Anwar to MCA: Don't be slaves to Umno

Embrace Islam or die!

Taliban threaten Kalash tribe, Ismailis in Chitral

The Pakistani Taliban have announced an “armed struggle” against an indigenous tribe and Ismaili Muslims in the picturesque northern Chitral Valley, calling on Sunnis to support their cause in a video.

The valley was once dominated by moderate Ismailis and is also home to the Kalash, a polytheistic people who claim descent from Alexander the Great and who have maintained separate cultural traditions to the predominantly Muslim country.

But migration in recent decades has meant that Sunni Muslims are now the majority in the area, while the Kalash way of life has come under threat by the Taliban, who have also carried out a number of attacks against security forces in the area.

The Taliban’s 50-minute long video released on February 2 on their media wing’s website opens with a scenic view of the mountainous valley that is popular among domestic tourists and famed for its annual polo festival.

The narrator warns the Kalash, who are thought to number only 3,500, to convert to Islam or face death.

“By the grace of Allah, an increasing number of people from the Kalash tribe are embracing Islam and we want to make it clear to the Kalash tribe that they will be eliminated along with their protectors, the Western agents if they don’t embrace Islam,” he says.

The video also accuses international NGOs of creating an “Israel” like state in Chitral by attempting to protect the Kalash culture and take people away from Islam, and vows to foil their plans.

A charitable organisation headed by the Aga Khan, the Ismailis’ spiritual leader and a globally renowned philanthropist, is singled out for condemnation.

“The Aga Khan Foundation is running 16 schools and 16 colleges and hostels where young men and women are given free education and brainwashed to keep them away from Islam,” the narrator says.

He adds that the foundation’s schools and hospitals, which are free for members of the public, are espionage tools in the hands of foreign powers.

The Kalash are also warned to stop producing wine, which they make from apples, mulberries and grapes.

“Western NGOs are promoting Kalash wine and we warn all those individuals and hotels selling it, they should stop production and selling of wine otherwise they will be sent to hell by the will of God.”

Pattani female banker killed, burned

PATTANI — Suspected insurgents on Wednesday evening shot dead a female bank employee, burned her body and left a note with written message to army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha.

The body of Sayamol sae Lim, 29, was discovered near her motorcycle on highway No.42 (Pattani-Narathiwat route) at Ban To Tee Tae in tambon Tonyong Jua Nga of Yaring district. When security officers...

When security officers and a paramedic team arrived at the scene, they found Sayamol’s head and upper torso in flames. Sayamol was an employee of Bangkok Bank’s Nong Chik branch. Pol Lt Somchoke...

Read More:http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/security/394684/pattani-female-banker-killed-burned.

Waytha's resignation 'disheartening' to the PM

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has described Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia (PHM) chief P Waythamoorthy’s resignation from the cabinet as “disheartening”.

“His (Waythamoorthy’s) approach may be different, but he should have came to see me and talked about it before announcing he was going to resign.

“His decision is disheartening, since this was after he had signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with BN to champion the Indian community’s agenda,” he was quoted as saying in The Star’s online edition today.

He said Waythamoorthy (left), who was a deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department until his resignation on Monday, should have tried to fit in with his colleagues and help implement projects that would help the Indian Malaysian community.

Nevertheless, the premier says he accepts the resignation and wishes Waythamoorthy well on his future endeavours.

'A more approachable government'

“I would like to stress that, in line with my dream to form a more approachable government that always gives help to those who need it, we will implement socio-economic development programmes for the Indian community, as well as the other races,” he added.

Waythamoorthy leads PHM, which is a splinter faction of the original Hindraf movement, and had controversially signed an MOU with BN prior to the 13th general election.

He had urged Indians to vote for BN after the MOU was signed, and was appointed as deputy minister and as senator after the elections.

However, his vocal championing of causes such as deaths in custody had prompted calls from BN ministers - among them Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, and Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein - for him to resign.

Najib himself had ticked Waythamoorthy off for not toeing the government line before.

‘Netizens abusing press freedom’

There is too much press freedom and freedom of expression in Malaysia that many have failed to appreciate and are abusing it.

GEORGE TOWN: If there is no press freedom in Malaysia then how is it that netizens keep slamming the Barisan Nasional federal government for anything and everything, asked Centre for Political Awareness (CPA) president Huan Cheng Guan.

