Zaid tells Dr M: I rather be an ungrateful Malay than a stupid one

(The Malaysian Insider) - Former Cabinet member Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said today he would rather be ungrateful than stupid, as he mocked Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for suggesting that Malays who were unappreciative would cause the community to lose political power.

Dr Mahathir told Umno’s Utusan Malaysia in an interview published yesterday that Malays were “ungrateful” and “lacking intelligence”, warning that the greed of a few power-hungry Malays in the opposition would see the country’s dominant race lose its political power.

The former PM also alleged that “if any of these Malay (opposition) parties win the elections and form the government, this government would have to follow the dictates of other (races).”

Responding on Twitter this morning, Zaid said: “I rather be called ungrateful Malay than a stupid one, who doesn’t think, who follow blindly the dictates of arrogant Malay leaders.”

Zaid was part of Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s Cabinet but was sacked in 2008, a few months after he resigned as minister in protest against the government’s decision to use the Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest an opposition politician, a blogger and a journalist.

He became a PKR member before eventually quitting, and is now the leader of an opposition-aligned party, while continuing to push for political and law reforms.

Dr Mahathir has become in recent months a vocal campaigner for Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s Umno, and his growing influence has seen the party shed many of its reform plans in favour of playing the race card.

Yesterday, in his lengthy tirade against the Malays, the former prime minister expressed sadness that the Malays were now purportedly split into three factions and said that this has resulted in them “begging” for support from the other races.

At another function, Dr Mahathir also suggested that currency speculator George Soros was attempting to usurp political power from the Barisan Nasional (BN) government by appointing his own leader as the next prime minister of Malaysia.

The former prime minister made this statement when asked to comment on several local NGOs that were in the limelight recently after the Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry called on the Registrar of Societies to investigate Suaram, which has received funds from Soros.

Commenting on this, Zaid also mocked Dr Mahathir on Twitter yesterday by saying that if English football club Manchester United won their match against Liverpool yesterday, it must also be because of Soros.

“If Man U wins then Soros must hav a hand in this.”

In another tweet, he added: “Malays must be really stupid to believe the Jewish conspiracy to install puppet PM.”

Zaid: I don’t need Pakatan’s help

The Kita chief says he can contest Kota Baru on his own two feet, without the opposition's help.

PETALING JAYA: Kita chief Zaid Ibrahim today said he does not need Pakatan Rakyat’s help in contesting the Kota Baru parliamentary seat during the next general election.

Speaking to FMT, Zaid did not appear worried that PAS – currently holding the seat there – was against helping him to contest there.

“I don’t need endorsement [to contest] from Pakatan Rakyat. I can stand on my own. I have my own party. I only want endorsement from the people of Kota Baru,” he said.

Zaid was responding to Kota Baru PAS deputy head Takiyuddin Hassan, who said that Kota Baru and its three state seats were to be contested solely by PAS members.

In a media report today, Takiyuddin said that no one else within Pakatan Rakyat could lay claim to the constituency.

He added that if Zaid wanted to contest there, he had to do it without Pakatan’s help.

Formerly the Kota Baru MP from 2004 to 2008, Zaid did not appear surprised that PAS wanted to hold on to the seat.

He also clarified that he never intended to get Pakatan’s help in standing there during the 13th general election.

“I never said that I wanted to contest there with Pakatan’s endorsement,” he said, adding that it would have been a straight fight if he had been allowed to contest under PAS’ banner.

In early March, Zaid announced that he would contest in Kota Baru. With Umno expected to contest there as well, the fight for Kota Baru is expected to split three ways.

PAS however did not appear worried with Zaid’s intention to do so, despite the latter’s claims of grassroots support there.

In a previous FMT report, Kota Baru MP (PAS) Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Abdullah said that Zaid’s entry would hurt Umno more than it would hurt PAS.

The PAS MP also sarcastically hinted that Zaid was not in touch with the people there, adding: “Well, he’s (Zaid) not staying in Kota Baru. He’s staying in Kuala Lumpur.”

A former Umno strongman, Zaid quit the Cabinet in 2008 to join PKR. He then left the party in 2010 to form Kita.

KITA: Zaid adalah ketua

"Laporan bahawa Zamil Ibrahim ketua baru `satu berita lucu/lelucon, kenyataan yang bebal dan tidak siuman, silap dan sama sekali tidak berasas, kata Masrum Dayat'.

PETALING JAYA: Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) menegaskan Datuk Zaid Ibrahim adalah ketua dan parti menolak tawaran beliau mengundur diri.
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Keputusan itu dibuat dalam mesyuarat jawatankuasa eksekutif pusat parti pada 17 Februari lalu dan dihadiri 25 daripada 30 ahli, kata Setiausaha Pusat KITA, Masrum Dayat dalam kenyataan media hari ini.

“Laporan bahawa Zamil Ibrahim ketua baru `satu berita lucu/lelucon, kenyataan yang bebal dan tidak siuman, silap dan sama sekali tidak berasas’.

