Malayur News

Wednesday, 13 February 2013

Thousands throng ‘Psy’ open house

Psy sent the crowd to ultimate frenzy as his world famous “Gangnam” was played at full blast. He performed it again following popular request from his fans.

GEORGE TOWN: Thousands thronged to state Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year open house in Han Chiang College here today.

But they were definitely flocking in to watch South Korean sensation Psy’s live performance on his global hit “Opah Gangnam Style”, nothing more.

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak was the guest-of-honour at the function, attended by many BN leaders, including Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor, former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, federal minister Koh Tsu Koon and BN state chief Teng Chang Yeow.

The crowd feasted on varieties of dishes available in abundance and waited patiently for hours from as early as 9.30am to watch Psy’s performance.

Psy, who arrived in Penang at 7.10am after a 20-hour flight from Brazil after another live performance before two million people at the Salvador Carnival on Friday, duly arrived on the stage just after 12 noon before the cheering frantic crowd.

He sent the crowd to ultimate frenzy as his world famous “Gangnam” was played at full blast.

The crowd got near hysterical with his troupe three-minute sensational live performance.

It was exquisite that even caught their eyes and ears of VVIPs. He performed it again following popular request from his fans.

This time most fans were sang and danced with his “Gangnam” rhythm.

The crowd dispersed instantly but joyfully after Psy, whose real name is Park Jae-Sang, ended his grand performance.

Prior to Psy performance, premier Najib announced a vote-catcher in his speech when he told the Chinese-dominated crowd that the BN government would upgrade Han Chiang from its current college status to university college rank.

He also reiterated his promises to build at 20,000 affordable houses and implement monorail system in Penang, claiming that he frequently heard Penangites’ constant moaning on lack of affordable houses and growing traffic congestion in the state.

He promised that his BN federal government would carry out projects to improve public transportation and traffic dispersal system in Penang.

“Everywhere I listen to Penang people complaining about housing and traffic.

“They want houses that they can afford.

“I promise that BN will deliver,” Najib told the crowd, adding that BN would always uphold its motto “janji ditepati” (promises fulfilled).

Don’t create trouble, Pakatan told

The opposition should not get too emotional if it loses in the 13th general election, says Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

HUTAN MELINTANG: Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Pakatan Rakyat should be rational and not get too emotional if it loses in the upcoming 13th general election.

He said Barisan Nasional or the opposition should accept the reality if either of them loses in the elections as the decision would be made by the people (voters).

“If BN wins the 13th general election, the opposition needs to support the decision and if the opposition wins, we [BN] will support that. Don’t create trouble…. (as) our country is peaceful,” he said after attending the Bagan Datoh MCA division Chinese New Year celebration, here, today.

Ahmad Zahid was asked by reporters to comment on the fear that the opposition would create trouble if it loses in the upcoming election.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his latest posting titled “Janji Anwar” (Anwar’s Promise) on his blog www.chedet.cc warned that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s statement on organising a la Arab Spring demonstrations if the opposition loses in the election should be taken
seriously due to his obsession with becoming prime minister.

“I don’t believe they [opposition] will resort to doing an ‘Arab Spring’ in this country. I think they are rational leaders,” said Ahmad Zahid, who is also Defence Minister.

“The police are responsible to take action if trouble breaks out after the upcoming general election,” he added.

- Bernama

Dr Pornthip says no to Sugumaran autopsy for ‘personal reasons’

Dr Pornthip’s sudden about-turn came just shortly after Serdang Hospital has finally agreed to the autopsy. – File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 12 — In a sudden turn of events, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand today declined the invitation by PKR lawyers to perform a second autopsy on C. Sugumaran, the security guard who recently died allegedly due to police brutality.

According to lawyer N. Surendran, the famed director of Thailand’s Central Institute of Forensic Science emailed him earlier today to say that she was “unable to do the autopsy for personal reasons”.

Dr Pornthip’s sudden about-turn came just shortly after PKR lawyers emailed a press statement to media organisations here, saying the Serdang Hospital has finally agreed to the autopsy and Dr Pornthip’s team is due to arrive in Malaysia on February 20.

“But now, Sugumaran’s family will have to look for other alternatives,” Surendran said.

In his earlier joint media statement with fellow PKR lawyer Latheefa Koya, the duo had said that due to public pressure, the Serdang Hospital had agreed to the second autopsy and would even ensure all necessary equipment and facilities would be available.

Earlier, the health authorities had agreed to the second autopsy, despite insisting earlier that there must be a written permission from the police or a court order.

When contacted, the police had then declined to say if they would give permission.

Dr Pornthip is the same forensic pathologist who observed Teoh Beng Hock’s second post-mortem and testified at a royal inquiry that foul play was likely involved in the DAP aide’s mysterious death at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission’s Selangor headquarters in 2009.

She is well known in Thailand for clashing with the authorities, especially for alleging police killings during then-Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s anti-drug campaign in 2003.

Surendran had earlier confirmed that Dr Pornthip had agreed to perform a second post-mortem on Sugumaran.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has ordered a forensic report on Sugumaran after the latter’s death was raised at a Cabinet meeting.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was directed to oversee the forensic report after MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who is also a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had raised the security guard’s death during the Cabinet meeting. Several witnesses who saw Sugumaran collapse on a street near his home in Batu 12, Hulu Langat on January 23 have accused the policemen who arrested him of beating up the man, together with the help of a mob, after he was handcuffed.

The police have denied the allegations, pointing out that the initial post-mortem by Serdang Hospital showed that Sugumaran had died of a heart attack.

Sugumaran’s death joins a list of other alleged police killings like the custodial deaths of Chang Chin Te earlier this year as well as A. Kugan and R. Gunasegaran in 2009; the deadly police shooting of 14-year-old schoolboy Aminulrasyid Amzah in 2010; and various other fatal police shootings in the past two years.

