Indian 'Judas' unfazed over kissing Zul

The man who has earned the ire of the Indian community by kissing Zulkifli Noordin on the cheek during nomination day, is unperturbed at being labeled 'Judas' for supporting the controversial Perkasa vice-president.

The Malay Mail caught up with N Devendren (left), who claims to be an MIC member, and has since nomination day earned widespread scorn over social media for his action.

"Life goes on, people especially the Indian community will have their say but in the end I have the right to support whom I choose to as it is my right," said the 32-year-old bachelor businessperson.

Devendren denied claims he took money in exchange for a show of support for Zulkifili, who is standing under the "Friend of BN" ticket, against PAS incumbent Khalid Samad.

"I did not do it for money," he said when met at the BN campaign centre in Section 23 here.

Devendren said he was initially angry with BN for selecting Zulkifli, who disparaged Hindus and referred to Indians with a derogatory term.

Two videos of his actions have since gone viral on the Internet.

"When they announced his candidacy at the Section 9 Umno building, I led 100 of my supporters to the event to protest against the decision. I was so incensed that I would have hit him," he said.

But when Zulkifli (right) came out to meet them, he immediately apologised for his statements.

"He (Zulkifli) clasped his hands and begged forgiveness... It was touching and sincere. I am only human so I accepted it. If Pakatan Rakyat leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could be forgiven and accepted by the people, why can't Zulkifli be treated the same way?" he asked.

While he admits the peck on Zulkifli's cheek might be perceived as "an extraordinary act of affection", he does not regret it.

When asked whether he was shunned by the Indian community over the matter, Devendren said many people have questioned him but he has been patient in his response towards them.

Claiming to be an MIC party member for over a year, Devendren, who is from Section 7, is unfazed by the critical comments by thousands of netizens angered by the now infamous picture taken by the Malay Mail.

"Today they will remember me as such since it is campaigning period but 15 days after the results, I would be forgotten altogether," he said with a sly smile.

- The Malay Mail

Don’t vote for Zul Noordin, says MIC veep

M Saravanan says he will never forgive Zulkifli Noordin for degrading and passing racial remarks against the Indian community.
VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: Vowing not to forgive the Barisan Nasional candidate for Shah Alam, MIC vice- president M Saravanan has advised Indians not to vote for the Perkasa leader.

“I will never forgive him (Zulkifli). I will continue to tell Indians not to vote for him, he doesn’t deserve their votes.

“If I were to say something disrespectful towards Muslims or their beliefs and then apologise, do you think they will accept it?” he asked.

“It is the same, we are Malaysians and the thought of disrespecting other religion should never even cross our mind.

“I respect the Prime Minister’s (Najib Tun Razak) choice. But his candidacy degrades BN on the whole, he is a disgrace to the party,” said Saravanan, who is contesting the Tapah parliamentary seat.

In an old video clipping which surfaced recently, Zulkifli had questioned the Hindu concept of God and mocked the Ganges River, which is considered sacred by Hindus.

“I have been to Sungai Ganga before. How can you say it’s pure? There are chicken carcasses and small sticks floating,” Zulkifli had said in the video clip.

He has since apologised for his remarks.

PKR candidate confident in Tapah

Saravanan is defending the parliamentary seat against PKR’s K Vasanthakumar, who is contesting the polls for the first time.

Vasanthakumar carved a name for himself with Hindraf and was one of the five detained under the now defunct ISA after the 2007 Hindraf rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Tapah consists 38,000 registered voters with 46.47% Malays, 27.86% Chinese, 13.31% Indians and 12.36% others, including Orang Asli.

Speaking to FMT, Vasanthakumar was confident of beating the incumbent, saying that he was more capable in providing service to the voters of Tapah.

“I have done my research and I know what the people here need and want, I think I know more than anyone else,” he declared, when met in Tapah.

“Poverty is one of the main issues here. About 30% of the people here suffer from poverty. We promise to uphold our minimum wage pledge as stated in our manifesto,” he added.

He also claimed that the Orang Asli communities in the constituency have also shown confidence in him.

“I would like to take this opportunity to call Saravanan for a debate by April 27. Show me what you have done for the people here. Show me if you are a worthy enough to stay a second term.

“I would in turn reply with my grounds on how I would be able to perform better than you and serve the people of Tapah better,” he added.

‘Debate with the cows’

However Saravanan, who is also Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing deputy minister, brushed aside the invitation to debate with Vasanthakumar.

He slammed Vasanthakumar’s debate call, claiming that it was Pakatan’s “standard operating procedure” to call for a debate everytime they are on the losing end.

“They want to debate for every single thing, that doesn’t make sense. Why do I need to debate with him? The people know what I have done for them.

“I have published booklets on my work here for the last five years, you already have my side of the story. You can go ahead and debate with my book.

“If he wants, he can debate with the cows here. Even they know how much I’ve done for the people, don’t waste my time,” he added in jest.

Saravanan claimed that he has strong local support from all races and is confident of retaining the seat.

“The people here like me…I have performed not only for Indians but also for the Malays, Chinese and the Orang Asli. I know they want me to stay and continue to provide my service to them,” he said.

Hadi’s outburst affects PSM’s chances

Sungai Siput incumbent Dr Michael Jeyakumar says the PAS president's remarks will affect Malay votes.

PETALING JAYA: Incumbent Sungai Siput MP Dr D Michael Jeyakumar is worried about his chances of winning over the Malay electorate following PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s outburst against PSM.

“We have problems over Hadi’s statement among the Malay voters but it is a non-issue for the non- Malay voters.

“We are taking the bull by the horn by addressing this issue in our ceramah sessions in the Malay areas,” said Jeyakumar whose constituency is made up of 33% Malay voters.

On Monday, Hadi described PSM as a party glorifying communism with photographs of Lenin, Marx and other communist personalities without naming the party.

Hadi said this while explaining the reason for the multiple candidates contesting from Pakatan component parties.

Another issue that affects Jeyakumar’s chances is DAP’s decision in dropping incumbent DAP representative Leong Mee Meng for Loh Sze Yee for the Jalong state seat, which falls under Sungai Siput.

“The Chinese voters are upset with DAP’s decision to drop Lee. They may not turn up to vote or they may vote BN,” he said.

He is however confident that his relationship with the Pakatan components will not impede his chances of retaining Sungai Siput.

“Here we have pragmatism, PAS needs our support to win the Lintang state seat and DAP works with us to retain the Jalong state seat,” said the first term MP.

He said this when asked about the party’s chances of retaining Sungai Siput while the party faces multiple cornered fights in three other state seats.

‘People disappointed with PKR’

In Semenyih, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan is facing a three-cornered battle with Umno and PKR’s Hamidi Hassan.

“We have no issues with PKR so far but the people are dissapointed that PKR is contesting against us.

“The questions are who is to take the blame and who is winnable? We say we are winnable and are pro-Pakatan. PKR are the spoilers,” Arutchelvan said.

Party chairman Nasir Hashim has a six-cornered battle with three independents, Umno and PAS in Kota Damansara after Redzuan Ismail of PAS filed his nomination papers.

