to free expression.

This, he said, is what happens when the police just look for an easy way out to lighten their work load, and effect “arrest without warrant, charge without proof, punish without trial.”

Asked if Suhakam itself would be issuing a severe reprimand to the police over their “stupidity” and “lack of maturity”, he said this would depend on the outcome of the meeting.

“That depends on the commission. After we meet, we may issue a statement or use other means to express our views.”

He was commenting on statements by the Shah Alam OCPD and police over the incident last Saturday when about 20 youths, who may have included Umno and BN members, allegedly disrupted a ceramah held by anti-BN group Asalkan Bukan Umno-BN (ABU).

The police had reportedly commented that the ceramah, which they said started during evening prayers and contained speeches that irked the ire of over 1,000 villagers, had to be ordered cancelled in the face of mounting local dissent.

Police also maintained that they was no damage to the venue and surrounding stalls and no one was injured.

However, ABU organisers who came to lodge a report with Suhakam today disputed the statement point-by-point.

The NGO insisted that only 20 youths had rushed the ceramah at 9.15pm, before it even started. it said speeches had not yet begun and that the session had not been organised during evening prayers.

ABU also claimed that a member of the audience identified only as Krishna, of Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS, had been injured by the stick-wielding intruders.

Video footage of assault

To support their claim, the NGO presented Suhakam with two video recordings on the assault by the group.

In the video, one attacker was seen punching an organiser and several youths armed with sticks were seen rushing into the hall, knocking aside chairs and threatening those in the hall, targeting Indians in the crowd. Scuffles erupted as a result.

Some of the attacking youth rode their motorcycles close to the venue entrance, gunning the engines and honking loudly.

Based on the footage, the ABU organisers appeared calm and did not react belligerently, despite the provocation.

ABU also furnished pictures of the faces and motorcycle registration numbers of the attacking group, which did not appear to be 1,000-strong in the footage, but numbering just under two dozen.

ABU urged Suhakam to investigate the matter and take stern action. Mohd Sha’ani promised to see this through.

Present to state ABU’s case were key orginisers Badrul Hisham Shahrin from Solidariti Mahasiswa Malaysia, S Arutchelvan from PSM, Hindraf national coordinator W Sambulingam and Haris Ibrahim of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia.

Sydney designer: Rosmah did make purchases

2012-01-25T19:19:00.001-08:00

Sydney designer Carl Kapp has confirmed that the Malaysian premier’s wife Rosmah Mansor had made purchases at his store, but denied ever saying that she had spent A$100,000.

Responding in a statement today to Malaysiakini‘s request for comments, Kapp (right) said Rosmah and her “sizeable group” had during her visit “made various purchases”.

He said he had not disclosed the amount spent, which had been stated in fashion blog Frockwriter and the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) column ‘Private Sydney’.

“I wish to clarify that in my statement on this distinguished client’s visit, never did I make any specific reference to the amount spent at my Paddington store,” Kapp said in a carefully worded statement.

“… during their visit, members of (Rosmah’s) party, including friends and the chair(person) and organiser of Islamic Fashion Festival separately made various purchases. I believe Datin Sri Rosmah is the patron (of) this Islamic Fashion Festival.”

Frockwriter had on Jan 17 reported, based on an interview with Kapp, that “Rosmah wound up ordering 61 silk pieces”.

“Based on the average prices in his collections – which start at A$400 and reach several thousand dollars, Frockwriter estimates it could be approaching A$100,000. Kapp was paid upfront,” blogger Patty Huntington wrote.

SMH columnist Andrew Hornery meanwhile reported that the PM’s wife had “dropped an estimated A$100,000 in (Kapp’s) boutique ordering garments during a private holiday in Sydney”.

‘I’m not indiscreet’

According to Kapp’s statements, the column was also “inaccurate” in claiming that he is being “flown to Malaysia next month” solely for custom-fiitting the outfits.

“Visits to various parts of Asia, including Malaysia, for the purposes of channel marketing for our merchandise and sourcing of materials for future products are a regular part of my work calendar and ordinary course of business,” he said.

