Wednesday 11 November 2009
I am powerless, powerless powerless powerless!
By Arvind Raj
I am powerless, powerless powerless powerless! Thats the only word i remember about Lim Guan Eng's statement on the issue of Kg.Buah Pala. Powerless or Hopeless? Thats the only question thats mingling on our mind. It is not about the formalities or legalities, its not on who transferred the land or who acknowledged the illegal transfer of the Kg.Buah Pala land, but who promised to safeguard the Village and the houses! Did Gerakan government promised to safe the village? Did UMNO did it? Barisan? no one except DAP lead government! When the promises been made, the villagers has a new energy of hope running inside them, like a baby given a lollipop to lick once, thats the scenario here, hope and promises made and then shattered, smeared and abused!, yes, The villagers were told not to worry about the village and will be taken care of by the ruling DAP government : http://www.youtube.com/
BEFORE :
AFTER : (TODAY)
This is the effect of trusting the politicians, a politician is a politician and not all the promises are meant to be fulfilled, in the term of politics, promises are merely a word to get rid of things in the fastest way and it is meant to be broken now or later!.. Lim Guan Eng has to apologize to the villagers of Kg.Buah Pala, because RSN Rayer as an executive of his state government had promised to safe the village and betrayed its citizens, in front of the crowd and 2 of its senior political member Karpal Singh and Ramasamy. The serious matter here is not the Court of Law or MACC, it is the human relationship, Hope and Betrayal. How can we trust any of the Pakatan Rakyat representatives to fulfill our wish and hopes when a 2.6ha land which legally belongs to the Rakyat has been raped in the daylight in the eye of the DAP lead government? What about the dreams of Anwar Ibrahim to become the Prime Minister one day? Will he make such false promises just to win the heart of the Rakyat for personal and party achievements? This is what we fear most, If you cant safe a small piece of land from the Barisan Government, how will you save us from the bigger issues, such as ISA and Racial Discrimination?
Rwindraj@Cryingvoices.
Islamic groups ejected from Allah suit
By Debra Chong
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – It will be a straight fight between The Herald and the Home Minister in the High Court here next month over the right to publish the word “Allah” to refer to the Christian God.
Judge Lau Bee Lan from the High Court’s Appellate and Special Powers division fixed hearing for Dec 14 after ruling in favour of the Catholic Church’s bid to strike out interveners in their challenge against the Home Minister’s ban on publishing the word” Allah” in a non-Muslim context.
Lau retracted her decision, made three months ago, to allow eight state Islamic councils and the Malaysian Chinese Muslim Association (Macma) to intervene in the suit, on the basis that they were advisers to the rulers who are heads of Islam.
“The order on the 3rd of August was made on the grounds the High Court had no jurisdiction, following the order from the Federal Court,” counsel for the church, S. Selvarajah told reporters after leaving the judge’s chambers.
The Federal Court, led by Chief Justice Tun Zaki Azmi, had earlier this year made a landmark ruling barring the Selangor Islamic Council (Mais) from intervening in a dispute between the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) and Bong Boon Chuen and 150 landowners over Islamic burial land in neighbouring Selangor.
The top court’s decision set the example for other lower courts to keep interveners out.
Selvarajah also said the issue of “justiciability” – whether the courts had the power to decide on the use of the word “Allah” – which had been raised by lawyers from the Attorney General’s Chambers representing the Home Minister, would be argued during the hearing proper.
He noted that The Herald’s annual publishing licence would expire on Dec 31.
The priest-editor of the Catholic weekly, Reverend Father Lawrence Andrew, smiled brightly at the court’s decision.
“It’s good. It’s the thing we’ve been waiting for,” a much-relieved Andrew told The Malaysian Insider. “We hope it can be settled within the year.”
The Herald, which is read by 14,000 subscribers, was first banned from publishing the word “Allah” last year.
Under threat of having its licence revoked, it filed a suit challenging the Home Minister’s ban for going against the Federal Constitution, but the dispute failed to be resolved then because its licence had expired.
It was forced to file another application earlier this year, based on the existing publishing licence.Sivarasa insists spat with Zul over after Anwar’s intervention
By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – In an effort to portray that all is well within the ranks of PKR, party vice president Sivarasa Rasiah stressed today in Parliament that his spat with Kulim MP Zulkifli Noordin is over.
This statement was made after PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared an end to the policy spat between the two yesterday, hours after it happened.
“I consider this matter closed after Datuk Seri Anwar’s intervention. I will abide by the instructions of the party leader,” said Sivarasa.
When asked how the matter was settled so quickly, the Subang MP declined to offer details, and dodged similar questions from reporters.
“The point that I’m trying to make is that the matter is now closed. The issue of me stepping down from my post does not come up.
“Right now, the most important thing that PKR should focus on is to topple Umno Barisan National in the next general election,” explained Sivarasa.
Zulkifli had challenged Sivarasa to quit his party post and face off with him in a contest over party policy.
The Kulim MP’s remarks came after Sivarasa reportedly said that Anwar’s recent warning to the party members to “shape up or leave and join Umno” was directed at him.
Bar Council ‘appalled’ at government stand on Lingam
By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 – The Bar Council said today it was disheartened by the government’s position in the V.K. Lingam controversy which it said had brought the Malaysian justice system into shameful disrepute.
Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan said today that he was appalled at the government’s stand that no wrongdoing could be established in the probe into the V K Lingam video clip incident.
Lingam, a senior lawyer, had been secretly recorded on video engaged in a telephone conversation where he appears to be brokering senior judicial appointments.
The video first surfaced in 2007 and became a major campaign issue in Election 2008 for the opposition.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz sparked an uproar in Parliament on Monday when he said “judiciary fixer” Lingam had been let off the hook “because he had broken no law”.
Nazri also suggested that Lingam breached no laws as he might “have just acted to fix the appointment of judges as if he was brokering the appointment of senior judges to impress people”.
Nazri argued that from the legal perspective Lingam could have merely made a suggestion as to who should be appointed to senior posts in the judiciary.
A royal commission had proposed that action be taken against Lingam and several others purportedly involved in the recording including former Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin, Tun Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim and tycoon Tan Sri Vincent Tan, a close friend of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Nazri revealed that investigations by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on the figures named also found no conclusive evidence that there was any form of power abuse by any of them.
“Such a simplistic and irresponsible conclusion is an affront to the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI)’s commendable work of thoroughly and objectively sieving through the evidence presented.
“The RCI found that wrongdoings had indeed been committed, and it further identified some breaches of statutes applicable to the circumstances,” Ragunath said in a statement today.
He added that Lingam’s statement that he was able to fix the appointment of judges “brings into contempt the administration of justice.”
“The video clip raises grave questions but there is also other evidence of serious misdeeds, for example Dato’ V.K. Lingam’s authorship of a judgment in a case in which he had himself appeared as counsel for one of the parties.
“Another example is the clear evidence of the joint New Zealand holiday taken by Dato’ V. K. Lingam and then-Chief Justice Tun Eusoffe Chin and their respective families, which wholly discredited their claims for many years that they had met only by chance,” he said.
Ragunath stressed that these incidents must be investigated to determine if the allegations were true.
“What happened has undoubtedly brought the Malaysian judicial institution into shameful disrepute. To now say that no laws have been broken and to classify the affair as ‘No Further Action’ is to selectively and arbitrarily apply justice.
“The tragic irony will not escape the Malaysian public – the very system of justice that Dato’ V. K. Lingam has been found to have abused and made a mockery of now refuses to mete out justice against him,” he said.
Pakatan Rakyat MPs yesterday presented the alleged key witness that may support their claims that Lingam and Eusoff had planned their New Zealand trip together.
They had hoped the alleged key witness, Lingam’s former secretary Jayanthi Naidu, would prove that the government was attempting to cover up the scandal which has raised suspicions about possible collusion.
However Nazri refuted today that Jayanthi was the witness that MACC was looking for.
Taliban expands control of Nuristan (Al Jazeera)
Taliban fighters are expanding their control of Afghanistan's Nuristan province, an area they claim to have recaptured from US troops. A video obtained exclusively by Al Jazeera purports to show Taliban fighters in the Kamdesh district. Their leaders say they have appointed some local officials and reopened schools. Sections of the footage also show Taliban fighters brandishing what appeared to be US weapons. The fighters said they had seized the arms cache from two military outposts in eastern Nuristan, abandoned by US forces last month. Angela Eggman, a Nato spokeswoman, said it was not clear from the video where or when the weapons were obtained.
But General Mohammad Qassim Jangulbagh, Nuristan's provincial police chief, disagreed, saying: "The Americans left ammunition at the base." Farooq Khan, a spokesman for the Afghan National Police in Nuristan, concurred, saying US forces left arms and ammunition when they moved from the area, which he said was now in fighters' hands. The Pentagon said the closing of the outposts in Nuristan was part of plans by General Stanley McChrystal, the US and Nato commander in Afghanistan, to shut down isolated units and focus on more heavily populated areas. Afghanistan review The developments come as Barack Obama, the US president, is due to meet military and national security advisers to discuss sending more troops to fight the Taliban in Afghanistan. The White House has rejected a series of leaked reports saying Obama has already made up his mind to send thousands more troops to Afghanistan. It says no decision has been made.
Meanwhile, Afghan police and Nato troops say they have seized a massive quantity of illegal fertiliser, enough to make hundreds of deadly roadside bombs, in the city of Kandahar. A Nato spokesman said on Tuesday that raids at two sites in the southern city yielded more than 200 tonnes of ammonium nitrate - or about 10 lorry loads - and the arrest of 15 people. Sunday's raids appeared to be one of the largest hauls of the war so far and Nato officials expressed hope that the seizure would hurt Taliban fighters, whose homemade bombs have become the biggest killer of foreign forces. Acting on a tip, international forces and Afghan police discovered 1,000 45kg bags of ammonium nitrate fertiliser and 5,000 parts for roadside bombs in a warehouse. An additional 4,000 45kg bags of fertiliser were found in a nearby compound soon after. |
ACA had cleared Anwar of 'RM3 bil bank account' - Malaysiakini
Former ACA director of investigations Abdul Razak Idris told the High Court today he had cleared Anwar Ibrahim of allegations of stashing RM3 billion in foreign accounts and having foreign links to Western interests.
