PKR youth chief under fire

Rembau PKR leaders say his Merlimau bid is disrupting Pakatan harmony

REMBAU: PKR youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mat Akin’s ambition to contest in the Merlimau by-election is causing some unhappiness here.

Local PKR leaders said Shamsul Iskandar and his supporters should accept that Merlimau is for PAS to contest and stop lobbying for his candidacy. Instead, they added, he should use the by-election as an opportunity to train PKR youth members in campaign work.

One of the Shamsul backers still lobbying for his candidacy is Selangor PKR youth chief Khairul Anuar Ahmad Zainuddin.

In a recent interview with a Malay daily, he said he would still push for Shamsul Iskandar’s candidacy even though the Pakatan Rakyat leadership had decided to let PAS contest.

Rembau PKR youth chief Mohd Sani Mohd Shah said such an attitude was not good for opposition harmony.

“Seat allocations for by-elections should remain status quo,” he said.

“Demanding to contest the seat that was contested by PAS in March 2008 only creates cracks between PKR and PAS, especially at the grassroots level.

“Leaders can come and say we want to contest this seat and that seat and then they go off. But this kind of statement has an effect with leaders and members at the grassroots. It disrupts harmony and cooperation.”

He called on Pakatan to impose a gag order with regard to seat negotiations.

“Turning to the media does not guarantee anything, except to provide live and free ammunition to Barisan Nasional to shoot us,” he said.

Mohd Sani also said such public statements made the opposition look bad in the eyes of voters who had yet to decide whether to support BN or Pakatan.

“I have come across a few fence sitters asking me how we were going to run the country when PKR and PAS were already fighting even for a single seat,” he said.

Rembau PKR secretary Norazizi Abdul Aziz hit out directly at Shamsul Iskandar for carrying out what he described as a “silent campaign” in Merlimau even as other party leaders and members were working hard to help the PAS candidate in the Tenang by-election last month.

“PKR youths could hardly be seen in Tenang,” he said. “Shamsul Iskandar was handing out mandarin oranges to the Merlimau Chinese.”

Norazizi urged Shamsul Iskandar to put aside his ambition and instead focus on helping the PAS candidate win the Merlimau seat.

He said PKR youth members were in need of training and Shamsul Iskandar could use the by-election to help them gain experience in campaigning skills.

‘Racism good for the elite’

The Hindu rights group accuses Umno of manufacturing racism to protect the rich and powerful.

GEORGE TOWN: Hindraf has accused Umno of deliberately fanning racist sentiments to safeguard the interest of a powerful elite made up of individuals of various ethnic origins.

In a strongly-worded statement calling for support for a “solidarity march” on Feb 27, Hindraf Makkal Sakti advisor N Ganesan said racism in Malaysia was “Umno-manufactured” and was being used to the advantage of a rich and powerful few.

“Umno perpetuates racist policies merely to safeguard and enhance the elite, comprising the politically powerful and rich individuals from various ethnic communities,” he said.

The Feb 27 march will begin at the Kuala Lumpur City Centre. It was originally meant to be a show of protest against the use of the controversial novel Interlok as a literature text for Form Five students, but it is now advertised as “People’s March: Solidarity Against Umno’s Racism”.

Ganesan called on “all patriotic Malaysians who are for social justice, equality, democracy, fairness and rule of law” to join the protest.

He said they must leave behind their “partisan minds” and show “defiance and determination to break the stranglehold the greedy elite have on the country”.

“It is time to bury racism in Malaysia and it is time to take the bull by its horns,” he added.

He said Umno fed the Malays with “synthetic insecurities” to enable it to continue with its divide-and-rule policies and that the use of Interlok in schools was the latest manifestation of these policies.

Meanwhile, he added, “the elite just sit back and enjoy”.

He said any nation that was essentially multicultural nation must to be driven by a governance paradigm that appreciated its diverse strengths.

“Do we see that happening in our country? It’s a big no.”

Trial restarts as Anwar’s future in doubt

By David Chance

KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s year-long trial for sodomy restarted today as questions grew over his leadership abilities and as the government readied for elections in the bellwether state of Sarawak in April.

Anwar, 63, says the charge, which could see him jailed for 20 years, is part of a political plot that mirrors his dismissal as finance minister in 1998 and convictions for corruption and sodomy, something the government of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak denies.

With Anwar tied up in court, Najib’s approval ratings have surged and promises of economic reforms by the government have impressed foreign investors, although they are waiting for implementation before turning bullish.

Najib does not need to hold polls until 2013, but his rising popularity and strong economic data have prompted analysts to expect the general election to be held in late 2011 or early 2012.

The trial has been slowed by frequent appeals from Anwar’s lawyers seeking access to medical evidence, trying to get the case and the judge dismissed, all of which have failed. The prolonged trial has failed to generate the excitement of 1998, when tens of thousands rallied for Anwar.

Today, medical evidence related to the charge that Anwar sodomised a young male aide was heard after Anwar returned from Washington where he was quoted by the Malaysian daily Utusan as saying last week that he had “one foot in parliament and one foot in jail”.

Anwar’s PKR has been hit by a wave of defections, and his leadership of the three-party opposition, which also groups a secular, largely ethnic Chinese party and an Islamist party, has come under question.

“Anwar has been distracted by the trial,” said James Chin, political analyst at the Monash University campus in Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar in September 2008 claimed that he could win over enough defectors from the Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled this Southeast Asian country of 28 million people for over half a century. But he has seen a string of by-election successes come to an end.

The government has replaced a lacklustre leader with Najib in 2009, and Najib has seen his approval ratings rise to 69% from 45% when he took office, according to independent pollster the Merdeka Centre.

PKR the weakest link

Najib has announced a series of economic reforms aimed at winning back investor confidence in a country. Malaysia had once accounted for almost a third of foreign direct investment into Southeast Asia, but such investment has now fallen off sharply.

Investors are now more concerned about whether those reforms will be implemented than about the prospect that the government could lose power at the next general election.

The 2008 polls, which saw the government lose its iron-clad two-thirds majority in parliament and drove the opposition to power in five of Malaysia’s 13 states, caused the country’s stock market to crash by 9.5% the day after the results were announced.

Political analysts say that Najib looks set to call elections well before the 2013 date by which they must be held, possibly as early as the last quarter of 2011 and say that with Anwar tied up in court, his PKR party could fare badly.

“The real problem with Anwar’s trial is that if PKR ends up with the lowest number of seats in the next election, the (opposition) leadership will go to PAS or the DAP,” said Monash University’s Chin.

“That is unacceptable to both sides ,” he said.

The DAP – a secular, largely ethnic Chinese party – and PAS – an Islamist party have maintained an uneasy alliance with Anwar’s party baulking at PAS plans to introduce Islamic laws, and PAS itself is split by arguments between the party’s conservative wing and its reformers.

- Reuters

Siapa Melayu?

IF it is true that Malay-rights group Perkasa was able to sabotage the government’s New Economic Model, hence obstructing much-needed reforms for the nation, what is this telling us?

