Manohara miss medical check up amid rumors of 'Interpol' interest

Written by Ali Cordoba, World Futures

Manohara Odelia, the American-French-Indonesian star (She is indeed extremely popular in Indonesia), missed her date with the doctors for a medical check up that was to confirm or rebuke her claims of abuse by her husband, the embattled prince of Kelantan.

Manohara's mother, Daesy Fajarina, who is now under attack by some quarters and is said to be on an Interpol 'Red' list, said her daughter was still sick after returning to Jakarta and had to give the check up a miss. The Kelantan Palace, distancing itself from the so called 'spokespersons' that represented the Prince to the Media, remained diplomatically calm after learning that the estranged wife of the prince had missed the chek up.

Interpol

Daesy is said to have been arrested 'temporarily' in Malaysia's KLIA airport since her name was on the 'Interpol' list. She was released from the KLIA by Indonesian Embassy staff.

However, Brata Mandala, a senior police liaison officer with the Indonesian embassy here at Kuala Lumpur, said this could be the reason Daisy was denied entry into Malaysia. Interpol, not being the Internat Police as some think it is, is an established international police organization that help local police in all countries in the world arrest suspects that are on their list. A person become an Interpol suspect if the authorities of some country informs the Interpol of the 'degree' of the crime committed by the person or the person is accused of.

Daesy has a 'criminal' case against her in France where her French husband is being held by the local police in the ongoing case. It is said to be a 'financial' criminal case but Daesy Fajarina did not speak much about this case. World Futures learned from its own sources in Jakarta that the mother of Manohara wanted to keep the cases seperate since mixing her case in France with Manohara's case would have made it more confusing for her daughter and herself.

It is also possible that Daesy's reaction to her daughter's spat with her hubby had something to do with the pending case in France but our source will reveal the facts, if any, at a later stage.

In the mean time, Manohara's absence at the hospital in Jakarta for the check-up forced a 'supporter' of the family OC Kaligis to retract his 'support' for Manohara and her mother. The lawyer who offered his assistance to help the Manohara family in the case against the prince of Kelantan was apparently not impressed by the latter's missing the check up which he said was salient in building an 'international' case against the Kelantan family.

OC Kaligis is also of the opinion that Manohara's mother Daesy is acting unprofessionally and is also not serious in settling the matter with the Kelantan family, leaving the flood gate open for speculations. In a media statement to kapanlagi.com he said he was not into the matter to make money or gain popularity but to help the family in the moment of need. His dissapointment is with Manohara;'s mother whom he said did not reply to him why the young wife of the Kelantan prince did not go for the much mediatised and expected check-up.

However, sources in Jakarta told WFOL.TV that Manohara decided not to go for the check-up in order to cool the waters between her and her husband. The matter could now become a very 'family' affair as the Kelantan family want it to be but Manohara is not at all willing to be lead by the 'husband' by the nose in this affair.

The real reasons behind the 'international' spat between Manohara and her husband will be revealed in time, the source said, adding that some 'quarters' in Indonesia has advised the family to restrain from making too many media statements in order not to stir more troubles between Malaysia and Indonesia in the already tense relationship between the two Muslim states.

Malaysia, besides being downthrodden by Indonesian press and public, is also in a tense diplomatic state with Indonesia over the disputed Ambalat region which is said to be rich in oil and gas. In Indonesia, the public opinion is that the Malaysian authorities want to dictate Indonesia on the diplomatic and political level citing the Manohara case as a 'model' of Malaysia's mistreatment of Indonesian citizens and the Ambalat issue as a proof of the 'greed' of Malaysia.

Manohara remains a media 'miracle' in Indonesia and Malaysia as well as Singapore, bringing hits to websites and making newspaper sell more copies in these times of financial crises.

World Futures's generated more hits than expected in the past three months due our reports on the Manohara affair, this at a time when the Malaysian press (online and printed) refused to publicise the issue. Manohara has become one of our 'rising star' on the website with her articles dominating our most popular list.

Our article on 'Who is Manohara Odelia Pinot' - seen as a scoop for WFOL.TV has received 22,500 hits since its publication on our website in April.

Husam and other Kelantan Big Gun Lost in Muktamar

Sheih Kickdefella

Let me take this oppurtunity to thank all for your supports and prayers. It is not possible for Husam to make this far without those supports. For those who have spent so much time praying for him, god willing this is not the end for Husam.

Husam wanted to be the bridge between Pulau Melaka and Rusila, while committed to push for a greater PAS legacy under the leadership of President Hadi Awang. But for now, it seems the delegates is not willing to lend their supports to all Nik Aziz’s state executive councillors. For now, let us begin the new journey by congratulate the winner.

Confidence motion in Parliament – Is Najib afraid that he will not get 100% support from Umno/BN MPs?

By Lim Kit Siang

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in Beijing yesterday he would not emulate his father Tun Razak and dissolve Parliament on his return to Malaysia after his China visit.

Tun Razak returned from his historic six-day visit to China in 1974 and dissolved Parliament the next month and the fourth general elections were held on 24.8.1974.

The climax of Tun Razak’s visit to China was the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China on 31st May 1974, an objective the DAP had been advocating for eight years since the founding of the party in 1966.

For instance, I just came across a speech I made at the National Day reception of the Muar DAP Branch on 2nd Sept. 1973, where the subject of my speech was: “DAP calls for full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China”.

In saying that he would not follow his father’s example 35 years ago and return home to dissolve Parliament, Najib was fully aware that he is in a completely different political position from that of his father.

Tun Razak and the Barisan Nasional that he had just formed were at the height of their political power and influence in 1974, while Najib and the Barisan Nasional are now in the opposite polar position, struggling with lowest popularity ratings and to avoid the fate of United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Labour Party which suffered a complete wipe-out in yesterday’s local council elections.

Although Najib said there will be no dissolution of Parliament after his China trip as he has many “uncompleted things to do”, is Najib prepared to do what is right and proper, to seek a motion of confidence when Parliament reconvenes on June 15 to secure a clear mandate and establish his credibility, integrity and legitimacy as Prime Minister?

This is what his immediate predecessor Tun Abdullah did in his first week as Prime Minister on Nov. 3, 2003, and what the third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein did in the first fortnight as Prime Minister in an emergency session of Parliament in Jan 1976.

Najib has enough questions and doubts dogging him and casting a dark cloud on his ascent as Prime Minister without acquiring another serious one, that he dare not seek a clear mandate through a motion of confidence in Parliament, as if he has doubts about the total allegiance of the Umno and Barisan Nasional MPs and do not trust them to vote solidly for him in a parliamentary motion of confidence.

Nasharudin retains No. 2 but Nizar bags 85% of votes

Nasharudin has retained the Pas deputy presidency. He collected 480 votes, Husam Musa polled 281 while Mat Sabu won 261.

It looks as if the “progressive” or modernist votes have been split between Husam and Mat Sabu, who together collected 541 votes (54 per cent of votes cast) compared to Nasharudin’s 480 votes.

In comparison, Nizar easily topped the contest for committee positions with 85 per cent of the votes.

The result could have been different if Mat Sabu had pulled out of the contest for the deputy presidency leaving it as a straight fight between Husam and Nasharudin.

“I was surprised that Husam’s aides didn’t prevail on Mat Sabu to withdraw,” said a political commentator in an immediate response. “They were hoping that he would withdraw - and in the end, he played the spoiler’s role.”

“The big question is why didn’t Mat Sabu withdraw and what did he hope to achieve?”

Just before the official results were announced, rival news portals Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider this morning both carried headline reports that Husam had won, according to unofficial sources.

When it became clear that Nasharudin had won instead, the Malaysian Insider was quick to interpret his victory as a triumph for the pro-Umno faction in Pas and a blow for Pas’ Pakatan partners.

But it is clear that Nasharudin bagged only 46 per cent of the votes cast, suggesting that support for cooperation with Umno is slightly in the minority.

The future of progressive politics in Pas perhaps lies in its second echelon leaders with Nizar bagging a total of 854 votes (or 85 per cent) of 1,004 votes cast.

“A significant proportion of the votes for Nizar may be due to triumphalism, in the sense that Nizar was a popular MB and many of the Pas faithful would like to revel in that,” observed the commentator mentioned earlier. “But it is clear that he has an inclusive multiracial approach, reflected in the overwhelming support he received in Kuala Sepetang (in Bukit Gantang), which is predominantly Chinese.”

Chin Peng, an issue grossly exploited

My Sinchew

I have no idea where Mr Chin Peng is now.

No one seems to know for sure whether he really wants to come back to his home country--with this I mean Malaysia--and we have not heard that he is applying to come back either.

Weird enough, the issue of Chin Peng returning to Malaysia has all of a sudden been cooked up.

With Utusan Malaysia taking the lead, many have branded Chin Peng the "enemy of the state" deeply ingrained in heinous crimes, one who must never be allowed to set foot on this land again!

Most funnily, there are a few veteran soldiers claiming to represent the nation's retired troops, vowed by all means to oppose to Chin Peng's return.

As if that is not enough, they even urged the government to cite the Internal Security Act to detain anyone holding dissident views.

A veteran soldier might still be sunken deep into the war syndrome, overlooking the fact that the war has ended decades ago, such that he would demand actions against people supporting Chin Peng's return.

Even Dr Mahathir has jumped into the bandwagon, feeling that the government should be firm in its stand not to allow Chin Peng to return to Malaysia.

Under the auspices of Dr Mahathir himself, though, the Malaysian government signed a peace accord with the Malayan Communist Party some 20 years ago.

Frankly speaking, that was one of the not-too-bad things the long serving ex-premier did during his tenure!