“The votes are split so my chances of winning is slimmer now. PAS even performed prayers to ensure my defeat on nomination day. We would not get the support from PAS’ hardcore supporters,” said Nasir.

PSM deputy chairman M Sarasvathy is facing a three-cornered fight for the Jelapang state seat in Perak with DAP and MIC joining the fray.

She however is confident of the voters’ support and brushed aside concerns that she is contesting in a Chinese-majority seat.

“They don’t see me as an Indian but as a fellow Malaysian. I don’t see any difference in their treatment towards me just because I am ethnic Indian,” she said.

Jelapang has 68% Chinese voters.

Orang Asli outraged by BN banners

The leader of the Indigenous Village Network condemns the unauthorised use of her picture.

PETALING JAYA: An Orang Asli leader has expressed outrage over the use of her picture on Barisan Nasional banners, calling it “dirty politics”.

Tijah Chopil, who leads the Indigenous Village Network, told a press conference today that she did not support any side in the election and was upset that BN had used a photograph of her posing with members of her community without her knowledge.

She condemned the action as irresponsible and urged contending parties to give up “dirty politics”.

“I will be viewed by my people as campaigning for political parties when I do not support any particular political campaign,” she said.

“I urge Najib, the caretaker prime minister, to remove the banners displayed in the native settlements or I will remove them myself.

“If BN has done so much for natives, why do they resort to something such as this?”

Tijah acknowledged the right of political parties to display campaign banners and distribute associated materials, but said no one should be allowed the audacity of using another person’s picture without that person’s permission.

She said it troubled her that members of her community thought she was a BN supporter whereas she did not favour any side contesting in the May 5 general election.

The offending banner, which claims that the Senoi tribal community supports Najib Tun Razak, have been spotted in Kelantan, Pahang and Perak.

Tijah said her people were confused by it and many had asked her to clarify matters.

She lodged a police report on April 22.

Dr M: PAS tak mungkin laksana hudud tanpa majoriti

PAS perlu memperoleh sokongan dua pertiga tetapi hanya bertanding 70 kerusi parlimen daripada keseluruhan 222 kerusi.

KUALA NERANG: PAS tidak mungkin dapat melaksanakan hukum hudud kerana parti itu tidak akan mampu menguasai majoriti kerusi parlimen untuk meminda perlembagaan negara, kata bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Beliau berkata bagi meminda perlembagaan, PAS perlu memperoleh sokongan dua pertiga kerusi parlimen dan ia pasti tidak akan tercapai kerana parti itu hanya bertanding 70 kerusi parlimen daripada keseluruhan 222 kerusi.

“DAP dan PKR tidak akan sokong, mereka (PAS) tidak akan mendapat dua pertiga majoriti tetapi rakyat tidak memahaminya.

“Untuk menubuhkan negara Islam dan melaksanakan hukum hudud, ini semua temberang, cakap bohong. Orang yang menipu, suka berbohong tak boleh jadi kerajaan,” katanya kepada pemberita pada Program Himpunan Rakyat Padang Terap Bersama Calon Barisan Nasional di Padang Awam Padang Terap, di sini hari ini.

Beliau berkata pakatan pembangkang juga tidak layak mentadbir negara kerana pemimpin-pemimpin mereka sering bercanggah pendapat.

`PKR lawan PAS’

“Kalau kita tengok Datuk Seri Najib (Tun Razak) cakap semua sokong, Cina, Melayu, India, Iban dan Kadazan. Tapi bila satu pihak mereka (pembangkang) kata sesuatu benda, yang lain semua bantah.

“Mereka bertanding, PKR lawan PAS, mana boleh ada kerjasama, kalau tak dak kerjasama macam mana nak bentuk kerajaan bersekutu?,” kata Mahathir.

Dalam perkembangan lain, beliau menyifatkan insiden letupan ketika majlis ceramah perdana anjuran BN di pekarangan Bilik Gerakan BN Nibong Tebal Selasa lalu sebagai bukan budaya orang Malaysia.

Mahathir berkata budaya itu mungkin ditiru dari negara yang kerajaannya bersifat kuku besi dan perkara seumpama itu tidak seharusnya berlaku di sini kerana Malaysia ada pilihan raya umum setiap lima tahun.

“Dia tak tau nak jawab apa yang kita kata, dia guna kekerasan, cuba nak bunuh orang, orang Malaysia tak bunuh orang, ini budaya orang luar,” katanya merujuk kepada mana-mana pihak tidak bertanggungjawab yang melakukan perkara itu.

Dalam kejadian pada 10.15 malam itu seorang petugas keselamatan cedera di kaki kanan akibat terkena bahan letupan yang diletakkan pada jarak kira-kira 10 meter dari bahagian belakang pentas ucapan.

-Bernama

Pakatan will lose 15 seats, predicts MIC

Its strategy bureau deputy chief R Ramanan turns soothsayer, anticipates Pakatan Rakyat to lose about 15 seats in the 13th general election.

KUALA LUMPUR: Internal sabotage and Indian voter swing towards Barisan Nasional will result in Pakatan Rakyat losing several seats it currently holds in the 13th general election.

Among the reasons for this, said MIC strategy bureau deputy director R Ramanan, is that Pakatan, unlike in 2008, is missing the support of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Pakatan coalition – comprising PAS, DAP and PKR – made massive inroads at the last election, reducing BN’s long held two-thirds majority in Parliament.

It captured five states – Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Kelantan. Perak went back to the BN after three state assemblymen crossed over and declared themselves Independents in favour of the BN.

The lack of Indian support for BN contributed to its big loss in the 2008 general election, as the 1.8 million Indian community, its traditional supporters, turned their backs on the ruling coalition.

“Opposition parties failed to convince people that their candidates are credible. The top leadership did not even bother to consult grassroots leaders before announcing the candidates.

“This has led to sabotage on the ground. Grassroots leaders are not happy with the candidates and this led to many defections,” said Ramanan.

Ramanan said the “dictatorial” way of Pakatan in its picking of candidates has irked many in its respective parties, especially in Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and Johor.

“The state committees of Johor, Selangor, Perak and Kedah have had open spats with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim over the issue,” he said.

“Parachute candidates were chosen over local candidates well-versed with the area and the people. They should have explained their decisions. This would have been welcome.”

Indians back to ‘Barisan Najib’

On NGOs, Ramanan said they were now not like in the 2008 election where they and the rakyat spent money from their own pockets to ensure a Pakatan victory.

“The scenario has changed. The NGOs and the public are disappointed with Pakatan leaders who disregarded their views and suggestions,” he said.

He cited an example where the Pakatan-led Selangor state government had promised to reserve four councillors’ post for each local council for NGOs in the state.

“But the Pakatan government betrayed the NGOs by not fulfilling this promise. This is one of the reasons why the NGOs have moved away from Pakatan,” he said.

As for the Indian community, the MIC man said it was obvious that the Indians have crossed back to “Barisan Najib”.

He said statistics showed that 80% of Indian voters supported Pakatan in 2008 “but, with Najib’s wow factor taking shape, 55% Indians are back to the BN”.