It tells us that if the Barisan Nasional (BN) government is so easily held ransom by right-wing race-based groups, it is not fit to govern multiracial Malaysia. It also tells us something else about the BN government that further proves just how unqualified it is to run this country. If the BN is so easily swayed by the clamouring of “Malay rights”, often projected writ large as “ketuanan Melayu”, it is telling the rakyat this: that despite our independence from the British after more than 50 years, the current government still subscribes to and upholds the colonial construct of race and racial superiority.
Indeed, this fixation with race, especially the Malay race and its attending “rights”, as groups like Perkasa and parties like Umno would have it, is not just colonial. It’s also completely arbitrary and bewildering. Worse, it is this fixation that makes it so easy to deny equal opportunities for all citizens. And in worst-case scenarios, it makes it easy for racism to take root.
Now you’re Malay, now you’re not
Here is evidence of how arbitrary race is. Did you know that, depending on whether one is in Perlis or Pahang, one can either qualify or not for Malay reserve land because of the states’ different definitions of what constitutes a Malay?
Constitutional law expert Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi explains this in an e-mail interview. He says while all state constitutions have adopted the Federal Constitution’s definition of “Malay”, for purposes of Malay reserve land, all West Malaysian states have their own definitions as to the origins of a Malay.
So, apart from being a Muslim in all these states, in Kedah and Perlis, persons of “Malayan race or Arab descent may qualify as Malays”. In Johor, it is sufficient to be of a “Malaysian race” to be Malay. In the Federal Territories, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Selangor, Kelantan and Terrengganu, a Malay must belong to a “Malayan race”.
There are also other differences according to state with regard to language, custom and birth, and descent. Shad, who is also Mara University of Technology legal adviser, observes: “As one moves through the states in West Malaysia, one is Malay, then not Malay, then Malay again under these state enactments.”
And what exactly is a Malaysian or Malayan race? Do they include all the races in Malaysia, and/or previously in Malaya?
Shad notes that only the state constitutions of Malacca and Penang define “Malay” in line with the Federal Constitution’s definition. In these states, there are no requirements related to “ethnic origin” before one can qualify for Malay reserve land.
Constructing a Malay

Shad Saleem

However, even the Federal Constitution’s definition of “Malay” is “quite eclectic in that it allows someone to move in and out of being ‘Malay’,” Shad says. How so?
According to Article 160(2) of the Federal Constitution, a person is “Malay” if she or he satisfies the following four requirements:
must be Muslim;
speaks the Malay language habitually;
follows Malay adat; and,
was born in Malaya or in Singapore before Merdeka Day, or is descended from at least one parent who was born in Malaya or in Singapore before Merdeka Day.
“In the Federal definition, there is no requirement that one must be of Malay stock. Non-Malays who satisfy the four requirements will be deemed to be Malays. A convert to Islam may qualify as a Malay.
“Conversely, ethnic Malays who fail any one of the four requirements, for example, Malays from South Africa, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia – may not qualify as Malays under the Federal definition,” Shad explains.
By this definition, even a Malay Malaysian who leaves the faith, or who stops speaking Malay or no longer practises Malay adat, will cease to be “Malay”.
This then begs the question: Who exactly is “Malay” in the context of Malaysian political life? And if privileges and “special rights” are going to be assigned to the “Malay” and denied the other races, shouldn’t “Malay” or “non-Malay” be something that is less arbitrary?
“My son is now Chinese”
Christopher De Shield, a Creole from Belize, tells a story that underscores how subjective the notion of race is, and the confusion it causes even within the National Registration Department (NRD).
De Shield is married to a Chinese Malaysian, and when he tried to register their son’s birth in December 2010, the NRD officer wanted to categorise their son as “Dan Lain-Lain: Belizean”. De Shield then pointed out that “Belizean” was a nationality, not a race. He himself is of mixed ancestry, as are other Creoles from the Caribbean. Because the officer was stumped, De Shield then suggested that his son be categorised as “Chinese” since his wife was Chinese. “My son is now Chinese,” De Shield chuckles, adding that he can’t wait to tell his family and friends about this amusing turn of events.
There are other anecdotes. My family is Eurasian, and yet my sister’s MyKad erroneously states that she is Punjabi even though we are from Penang, not Punjab. Another Eurasian friend from Penang tells us through Facebook that her sister was mysteriously classified as Kadazan.
The truth is, race as we know it is arbitrary and constructed. Just look at this table which shows how the British kept changing the definition for Malays, Chinese and Indians:

The Meaning and Measurement of Ethnicity in Malaysia, by Charles Hirshman. Graphic courtesy of Matahari Books (Click for bigger view)

A false science
It bears remembering that race was a white and western concept that emerged through the development of European imperialism and social Darwinism, and which was used to justify plantation slavery. Race was about how non-whites had different physical attributes from whites, which were then deemed to make them inferior to their colonisers.
It should come as no surprise then that this was exactly the kind of social-political structure that the British imposed on us. Indeed, it was the British who defined Malays as Muslims, and who made “Malay” an exclusive term with strictly defined boundaries.
So, if race is so arbitrary and was used to subjugate those who look different from whites, why are we still using race as a way to categorise Malaysian citizens? Why is the BN still using race-based policies to govern us? And why is it allowing “Malay rights” and “ketuanan Melayu” to prevent it from embarking on reforms and offering equal opportunities to all citizens?
Because race was the white coloniser’s subjective construct, one can perhaps understand why there is confusion even among NRD officers about the racial identity of Malaysians. And according to Shad, in Johor, Kwong Yik Bank, Maybank and Oriental Bank, as corporate bodies, qualify for Malay reserve land because they fall under the state’s definition of Malay. Go figure.
Who benefits?
Any of the Found in Malaysia interviews with Malay Malaysian personalities demonstrate how there is no such thing as a pure or exclusive “Malay” race.

Mahathir

And so, when former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad declares that non-Malay Malaysians must accept that Malaysia belongs to the Malays, one wonders who is the “Malay” he is referring to. Or when Perkasa and Umno leaders holler about “ketuanan Melayu”, aren’t they really propping up a colonial construct that was used to ensure systemic discrimination?
De Shield says he’s not concerned that his son is now officially registered as Chinese. De Shield, after all, is married to a Chinese Malaysian who bore their child. “But if I were a Malaysian citizen, I’d be worried about how the state uses these racial categorisations,” he says. Indeed, as Malaysians, we should. One wonders, though, if the BN is.

INTERLOK issue is a Malaysian concern, not just HINDRAF

Wong Mun Chee

The recent clampdown on the HINDRAF convoy to create awareness on the bigotry and racism by the UMNO regime in enforcing the introduction of Interlok is every Malaysian’s issue.

Firstly, it was a convoy not an assembly, but nothwithstanding that the Section 27, of the the Police Act 1967 is utilized. This is just another archaic law along the lines of ISA and the sedition and PPPA Act that suppresses human rights and liberty.

For one all these acts by the UMNO dictated police state contravenes the very tenet of the Malaysian constitution ie Article 8, 9, 10 & 12.

The constitution is the supreme piece of paper in the land yet, we have the UMNO government to enact and pass laws that contradicts it abided and abetted by the partialized and paralyzed judiciary to maintain the UMNO hegemony.

The government of Malaysia itself does not have respect for the constitution, therefore why not just trash it and rule as dictators without the typical melodrama that we cameoflauge everthing in a purported democracy process when we continue to tolerate in the erosion of our rights and liberty for the co-existence.

Co-existence and tolerance does not mean that i need to forego my rights and liberty, but I can stand and be counted for a cause that affects my fellow Malaysians irrespective of the politics, race, religion or creed.

The drive by HINDRAF to withdraw the Interlok novel is not motivated by politics, race or religion but to safeguard their pride and dignity as a segment of the so called Malaysian society.

I may be Chinese, but I have conscience and if someone derides me for my origin, i will fight tooth and nail to salvage my pride and dignity.

In Malaysia, it is not about Malay, Chinese, Indian or lain- lain, but a Malaysian and if another Malaysian irrespective of the race, religion, culture is manipulated, I will stand up and question it. There is nothing political about it, but to ensure the battle for humanity survives for the truth and reality as a Malaysian.

No Malaysian Chinese or Indian can today say that they will live in China or India as that is not our land. Our land is Malaysia

consisting of the major races and indigenous people that form our society.

Interlok is indeed a detrimental instrument to create the Malaysian fabric, as it is very obvious for all of us. How and where we stand on this issue is not just a Malaysian Indian agenda but more so a Malaysian agenda.

The typical silence has been, let us do what it is popular and why should we get involved in humanely runned ostracized agenda for political needs.

