GUTTER MALAYSIA

Najib is Insincere on Stadium for Bersih 2.0

2011-07-08T17:28:00.000-07:00

'BN acting like a person told by doctor of impending death'
(Harakah Daily) - As police stepped up roadblocks at major roads
leading to the capital late this evening, causing miles of traffic
congestion, PAS has called on prime minister Najib Razak not to
further burden the force.

Najib had earlier said that the government would leave it to the
police to determine how to handle the Bersih rally, contradicting an
earlier statement that he would give his cooperation to Bersih if its
rally was held in a stadium. The police have however so far rejected
all attempts to give a permit.

“Why must the burden be put on the police, when Najib should issue a
clear directive to allow the rally proceed in the stadium.

"Who leads the cabinet? The police?” asked PAS information chief Tuan
Ibrahim Tuan Man (pic), echoing an earlier statement by DAP advisor
Lim Kit Siang slamming Najib for being "insincere" and "irresponsible"
by passing the buck to the police.

Lim had also questioned Najib's decision to leave the country on the
day of the rally.

“He should not do so but should be in the country to ensure that the
Bersih 2.0 stadium rally on July 9 as agreed upon as a result of the
wise and just intervention of the Yang di Pertuan Agong and with his
concurrence is held in a smooth, peaceful and orderly manner,” he
added.

'Lives affected even before rally'

Tuan Ibrahim meanwhile said it was a telling sign of the weakness in
the government's argument that street rallies would disrupt businesses
and cause traffic chaos, pointing out that the police had already
caused such a situation even before the rally.

"So with all the road closures and the restrictions into Kuala Lumpur,
will they not affect traders?” he asked.

Giving an analogy, Tuan Ibrahim said the government's reaction in the
run-up to the rally was like a person who has been informed by the
doctor that he only has few months to live.

“The people are laughing at UMNO-Barisan Nasional’s reaction. Their
panicky response is as if they (UMNO-BN) can be destroyed by a clean
and fair election,” he said.

Major roads into KL sealed off, people told not to attend rallies

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have sealed off all major roads leading to the heart of the capital, telling people to stay away from any rally today.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the police had acted fairly in not issuing any permit to hold rallies.

The Sultan of Selangor said mosques and surau should not be used as a meeting place by those who come from other places to join in the street demonstrations.

The Ruler told his subjects to also stay away from street protests, saying this would harm the unity of the people.

However, Bersih 2.0, Umno Youth and Perkasa look set to press ahead with their plans.

Bersih 2.0 insisted that its supporters will gather at Stadium Merdeka while Umno Youth under its Patriot umbrella will march at Jalan Bukit Bintang. Perkasa has told its members to “stroll” around Tasik Titiwangsa.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are ready to handle any situation arising from organisers going ahead with illegal rallies, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

“Since July 3, the police have been prepared and will take stern action against those who are still adamant in having it in the city,” he said.

Hishammuddin also advised anyone planning to gather illegally in the city today to stay away, or be prepared to face the law.

“Public safety and order has been the main concern of both the ministry and the police since day one.

“I urge those who wish to join any illegal march tomorrow in the city to reconsider as it would disrupt peace and risk lives,” he said at a press conference in Bukit Aman yesterday.

He also expressed fear that the rallies would be used as a platform for certain groups to spread violence and chaos.

“The discovery of weapons and explosives is very worrying and that is the last thing we want,” he said.

He added that the police had been fair in their treatment of all the parties involved by denying permit applications within the city by Bersih 2.0, Umno Youth and Perkasa.

Hishammuddin also advised the public not to be influenced by speculation and rumours spread through SMS and the Internet regarding the rallies.

“They can easily get the latest information from the police hotlines at 03-2146 0524 and 03-2146 0525,” he said.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar also urged the organisers of the proposed rally to stay away.

“Despite numerous discussions and warnings, we have reports that they are planning to go ahead with their plans.

“We will do whatever within the confines of the law to preserve peace and order,” he said in Bukit Aman yesterday.

People, the choice is yours
July 8, 2011

Tomorrow is the big walk. It is open to all Malaysians who believe in upholding democracy. Democracy is a big word but it has a simple meaning: it is a government of the people, by the people, for the people. It is the people who are the masters of the country. The destiny of the country lies in their hands. Only they can decide which way they want the land of their birth to move. They do this by casting their votes at the appointed time. They speak through the ballot box. They choose representatives of good character to sit in Parliament to champion their interests. But in the course of time, things can go wrong. Like what is happening now. The government is not on the side of the people wanting to exercise their right to a peaceful assembly for a cause that strenghtens, and not wrecks, public institutions.

When thousands of ordinary men and women show up for the “Walk for Democracy” tomorrow, be it on the streets or in a stadium, they are not waging war against the government. They have no reason to do so. They are not rebels pouring out of the jungles or coming down from the mountains to capture the capital and set up another government. They are just plain ordinary citizens who wish to support a non-governmental organisation fighting for clean and fair elections. What is wrong with that? But what is wrong with the government? Why is the state acting irrationally? Why does it see red in yellow? Suddenly everything has turned ugly. The government we elected to represent us has become our enemy.

Now it is state power versus the will of the people. The state says the rally is illegal. Bersih is illegal. Bersih T-shirt is also illegal. Everything connected with the movement is unlawful. Even the meeting at the palace between the King and Bersih does not appear to be legal. The state is doing everything in its power to make the people hate Bersih – and love the government. It is plain for all to see that the people are not taking the bait. Acting harsh and repressive is clearly not going to win the government any brownie points. Malaysians love peace but at the same time they do not like to be bullied into submission. Times have changed. People can think for themselves and separate truth from lies. In the Bersih story the government does not come out smelling sweet, innocent, clean.

The show will go on tomorrow and history is in the making. Do you want to take a stroll? It is up to you, the people, to decide the course of history. The government would prefer you not to go, but you do not need to heed its advice. Then again you can be arrested for wearing a yellow Bersih T-shirt or simply anything yellow. You can be roughed up, beaten, tear-gassed at a hint of trouble. The walk may turn into a rout. The risks are there. You are defenceless citizens up against the might of the state. The crackle of a gunfire may ring out but the government must know the sound will reverberate all over the world. People, the choice is yours.

Longer wait for Bersih detainees
Tashny Sukumaran

Bersih supporters who were arrested more than a week ago are still waiting to be charged.

KUALA LUMPUR: Several Bersih supporters, who were arrested on June 29 are still waiting to be charged in court.

According to their lawyer, Honey Tan, her clients were being given the runaround by police.

A frustrated Tan said police told them they would have to wait a little longer before their charge would be read in the Sessions Court or the Magistrate’s Court.

This is the third time their charge has been postponed.

The six who were arrested are Mary Sinappan, Ikhsan Samat, Temme Lee, Deepa Nair Balakrishnan, Lau Shu Shi and Ang Hiok Gai.

They are from the NGO, Empower, which is also where Bersih 2.0 coalition for fair and free elections is based.

“On July 6 everyone had to go back to the police department as they had been released on police bail.

“They were told the charge would be read on July 7, but it was pushed to today.

“Today they told us it was being delayed to a later date, which is to be decided.

“The only reason given was “instructions from above”.

“It’s very frustrating and unfair. If you say you have evidence to charge, do it!” Tan said.

Meanwhile another two supporters – Michael Tamil and Nazri Ahmad Ismail – who were arrested on June 29, for purportedly being in possession of Bersih propaganda are also waiting.

Tamil, an MBSJ councillor, and Nazri were shooed away this morning despite being given this date.

“The investigating officer, Inspector Rosdi, said they are waiting for instructions from the AG’s chambers,” said their legal counsel, Syahredzan Johan.

Bersih is not a society

The six Empower activists were arrested under Section 48 (1) and 47 of the Societies Act.

Section 48(1) allows for detention of those working on behalf of an illegal society while Section 47 bars people from publishing propaganda promoting an illegal society.

Bersih coalition, was declared illegal by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on June 23.

The Registrar of Society further endorsed his view.

But Bersih, puzzled at the reference, has denied that it is illegal, saying it is a coalition of 62 NGOs and not an society or body.

Najib forgets that many of the people who are disgusted with his rule are the young

Why is Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak reminiscing about his father, Tun Abdul Razak? Is it because he wants to remind us of the past in the years after Merdeka or is he savouring the moments before Malaysia undergoes its most defining moment in her history since Independence?

Najib should be aware that very few of the older generation care for the way he (Najib) has led Umno/BN and that few of the things most of us valued since Merdeka, like justice, equality and respect, have been upheld by BN.

Najib said of his father, “Among the things I learned from him was on how to be patient and not to be too power-crazy.

“My father told me that he was afraid of absolute power. He was willing to make way for others to lead Umno after Datuk Onn Jaafar resigned as Umno president as he felt that he was not ready to be the number one in the party at that time.

“I don’t think such values are practised now as there are many power-crazy people who do not mind undercutting others, just to stay above the rest.”

Najib must be living in cloud cuckoo land. All he does has been about remaining in power. What does he call the Perak debacle when he allegedly paid various people, including VVIPs to do his bidding?

There are the other states too; the civil service appointment in Selangor was supposed to topple the state goverment, the Sarawak state elections and more.

Today, Najib talked about how his father taught him patience. But how many of the old are listening? Many of those who still remember his father, Abdul Razak do not have fond memories of his involvement and careful manouevering of the May 13 incident.

They may praise Abdul Razak for Felda, but it is his son, Najib, who has reduced this organization to a pitiful version of this once mighty outfit.

Saturday July 9 will be Malaysia’s defining moment. By and large, we are a peaceful nation and we do not spill over onto the streets just because we are displeased with something.

If anything, we are very reticent about revealing our true feelings and would rather take the ‘tidak-apa, sabar lah’ attitude, rather than talk rationally and discuss with those who have courted our displeasure.

Perhaps this is our failing – the failure to properly engage with others around us. Is this because of our culture? Or our upbringing? Or is it the Asian values which we are proud of and which we practise in our daily lives which are the complete opposite of those ‘westerners’ whom we feel hold nothing back? Why is it that when we protect our ‘face’, we are prepared to be trampled on or trample on others?

Malaysians versus political thieves

Malaysia does not have her own Mohammed Bouazizi, the Tunisian student who had to peddle fruit and vegetables in the streets in order to feed his family. Boauzizi died after his desperate act of self-immolation and became a hero, not just in Tunisia but also across north Africa and the middle east.

No we do not wish anyone to be harmed or to harm others or for property to be damaged or that people are inconvenienced.

What we do demand is for acknowledgement and the right to be heard. As individuals, we may not achieve much but at least the authorities will realize that people are not prepared to keep silent or tolerate injustices or human rights abuses any longer.

As a collective, we realize that our requests might be heard. That is where Bersih comes in. But our leaders are too vain or too arrogant to realize this. Perhaps that is why they have been able to continue with their ways at our expense.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has compared the Bersih march to a clash between Malays and non-Malays. He is wrong.

It is a clash between Malaysians and political thieves like himself who have stolen our rights and who have used race and religion to divide us.

Prime Minister Najib, in the remaining hours before he departs for the United Kingdom, is panic stricken and an ineffective leader.

His deputy, Muhyiddin Yassin has passed the buck to the police to deal with the demonstration on 9th July. What sort of a leader is that?

He said, “I leave it to the IGP (inspector-general of police) to decide what are the appropriate actions that should be taken, I don’t want to assume.”

After days of arrests and intimidation, is this the Malaysian cabinet in action? One flees the country, one absolves himself of responsibility whilst the Home Minister, Hishammuddin Hussein just bans everything in his sight.

After dragging royalty into the political limelight, Najib then retracted on earlier promises about holding the rally in a stadium or meeting with Bersih and he wonders why the people are angry.

Earlier, Najib had told the crowds at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Bandar Tun Abdul Razak that lessons should be learnt in history so that mistakes will not be repeated. It appears that history is not one of Najib’s strong subjects.

In the final hours as Malaysia faces its most crucial upheaval since Merdeka, the Umno/BN government has again failed its people by refusing to engage with the rakyat.

Enough is enough

Najib forgets that many of the people who are disgusted with his rule are the young. How many of our graduates are jobless? How many are denied scholarships?

How many of the rich and well-connected are given study loans, scholarships and places at university? How many Malays does he think he can give civil servant jobs to?

He must know about the endemic corruption, the rising prices, the waste of taxpayers’ money. Does he care?

We loathe politicians who have made our lives a misery whilst they grow rich and abuse their power, at our expense.

How many of us would have predicted the democracy march of July 9? We have long been seen as a stable country, a moderate Muslim state whose people were seemingly happy with the way they are ruled.

How many foreigners who pass through realise that it is a land of unemployment, corruption, repression, arrests without detention and divisions created by race and religion?

Tomorrow, Malaysians will wake up to a better future and tell each other, that ‘enough is enough’.

Kuala Lumpur under siege!

Kuala Lumpur is under siege. It is under siege by the police. We are not facing any external threat neither are we under any attack. But we are under siege by our own police.

Police roadblock on the night of 8 July 2011 - Photograph: Jack Ooi/The Malaysian Insider

What is happening in KL doesn’t make sense. What is happening in KL is troubling. A situation of emergency is being created wantonly. A large area is coming under strict police control.

We are witnessing the greatest mobilisation of the police force in our entire history. It is a complete waste of resources and totally unnecessary. The police should be concentrating their efforts in bringing criminals to book instead of wasting their time in stopping a peaceful gathering.

Ninety-one Malaysians have been barred from entering the city centre under threat of arrest. A court order has been obtained to enforce this ruling. Among the 91 are two Malaysians who have been detained on 2 July 2011 under the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969. They are still under detention. What makes the police think that somehow or other they will escape from their security cell in Bukit Aman and make their way to the Merdeka Stadium?

This restriction order is absolutely absurd. What about those who live in KL? Are they required to shift
their residence outside KL and relocate themselves elsewhere? What about those who work in KL? Are they forced to be absent from their duty? This court order doesn’t make any sense at all. In fact, it is senseless!

All this seems unnecessary. All that Malaysians want to do is to walk peacefully to register their protest against the Election Commission for conducting elections that are seen as “not free and fair.” These very unfair elections have been going on for decades. We have now reached a boiling point when it is not possible to tolerate this any longer. So Malaysians decided to march on 9 July 2011.

But out of deference to the Yang diPertuan Agong, the Bersih Steering Committee willingly agreed to the the Prime Minister’s offer to allow Bersih to use a stadium in KL. But the PM did a somersault and said it was up to the police to decide if the Bersih would be issued a permit to hold the gathering.

Bersih had come down from their earlier uncompromising stand to have an open rally and decided that they would now gather at the Merdeka Stadium. But the police and others are putting all sorts of unnecessary obstacles. The Merdeka Stadium is not available on flimsy grounds. The police refuse to grant a permit for this peaceful gathering and want it to be held elsewhere, possibly in one of the Pakatan-controlled states. When arrangements have been made for the rally to be held in KL, now to tell them to go elsewhere is only making Malaysians angry and frustrated.

To stop this peaceful, democratic rally – guaranteed as a right under the Federal Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights – is to ignore the rule of law and tarnish our reputation as a member of the UN Human Rights Council. When we occupy this exalted position on the Council, we should be setting examples for the rest of the world instead of becoming the laughing-stock of the world.

This gathering would not threaten the security of the country or in any way pose a risk to public order.
What the police should do is to restrain Pekasa and Umno Youth from marching on the same day. These are the trouble-makers who may create unrest and disorder tomorrow.

Even at this last minute, it is not too late to allow Bersih to gather at Medeka Stadium. This is one positive way to defuse this volatile situation. Let good sense prevail.

Najib Using Ibrahim Ali to Threaten Non-Malays

2011-07-02T01:49:00.000-07:00

Mahound View profile
More options Jun 22, 9:49 pm

From: Mahound

Subject: Long overdue chinese anger erupts

Long-overdue Chinese anger erupts: Why they must vote anyone but the BN
Written by Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Rabble-rouser Ibrahim Ali has gone into overdrive threatening the Chinese with another May 13 attack because he and his backers do not want the Bersih Rally to proceed on 9th July. That the Najib administration has not censured him is a sign that his words and deeds are condoned by the government.

What is more amazing to the Chinese community is that Ibrahim has made
it seem as if they are the ones to be blamed for the anti-election
fraud Bersih 2.0 rally. Yet, despite the open and unmistakable threat
of bloodshed, Prime Minister Najib Razak has continued to keep mum,
choosing to focus on the Langkawi International Dialogue for third
world nations.

On Sunday, June 19, 2011, Ibrahim Ali had burned effigies of Ambiga Sreenevasan, the Bersih chairman and former president of the Bar Council. He also warned the Chinese to "stock up" on food and threatened to reprise the May 13, 1969 racial riots where scores of Chinese homes were burnt to ground and dozens killed by what appeared to be Malay extremist groups.

Power grab behind the 'racial' riots

Malayisa's dubious history books paint a different version of racial
strife and misunderstanding.

But most of the older Chinese will remember that it was the UMNO faction led by Abdul Razak Hussein, Najib's father, who had plotted the May 13 incident to topple first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.

Tunku was forced to resign and Abdul Razak became the second prime minister of Malaysia. Perhaps it is in the genes, but soon after Najib ousted Abdullah Badawi for the UMNO presidency, he pulled a similar coup d'etat in Perak, forcibly toppling the then fledgling Pakatan Rakyat state government headed by Nizar Jamaluddin.

The new generation of Chinese may not know it but the older Chinese who were living in Kuala Lumpur at that time, especially in the Tiong Nam area, remember well the that fateful day and the events that led to it. To them, the horrifying events are etched into their minds as if the killings had happened only yesterday.

Even then - as now - those events were blamed on the victory parade held by the Opposition after the polls and the so-called extra boisterous celebration by the Chinese who formed the majority of Opposition
supporters.

The Malays were supposedly incensed as they felt they were losing
their hold on power to these Chinese 'immigrants'. Yet in other parts
of country, even in PAS-led and Malay-predominant Kelantan, there was
peace. It was the UMNO Menteri Besar of Selangor at that time, Idris
Harun, who was one of the prime movers of the rioting and he cleverly
lit the fuse in Kampung Baru, the Malay heartland within the capital
city.

Chinese elders living in that area will tell of horrifying incidents
when Malay youths armed with parangs rushed at them as if running amok, and
then slashing and killing the Chinese who were streaming out from the
Federal Cinema in Jalan Chow Kit near the Tiong Nam settlement.

Cars and homes were torched and many Chinese who left their homes that
day did not return. Some were later found in the hospitals and some
just bled to death on the streets. Many more were missing and still
unaccounted for until today. The number of casualties have never
really been revealed by the government and what is officially
available theatrically scaled down.

News of Malay youths on a bloody rampage quickly spread to Air Panas
in Setapak, which was also a Chinese New Village. Incensed, the Chinese
youths sprang into action by chopping down trees to form a blockade.
Confusion reigned as no one knew what had happened and why. The cry
that snaked around Air Panas then was that 'the Malays are killing the
Chinese, they are are coming for us now'. Luckily, nothing untoward
happened there or in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur.

And so the suppression began

So it was, that emergency and curfew was declared. Tunku appeared on black-and-white TV, a broken shell of a man and announced his resignation. For his contribution to the nation, he was given a pension and a colonial-style bungalow in Kenny Hills.

Najib's father then stepped in. He initiated the Dasar Ekonomi Baru or New Economic Policy in 1971, an affirmative action plan to eradicate
poverty.

Architects of the plan, including retired senior civil servant Ramon Navaratnam, have said the NEP never specifically mentioned the Malays,but being the largest group amongst the poverty-stricken, they naturally received the most aid.

The NEP was most abused and used as a tool for corruption during the
time of 4th prime minister Mahathir Mohamd.

Meanwhile, due to immediate clampdowns on speech and the threat of the
Sedition Act, order was restored in the aftrmath of the May 13 killings. Not only was the communications infrastructure weak then, the people were mostly uneducated still. Therefore, order of a false sort returned.
But the problem was never solved.

Today, racial polarization is at the lowest ebb. Communications infrastructure is a million-folds improved and the Chinese lead in the field of education - not as teachers but as students and top-scorers. If those who plotted May 13, 1969 tried to reprise that in 2011, they would be in for a major surprise.

And this what Ibrahim Ali is now getting. Lots of brckbats, but it is not enough.

Anger erupts, closure for an unjustified spate of murders demanded.

Chinese rage has erupted. The community wants its pound of flesh, with interest backdated from May 13, 1969. A fairly humble race, mostly quiet and usually engrossed with their extended family lifestyles and chores, the Chinese don't forget easily. Their famous flair for math also means they keep tabs pretty well too.

So foolish Ibrahim Ali was the perfect storm. He unleashed a silent
fury that will never ever go away until an apology is made, again with
backdated interest from May 13, 1969. Malaysian Chinese want closure for May 13
and that can only come when justice is finally delivered to those
murdered on the streets of Kuala Lumpur that fateful day.

Even Japan, so proud a nation that they would prefer to commit hara-
kiri than than to face shame, has apologised for their war crimes especially to Korea and China. How is that a person in the shape and form of Ibrahim Ali can think he can pull off in today's age and world a reprisal of
what was basically a mini-ethnic cleansing deliberately staged by
ruthless and evil-minded politicians?

The blame certainly goes to Najib, the son of the father of May 13.
Last year, Najib rang warning bells when he threatened "crushed bodies",
"lost lives" and "ethnic cleansing" at an UMNO assembly.

Whether Najib was trying to rally Malay support for UMNO is his
business. Whether he was right or wrong is for voters to tell him, in their own
way and time.

But for the Malaysian Chinese, life will never be the same again after
Sunday, June 19, 2011, because until they right the wrong of May 13,
another dolt like Ibrahim Ali will come along and make nonsense of all
their learning, their culture, precious time and hard work moulding
Malaysia into what it is today. Malaysia is their country and no one
can take it away from them. Let Ibrahim Ali try!

Malaysian Chinese must vote anyone but BN

What the Chinese must remember is that Ibrahim Ali is a nobody. It is
those who back him who are the trouble - not just for the whole of
Malaysia but specifically for the Malaysian Chinese. And it is time
for the Malaysian Chinese to stand up to them. And who are they, these
faceless and nameless cowards who instigate murder so that they can
continue to plunder and rape the country?

Let us call a spade a spade. The racists causing the greatest trouble
to the Chinese in Malaysia are the ruling elite in UMNO.

Now that the bogeyman has been unveiled, so to speak, the Malaysian
Chinese must do what they have to do. Use their brains, use new
technology, form think-tanks, use all their might to resist and defeat
this class of class-less leaders in UMNO, who are corrupting and
contaminating not only their own party but the rest of the nation.

Declare war on the UMNO elite. Vote any party except the BN.

Make the UMNO elite powerless until their own grassroots reject them
and kick them out. Remember UMNO has 3 million members, the majority of
whom are very decent folk who have also been duped by their top
leaders.

In fact, it is the ordinary Malay folk who stand to lose the most from
the economic banruptcy that is threatening the country.

It is a strange twist of fate indeed. It is left to the Chinese, who
have never been much interested in politics, to have to take the lead now.

Only then can Malaysians - Malays, Indians, Chinese, KDM and all
others - finally get down to living a decent life without fear of being accused
of the most nonsensical rubbish by people who wield far too much power -
dangerous people without reason or any sense of justice.

(Additional reporting by Selena Tay) - Malaysia Chronicle
Last modified on Tuesday, 21 June 2011 15:15

UMNO Backing Crusade Against Christians?

2011-05-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

The DAP rebuked the government today for refusing to punish Datuk Ibrahim Ali over his crusade threat against Christians, declaring this as proof that Umno backs the leader’s controversial Malay rights group Perkasa.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng described Perkasa as Umno’s “alter ego” while his deputy Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham said both parties were playing a game of “good cop, bad cop” to woo Malay support.

“We have always believed that Ibrahim Ali is working hand in hand with Umno. Umno is using Perkasa to stir up Malay fear to force unity and make them support Barisan Nasional (BN).

“They are trying to use this common enemy syndrome and BN hopes to use Perkasa to actually send the message that Umno has been trying to send all this while,” said Ngeh.

He also accused Ibrahim of being a bad Muslim for professing himself as a protector of Islam but at the same time inciting unrest by calling for violence against the Christians.

He charged that Ibrahim’s main agenda was to cause fear among the Muslims and fabricate a struggle between the races in order to emerge as a “hero of Islam”.

“Religion should remain pure but far too often politicians use it for their personal agenda. In my opinion, he is not practising Islam at all... by making false accusations, inciting hatred, he is not a good Muslim,” he said.

The DAP leaders also agreed that the government’s failure to punish Ibrahim for his threat, which they said was a form of “criminal intimidation”, was clearly a case of double standards by the administration.

As an example, DAP national organising secretary Teresa Kok pointed out to The Malaysian Insider that an investigation had immediately been called when an article alleging a conspiracy by the Christians to usurp Islam was published in Malay daily Utusan Malaysia.

“Why, when Utusan published a blogger’s article talking about rumours that Christians want to change the religion of the federation, which is not at all the case, the cops came out to say that they were investigating it. And so many people were called up.

“What about this one? Is this not equally as inflammatory?” she said when contacted.

Kok added that all eyes would be on the government now to see if any action would be taken against Ibrahim.

Lim said the statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday in explaining the issue was unsatisfactory and only further confirms Umno’s backing of Perkasa.

When asked for his remarks yesterday, Hishammuddin appeared to brush off concerns, saying Ibrahim does not represent the sentiments of all Malays.

“I don’t think Ibrahim Ali represents all the Malays or all the Muslims. Same as Osama bin Laden, he doesn’t represent all the Muslims.

“There are extremists, I’m not saying Ibrahim Ali is an extremist, please don’t quote me wrongly but I’m saying that there are different levels of understanding so let the public decide who they want to represent (them),” he said, adding that there are extremists in the Chinese community as well.

“This is a weak excuse by Umno because if action is only taken based on the strength of your representation not the nature and ill-intent of your violence, why then act against terrorists because they also do not represent all the Malays?

“This latest justification by Hishamuddin on why no action is taken against Ibrahim only confirms that Perkasa is Umno’s alter ego,” said Lim.

He pointed out that when Ibrahim launched his crusade threat against Christians on Saturday during the ceramah organised by the Komunity 1 Malaysia group in Kampung Changkat in Gombak here, several Umno leaders were present — Gombak Umno chief Abdul Rahman Kamaruddin, his deputy Abdul Aziz Jantan and division information chief Ismail Ahman.

In his speech, Ibrahim had called for a crusade or holy war against the Christians if the community proceeds with its agenda to usurp Islam.

“Please record my words — if there is any party in Penang, especially the Christian priests who are being backed by the Penang DAP, should continue with their agenda which we already know, I would like to offer that if they want to hold a crusade, we can,” he had said.

Anwar ordered to enter defence from June 6-30

2011-05-16T09:01:00.000-07:00

Sodomy II:
KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court on Monday ordered Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to defend himself against a charge of sodomising his former personal assistant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan three years ago.

High Court judge Justice Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah determined that the prosecution had established a prima facie case and the 63-year-old PKR adviser must enter his defence in a continuation of his trial fixed from June 6 to June 30.

“The accused is charged with carnal intercourse against order of nature.

“The defence tried to paint Saiful as a witness who was not credible and that he was not a good Muslim. With great respect to defence, these arguments are irrelevant.

“Saiful appeared to be a truthful witness and his evidence reliable, with the minute details given in his account.

“Therefore, the next question is whether there is evidence to corroborate Saiful's statements.

“The three doctors who testified confirmed that there was penile penetration.

“As for contamination of DNA evidence, all samples taken were immediately sealed. I find the possibility of contamination of samples to be remote.

“Based on all the above reasons, the prosecution has made a prima facie case against the accused. The defence is called,” he said.

A total of 27 prosecution witnesses were called to take the stand during 59 days of hearing.

On Aug 7, 2008, Anwar pleaded not guilty to performing carnal intercourse against the order of nature on complainant Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan at a condominium unit in Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur.

The alleged offence took place between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

He is charged under Section 377B of the Penal Code and if convicted, could be sentenced to up to 20 years' jail and whipped.

Anwar remained composed after he heard the ruling on Monday. He smiled as he greeted supporters.

The lawyers then entered chambers.

Supporters said they were not surprised by the ruling as it was widely expected.

Why is Ibrahim Ali Not Arrested?

2011-05-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

Ibrahim Ali is not the bogeyman but a real threat — Haris Ibrahim
May 16, 2011
MAY 16 — The Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) is sickened by the racist and anti-Christian rants of Ibrahim Ali, the president of Perkasa.

We are equally sickened by the tepid response from the home minister and the rest of the BN government to his incessant and increasingly rabid provocations.

Most recently, Ibrahim has called for a crusade against Christians. He has said that he is ready to fight, he is prepared to be detained under the Internal Security Act, he is willing to answer to a higher power if he is wrong.