“Taking all this into account, Pakatan will lose at least 15 parliamentary seats in the election. You have to remember that Indians are kingmakers in 35 parliamentary seats.

“The BN still has another 10 days to go before polling and the Indian support is expected to increase to 65% by polling day,” said Ramanan.

PAS beri 48 jam untuk Teng minta maaf

Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata, dakwaan Teng itu merupakan satu fitnah jahat dan berbaur hasutan.

KUALA LUMPUR: PAS memberi 48 jam untuk Pengerusi Barisan Nasional (BN) Pulau Pinang Datuk Teng Chang Yeow meminta maaf kerana mengaitkan Pakatan Rakyat dengan insiden letupan bom di bilik gerakan BN Nibong Tebal kelmarin.

Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar berkata, dakwaan Teng itu merupakan satu fitnah jahat dan berbaur hasutan yang tidak sepatutnya dikeluarkan oleh seorang pemimpin tertinggi BN negeri.

“Fitnah yang dibuat Teng adalah jelas untuk memberi imej buruk kepada Pakatan Rakyat dan merupakan strategi publisiti murahan untuk meraih undi kepada BN,” katanya dalam sidang media di Pejabat Agung PAS di sini hari ini.

Calon PAS Parlimen Pokok Sena itu juga berkata, pihaknya akan membuat laporan polis terhadap kenyataan Teng seperti yang disiarkan dalam laporan FMT semalam.

“Kami juga memberi masa 48 jam kepada Teng untuk menark balik tuduhan tersebut dan meminta maaf kepada Pakatan dan semua rakyat Malaysia.

“Sekiranya beliau ingkar, saya akan berbincang dengan kepimpinan Pakatan Rakyat lain untuk mengambil tindakan undang-undang di mahkamah,” tegas Mahfuz.

Teng dalam sidang media di George Town semalam menyalahkan Pakatan Rakyat sebagai dalang serangan terbabit dan cuba mensabotaj perjalanan kempen BN.

Petugas keselamatan cedera

Insiden terbabit mengakibatkan seorang petugas keselamatan cedera di kaki kanan kerana terkena bahan letupan.

Ceramah yang dihadiri 3,000 orang penyokong BN itu bertukar kecoh selepas terkejut mendengar satu letupan di kawasan longgokan sampah di belakang pentas.

Ketika kejadian, Pengerusi Gerakan Pulau Pinang Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan sedang menyampaikan ceramah.

Polis turut menemui satu lagi bungkusan bahan letupan pada malam yang sama, dipercayai hasil buatan profesional dan berjaya diletupkan sejam kemudian.

Pada masa yang sama, PAS menurut Mahfuz turut mengecam keras dan mengutuk tindakan ganas malam kelmarin serta kebakaran yang berpunca dari bom petrol yang dilempar ke bilik gerakan BN di Sekinchan, Selangor.

Katanya, PAS percaya ini merupakan satu tindakan provokasi oleh pihak yang sengaja mahu menimbulkan ketakutan dikalangan pengundi menjelang pilihan raya umum (PRU) 13.

NS DAP loses MB seat by default

By fielding only Chinese and a few Indian candidates, DAP has lost its opportunity to suggest an MB for the state because it does not even have one single Malay candidate for the entire state?

Concerned Negeri Voter

Seeing the crowd in ceramah in Negeri Sembilan is very exciting and if they transfer into votes it will be good for PR as they can at least maintain the status quo held previously of having 16 state seats to BNs 20 seats. The difference is just 4 seats which had 4 years of time to prepare and plan to take over the state.

Perhaps PR in Negeri Sembilan jumped too soon with their Halilintar ke Putrajaya Program in 2010 which was led by Chegubard and created massive energy within people in Negeri Sembilan to start warming up to 13th General Elections.

But today the Energy of Chegu Bard is missing and Khairy has lost a formidable opponent and is going to have an easy way in Rembau. It was Chegubard's war cry to go against Khairy's Parliament seat in every election. We are not privy to the internal tussle going on within PKR which is upsetting many people in Negeri Sembilan and the latest being Teluk Kemang MP Kamarul Bahrain standing in for the Ampangan state seat just to fill up the post of MB if PR wins Negeri Sembilan. This has forcefully upset the good doctor who was caretaker of the Ampangan seat which was promised his until the last minute. They had 4 years to prepare and what a mess it became when it was a free for all contest on 20th April Nomination Day.

We do hope PR will sort out its PKR issues to pave the way for a strong Goverment in Negeri Sembilan if it wins.

Our main concern is DAP's involvement in deciding the MB of Negeri Sembilan. DAP had 10 seats in the previous DUN and a lion's share of deciding the direction of the state. So why didnt DAP choose its own candidate for MB? Does not DAP want to have a Menteri Besar in other states other than its own Chief Minister in Penang? Knowing the state rules that only a Malay must become a Menteri Besar.

By fielding only Chinese and a few Indian candidates, DAP has lost its opportunity to suggest an MB for the state because it does not even have one single Malay candidate for the entire state?

DAP is not bereft of Malay candidates. ASPAN ALIAS is a Blogger and goes to all ceramahs and has been convincing Malays all over the country that DAP is not a Chauvinistic Chinese party but also accepts Malay. He is a strong figure and a famous blogger in Negeri Sembilan. Giving him a sure win constituency would have ensured him a place as a Menteri Besar contender. You can still read his blogs on how upset he is regarding DAP's snub and its token Malay candidate sprinkled here and there all over Malaysia.

You can see he is upset and also his fellow Malay DAP comrades who didn't make the cut in his posting below. http://aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com/2013/04/perubahan-macam-mana-yang-perlu-kita.html

Other than ASPAN, there are also some prominent Malays in DAP Negeri Sembilan such as Lawyer Rosli and others.

This was DAP's good chance but it blew it without a proper strategy for the state of NS. Perhaps the DAP Mindset is always an Opposition mindset not willing to change according to its UBAH call? Perhaps DAP wants to be on constant antagonism with the Malay population and is not able to accept Malays into its fold, especially when there are Malays who have walked into DAP's fold even withstanding the stigma it will cause for them.

Karpal maintains DAP's stand on Hudud

(Daily Express) - DAP's earlier choice to use the PAS logo did not mean the party now agreed to hudud laws being imposed in Malaysia, said party national chairman Karpal Singh.

"PAS allowing us to use their party logo does not mean we have shifted our stand on the establishment of Islamic state or hudud laws," he said.

Karpal said Malaysia is not an Islamic state but secular, pointing to a landmark decision on the issue by the Federal Court in 1988.

"The introduction of hudud to the legal system would mean one system but two laws, which is impossible to impose," said the incumbent Bukit Gelugor MP.

He was responding to PAS deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din's statement that the Islamist party was confident its Pakatan Rakyat ally will accept hudud law because it was willing to contest using the PAS logo.

"Although PAS has said hudud is only for Muslims, the implementation of two systems will cause conflicts and chaos," Karpal reiterated.

As an example, Karpal said that if a non-Muslim and a Muslim were to be jointly charged for the same crime under the Penal code and hudud system respectively, it would be impossible to have a trial.

He pointed out that the Federal Constitution also does not provide for an Islamic state.

