MIC leader reveals Hulu S'gor haggling - Malaysiakini

In an attempt to quash rumours regarding the future of the MIC presidency, S Vel Paari has revealed that party president S Samy Vellu was willing to quit in support of deputy president G Palanivel's candidacy for the recent Hulu Selangor by-election.

The party president's son gave the inside story on the meeting between Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his father in the prelude to the Hulu Selangor nomination day.

"I'm revealing this because there are unscrupulous dailies telling lies to boost sales by creating a feud between the president and his deputy, Palanivel.

"They have been printing baseless stories claiming that Samy is out to kill him politically," said Vel (right).

He highlighted Tamil daily Makkal Osai as one of the culprits who has been trumpeting the purported feud in order to force Samy to step down so that his former deputy S Subramaniam could claim the party throne.

Speaking at his office, Vel said his father met Muhyiddin the day before nomination to finalise the Hulu Selangor candidate.

'Muhyiddin wants Samy to stay'

Vel claims Samy was so persistent about his choice of Palanivel that he told the deputy prime minister, "If I am seen as a stumbling block to Palanivel's candidacy, I am willing to resign with immediate effect. He can immediately take over as acting president and the seat can be given to him."

At that point, Vel quoted Muhyiddin as saying, "We do not want you to step down as president yet."

Samy (left), says Vel, then met with his top men at his home.

Present were Palanivel, party vice presidents S Subramaniam, M Saravanan and SK Devamany, treasurer-general Jaspal Singh, Perak advisor on Indian affairs S Veerasingam and party secretary general S Murugesan.

After a long discussion, Samy decided that his deputy should be appointed a senator with a deputy minister post.

At the meeting they also decided not to back out of Hulu Selangor.

Vel put up P Kamalanathan's name for consideration on the grounds that Palanivel's candidacy had received extensive criticism.

The deputy himself then concurred, saying he too would have to reconsider whether he wants to run for the by-election.

Zaid to seek an audience with king

By Stephanie Sta Maria
PETALING JAYA: Zaid Ibrahim is prepared to seek an audience with the king to clarify the contents of his recent blog posting which has sparked outrage among certain quarters.
Earlier this week, Zaid stated that the Sultan of Selangor's order for mosques to not be used as political venues was merely a personal opinion that carried no legal weight.
This resulted in Perkasa filing a police report against him and demanding that he apologise to the sultan. Perkasa and a group of NGOs also burned an effigy of Zaid outside the PKR office in protest.
In a press conference held at his Tropicana residence this morning, Zaid emphasised that he had no intention of ridiculing or belittling the sultan.
“But this is an issue of public interest and as a politician, it is my duty to give my views,” he explained. “So I will be writing a letter to the palace to seek an audience with the king if that would help clarify this matter.”
According to the Pakatan Rakyat coordinator, he had received a letter from the Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) earlier this week which expressed disappointment over his apparent ignorance of state laws.
The letter also informed him that under Section 12 of the Selangor Enactment, the sultan has the power to issue directives and orders that can be enforced with immediate effect.
“Malay rulers as heads of Islam do not have the authority to issue orders, directives and decrees without first going through the state assembly and gazetting those decrees,” Zaid said. “We are a constitutional monarchy and rulers must abide by the rules of the constitution at both the state and federal level. So I believe that Section 12 is not valid.”
“Orders and decrees must be gazetted so that people understand their scope and exactly what is prohibited. It doesn't make sense that laws debated in Parliament and the state assembly have to be gazetted but those issued by rulers are excused. The law is applicable to them as well because it has an impact on the public.”
He added that in a democracy, questioning legal interpretations should be encouraged instead of ridiculed.
“In our system of governance, we select members of parliament and state assemblymen to enact laws. If we allow anyone else to do the same, then there is no democracy in this country because the people will not have a say.”
'I will not apologise'
Zaid also said that he would not be apologising for expressing his personal opinion, especially since the demand for an apology came from Perkasa and not the king.
“Perkasa is a strange creature but this is what you get from an organisation sponsored by Dr Mahathir (Mohamad). And I will not entertain Perkasa because it is a fascist organisation that doesn't deserve to be entertained.”
He slammed the burning of his effigy and the “irresponsible attacks” by politicians on “someone who is giving his legal opinion”, stressing that such acts cannot be condoned.
“These are gangster politics,” he said. “These are tactics that were once used by Hitler and Mussolini and are now outdated except in Umno and Perkasa.”

How queen gets last word on UK election

London, England (CNN) -- After an election that left no party with a clear majority, the final decision over who becomes Britain's next prime minister could lie in the hands of one woman who never votes: The queen.

As a head of state, Queen Elizabeth has numerous traditional roles when it comes to elections and government, yet these are usually no more than ceremonial.

However, as with Thursday's vote that saw the opposition Conservatives secure more seats than Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party but not enough to form a working government, the queen's position becomes more complicated.

Full story: Political rivals jockey for power

The queen is the embodiment of Britain's constitutional monarchy and everything is done in her name. No laws can be passed nor parliaments opened or dissolved without her approval.

Such strict protocols bind all stages of the process to install a new prime minister -- often with a pomp and grandeur far removed from the boisterous world of British politics.

The 2006 film "The Queen" offered insight into this when Helen Mirren, playing the monarch, invites a nervous and kneeling Tony Blair to become prime minister after his 1997 landslide victory.

In her six decade reign, Queen Elizabeth has dealt with 11 prime ministers, including Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, who reputedly had a tense relationship with the monarch during the weekly audiences that are also a traditional necessity.

Typically, although it is her role to anoint prime ministers, the queen does not get involved in the political process, remaining above the fray.

After an election, the queen will wait to see if the current prime minister gets a majority or assembles a coalition before inviting them to form a government. Only if they admit defeat and resign can she start to look elsewhere.

As negotiations to form a coalition progress, the queen will be kept informed from a distance, avoiding any direct involvement in the decision.

A high level group including her private secretary and the Cabinet secretary will brief her, but she will not be drawn into controversy.

But, in the unlikely event that no decision can be reached among the parties over who should become prime minister the queen does have powers to intervene.

She can, in theory, call a fresh election or stop a new election being called if she thinks there is another solution.

The queen has faced election hiccups before. The last was in 1974 when after days of party negotiations, she invited Labour to form a minority government. That administration lasted less than a year before Britain was back at the polls.

It usually falls to royal advisers to ensure the rules work and that the queen is kept well away from the political wheeling and dealing.

Dr M 'becoming 'stumbling block No 1'

By Stephanie Sta Maria

KUALA LUMPUR: Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come under fire for claiming that Umno has failed to defend the Malays from the attacks by “extremist” Chinese.


Centre for Policy Initiatives (CPI) director Lim Teck Ghee accused the 84-year-old politician of making a calculated attempt to instil a sense of insecurity amongst ordinary Malays.


“This is a mischievous statement aimed at rallying Malays to the Perkasa and Mahathir cause,” he told FMT.

Perkasa is a right-wing Malay pressure group headed by independent MP Ibrahim Ali, whose aim is to defend the special privileges of the Malays. Critics, however, have panned it as a racist set-up.

Mahathir had officiated at Perkasa's inaugural annual general meeting recently.

Yesterday, the former premier claimed that Malays were forming NGOs like Perkasa because Umno is unable to protect them from the attacks by the Chinese.

He also claimed that Umno and Barisan Nasional are in a dilemma, where they risk losing Malay support with their measures to entice the Chinese, “who have clearly rejected BN”.

'Grandmaster of racial baiting'

Meanwhile, Lim described Mahathir, who was prime minister for 22 years, as the “grandmaster of the game of racial baiting”.

“We need to respond by giving him a large yawn and advise him not to besmirch his name further,” he said.

The CPI director also pointed out that the electorate's rejection of BN has many causes, and is not solely related to the satisfaction of Chinese demands.

“It is more a result of the numerous scandals and instances of abuse of power by the BN government, many dating from the period of autocratic rule by Mahathir,” he said.