A United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention 2010 visit to Malaysian prisons and detention centres reported in 2011 that between 2003 and 2007, “over 1,500 people died while being held by authorities.”

The Bar Council, civil society groups and several politicians from both sides of the divide have called for an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) to reform the police force since 2006.

Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan also called for an independent body to oversee police conduct, although he preferred an alternative to the IPCMC.

Mat Sabu: 'Arab Spring' mungkin berlaku jika PRU13 diseleweng

(Sinar Harian) - Timbalan Presiden Pas, Mohamad Sabu menegaskan, 'Arab Spring' hanya akan berlaku di negara ini jika pilihan raya umum dicemari dengan penipuan pihak-pihak berkepentingan sehingga menimbulkan kemarahan rakyat.

Katanya, keadaan itu tidak mungkin berlaku hanya kerana mana-mana parti politik yang bertanding itu tewas dan tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan pilihan raya.

“Arab Spring itu berlaku kalau berlaku penipuan dalam pilihan raya, tak ada demokrasi, bukan soal kalah, kita dah banyak kali kalah, tak ada masalah, tak ada pun turun ke jalan raya.

"... Pas sendiri dah banyak kali bertanding dan kalah dalam pilihan raya, tapi kita tak turun jalan pun,” katanya yang dihubungi Sinar Harian Online, hari ini.

Beliau berkata demikian mengulas lanjut kenyataan bekas Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Musa Hassan kelmarin yang percaya 'Arab Spring' boleh berlaku di negara ini sekiranya pihak yang kalah pilihan raya umum akan datang tidak puas hati dengan keputusannya.

Pandangan itu diberi susulan kenyataan bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad minggu lalu.

Kata Musa, pihak yang kalah akan menggunakan penyokong-penyokong mereka untuk membuat huru-hara dan rusuhan bagi menjatuhkan kerajaan sebagaimana berlaku di Asia Barat.

Dr Mahathir and his mouth — Greg War

FEB 12 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad seems to think that Malaysians are still intellectually backward and unable to read. In today’s Malaysia where one has access to immediate news from the Internet, the rakyat are not easily fooled.

Still, some of his public statements have been downright shocking, leaving the rakyat revolted in disbelief and protest. Every time he opens his mouth these days he seems either to spew out venom or spew out lies and hatred. He is a man of 88 but he has not lost any of his vengeful leanings.

Even after retirement, Dr Mahathir’s speeches have continued to stink of racism and his thoughts seem bizarre for an experienced former head of government. Is he sensationalising just to grab the headlines from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak or is he rooting for someone else?

Dr Mahathir conned three generations of Malaysians and kept them in check with his various laws to silence them. One would imagine that after having governed the country for 22 years and having enriched many around him, he would be content to rest on his laurels (sic) and spend some quality time with his grandchildren.

But no. One of his latest targets was the venerable Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman. Readers will perhaps remember Dr Mahathir’s poison letter against Tunku for which Dr Mahathir was kicked out of Umno. Dr Mahathir never forgot that. Lately when Dr Mahathir was implicated in the Project IC scandal he said Tunku had done something even worse. He blamed Tunku for granting citizenship to Indians and Chinese at the advent of independence. Later he implicated his favourite bogeyman, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, saying that it was Anwar who was responsible for the whole of Project IC.

When everyone, including some from the BN, were condemning Ibrahim Ali for advocating the burning of bibles containing the word “Allah”, Dr M came to Ibrahim’s defence, stating that the Perkasa leader did not mean any malice in his call but was only saying that since those books were supposedly banned, it was all right to burn them.

His latest vitriol is against Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan. Reportedly, he said the government needs to amend the constitution if it wants to strip off the citizenship of lawyers, such as Bersih co-chair Ambiga, who go against the government. Therefore the people must vote in the BN with a two-thirds majority. Desperate election stunt?

The rakyat are not swallowing meekly all that Dr Mahathir is spewing out. One only has to read the online media comments of readers to understand how fed up and tired we have become of his inane rants, both in his blog as well as in the media. Even the son of one his staunch supporters — S. Vell Paari, MIC strategist and son of Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu — let out a tirade against Dr Mahathir. But Dr Mahathir seems to go on and on and on like a broken record. — aliran.com

* Greg War is an Aliran member based in Penang.

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

Cop wins damages over unlawful detention

The Star
By QISHIN TARIQ

KUALA LUMPUR: For nearly 10 years, Kpl S. Selvakumar had been in and out of court – and even moved from cell to cell – to fight against his detention over a robbery charge.

Yesterday, it all came to a happy ending with the High Court awarding him damages of nearly RM1mil for over 800 days of unlawful detention.

“I am overjoyed with this decision after more than nine years of going to court,” the jubilant policeman told reporters after senior assistant registrar Catherin Nicholas handed the ruling.

Nicholas awarded him RM779,000 in damages and an additional RM200,000 for aggravated and exemplary damages.

The ordeal for Kpl Selvakumar, now 33, started on Feb 16, 2003 after he was detained by the Ipoh police for allegedly being involved in a robbery at an electronics factory in Seremban.

Between July 24 and Sept 8, 2004, he was moved from various police stations – including in Shah Alam, Malacca and Johor – in what seemed to be a police “road show” for the purpose of detaining him.

On Nov 5, 2004, he was served a detention order and sent to the Simpang Renggam detention centre in Johor for two years.

However, Kpl Selvakumar filed a habeas corpus application at the Johor Baru High Court which, on Oct 24, 2005, declared his detention was not valid and ordered his immediate release.

He was, instead, re-arrested by the Kluang police and, on March 29, 2006, served a second detention order on the same charge as the first time he was detained, then taken again to Simpang Renggam for a seven-month detention.

On Oct 28, 2006, he was released after he succeeded in an originating summons to challenge a restriction order.

On Nov 11 of that year, he was taken back into employment with the police force.