Going back to the basic, as a Malaysian citizen irrespective of their origin do you feel that HINDRAF does justice to pride and dignity or rather serving the parlance of a racist agenda for those who are oppressed and silence for their lack of economical or political power.

Get one thing right, it is we the Malaysian public who wield the power to make the change, not dummy politicians or UMNO led agenda. If we can support and enhance the rights of anyone, beyond politics no matter who or what they represent but what is only consciously truthful in unity will we see the daylight,

I think Interlok is an issue that all walk of Malaysian society needs to rise above politics and personal diffences to safeguard the interest of human rights and their liberty beyond race, religion or culture.

Tell The Truth And Admit You Met Me, Says Tun Dr Mahathir

SHAH ALAM, Feb 14 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad Monday said the opposition leaders who he met over 20 years ago before they were arrested under Ops Lalang in 1987 should tell the truth and admit that they had met him.

"Well it happened over 20 years ago. I remember distinctly meeting them, I can't remember the faces of those people. I certainly remember that Karpal (Singh) was not one of them and I think (Lim) Kit Siang is one of them," he told reporters after launching the Palestinian Cultural Organisation Malaysia (PCOM) here.

He said this when responding to a reporter's question whether he would take up the challenge thrown by DAP chairman Karpal Singh to name the opposition members whom he met prior to Ops Lalang.

Dr Mahathir said if the opposition leaders were truthful and not prone to telling lies, he thought that they should admit that he met them prior to the operation.

He said the opposition leaders had appealed to him to prevent their arrest under the Internal Security Act (ISA) then and that it was the reason he had met them, to ensure them that they would not be arrested.

Dr Mahathir said:"It is embarassing for me after ensuring them that they would not be arrested but they were arrested by the police and of course I had to sign the detention order."

Touching on news reports that his former deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had business operations based in the United States, Dr Mahathir said: "That we know but to expose it we must have the evidence."

"He is rich not poor and that is why he can go here and there and tell nonsensical stories to tarnish my name."

"Maybe after this I will receive a lawyer's letter from Anwar threatening to sue me to keep my mouth shut," Dr Mahathir said.

Asked whether Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud should step down before or after the state election, Dr Mahathir said: "It's up to the people of Sarawak to decide, I think they know best whether he should step down or not."

However, Dr Mahathir said if Taib were to step down there should be somebody to replace him, not like former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak who stepped down without a good succession plan.

63 HRP members arrested ahead of protest, Najib = Egypt paranoia >:(

By Nathaniel Tan,

Was very unhappy to read of these arrests >:(

We may agree with some reasons for this planned protest, and agree with others.

Whatever the case, there is no justification whatsoever for these mass arrests. People have a right to assemble, and to air their grouses.

In the stupidity, the government has not learnt the lesson that if you do not let the pressure out, it will build and build, and one day, you’re going to find yourself at the butt end of a revolution.

You all waitlah. You wait.

*

SUARAM strongly condemns the arrest and arbitrary detention of at least 63 Human Rights Party (HRP) members in several states in Peninsular Malaysia. The arrests took place in Selangor, Perak, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Johor and Kuala Lumpur during HRP’s nationwide convoys promoting an upcoming anti-racism rally planned for 27th February in Kuala Lumpur. According to initial reports, most of the arrests occurred at police roadblocks, mounted to stop the convoys. Eyewitnesses also report instances of police intimidation and even one case of assault by a police officer when in Selangor when a convoy member had her camera confiscated and was hit in the face.

Six were arrested in Jelapang, Ipoh; among them Perak HRP chief P Ramesh and his deputy N Subramaniam, and are currently being held at the Jelapang police station.

Five more were arrested near Jalan Templer in Selangor; including HRP information chief S Jayathas and Selangor party chief K Selvam. The five are currently being held at the Selayang district police station.

20 HRP activists are also currently being held at the Travers police station in Kuala Lumpur.

Other reports also indicate that arrests have also been made in Kedah, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, including 32 HRP activists who were arrested in Seremban and brought to the district police station there. Among those arrested was Negeri Sembilan HRP chief S Sivakumar.

SUARAM also condemns the actions of the police for their continued attacks on freedom of expression and assembly, fundamental rights guaranteed under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

SUARAM further demands the police to release all those detained unconditionally.

Released By,

Hasbeemasputra Abu Bakar

SUARAM Coordinator

Urgent action needed:

Please write protest letters to the government and the police to express your strongest condemnation of the arrests and the ongoing denial of rights of expression and peaceful assembly. Please also demand the Malaysian government to allow Malaysian citizen to practice their freedom of expression and assembly as stated under the Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

Please call and/or send your protest letters to:

1. Dato’ Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak,

Prime Minister of Malaysia,

Prime Minister’s Office,

Main Block, Perdana Putra Building,

Federal Government Administrative Centre,

62502 Putrajaya , MALAYSIA

Tel: 603-8888 8000

Fax: 603-8888 3444

E-Mail: ppm@pmo.gov.my

2. Ketua Polis Negara

Tan Sri Musa Hassan

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,

50560 Bukit Aman,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +603-2262 6015

Fax: +603-2272 5613

3. Balai Polis Travers

Polis Diraja Malaysia

Jalan Travers,

50480 Kuala Lumpur.

Tel: +603-22824222/22822207

4. Balai Polis Selayang

Polis Diraja Malaysia

Jalan 11, Jalan Pasar Selayang

68000, Selayang, Selangor.

Tel: +603-61385222

Email: kpb_selayang@rmp.gov.my

5. Balai Polis Jelapang

Polis Diraja Malaysia,

Jln Besar Jelapang,

30200 Ipoh

Tel: +605-5261226

6. Ibupejabat Polis Daerah Seremban II

Polis Diraja Malaysia

70300 Seremban,

Negeri Sembilan.

Tel: +606-6033222

Fax: +606-6012624

Email: kpdseremban@rmp.gov.my

SAMPLE LETTER

[Letterhead of your organisation]

Inspector-General of Police

Tan Sri Ismail Omar,

Ibu Pejabat Polis Diraja Malaysia,

50560 Bukit Aman,

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Tel: +603 2262 6015

Fax: +603 2272 5613

Dear Sir,

Re: Release the 63 Persons Arrested

We are writing to you to express our outrage and our strongest condemnation over the arrests of 63 individuals all over Peninsular Malaysia. They were arrested at several locations for participating in a peaceful public assembly. They are currently being held in several police stations as stated below:

1. 1. 6 held in Balai Polis Jelapang

2. 2. 5 held in Balai Polis Selayang

3. 3. 20 held in Balai Polis Travers

4. 4. 32 held in Balai Polis Daerah Seremban

We are appalled by the police’s latest actions and view this as yet another attempt to intimidate Malaysian citizens from exercising their freedom to express their views. We also condemn the intimidation tactics of the police as eyewitness reports at least 1 person was physically assaulted.

We demand the unconditional and immediate release of the 63 individuals. We further demand that the police force should stop the assault on freedom of expression and assembly.

We would like to remind you that freedom of expression and assembly is guaranteed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well as the Federal Constitution of Malaysia.

Yours sincerely,

[Name]

No bail for HRP members who refuse to remove shirts

After a night spent in the Seremban district headquarters lock-up, freedom is still out of sight for the 22 Human Rights Party activists arrested in last night's police swoop.

While their brethren arrested nationwide are already out on bail since the arrest, those in Seremban have been threatened with up to seven more days in the can for refusing to remove their distinctive Orange shirts.

Last night, the 22 were denied bail and told to remain in the lock-up for the night because of that.

"Those detained were told to remove their shirts and hand them over (to the police), before they could be bailed out. But they stood firm. There is confusion now. We are negotiating," said the movement's Selangor chief K Selvam, when contacted.

Selvam and others are in the movement are currently trying to bail out their Negeri Sembilan colleagues which included its state chief, from police custody.