"If PAS wants to amend the Federal Constitution, DAP or PKR will not allow it," he said.

"I don't think PAS would insist on amending the Federal Constitution," he added.

Instant Media's Got Malaysia

(Asia Sentinel) The current campaign bypasses the biased mainstream

Online media, already a major factor in Malaysia's 2008 general election, has exploded this time around with newer platforms like Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and others transforming electioneering for both the opposition and the government..

In a country where virtually all mainstream media outlets are owned by pro-government political parties, the rapid growth of social media outlets is not just a social phenomenon but also a key part of the political process.

According to statistics, there are 2 million Twitter users in the country, compared with only 3,000 in 2008. Any large political event is amplified by millions of tweets and posts as dramatic pictures are passed around showing tens of thousands of supporters attending opposition rallies. Who cares about the front page of a newspaper? If violence threatens, as it often has, witnesses record the action, posting it immediately on Facebook, which has 13 million user accounts in Malaysia, and YouTube, where 67 percent of all online videos end up.

The online media is crucial to the opposition, which is nearly frozen out of traditional print and broadcast outlets. "Watching the Watchdog," a study released this week by Malaysia's Center for Independent Journalism in conjunction with the UK-based University of Nottingham, found just how biased the mainstream media can be. Drawing from data gathered the week of April 7-15, the chart below shows the ruling Barisan Nasional, or BN, getting 97.5 percent favorable or neutral coverage in the mainstream media, against less than 20 percent for the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

By contrast, news coverage on the Internet was far more even, with the volume of coverage slightly higher for the Barisan, at 49.42 percent against 47.14 percent for Pakatan Rakyat.

Malaysians "are being deprived of fair and objective information about political parties and coalitions which are taking part in the elections," the report concluded.

"The only news sources which do not conform to the above trends are the online news portals, which give approximately equal quantities and quality of coverage to both Barisan and Pakatan Rakyat," the report found.

There are times, however, when attempts to look cool via YouTube can backfire. Earlier this week, 13 candidates running under the pro-government Malaysian Chinese Association banner were widely ridiculed online as they butchered an old 1970s disco song called "Love is in the Air." It would be hard to imagine this doing anything good for a party already suffering from a host of popularity problems. The video went viral, generating comments like this, from a user named teosamhean: "LOL!!! What a bunch of morons!!"

Social media is now a vital part of any political campaign strategy in Asia, but Malaysia may be running ahead of countries with a freer press since it does not impose restrictions on the Internet, making it a free-fire zone for the opposition. Online platforms were crucial to opposition gains in the 2008 election, when the Pakatan Rakyat was largely denied use of the conventional media, which is still largely the case. The government parties have had no choice but to join in the fray.

"Online media is replacing print and broadcast in terms of being sources of news," said Masjalizah Hamzah, the executive director of the Centre for Independent Journalism. "Both sides are using social media to their advantage in terms of sharing information. In GE12 [the 2008 polls, Malaysia's 12th general election], it was only Pakatan, because of the lack of access to the print media."

Immediately after the 2008 election, virtually every Barisan politician in Malaysia, seeing the effectiveness of the medium by the opposition, acquired a blog. However, in the current intensive campaigning, blogs have become obsolete as the technology has swerved away from the Internet and computers to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets.

The difference from 2008, Hamzah said, is the huge budget allocated for social media by the Barisan. "You can only look at the product. It is very well done - infographics, lots of Facebook pages. The use of Cybertroopers paid to do work promoting candidates or attack work against the opposition."

The effect of all the chatter is questionable. As Hamzah and others have pointed out, most of it is preaching to the faithful. Videos and tweets tend to be shared with people of like disposition.

"In terms of bridging the divide, I am not sure how much is actually happening. You could argue that it's all partisan online anyway. The fast pace of social media - it is all about sharing things, infographics, videos, really."

The prize, for both the Barisan and the opposition, is the 2.5 million young voters who are eligible to vote for the first time. As an indication of the falling influence of the conventional media, nine of 10 young voters use the Internet as their main source of political news, according to Shaharuddin Badaruddin, a political scientist at Universiti Teknologi Mara in Malaysia, quoted by the Straits Times of Singapore. By contrast, only 15 percent get their political news from television.

Asked who is winning the cyber war, Hamzah said she really didn't know. "How do we measure who wins? I'm not sure that question is important at this point in time. I think what's important is how much is being spent. Where is the money coming from? Are these public funds? I don't know what the answer is. But those are the questions I am interested in. It's so intense, feeling and support and emotions are quite high."

Vote buying and Foreign Voters

Since Nomination Day, I have been traveling the whole length of Peninsular Malaysia, and Sabah and Sarawak. Pakatan Rakyat is witnessing a new wave of groundswell of support that will unleash another tsunami. Even in the so-called UMNO fortress of Johor, we are seeing an unstoppable momentum building up. Last night in Segamat, over thirty thousand people came.

I have also been briefed by many Pakatan leaders and civil society leaders on what is happening on the ground. The intimidation and level of violence on Pakatan Rakyat party workers, Pemantau and civil society volunteers are increasing. Over 400 police reports have been lodged. Vote buying and bribery are rampant. BN is so worried that they will lose and are desperately bribing voters with gifts, cash and cash vouchers ranging from RM50 in Penang to RM1000 in Sabah. There is video evidence of this vote buying, and it will be released in the next few days.

In another report and analysis of the Electoral Roll which will be released very soon, there are some shocking revelations. 28,593 registered voters are designated as Indonesians, Filipinos, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis – nationalities from countries with high number of workers in Malaysia. Sabah alone has 15,907 of registered foreign voters, majority of whom are Filipinos and Indonesians. Selangor has the next highest number with 4,324 foreign voters.

The majority of these foreign voters will be voting in Sabah, Selangor and Kuala Lumpur. Parliamentary constituencies with highest number of foreign voters include Silam, Kibaran, Kelabakan, Sepanggar, Putatan and Tawau.

What is even more disturbing is that 16,589 of these foreign voters are assigned with the Sabah “Kod Negeri” even though they are from Indonesia or Philippines. There are even 42 foreign voters from Philippines, Indonesia and Pakistan in the Army and Police registered as “Pengundi Pos”.

The Election Commission must clarify immediately the existence of these thousands of foreign voters in the Electoral Roll and why these voters are designated local “Kod Negeri” in their ICs.

I feel especially strongly for voters in Sabah who are being disenfranchised by the many foreign voters in their constituencies. No doubt this is the reason why the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Illegal Immigrants in Sabah has been delayed until after the elections.

Sabahans and Malaysians in general are being cheated of their democratic choice. BN is still dragging its feet on how to fix the ‘Project IC’ problem it has created. For Pakatan Rakyat it is clear, we will order the Election Commission to clean up the electoral roll within our first 100 days in government.

I urge all legitimate voters to come out on 5th May and cast your votes. Do not let those who have corrupted our electoral system steal democracy from you. We must protect our rights as Malaysians.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Ghani should change his political advisers in the Gelang Patah contest as he is made to say things which undermines his reputation as a sober, rational and level-headed classic Malay gentleman

I am really flabbergasted. I am accused by the Johor Mentri Besar and Barisan Nasional candidate for Gelang Patah Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman of saying things about him which I had never done.