Lim added that it is not only the Chinese but also large segments of the Malay and other Malaysian voters who have turned away from BN's “corrupt and arbitrary” governance.

“Once again, Mahathir is incapable of removing the wooden beam in his own eyes and is hell-bent on fault-finding to suit his own opportunistic ends.

“He is trying to be the number 1 stumbling block by coming out with statements such as these,” he added.

Key rivals take campaign to cyberspace

By FMT Team
SIBU: In the war to woo and convince Sibu’s “under-40s” community to back them, lead rivals in the Sibu parliamentary by-election – DAP’s Wong Ho Leng and Barisan Nasional’s Robert Lau Hui Yew – have taken their campaign into cyberspace.
Ho’s camp is kick-starting his campaign on Youtube today while Lau launched his website yesterday.
DAP Bandar Sibu by-election director, Chong Chieng Jen, said the videos would be uploaded today after Wong’s candidacy becomes official.
Speaking at a press conference, Chong said the two five-minute videos was part of the party’s strategy to reach out to the young voters.
He said the videos were in three languages – Mandarin, English and Bahasa Malaysia.
Also present with him yesterday were two MPs from the Peninsula – Teo Nie Ching (Serdang) and Tony Pua (PJ Utara).
Lau's Facebook
Lau is using his website to “bring people closer to him” and to keep them informed of his activities.
“In the website, I have a space for my voters so that they can leave messages or give me feedback on my campaign,” he said.
He added that the language was mainly in Chinese to win over the Chinese voters who made up two-thirds of the total voters in Sibu.
According to the Election Commission’s latest electoral list, 67% of the voters in the Sibu constituency are Chinese, 10.7% Malay/Melanaus and 22% Sarawak Bumiputeras.
‘The main language in the website is Chinese, but there are also some entries in Malay and English,” Las said, adding that the website carries his daily blog, news collection and local issues.
Lau, who is five-term Sibu municipal councillor, has also been active on the social network service Facebook since early last month.
“The response has been amazing. They (fans) have so many questions and I am answering every one in my Facebook,” he said.
Lau’s website is www.robertlauhuiyew.com. He can also be reached via Facebook at Robert Hui Yew Lau and robertlauhuiyew@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Origins of Monarchs and Kings

By John Doe

What exactly is a King? and what exactly is a Sultan or even a Raja? We all know that the concept of the Sultan (Tipu) and (Maha) Raja is of Indian Origin. Raja, in Hindi means “Sand”, “Silvery”, “Emotion”, “King”, and “Affection”. In Sindhi, it means “Hope”.


Religious and social relations between Muslims and Hindus have been a topic of academic debate for decades, with opinions ranging from hostility, misunderstanding and contempt, to an ideal of socio-religious harmony. The variety of opinions shows the complexity of responses to data reflecting the coexistence of these dominant socio-religious groups in India.

The early Rajas would build a Palace reminiscent of Mount Meru, just like in Angkor Watt. Go to the nearest kopitiam, and chat with our Hindu Brethren, and listen to what they tell you. Had Parameswara been a Hindu, we have yet to find his Mount Mehru. And if he did indeed build a Mount Meru, it must have been a cheap Mt Meru, coz his would be the only Mt Meru which did not survive. Had he been a Buddhist, then the lack of a "Mount Meru" would be much more acceptable. Aftr all, the Palembang/Jambi area is full of both Hindu, as well as Buddhist archaeological Artifacts. And Kampong Melayu, in Jambi, is extremely full of Buddhist Artifacts. Scores of Professors, and archaeologists are still busy excavating the area, resuming only shortly after the recent earthquake.


Egypt Monarch Origins
At first, Pharaoh was not a title, but the name of the palace. The original Egyptian word - per-aa - was formed from the hieroglyphics for house and column and it meant High House. Eventually it evolved into Great House and became the name of the monarch. Egyptians, called their rulers by many names, the most common being nesu.

Religion and religious ceremony was necessary to hold together the primitive civilisations and cultures that were beginning to form some 7,000 years ago or more. The great fear of the time was death and the blackness that this brought. The promise of life after death for those that believed and followed the ‘true’ teachings was a big incentive to conform.

The country may have been unified under one ruler with one set of laws and a single legal and taxation system but the people would only be unified by a single religion. The various festivals, ceremonies and communal acts of worship were what really brought the people together as a nation.

Akhanathan got into serious trouble when he decided that he would no longer worship the pantheon of Egyptian Gods, and concentrated on the Sun God, Ra. To the citizens of ancient Egypt, the Pharaoh was divine, the living form of the Falcon God, Horus, and the posthumous son of the divine king, Lord of Lords, Son of Light, and God of the afterlife, Osiris. She was the Virgin who gave birth to Horus. If any of you are in Cairo, stop over and have a chat with Zawi Hawass. He can go on and on and on about Egyptology. I personally find this chap very likeable.


China Monarchy Origins
Pre-imperial rulers of the Zhou Dynasty bore the title of the Son of Heaven (天子). The Qin founder did not employ this title, perhaps as it implied submission to a supreme divine authority; but the title was restored under the Han dynasty and employed thereafter for all rulers of China. As the descendant and representative of Heaven on Earth, he had absolute power over all matters, big or small, under Heaven (天下). His mandate to rule was regarded as divine and predestined. In contrast to modern international relationships, the Emperor of China was seen in East Asia not merely as the head of one nation-state among many, but also as the sole and supreme overlord of the entire civilized world.

The emperor's words were considered sacred edicts (聖旨), and his written proclamations "directives from above" (上諭). In theory, the emperor's orders were to be obeyed immediately. He was elevated above all commoners, nobility, and members of the imperial family. Addresses to the emperor were always to be formal and self-deprecatory, even by the closest of family members.

In practice, however, the power of the emperor varied between different emperors and different dynasties. Generally, in the Chinese dynastic cycle, Emperors founding a dynasty usually consolidated the empire through absolute rule, as evidenced in Emperors Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty, Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty, and Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty. These emperors ruled as absolute monarchs throughout their reign, maintaining a centralized grip on the country. During the Song Dynasty, the Emperor's power was significantly overshadowed by the power of the chancellor.

The Emperor's position, unless deposed in a rebellion, is always hereditary usually by agnatic primogeniture. As a result, there are many cases where a child Emperor ascends the throne when his father dies. When this occurs, the Empress Dowager, or the Emperor's mother, is in a position of significant power. In fact, the vast majority of female rulers during the entirety of Chinese Imperial history have come to power through ruling as regents on behalf of their sons; prominent examples include the Empress Lü of the Han Dynasty, as well as Empress Dowager Cixi and Empress Dowager Ci'an of the Qing Dynasty, who for a time ruled jointly as co-regents. If the Empress Dowager is too weak to assume power, court officials usually seize control. The presence of eunuchs in the court is also important in the power structure, as the Emperor usually relied on a few of them as confidants, which gave them access to many court documents. There are cases where eunuchs wielded absolute power, most prominent was the rule of eunuch Wei Zhongxian during the Ming Dynasty. There are also situations wherein other members of the nobility seized power as regents. The actual area ruled by the Emperor of China varied from dynasty to dynasty. In some cases, such as during the Southern Song dynasty, political power in East Asia was effectively split among several governments; nonetheless, the political fiction that there was but one ruler was maintained. All this came to a sudden end when Pu-Yi was dethroned.

British Monarchy Origins
After the barbarian migrations of the fifth and sixth centuries had subdued or displaced the Celtic Britons, the various Anglo-Saxon peoples formed several kingdoms in England. The kingdom of Wessex became the most powerful and eventually conquered and absorbed all the others. The house of Windsor and all previous English dynasties, except for the Danish kings, can trace themselves back to the kings of Wessex.