Abdul Razak, 60, who is now retired but a director of several companies, said ACA had investigated the matter following allegations made in a statutory declaration by former assistant governor of Bank Negara Abdul Murad Khalid.
He said a team of ACA officers went to Singapore and United Kingdom to probe the allegations.
"We went to meet Murad and several British witnesses. But the investigations resulted in 'No case' against Anwar pertaining to allegations made in Murad's statutory declaration."
"Further, I concluded that the allegations contained in the SD (statutory declaration) were baseless and unsustainable, and I consequently ordered that the investigations be closed."
Abdul Razak, 60, who is now retired but a director of several companies, said ACA had investigated the matter following allegations made in a statutory declaration by former assistant governor of Bank Negara Abdul Murad Khalid.
He said a team of ACA officers went to Singapore and United Kingdom to probe the allegations."We went to meet Murad and several British witnesses. But the investigations resulted in 'No case' against Anwar pertaining to allegations made in Murad's statutory declaration."
"Further, I concluded that the allegations contained in the SD (statutory declaration) were baseless and unsustainable, and I consequently ordered that the investigations be closed."
Murad signed the statutory declaration on Oct 29, 1999 - about one month after Anwar was arrested following his sacking as deputy prime minister in early September that year.
Abdul Razak then submitted his own statutory declaration on the matter and tendered it in court.
The former top ACA investigator was testifying in a RM100 million defamation suit by Anwar against New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd and its former group editor-in-chief, Abdullah Ahmad.
The alleged defamatory article, 'Anwar's link to US lobbyist', was published on March 2, 2002.
Dr M defends embattled Asri - Malaysiakini
Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad urged the Islamic authorities not to penalise former Perlis Mufti Dr Asri Zainul Abidin just because the latter had different opinions about Islam.
In an entry on his blog today, Mahathir said the authorities should not be too hasty in arresting Asri because having different opinions should not be construed as deviating from mainstream sunni Islam teachings.
He said it was certain that in other countries where sunni teachings are propagated, a study would show that the ulama (religious scholars) would have different opinions.
"Even in the nine states and one (federal) territory of Malaysia, there are many differences in terms of laws and teachings of Islam. There is difference of opinion even on determining the day for hari raya (aidilfitri)," wrote Mahathir.
Mahathir was commenting on the widely publicised and highly criticised arrest of Asri, ostensibly for preaching at a private home without authorisation from the Selangor Islamic Department (Jais).
What about Islam Hadhari?
About 50 police officers and Jais officials were involved in the arrest but strangely, no charges were laid on Asri when he was produced before the syariah court the following day
Mahathir noted that large presence of enforcement officers made Asri look like a "big criminal" who would use violence if apprehended but the former-Mufti did not resist.
"Then, the papers said there was no case against him. Don't we have due process in the enforcement of Islamic laws?
"Can they enforce Islamic laws with indiscriminate arrests?" asked Mahathir.
Mahathir also took the opportunity to again raise his pet peeve - Islam Hadhari - and asked rhetorically if it was part of mainstream sunni Islam belief.
"If yes, then Muslims must adhere to Islam Hadhari. If not, what action will the religious authorities take against the teachings of Islam Hadhari," he asked.
Islam Hadhari or 'civilisation Islam' was introduced in 2004 by Mahathir's handpicked successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on the eve of the 11th general election.
Who murdered V Diviyasri?
Dr Michael Harmon, who wrote the books "Action Theory" and "Organization Theory for Public Administration," quotes a case similar to V Diviyasri's death in the US and asks the rhetorical question, "who killed or betrayed their 5-year old boy?"
His conclusion was that the system betrayed the boy in that case. My equivalent rhetorical question is: "Who murdered 12-year old Diviyasri? (right)" And, for that matter, the two other girls who were also victims in the recent Kampar bridge collapse.
I can only try to empathise with the family, especially the father whose hurt and anger is clearly evident. Apparently, he literally chased the classmates who came to the house because, as he said, "the school only wants to kill them all."
Criminal lawyers talk about first and second degree murder. First degree murder is when there is premeditated intention; and second degree murder or manslaughter is the act of murder committed without the intent to kill.
Ignoring value of human life
Personally I am getting sick and tired of "our public service immorality" in this country. Too often and too easily, human life and loss is treated rather frivolously. The basic mental attitude appears to be: it is only one life, and unfortunately it could not have been avoided.
Others call it an act of God; I beg to disagree. It is not just one life; it is one God-gifted life. It could have been any of our children! Would any of us say the same when it involves our family members? Lest any of us forget, we are all members of the human race.
Any single death from such human negligence is destruction by God-unintended means. Therefore, it falls on us to become responsible agents and actors to review why there was such a moral failure of compliance to the rules of human decency in the forms and standards of our conduct.
Agency involves taking full and personal political responsibility to fulfil all that we know to be good, true, and honest.
His conclusion was that the system betrayed the boy in that case. My equivalent rhetorical question is: "Who murdered 12-year old Diviyasri? (right)" And, for that matter, the two other girls who were also victims in the recent Kampar bridge collapse.
I can only try to empathise with the family, especially the father whose hurt and anger is clearly evident. Apparently, he literally chased the classmates who came to the house because, as he said, "the school only wants to kill them all."
Criminal lawyers talk about first and second degree murder. First degree murder is when there is premeditated intention; and second degree murder or manslaughter is the act of murder committed without the intent to kill.
Ignoring value of human life
Personally I am getting sick and tired of "our public service immorality" in this country. Too often and too easily, human life and loss is treated rather frivolously. The basic mental attitude appears to be: it is only one life, and unfortunately it could not have been avoided.
Others call it an act of God; I beg to disagree. It is not just one life; it is one God-gifted life. It could have been any of our children! Would any of us say the same when it involves our family members? Lest any of us forget, we are all members of the human race.
Any single death from such human negligence is destruction by God-unintended means. Therefore, it falls on us to become responsible agents and actors to review why there was such a moral failure of compliance to the rules of human decency in the forms and standards of our conduct.
Agency involves taking full and personal political responsibility to fulfil all that we know to be good, true, and honest. It is being responsible agents of our primary responsibility of citizenship. To me, the most basic of these is the choice to register and vote.
If a citizen is not registered to vote, he or she is being irresponsible. Participate in all matters political without needing to join political parties. Hold all those parties both accountable and responsible.
Mike Harmon's Action Theory also argues that all human actors must "assume full and total moral responsibility for all human agencies; including non-action." That is to be personally and morally accountable and responsible to take "every initiative to put right what is not right, in any circumstance."
Our moral barometers
At the very least, we need to consider issues such as the PKFZ scandal with our consciences. Let us not restrict our actions to big issues of money but equally smaller issues of human frailty such as who extinguished Diviyasri's destiny?
Her death, in my book, costs far more than PKFZ. Money can always be earned and corruption always reduced; but Divya's life can never be restored. Her family's hurt can never be justified.
How can you call her death an act of God?
So, who murdered the 12-year old daughter of each of us in so-called 1Malaysia? I am sorry to say that if we were really a 1Malaysia, this would never have happened.
If we are a 1Malaysia, there would only be 1standard of construction for public amenities and the agency responsible would never have approved a sub-standard construction.
It is this systemic negligence that Mike Harmon alludes to in his writing. Even some of my own friends are apologists, and far too often. But, I refuse to accept it. My pet "Theory R" argues that all public agents must and can seek to do what is right, good and true; according to the standards of their defined professionalism.
The knowledge of such truth requires each of us to choose to intentionally comply with our standard of known truth. That is the only possible option for responsible action; all others, including the plea to ignorance, are irresponsible behaviours within Theory R.
All human agencies are imperfect and therefore do not meet standards of truth. Only God is perfect. Nevertheless, human beings can seek to intentionally design and construct material and non-material structures that meet some standards of compliance.
When standards are not complied with, other forms of equally responsible action must be taken to correct mistakes of oversight, regardless of the kind or quality of the excuse. To fail to do so is simple irresponsibility.
So, who killed her?
Who killed the little girl on this 1Malaysia excursion? The Ministry of Education authorities must ensure that none of them was negligent. Were there not ISO rules on how to cross the bridge? Was there not some order in how the children 'should have' crossed the bridge?
Why should a 1Malaysia expedition of this nature be organised without adequate safeguards? Or, was it a simply 'a creative accounting way' to spend public funds and to give the post-UPSR kids a fun time, at the expense of public taxpayers?
Second, the JKR or the Public Works Department must conduct a post-mortem review of not only the suspension bridge and her construction, design and technical features, but also the "entire procurement process for the design and construction of this one-month old bridge."
The full report must be made totally public so that everyone concerned will know who actually murdered this 11-year-old girl in the name of 1Malaysia.
Finally, I am sorry to keep picking on the chief secretary, but his super task force must unearth this notion of "SYMP" (from my previous column) as the lame justification for all things gone wrong!
Please do not keep passing the buck anymore. Please nail those who are being immoral and irresponsible. Give the story of public accountability and responsibility a new ending. It is no point even, putting culprits in 'cold storage' in the JPA when everyone knows they are being punished.
Please take public action so that secretary-generals are never again charged with explicit corruption just because senior PTD Officers do not know how to read "cash-flow statements!" Why were they promoted and kept for so long anyway? I speak as a retired PTD officer.
The PKFZ fiasco is only one small and visible part of the corruption and decadence of governance within the public services of Malaysia. It is but the tip of a huge iceberg, as evidenced by the recent PAC Report.
There are literally thousands of small cases of everyday failures, due to the disregard of established procurement processes. Mr chief secretary, the buck must stop with you and your new committee. Please do what is good and true and right today.
Readers: may God bless you and your families. Be grateful for your loved ones, for still having your daughters with you. But, that is not true for the families of N Dina Deve, M Davadharshini and V Diviyasri. Not for Kugan's nor Beng Hock's or even for Nurin Jazlin's family.