He said the article had unfairly presented him and his business as being “indiscreet” and “willing to divulge personal and private information…(of) clients”.

“This is manifestly untrue, and we wish to state unequivocally that we value greatly the privacy of our clientele and would never violate their confidence under any circumstance.” he said.

In a response to Malaysiakini today, Hornery said it was Kapp’s publicist who had approached fashion journalists in Sydney with information on Rosmah’s visit.

He also said the designer had spoken to him on record and was “as candid as he could be”.

Hornery dismissed claims by Rosmah that his report was “wildly exaggerated” and “untrue”, saying that he stands by his report.

Huntington, on her Twitter account, said today that Rosmah’s reaction was “amusing”.

“I think there are about to be a few more developments. Stay tuned…,” she said.

Upshot of attacks on Anwar, ABU

2012-01-25T19:18:00.001-08:00

This is not an auspicious start to the Year of the Dragon for the PM. The person who controls events in Malaysia and who will undoubtedly shape its future, is one effete man called Saiful Bukhari Azlan.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is wrong to think he leads the country.

Malaysians thought that after 9 January, the nation would move on, but their dream was shortlived. Only in Malaysia would the government and its institutions, like the judiciary, be preoccupied with Saiful’s posterior, just as his face will always be associated with Sodomy II.

So now, instead of the nation concentrating on a way forward, of improving our lives, of revitalising the economy and of making sure our politicians do the work we elected them for, we are trapped in Sodomy II, Scene 2.

Both Saiful (left) and his father had pleaded with the attorney-general to appeal against the acquittal, for the sake of Saiful and their family’s ‘dignity’. What dignity?

When Anwar was acquitted, the government machinery was quick to make as much political mileage out of it. Within 24 hours of the acquittal, Cabinet ministers proclaimed that Anwar’s acquittal was proof that the judiciary was independent.

Myth missed

This is one myth that the eminent historian, Professor Khoo Kay Kim missed. Last week, after dismissing the existence of the Chinese princess Hang Li Po or the Malay warriors Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, Khoo forgot to mention Malaysia’s other myth: That the judiciary is independent.

Nevertheless, can someone in government list how many man hours, how many government departments and how many millions of taxpayers’ money has been spent on Sodomy II?

To put things into perspective, could they also give a similar breakdown for Sodomy I?

Only the naïve would have believed that with Anwar’s acquittal, came the end of Sodomy II.

Judge Mohamad Zabidin Diah said that “the court cannot be 100 percent certain that DNA was not contaminated.” We should have told him that “the rakyat cannot be 100 percent certain that the judiciary is independent.”

Zabidin (left) delivered Anwar’s acquittal in 90 seconds flat and yet for months, led us to believe that Anwar was doomed.

In June 2011, Anwar failed in his third attempt to have Zabidin recused. Anwar’s first attempt was when Zabidin failed to take action against Utusan Malaysia for unfair reporting. Zabidin had also threatened to cite Karpal Singh for contempt of court.

The judge called Saiful a “truthful and credible witness” and the court agreed that the testimonies of the doctors and chemists supported the findings.

Then, after relying solely on Saiful’s “reliable” testimony and that the court would “establish all the facts required to prove the charge against the accused”, Zabidin did a U-turn and acquitted Anwar.

Note that Zabidin did not say that Anwar was innocent of the charges. He said that the prosecution did a bad job. To date, it is alleged that Zabidin has yet to complete his written judgment of the acquittal.

Spotlight on ineptitude

If Najib thought that after the acquittal, the world would go away and think well of his administration, he is wrong. The spotlight is again on his ineptitude.

The world must think Malaysia a nation of sodomisers. The rakyat is fed up with the continuing saga of Sodomy II, but Umno/BN leaders feel it necessary to shaft them.

Perhaps, Najib is aware that his so-called reforms are not widely believed by Malaysians. In truth, they are not reforms. Not when draconian laws are replaced by others, even more severe. Not when Malaysians are denied the right to freedom of assembly.

Last week, Najib addressed about 1,000 foreign delegates at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre and talked about 1Malaysia and the nation’s values of moderation.