His words clearly indicate that there is nothing holding him back from initiating an attack against Christians or those parties he suspects are backing the unsubstantiated “Christian conspiracy.” This makes him a dangerous threat to Malaysia’s peace, stability and security.

Therefore, it is alarming to note that there has been no action taken against Ibrahim. Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has merely said that Ibrahim does not speak for all Malays. He expressly denied that Ibrahim is not an extremist, but said that there were extremists in the Chinese community.

Is the home minister confirming that his ministry practises double standards when it comes to national security?

The home minister must realise that by allowing Ibrahim to continue his irrational but dangerous pro-Malay agenda, he is driving away investors and capital from Malaysia.

Already Talent Corp has had to issue a statement urging overseas Malaysians to ignore the heightening race rhetoric emanating from the country.

The MCLM has time and again called on the home minister and the BN government to act firmly and decisively against Ibrahim and Perkasa.

They should not allow these extremists to shape the public discourse on race relations in Malaysia because that can only end in disaster and bloodshed.

If the home minister cannot or will not take steps to protect the peace and harmony desired by all rational Malaysians, we will take steps to elect a government that will.

* Haris Ibrahim is the MCLM president.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

Islam Under Attack in Malaysia?

2011-05-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Yusri Mohamad, a product of the International Islamic University, ABIM and Pembela, and onetime personal aid to PKR President Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, claims that Islam is under attack. And should we be surprised when Muslims make a mockery of Islam? Anyway, this “Islam under attack” is all in the narrow minds of Muslims.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Islam's position under siege in M'sia, warns Pembela

(Malaysiakini) - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations (Pembela) has claimed that the position of Islam in Malaysia is under siege.

Speaking to reporters today, spokesperson Yusri Mohamad said this is particularly in relation to recent developments in Islam-Christian affairs.

Specifically, he cited the designation of a non-Muslim affairs exco in Penang and the 'pseudo-appointment' of Christian Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Idris Jala to handle issues pertaining the Malay-language Bible as threatening Islam's position as the official religion.

He claimed there is no provision in the federal constitution for any official non-Muslim affairs body, and that making Idris the go-to minister for Christian affairs is thus unconstitutional.

"There is a (threat). These sorts of threats come in seasons but now have become more serious and are putting a lot of pressure on the way we deal with issues pertaining to Islam,” he said.

"Islam is the official religion and is a pillar of our nation, but attempts are being made to make its position equal to other religions.

"Followers of other religions are portrayed as marginalised and oppressed... Islam and Muslims are dressed in an ugly mask and is made to seem guilty so that they give in (to demands)."

The fact that Idris was appointed to handle the Al Kitab issue was also wrong, he said, since Idris cannot be said to be non-partisan because he is Christian.

"He says he is non-partisan politically but this is a religious issue, and he is partisan. As we understand it, the (10-point proposal) was produced without consultation with the Fatwa Council, religious scholars and Muslim NGOs," he said.

Instead, he said the matter should have been handled by two ministers in the Prime Minister's Department - Jamil Khir Baharom who is in charge of Islamic affairs, and Koh Tsu Koon who is in charge of national harmony.

"We feel that the government can act within their powers...but Christian groups are now using terms like 'deface' and 'desecration' which is pushing the issue ... out of hand," he said.

As such, Pembela, a coalition of about 80 NGOs, will be hosting a conference on Saturday to discuss the issue of the sovereignty of Islam in Malaysia.

Themed 'Islam under siege: What will we do?', the event will be open to all Muslim NGOs and will feature a forum on the topic.

Among the topics to be discussed are the Al Kitab, conversions to Islam, religious freedom and the way such matters are handled by the government.

"We hope to then take the outcome of our discussion to the cabinet, prime minister, Rulers Council, political parties and mufti," he said.

Pembela not 'extremist'

Commenting on a police report recently lodged by a Christian against Pembela, Yusri said said the coalition is not an extremist group as perceived.

"We feel that the police report was a way to blow up the issue. Pembela has been around for a while and anyone who does a background check will find that we are not an extremist group," he said.

Pembela has never officially said it is willing to 'shed blood against Christians', as stated in the police report, he said.

"But perhaps during the peaceful demonstrations there were harsh words said, which is normal in a demonstration. You can't expect us to berbalas pantun.

"It is wrong to say that our movement is a threat to our non-Muslim friends," he said.

He added that police had contacted Pembela a week after the report to ask for recordings and materials distributed during the demonstration in March to assist in their investigation.

"No member (has been) called for questioning," he added.

Anwar in Video SCandal

2011-04-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

Alleged Anwar Ibrahim Sex Video Teaser Leaked On Youtube! Malaysian Opposition Leader's Latest Alleged Sex Scandal

We are still waiting for someone (your details will be strictly confidential and you will remain anonymous) to send in the full 22-minute sex video to us allegedly showing Malaysia's opposition politician Anwar Ibrahim and and a foreign prostitute. We want the full video but for now we have the leaked teaser here:

So that is the teaser... It is just a short footage of the original 22-minute video. At about 7:00 pm local time yesterday, an anonymous Youtube uploader by the sceenname of "thepowercam" from Thailand uploaded a 1:47 minutes duration clip of hidden camera video purportedly showing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about to have sex with a prostitute. However the video as already been removed for violating Youtube's policy on nudity or sexual content.

The video clip showed three individuals including one who resembled Anwar Ibrahim, another man and a female believed to be a Chinese prostitute in a hotel room. At the end of the leaked clip the othe man left the room and the woman was seen in towel before the man who look like the opposition leader hug her.

The uploaded video had a white strip at the bottom with Thai script written on it. The strip was not on the version that first surfaced and originally shown to reporters two weeks ago at Carcosa Seri Negara. Businessman Datuk Shazryl Eskay, one of the three men who claimed to be the mysterious "Datuk T" that exposed the video, told epoters that they had not released the video to anyone and that the only copy remained with the police. "I don’t know anything about this," he said, before stating that he would need to see the clip before commenting further.

On Friday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the sex video clip allegedly involving an opposition politician is genuine.Opposition Leader Anwar has denied he is the man in the video and accused Umno of a politically motivated "scurrilous attack" on him. Some say the involvement of former Umno Youth chief Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik and Perkasa treasurer-general Datuk Shuib Lazim has lent credence to the claim as Umno sought to distance itself from the video.

The clip has surfaced on the Internet just two days after police said the video they received was not doctored. However the video clip duration is only one minute and 47 second compared to the original video clip which was 22 minutes as claimed by "Datuk T" and the journalist who were invited to the private viewing. The full sex video, said to be of the opposition politician and a woman suspected to be a prostitute, was shown privately to selected journalists on February 21 at Carcosa Sri Negara. On the same day, Anwar Ibrahim in a press conference denied that he was the man in the video. He lodged a police report two days after the video viewing.

Foreign Investors Should Leave Malaysia Now

2011-04-16T09:37:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, May 16 — Politicians must refrain from endorsing media on ethnic grounds, MCA vice-president Gan Ping Sieu said today.

Gan voiced concern over Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakop’s recent call for party members to support Utusan Malaysia, saying that it would only encourage the Malay daily to further its “ethno-centric” agenda.

“I am deeply saddened to learn that Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakop has called on Umno members to openly support Utusan Malaysia because the daily purportedly defends Malay rights.

“Of late, Utusan Malaysia appears to be trying to rewrite the fundamental tenets of what responsible reporting entails ... It crossed the line with its coverage of the “Christian State” issue recently, earning a reprimand from the Home Ministry, after causing unnecessary alarm and anxiety among the different races in the country,” said the MCA leader in reference to the daily’s claims of an unsubstantiated plot to install a Christian prime minister.

Gan warned that Ismail’s open endorsement of Utusan would only damage the newspaper’s credibility and reaffirm the belief that it is nothing but a media tool of Umno.

Utusan Malaysia, in an article entitled “Kristian Agam Rasmi?” (Christianity the official religion?) claimed that DAP leaders and Christian priests were conspiring to take over Putrajaya, abolish Islam as the religion of the federation and install a Christian prime minister.

The Home Ministry eventually only slapped Utusan Malaysia with a warning letter for publishing the unsubstantiated report.

Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali waded into the controversy last Saturday night when he threatened Christians nationwide that he would wage a crusade or holy war should they proceed with their alleged agenda to usurp Islam.

Previously, Utusan Malaysia called on its owners Umno to spearhead a 1 Melayu, 1 Bumi movement involving all Malay parties, claiming that the DAP is intent on toppling the country’s Malay leadership.

Utusan Malaysia has also told Barisan Nasional (BN) to ignore the Chinese community for not supporting the ruling coalition during last month’s Sarawak state election.

Anwar Challenges Najib to Debate

2011-01-17T05:53:00.000-08:00

In a desperate attempt to regain his popularity, Anwar is seen here calling on Najib for a public debate. We doubt Najib will fall for this trap, and even he wanted to, he is going to give this a very low priority given his busy schedule, and with the coming election on his Agenda.

Thou Shall Not Tell The Truth

2011-01-08T02:12:00.000-08:00

At last, someone has the conscience and righteousness to come up and speak the truth about what is behind UMNO and its terrorist branch called UMNO Youth.

UMNO-owned mouthpiece seeks to muzzle truth-teller

Utusan Malaysia, the flagship Malay-language newspaper of the United Malays National Organisation is seeking to fire Hata Wahari, one of its leading journalists, for defending the independence of the press and calling for moderation in reporting on Malaysia's tense race relations.

Hata, a 16-year veteran reporter with Utusan who was elected president of the country's National Union of Journalists in September, is expected to face a disciplinary hearing on Jan. 17 into charges that he tarnished the newspaper's image with statements he made calling for press freedom that he issued to independent media between Sept. 21 and Oct. 14 of last year.

The country's political parties own all of Malaysia's major dailies and television stations, in Malay, English, Chinese or Hindi. Opposition parties also own their own publications. The Internet largely supplies the country's only independent journalism, a fact that appears to account for fast-growing online readership.

"I just issued a press statement asking the editors to please go back to our real function, to submit unbiased information to the public," Hata said in a telephone interview. “At the moment, Utusan is doing propaganda for the government. They have raised up racial issues, so that is why they are losing the trust of most of the community in Malaysia. Everybody, even the common public, feels the same way.

"We have to go back to our original mission, not act as a propaganda tool for the government," he told Asia Sentinel. “That is why I issued that statement. I feel I have the support of all of my friends, from the political parties and from other NGOs."

He said he would defend himself vigorously in the disciplinary hearing, partly because if he were to lose he would also lose his right to be the National Union of Journalists president. He is also president of the Confederation of Asean Journalists. “We will fight to the end," he added.

V. Anbalagan, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, called Utusan's claim that Hata had tarnished the organization's image with his public statements "ludicrous".

"Hata, in his capacity as NUJ president, issued the statements in defense of press freedom and the welfare of members," Anbalagan said in a prepared statement.

Under Malaysia's complicated labor laws, employers must first submit evidence to a disciplinary hearing. Any employee who feels he has been dismissed without cause can take it up with the Director General for Industrial Relations within 60 days, then a reconciliation proceeding must be held to see if a settlement can be arrived at. If not, the labor minister then must decide if the case should be referred to the Industrial Court for adjudication.

Once Malaysia's biggest-selling Malay-language daily, with a circulation of 250,000, Utusan has slumped to 170,000 per day and it is now the No. 6 paper in the country. The continuing loss of circulation, Hata said, stems from the paper's determination to act as a mouthpiece for UMNO and its inflammatory reporting on race and politics.

Certainly, the controversy over Hata hasn't slowed down Utusan's strident racial rhetoric. On Jan. 5, the paper raised the possibility that the state of Selangor, which is controlled by the opposition Democratic Action Party, which is predominantly Chinese, could possibly join Singapore as another "country belonging to China outside mainland China."

According to a translation by the website Malaysian Chronicle, assistant editor in chief Zaini Hassan asked in his column: "Do we Malays [already so few in the world] want to allow another country belonging to China or India outside their own lands? It should be enough with Singapore [a country belonging to China outside mainland China]. Do we also want to give away this homeland?"

In an interview shortly after he was elected NUJ president, Hata told the online publication Malaysiakini that Utusan had lost its way: "People no longer read it, because it is not relevant. If they want to be relevant, they must return to their origins," he said, adding that ultimately the public would give up reading the mainstream papers altogether.

In the interview, he cited what he called Utusan's irresponsible behaviour by daily headlining the news of a Christian preacher who allegedly delivered a speech insulting Islam in a church in Kuching in East Malaysia. Although other papers, including the UMNO-owned Berita Harian also carried the news, it was not given the prominence that the Utusan gave it, he said.

"They focus on stories of Malays disparaging other races, then they run stories of other races making insulting remarks of Malays," he told the website.

Najib Chided as Irresponsible in Rais' Rape Case

2011-01-08T01:04:00.000-08:00

Najib is buying time. And now it is time to buy out the maid, make sure she is stuffed with so much money in her mouth, she couldn't say the word rape anymore, for the rest of her life. :)

Rape row: Gerakan Youth leader rebukes Shamsul
Athi Shankar
ALOR STAR: A Gerakan Youth leader today rebuked PKR national Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Akin for criticising Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s call on all to stop passing judgments on the “Rais Yatim” case

Kedah Gerakan Youth chief Tan Keng Liang said he was upset that Shamsul and the PKR Youth movement could not accept a simple advice from the premier.

He said that in a fair and democratic country, a person shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty.

Hence, he pointed out that one cannot be prejudged and sentenced prematurely until one was found guilty following completion of a proper investigation and a fair trial.

“Although Pakatan Rakyat is all geared up to conquer the country, its mission shall not be accomplished at the expense of the country’s legal system based on fairness and democracy,” Tan said in a statement today.

The embattled Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim is embroiled in an alleged rape case that happened in 2007 involving his former Indonesian domestic maid.

The case has burst into the hottest public topic in the country today, prompting Najib to make a public call to all to stop commenting about it until a full probe was completed.

“We cannot prejudge and pronounce something against someone before proper investigation is done. In any case, what happened was in 2007, the question is why (bring it up) now,” he was quoted as saying in press reports.

Double standards

Shamsul has chided Najib’s call as irresponsible and a practice of double standards.

“It shows two sets of law being applied here, one for Umno and another against the opponents of Umno,” Shamsul has reportedly said.

After weeks of speculations on “who’s who” of the case, Rais finally came out in the open this week to vehemently deny he was the alleged minister involved.

Another of his former domestic maid, Sumati, came in support of him to dismiss the rape claims.

A video featuring Sumati dismissing the allegations as untrue has appeared on several pro-Umno blogs since yesterday.

Sumati is said to be a friend of Robengah, the woman at the centre of Internet rumour of the alleged rape case,.

Sumati is said to have worked alongside Robengah at the minister’s home at the material time.

“For as long as I have worked here, I never heard of any rape stories,” she said a five-minute video clip dated Jan 6, 2011.

Sumati, who said she knew Robengah since she started work on Aug 23, 1999, said as room mates, Robengah had never once skipped sleeping in their room, responding to a question whether there had been any night Robengah was absent.

Robengah returned to Indonesia in 2007.

Political factions

Sumati also said that they were happy with the treatment from Masnah, Rais’s wife, during their employment.

“If not, I would not have lasted so long,” she added.

Tan said Shamsul’s criticism against Najib has put the country’s political standards at its lowest ebb.

He accused certain political factions of pressing on false allegations against Barisan Nasional leaders merely to serve their selfish agenda.

He alleged these quarters are prepared to sow seeds of suspicion among Malaysians that all BN leaders were criminals as charged without proper probes and trials.

He expressed disappointment that these quarters were willing to deploy any unethical methods to achieve their political goals.

He said the whole episode had already unfairly tarnished the image of Rais and his family, as well as the country’s international reputation.

“Are these principles of justice and democracy advocated by Pakatan?” asked Tan.

Teoh Beng Hock - coroner's verdict is he died naturally or killed by Aliens

2011-01-06T01:20:00.000-08:00

Now how else can we conclude from this strange verdict of the Coroner? Clearly he is under pressure not to take side. So he stood in the middle. So Teoh's death has to be a misadventure, or attacked by vampires or seventh-month ghosts and spirits. Puzzled.

Teoh family questions AG’s motive
Nantha Kumar and K Pragalath

KUALA LUMPUR: Teoh Beng Hock’s family has questioned Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail’s motive in seeking a revision of the coroner’s findings announced on Wednesday.

“Does he want it to be suicide?” asked Gobind Singh Deo, the family’s lawyer.

“I think the AG should tell us why is he filing a revision. What is he unhappy about?”

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas delivered an open verdict, saying Teoh’s death was neither suicide nor homicide.

Gobind, speaking at a press conference here, said the AG should instead direct investigations into the coroner’s findings.

The inquest revealed weaknesses in police investigations into Teoh’s death, including a failure to find out how he got bruises in his neck.

He also questioned the rationale behind the government’s decision to exclude the cause of death from the terms of reference of the royal commission of inquiry, as announced by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today.

Najib said the commission would study only the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) procedures to “determine whether there has been a violation of the human rights of Teoh Beng Hock during the investigation”.

Gobind said: “How are you going to ascertain the procedures did not violate Teoh’s human rights when we do not know what actually happened to him?”

He said he was “disturbed and disappointed” at the narrow scope of the inquiry.

“Why hold a royal commission now to look into the investigation procedures by the MACC? That aspect should have been looked into long ago. At the end of the day, everybody wants to know how Teoh died.”

Teoh Lee Lan, Beng Hock’s sister, said the family was still hoping for a royal commission that would investigate her brother’s death.

Responding to Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Aziz’s call to the family to accept the coroner’s decision, she said: “Would Nazri accept the decision if it was a member of his family who died?”
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Just who is politicising Beng Hock's death, MCA?
Jackson Ng
This was what the Sun reported today in their article 'Don't politicise TBH inquest verdict: MCA':

“The MCA has extended its sympathy and condolences to the family of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, and criticised the Opposition for politicising the inquest decision.

“At a press conference today, MCA president Chua Soi Lek said: 'The unfortunate death of Teoh Beng Hock has been used as a political instrument to discredit the government.

'While we admit it has not been handled very well from the beginning, nor has it inspired confidence in the government, it should not be used as a political weapon. Doing so will only prolong the suffering of his family,' he said.

“He added that the MCA will discuss the matter in its next central committee meeting on how to help move this case forward …”

What a load of bull.

Nineteen months after Teoh's death and the conclusion of a lengthy coroner's inquest, the MCA president Chua Soi Lek says his party central committee will discuss the matter in its next meeting.

That is all our so-called Chinese leader had to say in response to an unacceptable open verdict by the coroner.

The self-confessed adulterer doesn't even have the courage to call for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into the death of a Pakatan Rakyat DAP aide while under the custody of the Selangor Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

And he criticises the Pakatan for politicising the inquest decision. Now, who in the first place is politicising the death?

Was it the Pakatan government that took Teoh into custody for questioning as a witness who then failed to emerge alive?

Chua, please, don't play politics when a precious life has been lost.

Irrespective of political affiliation, Teoh died in custody and do you expect Malaysians to believe that no one in MACC knows what happened?

Sounds more like a cover up to protect those responsible for causing Teoh's death, directly or indirectly.

Chua also gave an illogical advice that prolonging the issue would mean prolonging the suffering of Teoh's family.

Please don't insult our intelligence this way. It is the government's lack of will to deliver justice for Teoh's death that is prolonging the issue.

Just find the culprits responsible for Teoh's death and the case will be closed. Period.

Or, are you too scared to push for this for fear of your own personal transgressions?.

I certainly don't place much hope on you and the MCA to take care of the rakyat's interest.

Malaysia Wins Laser Beam Soccer Final

2010-12-30T05:03:00.000-08:00

20 years down the road, nobody is going to talk about the laser beam anymore. The history book will record it as a Malaysia victory, and will always be remembered as the first Cup win of the tournament for Malaysia. Indonesia must learn to accept it, that it is the result that counts, not how the match is won. Sporting spirit is kinda of irrelevant and childish.

MALAYSIA has declared Friday a public holiday to celebrate its victory over Indonesia in the final of the Asean Suzuki Cup - south-east Asia's premier football tournament.

Malaysia beat Indonesia 4-2 on aggregate in a final played over two legs, winning the cup on Wednesday for the first time.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak announced the holiday in a statement to the national news agency Bernama late on Wednesday, saying that the victory marked 'the greatest night in Malaysian football.'

He posted from his Twitter account: 'Well done, Malaysian Tigers! You played well as a team and have made your country very proud. Congratulations!'
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KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s sports minister Monday said he was upset at “unsporting” football fans who aimed laser beams at Indonesian players during an ASEAN Football Championships match which Malaysia won 3-0. Malaysian fans among the 100,000-strong crowd at the national stadium in Kuala Lumpur late Sunday reportedly aimed laser beams at Indonesian players, forcing the game to be halted after 53 minutes.

The Indonesian players walked off the pitch in protest, and organisers warned fans that the match would be called off if their behaviour continued, according to The Star newspaper.

The game resumed six minutes later and shortly after the restart, Indonesia conceded three goals.

“I am upset. I am not happy at all, it’s very unsporting for Malaysian fans to do so,” youth and sports minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek told AFP, promising there would not be a repeat of such incidents.

“We were worried about a clash between the fans so we have put in place measures to segregate them but using laser beams was rather a new thing to us,” he said.

“I am not pleased at all. In fact I was embarrassed in front of my Indonesian guests,” said the minister, who however hailed Malaysia’s performance as a “big achievement”.

Malaysia’s victory in the first leg of the championships, formerly known as the Tiger Cup, puts them a step closer to their first Southeast Asian championship title.

Indonesia will host the return match on Wednesday.

Meanwhile furious Indonesians have flooded Twitter with accusations that Malaysia unfairly won a key regional football match after fans in Kuala Lumpur apparently distracted Indonesian players with laser beams.

At least four of the top 10 words and phrases most popularly used on the social network site were linked to tirades against Malaysia soon after the home team beat Indonesia 3-0 Sunday night in the first leg of the ASEAN Football Federation Cup final.

For nearly an hour, “Malaysia cheat laser” ranked No. 1 on Twitter’s global “Trending Topics” chart. Other phrases used were “Use Laser,” “Curang,” which is Indonesian for “cheat,” and “Support Garuda,” a reference to the Indonesian squad.

The match was halted for five minutes shortly after halftime when Indonesia’s goalkeeper and another player complained that bright green lights were directed at them from laser pens used by an unidentified few among the 85,000-strong crowd at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Malaysia’s largest city.

Officials then warned fans to stop using laser pointers.

All of Malaysia’s goals came later between the 61st and 73rd minutes.

Many Malaysians were quick to defend their team, saying there were no beams shone on the field during those 12 minutes of goal scoring.

“None of the 3 goals had anything to do with (cheating). It had to do with” a weak Indonesian defense, Khairy Jamaluddin, a prominent Malaysian government politician and former deputy president of Malaysia’s football association, wrote on Twitter.
Agencies
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JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) — The Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) on Monday said Malaysia’s national team cheated during the first leg of the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Cup final on Sunday, the Jakarta Post reported.

Nurdin Halid, head of the PSSI, said a powder which causes itchiness and allergic reactions was discovered in front of Indonesia’s goal net in the Bukit Jalil football stadium in Kuala Lumpur. The match was won by Malaysia by 3 goals to zero.

According to Halid, the suspicious powder affected Indonesian goalkeeper Markus Haris Maulana and other defensive players as it caused itchiness which had a negative effect in their performance during the first leg match.

In addition, the Indonesian team claimed that, during the match, Malaysian supporters were aiming laser beams at their eyes. The game was stopped after 53 minutes and the Indonesian team walked off the field in protest.

Stadium authorities called for measure and warned that the match could be suspended if that behavior continued. The game eventually resumed after five minutes and Malaysia then scored three goals in minutes 53, 71, and 68.

Indonesia has announced that it will file a formal protest with the Asean Football Federation as the team claims it was terrorized since they were in a bus heading towards the stadium.

It was Malaysia’s first final in 14 years and first victory over Indonesia since 1979. The second leg is scheduled to take place in Jakarta on Wednesday.
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MIC wants national football coach K Rajagopal to be honoured with at least a Datukship.

Party president G Palanivel said Malaysian football has been on the rise since Rajagopal took charge of the under-23 side.
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The team won the SEA Games gold medal in Laos last December and yesterday clinched the AFF Suzuki cup for the first time.

"Before this, the country waited many years to get back Asean glory.

"We were in the doldrums all these years," said Palanivel.

"This man beat all the odds, he was focused and believed in himself and his team. Such dedication must be rewarded," he added.

The MIC president said Rajagopal built a winning team made up of players with varied skills which is much more difficult than coaching an individual sportsman.

"This is the first time Malaysia won the AFF championship since the biennial tournament was introduced in 1996," he added.

Malaysian Police is the real "Killing Machine"

2010-12-28T01:52:00.000-08:00

Another 3 men killed by trigger-free policemen of Malaysia. It seemed that they were trained to shoot-on-sight the moment they get nervous. When in Malaysia, the last thing that you should get near to is the police force, not the terrorists.

Families want answers to police killings
Teoh El Sen
KUALA LUMPUR: Last year, police shot dead three youths – and today their families want answers to their unsolved “murders”.

The trio – Mohd Shamil Hafiz Shafie, 15, Mohd Khairul Nizam Tuah, 20, and Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22 – were gunned down in Jalan Kerjaya, Glenmarie, on Nov 13, after allegedly robbing a petrol station in Jalan U1/1 nearby.

The families of the victims this morning handed over a memorandum to the Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar at the entrance of the federal police headquarters at Bukit Aman here.

They want the police to investigate and charge those responsible for shooting the three youths “at close range”.

Speaking to reporters, Shamil’s mother Norhafizah Mad Razali said that the three families simply wanted answers.

“My son was only 15 when he was shot dead. I just want justice. Why was he shot? I don’t think he had ever done the things the police accused him of,” she said, adding that her son was shot in the middle of his head and chest.

“The police also said my son and the other two boys were armed with parangs, but where are the parangs? ” asked Norhafizah, 36, who was comforted by her husband when she broke down in tears.

Khairul Nizam’s sister, Norhaliza Tuah, 27, said her brother’s death did not make sense.

“I don’t believe he is a criminal. We were shocked when this happened. When we saw his body, there were bruises on his face. Was he hit before they killed him? We don’t know. The police must answer.

“The police even lied. They told us that he ‘had an accident’ and asked us not to worry. But when we reached the hospital, we saw his bullet-ridden body,” said Norhaliza.

Hanafi’s father, Omar Abu Bakar, 56, said police did not update the families even after reports were lodged two months ago.

“I am not satisfied. My son was shot in the right ear and if the police said he was attacking them, why wasn’t he shot from the front? This means my son was driving at the time. I want the police to speed up their investigations and take action against the people who killed my son,” he said.
Also present were human rights NGO Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), Suaram members and Opposition MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar and R Sivarasa.

The memorandum urged the IGP to:

* investigate the fatal shooting of the three youths and prosecute the policemen who fired the shots;
* stop abusive and arbitrary practice in the discharge of firearms;
* make public the Inspector-General Standing Order on police guidelines in the discharge of firearms;
* support the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to function as an external body to investigate complaints about police conduct; and
* support human rights education and training programmes to change the attitudes and methods of law enforcement personnel.

“We are here because the police have committed murder and we can prove it. The three youths were shot at close range. It looked like all three were kneeling when they were shot. Why are the police covering up? We have lodged a police report on Nov 20 and nothing has been done,” said N Surendran, a lawyer from LFL.

“We are worried for the people. There is a real need for an IPCMC. We are here for all the other teenagers in Malaysia who are in danger as well. We intend to pursue this until there is justice for the families of the victims.”

No accountability

Fellow LFL lawyer Fadiah Nadwa Fikri said Malaysia was faring badly in terms of extra-judicial killings in comparison with other countries.

“Is it so hard for the police to be responsible? Even if the victims were criminals, should they be shot like that? We are troubled and puzzled. We want the police to prosecute those who have been cruelly murdered. They say they are ‘seasoned criminals’ but they don’t even have a single police record.”

Added Nurul: “This is not a political issue. It’s about the future of our children. We want a better system so that this sort of incident won’t recur.”

Sivarasa said: “This incident has all the traits of a murder case. It is not isolated. The police simply do have any accountability whatsoever.”

Surrounded by a crowd of about 40 people, Bukit Aman public relations department chief inspector Saipul Anuar Razali received the memorandum.

“The investigations are still ongoing. I am here to receive the memorandum. The IGP will answer all your questions later, ” he told the family members.

When pressed for answers on the status of the investigations, Saipul left to check but returned later to say it was a Saturday and he could not get in touch with any officers.

He promised to have the answers on Monday.

In the incident, the police claimed the three youths were members of the notorious “Geng Minyak” and were wanted for preying on petrol stations in isolated areas.

The trio were apparently fleeing the scene when they bumped into a team of policemen who were patrolling the area.

