Gyan fires Ghana into the last eight

Ghana marched on to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ after emerging 2-1 victors over USA following 120 minutes of drama in Rustenburg. Asamoah Gyan scored the winner in the 93rd minute after Landon Donovan's penalty had cancelled out Kevin Prince Boateng's early opener.

The Black Stars, who are the sole African representative left in the continent's first FIFA World Cup, will now meet Uruguay in Johannesburg on 2 July. They become the third African nation to advance to the last eight of a FIFA World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

The west Africans stunned the US in just the fifth minute after Ricardo Clark had given possession away in midfield. Boateng ran at the defence and, having shifted the ball to the left, beat goalkeeper Tim Howard at his near post with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Left reeling, the US were second best until the break.

Their best in the opening period came in the 35th minute, when Jonathan Mensah gave the ball away in his own third to Clint Dempsey. The Fulham man slid the ball to Robbie Findley, who raced clean through on Richard Kingson, but the goalkeeper reacted well to save with this left foot. Coach Bob Bradley's reaction to a lacklustre first-half performance was to bring on attacking midfielder Benny Feilhaber at half-time, and the move almost paid immediate dividends.

Donovan's pace made the chance down the right, and Jozy Altidore did well with the LA Galaxy player's cross to feed the on-rushing Feilhaber. But Kingson came out aggressively and pulled off a fabulous reaction save. Ghana were being pegged back at this stage, and on the hour mark Dempsey skinned Gyan at the edge of the area and broke free into the box. Mensah clattered into him to concede the penalty, and Donovan calmly slotted in his kick off the inside of the post.

As the second half wore on, the US continued to ask questions of the Ghana defence, but Kingson saved the Black Stars twice in succession. In the 68th minute, he raced 15 yards off his line to clear the ball at Altidore's feet, and eight minutes later he got down well to smother Michael Bradley's shot after the coach's son had beaten the offside trap. Altidore had another chance in the 81st minute, but the defence did just enough to put him off and he fired wide from ten yards.

However, just as they did at the start of the match, Ghana opened the extra time with a goal. The impressive Ayew, son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele, spun a long ball with the outside of his left foot into the path of Gyan. The Rennes man held off two defenders and smashed the ball past Howard for his third goal of the tournament and his seventh for his country in 2010.

The US, who scored a dramatic last-gasp winner against Algeria to qualify for the second round, seemed to tire after the goal, and though they sent ball after ball into the Ghana box in the final minutes, they could find no late heroics at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. All of Africa seemed to explode at the final whistle, and the youngest team in the tournament will continue to fly the continent's colours for one more round.

Suarez double downs South Koreans

Luis Suarez struck twice as Uruguay beat Korea Republic 2-1 in Port Elizabeth to reach the FIFA World Cup™ quarter-finals for the first time since 1970. The South Koreans pushed hard but Lee Chung-Yong's header in the second half was not enough with Suarez scoring both early and late on for the South Americans.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez made one change to the team that defeated Mexico 1-0 in their final group match, with Diego Godin replacing Mauricio Victorino at the back. Back at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where his side beat Greece 2-0 in their opening game, Korea Republic coach Huh Jung-Moo made a notable change to his midfield, with winger Kim Jae-Sung making his first start in place of Yeom Ki-Hun.

The South Koreans got off to a bright start, with their captain Park Ji-Sung running through the middle of the park to the edge of the area only for Diego Lugano to cut out his attempted through-pass. Minutes later, they came desperately close to taking the lead, Park Chu-Young's curling free-kick from 20 yards smashing the left post as Fernando Muslera stood watching helplessly. Instead it was La Celeste who drew first blood in the eighth minute, when an unmarked Suarez, lurking on the right side of the area, turned the loose ball into an empty net after Jung Sung-Ryong had failed to deal with Diego Forlan's low cross from the left.

The Taeguk Warriors probed away, looking for holes in the stubborn Uruguay defence that had not conceded a goal in the first round. Park Ji-Sung surged down the left but saw his low cross blocked by a timely intervention, then Park Chu-Young tried his luck with an effort from 25 yards that went just wide of the left post. It was Cha Du-Ri's turn next but he saw his audacious shot from 30 yards sail just over the crossbar.