He said, “We know that we are best and strongest when we actively embrace our differences rather than just putting up with them…..We need to hear from moderates of all religions in all countries and from all walks of life.”

ABU meet disrupted

A few days after this convention, a meeting jointly organised by Anything But Umno (ABU) and the Hindu Rakyat Action Force (Hindraf), was cancelled at the last minute when it was disrupted by several youths wearing T-shirts emblazoned with BN and Umno logos, and armed with sticks.

One thug shouted, “Berambus. Dah hidup senang dekat sini, nak banyak cakap. Aku bagi chance lagi. Kalau aku datang sekali lagi, mampus semua orang.”

This threat means, “Get lost! Despite having a good life here, you complain too much. I’m giving you another chance. If I return, you will all die.”

These thugs were Malay men. Any true Malay present would have been ashamed. One Malay lady who was at the ceramah left presumably because she feared further violence. A boy was beaten up, a motorcycle was driven into the hall, the thugs acted menacingly throwing leaflets and chairs around.

Are we so naïve to think that these thugs acted alone, without the directive of a higher authority?

So much for Najib’s moderation. Malay values? Islamic ideals?

Later, Selangor police chief Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah (right) denied that anyone had been injured.

“Nothing happened, the residents were unhappy, that’s all. No BN or Umno supporters disturbed them.”

Is it any wonder that Najib’s administration is treated with derision and mockery?

The public is repulsed by a judiciary that claims to be independent and then sets out to destroy the very fabric of fairness and justice.

The government plays silly games with the rakyat because they know their days are numbered.

The Umnoputeras get richer and are immune from prosecution even when there is compelling evidence that laws have been broken.

The police fail in enforcing the law and fail to keep public order.

Umno/BN politicians have no clue about what goes on in the everyday world of the middle or lower classes. The politicians rob the public purse and treat it as their personal kitty. Laws do not apply to them.

The injustice which afflicts normal Malaysians and affects opposition politicians who pose a threat to Umno/BN, is glaring.

Najib said he wanted to pursue moderation in “democracy, rule of law, education, human dignity and social justice”. What a shame that he lied and feels it unnecessary to practise such noble values in his own backyard.

That is why Saiful’s appeal and the ABU attack may finally focus the rakyat’s minds on justice, and galvanise them to vote for their own freedom in GE-13.

Pua wants ‘moderate’ Najib to denounce Perkasa

2012-01-25T19:16:00.000-08:00

Prime Minister and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak must cut off all association with the Malay rights pressure group, Perkasa, to prove that he is really promoting moderation.

Otherwise, said DAP publicity chief Tony Pua (right), Najib’s attempt to promote the Global Movement of Moderates is “nothing but a political scam”.

Claiming that Perkasa comprises “mainly Umno members”, Pua in a statement today said Perkasa goes against moderation by making statements in “Umno-owned mainstream media” which cause inter-religious friction.

“The latest statement by the Perkasa secretary-general – ‘the faith of Islam, of Muslims is under siege in Selangor … Perkasa is concerned about a more aggressive Christianisation attempt, especially with (Menteri Besar) Khalid (Ibrahim) in charge of the exco portfolio for Islam’ – seeks to fananti-Christian sentiments,” said Pua.

Instead of ticking off Perkasa for “stirring religious intolerance and extremism”, the Petaling Jaya Utrara MP said Najib had “more than once made policy U-turns to placate Ibrahim Ali, the Perkasa supremo”.

Najib had said, during the International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates last week, that it was “time for moderates to reclaim the agenda for peace” and to “marginalise the extremists”.

‘Take a hike’

In an immediate reaction, Ibrahim said Pua should “look in the mirror” before branding anyone extremist, and ask himself who the real “chauvinist party” is.

“Pua can take a hike. (He) is not fit to talk and to advise. Perkasa has nothing to do with Umno. We are a NGO and we engage with government to pursue our (goals) like other NGOs,” he said.

Ibrahim added that Pua is engaging in “double standards” by trying to silence Perkasa, “a party that defends freedom of speech and democracy”, and that is “shameful”.