The current style of British monarchy, that is to say, a constitutional monarchy, dates from 1660, and the restoration of the monarchy. The previous style, absolute monarchy had been going since the conquest. However, the rules of succession have changed as well. Nowadays, the laws are that of primogeniture, that is to say, the eldest son, then the next son etc, then the eldest daughter, etc. However, the successor in pre-Stuart rule was much more at the discretion of the previous monarch. For example, Henry I was succeeded by Stephen, his nephew. However, he had a legitimate daughter, Matilda. She then launched a war against Stephen which engulfed most of his reign. Interestingly, Stephen, despite having two legitimate sons, was succeeded by Henry II, son of Matilda. This illustrates the point that, although the monarch had some choice in their successor, there was another power, or Stephen would have chosen his own son. The Witan, a council of wise men dating back to the height of the Saxon times, had the power to make a king. It was a kind of elected monarchy. They would choose who they thought was the most worthy from a particular family, so there was a limit to the choice. This family claimed descent from the great Celtic hero, Cerdic or Cerdig, who, it was claimed was a descendant of Woden or Odin, the chief of the Saxon deities. This is how kings were made throughout the Saxon period, which is why there were comparatively few weak kings, Ethelred II being one of the few. Incidentally, his nickname 'Unready' comes from the Saxon word 'Unraed', meaning 'Ill-advised', so he may have just been easily influenced rather than unprepared. Sorry for digressing, I just thought it was interesting.

Malaysian Monarch Origins
Migrated here from Indonesia, and/or Pattani in Thailand. Case closed. End of story.

Sibu : Hui Yew, Wong, Narawi Submit Nomination Papers

SIBU, May 8 (Bernama) -- Three candidates -- Barisan Nasional's (BN) Robert Lau Hui Yew, DAP's Wong Ho Leong and an independent, Narawi Harun have submitted their nomination papers for the Sibu parliamentary by-election as of 9.30 am on Saturday.

Hui Yew was the first to hand in his papers at the nomination centre at the Sibu Civic Centre at 9.03am, followed by Wong at 9.04am.

Narawi handed in his nomination papers at 9.13 am.

Nomination closes at 10am.

Thousands of supporters from both sides, including 5,000 from the BN, had gathered at Sibu town since early today, causing traffic congestion on roads leading to the nomination centre.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud headed the BN supporters in a two-km march from the Delta Estate while DAP was led by its Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) by president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail.

Security around the nomination centre was tightened as policemen were in full force to direct traffic and maintain order.

Royal car ambushed by armed men, claims prince

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The car bearing the Sultan of Kelantan and Raja Perempuan was ambushed mere metres from the Royal Palace by armed men, and guns were aimed at the head of its driver.

In shocking claims made in an affidavit filed yesterday, the Sultan’s third son Tengku Temenggong Tengku Muhammad Fakhry Petra said the driver was forcibly dragged out of the vehicle by the men, who were in balaclavas and armed with semi-automatic weapons.

He said in the affidavit filed in support of the habeas corpus application that weapons were also pointed at Raja Perempuan Tengku Anis Tengku Hamid and passengers in other cars in the entourage leaving for the airport at about 7.20pm on Tuesday.

“When the Raja Perempuan refused to leave His Royal Highness in the vehicle alone, some of the armed men attempted to remove her from the car but she refused to budge,” he claimed.

In his version of the events that unfolded just as the Sultan was to leave on a commercial flight for Singapore for follow-up treatment, he said the car was stopped some 30m outside of the palace by vehicles carrying armed policemen from the Special Action Force.

“Some 30 to 40 men in balaclavas, most of whom were armed with semi-automatic guns, then charged towards His Royal Highness’ car,” he said, adding that after the driver was forced out, the royal couple was then driven by one of the armed men to the hospital in Kubang Kerian.

Relating information that he said was provided to him by the Raja Perempuan, Tengku Muhammad Fakhry said his father was “terrified and refused to be driven” by the armed men.

“His Royal Highness did not, at any time, agree to be brought to the Kubang Kerian Hospital.

“He was and is extremely upset with the action by these armed men,” he said in the 15-page affidavit.

He also accused the armed men of pushing the Raja Perempuan out of the hospital elevator when she attempted to follow her husband but that she managed to wriggle herself in eventually after a scuffle.

Tengku Muhammad Fakhry also alleged that his father had told both his mother and policemen present that he did not want to stay in the hospital and wanted to return to the palace but that they then were prevented from leaving.

He also expressed concern over his father’s health, stating that there could be “irreversible damage” if he was not immediately allowed to continue treatment in Singapore.

NY plot worries Pakistani Americans

Investigators in Pakistan and the US are continuing to pursue possible links between Faisal Shahzad, the New York bomb suspect, and fighters in Pakistan.

The Pakistani ambassador to Washington said that no such connection has yet been established.

Pakistanis and Pakistani Americans in Jackson Heights, New York, have been thrown on the defensive by recent events.

Al Jazeera's John Terrett reports from New York, on how the attempted attack is causing concern among the Pakistani community.

Sultan's lawyers file habeas corpus application

Teen shooting: Panel finds 'inconsistencies'

Azhar to privileges committee for May 13 threat

Deputy Home Minister visits Aminulrasyid’s home. But zero such visits to any Indian shot dead by police & murder in police custody case.

Deputy Home Minister visits Aminulrasyid’s home. But zero such visits to any Indian shot dead by police & murder in police custody case.
The Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop rightly visited the home of family of Aminulrasyid who was shot dead by the police about two weeks ago BH 7/5/10 page 8 and SH 7/5/10 page N6).
Two top leaders each from PKR, DAP and PAS showed similar care and attention in the case of Teoh Beng Hock who was killed in the MACC custody.
This would send the right signals to the police that they cannot take the law into their own hands and cannot go on with the police above the law mindset.
But in this UMNOs’ One Malay-sia we regret to note that in Malaysia’s 53 year old history since independence in 1957 no UMNO Deputy Minister has ever visited any Indian family of an Indian victim shot dead by the police or who was killed in police custody. Except for the case of A. Kugan where there was political mileage to be made when some 5,000 Hindraf Makkal Sakthi supporters were at his funeral procession and the media attention, there is no history of any top PKR, DAP or PAS tuans or towkays who had visited any of the aforesaid Indian victims family.
Had this been done the “blood letting” of hundreds if not thousands of those majority Indian victims and their families could have been avoided. But because the victims are merely the Indians, both UMNO and also PKR, DAP and PAS does not care. This level of racism does not happen in any other part of the world except in Malaysia. But when we point out and highlight this racism UMNO brands us as terrorists while even the PKR Supremo accuse us of having a racist agenda.
But then this is UMNOs’ One Malay-sia and PKR, DAP and PAS’ brand of multi-racialism.
P. Uthayakumar

“Dulu susah sekarang lagi susah”. Indian single parent and kids move from poverty to hardcore poverty

“Dulu susah sekarang lagi susah”. Indian single parent and kids move from poverty to hardcore poverty

Earlier single parent Nageswary and her two teenage children were poor and have now become hardcore poor, as she can no longer work.

Nageswary is even unable to pay her monthly rentals and water bill which has now accumulated to RM 3,029.45 (USD 780.00), and has already been given notice to quit by DBKL, and will shortly become homeless and would most likely end up on the streets. Had Nageswary been a Malay Muslim, her backdated and future rentals would be paid up by Baitulmalm, Pusat Urus Zakat, etc. But even the DBKL and the Federal UMNO Welfare Department has refused to help Nageswary out.

As a cleaner in a bank, she had injured both her hands as a result of the side effects of the acidic washing liquid. We presume that UMNO’s Socso as usual had refused to pay her the due invalidity pension which would have kept her out of poverty. Added to all this she now can’t even pay the school fees of two children who are now in secondary school.

The much publicized e-Kasih cards have been denied to Nageswary. Why go far, almost all the Indian poor have never heard of these e-Kasih cards (meant for the Malay Muslim) let alone having beneffitted from it.

The RM 200 she receives from the Welfare Department would not even be enough to pay her medical bills, and this family suffer on a day to day basis.

This is just the tip of the Indian hardcore poor iceberg.