A car chase ensued. When the car skidded and stalled by the roadside some 2km away, the police said the trio alighted and tried to assault them, forcing them to open fire.

All three sustained similar gunshot wounds to the forehead and chest.

The families of the victims later lodged reports urging the police to investigate the killing, which they regarded as “murder”.

Crosses Removed For Najib's Christmas Day Visit

2010-12-26T08:31:00.000-08:00

Reports have been surfacing that some ‘paranoid’ Catholic church officials have been told to make sure that crucifixes were removed and that no hymns were sung when the prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak attended the Christmas tea party last weekend hosted by the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur in order to protect his Islamic credentials. Apparently, the actions were done without Najib’s knowledge as some would regard his visit to be detrimental to his political standing after the recent call by certain Islamic scholars on Najib not to attend non-Muslim celebrations.

Since becoming the Prime Minister, this would be his first Christian function where according to sources, some of the Prime Minister’s aides had issued instructions to Tan Sri Murphy Pakiam, the Archbishop in order for the visit by Najib to be glitch-free. Among those mentioned were to have symbols like crucifixes removed, no singing of hymns and to not quote anything from the scriptures or say any prayers. According to the Christian Federation of Malaysia, the same set of ‘rules’ were also given out in previous Christmas events including one which was attended by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong.

Anwar-Leaks vs WikiLeaks

2010-12-03T08:22:00.000-08:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today moved to stem the impact on his sodomy trial of US cables released by WikiLeaks claiming he had sex with a male aide in a honey trap set by enemies.

Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair told AFP he will file a complaint with the court hearing Anwar's sodomy case over articles in the local media which could affect the former deputy premier's ongoing trial.

Most newspapers in the country carried the allegations on their front page with influential Malay daily Utusan running a headline stating: "Singapore spy agency verifies sodomy act".

"Clearly it's a case of sub-judice, it's hearsay and conjecture, intelligence reports are not based on facts generally, they are based on rumours and I have served in the security services before so I know that the last thing you do is to trust such a report," said Nair.

"The judge must call up the newspapers and ask them to explain why they wrote the piece and to show their proof. If they can't do this then they will be cited for contempt," he added.

"If this is not sinister then it is totally unethical reporting. I have advised my client to file a lawsuit against these papers as well."

The leaked US state department cables from November 2008 were given to Australia's Fairfax media group, which reported Sunday the Australian and Singapore intelligence agencies' assessment of Anwar's ongoing case.

"The Australians said that Singapore's intelligence services and (former prime minister) Lee Kuan Yew have told ONA (Office of National Assessments) in their exchanges that opposition leader Anwar 'did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted'," the cable read.

"ONA assessed, and their Singapore counterparts concurred, 'it was a set-up job and he probably knew that, but walked into it anyway'," according to the cable.

Anwar, 63, has vehemently denied sodomising his aide, 25-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, claiming he was the victim of a political conspiracy.

He faces 20 years in prison if found guilty of sodomy, a serious crime in Muslim-dominated Malaysia.

Human Rights Watch has urged Malaysia to drop the charges against Anwar, condemning the case as a "charade of justice".
--------------------------------------------
KUALA LUMPUR: On his first day back in Parliament, independent Pasir Mas MP Ibrahim Ali told Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim not to cry conspiracy over WikiLeaks.

"I don't know if it is a trap or not... for me, what's important is that when we do something wrong, and when people take the opportunity to trap us, we cannot accuse others of conspiracy," the Perkasa president told reporters.

Read: Anwar acts to stem WikiLeak effect on sodomy case

According to Internet whistleblower WikiLeaks, a US department cable issued in November 2009 showed that Singapore officials believed that Anwar was guilty of his sodomy charge.

The revelation, which was contained in a message between the Singaporean intelligence and an Australian agency, said that Anwar "did indeed commit the acts for which he is currently indicted".

Reacting to the message, Anwar had accused the Malaysian police and their Special Branch division of contributing to the leak.

However, Ibrahim, who spent the last two months recovering from a heart bypass surgery, said that he was not surprised with Anwar's reaction.

He also advised the opposition leader to take action against WikiLeaks.

"I am not surprised at all (with Anwar). We have talked about him for many years, even during (former prime minister) Mahathir Mohamad's time, to the time where he was sacked as deputy prime minister," Ibrahim said.

"The best thing for him to do is to sue (WikiLeaks). I don't know (how to do so) from what point of the law, but that is the best way for him."

The firebrand MP also criticised the government for not taking action against controversial rapper Wee Meng Chee, or better known as Namewee.

by Patrick Lee

Woman Lawyer in Sodomy Case Had Sex with Saiful

2010-08-01T09:36:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: In a sensational twist in the sodomy trial of the Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, a prosecutor has been dropped after being accused of having an affair with the star witness.

Defence lawyers said the move bolstered its charge that Mr Anwar, a former deputy prime minister who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, is the victim of a political conspiracy.

The prosecution said it was dropping Farah Azlina Latif from its team, following claims she was romantically involved with Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, 25, who has accused Mr Anwar of sodomising him.

''This can be very difficult for us, but any personal matter, if it can have any implication in whatever form … will be handled very seriously,'' the Attorney-General, Abdul Gani Patail, said on Tuesday.

''This move is also to ensure that the smooth running of the case is not affected.''

An official at the Attorney-General's office confirmed his comments, and said that Ms Farah Azlina would be transferred to another department.

The defence said it had sought an official explanation from the prosecution after a leading Malaysian political blogger wrote that the lawyer was in a sexual relationship with Mr Saiful, who has a fiancee.

''The implications are serious,'' Mr Anwar's lawyer, Sankara Nair, said yesterday.

''There is a perception that Saiful could have been given access to confidential information of the trial and that would compromise the integrity of the prosecution.''

Mr Sankara said the development strengthened fears that there was a conspiracy against Mr Anwar, after Mr Saiful testified that he met prominent individuals including the Prime Minister, Najib Razak, before lodging his complaint.

However, the Attorney-General said that Ms Farah Azlina, one of eight prosecutors in the case, had no access to confidential information.

The sodomy trial, which began in February and has been punctuated by lengthy delays, is set to resume on August 2.

Mr Saiful, who was an aide in Mr Anwar's office, has accused the 62-year-old of sodomising him in 2008. If convicted, Mr Anwar could face up to 20 years imprisonment. Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Malaysia.

Mr Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to stop him taking power, after the opposition made huge strides in the 2008 elections, stunning the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has been in power for 50 years.

Trial of Opposition Leader Proceeding Unfairly

2010-07-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

Source: Human Rights Watch
(New York) - Government prosecutors in the trial of Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim should turn over their evidence to the defense before hearings resume in order to comply with fair trial requirements, Human Rights Watch said today. The government has charged Anwar, head of Malaysia's opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (People's Alliance or PKR) with "sodomy" for alleged consensual homosexual conduct.
Anwar, 63, faces a possible 20-year prison term and whipping under a colonial-era law that criminalizes "carnal intercourse against the order of nature."

Even if he is imprisoned for only one day or fined as little as 2,000 ringgit (US$625), Anwar would be forbidden by election law from running for office for five years. In 2008, the PKR had made political gains that ended the two-thirds parliamentary majority long enjoyed by the ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional (National Front or BN).

"Basic fair trial rights require giving Anwar access to the prosecutor's evidence so he can defend himself," said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Unfortunately, the prosecutors have tilted the playing field against Anwar by keeping key documents from his lawyers."

Human Rights Watch said that the government has yet to fulfill a February 9, 2010 promise by Nazri Abdul Aziz, a senior government minister in the Prime Minister's Department, that the "rights of both the accuser and the accused will be respected during the trial of Mr. Anwar."

Since Anwar's arrest on July 16, 2008, the case has featured repeated court rulings denying defense requests to provide crucial prosecution documents. The courts have denied access to the list of proposed prosecution witnesses and their statements to prosecutors, including those of Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former aide to Anwar and his accuser. They have also denied defense access to a security video recording from the condominium where the alleged crime occurred.

The courts have also denied defense requests for copies of clinical and other notes, reports, materials, and specimens related to Saiful's examination by three Kuala Lumpur Hospital doctors on June 28, 2008, two days after the alleged incident. Additional requests for the accuser's complete medical history, for the doctors' qualifications and experience, and for the standard sexual assault equipment and kits used to examine alleged victims were also denied. A forensic expert hired by the defense complained that lack of such evidentiary materials would hinder his ability to assist the defense during the cross examination of the three doctors.

In the latest development, the Court of Appeal has scheduled a hearing for August 6 on Anwar's appeal seeking access to the medical records, which will be several days after the three doctors are scheduled to be cross-examined by the defense.
General practice in Malaysia is for the prosecution to make all evidence available to the defense during the pre-trial period. In Anwar's case, the court concluded that the defense could request the information during the course of the trial. However, when the trial got under way on February 2, 2010, and the defense asked for disclosure, the judge said he was restricted by the pre-trial disclosure decision. The only information available to the defense comes from the in-court testimony of prosecution witnesses.

"Anwar's lawyers have been forced to defend their client with one arm tied behind their back," Robertson said. "By failing to turn over critical evidence, the courts and the prosecutors are only raising doubts about the fairness of the proceedings, and demonstrating again that the charges are politically motivated."

The proceedings appear to contravene section 51A, a March 2006 amendment to Malaysia's Criminal Procedure Code designed to encourage wider access to prosecution evidence. The section includes a provision for the prosecution to turn over "any" document that it will use as evidence and a written statement of facts favorable to the defense with the exception of any fact that "would be contrary to public interest."

"The Malaysian government asks the international community to honor its democracy and commitment to rule of law, but there is a wide gap between government rhetoric and the reality," Robertson said. "If the government is sincere about holding a fair trial, then it needs to order the prosecutors to turn over the documents Anwar's lawyers have requested immediately."

Home Minister Hishamuddin Should be Sacked

2010-07-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein has spoken out against criticising of the police force. But one cannot turn a blind eye to the reputation the force has brought upon itself, says Ms Batik.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein has spoken out against criticising the police force. “If these attacks continue, how can we teach the younger generation about nationhood?” he apparently asked at a Warriors Remembrance Dinner organised by the Ex-Policemen’s Association of Malaysia recently (theSun, 5 July 2010).

What has criticising the police got to do with teaching the younger generation about nationhood? Has the man lost the plot completely? While not belittling the efforts put in by our police force to fight crime and acknowledging the many difficulties the police force faces in terms of inadequate personnel, funding etc., one cannot turn a blind eye to the reputation the police force has brought upon itself. In a written parliamentary reply recently, the Home Minister himself revealed that a total of 279 suspects had been shot dead by the police between 2000 and 2009, while 147 died in police lockups during the same period (Malaysiakini, 28 June 2010). And let’s not even go into allegations of corruption and cover-ups. The Home Minister cannot expect the public to keep quiet if they know and feel that something is wrong with PDRM.

Perhaps the Home Minister might consider this: “One of the most elementary requirements for public confidence in the police force is a trust in the fact that members of the service will be accountable should they mistreat citizens or their public responsibility..... And the best way of generating that confidence is to convince people that in the case of grievances, there is a speedy, effective and independent mechanism for getting it remedied” (Police and Human Rights: A Manual for Training Police. Danish Inst. of Human Rights). Our country had a chance at this but the lack of political will to implement the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) put an abrupt stop to this endeavour.

Improving the police force is not just a Malaysian concern. In the United Kingdom (UK), the Human Rights Act 1998 brought the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) into UK law in 2000 (www.warwickshire.police.uk). “The Act makes it unlawful for a public authority to act in a way which is incompatible with a Convention right. Police officers are "public authorities" for the purposes of the Act because their role includes certain public duties. Six principles applicable to each area of policing to reach compliance with Human Rights were identified:

1. LEGALITY - is there a legal basis for police actions? Is that legal basis in statute, regulations, case law and is it available to a member of the public?

2. PROPORTIONALITY - can the police demonstrate that actions taken were "proportionate" to the threat or problem it sought to prevent?

3. RELEVANCE/NECESSITY - was the police action strictly relevant to the particular threat/problem.

4. SUBSIDIARITY - was the police action the least "force/intrusive" available?

5. EQUALITY OF ARMS - in any trial process did the defendant have the same information and access to information as the police/prosecution?

6. REMEDY - is there an independent public remedy available to the citizen?

The article at the website ends with the line “Your decisions and those of the officers you supervise are liable to be tested against these criteria to ensure compliance with human rights.”

Now why can’t we do something like this here, Home Minister? Take courage and have some backbone for there will be no lack of ideas as to how to reform PDRM and you can be assured of public support.

Don’t worry about teaching the younger generation about nationhood. But if you feel you must worry, then worry about the current examples being set by your government - for our young people learn by example!

Abdul Razak Baginda is innocent - it is Najib : says P Bala

2010-07-10T02:55:00.000-07:00

P Balasubramaniam, the private investigator involved in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case has claimed that Abdul Razak Baginda was not involved in the murder case and that he was made a scapegoat instead. Abdul Razak was a close associate of the prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, was charged but was acquitted in the case. Bala is currently in London in self-exile.

He said “As far as I am concerned, Razak is a scapegoat. He has got nothing to do with the murder. Yes, he was financing her and he had a relationship with her, but as far as I am concerned, he is innocent. In fact, my testimony in court saved him,” His lawyer Manjeet Singh Dhillon said “What we had intended, if MACC had turned up, was for Bala to highlight the series of events in that are a conspiracy web at the highest level to keep out references to Najib. Why did they miss a golden opportunity? Because it is dangerous to people who hold the reins of power. Never in theory nor practice, do you make that decision beforehand. You collect all statements and investigate and then you decide on witnesses,”

41% of Malaysia's civil servants suspected to be involved in corruption

2010-07-02T21:02:00.000-07:00

From: zero
Subject: 418,200 or 41% of Malaysia's civil servants suspected to be involved in corruption

Whoa...so many Malaysia civil servants suspected of corruption...

But having said that I chanced upon a visit to a low ranking Malaysian
civil servant in Malaysia and found he and his family actually lived in
a big bungalow house furnished with fancy gold lined furniture plus many
high tech household amenities.

I was shocked at I saw! He lived more like a "Malay sultan" than a lowly
Malay civil servant ! How does a Malay civil with less than Rm2000 a
month salary afford all that as well as raise so many children !

In contrast, I am very much comforted that our Singapore lowly paid
civil servant are made of much humbler stuff and kept straight and
honest by the system itself.

Greed has no boundary and if not kept in check, it will destroy the soul.
Seriously speaking internal actions cultivate a perception that the
Govt is seeking to protect them.... and even then the possibly with
the protection of the higher-ups or some connecte persons and
compnaies are even higher. It happens even first world or developed
countries too.
==============================================================
418,200 or 41% of Malaysia's civil servants suspected to be involved in
corruption.

It is shocking that it has been revealed that 41% of public servants
(normally referred to as government servants by governments seeking to
create a mindset that they should be supporters for...and vote for only
the UMNO-led BN. The correct term is 'public servants' and they are
meant to serve the Malaysian public - their loyalty is first to
Malaysians - not the government of the day).

41% - this was revealed by their own union, and the question is why the
lack of actions against these public servants. Maybe, the law need to be
amended to add 'special punishments' for civil servants, i.e.
termination, and maybe even loss of other benefits, including pension
for the more serious offenses.

There must also be publicity as to the nature of these offences - and
the punishments meted out. This will help educate the public - and will
certainly be a deterrent.

TEMERLOH: Cuepacs is alleging that 418,200 or 41% of the 1.2 million
civil servants were suspected to be involved in corruption last year.

Its president Omar Osman said this was worrying and needed to be tackled
urgently.

“To combat the scourge, Cuepacs will work closely with the Malaysian
Anti-Corruption Commission,” Omar told reporters after opening the
triennial general meeting of one of the affiliates of the umbrella union
here yesterday.

Omar said besides corruption, Cuepacs would also not protect civil
servants with disciplinary problems. For example, playing truant or
forging medical certificates.

“There have been cases where a one-day medical leave was doctored to
read as 11 days,” said Omar. - Star, 3/6/2010, 41% of civil servants
involved in corruption
Should the actions taken against these corrupt civil servants be
internal...and hidden from the public? Or should they be charged in
court, and accorded a fair and open trial? I believe that they should be
charged and tried. Internal actions always gives the perception that the
government is seeking to protect some - possibly the 'higher-ups' or
some connected persons/companies.

Police Officers Confirm there are Ghosts in Pudu Prison

2010-06-27T03:14:00.000-07:00

Well, if only the police had been kinder in their execution of duties, the ghosts may decide to go elsewhere. The tearing down of this historical landmark at Pudu would release the ghosts to the open, and will come back to haunt UMNO and the Barisan Nasional. Just watch how they ended history and ended themselves in the coming months....

THE older the structure, the more likely it is to be haunted. Given the chequered history of Pudu Prison – which dates back to 1895 – you can be sure it has more than its fair share of ghostly tales.

Abu Bakar Juah says it was common to hear things at night – footsteps where no one was supposed to be, chains rattling, and even hearing someone or something taking a bath when everyone is locked in.

“We normally shout out loud that we are merely trying to make a living and tell whatever that’s out there to leave us alone,” he says.

Haji Aziz Haji Idris tells of an encounter while on duty at one of the guard towers when he was still a young officer.

“It was shortly after midnight and I was on night duty with another person when I saw an officer approaching. As we had been trained, I banged my rifle on the floor and shouted out ‘Everything all right, sir!”

Aziz says the figure said nothing but raised his hand, and then suddenly disappeared.

He also remembers one particular bunk in the warder’s dormitory which everyone tried to avoid.

“Anyone who slept there would be sure to feel an unseen force pressing down on his chest. They may try to shout or move but will be helpless to do anything,” he says, adding that some would rather sleep on the floor than use the bunk.

Abu Bakar also recalls a weird phenomenon – a ball of fire the size of a football that suddenly appeared and rolled out of sight.

“It happened every once in a while, and in cycles. Everyone would be talking about it for a while,” he says.

But the scariest tale is that of a recurring apparition of a woman. Aziz believes it was the ghost of a woman who was hanged there.

“She had tried to kill herself previously by slitting her throat. She survived but before she was fully recovered, the execution order came,” he says.

“She was brought to the execution chamber and hanged – but because of the injury, her head was literally torn off. It was a gruesome death and that is the ghost that many people have seen.”

He recalls an encounter with this apparition.

“I was on duty at Block D, where death row is located, and directly above the execution chamber is a huge anchor stone.

“Out of the corner of my eye I saw a figure sitting on this stone. Malays believe ghosts’ feet do not touch the ground, and when I bent over to look, the figure disappeared,” he says.

But a fellow officer’s encounter was even more shocking.

“Once, a police officer was interviewing prisoners and it was getting late. However, he said that he could interview one more, and I went down to bring another one.

“As he was filling in some forms he saw a figure sitting down. Thinking it was another prisoner he looked up, only to see a headless woman with blood flowing down her chest. The officer ran down the stairs as fast as he could,” he says.

Aziz believes Pudu Prison is a very “dirty” place and in some places is a giant graveyard.

“During World War II, the British buried Japanese soldiers there, and when the Japanese took over, they buried the British there.

“The ghosts here are real,” says Aziz.
----------------------------------------------
Authorities begin tearing down historic Malaysian jail
By Melissa Goh

KUALA LUMPUR: The walls of Malaysia's historic Pudu jail have started coming down.

For the onlookers here, it was part of their history coming down.

The wrecking ball moved in on Monday night to start work on the controversial redevelopment of one of Kuala Lumpur's icons.

When the clock struck 10pm, the first wall of the 115-year-old Pudu prison came crumbling down.

Hundreds of people watched on and traffic came to a standstill as bulldozers moved in full force.

Many Malaysians fail to understand why the government insists on demolishing this historical building despite widespread protest. Some are picking up pieces of the fallen walls as souvenirs for their future generation.

Mrs Liew and her son and daughter were among the crowd scrambling to collect remnants of the building that used to boast one of the longest murals in the world.

She says:" I'm very sad because it's a part of our history, they (children) like the building very much. It's very beautiful."

Others had hoped that the authorities would keep the facade of the building, or at least one of the walls intact.

One person says: "I've travelled around the world to China, Europe, they are preserving. Why can't we do it?"

But the Malaysian government decided that Pudu prison was not suitable to be made into a heritage site because it's not something that the country is proud of.

Efforts to promote it as a tourist destination had failed.

The MP in charge of the area in downtown Kuala Lumpur felt differently.

Fong Kui Lun, MP, Bukit Bintang, says: "Whether it's good memories or bad memories, I think it witnessed the development of Kuala Lumpur and the people are very concerned because Pudu jail is one of the landmarks"

Historians are lamenting the loss of yet another iconic building that served as a reminder of Malaysia's social history.

Some of the more prominent inmates who had been housed here included Mona Fandey, the witch doctor behind one of the country's most notorious murders and gangster Botak Chin.

Malaysia Ban Cartoons

2010-06-25T19:23:00.001-07:00

Malaysia has banned three works of political cartoons that criticise the government, claiming that they pose a security threat.

Mahmood Adam, the home ministry's secretary-general, explained: "All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies... The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order."

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as police shootings and the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Two books are banned, Perak, Land of Cartoons and 1 Funny Malaysia, and one magazine, Issues in Cartoons.

Zunar, a cartoonist for more than 20 years, told an AP reporter: "In Malaysia the government... won't allow alternative views. You can do cartoons, you can do whatever art work you want, but it must be in line with the government (view)."

Last month, Malaysian authorities seized more than 6,000 copies of a pro-opposition newspaper, saying it did not have a printing permit. All publications require government-approved annual licences. Zunar's website: http://www.cartoonkafe.com/

----------------------------------------------

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia banned three works of political cartoons that criticize the government, but one of the artists said Friday he was obligated to highlight issues other cartoonists would not.

The government said the cartoons in two books and a magazine posed a security threat.

Malaysia has banned dozens of publications in recent years, but usually because of sexual content or alleged misrepresentation of Islam, its official religion. But the latest ban is certain to spark complaints that the government is disallowing critical views.

"All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies," said a statement by Home Ministry Secretary General Mahmood Adam on the official news agency Bernama. "The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order," he said without elaborating.

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as police shootings and the sodomy trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The books, titled "Perak, Land of Cartoons" in Malay and "1 Funny Malaysia," were published late last year. The magazine, "Issues in Cartoons" in Malay, with a circulation of 15,000 copies, was launched in February with three volumes coming out since then, Zunar said.

Independent online news portal Malaysiakini, which publishes "1 Funny Malaysia," said it would file a court case to challenge the ban of its book. Its chief executive officer, Premesh Chandran, said the book was a compilation of cartoons already published on Malaysiakini's website.

"It's peculiar that the book is banned ... as so far there is no evidence of public disturbance stemming from these cartoons," he told The Associated Press.

Cartoonist Zunar, who has published the other two works, told the AP he was still waiting for an official letter from the ministry but vowed not to stop drawing

-----------------------

“I WILL NOT STOP DRAWING TILL THE LAST DROP OF MY PEN.” (Press statement by Zunar on book ban)

At press time, I have yet to receive the official letter from Ministry of Home Affairs on the ban on my books.
Based on the news report on Malaysiakini (24 June 2010), Ministry of Home Affairs quoted saying that three of my publication were banned, namely “1Funny Malaysia”, “Perak Darul Kartun” and “Isu Dalam Kartun (IDK)”.

“1Funny Malaysia” is a collection of my published work from the year 2005 until 2009, in Cartoonkini on a popular web-based news portal, Malaysiakini.
"Perak Darul Kartun" is a book published by my own company Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd.

"Isu Dalam Kartun (IDK)" is a monthly magazine with a publishing permit from Ministry of Home Affairs. Three issues have been published; vol1, vol2 and vol3.

Last year, another mangazine of mine “Gedung Kartun” was confiscated and banned. According to the latest statement from Ministry of Home Affairs, all six of my publication, as well as my team of cartoonist, are listed in the “Prohibited Publication” list.

In the Malaysiakini report, Head of Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Madmood Adam quoted stating these books are banned because they are not suitable for reading by the public.

All three publications will put in the “Prohibited Publication” list due to content that will influence public perception on country’s leadership and government policies. They are not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order.

Zunar’s Statement:

1. The government / Ministry of Home Affairs accused my cartoons that the content will influence public perception against on country’s leadership and government policies. Thus, they not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order. This is a serious accusation and must be supported by strong reasoning and proof.

2. With this ban of the six publication, it also means that all 312 cartoons and the whole team of cartoonist are being banned as well.

3. I demand Ministry of Home Affairs to explain the definition of “content will influence public perception against on country’s leadership and government policies. Thus, they not suitable for reading by the public and may jeopardize public order.”

4. I demand Ministry of Home Affairs to identify which cartoon of the 312 cartoons is categorized as “a threat to national security and not suitable for reading by the public”. I am responsible of all my cartoons and willing to face law if I break any of them.

5. From the business perspective, this action by Ministry of Home Affairs had cause considerably large amount of losses to my company. It is estimated amount of loss may climb to RM50,000 to RM80,000 with the returning of the publications from the vendors.

6. I would like to stress that material gains is not my objective. As a cartoonist, it is my social responsibility to expose the truth; the lies and corruption by the BN government. Saidina Ali once said, “Telling the truth to the tyrant leader is the real patriot”.

7. The government can ban my books. They government can ban my magazine. But the government cannot ban my mind. “I WILL NOT STOP DRAWING TILL THE LAST DROP OF MY PEN.”
Zunar

(Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque)
Kartunis/Editor kartun
zunar49@gmail.com
03 22724045
Publications are available for purchase online at www.cartoonkafe.com or by calling the hotline at 03-2272 4045.

Malaysia Ban Sport Betting

2010-06-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has decided not to issue the sports betting licence to Ascott Sports Sdn Bhd.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak said the decision was made after taking into consideration the views of various quarters which clearly showed that the majority did not agree to the issuing of the licence.

Najib, who is also Umno president, said the decision was also agreed upon unanimously by members of the Umno supreme council which met last night.

"Since the approval was decided in principle and a survey was carried out, although there were groups who supported as well those who did not support or opposed the decision, it was clear to the government that a majority of the people did not agree that the licence be issued to Ascot Sports.

"As such, I hereby wish to announce that the government has decided that the licence will not be issued," he told reporters after chairing the meeting.

Najib said the licence was issued in 1989 but the company had returned it to the government in 1990 after suffering huge losses.

Since then the company had tried to renew the licence a number of times but only recently the government had approved the issuance of such a licence in principle, based on a number of terms.

Social problems

Najib said the government's aim was to control illegal betting that was said to be in the region of RM10 billion, as well prevent other social problems.

At the same time, the prime minister said the government had also decided that Muslims were totally prohibited from being involved in any sports betting whether buying, working or becoming a member of the board of directors in a betting company.

"This condition was firmly specified by the government," he added.

When asked whether the decision was agreed upon by other Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties, he said they all accepted the decision in the interest of the nation.

Najib, who is also Finance Minister, emphasised that Ascott would not be paid any compensation because the Finance Ministry had the right to revoke any gambling licences issued.

He said Ascott had also been informed of the decision and it understood why the government did not issue the licence.

Brother of Prime Minister Criticizes NEP

2010-06-22T07:23:00.000-07:00

Datuk Seri Nazir Abdul Razak, the younger brother of prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has criticized the NEP (New Economic Policy) as proposed by the federal government saying that the policy is unfair to a majority of Malays and that the government should protect the interest of the majority of Malays and not just the selected ones.

He said “I have met a Malay professional overseas who refused to return to Malaysia because he is of the view that successful Malays are not welcomed in the country. This is because the Malays’ success is always linked to NEP. In fact some of them refused to return thinking that the NEP is not for them but only to selected Malay groups, so they are better off working overseas. Certain aspect of the NEP such as scholarships allocation should be retained. Those who have been trying to stop efforts to review the NEP are those who are benefiting from the NEP. That was why some contractors were not happy with open tender but they never ask if they get the job, what would happen to other Malay contractors. Why refuse to compete?”

In an interview with Mingguan Malaysia, he added that “In the long term NEP is about national unity. But today we have deviated from the original intention of the NEP to achieve unity. For certain parties, NEP has become the cause of disunity because the policy has been misused by some people for profit,”

mentality and attitude of the Malays have to change : Maslan

2010-06-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan urged the Malays to change their mindset to be in line with Vision 2020 objectives which consists of progress in business, unity, politics, leadership and education.

The mentality of Malays must change to be more open minded and competitive to seize any opportunities. Ahmad stressed that Malays must obtain knowledge as education is the basis for progress. Besides that, he also urged the Malays to explore the business sector to earn a better income.

Malays should change their mindset to be in tandem with the objective of Vision 2020 which encompasses progress in education, business, unity, politics and leadership.

Umno Information chief Datuk Ahmad Maslan said they should also be competitive to be able to seize opportunities and be successful.