PKR: AG's clarification doesn't absolve NFC

2012-01-25T19:15:00.001-08:00

The Auditor General's statement yesterday, clarifying that his department's audit was on the National Feedlot Centre and not the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) does not preclude abuse of power.

Saying this in a series of Twitter postings yesterday, PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution (left) said that the fact remains that the "heart of the misappropriation lies in NFC" and its subsidiaries which all belong to cabinet minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil's family.

"The fact that the Auditor General conducted an audit on the National Feedlot Centre and not NFC (the company) does not change the fact that there was misappropriation of RM250 million in public funds," he said.

Saifuddin added that he was rehashing the facts of the case as there had been an attempt to twist it and drag the AG into the issue, saying PKR trusts in the AG's integrity.

According to the Machang MP, the registrar of companies' records show that NFC, the integrator for the feedlot project had as of Dec 31, 2009 long term liabilities amounting to RM256,082, 518.

"This means that the government loan (of RM250 million) has been channeled to NFC," he said.

Going through PKR's previous exposes on the matter, Saifuddin said NFC had then channeled RM81,222,448.93 to National Livestock and Meat Corporation, wholly owned by the family.

Some of this cash was then used to buy the two units of luxury condominiums in the One Menerung complex in Bangsar, he claimed.

He added that NFC, run by Shahrizat's husband Mohamad Salleh Ismail and their children, also transferred funds to the Real Food Company which they wholly own.

The company operates three high end restaurants.

"NFC has to clarify many things, the condominiums in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, the land in Precinct 10 Putrajaya, the RM823,000 spent on overseas trips and the RM2,964,555 transferred to Real Food.

Not in a mess

"I congratulate the AG for a job well done, the rest is up to the police and the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission. PKR is ready to fully cooperate," he said.

Yesterday, the AG, Ambrin Buang,(right) said in a statementthat his 2010 report never said that NFC was in a mess or that there was misappropriation of funds.

He added that the audit was not on the company but on the feedlot project, which had not fulfilled its objectives, due to several reasons including the failure of NFC to meet its agreed upon obligations.

NFC executive director Wan Shahinur Izmir Salleh in a separate statement yesterday also urged the public to read the AG's report for themselves instead of being "falsely misled" by certain quarters to believe that NFC is in a "mess".

NFC had also held a dialogue with NGOs and is expected to have another round of dialogues with another set of civil society groups to explain its case.

Police and MACC are also investigating the matter.

UMNO@BN's razzmatazz, slogans, threats, warnings, corruption, racists etc . Does Malaysia support such govt.

2012-01-25T19:08:00.000-08:00

If only politics could have survived on a staple of threats and warnings or euphoria of public events and unending slogan launches, we do not need democracy and general elections.

But in Malaysia, the BN-led political parties just seem to be so caught up with so many public events, launching all kinds of slogans, and in between these, spurting threats and warnings. Wonder what kind of political science school they attended.

Why do we need to spend so much of public funds to organize so many events all in the interest of getting the public to abandon the opposition parties? In the first place does it work?

Why do we need to be so obsessed with all kinds of seemingly clever slogans that come with grand launches costing much money? Do these slogans wipe clean the issues that are hand?

And, why can we not learn quickly that the age of threats and warnings is long gone with the winds of change. Today, politicians in the rest of the world are quickly re-learning the art of persuasive communication. Is this too hard for BN politicians to fathom?

The Mahathir mantra that ‘when you tell a lie all too often, it becomes a truth’ is already ancient. Not in these times of the liberating internet medium. But why do the BN politicians still practice this antiquated art of communication?

Confront the allegations

BN must address the allegations. BN must address the concerns. BN must engage the communities with compassion, discourse, cooperation and underscore all these with earnest goodwill.

Billowing threats and warnings is not going to advance the BN agenda to the advantage of nation building.

BN must not dismiss allegations by crying “we are victims”. On the contrary, if BN politicians understand 21st Century politics, they must quickly commission independent, reliable and transparent investigations. In fact the leaders must summon such investigations even before the rakyat through their opposition political parties sound the drum.

But that does not seem to be the case all the time. On the contrary, when the drums of suspicion are sounded, defence pours in freely and only much much later do we get some whimpering admission of guilt. Why must it be always be this way?