Interestingly, didn't Dr Mahathir reiterate that we should lay down our historical baggage and allow past hatred to precipitate? It doesn't make any sense for him to grow less tolerant as his age advances.

In addition, the driving force behind the peace accord back then, former IGP Abdul Rahim Noor said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that the struggles with MCP had actually hastened the independence of Malaya. In other words, he admitted that MCP had its own contributions towards the nation-building process.

Didn't everyone of us cheer the peace accord then?

If the government is indeed persistent in its policy of denying Chin Peng, why doesn't it make this very clear, so that no one would cook up this issue again every now and then? (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)

Show Appreciation For 1Malaysia Concept, Says King

KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, today called on the people to show appreciation for the 1Malaysia concept introduced as an extension of government efforts to grow the national unity sown at the time of the nation's independence more than 50 years ago.

He said every citizen had a huge responsibility in this undertaking because it was the people themselves who would determine the rise and fall of a nation.

Tuanku Mizan said he hoped that Malaysians would continue to maintain unity and share their blessings and responsibilities as this was something unique and a source of their strength.

"I am very happy because the people have demonstrated that they are able to live in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect given the diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, culture and lifestyle," he said at the investiture at Istana Negara in conjunction with his birthday.

Tuanku Mizan also said that he was happy that the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was based on the principle of "People First, Performance Now".

Tuanku Mizan also said that the government should continue to improve the national administrative and implementation machinery, which served as the pulse of national development, to provide the best service for the well-being of the people.

He said he hoped that the benefits of the two economic stimulus packages launched by the government would reach the target groups.

He said he also believed that the government would be able to use prudence in stepping up efforts to balance economic development with social needs to bring about peace and prosperity for the people so that no race or group, including women, youths, the elderly and the handicapped, was neglected.

"In fact, existing government policies have provided for social balance among the people of various races with a prudent economic development strategy. I am happy that the number of people yet to enjoy the benefits of national development is shrinking," he said.

Tuanku Mizan also wanted the young generation of the country to equip themselves with all kinds of knowledge and skills to inherit the invaluable asset of a nation of pride and respect that had been shaped by the government.

The king said he was happy that the national leadership transition in April had proceeded smoothly and congratulated Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his appointment as the prime minister.

He said Najib had demonstrated dynamic leadership and commitment since his appointment as the prime minister.

Tuanku Mizan also thanked former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his leadership and services to the nation.

Earlier, at the Dataran Merdeka, Tuanku Mizan and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah, witnessed the trooping of the colours by the armed forces.

The ceremony was to pay homage to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.

Their Majesties were accorded the honour of a 21-gun salute and a flypast by five armed forces' helicopters carrying the flags of Malaysia, the armed forces and its three branches.

Tuanku Mizan inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 22 officers and 546 men of the army, navy and air force, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal and head of the guard-of-honour Lt Col Nazim Mohd Alim.

Their Majesties then witnessed the trooping of the colours in full military tradition as the military bank played patriotic music.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and their wives were also present at the ceremony.

No confirmation RPK is in Brisbane - Malaysiakini

The government is unable to confirm reports that controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, who is wanted for failing to appear in court, has fled to Australia.

MCPX

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said today he had no information on the whereabouts of Malaysia Today website editor, who has two warrant of arrest against him after he failed to turn up for his trial in two cases.

According to Bernama, Hishammuddin said he could not confirm a report that Raja Petra is now in Brisbane, Australia.

On May 27, the Immigration Department said it believed Raja Petra had used one of the so-called "rat trails" to leave the country.

This is because there was no record of him having left the country at the normal immigration exit points.

Interpol’s help sought

Raja Petra, 59, has been charged for sedition for posting the article, titled 'Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell' on his website.

He is also charged for criminal defamation for implicating Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor and two others in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

All of them have denied any involvement in the murder of the Mongolian national.

The courts, which are hearing the two cases separately, slapped Raja Petra with an arrest warrant after he failed to turn up to defend the charges.

In explaining his absence, Raja Petra - who is of royal descent - claimed to be in self-imposed exile from Selangor following a fallout with the palace over his refusal to apologise to the Perak sultan.

A news report has earlier quoted the police as claiming that the fugitive blogger had fled to Brisbane and that they were seeking Interpol's help to find him.

Manohara, Kelantan prince may make up

By Lee Wei Lian - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, June 5 — Datuk Kadar Shah Sulaiman, the man who helped Indonesian beauty Manohara Odelia Pinot escape her Kelantan prince, now says that a break is just what the couple need now and alluded to a possible reconciliation.

"A cooling-off period of a few weeks or months and they may fall back in love," Kadar Shah told The Malaysian Insider from Jakarta last night.

"You know these type of love affairs, how they are. And Manohara is still so young. She's a princess now and may miss palace life," said the Muar Umno branch chief.

He said, however, that if it still does not work out after a few months’ break, then the couple should divorce.

The marital spat between Tengku Temenggong Tengku Mohamad Fakhry Petra and the 17-year-old model has created a sensation in both Southeast Asian countries.

Manohara has claimed that she was physically and sexually abused while the Kelantan palace has insisted that it is a private matter between husband and wife.

Kadar Shah was the go-between the Kelantan palace and Manohara's family and claimed he was "given the blessing" of the palace to sort the matter out.

It took two months of planning and going back and forth before Manohara's dramatic escape in Singapore last Saturday.

Kadar Shah said he tried to work out a deal and get both sides to compromise and convince the prince to allow Manohara to meet her mother Daisy Fajarina.

The mother has been appearing on Indonesian TV shows alleging that Manohara had been abused since her marriage to the Kelantan prince last August.

When the Sultan of Kelantan sought medical treatment in Singapore, Tengku Fakhry and Manohara went to Singapore to visit him.

Kadar Shah also went to Singapore and arranged a lunch where he said he managed communicate to Manohara despite the presence of Tengku Fakhry's men.

"If you feel unhappy or unsafe, you have to korek (scratch) my hand when we shake hands.

"When we shook hands, she korek so hard, because you know, she has long finger nails," he recalled.

"Even when she went to the toilet, she was followed. However, before she left she left a note on a piece of tissue: 'I am not happy, please help me. I want to go home'.”

The tissue was shown by Kadar Shah on Indonesia TV.

"What I did was for the best for everybody," said the Umno man.

Modern interrogation methods of the Malaysian police

This is how the Malaysian police gets you to confess to crimes, even if you never committed them. But even after you do confess the 'interrogation' does not stop.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Jalan Ke Putrajaya Sudah Tiba

Sheih Kickdefella

STATUS AGAMA PENDUDUK MALAYSIA – BACAAN POLITIK SEPINTAS LALU

Sebagai sebuah Negara berbilang kaum, penduduk Malaysia juga menganut pelbagai agama. Penganut Agama Islam adalah yang terbesar di Malaysia dengan 59.1% penduduknya beragama Islam.

Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) merupakan satu-satu parti politik di Malaysia yang berteraskan agama. Bagaimanapun, sejak awal penglibatan parti ini di dalam politik, PAS sudah mengamalkan dasar PAS untuk semua dengan menekankan perjuangan kebajikan untuk semua lapisan masyarakat. Ini bersandarkan kenyataan Timbalan Presiden PAS kepada Majalah Belia Bilangan 16 Tahun 1, 27 Julai 1955 sewaktu berkempen untuk kerusi Parlimen Selangor Tengah.

Namun agenda Islam yang dibawa PAS seringkali digunakan oleh parti lawannya untuk menjadikan PAS sebuah parti yang sempit perjuangannya atau parti untuk perjuangkan orang-orang Islam sahaja.

Walaubagaimanapun, jika dilihat dari skop sempit sekalipun, perjuangan PAS mempunyai pasaran yang lebih besar kerana penduduk Malaysia beragama Islam adalah lebih besar jumlahnya daripada penduduk Malaysia dari kumpulan etnik Melayu. Iaitu Islam sebanyak 59.1% dan Melayu pula ialah 50.3%.

TABURAN PENDUDUK ISLAM DAN MELAYU – BACAAN POLITIK SEPINTAS LALU

Walaupun jumlah penduduk Malaysia beragama Islam adalah lebih ramai daripada kumpulan etnik Melayu, bagaimanapun dari segi politik, PAS sentiasa lebih lemah dari UMNO dalam banyak aspek seperti terutamanya,

• Jumlah keahlian, cawangan dan kawasan.
• Jumlah kerusi di Parlimen.
• Jumlah negeri yang ditadbir.

Namun begitu PAS sentiasa menunjukkan prestasi yang membanggakan di Kelantan di mana ia pernah memerintah semenjak merdeka sehingga 1978 (1974-1977 PAS di dalam Barisan Nasional). PAS berjaya menawan semula Kelantan pada 1990 dan mentadbirnya sehingga ke hari ini.

Terengganu, negeri yang mempunyai bilangan penduduk Islam dan Melayu terbesar juga pernah ditadbir oleh PAS dan kali terakhir ialah selama satu penggal dari tahun 1999 hingga 2004.

Pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 12, PAS juga dapat menawan Negeri Kedah dari BN.

Perlis, sebuah lagi negeri yang mempunyai peratus penduduk beragama Islam yang tinggi juga sering dilihat sebagai berpotensi di tawan oleh PAS, namun masih gagal. Pilihanraya 2008 bagaimanapun menampakkan peningkatan yang memberangsangkan.

Di negeri-negeri dan wilayah lainnya PAS gagal menyaingi UMNO dan BN. Ini kerana sebelum 2008, UMNO sering mampu meraih sokongan daripada pengundi bukan Melayu. Sokongan ini diantara lain disebabkan faktor hubungan UMNO dengan parti-parti komponen BN yang mewakili lain-lain etnik.