May God help us to find the solace in justice.
Enough is enough!
Kelantan rocked by MACC probe
By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian InsiderKUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) investigation into the Kelantan government investment arm PMBK saw its first casualty yesterday with the removal of its corporate liaison officer Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz.
Syed Azidi, who joined the state government in 2007, said that his service contract was terminated for allegedly lodging a report with MACC over the management of PMBK and for conspiring with a Barisan Nasional assemblyman.
PMBK was first rocked by the controversial appointment of Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat's son-in-law Arif Fahmi Rahman as its CEO.
Last week, MACC officers visited the PMBK office in Kota Baru and quizzed its finance manager. Arif too was questioned by the graft busters.
Arif, an engineer by training, was first appointed PMBK COO in early 2008 before he was promoted to his current post about two months ago.
“Arif must resign now as he has become a liability to the state government and he doesn't command the respect of the PMBK staff,” Syed Azidi told The Malaysian Insider.
Syed Azidi said he met Nik Aziz yesterday at his office after his removal to explain his position and deny all the allegations directed at him.
He added that he will continue to support Nik Aziz's leadership.
Nik Aziz had repeatedly defended Arif’s appointment and had said that he welcomed any investigation against his son-in-law.
The Malaysian Insider understands Arif's management style has caused dissatisfaction among PAS leaders and elected representatives in the state.
Assembly motion to overturn Asri’s arrest disallowed
By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian InsiderSHAH ALAM, Nov 11 — An emergency motion to overturn the recent arrest of ex-Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin at the state assembly today was disallowed because the matter was not urgent.
The motion was tabled by PAS lawmaker Saari Sungib who wanted the state assembly to debate the arrest, the conduct of the Selangor Religious Affair Department (Jais) and the need for a licence for Islamic clerics to preach in the state.
Saari, who was present when Asri (picture) was arrested by Jais and policemen on Nov 1, said Asri was treated like a “dangerous criminal” before being released on bail.
The Hulu Kelang assemblyman said Asri, who is a recognised Islamic scholar with a doctorate from the International Islamic University Malaysia, should be released unconditionally.
Saari said the arrest has damaged the credibility of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government as voters expect the coalition to be better that Barisan National (BN) and the matter should be addressed immediately.
Selangor Speaker Teng Chang Khim said for an emergency motion to be considered, it must be specific, be a matter of public interest and urgent.
After considering all the factors, Teng said the motion was specific and a matter of public interest.
However, he said, the matter was not urgent before rejecting the motion.
But this did not stop Azmin Ali from condemning the manner Asri was arrested while debating the Budget.
The Bukit Antarabangsa lawmaker said Asri was treated like a terrorist and the arrest was disgusting.
RPK suggests PI Bala may soon resurface to attack Najib
(The Malaysian Insider) - The fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, or RPK, has raised the ante again against Datuk Seri Najib Razak by threatening to expose another statutory declaration by missing private investigator P. Balasubramaniam.
Talk has been swirling for several weeks now that the private investigator was going to surface after going missing since July last year.
There has been speculation that Balasubramaniam would restate allegations against the prime minister he first made in a statutory declaration last year linking Najib to the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu.
In a posting on his Malaysia-today.net portal, RPK alleges that Balasubramaniam had been living in India since he went missing and had been paid to keep quiet.
“Little did they know that Bala was just biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike back.
“And now he is striking back and has come out to reveal what really happened since the time he signed his first statutory declaration, followed by the second one the following day, 16 months ago,” RPK wrote.
For the opposition, this development, if true, will provide a chance to put the prime minister under pressure and put a difficult issue for him back on the table.
While RPK provides little concrete evidence for his allegations, such is his following and influence among Malaysians that his attacks against Najib remain damaging.
In his latest attacks, he publishes photographs of cheques allegedly made out to Balasubramaniam.
And he promised to make more revelations within the next month.
Abdul Razak Baginda, one of Najib’s closest associates, had been charged for abetment and tried for the 2006 murder of Altantuya.
Abdul Razak was eventually acquitted. But two policemen who were once on Najib’s security detail were found guilty of the murder.
Abdul Razak had admitted that Altantuya was his lover.
But the close ties between the major players in the murder and Najib have always dogged the prime minister, with critics like RPK frequently accusing the government of a conspiracy to protect the PM.
Last year, Balasubramaniam caused a stir when he made public a statutory declaration in which he alleged Najib had a sexual relationship with Altantuya.
But he then made another statutory declaration a day later retracting the accusations against Najib.
After that Balasubramaniam disappeared.
The private investigator had been hired by Abdul Razak to help him deal with Altantuya, who was alleged to have been harassing him.
Balasubramaniam was also a witness in the murder trial.
Raja Petra gets discharge not amounting to acquittal
(Bernama) - Former Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, who is charged with sedition, was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal by the Sessions Court here on Wednesday because the police could not trace him.
Judge Rozina Ayub, in making the order, said it was most embarrassing for all the parties concerned that the prosecution had failed to serve the warrant of arrest on Raja Petra, as a result of which a discharge had to be given and the case was left hanging and without an ending.
“This case cannot proceed. It’s a pity because the the prosecution had called seven witnesses,” she said.
Rozana also ordered that a notice be served on Raja Petra’s wife, Marina Lee, to show cause why she should not forfeit the RM5,000 bail that she had posted.
“The bailor in this case, namely his wife, has to come to court to explain his absence, or forfeit the bail,” she said.
Earlier, deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar informed the court that the police had failed to trace Raja Petra till today.
The court had expected the case to be disposed of by end of next month and the prosecution had lined up at least eight witnesses. However, Raja Petra went missing after seven witnesses were called.
The court subsequently gave three postponements -- on May 22, July 17 and a final one on Oct 12 to enable the prosecution and police to trace him.
On May 6 last year, Raja Petra, 60, pleaded not guilty to posting seditious words relating to an article in his web site www.malaysiatoday.net on April 25 last year.
Anwar sues NST for RM100m
By Debra Chong - The Malaysian Insider
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is suing the New Straits Times for RM100 million in damages, for insinuating he is an American agent in an article written six years ago.
The English-language daily’s former deputy group editor Datin Rose Ismail today denied defaming Anwar in the article.
The Kuala Lumpur High Court which heard both their testimonies today fixed submissions for tomorrow.
WILL PI BALA REAPPEAR FROM HIDING IN INDIA?
Malaysiatoday blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) has written an article today that Private Investigator and ex-cop P Balasubramaniam who was involved in the controversial Statutory Declaration implicating PM Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor being involved in the brutal killing using C4 on Mongolian national, Altantuya Shaariibuu would reappear from hiding from India to expose the TRUTH. The article contains evidence of monies being paid to him to shut him up from revealing the truth.
Deepak Jaikishan was entrusted with the job of taking care of ex-police officer turned private investigator P. Balasubramaniam. Do you remember Bala? Bala was the individual who signed the very damaging Statutory Declaration linking Najib Tun Razak to Altantuya Shaariibuu.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Do you remember the story we published on 8 October 2009 called The Carpetman who is Rosmah’s Bagman and much more? Well, if you have forgotten, this is what we said then:
I met the Carpetman more than a year ago. He asked to meet through a mutual acquaintance because he was alarmed that I was about to reveal that the Carpetman is actually Rosmah’s Bagman. But that was not the thing that got him all flustered. What did was the revelation I was going to make that he is not only the Carpetman who is Rosmah’s Bagman but that he is also her Toyboy.
I only do business with Rosmah, said the Carpetman. My relationship with Rosmah is only for business purposes. I am not sleeping with Rosmah, he pleaded. So please do not tell the public that I am Rosmah’s Toyboy. The impression he wanted to make is that his relationship with Rosmah is confined to the boardroom and does not extend to the bedroom.
Well, that is not what Mumtaz Jaafar says. And who is Mumtaz Jaafar? Hey, if I start talking about her then I would also have to mention her relationship with Saiful, the person who alleges that Anwar Ibrahim sodomised him. And if I start talking about that then we will end up talking about the Sodomy 2 case as well. So let’s get back to the subject of the Carpetman, Rosmah’s Bagman cum Toyboy.
The whole country is very focused on Najib Tun Razak’s extramarital affairs. Sure, every Malaysian knows about this. And every Malaysian also knows about him getting caught in a Port Dickson hotel room with Ziana Zain. In fact, Isa Samad even had photographs of Najib clad only in a towel with the delicious young thing in his bed. And Isa handed the photograph over to the then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. (And that is why Mahathir just does not understand why Najib would choose Isa to contest the Bagan Pinang by-election when it was Isa who tried to bring Najib down with the photograph).
Anyway, let’s not digress too far. As I said, every Malaysian knows about Najib’s extramarital affairs. But how many also know that Rosmah has a penchant for Bollywood types. Hell, she will even arrange datukships for them if they treat her the way she loves to be treated, if you know what I mean. And this particular chap I am talking about, the Carpetman cum Bagman cum Toyboy, is far better looking than Shahrukh Khan (or is it Datuk Shahrukh Khan now?) -- not to mention younger as well.
Yes, I have been keeping this story under wraps for more than a year now. But it is now time that the story be told. There is more, though. Deepak the Carpetman cum Bagman cum Toyboy has been very naughty. And all these naughty deeds were done on behalf of Rosmah.
In due course more will be revealed about the role of the Carpetman and how he has served Rosmah. Today is not the time to do that though. So stay tuned for further episodes of the Carpetman cum Bagman cum Toyboy of the so-called First Lady of Malaysia.
Okay, and with that intro, it is now time to continue the story of the Carpetman cum Bagman cum Toyboy of the ‘First Lady’ who goes by the name of Deepak Jaikishan and reveal what naughty things he has done.
Deepak Jaikishan was entrusted with the job of taking care of ex-police officer turned private investigator P. Balasubramaniam. Do you remember Bala? Bala was the individual who signed the very damaging Statutory Declaration linking Najib Tun Razak to Altantuya Shaariibuu.