Nicholas held that Kpl Selvakumar had proven his claim that he had been detained in mala fide (bad faith) without any basis.

She found his re-arrest and detention in March 2006, which was based on the same facts as his previous detention order, was not proper, baseless and an abuse of power.

25,500 PR1MA Units For Johor At Over 20 Per Cent Discount - Najib

KULAIJAYA, Feb 12 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Tuesday announced the building of 25,500 affordable housing units in the Iskandar Malaysia region, here, under the Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA) scheme.

Najib said the project, carried out in collaboration with PR1MA Berhad and five private housing development companies, would be completed within three years.

He said the market price of each unit was RM250,000, but through the public-private sector partnership in the form of funds from the government, the project could be expedited with the houses to be sold at below the market price.

"The original market price offered by the developer was RM250,000 but through facilitation by the government, the price would be 199,000 only.

"This is a big discount of RM51,000 or over 20 per cent through the contribution of funds from the government," he said at the drawing of lots for the Nusantara PR1MA affordable housing units at Dewan Raya, Bandar Putra, here.

Also present were Menteri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and PR1MA Berhad chairman Datuk Seri Jamaluddin Jarjis.

Najib said 15,500 units of the PR1MA houses would be built with five private housing developers, namely Iskandar Waterfront Holdings Sdn Bhd in Danga Bay, Plentong and Masai, Casa Grey City Sdn Bhd in Tebrau, Larkin and Plentong, Aturan Prisma Sdn Bhd in Larkin, Cahaya Bumimas Sdn Bhd in Bandar Layangkasa, Pasir Gudang, and Tentu Canggih Holdings Sdn with PIJ Property Sdn Bhd in Plentong.

The projects will be carried out with the state government's subsidiary company, Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor Sdn Bhd as the owner of the land.

PR1MA Berhad will build another 10,000 units of affordable houses on 80 hectares of government land in Tampoi.

Najib said a responsible government would not only implement high-impact projects, but also projects and programmes that were much needed by the people such as the Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia and PR1MA.

"We know the 'rakyat' need comfortable, quality and affordable houses. That is why the three factors were given as prerequisites to PR1MA Berhad in providing housing for the people.

"With PR1MA, we can take creative measures to meet the people's housing requirements within a short time," he said.

The prime minister also said that the drawing of lots like done today could ensure transparency and avoid favouritism in allotting the PR1M housing units.

The Nusantara PR1MA is a joint project between Denia Development Sdn Bhd and UEM Land Bhd, as the owner of the land, while PR1MA Berhad facilitated the funding through the Public-Private Partnership Unit (UKAS).

Meanwhile, Jamaluddin said facilities such as shops, clinics, playgrounds and houses of worship would be built at each PR1MA project area.

He said all the PR1MA housing would be maintained by the agency compared to other housing projects which had to do self-maintenance.

Anwar and Pak Lah not in on Project IC, says ex-honcho

A former mastermind in the Project IC debacle during the late 1980s and early 1990s, said PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi were never involved in the operation.

Mat Swadi Awi, a former Bank Pertanian Malaysia manager based in Kota Kinabalu during the mid 1980s, recounted to Harakah Daily today his role in Project IC with the late Usno president, Datu Mustapha Datu Harun.

NONE

In the interview, Mat Swadi, who claims to be a Pak Lah loyalist, laid out his involvement in the whole affair and maintained the involvement of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the whole affair, and admitted being the mastermind to bring Umno to Sabah and remove Usno from the map.

“Anwar is not involved in Project IC as everyone in Umno knows that Anwar is not ‘bedfellows’ with (Mahathir’s right hand man) the late Megat Junid Megat Ayub (right) and Abdul Aziz Shamsudin.

“Furthermore, Mustapha was also hurt with Anwar, so how could he (Anwar) have been involved in Project IC. I do not fault Anwar for wanting to drag Abdullah into the whole affair with the royal commission of inquiry, and this is probably to get back at Mahathir.

“Abdullah, on the other hand, did not need such projects to raise his name. Everyone knew Abdullah would never do such things as he comes from a religious family,” said Mat Swadi.

NONE

Mat Swadi (left), who has however not been called as a witness at the present RCI, related that his earlier involvement during the 1980s was to help Usno and Mustapha regain power from PBS, and he was in the inner circle of Mustapha to achieve this objective.
He added that an increase in 20,000 voters was registered and distributed in areas which were focussed on by Usno, and he related how he had met with Megat Junid at Mustapha’s residence in Petaling Jaya.

“I also had dealings with the army and police, where we worked closely with them and I was introduced to the Election Commission secretary, Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman,” he said.

Project IC continues in peninsula

Mat Swadi said that Mahathir wanted to make sure that PBS fell following its threats that the state would leave the federation, and in that he put his support on Usno to do this.

However, all efforts were in vain when Mahathir orchestrated Umno’s move into Sabah, where the former premier appointed Mustapha’s deputy in Usno, Sakaran Dandai, to head the state Umno liaison committee.

“In 1994, while visiting Mustapha at the hospital, he confided to me that it was Mahathir’s hidden long-term plan to bring Umno into Sabah. Mustapha disbanded Usno on Mahathir’s advice with the hope of being appointed as Sabah Umno liason chief. Instead, Sakaran, who is Shafie Apdal’s uncle, was appointed.

NONE

“With tears flowing, and a weak body, Mustapha (left) told me that it was as if Umno had put a sword to his head, when Mahathir appointed Sakaran to head Umno whereas he was still alive,” said the former bank manager.

He added that the Project IC continues in peninsula Malaysia, where in Johor, Indonesians had been given citizenship and blue identity cards and were briefed to ensure Umno-BN wins.

“Threats were also made that if the (Indonesians) do not vote for Umno-BN, the Election Commission (EC) would detect their votes and then their citizenship would be revoked. What is surprising is that while the Indonesian votes are sought, at the same time they are being sidelined with actions being taken against them.