Politik berteraskan ras sebelum ini juga dilihat sebagai sesuatu yang perlu dan penting bagi mengekalkan kerhamonian masyarakat berbilang kaum.

Segregasi politik mengikut ras juga adalah senjata utama BN yang telah bertahun-tahun menanam ke dalam masyarakat bahawa keseimbangan dan kestabilan politik negara hanya akan tercapai menerusi sokongan kepada parti-parti politik berteraskan ras.

Oleh yang demikian, pengundi-pengundi merasakan perlu mereka mengundi mengikut garisan perkauman kerana takut etnik mereka kehilangan suara dan pengaruh di dalam Kerajaan.

Bagaimanapun sebelum pilihanraya 2008, perlahan-lahan arus perubahan sudah mula dapat dirasai. Arus itu pada mulanya datang bersama gerakan reformasi pada tahun 1998 tetapi reda setelah Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed meletakkan jawatan.

Bagaimanapun, gerakan reformasi 1998 membawa keprihatinan di dalam generasi baru tentang peranan mereka dalam menentukan hala tuju politik negara.

Sebelum 2008, kebanyakan masyarakat Malaysia semakin resah dengan corak pentadbiran UMNO dan BN yang antara lain dilihat semakin berleluasa dengan

• Amalan korupsi
• Kronisma
• Nepotisme
• Diskriminasi kaum dan agama

Beberapa insiden pemusnahan rumah ibadat pelbagai agama mendapat liputan meluas terutamanya dengan berkembangnya teknologi informasi.

Lahirnya web portal dan laman-laman blog serta jaringan penetrasi jalur lebar yang lebih meluas memudahkan audio dan video dipamer dan ditonton.

Perkembangan teknologi informasi ini akhirnya menamatkan cengkaman kerajaan didalam penyebaran maklumat.

Akhirnya, Pilihanraya Umum 2008 menyaksikan satu trend baru pengundian yang melampaui batasan agama dan etnik.

ANALISA PEMILIH DALAM PRU12

Menurut statistik pengundian yang didapati dari laman web Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia jumlah pemilih dalam PRU12 ialah 10,740,277 orang. (Daftar pemilih yang diwartakan pada 5 Februari 2008 jumlah pemilih sekarang ialah 10,922,141 orang).

PRU 12 menyaksikan jumlah pemilih keluar mengundi yang tinggi iaitu 76%. Laporan dari parti-parti politik juga memaklumkan kadar pengundi saluran muda yang tinggi (tiada data rasmi dari SPR).

Didalam forum-forum pasca PRU12, para penganalisa politik dan pemerhati pilihanraya berpendapat, PRU12 adalah penamat kepada trend pengundian menerusi garisan ras.

Pilihanraya-pilihanraya kecil selepas PRU12 juga membenarkan kesimpulan itu apabila parti yang tidak berteraskan ras memenangi 4 daripada 5 kerusi yang diadakan pilihnaraya semula.

ANALISA UNDI YANG DITERIMA OLEH PARTI-PARTI BERTANDING

Di dalam PRU12, BN yang bertanding di kesemua 222 kerusi parlimen menerima hanya 51% undi popular. Dalam erti kata lain, daripada sejumlah 7.9 juta kertas undi yang dipulangkan, 3,861,688 tidak mengundi BN.

Malangnya pihak SPR mengeluarkan statistik undi yang diterima oleh setiap parti komponen BN sebaliknya ianya disatukan dibawah satu sahaja,

Walaupun tidak mustahil, tetapi ia akan mengambil masa untuk secara tepat mengumpulkan semua undi-undi yang BN terima menurut parti komponennya. Bagaimanapun adalah menarik untuk menghitungnya bagi melihat undian yang dibuat berteraskan garisan ras.

PAS adalah parti kedua yang menerima undi popular terbanyak dan merupakan parti pembangkan yang memperolehi undi popular paling banyak di Parlimen.

PAS bertanding sejumlah 66 kerusi parlimen dan memperolehi 19.3% undi popular. Ini diikuti oleh PKR yang bertanding di sejumlah 97 kerusi dan memperolehi 14.8% undi.

DAP pula bertanding sejumlah 66 kerusi parlimen dan memperolehi 13.8% undi popular.

Walaupun begitu dari segi kerusi Parlimen, PKR memperolehi 31 kerusi, DAP 28 dan PAS 23 (termasuk kerusi PAS yang ditandingi oleh bukan ahli).

PAS memperlehi tambahan satu kerusi apabila berjaya merampas kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu dari UMNO BN di dalam Pilihanraya Kecil yang diadakan pada Januari 2008.

ANALISA KEPUTUSAN PILIHANRAYA DEWAN RAKYAT / PARLIMEN – SEPINTAS LALU

Keputusan Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 mengejutkan semua pihak. Buat pertama kali di dalam sejarah, BN kehilangan majoriti 2/3 nya di Parlimen.

Barisan Nasional memenangi sebanyak 140 (sekarang 139) kerusi di Dewan Rakyat. Gabungan PAS PKR dan DAP yang bergelar Pakatan Rakyat memperolehi sejumlah 82 (Kini 83) kerusi di Parlimen. Bagaimanapun satu kerusi Pakatan Rakyat yang dimenangi oleh PAS di Pasir Mas di kira sebagai kerusi Bebas.

Daripada jumlah tersebut, BN hanya memenangi 85 kerusi (kini 84) kerusi di Semenanjung Malaysia manakala Pakatan Rakyat memperolehi 80 (kini 81) kerusi.

Dalam erti kata lain, Semenanjung Malaysia bukan lagi kubu bagi BN. Harus diingat bahawa UMNO adalah parti tunjang bagi BN dan agenda UMNO adalah agenda Melayu.

Adalah ironi bila Malaysia Timur menjadi kubu kuat BN sedangkan UMNO parti tunjang BN hanya bertapak di 26 daripada 57 kawasan Parlimennya.

Dan di 25 daripada kawasan Parlimen tempat UMNO dibenarkan wujud ini, iaitu di Negeri Sabah, peratus penduduk Melayu hanyalah 15.3%.

Jika suasana politik dan sentimen yang membuak dikalangan rakyat di Semananjung berterusan, BN berkemungkinan akan menjadi minoriti di Semenanjung Malaysia.

Parti politik berteraskan ras di Semenanjung seperti Gerakan, MCA, MIC dan PPP berkemungkinan untuk pupus di Parlimen.

UMNO juga tidak terlepas untuk kehilangan tapaknya di Semenanjung.

APA AKAN JADI PADA MELAYU SELEPAS PRU 13?

Pasca PRU 12, keresahan dikalangan segelintir orang-orang Melayu mula membuak-buak. Melayu dilihat bukan sahaja semakin mengecil dari aspek komposisi kaum tetapi juga semakin kehilangan ketuanannya dalam politik Malaysia.

Perangkaan 2003 menunjukkan etnik Melayu adalah 50.3% sahaja. Jumlah ini diambil berdasarkan kelahiran seseorang itu daripada etnik Melayu, iaitu tidak mengambil kira sama ada individu tersebut membesar dengan mengamalkan budaya dan cara hidup Melayu.

Bancian dibuat setiap 10 tahun dan ia akan dilakukan semula pada tahun 2010. Kemungkinan besar perangkaan baru selepas 2010 akan menunjukkan bahawa etnik Melayu akan kurang dari 50%.

Secara langsung ini akan menjadi masalah utama bagi UMNO yang memperjuangkan agenda Melayu. Ia kerana pasaran bagi mereka semakin menguncup.

ISLAM SEMAKIN BERKEMBANG

Hampir 60% penduduk Malaysia beragama Islam. Tidak seperti masalah menguncupnya etnik Melayu di Malaysia, Islam sebagai sebuah agama boleh terus dikembangkan.

Adalah mustahil untuk meMelayukan orang bukan Melayu tetapi tidak mustahil untuk mengembangkan Islam di kalangan bukan Melayu.

Perangkaan terkini menunjukkan hampir 10% penduduk Islam di Malaysia adalah bukan dari etnik Melayu. PAS sebagai gerakan Islam telah memainkan peranan dan perlu terus memainkan peranannya untuk mengembangkan umat Islam di Malaysia.

Pas dapat mengembangkan Islam bukan sahaja menerusi dakwah tetapi menerusi dasar pentadbiran Islam.

PERANAN BARU PAS

PAS perlu bersedia untuk mengambil alih peranan UMNO sebagai parti induk etnik Melayu.

Adalah amat sukar bagi UMNO untuk mengikis persepsi masyarakat terhadapnya sebagai sebuah parti politik yang korup, mengamalkan dasar diskriminasi kaum, kronisme dan nepotisme.

Sebahagian orang Melayu telah menolak UMNO dalam PRU12. Namun begitu, itu bukanlah kerisauan utama. Apa yang merisaukan UMNO ialah majoriti penduduk bukan Melayu telah menolaknya.

Mungkin UMNO berpeluang mengembalikan sokongan sebahagian orang Melayu yang menolaknya, tetapi adalah mustahil untuk UMNO melaksanakan satu polisi yang boleh berjaya dalam jangka masa pendek untuk menarik orang Melayu dan bukan Melayu serentak kembali kepadanya dan BN.

Tambahan pula isu rampasan Kerajaan menerusi jalan belakang oleh UMNO dan BN di Perak terus membuat orang-orang bukan Melayu jauh hati dengannya.

UMNO memerlukan sokongan padu bukan Melayu untuk mempertahankan kekuasaannya di negeri-negeri di Pantai Barat. Tanpa sokongan orang-orang bukan Melayu, UMNO dan BN akan berdepan dengan cabaran getir di Johor, Negeri Sembilan dan Melaka.