In UMNO’s Malaysia it would make a difference if one was a Malay Muslims poor.

But UMNO would never give this family an opportunity out of poverty like giving them the ten acre land ownership schemes in Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama, Mardi, Agropolitan etc. UMNO would refuse to grand this poor Indian family land in the scores of land schemes in cattle and goat farming, poultry or fresh water, sea water or prawn breeding.

But never mind that Malaysia imports 90% of it’s mutton 75% of it’s beef and 95% of it’s milk. Never mind if Malaysia’s foreign exchange flows out of the country but no way and no chance of farming opportunities for the poor Indians. Denying land to the non malay poor, so that they can live on their own land and eke out a living, has been the policy of Umno these last 53 years.

At best UMNO offers them these RM 200 or so per month peanuts as a temporary measure ,and keep them at the end of a rope, but no long term and permanent solutions like that for the Malay poor. And for these peanuts UMNO would expect the Indians to grateful to them.

But again even the supposedly multi-racial PKR, DAP, and PAS would not champion or speak up aginst this level of UMNO’s discrimination, a level does not happen in any other part of the world, as they fear losing Malay votes.

Today under UMNO’s 53 year old rule, Malaysia has emerged as the world‘s most racist and religious extremist country.

P. Uthayakumar.

Anwar Ibrahim’s Kapar P.K.R. MP mandore does MIC style kosong politics food packets for 160 poor Indians.

Anwar Ibrahim’s Kapar P.K.R. MP mandore does MIC style kosong politics food packets for 160 poor Indians.
“Make full use of the opportunities provided by the P.R. government” screams the sub headlines in Makkal Osai 7/5/2010 at page 8.
This is the very same headlines and sub headlines especially in the three Tamil newspapers that UMNO had been getting their MIC mandores to do vide their kosong politics for 50 long years and now continued by the PKR, DAP and PAS mandores.
This PKR Kapar MP Indian mandore like his MIC mandore predecessor is not empowered by his tuan Anwar Ibrahim and Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid to provide the real opportunities for the Indian poor in Selangor the tip of the iceberg of which is as follows:-
1) Where is the Yayasan Selangor scholarships to the hundreds of deserving Indian students?
2) Where is the MRSM (Tamil) by the Selangor state government for all the 817 Tamil school pupils who had scored 7As’ in UPSR?
3) Where is the 10 acre Felda like land ownership schemes for the Indian poor in Selangor?
4) Where is the estate workers Housing Scheme for the thousands of the Indian poor in Selangor?
5) Why are licences to hundreds of Indian scrap metal dealers and car wash operators in Selangor still being denied?
6) Why are the deserving Indian poor being denied state government loans to do petty trading and also denied the opportunities to run businesses in the low rental Selangor State government and their 73 subsisiaries (state GLC) (NST 15/5/10 at page 24) owned food stalls and other business premises.
7) Why freehold land titles to all 98 tamil schools, all hindu temple all hindu cemetaries and all Indian settlements refused to be issued.
P.R has ruled Selangor for 2 years and has only another two more years to go. How is PKR any different from UMNO especially by the use of the Indian mandores to rule the Indians in Selangor.
After all Selangor is the richest state in Malaysia with a RM 9.1 Billion annual budget for 2010. But not for the benefit of also the Indians though!
If UMNO wins back Selangor in the next general elections, there is no way they are going to grant the aforesaid land title even though it is for public purposes.
Why can’t PKR during their rule in Selangor issue these land titles as soon as possible. Why? “multi-racial” PKR fears losing the Malay votes
Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim won’t but would instead get their Indian MP, Exco, ADUN and lately even their Councillor and Ketua Kampong JKKK mandores. Anwar Ibrahim has got so desperate that he even engages ex MIC rejects and spent forces and mandores to continue to play the UMNO cum MIC style kosong mandore politics.
Where are the own business opportunities and where are the opportunities for youths in skills training this mandore is speaking about?
Pray tell us and give us the list of the hundreds and thousands of deserving skills training opportunities and opportunities to do their own business for the Indians in Selangor. We are not interested in hearing the odd cases or the kosong politics or ayam telor sebiji rioh sekampung mandore politics a la MIC.
Anwar Ibrahim, End Mandorism and stop the wayang kulit politics using your Kapar and the other Indian mandores!
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

PKR, DAP and PAS top leadership has done zero to give permanent titles to Hindu temples and cemeteries, Tamil schools and Indian settlements.

  PKR, DAP and PAS top leadership has done zero to give permanent titles to Hindu temples and cemeteries, Tamil schools and Indian settlements.
In the name of supposed development and other racist religious extremist or supremacist policies every day or so there is some Hindu temple cemetery, Tamil school and Indian settlements that are demolished or given notice to be demolished.
Both UMNO and to a lesser extent also PKR, DAP and PAS pick on the Indian poor on the slightest excuse.
Offer there is confusion whether a place of worship or school is to be demolished. So much anxiety is created. Feelings of discrimination arise.
It has been over two years now that PKR, DAP and PAS are ruling Kedah, Penang and Selangor whom we had voted in.
Why have they refused to solve all this land and public building problem which is 100% within the control of the PKR, DAP and PAS state governments of Kedah, Penang and Selangor.
The only real thing P.R has done thus for is by getting their DCM II and Indian Exco mandores to create illusions that this problem is being addressed as how UMNO have been and is using MIC as their mandores.
S. Jayathas

UMNO: Malay poor in dilapidated houses get new brick house. Indian poor in dilapidated houses ignored.

UMNO: Malay poor in dilapidated houses get new brick house. Indian poor in dilapidated houses ignored.
Today’s Sinar Harian 7/5/10 at page S19 reported that 72 year old Midah Jantan (72) who had been living in a dilapidated house, has been given a new brick house worth RM 25,000.00 by an UMNO government agency. We are happy for Midah. 
  But on this very same day Malaysia Nanban 7/5/10 at page 2 reported Elamah Naidu (75) is living in a wooden house of dilapidated, unsafe and inhabitable conditions.
In 2006, 2,136 hardcore poor households in rural areas were provided home reconstruction assistance, which benefitted 10,680 household members.
In 2007, housing assistance was provided to 1942 hardcore poor households The Star 10/1/10 at page N14).
RM 900,000.00 to repair 65 poor Malay houses @ RM13,846.00 (UM (M) 16/4/10 at page 12).
But poor Elamah Naidu is abandoned and directly discriminated against by the UMNO led One Malay-sian government.
And neither would the top leadership of PKR, DAP and PAS their 78 MPs’ including their 11 Mandore Indian MPs’ question these injustices.
P. Uthayakumar

Aminulrasyid’s case : P. UK urge government to arrest, remand and charge the policemen involved.

  Aminulrasyid’s case : P. UK urge government to arrest, remand and charge the policemen involved.