“The Indonesians who have become Malaysian citizens should know that they are being used by Umno. They should reject Umno in this coming election,” he said.

Mat Swadi said the post-Abdullah era had seen Umno losing its direction and objective, as the party had deviated from its original cause.

Mahathir and his Malay dilemma redux

"Saya tak mengharapkan pahlawan. Orang tak selalu baik, benar, berani. Tapi saya mengkagumi tindakan yang baik, benar, berani, biarpun sebentar." - Goenawan Mohamad (Pagi dan Hal-Hal yang Dipungut Kembali)

COMMENT The truth is I enjoy writing about former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad. His lies and distortions reveal far more about the Malaysian psyche than anything said by the rest of the political elite (BN and Pakatan Rakyat) in this country. NONE

Mahathir's latest threat about needing a two-thirds majority to amend the constitution to kick out Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga (right) is not merely a threat against Ambiga but against anyone who dares threaten the Umno status quo.

It shows anyone what Umno has in store for those who have the temerity to exercise their democratic rights or should that be, fight for their democratic rights. However, why the need to strip recalcitrant Malaysians of their citizenship? Anyone who has read the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) would have discovered that it is just as pernicious as the ISA. Cold Storage not good enough any more?

The arrest and subsequent charging of Yazid Sufaat and others on terrorism charges reeks of some sort of Pax Americana conspiracy.
Understand now that I am not accusing the government of anything (yet) but really, with the release of Yazid from ISA detention and now these arrests, the firebrand with all his Malaysiakini interviews, seems like a government asset. So much for accusing de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim of being a US plant.

Anyone who has read the Wikileaks exposes on Malaysia would understand that the spooks from Langley would consider many within the ruling Umno elite as the puppets most susceptible to their charms, not to mention those from across the causeway.

I, for one, will be eagerly waiting for what this trial will reveal with the knowledge that security experience brings that what is not revealed is just as vital as that which is.

NONE

Of course being the sneaky racist that he is, Mahathir (left) throws in the usual canard that "Malay laziness" is the downfall of the community and their hegemony is sustained by the non-Malays - read Chinese.

His reference to Uganda is rather queer, since the Indian diaspora there was kicked out unceremoniously, but I suppose with the Indian Muslim support that Umno enjoys, the old manipulator was merely paying respects to a community that has far more influence in Umno than the fisherfolks and padi farmers that Umno claims to represent.

"The Malays themselves then gave away their economic power by letting non-Malays control trade and related activities," he gravelly intones.

Actually what is accurate is: "The Malays themselves gave away their economic power by letting Umno, with the sycophancy of a plutocracy of non-Malays, control trade and related activities... and these sycophants, with the exception of the MIC, did a far better job of protecting non-Malay interest then Umno did with the Malays, which is why the Chinese community or a certain significant majority of it can throw their support behind a certain section of a disenfranchised Malay community attempting a change of leadership."

Malay community's diverse past
Much has been written about the feudalistic nature of Malay society to explain Umno dominance but of course, the subaltern histories of the Malay community have been expunged from the public record.

What are lost are the narratives of those Malays who opposed their Malay rulers when they were "giving away" Malay land to the British. We forget that PAS for an extremely long time has been using religious dogma to fight "Umno secularism".

What is lost and what Umno fears are remnants of a Malay polychromatic past, which emblems like flags and literature are slowing resurfacing which reminds the Malay community of their diverse past.
How this lost past is slowing being reintroduced into the community and influencing the Malay community is beyond the scope of this piece and perhaps beyond my ability to articulate.

The Malay community is fractured but merely claiming that Pakatan is duping those Malays in the opposition is the dumbest form of Umno propaganda. Mahathir's old canards, which perhaps could have galvanised Malay support en masse in the past, are all but over.

NONE

Signs are evident even to those who practice their dark sorcery in the corridors of Putrajaya that a certain segment of the Malay community is immune to the spells of Umno.

There are obvious signs we can point to. Anwar's rallying cry that Umno has betrayed the Malay community through incompetence and corruption.
PAS' Islamic agenda as a panacea to Umno's moral degradation of the Malay community.
The economic deprivation that a certain section of the Malay community which translates into skepticism of Umno and eventually into the arms of the opposition.

In addition, let us not forget that the Umno Baru that Mahathir spawned, is merely the symbol of the schism within the Malay Umno community.
Its effects have trickled down to the rank and file which over the years, racial politics, the concept of Malayness and a whole host of other issues have been conflated in what was in essence a power struggle between the warlords in Umno.
But it has now has been embraced into the greater oppositional Malay struggle.

I used to think that these newly created constitutional Malays would prove to be Umno's undoing because amongst other things, a fight for resources between "authentic Malays" and these ‘bumiputera barus', would eventually come to a head with the native and interlopers within their own ranks, battling it out for the soul of the community.

However, a long-time Indonesian comrade offered an alternative explanation after he took offence at my jibe that Umno had created a fifth column of his countrymen in this country.
He felt that the influx of new blood into the Malay community comes with new ideas that are not predisposed to the Umno way of thinking.

A quiet rebellion
As it is anecdotally speaking, I see far more rhetoric against the concepts of Ketuanan Melayu amongst a certain section of the Malay community and a quiet rebellion against the feudalistic nature of their community.

I have no idea if this is the result of the influx of "new ideas" but having lived amongst their Javanese brethren, ideas which are slowly taking shape here have deep roots in principles already established there.

When Mahathir goes on about the Malay community needing its crutches, what he forgets is that by its dereliction of duty - no, this is incorrect - by an agenda to fossilise the Malay mind, those crutches were only provided to a certain section of the Malay community.

kl112 rally people's uprising children with mothers crowd big

kl112 rally people's uprising children with mothers crowd big

Many were left out in the cold and for those who were not, they realised too late that those crutches did not give them any advantage over the non-Malays but were in fact chains that shackled them to Umno soil. While the non-Malays progressed and could adapt anywhere in the world, the Malays were left with a compromised educational system (for instance) that only seemed to work in this country.