“Parti KITA adalah sebuah pertubuhan politik yang ditubuhkan di bawah Akta Pertubuhan. Parti ini mempunyai Perlembagaan dan peraturannya.

“Ketua parti ini hanya boleh diganti mengikut Perlembagaan dan peraturan parti dan bukan ikut sesuka hati sesorang bekas ahli yang dipecat secara sah atau ikut “syok sendiri”,” kata Masrum.

Tidak akan bubar

Masrum berkata, mesyuarat yang dikatakan diadakan di Kota Baru semalam bukan mesyuarat parti, barangkali mesyuarat bekas ahli-ahli parti.

Semalam sekumpulan bekas ahli KITA yang dipecat mengadakan mesyuarat khas telah melantik Zamil, bekas ketua KITA Kedah sebagai ketua parti yang baru.

Zamil dipecat dari parti itu baru-baru ini ekoran beberapa tindakan yang menentang dasar parti.

Menurut Masrum lagi, mesyuarat juga bersetuju sebulat suara KITA tidak akan dibubar.

Tetapi, kata beliau ahli yang menentang dasar parti untuk menyokong Pakatan Rakyat akan diambil tindakan disiplin, termasuk memecat mereka.

Parti akan menjawab surat dan sentiasa memberikan kerjasama sepenuhnya kepada Pendaftar Pertubuhan berhubung aduan- aduan yang ditimbulkan oleh mereka.

I will quit Kita if I am outvoted, says Zaid

Kita divisions in five states to block dissolution move

Zaid Ibrahim: Raja Petra di pihak salah

(Merdeka Review) - Dua minggu lalu, saya menulis tentang bagaimanakah kita boleh menjadikan pembangkang lebih kuat.  Saya mencadangkan agar pihak pembangkang harus mengambil pendekatan yang inklusif dan tidak membiarkan perbezaan kecil dengan cara mewujudkan barisan bersatu.

Ini bermakna termasuk kumpulan kecil atau sampingan yang berada di dalam stratosfera politik.  Saya juga berkata bahawa kita tidak harus lupa Hindu Rights Action Force atau HINDRAF, dan penulis blog Raja Petra Kamarudin (gambar kanan), yang mana kedua-dua ini merupakan pemain utama dalam kebangkitan politik 2008.

Jadi, saya terkejut apabila membaca New Sunday Times pada hari tahun baru yang menyiarkan temu bual dengan Raja Petra yang telah dijalankan di Singapura.  Bukannya dia tidak mempunyai apa-apa untuk diperkatakan mengenai Anwar Ibrahim yang mana dia tidak pernah pun menyebutnya sebelum pilihan raya Sarawak dahulu.  Ia adalah perkara yang sama, dan saya tidak akan mengulanginya lagi.  Apa yang saya kurang faham ialah mengapa Raja Petra memilih untuk menyerang Anwar dari semua sudut - dan pada masa yang sama mahu melihat pembangkang menjadi lebih kuat.

Benar kata Raja Petra, apabila mendakwa pihak pembangkang tidak hanya mengenai Anwar dan nasib politik beliau.  Ia sebuah gerakan yang lebih besar, dan menjadi suara alternatif yang kuat buat rakyat.  Tetapi, ia tidak logik untuk mengalih sebahagian daripada parti-parti pembangkang (yang sememangnya Anwar sebahagian daripada gerakan ini) dan mengatakan bahawa itulah caranya menjadikan pembangkang lebih kuat.

Pembangkang mungkin tidak dapat memenangi Pilihan Raya Umum akan datang, tetapi kepada kita yang mahu melihat kebebasan dan demokrasi yang lebih baik dan amalan rasuah serta penyalahgunaan kuasa yang berkurangan, perjuangan tetap perlu diteruskan walau apa jua rintangan yang menghalang.  Pilihan raya akan datang setiap lima tahun dan satu hari nanti, kita akan pasti menang.

Saya rasa terpaksa mengulangi apa yang saya katakan sebelum ini, tetapi dengan sedikit pembetulan.  Kami harus menjadi inklusif dan kita tidak boleh tidak termasuk orang-orang kita yang mahu melihat pembaharuan dan perubahan dalam cara negara kita diperintah.

Kita perlu berjuang untuk perpaduan dan keharmonian untuk seluruh rakyat Malaysia.  Mereka yang mengatakan mahu melihat pembangkang menjadi lebih kuat lagi tetapi sanggup mengenepikan beberapa pemimpin kerana tidak bersetuju, tidak boleh dianggap sebagai sekutu.  Petra pasti di pihak yang salah.  Di medan perang ini, kita mesti belajar untuk menilai sumbangan semua orang, tetapi hanya untuk orang-orang yang masih mahu melihat demokrasi menyala.

