Monday 8 April 2013
Al-Qaida leader urges Muslims to unite in struggle
By: Associated Press
CAIRO — Al-Qaida's leader has urged Muslims in Arab Spring countries to unite to institute an Islamic state, while warning France that its intervention in Mali will be bogged down.
"I warn France that it will meet in Mali, with God's permission, the same fate America met in Iraq and Afghanistan," Ayman Al-Zawahri said in a 103-minute audio message posted on militant websites late Saturday.
France launched a military operation in Mali last January after being asked to intervene by the country's interim president. Since then, French and Malian troops have liberated main towns in the north, but remnants of an al-Qaida cell remain active there in some of the vast, rural areas.
In the recording, al-Zawahri urged Muslims to liberate their lands from oppressive regimes and foreign troops, apply Islamic law, halt the plundering of Muslim wealth, support rebellious Muslims and oppressed people worldwide, and establish the Islamic Caliphate, or religious state.
The audio was produced by al-Qaida's media arm, As-Sahab, and was presented alongside video footage showing Iranian revolutionary guards captured in Syria, and other events in the Middle East.
The al-Qaida leader praised the mujahedeen, or holy warriors, in Syria, urging them to step up their fight against the regime of President Bashar Assad. But he also warned them against letting the country fall under the influence of the United States, the Arab League, the United Nations and Israel should they gain control of it.
"(They) want to steal your sacrifices and your jihad to give them to their supporters in Washington, Moscow and Tel Aviv."
Al-Zawahri also lashed out against Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Iran for their support of Assad, saying that "the true faces of Iran and Hezbollah have been exposed, and their ugly reality has appeared in the field of holy war in Syria." He called The Syrian government a "criminal secular" regime.
Al-Zawahri, an Egyptian, criticized the country's ruling Muslim Brotherhood for a weak response to the country's poverty, saying "the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Have the Islamic movements provided better education, health or transportation?"
He also attacked the country's new constitution, drawn up by the Brotherhood and other Islamic movements, for not being religious enough. The charter, he said, approved by referendum last December, fell short of promises made by the Brotherhood, an Islamist movement that is the country's most powerful political force.
He objected to the fact that the current constitution designates Islamic law, or Sharia, only as "the main source" of legislation, rather than the "sole source."
Al-Zawahri's previous message, in which he urged Muslims to join Somali militants, was in November.
Pakatan: BN took a leaf from our manifesto
According to PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, PAS has identified at nine issues in which BN had borrowed from the Pakatan manifesto published in February.
He told a press conference today that the wordings may be different, but ideas were essentially the same.
Among others, Mustafa pointed out that BN's promise to review the national automative policy to gradually reduce car prices by between 20 to 30 percent, was not original.
Pakatan had promised to gradually remove car excise duties with the intention to totally remove the tax in order to have a competitive automotive industry.
On BN's promise of 20 percent special payments for oil producing states, Mustafa said that this was again similar.
Pakatan had promised in their manifesto to increase oil royalty payments from 5 percent currently, to 20 percent.
"These are just a few examples of how several of our ideas appeared in the BN manifesto. It is not a coincidence, but it is plagiarism," he said.
PKR: No real reforms from BN
Meanwhile, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said the BN manifesto pales in comparisan to Pakatan’s in terms of outlining proper reforms.
"This is plagiarism in its clear definition. Their manifesto is populist, but misses out on the more important points, which are fundamental reforms," she said after a free health screening event in Pantai Dalam.
In comparison, Nurul Izzah said Pakatan had properly outlined how it will eradicate corruption and break monopolies.
“Our manifesto is about curbing the problems at the very cause,” she said.
The BN manifesto had stated that more courts would be established specifically to hear more graft cases.
What about GST?
She pointed out that the manifesto had left out any mention of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which is expected to be implemented after the general election.
"They should have made the announcement in the manifesto. We know they plan to implement the GST, but where is the GST in the manifesto?" she asked.
She said that the GST has already been tabled in the Parliament and that the MPs come across the Bill before.
"It has always been on the top of a stack of Bills but it was never debated. BN should be clear in their intentions with regards to the GST," she said.
DPM admits Pakatan a tough opponent, warns BN against complacency
Deputy
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin launching the Barisan Nasional
Command Centre at Taman Bullion Mewah. – Picture by Saw Siow FengKUALA LUMPUR, April 7 – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin warned the Barisan Nasional (BN) machinery today against complacency, admitting that beating Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the coming polls contest would not be an easy task.The deputy BN chairman said the opposition will be fighting tooth and nail to achieve its Putrajaya goal this time around and would not give up so easily.
“We have to be ready because it will not be easy to get the opposition to surrender,” he told BN members when launching the pact’s Batu parliamentary command centre here.
Muhyiddin told party workers to work their hardest to draw more support for BN, adding they should not give up as long as victory is not yet on their side.
“Do not sleep until the very final day. Only once we have won, you can sleep for however long you like... but as long as victory is not in our hands, we have to be alert... do not allow our enemies to sneak up on us and influence our voters,” he told some 500 at the function this evening.
“Let us go down to every area, ask how people are, their problems, and if they respond, then it is not impossible for Batu to return to BN,” he said, referring to the Batu parliamentary seat held by PKR vice-president Chua Tian Chang since Election 2008.
The country’s number two also warned party members not to take any issue lightly, reminding them that the voters are the “kings” who would determine BN’s fate in the coming polls.
“But we cannot assume that everything would be so easy, the voters will be the determinants, the voters are the king, they could do whatever they like... even without reason, because no one can force them to choose a party,” he said.
Before launching the command centre, Muhyiddin, in his visit to the Batu constituency, enjoyed some teatime snacks with the voters of Kampung Padang Balang in Sentul.
He said all BN component parties need to stay cohesive and cooperative among one another despite their differences, adding that this would help keep the pact strong.
In a televised address on Wednesday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the dissolution of the Dewan Rakyat, paving the way for the long-awaited 13th general election.
The Malaysian Insider understands that the polls may be held as soon as April 20 or a week later on April 27, depending on the Election Commission’s (EC) arrangements.