Yesterday, police moved to arrest members of the movement as they drove in convoys from several locations in the country to protest the use of the controversial novel 'Interlok' as required reading material in secondary schools.

According to police, the HRP activists were arrested for obstructing traffic and moving in a large group.

The 22 detainees have been on a hunger strike last night, revealed Selvam.

In a statement, meanwhile, human rights lawyer and PKR vice-president N Surendran (left) condemned the arrests as being "planned and concerted" and "intended to persecute and intimidate HRP members."
The arrests were unlawful, oppressive and in breach of Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guaranteeing the right to freedom of assembly and expression, said Surendran.

"Once again the government and police have displayed blatant disregard for the rule of law and democratic freedoms," said Surendran.

He also expressed being disturbed over the presence of five children among those detained by police.

"This action by police is in bad faith and gross disregard of laws protecting minors... The arrests were also carried out with excessive force and vulgar abuse was heaped upon some of those arrested," said Surendran, citing the assault on a Malaysiakini Citizen Journalist by police.

Commenting on the police's order for their Hindraf-Makkal Sakthi t-shirts to be confiscated, Surendran this was in "complete breach of the law" and "demonstrates the arbitrary conduct of the police."

"We call upon the IGP and Home Ministry to respect the Federal Constitution and the people's right to peaceably gather.

"We call upon the government to cease using police powers to stifle political dissent and to persecute legitimate opponents of the government.

"Finally, we demand that the government establish the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission) immediately to prevent the Home Ministry and police from continuing to abuse their powers.

Bahrain opposition calls for rally

Riot police clashed with a small group of youths who staged a march in Karzakan, a Shia village in the west [EPA]


Bahrain's security forces have set up checkpoints to monitor people's movements as opposition groups blanketed social media sites with calls to stage the first major anti-government protests in the Gulf since the uprising in Egypt.

Units patrolled shopping centres and other key spots in a clear warning against holding Monday's rally, which has been the focus of social media appeals and text messages for more than a week.

One cartoon posted on a Bahraini blog showed three arms holding aloft a mobile phone and the symbols of Facebook and Twitter.

The decision by Shia-led opposition groups and others to call for demonstrations on February 14 is symbolic as it is the anniversary of Bahrain's 2002 constitution, which brought some pro-democracy reforms such as an elected parliament.

A Facebook page calling for a revolution in Bahrain on Monday has nearly 14,000 followers, and an emailed schedule of protests and demonstrations is also being circulated.

The developments came as riot police clashed with a small group of youths who staged a march following a wedding ceremony in Karzakan, a Shia village in the west.

An AP photographer said he had seen several people injured and others gasping from tear gas.

Shia discontent
Sunday's wide-ranging clampdown appeared directed toward Bahrain's Shia majority, which has led the drive for Monday's rallies.

Bahrain's Sunni rulers have already given out cash and promised greater media reforms in an effort to quell discontent.

In an open letter to the king, the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights has called for wide-ranging reforms to avoid a "worst-case scenario", including the dismantling of the security forces, the prosecution of state officials for abuses and the release of 450 jailed activists, religious leaders and others.

The tiny kingdom is among the most politically volatile in the Gulf and holds important strategic value for the West as the home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet.

Bahrain's Shias , which account for nearly 70 per cent of the total popualtion, have long complained of systematic discrimination by the ruling Sunni dynasty, whose crackdown on dissent last year touched off riots and clashes.

Concessions
Bahrain's leaders have stepped in with some concessions to try to defuse tension.
Government media monitors began talks on Sunday with newspaper publishers and others to draft new rules to limit state controls.

The official Bahrain News Agency has also launched a new multimedia service that includes social media applications to seek more outreach.

Activists and rights groups have often had to contend with widespread blocks on websites and blogs.

On Friday, hundreds of Bahrainis and Egyptian nationals went out in the streets chanting and dancing near the Egyptian Embassy in Manama moments after Hosni Mubarak stepped down as Egypt's president.

Bahraini authorities quickly set up roadblocks to contain the crowds.

The chances for confrontation in Bahrain have been further elevated by the ongoing trial of 25 Shia activists - including two charged in absentia - accused of plotting against the state.

The detainees have alleged police torture and being made to sign forced confessions, but the court has moved ahead with the proceedings. The next session is scheduled for February 24.

Source:

Agencies                 

Invitation to join us in the March Against Institutionalized Racism Exercised By UNMO

YB Dato Seri Anwar IbrahimOpposition Leader of Parliament

A-1-09 Merchant Square

No 1 Jalan Tropicana Selatan 1

47410 Petaling Jaya

Fax: 78850531

YB Lim Kit Siang

Adviser DAP

No 24 Jalan 20/9

Paramount Garden

46300 Petaling Jaya

Fax : 03-79575718

YB Dato Seri Hadi Awang

President PAS

318 Jalan Raja Laut

50350 Kuala Lumpur

Fax: 03-26938399

14^th Feb 2011

Re:  Invitation to join us in the March Against Institutionalized Racism Exercised By UNMO

I am writing to you for you  to join hand with us for the Peoples’ march on February 27, 2011 which is against racism practiced by UMNO.

As you may be aware, our recent car convoy activity yesterday was clamped down by the police with the arrest of numerous key HINDRAF activists/supporters across Malaysia. However this has not hindered the spirit of the HINDRAF members and we are geared up for the march.

Although we may differ in our opinions and approach, but I believe that our common objectives are the same to ensure human rights & liberty is prevailed for all Malaysian in equality.

The upheaval that we had witnessed in Tunisia and Egypt is the unity of the people irrespective of their race or religion battling for humanity to sustain against oppressive and suppressive governments similar to UMNO.

The audacity of the government to move ahead with the INTERLOK novel shows their arrogance and their effort to enhance racism and segregation within its society similar to BTN.  

The criticism and the demand to withdraw Interlok is not purely an Indian issue but rather to curtail racism as a whole for the nation irrespective whether it is an Indian issue or not.

I trust as a seasoned and genuine leader of the nation, you do understand the insensitivity and racism that is created towards a particular segment of the society and will be glad if you  can join us on February 27, 2011 to ensure that Malaysian society should not be cowed by such outright racism practiced by UMNO and its mandores.

Thank you

Yours sincerely

Waytha Moorthy

Chair HINDRAF

Ibrahim Ali wants NEP continued despite abuse

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 14 – Perkasa chief Datuk Ibrahim Ali has admitted that the pro-Bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP) has been abused but pushed for its continuation, saying the government should be stricter in the future implementation of the policy.

The Pasir Mas MP also repeated his call for the private sector to play a greater role in ensuring the success of what he called the Bumiputera agenda.

“Since independence, for the past 50 years, the government has been introducing several measures including the New Economic Policy as an initiative to balance out the economy with an affirmative action policy and the introduction of quotas as a strategy,” said Ibrahim (picture) in a speech at a gathering over the weekend on the future of the Malays which was published in full by Utusan Malaysia today.

“The policies may not be perfect because of leakages in implementation, but the success has been significant. But those policies must be strengthened, expanded, made to be more efficient and be diversified to address various future challenges,” the independent MP added.

The NEP was introduced in 1970 to restructure society by giving economic privileges to the Bumiputeras to enable them catch up with the other communities.

Critics of the policy, however, claimed that the NEP has been subjected to abuse benefitting only Bumiputera businesses with ties to the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had previously announced his administration’s proposal to replace the NEP with a needs-based affirmative action policy through the New Economic Model (NEM).

In 2009, Najib did away with regulations requiring a 30 per cent Bumiputera stake in 27 service and financial sub-sectors, and limited the purview of the Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) that oversees Bumiputera equity.

Last week, Najib however launched a new unit called Teraju which will lead, co-ordinate and drive Bumiputera economic participation, a move which was described by his critics as backtracking from his pledge to reform the economy.