*Tulisan ini dipetik dari laman Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA), oleh Zaid Ibrahim (gambar kanan) selaku Ketua Parti.

Fighting for a better Malaysia

We should remember the contributions made by both Hindraf and Raja Petra Kamarudin, says Zaid Ibrahim.
COMMENT

By Zaid Ibrahim

If we reflect on the issues that wrought cataclysmic change to the political landscape – culminating in the 2008 general election – we must acknowledge the important role played by both the Hindu Rights Action Force, or Hindraf, and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

In different ways, both gave the opposition the impetus and dynamism it so badly needed then, the kind that outstripped even the BN juggernaut’s ability to contain the people’s march for change.

Hindraf’s contribution was their ability to mobilise the poor and marginalised Indian community. They were united and more importantly, they showed tremendous resolve and courage in pursuing their demands.

Some of these demands were questionable and perhaps even unreasonable, but it can’t be denied that they gave voice to pent-up grievances the Indian community had suffered for decades.

When such feelings have had no outlet for expression for so long, it’s not surprising that they can seem extreme and unreasonable in parts when they are finally unleashed.

Hindraf’s announcement last week that they too would support the opposition and do whatever they can to bring about more change in the political landscape is a gesture that we all should appreciate.

The Indian community still supports Hindraf and I have no doubt that their ability to mobilise this group in the upcoming general election will be as formidable as ever.

Fighting for a better Malaysia

Raja Petra meanwhile, may not be living in Malaysia any longer but as a friend I know he has sacrificed a lot for the cause of reform and political transformation.

He is still in the thick of things, and I hope his relentless assault on the Internal Security Act and tireless online campaigning for the opposition will not be forgotten.

He also took great personal risks back in 2008. More importantly, he is still with the forces of change.

Raja Petra is a maverick so he may sometimes say or do things we don’t approve of, but he will continue to fight for a better Malaysia. He would not be Raja Petra if he were so predictable, or always sang the right tune.

The political culture that we need to nurture in this country is that of inclusiveness.

That means we must learn to trust those who share our struggle even when they come in different shapes and sizes – we share the same destination in this long journey for change.

Differences are plentiful and we may even disagree on what we need to do to attain success. We must, however, appreciate and value those who have given their pounds of flesh in this struggle, warts and all.

Zaid Ibrahim is the president of Kita.

Kita tetap bertanding pilihan raya

Parti itu akan meletakkan calon di kawasan di mana peluang Barisan Nasional dan Pakatan Rakyat untuk menang adalah seimbang.

PETALING JAYA: Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanan Air (Kita) tetap bertanding dalam pilihan raya umum ke 13 (PRU13) akan datang tetapi di kawasan tertentu sahaja, kata AJK Pusat Zamil Ibrahim.

Parti itu, katanya akan meletakkan calon di kawasan di mana peluang Barisan Nasional (BN) dan Pakatan Rakyat untuk menang adalah seimbang.

Sehubungan itu, Pengerusi Kita Kedah menolak laporan media bahawa parti itu tidak akan bertanding dalam PRU13.

“Saya dapat pengesahan dari Presiden Datuk Zaid Ibrahim dan beliau menegaskan parti tetap akan bertanding.

“Namun begitu sehingga ini, Kita di negeri-negeri tidak menerima apa-apa arahan dari pucuk pimpinan tinggi supaya tidak menggerakkan jentera parti dan mengenal pasti calon-calon,” katanya kepada FMT hari ini.

Menurut Zamil, Kita tidak akan bergabung dengan BN mahu pun Pakatan dalam menghadapi PRU13.

Zaid Ibrahim’s KITA opts out of polls, to back Pakatan

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — KITA, a party founded by former Umno-turned-PKR politician Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, announced today it will not be contesting in the coming polls and promised to offer its “unconditional support” to the federal opposition.

In a statement posted on its website today, the party said it had decided to reverse its earlier decision to contest in the polls as it wanted to maintain solidarity with the opposition and not jeopardise its chances.

“Whilst we disagree with some of the opposition’s policies, we believe that despite these shortcomings the opposition will not destroy racial harmony in Malaysia ... unity demands that smaller parties, such as ourselves, give way to larger political parties to ensure optimum results in the election,” it said.

The party also came out in defence of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) amid the ongoing barrage of Umno-led attacks against DAP as a “racist” party.

During the just-concluded Umno annual general meeting (AGM), delegates took turns to warn against DAP’s purported dominance in PR, claiming if the pact claims Putrajaya, the Malays would lose power to the Chinese.

Calling the accusations “dangerous and irresponsible”, KITA said the statements would only widen current divisions in society.

Dr M’s ‘befriend Perkasa’ riles Kita

The party is disappointed with the former premier's call on Umno to join hands with the Malay rights group to win votes.

PETALING JAYA: Kita is disappointed with Dr Mahathir Mohamad for asking the Malays to “put their heads in the sand” by urging Umno to befriend Perkasa to win the next general election.