The EC will meet next Wednesday to set the dates for nominations and polling that must he held within 60 days of it getting the notice of dissolution from every state legislative assembly that has yet to be dissolved.
Politicians from the ruling BN and opposition PR will be fighting hard to wrest majority control over 222 parliamentary seats and 505 state seats in the coming polls, which analysts have said is a toss-up between both pacts.
‘Uplift the Indian community too, Najib’
While urging Najib to do more for the Indian community, Tunku Aziz also criticised DAP's manifesto for Indians for being prepared overnight to fish Indian votes.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, a former Transparency International-Malaysia president, wants Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak to endorse and implement the Hindraf Makkal Sakti’s blueprint to correct the historical wrongs committed on the Indian community.
Pointing out that Indians have been marginalised since colonial days, Tunku Abdul Aziz said by right the government should have implemented a blueprint on its own to uplift the Indians by now.
If only successive governments had implemented what was needful and rightful for the Indians since independence, he said Hindraf and Indians would not have resorted to the streets or tabled a blueprint to exert their rightful demands.
He stressed Najib must endorse the blueprint and implement it fully if he was serious with his transformation plans for the country.
He said it would be an ill-conceived idea for Najib to implement his transformation plans while a segment of citizens remained languished.
“I call on Najib to endorse and implement Hindraf blueprint for Indians.
“It is long overdue. Najib should take the bold pro-active initiatives to correct the historical wrongdoings on Indians.
“It’s timely for him to rightly rectify the neglect of past.
“Poor Indians will be grateful to him,” said Tunku Aziz, formerly a DAP vice-chairman, adding that Najib was a premier who listens and delivers to the people.
He also dismissed criticisms that Hindraf blueprint was an extreme and racist agenda for one particular community.
DAP’s instand noodle blueprint
Tunku Aziz insisted that the blueprint was a legitimate demand to uplift Malaysians of Indian origin sidelined from country’s mainstream development.
“Hindraf is not demanding the sky and the moon for the Indians.
“It’s just asking the government of the day to correct past wrongs done on Indians.
“It’s just asking for a policy for Indians that by right should have been implemented long time ago,” he told FMT when he was here to speak at a public rally in Bukit Mertajam last night.
On the 14-point DAP manifesto for Indians, he said it was an “instant noodle” prepared overnight to fish Indian votes.
He mocked the DAP Indian representatives for preparing the instant blueprint to hoodwink Indians when for five years they merely stood and watch as the DAP-helmed state government in Penang and the party’s executive councillors in Selangor failed to implement any worthy policy to benefit Indians.
Dubbed as “Gelang Patah Declaration”, the DAP blueprint was unveiled by party senior leader Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency.
During his time in DAP, Tunku Aziz said he had never heard of Lim, his son, Guan Eng, or Indian representatives like P Ramasamy, M Kulasegaran and Charles Santiago highlighting, discussing or finding solutions for Indian issues.
He said the only person who would constantly highlight Indian issues in DAP and Pakatan Rakyat meetings was former Senator S Ramakrishnan.
“DAP has done nothing for Indians but came up with a bombardstic glamour declaration to cheat Indians,” said Tunku Abdul Aziz.
BUKIT MERTAJAM: Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim, a former Transparency International-Malaysia president, wants Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak to endorse and implement the Hindraf Makkal Sakti’s blueprint to correct the historical wrongs committed on the Indian community.Pointing out that Indians have been marginalised since colonial days, Tunku Abdul Aziz said by right the government should have implemented a blueprint on its own to uplift the Indians by now.
If only successive governments had implemented what was needful and rightful for the Indians since independence, he said Hindraf and Indians would not have resorted to the streets or tabled a blueprint to exert their rightful demands.
He stressed Najib must endorse the blueprint and implement it fully if he was serious with his transformation plans for the country.
He said it would be an ill-conceived idea for Najib to implement his transformation plans while a segment of citizens remained languished.
“I call on Najib to endorse and implement Hindraf blueprint for Indians.
“It is long overdue. Najib should take the bold pro-active initiatives to correct the historical wrongdoings on Indians.
“It’s timely for him to rightly rectify the neglect of past.
“Poor Indians will be grateful to him,” said Tunku Aziz, formerly a DAP vice-chairman, adding that Najib was a premier who listens and delivers to the people.
He also dismissed criticisms that Hindraf blueprint was an extreme and racist agenda for one particular community.
DAP’s instand noodle blueprint
Tunku Aziz insisted that the blueprint was a legitimate demand to uplift Malaysians of Indian origin sidelined from country’s mainstream development.
“Hindraf is not demanding the sky and the moon for the Indians.
“It’s just asking the government of the day to correct past wrongs done on Indians.
“It’s just asking for a policy for Indians that by right should have been implemented long time ago,” he told FMT when he was here to speak at a public rally in Bukit Mertajam last night.
On the 14-point DAP manifesto for Indians, he said it was an “instant noodle” prepared overnight to fish Indian votes.
He mocked the DAP Indian representatives for preparing the instant blueprint to hoodwink Indians when for five years they merely stood and watch as the DAP-helmed state government in Penang and the party’s executive councillors in Selangor failed to implement any worthy policy to benefit Indians.
Dubbed as “Gelang Patah Declaration”, the DAP blueprint was unveiled by party senior leader Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah parliamentary constituency.
During his time in DAP, Tunku Aziz said he had never heard of Lim, his son, Guan Eng, or Indian representatives like P Ramasamy, M Kulasegaran and Charles Santiago highlighting, discussing or finding solutions for Indian issues.
He said the only person who would constantly highlight Indian issues in DAP and Pakatan Rakyat meetings was former Senator S Ramakrishnan.
“DAP has done nothing for Indians but came up with a bombardstic glamour declaration to cheat Indians,” said Tunku Abdul Aziz.
Be transparent with Petronas money first
'My biggest beef with the BN federal government is this: Why is there no oil-based sovereign wealth fund (SWF) for Malaysia?'