Why is it so difficult to observe these tested and proven basics in persuasive communication, one wonders?

BN must remember that glossy prints cannot hide dirty truth. Arty-farty razzmatazz events cannot hoodwink the rakyat. In fact it becomes the very ammunition of your political rivals. Slogans died with Hitler. Today, the voice of the people needs to be harnessed and cusped close to your political bosom – not shooed and silenced away with threats and warnings.

Well if BN thinks it is still relevant for the times and the nation’s future, it better revisit its political strategies all over again. And quickly put its agents through political communication school.

Why?

Because democracy has re-awakened with a thunder and as the rules of Adam Smith are being re-written, democracy is here to stay its full course. Remember BN, Mahathir’s ‘managed democracy’ has outlived its purpose and times. Times are changing and changing really fast. From Russia to China, and to the rest of the world the signs are clearly written.

Today public accountability is the cardinal principle of political survival.

Malaysia Chronicle

Systematic siphoning of rakyat’s money by UMNO government

2012-01-25T19:06:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2012

I refer to the article, ‘Chua: Country needs a proven government’ in The Star (Jan 23). Chua, You nominate your son as deputy minister and director in Star.

You didn’t say anything about the experience of those involved in NFC. Razak Baginda’s company was paid RM570 million for coordination and support services.

What about those involved in PKFZ? We have built rent seeking nation car. Got proven record meh? Your silence means you condone those things?

What is proven is a systematic siphoning of the rakyat’s money, albeit legally, through various rent seeking projects:

- We are paying much more as a consequence of proton. All kinds of taxes are levied on foreign so that Proton can compete.

- IPP’s are subsidised and paid according to their capacity, even when energy is not loaded onto the national grid.

- Highway tolls are increased periodically, and the government guarantees them a certain minimum traffic volume.

- APs given to individuals and companies deprived the gomen and the people of revenue.

- Negotiated tenders, rather than open tenders, increases the costs of projects, also enables corruption.

- Sales of public lands without tenders means only cronies will be able to get their prize for a song.

- PKFZ and NFC are proven abuses that do not benefit the people.

- Captial flight amounting to almost a trillion means we have one trillion less for development, benefiting the people.

- Laws such as ISA, OSA, PPPA, EO, UCA are suppressive laws that reduce transparency, enabling corruption.

- Domination of the executive over the other two branches of government serves to deprive the people of greater democracy.

- No public accounts for Petronas, which means hanky panky is possible.

- Using Petronas money to bail out anak Apa Nama Itu.

- Using Petronas money to bail out CIMB, which became insolvent due to huge borrowing from a dominant political party.

- Denying petroleum royalty to the people of Kelantan, indicating a lack of sincerity in helping the rural Malays.

Umno-Putrajaya's divided politics is affecting the ground in Sabah and giving Jeffrey Kitingan a helpful hand.

2012-01-25T19:04:00.000-08:00

KOTA KINABALU: If you’re an advertising man, you will liken politics to a “product” for which the end-users are the citizens. For the citizens to buy into the “product”, the spokesperson must be able to communicate the product’s “Unique Selling Propositions” (USP) to the citizen.

Jeffrey Kitingan’s USP is simply “Sabah for Sabahans”.

If there’s one man in Sabah who has “bled” from the insane political “kicks, punches and lynchings”, for his bullish stance on self-determination for Sabah, it’s Jeffrey.

Despite his 31-month detention under Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1991, he has remained resolute in his political drive to abolish all laws which he feels are an affront to human and civil rights.

He has dismissed rumour-mongers, lethal media reports, political forecasts and soothsayers, doggedly determined to keep Sabah for Sabahans

Jeffrey is standing alone, dignified and refusing to align himself or his Borneo Alliance idea with either opposition Pakatan Rakyat or ruling Barisan Nasional.

He trusts neither. And anyone declaring their support for either one is viewed with suspicion. Jeffrey’s agenda is the reinstatement of the terms in the 1963 Malaysia Agreement for Sabah.