The former premier yesterday warned Umno that it needed allies in Malay rights groups like Perkasa to recoup crucial Malay votes and pinned Barisan Nasional’s 2008 electoral losses on the lack of Malay support.

But Kita described Perkasa as an “organisation that clearly advocates racial hatred and bigotry”.

In a statement, the Zaid Ibrahim-led party pointed out that Mahathir’s winning formula for Umno is about the Malays inwardly huddling together and defending the values espoused in 1946 against outsiders.

It however added that it believes the Malays know better as they have seen how the “Malay-first-Malaysian second” policies have only helped those in power.

“They have seen how those that represent the ‘old Malay order’ trample on their civil and human rights,” Kita stated. “They’ve seen how these policies are an excuse for corruption, nepotism and the abuse of power.”

Kita further tore into the practice of government subsidies as well as the “Hidup Melayu” mantra. It scorned the former as an “opiate for those addicted to voting BN” and the latter as having no place in their children’s future.

“Kita believes that Malays recognise that their future is not in maintaining this fortress mentality. Instead, it is to embrace universal values which include integrity, hard work and tolerance, without losing one’s identity as a Malay.”

“The enlightenment of the Malays comes first from taking their heads out of the sand and their willingness to face the harsh realities of a competitive society.”

While Kita acknowledged the continuous need for social engineering, it also deemed that the way forward is by identifying and assisting those who need support solely on the basis of their economic and social conditions.

“Kita believes that Malays can and will say that ‘I am a Malaysian and I am a Malay’. Our Malaysian identity is what has made us a nation, and it is this recognition that will serve to best safeguard our collective future.”

Kedah Kita to go for 18 seats

It is shortlisting candidates for six parliamentary and 12 state constituencies.

SUNGAI PETANI: Kita will contest six parliamentary and 12 state seats in Kedah in the coming general election.

Zamil Ibrahim, who leads the party’s Kedah chapter, revealed this today at a function to announce the manifesto Kita will use in the state.

The federal seats are Alor Star, Kuala Kedah, Merbok, Sungai Petani, Padang Serai and Kulim –Bandar Bahru and the state seats are Derga, Bakar Bata, Kota Darulaman, Gurun, Bukit Selambau, Tanjung Dawai, Pantai Merdeka, Sidam, Bakar Arang, Kuala Ketil, Lunas and Kulim.

Kedah has 15 federal and 36 state seats.

The constituencies that Kita has chosen are racially mixed and have not been traditional strongholds of any party, according to Zamil.

He claimed that Kita was capable of replacing PKR and DAP in Kedah.

“PKR and DAP won the last time due to a political tsunami, not due to their strength,” he said. “They never had a firm political presence in Kedah. We are capable of turning the tables against them next time. We can fish in trouble waters.”

He also claimed that Kita was experiencing a surge in local support.  Kedah Kita has 1,000 members.

Zamil said Kita was prepared to work with any party to form the next state government, but not at the expense of its election promises.

“If we were to join the next state government, we would ensure that our election promises would be fulfilled within two years. We would not compromise on that.”

The manifesto carries the motto “Moderate, Democratic and Liberal” and promises, among other things, to provide free electricity and water to all houses of worship.

Zamil said Kita’s top brass had agreed with the decision to contest the 18 seats and that 20 candidates had been shortlisted although the search for potential candidates was continuing.

The state leadership would submit between two and six names for each seat to the top leadership.

Zamil said Kita had no racial quota for candidature.

“We will only field winnable candidates,” he said. “We may even field Malay candidates in the seats contested by Chinese candidates from BN and Pakatan.”

He said Kita would campaign at nightly flea markets and through dialogue sessions and door-to-door visits.

Dissidents are not founding members

Outside force working to destroy Kita

Kita central executive committee member KS Kottapan says that there is a puppet-master orchestrating the attacks against Zaid Ibrahim.


PETALING JAYA: Certain money-minded leaders are the cause of the rift in Kita, central executive committee member KS Kottapan claimed today.

He said that these leaders, who have been openly criticising party president Zaid Ibrahim in the past two weeks, wanted to drive the party in the wrong direction.

He added that some of these critics have been sacked by the party. He also alleged that these sacked leader were being manipulated by some outside force to destabilise Kita.

“I received a telephone call on Sept 13 midnight from a party leader, inviting me for a meeting. He said he was organising the meeting without Zaid’s knowledge, and aimed at toppling Zaid as the party chief,” he told FMT today.

However, the meeting did not take place as the said leader was sacked from the party the next day.

“I strongly believe someone from behind the screen is the puppet master. He is orchestrating the attacks on Zaid and Kita,” Kottapan said.

He added that the party has started investigating its internal problems involving the so-called “unhappy” leaders.

“We will get rid of all these viruses which are affecting Kita,” he said.

Kita has been rocked by internal turmoil following the sacking of its central executive committee member Muhammad Firdaus Christopher on Sept 14. Firdaus was also in charge of the party’s administration.