"The mentality and attitude of the Malays have to change so that they will be more open minded and competitive," he said when opening the Wangsa Maju Umno divisional meeting here Saturday.

Ahmad, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, emphasised the need for Malays to acquire knowledge being that education was the basis for progress.

"Without knowledge, we cannot change the society," he added.

He also encouraged them to venture into the business sector for better income.

At a media conference later, Ahmad said there was no need for the government to entertain Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz's call for the government to give time before holding a general election to enable the contesting political parties to prepare themselves.

Perkasa and Gertak not supported by Malay Majority: Nazri

2010-06-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, June 18 — If it were not for Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, right-wing groups like Perkasa and Gertak would cease to exist, says Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.

The minister in the prime minister’s department said the reason for the rise of these Malay rights groups was because the former prime minister had been endorsing their agenda by “speaking out” against the Najib administration.

The low turnout at the Gertak rally, said Nazri, showed Dr Mahathir did not have the support of the Malay majority.

“He is an icon. Groups like Perkasa, Gertak will die out without Dr Mahathir’s presence,” Nazri told The Malaysian Insider in an exclusive interview this week.

The blunt politician pointed out that the small number of followers within these groups indicated that Dr Mahathir had the backing of only a minority of Malays.

“There are many Malays who believe in what Datuk Seri Najib Razak is doing. (Right-wing) groups like these are just fringe elements,” said Nazri when asked to comment on the low turnout at Gertak’s “Melayu Bangkit” rally in Kuala Terengganu four days ago.

Among the leaders who had attended the rally, which attracted just some 1,000 people, was Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said.

Nazri defended Ahmad’s presence at the rally, saying the mentri besar’s attendance was “out of respect” towards the former PM who ruled the country for 22 years.

“Malays are generally respectful of their elders... the only one who did not go (to the rally) was me,” said Nazri in jest.

A half empty hall listening to Dr M.

Perkasa has been vocal in opposing several of Najib’s reform plans, specifically proposals in the New Economic Model (NEM) which touch on opening up the economy and doing away with affirmative action quotas.

Dr Mahathir, who has also been critical of the NEM, has been seen at many Perkasa functions as well as the Gertak rally on Monday, which was originally scheduled for May 13 — a sensitive issue due to race riots on that date in 1969.

At the rally, he praised the government for rectifying what he called mistakes in the New Economic Model through the recently tabled 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Nazri said Dr Mahathir’s actions were only helping the opposition. — file pic
Dr Mahathir said the 10MP had identified problems which were overlooked by the NEM.

“(I think) he is the best prime minister the country has had. My issue with him is that after he stopped becoming prime minister he ‘menyusahkan kita’ (troubles us). Dr Mahathir must remember that the prime minister right now is Najib. He should help us. By doing what he’s doing its only helping the opposition,” said Nazri.

The law minister gave an example from the 1990s when Dr Mahathir was Umno president. He had advised Nazri, who was then Umno Youth deputy chief to not make his objections towards the appointment of Tan Sri Rahim Tambi Chik as Umno Youth chief public.

“Back then Dr Mahathir came up to me, and said that if I had any issues I should settle it within these four walls... he said I could approach him about it (the objections). Well, now he (Dr Mahathir) should heed his own advice,” said the outspoken Umno leader.

The Padang Rengas MP said Dr Mahathir was only “destroying his own legacy” by attacking the current Barisan Nasional government.

“By attacking the government, he is destroying his own legacy. He created all of us... I’m his creation, Najib is his creation. Don’t kill your own creations,” said Nazri.

Mahathir Now Insults Malay Singaporeans

2010-06-17T06:56:00.000-07:00

REACTION TO MAHATHIR'S REMARKS
In Singapore, we don't kowtow

I READ with concern Tuesday's report, 'Malaysian Malays might kowtow to others if...', in which former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad claims that even though Malay Singaporeans enjoy the benefits of a more developed country, they have to 'terbongkok-bongkok' (kowtow) to others.

Tun Dr Mahathir could have been more sensitive towards the feelings of Singapore Malays.

As a Malay Singaporean living and working peacefully with fellow Singaporeans of all races, I cannot agree with what he said.

Singapore's leaders worked hard for many years to achieve racial harmony, tolerance and understanding among Singaporeans. Today, we live and work together as one family; and we have reaped the rewards of being one of the safest and most developed nations in the world.

While Dr Mahathir's opinion on Malay Singaporeans enjoying the benefits of a developed country is spot-on, we have never kowtowed to others. Singaporeans of all races, including Malays, engage in healthy debate and discussions with our Government. The decisions made by the Government, after hearing feedback from its people, are respected as we trust it is in the best interests of all Singaporeans.

Through community support and hard work, Malay students in Singapore have bettered their results in various national examinations. Such achievements are celebrated by all Singaporeans.

With better education, Malay Singaporeans have achieved a better lifestyle for their families compared with a large percentage of Malays in Malaysia. We worked hard to be where we are today and in no way kowtow to anyone to gain success. Meritocracy remains the benchmark of our society. While this works in Singapore, it may not work in Malaysia.

Having many relatives, friends and business associates of all races in Malaysia requires me to travel frequently across the Causeway. Over the years, I have seen and learnt that for the minority to succeed in Malaysia, they need to kowtow to others.

The irony is that many ordinary Malaysian Malays who have no connections, or fail to share their potential success with the 'right' people, will never have it easy to succeed. Perhaps, favouritism, cronyism and bribery are problems Dr Mahathir may want to address in his country.

As for me, a Malay Singaporean, I would like to say thank you to my Singapore leaders. You have made Singapore the best place to live peacefully in for me and my family.

Mustaffa Othman

-----------------------------------------------------

'Like others, Malay Singaporeans work hard for the benefits in a meritocratic system.'

MR AHMAD ABU BAKAR: 'I strongly object to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks. Like others, Malay Singaporeans work hard for the benefits in a meritocratic system. They are not born with a crutch of ethnic rights, quotas and 'unfair' opportunities. When Singapore Malays graduate from universities as doctors, engineers and scientists, they can hold their heads as high as the others, because they have done so by their own hard work and merit.'

'The Malays in Singapore stand shoulder to shoulder with other Singaporeans.'

MR NIAZ MOHAMED: 'The prosperity of Singapore is proof enough of its internal stability achieved through excellent inter-racial and inter-religious harmony. A non-Muslim can visit any mosque in Singapore where he will not only be welcomed with hospitality, but also given a guided tour. Similarly, any person may visit any house of worship if he is modestly attired and receive the same hospitality. The Malays in Singapore have made great strides in all areas and stand shoulder to shoulder with other Singaporeans.'

'Singaporeans of all ethnic backgrounds have come a long way since 1965.'

MR JEFFREY LAW: 'Most people will dismiss Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks as merely political rhetoric. Singaporeans of all ethnic backgrounds have come a long way since 1965, having embraced the system of meritocracy in all aspects: education, employment and social standing. Most important, our ability to be a developed country within such a short time is due to the concerted effort and sacrifices of all Singaporeans - Chinese, Malays, Indians and others.'

AMERICAN PIT BULL
mahathir jus trying to create dispute anong our ppl.
we may be a rojak country.
but our guns are always unitedly pointed outwards

ultralib
Mahathir is just very jealous of Singaporeans.
He has created a whole generation of Malaysians who cannot speak English and will continue to rely on the govt for handouts.
Their English vocab is one two three, yes boss, no boss, I love you.

Najib's grand plan or bullshit

2010-06-13T05:38:00.001-07:00

Newsgroups: soc.culture.malaysia
From: "Dollah Asman"
Subject: Najib's grand plan or bullshit

So, Datuk Seri Najib, if you truly and sincerely want to transform the
country into a great nation of excellence and prosperity, then your first
task is to restore the people's confidence and let them know that they have
a real equal stake in this land they are born, breed and brought up.

You need to take a firm uncompromising stand against the racist characters
and, at the same time, start cracking the whip on the little Napoleans who
have been bullying the little people under your care.

Ultimately, your vision can either be a Grand Plan or a Grand Illusion,
depending on your commitment and courage to take the brave and bold measures
to eliminate the weed from the wheat,

Luna Maya – Cut Tari – Nazril Ariel Scandal

2010-06-13T04:13:00.000-07:00

ACTRESS LUNA MAYA

ACTRESS CUT TARI

Luna Maya – Cut Tari – Nazril Ariel Sex Scandal

Indonesian police has reported that Indonesian stars – Luna Maya and Cut Tari were reportedly involved in the sex videos that got out on the internet. Though it has not been released who was involved in uploading the videos on the internet, the culprit would be charged only in case it was found that the person distributed the video on the internet intentionally which we think is the case.

The police has tracked the IP Address of the culprit who had uploaded the videos on the internet and he will soon be apprehended by the police. The police also confirmed that the video was uploaded by someone in Indonesia and that it was not uploaded from an internet cafe.

WATCH VIDEO HERE

Female Masseurs earn RM25k per month

2010-06-12T00:57:00.000-07:00

A female masseur who offers extra services to customers can earn up to RM1,200 per day. It was revealed by four foreign nationals who work in a reflexology centre in Taman Tun Dr Ismail (TTDI) when they were detained by the authorities in a raid conducted recently.

The female masseurs offer 'Body to Body' massage to customers charging RM150 per session. Following a public tip-off, police conducted a raid around 11 pm recently at the premise. Kuala Lumpur police secret society, gambling and vice division (D7) chief Deputy Superintendent Razali Abu Samah said the officers arrested three Thai nationals and a Chinese national during the raid.

It is believed that the masseurs offer dress-less massage services. They would also offer extra services such oral service with an additional rate of RM100 per session. Masseurs in the reflexology centre can only entertain around 10 customers per day.
--------------------------------------------
written by carvalho francis. , 12 June, 2010
Malaysians,

WHY BLAME THESE OUTLETS WHEN THE TRUTH IS THESE BLOODY RELIGIOUS AND BANDAR RAYA AUTHORITIES ARE THE ONE WHO SIN?

CAN ANYONE CLAIM THEY ARE NOT ON "TAKE?"
THEN TOO WHY DOES THE IMMIGRATION OFFICIALS ALLOW THE VISIT PASS TO THESE IN AND OUT FOREIGNERS?

EVEN THE ORDINARY MALAYSIAN IS AWARE THAT MANY OF THESE ILLEGAL FOREIGNERS ARE WORKING IN MANY COMPANIES. ALL THEY DO IS GO ACROOS THE BORDER THAILAND AND COME IN AGAIN. THE FEES PAID TO THESE Mulsim OFFICERS COME TO Rm 400 or more PER ENTRY?

THE REAL CAUSE OF THESE OVERSTAY FOREIGNERS IS FIRSTLY DUE TO CORRUPT Muslim AUTHORITIES!!!!

BLLODY BULSHIT HYPOCRITES OF "SIN" . THE BIGGEST SINNERS ARE THESE OFFICERS THEMSELVES..... EVEN IN THIS "ah long" LOAN SHARKS.

SEE THE UGLY LANDSCAPES IN THE TOWN SIGN BOARDS AND ON GLASS SHOP PANELS, ON THE TNB, TELEKOM SUB STATIONS, EVEN ON TREES, THEN ON ROAD SIGNS ?????

WHERE ARE THE AUTHORITIES TO UPHOLD THE NO STICK BILL ORDERS AND PUNISH SUCH OFFENCES?

CARS THAT HAVE PARKED A LITTLE LATE ON THE TIME IMMEDIATELY GETS SUMMONS, YET THIS LOAN SHARKS ADVERTISEMENT GO UNHEEDED AND WORST THEY DESTROY ALL THE LANDSCAPES WITH SO MANY BILL POSTERS FILLING UP EVERY WHERE?

NO CONTACT? THE TEL NOS ARE THERE!

ARE THESE HYPOCRITE OFFICERS BLIND?

CORRUPTION IS THE KEY BEHIND ALL THESE UNWANTED CRISIS.

A DISGUSTED MALAYSIAN.

Malaysian GST will start from 4% to 10% eventually

2010-06-11T01:08:00.000-07:00

Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussin, the Deputy Minister of Finance said that the government will not be changing the proposed plan of 4% as the rate for GST (Goods and Services Tax) and denied claims that it might be raised to 10%. He said “The government believes that although the GST has been set at four per cent, it will have a neutral impact on inflation and on the overall government revenue. Tax collection can also increase through efficient GST collection and higher tax collection compliance level”

Speaking to the Dewan Rakyat, he added that “What’s important is to ensure the information on tax collection mechanism and GST implementation trickle down to the people from all strata of society. The GST’s main objective was to restructure the country’s taxation system to be more comprehensive, efficient, transparent and business-friendly. There are lots of advantages to address the weaknesses in the present taxation system. This is because the GST paid by traders for business inputs like raw materials, telephone bills and office equipment can be claimed as credit from the government,” He also said “This is because many countries have implemented the GST even though their per capita income was much lower than Malaysia. Venezuela, Sri Lanka, South Africa and Sudan have already enforced GST. This clearly showed the per capita income level is not the yardstick to implement GST,”

Weapons Missing in the Police Force

2010-06-10T15:50:00.000-07:00

Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, the Home Minister reported to the Dewan Rakyat that the Royal Malaysian Police Force had since 2001 recorded losing 62 firearms. This is made up of 36 semi-automatic pistols, 51 revolvers and 2 sub-machine guns. He said this in his written reply to Tian Chua, the Member of Parliament of Batu where he added that of the total, only 28 have been recovered. Those that are recovered are 24 revolvers and 4 semi-automatic pistols while the rest were never found.

He added that “Logistic equipment under the police inventory consisted seven categories: watercraft, radio equipment, firearms and ammunition, vehicles, aircraft, technical assistance equipment and information technology systems. From the above categories, two categories which frequently face problems are vehicles and firearms,”
-------------------------------------------
written by the man from the liquid world , 10 June, 2010
RAKYAT GETS BEATEN UP BY POLIS RAJA DI MALAYSIA.
RAKYAT GETS KILL IN JAIL BY POLIS RAJA DI MALAYSIA.
RAKYAT GETS SHOT DEAD BY POLIS RAJA DI MALAYSIA.

NOW THE RAJA DI MALAYSIA LOSES FIREARMS. ASK THEM TO GO MAKE A POLICE REPORT TO POLIS DI MALAYSIA. THEY CANT EVEN PROTECT THEIR FIREARMS AND WE EXPECT THEM TO PROTECT US.

POLIS RAJA DI MALAYSIA MAKE POLICE REPORT THAT THEIR FIREARMS IS LOST INTHE POLICE STATION ITSELF..!!!

JOKE OF A CENTURY..!!!!
---------------------------------------------
written by GoldenMan , 10 June, 2010
Mongolian missing.
What happen to TBH.... Missing.
Engine on Jet...missing.
Commission on purchase of submarine...missing
Bala...Missing
PKFTZ money...missing
AP money... missing
Now...guns missing.
----------------------------------------------

Sports Betting Donations by Vincent Tan - Not Welcome

2010-06-08T15:36:00.000-07:00

Suhaizan Kaiat, the secretary of NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation) GMJ (People’s Movement Against Gambling) said that the recent move by Tan Sri Vincent Tan to donate half a billion to charity will not make gambling ‘halal’. The NGO slammed the move by the Berjaya Group tycoon saying that “Vincent Tan's promised 'donation' to his own foundation is a feeble attempt to persuade Malaysians into accepting as halal what they know is haram”

Suhaizan also said “Vincent Tan, don't think that Malaysians can be convinced with your offer of RM525 million in the pretext of charity. Nobody can live a happy life with riches gotten from the gains made from gambling except rich companies like yours. Money gotten from gambling cannot bring about happiness. But what is the meaning of RM525 million when compared to the damage to families, society and the nation that will ensue from the issuance of the sports gambling license? The country would have to bear the costs of the destruction far larger than the donation,”

He added that “GMJ would campaign throughout the country for the government to revoke the sports gambling license it had issued to Berjaya. Since the government seems so desperate for money that it legalised sports gambling, perhaps Tan should donate the proceeds, of the Ascot sale to Berjaya, to the federal government,"

The Real Story of May 13 (1969) - UMNO Youth is the real Culprit

2010-06-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

A REPORTER’S ACCOUNT OF AN INTERVIEW WITH TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN ON THE 13 MAY INCIDENT

The following statement is a factual account of the above-mentioned event given to me by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman (first Prime Minister of Malaysia) during an interview at his residence in Penang in 1972. I requested to discuss the above incident and was surprised when the appointment was given within three days.

His Secretary, a Chinese gentleman, allotted me one hour and advised me not to go into too much detail as this would tire the Tunku unnecessarily. In fact, the interview lasted three and a half hours. Because of the very surprising details provided to me, I think it would be best to report in a first-hand manner based on my notes written immediately after the interview.

“It was clear to me as well as the police that in the highly charged political atmosphere after the police were forced to kill a Chinese political party worker on May 4th, 1969, something was bound to happen to threaten law and order because of the resentment towards the Government by the KL Chinese on the eve of the general election. This was confirmed at this man’s funeral on the 9th May when the government faced the most hostile crowd it had ever seen.

Therefore, when the opposition parties applied for a police permit for a procession to celebrate their success in the results of the general election, I was adamant against it because the police were convinced that this would lead to trouble. I informed Tun Razak about this and he seemed to agree.

Now, without my knowledge and actually “behind my back”, there were certain political leaders in high positions who were working to force me to step down as a PM. I don’t want to go into details but if they had come to me and said so I would gladly have retired gracefully.

Unfortunately, they were apparently scheming and trying to decide on the best way to force me to resign. The occasion came when the question of the police permit was to be approved.

Tun Razak and Harun Idris, the MB of the state of Selangor, now felt that permission should be given, knowing fully well that there was a likelihood of trouble. I suppose they felt that when this happened they could then demand my resignation.

To this day I find it very hard to believe that Razak, whom I had known for so many years, would agree to work against me in this way. Actually he was in my house, as I was preparing to return to Kedah, and I overhead him speaking to Harun over the phone saying that he would be willing to approve the permit when I left. I really could not believe what I was hearing and preferred to think it was about some other permit. In any case, as the Deputy Prime Minister, in my absence from KL, he would be the Acting PM and would override my objection.

Accordingly, when I was in my home in Kedah, I heard over the radio that the permit had been approved.

It seems as though the expected trouble was anticipated and planned for by Harun and his UMNO Youth. After the humiliating insults hurled by the non-Malays, especially the Chinese, and after the seeming loss of Malay political power to them, they were clearly ready for some retaliatory action.

After meeting in large numbers at Harun’s official residence in Jalan Raja Muda near Kampong Bahru, and hearing inflammatory speeches by Harun and other leaders, they prepared themselves by tying ribbon strips on their foreheads and set out to kill Chinese. The first hapless victims were two of them in a van opposite Harun’s house who were innocently watching the large gathering. Little did they know that they would be killed on the spot.

The rest is history. I am sorry but I must end this discussion now because it really pains me as the Father of Merdeka to have to relive those terrible moments. I have often wondered why God made me live long enough to have witnessed my beloved Malays and Chinese citizens killing each other.”

This was a conspiracy at the highest level and nothing short of a power struggle, with the ‘Young Turks’ then forming the pressure group. To achieve their ends, they very cleverly used race to make the Malays rise and push the Tengku aside.

Today, they are doing it again. This is dangerous politics. It may backfire and, instead, it may make the Malays rise against the non-Malays, like what happened in 1969 -- a fire raging out of control with no fire extinguisher in sight.

We must never allow our country to be turned into a racial battlefield again. Let politics be issues concerning policies, civil rights, good governance and justice. Let us not allow anyone to bring race and religion into our politics lest we suffer the fate of many countries around us where mass murders of entire families are made in the name of ‘bangsa’ and ‘agama’.

-Raja Petra Kamarudin

Taxi Driver Scandal

2010-06-05T17:04:00.000-07:00

Three other victims of a rapist cabbie have stepped forward to say that they were molested by the man since January.

The girls, who described the man as a smooth-talker, said he only made them strip and fondled them, but did not rape them.

Ampang Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Abdul Jalil Hassan, who disclosed this to reporters Saturday, said it was strange that the taxi driver did not rape them as he had raped the first three girls who lodged police reports.

“Yes, it is quite strange, but that is what they claimed in their reports,” he said, adding that police would continue to investigate the case.

He said the three girls who were molested referred to the man as “uncle” and said he was always friendly and would give them free rides home to win their trust.

“However, once he lured the girls to the privacy of his house, the suspect would reveal his true nature to them,” he said.

The three girls, all aged 17 and from the same school, also claimed that they had been molested by the taxi driver multiple times but they did not report him as they were afraid he would publicise their nude pictures.

Police are not ruling out the possibility that there may be more victims despite the evidence of only six girls in video recordings seized from the rapist, all of whom have now come forth to the police.

ACP Abdul Jalil urged anyone who had information on the case to assist in investigations.

“Hopefully, with information provided by the victims, we can close in on the taxi driver’s accomplice,” he said.

On Monday, police arrested the suspect at a taxi stand in Jalan Imbi following police reports by three teenage girls that they had been raped and kept as sex slaves for almost a year.

The taxi driver was reported to have preyed on at least six secondary school girls aged between 15 and 17 by waiting outside their schools for them to get into his taxi.

He would then pretend to have an emergency at home.

Once at his house in Taman Muda, Ampang, he would force the victims into his house and rape them.

The rapist filmed the act and threatened to make the videos public if the girls told anyone about it.

He would later call the girls whenever he wanted sexual favours and used the recordings to threaten them.

Malaysian Govt Self-Shaming Continues...

2010-06-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR : A doctor who examined the young man accusing Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy testified Thursday there was evidence of sexual penetration even though he found no injuries.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, has insisted the charges have been concocted in a conspiracy to end his political career.

On Thursday prosecutors at his trial took aim at the defence's argument that medical reports showed no evidence of anal sex -- an illegal act in conservative Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Mohamad Razali Ibrahim, a doctor at Kuala Lumpur Hospital who examined 25-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan after he complained he had been sodomised in 2008, said semen was detected on swabs he took from his body.

"With all the reports before me now, I would say there is evidence of penetration even without clinical injuries. With the presence of semen I would say there is anal penetration," he told the court.

The hearing adjourned for the day but defence counsel Sankara Nair said outside the court that the semen could have been introduced artificially.

"The semen could be anybody's, they have not established whose semen it is," he told reporters.

Nair said that Anwar had an alibi and would argue that during the time of the alleged incident, at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur condominium, he was in fact at a meeting at another apartment in the building.

"The alibi is our defence. He (Anwar) was at the opposite condo with several people including the owner," he said.

Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to prevent him from taking power, after the opposition made huge strides in 2008 elections, stunning the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition which has been in power for half a century.

The trial began in February but has been punctuated by lengthy delays. At the end of the week it will go into a hiatus until mid-July.

Racist Perkasa ties: 'Have the guts to quit Umno'

2010-06-03T06:42:00.000-07:00

GEORGE TOWN: A human rights leader today challenged Barisan Nasional component parties to leave the federal ruling coalition over Umno’s unholy political alliance with the Malay supremacist NGO, Perkasa.

The Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) supremo P Waythamoorthy said it would be politically correct if the other 12 BN component parties take Umno to task for its shameful link with the racist Perkasa.

He said BN allies should question Umno, including Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, for supporting Perkasa while forsaking the multi-racial interests of the coalition.

He said the BN partners should issue an ultimatum to Umno to either sever its unholy ties with Perkasa or watch the partners walk away.

“BN allies should exercise their equal rights within the coalition. They should stop Umno’s racist agenda once and for all.

"They should have the guts to abandon Umno,” the London-based Waythamoorthy told FMT today.

He said since it was formed in the aftermath of 2008 general election, Perkasa has championed a racist Malay supremacy agenda to the detriment of non-Malay/ Muslim citizens of the country.

He said that Perkasa leaders have been trumpeting about their agenda without fear of draconian laws, such as the Internal Security Act and Sedition Act, because they were backed by Umno.

He recalled that previously Umno Youth would act as the pressure group by propagating the Malay agenda to tame other BN component parties.

Umno ploy

However, since the electoral debacle in 2008, he accused Umno leadership of franchising its own racist agenda to Perkasa to camouflage the federal ruling party’s real intention.

“Perkasa and its racist Malay agenda are simply another of Umno’s privatisation project in the country.

“It’s merely to maintain Umno’s racist policy to marginalise others and safeguard the interests of one particular community.

“There is no other ruling party in any democratic society in this world as racist as Umno.

“It’s now masking itself with Perkasa,” said Waythamoorthy.

Besides Umno, the other component members are MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, and Borneo-based parties -- Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko), Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) and Sarawak People's Party (PRS).

Waythamoorthy alleged that Perkasa’s opposition to the New Economic Model (NEM) was merely an Umno ploy to maintain its Malay supremacist agenda in the country.

“It’s to regain the Malay electoral ground,” he said.

He added that BN allies were duty-bound to check on Umno’s wrongdoings in the coalition rule.

He said the allies should not allow Umno, with only 79 or 35.6% of the parliamentary seats, to dominate the country with a racist agenda.

He also said the component parties owed it to the people to stop Umno.

“It’s time for BN allies to give Umno the 'abandon Perkasa or we leave' ultimatum,” said Waythamoorthy.

Penang a China Doll Sex Haven

2010-06-02T06:03:00.001-07:00

Sex syndicates in Penang are offering China dolls via the multimedia message service (MMS) to their customers in a move to evade constant raids by the authorities.

Sex syndicates in Penang are offering China dolls via the multimedia message service (MMS) to their customers.In a move to evade constant raids by the authorities.

It is learnt that the messages contain images of scantily clad China doll, their ages, sex services provided, working hours and the contact numbers of the pimps. The pictures are believed to have been taken in photo studios.

However, the multimedia messages are only sent to selected or regular customers.

Once a deal is struck between a potential customer and the pimp, the woman would be sent to a hotel to meet the customer. Customers are charged at least RM200 per session.

Sources said the syndicates have resorted to using the MMS because they had been losing their China dolls in raids carried out on budget hotels and entertainment outlets.

"They have spent thousands of ringgit to bring them here. This latest method will at least enable them to recover their investments," said the sources.

A check with the police and the state Immigration Department showed at least six anti-vice raids were carried out over the past two months on hotels in Anson Road and Macalister Road, and entertainment and karaoke outlets in Pulau Tikus.

Even gay joints were not spared. A reader who received several of such MMSes said he was shocked when he saw the contents and the pictures.

"I dread what would happen if such MMSes are sent to teenagers and students," said the man who declined to be named.

Penang deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah advised those who received such MMSes to lodge police reports.

"The senders can be charged with distributing obscene materials under Section 292 of the Penal Code, he said.

A Penang Commercial Crime Department spokesman said the MMSes were being investigated.

"We are now tracing the senders of these messages," he said.

UMNO is using Racism to gain Malay support

2010-05-30T06:11:00.001-07:00

Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the president of PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) said that the largest component party of BN (Barisan Nasional), Umno no longer represent the aspirations of the people and is no longer relevant which is why they are using racism to keep the loyalty of the Malay community. She said “After March 2008, Umno realised the multi-racial party model which we bring is wanted by the public. Umno has rejected the importance of a multi-racial party for nearly a decade and said that it was would not be accepted by the people especially the Malay community.”

Speaking at the PKR’s National Congress, she added that “However, they themselves have lost touch and are separated from the real aspirations of the Malays because they are preoccupied with the riches from fraud. The 2008 general election has sent a clear signal that the political future of this country is multi-racial political parties. Umno’s failure to address Malay issues has forced it to attack PKR. After March 2008, the party’s (Umno) attack is focused to destroy our credibility with Malay voters. They falsely accuse us as being anti-Malay and many other allegations to tarnish our name in the eyes of the Malay community. The future of Malaysia is multi-racialism which builds on the unique strengths of each race, so do not be shy to convince the rakyat that we are the party of the future! Umno’s racial polarisation is dangerous to the country. Malaysia urgently needs a political movement to value the contribution and involvement of all races. Unfortunately, Umno’s answer to this new political culture is to make seditious and racist sentiments to continue to divide the people and increase racial polarisation. In fact, the concept of 1 Malaysia or concept related to it is hypocrisy,”

She also said “Umno was using the New Economic Policy (NEP) to instil fear in the Malay community. Umno is telling the people that we are allegedly willing to forfeit the interests of the Malays when we said that the NEP should be abolished. We are confident that NEP has failed to achieve its objectives because many of the implementations have deviated from the policy and spirit of the NEP. NEP is just used by Umno to conceal their corruption. The Malays and the Bumiputeras have long been deceived by Umno. They want the Malays to rely solely on the government alone because Umno is aware that when the Malays begin to believe in their capabilities then they will no longer require the support of Umno politicians,”

Perkasa declared that the NEM a threat to the Malays

2010-05-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

The MPM (Malay Advisory Council) has declared that the NEM (New Economic Model) as proposed by the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak a threat to the Malay community. They passed a resolution to protest against the NEM at its first congress yesterday. The MPM is made up of 76 Malay NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) and is headed by Perkasa, whose president is Datuk Ibrahim Ali. Proceedings in the congress had many hit out at the NEAC (National Economic Advisory Council) for having ‘betrayed the social contract’ which recognizes that the Malays have special economic rights.