  
 

UMNO & PKR, DAP and PAS excludes Indians from positions in State subsidiaries, state Governments, city and local councils Shah Alam Mayor for non Malays Manoharan Malayalam asks PKR MB S’gor

UMNO & PKR, DAP and PAS excludes Indians from positions in State subsidiaries, state Governments, city and local councils
Shah Alam Mayor for non Malays Manoharan Malayalam asks PKR MB S’gor
This was the question posed to the Selangor PKR Menteri Besar at the Selangor State Assembly by the Kota Alam Shah Assemblyman and Hindraf legal adviser Manoharan Malayalam (BH 15/4/2010 page 32).
But the standard UMNO like answer by the ex UMNO created corporate figure turned Selangor Menteri Besar that they would “study the proposal”. And PKR will like UMNO either studying it or looking into it for the next 53 years or so.
The records stand that even the former Governor of Malacca’s post (now Yang DiPertuan Besar) was held by a Chinese. Malaysia’s first finance Minister was Tan Siew Sin, the first Malaysian Member for Education (Minister of Education) in 1954 was clough Thuraisingam and the Malaysia’s first local Navy Chief was Lt Col K. Thanabalasingam.
Dr. Mahathir in his book The Malay Dilema complained that two thirds of the civil servants up to 1969 in Divison One and Two (meaning graduates and Form Six holders) were non Malays. From this we estimate about 50% to be Indians.
But today UMNO has reduced the Indian civil servants to about 0.1% to 1% from 50%.
An Indian is excluded from even becoming a headmaster of a national primary school or even a post master or almost all other supervisory, Senior Managerial or head of departments positions in the civil service, government linked companies, banking or even in the hundreds state subsidiary companies. Selangor alone has 73 state subsidiaries (NST 15/4/2010 at page 24).
The Indians in particular voted PKR, DAP and PAS for change.
But even in the PKR, DAP and PAS ruled states just like the previous 50 year rule by UMNO zero Indians have been taken into the state government machinery, city councils and local council.
Why? Where is the promised change by PKR, DAP and PAS?
PKR, DAP and PAS has done nothing or very little to undo UMNO’s injustices, racism and marginalization of in particular the Indians.
Indian a Mayor in the P.R ruled states as mentioned by PKR Selangor M.B? Res Ipsa Loquiteour
The facts speak for itself.
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Dr M: Extremist Chinese attack Malays, Najib's Umno silent

FULL REPORT KUALA LUMPUR: Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today suggested that perhaps his protege Najib Tun Razak is pandering towards the non-Malays, instead of protecting his own race.
In a blog posting, he said Umno's inability to defend the Malays from Chinese attacks has led them to form NGOs like Perkasa.

Mahathir's comments come amidst speculation that certain quarters in Umno are uncomfortable with Najib's all-inclusive policies, with some even suggesting that a mutiny could be brewing.

“We hear a lot about demands by Chinese extremists questioning the provision of Malay special rights in the constitution, demanding an end to the NEP, reduction of quotas for Malay students.

“They even say the Malays are also 'kaum pendatang' or immigrants. An article even claims that there is no such thing as a Malay race,” said the former premier.

Despite this, Mahathir said, Umno remained silent.

However, he said that the party chose to suspend an Umno member who labelled the Chinese and Indians as descendants of immigrants.

“It seems to many Malays that Umno is incapable of countering the attacks by Chinese extremists against the Malays,” he added.

Race politics is dangerous
In view of this, Mahathir said NGOs like Perkasa feel compelled to rebut the racist statements by the Chinese, but when they do so, they are labelled as racist instead.

The former Umno president reminded Barisan Nasional that it lost many seats in the 2008 general election.

“Where it won, the margins are very small. If a few hundred Malays decide not to vote BN, even the seats that it had won would be lost in the next general election,” he said.

According to Mahathir, Umno and the government are facing a dilemma.

“In trying to win over the Chinese with allocations and abolishing NEP provisions, the BN will lose Malay support as it did in 2008.

“On the other hand, no matter how the government tries to satisfy Chinese demands, the Chinese have clearly rejected BN,” he said, noting that Chinese parties BN are also in a crisis.

Mahathir also dismissed Pakatan Rakyat as not a viable alternative, saying it has shown no capacity to rule.

He also underscored the danger of playing race politics.

“This country may find itself being governed by a weak government. There will be more politicking and more racial conflicts.

“There will be instability and chaos. Then everyone, whatever race he may be, will suffer. The choice is ours,” he said.
'Umno is trying to reform'
Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) political scientist Sivamurugan Pandian said Umno is trying to reform according to the current political landscape.

“Maybe what it's trying to do is to bring back the core supporters who cast votes against it in 2008. To win back these traditional supporters shows a sense of leadership in Umno,” he told FMT.

“Although Mahathir says that Umno is not protecting Malays rights, in the current situation maybe Najib is trying to show a sense of leadership first before moving on to other issues,” he added.

Sivamurugan said NGOs should play a check and balance role, instead of becoming a political power.

“Let political parties remain political parties and NGOs remain NGOs. At the end of the day, the government is the one who will be able to implement all the policies,” he added.

As for the Chinese, the academic said the community is shifting towards opposition parties because the Chinese-based parties in BN are not displaying leadership.

“When they fail to see the leadership that they want, they will always show rejection of the parties for not protecting their rights.

“What the Chinese want does not pertain to development but to a leader who can protect their rights and is responsible to the people,” he added.

Zaid 'apologises', five turn up at 'massive' protest

By Stephanie Sta Maria and Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

FULL REPORT SHAH ALAM: PKR supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim has purportedly tendered an apology for “disrespecting” the Selangor Sultan, according to Selangor Umno Youth chief Suhaimi Ghazali and Perkasa Youth chief Armand Azhar Abu Hanifah.
When contacted, Suhaimi and Armand confirmed that an apology was made, but differed on the medium.

While Suhaimi claimed that it was shown on the Astro Awani television channel this morning, Armand however said that Zaid apologised on his blog.

A check by FMT revealed that no such entry was made in Zaid's blog, while a spokesperson for Astro Awani also denied any such broadcast.

Despite numerous attempts, the PKR leader could not be reached for comment. He is, however, slated to hold a press conference tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Suhaimi and Armand, who filed a police report against Zaid here this afternoon, told FMT that an apology was not sufficient.

“This is not enough. The damage has been done and Zaid must face the consequences,” stressed the Umno Youth leader.

'Banish him from Selangor'
In a related development, the “massive” protest against Zaid this afternoon failed to sizzle, when only five Perkasa activists and Umno Youth leaders turned up.

Yesterday, Armand said Perkasa was expecting between 500 and 1,000 people to participate in the protest outside the Shah Alam mosque after Friday prayers.

The protest, however, managed to pique the curiosity of a small group of onlookers.

Addressing them, Perkasa information chief Nurul Izham Nurul said: “Our (Malay) rights have been questioned before, but now there is someone who is questioning the Sultan's decision.”

"This is not something to fool around with. When the Sultan decreed that mosques should not be used for political purposes, this must be respected.

"That is not his (Sultan's) personal view like what Zaid claims,” he added.

Later, a group of about 30 Perkasa and Umno Youth members accompanied Suhaimi and Armand to file the police report.
Speaking to reporters after lodging the report, Suhaimi stressed that Zaid should be punished.

"A mistake is a mistake, and action must be taken against him so this could serve as a lesson to others," he said, describing Zaid's remark as "seditious".

"That is why we want the police to take stern action against him. We are worried that this would incite hatred among the people,” he added.

Suhaimi also did not rule out staging more protests over this issue.

"But we would see how the police handle this. Many NGOs have made similar police reports,” he said.

Yesterday, a group of protesters, led by Armand, torched a wooden effigy of Zaid outside the PKR headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

At this afternoon's protest, the Perkasa Youth chief reiterated his call for Zaid, who hails from Kelantan, to be banished from Selangor.

Zaid, a former law minister, had ruffled feathers when he remarked that the Sultan had not issued a decree, but rather a personal view which carried little weight.

MIC veteran threatens to open Samy's can of worms

By B Nantha Kumar - Free Malaysian Insider

UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR: Petaling Jaya Selatan MIC division chairman V Subramaniam, better known as Barat Maniam, has threatened to divulge MIC president S Samy Vellu's "secrets" if the latter persists in ignoring him for a senate seat.

Speaking to FMT today, he said: "I have enough evidence to show Samy Vellu's real character. It is time for him to retreat and allow fair representations in the party."

Barat Maniam, who has been a MIC member since 1978, is seething at having been overlooked numerous times for party posts and senatorship.

Claiming to have been waiting patiently on the sidelines, Barat Maniam said the situation in the party has now got out of hand.

"MIC is no more a party that represents the Indian community in Malaysia. In fact, it has already become Samy Vellu family's party.

"Just look at the current positions in MIC. Who is the Youth wing chief, who is Putera chief and who holds a Cabinet minister's post?

"They are all relatives of MIC boss Samy Vellu," he said, alluding to Youth chief T Mohan, Putera chief P Kamalanathan and vice-president Dr S Subramaniam.