For instance, in an interview today with the UMNO-owned and controlled New Straits Times, which claims to be a newspaper when it is in fact a “lies-paper”, the Johor Mentri Besar was asked a loaded and completely untruthful question and Ghani gave an equally baseless and untruth answer because it was founded on lies and falsehoods.

This is the Q and A I am referring to:

“Question: Your opponent had tried to paint a picture of you being a Malay chauvinist. Do you think it will influence the Chinese electorate, who make up the majority of voters in Gelang Patah?

“Answer: It is cruel. I’m quite sad about the attempts to label me a racist. But Johoreans know me.

“I have been here for the past 18 years and the Chinese community here knows that I have always engaged them. I work with them directly on community issues as well as on education, culture and welfare.

“Since (Lim) Kit Siang decided to come here to contest (Gelang Patah), he has been provoking the Chinese.”

The interviewer from the News Straits Times “lies-paper” asked not only a loaded a question, but a completely fabricated query as I had never “tried to paint” Ghani Othman as “a Malay chauvinist” in my campaign in Gelang Patah.

Having been a four-term Mentri Besar for 18 years, Ghani cannot be so naïve as not to know that the question is not only loaded, but grossly unfair and untrue. How could Ghani answer a question that I had tried to paint him as a Malay chauvinist when I had never done so?

Surely, Ghani should have known what I said publicly about him, and if he does not know, let me repeat what I said on Monday, two days after Nomination Day, viz:

“The BN candidate for Gelang Patah, the four-term Johor Mentri Besar, Datuk Ghani Othman, is a classic Malay gentleman who is respected for his moderate and rational views. I have no qualms in giving credit to him for bringing development and progress to Johor in his 18 years as Mentri Besar.

“But he does not sound like himself in his first two pronouncements after the Nomination Day on Saturday, as captured by these Malaysiakini headlines:

Ghani rails against Pakatan’s ‘racial polarisation’
Ghani: If Kit wins, Hadi might be PM

“Ghani is sounding more like Perkasa leaders like Ibrahim Ali and Zulkifli Noordin as what he said is completely contrary to his image as a moderate, rational and level-headed political leader.

“Is this the price that moderate leaders have to pay if they are to stay and survive in present-day UMNO, whose most powerful leader is not Najib Razak but Mahathir?”

An experienced four-term Johor Mentri Besar would have sensed that there is something very wrong about the question, as it is so far from the truth from what I had said publicly about Ghani.

His protest that my attacks (which never existed) on him being so “cruel” causing him to feel “quite sad about the attempt to label me as a racist” is completely baseless as I had never called him a Malay chauvinist in Gelang Patah.

Why is Ghani playing to the tune portraying him as an “aggrieved victim” on attacks from me, when I had not done any such thing?

Equally baseless, unworthy and dishonourable in his attack on me in retaliation, saying: “Since (Lim) Kit Siang decided to come here to contest (Gelang Patah), he has been provoking the Chinese.”

Can Ghani quote chapter and verse as to when and where in Gelang Patah I had been “provoking the Chinese”?

It was former Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir who accused me of wanting to cause “racial confrontation” in contesting in Gelang Patah, alleging that I want to cause the Chinese to hate the Malays.

I don’t think Mahathir had made a more irresponsible and defamatory statement than this, which is why I have instructed my lawyers to institute legal action for defamation against the former Prime Minister.

Why did Ghani act as if Mahathir is speaking the gospel truth about my contest in Gelang Patah?

My invitation to Ghani to make the battle of Gelang Patah the model of a clean, free, fair and gentlemanly contest in the 13GE still stands.

If Ghani responds positively, I am prepared to meet him to finalise the ground rules as to how both of us can agree for the Gelang Patah contest to be the model of a clean and gentlemanly election contest in a general election which is expected to the dirtiest in the nation’s history – stemming from Najib and UMNO/BN’s kiasu and kiasi attitude about the possible outcome of the 13GE.

In any event, whether Ghani accepts my standing invitation to make the battle of Gelang Patah the model of a clean and gentlemanly contest in the 13GE, the first thing he should do is to change his political advisers in the Gelang Patah contest as he is made to say things which undermines his reputation as a sober, rational and level-headed classic Malay gentleman!

Opposition Playing Up Lynas Issue Will Not Affect Investment - PM

KUANTAN, April 25 (Bernama) -- The issue of the Lynas advanced materials plant in Gebeng near here which has been played to the hilt by the opposition has had little impact on investors wanting to invest in Kuantan, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said despite their (opposition) trying to frighten people by claiming their health was at risk because of the plant, the government of China did not hesitate to invest in the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park (MCKIP).

"They (Chinese government) never even asked about the Lynas plant, they never saw it as a threat.

"That is why they dared to invest in MCKIP and not only that, they also dared to ask for land closest to the Lynas plant to invest in this project," he said at a dinner with members of the Chinese community in Kuantan at a hotel here Thursday night.

Najib launched MCKIP in Gebeng on Feb 5. The project involves investments totalling RM10.5 billion and offers 8,500 job opportunities.

The idea to open MCKIP came about after the opening of the China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in China, which was given national status by the Chinese government.

Najib said if before the opposition was going in overdrive in claiming that the factory endangered the people's health, now the situation had changed.

"Anwar Ibrahim (opposition leader) initially said Lynas plant was dangerous but now it appears he has come around to accept it is not.

"In an interview with an Autralian news agency, he said he would support Lynas if it was proven the plant was safe, he has also started to follow what we said," said Najib.

At the function, Najib also announced that tax exemption would be given for donations made for the construction of the Chong Hwa private school in Kuantan. "As education is something close to the hearts of the Chinese, the Government agrees to donations made for building this school to be tax-exempt, besides the existing RM5 million allocation already made available," he said.

Prior to this, the prime minister had announced an additional RM3 million allocation for the school on top of the RM2 million that had been provided earlier.

At the same time, Najib said the Barisan Nasional (BN) guaranteed that the country would be stronger, more peaceful and stable if the mandate was returned to it in the 13th General Election on May 5.

"This is not political rhetorics because we know in the last four years we can see Malaysia has become stronger and more progressive.

"If we are given the trust, we can be a fully developed country in seven years ( by 2020)," he added.

Now it’s 1Malaysia petrol vouchers – plus free traffic jams

As if free dinners were not enough, now we have a lucky draw for 1Malaysia petrol vouchers from the 1Malaysia Penang Welfare Club.

Photograph: Aliran

Read ‘Umno-BN – Buying lower income votes, appealing to middle income greed’ on the Aliran website.

Suspected Hands of Al Umma Jihadis in Bangalore blast. Why maximum terrorists are Muslim here?

3 Bangalore blast suspects arrested from Tamil Nadu
Interrogation May Confirm Link To Banned Outfit: Sources….

Arun Dev & A Selvaraj | TNN | Bangalore/ Chennai | 24 April 2013:: Three suspects arrested in connection with last Wednesday’s bomb blast near the BJP headquarters in Malleswaram, were brought to Bangalore on Tuesday morning. K Peer Mohiddeen, 39, and J Basheer Ahmed, 30, were nabbed at a Chennai lodge on Monday night, while Kitchan Buhari, 38, was picked up at the Mattuthavani bus stand in Madurai around 8.30 am Tuesday.