Huan was commenting on the Malaysia’s press freedom hitting a historic low in the 2014 World Press Freedom Index of 147 out of 180 countries.

He said even an innocent reference to kangkung by the Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak had been distorted to make international headlines.

“If this is not a clear evidence of free press and freedom of expression, what else can it be?” asked Huan said his statement to FMT here today.

Reporters Without Borders secretary-general Christophe Deloire had said the World Press Freedom Index was a reference tool based on seven criteria: the level of abuses, the extent of pluralism, media independence, the environment and self-censorship, the legislative framework, transparency and infrastructure.

“I would ask Reporters Without Borders to relook the situation in Malaysia. The truth is there is too much press freedom and freedom of expression.

“Many failed to appreciate it, indeed have been abusing it,” said Huan.

He criticised DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang for practising double standard and being absent-minded in his habitual haste to blast Malaysia’s press freedom index.

He said Kit Siang had forgotten that it was his son, Guan Eng, and other DAP members, including Teresa Kok, who have been fervently suing the media and activists for reporting issues.

He added that Kit Siang was blatantly attempting to ride on the world press freedom report to cast aspersions on the credibility of the federal government.

He added that Gelang Patah MP had again looked at Malaysia through distorted lenses by exaggerating everything while sweeping the “good” under the carpet.

‘Sivarraajh will not apologise to Kayveas’

MIC Youth do not see the necessity for them to seek an apology from Kayveas as they did not insult him over the Tamil school issue.

PETALING JAYA: MIC Youth today reiterated that their chief C Sivarraajh will not apologise to M Kayveas, the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) President, for allegedly insulting the latter over his calls for all Tamil schools to be shut down.

The wing’s information chief, K Kesavan insisted that there is no way for Sivarraajh to apologise since the Youth chief’s statement was a reflection of the public’s views.

“There is no room here for apologies to Kayveas or anyone,” Kesavan told FMT. He also challenged PPP for a public debate on Tamil schools’ development.

It was reported yesterday that PPP’s information chief A Chandrakumanan had demanded for Sivarraajh and the Tamil daily, Malaysia Nanban, to apologise to Kayveas within 48 hours for an article that was alleged to have insulted the PPP president.

He added that in the event they failed to do so, both Sivarraajh and Malaysia Nanban will face legal consequences.

Kayveas’ reasoning

Kayveas had come under heavy criticism recently for an alleged Facebook remark he had made, apparently listing five reasons as to why Tamil schools ought to be closed for good.

Among the reasons were: they were breeding criminals and gangsters, have high dropout rate, lacked Tamil teachers, students have poor command of the Malay and English language, and they segregated the community from others; which all contradict the 1Malaysia concept.

Chandrakumanan stressed that the remark on Kayveas’ Facebook was a shared fact originally posted by the Malaysian United Indian Youth Council.

However Kesavan said that as an Indian communityleader, Kayveas should have instead criticised the council for making such a posting and not sharing it with others.

“Sharing a link without any comment can be considered as Kayveas supporting the posting,” he added.

He further recalled an incident that happened 10 years ago in relation to the calls by PPP to close Tamil schools.

“Then Kayveas’ effigy was burnt in Batu Caves, allegedly for calling the closure of Tamil schools… it is clear that PPP has the interest to close down Tamil schools in this country.”

In defending the youth leader, Kesavan said Sivarraajh did not attack Kayveas on his personal capacity, but rather was fielding questions raised by reporters during a press conference.

‘Ministries erred on sex survey in schools’

A PIBG chairman says Health and Education Ministries have failed to ensure the controversial health survey was suitable for students.

SEREMBAN: The Health Ministry and Education Ministry have failed to ensure that the questions in the controversial health survey on sexual behaviour conducted in three schools in Nilai were suitable for the respective age group, said a Parent-Teacher Association (PIBG) chairman.

Sekolah Kebangsaan St Paul, Seremban, PTA chairman Adrian Abraham said he could not believe there were excessive questions based on sexual activities, and felt that the real damage had been done.

“The panel preparing the questionnaires, Health Ministry, Education Ministry, and the schools have failed in preparing the right questions for the age group.