COMMENT
By Chua Jui Meng
Malaysia’s non-commodity Khazanah Nasional, founded in 1993, is ranked 23 with US$34 billion in assets and a Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index (LM-TI) of 5.
The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is Norway’s oil-based Government Pension Fund-Global. It was set up in 1990 and is currently registered with assets worth US$664.3 billion with a perfect 10 LM-TI.
UAE-Abu Dhabi’s oil-based Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, established in 1976, is ranked second with US$627 billion with a 5 LM-TI.
At third ranking China’s non-commodity SAFE Investment Company which was founded in 1997 and now manages assets worth US$567.9 billion with a 4 LM-TI.
That’s the top three SWFs in the world. Now, let’s focus on our neighbours.
Singapore’s non-commodity Government of Singapore Investment Corporation that was set up in 1981 is ranked 8th with assets at US$247.5 billion and a 6 LM-TI.
Following at 9th rank is another Singapore non-commodity SWF, Temasek Holdings which was established in 1974. It has US$157.5 billion in assets and a perfect 10 LM-TI.
Even countries like Kuwait, which was severely damaged by Iraq’s bombing and brief occupation, Libya, Kazakhstan, Algeria and South Korea which was far poorer than Malaysia in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Malaysia Boleh is thus really Malaysia Tak Boleh under BN-Umno’s 55-year rule.
My biggest beef with the BN federal government is this: Why is there no oil-based SWF for Malaysia?
Malaysia is the 27th largest oil producer in the world, rolling out 693,700 bbl/day. Only 114 countries are listed as at 2009 and 2010.
Compare Malaysia with the above mentioned countries that are doing better in SWF asset management: Kuwait (10th at 2,494,000 bbl/day), Libya (17th at 1,790,000 bbl/day), Kazakhstan (18th at 1,540,000 bbl/day), Algeria (15th at 2,125,000 bbl/day), South Korea (64th at 48,180 bbl/day) and Singapore (82nd at 10,910 bbl/day).
Petronas, founded in 1974, is today a global player in oil and gas exploration.
A debt is a debt!
Why is the government just satisfied with an annual RM100 million contribution to National Trust Fund, or KWAN, since 1988? Are you treating Malaysians as monkeys and giving out peanuts?
Where has Petronas’ trillions of ringgit in revenue over the past 38 years gone to? Did Petronas’ oil and gas exploration presence in 32 countries outside Malaysia contribute or help facilitate the bulk of RM1.08 trillion in capital flight in the last decade?
Why avoid establishing an oil-based sovereign fund for the people and country? Is it because financial transparency and accountability would be a pain?
Petronas’ Q3 2012 profits are down 22%. That is a significant drop in financial performance.
But all these beg the question: With such wealth over 38 years, why is Malaysia’s national debt, as reflected by Budget 2013, at RM502 billion or 1.3% short of the 55% legislated debt ceiling?
But Deputy International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir had let the cat out in an interview with The Edge last year, claiming that Malaysia’s debts were well managed as the bulk of the RM800 billion borrowings were domestic!
A debt is a debt! You have to repay all, whether domestic or foreign. Also, which is the true figure for our federal debt? RM502 billion or RM800 billion?
Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor state chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member.
COMMENT
By Chua Jui MengMalaysia’s non-commodity Khazanah Nasional, founded in 1993, is ranked 23 with US$34 billion in assets and a Linaburg-Maduell Transparency Index (LM-TI) of 5.
The world’s largest sovereign wealth fund (SWF) is Norway’s oil-based Government Pension Fund-Global. It was set up in 1990 and is currently registered with assets worth US$664.3 billion with a perfect 10 LM-TI.
UAE-Abu Dhabi’s oil-based Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, established in 1976, is ranked second with US$627 billion with a 5 LM-TI.
At third ranking China’s non-commodity SAFE Investment Company which was founded in 1997 and now manages assets worth US$567.9 billion with a 4 LM-TI.
That’s the top three SWFs in the world. Now, let’s focus on our neighbours.
Singapore’s non-commodity Government of Singapore Investment Corporation that was set up in 1981 is ranked 8th with assets at US$247.5 billion and a 6 LM-TI.
Following at 9th rank is another Singapore non-commodity SWF, Temasek Holdings which was established in 1974. It has US$157.5 billion in assets and a perfect 10 LM-TI.
Even countries like Kuwait, which was severely damaged by Iraq’s bombing and brief occupation, Libya, Kazakhstan, Algeria and South Korea which was far poorer than Malaysia in the 60s, 70s and 80s.
Malaysia Boleh is thus really Malaysia Tak Boleh under BN-Umno’s 55-year rule.
My biggest beef with the BN federal government is this: Why is there no oil-based SWF for Malaysia?
Malaysia is the 27th largest oil producer in the world, rolling out 693,700 bbl/day. Only 114 countries are listed as at 2009 and 2010.
Compare Malaysia with the above mentioned countries that are doing better in SWF asset management: Kuwait (10th at 2,494,000 bbl/day), Libya (17th at 1,790,000 bbl/day), Kazakhstan (18th at 1,540,000 bbl/day), Algeria (15th at 2,125,000 bbl/day), South Korea (64th at 48,180 bbl/day) and Singapore (82nd at 10,910 bbl/day).
Petronas, founded in 1974, is today a global player in oil and gas exploration.
A debt is a debt!
Why is the government just satisfied with an annual RM100 million contribution to National Trust Fund, or KWAN, since 1988? Are you treating Malaysians as monkeys and giving out peanuts?
Where has Petronas’ trillions of ringgit in revenue over the past 38 years gone to? Did Petronas’ oil and gas exploration presence in 32 countries outside Malaysia contribute or help facilitate the bulk of RM1.08 trillion in capital flight in the last decade?
Why avoid establishing an oil-based sovereign fund for the people and country? Is it because financial transparency and accountability would be a pain?
Petronas’ Q3 2012 profits are down 22%. That is a significant drop in financial performance.
But all these beg the question: With such wealth over 38 years, why is Malaysia’s national debt, as reflected by Budget 2013, at RM502 billion or 1.3% short of the 55% legislated debt ceiling?