Ibrahim vowed to continue fighting to increase Bumiputera equity beyond the NEP’s 30 per cent target, saying that the community was still economically backward.

The former deputy minister of law also pointed out historical facts that the Bumiputeras had no stake in the economy when the country gained its independence in 1957.

“Therefore, if the Malays and Bumiputeras today achieved the equity target of 30 per cent, it does not mean much, because they were once very poor,” said Ibrahim.

“And if today, the non-Malays and non-Bumiputeras are in control of 70 per cent of the equity, that means the government has been fair, because they were already economically advanced before independence, but continue to be in control after independence,” he added.

We won’t move, says AirAsia chief

KUALA LUMPUR: A standoff is looming between AirAsia and the government over a decision to move the airline’s operations from the four-year-old low-cost carrier terminal to the renovated Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) terminal later this year.

“We are not moving. I will chain myself and the Federal Reserve Unit will have to take us,” AirAsia Group chief executive officer Tony Fernandez told reporters from Sabah and Sarawak over the weekend.

Arguing that the move made no practical sense, he warned that the number of tourist arrivals to Kota Kinabalu would be at stake should the airline be forced to move its operations from the present terminal.

He said any move would cause a hike in ticket prices to and from the city to offset the higher airport tax that would be charged. Thus, the passenger service charge would rise to RM51 from the current RM25.

Fernandez also criticised the new terminal for its scant facilities.

“We are very against it because they don’t have enough facilities in the terminal for us from the start.

“It looks empty but during the peak time, there are a lot of planes coming in. So where are we going to put our planes? And there’s not enough check-in counters,” he said.

Fernandez added that the move, ordered by the Ministry of Transport, would have the dual affect of preventing any expansion to new destinations from Kota Kinabalu and possibly also result in the current number of routes being reduced.

AirAsia flies to 13 destinations in six countries including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Taiwan and is estimated to carry around a million tourists into the state capital.

“Already my Indonesian counterparts are reviewing whether to keep Jakarta-KK route,” he said.

It is currently the only route the airline has between Kota Kinabalu and Indonesia.

Plans on hold

As a result of the government’s decision, the budget airline has to put on hold plans to add two more aircraft to its current fleet of six in Kota Kinabalu to bring in an additional 800,000 passengers into the state a year.

Also on hold are plans to use the low-cost terminal in Kota Kinabalu as a major eastern hub to venture into markets in North and South America, Australia, South Korea, China and Japan.

“We can do so much more. Sabah and Sarawak have so much to offer but the airport charges and the lack of development are frustrating us.

“We are being held back from developing more international flights and it’s beginning to already affect KK,” he said.

He suggested that instead of converting the low-cost terminal into a cargo facility, it should remain as it is, and be further expanded.

“KK is now depending on the low-cost terminal. My recommendation is to get rid of the cargo and move it somewhere else. We have given the authorities a plan.

“Which is giving Sabah more? A little bit of cargo or a million tourists that we are bringing in?” he said.

The ministry and Malaysia Airports Bhd have not responded to the proposal.

Fernandez also lashed out at the Sabah Tourism Board for lobbying to have the airline moved to the new terminal.

“Sabah really supported us, brought us to where we are. Now we are saying, ‘Don’t stop the support.’ We don’t need the money or anything. Just help us in expanding the LCCT,” he added.

State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Masidi Manjun has so far refused to comment on the issue, saying that he is gathering facts related to the matter and would be giving a response in due time.

In December 2010, Transport Minister Kong Cho Ha said that the ministry had an understanding with AirAsia, as well as other low-cost carriers, to relocate to the new terminal once the RM1.4 billion upgrade was completed.

The Raison d’être of MCLM

By Raja Petra Kamarudin

There are some who are puzzled by the sudden emergence of the Malaysian Civil Liberties Movement (MCLM) and the perceived confrontational stand that MCLM is taking towards the opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat.

Maybe it is time I corrected this misconception and make clear what is our Reform Agenda and state MCLM’s Mission and Vision.

First of all, I have always been critical of the opposition since way back in 1999 when the opposition alliance called Barisan Alternatif was first launched and before there even was anything called Pakatan Rakyat.

And my critical articles were published in both Harakah and Berita Keadilan, the opposition newspapers of PAS and PKR (then called PKN) respectively.

So there is nothing ‘sudden’ about my criticisms and the opposition parties even saw fit to publish these articles in their newspapers without any editing or censorship. Maybe people have become more sensitive to criticism now compared to 11 years ago, so they have the impression that only of late have I been critical — whereas I have always been critical of the opposition since there was an opposition alliance or coalition. (We must remember, before 1999 there was no formal opposition coalition, only electoral pacts, which did not quite work anyway).

It could be that the sensitivities arise because prior to 2008 no one imagined that the opposition ever had a chance of forming the new federal government whereas now they do. So now they are more sensitive to criticisms because they feel that this criticism may result in Pakatan Rakyat losing out to Barisan Nasional.

The second point is that MCLM is not ‘sudden’. It emerged as a result of a culmination of events and a progression of developments in the political front that stretched over 35 years (as far as my involvement in politics is concerned).

The move (for me personally) to see changes started back in the late-1970s and the various stages of these events have brought us to what we see today — the emergence of MCLM.

In 1990 it was the Gagasan Rakyat and Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU) loose coalitions between Semangat 46 and DAP and between Semangat 46 and PAS respectively. In 1999 it was Barisan Alternatif, a coalition of PKN, DAP, PAS and PRM. And in 2008 it was Pakatan Rakyat, a coalition of PKR, DAP and PAS.

Wakeup call

So, over the last 20 years, we have seen the emergence of four different opposition coalitions. Therefore, nothing is static and instead we saw a progression and transformation where events dictated changes that were needed to meet these changes of events.

The same thing happened for political activism and the civil society movements. They evolved and transformed, peaking in 1999 when the Reformasi Movement was born.

In the beginning it was a ‘crude’ movement where the focus was merely to oppose a tyrannical government and bring about changes or reforms. But this movement was not so organised and lacked direction.

Worse still, we would not have known what to do had the opposition won the elections back in 1990 or 1999 and had to form the new federal government (which was demonstrated in 2008 when the opposition merely won five states and not even federal power yet).

But the civil society movements have matured since then and are now clearer in their minds as to what is required. 2004 was a wakeup call for the civil society movements although we are not too sure if the political parties have also woken up. And the wakeup call was the disaster suffered by the opposition in the March 2004 general election.

That was when I realised that the opposition and civil society movements must be better equipped to face the next general election due in 2008 or 2009. And to satisfy that requirement I launched Malaysia Today soon after the 2004 general election.

Also in 2004 a few of us also got together to form the Malaysian Civil Liberties Society (MCLS). This was so that we could offer a platform to unite the many rakyat eager to see changes and reforms and so that we could speak as one voice and help the opposition not only avoid another 2004 general election disaster but also prepare itself for the eventuality of forming the new federal government in the event it wins the general elections (or a few states, as the case may be).

So, MCLS was not ‘sudden’. It was in fact something that was started back in 2004 in response to the 2004 general election fiasco that the opposition suffered.

And MCLS was not the only thing that we started. Malaysia Today was another exercise in the many that were started in 2004 in preparation for the general election that would have had to be called at the very latest by 2009.

The general election finally came, but in March 2008 instead of March 2009. But MCLS never saw the light of day. Until today it is still awaiting approval by the Malaysian government.

Realising that after six years of waiting and not getting any response from the government it is futile to continue waiting, we decided to formalise MCLS outside Malaysia instead, in a country that would not block or hinder the formation of MCLS.

Two documents

And that was when we decided to formalise MCLS in the UK and instead of calling it MCLS we decided to call it MCLM by swapping the word ‘Society’ for ‘Movement’. Movement, after all, sounds more proactive than society, which gives the impression that we are merely a ‘talk shop’.