“These are the people who are supposed to make sure the questionnaires are correct and suitable for the respective age group. In this case we are talking about the age group of 10 years to 12 years.

“The Health Ministry should have reviewed the questionnaires to target the right age group.

“I am disappointed but my school management would never have allowed such a survey to be conducted,” said Abraham.

He said the Education Ministry could not claim that someone walked into the school and conducted the survey.

“It’s your premises and you should vet the questionnaires, check whether it is suitable for students in the age group of 10-12 years, before the survey can be conducted.

“I’m not sure if the state health department had the Education Ministry’s approval,” he said.

Sekolah Kebangsaan Puteri, Seremban, PTA chairman Dr Zuraidah Mohamad said she supported the survey but felt that if the questions were excessive and not suitable, it should then be reviewed.

“The main objective of the survey is to identify students with problems related to social ills.

“Nowadays students at any age group are free to get information from the internet and there are things they are not supposed to access at the young age.

“However if there are questions which are not suitable for our culture then the Health Ministry should review the questions,” she added.

Bitter taste

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar meanwhile said the survey left a bitter taste in the mouth of parents.

“What is the basis for asking such inappropriate questions to schoolchildren? she asked.

“I am upset at this blatant invasion over the lives of schoolchildren,” said Nurul Izzah.

DAP national women wing chief and Padang Lalang state assemblyperson Chong Eng said the survey might be good in identifying the sexual behaviour of youths.

“However, the respective ministries and all the concerned parties must review the questionnaires and break it up into three age groups — 10 to 13, 14 to 15 and 16 to 19.

“This is more effective rather than prepare the same questionnaires for youths aged between 10 and 19.

“I believe there are not many students involved in sexual activities between the age of 10 and 12,” she said.

Preventing social problems

Last week, Negeri Sembilan health department director Dr Zailan Adnan said the health survey conducted at schools was to prevent social problems among youths.

She said the survey was not only conducted in Negeri Sembilan but nationwide by the ministry for the past three years.

Zailan said the questions were prepared by specialists in each field to prevent social problems among youths.

She also said the survey also contained questions on health, smoking, food and other health- related questions.

“The sexually-related questions were only part of the questions in the survey form,” Zailan added.

Earlier this week FMT reported that parents were upset over the survey which sought answers from 10 year olds at Sekolah Desa Jasmin in Nilai on their sexual activities.

FMT’s attempts to contact the Sekolah Desa Jasmin’s headmaster and the school’s PIBG chairman this morning failed as one of the staff said the headmaster was on medical leave.

‘Man Namblast’ a double-faced teacher

It turns out that 'Man Namblast' and Mohd Hidayat are the same person who called Hindus 'syaitan'.

PETALING JAYA: ‘Man Namblast’ and Mohd Hidayat, the two Facebook users who had insulted the Hindus as ‘syaitan’ (demons) during the recent Thaipusam festival are indeed the same person.

This was made public today when the police confirmed the identity of both as belonging to the same person.

Gombak district police chief Abdul Rahim Abdullah, in confirming to FMT today, said that Mohd Hidayat was using the pseudonym ‘Man Namblast’ when he posted the remarks on his Facebook wall.

“We are still investigating the matter but as for now we believe that he is using the name of Man Namblast,” he said.

Rahim added that they have also confiscated several items belonging to Mohd Hidayat, which will be handed over to the forensic’s department.

The police said that he has been released on police bail for the moment.

“We have already seized his gadgets to be sent to the forensic lab. Once everything is completed we will hand the investigation paper to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action.”

On a posting believed to be made on Jan 17, Mohd Hidayat allegedly used a fake account by the name ‘Man Namblast’ to put up a picture on his Facebook wall with a caption that read: “Berpuluh ribu syaitan sedang berarak menaiki Bt Caves,”(in translation: tens of thousands of demons are marching up the stairs of Batu Caves).

Later, the posting was defended by Mohd Hidayat, using another account.

With mounting pressure from MIC Youth and hundreds of police reports, Mohd Hidayat was finally arrested on Monday at his house.

He is a school teacher from Segambut and his statement was recorded here under section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

Initially it was believed that Mohd Hidayat and Man Namblast were two different individuals, and most of the police reports were made against ‘them both’.