With the rain pouring down in the second half, Kim Jung-Woo almost paid for a sloppy pass across the back, with Suarez intercepting but failing to trouble Jung with a tame shot. At the other end, Lugano's attempted clearance from a Lee Jung-Soo cross fell into the path of Park Chu-Young, who fired a powerful volley over the bar. Park Ji-Sung then managed to connect with a Cha cross from the right, but Muslera did well to hold on to his header, jumping to his left.

South Korean coach Huh had no other option but to reinforce the attack, and brought striker Lee Dong-Gook on for Kim Jae-Sung on the hour mark. The Asian side finally broke through after 68 minutes, when Lugano's headed clearance from Ki Sung-Yueng's free-kick fell to an unmarked Lee Chung-Yong, who headed home the equaliser from close range to finally end Muslera's lengthy unbeaten run. However, the Uruguayans fought back. Suarez saw his shot from an acute angle parried over by Jung, before the Ajax forward then miscued his header with only the keeper to beat. But the Uruguay No9 made no mistake when the ball came to his way on the edge of the box following a Forlan corner, sidestepping a white shirt and curling a spectacular shot in off the far post to make it 2-1.

The Koreans responded by bringing on another forward, Yeom Ki-Hun, for midfielder Ki, and within two minutes, Lee Dong-Gook spurned a glorious chance to equalise as the Jeonbuk Motors marksman saw his low shot half-stopped by Muslera before Lugano cleared the ball as it trickled slowly towards the net. With that, the South Koreans' final opportunity had passed as La Celeste held on to book their place in the last eight.

Michael Jackson's dad files wrongful death suit

CNN's Don Lemon speaks exclusively with friends and family members about Michael Jackson's last days in "Michael Jackson: His Final Days," at 8 p.m. ET Friday on CNN.

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Michael Jackson's father filed a wrongful death lawsuit in federal court against Dr. Conrad Murray on Friday, the anniversary of the pop star's death, Joe Jackson's lawyer said.

The suit alleges that Murray gave paramedics and doctors false information about the "polypharmacy" of drugs Michael Jackson had been given and hindered efforts to revive him in an ambulance and at UCLA Medical Center, according to a copy obtained by CNN.

The suit said that "other parties responsible for Michael Jackson's death" would be added but that the plaintiff "has not yet gathered sufficient information regarding their potential liability or responsibility."

A complaint filed by Joe Jackson with the California medical board this month also named AEG, the company that was producing his son's comeback concerts.

Murray was hired to serve as Jackson's personal doctor two months before the London debut of the concerts were set.

The Los Angeles County coroner ruled that Michael Jackson's death was caused by an overdose of propofol, a powerful anesthesia that Murray has acknowledged the pop star used to help him sleep.

Joe Jackson attorney Brian Oxman obtained a court order this year giving him medical records from UCLA Medical Center, where Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009.

The suit also alleges that Murray delayed calling for paramedics for over an hour, after he found Jackson not breathing minutes after he injected him with propofol to help him fall asleep. The suit contends that Murray used the time to hide evidence of drugs he had been giving Jackson.

When the ambulance carrying Michael Jackson from his home arrived at the emergency room at 1:13 p.m., he was identified as "Soule Shaun," the suit said. He had "no pulse, blood pressure, spontaneous respiration or heartbeat," it said.

Murray, who had taken over control of resuscitation efforts from paramedics, said nothing to emergency room doctors about the propofol or "other drugs" he had given Michael Jackson earlier in the day, it said.

It quoted a report written the next day by one of those doctors, who wrote that Murray told them "the patient had been working long hours but had not been ill."

"The only reported medications reported for the patient were valium and Flomax," Dr. Richelle Cooper wrote. "There is no history of drug use by the patient as reported by Dr. Murray."

A police report said Murray told investigators two days later that "he was afraid Michael Jackson was addicted to propofol."