The three men were brought to Bangalore on Tuesday afternoon and produced before the chief metropolitan magistrate who remanded them in 14 days’ judicial custody. Sources told TOIthey were shifted to an undisclosed location where Bangalore police officers are interrogating them.
Sources also said a possible re-emergence of the banned Islamist outfit, Al-Umma, which planned the Coimbatore serial blasts of February 1998 targeting BJP leader LK Advani at an election rally, was seen during the investigation.

While addressing a gathering at the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday evening, Bangalore police commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar confirmed the arrests but declined to answer questions about motive and involvement of a particular terror group.
Another senior officer told TOI that based on the intelligence gathered from the interrogation, the manhunt may continue. “We’re keen on learning more about the motives and modus operandi of these men. We’re certain this interrogation will answer many questions,” he said.

Police sleuths zeroed in on these suspects as the IED used in the Bangalore blast was similar to the pipe bomb-like IED kept by suspected extremists on the route of Advani’s rath yatra near Madurai in September 2011 when he had another providential escape, another source said.

Police said the three men helped the bombers buy the motorcycle on which the IED was placed, adding that Buhari was arrested by Coimbatore police in connection with the 1998 bomb blast case that killed 58 people. They described him as a “hardcore” member of the banned fundamentalist organization Al-Umma.

Buhari was convicted in the Coimbatore bomb blast case and was released from prison in 2008. He was also involved in a few other cases in Tirunelveli after he came out of prison. Mohideen and Basheer are married and with families living in Melapalayam. Basheer works in a real estate office in Tirunelveli. Mohideen sold tea sachets in Bangalore, police said. Basheer, Mohideen and Buhari, had been in touch with the main culprit, cops said.

Boston Muslim Terrorist a Suspect in 2011 Triple Murder.

Boston Bomber ‘Wanted to Defend Islam’

Surviving suspect in Boston bombing says his older brother led the attack, ‘wanted to defend Islam.’

Police stand guard outside the hospital in which Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is held

By Maayana Miskin

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, 19, the surviving suspect in the bombing of the Boston marathon, has confirmed that his older brother Tamerlan was behind the attack, CNN reports, citing a United States government source.

Tamerlan, 26, was killed in a shootout with police last week.

Dzhokhar has reportedly said little to investigators, but confirmed that Tamerlan was the leader and that he “wanted to defend Islam from attack.” The two carried out the attack on their own initiative and were not in touch with foreign terrorists, he said.

CNN’s source noted that the testimony is preliminary, and that investigators will carefully look into all of Dzhokhar Tsarnaev’s claims in the upcoming days and weeks.

Tsarnaev remains hospitalized for injuries sustained while fighting police during his arrest. He faces charges of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death along with other terror-related offenses.

White House sources say he will be charged in a civilian court, and not in a military court as an enemy combatant. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen. His brother had filed a citizenship that was put on hold at the request of the Department of Homeland Security.

MIC set to make comeback with renewed aspirations

The MIC is ready to face the 13th general election (GE13) with renewed aspiration and determination to ensure greater victory both for the party and Barisan Nasional (BN).

The 67-year-old party is hopeful that it will be able to bounce back from the devastating 2008 general election outcome, where the party only won three of the nine parliamentary seats and seven of the 18 state seats.

MIC’s new confidence is based on the leadership’s belief that in the aftermath the party has become more assertive, and has been taking a strong stand on issues deemed unfair to the Indian community and solving many longstanding problems faced by the community.

Furthermore, MIC deputy president Dr S Subramaniam admitted that the 2008 general election was a bitter pill to swallow for MIC and surely, the party has learnt a good lesson since the political tsunami.

“Now, MIC has set a long-term plan and we will maintain the momentum and fighting spirit of party members until polling day. We (MIC) have changed, reformed and delivered.

“We have expressed our inner thoughts so that the government listens clearly and distinctly. The new MIC leadership is committed to continue speaking up on behalf of all Malaysians,” he said in an interview with Bernama recently.

As for the party’s prepartion for GE13, Dr Subramaniam, who will be challenged by Johor Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) chairperson Chua Jui Meng in a straight fight for the Segamat parliament seat, said MIC president G Palanivel had fielded winnable candidates.

“MIC is also working very hard to garner better support from the Indian community. Nonetheless, we have reasons to believe that the support has improved since 2008. With that, the party will do better than the previous election.

“Whether we can repeat our best election outcome in 2004, that is a challenge, but definitely, we will do better than 2008,” he said.

Dr Subramaniam, while denying any internal sabotage like those witnessed by many parties in GE13, explained that dissatisfaction and dissent could happen in any political party, be it BN or the opposition.

‘Sabotage has not been a problem’

“So far, in MIC’s history, this (sabotage) has not been a problem. Initially, there might be some dissatisfaction but this has never led to sabotage that prevented the party’s candidate from securing victory,” he said.

Political observers believe that although MIC has a better chance in GE13 as compared with GE12 in 2008, this will only happen if MIC’s candidates are seen as open-minded and pleasant people.

“Some areas such as Kota Raja, Kapar and Subang call for strong-willed candidates while strong personalities are needed for constituencies such as Sungai Siput, Cameron Highlands, Segamat, Telok Kemang and Hulu Selangor,” said Associate Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM).

“If MIC candidates are able to perform better than in 2008, then MIC has made a comeback. But if it fails, the party might have to go through a drastic ‘revivalism’ process to remain relevant,” he noted.

Another political analyst with Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), Dr Mohd Azizuddin Mohd Sani, said coordination with good strategy and winnable candidates were the right ingredients for MIC to secure a big win.

“To secure a big win, the machinery must perform in unison, efficiently and effectively, involving MIC and other component parties,” said the dean of UUM’s School of International Studies.

To win, candidates must solve Kota Raja conundrum

GE13 WATCH Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar's decision to contest as an Independent for the Kota Raja parliamentary seat in the 13th general election means that MIC, which is trying to regain a seat that once used to be its stronghold, would need to appeal to non-Indian voters as much as it appeals to Indian voters.

Uthayakumar brings with him a long-standing reputation as a voice for marginalised Indians.

Though he's seen more as a lone ranger due to the separate factions of Hindraf, he looks set to pull some Indian votes in his direction in a constituency which has the largest Indian voter base in the country at 29 percent.

But Uthayakumar, who has admitted that he would be an "underdog" up against MIC secretary-general S Murugesan and PAS' Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud, the incumbent here, will have his work cut out in pulling Malay and Chinese votes, which he would still need in order to cause an upset.

He continues to hold traction with the Indian community in Kota Raja, which belong to the lower income group and shares Uthayakumar's sentiments that they are not provided enough opportunities to be part of the mainstream development in the country.

But with Uthayakumar focusing mainly on the plight of the Indians, he is merely relying on the premise that Malays and Chinese in the constituency will support him based on humanitarian grounds.