His agenda is to right the wrongs instituted against Sabah by the federal ruling coalition. His agenda is to restore Sabah’s dignity and self-respect. His agenda is to recover Sabah’s “autonomous state” as listed in the 20-point agreement.

‘This is the time’

Sabahans, Jeffrey has repeatedly said, have been financially squeezed and economically sapped by the federal government and its inequitable distribution of revenue derived from the state’s own resources.

He hammered home this message to a highly-charged audience here earlier this month.

Some 4,000 people braved the rain and distance to see Jeffrey launch his political vehicle – the Sabah chapter of the State Reform Party (STAR) on Jan 6, 2012.

Jeffrey is STAR’s Sabah chairman and has already received more than 60,000 membership applications to join the party. This within a short three weeks since it sent out 100,000 application forms.

His battle cry to his people now is simply: “Kita mesti menentukan nasib kita sendiri. Jangan biar orang lain menentukannya untuk kita. Kalau bukan kita, siapa lagi? Kalau bukan sekarang, bila lagi? Ini kali lah!” (We must decide our own destiny. Don’t let others decide it for us. If not us, who else? If not now, when. This is the time!)

He continues to do this at every gathering and at every function.

Is Jeffrey’s call for Sabah autonomy hurting Chief Minister and Umno Sabah president Musa Aman? The grapevine here has its own theories.

One tale claims that Musa is rattled by the groundswell of support Jeffrey is generating and that he and his brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan have fallen out.

The other story speaks of Musa’s secret delight in this new psy-war which is part of a “bigger” picture.

Deliverance and greater autonomy

But both tales revolve around “greater autonomy” for Sabah after the 13th general election. The details of the “greater autonomy”, however, heavily depends on the deliverance.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is apparently agreeable to “some” changes. But the deal is only “viable” if Sabah delivers 100 percent in the general election.

Prior to 2008, Musa would have easily shook hands on it, but this time the situation is different.

Musa does not have the same “dictatorial power” over Sabah Umno that his peer Taib Mahmud has over his Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) party in Sarawak.

Not only is Musa faced with internal turmoil within Sabah Umno but he also seems unable to mend fences within the BN coalition.

Much of this is anchored in “Umno-Putrajaya’s direct interference” in Sabah.

Said one insider: “Umno-Putrajaya is so divided that it is now a fight for who will be the next prime minister and whose team you are on.

“Najib himself is fighting for survival and his biggest problem is loyalty within his system.

“Musa has pledged his support for Najib but wants Najib to bring in Shafie. That’s where the trouble lies.”

The insider was referring to Semporna MP and Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal.

Shafie’s game

That Shafie is a thorn in Musa’s side is an understatement.

“Everyone knows Musa is consolidating his grip (on Umno Sabah). He’s looking for integrity and loyalty. Many of Shafie’s supporters are feeling threatened, ” said a Shafie supporter.

According to the supporter, Shafie scored a coup with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein’s recent visit to the state.

“If there was a doubt about his (Shafie) waning influence in Sabah Umno, it is now removed with Muhyiddin and Hishamuddin’s visit,” the supporter said, adding that the message has gone to Musa.

Muhyiddin, who is Umno deputy president, and Hishammuddin were reportedly here to gauge the situation on the ground. With them was Shafie.

Shafie is also rumoured to be behind the recently formed Kadazandusun Murut Association Malaysia (KDM).

According to blogger Selvarajah Somiah, the main aim of forming KDM was to redirect the support of the communities towards Umno.

The second agenda is to “take KDM away from PBS, Upko and the PBRS” (all BN coalition partners).

“Everyone knows that Musa has a perfect relationship with PBS and its president Joseph Pairin Kitingan.

“PBS is the second most important party in BN Sabah after Umno. So in order to weaken Musa, Pairin and PBS must be weakened,” he wrote.

Apart from Musa, Shafie is the most visible face of Sabah Umno. He allegedly has his eyes on the chief minister’s seat. Also in the run is current State Legislative Assembly Speaker Salleh Keruak, who has Musa’s support.

‘Calculated plan’

Against this background is the speculation of a “calculated plan” by indirect allies.