On Wednesday, MIC’s Youth chief C Sivarraajh had confirmed with reporters that police had nabbed two individuals in connection to the case.

Apparently there was a confusion following a twitter message from the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar who had claimed that Man Namblast was arrested; while the Gombak police said that they have also arrested a person called Mohd Hidayat for investigations in relation to the same case.

Meanwhile an MIC Youth leader was called in by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to record his statement over the matter.

P Punithan claimed that he went to Putrajaya to give his statement. He added that he had lodged a police report last Friday on behalf of MIC at the Gombak district police station after being requested to do so by MCMC.

“MCMC told me that apart from the police, they will also be pressing charges against Mohd Hidayat under section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act,” said Punithan.

Anwar going for No 1, Azmin?

Patrick Sennyah and V Shankar Ganesh, fz.com


Parti Keadilan Rakyat de-facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim looks set to go for the party’s top position in the party polls which kicks off on April 25.

According to a senior party leader, Anwar was left with no choice as his wife, Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, who is the current president does not want to defend the post which is being keenly sought after by party deputy president, Azmin Ali.

The party leader revealed that Azmin had openly declared his intentions to contest the top position at a party meeting in Selangor last week.

“He (Azmin) had said that he would go for the top position with or without Wan Azizah’s consent. He is prepared to fight anyone and because of this, Anwar is left with no choice. Azmin will not listen to any “sweet talk” from Anwar this time.

“Even if Azmin agrees to stay put as the number two, there is no guarantee that he will not be challenged by either Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim or even Nurul Izzah,” said the party leader.

The party leader said Azmin seems to have found himself cornered and this time, he is willing to go for broke.

Several party insiders also said that Azmin has built his support base nationwide and he believed that enough members would vote him even against Wan Azizah.

“Due to this, Anwar had to put a stop to it. Anwar cannot have his wife being challenged for the top post. What’s worse is the risk that she may even lose. If that happens, then Anwar’s influence within the party can be seen as waning and this could spell the start of the end for his political career in PKR.”

Another insider said Anwar’s decision would put tremendous pressure on Azmin as he would be entering a forbidden zone, which is taking on the party founder Anwar.

It is learned that Azmin and his group of strategists are now back at the drawing board to formulate their next move.

“From, what I learned, it could be some earth shattering news. But let’s just wait and see the developments over the next couple of weeks,” said the insider.

Nominations for the central committee positions will be held on March 29, while for the branches, it will be according to zones, from April 4 – 13.

The complete results for the new PKR leadership will be revealed on May 13 – after nationwide voting ends on May 11. Voting will be from April 25 – May 11.

In PKR, each member is allowed to vote on the party leadership.

The minimum condition is that those who want to vote must be a party member for at least a year.

India’s Parliament Descends to Chaos

‘Scam Andhra’ MPs cripple parliament to protect business deals

Unprecedented chaos and violence that closed India’s Lok Sabha parliamentary proceedings yesterday graphically demonstrates how respect for India’s most revered institutions is crumbling as greed and raw politics disrupt the functioning of government and the running of the country.

The protests were not even about the political issue being debated – a bill was being tabled to split the southern state of Andhra Pradesh and create a new state of Telangana. They were primarily about protecting businessmen’s investments in Andhra’s capital of Hyderabad and elsewhere in the state, where crony capitalism and corruption ran rampant under a former chief minister, Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 2009.

The businessmen who thrived under YSR’s rule and did deals with his son Jagan (now facing corruption charges) originally came from other parts of the state and think they will lose their investments and political clout if Telangana is formed.

Among the MPs who were most at fault – using a pepper spray, smashing a glass table top and allegedly brandishing a knife – two have possibly vulnerable investments in the city and elsewhere.

The pepper spray was wielded by Lagadapati Rajagopal, (above) founder and chairman of the highly indebted Lanco infrastructure group, which is India’s biggest private sector power producer.

Venugopal Reddy, who smashed a microphone on a glass table top, heads the Ramky group that benefited under the YSR regime and is involved in the corruption charges.

But it is not only these MPs who are at fault. The crisis has been caused by the Congress Party led by Sonia Gandhi, which has gone ahead with the decades-old claim for Telangana – not for any good reason of governance, but because she (almost certainly wrongly) believes it will increase the number of seats her party wins in the coming general election.