"In developed countries, the majority takes care of and looks after the minority. It could happen here too," he said, remaining hopeful of an upset - drawing similarities with incumbent Johor Bahru MP Shahrir Samad's feat of winning as an independent back in 1988.

"I want to become a MP so that I can raise a motion in Parliament to criminalise racism and also get Malaysia to ratify the United Nations convention on eliminating all forms of racism," he added.

Murugesan's five pledges

But while Uthayakumar focuses on the Indian voters as he walks from one coffee shop to another conducting small group ceramahs and conversations, Murugesan needs to focus on a larger mix of voters if MIC were to deliver the seat back to BN.

Most of Murugesan's campaign workers, have only recently started work in the constituency - he hosts dinners, futsal tournaments, and events in order to draw crowds and use his appeal as a former TV show host and as a scandal-free leader to gain votes.

He has even come up with five pledges should he be given the mandate to be the MP for Kota Raja - improve public transportation, reduce crime, solve long-standing flood problems, build 5 1Malaysia clinics, and set up government childcare centres.

He is hitching on the popularity of caretaker Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, perceived to be a popular leader for a largely unpopular government, to be given the mandate. In some parts of Kota Raja, banners appealing for BN votes merely says 'Undilah perdana menteri' (Vote for the prime minister).

What Murugesan does have in his favour are obviously resources and a well-equipped team to handle all of his events and his scheduling.

Najib recently made a trip to Kota Raja to endorse Murugesan and applaud his "pledges", which are emblazoned in huge billboards across the constituency.

Personal touch

But what might work against him is the lack of a personal touch, something that incumbent PAS' Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud definitely does not lack.

When she gets into her car to make some early morning visits to the more remote parts of the constituency which is divided between Klang and Shah Alam municipal council boundaries, she apologises curtly for the reading materials strewn in the backseat.

"Sorry, my car is my home," she said.

Though she said that she had started work from the first day of being elected in Kota Raja five years ago and has visited nearly all the localities here, she's not taking her challengers for granted, not even the other lesser known Independent Azman Idrus, whose posters are hardly visible in the constituency.

She has been sleeping in her office in Sentosa, Klang since nomination day to save travelling time as her family home is in Sungai Buloh, an arduous 45-minute drive away.

"At the end of the day, all votes matter. Not to forget, we have an increase of more than 30,000 new voters here. What worked with the voters in 2008 might not work with the new voters. So I need to meet them as well," she said.

"They (Uthayakumar and Murugesan) are going to pull away my Indian votes, as there are some ardent Hindraf supporters. The other Independent, Azman, is an Indian Muslim. He has a small following, so he will pull some Indian Muslim votes," she added.

But refreshingly, Mariah notes that the campaign period is merely "the last leg of a race".

"I don't think I can do anything spectacular to get people's votes. I think even the Indian voters have the trust in me," she said.

"I never ask people who they support. I serve everyone without asking. And end of the day, Najib is not going to come down and serve this constituency. I'm touching as much base as possible," she added.

'MIC is part of the problem'

Mariah is not a politician who minces her words, describing the pledges made by Murugesan as "bulls**t".

"We have improved the drainage system and have a retention pond to help alleviate the flooding problem. As for gangsterism and safety, MIC is part of the problem. Some MIC leaders are linked to the gangs that roam here."

"We already have a plan sketched out, with the approval with the Land Public Transport Commission to have local public transportation in these districts. There are already two 1Malaysia clinics here, and complaints were receive that these clinics to do not have medicines."

"You can't change everything overnight the moment you become an MP. An MP can only do so much. The central agency also plays a part, along with state agencies," she said.

"I show people why I can't solve certain things. I show them the parliamentary answer to where the MP allocation for here went to. And I tell people go and ask this person for the money, because the money doesn't come to me.

"But if you want to blame me for the shortcomings here, then go ahead," she said, speaking while having breakfast with her constituents.

But much of Kota Raja's unpredictability will come from the huge bastion of first-time voters. There were only 71,887 voters in 2008 when Mariah trounced MIC's then incumbent S Vigneswaran by a whopping 20,751-vote majority.

There are 105,995 registered voters, with 44 percent of them being Malay, 29 percent Indians, and 25 percent Chinese.

Kota Raja also has a heady mix of income groups - from the elite and affluent areas in Kota Kemuning, to the middle-range and heavily Indian-populated areas such as Sri Muda and Sentosa, and also the long barren roads where flocks of cattle are visible on the side of the road such as in Jalan Kebun and Bukit Kemuning.

Though located well within Klang Valley, this is not a typical urban seat where national issues take precedence over local issues - survival and bread-and-butter issues, as Mariah admitted, are what the majority of the electorate here look at.

And there's plenty of work ahead for all four candidates as they are make themselves visible to every nook and cranny of Kota Raja.

Zulkifli Noordin is remorseful, says Soi Lek

SELANGOR BN's decision to field controversial Perkasa vice-chairperson Zulkifli Noordin for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat has been widely criticised but MCA president Chua Soi Lek backs the coalition's choice.

"It's nothing. Zulkifli was (Pakatan Rakyat supremo) Anwar's good friend and used to be Anwar's lawyer.

"He had contested under PAS. He and PAS are very good friends, thus he internalised PAS values and culture.

"But now he is remorseful and repentant (insaf dan bertaubat)," Chua (left) told a press conference while campaigning for Pandan MCA candidate lawyer Gary Lim this afternoon.

On Monday, BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak attempted to douse the anger over Zulkifli Noordin's disparaging remarks about Hindus, claiming that Indians have now warmed up to him.

"There are Indians who have even kissed him already," Najib said.

Zulkifli has apologised for the remarks which he said were made 10 years ago.
Correction made to ads
Meanwhile, Chua said that the correction of the MCA’s Chinese language advertisement of “Vote wisely: 1 vote for DAP, 1 vote for PAS” to “Wrong choice: 1 vote for DAP, 1 vote for PAS” on Monday was not due netizens making fun of it.
                 
In Chinese language, “vote wisely” could be read as “wise vote”.

“We are not doing this for the netizens’ pleasure. The purpose of the advertisement is to disseminate what MCA and BN have done,” he added.

Chua then turned his gun on DAP, criticising the opposition party for promoting “hate politics” by painting BN and MCA supporters as “traitors” to the Chinese race.

Najib mocks Pakatan on hudud dream

While the BN chief mocks Pakatan over their disunity over the hudud issue, Karpal Singh once again rejects agreeing to PAS' hudud plan.

KENINGAU: Najib Tun Razak describes PAS as being naive to believe that the DAP will receive the implementation of the hudud law just because of the party’s willingness to use the moon symbol in the 13th general election (GE13).

The prime minister said that PAS, which is championing for the hudud law, should not place any hope on the pact to implement the law because it was not included in the manifesto of the opposition pact.

“The PAS hudud law is not acceptable to everyone. We are not saying we are against it, but the time is not right under certain circumstances to implement it and there are still many issues that must be tackled.

“But when the election comes, the hudud law is still raised where it is merely an election gimmick,” he told a press conference, here today.