'I'm not going to let this go'

Admitting to a fallout with Samy Vellu over the issue, Barat Maniam said: "I have been around for a long time but have always been overlooked."

"I have been a member since 1978 and Samy Vellu has been making promises to me since 1999 but nothing has happened. And now, Samy Vellu has promised senatorship to Mohan. I'm not going to let this go," he said.

Barat Maniam also revealed a text message which he had sent to Samy Vellu recently, and the reply he had purportedly received from the MIC president.

Barat Maniam's text message reads: "Dato, I have been serving you and MIC since 1978, in particular I have been an asset to you and your family, solved many problems faced by you in particular (Telekom shares, Tenaga shares, Renong shares, Maika holdings, election petition by Dr D Jeyakumar, problem faced by (Samy Vellu's wife) Datin (Indrani), (son) Vell Paari... your younger brothers, 1988 late MG Pandithan issue, 1989 your presidential election issue... MIC AGM September 2009 and many many etc.

Dato, you have been betraying me by saying you will offer me a seat in general election and senator. That you will make me a senator and the following general election you will nominate me to contest a seat. I am also a very senior member of our party... you never kept your word."

Samy Vellu had allegedly replied: "As a friend, I want to tell you to behave. Since you send such a nasty SMS. No, no, not for you anymore. If once again you attempt to do your old trials (tricks). I will not hesitate to take appropriate action against you."

Barat Maniam then responds: "My dear Samy Vellu, are you threatening me? MIC does not belong to you or your family. You have cheated the Indian community. I am ready to face your threats."

Yesterday, MIC Youth information chief S Subramaniam told reporters that the wing was unhappy with Barat Maniam, saying nobody had the right to question the senatorship issue.

He said it was a well-known fact that Barat Maniam is an ardent supporter of MIC deputy president G Palanivel, who is reportedly on the warpath with Samy Vellu.

"We also have evidence that Barat Maniam incited some divisions and branch leaders not to campaign for BN in the recent Hulu Selangor by-election," he said, calling for disciplinary action to be taken against him.

First Lady she's not!

If indeed the cost of the advertisement was RM10mil, as alleged, then that's how much it cost to put the PM's wife at par with the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

Shah A Dadameah, Malaysian Mirror

It is currently the hottest buzz on the net.

A full-colour advertisement appeared in The New York Times on April 16 to welcome Rosmah Mansor, wife of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, to the Big Apple.

The cost of the advertisement, allegedly paid for by a company linked to Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud, is said to be a whopping RM10mil!

Part of the advertisement carries a half-body portrait of Rosmah while another section carries pictures of her at different events and surrounded by mainly young Malaysians.

The main copy of the advertisement reads:

"Welcome to New York.

"Her Excellency, Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor

"First Lady of Malaysia."

The other part reads:

"Congratulations.

"On being conferred the International Peace and Harmony Award 2010"

At the base of the advertisement was the following citation:

"In recognition of your effort to promote peace, harmony and understanding among the people of Malaysia and your courageous acts in making a difference to the lives of people and children around the world.

"Malaysia is proud of you.

"Best wishes from family and friends in USA and Malaysia."

Highlighting Rosmah's charitable efforts

The advertisement appeared on the day Rosmah was presented the International Peace and Harmony Award from the US-based Business Council for International Understanding in New York City.

She received the award from former Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger at an event emceed by Academy Award-winning actor, Jamie Fox with performances by singing sensation Leona Lewis and the Boys Choir of Harlem.

The Award was intended to highlight Rosmah's extensive charitable efforts and to celebrate the important links between Malaysia and the United States.
Part of the advertisement in the New York Times.

In media reports in New York, she was repeatedly referred to as the 'First Lady', a term that Americans use for the wife of their President, the highest office-bearer in the country.

However, the Americans are ignorant about the protocol in Malaysia's monarchy system where the term is appropriate only for the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

The Prime Minister is not the 'supreme head' of the country and PM Najib Abdul Razak and all his predecessors had never been known to compel others to take their wives as 'First Lady.'

The media, the politicians and public relations practioners often make the mistake.

Let's take a glimpse of the Federal Constitution on this. Article 32 says:

1 (1) There shall be a Supreme Head of the Federation, to be called the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who shall take precedence over all persons in the Federation and shall not be liable to any proceedings whatsoever in any court.

2 (2) The Consort of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (to be called the Raja Permaisuri Agong) shall take precedence next after the Yang di-Pertuan Agong over all other persons in the Federation.

If indeed the cost of the advertisement was RM10mil, as alleged, then that's how much it cost to put the PM's wife at par with the Raja Permaisuri Agong.

Receiving the Award in New York might make her 'queen' of many people's hearts, but that still does not qualify her to be 'First Lady'.

Apologise to the Queen

Rosmah, who is currently, spearheading the development of a gifted and talented programme, named Permata Pintar, for children with special abilities in the fields of academia and music, is also involved in various other charitable causes in Malaysia.

Among them are the Welfare Association of Ministers' Wives (BAKTI), Girl Guides Association. Hope Foundation, Malaysian Nature Society,Society of the Orthopedically Handicapped Malaysia, Malaysia Aids Council, Asian Institute of Management (AIM) and the Thalasemia Association.

Notwithstanding her achievements in these fields, she has yet to attain the status of 'Her Excellency' or 'First Lady'.

A blogger wrote that Rosmah and Najib have to personally apologise to the Yang Di Pertuan Agong and Raja Permaisuri Agong for the advertisement boo-boo.

"We also want the de facto Law Minister to explain publicly who is the First Lady of Malaysia and what is the punishment if anybody, including the Prime Minister's wife, used in it illegally knowingly."

Another commentator also suggested that the New York Times come out with an apology for the insult on Malaysians by calling the PM's wife 'First Lady.'

Spending RM10mil might give some mileage to the 'family and friends' who up the advertisement, but it will certainly not go down well with Sarawakians who are preparing to go for state polls at any time.

Kedah BN prepares for takeover or state polls

KUALA LUMPUR, May 7 — Kedah Barisan Nasional (BN) is bracing itself for a possible ousting of the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state government or fresh polls.
Umno leaders are convinced that the prospect of defections by PR state lawmakers is becoming more of a reality which will force the PAS-led Kedah government to hand over the reins either through its own collapse or state elections.
The confidence was expressed amid a backdrop of a growing uneasiness in the PR camp.
PAS Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak (picture) had recently said that it would dissolve the state assembly if one more defection takes place.
His statement was backed by Kedah PKR chief Datuk Johari Abdul who told The Malaysian Insider that BN has been “intensely approaching” PR lawmakers, particularly PKR’s, recently in a bid to “buy them over”.
BN needs just three more seats to form the new government after PR saw two of its lawmakers quitting the party recently to become independents.
“I see possibilities of a few PR lawmakers defecting. I see this because there are many who are dissatisfied with the party’s leadership,” Kedah Umno secretary Datuk Nawawi Ahmad told The Malaysian Insider.
It is understood that Umno expects two to three lawmakers to defect soon. Nawawi, however, did not divulge the names of the lawmakers who are purportedly unhappy with their parties and are ready to jump.
PR in Kedah holds 20 of the 36 seats in the state assembly. PAS leads the pact with 16 seats while PKR holds three. DAP has a sole representative in the state legislature.
Nawawi said should two more PR lawmakers defect, it would mean both PR and BN would have 18 seats each and this would force the state government to call for fresh elections.
“But if three of them defect, we would have one extra seat and would form a simple majority just as what had happened in Perak,” added the Umno man.
PR leaders in Kedah, however, are adamant that the defection scenario is unlikely.
“I have heard of this rumour of defections for so long up to the point of Umno lawmakers discussing on who will become the next MB. But I am not shaken by this. If it happens, I will dissolve the state assembly and we let the voters decide,” said Azizan.
Johari also expressed confidence that the defections will not take place.
“We have received reports about this. The MB is very well aware of it as all of those who have been approached by BN have reported this to him. It is impossible that it will happen,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
BN has 14 seats while the two independents, Mohammad Radzhi Salleh of Lunas and Tan Wei Shu of Bakar Arang, are tipped to be “pro-BN”.
The status of one of the BN’s 14 seats, Kota Siputeh, is still under the review of the courts after Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail decided to vacate the seat held by Umno’s Datuk Abu Hasan Sarif after he allegedly failed to attend the state assembly for two consecutive sittings.