A few hours after Bala revealed his Statutory Declaration during a press conference on 3rd July 2008 he went missing. The following day he filed a second Statutory Declaration that contradicted his first one the day earlier. And then he disappeared totally.
(Read PI Bala missing, says nephew by The Star, 5th July 2008).
By the way, I also went to Rawang to meet Bala's nephew, R. Kumaresan, mentioned in this news report.
What many did not know is, even as Bala was giving his press conference just before lunch on 3rd July 2008, some security personnel were in front of his house in Rawang. They then kidnapped his family.
While Bala was enjoying his lunch a certain ASP Suresh phoned him and asked to meet. Bala was also told that his family’s safety was at stake if he refused to meet. Actually, Bala was having lunch with me at the time the phone call came in so I was sort of aware of what was happening, especially when I saw his face suddenly turn pale and he started panicking. And of course ‘they’ knew that I know and that is why they decided to go for me as well.
After Bala filed his second (and contradictory) Statutory Declaration, they whisked him out of the country and hid him in India. Deepak then paid Bala RM50,000 a month to buy his silence.
Bala had no choice, really. It was either RM50,000 a month and ‘retirement’ in India or suffer the same fate as Altantuya. And there was also his family to worry about -- so better the money than C4.
And with that all safely in place Deepak thought that he and the ‘First Lady’ could afford to live happily ever after without any further problems.
Little did they know that Bala was just biding his time, waiting for the right moment to strike back. And now he is striking back and has come out to reveal what really happened since the time he signed his first Statutory Declaration, followed by the second one the following day, 16 months ago.
Today, we are going to show you just a small part of what Bala has revealed. Yes, only a small part. And there is much more to reveal over the next month or so, all very damaging indeed.
In the meantime, until the real juicy parts are revealed, let us keep Seri Perdana in Putrajaya in suspense. Why should we allow them to sleep soundly? By the time we finish revealing everything there will not be a single Malaysian left who would any longer doubt Najib’s involvement with Altantuya.
As an appetiser, take a look at the copies of the cheques below which the Carpetman cum Bagman cum Toyboy called Deepak paid Bala. If Bala signed a false Statutory Declaration, as they claim he did, then why do they need to hide him in India and pay him RM50,000 a month?
Well they needed to do this because the first Statutory Declaration that Bala signed is true. And that’s why they needed him out of the way.
Yes, the Carpetman cum Bagman cum Toyboy is soon going to be in deep shit so stay tuned for more as the shit hits the fan good and proper.
Sleep soundly Putrajaya, wherever you are.
Whither institutional reforms?
By Wong Chin Huat
thenutgraph.com
Construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 (Public domain; Wiki commons)
WALKING can be political. East Germans tried crossing the Berlin Wall for the 28 years that it existed. Many eventually moved to the West through Hungary and Czechoslovakia after August 1989, and took to the streets in East Berlin en masse three months later. They eventually brought down the wall on 9 Nov, 20 years ago.
On 10 Nov, two years ago, Malaysians took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur to echo the calls for electoral reforms made by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih). That was the second of the three mass rallies in late 2007, preceded by the Bar Council's Walk for Justice and followed by the Hindraf rally.
A year after the fall of Berlin Wall, the reunification of Germany officially buried the Soviet-backed de jure one-party East German state.
Four months after the Hindraf rally, Umno's electoral one-party state was severely eroded by the 8 March 2008 political tsunami, which swept away its two-thirds parliamentary majority and five state governments.
Citizens of Germany are now taking stock of their nation's progress since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Perhaps it's time for Malaysians to take stock, too. How much have we progressed since 10 Nov 2007?
The three rallies that year highlighted three main aspects of reform: good governance, democracy and ethnic relations.
Have the 2008 election outcomes stimulated vigorous competition from both sides of the political divide on these grounds?
Hindraf supporters on the one-year anniversary of the November 2007 rally
Ethnic relations
The answer is a qualified "yes" on the issue of ethnic relations. Notwithstanding the standard communalist antics of Umno-controlled Malay-language daily Utusan Malaysia and individual politicians, Umno is moving quickly back to the "middle ground".
Not unlike its post-1990 liberalisation measures in the name of Vision 2020, the Barisan Nasional (BN) is now introducing a series of economic and cultural liberalisation measures under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's "1Malaysia" banner. These range from race-blind scholarships, special aid to Indian Malaysians, and his reaching out to Malaysia's 60 independent Chinese secondary schools.
AnwarI will not be surprised if Najib announces the official end of bumiputeraism and all New Economic Policy (NEP)-style measures before the next elections. He can easily replace them with some form of a broad-based welfare state policy that still prioritises the rural Malay Malaysian constituency without expressly referring to ethnicity.
In a way, Najib is practising what Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) have been preaching the past couple of years but have no power to implement. With the federal government's abundant resources to dispose of, Najib can also buy off opponents of these policies within and outside his party.
This is in turn how the race to the centre is capped. Once "owning" the issue of ethnic relations, the PR now finds it difficult to do more in dismantling ethnic or religious discrimination without being accused of selling out the Malay Muslim community. This partly explains the fading support for the PR among Indian Malaysians.
While PAS parliamentarians like Khalid Samad and Dr Dzukefly Ahmad are standing firm in defending the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, other PR leaders have opposing priorities. For example, Selangor executive councillor Datuk Dr Hassan Ali (from PAS), Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin, and PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan are more interested in playing the role of Malay-Muslim champions by trying to ban alcohol, apostasy and concerts.
Mohd Asri In a way, while non-Muslim, non-Malay Malaysians now have a better deal after 8 March, the policing of the morals and minds of Muslim-Malay Malaysians seems to be on the rise. The recent arrest of former Perlis Mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin for preaching without a permit shows that even a former state mufti may not be spared. Another alarming sign is the demonising of Muslim feminist organisation Sisters in Islam by both Umno and the PR at different times.
Good governance
Arguably, both sides of the political divide have also been competing on good governance.
Competence, accountability and transparency has been the rallying cry of the PR state governments, especially in Penang, Selangor and pre-coup Perak. These states, together with PAS's long-time stronghold of Kelantan, have outperformed their BN predecessors and current counterparts in other states.
In this context, Najib's heavy emphasis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and other management jargon is a response to the PR's reforms.
While the electorate is enjoying better services or more financial benefits from both the BN federal and the PR state governments, there is no competition with regard to institutional reforms.
For all of Najib's preaching on performance, he has refused to free the press so that the politicians and bureaucrats may be better monitored by the media and civil society. He has completely cold-shouldered ongoing calls — including from a former Inspector General of Police — to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).
Sketch of Teoh Beng Hock Neither is he willing to reform the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) even after the mysterious death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock. His concession to public wrath is the MACC's prosecution of a few lightweight BN politicians alongside those from the opposition.
However, the PR has not been any more proactive. With the exception of Selangor's Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat), no major institutional reforms have been set in place to promote good governance.
Most PR states have turned a deaf ear or are lukewarm to the calls of establishing an Ombud Commission or enacting Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation at the state level. Even the most enthusiastic state on FOI, Selangor, has met with internal objections from both bureaucrats and politicians.
Democracy
If the BN-PR competition on good governance gets a mere passing mark, their competition on democracy is an outright failure.
Instead of democratisation, the BN has resorted to a constitutional coup to wrest back the state of Perak, and continues to discriminate against opposition-run states such as Kelantan. The BN's abuse of state apparatus in by-elections is simply rampant. It has arrogantly rejected the call to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA), which is now a national consensus. And of course, none of Bersih's demands have been agreed to thus far.
But does the PR offer us a clearer road map? No. Their standard excuse is: "We cannot implement reforms because we do not control the federal government."
The truth is, they do not need federal power to implement FOI or introduce local elections at the state level. And four state governments can set a decentralisation agenda to rally public support and pressure the BN. Why have all these not been done?
Sabotage, inertia or reluctance?
It is very clear why the BN under Najib is willing to check on racism and corruption, but reluctant to implement institutional reforms that prevent racism and corruption in the first place. A good system reduces the electorate's dependence on "good politicians". It rules out the need for a benign dictator to reign in on "bad politicians" or corruption. It allows and encourages competition. Most importantly, the dictator can no longer make sure that he or she, or his or her favourites, would be exempt from scrutiny. In this sense, a good system promoting democracy would be the end of Umno’s electoral one-party state.
The million-ringgit question is: Why is the PR not keener to offer institutional reforms?
Is it because of sabotage by its own politicians and bureaucrats who secretly support Umno's agenda? Is it inertia, due to the PR hoping to get along with the federal government? Or is it reluctance, because either the PR also thinks it is sufficient to have "good politicians", or it secretly hopes to inherit Umno's electoral one-party state someday?Bumi here, non-Bumi there! Time to amend the constitution
Malaysian Mirror
Ever since her story was broken in the Borneo Post in Sarawak on Oct 29, the story of Marina Undau has stirred up an undercurrent of outrage in the newspapers, on the Internet, and in countless coffee shops throughout Sarawak.
Apparently, Marina was rejected for study in a pre-university matriculation course by the Education Ministry, because she is not considered a “Bumiputra”. Her father is Iban and her mother is Chinese.
Highlighting her case has opened a long-hidden wound among Sarawakians. Thirty percent of marriages in Sarawak every year are inter-racial, and there must be tens of thousands of Sarawak youths who are offspring of mixed marriages between native and non-native parents.
Even if these children of mixed marriages live the native way of life, they are still not considered native enough in some parts of officialdom. They have been consistently denied the privileges and special treatment reserved by the Federal Constitution to help Bumiputra.
They would not be able to get prior consideration when applying for places in public universities and government scholarships, invest in ASB, special rates to buy houses, or tender for contracts in the public sector.
So far, many political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and the opposition parties have come out to express their unhappiness over this state of affair revealed by the shoddy treatment of Marina Undau, who scored 9As 1B in her SPM exam, and so has proven herself worthy and deserving for all the government assistance made available to rural students.
In one of his recent posting on his blog The Broken Shield, Malaysian Mirror’s own Joseph Tawie has this to report:
“Former president of Sarawak Dayak National Union Datuk Daniel Tajem (left) has called all Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA), Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to organise a seminar on the Marina issue as well as on Articles 161a of the Federal Constitution.”