Untuk mengambil alih teraju UMNO sebagai parti induk Melayu, PAS harus memperkukuhkan kedudukannya di dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Tetapi untuk tujuan itu, PAS harus terlebih dahulu meperkasakan hubungannya dengan parti-parti lain di dalam Pakatan.

MENGAPA PAKATAN RAKYAT ADALAH PILIHAN YANG LEBIH BAIK DARI BN?

Sekiranya PAS bersama BN pada hari ini, PAS akan menjadi parti kedua terbesar di dalam BN. Tetapi, PAS akan selamanya menjadi parti yang lebih kecil dari UMNO.

Ini bermakna UMNO akan sentiasa boleh mengawal perkembangan PAS.

Memandangkan kebanyakan kerusi Parlimen yang ditandingi PAS adalah menentang UMNO, sudah tentu berlaku perebutan kerusi ini dalam pilihanraya akan datang.

UMNO mungkin bersedia memberi PAS lebih kerusi tetapi sudah tentu ia tidak akan melakukan sesuatu yang boleh melemahkan kekuasaan dan ketuanannya dalam BN.

Menerusi pembahagian kerusi Parlimen sahaja UMNO sudah boleh melemahkan PAS. Sudah tentu keutamaan bagi UMNO ialah untuk memberikan kepada PAS kerusi-kerusi parlimen yang tidak selamat untuk UMNO tandingi.

Akibatnya, UMNO akan sentiasa lebih besar dan PAS akan sentiasa lebih kecil.

Implikasinya, agenda PAS untuk melaksanakan pentadbiran berlandaskan ajaran Islam akan tidak tercapai kerana UMNO akan sentiasa lebih besar dari PAS.

Bagaimanapun, jika PAS bersama PR, peluang untuk PAS mengambil alih kedudukan UMNO terbuka luas. PAS hanya perlu menewaskan UMNO di kubu-kubu terakhirnya.

Dengan itu, PAS akan terus berkembang dan mempunyai harapan menjadi parti yang terbesar pengaruhnya dan dengan itu ia akan dapat melaksanakan agenda-agendanya.

Menewaskan UMNO di kubu-kubu kuat UMNO adalah bukan tugas mudah tetapi ianya juga bukanlah tugas yang mustahil dilaksanakan.

Keputusan PRU12 dan keputusan-keputusan pilihanraya kecil membuktikan kenyataan di atas.

ANALISA KONSTITUENSI PARLIMEN PAS TEWAS DALAM PRU 12

Daripada 66 kerusi Parlimen yang ditandingi, PAS tewas 43 buah kerusi. Bagaimanapun ia berjaya merampas Kuala Terengganu dalam pilihanraya kecil.

Dalam PRU12 PAS telah bertanding di 30 konstituensi di negeri-negeri penduduk Melayunya lebih 60%. Daripada jumlah tersebut, PAS telah menang di 17 konstituensi dan tewas di 18 konstituensi lain. Prestasi PAS di Terengganu adalah amat mengecewakan memandangkan secara keseluruhan PAS mendapat peningkatan besar undi popular di negeri-negeri lain.

PAS tewas di kesemua 2 konstituensi yang ditandinginya di Perlis tetapi ia telah mendapat undi yang memberangsangkan. Di Arau PAS tewas dengan majoriti kurang dari 1% manakala di Padang Besar PAS tewas dengan majoriti kurang dari 5,500 undi.

Di Kedah PAS menang 6 dari 8 kerusi yang ditandinginya manakala di Kelantan, PAS menang 9 kerusi dan tewas di konstituensi Gua Musang dan Jeli.

Di negeri Perdana Menteri Malaysia, PAS melihat harapan untuk melakukan sesuatu walau tewas kesemua 6 konstituensi Parlimen yang ditandinginya. Di konstituensi Jerantut, Bera, Lipis dan Kuala Krau, kesemuanya PAS tewas dengan peratusan majoriti kurang dari 20% atau jumlah undi kurang dari 5,300 undi.

Prestasi PAS di Negeri-Negeri Melayu Kurang 60%

PAS meletakkan calonnya di 31 konstituensi di 9 negeri dan wilayah yang majoriti penduduk Melayunya kurang dari 60%. PAS telah berjaya meraih 7 kerusi Parlimen iaitu 1 di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, dua di Perak dan 4 di Pahang.

Terdapat 7 konstituensi di mana jika diteruskan momentum PRU12, PAS mempunyai harapan untuk merampasnya. Konstituensi tersebut ialah,

• Larut
• Kuala Kangsar
• Sepang
• Tasek Gelugor
• Parit
• Tanjong Karang
• Sungai Besar
• Lenggong

Calon-calon PAS tewas dengan peratusan minima 6% dan undi maksimum 5,000 undi sahaja.

Di dalam konteks PRU 12, prestasi PAS paling corot adalah di Johor dan Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan. Bagaimanapun, jika sentimen yang di lihat di Bukit Gantang berterusan, PAS ada harapan menawan 3 kerusi Parlimen di Johor.

Kesimpulan

Berdasarkan momentum PRU12 dan sentimen semasa hari ini, harapan PAS untuk melangkah sebagai parti induk orang Melayu memang cerah. Bahkan, tidak mustahil untuk PAS akan berjaya mengambil alih peranan UMNO jika langkah yang tepat diambilnya.

Bagaimanapun, PAS perlu belajar dari UMNO, iaitu, kekuatan UMNO sebagai parti induk orang Melayu bukanlah pada konstituensi yang majoriti Melayunya tinggi. Tetapi UMNO menjadi parti induk Melayu di arena politik Malaysia untuk sekian lamanya ialah kerana ia berjaya meraih sokongan dari pengundi-pengundi bukan Melayu.

Kejayaan UMNO adalah kerana ia bertanding di bawah banner Perikatan dan kemudiannya Barisan Nasional.

PAS hari ini sudah berada dilandasan yang betul bersama Pakatan Rakyat. PAS hari ini sudah berjaya meraih undi bukan Melayu. Apa yang perlu ialah memperkukuhkan kedudukannya dan komitmennya didalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Untuk salinan pdf analisa di atas dan analisa lengkap 17 konstituensi PAS tewas kurang 5,000 undi sila klik di Data dan Analisa PRU12.

“Unity talk” for PR-BN government - never arose or discussed at any PR leadership meeting

I attended the 15th PAS Muktamar opening ceremony at Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam this morning and left after lunch.

The media have been chasing after me to comment on what PAS President, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang said in a media conference after his presidential address.

I do not know what Hadi actually said, but in view of the public interest on the question of “unity talks”, I have two comments while making the general observation that political parties and political leaders must be prepared to talk to anyone on any issue concerning public interest, viz:

Firstly, that the question of unity talk to form a Pakatan Rakyat-Barisan Nasional government never arose or discussed at any Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting.

Secondly, on the so-called unity talks to form Umno-Pas government, it is something I read in the media. The subject was never discussed or raised in any PR leadership meeting.

KJ: PR a “coalition of convenience”

By Gan Pei Ling
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 5 June 2009: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has called Pakatan Rakyat (PR) "a coalition of convenience" that is not yet ready to lead the country.

In a posting on his blog today titled Who's the Boss?, Khairy cited as proof yesterday's incident where eight out of nine Seberang Perai councillors from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of new Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Mokhtar Mohd Jait.

Khairy (File pic) Khairy said: "That PKR politicians brought themselves to boycott an official ceremony in [Penang] already spells trouble for Pakatan."

The Rembau Member of Parliament (MP) added that the PKR councillors expected a political appointee, and claimed that they had already decided to nominate newly-appointed Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Penanti assemblyperson Dr Mansor Othman to the post.

"Notwithstanding whether or not Mokhtar was appointed to curb the influence of PKR, this action is a clear indication of DAP setting the agenda," Khairy said, adding that Jeff Ooi's demand that the PKR councillors resign also demonstrated "who the boss is" in Penang.

Ooi, who is the DAP MP for Jelutong and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's chief of staff, yesterday called on the councillor's immediate resignation following their boycott of the swearing-in ceremony.

Today, two other DAP leaders — Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Wik and Soon Lip Chee, the DAP whip in MPSP — also urged the eight PKR councillors to resign immediately.

In response, PKR whip and MPSP councillor Johari Kassim said DAP should mind its own business.

"We were nominated by PKR to sit as councillors.

"It's for our party to decide on our fate, not DAP," Johari, who led the boycott yesterday, was quoted in a Malaysiakini report.

"While we have problems in Barisan Nasional, at least we have been and are ready to lead as a team," said Khairy.

Murky pecking order

Hadi Awang at the muktamar Khairy also commented on PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's opening speech at the 55th PAS muktamar today.

Khairy said "the natural pecking order in Pakatan becomes murkier" when Hadi proclaimed that PAS was ready to lead change and the nation in the 13th general election.

"I have long suspected that Pakatan Rakyat, beneath its superficial unity over the supposedly shared agenda of promoting justice and transparency, is really born out of political expediency and necessity to challenge the Barisan Nasional...," he said.

He noted that PR did not have any central body to formulate, regulate and institutionalise internal PR.

"Pakatan is struggling to create and sustain a coalition of coherence and this has grave implications about its readiness to form the next federal government...I don't think they are," Khairy concluded.

Yestereday, Penang BN leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim also accused DAP of sidelining PKR and PAS, while Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam urged PR to resolve the conflict quickly.

Voting underway in Pas elections

Face to face: Mat Sabu (left) with Nasharudin - Photo courtesy of Harakah Daily

Husam Musa - Photo courtesy of husammusa.com

Polling for the Pas party elections is now underway as 1,044 delegates cast their ballots. The party elections committee is expected to announce all the official results tomorrow morning.