But Deputy International Trade and Industry Mukhriz Mahathir had let the cat out in an interview with The Edge last year, claiming that Malaysia’s debts were well managed as the bulk of the RM800 billion borrowings were domestic!
A debt is a debt! You have to repay all, whether domestic or foreign. Also, which is the true figure for our federal debt? RM502 billion or RM800 billion?
Chua Jui Meng is PKR vice-president and Johor state chief. He is also a former MCA vice-president and an ex-Cabinet member.
Palanivel under fire over seat swaps
There is fear within MIC that by contesting in the Jalong state seat, MIC is reducing its chances of winning back Sungai Siput parliamentary seat.
PETALING JAYA: MIC leaders are hoping that their president G Palanivel would not swap seats in Perak in a move that could eventually lead to the party losing its high chances of winning back the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat.
Palanivel revealed during the party’s central working committee meeting earlier this week that he was currently in talks with BN component parties to swap two state seats in Perak and one state seat in Johor.
However, one particular state seat in Perak – Jalong – is causing much concern to party leaders, and party workers in Sungai Siput.
Jalong is one of two state seats under Sungai Siput. It was won by DAP’s Leong Mee Meng in 2008, who defeated Gerakan’s Cheah Chee Kuan by a majority of 5,495 votes. The Gerakan candidate managed to get about 6,000 votes from 18,8002 voters who voted in 2008.
Under the latest electoral roll, Jalong has 27,559 voters, of which Malays are 4,542 voters, Chinese (15,929) and Indians (7,088).
“Gerakan has once again identified a local man to contest in Jalong. They are confident of getting the Chinese support there.
“If MIC takes this seat, there is no guarantee the Chinese voters will back our candidate. In fact, they may just vote for the DAP Chinese candidate,” said a MIC national level leader who wished to remain anonymous at this stage as his own candidacy is not confirmed.
Worse still, he fears, the decision to take Jalong could result in Chinese voters in Sungai Siput turning away from the party.
“As it stands, we do stand a good chance to win back Sungai Siput but if we were to spite the Chinese voters here as a whole, we then risk losing their support in our battle to win back Sungai Siput,” he added.
In the Sungai Siput parliamentary constituency, the Chinese voters hold the majority percentage with 40.2 while Malays form 36.3% and Indians 22.6%. MIC lost the seat to PSM’s Dr Michael D Jeyakumar in 2008.
MIC looks set to pick party vice-president SK Devamany to contest in Sungai Siput as Palanivel is taking over his place at Cameron Highlands.
Party workers also fear that Palanivel’s deals within BN would not translate well on the ground in Sungai Siput.
“We are working hard to get the voters to be acquainted with our candidate. We are putting so much effort to get the Chinese voters to back us again.
“However, all this will be in vain if our gamble in Jalong fails. As a result of that, we may also fail in Sungai Siput,” said a party worker.
Internal political game?
Another national level leader, meanwhile, questioned if Palanivel’s decision to swap a party seat for Jalong is due to MIC’s internal political game.
“Is this being done to end Devamany’s political career in the hope that he would be defeated?” asked the leader.
“As it is, he is being shifted out of his safe seat in Cameron Highlands. He now has to face the tension of working with former president S Samy Vellu who is still thinks of himself as the party’s candidate for Sungai Siput.
“And now this problem over the Jalong state seat. Why not Palanivel just let Devamany re-contest in Cameron Highlands, and he himself stand in Sungai Siput?” asked this leader, who confirmed that he himself would not be contesting in this general election as he was given a “tough seat”.
When contacted, several MIC leaders refused to comment, stating that the matter should be addressed to Palanivel. Palanivel could not be reached for comment.
FMT also learnt that there was an intense discussion over the Jalong seat proposal at the CWC meeting, with most leaders expressing their unhappiness over the swap.
The decision is now with Palanivel to decide if he wants to take the risk of failing to win back Sungai Siput as a result of his unsuccesful wheeling and dealing.
PETALING JAYA: MIC leaders are hoping that their president G Palanivel would not swap seats in Perak in a move that could eventually lead to the party losing its high chances of winning back the Sungai Siput parliamentary seat.Palanivel revealed during the party’s central working committee meeting earlier this week that he was currently in talks with BN component parties to swap two state seats in Perak and one state seat in Johor.
However, one particular state seat in Perak – Jalong – is causing much concern to party leaders, and party workers in Sungai Siput.
Jalong is one of two state seats under Sungai Siput. It was won by DAP’s Leong Mee Meng in 2008, who defeated Gerakan’s Cheah Chee Kuan by a majority of 5,495 votes. The Gerakan candidate managed to get about 6,000 votes from 18,8002 voters who voted in 2008.
Under the latest electoral roll, Jalong has 27,559 voters, of which Malays are 4,542 voters, Chinese (15,929) and Indians (7,088).
“Gerakan has once again identified a local man to contest in Jalong. They are confident of getting the Chinese support there.
“If MIC takes this seat, there is no guarantee the Chinese voters will back our candidate. In fact, they may just vote for the DAP Chinese candidate,” said a MIC national level leader who wished to remain anonymous at this stage as his own candidacy is not confirmed.
Worse still, he fears, the decision to take Jalong could result in Chinese voters in Sungai Siput turning away from the party.
“As it stands, we do stand a good chance to win back Sungai Siput but if we were to spite the Chinese voters here as a whole, we then risk losing their support in our battle to win back Sungai Siput,” he added.
In the Sungai Siput parliamentary constituency, the Chinese voters hold the majority percentage with 40.2 while Malays form 36.3% and Indians 22.6%. MIC lost the seat to PSM’s Dr Michael D Jeyakumar in 2008.
MIC looks set to pick party vice-president SK Devamany to contest in Sungai Siput as Palanivel is taking over his place at Cameron Highlands.
Party workers also fear that Palanivel’s deals within BN would not translate well on the ground in Sungai Siput.
“We are working hard to get the voters to be acquainted with our candidate. We are putting so much effort to get the Chinese voters to back us again.
“However, all this will be in vain if our gamble in Jalong fails. As a result of that, we may also fail in Sungai Siput,” said a party worker.