Anyway, let me backtrack a bit prior to the formation of MCLM in 2010.

Realising that 2004 was the worst setback for the opposition and that the opposition really needed to get its act together if it wants its fortunes to change, we launched two documents called The People’s Voice and The People’s Declaration in the run-up to the March 2008 general election.

These two documents were endorsed by six political parties (PKR, DAP and PAS included) in a ceremony organised by the civil society movements.

Even before there was any inkling that the opposition’s fortunes would change we got the opposition to commit itself to a clear and documented reform agenda.

This would be the basis of how the opposition would run the country in the event it won the March 2008 general election.

Unfortunately, the opposition fell short and failed to deliver on a lot of its promises. While Pakatan Rakyat did bring about some changes in the states they ruled, we feel that the opposition could have done more if it had been more focused on the task in hand. But because of the many internal problems the opposition lost focus and even lost one of the states it controlled.

It is no secret that many are disappointed with the opposition’s performance and those who have not swung back to Barisan Nasional have threatened to abstain from voting come the next election.

This does not augur well for the nation and the hopes to see a new reform-oriented government post the much anticipated 13th General Election.

Hence, the birth of MCLM on Oct 30, 2010 in London.

In my next article, I will lay out MCLM’s blueprint to usher in a reform-oriented government post the 13th GE, and the reform agenda that we wish to see that new government implement during its term in office.

Teoh’s inquiry: Lawyer seeks clarification

KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock began its first day today with Gobind Singh Deo, representing the Teoh’s, firing his first salvo on the commission itself.

He questioned whether the inquiry would include new investigations or would it merely re-use facts from the inquest, which had returned an open verdict.

“Before the inquest, we had no evidence. But after a year the coroner found that there was indeed pre-fall injuries.

“I want to know, Mr Chairman, if the commission has done any investigations on those injuries. If not, what’s going to happen is the same as the inquest, or even the revision,” said Gobind, who also objected to prosecutors from the AG Chambers being the conducting officers at the inquiry.

He further asked if any statements were taken or arrests made.

Federal Court judge James Foong, the chairman of the commission, said that independent investigators would be sought by the court to assist in finding out its terms of reference.

Earlier, parties seeking representation , including Teoh’s family, the Selangor government, MACC and Bar Council, in the enquiry was allowed to do so by the panel.

Another matter being brought up was the fact that a revision was still pending and whether both could and should go on concurrently.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail is seeking a review of the coroner’s ruling.

On Jan 5, coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas delivered an open verdict, saying that Teoh’s death was neither suicide nor homicide.

Seeking adjournment

Karpal Singh, another lawyer for Teoh’s family, also asked that the court decide to have different dates for the inquiry as the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy case also resumed today.

Present today at the packed courtroom were Teoh’s family members, media, and supporters of Teoh, including PKR leader Tian Chua.

Last month, Federal Court judge Foong was appointed to head the commission to look into the cause of Teoh’s death and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s (MACC) interrogation procedures.

Terms of reference

The commission’s terms of reference are:

1. To look into whether or not, there was any impropriety in the conduct of the examination of Teoh in the course of an investigation into a Shah Alam report by the MACC, in relation to its standing orders and practices, and to recommend any appropriate action, where necessary; and,

2. To enquire into Teoh’s death and the circumstances surrounding and contributing to his death.

The other four members of the commission are former federal judge Abdul Kadir Sulaiman, ex-Court of Appeal judge T Selventhiranathan, Penang Hospital’s senior consultant in forensic pathology Bhupinder Singh and Cyberjaya University College of Medical Science’s dean and consultant forensic psychiatrist Prof Dr Mohamed Hatta Shaharom.

The inquiry is scheduled to end on April 25, when the final report will be handed over to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. The King will then decide the next course of action.

The conducting officers are senior federal counsel Amarjeet Singh and deputy public prosecutors Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud and Kwan Li Sa.

Teoh, the DAP political aide to Selangor executive councillor and Seri Kembangan assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth floor of Plaza Masalam here.

Teoh, then 30, died hours after he was interrogated overnight by the MACC at the Selangor MACC office located on the 14th floor of the same building. He was a witness in the alleged misuse of Selangor government allocations

Najib needs to control Rosmah

Written by  Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle,     

Prime Minister Najib Razak needs to control his wife Rosmah Mansor, said PKR women’s chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, accusing the ‘First Lady’ of being a bad role model who increased the uncomplimentary perception of women being manipulative yet fluffy-minded and decorative pieces intent on shopping pleasure.

“It is not just a matter of setting a bad example as a Muslim woman who has to make a lot public appearances but overall. We encourage women to be ambitious, to go for it. But Rosmah is over the limit,” Zuraida told Malaysia Chronicle in a recent interview.

Zuraida, who is the Member of Parliament for Ampang, was unhappy because Rosmah has spent little of her time advancing women’s causes or at least nudging women’s issues along the right direction.

According to Zuraida, Malaysian women ranked 101 out of 130 countries in the global gender index, and Rosmah, who holds a Master’s degree, should help in the battle for a more level playing field.

“But she’s not doing any of this. Umno is fond of saying 43 per cent of the workforce are women, but at what level? Do they search below the surface? Why isn’t Rosmah using her influence to engage with Women’s minister, Shahrizat Jalil? Of course not to the extent she takes over the ministry but she can help promote more worthwhile programs and researches,” said Zuraida.

“Women’s rights should not just be about opening ceremonies, cutting ribbons, flower decoration shows and visiting children’s home. It must also include taking the trouble to study and understand the social issues and the problems involved, and above all, put in place programs that offer long-term solutions and not blow quickie kisses or keep giving ang-pows.”

How many millions have been spent
Indeed the 60-year old Rosmah, who’s two years older than Najib, has attracted controversy even before her husband took over the premiership. From her dressing to her hairstyle, her Ferragamo shoes to her Lanvin hanbags, she has been criticized as the aggressor in their relationship and the more cunning partner.

There is also a dark side. She has been accused of being one of the masterminds behind the 2006 Altantuya Shaariibuu murder and although she has denied any involvement, the rumour mills continue to churn.  Even now, many Malaysians are unhappy to bestow on her the right to use the title of 'First Lady', preferring to give that honor to the Queeen.

But it is her latest series of overseas trips to represent Najib at overseas functions on official expense that recently riled up Malaysians.

“We have a Deputy Prime Minister. His name is Muhyiddin not Rosmah. How can she usurp his job, has she been trained, can she represent us properly? Then there is the matter of taxpayers’ money. Rosmah’s trips don’t come cheap, she always takes along an entourage,” said Zuraida.

“We are demanding to know the full costs of these trips. The federal government must present details of how many millions of ringgit she has spent. We are not accusing her of going on shopping trips at official expense but personal pleasure, but until the accounts are provided in Parliament, we cannot give her the benefit of doubt either.”

The power behind the throne
Rosmah’s most recent visits were to Saudi Arabia and Oman, where she had taken along the wives of several other Cabinet ministers. She has defended her trips as necessary.

"To me, if they want to complain, I've got no issues. Let it be. I'm only doing this as a leader's wife. It's my duty and responsibility to help any way I can, especially with regards to women empowerment and children's issues," she told national news agency Bernama.

She also denied she was the power behind the throne and was trying to steal the thunder from Muhyiddin. Yet late last year when Najib was down with chicken pox, she had been quick to insist on representing him at official functions and clearly eager to deliver her speeches.

"I'm not involved in politics, I'm not involved with the policies of the government - that's being taken care of by the Cabinet, the prime minister, deputy prime minister,” Rosmah assured.

Wicked-Perkasa-Leaks

Once again, our Perkasa has exposed more scandals and acts of treason against PKR, particularly its leader Anwar who must have really pissed them off for reasons best know.