Along with Firdous, party secretary-general Abdul Latif Abdul Tambi and former treasurer Rashid Azad Khan were also given the boot for insulting Zaid and working against the party’s interest.

In retaliation, the trio charged that Zaid held a tight grip over the party, often acting as a dictator. They also said that there was no transparency in the nine-month-old party.

In recent days, several state Kita leaders have joined hands with the trio in attacking Zaid. Some have even called for Zaid to step down and hand over the party to younger leaders.

Tiff over salary

Kotappan, however, said that the trio’s anger with Zaid was over the suspension of their monthly salary which they had received since December last year.

“The salary was stopped three months ago as the party was suffering a financial crunch and since then Firdaus and Abd Latif had stopped attending party meetings,” he said.

“They then decided to ‘hijack’ the party as Zaid had expressed his unhappiness with their attitude. This was why they were sacked,” he added.

He also refuted claims by the trio that Zaid had sacked them unilaterally.

“The decision to sack them was made by the political bureau, and not by Zaid,” added Kotappan.

He believed that Kita would overcome its problems soon and be ready for the general election.

Zaid’s roadshow for Najib sends Kita reeling

Kita's state leaders are asking why they were never consulted over the Kita democracy roadshow.

PETALING JAYA: Kita president, Zaid Ibrahim, has sent shockwaves through his party with his announcement of a roadshow to drum up support for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s pledge for reforms.

Kita’s democracy roadshow secretariat told the press yesterday that it was important for people at all levels to understand the policy transformations which are “historical and full of importance”.

The secretariat also said that Kita would be holding meetings with the public to provide information and clarification on the issue in order that Najib’s “noble efforts” are not obstructed by misunderstanding.

The roadshow will be held nationwide from Sept 27 to Oct 26.

This is the latest in a string of surprise moves from Zaid, with the first being the abrupt sacking of three party top leaders, which fuelled accusations of his tyranny and disrespect for party protocol.

The announcement of the roadshow has sent the party’s leaders in many states reeling particularly since they first learnt of it through the press late yesterday evening.

Penang chief, Tan Tee Beng, said that Zaid had never held any meeting with the state leaders on such a controversial decision which clearly needed a collective opinion.

“His apology to Najib already created havoc within the party,” he said. “This roadshow has created a timebomb for both Zaid and the party. It’s like adding salt to the wound.”

“Is he diverting attention from the talk of infighting within the party? If Barisan Nasional invited a Kita representative to sit on a panel to discuss the issue, we would gladly oblige but there is no need for a roadshow.”

Nothing concrete

Federal Territory chief, G Rajaratnam, said that such a roadshow was premature when Najib had only announced an intent to repeal the Internal Security Act (ISA) without any futher solid details.

“Whatever Najib says should be taken with a pinch of salt,” he said. “Logically, this roadshow shouldn’t be done because there is nothing concrete to talk to the people about.”

“The party’s basic premise is that we are not aligned with BN or Pakatan Rakyat so I’m completely lost as to what Zaid is doing. It is beyond my understanding. He is not consulting us nor is he following party protocol.”

Yet another disgruntled state leader is Kedah chief, Zamil Ibrahim, who confirmed that he had yet to receive any word or official notice of the roadshow. This, he said, was particularly worrying as one of the planned venues was Sungai Petani.

“It is very odd that this news was revealed to the media before the state leaders were informed,” he said. “If we were given a chance to air our views in a meeting, I’m certain there would have been dissenters.”

Zamil also agreed with Rajaratnam that Najib’s pledge could merely be a “change of clothing” as the new laws replacing the ISA had not yet been revealed.

“Kita agrees with the ISA abolishment but we are not a BN component party to justify this roadshow,” he said. “Even Gerakan is not doing anything like this.”

“Any roadshow should be to strenghten the party and not to ride on another party’s issues. BN already said it will provide a full explanation so let them do it. I propose that this roadshow be reviewed and if possible, called off.”

Kita leaders unsettled by trio’s sacking

State leaders say they were in the dark over their dismissal, and back up allegations of Zaid's arrogance and disrespect for protocol.

PETALING JAYA: The sacking of three top leaders in Kita has set the wheels in motion for a chorus of dissent against the leadership of party chief, Zaid Ibrahim.

Three months ago treasurer, Rashid Azad Khan, was sacked via text message. Last Wednesday central secretary, Abdul Latif Thambi, and central committee member, Muhammad Firdaus Christopher, were given the boot.

In an immediate response Firdaus unleashed a tirade against Zaid for bypassing party constitution, registering state branches through dubious means and his overall high-handedness in running the party.

Latif, meanwhile, cried foul for his sacking over a website password and blasted Zaid for leading Kita astray from its original mission. And now voices from within the party’s state leadership have expressed similar dissatisfactions.