Who would be the most suitable candidate for the Pas deputy presidency?

• Husam (89.0%, 375 Votes)
• Mat Sabu (6.0%, 25 Votes)
• Nasharudin (3.0%, 11 Votes)
• Don't know/Don't care/Doesn't matter (3.0%, 11 Votes)

Total Voters: 422

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Hadi’s presidential address in English here, in Malay here.

Meanwhile, check out Farish Noor’s latest article here.

DSAI interview with BBC news on the Barack Obama speech in Cairo

Expelled Members Will Be Accepted, Except Murugiah: Kayveas

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 (Bernama) -- The People's Progressive Party (PPP) will accept all expelled members, except for Senator Datuk T. Murugiah, said party president Datuk M. Kayveas.

This was because Murugiah had caused great damage, not only to the PPP but also the Barisan Nasional, he said.

"The other expelled members were misled by Murugiah and therefore, they could be accepted," he told a press conference at the party headquarters here Friday.

Last month, Murugiah and six other members were expelled for breach of party discipline.

Kayveas and Murugiah, who is also deputy minister in the prime minister's department, have been involved in a long spat, with each claiming to be the rightful party president.

However, in a press statement on Thursday, the Registrar of Societies had confirmed that Kayveas was the lawful president and that he had no objection to PPP holding its general assembly this Sunday.A similar confirmation, via a letter, was also given to Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor which was read out to reporters at the press conference.

Kayveas confirmed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his capacity as Barisan Nasional chairman, would officiate the opening of the assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre.

On Murugiah's position as a deputy minister representing the PPP, Kayveas said: "He will have to go, now that he is no longer a PPP member. There is no platform for him."

He said the party had a replacement, but did not name him.

Last Saturday, Kayveas was returned unopposed as PPP president for a fourth five-year term at the party nominations.

According to Kayveas, 4,390 delegates and 2,300 observers would attend the assembly where nine would vie for the three vice-president posts and 29 for the 25 supreme council seats.

Meanwhile, Murugiah insists he is the rightful PPP president as "I was duly elected by members at the May 24 Emergency General Meeting".

"I am not sure whether the registrar has the powers to decide on the (party) presidency as it is the members who will determine this," he said.

Ingatan buat Dr. M ; kalau tak nak perjuangan Umno diperlekeh maka Umno jangan perlekeh perjuangan orang lain.

Dalam blog peribadinya Dr. Mahathir telah menulis 'amaran' agar jangan ada sesiapa yang memperlekeh perjuangan Umno.

Tulisan beliau berikutan kononya ada usaha memperlekehkan perjuangan kemerdekaan Umno.

Di sini cheGuBard ingin merakamkan 'ingatan' buat Dr. Mahathir. Janganlah kita terlalu 'jumud' atau 'taksub' dengan pertubuhan atau sejarah ciptaan kita sendiri.

Pertama seharusnya Dr. M harus ingat ialah Umno yang ada kini ialah Umno (Baru) ciptaannya sendiri setelah Umno asal telah diharamkan oleh mahkamah.

Kedua jika Umno tidak mahu diperlekehkan lebih penting ialah Umno juga seharusnya belajar jangan memperlekehkan perjuangan orang lain.

Dalam bab kemerdekaan Umno bukan pertubuhan 'tunggal' yang memperjuangkan kemerdekaan.

Banyak lagi pertubuhan lain seperti Kesatuan Melayu Muda dan seumpamanya. Namun bukan kerana pertubuhan atau pergerakan lain tidak mendapat sambutan lebih tepat pertubuhan lain telah diharamkan oleh penjajah British cuma Umno telah mendapat restu penjajah.

KMM diharamkan oleh British pada 18 Jun 1948, selepas diharamkan pemimpin gerakan anak Melayu Muda ini telah ada yang ditahan malah ada yang diculik dan hilang , dipercayai dibunuh oleh anasir penjajah pada ketika itu. Manakala Umno diberikan keselesaan bergerak. Maka ada ahli gerakan KMM yang membuat keputusan dari menunggu berisiko mati lebih baik masuk ke dalam hutan memikul senjata demi prinsip perjuangan demi membebaskan negara dari penjajah.

Kenapa dan bagaimana hanya Umno mendapat restu penjajah maka itu yang harus difikirkan....?

Jika Umno terus memperlekehkan perjuangan gerakan lain maka sudah pasti dengan sejarah juga Umno boleh diperlekehkan dengan memungkinkan Umno dipilih oleh penjajah pada masa itu kerana hanya Umno yang sesuai untuk meneruskan 'agenda' penjajah selepas terpaksa memberikan kemerdekaan selepas tekanan yang hebat dari gerakan rakyat yang lain.....?

Cukuplah memanipulasi dan mewarisi taktik pecah perintah yang diwarisi penjajah. Umno dan kini Barisan Nasional sentiasa menggunakan taktik membakar sentimen perkauman untuk menguatkan cengkaman politik mereka. Setiap kali parti komponen Bn yang berpaksikan kaum lemah maka pasti isu perkauman dibangkitkan dengan harapan rakyat yang dipecah perintahkan berdasarkan kaum akan rasa tidak selamat dan kembali 'berlindung' dibawah parti perkauman.

Contoh terdekat oleh kerana sokongan terhadap Umno dan parti perkauman lain jelas melemah maka dibangkitkan 'hikayat 16 Mei' dan ketuanan Melayu tetapi rakyat seolah sudah tidak melayan maka dibangkitkan pula cerita komunis dan Chin Peng.

Kemudian jelas mungkin Dr. Mahathir sudah terlalu tua (nyayok) untuk mengulas persoalan semasa. Mana mungkin menyamakan komunisme dengan Singapura... Komunisme ialah ideologi yang sama sekali menentang pasaran bebas dan Singapura ialah negara yang mengamalkan pasaran bebas.

Maka dengan itu sampai bila pun bangsa ini tidak akan menjadi kuat.

Sejarah harus dikupas dengan jujur dan berani. Bukan dijadikan momokan buat anak muda untuk sentasa takut dan kecut.

Sudah - sudah lah tu Dr. Mahathir oiiii

Sri Lanka rejects probes into slaughter of Tamil civilians

Sri Lanka has no plans to investigate allegations that its security forces massacred 20,000 Tamil civilians in the final stages of an offensive against the Tamil Tigers, and neither is Colombo willing to eventually accept an international probe, trade minister G. L. Peiris said Wednesday in Tokyo. "No, we don't regard that attitude as acceptable. That is some kind of inquisition," Peiris, a former peace negotiator said, according to an AFP report. Last week, leading British and French newspapers published their investigations, including interviews with UN officials, into the massacre.

Minister Peiris had earlier held talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshihiro Nikai and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.

At a news conference, Minister Peiris reiterated that Colombo has no plan to probe allegations of war crimes and rejected international demands for a probe.

The minister said: "The world should not try to... emphasise everything that is negative, make things as difficult as possible for Sri Lanka, threaten economic sanctions."

Unnecessary pressure on the Sri Lankan government may even lead to a revival of terrorism in the country, he warned, without elaborating.

"What the country needs this time is support, understanding, empathy, not condemnation, not judgement... not posturing," he said.

Peiris said his government refrained from using heavy artillery and aerial bombardment attacks out of concern for civilians "at the expense of postponing the end of hostilities."

The United States and other governments had repeatedly called on the Sri Lankan government (GoSL) to cease pounding a narrow strip of land in which 300,000 people had concentrated on the government’s advice.

In mid-March, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephone President Mahinda Rajapakse “to express the United States' deep concern over the deteriorating conditions and increasing loss of life occurring in the GoSL -designated 'safe zone'.”

“The Secretary stated that the Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone,” a State Department press release said.

More pointedly, as casualties mounted amid relentless shelling – even as US satellites observed – President Barack Obama demanded on May 13, “the [Sri Lanka] government should stop the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including several hospitals, and the government should live up to its commitment to not use heavy weapons in the conflict zone.”

Last week, independent investigations by The Times and Le Monde newspapers found that up to 20,000 Tamil civilians had been slaughtered by government shells. The papers quoted UN officials as saying the UN knew, but sought to suppress reports to retain Colombo’s goodwill.

Regarding the controversy over an IMF loan Sri Lanka is seeking, Minister Peiris said that a decision on the disbursement of the funds "should not involve political considerations," but should be "dependent upon technical criteria."

Prof. Peiris was the chief negotiator for the then UNP government when it was in negotiations with the LTTE in 2002-3.

The UNP was defeated by the SLFP in 2004 and he switched sides two years later, along with fellow negotiator Milinda Moragoda.

Both men had been popular with Western backers of the peace process as was the UNP, given its enthusiasm for the neoliberal agenda for Sri Lanka.

During the Norwegian-brokered negotiations, Prof. Peiris was famously associated, along with LTTE chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, with the ‘Oslo Declaration’, an agreement between both sides to explore federalism as a solution to the conflict.

At the time Peiris lauded the Oslo Declarations as a ‘paradigm shift by the LTTE’ and as a climb down by the Tigers from the demand of an independent Tamil Eelam state.

However, after crossing over to the Sinhala-nationalist government of President Rajapakse in 2006, Prof. Peiris rejected federalism as a solution.

"Today the intellectuals and experts worldwide agree that terms such as federalism, unitary and united have no clear definition and are indistinct at best," he was quoted as saying.

He added, without elaborating, that what was required was a "practical solution" to the ethnic conflict.