For those Malays who support the opposition and who no doubt were the ones left out in the cold, the idea of the ‘advantages' that the idea of Ketuanan Rakyat bring is a far more powerful draw than the weak record of Umno rule.

After all, with the racist groupings of the alternative front, what they hope for is a Malay leadership, which would take care of their interests and who cares if it is done under a multiracial/cultural cloaking device.

The truth has always been that the only dilemma in the Malay community is the one former PM Mahathir Mohamad created.

S THAYAPARAN is Commander (rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Tuesday, 12 February 2013

Mahathir continues to belittle Indian Malaysians

COMMENT By threatening to revoke the citizenship of Ambiga Sreevaasan, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad continues his tirade and insults all Indian Malaysians. Earlier, Mahathir irked Malaysians when he was caught denying his alleged key role for 20 years in the illegal issuing of blue ICs and granting voting rights to illegal immigrants to Sabah.

To divert attention from and to justify his illegal act, he accused first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman of giving out citizenship to one million legal residents of Malaya. To Mahathir, Umno makes the law and everybody else should just follow, regardless of how unjust the law could be.

Historically, one million Chinese and Indians were offered citizenship as a precondition to independence by the Alliance government of Malaya in 1957 to develop this blessed nation and the Chinese and Indian Malaysians sacrificed and slogged with blood and sweat to build the economy of this nation.

Ungrateful Mahathir and his hardline Umno/Perkasa followers have forgotten the contribution of non Malays to this country. Mahathir himself had once said that 90 percent of taxes are paid by non-Malays, especially Chinese. This same Mahathir allegedly once ordered shooting to deter the coming of Vietnamese boat people.

NONE

Mahathir allegedly allowed illegals from Pakistan, the Philippines, Indonesian and even Indian Muslims get citizenship overnight. However, about 300,000 Malaysian-born Indians and Chinese are awaiting blue identity cards which Mahathir did not solve during his tenure as premier.

In the October 2012 parliament sitting, the MP for Pasir Salak proposed that Ambiga should be hanged for committing treason against the king for organising Bersih 2.0 and Bersih 3.0. Umno leaders just could not accept the fact that Ambiga, an Indian Malaysian lady, could organise such mammoth gatherings that challenged the unjust, anti-national and subversive activities of Umno.

Malaysia will be ruined if BN regains a two-third majority as requested by Mahathir Mohamad.

All Indians with dignity, pride and honour will never support the political parties that support Mahathir and his apartheid policy. Mahathir could justify and find nothing seditious when Ibrahim Ali urged his supporters to burn the Malay Bible. But he could not accept Ambiga’s appeal for clean and fair election and deems it treacherous.

Impotent and subservient

BN component parties MIC and MCA have become too impotent and subservient to stand up against the like of Mahathir and Umno hardliners’ chronic abuse of power.

Under Mahathir’s rule, lawyers allegedly fixed cases and cronies were the chosen people to obtain contracts and high positions. Responsible citizens like former auditor-general Ahmad Nordin and Lord President Salleh Abbas were removed for allegedly being a hindrance to Mahathir’s designs. Yet Umno continues to hero worship him.

If Mahathir has any respect for the rule of law, he must retract his statement and apologise to Ambiga and the nation. Ambiga is a distinguished and honourable citizen who led a public awareness campaign on the urgent need for clean and fair elections, while Mahathir, on the other hand, keeps spewing venom and racially instigating statements to divide the country with race and religion.

Mahathir is the one who should be stripped of his citizenship for betraying all Malaysians by giving citizenship and instant bumiputera status to illegal and unqualified immigrants.

Not one MIC or MCA leader has come out to condemn Mahathir’s urging to strip Ambiga of her citizenship. No sensible, sane, thinking Malaysians will ever support BN in the 13th general election.

S RAMAKRISHNAN is a former senator.

PM asks: Are you ready for BN? Crowd says 'no!'

If Prime Minister Najib Razak had heard the crowd at the back on the field, he would have been rather disappointed.

In the midst of his speech at the Penang state BN Chinese New Year (CNY) open house held at the Han Chiang College field today, he said he did not want the day to be serious as everyone was expecting a great show by top Korean pop star Psy.

"Are you ready for Psy?" Najib asked about four times and the crowd responded loudly "Yes!".

He then asked "Are you ready for BN?" but the crowd at the back shouted "No" and laughed.

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They also laughed when Najib mispronounced Han Chiang as "Han Niang", when he announced that the college will be upgraded to University College status.

The crowd also laughed when the emcee invited Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor to sing a Chinese New Year song.

She was accompanied by several BN leaders including Tourism Minister Ng Yen Yen.
Speech in Mandarin
Before his speech, Najib's son 'Jiping' gave a speech in Mandarin.

Najib, who took over from him, started his speech with "Lu ho bo? Lu bo ho?" (Hokkien for "are you okay?").

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He yelled 1Malaysia and asked the crowd to clap for former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who was present.

He said he felt fortunate and happy that he managed to do what he never did before - to celebrate CNY with Penangites.

"Thank you for giving me and my wife and family a rapturious and warm welcome to Penang.

"I want you to feel we are here for you, to make Penang the Pearl of the Orient and give the best for Penang in the future.

"This is a government that cares for all Malaysians, fair and all inclusive and has real plans for the future," he emphasised.

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Najib said in the last four years, Malaysia had seen real change and progress and asked Penangites to give BN a chance to make the country better and truly developed by 2020.

"We want to listen to people and by coming here, I am listening to people. You want more affordable housing, I commit myself and BN to provide Penang with 20,000 affordable homes in next five years," he added.

Najib also promised a monorail to resolve Penang's traffic and transport problems.

He asked people to rely on this government, shouting "janji di tepati and insya Allah, we will deliver".