"He had a history of addiction, and the defendant was trying to wean him off the drugs, yet he told Dr. Cooper two days earlier that Michael Jackson had no drug use history," the suit said.

The toxicology results included in the autopsy report said the propofol level found in Michael Jackson's body was equal to what would be used to sedate a patient for major surgery.

Murray, who has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Michael Jackson's death, did not give him that much of the anesthesia, his defense lawyer said recently.

"There is no way that Dr. Murray pumped Michael Jackson full of propofol sufficient for major surgery," attorney Ed Chernoff said. "No way. I would stake anything that I own on this fact."

The lawsuit contends that Jackson showed "neurological, pulmonary, and amnesia signs" in his final weeks as he rehearsed in Los Angeles for the London shows.

It said Jackson borrowed jackets from others and used a heater at rehearsals "to control the shivering."

"In May and June, 2009, Michael Jackson was confused, easily frightened, unable to remember, obsessive, and disoriented," the suit said. "He has impaired memory, a loss of appetite, and absence of energy. He was cold and shivering during the summer rehearsals for his show, and as shown in photographs and motion pictures of him, he uncharacteristically wore heavy clothing during the rehearsals, while other dancers wore scant clothing and were perspiring from the heat."

Nationwide Police report against PM, DPM and Higher Education Minister. SPM 13As top Indian students denied Scholarships, Matriculation and University places.

HRP Kedah, Muniandy lodge at Lunas IPD was the second after S.Jayathas lodge police report at Bricksfield IPD against PM, DPM and Higher Education Minister. SPM 13As top Indian students denied Scholarships, Matriculation and University places.
Human Rights Party (HRP) of all state will also lodge this nationwide police report against the injustices of the UMNO led One Malay-sian government. We also invite all concern citizen to also make this police report and fax to us a copy of the report to 03 2282 5245

S.JAYATHAS
Information Chief
www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

More Malaysians Victims Of Fake Soothsayers, Says UM Study

By P. Vijian

COIMBATORE, June 26 (Bernama) -- The truth is not always soothing. Despite constant media expose on fake soothsayers, an increasing number of gullible Malaysians continue to be duped by them.

A University of Malaya (UM) survey of 300 urban Malaysian Indians who frequently consulted astrologers revealed that at least half of them were cheated under the guise of spiritual remedies.

"The rest said fortune telling was good because consulting (soothsayers) gave guidance to shape their lives," UM's Indian Studies Department senior lecturer Dr G. Sivabalan told Bernama.

Speaking on the sidelines of the World Classical Tamil Conference in Coimbatore, he said the 2008-2009 study was specially focused on the famous Hindu 'Nadi' astrology or palm leaf reading, a practice where expert fortune-tellers forecast a person's past, present and future by just reading an ancient text written on a leaf.

According to Sivabalan, palm leaf reading was popularised in the late 1980s, after dozens of self-proclaimed south Indian astrologers, equipped with volumes of palm leaves, arrived on Malaysian shores to seek their fortune.

So far, about 50,000 Malaysians have consulted these soothsayers, mostly urban professionals, who wanted to excel in their lives, said the study.

As cases of unscrupulous astrologers surfaced, the university conducted a study in Johor, Klang Valley and Perak to investigate the effects of astrology, and discovered that each person on average, spent nearly RM1,000, to know the future.

UM is now planning to set up a Tamil manuscript palm leaf study centre, with the association of Malaysian Tamil Writers Association, where they would collect palm leaves found in Malaysia since the 1890s, which contain 'Siddha' prescriptions for aliments.

There are plans to tie up with the Tanjavur Tamil University based in South India to train Malaysian staff on the subject, to create awareness among believers on soothsayers.

Azmin says only gave advice to Khalid

Azmin said he merely ‘advised’ Khalid.

SHAH ALAM, June 26 — PKR vice-president Azmin Ali downplayed today rumours that he is party to an internal PKR coup to oust Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, pointing out instead that he had only offered advice to the Selangor mentri besar.SHAH ALAM, June 26 — PKR vice-president Azmin Ali downplayed today rumours that he is party to an internal PKR coup to oust Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, pointing out instead that he had only offered advice to the Selangor mentri besar.
Grab a Celcom Blue Bear(TM) and stand to walk away with RM10,000!