Sri Lanka rejects probes into slaughter of Tamil civilians

Sri Lanka has no plans to investigate allegations that its security forces massacred 20,000 Tamil civilians in the final stages of an offensive against the Tamil Tigers, and neither is Colombo willing to eventually accept an international probe, trade minister G. L. Peiris said Wednesday in Tokyo. "No, we don't regard that attitude as acceptable. That is some kind of inquisition," Peiris, a former peace negotiator said, according to an AFP report. Last week, leading British and French newspapers published their investigations, including interviews with UN officials, into the massacre.

Minister Peiris had earlier held talks with his Japanese counterpart Toshihiro Nikai and Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone.

At a news conference, Minister Peiris reiterated that Colombo has no plan to probe allegations of war crimes and rejected international demands for a probe.

The minister said: "The world should not try to... emphasise everything that is negative, make things as difficult as possible for Sri Lanka, threaten economic sanctions."

Unnecessary pressure on the Sri Lankan government may even lead to a revival of terrorism in the country, he warned, without elaborating.

"What the country needs this time is support, understanding, empathy, not condemnation, not judgement... not posturing," he said.

Peiris said his government refrained from using heavy artillery and aerial bombardment attacks out of concern for civilians "at the expense of postponing the end of hostilities."

The United States and other governments had repeatedly called on the Sri Lankan government (GoSL) to cease pounding a narrow strip of land in which 300,000 people had concentrated on the government’s advice.

In mid-March, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton telephone President Mahinda Rajapakse “to express the United States' deep concern over the deteriorating conditions and increasing loss of life occurring in the GoSL -designated 'safe zone'.”

“The Secretary stated that the Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone,” a State Department press release said.

More pointedly, as casualties mounted amid relentless shelling – even as US satellites observed – President Barack Obama demanded on May 13, “the [Sri Lanka] government should stop the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including several hospitals, and the government should live up to its commitment to not use heavy weapons in the conflict zone.”

Last week, independent investigations by The Times and Le Monde newspapers found that up to 20,000 Tamil civilians had been slaughtered by government shells. The papers quoted UN officials as saying the UN knew, but sought to suppress reports to retain Colombo’s goodwill.

Regarding the controversy over an IMF loan Sri Lanka is seeking, Minister Peiris said that a decision on the disbursement of the funds "should not involve political considerations," but should be "dependent upon technical criteria."

Prof. Peiris was the chief negotiator for the then UNP government when it was in negotiations with the LTTE in 2002-3.

The UNP was defeated by the SLFP in 2004 and he switched sides two years later, along with fellow negotiator Milinda Moragoda.

Both men had been popular with Western backers of the peace process as was the UNP, given its enthusiasm for the neoliberal agenda for Sri Lanka.

During the Norwegian-brokered negotiations, Prof. Peiris was famously associated, along with LTTE chief negotiator, Anton Balasingham, with the ‘Oslo Declaration’, an agreement between both sides to explore federalism as a solution to the conflict.

At the time Peiris lauded the Oslo Declarations as a ‘paradigm shift by the LTTE’ and as a climb down by the Tigers from the demand of an independent Tamil Eelam state.

However, after crossing over to the Sinhala-nationalist government of President Rajapakse in 2006, Prof. Peiris rejected federalism as a solution.

"Today the intellectuals and experts worldwide agree that terms such as federalism, unitary and united have no clear definition and are indistinct at best," he was quoted as saying.

He added, without elaborating, that what was required was a "practical solution" to the ethnic conflict.

Ex-cop demands S-G clears his name in Anwar’s black-eye case

By Leslie Lau - The Malaysian Insider

Consultant Editor

KUALA LUMPUR, June 5 — Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim, the police officer who investigated Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s black-eye assault in 1998, is demanding the government clear him of fabricating evidence in the case.

The former KL CID chief, who has accused the country’s top lawyer and police chief of making up evidence during the investigations, sent a letter of demand through his solicitors today to Solicitor-General Datuk Idrus Harun.

His letter is likely to continue putting pressure on Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan ahead of Anwar’s sodomy trial next month.

Anwar had accused the two men of fabricating evidence during the black-eye investigation and is planning to use the allegations to defend himself in his sodomy trial.

Mat Zain points out in his letter of demand that a press statement made by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan on March 1 and subsequent remarks by Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz in Parliament on March 11 this year had cleared Gani and Musa of wrongdoing.

The former police officer asserts the implication of Nazri’s remarks was that the government indirectly admitted Anwar’s claims were genuine with criminal liability shifting to him and forensic consultant Dr Abdul Rahman Yusof.

Mat Zain said Nazri’s remarks meant the retired police officer could be prosecuted for fabricating evidence under Section 192 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Through the letter sent today, Mat Zain is demanding the solicitor-general declare that the three medical reports prepared by Dr Rahman in the black-eye case were obtained illegally and fraudulently, and were used in proceedings of a royal commission set up to investigate the beating.

He also wants the solicitor-general to make a declaration that the former investigator had taken all necessary steps to prevent Gani from using the medical reports.

The letter of demand also seeks to have the solicitor-general clear Mat Zain of any wrongdoing, failing which further legal action would be taken.

Last week Mat Zain claimed a high-level plot using a bankruptcy notice to destroy his credibility ahead of several cases including the opposition leader’s sodomy case in July.

State news agency Bernama had reported that Mat Zain was declared a bankrupt on April 21 for failing to settle a RM250,000 loan and was served with the notice on May 26.

Mat Zain, who retired in 2001, said last week he believed hidden hands were trying to destroy his credibility and to prevent him from giving evidence against Gani and Musa for fabricating evidence.

Mat Zain filed a RM30 million defamation suit against Anwar last year after the Pakatan Rakyat leader claimed that Gani, who was a senior deputy public prosecutor then, and Musa, who was an investigating officer, had fabricated evidence against him in the black-eye assault.

Tan Sri Rahim Noor, the Inspector-General of Police in 1998, later admitted he had assaulted Anwar following a Royal Commission of Inquiry probe in 1999.

Besides Mat Zain, Musa has also filed a defamation suit against Anwar.

The statements of claim made by both Musa and Mat Zain have been admitted as part of an affidavit filed by Anwar for his Sodomy II trial.

Anwar had claimed trial last August to sodomising his former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, his second sodomy case in a decade.

Mat Zain told The Malaysian Insider last week however that he had decided to sue Anwar to clear his name because unlike Gani and Musa, he had not been officially cleared of the allegations of abuse of power.

In his statement of claims, the former investigator implicates Gani and Musa in what he claims was an attempt to introduce a medical report which he found suspicious.

He claimed the medical report prepared by Dr Rahman from Hospital Kuala Lumpur had suggested Anwar’s injuries were self-inflicted.

Instead, Mat Zain asserts in his statement of claim that he had taken all possible steps to prevent the medical report prepared by Dr Rahman from being included in his investigation papers.

Police still looking for Raja Petra

By Mazwin Nik Anis, The Star

The police is still looking for Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said claims that Raja Petra was in Brisbane yet to be confirmed.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the Home Ministry's monthly gathering here yesterday.

Last week, Musa had said the police was investigating how Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin left the country without a trace.

A sessions court had on May 26 slapped Raja Petra with a second warrant of arrest when he failed to show up for his criminal defamation trial.

The court also issued a show-cause notice to Raja Petra's wife and bailor Marina Lee Abdullah for not being in court to explain his absence.

The earlier arrest

Dear Sabah BN leaders…

By Lim Kit Siang,

Dear

Maximus Ongkili, Bernard Dompok, Shafie Apdal, Anifah Aman, Joseph Kurup, V.K. Liew, Abdul Rahim Bakri, Lajim Ukin, Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, (Liow Tiong Lai-dissapointedly excluded)

This again is to highlight to you , in the midst of basking in glory of having more Sabahan cabinet Minister and Dep. Minister and being so proud representing Sabah. I would like to remind you people regarding the true and sad state of affairs in the Land below the wind and of course hope you can do something.

We often discuss regarding the poverty rate and how poor is sabah even until the cow comes home, but below is a best and glaring example of how ill is the whole condition!

One can never dispute that ratio of doctors to population is a good comparisonof ones health care standard. Below is the list of number of medical officers in few district hosp. in Sabah. Bear in mind that these hospitals are very far away from specialist centers. They are often left alone to handle all cases irrespective of how tough it is.

Hospital Papar 3+1 (3 medical officers plus one director)
Hospital Kota Marudu 4+1
Hospital Ranau 3+1
Hospital Pitas 3+1
Hospital Kudat 4+1
Hospital Beluran 3+1
Hospital Kuala Penyu 3
Hospital Beufort 4+1
Hospital Tenom 4+1
Hospital Tambunan 3+1

(plus one means the pengarah, they are often involved in admin duties, meetings, seeing big bosses eg ministers when they visit Sabah. So, hardly contributes in seeing patients)

So in simple conclusion, 3-4 doctors are seeing total of hundreds of patients in clinic everyday, running all the wards, overseeing deliveries, performing operations like C-sections. Managing ill babies and adults. And not forgetting, doing night duties as well.

The same district hospitals in Selangor mostly have more than 10 medical officers running the hospital. And they have voted the govermenc out. So tell me sir/ madam ,don’t you know this ? and what have you done so far in representing Sabah ?

Sincerely
One of the 3 or 4 from the above

New America, One Malaysia: Premesh Chandran

Nashar won't tell on Sarawak surprise

Najib denies any links with Altantuya

BEIJING, June 4 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has again said he “had nothing to do with” Altantuya Shaariibuu, laughing off the federal opposition’s attempts to link him to the murdered Mongolian model whose killers now face the gallows.

“There’s no evidence,” Najib told the Associated Press in Beijing where he is visiting in the footsteps of his father, second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein who opened ties with communist China.

“They’ve not offered any evidence at all ... I have sworn in the name of God, of Allah, that I had nothing to do with her and I can’t go beyond that.”