UK LGBT activists want no part of Sharia

UK LGBT Muslim activists continue push against Islamic law.

Britain’s lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists are lashing out at the potential of applying Sharia, or Islamic law, in the United Kingdom. Muslim LGBT activists have told Bikyanews.com that any semblance of Islamic law would threaten their rights in the European country and hope that the government will understand that any implementation of Islamic law would threaten their rights.

“I think this is something that really isn’t going to happen and we shouldn’t worry about it, but as a Muslim gay man and a British citizen, the talk is worrying,” said David Hamid, a 41-year-old of Pakistani heritage who believes that until Islam becomes more tolerant, any Islamic law would be a threat.

“We are an open society and have just passed marriage equality laws, so this is hopefully a moot point at this time in Britain’s history,” he told Bikyanews.com.

Leading Muslim gay LGBT activist and rights advocate Omar Kuddus has also spoken out publicly over the matter.

Kuddus, who is also a Gay Star News contributor and director and founder of GayAsylumUK believes that the introduction of Sharia law into Britain would put LGBT people’s safety and civil rights at risk.

Appearing on the UK’s Channel 4 – 4Thought program, he argues religion should have no part in civil law.

He further explains that as he understands Islam, being gay is not a sin.

He said: ‘I do not believe being homosexual is sinful, because Islam is an interpretation of what we as Muslims need to make of our lives’.

In contrast he asks, “have religious fanatics got so obsessed with homosexuality that they have forgotten the true meaning of our religion?

“Our religion is about peace and love, it is their duty not to persecute, not to judge, have they lost the plot along the way? That is the question that needs to be asked.”

It is a question that has arisen in the UK over its large and growing Muslim population and the role the UK government will play in LGBT relationships and the rise of conservative Islamic sentiments in the UK and abroad.

Pakistan Christian Women Abused, Girl Raped

Christian woman have been abused in Pakistan.

LAHORE, PAKISTAN (BosNewsLife)-- Christian relief workers rushed to a volatile district in Pakistan's Punjab province Saturday, February 9, after security forces and Muslim hardliners allegedly abused Christian women and raped at least one Christian girl.

"Yesterday some Muslims and some [undercover] police men raided Kaila Masih's house" in the town of Pattoki [where they] "beat and tortured Christian women Zareena Bibi,Hameedan Bibi and Sharifan Bibi," said the Legal Evangelical Association Development (LEAD), an advocacy and aid group.

It was the second such incident in Punjab's Kasur District within about two weeks, according to LEAD investigators. On January 25 a 15-year-old Christian girl, Fouzia Bibi, was raped by two influential Muslim men in the district's village of Roday, LEAD Chief Sardar Mushtaq Gill told BosNewsLife.

Gill said he met a local pastor and victims and helped to register a criminal case against the alleged attackers of the women, including "police officials and other Muslims."

INDEPENDENT POLICE?

LEAD also demands that the rape case be moved to more independent police in Pattoki amid concerns that authorities are reluctant to investigate the crime because of pressure from influential Muslims in the region.

Though police "arrested" one suspect, "he was not yet sent to jail", complained LEAD investigators.

Another alleged rapist "is free and making threats to Christians of the area," LEAD said, adding that both men should be jailed.

Local Pastor Saleem Gill said in published remarks that he wasn't surprised about the slow police investigation. "Our people are poor that's why they are treated like this," he reportedly said.

MORE ATTACKS

These are no isolated incidents.

Church groups say minority Christians have been targeted in several areas of Pakistan in attacks fueled by Islamic extremism.

LEAD said however that it would continue to work "with children,families and communities to overcome poverty and injustice".

"As followers of Jesus, we are motivated by God's grace and love to serve all people regardless of race,religion gender or ethnicity," the group added.

Dr M brewing recipe for disaster

If there is anyone who is gearing up for an 'Arab Spring', it is none other than Mahathir himself, going by his anti-Malaysian rants and racist nature.
COMMENT

He may have ruled the country for 22 years before reluctantly calling it quits but Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who holds the record as the country’s longest serving prime minister, has no intention whatsoever of doing his bit to promote peace and harmony on Malaysian soil.

Instead, Mahathir is doing the reverse; he is accusing arch enemy Anwar Ibrahim of plotting an ‘Arab Spring’ to overthrow the Barisan Nasional government.

And the former premier regrets that regressive laws like the Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinance are no longer in use.

Mahathir is also supportive of the move by Malay-rights group Perkasa to burn bibles with the word Allah saying it was natural to torch banned books and that Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali was merely expressing his opinion.

No wonder why Ibrahim has the audacity to continuously humiliate and threaten the non-Malays, for he has the ‘blessings’ of his patron Mahathir in all that he does.

When electoral reform activist Bersih took to the streets on July 9, 2011, Mahathir condemned the move saying it was politically motivated and aimed at repeating the 2008 election tsunami and tarnishing the BN government’s name and police.

If there is anyone who is gearing up for an ‘Arab Spring’, it is none other than Mahathir himself, going by his anti-Malaysian rants and racist nature.

Save Malaysia before its’s too late

Should people like Ibrahim and Mahathir continue with their scandalous views, it will not be long before the rakyat decides to take matters into their hands.

The fact that police brutality sees no end in sight, racism is at an all-time high and corruption continues to reign does not worry the leaders of this country; on the contrary they worry if the votes are split and if the opposition continues to win support from the people.

Just who do these politicians want? Or what really is their agenda that veteran leaders like Mahathir and the current batch of politician-leaders seem to be forgetting the real purpose of their serving the rakyat?

Truth be told, it is these politicians who have jeopardised the good name of Malaysia and threatened the tranquility of this nation boasting of multi-faiths.

Claims that the opposition coalition of Pakatan Rakyat is out to paint a bad image of the federal government has no basis; if anything, Pakatan is doing damage-control to all the wrongdoings undertaken by the BN government prior to 2008.