According to some of their resolutions, “The congress regretfully concedes that the government have failed to help increase Bumiputra participation, ownership and control in strategic sectors,” and “The affirmative economic and distribution policy that Bumiputra participation in various economic sectors must be maintained,”

MIC Crisis Widening Further - Samy Vellu to fight all the way

2010-05-28T21:54:00.000-07:00

SEREMBAN: MIC president S Samy Vellu, who is facing mounting pressure to relinquish his post, has described the crisis as a battle.

“We are at war,” he told the delegates attending the Negri Sembilan MIC annual general meeting in Seremban this morning.

Training his guns on rebel secretary-general S Murugesan, who was seated on the stage as well, Samy Vellu said: “When the general tells you to shoot, you shoot.”

The 74-year-old politician said that while he did not harbour any resentment towards Murugesan, the latter, however, had erred in not defending MIC.

Unable to contain his disappointment with the man he had appointed as secretary-general, Samy Vellu said: “I had expected him to protect MIC against those who are bent on destroying it.”

Samy Vellu also clarified that it was former MIC president S Manickavasagam, and not him, who had urged (another former president) VT Sambanthan to step down.

He was referring to Murugesan's statement yesterday criticising Samy Vellu for invoking his presidential powers to expel four party members.

Murugesan had said that he was forced to make a stand as he owed it to the party and delegates who voted him into the MIC central working committee.

Saying that the laws of karma were at work, Murugesan had claimed that Samy Vellu asked Sambanthan to step down and history was now repeating itself.

'I would step down earlier if...'

Meanwhile, Samy Vellu told the MIC delegates that he would step down earlier if he is given other responsibilities.

“I have already said that I will hand over (the leadership) to (deputy president G) Palanivel in September 2011. What more do they want?” he asked.

The MIC president did not specify what the other responsibilities were but there has been speculation that he might be appointed as the roving ambassador to South Asia.

Samy Vellu, who has been president for three decades, said he was not perturbed by the ongoing campaign to oust him.

Referring to the “Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu” (GAS) rally slated for tomorrow, he said: “They can gather 30,000 people and it will not affect MIC or me.”

GAS was initiated by former MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan after the president expelled him from the party last week.

In a related development, Murugesan defended his action to publicly voice his opinion on the sackings.

Responding to the criticism from MIC's three vice-presidents, he said: “I have noted their points and thank them for expressing their views. This is healthy democracy.”

“It is exactly for this right – for elected representatives to be able to voice their views without fear or favour – that I had stood up for,” he added in a statement.
-------------------------------------
UPDATED PETALING JAYA: MIC secretary-general S Murugesan has become the latest, and most prominent, figure to join the chorus of dissatisfaction towards party president S Samy Vellu.

Once seen as a strong supporter of Samy Vellu, Murugesan said he has to answer to his conscience and the party delegates who voted him into the Central Working Committee, and not just one man.

Speaking at a press conference in Petaling Jaya, the lawyer-turned-politician thanked the MIC president for appointing him as the secretary-general.

Murugesan also made it clear that he was not questioning the president's retirement plan, but rather Samy Vellu's decision to sack four party members based on his presidential powers.

“I owe heavier responsibility and loyalty to MIC above any one individual, even if that individual is me or the president. I cannot forsake my conscience and the interest of the party to safeguard my position in the party,” he said.

“I have always felt that at some point in life an individual must stand up and be counted and be willing to face the consequences. I believe that the time has come,” he added.

Murugesan's unprecedented stand was the result of the president's decision to sack party Youth deputy chief V Mugilan, CWC members KP Samy and Petaling Jaya division leader V Subramaniam, better known as Barat Maniam.

Subsequently, Mugilan went on to form the Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) campaign, which is slated for an official launch this Sunday.

Presidential powers – last resort

Murugesan said the presidential powers of expulsion should only be used as a last resort and not as the first option.

“They (those sacked) should be given the chance to defend themselves at the disciplinary committee,” he added.

The srecretary-general also stressed that MIC is a democratic institution and therefore dissenting voices must be tolerated.

“The Indian community is watching us. The nation is watching us. We are sending the wrong signals to Indian youths who might be interested in joining the party.

“How are we to unite the Indian community with its diverse views if we don’t respect dissenting opinions?” he asked.

'You can call it karma'

Meanwhile, Murugesan said he does not agree with the expulsion of members just because they had asked the president to step down earlier than stipulated.

He added that counter arguments and not expulsion should be used to tackle differing opinions.

However, he pointed out that it was Samy Vellu who had set the precedent.

"It was this president who set a precedent some 40 years ago by asking the past president VT Sambathan to step down. And history is repeating itself, you can call it 'karma'," he said.

Asked if he was supporting Mugilan, he replied: "I am aware of the consequences. My actions are my own."

On whether he would join GAS, Murugesan said:"I have not formed an opinion on that.”

Responding to another question, Murugesan said while discontent is brewing in the party, he was, however, unsure if more CWC members would step forward to express their unhappiness.

“As for me, it was a very difficult decision but I had to make this decision. I have great faith in MIC and its ability to lead the Indian community. I love this party,” he added.

New venue for GAS rally

In a related development, the GAS gathering will now be held at the Mines International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan.

According to Mugilan, he booked the venue yesterday.

Mugilan said the reason for the venue change was because of Samy Vellu's interference in pressuring the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) management.

However, PWTC's chief operations officer Maxson Abdullah told FMT yesterday that it was Mugilan who cancelled the booking.

Quizzed on this today, he replied: "Not me, they (PWTC) were the ones who called me, and after negotiations, I agreed (to cancel the booking)."

Mugilan expects 15,000 people to show up for the Sunday gathering.

He also challenged Samy Vellu to set up a booth at the event where he can check the identity of those who attend.

"They will bring their identity cards, and more than 80% will be MIC members," he said.
By Teoh El Sen

Anwar Calls Najib A Weakling

2010-05-25T13:14:00.000-07:00

Anwar flays ‘submissive’ Najib in Singapore deal
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

KUALA LUMPUR, May 25 — Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim slammed today Malaysia’s deal with Singapore in settling the longstanding dispute over KTM Berhad’s Tanjong Pagar railway station in the island state.

Anwar said that the terms of agreement between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong were questionable as it was “shrouded in secrecy” and Malaysians were not aware of the real arrangement.

“But some of the terms are questionable and we feel Malaysian interests should be protected. This is as usual, most of Najib’s agreements are shrouded in secrecy.

“It’s (the agreements) not open. You always hide behind Khazanah but we dont know what’s the real arrangement,” Anwar told The Malaysian Insider in an interview today.

The Pakatan Rakyat defacto leader said that the agreement which was announced yesterday raised concerns that Malaysia is seen to be too “submissive” in catering to Singapore’s demands.

“There is a tendency that in the policy of Najib, like in the case of Barack Obama, he seems to be too submissive, agreeing, and there is a lot of concern.

“Why is it we have now a Prime Minister that surrenders too easily?” asked Anwar.

Following his meeting with Obama in April, the Najib administration had sided with Washington in its nuclear dispute with Iran.

After receiving domestic criticisms, Najib was also forced to deny cutting gasoline supplies to Teheran.

Najib and Lee agreed yesterday to relocate the 78-year-old Tanjong Pagar railway station operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) to Woodlands.

The relocation, to take place on July 1 next year, marks a major step in resolving a number of outstanding bilateral issues between the two countries, as first reported by The Malaysian Insider last September 29.

The two governments will also form a company to jointly develop parcels of land now owned by KTMB.

Malaysia will soon will co-locate its railway and Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex to the Woodlands train checkpoint.

Both countries also announced that a company, known as MS Pte Ltd, will be established no later than Dec 31 this year to jointly develop the parcels of land.

Malaysia is to hold a 60 per cent stake in this company under Khazanah Nasional Berhad, while Singapore will have a 40 per cent share held by Temasek Holdings.

The three parcels of land in Tanjong Pagar, Kranji and Woodlands, along with another three pieces of land in Bukit Timah, will be vested by MS Pte Ltd for joint development, which in turn could be swapped on the basis of equivalent value for pieces of land in Marina South and/or Ophir-Rochor.

The land swap has been contentious since the Malaysia-Singapore Points of Agreement (POA) was signed in 1990 over the issue of the future of the railway land. The POA was signed between former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and former Malaysian Finance Minister Tun Daim Zanuddin.

Under the agreement, KTM was to vacate its historic station at Tanjong Pagar and move to Bukit Timah while all of KTM’s land between Bukit Timah and Tanjong Pagar would revert to Singapore.

The land at Tanjong Pagar would be handed over to a private limited company for joint development — of which its equity would be split 60 per cent to Malaysia and 40 per cent to Singapore — as it is in the latest agreement.

But the key contention was the interpretation of the agreement as Singapore insisted the agreement meant KTM had to move its terminal from Tanjong Pagar to Bukit Timah within five years of its construction, when the republic moved its railway immigration in August 1998.

But Putrajaya said it would only be effective once it decided to move the station.

The railway land was acquired under a 1918 colonial ordinance specifically for use by Malayan Railway (Keretapi Tanah Melayu or KTM) for a period of 999 years. That same ordinance limits the use of this land. The land, which the main railway station is situated on, is considered prime land.

But Anwar stopped short of slamming Najib’s move in its entirety, and cautiously pointed out that he believed that bilateral ties with Singapore were of utmost importance.

“I am for and support strong bilateral relations with Singapore... I must again stress I represent the view (that) the relations with Singapore is of paramount importance to us as a country and also economic terms,” said the former Deputy and Finance Minister.

He explained that during his time as Finance Minister in the 1990s he had gone to Singapore to talk to then PM Goh Chok Tong about the terms of agreement, as it had not been cleared by the Cabinet or Attoney-General.

“I am [currently] working on my statement but basically [the] point of agreement was between Mahathir and Kuan Yew. At the time [when][ I was Minister of Finance, Tun Mahathir asked me to check [the terms of agreement]. I checked it was never cleared by the Cabinet or A-G so there was a problem .

“We had to go and explain to Goh Chok Tong that we will work [on the agreement].

“Although it is encouraging that we have major progress with negotiations with Singapore, [at the same time] these are prime economic and national interests and I think he [Najib] has to come out clean and explain details of the agreement,” said Anwar.

In a press statement issued a few hours later, Anwar reiterated his points and claimed that the newly-inked agreement woukd not be able to “generate domestic economic activity.”

“How many developers, contractors or Malaysian suppliers would be involved in the development of the M-S Pte Ltd?” Anwar said.

The Permatang Pauh MP also demanded that Najib present a report of the Points of Agreement (POA) along with the new terms in the upcoming Parliamentary session in June.

“We also want an explanation whether Najib had used the 1990 POA outlined by Tun Daim Zainuddin who was Finance Minister at the time, when it (the agreement) was not agreed by the Cabinet.

The government should also explain the real situation on the issue of water and to reassess the prices of raw water supply to Singapore.

“We urge Datuk Seri Najib to present a report in the next Parliamentary session in June,” said Anwar.

Najib Surrenders Railway Land to Singapore

2010-05-24T06:41:00.001-07:00

SINGAPORE: Malaysia and Singapore today announced a plan to jointly redevelop prime chunks of real estate in the city-state as part of efforts to settle issues dating back to their separation.

In a statement, visiting Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong said Malaysia had agreed to relocate a railway station from downtown Singapore to the border with Malaysia by 2011.

The station could finally be relocated within Malaysian territory by 2018 after the establishment of a rapid transit system, according to the statement.

Singapore was ejected from the Malaysian federation in 1965, but Malaysia still occupies railway land all the way up to Malaysian territory, including the station on the fringes of the Singapore banking district.

Under the plan, Malaysia's state railway -- KTM -- will move its Singapore terminal to Woodlands, an industrial zone located just across a narrow strait from Johor, by July 1, 2011.

A company known as M-S Pte Ltd will then be established to take ownership of the vacated area and other parcels of land, with 60% equity held by Malaysia's investment agency Khazanah Nasional Bhd and 40% by Singapore’s Temasek Holdings.

Both sides will conduct valuations of the land and Lee will visit Kuala Lumpur within a month with a proposal for a land swap, the statement said.

The railway land could be swapped for real estate in two of Singapore's most expensive districts, including the site of the multibillion-dollar Marina Bay Sands casino complex which opened in April.

Song Seng Wun, a regional economist with CIMB-GK Research in Singapore, said the railway land's worth "could be in the billions".

The issue was just one of the disputes that have periodically strained relations since Singapore and Malaysia separated -- an episode that still rankles on both sides.

Rows have also erupted over the price of the raw water that Malaysia supplies to resource-scarce Singapore, and Singapore's military access to Malaysian airspace.

Malay Tudung Girl Miss Intan leaked pics scandal

2010-05-22T20:01:00.000-07:00

From: reborner
Subject: Malay Tudung Girl Miss Intan - leak sexpics Scandal

Looked like girls wearing tudung has a craze for s-e- x.
They do in xray room, cars, at home, and everywhere....

http://malaysian-scandals.blogspot.com/2010/05/intan-scandal.html

Wain: Dr M is the cause of Malaysia's problems

2010-05-22T09:44:00.000-07:00

The author of a hot-selling political biography on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said many issues hampering Malaysia had come from the ex-prime minister’s tenure.

Former Asian Wall Street Journal editor, Barry Wain, whose book “Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in turbulent times”, sold 4,000 copies in just two weeks added that he does not see any broad changes being brought about by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“I argue that a lot of problems in Malaysia stem from Dr Mahathir’s rule,” said Wain in an interview yesterday, during a reception to celebrate the launch of the book. “Issues like corruption did stem from when he was in power. Lack of leadership, abuse of the NEP (New Economic Policy), problems that exist today.”

Wain, who was a Malaysia correspondent from 1977 to 1979 and has been in Asia for 38 years, said it was “quite obvious” that Malaysia has fallen behind other countries because of abuse of the controversial race-based NEP and that he was still waiting to see substantial reforms.

“I don’t see any broad changes at all,” said Wain of Najib, who is the country’s sixth prime minister and son of the second premier, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

Wain noted, however, that during the middle of Dr Mahathir’s tenure, Malaysia was one of the fastest-growing developing economies. And with 10 years of GDP growth above nine per cent, there was not a sense of concern at that time over where the country was heading under Dr Mahathir.

The reason why Malaysia was still lagging behind advanced Asian economies such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Japan even after all the rapid growth, according to Wain, was that the fast economic growth masked problems such as cronyism and the merging of politics with business.

“The great influx of cash hid that Malaysia was becoming uncompetitive,” he noted.

The book is a result of two-and-a-half years of research and interviews spread out over three years.

Wain also refuted reports that Dr Mahathir had seen a draft of the book before it went to print.

“That’s not the case,” said Wain. “I would never agree to an interview (with Dr Mahathir) if he imposed a condition to see the book before it goes to print.”

The book was launched in Asia in December last year but the Home Ministry only approved it for sale in Malaysia last month, which led to many Malaysians buying the book in Singapore or downloading pirated copies from the internet.

Due to the success of the book, another 5,000 copies are being printed for Malaysia and the book’s distributor, UBSD Distribution Sdn Bhd, expects sales to hit 10,000 by the end of the month, a high figure given the non-fiction nature of the book and its price.

“This is the first time that bookshops lined up at the warehouse to get the book,” said UBSD executive director Christopher Toh.

It is learnt that Malaysians had previously crossed the Causeway to Singapore to buy the book at bookshops in the island republic. – The Malaysian Insider

Samy Vellu - should get out now before being kicked out

2010-05-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR: Sacked MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan today announced the formation of the Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS) movement to topple the party president.

Addressing a packed press conference at a restaurant in Petaling Jaya, Mugilan said he will be the coordinator of the movement, which will launch a campaign to force Samy Vellu to quit.

He will launch the campaign -- known by its acronym as GAS -- on May 30 in Kuala Lumpur with several MIC top guns.

Mugilan expects more than 7,000 people to participate on the first day of the campaign, which will subsequently be held nationwide.

"GAS will not only be for the Indians but also the Malays and Chinese," he said.

Observers, however, were left disappointed as expectations were high that Mugilan will be announcing something more "explosive" as reported by the media.

"This looks like a bombshell which failed to explode," quipped one senior MIC leader.

'Work of Subra'

In an immediate reaction, MIC Youth adviser and Samy Vellu's son Vell Paari termed GAS as nothing more than "hot gas" from Mugilan and those aligned to him.

He also accused former MIC deputy president S Subramaniam of being the force behind this campaign, saying that GAS should stand for "Group Aligned to Subramaniam" instead.

"This is nothing new. Subramaniam has been trying to do this for 30 years, and now and then he finds someone to do the work for him. Now, Mugilan is the new puppet," he told FMT.

"Let me make one thing clear: my father will vacate his post, and others will succeed him. But Subramaniam will never become president of MIC and he has to live with this fact," he added.

Vell Paari also took a swipe at Mugilan, saying that it is in the latter's "genetic make-up" to do such things.

"When he was in Bell Club, he did the same to the president there, he then did the same to (MIC deputy president (G Palanivel) in Hulu Selangor and he was doing the same in MIC Youth by undermining the wing's chief T Mohan," he said.

Palani: Let Samy decide

In a related development, Palanivel said since the MIC president has set his retirement date, all quarters should work together to ensure a smooth transition.

"In the past, I have said that Samy Vellu has to be the one to decide when he wants to leave. Now that he has set the time, let us work together.

"As for me, I have said in the past that I am a leader in my own right and I will like to work with everyone," he added.

On the question as to whether he is ready to take over, the deputy president said: "The answer is simple. When the delegates voted for me in 2006 and 2009 as deputy president, I am sure they were voting for someone who is capable and experienced."

He added that Samy Vellu has always said that he has the capability of taking over the leadership reins.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAMMY VELLU THE TYRANT
Duo who asked Samy Vellu to step down sacked

KUALA LUMPUR: The MIC has sacked Central Working Committee members KP Samy and G. Kumar Aamaan for 'acting against party interests', party sources said.

The duo had asked party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to step down.

KP Samy and Kumar Aamaan confirmed receiving their expulsion letters Monday evening.

Both had backed former party youth deputy leader V. Mugilan, who was sacked last week, in demanding that Samy Vellu vacate his post as soon as possible.

KP Samy said his letter was similar to the one Mugilan received that quoted articles 14.2.1 and 58(2) of the party constitution.

He said he would be holding a press conference on his next course of action.

When contacted, Kumar Aamaan said the public would sympathise with him over his sacking.

“God will know what to do and the Prime Minister will decide what action to take,” he added.

Meanwhile, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) lodged a police report against the Anti-Samy Vellu Movement (GAS) fearing the movement's actions could spark outrage in the Indian community.

Kuala Lumpur Development Crime Prevention and Anti-Drugs Volunteer Force Organisation PREVENT) president Jeevan S. Ramamurthy said he fears the movement's claim that they would distribute a CD of Samy Vellu.

“We are worried that this video would be damaging and seditious in nature and as such cause serious unrest within the Indian community,” he said after lodging the report at the Brickfields police station on Monday.

He urged the police to investigate the contents of the video and act on it if the contents were deemed offensive.

Jeevan also urged the police to take action against the movement's organisers if they continued with their plan to organise a gathering without a permit scheduled to be held on May 30.

A group of disgruntled MIC grassroots leaders, including sacked deputy Youth leader V. Mugilan, had announced the plans to set up the movement on Saturday to push for the immediate resignation of the party president.

Mugilan said the movement, to be launched on May 30, would explain to party members and Malaysians in general, why Samy Vellu should resign as president.

Dr M is starting another May 13 soon by writing another hate letter

2010-05-17T07:26:00.000-07:00

Najib and the Devil?

By FMT staff
UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR: Popular blogger Tulang Besi has reproduced Dr Mahathir Mohamad's scathing letter to first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman penned in the aftermath of the May 13, 1969 racial riots.

The letter, which was widely distributed back then, had led to Mahathir's expulsion from Umno.

Tulang Besi, who operates the Malaysia Waves blog, pointed out that the letter clearly blamed Tunku for the bloodletting.

“So I am perplexed as to why (Malay pressure group) Perkasa is blaming the Chinese,” he said.

Tulang Besi's posting comes in the wake of a Malay unity rally, slated for May 13, being postponed following instructions from the top.

It is learnt that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's administration had pulled the plug following strong objections from both sides of the political divide.

Sources claimed that the premier was worried that the event would provide fodder to the opposition to sway Chinese votes in the Sibu by-election, which saw the parliamentary constituency fall to DAP last night.

Barisan Nasional is said to be shell-shocked by its defeat in Sibu, which is incidentally a Chinese-majority seat.

The rally, themed “Melayu Bangkit” (Rise Malays), was supposed to be officiated by Mahathir, and its postponement is said to have irked the former premier and groups like Perkasa.

He told reporters later that the tragedy should not be forgotten, as it is an important history lesson to prevent such an incident from recurring.

Mahathir's advise to Najib

Following the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election, which saw more than 80% of Chinese voters backing the opposition candidate, Mahathir had issued a stern warning to Najib.

The former premier told his protege that the Malays feel that Umno is now unable to protect them from the attacks launched by “extremist” Chinese groups.

He suggested that Najib forget about wooing the Chinese, who would never vote for BN, and focus on keeping Malay support instead.

Since assuming the reins of leadership in April last year, Najib has been causing discomfort among the more ultra-Malays with his all-inclusive policies. Talk is rife that a mutiny is brewing in Umno.

Najib's New Economic Model has also caused alarm among Malay groups, who fear that a more meritocratic approach would lead to them losing out to other races, especially the Chinese.

Observers also highlighted the “differences” which cropped up during the Malay entrepreneurs convention over the weekend, where Najib stressed on merit, and urged Malay businessmen to buck up.

The audience, noted the observers, was far from enthusiatic.

His deputy Muhyiddin Yassin, on the other hand, was greeted by fervent chants of “Hidup Melayu” (Long Live the Malays) from certain quarters when he took to the podium.

Mahathir, who also spoke at the convention, took a swipe at Najib's Economic Model, underscoring the importance of striking balanced economic development between the races.

Dismissing critics' claim that the previous New Economic Policy was a stumbling block to the nation's progress, the former premier called for Najib's model to be re-looked.

Will Dr M pen another letter?

These developments have left observers wondering if a realignment of forces is taking shape in Umno, and if Mahathir is on the verge of penning another letter similar to the one he had sent to Tunku.

In his letter to Tunku, Mahathir had said: “You have told me yourself that you had prevented riots by stopping the death sentence on 11 subversive Chinese. But it is this action of yours which led to the riots and resulted in scores of deaths since May 13.”

“You have always compromised, giving in to the Chinese's demands. The core of this compromise was revoking the abovementioned death sentence. This caused great anger among the Malays.

“The Chinese consider you and the Alliance government cowardly and weak and could be pushed around. This is why the Chinese are no longer afraid to reject the Alliance and the Malays also do not favour it.

“This is why the Chinese and Indians behaved rudely (membuat kurang ajar) towards the Malays...”

Unpublished evidence

Meanwhile in a related development, Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali responded to Tulang Besi by stating that he has evidence to support claims that it was the Chinese who sparked the May 13 tragedy.

"It was all caused by the procession on May 9 where they first shouted dirty words at the Malays. These was all recorded,” he told FMT today.

"I have the evidence of these in an unpublished book that is in my possession. I have also spoken to many ex-army, ex-policemen and residents of Kuala Lumpur from that time," said Ibrahim, who declined to name the author of the said book.

BN have no idea why they lost - blur as ever

2010-05-16T10:05:00.000-07:00

WHAT is the biggest significance of the Sibu by-election outcome? I now believe it is not that Sarawak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) won its first seat since the recent establishment of its Sarawak chapter or that Barisan Nasional (BN) remains five seats away from retaining its parliamentary two-thirds majority.

Najib glaring at Sarawak on map, Sarawak saying 'HAH!'

It is the outright rejection of clientelism in the face of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's infamous and indecent "you help me, I help you" proposal. Among other things, he offered Rejang Park residents RM5 million to mitigate floods in return for them supporting BN candidate Robert Lau Hui Yew in the by-election.

The outcome? A drop in support for the BN by nine percentage points, and an increase in DAP's margin by some 400 votes in the Chinese Malaysian-majority polling district.

Earlier, Najib had pledged RM18 million for 67 Chinese-language secondary and primary schools in Sibu and asked Chinese educationists to reciprocate favourably. Now, overall, in Sibu, Chinese Malaysian support for the BN is estimated to have dropped from 38% to 31%.

No one knows if the BN would have done better if they had not made those conditional offers. But many voters were probably angered by such cheapskate campaigning offers which made the prime minister sound more like a traffic police officer asking for bribes.

It is telling that Rejang Park — incidentally where DAP also held rallies almost every night — has registered the highest rise in support for DAP of all the polling districts in the Sibu parliamentary constituency.

This is not the first time that a by-election has backfired on the BN. Less than a month ago, Najib made another conditional offer of RM3 million to the Rasa community for an 81-year-old dilapidated Chinese-language primary school in the Hulu Selangor parliamentary by-election.

The outcome? The Rasa polling district gave PR a support level of 82%, the highest for PR in the entire constituency. After a two-day delay, Najib eventually presented the cheque as BN did win the seat after all.

About a year ago, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin gave RM1 million to a Chinese-language school in Simpang during the Bukit Gantang parliamentary by-election.

Does the BN understand the Chinese Malaysian voters?

What did the BN get? Again, lower Chinese Malaysian support for the BN to the extent that Muhyiddin complained about Chinese Malaysians being ungrateful.

What did the Chinese Malaysian voters want in all these cases? This is an old question that probably started being asked as early as 1990 when 70% of Chinese Malaysian voters supported the opposition coalitions led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

Umno's Chinese Malaysian dilemma?

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad implies that the recurrent phenomenon is Umno's Chinese Malaysian dilemma.

According to Mahathir, "In trying to win over Chinese [Malaysians] with allocations and abolishing New Economic Policy (NEP) provisions, the BN will lose Malay [Malaysian] support as indeed it did in 2008."

"On the other hand, no matter how the government tries to satisfy Chinese [Malaysian] demands, Chinese [Malaysians] have clearly rejected the BN," he said.

Now, I doubt that many Malay Malaysians would punish the BN if they could be assured that all poor Malay Malaysians will be taken care of alongside the poor of other races. Similarly, I doubt that Malay Malaysians would revolt if all competitive Malay Malaysians, alongside competitive non-Malay Malaysians, enjoyed adequate support to thrive in international and domestic competition.

Mahathir got it wrong in thinking the majority of Malay Malaysians who deserted the BN in 2008 did so in protest to keep the NEP. The fact is a significant number of Malay Malaysians supported Parti Keadilan Rakyat, PAS and DAP for a fairer deal for all.

Only uncompetitive Malay Malaysians wanting to continue enjoying protection stand to lose, should bumiputeraism be done away with and replaced by "market-friendly affirmative action" or some sort of pro-competition "welfare state".

In other words, if Umno has a problem transforming itself beyond its 1Malaysia campaign, the problem does not lie with the majority of Malay Malaysians, as Mahathir implied in the first part of his theory. Of course, Mahathir would have organisations such as Perkasa and Gerakan Kebangkitan Rakyat rallying behind him, a bit like Mao Zedong's Red Guards but in a different historical context.

I would agree, however, with the second part of Mahathir's Umno's Chinese Malaysian dilemma theory — Umno has no idea of how to win back Chinese Malaysian voters.

The majority of Chinese Malaysian voters will not enter into any short-term deal with Umno until Umno truly understands who they are now. They are neither grateful for Umno's offers nor are they afraid of Umno's threats.

More dilemmas

What's wrong with Chinese Malaysians? For starters, they are citizens now, no longer clientele of some modern feudal patrons.

Chinese Malaysian voters know that the government
should serve the peopleNeither the carrot nor the stick works for them now. For they know the carrot belongs to the nation and the stick cannot be effectively used against them without hurting Umno first. They know that the people are the boss, and governments their servants.

What needs to be stressed here is that the problem is not "Chinese" in character. The "declientelisation" process has happened to most urban Malaysians now. For example, most urban Malay Malaysians no longer buy into the notion that they need ketuanan Melayu to protect them.

Ten out of 11 parliamentary constituencies in the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur and 10 out of 13 state capital parliamentary constituencies, including Kota Baru, Kuala Terengganu and Shah Alam, are represented by the opposition. Could this have happened without the support of Malay Malaysian voters?

After all, wasn't the NEP meant to help Malay Malaysians become urbanised? And so, why would Malay Malaysians abandon Umno after being urbanised? Is it that "Melayu mudah lupa" or "Melayu sudah sedar"?