Azmin said he had merely “advised” Khalid to pay heed to the grouses of businessmen who were unhappy with the speed at which their permits were being processed.

“Approvals must be quick, transparent and responsible. This is what we advised. We didn’t ask that Tan Sri Khalid be let go,” he said at Quality Hotel here where PKR is having its weekend retreat.

“We never said that Tan Sri Khalid should be fired. No. The leadership and I merely feel that the mentri besar and his exco must give serious attention to the advice given by party members in Kota Baru (during the recent party convention).”

However, he added that it was unfortunate that action had yet to be taken one month on from the PKR Congress held in Kelantan.

PKR has been thrown into disarray since two of the party’s lawmakers recently confirmed that a “coup” to remove Khalid from office was being led by Teluk Kemang MP Datuk Kamarul Bahrain Abbas, who has denied the accusation.

The alleged revolt is believed to have started from Azmin’s resignation from PKNS three days ago.

Khalid has dismissed the revolt as mere speculation.

Azmin said Selangor’s economy would be slowed down by lengthy approval times and too much bureaucracy as it was based on investment, industry and land, not natural resources.

“This is our concern... as a leader, not a question of challenging any individual,” he said.

He added that he was prepared to give his full support to Khalid and his team but cautioned that they will have to take a more proactive attitude towards developing the state economy.

“Our message [to Khalid] is that the problem is serious,” he said.

“Complaints and criticisms from the business community and the people of Selangor are serious and must be addressed immediately. That’s all.”

Azmin reiterated his support for Khalid but said that as a mentri besar who has been entrusted by PKR to translate the party agenda to policy, Khalid should do it as soon as possible without bureaucracy, graft, misuse of power and bribery.

“From this point of view, Tan Sri Khalid has done a good job, meaning his administration is clean. There’s no graft, misuse of power or bribery. But the problem of [excessive] bureaucracy remains, and this has be fixed,” he said.

He said Selangor had to perform at its best because it was a “role model” to showcase the policies and administrative capabilities of Pakatan Rakyat (PR).

“If this can be done, I don’t see Pakatan Rakyat having any problems getting to Putrajaya.”

Azmin said that Barisan Nasional (BN) and the media have mistaken his motives due to “cultural” differences.

“I feel the media, Umno and Barisan Nasional have never seen such a culture of openness,” he said.

He said BN MPs and state assemblymen who comment on their leadership would have been blacklisted.

“But for us, we advise our leaders openly because we love the party and this state,” he said.

Azmin also denied any knowledge of an anti-Khalid faction within PKR.

“I never said Pakatan 15 or Group of 15. This is all media terminology. There is no pakatan (alliance), only Pakatan Rakyat,” he said.

The DAP earlier today issued a statement warning PKR to keep its house in order and to sort out any internal bickering at its current weekend retreat as rumours of the coup have begun to negatively affect PR component parties.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said PAS and DAP will soon meet up with Khalid to discuss the latest matters pertaining to the state.

Perkasa not an obstacle to 1Malaysia, says Ibrahim

KOTA BARU: The Malay right-wing group, Perkasa, has denied the allegation by Rembau MP, Khairy Jamaluddin, that its approach on certain issues posed an obstacle to the 1Malaysia concept.

Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali said the movement championed the cause of the Malays and was not a racist organisation which encouraged hatred against other races.

"Perkasa's criticisms regarding several issues such as the latest on the statement by MCA Youth chief Wee Ka Siong should not be misconstrued as being an obstacle to the 1Malaysia concept," he told reporters here today.

Wee was criticised by Perkasa for raising the issue on the award of scholarships by the Public Service Department (PSD) to the Bumiputera.

Ibrahim, who is also the Independent Pasir Mas MP, said there were now many issues concerning the Malays and that Perkasa was responsible to defend them as provided for in the federal constitution.