Before matters get out of hand and tragedies become a daily occurence, something has to be done to save Malaysia from being prostituted further by unscrupulous politicians.

Bigotry, hypocrisy must be dealt with

Mahathir very conveniently justified Perkasa’s move to ban bibles using the word ‘Allah’ but he and his band of racist politicians cringe when an award-winning actor dares to tackle the subject of terrorism, as happened to actor-director Kamal Haasan’s movie “Vishwaroopam”.

A day after it was screened at the local theatres, the film was banned after a protest by the Indian Muslim League in Penang and a memorandum submitted by the Indian Muslim Youth Movement to the Home Ministry – their claim was that “Vishwaroopam” portrayed Muslims in a negative light.

But when racist utterances are made and acted against the non-Malays of this country, no one comes to their rescue, forcing them to act accordingly to defend their respective faiths.

Looks like the independence achieved in 1957 has not taught the politicians of this country the importance of perserving harmony among the people. Nor have these leaders made any effort to improve for the benefit of the country and the rakyat.

In this respect, one such example would be Mahathir who after two decades of lording over the country has failed to shine as a leader worthy of respect.

Allowing dissenting voices from the Mahathir camp to continue is a confirmed recipe for disaster, one worse than the Arab Spring.

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

Deepak promises second book of revelations

Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's suggestion yesterday to ignore all Deepak Jaikishan's allegations has stirred the hornet's nest as the controversial carpet dealer today promised more revelations in his second book.

Titled "Black Rose 2.0: Black Magic Women", the 47-page book will discuss rituals used in the country"s administration.

"i will be launching my 2nd book BLACK ROSE 2.0 'BLACK MAGIC WOMEN' where d names, photos, address, payments made & rituals ... will be published in this 47page book," Deepak (picture) announced in a text message here.

Early last month, the launch of Deepak's first 26-page book "Black Rose 1.0" was derailed after PKR's Rafizi Ramli made his revelation alleging Deepak's involvement as a jewellery middleman for a local dignitary.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir had advised Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to not entertain any accusations put forward by Deepak.

The longest-serving prime minister said that Najib should expect various allegations to surface while holding a political post, drawing parallels to his time in administration.

Deepak has been in the limelight of late, lobbing repeated accusations against Najib and Umno leaders, and has promised to dish more dirt on other scandals linked to other politicians.

On Wednesday, Deepak had announced that he will seek immunity under the Witness Protection Act 2009 before exposing further alleged power abuse involving the country's top leadership.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar had promised to look into the carpet dealer’s request for protection after Deepak claimed he had been a victim of government intimidation.

The carpet dealer had recently admitted that he helped private investigator P. Balasubramaniam repudiate the latter's earlier statutory declaration on the 2006 murder, including finding two lawyers to draft the new statement.

A cloud of mystery has hung over the identity of the lawyer who drew up Balasubramaniam's second SD, dated a day after his first on July 3, 2008, regarding Altantuya's 2006 murder, for which two elite police commandos have been convicted and are facing death sentences.

Deepak's first book claims to tell the true story behind Balasubramaniam's second statutory declaration (SD), and can be found online for free.

Police warn against foreign interference in general election

(Bernama) - The police will not hesitate to act against any interference from foreign parties during the upcoming 13th general election.

Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rasid said police were monitoring the possibility of such situations.

“So far there is no information on such interference,’ he told reporters after a briefing on road safety at the district police head quarters here today.

Also present were Kelantan deputy police chief Datuk Mazlan Lazim and district police chiefs.

He was commenting on fears by certain parties of the possibility of foreign interference in the 13th general election due to the current political scenario.

On concerns that the opposition may cause an “Arab Spring” if it loses in the general election, he was confident such a thing would not occur as people were increasingly aware of the importance of national security.

He added that the police were prepared to face the general election and will co-operate fully with the Election Commission.

The police also needed the co-operation of the people for the general election to proceed smoothly, without any untoward incidents.

Mantan Ketua Pemuda Umno & 2 lagi pemimpin Sabah masuk KEADILAN

SABAH 11 Feb: Beberapa tokoh pemimpin Umno Sabah termasuk mantan Ketua Pemuda Umno Negeri isytihar sertai KEADILAN di majlis yang dihadiri Ketua Umum, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Turut berbuat demikian, mantan Ketua Penerangan Umno Tuaran dan bekas Setiausaha Akhbar Menteri Kerajaan Tempatan dan Perumahan Sabah, Datuk Hajiji Mohd Noor.

Kemasukan itu sempena lawatan Anwar ke Sabah pada sambutan Tahun Baru Cina.

Pengisytiharan itu dibuat pada Majlis Makan Malam Perayaan Tahun Baru Cina anjuran KEADILAN Sabah di Restoran Putera Ballroom, Kota Kinabalu, malam tadi yang dihadiri lebih 1,500 orang.

Selepas itu, Anwar berdialog bersama anak muda dan profesional di Hotel Megah D Aru, Tanjung Aru dalam forum bertajuk Kembalikan Autonomi Sabah.

Panelis lain adalah Pengerusi KEADILAN Sabah, Tamrin Jaini, Pakar Perlembagaan, Profesor Dr Aziz Bari dan peguam rakyat, Ansari Abdullah.

Terdahulu, pada sebelah petang, Anwar menyampaikan ceramah perdana di Kampung Panginatan, Ranau.

Ketibaan Anwar disambut meriah oleh penduduk dengan laungan ‘Ini kalilah!’.

Tamrin, Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin, Datuk Seri Wilfred Bumburing, Senator Maijol Mahap dan Christina Liew turut berceramah.

Diikuti Forum Perdana Suara Anak Sabah (Suasa) di Restoran Pelancongan, Keningau.

Sambutan Tahun Baru Cina diteruskan Anwar ke Sarawak pada hari ini.