My book IMPLOSION: India’s Tryst with Reality, which is being launched next week in Delhi (and is available here), has a chapter headed Scam Andhra.

I describe the state as a microcosm of what is wrong in India because of “corruption and illicit links between companies and government that are now part of India’s political and business landscape”.

Implosion is defined as inward collapse when internal forces “gradually eat away at institutions, organizational procedures and the functioning of authority that are needed to run a country”.

Here are extracts from the chapter:

“The city has become a symbol of what is wrong with India. It embraces dynastic political ambitions based on personal greed and the lauding of companies that have grown fat on fraudulent land and other deals, literally plundering the state’s wealth. The trend first became widely noticed in 2009, when the Hyderabad-based Satyam, India’s fourth largest software company, collapsed in a fraud scandal involving local politicians and a prominent business family.

“Satyam and its allied infrastructure company, Maytas (Satyam spelt in reverse), were just the tip of a vast iceberg that gradually became exposed after the state’s Congress chief minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), was killed in a helicopter crash in September 2009. YSR’s death, just a few months after being re-elected for a second term, triggered a series of events that led to widespread police inquiries, court cases, and the jailing of businessmen and politicians.

“Businessmen involved in the state’s companies form a new entrepreneurial community that is significant in the same way as clans such as the Marwaris or the Chettiars.With easily identifiable names like Reddy, Raju and Rao, the Andhra businessmen travelled [across] Andhra, bearing farming wealth from the state’s flourishing coastal regions to Hyderabad.There they worked with politicians, and together grew rich in real estate, land deals and infrastructure projects – and then became involved in politics themselves.

“Among the most powerful and vocal anti-Telangana politicians have been Lagadapati Rajagopal, founder of the once rapidly-growing but now heavily-indebted Lanco Infratech infrastructure, power and construction group.he was one of the financiers of a padayatra in 2003 by YSR that helped to bring him to power. Rajagopal’s development plans in and around Hyderabad could be hit hard if the state is split.

“YSR proved himself to be one of India’s most skilful regional politicians, seemingly working for the good of the state and the rural poor, while building himself an unassailable Congress power base by providing the Gandhi family with strong loyalty and support. That won him a comfortable re-election victory five months before he was killed, despite reports of widespread corruption and corporate cronyism that had been circulating about him and his son Jagan for some time.

”YSR’s significance was demonstrated by the huge mass of mourners – from Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh to the rural poor – who gathered to pay their last respects at his funeral.If YSR had lived, it is reasonable to assume that the projects, corruption, kickbacks and funding would still be continuing today, with grateful Congress party leaders in Delhi doting on their loyal and valuable friend.

“Sonia Gandhi and her fellow national party leaders appear to have done nothing during YSR’s rule to stop the corrupt deals, even though they would have been fully aware of them. There were reports that YSR was ‘sending huge sums of money for the Congress in Delhi every month in the name of ‘organizational expenses’.

“YSR came from a tough and feudal society background in Rayalaseema, which is frequently named for its ‘bad lands’, and his rise reflects how many of India’s regional politicians have grown rich and powerful from poor origins. His family mixed Christian missionary work with business in the rough mining industry and there is death and brutality in the family’s history.

“While he was chief minister, YSR moved on from the usual pattern of corruption – politicians and bureaucrats taking bribes in return for favours – and secured the loyalty of his supporters by providing business opportunities for contractors in unregulated, over-priced and scam-ridden irrigation, highways and other projects. The contractors and developers showed their gratitude by taking stakes in companies run by Jagan, mainly in a media business called Sakshi, and politicians and others cronies invested in the development and real estate schemes. Instead of just taking kickbacks, YSR’s family and political associates became joint investors and stakeholders with their business contacts.

“Along with other key companies that he controlled with investments totalling Rs 797 crore, Jagati Publications became a focal point in 2012 and 2013 for investigations into money laundering by India’s Enforcement Directorate, and for separate corruption inquiries by the CBI into Jagan’s alleged ‘disproportionate assets’. Companies caught up in the assets case included Tamil Nadu-based India Cements, run by N. Srinivasan, who has been a dominant figure in the politics of Indian cricket as the chairman of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) from 2011.