To label it Umno's Chinese Malaysia dilemma would therefore be inaccurate — it is really an urban Dilemma. Umno could still refuse to transform itself and find a life beyond patronage politics. But in that case, it should be prepared to shrink into a rural party that reigns only where "instant noodle" projects and handouts can still buy votes because there is no wi-fi coverage to spread democratic values.

Yet, to be even more precise, this staunch ungratefulness and irresponsiveness to Umno is not even limited to urban areas. How much has Umno put in to buy Kelantanese voters over throughout the years? Why haven't they reciprocated?

And so, how would one ultimately explain Umno's disappearing clientele? One could attribute it to either the voters' own dignity or democracy. In either case, the citizens don't thank Umno for what they rightly deserve. Rather, they shun Umno for withholding their rights.

In Sibu, unfortunately, many rural voters are still trapped in clientelism because of poverty. But how long can the internal colonisation made possible by Umno's indirect rule via Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud last?

DAP wins "historic" by-election in Sibu

2010-05-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

Photo shows downtrodden supporters of the losers, Malaysia's ruling National Front hold its flags as they shout slogan during a parliamentary by-election in Sibu, Sarawak, east Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's opposition on Sunday snatched a parliamentary seat in a ruling coalition stronghold with a surprise and "historic" by-election win.

The Barisan Nasional (BN) was expected to hold on to Sibu, in Sarawak state on Borneo island, but lost it by 398 votes to the Democratic Action Party (DAP), state media reported.

The DAP is a member of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's Pakatan Rakyat alliance.

"This is a historic win for the Pakatan alliance," veteran opposition politician and DAP leader Lim Kit Siang told AFP.

"This is because the BN's loss in Sibu shows that its strongholds on Borneo island are no longer safe," he added.

The Sibu victory means the opposition has now won eight out of 11 by-elections since the BN was bruised in 2008 national polls.

Analysts say the latest opposition victory casts doubt on the government's sway in Sarawak, where the large share of parliamentary seats means the state could be decisive at general elections expected by 2013.

"The loss has big implications as it has now slowed down Najib's momentum after winning in the two previous by-elections," political analyst James Chin told AFP.

Over the last few days Premier Najib Razak campaigned in the state to get the Chinese vote, promising 20 million ringgit for infrastructure projects and the upgrading of Chinese-language schools in a constituency where ethnic Chinese form 67 percent of the population.

Although the BN last month won a by-election in Selangor state, seen as an endorsement of Najib's reformist policies, the ruling coalition saw a dramatic drop in Chinese support.

"The decline in Chinese support in Hulu Selangor and Sibu are consistent with the 2008 general elections as the Chinese ground has yet to recover for the BN," Chin said.

The BN lost its two-thirds majority in parliament and control of five states in the 2008 election.

Did Mahathir started May 13 riots?

2010-05-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

Day by day, Dr M is revealing more and more of himself and what he did
in the past. We already know he squandered billions of ringgits, how
he betrayed his own nominated successors - anwar, razaleigh and pak
lah. Now he is beginning to show us his true racist self, and very
soon we will know the truth behind the May 13 massacre of Chinese by
the Malays and the police and the armed forces.
-------------------------------------
Dr M: We must not forget May 13
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani
May 14, 2010

Those who forget history are doomed to repeat it, said Dr Mahathir (right). — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today defended his decision to participate in a controversial May 13 rally, saying Malaysians must not forget the 1969 race riots so that the country would not allow history to repeat itself.

The country’s longest-serving prime minister, who retired in 2003, was planning to attend the rally — themed “Melayu Bangkit (Malays Arise)” — organised by Gerakan Kebangkitan Rakyat (Gertak) and government agency, Terengganu Integrity Institute. It has now been postponed following public outcry.

“I feel that if we forget our history then we will repeat this history. There is a well-known saying that those who forget the lessons of history will be punished by repeating their mistakes over and over again. That is my belief,” Dr Mahathir told a press conference at Yayasan Al-Bukhary here.

“I am not going there to stir up feelings between the different races but I am going to remind them that if we do not take care of this problem of race, then we going to repeat our mistakes. If, of course, I go then I will be called a racist,” he added.

Political leaders from both Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional (BN) have condemned the rally as racist and divisive in nature.

MCA publicity bureau deputy chairman Loh Seng Kok also criticised Dr Mahathir’s involvement, as his participation was tantamount to instigating a racist campaign.

MIC secretary-general S. Murugesan pointed out that if the rally was a historical reminder, it should not only include participants from one community.

The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang also said that the entire gathering should have been cancelled instead of just postponed, as it was an “offensive and unacceptable” idea.

Dr Mahathir reiterated that he did not believe that Malaysians should forget May 13.

“I went through this May 13 so I know the thing very deeply. I think I can help to orientate people so they don’t act in ways that can precipitate into another May 13.

“But this idea that we should forget May 13 is not a very good idea,” he said.

The rally was initially scheduled for yesterday at the Gong Badak indoor stadium and was expected to draw over 10,000 individuals from 45 Malay NGOs.

Gertak chief Razali Idris claimed that the rally was to unite the Malays by reminding them of the May 13 tragedy, and not to stir up racial sentiments.

It was, however, postponed following disapproval by the country’s leadership.

Singapore to hang Malaysian Yong Vui Kong

2010-05-14T07:00:00.001-07:00

SINGAPORE : Convicted drug trafficker Yong Vui Kong's appeal against the death penalty was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on Friday.

Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong, Justice Andrew Phang and Justice V K Rajah ruled that Yong's lawyer had failed to prove that the mandatory death penalty for certain drug offences was unconstitutional.

The 21-year-old Malaysian had brought in 47 grammes of heroin in June 2008.

Yong can still appeal to the President for clemency.

Yong was sentenced to death in November and was to be hanged last December.

But days before the sentence was to be carried out, his lawyer successfully sought a stay of execution from the High Court.

Court of Appeal has rejected Yong Vui Kong’s appeal against his death sentence. Vui Kong’s lawyer, M. Ravi, is applying for time to present a clemency petition. Furthermore, the Court of Appeal has closed off further arguments and the Mandatory Death Penalty will stay.

Executions by hanging are carried out by the State usually at 6am on Fridays. The death sentence could be carried out next Friday, 21st May.

The Court of Appeal reserved its judgement on Mar 15, 2010. It delivered its judgement today at 11am. See here for a timeline of articles/posts/videos on Vui Kong’s case. Read also these two news articles from 2005: The precision of ritual in the gallows’ shadow and Singapore accused of hypocrisy on drug stance.

Accuser says Malaysia's Anwar sodomized him abroad

2010-05-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

Accuser says Malaysia's Anwar sodomized him abroad
Eileen NG, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur | Thu, 05/13/2010 1:23 PM | World

The man who accused Anwar Ibrahim of sodomizing him testified in court Thursday that the Malaysian opposition leader had sex with him in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.

Anwar is charged with sodomizing his 24-year-old former aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan, at a Kuala Lumpur condominium in June 2008, but Saiful claimed he had been a victim of Anwar's sexual advances on other occasions after they met during campaigning for general elections earlier that year.

"I had been sodomized by Anwar several times, in and out of the country, in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok," Saiful told the Kuala Lumpur High Court during cross-examination by Anwar's defense team.

Saiful did not elaborate, but Anwar made various trips abroad after March 2008 national polls, when he led a three-party opposition alliance to unprecedented electoral gains.

Anwar, a married 62-year-old with six children, denies the sodomy charge, saying it is a plot by Prime Minister Najib Razak's administration to cripple the opposition. Najib denies any conspiracy but has acknowledged meeting Saiful two days before he was allegedly sodomized for the final time.

Anwar's sodomy trial centers on a claim that Anwar and Saiful had sex on June 26, 2008. Anwar is charged under a law that punishes anal sex by up to 20 years in this Muslim-majority nation.

On Thursday, Saiful denied he fabricated the accusation against Anwar with the help of Najib and police.

Anwar's chief attorney, Karpal Singh, questioned why Saiful waited two days after being allegedly sodomized for the final time before making a police complaint.

Saiful said he wanted to obtain advice from other people, including political and religious figures, because "this affects my dignity and my future."

The judge agreed to a defense request for the remainder of Thursday's cross-examination to be held without public observers or the media because it would likely include graphic description by Saiful of the alleged sodomy.

Trial hearings, which began in February, are then scheduled to take a break until May 31.

It is the second time Anwar has been charged for sodomy. In 1998, Anwar lost his post as deputy prime minister and spent six years in jail after being convicted of sodomizing his family's former driver and abusing his power. He was freed in 2004 when a court overturned the sodomy conviction. Anwar denied all charges.

No case against Anwar

2010-05-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

From: "truth"
Subject: No case against Anwar

truth comment: there is just no case against anwar. it is so clear. however
in the context of the corrupt malaysian political and judicial system,
anything goes. the end result is gross injustice and malaysia reputation
goes down deeper into the dark hole.

if the judge is a real judge, then he should immediately throw out the charge. if he fudge around to allow the case to continue then right minded malaysians should take to the streets in huge numbers and do what the thais did.
-----------------------------------
KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on Tuesday challenged the basis of sodomy allegations against him, saying he was charged with a consensual act while his accuser claimed he was assaulted.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, is accused of sodomising 25-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, who was an aide in his office.

The 62-year-old father of six says the charges have been trumped-up in a political conspiracy aimed at ending his career after his opposition alliance made major strides in 2008 elections.

In court Tuesday Anwar's lawyers asked the judge for all statements that Saiful has made about the alleged incident, to show he had repeatedly said he was forced to have illicit sexual relations.

"It's the first time in a criminal case in this country that you have a statement to the police saying that the act was not consensual and yet the charge is consensual," Anwar told reporters.

"It is questioning the credibility of the prosecution. They looked at the evidence, they can't prove it so they changed (the charge)," he said.

"Saiful is not consistent, he is not telling the truth, so that's why we want the full statement."

Defence counsel Karpal Singh said that if they were able to prove the contradiction, the prosecution's case would collapse.

"Of course that's the end of it. It should be the end of the case," he told reporters.

In a brief hearing Tuesday before the judge called an adjournment to consider the defence request for the documents, Karpal asked Saiful if he had always stated that the sodomy was against his will and Saiful said he had.

Karpal then asked him if this had always been the case and Saiful said he was not sure.

Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Malaysia -- a conservative and Muslim-majority country. If convicted, Anwar could face up to 20 years imprisonment.

Under the penal code, there are two alternatives for prosecutors to lay sodomy charges, for cases of either consensual or non-consensual acts.

The decision to charge Anwar with consensual sodomy had long raised questions marks among observers, given Saiful's repeated claims that he was forced into having sex with his boss.

Saiful himself has not been charged with any crime.

Human Rights Watch has urged Malaysia to drop the charges against Anwar, condemning the case as a "charade of justice" and saying his lawyers have also been blocked from preparing a thorough defence.

The trial opened briefly in February with explicit evidence from Saiful who said that Anwar propositioned him for sex shortly after he arrived at a Kuala Lumpur apartment on June 26, 2008 to deliver a document.

During cross-examination Monday when the trial resumed, Saiful confirmed he met with Prime Minister Najib Razak four days before lodging a police report over the allegedly incident.

Anwar has said that Najib, who at the time was the deputy prime minister, must now appear as a witness. The premier has repeatedly denied any involvement in the case.

Anwar spent six years in jail on the original sodomy and corruption allegations until the sex conviction was quashed in 2004.

Dr M tells Umno to counter the Chinese extremists against Malays

2010-05-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

From: reborner
Subject: Dr M tells Umno to counter the Chinese extremists against Malays
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

Dr Mahathir (left) says entities like Perkasa were reactions to
Chinese “extremists”.

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad articulated today a widely held sentiment in Umno — that going after the Chinese vote is risky and unproductive.

Instead, he appears to suggest in a posting on his blog today that
Umno should first ensure that Malay interests are taken care of,
especially in the face of what he called “attacks by the Chinese.”

“We hear a lot about demands by Chinese extremists questioning the
provision of Malay special rights in the constitution, demanding an
end to the NEP, [a] reduction of quotas for Malay students. They even
say the Malays are also ‘kaum pendatang’ or immigrants. An article
even claims that there is no such thing as a Malay race.

“Umno remained silent. In fact when an Umno member said that the
Chinese and Indians are descendants of immigrants, he was suspended by
Umno. It seems to many Malays that Umno is incapable of countering the
attacks by Chinese extremists against Malays,” wrote Dr Mahathir.

His latest remarks are expected to put more pressure on Prime Minister
Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has been pushing his 1 Malaysia agenda to
unite the country.

But while Najib has had mixed results in reaching out to Indian
voters, the results of ten by-elections since Election 2008 showed
Chinese voters have now become a solid vote bank for Pakatan Rakyat
(PR).

Dr Mahathir warned today that Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN) risked
losing Malay support if they continued to introduce “Chinese-friendly”
policies and abolishing affirmative-action measures under the New
Economic Policy (NEP).

“The BN must remember that in the 2008 election it lost a lot of
seats. Where it won the margins are very small. If a few hundred
Malays decide not to vote BN, even the seats that it had won would be
lost in the 13th General Election.

“Umno and the Government are facing a dilemma. In trying to win over
the Chinese with allocations and abolishing New Economic Policy
provisions, the BN will lose Malay support as indeed it did in 2008.
On the other hand no matter how the Government try to satisfy Chinese
demands, the Chinese have clearly rejected the BN,” said Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir also justified the existence of Perkasa as a reaction by
Malays to what he suggests were the increasingly strident demands of
Chinese voters.

“Perhaps it is because Perkasa appears to be racist that the Chinese
are against BN. But Perkasa is not BN. Also the Chinese parties in BN
are facing a crisis.

“What is happening now is that Malays are forming Non-Governmental
Organisations because of Chinese attacks against the Malays and Umno
seems unable to defend them.

He said that groups like Perkasa feel that they have to rebut “racist”
statements by the Chinese.

“And when they do they are labelled as racists.”

Malaysian Judiciary is on trial - Anwar

2010-05-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR — Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who returns to court Monday to face sodomy charges, said Malaysia's reputation is on trial in a case aimed at destroying his political career.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, said Malaysian justice had deteriorated under Prime Minister Najib Razak, who came to power a year ago.

"It is not Anwar's case. It is the institution of governance -- the police, the judiciary and certain media -- which have all got worse under Prime Minister Najib Razak. They are the real ones on trial," Anwar told AFP.

Anwar said he would not be cowed by the fact he could again end up behind bars if convicted of the charges that carry a penalty of 20 years imprisonment.

"I am committed to political and economic reforms. There is no turning back," he said.

"Of course I am a political threat. They have been trying for 12 years to kill my political career. I leave it to my supporters and Allah to believe in me."

Anwar, a 62-year-old father of six, is accused of having illicit sexual relations with a young man who worked in his office. Sodomy remains a crime in Malaysia, a conservative Muslim-majority nation.

The trial opened briefly in February with explicit evidence from his accuser, 24-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, but has been suspended since then as the defence pursued a number of unsuccessful legal manoeuvres.

They were knocked back in attempts to have the presiding judge disqualified, complaining he had refused to rein in biased media coverage, and also failed to win access to key prosecution evidence such as video footage and medical tests.

Anwar last week lost his final bid to strike out the sodomy charges, as the Federal Court rejected an appeal and paved the way for his trial to resume at the High Court on Monday.

His counsel Sankara Nair said the prosecution's refusal to release information such as its witness list and key documents on forensic and DNA evidence was problematic.

"Anwar is put in a very severely disadvantaged position. The defence faces an uphill task as vital documents in relation to Anwar's defence have not been given to us by the prosecution," he said.

Human Rights Watch has urged Malaysia to drop the charges against Anwar, condemning the case as a "charade of justice" and saying his lawyers had been blocked from preparing a thorough defence.

Sankara said the defence team would cross-examine Mohamad Saiful when the hearing opens Monday.

"We intend to grill this witness," Nair said. "The court has set four days for this hearing." Hearing dates have been set until August but Sankara said he did not know when the trial would end.

Anwar's earlier sexual misconduct conviction was quashed in 2004 and he was released from jail. After a period of recuperation he reinvented himself as the leader of an opposition alliance.

Against all expectations, it made huge strides in 2008 elections, depriving the ruling coalition of its crucial two-thirds majority and redrawing Malaysia's political landscape.

After suffering its worst polls results in half a century, the shell-shocked Barisan Nasional coalition ousted the serving prime minister and drafted in Najib, who has unveiled reforms aimed at winning back support.

More royal troubles for the Kelantan Sultanate

2010-05-07T16:04:00.000-07:00

From: Politikus
Subject: Kelantan: Overthrowing a ruling monarch...
The police chief, UMNO politicians, and vested parties are trying to
install a new Sultan by working with a Prince? Example of Filial Piety
of a Malay Prince...? The rakyat is awaiting and seeing the saga
unfolds... :-(

Monday hearing in Kelantan Ruler’s freedom bid

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — The Special Court today fixed Monday to hear
Tuanku Ismail Petra Tuanku Yahya Petra’s bid to be released from
hospital confinement, two weeks before the Sultan of Kelantan may be
declared unfit to rule.

“Monday, nine o’clock,” Gobind confirmed in a phone call to The
Malaysian Insider this evening.

The Sultan had been warded at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia
(HUSM) in Kubang Kerian since Tuesday.

A panel of lawyers, led by top constitutional expert Raja Aziz
Addruse, had filed a habeas corpus application at the Special Court in
Putrajaya this morning seeking to release the Sultan (picture), whom
they claim is being held against his will.

The writ, filed by JS Pillay & Mohd Haaziq at 11.45am, named Tuanku
Ismail Petra as the applicant, with an affidavit by the Tengku
Temenggong Kelantan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Ismail Petra, the Sultan’s
youngest son.

The writ named the Kelantan chief police officer, the Inspector-
General of Police, the director-general of HUSM, the director-general
of Health and the Government of Malaysia as the respondents.

Senior lawyer Datuk Param Cumaraswamy together with lawyers Gobind
Singh Deo, Datuk Mohd Haaziq Pillay, Malik Imtiaz Sarwar and Abdul
Rashid Ismail complete the legal team.

“This is the first time in the whole world a writ of habeas corpus has
been filed to release a Ruler of a state from detention by the
police,” Param said.

“We take the view that the Sultan is in hospital under restraint,”
said Raja Aziz, but declined to explain why.

The Sultan’s lawyers claim they have been barred by police and certain
parties from meeting their client since May 4.

Earlier today, the lawyers told reporters the Sultan was conscious and
mentally lucid, refuting claims the royal was incapacitated.

But The Malay Mail cited palace officials as saying the Sultan was
paralysed, unable to speak or eat and in no condition to issue orders.

“So, how could Tuanku have said he was being held against his will
when he can't even speak, cannot see, cannot eat,” the palace insider
was reported as saying.

BM - A language for the Cave Men

2010-05-07T07:38:00.000-07:00

From: "heha"
Subject: WHY BM is reinstated
Firstly, let look at the problem

The BN gov'n has no choice actually having committed the biggest error any
government can made...

" INVENTING A LANGGUAGE FOR ITS PEOPLE, BM "

A LANGGUAGE EFFECTIVELY ISOLATING ITS PEOPLE FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD
while entering into the 21th century of globalizing which is racing ahead so
fast that malaysia is diming fast

Malaysia famous MSC with billions spent cannot even get started against an
India mountainous IT prosperity without any effective MSC..............but
with the English language alone

The same goes for FDI, the Malaysia population is getting more illiterate
but competition against the cheaper indonesian, china and indian

NOW WHY MALAYSIA HAS TO SWUTCH BACK TO BM

it is a choice.......to step back in time for 10 years while the english
language is being reinstated or to go forward slowly veering away from the
main stream of development into isolation

either way, malaysia lost........ALL BECAUSE OF THE STUPIDITY OF WANTING TO
INVENT A NEW LANGGUAGE CALLED BM

pehin rahman of brunei had warned tun razak when he was approach by the then
PM to invent BM together

pehin rahman said, " MALAY LANGGUAGE WILL NEVER BE LOST TO THE MALAY AS A
CULTURE BUT INVENTING BM WILL BE DIVERTING A RACE TO ISOLATION " do you
think that he is wrong

today brunei is doing well with english from primary 3 to universities for
malay student and full english course for others while MALAYSIA IS STUCK IN
ITS BULLSHIT OF BN INVENTION THE BM LANGGUAGE "

if ever a government which is full of shit is the BN GOVERNMENT OF MALAYSIA.
now it is stuck with a huge shit in its throat, trying to vomit it out or
swallow it........and bring all the UMNO Malay ego with it

hahahahahahahahhahaha........hhhahahahahahhahahahha....the greatest joke of
a government
--------------------------------------------

From: "oikia"
Subject: Re: WHY BM is reinstated
In order to keep the Malays under control and in full support of the current
malay government, it is absolutely neccessary to keep these Malay majority
unexposed to the influence of the much more civilised nations and of course
language is a media from which these controls can be effective.

Keep them
like mushrooms. No doubt they will grow well in the dark. Exposing them to a
universal language gives them an opening to other sources of advance
information and a knowledge of their rights.They will do well to continue
doing pantuns and dondang sayangs and leave the running of the government to
the hands of the elite who will make every attempt to stop the country
pumpkins from being expose to ideas of rights.

Backwards the country must
continue to march for the wellbeing of the priviledged few.

------------------------------------------
From: adrian chin
Subject: Re: WHY BM is reinstated

Well, the likelyhood that Malaysia will not be the Top 3 richest and
desirable nation to invest in for foreigners could happen in this decade
or some might argue, already happened, so the alternative is, to be the
Top 3 from the bottom up and our strategies are now geared to attain that
position, which is actually easier than than to be Top 3 from top down

More Police Killings of Innocent People

2010-05-05T09:42:00.000-07:00

======
Did we kill Aminulrasyid?
April 30, 2010

APRIL 30 — Some friends of mine were once robbed at the cybercafe
which we frequent (yes, still addicted to Dota). The men came in with
parangs, threatened everyone, collected the goods and tried to make
their escape.

One man wasn’t able to start his getaway motorcycle quickly enough,
and this cost him dearly. Most of the cybercafe came out, descended on
him and, well, beat the crap out of him.

This, I understand, is not an entirely uncommon fate for robbers and
thieves who are caught by a mob.

Apparently, it is not an uncommon fate for those caught by the police
either.

When I first blogged about the death of Kugan, more than a few
commentators wrote and said things like: “He deserved it”, “Why should
you care about a car thief?” and so on. Oddly, this debate still takes
place on said blog post, well over a year after it was written.

Some of my loved ones have also expressed certain sentiments about how
justice for these petty criminals cannot be served within our sluggish
judicial system, and that sometimes what they really need is a good
box around the ears that no one else really needs to know about. Maybe
nothing too severe you know? Just rough him up a little?

Well, I posit that we have seen this last week just how and where this
line of thinking ends.

With the possible exception of Datuk Seri Sharizat Abdul Jalil, who
seems to think once again that this is all the parents fault, everyone
is disgusted at the shooting of Aminulrasyid Amzah.

John Lee and I have literally put together a whole book on the subject
of police brutality, and I think for me to continue such a critique
here would be to flog a near dead horse.

I hope today to discuss public attitudes instead.

Everyone hates crime. I hate crime. An attack by snatch thieves left
my mom immobile for days, and traumatised for much longer.

A lot of us want revenge. Inspired perhaps by movies like “Taken”,
where Liam Neeson “heroically” puts a bullet in the head of dozens of
men who stand between him and his daughter, we want to see an eye for
an eye type of justice.

It’s an understandable sentiment, it really is; but we have to go
beyond it.

The simple truth is the minute we start sliding down that slippery
slope of “it's OK to rough up the ‘real’ bad guys just a little bit”,
it won’t be long until we create the type of police force that shoots
and kills unarmed 14-year-olds.

Can we say the signs weren’t there?

I have this feeling the Hindraf gang will ask why no one kicked up a
fuss with the near hundreds of cases of Indians being victims of
extrajudicial killings — most of them shot in the same way
Aminulrasyid was?

No one likes racial thinking either, but the facts in such a
contention remain. No one can deny that our police force has a
reputation (among those who care and pay attention at least) for being
a little trigger happy.

As recently as in Hulu Selangor, a victim of police shooting — whose
experience is remarkably similar to Aminulrasyid’s and the other
person in the car with him — was trying to seek justice from BN
politicians too busy peddling promises and bribes.

Norizan Salleh — a slightly built single mother — said that in October
last year in Segambut, similar to Aminulrasyid and his companion, the
car she was in was shot at and pushed off the road. She was then
dragged out of the car, kicked and beaten, after already being hit
five times by gunfire. Unlike Aminulrasyid, she managed to escape with
her life.

Perhaps if we Malaysians made enough noise about Norizan’s case, it
may have given the cops who shot Aminulrasyid a little pause for
thought before they did a near re-enactment of Norizan’s scene in Shah
Alam, fired at will and took away that young boy's life.

I wish I could say for sure that had I been there that day, I might
have tried to stop those cybercafe patrons from beating that robber;
but I don't know if I would have had the guts.

If I had — if we had — that kind of guts, maybe we can save the lives
of the next few Aminulrasyids, Kugans and Teoh Beng Hocks.
------------------------------------------
Lagi kematian disebabkan ditembak polis
Suaram mengutuk keras tindakan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) yang giat menembak mati tidak kira warga Malaysia ataupun warga asing dengan lebih kerap. Terkini mangsa yang ditembak mati oleh polis termasuk R Logeswaran, 38, dan Satchithananthan, 25, pada 8 April; dan dua insiden yang melibatkan enam orang warga Indonesia di dalam dua kes yang berasingan – di Kuala Selangor pada 16 Mac 2010 dan di Temerloh, Pahang pada 5 April 2010.1

Suaram ingin mendapatkan maklum balas daripada PDRM tentang penggunaan senjata api dalam semua kejadian yang berlaku sebelum ini dan juga dalam kes-kes yang disebutkan di atas. Suaram menghormati hak pihak polis untuk melindungi diri dalam operasi-operasi yang dijalankan, namun hak dan nyawa suspek juga perlu diutamakan.

Suaram berpandangan kejadian kes-kes polis menembak mati suspek berlaku secara luas adalah kerana tiadanya mekanisme yang telus dan jelas tentang penggunaan senjata api oleh Polis. Malah apa yang lebih mengecewakan adalah dokumen panduan dalam menggunakan senjata api di Malaysia tidak dapat dirujuk oleh orang awam.2 Ini dengan jelas membuktikan bahawa penggunaan senjata api oleh polis tidak diimbangi oleh pemeriksaan awam dan sekaligus menyebabkan tahap akauntabiliti yang amat rendah di dalam institusi polis.

Tambahan pula, oleh kerana ketiadaan prosedur yang kukuh untuk memastikan setiap kes tembakan polis seperti ini dilaporkan dan disiasat secara bebas dan menyeluruh, timbul keraguan sama ada pihak polis sememangnya menggunakan senjata api untuk mempertahankan diri ataupun sengaja menggunakan terhadap suspek untuk memudahkan penyelesaian kes mereka.

Penyalahgunaan kuasa di kalangan PDRM dan penindasan terhadap hak asasi manusia adalah masalah serius yang jelas wujud dalam PDRM, seperti yang dinyatakan dalam Laporan Suruhanjaya Diraja Penambahbaikan Perjalanan dan Pengurusan Polis Diraja Malaysia.3

Memandangkan Kerajaan Malaysia berminat untuk bertanding untuk menjadi ahli Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia, Pertubuhan Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu (PBB) bagi 2010-2013, adalah wajib bagi kerajaan untuk mengambil langkah untuk memastikan masalah-masalah mengenai hak asasi manusia ditangani berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip dan undang-undang antarabangsa. Sebagai anggota PBB apalagi Negara yang berhasrat mengaggotai Majlis Hak Asasi Manusia, Kerajaan Malaysia harus mematuhi prinsip-prinsip antarabangsa mengenai penggunaan senjata api yang tertera di dalam dokumen PBB, “Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials”, bahawa “penggunaan senjata api hanya boleh digunakan dalam keadaan yang terdesak di samping untuk melindungi nyawa” dan “pihak berkuasa perlu memberi amaran yang jelas dengan masa yang mencukupi sebelum mereka menggunakan senjata api”.

Suaram menuntut agar pihak Kerajaan melaksanakan cadangan-cadangan yang dikemukakan oleh Suruhanjaya Diraja Penambahbaikan Perjalanan dan Pengurusan Polis Diraja Malaysia terutama menubuhkan Suruhanjaya Bebas Pengaduan dan Salah Laku Polis (IPCMC) secepat mungkin sekiranya kerajaan ingin merealisasikan slogan ‘’Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan.’’
---------------------------------------------
The arrogance of police power

A week after schoolboy Aminulrasyid Amzah's death by police shooting, Malaysians have been treated to the ghastly spectacle of a government withdrawing into itself in the face of public outrage, and seemingly intent only on finding grounds for justifying its actions.