Penang state chief, Tan Tee Beng, acknowleged that the allegations of a fund shortage, sacking over minor issues and a lack of party protocol were all true. According to him, the talk has long been circulating within the party and was a ticking timebomb.

“Zaid had a right to sack the three for airing dirty linen in public but he should have used a different approach,” he said. “He could have always held private talks with them to try to resolve the issue.

“Unhappiness and struggle will plague every political party but when a new party is gearing up for a general election such incidences are never good.”

The Nibong Tebal MP said that Zaid probably regarded Kita as his personal party when it was first launched but that perception had to change as must Zaid’s tendency to make decisions alone.

“Zaid has to decide whether he wants to be a team player,” Tan said. “If you’re like (Gerakan president) Koh Tsu Koon who listens to everyone then you can’t make a decision. But if you’re like Zaid then you’re at the other extreme.”

While Tan may have been mildly reproachful of Zaid’s conduct, Malacca state chief, Colonel Hashim Putih, blasted him outright.

Zaid’s arrogance

He said that the sacking of the three was in poor taste as no reasons were given for their dismissal either to the party leadership or even to the trio themselves.

“They should have been given a chance to defend themselves,” he said. “The decision is unfair to them and to party members who are in the dark over the sacking. But this is true of his dictatorship style and non-compliance with the party constitution.”

Hashim also admitted that “shortcuts” were taken to register the Malacca branch with the Registrar of Societies.

Meanwhile, his secretary-general, Yahya Mohd Idris, bemoaned Zaid’s “hasty and drastic” decisions over “trivial issues” and agreed that Zaid’s arrogance had cast a shadow over a party that was still on the brink of development.

“He released the news to the media before even informing the party leadership which he shouldn’t have done,” added Yahya, which confirmed Firdaus’ earlier claim that he had found out about his sacking through media reports.

This sentiment was loudly echoed by Negeri Sembilan state chief, R Sri Sanjeevan, who pointed out that they should have been shown due respect as state chiefs by being informed ahead of the media.

He said he shocked at the reasons for the dismissal, especially over the website password, and called it “extremely childish”.

Sanjeevan, however, declined to comment on the other allegations saying that it wouldn’t be fair as he had neither experienced nor heard it first hand.

“But Kita is still an infant and needs a proper upbringing,” he said. “If there is already in-fighting now, people will lose faith in us. I call on all parties to keep and work out their disputes internally from hereon.”

Zaid a tyrant, says sacked Kita man

Muhammad Firdaus Christopher alleges that the party boss has financial problems and behaves like Saddam Hussein.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Kita central executive committee member Muhammad Firdaus Christopher today accused Zaid Ibrahim of running the party like a dictator, calling him a “Saddam Hussein”.

Seething over the way he has been sacked from the party, he said the allegations against him were lies.

Kita working secretary Masrum Dayat announced in a press statement yesterday that the party had terminated Firdaus’s membership because he had smeared its name on his personal Facebook and Twitter pages.

Masrum alleged that Firdaus was avenging the recent termination and also insinuated that Firdaus was behind the technical problems that the party’s website faced yesterday.

Firdaus told FMT today that no one informed him of his sacking before Masrum released his statement and alleged that neither the statement nor Masrum’s position in the party was legitimate.

“The person who signed the statement is not a Kita member, but a PAS member,” he told FMT. “And there is no such position as a ‘working secretary’ in the party.”

He said he learnt of his termination only last night, after receiving calls from news reporters.
He added, however, that he had left his position as a paid employee of Zaid three months ago because the Kita president had stopped paying him.

He explained that he was one of three people in the party whom Zaid had been paying out of his own pocket, the other two being treasurer Rashid Azad Khan and Selangor Election director and Zaid campaign manager Pak Malek Baretta.

“Zaid stopped all our salaries three months ago due to personal financial difficulties,” he said. “He told us he didn’t have any more money and that we should look for funds for the party and take part of those funds as our salaries.

“Three months ago, Rashid received a text message from Zaid informing him that he had been removed as treasurer because he was too slow in getting funds. But that’s not a treasurer’s job.”

According to Firdaus, both he and Rashid had tried to look for funds, but that the job proved difficult, with many party members and supporters questioning why they had to fund a rich man’s political party.

“Rashid’s replacement, a Dr Rajaratnam, also left last month because he was under too much pressure to look for funds,” he said. “You can’t put a gun to someone’s head like that.”

Talking to the wall

Firdaus denied allegations that he had been smearing the party’s name, saying that he had only launched a direct attack on Zaid for his “arrogant, tyrannical and dictatorial” behaviour.

“He doesn’t listen to anyone but his own voice,” he said. “He doesn’t have meetings with anyone. He hires and fires alone and he doesn’t adhere to the party constitution. Giving him feedback is like talking to the wall.