Internal political game?
Another national level leader, meanwhile, questioned if Palanivel’s decision to swap a party seat for Jalong is due to MIC’s internal political game.
“Is this being done to end Devamany’s political career in the hope that he would be defeated?” asked the leader.
“As it is, he is being shifted out of his safe seat in Cameron Highlands. He now has to face the tension of working with former president S Samy Vellu who is still thinks of himself as the party’s candidate for Sungai Siput.
“And now this problem over the Jalong state seat. Why not Palanivel just let Devamany re-contest in Cameron Highlands, and he himself stand in Sungai Siput?” asked this leader, who confirmed that he himself would not be contesting in this general election as he was given a “tough seat”.
When contacted, several MIC leaders refused to comment, stating that the matter should be addressed to Palanivel. Palanivel could not be reached for comment.
FMT also learnt that there was an intense discussion over the Jalong seat proposal at the CWC meeting, with most leaders expressing their unhappiness over the swap.
The decision is now with Palanivel to decide if he wants to take the risk of failing to win back Sungai Siput as a result of his unsuccesful wheeling and dealing.
Najib vows more cash in people’s pockets
Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent pollster Merdeka Center, however says the steps taken to combat graft were merely "procedural and do not tackle systemic issues".
KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional chairman Najib Tun Razak unveiled a manifesto on Saturday pledging bigger cash handouts, millions of new jobs and lower taxes and crime, as he seeks his first mandate in looming national polls.Speaking to tens of thousands in a packed stadium just outside the capital, he talked up Malaysia’s economic prosperity over his four years in power, promising to do better should he win convincingly in an election expected late April.
“We have fulfilled the hopes of the people. If that was our performance over just four years, imagine what we can achieve in the next five years if we have a strong mandate,” he said in a speech telecast live on national television.
Najib, who dissolved parliament Wednesday, has previously said he is “cautiously optimistic” of a “big” win as his Umno faces what is seen as the toughest challenge to its 56 years in power.
The vote is tipped to be the closest ever, driven by concerns over corruption, the rising cost of living and high crime under an Umno-dominated coalition which has ruled Malaysia since independence in 1957.
Najib has worked hard to rebrand the 13-member Barisan Nasional since taking over the coalition in 2009 by launching a series of reforms to strengthen the economy and grant greater civil liberties.
He has reversed a recession, despite global economic instability, with Malaysia recording a 5.6 percent growth last year while keeping inflation and unemployment at 1.6 and 3.3 percent respectively.
Launching Barisan’s manifesto, he pledged to gradually increase an annual handout he introduced two years ago for millions of poor households from 500 ringgit ($164) to 1,200 ringgit while lowering private and corporate income tax.
The prime minister also promised to build a million low-cost homes and attract 1.3 trillion ringgit in investment by 2020, creating 3.3 million jobs in the country of 29 million people.
The manifesto outlines plans to expand the fight against crime and corruption by increasing the number of special corruption courts and the police force by 4,000 each year.
But Ibrahim Suffian, director of independent pollster Merdeka Center, said the steps taken to combat graft were merely “procedural and do not tackle systemic issues”.
“Najib has instead made a hard sell on his economic track record, but most people don’t feel the 49 percent increase in income over the past three years he talks about. That’s the disconnect,” he added.
Najib is facing his first test at the ballot box and is under pressure to recover from the coalition’s shock 2008 election result, when it lost its traditional two-thirds parliamentary majority.
Recently, influential ex-leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Najib could face a ruling-party leadership putsch if he does not improve on the 2008 setback.
The resurgent opposition, led by charismatic former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim, has gained traction by pledging to tackle authoritarianism and graft and is equally confident of victory.
The opposition currently holds 75 of 222 parliamentary seats and controls four of the country’s 13 states.
The Election Commission has said it will meet Wednesday to decide on a polling date, which must be within 60 days of parliament’s dissolution. Analysts expect it to be held by the end of the month.
AFP
Mahathir backs Ibrahim as Pasir Mas candidate
He also vows to campaign for the Perkasa chief.
SHAH ALAM: Independent MP Ibrahim Ali has received endorsement from former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be fielded as a Barisan Nasional candidate in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, in the coming general election.
Describing Ibrahim as a “selfless” politician when addressing the crowd at an anti-Pakatan rally here today, Mahathir praised him for setting up Perkasa – an NGO – and continuously supporting BN.
“He set up Perkasa not because to promote himself, but to campaign for BN. I think he is a man who deserved to be given a position. I will advise Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to give him a position.
“If he gets nominated in Pasir Mas, I will definitely go there to campaign for him,” he said.
At a press conference later, Mahathir was asked he will still campaign for Ibrahim should BN decide to field another candidate in Pasir Mas,
Sidestepping the question, he said he does not care who the candidate is as long as BN can win.
“But I hope my friend [Ibrahim] will be given a chance; he was detained under Internal Security Act for so long, let’s give him a chance,” he said.
Ibrahim contested under the PAS banner in the 2008 general election and won the seat with 8,991 majority.
However, he soon declared himself an an independent and established Perkasa, a vocal critic of Pakatan Rakyat
SHAH ALAM: Independent MP Ibrahim Ali has received endorsement from former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be fielded as a Barisan Nasional candidate in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, in the coming general election.Describing Ibrahim as a “selfless” politician when addressing the crowd at an anti-Pakatan rally here today, Mahathir praised him for setting up Perkasa – an NGO – and continuously supporting BN.
“He set up Perkasa not because to promote himself, but to campaign for BN. I think he is a man who deserved to be given a position. I will advise Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to give him a position.
“If he gets nominated in Pasir Mas, I will definitely go there to campaign for him,” he said.
At a press conference later, Mahathir was asked he will still campaign for Ibrahim should BN decide to field another candidate in Pasir Mas,
Sidestepping the question, he said he does not care who the candidate is as long as BN can win.
“But I hope my friend [Ibrahim] will be given a chance; he was detained under Internal Security Act for so long, let’s give him a chance,” he said.