-Bernama

I never thought of resigning, says Khalid

SHAH ALAM: Khalid Ibrahim said the thought of quitting as Selangor menteri besar had never crossed his mind.

This, he said, was despite rumours there was a group in PKR wanting to oust him.

"I never thought of it," he told reporters after opening the 17th Selangor Malaysian Indian Youth Council annual general meeting here today.

He was commenting on the existence of a group comprising 15 PKR MPs who wants him to step down as menteri besar, a post which he has been holding since March 2008.

Meanwhile, PKR vice-president R Sivarasa said there was no proof of the group's existence, describing it as merely media speculation.

"Sometimes, in an organisation, we have our differences and these differences will be discussed and resolved through existing channels in the party, like the retreat and the party's supreme council meeting scheduled tomorrow," he said.

In SHAH ALAM, the PKR retreat today did not discuss the call by the group of 15 MPs from the party who wanted Khalid to relinquish his post.

Instead, PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the meeting merely discussed issues on the party's preparation to face the next general election and the election of the party's supreme council members in November.

"I don't know anything and there was no discussion on the matter," she told reporters when met outside the meeting hall, here.

'There's no group of 15'

Meanwhile, several PKR MPs denied the alleged existence of the group of 15.

Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Baharin Abbas said he did not know of any development on the issue and questioned the existence of such a group.

the Pact of 15.

"Why 15, why not 20 or 29? They are just numbers as claimed by someone," he said.

Asked on the allegation that he was the leader of the pact, Kamarul Baharin said: "In the party, I head the MPs and State Assemblymen Secretariat. If you are referring to that, then it's correct.

"The question raised in the media was not discussed specifically. There's no petition, no memorandum. If there is, certainly I would know."

However, he did not rule out the possibility that it might be discussed if it were raised at the party leadership council meeting tomorrow.

Gombak MP Azmin Ali said he had never asked Khalid to resign.

"We criticise, we did not ask Khalid to be removed. We never said that Khalid must be removed. There is no group of 15 MPs. What we have is only the Pakatan Rakyat," he said.

However, a small group of PKR MPs were not happy with the problem of bureaucracy in Khalid's administration and the delivery system was still weak, he said at the two-day PKR retreat.

- Bernama

In the eye of the PKR storm : He who wields the unsheathed dagger

By Haris Ibrahim,

You get on a packed bus headed to Taiping.

Same journey for all 50 passengers, but each having their own agenda in wanting to reach that common destination.

The same can be said of the group of 15 PKR MPs, now called ‘G15′ by certain quarters, who are reported to be pushing an agenda to displace Khalid Ibrahim as MB of Selangor.

My sources tell me that G15 actually numbers 11.

Khalid claims to be in the dark about this agenda.

Yeah, right!

As does Azmin, even as he conceals the unsheathed dagger beneath the cloak of political intrigue and  deception.

“I don’t know of any move by MPs to start a petition on this matter. I am not denying it, I don’t know. How could I agree or disagree when I have no access to information…I am not part of this so I wouldn’t know, I was not at the meeting, when was the meeting honestly? Let me check with my colleagues” , Malaysiakini reported Azmin as saying of this rumoured uprising.

“If I wanted to pull him down, I would have done it after March 8 general election. Why now? His term is expiring soon, so why now? If that was my game, I should have done it before” , FreeMalaysiaToday reports Azmin as responding to suggestions that he is behind moves to topple Khalid as MB.

Yet, the truth, as known by anyone who is anything in PKR, is that Azmin has long wanted to bring Khalid down, the former coveting the MBship of Selangor for himself even as the dust of the 12th GE began to settle.

PKR’s Elizabeth Wong has called on the G15 members to ‘show their faces’.

Huh!

The truth, again, is that anyone who is anything in PKR knows who they are.

That necessarily includes Anwar.

Indeed, at the just concluded PKR national congress in Kota Baru last month, the MP for Teluk Kemang, representing  10 other PKR MPs, brought to Anwar’s attention their grievances about Khalid’s leadership of the Selangor government, and their demand that Khalid be immediately relieved of the office of MB.