Article 161a of the Federal constitution stipulates that only children whose parents are both considered Bumiputras can be considered truly native in Sarawak. In Peninsular Malaysia, one Bumiputra parent alone will qualify the children to be considered as native for all official purposes.
By this definition, even the children of such a distinguished native personage as the Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (right) are not considered native enough because their mother is a Chinese!
There is no other way forward on this matter except to amend Article 161a of the Federal Constitution so as to streamline the definition of a “native” to include all those Sarawakians who have one native parent.
The Federal Constitution is the highest law of the land that defines the legal framework for our nationhood, and should not be amended at the whims and fancies of the legislators.
But the Federal Constitution is also a living growing body of laws that should reflect the changing political reality of our realm.
Whenever any integral part of it has been found to be obsolete, or fallen out of relevance with emerging new reality, then the right amendment can empower the Federal Constitution to bring justice to the people.
Of course, we are fully aware of the fact that the ruling Barisan Nasional do not enjoy a two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat, and therefore be able to amend the Federal Constitution at will.
But this constitutional amendment as suggested by Sarawak political leaders from both sides of the political divide is likely to receive the support of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
All that the BN has to do is to ask for PR support for a bipartisan vote in the Dewan Rakyat on a motion of such a constitutional amendment bill. This might even set a precedent for the two mammoth political coalitions to work together on a joint platform to bring justice to many Sarawakian citizens and voters.
That would indeed bring some substance to the new slogan 1Malaysia so much promoted by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Federal politicians must be reminded that Sarawak has 31 parliamentary seats, and together with Sabah, the voters there now hold the key to federal power by the two contending coalitions. At the moment, 30 of the 31 seats in Sarawal are in BN hands, providing 22% of the BN seats in Parliament.
This huge BN fixed deposit in Sarawak cannot be taken for granted forever. A bipartisan constitutional amendment bill initiated by BN with PR tacit support will do much to win the good will of the Sarawakian voters in the next general election expected to be held before 2013.
If that amendment can come about, then the sufferings of Marina Undau and thousands of other Sarawakian kids like her in the past would not have been in vain.
They would not be able to get prior consideration when applying for places in public universities and government scholarships, invest in ASB, special rates to buy houses, or tender for contracts in the public sector.
So far, many political leaders from both Barisan Nasional and the opposition parties have come out to express their unhappiness over this state of affair revealed by the shoddy treatment of Marina Undau, who scored 9As 1B in her SPM exam, and so has proven herself worthy and deserving for all the government assistance made available to rural students.
In one of his recent posting on his blog The Broken Shield, Malaysian Mirror’s own Joseph Tawie has this to report:
“Former president of Sarawak Dayak National Union Datuk Daniel Tajem (left) has called all Dayak non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as the Sarawak Dayak National Union (SDNU), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Orang Ulu National Association (OUNA), Sarawak Dayak Graduates Association (SDGA) and Dayak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to organise a seminar on the Marina issue as well as on Articles 161a of the Federal Constitution.”
Article 161a of the Federal constitution stipulates that only children whose parents are both considered Bumiputras can be considered truly native in Sarawak. In Peninsular Malaysia, one Bumiputra parent alone will qualify the children to be considered as native for all official purposes.
By this definition, even the children of such a distinguished native personage as the Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (right) are not considered native enough because their mother is a Chinese!
There is no other way forward on this matter except to amend Article 161a of the Federal Constitution so as to streamline the definition of a “native” to include all those Sarawakians who have one native parent.
The Federal Constitution is the highest law of the land that defines the legal framework for our nationhood, and should not be amended at the whims and fancies of the legislators.
But the Federal Constitution is also a living growing body of laws that should reflect the changing political reality of our realm.
Whenever any integral part of it has been found to be obsolete, or fallen out of relevance with emerging new reality, then the right amendment can empower the Federal Constitution to bring justice to the people.
Of course, we are fully aware of the fact that the ruling Barisan Nasional do not enjoy a two-third majority in the Dewan Rakyat, and therefore be able to amend the Federal Constitution at will.
But this constitutional amendment as suggested by Sarawak political leaders from both sides of the political divide is likely to receive the support of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.
All that the BN has to do is to ask for PR support for a bipartisan vote in the Dewan Rakyat on a motion of such a constitutional amendment bill. This might even set a precedent for the two mammoth political coalitions to work together on a joint platform to bring justice to many Sarawakian citizens and voters.
That would indeed bring some substance to the new slogan 1Malaysia so much promoted by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Federal politicians must be reminded that Sarawak has 31 parliamentary seats, and together with Sabah, the voters there now hold the key to federal power by the two contending coalitions. At the moment, 30 of the 31 seats in Sarawal are in BN hands, providing 22% of the BN seats in Parliament.
This huge BN fixed deposit in Sarawak cannot be taken for granted forever. A bipartisan constitutional amendment bill initiated by BN with PR tacit support will do much to win the good will of the Sarawakian voters in the next general election expected to be held before 2013.
If that amendment can come about, then the sufferings of Marina Undau and thousands of other Sarawakian kids like her in the past would not have been in vain.
Ternanti Nanti Apa Lagi Penjelasan SPRM
Nah, semalam Sdr Sivarasa Rasiah mengemukakan seorang lagi saksi utama kes VK Lingam. Bekas setiausaha Lingam itu, Jayanthi Naidu mengaku mengatur percutian mantan Ketua Hakim Negara ke New Zealand bersama bekas majikannya. Pendedahan ini jelas menconteng arang reputasi serta integriti institusi Dewan Rakyat apabila Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia mengemukakan kenyataan yang bercanggah, kononnya sukar mengesan saksi utama. Ternanti nanti apa pula penjelasan SPRM. Pastinya, rakyat muak dengan segala pembohongan ini.
Ilmu kurang besarlah lagak
Tiada lawan besarlah mulut
Bersua kita putihlah tapak
Semangat lembik gementarlah lutut
Sudahlah semalam Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri memberi jawapan yang tidak bertanggungjawab sehingga bolehlah dianggap menghina institusi mahkamah syariah. Datuk Jamil Khir menjelaskan kes saya di mahkamah syariah ditangguhkan demi menunggu keputusan mahkamah sivil. Mengapa menteri yang sepatutnya menjaga urusan agama seumpama tidak yakin dengan keadilan Islam. Malahan ini memberi gambaran menteri mencampuri dan menunjuki urusan mahkamah.
Manakala fitnah terus dilemparkan kononnya enggan mengangkat sumpah, saya menyambutnya dengan menfailkan tuntutan qazaf sesuai dengan lunas dan prinsip syariah. Mengapa bertangguh lagi? Pendapat ulama muktabar; Syeikh Yusuf al Qaradawi, Syeikh Taha Jabir, Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz, mantan mufti Dato’ Hashim Yahaya dan Ustaz Haron Din jelas menasihati agar diadili di mahkamah syariah sesuai dengan tuntutan al Quran dan Sunnah.
ANWAR IBRAHIM
Nik Aziz Denies Bai'ah In PAS
KOTA BAHARU, Nov 10 (Bernama) -- PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat today refuted the existence of the bai'ah (oath of loyalty) which has caused a controversy in the party.
The Kelantan menteri besar said the issue was deliberately raised by certain quarters who were envious of PAS struggle, which he said was starting to be accepted by the public.
"Actually PAS is envied by Muslims themselves, and because we have grown in strength recently, there are groups who try to undermine our position. The issue of bai'ah does not arise at all in Kelantan," he told reporters here Tuesday.
He was commenting on the issue following a recent disclosure by Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad, from PAS, that the bai'ah oath of allegiance requires elected representatives to divorce their wives should they jump party.
Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, PAS president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would not take any action or give any further explanation on the issue because the party considered it settled.
"There is no need for investigation because the bai'ah doesn't exist," he said when asked by reporters at parliament lobby.
He added that the matter was raised by the media and not by PAS members.
The Kelantan menteri besar said the issue was deliberately raised by certain quarters who were envious of PAS struggle, which he said was starting to be accepted by the public.
"Actually PAS is envied by Muslims themselves, and because we have grown in strength recently, there are groups who try to undermine our position. The issue of bai'ah does not arise at all in Kelantan," he told reporters here Tuesday.
He was commenting on the issue following a recent disclosure by Shah Alam Member of Parliament Khalid Samad, from PAS, that the bai'ah oath of allegiance requires elected representatives to divorce their wives should they jump party.
Meanwhile, in KUALA LUMPUR, PAS president Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang said the party would not take any action or give any further explanation on the issue because the party considered it settled.
"There is no need for investigation because the bai'ah doesn't exist," he said when asked by reporters at parliament lobby.
He added that the matter was raised by the media and not by PAS members.
In Kelantan, PAS sacks blogger
Sheih loses job in witch-hunt. Socio-political bloggers in Malaysia aren't easily shocked, but news about Nik Aziz terminating Sheih's contract with the Kelantan Chief Minister Inc [PBMK] has rattled many. I've been trying to call the Kickdefella blogger to know what's the story but for now I suppose I will have to read between the lines of his latest posting Penamatan Kontrak Serta Merta.
If I get his meaning right, Sheih may have been sacked for allegedly reporting corrupt practices in PBMK to 1. the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commisison and 2. an UMNO assemblyman. Sheih has denied having committed those sins and is expected to call for a press conference in Kota Baru tomorrow. [The MACC raided PBMK and questioned its CEO, who is Nik Aziz's own son-in-law, last week].
The movie director, who achieved blog-fame for using movie posters on his blog to take jabs at Abdullah Ahmad Badawi when he was PM (the name of his blog was inspired by Pak Lah), joined the PAS state goverment of Kelantan one year before the March 2008 by-election where he used the media, especially the new media, to help improve PAS' appeal to Malaysians outside Kelantan.
Can Anwar make it?
By Megat Jittendran
PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘buck up or pack out’ ultimatum to party top brass and elected representatives would be seen as a warning for members to toe the party line.