Ibrahim contested under the PAS banner in the 2008 general election and won the seat with 8,991 majority.
However, he soon declared himself an an independent and established Perkasa, a vocal critic of Pakatan Rakyat
Pakatan delaying candidate list due to coalition clashes, admits Nurul
(THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat's (PR) delay in announcing its candidate line up despite launching its manifesto two months ago is due to clashes between certain quarters within the coalition, admitted Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar."That is true. It is a challenge for us and we are doing our best in this difficult situation," she said at the PKR Klinik Rakyat medical camp programme at Kampung Kerinchi on Sunday.
She said the staggered announcement of candidates by PR as opposed to the releasing a complete candidate list was due to key factors the leadership had to consider.
"The most important is the winnability factor and we have to take that into account.
"We must also ensure that in the end, the people are able to choose a party that they can trust. If we make a mistake, it will cost us dearly in the upcoming polls," she added.
Ms Nurul, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, described the issue as "teething problems" that will be addressed by PR.
She was asked to comment on PR's staggered candidate announcement despite launching its election manifesto on Feb 25, resulting in clashes within certain opposition camps.
Last Wednesday, PR failed to resolve seat negotiations despite assurances that the matter was finalised by its leadership council.
It was learned from an opposition party official that PKR will unveil its candidate list at a function in Bandar Tun Razak on April 10.
Several quarters within the coalition, including its Sabah allies Pertubuhan Pakatan Perubahan Sabah (PPPS) and Angkatan Perubahan Sabah (APS), have been at odds following the staggered announcement of candidates.
The unhappiness was seen following the public tussle for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat in Johor between Johor PKR chief Datuk Chua Jui Meng and his Democratic Action Party (DAP) counterpart Dr Boo Cheng Hau, which was finally resolved when DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang annouced he would contest there.
Rumblings were also heard following Parti Islam SeMalaysia's (PAS) recent announcement that it would be fielding candidates in the Kangar and Temerloh parliamentary constituencies with PKR announcing later that it would be taking over the Bera, Labuan and Setiawangsa seats.
Sabah PKR also pre-empted any hijacking of seats when it hastily announced its seven candidates for the state's west coast region last Wednesday.
Malaysia's Multi-Ethnic Coalition Near Collapse
Tattered banner
|
Regardless of who wins Malaysia's 13th* general election, expected to be held on April 27, the historic multi-ethnic coalition that has ruled the country since independence will have likely collapsed.
"Whatever the results, the Barisan coalition will cease to exist as we know it because the Malaysian Chinese Association, Gerakan and the Malaysian Indian Congress will be wiped out," a Kuala Lumpur-based businessman told Asia Sentinel. "Assuming UMNO forms the government with Sabah and Sarawak parties, there will be no Chinese and Indian representatives in the government. And that is not a good scenario to have."
The Barisan and the opposition, made up of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat headed by Anwar Ibrahim, the ethnic Chinese Democratic Action Party and the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia are embroiled in what is being called the closest election in the country's history, with both sides predicting victory. One opposition strategist said the race would probably come down to a margin of 10 seats either way in the 222-seat Dewan Rakyat, or parliament.
For most of the time from its 1957 inception as an independent nation, the country has been governed by a carefully engineered amalgam of ethnic parties led by the United Malays National Organization, the Malaysian Chinese Association, the Malaysian Indian Congress and, to a lesser extent, Gerakan, which has faded in recent years.
However, in the debacle of the 2008 election, the MCA was left with just 15 seats in parliament. Gerakan, the second mostly Chinese ethnic party, ended up with just two seats. The MIC was left with three. UMNO won 78.
In the upcoming polls, political analysts say the MCA could see its total seats fall to just one or two, roiled as the party is by years of major scandals and political infighting that once impelled one of the contending factions to secretly film party leader Chua Soi Lek having a sex romp in a hotel room in a vain effort to drive him from politics. The resurgent opposition Democratic Action Party expects to claim the vast majority of Chinese voters. Gerakan, whose base is in Penang, which is controlled by the DAP, could be wiped out completely, the analysts say. The MIC is equally riven by scandal and infighting, with its members and leadership gravitating away towards the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf.
This is not a scenario conjured up by the opposition. It has been discussed within UMNO councils for months as the party has watched the other components of the Barisan drift into disaster. It is at least partly responsible for the rise in race-baiting in recent months as UMNO and its attack-dog ancillaries such as the Malay supremacy NGO Perkasa raise the spectre that ethnic Chinese, and particularly Chinese Christians in a Muslim country, will take over the reins of power.
Ethnic Malays make up 50.4 percent of the population, Chinese 24 percent and Indians 7.1 percent, according to the CIA World Factbook. UMNO sees its chance to keep its leadership of the country intact by winning every available ethnic Malay vote and hopefully luring ethnic Indians back into the fold.
Thus indigenous tribes, most of them in East Malaysia, with 11 percent of the population, probably hold the key to the 2013 election, most political analysts feel. The states of Sabah and Sarawak and the federal territory of Labuan control 57 of the 222 seats. The 165 peninsular seats are almost equally divided between the Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat.
As the MCA in particular descended into chaos, an UMNO operative told Asia Sentinel months ago that UMNO basically decided it would have to go it alone in the 13th general election. While the other ethnic parties will field candidates in the election, UMNO will try to take as many constituencies dominated by ethnic Malays as possible and hope the component parties can have some impact.
If not, the 57 East Malaysia seats -- depending on how the parties controlled by the current chief ministers fare in the election -- will control peninsular Malaysia's destiny. In both Sarawak and Sabah, the bonds of loyalty that keep elected lawmakers tied to particular parties are slippery indeed. In one case in the 1980s, when the opposition unexpectedly took control of the statehouse in Kota Kinabalu, the victorious coalition locked their winning members behind a chain link fence to keep them from being bribed away by the losers.
Should the collapse scenario actually take place, it will produce a "mono-ethnic and unelectable opposition that will be constrained to the Malay belt" in the Peninsula, where 20 million of the 28 million Malaysians make their home -- without the help of the East Malaysian states. Both chief ministers have been implicated, although not indicted, in scandals involving untold amounts of money in bribery for timber sales. They would be pleased to talk to the opposition in exchange for immunity from prosecution.