“Kita is nine months old and not a single soul has received an appointment letter. When secretary-general Latif Thamby Chik brought up the constitution, Zaid shouted that it wasn’t Latif’s charter and to forget about it because this was the way he ran his party. Isn’t that like Saddam Hussein?”

Zaid has since appointed two party liaison directors, Masrum and Aziz Kadir. According to Firdaus, their task is to spread word about the alleged treachery of the four who used to work for him and to carry out shady operations in Kita’s state branches.

“We had agreed in the inaugral meeting that state branches would have to be registered once the membership hit the 100 mark,” he said. “A meeting would then be called to elect the office bearers.

“But now Masrum and Aziz have been told to go to each branch and create prepared minutes of meetings with 15 names on them to be submitted to the Registrar of Companies as a pro-tem committee.

“What about the other members who want to be part of the committee? We’re talking about malpractice here.”

Firdaus worked closely with Zaid during his candidacy for the Hulu Selangor by-election last April and also during the PKR party elections. But he said he never saw this side of Zaid before.

“The only problem I had with him in Hulu Selangor was that he never kept to the schedule,” he said. “And he was very mellow during the PKR elections. It was only when he became party chief that all hell broke loose.”

When contacted, Zaid said he would comment on the accusations at a later date.

Kita wants to be a ‘loyal’ opposition

The party aims to distance itself from the confrontational culture employed by Pakatan Rakyat towards the government, says its chief Zaid Ibrahim.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Umno law minister Zaid Ibrahim said his party Kita wants to be a “loyal” opposition, supporting the government where necessary and highly critical if it steps out of line.

In a bid to change Malaysia’s “warlike” political culture, Zaid said: “Unless we see clear flaws and shortcomings in the administration’s policies and actions, our first instinct is to support the government. Kita is a small set-up with few resources, but we hope to be a loyal opposition.”

“This also means we will not attack the government just to gain political mileage. We will give credit where credit is due, and will rely on reasonable tests to determine our responses,” he said in his blog posting today.

Zaid, who is very critical of his former party PKR and its de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim whom he accused of crony politics similar to that of their hated rivals Umno, said Kita aims to distance itself from the confrontational culture often employed by Pakatan Rakyat.

He believes the approach would further the opposition’s agenda for a better Malaysia more effectively as confrontations will only embolden the administration to inflict more repressive measures against the opposition.

A sell-out?

Zaid drew flak from Pakatan faithfuls when he criticised the plan to hold a mass rally by polls watchdog Bersih, saying it would be better for them to try and engage the government through dialogue.

At the same time he also drew attention to the hard-handed tactics of the Barisan Nasional government on its handling of the issue, saying the group’s demand for poll reforms was valid and that it was politically more positive for Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to engage Bersih.

His centrist statement was seen as a “sell-out” and that his middle-ground approach was merely a result of his frustration from his defeat in the race for PKR’s deputy president post.

He denied the allegation and reiterated his call for moderation in politics.

But Zaid believes Malaysians are likely to rebuff his views and said he is unperturbed and will continue to promote Kita’s politics of diplomacy.

“Will we succeed? Maybe not. Maybe the public wants to see more of the same and will continue believing that nothing about Najib is right, and nothing about Anwar is wrong.

“They may regard our approach as a sell-out and find it more comforting to continue with George W Bush’s mantra: You are either with me or against me.

“But we are equally resolute about the need to change Malaysia’s warlike political culture,” said Zaid.

Zaid: Raid is against Federal Constitution

The Kita president defends the right of Muslims to religious freedom which he says is enshrined under Article 11.

PETALING JAYA: Kita president Zaid Ibrahim said the controversial church raid by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS) would not have taken place had Article 11 of the Federal Constitution been upheld.

More than 30 police and JAIS officers stormed a thanksgiving dinner at the Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC) premises last Wednesday.

The authorities claimed they had received a complaint that Christians were attempting to convert the 12 Muslims present at the dinner that night. Until today, no evidence or details of the complaint had been made public.

Zaid however pointed out that the true essence of Article 11 forbade proselytising to Muslims but acknowledged a Muslim’s right to religious freedom.

“Kita believes that this freedom belongs to everyone – Muslims and non-Muslims – and is a fundamental right of every human being,” he said in a statement today.

“We believe it is cruel for anyone to be forced to accept a religious belief or faith that he or she in all good conscience has renounced or refuses to believe in.”

The lawyer-turned-politician warned of similar raids in other parts of the country and of more Muslims being punished for exercising their freedom to believe.

“There will be more confusion and an escalating war of attrition among religious communities,” he predicted. “State laws will continue empowering officers to make arrests and raid premises so that they can make sure Muslims are not in the company of evangelical Christians.”

Zaid rapped JAIS of being too duty-bound in preventing Muslims from exercising their right to convert instead of understanding what “lies inside the heart of Muslims”.

“JAIS is simply happy to punish and imprison someone like Kamariah Ali (a follower of Ayah Pin) and regard her as a deviant Muslim,” he said. “It does not matter what her true beliefs are, just as it does not matter if she is happy with the faith.”