He was also involved in the IPL championship controversies. The allegations [included] companies such as . Ramky Group. listed as allegedly providing funds for Bharathi Cement, Jagati Publications, Carmel Asia Holdings and other businesses run by Jagan, and receiving favours in return. GMR, GVK, Lanco

“A clutch of Andhra companies that thrived. went on to run big projects in the rest of India and then abroad. They include names such as Satyam in software, and GMR, GVK and Lanco in infrastructure Lanco is the most politically high profile of the three companies, having been led initially by Lagadapati Rajagopal, the Congress MP and a key YSR supporter. His brother L. Madhusudan Rao and brother-in-law G. Bhaskara Rao now run the group, which claims to be India’s largest private sector power producer and also has coal mining interests in Australia.

To improve its image, Lanco moved its headquarters from Hyderabad to Gurgaon on the outskirts of Delhi but it became over-extended and lost large-scale projects for lack of funds, pulled out of others, dismissed a large number of employees, and formally announced a debt-restructuring process in 2013.

“Some time in the future, Andhra’s years of fraud and deception will almost certainly be seen, in the traditions of early American business, as merely one of the stepping stones that a new economy takes when it suddenly enjoys unexpected riches, and the prospect of much more, if politicians are suborned, rules bent and the state cheated”.

For now though, such India faces creeping implosion.

(John Elliott is Asia Sentinel’s India correspondent. He also blogs at Riding the Elephant, which appears at the lower right corner of this site.)

Putrajaya’s ‘free media’ boast laughable, PKR says - Malaymail

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 13 — Putrajaya should first remove all restrictive laws governing the media and allow free coverage for all parties before proclaiming that the Malaysian media is “freer than it has ever been”, PKR said today.

In a statement here, PKR vice-president N. Surendran labelled the proclamation by the Prime Minister’s Office false and “laughable”, pointing to the recent suspension of local weekly, The Heat, and Putrajaya’s rejection of a newspaper permit for FZ Daily, which currently publishes its news on the Internet.

An interview with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on BFM radio was also barred from the airwaves, Surendran said.

“Further, the government completely bars opposition access to television and radio, including public-owned media such as RTM.

“This is not just undemocratic, but blatant abuse of public resources and funds by the government for the benefit of the BN political coalition,” he said, referring to the ruling Barisan Nasional pact.

Surendran suggested that Putrajaya remove laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984, which gives power to the government to grant or revoke publishing licenses of any newspaper.

He said despite amendments to the law in 2012, newspapers have continued to operate under the threat of having their licenses revoked.

Even worse, Surendran pointed out, editors are often summoned to explain articles deemed critical of the government.

“Instead of issuing ridiculous statements that the media is free, Putrajaya must immediately repeal the PPPA and allow free access to TV and radio to the opposition and civil society,” he said.

In a statement yesterday, the Prime Minister’s Office denied that press freedom in the country has deteriorated, saying that Malaysian media is freer than it has ever been.

The declaration came after news that Malaysia tumbled 23 places to land at 147th spot in the World Press Freedom Index for 2014, putting it below Thailand, Indonesia and even Myanmar.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/putrajayas-free-media-boast-laughable-pkr-says#sthash.Rd8CybN8.dpuf

Perspectives on national unity: heritage, home and hope – Ramon Navaratnam

My perspectives from my generation.

A. Our heritage – past

Merdeka proclamation – I was there at the Merdeka Stadium.

We felt as "One Malaya" even then in 1957.

Tunku Abdul Rahman and later Tun Abdul Razak and Tun Hussein Onn treated all Malayans and Malaysians equally.

There was no name–calling like "pendatang".

Political leaders were far more honest, polite and civil, and served the rakyat more faithfully on the ground.

Institutions like the judiciary, police, civil service, parliament and politicians were generally much more efficient and of higher quality.

We were much more united and a national happy family.

B. Home – present

Now fewer Malaysians feel that great Merdeka spirit of "satu bangsa".

We are more polarised than ever before.

We are developing as a "silo society".

Tolerance of other religions is declining – Bible and temple issues unsettled.

C. Hope – future

Is there hope? Yes, but only if we act now.

What future do we want and what do we need to do for greater national unity?

Adopt the policy of inclusive development as follows:

1. Immediate term

Condemn and pull up all those responsible for hate speeches and acts.