I became pro-Monarchy because of Umno

Today, a significant number of Malaysians have lost their respect for the Rulers. And, today, Malaysians dare speak out against the Rulers because Umno taught them to do that back in the 1980s. You can’t turn back the clock. It takes years to build a reputation. It takes mere days to tear it down. And it will take forever to rebuild that reputation.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Dr Rafick wrote a very good piece in this Blog called ‘UMNO…Jauh di hati, sakit di mata’, which you can read below.

I was wondering what to say about the anti-Zaid Ibrahim demonstration outside the PKR HQ (see video here) that was organised by the Gang Kepala Lembu yesterday and, lo and behold, Dr Rafick said exactly what I wanted to say.

So all I need to do is cut-and-paste his piece and maybe add a few points of my own.

I was actually never pro-Monarchy in my younger days. I did not even carry the Raja title. My own family, even those in the Selangor Palace, calls me Peter, until today. In primary school, the Alice Smith School, I was officially registered as Peter Kamarudin, not Raja Petra Bin Raja Kamarudin. And that was how I was known until I went to the Malay College Kuala Kangsar in 1963 at the age of 13. Then, because of the ‘law’, I was forced to use my ‘legal’ name, although my teacher called me Putra-Putri -- and that nickname sort of stuck, much to my chagrin (dahlah jambu!).

In the 1980s, when I was in my 30s, the Constitutional Crisis exploded and it upset me big time when I saw the lies that they spun about the Rulers. They showed photographs of lavish bungalows in Penang and said that these were the lavish homes of the Sultans of Selangor and Kedah, which were bought with the people’s money. Actually, the so-called ‘lavish home’ of the Selangor Sultan was owned by a Chinese businessman, while the so-called ‘lavish home’ of the Kedah Sultan was Rumah Kedah along Northam Road (now named Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad), an old and rundown colonial house that was for the use of Kedah civil servants who visited Penang.

As I said, in the beginning I was never pro-Monarchy. But when Umno spun those lies about the Rulers and dragged them through the mud I became pro-Monarchy. I became pro-Monarchy because I felt that Umno had done a great injustice to the Rulers. Umno controls the mainstream media and can say anything that they like. The Rulers, however, are not free to speak. They can’t make a press statement or call a press conference. Even their official speeches are written by the Prime Minister’s Department. So the Rulers say what the Prime Minister tells them to say, not what they want to say.

The issue here is that back in the 1980s Umno whacked the Rulers good and proper. And what Umno said about the Rulers then were downright lies. Today, Umno pretends that it is loyal to the Rulers and pretends that it is defending the Rulers.

I’m afraid it is already 25 years too late. The damage to the image of the Rulers had already been done back in the 1980s. Whatever Umno says today can’t change that. Umno can’t un-damage the image of the Rulers that it damaged back in the 1980s.

Today, a significant number of Malaysians have lost their respect for the Rulers. And, today, Malaysians dare speak out against the Rulers because Umno taught them to do that back in the 1980s. You can’t turn back the clock. It takes years to build a reputation. It takes mere days to tear it down. And it will take forever to rebuild that reputation.

That is how it works.

And we have Umno to thank for this. And no amount of pretending can convince the people that Umno really respects the Rulers. Umno will use the Rulers, no doubt, when it suits them. But Umno will defend the Rulers only when it benefits them. As long as the Rulers work for Umno then Umno will support the Rulers. But if the rulers were to demonstrate that it is pro-opposition then Umno would embark on another Constitutional Crisis.

And this is why most Rulers have to also pretend that they support Umno. The Rulers know if they show that they support the opposition then Umno would go for their throats. But if they show support for Umno the opposition would not challenge the Rulers. They would just leave the Rulers alone. So better the Rulers show support for Umno than for the opposition.

Most Malaysians know that the Rulers too fear Umno. And if anyone is still not convinced that Umno has a hold over the Rulers just see what is currently happening in Kelantan. The Sultan of Kelantan is practically under house arrest.

We know, in their hearts, the Rulers are not happy with the situation. And we know that the Rulers feel powerless in doing anything about it. But there is something that the Rulers can do and they know what it is. It is just that they do not dare do it because they are not sure whether the people will be with them if the third Constitutional Crisis were to erupt.

Sigh…if the people can just understand that the Rulers are prisoners in golden cages. But there is a limit to the people’s tolerance. The Rulers, too, have to understand this.

*************************************************

UMNO…Jauh di hati, sakit di mata

The past few days Zaid Ibrahim and PKR have been under attack for his writings on his Blog. I tend to agree with him on what he wrote. I read many writings about the demonstration against Zaid, which was held at PKR HQ. I saw many pictures, which was placed on Minaq Jinggo photo pages.

Interestingly to note quite a number of faces that was shown in the pictures are also involved in the “Shah Alam Kepala Lembu Group” (KLG) incident as well as the “Shah Alam Temple issues”.

I can only say one thing, “Taada muka lain ke, balik balik muka tu!”

In the pictures shown, I did not see any policeman present. I wonder whether any police permit was obtained. If none was given, then I suppose the pictorial evidence is good enough for the police to take the necessary evidence. After all a picture says a thousand words.

I find these demonstrators demonstrated without purpose other than to create noise and to disturb people as well as to apply pressure on the Selangor Government. Do these people really love the Sultan of Selangor or the monarchy system? If they claim that Zaid has insulted the Sultan, then I believe the Sultan is man enough to speak for himself. He is not without a mouth and a brain. Instead we have these “regular” troublemakers who go around and create problems. I wonder whether these people enjoy certain immunity from whosoever that is supposed to ensure the law is observed.

I find the actions of this “Kepala Lembu Group” KLG very perplexing. If they do love the Royalty, maybe they should go and demonstrate against Najib in Putrajaya. They should go and get Najib to reverse all the laws created by Mahathir that curtailed the power of the Royalty in Malaysia. Why are they not doing that? What a bunch of hypocrite!

Why are they not demonstrating in Kota Bharu? The Sultan there had to go court and get a court order for him to go and see his treating doctor! He cannot even take a stroll in his wheelchair outside the hospital all because his ‘safety” is at stake. We are talking about Kota Bharu and not KL. The KLG should have gone there and make full use of their otak lembu.

I am not sure whether I should be happy or sad when KLG and groups like these do what they do. It only shows their weaknesses. It only increases the people’s hatred towards UMNO. Many of my Malay friends also find the KLG actions as insulting.

In a way, if PKR does not react, it is good as more and more people will hate UMNO and BN. Go and ask any ten non-Malays on the street at random and you will get a general consensus that UMNO and BN is not in their “favourite folders”. Maybe we should send the KLG a ‘thank you’ card and encourage them to do more.

May I suggest that you do the next one in Bukit Antarabangsa. This will improve the sentiment of the residents there for PR.

(http://rights2write.wordpress.com/2010/05/07/umno-jauh-di-hati-sakit-di-mata/)

RACIST LABEL

1. I was asked by a Chinese reporter recently why I said the Chinese did not vote Barisan Nasional in Hulu Selangor. To avoid ballot boxes being tempered with or getting lost the counting is now done at the polling stations.

2. Obviously if the voters in a given station is overwhelmingly Malay and the votes are overwhelmingly for PAS then we can assume the Malays at that polling station did not vote for the BN. Similarly if the voters at a polling station are largely Chinese and the votes are largely for Pakatan, then it is obvious that the Chinese there did not vote for BN.