The latest as reported in online news reports here is this defect-o leaders being charge for rear activities is planning a backdoor exit, ie. plans to flee if convicted of his behind the scene activities. If the scheme is true, it would certainly make for good Bolehlandwood or Bollywood material! And local film makers will be instantly granted the film incentives if they propose to make a drama series out of it!!!

And to reinforce the truth of their allegation our mother of all police reports filing party has of course made a police report. Given the police swift action on Perkasa's previous filing, it is only a matter of seconds the police resources will be deployed to give full attention to this 'treason' act!

One wonders if Perkasa has an office in the Bukit Aman solely to file police reports. After all they have so much evidence at their disposal they do need a unit to do this, no?

The reliable sources it seems are from the PKR itself. Now that would certainly make it all the more credible right? Who they are, Perkasa is not about to disclose and this is not that they abide by any journalism code. Come to think of it, they don't have any journalistic flair in them either.

Seems the police has asked them not to reveal the plans. But if you want to really catch and embarrass him, isn't it better not to reveal it and catch him with his pants down trying to do a backdoor exit eh?

Noone except Perkasa knows the reason for this sudden Wicked-Perkasa-Leaks against PKR and its leader. Has it got to do with events in the Egypt or maybe Pakistan? And our Perkasa fellos want to ride the tide of people's power to remove leaders who were once thought to be invincible and untouchable.

Speaking of which, our BolehLand leaders have always boasted about the greatness of BolehLand's democracy, rule of law, justice system and all that and look down on supposedly third world nation who are terrorist invested compared to BolehLand the land of the holy and holier than thou.

In Pakistan, they dare to issue a warrant of arrest to their former leader implicating him in the assassination of former PM Benazir Bhutto. Perhaps the events in the Middle East may have an effect on the conscience of governments in the region. Bahrain turned charitable giving money to its citizens and promise to relax things. Iran, well showed its hypocritical self by supporting the people power while clobbering their own last year!

And in BolehLand, perhaps Perkasa seemed to want to take over the vacuum with the fall of the modern Pharaoh in Egypt and be the new Pharaoh of BolehLand, bearing the title Ketuanan of BolehLand.

Their latest revelation seem to imply they have better intelligence gathering and more reliable than our own SB and intelligence fellos! The Peace Hill bois must surely try and learn a thing or two from Perkasa in intelligence gathering particularly if they want to ensure the PKR, Pakatan and those who have plans to take over the next government are thwarted with revelation of treason, escape, and internal conflicts in these opponents.

If, as reported, "according to his sources, Anwar would escape with the assistance of the Turkish, Australian and the US governments should he be convicted," 1Malaysia and Wisma Putra must act quickly and call in the ambassadors to explain themselves and expel them if it is true. How dare they interfere in our sovereignty and question our exemplary model Islamic nation and good government, right?

If the allegation is true, will we see Perkasa and UMNO members since Perkasa is considered the a 'wing' of UMNO with majority members from UMN, going to hold demonstrations soon and march to these embassies with effigy burnings of their 'traitor anwar' and the head of state of these nations involved in the escape bid?

Surely if this is proven, the whole PKR must be shut down and the family arrested for plotting such evil scheme. There must be something PKR and even the public don't know when the DPM just a few days back said PKR will fold up by end of the year. Could Perkasa's latest 'truth' be the smoking gun that will cause the demise of PKR and with that their they have fallen into an a big hole and abyss in their road to Putrajaya claim?

The accusation is serious as it accuses foreign governments of being involved in a conspiracy and crime against the exemplary justice system of BolehLand! So it would be interesting how these governments will respond to Perkasa's accusation!

Seems each time Perkasa 'leaks' the PKR and Pakatan fellos wet themselves in the pants!

But the reason for these wicked-perkasa leaks if one looks at them since it was formed, will see a pattern out to undermine and destroy PKR, its leaders and the Pakatan coalition including anyone who don't subscribe to their version of religion. The obvious reason is GE13.

Using the MSMedia to publicise successes of 1Malaysia and ETP is not good enough because it is incumbent of the government of the day to have policies and programmes to show they are capable of running the nation and carry out the trust of the people to manage the country's wealth and being well, right?

The other strategy is to paint a negative picture of your opponents and what better way is to sabotage them with stories of infighting, betrayers of race, royalty and religion, sex scandals, dynasties, treason and a band of misfits, right?

And Perkasa has been able to pace this 'going for the jugular' strategy and reveal very supposedly damaging allegations and file police reports against the opposition at strategic timing.

Only gullible fellos and of course the BN and Perkasa members believe Perkasa. If they didn't they would have left the party or boycotted it or even do some leaks about the leader too, right?

The timing of this latest expose while perhaps riding on the Middle East sentiments, is also about an impending by election in Malacca perhaps huh?

One reason Perkasa is stem rolling ahead with maximum power is perhaps they have been encouraged and given support by those seeking to preserve their political survival. The fact that each police report Perkasa files, the institutions of the state are moved into high gear is evident of the political agenda. Even before the police report is filed or the ink dry, an anonymous blog will trigger instantaneous full arm of the law ready to pounce, issue warrant of arrests and invite those accused for friendly chit chat where lawyers are barred or at venues such as the MACC and police stations!

Even if those accused deny the allegations, the BOD or benefit of doubt seems to be given to Perkasa and huge public funds are used to confirm rather than dispel Perkasa's police report!

The public perception, at least those who are not blind or gullible, to each subsequent Perkasa police report is the refining of selective persecution and prosecution strategy of the instruments of the state. Which in the process, cause the public to lose faith in these institutions seen to be practising selective prosecution.

Since Perkasa was formed, noone seem to dare to investigate their leaders even if their allegations have been proven false or they have trampled on very sensitive issues. One gets the impression so long as they malign everyone except the government and the BN fellos they are like given an unlimited ride free pass, no?

Will Anwar's denial make the damage less or go away? Not at all because the PKR fellos and MSMedia are with Perkasa in giving maximum publicity and mileage to Perkasa's allegation.

And Perkasa is master in the art of manipulation and creating conspiracies, good Bolehwood scriptwriters. Wonder who their scriptwriters are? We know the producers are UMNO and it's only begging the question to ask who the directors are, yes?

So Perkasa has caught on the Year of the Rabbit quickly by jumping into conclusion and hopping mad with those who are about to commit treason. After all, its leader is playing the Mad Hatter role very well that would make the Chelsea cat envious right?

The Year of the Rabbit is just beginning, and we can expect more tricks up Perkasa's sleeve. Even if we can't have firecrackers to give us the big bang or chase away evil, we can always depend on wicked-Perkasa-leaks and their firepower to blast away the evil fellos in Pakatan from BolehLand right?

And Uncle Sam, down south Aussie bois, Turkish delights and probably the Jews better watch out! The action is no more in Egypt or the Middle East. It's all here in PerkasaLand, opps BolehLand, huh?

Wonder if this latest Perkasa 'leak' will end up they wetting their own pants than succeeding in drowning PKR! 

NEP must continue, says Dr Mahathir

By The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said the New Economic Policy must continue even though many Malays had misused the opportunities given to them, such as selling off their business licences and contracts.

The former prime minister said that if the Malays had made the best use of those opportunities, they would have attained not only 30% of the nation’s wealth but much more than that.

He said the NEP had to be continued because the Malays had yet to attain the quota, but they should continue to strive to avoid becoming the most backward race in the country.

“The Government will safeguard our position, but there will come a day when it will not be able to defend national policies,” he added.

Dr Mahathir was delivering a keynote address at a symposium on The Malay Dilemma: Perspective and Conclusion, organised by the Persatuan Alumni Pemimpin Mahasiswa Aspirasi Malaysia at the Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday.

To a question from the floor on why the NEP should be continued when he had admitted that there were abuses, Dr Mahathir said: “If you don’t give, then nobody will have it.

“But if you give, they may misuse it. So, we need to be more selective.

“It is not the policy that went wrong but the implementation.”