If UMNO is to rebuild the coalition, win or lose it means its gamble to conduct the election by appealing to the fears or prejudices of its Malay constituency has failed the country at large, and that it must regain the trust of the complex ethnic mosaic that makes up the rest of the country.
"What's left is UMNO seats, high Malay-majority seats," said an opposition political operative. "They might be propped up with some Malay seats in Sarawak, and some Sabah UMNO seats. If they lose, they would have to reconstitute. They have to start moderating their line and to try to get back the support of the minorities. Assuming they hold power, I would assume over the next five years they would have to reconstitute."
It is unsure what the implications are for Malaysian society as a whole. Tension has simmered for decades, since 1969 riots took the lives of hundreds on both sides of the ethnic divide, exacerbated by the New Economic Policy created in 1971 to give economically disadvantaged rural Malays a leg up. Malays get the majority of government jobs and places in universities. The country has been on a 30-year campaign to ensure rising ethnic Malay ownership of the commanding heights of the business community.
So-called Ali Baba companies dot the landscape, with the "Ali" being an ethnic Malay usually sitting behind a polished and empty desk, while "Babas," a nickname for Straits-born Chinese, run the business from the backroom. Billions have been wasted on government-linked companies given to UMNO cronies to run into the ground. An explosive report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released today said as much as RM200 billion* was funneled out of Malaysia last year to Singapore, an astonishing burst of capital flight.
"Malaysia's system of holding back the dynamic Indian and Chinese minorities has turned it into a bastion of mediocrity in a fast-growing region," Wall Street Journal columnist Hugo Restall wrote in an editorial today. "The country's best and brightest leave because the cronyism and racial quotas in education and employment hold them back."
*Corrections. Typo. Originally read 12th general election. Originally read US$200 billion. We apologize for the errors.
Najib on a Knife Edge
Wall Street Journal
Malaysia’s PM faces a struggle to stay in power.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament Wednesday, setting the stage for the country’s 13th general election, probably at the end of the month. According to the constitution the polls could be held no later than June 27, so Mr. Najib’s move was no surprise. The fact that he waited as long as he did is one of many signs that the Prime Minister faces a struggle to stay in power.
Part of the challenge comes from within his own party. After five decades in power, the United Malays National Organization is riddled with corruption and complacency. In the 2008 election, Mr. Najib’s predecessor Abdullah Badawi barely held on to a parliamentary majority, and afterward the opposition almost succeeded in tempting enough MPs to cross the aisle to form a new government.
That set the stage for Mr. Najib to take over the party leadership and premiership in 2009. He shored up his coalition by pursuing a program of economic and political reforms that tackled many of the issues that the opposition championed in 2008. This government deserves credit for responding to the public’s dissatisfaction with corruption, lack of domestic competition and repressive laws left over from the colonial period.
However, these reforms were limited, and while they were good for the country, they may not translate into a victory for Mr. Najib. The population is young and increasingly urban, and many of these voters think the pace of reform has been too slow, especially in reforming the system of affirmative action for the ethnic majority Malays. Meanwhile, the Malays out in the villages who benefit most from the preferences and cash handouts find the changes threatening.
The conservative Malay constituency is well represented by nationalist politicians within UMNO, including Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Both are potential challengers for Mr. Najib’s position, so it’s no coincidence that his policies have been undermined from within the party.
The opposition coalition has its own cohesion problems that will probably come to the fore if it wins this election. But it has done a creditable job of ruling the four states under its control, undermining the government’s argument that only it has the chops to keep Malaysia stable and growing.
Malaysia’s system of holding back the dynamic Indian and Chinese minorities has turned it into a bastion of mediocrity in a fast-growing region. The country’s best and brightest leave because the cronyism and racial quotas in education and employment hold them back.
Mr. Najib probably recognizes the need to move faster, but he can’t afford to alienate his Malay base. In the coming weeks, UMNO’s list of candidates will tell the electorate much about internal party politics. If the Prime Minister doesn’t move aggressively to sideline the Malay nationalists and put his own reformers in place, voters may reasonably conclude that it’s time to give the opposition its chance to overcome Malaysia’s feudal past. A competitive economy ultimately demands plural politics.
Malaysia’s PM faces a struggle to stay in power.
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak dissolved parliament Wednesday, setting the stage for the country’s 13th general election, probably at the end of the month. According to the constitution the polls could be held no later than June 27, so Mr. Najib’s move was no surprise. The fact that he waited as long as he did is one of many signs that the Prime Minister faces a struggle to stay in power.
Part of the challenge comes from within his own party. After five decades in power, the United Malays National Organization is riddled with corruption and complacency. In the 2008 election, Mr. Najib’s predecessor Abdullah Badawi barely held on to a parliamentary majority, and afterward the opposition almost succeeded in tempting enough MPs to cross the aisle to form a new government.
That set the stage for Mr. Najib to take over the party leadership and premiership in 2009. He shored up his coalition by pursuing a program of economic and political reforms that tackled many of the issues that the opposition championed in 2008. This government deserves credit for responding to the public’s dissatisfaction with corruption, lack of domestic competition and repressive laws left over from the colonial period.
However, these reforms were limited, and while they were good for the country, they may not translate into a victory for Mr. Najib. The population is young and increasingly urban, and many of these voters think the pace of reform has been too slow, especially in reforming the system of affirmative action for the ethnic majority Malays. Meanwhile, the Malays out in the villages who benefit most from the preferences and cash handouts find the changes threatening.
The conservative Malay constituency is well represented by nationalist politicians within UMNO, including Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein and Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Both are potential challengers for Mr. Najib’s position, so it’s no coincidence that his policies have been undermined from within the party.
The opposition coalition has its own cohesion problems that will probably come to the fore if it wins this election. But it has done a creditable job of ruling the four states under its control, undermining the government’s argument that only it has the chops to keep Malaysia stable and growing.