The prime minister added what he described as a “tongue in cheek comment,” saying the fact that Shaariibuu was staying at “a two-star run down hotel” at the time of her death was further indication that he had not been involved with her.

“If she was my girlfriend, she will be totally insulted if I put her (there),” he said with a laugh.

Opposition leaders have repeatedly tried to link Najib to Shaariibuu’s death. The 28-year-old Mongolian model and translator was having an affair with his close friend and aide Abdul Razak Baginda when she was shot on Oct. 19, 2006. Her body was then blown up in a forest outside Kuala Lumpur, and only fragments were found.

The opposition had claimed in various election campaigns and in cyberspace that his close association with Abdul Razak makes him suspect.

Abdul Razak has acknowledged the affair but was acquitted last October of abetting the slaying. Elite special services policemen Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Sirul Azhar Umar were sentenced to death in April for her murder, though the trial never established what their motive was.

They have appealed.

Controversial blogger and Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin is on the run and a fugitive after skipping bail in several cases incluidng criminal defamation, sedition and Internal Security Act (ISA) related to his postings linking Najib and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor to the murder.

Police had also banned any mention of Altantuya in several recent by-elections. - The Malaysian Insider

MIC Youth lodges police report against Ibrahim Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The MIC Youth lodged a police report against Malaysian Pribumi Perkasa Organisation president Datuk Ibrahim Ali today over his statement in Utusan Malaysia which it claimed defamed party president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu.

The report was made by MIC Youth Social and Welfare Bureau chief at the Sentul district police headquarters here.

He said the report was to enable the police to investigate Ibrahim for making an irresponsible statement and also Utusan Malaysia which he claimed constantly published statements with religious and racial slant which could jeopardise the peace in the country and fan racial sentiments, if left unchecked.

He said the statement was untrue and the MIC Youth wanted Ibrahim to apologise to Samy Vellu.

Utusan Malaysia today reported that Samy Vellu was trying to be a champion of the race by describing the historical facts published in the newspaper recently as seditious. – Bernama

Kayveas still PPP president, says ROS

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The Registrar of Societies (ROS) said today that Datuk M. Kayveas is still the lawful president of People’s Progressive Party (PPP).

However, it was investigating complaints by various interested quarters within the party and scrutinising further information from all sides involved before the completion of the investigation, said ROS Director-General Datuk Md Alias Kalil said in a statement.

“In this regard, until the matter is finalised, ROS wishes to inform that Datuk M. Kayveas is still the lawful president of PPP.

“Hence, ROS has no objection to PPP proceeding with the scheduled Annual General Meeting,” he said.

On May 30, Kayveas was returned unopposed as PPP president for a fourth five-year term at the end of the nomination period and two days ago, he said PPP’s 56th General Assembly would take place as planned in three days time.

Earlier on May 24 however, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk T. Murugiah had declared himself the “new PPP president” following an extraordinary general meeting held in Putrajaya. — Bernama

Guan Eng stands firm on council appointment issue

Written by Regina William, The Edge

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng reiterated the state government's stand that the post of president for the Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) and Penang Island Municipal Council (MPPP) would be helmed by civil servants.

Speaking after the swear-in of new MPSP president Mokhtar Mohd Jait at the MPSP headquarters here which was boycotted by six Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) councillors, Lim said the matter had also been discussed with PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail on May 31.

He also brushed aside the allegations by PKR councillor Johari Kassim that he, Lim was running the state as if it was his own backyard.

Johari and five others had boycotted Mokhtar's swear-in as they wanted the post to be given to PKR and also to protest his appointment.

Only three PKR councillors attended the ceremony.

"That is not true as this decision was made jointly by all the executive councillors and PKR has its own representatives in the state exco and ask them if I have not been accommodating.

"They should ask excos Malik (Abdul Malik Abul Kassim) and Law Choo Kiang who also endorsed Mokhtar's appointment with Mansor (newly appointed deputy chief minister 1), who made the announcement.

"I always spoke to Wan Azizah on the matter," he added.

Lim reiterated that both the council posts will be headed by civil servants.

Johari had stated that while the MPSP president post must go to PKR, DAP could take the MPPP president's post.

He had also slammed Lim, accusing him of not consulting PKR when deciding on the appointment.

He threatened to resign with the rest of the PKR municipal councillors.

Mansor meanwhile said he would raise the matter with PKR's Penang chief Datuk Zahrain Hashim.

Meanwhile, Lim's chief of staff and Jelutong member of parliament Jeff Ooi called on the indisciplined PKR councillors to resign from MPSP within 24 hours failing which they can be subjected to an inquiry for indiscipline.

"The position of the council president is not to be misconstrued as the fiefdom of PKR or any political party.

"PKR councillors must submit to the fact that under prevailing circumstances, the appointment of council president is the prerogative and right of the state government," he added.

Ooi said if they remained defiant and insisted they had no confidence in the new president, they would not be able to perform their duties as expected of councillors who are paid allowances from ratepayers.

"Municipal councillors are appointed based on recommendations by the respective parties as this is the interim practice before laws are being amended to accommodate local elections.

"The present state government is accountable only to the people, and this PKR cannot regard the post of council presidents as personal to holder fiefdom to any political party, be it DAP or PKR," he said.

He said he would forward a collective memorandum from all DAP elected representatives to refer the PKR councillors for a review at the state exco.

Time for PAS to Demonstrate Its Ability to be a National Party

By Farish A Noor

This week will witness the fifty-fifth General Assembly of the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS), that has been on the political landscape of Malaysia since 1951, though its actual historical presence in Malaysia dates back even further, to the country’s first Islamic party Hizbul Muslimin, in 1948. Malaysia-watchers and analysts are looking very closely at PAS today, and there has been ample speculation about the fate and future of key PAS ideologues and leaders, notably the representatives of the two camps in the party otherwise known as the conservatives and progressives.

Distinctions such as ‘conservatives’ and ‘progressives’ are not very useful in cases such as these however, for they tell us little about the goings-on in PAS and they lend the mistaken impression that the differences within the party can be essentially reduced to such simple binary opposites. Needless to say PAS’s opponents are likewise tempted to use such dichotomies in their own lame efforts to divide and weaken the party, and such divisive tactics are long familiar to those who have studied Malaysian politics over the past half a century or so…

The fact is that PAS is an infinitely more complex party that outsiders may think, and that its complexities run deep into its history. In the 1950s PAS was seen and cast as a Leftist-Islamist party while it was under the leadership of Dr Burhanuddin al-Helmy and Zulkiflee Mohammad; and the party’s concerns were directed towards the national liberation struggle against colonialism and all forms of neo-imperialism in Asia and Africa. In the 1970s PAS transformed itself to an ethno-nationalist party during its brief courtship with the ruling UMNO party. Since the 1980s the party has become one of the most vocal and visible Islamist parties in Asia and the Muslim world, standing on par with the Jama’at-e Islami of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh on the one hand and the Muslim Brotherhood (Ikhwan’ul Muslimin) of the Arab world on the other.

Despite the rise in its profile and its growing standing in the arena of Malaysian politics, PAS has remained a Malaysian party that has sought to gain power on the stage of Malaysian politics. Following the elections of march 2008 when the opposition alliance broke the two-thirds majority of the ruling National Front coalition, PAS is now poised to become a national party with national aspirations.

Which brings us to the question of what the Malaysian nation is today, and whether PAS can speak on behalf of the new Malaysia that is more complex than ever.

Regardless of whether the leaders of PAS describe themselves as moderate, liberal, progressive or conservative, the fact is that Malaysia and the Malaysian nation they hope to lead and represent is far more complex than even their own party. PAS and whoever leads the party, must come to realize this by now and must have the political will to deal with the complexities of Malaysia in a rational and objective manner. The days when it was assumed that all Malay-Muslims were simple pious Muslims are over: In the urban industrialized zones of West Malaysia, we have seen the proliferation of a myriad of new social constituencies that defy all the stereotypes of the nation thus far. Malaysia is now a country where Malaysian of all walks of life, ethnic and religious background, gender orientation etc are coming to the fore to demand their share in the politics of representation. I am personally acquainted with a number of Gay Muslims who have openly and privately declared their support for the Islamic party, but can the Islamic party they support also show them the same level of support, sympathy and understanding?

PAS needs to understand that to be a national party with national aspirations means having to develop an inclusive political rhetoric and platform that reflects the multifarious character of the complex Malaysia we see around us today. This is what all political parties need to do, be they Islamist, Socialist, Liberal or Conservative anyway. Failure to do so would mean ignoring the realities on the ground to their peril and at their own long-term political expense.

Skeptics have claimed that PAS can never succeed in re-inventing itself ever since the 1980s, when it adopted the mould of being a politically Islamist party similar to its counterparts in the Arab world and South Asia. But the historian would remind us that political parties, like nations and communities, are abstract collections of individual subjectivities that merge and melt and reconstitute themselves all the time. PAS was always a dynamic party that dealt with the realities of the day, from the realities of colonialism in Malaya to the rise of authoritarian politics in the 1980s. Today, PAS has seen and felt the goodwill of millions of non-Malay and non-Muslim Malaysians who have given the party a shot at becoming part of the new government of Malaysia, should the opposition parties take over sooner than later. PAS has also benefitted from the goodwill of millions of moderate liberal Muslims who are prepared to give the Islamic party a chance to demonstrate its commitment to a new politics of accountability and transparency.

Thus for the sake of those Malaysians who are prepared to give PAS a chance, the party now has to set its sights on the biggest prize of all, to become a national party that reflects the pluralism of Malaysian society. The vote swing that took place in march 2008 was not an endorsement for an Islamic state, or moral policing, or a theocracy under the thumb of a bunch of Ayatollahs. It was a sign that PAS’s time has come, and that the party should delve back to its complex past to recover a means to becoming a modern Islamic party that can finally be a Malaysian party as well.