Anwar, I am told, assured Kamarul that their grievances would be looked into and addressed.

The next day, after delivering her presidential address, and at a press conference, Wan Azizah made it clear that Khalid would remain as MB of Selangor.

In her presidential address, she defended Khalid against the criticism leveled at him.

“He has defended the principles of transparency and accountability by chipping away at the wastage and corruption that have become part of Umno’s culture. The courage of the Selangor government in introducing Selcat – exposing all, is the renewal that we can be proud of” , Malaysiakini reports her as saying.

Did Anwar, then, renege on any assurances given to Kamarul? Were there any assurances given to placate the group?

Only Anwar and Kamarul can tell us.

I had sms’d Anwar several times asking to meet in the hope of clearing this with him.

No response.

I guess he’s been too busy.

Now slighted by the president’s defence of Khalid, the group of disenchanted MPs began to make their moves.

And as they did, some from within their ranks, big boys within the party set up who, until then, were said to be aligned to he who wields the unsheathed dagger, either grew somewhat alarmed with the direction the group was taking or came to be viewed with suspicion, given the plot that was being hatched.

Whatever the reason, he who bites, another who holds the party purse strings and one of the party’s v-ps, either withdrew or were dumped from G15.

And in their place stepped in Gwo Burne and Kapar Mike.

So who make up the 11 in G15 now?

Here’s the list.

Manikavasagam of Kapar, Gwo-Burne of Kelana Jaya, Rashid Din of Merbok, Abdul Aziz Abdul Kadir of Ketereh, Kamarul Baharin of Teluk Kemang, Azan Ismail of Indera Mahkota, Mohd Yusmadi Mohd Yusoff of Balik Pulau,  Zuraida Kamaruddin of Ampang, and Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid of Kuala Langat.

That’s only 9, did you say?

Well, throw in that low-life, froggie Wee Choo Keong of Wangsa Maju, and he who wields the unsheathed dagger, and there’s your 11.

Now, if nothing else, the presence of Wee in this clandestine effort to depose the leadership in Selangor must cast serious doubts on the intentions of some, if not all, involved.

Unless Wee’s complicity is not known to all the other 10, which then lends a more sinister sheen to their agenda.

Why the move to unseat Khalid, then?

Last night, 17 out of 22 Selangor PKR division leaders turned up at MB Khalid’s house to pledge their support for MB.  Malaysiakini has a report on this HERE.

He who wields the unsheathed dagger was amongst the 5 not present. No reasons given.

Selangor PKR, the Aduns and the Exco members, it would seem, are, rightly or wrongly, generally supportive of Khalid.

If this whole issue is indeed about Selangor and little else, where do the non-Selangor MPs fit in?

What gives?

I spoke to several Selangor Adun and Excos before last night’s meeting at the MB’s residence.

All said the same. The problem with Khalid is that he is not a politician, but a corporate bureaucrat, and not a very good one, at that.

Quite a few said he’s not decisive enough.

And afraid to tackle some thorny issues head on.

And there’s little deliberation between him and other party leaders.

But he’s clean, they all say.

And there was no-one else to helm the state government in the wake of the 12th GE tsunami.

What about he who wields the unsheathed dagger, I asked.

“The word is that if you want to make money, align yourself to Azmin. Do you want him as MB?”, one Adun responded.

So what’s the beef that these MPs have with Khalid, then?

Contract opportunities and money, I am told.

Kamarul, a long time and loyal supporter of Anwar, and who apparently dug deep into his own financial resources to help the party, is said to be now up against the wall, in financial dire straits.

Yusmadi, it seems, enjoys a life style that exceeds his means. His wife, a legal practitioner, receives work from the Selangor state government but, it seems, that’s just not enough.

All, it seems, are moved by personal interest with little consideration for the people of Selangor.

And for one, that personal interest is about removing the competition for the race to the top.

“Everyone knows that Azmin wanted the MB’s post and has resented Khalid’s appointment. Azmin still wants the post but this has nothing to do with the well-being of Selangor”, the Adun I spoke to offered.