Isolate extremists of all kinds and vote against them.

Enforce rule of law uniformly against extremists – without any perceived selectivity.

Go all out against crime, corruption and cronyism with a stronger political will!

Let the Bahasa Bible be used as before. Proselytisation can be forbidden.

2. Medium term – up to 5 years

Provide for a basic needs and non–racial–based economic strategy in 11th Malaysia plan.

Phase out the NEP which apparently favours the rich and powerful over the poor.

Consider phasing out the bumi/non–bumi divide.

Provide quota guidelines for public and private sector employment and promotions.

Phase out "ketuanan" concept and practices which run counter to national unity.

Phase out protectionism in APs, housing and monopolies. This will counter inflation too.

Allocate more development funds to Sabah, Sarawak, and the poorer states like Kelantan and Terengganu.

Strengthen the electoral process and improve electoral delineation, so that all Malaysians will embrace the new system as fair and reasonable.

Introduce local council elections to improve democracy.

Conclusion

We have about 5 good years to steer our beloved country away from deterioration and the "tipping point", towards a more united Malaysia.

Be fair to all race and religions based on our Federal Constitution, with the Merdeka spirit.

Adopt a new policy of inclusiveness.

Malaysia is a blessed land with enough for all.

Give more priority to the poor and lower- and middle-income groups for socio–economic progress.

Our motto – "Unity in diversity" – should be upheld. Our diversity should be regarded.

As our national "heritage" and our "home" and "hopes" for the future.

As a model of multi-racial and multi-religious country, for the whole world!

Malaysia Boleh!

* Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam is chairman of the Asli Center of Public Policy Studies.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.

Zaid Ibrahim To Contest In Kajang By-election

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Former Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim is set to make a comeback in the political arena.

On Friday, he announced that he intended to contest in the upcoming Kajang by-election.

Mohd Zaid, in his latest blog posting, said that contesting the seat would enable him to address numerous political and economic issues the country is currently facing.

"Writing in my blog (www.zaid.my) is fun but it would also be good to talk to real people face-to-face, listen to what they have to say and, of course, have satay with them.

"Talking to Kajang voters would also test the acceptability of some of my ideas, which in turn could be useful feedback for our policy-makers," he said in his blog entry entitled 'Mulling for Kajang' which was published today.

Mohd Zaid said he had already outlined a few points that he would voice up during the campaigning period which were, among others, the importance of battling the roots of racial polarisation, the effort to preserve peace and solidarity between Muslims and Non-Muslims, as well as economic and educational programmes on building skills.

Mohd Zaid also said that he would seek explanation from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regarding PKR's decision to engineer the by-election, which some political observers view as wasteful.

"Of course I will ask Anwar Ibrahim to explain why he has engineered this by-election. What will he do with the reserves that Selangor has in his quest to bring glory to the state?" he wrote further.

Mohd Zaid was appointed as senator in March 2008 before joining the Cabinet but tendered his resignation six months later.

He was an Umno leader from 1984 until he was sacked from the party in Dec 2008, among others, due to allegedly attending opposition-held gatherings.

Then he joined Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in 2009 and contested under a PKR ticket in the Hulu Selangor by-election in 2010 in which he was defeated by the then MIC information chief P. Kamalanathan by a margin of 1,725 votes.

Due to some internal conflicts, Mohd Zaid, the then Federal Territory PKR chairman left the party and later formed his own party called Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (Kita) and became its president in Dec 2010.

Mohd Zaid, a prominent lawyer who owned one of the biggest law firms in southeast Asia, was not in the limelight since then and the party also lost all two parliamentary seats and 11 state seats it contested in the 2013 General Election.

Mohd Zaid did not stand in the last general election.

With Mohd Zaid's latest move, he is the third independent candidate to voice his intention to join the fray after Senator Datuk S Nallakarupan, who is also the president of the Malaysian Indian United Party, and Anwar's former legal assist Yuktes Vijay.

The Kajang state seat was vacated by Lee Chin Cheh of PKR on Jan 27.

The next day, Menteri Besar of Selangor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim said the party had decided to field Anwar as their candidate.

The Election Commission (EC) has fixed the nomination date on March 11 and polling on March 23.

Finalist protests removal of ABU painting from Balai Seni