For some others, such ultimatum from the party icon would be a resonation of a desperate man trying to pull together his errant comrades.
But all could and should agree that it was a timely warning from the parliamentary opposition leader.
It is time for him to take control of not only PKR but also the warring and unflattering opposition block – the Pakatan Rakyat.
When Pakatan won 82 parliamentary seats, captured four new state governments and retained the north-eastern state of Kelantan in the last general election, many Pakatan leaders thought, and are claiming until today, that the swing was for them.
Little did they realise that Pakatan won by default.
It was Barisan Nasional, which lost.
In March 2008 polls, people had no other alternative to turn to other than Pakatan.
So many Pakatan elected representatives cannot realise, and failed to acknowledge, that they were haughtily sitting in a political comfort zone today because the people were fed up and wanted to teach BN, especially Umno.
These Pakatan representatives have refused to accept reality hence their ego is growing by the day.
Thus, after nearly 20 months since the 12th general election, glaring weaknesses and arrogance have emerged among the Pakatan partners – PKR, DAP and PAS.
PAS leaders are living in a dreamland fantasizing that non-Muslims voted for the party because they have accepted the party Islamic credentials and principles.
Hallucination hd caught them that they have got support across all communities on their own political ground.
PAS leaders had even thought of actualizing the unthinkable – an unity government with arch enemy Umno.
They forgot that PAS gained at Umno’s expense because the people wanted it that way.
PAS leaders such Abdul Hadi Awang, Nasharuddin and Mustafa Ali had conveniently forgotten that they would not have received a strong public support on their own.
The leaders have also abandoned their ‘PAS for All’ slogan.
Now they seem not keen in picking up non-Malay non-Muslim issues.
Surely Islam did not teach them that speaking against the brutal killings carried out by the police against Indians was forbidden or ‘haram’ for instance!
PAS claims to be for all but they championed segregation among Malaysians by forcing a ban on beer sales in so-called Muslim neighbourhoods in Selangor.
Why should PAS force a ban on beer sales?
Why can’t PAS just allow the market forces of supply and demand to decide the sales of beer anywhere?
Why should PAS ‘for all’ classify Malaysian neighbourhoods as Muslim and non-Muslim areas?
DAP, especially the Penang government under Kapitan Lim Guan Eng, believes that it needed only to consolidate its position as number one Chinese-based party in the country.
DAP leaders, especially Kapitan Lim, are increasingly exposing their true colours that they were uninterested in the fate of non-Chinese, especially in Penang.
Perhaps they believe in the myth that the voting pattern of non-Chinese, especially Indians, will not switch back to BN . . . not now, not so soon.
Perhaps the party believes that PKR and PAS would win over the Malays.
Kapitan Lim’s pro-Chinese capitalist policies are proofs to justify this claim.
The demolition of Kampung Buah Pala, once famously known as the Indian High Chaparral among locals who cherished the state historical value, surely undermined Lim’s credibility as ‘a fair and just leader for all’ among the Indians.
His frequent lies during the village crisis further eroded public confidence in his administration.
The frustration of Indians could well boil over to the ballot box in the next election.
They may not support BN, but may not cast their vote for Pakatan either.
Or perhaps the Indians would gang up again under Hindraf to vote against DAP, not against PKR and PAS.
One should realise that when Hindraf criticised Kapitan Lim’s mishandling of Kampung Buah Pala crisis, the human rights leaders and activists refrained from criticising PKR or PAS.
They condemned only Kapitan Lim for cheating the Indians.
Kapitan Lim’s lack of transparency in several land conversion issues did not augur well for his CAT principles based on competency, accountability and transparent.
This has caused discontentment among civil rights groups.
He claims to be travelling in economy class.
But truth is he has become the most travelled Chief Minister of Penang in such a short period.
Many are whispering that the PAP-ruled Singapore has become Kapitan Lim’s second home now.
Of course DAP leaders and cyber troopers would deny all these allegations.
They would enchant that DAP have quality Indians leaders, such as DCM 2 Ramasamy, Sivanesan, Kulasegaran, Karpal Singh and even Sanisvara Rayer.
But Indians have realized that these so-called Indian leaders were actually mandores used by DAP to smoother and tame the community.
Many Pakatan elected representatives were heard talking that Kapitan Lim had destroyed the High Chaparral merely for personal gain.
Lim is said to have told certain Pakatan MPs, who went to see him to seek solution for the village crisis, that he was least bothered about Pakatan losing Indian votes.
He has stressed that he was only keen to safeguard his party’s Chinese vote bank.
He has also told these MPs that it was Anwar’s problem, not his, for any loss of Indian votes.
Although Bagan Pinang by-election was a wake-up call, Kapitan Lim and his Indian mandores are still living in a denial world that Kampung Buah Pala had no impact on Indian voters in the constituency.
However, Anwar seems has realised this.
A switch of Indian votes to BN or against Pakatan in the next election would be detrimental to his chances to become the Prime Minister.
This was a major reason behind Anwar dispatching Zaid Ibrahim to hold talks with Hindraf ultimate leader Waythamoorthy in Singapore for a possible pact.
Anwar knows that a strong Pakatan political block would not have emerged today if not for to aggressive activism and sacrifices made by Hindraf activists.
DAP had conveniently forgotten this but Anwar didn’t.
This is the difference between political opportunists and true leader.
He wants to embrace all his friends in his rough and tough journey to Putrajaya.
Unlike Kapitan Lim, Anwar knows he could not lay his hands on the coveted Holy Grail - for the premiership, without the support of all.
He also knows that he got to put his own house in order and take control of Pakatan political direction.
Although he espouses democracy, at times he should exercise some form of dictatorship within PKR and Pakatan to maintain peace, discipline and order.
He is duty bound to execute order over chaos.
The voters are looking up to him to provide a viable, dynamic and cohesive united political front as the alternate to the ailing and overstaying BN.
Anwar needs to thwart the rapidly deteriorating public confidence in PKR and Pakatan.
He must swiftly address the downslide in Indian and Malay support to the coalition and his leadership.
He must first get rid of many underperforming current PKR elected representatives and replace them with credible candidates the next round.
Kulim, Batu Uban, Kebun Bunga and Batu Maung are among constituencies in the northern region that needed better candidates.
Even DAP and PAS need major surgery on their respective candidature lists.
The common agenda being worked by Zaid now and the imminent registration of Pakatan as an official entity were positive steps.
Anwar must act aggressively from now to put PKR and Pakatan in order because BN is clearly after his head with a sodomy charge.
He must make sure that there would be no crisis in public confidence over Pakatan leadership if the BN-directed ‘Saiful case’ puts him behind bars again.
Anwar’s ultimatum to party top brass, grassroots leaders and elected representatives is just the beginning.
He seems determined to wipe out all these white ants in his party and Pakatan to reconsolidate his position and popularity, and regain public support to capture his Holy Grail.
For the sake of Malaysians, Anwar must do it.
He must make it.
Ends
PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘buck up or pack out’ ultimatum to party top brass and elected representatives would be seen as a warning for members to toe the party line.
For some others, such ultimatum from the party icon would be a resonation of a desperate man trying to pull together his errant comrades.
But all could and should agree that it was a timely warning from the parliamentary opposition leader.
It is time for him to take control of not only PKR but also the warring and unflattering opposition block – the Pakatan Rakyat.
When Pakatan won 82 parliamentary seats, captured four new state governments and retained the north-eastern state of Kelantan in the last general election, many Pakatan leaders thought, and are claiming until today, that the swing was for them.
Little did they realise that Pakatan won by default.
It was Barisan Nasional, which lost.
In March 2008 polls, people had no other alternative to turn to other than Pakatan.
So many Pakatan elected representatives cannot realise, and failed to acknowledge, that they were haughtily sitting in a political comfort zone today because the people were fed up and wanted to teach BN, especially Umno.
These Pakatan representatives have refused to accept reality hence their ego is growing by the day.
Thus, after nearly 20 months since the 12th general election, glaring weaknesses and arrogance have emerged among the Pakatan partners – PKR, DAP and PAS.
PAS leaders are living in a dreamland fantasizing that non-Muslims voted for the party because they have accepted the party Islamic credentials and principles.
Hallucination hd caught them that they have got support across all communities on their own political ground.
PAS leaders had even thought of actualizing the unthinkable – an unity government with arch enemy Umno.
They forgot that PAS gained at Umno’s expense because the people wanted it that way.
PAS leaders such Abdul Hadi Awang, Nasharuddin and Mustafa Ali had conveniently forgotten that they would not have received a strong public support on their own.
The leaders have also abandoned their ‘PAS for All’ slogan.
Now they seem not keen in picking up non-Malay non-Muslim issues.
Surely Islam did not teach them that speaking against the brutal killings carried out by the police against Indians was forbidden or ‘haram’ for instance!
PAS claims to be for all but they championed segregation among Malaysians by forcing a ban on beer sales in so-called Muslim neighbourhoods in Selangor.
Why should PAS force a ban on beer sales?
Why can’t PAS just allow the market forces of supply and demand to decide the sales of beer anywhere?
Why should PAS ‘for all’ classify Malaysian neighbourhoods as Muslim and non-Muslim areas?
DAP, especially the Penang government under Kapitan Lim Guan Eng, believes that it needed only to consolidate its position as number one Chinese-based party in the country.
DAP leaders, especially Kapitan Lim, are increasingly exposing their true colours that they were uninterested in the fate of non-Chinese, especially in Penang.
Perhaps they believe in the myth that the voting pattern of non-Chinese, especially Indians, will not switch back to BN . . . not now, not so soon.
Perhaps the party believes that PKR and PAS would win over the Malays.
Kapitan Lim’s pro-Chinese capitalist policies are proofs to justify this claim.
The demolition of Kampung Buah Pala, once famously known as the Indian High Chaparral among locals who cherished the state historical value, surely undermined Lim’s credibility as ‘a fair and just leader for all’ among the Indians.
His frequent lies during the village crisis further eroded public confidence in his administration.
The frustration of Indians could well boil over to the ballot box in the next election.
They may not support BN, but may not cast their vote for Pakatan either.