To a question whether the country’s leadership had been too greedy and whether the Chinese and Indians had been working hard while the Malays became spoilt, he said the Government could not not spoil the Malays because the opportunities were their rights.

However, added Dr Mahathir, the Malays should not rely too much on the Government.

To a question by DAP national publicity chief Tony Pua on the Government’s RM6bil allocation to buy six offshore patrol vessels for the navy, Dr Mahathir said it would not be a problem for the Government to explain.

“The cost of things have gone up,” said Dr Mahathir, who had warned the Government in his address not to get into an arms race with neighbouring countries.

At a press conference after his address, Dr Mahathir was asked about reports that DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had accused him of re-writing history by putting the blame on police for the arrest of 106 people under the Internal Security Act in 1987.

Responding to the allegation, Dr Mahathir was adamant that he met opposition leaders before Ops Lalang and had assured them that they would not be arrested.

“I have no reason to make the claim unless it (the meeting) had happened.

“I met them and assured them, but, of course, I don’t expect opposition leaders to be grateful to acknowledge anything from the Government, particularly myself,” Dr Mahathir said.

Lim had commented on the book Doctor M: Operation Malaysia – Conversations with Mahathir Mohamad, which revealed the former prime minister had said the 1987 crackdown was a police decision.

He also denied that Dr Mahathir had met him and other opposition members.

'Bersuara ikut Perlembagaan tak dianggap rasis'

Berita Harian

LABUAN: Rakyat pelbagai kaum yang menyuarakan pandangan masing-masing berlandaskan Perlembagaan tidak boleh dianggap bersifat perkauman atau rasis kerana mereka berhak menyuarakan keperluan masyarakat yang diwakili.

Menteri Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah, Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, berkata setiap bangsa berhak mengemukakan suara hati mereka demi kepentingan kaum masing-masing asalkan ia dilakukan secara berhemah serta tidak menyinggung mana-mana pihak.

“Kita boleh luahkan tetapi janganlah sampai memecah-belahkan masyarakat dalam jangka panjang,” katanya kepada media selepas merasmikan Karnival Sukan sempena program Juara Rakyat di Padang Perbadanan Labuan di sini, semalam.

Turut hadir Ahli Parlimen Labuan, Datuk Yussof Mahal; Pemangku Ketua UMNO Labuan, Datuk Yunus Kurus; Ketua Setiausaha kementerian, Datuk Ibrahim Muhamad dan Ketua Pengarah KEMAS, Datuk Abdul Puhat Mat Nayan.

Mohd Shafie berkata, dilema itu berpunca daripada orang Melayu sendiri kerana tidak mampu mempertahankan diri dan sentiasa mengalah serta mengundur apabila berlaku krisis.

Beliau yang juga Naib Presiden UMNO berkata, apabila orang Melayu menyuarakan keperluan mereka, tidak bermakna sistem yang kita amalkan berpihak kepada satu kaum saja.

Mengenai sesi perjumpaan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak bersama 118 ketua bahagian UMNO kelmarin, beliau berkata, ia adalah isyarat supaya semua pihak mengenal pasti masalah di kawasan masing-masing sebagai persediaan menghadapi pilihan raya umum akan datang.

Beliau berkata, pendekatan Perdana Menteri itu adalah pembaharuan dalam sistem politik dan sosial negara yang dilihat berupaya mengukuhkan kerangka persediaan BN memasuki gelanggang pilihan raya.

“Hanya Perdana Menteri mengetahui bila pilihan raya umum akan dilaksanakan. Sehingga tarikh itu, kita mesti bekerja kuat dan memastikan gerakan peringkat bahagian dimantapkan.

“Justeru, pemimpin akar umbi harus menggerakkan kerja tidak kira masa. Tingkatkan usaha mendampingi rakyat dan selepas masalah mereka dikenal pasti, kita perlu mencari jalan mengatasinya,” katanya. 

Five children among 58 held during Interlok protests

The Star

PETALING JAYA: A total of 58 people, including five children, were detained in several states during simultaneous protests against the Interlok school textbook yesterday.

A Bukit Aman media spokesman said six were detained in Perak, 26 in Negri Sembilan, 21 in Kuala Lumpur and five in Selangor.

Human Rights Party (HRP) chief P. Uthayakumar claimed that a 10-year-old boy who was accompanying his father was held at the Travers police station.

He added that four other boys aged between 10 and 17 were held in Seremban.

Police confirmed that a 10-year-old boy was detained for taking part in an illegal gathering.

Brickfields OCPD Asst Comm Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid said police detained 15 men, five women and the boy for questioning.

“We also seized eight cars, 55 posters, 10 flags and 200 leaflets,” he added.

Selangor police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah said police had to act to keep the peace.

In Seremban, 26 HRP members led by state party chief S. Siva­kumar, including seven women, were arrested after they ignored police orders to disperse.

Seremban OCPD ACP Saiful Azly Kamaruddin said those detained were released after their statements were taken.

In Ipoh, Perak CID chief SAC Datuk Dzuraidi Ibrahim said six Hindraf members were released on bail after police arrested them for taking part in a demonstration.

On Jan 27, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Interlok would remain as the textbook for the literature component of the Bahasa Malaysia subject for Form Five students, but with amendments to parts deemed offensive by the Indian community.

Military rulers dissolve Egypt's parliament

Egypt cabinet to oversee transition 

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's new military rulers said on Sunday they had dissolved parliament and suspended the constitution and would govern only for six months or until elections took place, following the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak.

Troops, some wielding sticks, earlier took control of Tahrir (Liberation) Square, the fulcrum of the 18 days of protests that swept Mubarak from power. That let traffic flow through central Cairo as the army struggled to return life to normal.

The Higher Military Council, which took over after a revolt that changed modern Egyptian history and ended Mubarak's 30-year rule, promised a referendum on constitutional amendments.

The initial response from opposition figures and protest leaders was overwhelmingly positive. "Victory, victory," chanted pro-democracy activists in Tahrir Square. "More is needed, more is needed," others yelled.
"It is a victory for the revolution," said Ayman Nour, who challenged Mubarak for the presidency in 2005 and was later jailed. "I think this will satisfy the protesters."

Egypt's constitution was written with built-in guarantees to keep Mubarak in power, elections were rigged in favor of his ruling party and opposition groups such as the Muslim Brotherhood were sometimes harassed, sometimes tolerated.

As the momentous events in Egypt continued to ripple across the Middle East, demonstrators in Yemen, inspired by protests in Tunisia and Egypt, clashed with police blocking them from marching on Ali Abdullah Saleh's presidential palace.

Egypt's government now reports to the military as it did to Mubarak. The former air force commander was despised by many for ruling like a pharaoh, though he was once a hero for his role in the 1973 war with Israel and who steadied Egypt after the 1981 assassination of his predecessor Anwar Sadat.

Protest organizers were forming a Council of Trustees to defend the revolution and urge swift reform from a military intent on restoring law and order during the transition.

Mahmoud Nassar, a youth movement leader, said: "The army has moved far along to meet the people's demands and we urge it to release all political prisoners who were taken before and after January 25 revolution. Only then will we call off the protests."

Protesters argued heatedly in Tahrir Square over whether to stay or comply with army orders to leave. "The people want the square cleared," one group chanted. "We will not leave, we will not leave," replied another.
Police officers, emboldened by Mubarak's downfall, gathered outside the Interior Ministry to demand higher pay. Warning shots were fired in the air. No one was hurt.

Workers from the health and culture ministries staged demonstrations as Egyptians began venting pent-up frustrations.

Thousands of workers have staged strikes, sit-ins and protests over pay and conditions at firms and government agencies in fields such as steel, textiles, telecoms, railways, post offices, banks and oil and pharmaceutical companies.

Egypt declared Monday a bank holiday after workers disrupted operations at the country's main state banks.