Malaysia’s system of holding back the dynamic Indian and Chinese minorities has turned it into a bastion of mediocrity in a fast-growing region. The country’s best and brightest leave because the cronyism and racial quotas in education and employment hold them back.
Mr. Najib probably recognizes the need to move faster, but he can’t afford to alienate his Malay base. In the coming weeks, UMNO’s list of candidates will tell the electorate much about internal party politics. If the Prime Minister doesn’t move aggressively to sideline the Malay nationalists and put his own reformers in place, voters may reasonably conclude that it’s time to give the opposition its chance to overcome Malaysia’s feudal past. A competitive economy ultimately demands plural politics.
Umno and its lackey Perkasa — Ali Kadir
APRIL 6 — How nice? Ibrahim Ali says that he will drop bombshells on Pakatan Rakyat’s leaders and shock the nation.
And what is he waiting for: the go-ahead from none other than Prime Minister Najib Razak.
So now the Umno gang can drop all the wayang and confirm what the rest of Malaysia have known all along: that Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa are just an extension of Umno, a nauseating and disgusting extension of a politics which has outsourced its dirty work.
But then again, nothing should shock us anymore.
This is a political party and NGO nexus which has brought us political violence on a scale never before seen in Malaysia; a partnership that has promoted racism and chauvinism like never before and political strategies rooted in the bowel thinking.
Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Nordin are cut from the same cloth, both pretending to be not linked to Umno but really part of the underbelly of this once political institution. They do the dirty work that Umno leaders are unwilling to do themselves.
And when you look at Ibrahim and Zulkifli, you look at Umno. Both and their political masters have no credibility, not enough one iota.
What does it say of our leaders who depend on men like these?
* Ali Kadir reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
And what is he waiting for: the go-ahead from none other than Prime Minister Najib Razak.
So now the Umno gang can drop all the wayang and confirm what the rest of Malaysia have known all along: that Ibrahim Ali and Perkasa are just an extension of Umno, a nauseating and disgusting extension of a politics which has outsourced its dirty work.
But then again, nothing should shock us anymore.
This is a political party and NGO nexus which has brought us political violence on a scale never before seen in Malaysia; a partnership that has promoted racism and chauvinism like never before and political strategies rooted in the bowel thinking.
Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Nordin are cut from the same cloth, both pretending to be not linked to Umno but really part of the underbelly of this once political institution. They do the dirty work that Umno leaders are unwilling to do themselves.
And when you look at Ibrahim and Zulkifli, you look at Umno. Both and their political masters have no credibility, not enough one iota.
What does it say of our leaders who depend on men like these?
* Ali Kadir reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
People Capable Of Comparing Wisely BN Manifesto With Opposition's
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri
Muhyiddin Yassin said the people should be able to judge and compare
wisely the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto with the opposition's.
He said the BN manifesto containing promises by the ruling coalition should be viewed seriously as it explained clearly and in detail what BN would do if given another to govern the country for the next five years.
"Surely the people are wise enough to compare the two manifestos, BN's and the opposition's. Which can be believed and fulfilled?" he said when launching the Batu parliamentary constituency's BN election machinery's 'command centre', here, Sunday.
Muhyiddin said the people generally understood that only BN would be able to fulfil its promises in the coming years.
"When the BN chairman (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) outlined in detail our plans for the people of this country, now the responsibility is ours as leaders and members of the BN component parties (to explain to the people the manifesto to make them understand)," he said.
Yesterday, Najib launched the BN manifesto for the 13th general election which outlined 17 main areas, with all aspects touching on the future of the people and nation to be looked into if BN was given another mandate to helm the nation.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin who is BN deputy chairman, urged all the coalition's component party members to work together to wrest back the parliamentary and state seats lost in the last general election.
He said although public support for BN appeared to have increased over the last three years, the general election this time could not be viewed as easy because of the bigger challenges.
"One of the challenges is to translate that support into votes in the upcoming elections," he said.
Muhyiddin who is also the Federal Territory BN chairman, believed BN would be able to recapture the Batu seat. Hence, he urged the component party leaders and members to go to the ground to meet the voters to understand their problems.
He said for BN, no seat should be taken lightly or as unimportant.
Muhyiddin also said that voters in the Batu parliamentary constituency needed to appraise the performance and attitude of its MP, Tian Chua who had been making insensitive and irresponsible statements.
In the last general election in 2008, Tian Chua from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, defeated Gerakan's Lim Si Pin with a 9,455-vote majority.
He said the BN manifesto containing promises by the ruling coalition should be viewed seriously as it explained clearly and in detail what BN would do if given another to govern the country for the next five years.
"Surely the people are wise enough to compare the two manifestos, BN's and the opposition's. Which can be believed and fulfilled?" he said when launching the Batu parliamentary constituency's BN election machinery's 'command centre', here, Sunday.
Muhyiddin said the people generally understood that only BN would be able to fulfil its promises in the coming years.
"When the BN chairman (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) outlined in detail our plans for the people of this country, now the responsibility is ours as leaders and members of the BN component parties (to explain to the people the manifesto to make them understand)," he said.
Yesterday, Najib launched the BN manifesto for the 13th general election which outlined 17 main areas, with all aspects touching on the future of the people and nation to be looked into if BN was given another mandate to helm the nation.
Meanwhile, Muhyiddin who is BN deputy chairman, urged all the coalition's component party members to work together to wrest back the parliamentary and state seats lost in the last general election.
He said although public support for BN appeared to have increased over the last three years, the general election this time could not be viewed as easy because of the bigger challenges.
"One of the challenges is to translate that support into votes in the upcoming elections," he said.
Muhyiddin who is also the Federal Territory BN chairman, believed BN would be able to recapture the Batu seat. Hence, he urged the component party leaders and members to go to the ground to meet the voters to understand their problems.
He said for BN, no seat should be taken lightly or as unimportant.
Muhyiddin also said that voters in the Batu parliamentary constituency needed to appraise the performance and attitude of its MP, Tian Chua who had been making insensitive and irresponsible statements.
In the last general election in 2008, Tian Chua from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, defeated Gerakan's Lim Si Pin with a 9,455-vote majority.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)