Samy Vellu To Announce His Stand On MIC Election Candidates Soon

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 (Bernama) -- MIC President Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Thursday he would soon announce whether he would endorse any candidate or otherwise for the Sept 12 party elections.

"I have already made up my mind and will let you all know soon," he told reporters before opening a student leadership convention at Universiti Malaya, here.

Samy Vellu said he had given the matter serious thought and felt that as the president of the party, he should make his stand known to the MIC delegates and members.

"Earlier I thought all the aspiring candidates could sit down and discuss as to who should contest which post, but it looks like everyone is making their announcement about which post they want to contest," he said.

The MIC president said he could not stop anyone from contesting as it was a democratic process but stressed that he would have to let the delegates who would be voting in the party elections to know his stand.

"Everyone is free to contest but I too will make known my stand," he said without mentioning when he would do so.

Samy Vellu had said previously that he would not endorse anyone for any post but would rather allow a "free-for-all" contest. However, he had stressed that he could not predict what his stand would be in the future.

The Sept 12 elections would see a contest for the post of deputy president, three posts of vice-president and 23 posts of Central Working Committee (CWC) member.

Former deputy president Datuk S. Subramaniam and current vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan have already announced their intention to contest the post of deputy president while incumbent Datuk G. Palanivel has yet to announce his stand.

Another likely contender for the post is Human Resources Minister and party secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam.

Party insiders said Samy Vellu would prefer a straight fight for the Number 2 post to ensure that the party remained united. They felt that Samy Vellu was worried that should there be a three- or four-cornered fight, it would break up the party as there would be three or four factions.

PKR’s Zulkifli slams Gurdwara Council

By Zedeck Siew
thenutgraph.com

PETALING JAYA, 4 June 2009: PKR parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin has slammed the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council for its statement criticising the syariah courts.

"What people like (Malaysian Gurdwaras Council president) Jagir Singh need to do is to start learning to respect decisions of the Syariah Court, even if it is not in one's favour," said Zulkifli in a press statement yesterday.

Zulkifli He was responding to comments by Jagir yesterday about the ability of the Syariah Court to fairly hear cases involving non-Muslims.

The Sikh leader was referring to the case of Mohan Singh, who died of a heart attack on 25 May. Mohan's remains have not been released to his family, as he is believed to have converted to Islam in 1992.

"We are of the view that a syariah court is not in a position to determine Mohan's religion as most witnesses who can vouch for his professing of religion are non-Muslims, whose evidence the Syariah Court has no jurisdiction to hear," Jagir said.

"Without their evidence, there cannot be a just decision," he was quoted as saying.

Zulkifli said the Malaysian Gurdwaras Council statement was "highly baseless, unfounded, and purely contemptuous."

"It shows utter disrespect for a court of competent jurisdiction, duly established by the Federal Constitution, and recognised as such by the Federal Court," Zulkifli said.

"Please learn to respect the Federal Constitution," Zulkifli added.

Zulkifli explained that syariah courts were empowered to hear evidence from non-Muslim witnesses.

The Kulim-Bandar Baru Member of Parliament (MP) cited the case of the late Nyonya Tahir, where there was dispute as to whether the deceased had died a Muslim. The Syariah Court later decided that Nyonya Tahir had died as a Buddhist, and should be buried as one.

"The matter was brought to the Syariah High Court of Negeri Sembilan, where the Buddhist family testified and gave evidence," Zulkifli explained.

According to Zulkifli, the Syariah Court is the best place to determine whether Mohan Singh had died a Muslim.

"Where else on earth can one determine that, except in the Syariah Court, where the judges are very well-versed with the law, and the issue at hand?" Zulkifli said.

The MP stressed that the late Mohan had every right to profess and practise Islam as a religion of his choice. "It is not a crime to become a Muslim," Zulkifli said.

Forum: “Conflict and Humanitarian Crisis in Sri Lanka – What Next?”

Contributed by Sumitha, Executive Officer

The Bar Council organised this pubic forum on 27th May 2009 at the Bar Council auditorium.

The main speakers were S. Pasupathi, Trustee of the World Tamil Relief Fund and the President of the Educational Welfare and Research Foundation (EWRF), Y.B R Sivarasa, Member of Parliament, Subang, Y.B Charles Santiago, Member of Parliament, Klang and A. Kanesalingam, Trustee of the Tamil’s Relief Fund. Approximately 150 members of the public and lawyers attended the forum.

The 2-hour forum began at 8.15pm after a brief welcome speech by Lim Chee Wee, Hon. Vice President of the Malaysian Bar.

The first speaker A. Kanesalingam provided a historical perspective of the conflict. He described what happened in the northeast of Sri Lanka as a holocaust and called for international intervention to set free hundreds of thousands of Tamils now detained behind barbed wire.

S. Pasupathi then shared his experiences based on several trips that he had made over the years to the conflict zone. He moved the audience with many graphic photographs of the conflict.

Y.B. R. Sivarasa provided a political perspective of the conflict. He said that the failure of the Sri Lankan Government to recognise Tamil minority rights was the major cause of the war. He also said in hindsight it was important to pose the question of whether the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had done enough work on the political front.

Y.B. Charles Santiago, the final speaker questioned the Malaysian Government’s double standards. He said it was odd that the Malaysian Government could support Sri Lanka's resolution calling for UN member nations to not interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka when Malaysia had been in favour of UN intervention when Israel invaded the Gaza Strip several months ago.

During the question and answer session, many participants said that it was unfortunate that many Malaysians seemed unaware or concerned about what was taking place in Sri Lanka.

The day after the forum, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Sri Lanka’s resolution over the EU sponsored resolution. The EU resolution had called for an international investigation into possible war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE during the last few weeks of the war.

64 wasted their time appearing at the Ipoh Police station

By MP Kula

Today is the D day for the 64 people who were arrested on 7thMay09. On that day the Perak State Assembly set. The police had obtained an interim order to restrain any one other than assemblyman from being 500meters from the state assembly.

I was prevented from entering the state assembly by the police although I had invitation to attend on that day. The state Assembly is situated in my constituency notwithstanding others like YB Lim Kit Siang and M.Manogahar( Teluk Intan) were also prevented from entering the state assembly.

Our lawyer Karpal would soon file proceedings to set aside the restraining order.

The 64 individual were on police bail and the bail was not extended today. DSP Glean informed us that the investigations are still going on and they are awaiting directions from the Attorney General Chambers as to whether to charge the 64 heroes.

The police should explain as to why the 64 were asked to report to the police station today when they knew yesterday that the bail will not be extended but the 64 can go free pending directions from AG Chambers. Many were displeased with the police the manner in which they had handled the matter today.

Many of the 64 individuals were not only innocent but had come from other states like Penang, Malacca, Selangor and Pahang.

We were also pleased that many lawyers turned up to give support. The blogger’s community were also not spared the arrest as Zorro and others were detained on the 7^th of May. Interestingly Jong the Ipoh blogger somehow was not arrested on the 7^th although she was everywhere and in black too. Why she is so lucky!

June 4: China's Forbidden Date - Jeff Ooi

June 4 is China's Forbidden Date.

So, Najib has to crack a forbidden joke in Beijing, a city away from forbidden Mongolia.

20 years in flashback... I was reading about Tankman Square, Beijing.

See Jeff Widener's portfolio

20 years fast-forward... I am currently reading this book about a Prisoner of the State.

Image source: Telegraph UK

Will Zhao Ziyang's book shake China? Don't bet on it, says Newsweek.

Also read Bao Bu, one of the translators and editors of "Prisoner of the State: The Secret Journal of Premier Zhao Ziyang".

Vanni IDPs live under appalling condition: Sri Lankan Chief Justice

"Vanni IDPs sheltered in transit centres in Cheddiku'lam cannot expect justice under the Sri Lanka’s law. Law of the country does not show any interest on these IDPs. I openly say this. The authorities can penalize me for telling this," said Sri Lanka's Chief Justice Sarath N. Silva when he addressed a public meeting which followed the ceremonial opening of a court complex at Marawila in Negombo district Tuesday. These transit centres are described as internment camps by human rights activists.

Sarath N. Silva further said:

“I visited 'relief villages' where Vanni IDP families are sheltered. I cannot explain their suffering and grief in words. It is an utter lie if we continue to say that there is only one race and no majority or minority in the country. I visited Cheddiku'lam camps where IDP families live. I cannot explain the pathetic situation they undergo. I was unable to console them. They survive amid immense suffering and distress.

"We construct massive building on our side. But these IDPs live in tent-shelters. Ten IDPs live in one tent-shelter. They could stand straight only in the centre of the tent shelter. Their neck will break down if they move to aside of the tent-shelter.

"IDPs are seen waiting in queues, extending from 50 to 100 yards to take their turn to answer a call of nature. This is the life of Vanni IDPs in Cheddiku'lam camp

"I attempted to smile at these IDPs. But it was without success. I failed to express my feeling towards them. I was unable to tell them that we also were crying with them for their suffering. I was unable to tell them that I would supply new clothes to them.

"They should be provided with enough relief. We would be blamed if we fail to supply them with enough relief.

"They cannot expect justice from the law of the country. Their plight and suffering are not brought to the court of law in our country. I openly say this. I will be penalized for telling this”, said Mr.Sarath Silva who is to retire from the post of Chief Justice at the end June when he reaches 60 years of age.

Sarath Silva's address was aired with Tamil translation Wednesday night in MTV News bulletin.