On his own, Musa is not likely to be able to thrash out any real deals with Putrajaya, but insiders here believe that local “allies” of Musa and Pairin will be able to do this for Sabahans.

This spin is anchored in the belief that Jeffrey has Pairin’s blessing in bringing STAR to Sabah and launching the Borneo Agenda.

It also took into account Musa and Pairin’s friendship, and that Musa has openly declared that Pairin’s Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) is BN Sabah’s strongest ally.

It also took into account that the new KDM cannot work well with Pairin or his immediate likely successors. Besides, it was speculated that the new KDM members want both Pairin and his immediate successors to quit the scene and pave the way for the younger KDM professionals to take over.

But this will be somewhat difficult in PBS and easier in STAR.

A “sizeable” portion of SRAR’s current membership is made up of young KDM professionals who are battling for recognition and self-respect in their own motherland.

Jeffrey’s appeal is his fearlessness and consistency.

In an FMT article last year, guest writer Nilakrisna James asked Jeffrey how he survived the ISA experience.

His response was simply: ““I survived by playing the role of a researcher… I studied and observed the behaviour of detainees in confinement.

“Behind the negative is the positive. In that situation, I couldn’t see the world with my eyes so I travelled with my mind and learnt to function through my spirit.

“Once you have gone through death, you become fearless.”

Polis Malaysia sepatutnya mendidik masyarakat supaya tidak mengambil tindakan yang bertentangan dengan undang-undang bukan sekongkong gengan mereka

2012-01-25T19:01:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Pesuruhjaya Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia (Suhakam) Shaani Abdullah berpendapat institusi polis seolah-olah tidak faham dengan prinsip hak asasi manusia terutamanya dalam hal bertolak ansur semata-mata untuk melindungi kepentingan kumpulan tertentu.

Malah mereka menyalahgunakan kedudukan dengan mengurangkan kebebasan rakyat hanya untuk memudahkan kerja sendiri sedangkan tanggungjawab polis adalah untuk melindungi semua rakyat dan bukan untuk golongan majoriti, dakwa Shaani.

“Tak nak (guna) waran tapi mahu terus tangkap, tak nak bicara tapi mahu terus hukum,” tegurnya selepas mendengar aduan daripada wakil gerakan Asalkan Bukan Umno (ABU) Badrul Hisham Shaharin di pejabat Suhakam di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata sedemikian ketika mengulas mengenai cara polis bertindak menangani serangan kumpulan samseng semasa program ceramah anjuran ABU dan Barisan Bertindak Hak Asasi Hindu (Hindraf) di Dewan Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA) Seksyen 30, Jalan Kebun, Shah Alam pada malam 21 Januari lalu.

Shaani berkata polis sepatutnya mendidik masyarakat supaya tidak mengambil tindakan yang bertentangan dengan undang-undang dan bukannya menggunakan hukum sendiri dengan menyerang majlis ceramah tersebut.

“Majlis diadakan oleh badan yang sah, bukannya majlis anjuran kongsi gelap. Kalau rakyat marah, pergi buat aduan polis bukan guna hukum sendiri,” katanya.

Turut hadir mendengar aduan tersebut Pegawai Bahagian Aduan dan Siasatan Suhakam Yustina Ishak.

Polis disyaki bersubahat

ABU dalam memorandumnya kepada Suhakam mendakwa salah seorang dari kumpulan penceroboh yang mengganggu ceramah itu adalah pegawai polis yang tidak mengenakan pakaian seragam dan mengesyaki polis bersubahat dengan kumpulan penyerang terbabit.

Badrul juga berkata polis pada malam kejadian tidak mengambil apa-apa tindakan walaupun penyerang masih ada di tempat kejadian, sebaliknya menyuruh penganjur memberhentikan ceramah.

Selain memorandum, turut dikemukakan bukti rakaman video serangan malam kejadian dan gambar penyerang yang dikenal pasti.

Beliau turut menafikan laporan akhbar Berita Harian bahawa seramai 1,000 penduduk yang tidak berpuas hati mengepung dewan berkenaan, sebaliknya mendakwa hanya kira-kira 10 pemuda dipercayai penyokong Barisan Nasional (BN) mengganggu dengan menjerit dengan kata-kata perkauman sambil mengugut orang ramai keluar dari dewan itu.