Or perhaps the Indians would gang up again under Hindraf to vote against DAP, not against PKR and PAS.
One should realise that when Hindraf criticised Kapitan Lim’s mishandling of Kampung Buah Pala crisis, the human rights leaders and activists refrained from criticising PKR or PAS.
They condemned only Kapitan Lim for cheating the Indians.
Kapitan Lim’s lack of transparency in several land conversion issues did not augur well for his CAT principles based on competency, accountability and transparent.
This has caused discontentment among civil rights groups.
He claims to be travelling in economy class.
But truth is he has become the most travelled Chief Minister of Penang in such a short period.
Many are whispering that the PAP-ruled Singapore has become Kapitan Lim’s second home now.
Of course DAP leaders and cyber troopers would deny all these allegations.
They would enchant that DAP have quality Indians leaders, such as DCM 2 Ramasamy, Sivanesan, Kulasegaran, Karpal Singh and even Sanisvara Rayer.
But Indians have realized that these so-called Indian leaders were actually mandores used by DAP to smoother and tame the community.
Many Pakatan elected representatives were heard talking that Kapitan Lim had destroyed the High Chaparral merely for personal gain.
Lim is said to have told certain Pakatan MPs, who went to see him to seek solution for the village crisis, that he was least bothered about Pakatan losing Indian votes.
He has stressed that he was only keen to safeguard his party’s Chinese vote bank.
He has also told these MPs that it was Anwar’s problem, not his, for any loss of Indian votes.
Although Bagan Pinang by-election was a wake-up call, Kapitan Lim and his Indian mandores are still living in a denial world that Kampung Buah Pala had no impact on Indian voters in the constituency.
However, Anwar seems has realised this.
A switch of Indian votes to BN or against Pakatan in the next election would be detrimental to his chances to become the Prime Minister.
This was a major reason behind Anwar dispatching Zaid Ibrahim to hold talks with Hindraf ultimate leader Waythamoorthy in Singapore for a possible pact.
Anwar knows that a strong Pakatan political block would not have emerged today if not for to aggressive activism and sacrifices made by Hindraf activists.
DAP had conveniently forgotten this but Anwar didn’t.
This is the difference between political opportunists and true leader.
He wants to embrace all his friends in his rough and tough journey to Putrajaya.
Unlike Kapitan Lim, Anwar knows he could not lay his hands on the coveted Holy Grail - for the premiership, without the support of all.
He also knows that he got to put his own house in order and take control of Pakatan political direction.
Although he espouses democracy, at times he should exercise some form of dictatorship within PKR and Pakatan to maintain peace, discipline and order.
He is duty bound to execute order over chaos.
The voters are looking up to him to provide a viable, dynamic and cohesive united political front as the alternate to the ailing and overstaying BN.
Anwar needs to thwart the rapidly deteriorating public confidence in PKR and Pakatan.
He must swiftly address the downslide in Indian and Malay support to the coalition and his leadership.
He must first get rid of many underperforming current PKR elected representatives and replace them with credible candidates the next round.
Kulim, Batu Uban, Kebun Bunga and Batu Maung are among constituencies in the northern region that needed better candidates.
Even DAP and PAS need major surgery on their respective candidature lists.
The common agenda being worked by Zaid now and the imminent registration of Pakatan as an official entity were positive steps.
Anwar must act aggressively from now to put PKR and Pakatan in order because BN is clearly after his head with a sodomy charge.
He must make sure that there would be no crisis in public confidence over Pakatan leadership if the BN-directed ‘Saiful case’ puts him behind bars again.
Anwar’s ultimatum to party top brass, grassroots leaders and elected representatives is just the beginning.
He seems determined to wipe out all these white ants in his party and Pakatan to reconsolidate his position and popularity, and regain public support to capture his Holy Grail.
For the sake of Malaysians, Anwar must do it.
He must make it.
Ends
Megat Jittendran wishes to share some thoughts about how the Indian Reps of DAP,SN Rayer, Ramasamy, Thansekaran and Karpal Singh in cahoots with Lim
Dear Friends,
Anybody who stood under the Pakatan Rakyat flagship could have won in Penang urban areas in 2008 general election.
The political awakening for a change was so strong among Penang’s half-million voters that the electoral wave swept aside 29 Barisan Nasional candidates in 40 state constituencies.Penangites overwhelmingly voted for a change to get rid of BN once for all from their island state.
But in their rush to effect the change, they also overlooked many shortcomings of PR candidates.Then they could not be bothered about PR candidates’ credentials so long they had the satisfaction of voting out BN representatives.However, after a 18-month rule, the DAP-dominated PR government under Chief Minister Kapitan Lim Guan Eng has exposed its incompetency, non-accountability and non-transparency.
The Penang government has proven to be indecisive and flappable at its best.
Kapitan Lim along with his mandores, arrogantly, is more interested in politicking that being a political leader with the people’s interests in his heart. So they have created a stable of cybertroopers whose job is to malign, to spread falsehoods and to deceive the very people who supported them in getting elected.The cyber troopers include well paid staff to smash any criticisms levelled at Kapitan Lim and his mandores.
These teams of cyber troopers are well oiled and marshalled by elected representatives and leading DAP playmakers.
These cyber troopers target and hate certain reporters and individual civil group leaders and had been carrying out smearing character assassination campaigns at all costs to undermine their credibility.
Even fathers of these cyber troopers are learnt to be very active in writing and posting poison pen letters on targeted people.
One such father-son combination had done so much damage on individuals, journalists, social activists and lately on Kampung Buah Pala residents through their venomous anti-social campaign.It’s absolutely shameful and disgraceful for an elected representative to be involved in such low class underhand tactics to undermine his opponents.Indian elected representatives in Penang have performed remarkably well so far in fronting against the Indians for the Chinese chauvinist party.
During his electoral campaign last year, these DAP Indian mandores were yelling and barking out Hindraf mantra - ‘Makkal Sakti’ ‘Makkal Sakti’, everywhere. Some of them even promised to donate their monthly assembly income, if they were elected as state representatives, to the families of the Hindraf 5, who were detained then under the draconian Internal Security Act.But, until today they have not donated a single sen to any of them. Instead, since been elected, they were more actively carrying out a smearing campaign to tarnish Hindraf, mostly via anonymous SMSes and cyber sniping.
These mandores promised to save Kampung Buah Pala as an Indian heritage village for Penangites.
But the village now remains dust and sand.These mandores vowed to stop the village demolition over their dead bodies.
One of them had even said publicly that he would stand before the demolition machines to stop the village destruction. But during the demolition exercise, none of them could be sighted in the village.
Sources said they did not even entertain phone calls during the demolition, leaving the residents hopelessly, helplessly and haplessly at the mercy of the rampaging developer’s demolition team.
The village is now dead and buried, but we could not find the bodies of these mandores in its debris and rubbles.
One wonders whether the mandores remember their promises or not.Of course when Kapitan Lim himself could not keep his words, one shall not bet on his mandores to fulfill their vows.
During the last general election campaign, a mandore promised to renovate and refurbish two blocks of abandoned low-cost flats in Taman Tun Sardon.Now after being elected, the mandore is yet to bring up the issue at any forum. People in his own area are deprived of houses and as an elected representative he could not be bothered to speak for them.Since, after winning the election, he is yet to visit the area, let alone paying a courtesy call on the abandoned flats.
However, these mandores are not that bad performers in other fronts though.They have proven that they were swift in damaging others’ credibility. Someone said that they have now adopted cyber sniping as their favourite hobby.One shall also admire these mandores’ guts of threatening social activists, individuals, reporters, media organisations, villagers with civil suits whenever the going gets tough.
The DAP Indian mandores collected millions from the Malaysian public for the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka.The fund’s accounts were never revealed and no one knows what happened to the money.They now owe a public explanation on the Sri Lanka Tamil fund.
One mandore used his service centre logo to organise a fund-raising dinner immediately after being elected in March 2008.Firstly the dinner was unlawful because using one’s assembly service centre as the organiser was against the government legal mechanism.Government shall not indulge in public donation.The mandore is yet to reveal, until today, the accounts of the dinner proceeds.
Kapitan Lim and his Indian mandores have also successfully manipulated the media and residents in the Kampung Buah Pala fiasco.
They portrayed themselves as KBP champions when in truth, they cheated the people and flopped big time.
The mandores brought in a Dato JK to KBP pretending to help the villagers to secure a better compensation deal from the government.
But, coincidently since the Dato’s arrival, the villagers split party, agreed to the shoddy compensation deal and paved way for the demolition.
Now the Dato’ is reportedly getting a lucrative contract to build monorail infrastructure project in Batu Kawan constituency.Batu Kawan parliamentarian is the Penang DAP chief Indian mandore.
PR has six Indians elected representative in Penang, but none of them could stop KBP demolition.Two of the mandores were elected representatives for KBP residents. Having more Indian representatives in PR clearly proved to be useless for the Indians.
It’s more of a curse than a blessing.
In next election, one cannot anticipate Penangites to be in the same mood for change.
PR cannot take things for granted.It should get rid of its unreliable non-performing representatives.
The mandores should be axed from candidacy.
Otherwise the PR government would just be a one-term wonder.
By Megat Jittendran
Anybody who stood under the Pakatan Rakyat flagship could have won in Penang urban areas in 2008 general election.
The political awakening for a change was so strong among Penang’s half-million voters that the electoral wave swept aside 29 Barisan Nasional candidates in 40 state constituencies.Penangites overwhelmingly voted for a change to get rid of BN once for all from their island state.
But in their rush to effect the change, they also overlooked many shortcomings of PR candidates.Then they could not be bothered about PR candidates’ credentials so long they had the satisfaction of voting out BN representatives.However, after a 18-month rule, the DAP-dominated PR government under Chief Minister Kapitan Lim Guan Eng has exposed its incompetency, non-accountability and non-transparency.
The Penang government has proven to be indecisive and flappable at its best.