Program dimulakan dengan ceramah Anwar ‘Solusi Baram’ di Beluru Bazaar, Beluru, Bakong.

7.00 malam ini, Anwar bersama pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat meneruskan program Makan Malam Gong Xi Fa Cai di Restoran Cina Mega Hotel, Miri.

Acara diakhiri dengan Ceramah Perdana Gong Xi Fa Cai di Waterfront Commercial Centre, Miri bermula jam 8.00 malam.

Selain Anwar, penceramah dibarisi, Pengerusi KEADILAN Sarawak, Baru Bian, Ali Biju, See Chee How dan Dr Michael Teo Yu Keng.

59-Day Countdown to 13GE – Ten thousand 1Malaysia flags on occasion of Psy’s Gangnam Style performance in Penang only highlight abject failure of Najib’s key 1Malaysia transformation programme

The people of Penang woke up on Chinese New Year Day on Sunday, February 10, 2013 to ten thousand 1Malaysia flags lining the routes which would be used by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak in his two-day CNY visit to Penang from Penang Airport to Han Chiang School which would feature the Korean pop star Psy to Georgetown heartland areas around Komtar.

But can the South Korean K-Pop sensation give life, spirit and soul to Najib’s 1Malaysia policy with the 10,000 1Malaysia flags arrogantly, haphazardly and dangerously planted along the main Penang thoroughfares – showing utter contempt for the welfare, safety and the by-laws in the state as well as highlighting the abject failure of Najib’s key 1Malaysia transformation programme?

It is pathetic that after four years as Prime Minister, there is only one out of 68 Ministers and Deputy Ministers who dare to openly go against the UMNO/Barisan Nasional mainstream and publicly declare that he is Malaysian first and Malay second.

Is there a second UMNO Minister who dare to emulate what the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, did in September 2010 in declaring that he is a Malaysian first and a Malay second, in line with Najib’s 1Malaysia signature policy as distinct from Najib’s own public declaration?

I say “in line with Najib’s 1Malaysia signature policy as distinct from Najib’s own public declaration” for the Prime Minister, as far as I can recollect and I am prepared to stand corrected, had never said a single time in the past four years that he is a Malaysian first and a Malay second!

Najib said in Penang yesterday that “I don’t believe in promises that I can’t deliver”.

Has Najib delivered his 1Malaysia promise in the past four years apart from flooding Penang with 10,000 1Malaysia flags in conjunction with Psy’s Gangnam Style performance?

If Najib does not believe in promises that he can’t deliver, why is he not going up and down the country in the past four years to promote the 1Malaysia Policy to create a Malaysian nation where every Malaysian regard himself or herself as a Malaysian first and race, religion, region or socio-economic status second, and putting himself as an example of a Malaysian leader who is “Malaysian first race second” for all Malaysians to emulate?

However, in the past four years, Najib has signally failed to get the UMNO/Barisan Nasional Supreme Councils and the Cabinet to endorse his 1Malaysia Policy, ever since his Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin did not mince his words in March 2010 when he repudiated the 1Malaysia policy by publicly declaring that he was “Malay first, Malaysian second” – which Najib dared not reprimand or contradict in the past four years.

In fact, in July 2011, Najib dodged the question when asked at the Malaysian Students Leaders’ Summit whether he was prepared to state that he was Malaysian first and what he thought of Muhyiddin’s infamous remark of being “Malay first and Malaysian next”.

Najib did not answer the question, saying: “I don’t want to respond in a way that will divide me from my deputy. 1Malaysia is our guiding philosophy. It does not matter what you say, just as long as you follow (the 1Malaysia concept).”

Most ominous of all, Muhyiddin had the support of the UMNO eminence grise, Tun Dr. Mahathir who publicly said he did not understand Najib’s 1Malaysia concept and that “Malaysia has become more racial than ever”.

And in the recent months, when Mahathir seemed to have emerged as the real force behind the UMNO throne, the former Prime Minister has put into practice his concept that “Malaysia has become more racial than ever” as seen by his recent utterances:

• Questioning the citizenship qualification of one million non-Malays which he falsely claimed had been granted by Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman before Merdeka although “unqualified” – as justification for his treasonous act in the “citizenship-for-votes” scam in Sabah during his premiership;

• His racist rant that Malay politicians in both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat have become “political beggars” in alleging that their scramble to be Prime Minister has led them to plead for support from the country’s minority races;

• His seditious incitement that UMNO/Barisan Nasional would need two-thirds parliamentary majority to strip Bersih co-chairperson S. Ambiga’s citizenship.

Is Najib prepared to speak up to deplore all these three latest instances of rank racism and “perverse Mahathir illogic” which are completely inimical to the concept of 1Malaysia where Malaysians regard themselves as Malaysians first and race, religion, region and soci-economic status second?

At the recent UMNO General Assembly where UMNO delegates stood in silence and shed tears touched by an overseas UMNO club student representative’s rendition of ‘Anak Kecil Main Api’, a song that bemoans the fate of Malays for being sidelined in their own land.

The song, which was written by former National Civics Bureau (BTN) chief, was taught to all those who attended the BTN courses, which is compulsory for students before attending local public universities or going overseas on government scholarships.

The questions raised by this episode include:

• 55 years after Merdeka, 42 years after the New Economic Policy and half a century of UMNO political hegemony, who must bear responsibility for the fate of the Malays marginalised in their own country? Shouldn’t the UMNO-putras bear the greatest responsibility?

• With 1Malaysia concept and policy, shouldn’t the focus be on the marginalised and discriminated among all Malaysians in their own country, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli, Kadazans or Ibans, and not just one community?

• Is this not the best proof that Biro Tata Negara has become the chief agency in government sowing anti-1Malaysia concept?

These critical questions can only be answered by Najib himself and not by spending millions of ringgit and flying ten thousand 1Malaysia flags inviting Psy to perform Gangnam Style in Penang.