It would seem that he who wields the unsheathed dagger has set his sights beyond just the seat of power in Selangor.

Well beyond Selangor.

Much has come to pass since 8th March, 2008.

Syed Husin Ali has announced he will not be looking to defend his incumbent position as deputy president at the party elections this coming November.

Number 2 post is therefore up for grabs.

And whilst it was always assumed by certain quarters that Wan Azizah would make way for Anwar to rise uncontested to the position of party president, this now hangs precariously in the balance given the real uncertainty of Anwar remaining at large upon the conclusion of the ongoing Sodomy 2 trial, appeal and all.

Anwar, however, I’m told, has been insisting that he will not avail himself for the position of party president, much to the annoyance of many in the party.

Is number 1, too, ripe for the picking?

Who, in the party, are seen as likely candidates?

Khalid, for all the criticism that has rained on him, cannot be discounted.

And then there is the new kid on the block, Zaid.

He who wields the unsheathed dagger, too, fancies his chances.

A possible three-horse race, then?

And in comes G15, made up by a majority of non-Selangor MPs, maneuvering to finish off Khalid, leaving only Zaid to be dealt with on a  later date, if the internally sabotaged Hulu Selangor by-election is not seen as having done enough.

Against this backdrop, the G15, minus Wee, is beginning to look like a national team built along the lines of BN, to wrest power in PKR this coming November.

Why like BN?

Well, Gwo-Burne and Mike representing the ‘nons’ in an otherwise all-Malay team does look line BN all over again, does it not?

All this for an aspirant to high office?

Is this the politics of PKR that we should brace ourselves for?

Is this the politics that will pave the way for Pakatan Rakyat to Putrajaya?

Where is Anwar whilst this drama unfolds?

Make no mistake, Anwar is aware of all that is happening.

Yet he appears to turn a blind eye to this, seemingly unable to rein in his protege.

This does not appear to be the first time.

As two Sabah PKR divisional chiefs observed some time back, and reported in Malaysiakini, “We don’t know what kind of hold Azmin has over Anwar and that disturbs us. Something is just not right here.“

Indeed, little is right in PKR at the moment.

Much of what is dreadfully wrong is seen by many in party leadership as stemming from Anwar’s indecisiveness in dealing effectively with the cancerous cells within the party.

Remember Zul Nordin?

I just got this sms from someone who is at the PKR retreat at Shah Alam.

“If Anwar does not shape up, there will be no PKR in 6 months”.

I’ll end this post with an excerpt from Martin Jalleh’s ‘Please pack up and go, PKR’.

“Please, please PKR stop pushing your fanciful dreams about occupying Putrajaya when you are in such a pathetic and pitiful state with your prima donna politicians parading their shameless petty and puerile politics in public.As a party you have become laughable, and as RPK predicts you could be facing your last days!…Your endless intra-party squabbles, spats and skirmishes and splintered groups sicken those of us who once supported, voted and stood steadfastly by you…We are tired of your MPs and Assemblymen’s threats to resign, their taunts to one another to quit and their theatrics and tantrums to be turncoats…Your politicians are made up mainly of clowns who crap, crow, clamour for and cry aloud about change but cling on to their political charades, chicanery, claptrap and conspiracies, instead of collaborating at all costs in your professed commitment to bring about concrete change…Yes, go for your weekend retreat PKR leaders. I hope you will prove me and many others wrong but my guess is that you will still be a party weak, wavering, wobbling, wandering and wanting to do each other in…as you chart your way into political wilderness! The road to Putrajaya requires stomach, stamina, synergy, solidarity and the sacrifice of personal agendas for the larger national agenda. Sadly, this journey has been stymied by your somnolent, selfish, self-centered and supercilious political representatives, whom Bolehland can do well without”.

Don’t Condone Najib’s Excesses, Anwar Tells Obama

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, who faces a return to prison on controversial sodomy charges, is asking the United States to temper its enthusiasm for building ties with his country.

MCPXOn a visit to Washington, Anwar welcomed the attention paid to Malaysia by President Barack Obama but said the administration needed to be careful not to be “condoning the excesses” of Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government.