Left in abeyance is the fact that governments exist in democratic nations to ensure the safety of all its citizens, and to ensure equal justice for all, no matter what their station in life.

Aminul is dead, at the age of 15, after a late-night caper. Under normal circumstances, he would have faced punishment from his parents. Instead he was, in effect, served the death penalty in appallingly suspicious circumstances.

The Malaysian public is justifiably angry and upset. Justice must be served in dealing with how Aminul died — not just for his sake, but also for the sake of all citizens who need reassurance, in no uncertain terms, that they are safe from their own guardians.

It is at times like these that a democratically-elected government rises to the occasion and acts in the larger interests of everyone.

Instead, for the past week, the image that emerged is of an uncaring police force intent on protecting its reputation and its manliless, aggresively demanding that its word is accepted at face value without question.

If that is not the image they sought to build, the Inspector-General of Police and the Selangor police chief only have themselves to blame.

Musa Hassan made a childish threat to keep the police force in barracks, aggresively showed he expected unquestioning acceptance of the policemen's own accounts, then tried to pin on a dead boy and his family any responsibility for the circumstances that led to his death, in between keeping up a plaintive pleading for the public to be fair to his men.

It is no wonder that many demanded that he leave immediately and not wait for his contract to expire.

Khalid Abu Bakar also insisted that the public should believe his policemen's story and showed a callous willingness to label a schoolboy a criminal on the unproven assertion that a parang was found in his car, and arrogantly threatened politicians who took up the issue and questioned police accounts.

It is no wonder that questions are asked whether he considers himself a policeman, an officer of the law, or is really a politician.

Politicians in the administration did not help matters much, either.

Hishammuddin Tun Hussein did himself no favours by acting tough, and demanding as the IGP did that the public must be fair to the police. His deputy, Abu Seman Yusop, leading a home ministry inquiry panel, has tried to pass it off as a "powerful" panel. But the panel is essentially conducting an internal inquiry, with no powers under law to investigate, hold public hearings or compel witnesses to testify. There is little public about what it does, save the public statements he makes and the way they are seen in public.

Even a loudly-proclaimed promise to make its findings public has now become conditional on the agreement of the home minister.

As for the prime minister, it was a week before he came out for a free, open and transparent inquiry and to warn against any cover-up. And that was while he was campaigning in Sibu. Why did it take him so long, after the IGP and the home minister had been cavorting with the facts in the face of increasing public anger?

Is anyone really in charge? Does anything matter except to win elections?

The home ministry panel has now begun its work with the late inclusion of Tun Hanif Omar, the former Inspector-General and probably the last to command any measure of wide public respect. The home ministry clearly hopes that public respect for Hanif will spill over into respect for the panel and its findings. That is very much doubtful, given that an internal investigation falls far short of a proper public inquiry that the people and the circumstances demand.

What is at stake is not merely a matter of sorting out standard operating procedures, or of training of policemen, or of adherence to standards, or of how teenagers should be brought up.

Aminul's death by shooting is only one incident in a whole string of events that leave the reputation and authority of the entire police force and its leadership under question.

What is really under scrutiny, what really needs to be questioned, is the basis of how the whole police force is managed, how it operates, how it is led, what it regards as its priorities, and how it regards its role in Malaysian society.

Musa Hassan and Khalid Abu Bakar's public statements, and their attitudes to the public and to politicians, leave little doubt that a strong streak of arrogance permeates the police force.

That arrogance led to the scuttling of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission, sabotaged by police intransigence and fear of being exposed.

Twenty years ago, the IGP then, Rahim Noor, ruined a professional career by beating up deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim in the dungeons of Bukit Aman; the prime minister at the time, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, staunchly defending his man, even suggested that the resulting black eye could have been self-inflicted by Anwar. Had it not been for unrelenting public pressure and public scorn of Mahathir's arrogant and facile explanations, that IGP might have almost got away with it.

For the sake of Malaysian society and the future of all our children, this IGP and his cohort must be called to account. They must not be allowed to get away.

Malays are racist - the rest are Not...

2010-05-04T06:17:00.000-07:00

From: reborner

KUALA LUMPUR: Dr Mohd Khir Toyo is wondering why a Malay is swiftly
condemned as a racist while the rest are spared when they champion the
interests of their own race.

The former Selangor menteri besar also questioned MCA and Gerakan's
decision to pin the blame on Malay pressure group Perkasa for the loss
of Chinese support in the Hulu Selangor by-election.

He pointed out that just like the Chinese education movement Dong Jia
Zhong, Perkasa does not have any links with Barisan Nasional or Umno.

“Does this mean that Malay voters would not support a BN candidate
from MCA because of MCA and Gerakan's ties with this organisation
(Dong Jia Zhong)?” he asked.

According to him, MCA and Gerakan should have explained to the Chinese
voters in Hulu Selangor that Perkasa is a non-governmental
organisation which is not affliated to BN.

“Do MCA and Gerakan want to be parties that would balance the need of
the Chinese community with that of the other races by going to the
ground and providing rational explanations.

“Or are they only interested in gaining the support of the Chinese
community by being a champion of that race's interests just like DAP?”
he added in a blog posting.

The Umno leader also failed to understand why his attack on DAP had
led senior leaders in MCA and Gerakan to brand him a racist.

Khir was also perplexed as to how his statement - that the lack of
Chinese support for BN is a sign for the prime minister to review
certain policies - could be construed as racism.

The Sungai Buaya Umno division head had urged Prime Minister Najib Tun
Razak to re-look the '1Malaysia' concept and the New Economic Model.

“BN must find ways to pull in the votes. If existing polices are not
supported, then they must be reviewed. Is this being racist?” he
asked.

Chinese youths easily 'incited' by DAP

In an obvious referrence to Perkasa boss Ibrahim Ali, the former MB
said he had never asked for the Chinese voters to be punished.

“Nobody can be angry at them for not supporting BN. That is their
right,” he added.

Following the April 25 by-election, Ibrahim urged the government to
withhold its election promises for the Chinese community, since an
overwhelming majority voted for the opposition.

Khir explained that he had merely stated his view that the Chinese
support for PKR candidate Zaid Ibrahum was an attempt to strengthen
the Chinese-dominated DAP in Selangor.

“If MCA and Gerakan have a different viewpoint, they should disclose
it. What is odd is that my attack on DAP saw MCA and Gerakan (leaders)
getting riled up,” he said.

Khir said it is MCA and Gerakan's task to explain the BN concept of
power sharing among the various races to the younger generation of
Chinese.

“But is this being done today?” he asked. “How many Chinese youths
actually understand and appreciate this concept?

“I find that most of them are seperated from the historical roots with
regard to the formation of this country and are now easily 'incited'
by DAP,” he added.

Khir's comments come on the heels of Najib's advise to Umno leaders to
play a more significant role in roping in the non-Malay votes,
especially Chinese support.

Confirming this with a news portal today, Khir, who attended the Umno
retreat over the weekend, said the prime minister does not want BN
leaders to confine themselves along racial lines.

The prime minister, said Khir, even suggested that Umno leaders attend
Chinese functions instead of leaving the task to their Chinese
counterparts in BN.

Hishammuddin wants public to praise Police for shooting innocent boy

2010-05-02T22:56:00.001-07:00

RAUB: Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein wants the people to be fair and not have negative perception of the police force.

He said the death of Aminulrasyid Amzah,15, on Monday should not have been extensively discussed by the public and it had created prejudice towards the police.

"An independent panel to monitor police investigation will be formed. We symphatise with what happened and want justice to take its course," he said when opening the annual general meeting of Umno branches in Cameron Highlands division in Sungai Koyan today.

Hishamuddin urged all quarters to wait for the outcome of the investigation and to stop speculating or politicising the issue.

He criticised some quarters for never for once issued statements that sided with the police.

"People are angry when a member of public is shot but the same can't be said when police are shot. They have no sympathy at all. Is there a difference between the life of the public and policemen?

On the shooting of a Kelantan palace guard, Hishammuddin said police were still investigating the case.

"I have yet to receive a report. Police view the incident seriously," the minister said.

He declined comment when asked whether the shooting case was linked to the palace crisis in Kelantan.

Ramli Mohamad,50, was shot by unidentified assailants while riding his motorcycle at Kampung Sungai Nyior, Palekbang, Tumpat, at 12.25am yesterday.

Aminulrasyid Amzah killed by Malaysian Police for fun

2010-05-02T22:38:00.000-07:00

Who will police our policemen?
Public outrage is rightfully getting louder and more visible after the 2am death in a police shooting this week of 15-year-old schoolboy Aminulrasyid Amzah.

The home minister has quickly made himself prominent by ordering an internal inquiry to be headed by his deputy, supposedly an "open and transparent inquiry without any cover-up or bias". That's what he says. We hope he holds to it.

The public are likely to remember that ministers and others in high places loudly insisting they did no wrong were later found to have lied, as in the royal commission into the VK Lingam videos.

And the public will also remember that the commission recommended action be taken to bring those held responsible to trial. And that where the royal commission proposed, the Attorney-General disposed.

Then there is the continuing high-visibility inquest into the death of Teoh Beng Hock at the offices of a law-enforcement agency.

Going by such past experiences, home minister Hishamuddin Tun Hussein's inquiry will please few except fellow politicians and those concerned merely with upholding a favourable public image of the police force. Unless, of course, it uncovers the truth and firm action results.

So, too, with the Selangor police chief's promise of a "thorough, fair and open" investigation. But it is conducted by the police themselves, behind closed doors.

Another minister, Noh Omar, as deputy Selangor Umno leader, intends to bring the matter up to the Cabinet.

Scepticism over the government's ability to control its own agencies stems from the government's own inadequacies, shown in a variety of events in the past year.

An open question of leadership

Among those that come to mind are the home minister's supine response to a visible threat to public order in the cow's-head demonstration at a mosque in 2009; his feeble responses to events arising from the Allah controversy which were a clear threat to public order; and his near total lack of response to police action against critical publications that pose absolutely no threat to public order.

The Selangor police chief himself has been notorious for finding no wrong in policemen who harrass the public and politicians trying to exercise their god-given right to express themselves freely.

Such government actions clearly smack of seeking political advantage for the ruling administration. They do not provide confidence that the Home Ministry or the police force will uphold as their foremost consideration the interests of the public at large or those of the ordinary citizen.

Will any of these actions quell public suspicions about laxity in the police force, or the administration's lack of will, ability or muscle to bring the police force firmly under civilian control and fully responsible to the task of upholding justice? It remains an open question.

The boy who died this week, Aminulrasyid, had gone out late in his sister's car without the family's knowledge. Depending on whose account you choose to believe, he was shot in the back of the head by police, or struck by a bullet aimed at the car's tyres.

Aminul is only the latest in a string of ordinary people who have died at the hands of the police in suspicious circumstances.

And that is not even taking into account others who died in suspicious circumstances during police action against suspected criminal activity, or while in police custody.

And that is not even taking into account deaths of illegal immigrants or foreign workers.

The death of A Kugan in police custody in January and the sordid and ugly episode of how the authorities handled the family's demands to see his body at the hospital mortuary, the subsequent dispute over post-mortem findings and the horrifying pictures of injuries he suffered are mortifyingly vivid in the public mind.

An open question of accountability

So, too, the accounts of single mother Norizan Salleh in October last year of how she was shot by police five times while travelling in a car with a male friend and another couple.

Two decades ago, another schoolboy, Elmi Tahir, died in a police shooting while out with his girlfriend on his birthday in 1986. Police gave vivid accounts of a wild late-night car chase through the streets of Kuala Lumpur.

They said he died after he was struck by a bullet during the chase. His father revealed that Elmi had been shot at close-range, in the forehead above the right eyebrow. His girlfriend said a policeman standing outside the driver's door had shot Elmi in cold blood.

Few have been brought to account for such deaths.

A decade after Elmi, one policeman faced trial and was later convicted for the death of government doctor Tai Eng Teck in Bandar Tasik Selatan. Tai, like Elmi, died from a police bullet, while in a car, and while out with a woman.

Police officials usually have pat responses. The dead were criminals. They behaved in a suspicious manner. They tried to evade arrest. They resisted arrest. They drove away dangerously. Weapons were later found. Police acted by the rules. The law allows them to defend themselves. And so on and so forth.

The continuing lack of convincing explanations and convincing action by the government will only harden public opinion of the government and its agencies and their motives.

The crux of the matter is whether those in government are willing or able to police themselves. When politicians always seem willing to turn a blind eye to bending the rules when it suits them, what remaining value is there in the word of politicians and officials who promise to uphold law and order?

A sceptical public will only ask: whose law, and on whose orders?

Who are the really poor in Malaysia?

2010-05-02T22:35:00.000-07:00

A major assumption for the adoption of the affirmative-action New Economic Polciy (NEP, 1971-90) was that a majority of bumiputera families were still living below the poverty line in 1970. Thus one of the two prongs of the NEP was ‘to eradicate poverty regardless of race’. (The other was to restructure economic occupations so that occupations would not be associated with ethnic groups.) Hence in the Five-Year Plans, Malay padi farmers, rubber smallholders, fishermen, the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak living in the interiors, but also the predominantly Indian estate labourers, Chinese New Villagers, and urban squatters of all races, were perennially identified as the poor in need of government aid and attention.

Providing such aid is related to the question of economic development. In this regard, the BN government has managed our economy relatively well by successfully adapting it to the global market economy. Through a series of Five-Year Plans, economic development and the NEP goals were vigorously pursued. This growth was facilitated by the fortuitous discovery of oil (including liquefied natural gas) and high rates of foreign direct investment (FDI), especially in the export-oriented electronics and electrical industries and in the services sector.

Overall, employment expanded steadily, rising from 3.3 million in 1970 to 4.8 million in 1980 to 6.7 million in 1990, to 10.9 million in 2005. Accordingly, the unemployment rate declined from 7.4 per cent in 1970, to 5.7 per cent in 1980, rose to 8.6 per cent in 1987 during a period of recession, dropped to 5.1 per cent in 1990, but rose again when the regional financial crisis occurred in 1997-98. As the economy improved during the 2000s, the unemployment rate dropped to 3.5 per cent in 2005.

Not surprisingly, the poverty situation in Malaysia has also improved. In the Ninth Malaysia Plan (2005-2009), it is reported that only 3.6 per cent of all households in the peninsula, 4.4 per cent in Malaysia as a whole (using the traditional system of measurement), lived below the poverty line; whereas the rate of poverty was 49.3 per cent in the peninsula in 1970.

Even if one quibbles with how the poverty line is determined (and this varies from country-to-country), or doubts the accuracy of government data, the trend is towards fewer families living below the poverty line. If one uses the UNDP’s more comprehensive Human Development Index (HDI) to measure development in Malaysia, the achievements are still impressive. In 2004, Malaysia was ranked 59 in terms of its HDI, among the top medium-ranking countries in the world. Only Singapore performed better among Asean countries.

Using a variety of measurements, we can also determine that the number of poor bumiputera families has dropped. Increasing numbers of Malays have moved out of lower-paying into higher-paying occupations due to:

* greater access to higher education,
* the provision of government scholarships and a system of quotas for entrance into tertiary-level institutions;
* higher rates of Malays living in urban areas; and
* expansion of the public sector especially during the first 15 years of the NEP.

Globalisation and neo-liberal policies

The National Development Policy (NDP, 1990-2000), which replaced the NEP, continued with the twin objectives of poverty eradication and restructuring. But it was the latter goal of creating a BCIC (Bumiputera Commercial and Industrial Community) and achieving at least 30 per cent bumiputera ownership of corporate equity that were emphasised. Continuing the strategy adopted for economic recovery and growth since the mid-1980s recession, the private sector was identified as the engine of economic growth for the duration of the NDP. Put another way, Malaysia began to roll back the intervention of the state in the economy and adopted neo-liberal policies of privatisation, deregulation and liberalisation in line with the demands of the new globalisation.

Major infrastructural projects like the construction of KLIA, the KLIA Express, the Second Link with Singapore and the administrative centre in Putrajaya were awarded to the private sector. Many statutory bodies providing services were also privatised: Telecoms Malaysia, the National Electricity Board, Malayan Railways, and other bodies supplying water, treating sewerage, and garbage collection. Higher education and some health services were corporatised, a version of privatisation.

Liberalisation of the financial sector also led to the inflow of portfolio capital into the money market and the KL Stock Exchange, while deregulation led to the gradual removal of restrictions on foreign involvement in the banking industry. Although foreign and Chinese business people benefited from neo-liberal policies, the bulk of the benefits were enjoyed by bumiputera businesspeople, particularly those with the best political connections, otherwise known as ‘cronies’. In the event, there occurred an increase in the bumiputera share of corporate equity: according to official estimates, rising from 1.5 per cent in 1969 to 20.6 per cent in 2004, and according to unofficial estimates, exceeding 30 per cent in several important sectors like banking and transportation.

New inequalities, new poor

The adoption of neo-liberal economic policies in order to make Malaysia attractive in the era of a globalised market economy has resulted in several contradictions.

First, regional inequalities have widened. The Klang Valley, southern Johore and the state of Penang have grown rapidly while the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Sarawak and especially Sabah have lagged behind. According to the Ninth Malaysia Plan, whereas the overall rate of poverty in peninsular Malaysia was 3.6 per cent in 2004, it was 23 per cent in Sabah, 15.4 per cent in Terengganu, 10.6 per cent in Kelantan and 7.5 per cent in Sarawak. Poverty is most acute in the inner reaches of these states.

Second, the rural areas were neglected in the new economy resulting in a steady migration of young Malays, Dayaks and Kadazan-dusuns, including from the Felda schemes, from rural hinterlands to the urban industrial areas. Whereas in the past the Klang Valley, Penang and Johore Bahru were overwhelmingly populated by non-Malays, nowadays Malays predominate. Indeed, large numbers of Sabahans, too, can be found in the Klang-Pandamaran areas. Without the necessary skills, many of the youths cannot get absorbed into the new IT and K-based globalised economies. The young men in particular end up in construction and other informal services. Most are underemployed, and some fall into ‘social ills’ – motorcycle racing, dadah addiction, and sometimes the problem of HIV-Aids too, some of these perhaps as forms of escapism from the harsh realities of their everyday lives.

Similarly, little attention was devoted to the estate agricultural sector. Wages in the rubber and oil palm estates have lagged behind those who get employed in the new economy. Until very recently, these workers, mostly Indians, were daily-rated. Under the new so-called monthly-wage system, many still find it hard to make ends meet. Hence many youths from the estates have also migrated to the urban industrial areas in search of better paying jobs. However, since they do not possess the necessary skills required for the new IT, and K-economies, they, too end up with low-paying unskilled jobs. Housing, health, proper nutrition, and even education for their young children pose serious problems. Hence, the well-known plight of poor Indian communities in the estates has been transferred to the urban squatter areas.. Not surprisingly, gangsterism is rife among young Indian men today. Such social conditions have facilitated the rise of Makkal Sakhti and the Hindraf movement generally.

The Chinese youths have fared better generally. Perhaps this is due to the traditional emphasis by parents on education which facilitated these youths acquiring skills that resulted in their absorption into the new economy. The fact that there exists a large SME (small- and medium-scale enterprises) sector, dominated by the Chinese, eased their entry into the old economy too. For instance, the booming construction industry absorbed many of these semi-skilled workers. Many have also started small businesses including food catering and hawking. However, New Village young men also moved to the urban areas, to Singapore, and sometimes to Taiwan and Japan to be labourers, often illegally.

Third, much foreign labour migration into Malaysia has also occurred during this era of globalisation. Official estimates suggest that there might be as many as 1.2 million forced migrants in the country, about half, about 600,000 in Sabah alone. These estimates include both documented as well as undocumented migrants, especially from Indonesia and Philippines, but also from Thailand, Myanmar, Vietnam, Nepal, Lanka, India and China. Many have fled to Malaysia due to poverty and in some cases conflict situations at home. The plight of these migrants is well documented and the local church has attempted to address some of their needs by establishing the migrant workers ministry. Although they are not involved in the new IT and K-economies, they have helped to build much of the Malaysia’s new infrastructure, high-risers and housing; provided hard labour to run the estate sector; besides taking care of our children and cooking our meals in our homes. Yet as foreign labourers they are not entitled to the usual benefits that accrue to workers under the various laws such as days off, health benefits and workmen’s compensation- not to mention educational opportunities or even time for their own children.

Conclusion

The Malaysian economy has grown rapidly these past decades. This growth has spurred on restructuring the economy and the inter-ethnic inequalities inherited from colonial times, no doubt facilitated by 40 years of the NEP. The numbers of families living below the poverty line has also dropped drastically.

However, the rolling back of the state’s involvement in the economy and the adoption of neo-liberal economic policies has also led to new contradictions. Regional inequalities have arisen among the states. Due to uneven access to opportunities between the rich and middle-class on the one hand, and the lower classes on the other, Malaysian society has been increasingly stratified, resulting in widening income levels between the rich and the poor, or what we term relative poverty. The poor can be found within every ethnic group. More than that, a large group of migrant workers has emerged in our midst. Put another way, the poor are from all ethnic groups and states, as well as people who originated from other countries. Our efforts to eradicate poverty should cater for all - bumiputera or non-bumiputera, local or foreign and also all regions of the country.
----------------------------------
The poor often get a raw deal. Dr Francis Loh of Aliran observes and wrote, they can be found within every ethnic group. Thus, he says, efforts to eradicate poverty should cater for all.

Malaysia's Press Freedom at all time Low

2010-05-01T22:47:00.000-07:00

By FMT Staff

PETALING JAYA: The level of press freedom in Malaysia has eroded and this reality is supported by the freedom of press index released by international organisation Reporters Without Borders.

According to the index, freedom of press in Malaysia in 2009 was at its all time lowest. Malaysia had dropped to 39.02 points compared with 44.25 in previous year.

The drop is attributed to several measures by the federal government to suppress media voice.

This view was expressed by The Sun’s political editor Zainon Ahmad at a forum -- "Is It Necessary to Regulate the Print Media in Malaysia" -- organised by the National Union of Journalists yesterday.

In his talk, Zainon suggested the setting of a press council to supervise the media without interference by the ruling government.

Zainon said he had sent a proposal paper to former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he was in office but received no reply.

According to Zainon, a press council’s role would be to oversee matters such as freedom of information dissemination, improving the quality of journalists and ensuring ethical reporting as practised in developed countries.

“The press council is not only meant to set out rules and policies but includes training of journalists about ethics and proper reporting practices,” he said.

The same forum also addressed the obstruction faced by the media when reporting certain cases.

No changes in 52 years

Zainon said the tightening of media leash was often attributed to the government’s concern over inter-racial harmony.

“We must not disturb or touch on sensitivities and civil harmony... but this is only an excuse. It has resulted in many unsolved issues although it's been 52 years since independence," Zainon said.

UiTM emeritus professor of law Shad Saleem Faruqi, meanwhile, said the 52 years had not seen any change or amendment to the regulations governing press freedom.

He said although in principle the federal constitution allowed individuals to challenge a minister in court, it was almost next to impossible to do so in this country.

Citing the case of the Aliran publication, he said, the tabloid was not issued a permit to publish in Bahasa Melayu by then home minister Sanusi Junid.

“Aliran took the case to court on Sept 2, 1987, but the court favoured the ruling government.

“In the entire 52 years of independence, there has not been a single law related to the media that has changed,” he said.

Another panellist at the forum, Harakahdaily chief editor Zulkifli Sulong noted that although the federal constitution ensured individuals the right to receiving information, views and suggestions, the existence of other associated laws such as the Sedition Act and Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) hampered the media's work.

Citing Harakah’s own experience in 2000, he said the home ministry had dragged him as chief editor to court under the Sedition Act.

“It happened on Jan 12, 2000, because Harakah had in 1999 hit 400,000 copies print-run per issue. It had become the most popular publication in Malaysia, “ he said, adding that since then it had not been a quiet walk for Harakah.

Noting that the situation had not changed, he said the most recent incident involved senior ntv7 journalist Joshua Chong and TV2 Mandarin programme producer.

Must be guided by the constitution

Earlier, Dewan Negara president Abu Zahar Ujang, who launched the forum, said the government should give the Malaysian press enough latitude to do its job.

Bernama reported that he, however, stressed that this freedom (to report and publish) must be guided by the constitution.

“To me, I always believe that freedom must be guided by responsibility. Responsibility to the country and the people in maintaining peace and harmony.

"The government should be quite open to allow the media to air their views, be fair and reasonable to the press," he said.

who won in hulu selangor?

2010-05-01T22:10:00.000-07:00

From: humittt
Subject: who won in hulu selangor?

BN WON THE ELECTION BY SPENDING
VAST SUMS OF MONEY (WHOSE MONEY? TAXPAYERS').
IS THIS VOTE BUYING?
THE CHINESE SCHOOL WON, IT WAS GIVEN A FEW
MILLION RINGGIT. CONSIDERING THE
POOR CONDITION OF THE SCHOOL, IT IS
WAY OVERDUE.
A VERY ENCOURAGING SIGN IS THAT THE CHINESE
GAVE STRONG SUPPORT TO A MALAY CANDIDATE
WHO IS HONEST AND COURAGEOUS.
NAJIB PROMISED A UITM CAMPUS IN HULU
SELANGOR IF BN WINS BACK SELANGOR.
THE PEOPLE OF HULU SELANGOR WON BUT
ZAID DID NOT LOSE. in the hearts and minds of fair minded malaysians,
he fought the good fight in spite of overwhelming odds. DEMOCRACY LOST
SOME.
BUT CHANGE IS DEFINITELY HAPPENING
IN MALAYSIA WITH OR WITHOUT BN.
-------------------------------------------------
From: "Tadpole"
I think of all the winners, the greatest winner is Kamalanathan.
From nothing he is now a big big something.
A good salary, good position, and in a fantastic position to multiply his
fortunes.
Also a pension in waiting whether he performs or not.
Anybody knows how much pension he will get per term?

Chinese Malaysians asking for too much?

2010-04-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

By Zaini Hassan

WHAT else do Chinese Malaysians want? Let us put aside the reasons why they do not support the current government in Kuala Lumpur. Let us study first what else they want.

For that, we have to go back to history. The Chinese came to Malaya to seek opportunities. They had lived a hard life in mainland China for hundreds of years. Like the whites who migrated to the American continent because it was the land of opportunity, the Chinese migrated to Malaya to make their fortunes in this bountiful land.

The strategy of their forebears has borne fruit. The Chinese have attained what they wanted. They now live in the lap of luxury in this land of opportunity called Malaysia.

In fact, it is not only in Malaysia that they have attained what they wanted. They have even gained full control of Singapore.

Singapore is not their original country. The Singapore Chinese and the Malaysian Chinese were originally boat people. The difference is that those who landed in Singapore managed to gain full control of Singapore, but those who landed in Malaysia did not manage to control Malaysia.

In Malaysia, the Chinese live in peace with the Malays, the indigenous people and the Indians. In comparison, in Singapore, the Chinese control politics and the Government. In Malaysia, the Malays still control politics and the government.

The systems of both governments are the same, but it is vice versa: The Malays dominate in Malaysia while the Chinese dominate across the Causeway.

In contrast, the Malays in Singapore and the Chinese in Malaysia are very different. The Malays in Singapore lead ordinary lives while the Chinese in Malaysia lead lives that are 'more than ordinary'.

In fact, former Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad once stated that if all the Chinese-owned buildings in Kuala Lumpur were lifted from the map, only the buildings in Kampung Baru, a Malay area, would remain in the city.

All the other buildings are owned by Chinese Malaysians. The well-known shopping centres in Malaysia are owned by the Chinese.

The Chinese Malaysians are fantastic. They control all the cities and major towns in peninsular Malaysia, as well as Sabah and Sarawak.

They produce the largest number of, and the most successful, professionals. The school system of the Chinese Malaysians is the best among similar school systems in the world.

The Chinese account for most of the students studying in the best private colleges in Malaysia. The Malays can gain admission into only government-owned colleges of ordinary reputation.

With regard to corporate and private organisations, it is the Chinese who dominate. The Malays number just a few; most of them are low-level employees.

In fact, knowing Mandarin is a pre-requisite for applying for jobs in these organisations.

Finally, an annual survey by the Malaysian Business magazine has found that eight of the 10 richest people in Malaysia are Chinese. The following is the list of the 10 richest people in Malaysia:

# Mr Robert Kuok Hock Nien

# Mr Tatparanandam Ananda Krishnan

# Tan Sri Lee Shin Cheng

# Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow

# Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay

# Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan

# Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary

# Puan Sri Lee Kim Hua

# Tan Sri Tiong Hiew King

# Tan Sri Vincent Tan Chee Yioun

This is the reality in Malaysia, my beloved country. Is the current government, which has been in power for 52 years, cruel and totalitarian? What else do the Chinese Malaysians want?

I think I know, and I think you know too.