Kapitan Lim along with his mandores, arrogantly, is more interested in politicking that being a political leader with the people’s interests in his heart. So they have created a stable of cybertroopers whose job is to malign, to spread falsehoods and to deceive the very people who supported them in getting elected.The cyber troopers include well paid staff to smash any criticisms levelled at Kapitan Lim and his mandores.
These teams of cyber troopers are well oiled and marshalled by elected representatives and leading DAP playmakers.
These cyber troopers target and hate certain reporters and individual civil group leaders and had been carrying out smearing character assassination campaigns at all costs to undermine their credibility.
Even fathers of these cyber troopers are learnt to be very active in writing and posting poison pen letters on targeted people.
One such father-son combination had done so much damage on individuals, journalists, social activists and lately on Kampung Buah Pala residents through their venomous anti-social campaign.It’s absolutely shameful and disgraceful for an elected representative to be involved in such low class underhand tactics to undermine his opponents.Indian elected representatives in Penang have performed remarkably well so far in fronting against the Indians for the Chinese chauvinist party.
During his electoral campaign last year, these DAP Indian mandores were yelling and barking out Hindraf mantra - ‘Makkal Sakti’ ‘Makkal Sakti’, everywhere. Some of them even promised to donate their monthly assembly income, if they were elected as state representatives, to the families of the Hindraf 5, who were detained then under the draconian Internal Security Act.But, until today they have not donated a single sen to any of them. Instead, since been elected, they were more actively carrying out a smearing campaign to tarnish Hindraf, mostly via anonymous SMSes and cyber sniping.
These mandores promised to save Kampung Buah Pala as an Indian heritage village for Penangites.
But the village now remains dust and sand.These mandores vowed to stop the village demolition over their dead bodies.
One of them had even said publicly that he would stand before the demolition machines to stop the village destruction. But during the demolition exercise, none of them could be sighted in the village.
Sources said they did not even entertain phone calls during the demolition, leaving the residents hopelessly, helplessly and haplessly at the mercy of the rampaging developer’s demolition team.
The village is now dead and buried, but we could not find the bodies of these mandores in its debris and rubbles.
One wonders whether the mandores remember their promises or not.Of course when Kapitan Lim himself could not keep his words, one shall not bet on his mandores to fulfill their vows.
During the last general election campaign, a mandore promised to renovate and refurbish two blocks of abandoned low-cost flats in Taman Tun Sardon.Now after being elected, the mandore is yet to bring up the issue at any forum. People in his own area are deprived of houses and as an elected representative he could not be bothered to speak for them.Since, after winning the election, he is yet to visit the area, let alone paying a courtesy call on the abandoned flats.
However, these mandores are not that bad performers in other fronts though.They have proven that they were swift in damaging others’ credibility. Someone said that they have now adopted cyber sniping as their favourite hobby.One shall also admire these mandores’ guts of threatening social activists, individuals, reporters, media organisations, villagers with civil suits whenever the going gets tough.
The DAP Indian mandores collected millions from the Malaysian public for the Tamil cause in Sri Lanka.The fund’s accounts were never revealed and no one knows what happened to the money.They now owe a public explanation on the Sri Lanka Tamil fund.
One mandore used his service centre logo to organise a fund-raising dinner immediately after being elected in March 2008.Firstly the dinner was unlawful because using one’s assembly service centre as the organiser was against the government legal mechanism.Government shall not indulge in public donation.The mandore is yet to reveal, until today, the accounts of the dinner proceeds.
Kapitan Lim and his Indian mandores have also successfully manipulated the media and residents in the Kampung Buah Pala fiasco.
They portrayed themselves as KBP champions when in truth, they cheated the people and flopped big time.
The mandores brought in a Dato JK to KBP pretending to help the villagers to secure a better compensation deal from the government.
But, coincidently since the Dato’s arrival, the villagers split party, agreed to the shoddy compensation deal and paved way for the demolition.
Now the Dato’ is reportedly getting a lucrative contract to build monorail infrastructure project in Batu Kawan constituency.Batu Kawan parliamentarian is the Penang DAP chief Indian mandore.
PR has six Indians elected representative in Penang, but none of them could stop KBP demolition.Two of the mandores were elected representatives for KBP residents. Having more Indian representatives in PR clearly proved to be useless for the Indians.
It’s more of a curse than a blessing.
In next election, one cannot anticipate Penangites to be in the same mood for change.
PR cannot take things for granted.It should get rid of its unreliable non-performing representatives.
The mandores should be axed from candidacy.
Otherwise the PR government would just be a one-term wonder.
By Megat Jittendran
Kg.Buah Pala:- Kapitan Lim Guan Eng’s latest Atrocities- Now demolishing cowshed not in developer’s land
Athi Shankar- (Malaysiakini)
One of the last two remaining cowsheds at Kampung Buah Pala was demolished today by developer Nusmetro Venture (P) Sdn Bhd’s demolition squad. The shed was built to house cows and other livestock.
The other cowshed, a few metres away, was spared by the demolition team.
According to the affected cowherd KT Sivananthan, 39, the demolition started at 12.15 pm and his cowshed was completely flattened by 4pm. Around 10 members of the police force were present during the demolition.
Sivananthan claimed that the demolition was illegal because his cowshed was sitting on state land.
He also said he did not receive any notice of eviction from any government authorities, especially the local Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP).
When contacted, the developer’s executive director Thomas Chan claimed that the cattle ranch land belonged to the Kampung Buah Pala landowner - the Penang civil servants’ cooperative society (Koperasi Pegawai Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang Bhd).
“If the villagers have a dispute, they can always refer to the courts,” Chan said over a telephone conversation.
No answers from cooperative
The cooperative society’s chairperson, Abdul Razak Mansor, when contacted told reporters to contact Deputy Chief Minister P Ramasamy for clarification over the land status.
“I don’t know . . . I don’t know. Contact Ramasamy,” he said over the telephone.
He repeated the answer when asked whether he was aware that the developer was demolishing the cowshed allegedly without any authorisation.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (right) and Ramasamy were both unavailable for comment as they are on an official trip to the Middle East.
Senior executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow, who is in charge of local government affairs, could not be reached for comment. It is learnt that he is at the current parliamentary sitting.
Similarly, Deputy Chief Minister Mansor Othman and MPPP president Tan Cheng Chui did not pick up calls from reporters at the site despite several attempts.
Kampung Buah Pala was once known as ‘Tamil High Chaparral’ due to its population of cowherds, cattle, goats, other livestock, its unique hilly environment and Indian cultural features and festivities.
The 200-year-old Indian traditional village was demolished in September this year to pave way for a lucrative condominium project named ‘The Oasis’, undertaken by the cooperative society and Nusmetro Venture.
Sivananthan said a Nusmetro executive known as Gary Ho had told him last week to dismantle one of the cowsheds because the state authorities had been given permission. Nusmetro Venture is demolishing the shed to make way for an access road for the Oasis project.
He said, however, Ho failed to produce any documents such as a notice of eviction or authorisation letter from any authorities to prove his claim.
Police report lodged
Sivananthan (left) has lodged a police report at 2.40 pm in Jelutong police station over the demolition.
He is now unsure as to where to keep his livestock.
Until the late 1970s, each household in Kampung Buah Pala was rearing livestock on their premises.
However, the number of cowherds dwindled to only four households belonging to the same Muthu Thevar family descendants - 81-year-old Karuppiah Thevar’s sons Murugan, 46, Sivananthan and Kalimuthan, 37, and the late Ramoo Thevar’s son R Supramaniam, 59.
They were collectively rearing about 300 cows on two ranches.
Kampung Buah Pala was once the major supplier of fresh cow’s milk on the island, including the Penang Hospital.
Now the Thevar family’s livestock supplies some 500 litres of fresh cow and goat milk daily across the state.
Karuppiah (right), who was at the site, claimed that at least 15 goats have died since the village demolition due to lack of shelter from sun and rain.
He said that he was saddened by the demolition.
“I never thought our family ranch would one day be gone in this manner,” he told reporters.
MIC hamper for Indian poor living in a hut.
Muniandy an accident victim is unable to work anymore and can only afford to live in a hut/shack (Tamil Nesan 20/10/2009 at page 7). He has a wife and children to feed. UMNO’s Perak MIC mandore does a fine job by giving him a mere hamper, gets to play to the tamil newspaper gallery plays “paper politics”, scores political points and then this poor Muniandy is forgotten and left out in the cold. This has been the practice for over the last 52 years by UMNO’s mandore MIC and now ably continued by the PKR and DAP Indian DCM II, EXCO, MP and ADUN mandores.
Why can’t Muniandy be given the 10 acres land in the Agropolitan land ownership Scheme in Trolak, Perak or in Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama etc. At least Muniandy with the help of his wife and children could tend to the rubber or oil palm plantation, rear the Agricultre and Agro based Ministry’s high yielding cows goats, chicken, ducks and grow vegetables which would instantly take them out of poverty, out of the state “peanuts” Welfare system of a mere RM 200.00 per month or so and eventually out of their daily mysery. After 25 years they get to become the legal owners of their 10 acres of land. Their children would then be able to get proper education and rise above the poverty level.
But under the 52 year old UMNO regime, the Indian are excluded from these land schemes and also from the national mainstream development of Malaysia. But then UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak calls this One Malaysia but practices two systems!
P. Uthayakumar.
www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com
A Malaysian Indian man Dhopai of Mentakab, Pahang lost both his legs.
A Malaysian Indian man Dhopai of Mentakab, Pahang lost both his legs. He gets no help from UMNO’s 2009 or 2010 national budget which had allocated RM 174 Million for 2010 for senior citizens and a further RM 48 Million including for providing welfare assistance and house rental payments.
But these poor and working class Indians have been excluded from this UMNO led Malay-sian government welfare benefits. Otherwise they wouldn’t try and beg for financial help from the already existing poor and working class Indians as seen in Makkal Osai 9/112009 at page 2.
In almost all these cases the specially trained UMNO’s Biro Tatanegara counter staff either reject their applications outright right at the counter, give them a run around or keep them waiting for years and years until they give up or die.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of the pain and suffering of the Malaysian Indians. All these are only possible under UMNO Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malaysia but who practices two systems.
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