“Just because we have a prime minister coming here and agreeing with whatever Obama wants him to do or to say does not erase or protect him from the crimes committed at home,” Anwar told AFP.

Najib visited Washington in April for a major summit on nuclear security and backed Obama in opposing any move by Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Some Malaysian officials saw Najib’s visit as a breakthrough after years of rocky ties. Veteran former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a strident critic of US foreign policy, although the countries have long been major trading partners.

The Obama administration has put a renewed focus on Southeast Asia, believing it was overlooked under former president George W Bush, and on reaching out to the world’s moderate Muslims.

“What do you mean by a moderate Muslim country? Does that mean you can detain people without trial, deny basic freedom, you can ill-treat and discriminate against religious minorities?” Anwar said.

“We can be very tolerant, we can condemn the Iranians – can that cover the stench in your backyard? I don’t believe so.”

‘Political assassination’

Anwar is accused of sodomy by a 25-year-old former aide, who said Anwar propositioned him at an apartment in 2008.

Sodomy, even among consenting adults, is illegal in Malaysia. If convicted, Anwar could face up to 20 years imprisonment.

Anwar, a 62-year-old father of six, previously spent six years in solitary confinement on separate sex and corruption counts after being sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998 following a falling out with Mahathir.

In prison, Anwar said he read the complete works of Shakespeare four times.

The Malaysian government says that the court is independent and obliged to pursue lawsuits filed by any individual.

But Anwar said the trial amounted to “political assassination” by Najib to prevent him from taking power. The opposition made major strides in 2008 elections, stunning the BN coalition that has been in power for half a century.

Anwar has lost a series of legal maneuvers in his trial, including failing to win access to medical reports and to statements by his accuser.

Anwar in Washington DC

He said he appreciated support from the United States but found the Obama administration’s overall record on human rights “disappointing.”

“We expect them to do more than Bush – these people who believe in freedom, human rights, the rule of law,” Anwar said.

Anwar met in Washington with senior policymakers including Kurt Campbell, the assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs, who promised in April that the United States would closely scrutinise Anwar’s trial.

Anwar was in the US capital at the invitation of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, where he delivered a lecture arguing that democracy was compatible with Islam in Southeast Asia.

In his public remarks, Anwar strongly criticised a former Malaysian government ban on non-Muslims using the word ‘Allah’ as a translation for ‘God’.

A court struck down the ban on December 31, after which assailants attacked a number of churches.

“It’s completely insane and ridiculous to suggest that you can impose on others, non-Muslims, a law denying them a right to call their God whatever name,” Anwar said.

“This can only come from a ruling establishment or clique that is myopic, racist, clearly intolerant and undemocratic,” he said.

- AFP

Ulama's Participation Won't Turn Umno Into Extremist Party - Najib

KUANTAN, June 26 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Saturday the participation of many ulama in Umno will not turn the party into an extremist Islamic party.

On the other hand, the Prime Minister said, their participation proved that the policy of Umno's struggles in promoting the sanctity of Islam in the country was recognised by the ulama.

"We don't want Umno to be perceived as an extremist party. Islam is actually not a religion that practices extremism. So, we will champion Islam that is acceptable to everyone," he told reporters after opening a programme organised by YaPEIM, the Muslim economic development foundation, here.

Also present was the prime minister's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is the patron of YaPEIM, and the chairman of the YaPEIM board of trustees, Datuk Ahmad Tajudin Abdul Rahman.

He was commenting on the move by 40 young ulama throughout the country who had submitted their Umno membership forms to him in Kuala Lumpur last night.

Najib, who is also the Umno president, said the party had always welcomed intellectuals well-versed in Islam to join Umno.

"I hope this marks the beginning of more participation by academicians in Islamic studies to join and support the Umno cause," he said.

The Prime Minister said Umno had proven that the policies of its struggles all this while had made Malaysia into a model Muslim nation at the international level.

"We will continue to strengthen Umno's struggles and ensure that what we are doing is in line with the wishes and requirements of Islam," he said.

-- BERNAMA