Silence from the Pakatan camp
 

The former PKR supreme council member also said that the Pakatan Rakyat component parties would not support the true meaning of Article 11 for different reasons.

PAS, he said, would not step up because of its belief that freedom of choice would give a “lesser” Muslim the opportunity to deviate from the faith.

He added that PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim would not risk his chances of becoming prime minister while DAP would be concerned about losing votes and Penang.

“That explains why the great defenders of freedom in Pakatan had to issue a gag order. Don’t address sensitive issues, is what they seem to be saying… get to Putrajaya first,” he said.

Zaid said hat the issue would be dealt with differently under a Kita-run government as the party was the only one in the country fearless enough to defend Article 11.

“We would refer Article 11 to a properly constituted Constitutional Court,” he said.

“If the court was to hold that Article 11 applies to Muslims as well, then they would not need to hide in church premises to exercise their beliefs.

“And agencies such as JAIS would not need the power to trespass and ransack private properties to look for possible converts. Our motto would be, ‘To each his own’.

“If the Constitutional Court rules that the intent of Article 11 is not to accord religious freedom to Muslims as well then we would need to amend the Federal Constitution,” he continued.

“We would insert an all empowering Article stating that all laws must conform to the Quran, and that laws contravening Islamic tenets and practices would be void. Islamic tenets and Islamic practices, in this case, would be those that are approved by the Conference of Rulers,” he said.

According to Zaid, the problem today is that Malaysia had a secular Federal Constitution but politically wanted Muslim laws to be the primary governing instrument.

And the politicians, he claimed, would not touch a crucial issue if it meant jeopardising their popularity.
“Some will continue to express anger and frustration, but nothing will change,” he said. “Kita is the only party that is truly ready and capable of making that change happen.” - FMT

KITA To Launch Manifesto On June 30 - Zaid Ibrahim

MELAKA, June 12 (Bernama) -- Parti Kesejahteraan Insan Tanah Air (KITA) will launch its manifesto on June 30 explaining its struggles as a responsible and sincere opposition party.

Parti KITA head Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim said the manifesto explained the essence of its struggles and policies, and introduced certain issues that would be accepted by the government.

"The political situation in the country currently gives a picture as though the opposition and the government is in a state of war," he told reporters after opening the party's new office at Taman Gadong Perdana, here.

He said the 'culture of hatred' was not good for the country because the political situation in the country should be conducive and appropriate to discuss issues concerning the people.

On the party's preparation to face the next general election, he said the party would be contesting in one or two constituencies in Melaka but had not decided whether to contest in the state or parliamentary constituencies.

KITA has 3,000 members throughout the country currently.

Kita: Give PM post to East M’sian

A Kita leader says the time has come for Umno to stop monopolising the PM post.

KLANG: Umno must allow a bumiputera from East Malaysia to become prime minister, said Kita leader KS Kottapan.

According to him, the time had come for Umno to relinquish its hold on the top post.

Kottapan was responding to Perkasa women’s chief Zaira Jafaar who argued that Malaysia’s prime minister must be a Malay-Muslim.

The issue arose after the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia published a report alleging that opposition party DAP and Christian leaders were conspiring to make Christianity the official religion of Malaysia and to install a Christian prime minister. Both DAP and the Christian leaders had denied this.

Meanwhile, Kottapan said since the Federal Constitution did not specify that the prime minister must be a Malay, East Malaysians had all the rights to assume the post.

“Umno which monopolised the prime minister’s post for the last 54 years, has failed to develop the country,” he told FMT.

“Umno hijacked the wealth of Sabah and Sarawak but refuses to assist in the economic development of the two states,” he added.

Kottapan said with an East Malaysian as prime minister, both Sabah and Sarawak, which were among the poorest states despite being rich in natural resources, would benefit.

Implement rotation system as well

Furthermore, he added, Umno must acknowledge that it was the voters in Sabah and Sarawak who rescued Barisan Nasional in the last general election.

During the 2008 polls, BN only won 83 out of the 163 parliamentary seats contested in peninsular Malaysia.

“In Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, BN won 57 of the 59 parliamentary seats, and it was this which allowed them to remain in power with a simple majority,” said Kottapan.

He said Umno, which had agreed to rotating the Sabah chief minister post, should also introduce a similar formula for the prime minister’s post.

The Kita leader also dismissed the notion that Malay rights would erode if a non-Malay became prime minister.

“This is stupid. To my knowledge, since independence, the health minister has been a Chinese, does this mean those from the other communities will fall sick for not getting the post,” he said.

Kottapan said Malaysia had a Sultanate system and this would ensure that the interests of the Malays were safeguarded.

Kita is helmed by former PKR man Zaid Ibrahim. Zaid, who was also formerly from Umno and an-cabinet member, had left PKR after falling out with its leaders.