Lady Gaga's latest trend - leg amputation

2010-04-29T08:34:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELES - USA - The bizarre American pop starlet, Lady GaGa, astounded fans and TV audiences Friday when she announced that she has had one of her legs amputated below the knee purely for fashion purposes.

The pop singer endured the operation so that she could look increasingly 'different', and it seems she has achieved her objective. Her record company even paid for the operation and her new video will showcase the knew image when filming begins in three weeks.

"This is the latest fashion I'm starting and you can see that I'm a world leader when it comes to wacky and weird shit huh. Next month after I recover from the surgery I hope to have the other leg amputated or maybe my arm, hmm...which one should I amputate next?" Lady GaGa said on MTV yesterday whilst hopping around the studio.

"Cosmetic Amputation Surgery"

According to pop music experts, Lady GaGa has pioneered a new trend in pop acts who want to cash in on the amputations.

"Just think how cool it would be if other mediocre pop acts were to amputate parts of their bodies? You could have headless wonders singing along to their latest template RnB nonsense drum tracks or maybe legless fucktard bimbos being ferried around in wheel chairs or makeshift carts. Personally, I think this new trend is a godsend, and I'd be first in line to chop off that untalented cunt Robbie Williams' head or how about that awful vulgar tart, Paris Hilton. I think this GaGa bird is onto something, innit," Ronald Schweiner, a music journalist for Melody Maker remarked.

Veteran pop act, Madonna has already shown an interest in the new craze and has vowed to have both of her unsightly arms amputated, and in an extra twist, donated to science.
-------------------------------------------
By Frankie Genchi on May 2nd, 2010
Filed Under: Music | Tags: Lady GaGa, LOL, Rumours

The rumours that Lady Gaga has had her leg amputated from the knee down are not true – what a surprise!

According to reports Gaga dropped the bombshell on Wednesday, on MTV.

Then came the blogs, Tweets and photoshopped images of Gaga with a fake leg – and to think, some people still didn’t believe the rumours.

One site who didn’t was E!, who contacted Gaga’s label and eventually received a reply saying that the rumours were “not true”.

So there you go, despite our photo, Lady Gaga still has two (or possibly even three) legs as she arrived in Japan.

Datukship for someone who did nothing for the public

2010-04-26T07:56:00.000-07:00

From: "how siau"
Subject: Datukship for someone who did nothing for the public

Perak BN Govt sudah Bodoh. Bolehland's shameful act of total disgrace - What sort of 'DATUKSHIP' was that?? Perak BN Govt sudah Bodoh. She will definitely find it not safe to return to her constituency

Surely the public cannot be blamed for its strong and solid hunch that Hee Yit Foong's datukship has very much to do with her role in helping the BN hijack the
Perak State Government. Surely Hee must be rewarded handsomely for such
great handiwork!

By Martin Jalleh

It was a historic occasion for Hee Yit Foong. She was bestowed the honorary
title "Datuk" by his Highness the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, on the
occasion of his 82nd birthday.

Hee must have been so "hee-elated". It was the high point of her life after
having gone through the depths of great public humiliation and to contend
with the hate heaped on her especially by Perakians.

Indeed, she has been hounded and abuses hurled on her when she did the
hop-step-and-jump political dance. She hopped out of her party, stepped on
the people's will and jumped into the waiting arms of the BN as an
independent.

During a State Assembly meeting several DAP lawmakers gave her hell, threw
RM1 notes at her and told her to resign as she had no honour left for
selling her soul and State away!

Some in her Jelapang constituency hung an effigy of her and burnt it in a
mock Chinese funeral rite! Others wanted to get their hands on her whose
defection from DAP triggered BN's takeover of Perak.

Hee was hoping that the people would be hoodwinked by her hee-haw over how
she was supposedly shunned, smeared, sidelined and "squeezed out of the DAP
step-by-step" by its party leaders.

She denied that she had left the party because she was hankering after a
state exco seat and was huffing and puffing and making a hue and cry over
not being given a new Camry!

The DAP called her excuses pure humbug. They had not only groomed her to
such great heights in politics but made her the first non-Malay, female, and
physically handicapped deputy speaker in the country's history.

In Feb., Zambry harped about Hee's "service record" and asked Perakians to
give her "a chance to serve" as an assemblywoman. The rakyat of course saw
no reason to heed the hoax and highfaluting Umno Court-appointed MB!

Alas, the people are humoured by the State's high recognition of Hee through
the Sultan. What did she do to deserve to be hailed with such a title? What
is the hidden reason for the crowning of this overnight "heeroine" of Zambry's
State Government?

Zambry's hype about Hee's "service record" was half-witted and could not
really hold. Soon after she had hopped over to be independent of the people's
will and vote, she had gone into hiding in order to save her own hide.

Her constituents in Jelapang confirm she is in hibernation. The DAP has
formed the Jelapang Service Team (JST) to handle the needs of her
constituents.

Further, how has Hee performed in the State Assembly? Has she contributed
significantly to the debates (considering her halting Bahasa Malaysia) and
to policy making? The answer is very obvious.

Two of Hee's hallmarks in the supposedly hallowed House were when she became
"hee-sterical" and demanded that she had the power as deputy speaker to
chair the Perak state assembly to get Ganesan (illegally) elected as the new
speaker in the chaotic sitting.

The other instance was when she used a pepper spray on a PR assemblyman in
the House at the height of the havoc that took place. She denied doing it
but her histrionics in the State Assembly were highly publicised on U-Tube!

Surely the public cannot be blamed for its strong and solid hunch that Hee's
datukship has very much to do with her role in helping the BN hijack the
Perak State Government. Surely Hee must be rewarded handsomely for such
great handiwork!

Hee Yit Foong will remain haunted for the rest of her life for having
committed the the "hee-nous" and "hee-deous" crime of betraying the trust of
those who voted for the party that she once represented.

As Hee makes hay while the sun shines, it is very clear that she will be
"hee-story" when the next general election comes!

For now the rakyat of Perak have to bear up with the new Datuk's
"hee-pocrisy"!
=====================================

Posted by: soh6299
Hello Puan Hee Yit Foong,

I understand you are OKU but I can not feel what you are feeling now. Being a traitor in chinese means you will be a shame for what you have done in times to come.

Why after 22 years in DAP, you choose to turn back the wisdom you have held for all these long years? Money?

Money can not buy you respect, it has to be earned. The picture of you talking to Perak Sultan is clearly a statement that you know what you are doing. People elected you yet you jump ship for whatever reasons, and you have your last chance when you are facing the Perak Sultan. If you are under pressure or threaten from someone, you have the chance to tell the Perak Sultan to save yourself. But I don't think so by looking at the picture.

By next week when all things are settled down, you will not be the same person anymore. All your life will be different because of : you have let down those people who voted for you.

French man wins $1.66 million in RWS casino

2010-04-25T10:08:00.000-07:00

By Desmond Ng

SOME guys have all the luck, as singer Rod Stewart would say.

And one such lucky guy managed to overcome the house odds and walked away with a cool $1.66 million from Resorts World Sentosa (RWS).

The French tourist struck the mega jackpot in the casino last Saturday and won the highest amount since the casino opened in February.

We understand that he didn’t want to have his pictures taken by an RWS staff for their records.

When The New Paper contacted RWS, they confirmed that the man had been playing the slot machines in the non-smoking area.

Playing alone

It is understood that he was playing alone atone of the poker slot machines.

He placed a $25 bet and ended up winning the Mega Millions Jackpot, which consists of a number of slot machines connected to a “megamillions jackpot”.

The various slot machines offer different types of games but it does not matter which machine one plays.

The payout can roll up to $3 million, said RWS.

It also said that there was another winner who walked away with close to $440,000 after hitting a different jackpot on March 16.

This particular winner was playing Caribbean Stud Poker on the tables when he hit the jackpot prize.

Mr Tony Compton, 52, who lectures on casino management at the Boston Business School here, said that the chance of winning such a mega jackpot is literally one-in-a-million.

He said: “The chances of winning it (the jackpot) are very small and very random. The bigger the payout, the lesser the chances, which also makes it attractive.

“Everyone wants to put 50 cents to win $1 million.”

Mr Compton used to work as a slot floor attendant in South Africa, where he monitored the operation of slot machines.

When asked if this jackpot win will put a dent on RWS’ bankroll, Mr Compton said it’s difficult to say because he doesn’t know their revenue numbers.

He said: “But from a casino’s point of view, it makes for good publicity because everyone will want to win that $1 million.”

Does Najib knows your under-wear?

2010-04-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

From: "Tadpole"
Subject: Re: NAJIB is underwear expert

"how siau" wrote
> Is it by virtue of the fact that he had striped many women in his life
> time so far?

> "xlandjy" wrote
>> PM Najib said that he knows the underwear of Pakatan... In fact, he
>> knows a lot more of underwear than any other people... He loves under
>> wear of Mongolians.....

With such great talent and speciality, it will be a waste if he does not
publish a book.

Jacouelyn Peggy Teoh Leaked Webcam Video

2010-04-24T10:17:00.000-07:00

From: reborner
Subject: Jacouelyn Peggy Teoh Leaked Webcam Video
Yet another model's nude pics appear online

In the past two weeks, three women's nude pictures were splashed
online. Just yesterday the photos of Jacouelyn Teoh, a Malaysian
model, were leaked on the internet.

http://malaysian-scandals.blogspot.com/

Najib spend 76 million to meet Obama : Dr M says

2010-04-17T20:51:00.000-07:00

From: The Cynic
Subject: Re: What proof has Dr Mahathir?
On Apr 16, 6:31 pm, "lsc" wrote:

> Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today he disagrees with the Najib
> administration for spending a whopping RM76 million to arrange a meeting
> between the prime minister and US President Barack Obama earlier this week.
> Surely Parlaiment must approve this bill if it is true. Hiow come the press
> or media is so quiet about it?

Hee hee hee.
So many things the press know but won't print. One example, who gave
orders to kill the Mongolian model and why?
A few days ago I saw a documentary on well-known Malaysian cartoonist
Lat (on Discovery Channel, I think). In it Lat mentions that while he
was with the New Straits Times he drew some political cartoons but the
Chief Editor warned him that if he published such cartoons, they would
be detained.
Ah! that is Asian press democracy. While on this subject, are you
aware that the Chinese government jailed a guy for exposing that
shoddy construction work led to the collapse of many schools in an
earthquake and killing thousands of school kids.

Full coverage:
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said he disagrees with the current administration for spending a whopping RM76 million ($33 million) to arrange a meeting between PM Najib Razak and United States President Barack Obama earlier this week.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Depart-ment, Mr Nazri Aziz, had disclosed the amount paid to global public relations firm, Apco Worldwide. He claimed it was necessary to "repair" Malaysia-US ties strained during Dr Mahathir's 22-year rule from 1981 to 2003.

Dr Mahathir said: "Meeting is good but to say this money is spent because of what happened in the past, I don't think is good. Whether the ties are good or bad, the fact is the US has not done anything that would show they were offended by us," he added, citing the absence of official US complaints during his administration. -The Malaysian Insider.

Why are the Malays poor? Blame it on Umno!

2010-04-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Who squandered the national wealth on prestige projects while neglecting the poor? Who bailed out crony businessmen by writing off billions of ringgit, asks P Ramakrishnan.

Of late, the pressure is building up to convey the impression that the Malays are poor because of the non-Malays. It is trumpeted that the non-Malays are enriching themselves at the expense of the Malays.

This erroneous and mischievous line of argument is deliberately pushed to achieve two objectives: One, to get the Malays riled up and to create hatred for the non-Malays as the source and cause of Malay poverty. Two, this is a ploy to consolidate the position of these hate-mongers so that they can be accepted as the defenders of the race and champions who would deliver the Malays from their wretched situation.

But these extremist elements do not reveal how they have benefited from the policies of Umno that were meant for the welfare of the majority poor Malays. They do not reveal how the benefits have gone to the crony corporate figures and the well connected political elite irrespective of their ethnicity.

They do not disclose how billions of ringgit had been squandered to rescue the failed ventures of their elite group. They do not disclose how billions were pumped into Bank Rakyat and Bank Bumi to sustain them. They do not disclose why Mirzan Mahathir’s floundering and debt-laden shipping empire had to be bailed out with our national wealth. They do not disclose why Tajudin Ramli’s stake in MAS was bought over for RM8 per MAS share when the market price was only RM3.62.

Likewise many other individual Malays have benefited enormously. They don’t lose out when their businesses fail but they gain in spite of their failure. Contracts, licences, AP permits, new shares and whatnot are grabbed by these individuals for themselves and their families. The poor majority Malays do not benefit from these policies.

It was recently disclosed that out of RM54 billion in shares allocated for Bumiputeras, only RM2 billion were still in their hands. What has happened to the RM52 billion that cannot be accounted for? RM54 billion is a colossal sum of wealth that has been dished out. How did RM52 billion disappear into thin air?

After 40 years of NEP, it is absolutely unacceptable that the deserving poor have not benefited in the way it was intended. Sometimes we wonder if the Malays are kept poor simply and deliberately to get their votes by blaming the non-Malays for their abject situation.

Over the last 40 years, successive Umno presidents and deputy presidents served as prime ministers and deputy prime ministers wielding great powers, influencing policies and determining the fate of the Malays. Every Education Minister since Merdeka has come from Umno. Every Finance Minister after Tun Tan Siew Sin has been an Umno man. Every Rural Development Minister has been an Umno man. The Cabinet was dominated by Umno leaders. How is it that with this heavy representation of Umno leaders in the Cabinet the vast majority of Malays have remained deprived and desperately poor? How did Umno, ever ready to advance Malay interest, permit this neglect?

The Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional holds the purse strings of the national wealth. Why wasn’t this wealth distributed to the poor as well? Why did the greedy grab everything? Was this done without the knowledge of Umno leaders?

Don’t blame the non-Malays who have no say in the policies of the government; blame it on Umno. Who squandered the national wealth on prestige projects while neglecting the poor? Who bailed out crony businessmen by writing off billions of ringgit? It is Umno and nobody else! If the Malays are poor, it is because of Umno. Don’t blame it on others.

There is a serious lesson to be learnt from John F Kennedy’s view: If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

Ghostly Hotel in Penang

2010-04-16T19:57:00.000-07:00

Haunted Hotel in Penang
Posted by: otyew

During the trip with the G's at the Tg Dawai sangkar, I'm not sure what ticked us to tell our own stories on...ahem ahem but I do have a fair share of experience.

This happens few years back when I was having a business trip with my colleague in Penang. We were staying at this hotel for 2-3 days and most of the time we worked from morning until the late evening, tired most of the time. Then on the second night, I was asleep earlier than my colleague and I had a 'dream', a really strange dream. In my dream, I saw a boy.....naked btw, took the newspaper on the sidetable and put it at the end of my colleague's bed. I saw him and before I woke up, he smiled at me. When I woke up, the newspaper was there on my bed's sidetable and guess what? Everything I saw on my dream is exactly the same as the conditions of the hotel room.

It was so real that I did not forget this until now. And after a year or two, I had received an email forwarded from my friends about this hotel and attached here is the photos of it.....freaky? So is the hotel really haunted or....??

Equal opportunity to succeed, what is so wrong?

2010-04-14T06:53:00.000-07:00

Posted by: lsek

This world is not fair. Some are born beautiful, while others lacking. Some are gifted with intelligence, while others struggle to stay abreast in class and everything else.

However, not all are lost, the only key factor in achieving success is through determination, and perseverance, while upholding our morality and belief.

Alas, a doctor-turn-politician once said that, "certain race is disadvantaged due to their genes". He argued that it's difficult for these people to compete with other races, due to this genetic setback. However, this doctor failed to realize miserably that genetics played little role in deciding SUCCESS nor FAILURE. This is because, there are other factors such as the environmental factor, as well as character/behavior of the person (or choices) that played equal role in determining a person's achievement. Success and failure are really our choice, and these choices controlled our gene expression. The mechanism has a name for it, called EPIGENETICS. So, being LAZY and NAUGHTY is not merely a GENETIC defect. It is more accurately, how we decide to become.

A twin who shares 100% identical genetic material DON'T SHARE the same characteristics and achievements. Why? The answer is EPIGENETICS.

So, to blame gene for failure is really a-personal-choice-to-be-STUPID.

To be successful in BUSINESS is not imbued in a gene either. No single race is born to be RICH and SUCCESSFUL (unless your father is rich). It is dependent on hardwork, as well as business acumen in grabbing opportunity, as well as opening opportunity for yourself. Many risk and failures had not been documented, BUT once a SUCCESS is achieved, people tend to resent these people (which reflected their own failure, I guess). Why is it so? Human nature?

In Malaysia, are we lacking equal opportunity to succeed? Why are there argument and harping of these issues by politicians without highlighting the most important issue at hand... which is to answer this, "ARE WE LACKING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY TO SUCCEED"?

Is it possible to even implement a QUOTA SYSTEM on human character, attitude and bahaviour? Well, I'm mentioning this because they are the real cause for SUCCESS in business. I can't imaging the government making a statement, "we will implement quota on hardworking, as well as, resourcefulness of certain people so that the other lazy bums will catch up".

No offense, but I think that's not the solution. My recommendation is:
(1) Ask, if there is equal opportunity in Malaysia. If there is lacking, how to correct it? Are there selective approval of business registration, training, as well as bank loan?
(2) Equal opportunity above, don't include MARKET SHARE of the business (and also the resourcefulness or innovativeness of a business). That depends on individual characteristics, e.g. if we are lazy and uncommitted, DREAM ON-lah!
(3) LEARN from mistakeS, start FAIR-DEAL cooperation/collaboration with other people and STOP the blaming game.
(4) Don't impose a pre-requisite for DUMMY directors just to grab a SHARE from other people's hardwork. You have to earn it! Government intervention don't help a bit. Such silly thing can only happen in Malaysia. Try implement it oversea and you get bashed up for good.
(5) Not all Malaysians can be a BOSS. If all are BOSSES/Taukeys, then, no one will work on the machinery and soon, you will have to clean up your own crap.
(6) Listen to the people. They are never wrong. Don't appoint stupid politicians or racist dudes to speak for the people. Listen to us for crying out loud. We are the majority, aren't we??? Statistically speaking, we should be RIGHT considering our numbers and collective intelligence.

Just a thought.

Shela Majid - a truly Malaysian

2010-04-13T08:24:00.000-07:00

From: "mm"
Subject: Shela Majid a real malaysian. Ibrahim ali ?

Those born after 1968 wouldn't have a clue what racial harmony is like eg
looking forward to visit your Malay friends during Hari Raya or your Indian
friends to eat their new year cakes! Racial politics have created a
intolerant society today. Sheila has accurately expressed her experienced
prior to 1968 before dirty politics spoils it all.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subject: SHEILA MAJID

"Do not insult our intelligence"
ONE of Malaysia's most beloved singers, Datuk Sheila Majid has been wowing
fans with her jazzy and R&B-flavoured brand of contemporary pop since the
1980s. From the release of her debut album Dimensi Baru in 1988 to the
bestselling Legenda in honour of the late Tan Sri P Ramlee, she has
continued to break records through the years.

She was the first Malaysian artiste to have success in Japan, and perform a
sold-out concert at the Royal Theatre in London's West End in 1996. She was
also the first local artiste to perform at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas.
She tells The Nut Graph about her childhood, and her thoughts about Malaysia
past and present, in this interview in February 2010.
TNG: When and where were you born?

Sheila Majid: I was born in Kuala Lumpur, 45 years ago. I'm a born and bred
KL city girl. I remember less traffic jams back then, and life being much
[safer]. I could wake up in the morning, go out cycling and meet friends, go
to the bookstores and read comics.
What are some of the childhood memories you hold dear?
My childhood was a lot of fun. My father worked in the forestry department,
with the government. So we lived in a government house behind Bank Negara,
near Swettenham Road. There was a lot of space to play for us eight
siblings. Thank God we were in the hutan - we found many things to do.
I was the youngest, so had my fair share of being bullied! But it was a
house full of laughter. We didn't have to buy stuff. Nowadays kids want
Toys"R"Us, but I remember my mother would come with this huge grocery box,
and as soon as the things were taken out, we would tear that box apart. We'd
sit on it and slide down the hill. I really miss those days. Somehow I feel
my children don't get to do that.

We were also in an area where there were many JKR (Public Works Department)
people, so we played with the neighbourhood kids a lot, most of them Indian
[Malaysians].

Sheila with her sisterWhen I was young and in school, we never
looked at other races as different. We felt that we were the same. Perhaps
we had different colours, but we grew up with the same values: to do good,
to be good to others.

Can you trace your ancestry? Where are your grandparents or ancestors from?
My father was Javanese, and my mother has always been from Kuala Lumpur. My
mother's great-great grandfather was actually a friend of Yap Ah Loy's. His
name was Sutan Puasa, and is from the Mandailing clan, who are originally
from Sumatera. The Mandailing are still around today; most of them are in
Kajang. Sutan Puasa was the first of their settlers in KL, and most of the
land was owned by him at the time. Later, he was involved in a clash with
the Bugis. But the Mandailing lost because the British were behind the
Bugis, and so they lost KL to Selangor.

The history books never highlighted this because, well, they obviously write
more about the Bugis family. I know why Bukit Nenas is named as such, for
example. At the time the Mandailing wanted to keep the Bugis out, so they
built many pineapple trees as a foil against the enemies.
If my family meets any others from the Mandailing clan today, we say
"Horas!", which is like "Aloha" in the dialect, though we don't know or
speak it anymore lah.

On my father's side, my great-grandfather was Javanese, who travelled to
Mecca from Indonesia. They lived in Mecca for 10 years and were very
religious. On his way back, my great-grandfather's ship was shipwrecked, and
he ended up on the shores of Peninsular Malaysia. He set up home here, and
changed his Javanese name to Haji Salleh. Then there was my grandfather Haji
Shahid, and later my father Haji Majid.

My father actually has a family tree that goes right up to the Majapahit
warriors. My father's lineage comes from Raden Hussein, who is the brother
of Raden Hasan, the first Muslim sultan of Demak in Indonesia. Both were the
sons of Probowo Wijoyo the Fifth of Majapahit, who was Hindu.

Did that rich ancestry feature in or influence your upbringing?
Well, my father studied in Oxford University, England, so he is very English
oriented. When we grew up he emphasised education, being an academic person.
Therefore when I wanted to become a singer, he freaked. My parents
encouraged us to listen to all kinds of music and sent me for classical
piano lessons, but he never thought I was going to be a singer. He thought
it was fine as a hobby, but not as a career.

I'm glad to say, however, that before he passed away in 1996, he saw that I
could make a living out of this, and that I was not in it for the wrong
reasons. I love singing, I'm passionate about music, and am very much into
my art. So I think when he passed away, he was quite assured that I'd be
okay.

Our parents were very religious, and we had our spiritual foundation, but
they also brought us up in a very open-minded kind of way. When we were
young, we could wear shorts and things like that, they never asked us to
cover up. It was a very balanced upbringing.

How do these stories affect you when it comes to your identity as a
Malaysian? Especially in the current landscape of controversial racial and
religious issues?

It's all petty. None of us originated from here! I'm sure your ancestors
came from China and they were probably merchants who came here. Same with
the Indian [Malaysians]. Everybody was travelling the world to conduct
business, and they decided to stay put in a certain area.

I think all the issues today are very petty because 30 years ago, we were
doing very good together. Why is it all coming up today? It is all
political. I'd say leave the people alone. If you want to play your
politics, don't get us involved. We were fine and well before, and we lived
together in harmony. It's all about power and money. I think so many have
forgotten the fundamentals of life - being nice to each other.

The Malaysia then was more open and tolerant. From a musician's perspective,
for example, you have concerts and foreign artists coming in today, but
people want to make a fuss over little things. We have a TV in our living
room, and at the touch of a button our children can already see all those
skimpy clothes if they want to. We are making an issue over little things,
when there are other more important issues to be addressed.

Come on, do not insult our intelligence. Do you think they will go to a
concert and suddenly want to be exactly like that? I may want to have a body
like Beyonce (laughs), but, come on, I'm not going to be like her. I go and
watch, learn and take what's positive, and will not do whatever I feel is
against my religion or culture. My parents brought us up in an environment
which was very open-minded, and we could discuss a lot of things, and yet
they made sure we had our religious values, too. We grew up okay!
And not less Malay.

I was brought up and exposed to Western culture, but it does not make me
less Malay. I speak English because my father was an academic man, and he
wanted us to speak the language well. Today I can converse in both Malay and
English.

Why was the generation before more confident than the generation today? What
happened along the way? For my children, we speak Malay and English at home,
but I also send them to Chinese school. My eldest is 19 and speaks Mandarin,
English and Malay. They will all know Mandarin. I think it's an asset, and I
think China is going to be a big economic powerhouse.

And say what you want, but English is an international language today. Malay
[Malaysians] are beginning to have an inferiority complex because they
cannot converse in English fluently. We are talking about, "Oh you must make
sure you are Malay, and know your language." Well, of course we will know
the Malay language, it is our mother tongue! At the end of the day, we are
just going to be katak bawah tempurung and jaguh kampung lah.

What are your hopes for Malaysia? What gives you hope?
Keep politics out of our music, keep it out of sports. When everyone wants
to put their two cents' worth when they don't even know the subject, it is
worrying.

Let us put it this way: there are two houses. One has a beautiful exterior,
but the other is sturdy. If you ask a lay[person], of course he [or she]
would pick the beautiful one; but ask an architect, and he [or she] would
tell you that it does not have the right foundation or structure. Today
people with no expertise whatsoever are giving opinions in whatever fields
they like. Leave it to the experts!

I am not saying everything is negative in this country, but compared to 30
years ago, people's priorities are so different. Today people are more into
self gain, rather than what is good for the community, society and country.
But my children give me hope. They are global in their outlook.

I always say you must not forget your roots, however modern you are.
Hopefully they will grow up to be people who are compassionate and caring. I
think it is important for it to start with parents and the schools, to bring
all of this back. To not look at each other as Indian, Chinese or Malay. We
are Malaysians, kan?

SAY NO TO RACISM!

2010-04-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Khoo Kay Peng speaks out..

Can Najib Walk his Talk?
So far, the judgment is NO.

Again the saying pertaining to this,

Your actions is so loud (not walking your talk) that
I cannot hear what you are saying (all your speeches are for nothing)

NEM, NEP, Perkasa & Malay First, Malaysian Second:
Time is Running Out for PM Najib

PM Najib is forced to go back to the Barisan old
script when he was asked to react on his deputy statement that he was "Malay
1st, Malaysian 2nd".

Najib defended his deputy, "Being a Malay doesn't
mean that you are against 1Malaysia or you don't think like a Malaysian."
"Similarly, if you are a Malaysian Chinese, it doesn't mean that you don't
think like a Malaysian or subscribe to the concept of 1Malaysia," he said.

Najib's knee-jerk reaction on Muhyiddin's statement
unmasks his own understanding about nation building and the 1Malaysia
concept.

The lack of national affinity and shared destiny is
the main obstacle for 1Malaysia. It is sad to note that the 1Malaysia
founder himself does not share the vision of nationhood and citizenship. If
Najib does not trust his own nation building agenda, he should not have
misused the name, Malaysia.

1Malaysia is not consistent with Ethnicity 1st,
Nationality 2nd.

We cannot blame Muhyiddin for his lack of national
identity because nation building was not featured in the Barisan rule over
the last 5 decades. Barisan is an antithesis to 1Malaysia and nation
building. The most important element in a nation building project is to
outlaw racial discrimination. Barisan is the epitome of racism and racially
based politics.

Najib cannot remain coy and silent on the demands,
attacks and allegations made against the Chinese community, in particularly,
by Perkasa.

Interestingly, a politician such as Ibrahim Ali
needed racism to resurrect his career. Of course he is enjoying the media
limelight at the moment. At the Aljazeera interview, he lambasted "If these
people say that they are second-class citizens, don't talk s**t! Don't talk
s**t! I repeat three times, don't talk s**t!"

"We, the Malays have forgiven them a lot, we have
sacrificed a lot of our interests," he added.

I would like Ibrahim to clarify what interests?

It appears that Muhyiddin is now clamouring to ride
on Perkasa's wave by declaring that he is "Malay 1st" and "Malaysian 2nd".

Regardless of the publicity stunt and damage
control, Najib knows that his defence of Muhyiddin and his statement is
going to tear his concept to pieces.

His administration is dragging its feet on the NEM
details and mechanism. It makes us wonder if there is any meat at all in
NEM.

Time is running out for him. Another talk but no
walk is going to put him on the same pedestal as Abdullah Badawi.

Najib should state his stand on Perkasa and Ibrahim
Ali's disrespect for non-Malay citizens. They (Najib, Muhyiddin and Ibrahim)
should remember that their salaries and perks are paid by Malaysians of all
races. Not by the Malays only.

Posted by Khoo Kay Peng at 2:34 PM 0 comments