3. Perhaps it is because Perkasa appears to be racist that the Chinese are against BN. But Perkasa is not BN. Also the Chinese parties in BN are facing a crisis. What is happening now is that Malays are forming Non-Governmental Organisations because of Chinese attacks against the Malays and UMNO seems unable to defend them.

4. We hear a lot about demands by Chinese extremists questioning the provision of Malay special rights in the constitution, demanding an end to the NEP, reduction of quotas for Malay students. They even say the Malays are also "kaum pendatang" or immigrants. An article even claim that there is no such thing as a Malay race (read here).

5. UMNO remained silent. In fact when an UMNO member said that the Chinese and Indians are descendants of immigrants, he was suspended by UMNO. It seems to many Malays that UMNO is incapable of countering the attacks by Chinese extremists against Malays.

6. The NGOs like Perkasa feel that they have to rebut racist statements by the Chinese. And when they do they are labelled as racist.

7. The BN must remember that in the 2008 election it lost a lot of seats. Where it won the margins are very small. If a few hundred Malays decide not to vote BN, even the seats that it had won would be lost in the 13th General Election.

8. UMNO and the Government are facing a dilemma. In trying to win over the Chinese with allocations and abolishing New Economic Policy provisions, the BN will lose Malay support as indeed it did in 2008. On the other hand no matter how the Government try to satisfy Chinese demands, the Chinese have clearly rejected the BN.

9. The opposition is no alternative. They have shown no capacity to rule.

10. Playing race politics in Malaysia is dangerous. This country may find itself being governed by a weak Government. There will be more politicking and more racial conflicts. There will be instability and chaos. Then everyone, whatever race he may be will suffer.

Anwar Second Case – Another Round Of Political Persecution

It is almost 11 years since Anwar Ibrahim, newly sacked as deputy prime minister, was first slapped with trumped-up charges of sodomy and corruption (abuse of power), and subsequently put through two trials which were condemned around the world as manifestly flawed and politically motivated. He spent six years in detention, in solitary confinement throughout, after his conviction on the first (corruption) charge, but at the final level of appeal against conviction on the charge of committing sodomy, he was acquitted and released on 2 September 2004. The two cases were interrelated, although tried separately: the corruption charge was that he had abused his position to direct the police to halt investigations into his alleged sexual misconduct.

Now, with Anwar once more poised to take over the reins of government, the nightmare is starting all over again. On 16 July 2008, Anwar was arrested on a new charge of sodomy, after a report was lodged by a junior aide in his office. Anwar claims that the charge is, again, politically motivated, a renewed attempt to scuttle his political career which has revived dramatically, against all the odds, since his release. Most people both inside and outside the country agree with this assessment.

The new case – its facts and the way it is being conducted by the authorities – looks alarmingly like the earlier ones. These were marked by: political interference; falsification of evidence; blackmailing of prosecution witnesses as well as several of Anwar’s close friends and associates; harassment of defence lawyers and also several civil servants who did not speak, report or act according to the recommended script; the court’s or judge’s rejection of documents, and refusal to allow witness testimony, which was favourable to the accused; and a string of unfair or questionable rulings and decisions by the judges both during the course of the trial and in the ultimate judgment of the cases, which often put a premature end to the defence counsel’s line of questioning.

In the present case, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the alleged victim, is known to have had contact with senior police officers and high-level politicians of the ruling party, including the Prime Minister and his wife, before he made his police report regarding the sexual offence allegedly committed by Anwar. Ominously, the main members of the prosecution team were all involved in the earlier case, which involved fabrication of evidence and suppression of evidence favourable to the defendant, but an application to disqualify this tainted prosecution team met with failure. Anwar’s defence team, despite appealing right to the highest judicial level, has also been denied a raft of important documents to help them mount an effective defence, and there are unmistakable signs of unholy cooperation between the police, Attorney General’s Chambers and the judiciary.

The new case is being pursued despite the absence of evidence: Anwar has a solid alibi for the day and time mentioned in the single-event charge, and all four doctors, including three specialists, who examined the alleged victim, reported that there was no evidence of penetration.

Anwar’s case should be seen in a broader context of systematic obstruction of and attacks on the Opposition and its elected representatives, often employing the Attorney General’s Chambers to prosecute them on frivolous or even fabricated charges, via either the police or the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. The people’s faith in the integrity and independence of both of these agencies has been seriously eroded as a result.

Since the Opposition’s gains in the 2008 General Election, ruling party senior leaders, including the Prime Minister, have publicly vowed to wrest back total control of the constituencies they lost “by any means”. Their biggest success was to stage a coup last year to regain the Perak state government, but this has turned out to be a pyrrhic victory, since it was painfully obvious that it was achieved by blatant manipulation of judicial process and has thus only ratcheted up the people’s disgust.

Among other methods employed has been the luring of Opposition, and especially People’s Justice Party, representatives to jump ship and join, or rejoin, UMNO. Most of them seem to have had severe personal financial problems, and UMNO was only too happy to help them out of their difficulties.

Anwar’s trial began on 2 February and saw completion of the lead prosecutor’s examination-in-chief of Saiful, their star witness. The hearing was subsequently adjourned to clear related appeals and applications, and is due to resume on 25 March.

WHAT OTHERS SAY

John MalottSenator John KerryWashington Post, 7 Feb 2010 : “If led by Mr. Anwar, [the opposition coalition] would have a fair chance of winning the next national election in 2013. That’s one reason it’s suspicious that, three months after the state election victories in 2008, Mr. Anwar was once again accused of sodomy.”

Editorial of

Jonathan Manthorpe,Peter Hartcher of the Sydney Morning Herald: “The case is a joke. It exposes the Najib government as desperate and underhanded. It makes Malaysia a subject of international ridicule. While under Mahathir this form of legal manipulation might have been smart autocracy, in today’s world it just looks like Malaysia is playing around with its national future.”The Economist 4 Feb: “UMNO-owned media will harp on the sordid details, just as they did in the first trial when a semen-stained mattress was hauled into court. The blogosphere, however, where young Malaysians get their news, may not be easily impressed. Nor, it seems, will foreign investors, whom Mr Najib is desperate to attract with promises of a more open and less UMNO-dominated economy. His government’s image is already dented by corruption scandals, including a multibillion dollar project at Port Klang that has been dogged by accusations of mismanagement and cronyism. Some Malaysians may be wondering why such matters seem to generate less heat than Mr Anwar’s alleged transgressions.” Vancouver Sun: “For the past two years, there have been hopes and expectations that Malaysia was about to become a proper democracy after more than half a century of one-party rule since independence from Britain in 1957. But the chances of that are receding as the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition uses the full force of its institutional control against the prime proponent of reform, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim…[I]t is widely expected Malaysia’s compliant courts will do the bidding of their political masters.”, US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman: “The current charges closely mirror the ones levied years ago, and have been brought soon after Mr. Anwar’s resumption of his role as elected Member of Parliament and leader of the parliamentary opposition. I urge the Malaysian government to accord Mr. Anwar every legal protection to which he is entitled as a Member of Parliament and as a citizen – and to settle his case in a manner that builds confidence in the impartiality and credibility of the Malaysian judicial system.”, former US ambassador to Malaysia: “…the prosecution is required by law to give the defence team whatever evidence necessary for the accused to mount a defence but prosecutors are doing the exact opposite. How can they convince us (that it is a fair trial) when they withhold vital information needed defend someone.”

Mark Tran, The Guardian 8 Feb: “It does not take a cynic to question the timing of Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial…”The Hon Mr Michael Danby, Australian MP:“For the second time, the Malaysian legal system is being manipulated by supporters of the incumbent government to drive Malaysia’s best known leader Anwar Ibrahim out of national politics. For the second time, documents are being forged, witnesses are being coerced, evidence is being fabricated.

This trial, like the first trial of Anwar Ibrahim, is a disgrace to Malaysia, a country that aspires to democratic norms, where parties change power peacefully and political opponents are not persecuted by organs of the state.”