“Mereka kemudian mengejar dan menyerang hadirin berrketurunan India dengan kayu, topi keledar serta mencampak kerusi ke merata tempat.

“Berikutan itu, sorang lelaki India yang juga ahli Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS mengalami kecederaan dan sehingga hari ini masih ditahan dalam wad,” katanya.

Sehubungan itu, ABU menuntut supaya Suhakam menubuhkan jawatankuasa khas menyiasat kejadian itu dan mengumumkan laporan penyiasatan tersebut.

Gerakan itu juga mahu Suhakam memastikan penyerang terlibat dikenakan tindakan undang-undang selain mengeluarkan kenyataan mengutuk tindakan menggunakan kekerasan dan berbaur perkauman bagi menghalang hak orang awam berhimpun secara aman.

“Kami juga mahu Suhakam menyiasat sama ada polis bersubahat dengan penyerang yang terlibat,” katanya.

Sementara itu Shaani dalam responnya berkata pihaknya akan membawa perkara ini ke mesyuarat pesuruhjaya untuk tindakan selanjutnya.

Katanya dalam mesyuarat itu terpulang kepada keputusan Suhakan sama ada wajar suruhanjaya itu ditubuhkan atau mengadakan sesi pendengaran inkuiri awam.

‘Najib must clarify Palanivel’s position’

2012-01-25T18:59:00.000-08:00

K Pragalath | January 25, 2012

MIC president's appointment as the lead minister for socio-economic development of Indians creates ambiguity, says Klang MP Charles Santiago.

PETALING JAYA: The government must explain MIC president G Palanivel’s appointment as lead minister for socio-economic development of Indians, said Klang MP Charles Santiago.

He said the clarification is vital since Palanivel’s new position is vague as Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is also heading the cabinet committee on Indian affairs, which was formed in 2008.

“Is the cabinet committee irrelevant now or is Palanivel going to lead the cabinet committee? asked Santiago

“Is Najib supporting Palanivel’s bid to retain his position as MIC chief against a possible contest from Dr S Subramaniam (Human Resources Minister and MIC deputy president)?”

“He cannot be appointed a lead minister simply to bribe Indians to vote for BN,” said Santiago in response to Najib’s announcement.

Two days ago, Najib named Palanivel, who is also Minister in Prime Minister’s Department, as lead minister for socio-economic development of Indians.

Santiago said he plans to meet Palanivel to find out the MIC leader’s plans for the Indian community, adding that the new position “merely adds layers to the bureaucracy”.

The DAP leader also took Najib to task for asking for Indians to have ‘nambikkai’ (trust) in BN.

“The Indians have been giving their trust to the government for years and the community is still marginalised. What is needed is historical justice,” said Santiago.

He said that the government was in fact indebted to the Indian community for their accumulated contributions in the plantation sector.

“Without the Indians’ contribution which jump-started Malaysia’s economy, Malaysia won’t be where it is today,” said Santiago.

Pakatan’s ploy

In an immediate reaction, MIC central committee member KP Samy hit out at Santiago and other Pakatan Rakyat leaders for continuously picking on Palanivel and MIC.

“Their ploy is to always make us (MIC) look weak and appear unable to help the community.

“This has to stop. They are playing politics by trying to win the votes without having done anything for the community,” he told FMT.

Samy asked if Santiago could outline the achievements in Pakatan controlled states for the Indian community.

“We can hold an open debate on who has done more for the community – MIC or Pakatan. Is Santiago ready for it?” asked Samy.

mi1

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8 ) Bourdon-French-Scorpene Connection

9) Mahathir Mohamad

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Systematic siphoning of rakyat’s money by UMNO government

Umno-Putrajaya's divided politics is affecting the ground in Sabah and giving Jeffrey Kitingan a helpful hand.

Polis Malaysia sepatutnya mendidik masyarakat supaya tidak mengambil tindakan yang bertentangan dengan undang-undang bukan sekongkong gengan mereka

‘Najib must clarify Palanivel’s position’