He is here to attend a gathering with the people which was among the programmes during his two-day visit to Sabah beginning yesterday.

Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman, said the matter was not just a question of the logo alone but also the PAS stand and ideology, which appeared to be unacceptable to the DAP.

In this regard, he said the DAP must give a response and clarify its stand concerning the implementation of the hudud law so that the rakyat would not be confused.

In the run up to the nomination day last Saturday, DAP had said that it would be using PAS’ symbol to contest in the general election in the event the Registrar of Societies deregisters the party over its alleged faulty party elections last December. However DAP eventually used its Rocket symbol when the ROS said that it was not stop the party from using its symbol.

No shift in DAP’s stance on hudud

In another development in GEORGE TOWN, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh said the party has not changed its stance on rejecting PAS proposed hudud laws to be imposed in the country.

“PAS allowing us to use their party logo does not mean we have shifted our stand on the establishment of Islamic state or hudud laws,” he said at a press conference at his elections operations centre here today.

He said the introduction of hudud laws would mean a system with two laws, “which is impossible to impose.”

Karpal, who is the incumbent Bukit Gelugor MP, said this in response to PAS deputy spiritual leader Dr Haron Din’s statement recently that PAS was confident that the opposition pact, including DAP, would accept hudud law because it was willing to contest using the PAS logo.

“Although PAS has said hudud is only for Muslims, the implementation of two systems will cause conflicts and chaos,” Karpal reiterated today.

“If PAS wants to amend the Federal Constitution, DAP or PKR will not allow it. I don’t think PAS would insist on amending the Federal Constitution,” he added.

Pakatan has failed in Selangor

Meanwhile, commenting on the statement by Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim who conceded that many problems had yet to be settled in the state, Najib said:

“The five-year term was a long time for a leader to administer and resolve the problems of the people in the state.”

“Five years is a long time because if we plan, the first year is the planning stage, the second year is the implementation period and the third and fourth years we can see the outcome,” he said.

Najib, who is also the Selangor BN chairman, said the BN government succeeded in implementing its national transformation agenda by showing its outcome in the fourth year.

“That’s why we were not afraid to table the government’s report card for the people to judge the BN. After five years, Khalid should table his report card instead of asking for (a mandate of) another five years,” he said cynically.

Reject Waytha and vote Pakatan, say Indian NGOS

‘Hindraf is not Waytha’s personal property, it belongs to the tens of thousands who rallied in 2007.’
VIDEO INSIDE

KUALA LUMPUR: A group of Indian based NGOs, pledging to vote for Pakatan Rakyat candidates in the May 5 election, has accused Hindraf leader P Waythamoorthy of claiming personal absolute right over the Hindu group.

“Hindraf does not belong to any particular person; it belongs to the tens of thousands of Indians who rallied in the streets in 2007,” former Hindraf coordinator R Kannan told reporters today after a forum at Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, where the NGOs made their pledge.

“The organisation he registered is called Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia, not Hindu Rights Action Force, which yields the acronym Hindraf.

“It is thus clear that Waytha has no power over the original Hindraf movement.”

Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia was registered last month, years after the name Hindraf had been stamped onto the public mind as a movement fighting for the rights of Malaysian Indians, particularly those members of the community who have been sidelined in the nation’s economic and social development.

According to news reports, Waythamoorthy has warned that he would sue anyone claiming a right to Hindraf.

One of the NGOs at today’s forum was the National Indian Rights Action Team (NIAT). Its chairman, Thasleem Mohamad Ibrahim, said the memorandum of understanding signed recently by Waythamoorthy and BN chairman Najib Tun Razak was “nothing but a farce”.

Citing the four points in the agreement, Thasleem said that there was nothing in them that was not covered in a blueprint that MIC submitted to the government in 1974.

Thasleem showed the 1974 document to reporters, pointing out that Waythamoorthy’s demands were already in it. That document was prepared by former MIC vice-chairman K Padmanathan.

“So, what is BN’s point in inking a new MOU with Waythamoorty when it has already received those demands?” he asked.

A Rajaretnam, who leads WargaAMAN, urged Malaysian Indians to vote out BN in the coming election.

WargaAMAN is coalition of 20 civic groups representing Malaysian Indians.

“By fielding Zulkifli Noordin as a BN candidate, Najib has sent a clear message that he is a Perkasa supporter,” he said.

Zulkifli, notorious for his racially insensitive statements, is a vice president of Perkasa, a group that is equally notorious for the same reason. He is fighting PAS’ Khalid Samad in Shah Alam as a candidate sponsored directly by BN instead of one of its component parties.

Rajaretnam also urged the Christian community to vote for Pakatan to show their disappointment with BN for similarly sponsoring Perkasa supremo Ibrahim Ali for Pasir Mas.

Ibrahim came under fire recently following his call on Muslims to burn copies of the Bible that use “Allah” as God’s name and contains other religious terms derived from Arabic.

Petrol bombs hit BN ops centre

An unidentified explosive device went off at a BN ceramah in Penang last night, and early today two petrol bombs were hurled at a BN centre in Sekinchan.

SHAH ALAM: Unidentified people hurled two petrol bombs at the Barisan Nasional (BN) election operations room in Sekinchan near here early today, triggering a fire at the front portion of the building in Parit 9, Baroh, Sungai Leman, police said.

Selangor police election spokesman SAC Hasanuddin Hassan said the 4am fire destroyed some BN flags and banners.

The police found two glass bottles with petrol at the scene but there was no attempt to break into the building, he told a news conference at the Selangor police headquarters here.

Villagers woken up by the incident notified the owner of the building located on private land, he added.

This is the second case of an arson attack on a BN election operations room.

Last night, an explosion occurred near the Nibong Tebal BN election operations room in Penang.

Hasanuddin advised all quarters involved in the 13th general election (GE13) to inform their supporters not to resort to criminal activities in the run-up to polling day on May 5.

He said that since nomination on April 20, the police had launched investigation into 44 minor cases related to the election, such as removing and damaging flag poles and torching and tearing up party flags.

The police also received 14 reports on political ‘ceramah’ held without a permit, he added.

- Bernama

Memorandum of Understanding between Barisan Nasional and Hindraf – Part 1

Much has been said about the signing of the MOU, and a lot of what was said has been in the realm of conjecture as well as emotional reactions to the signing. Hindraf finds the reactions understandable, though it does not share them, which should be just as understandable to the reader.

Hindraf Economic Unit

This is the first of a series of articles which will be released heading up to the Polling day and beyond. The articles are targeted towards Malaysians in general and Indian Malaysians specifically.

The main purpose of these articles will be to set a standard of reference for what needs to be done to uplift the Indian poor. Along the way, the articles will also try to give Hindraf’s perspective on why the MOU has been chosen as the way forward.

Much has been said about the signing of the MOU, and a lot of what was said has been in the realm of conjecture as well as emotional reactions to the signing. Hindraf finds the reactions understandable, though it does not share them, which should be just as understandable to the reader.

Indians make up 7.3% of Malaysia’s population according to the Department of Statistics.

We all know that except in crime statistics, Indian Malaysian do not have a 7.3% share of any cake in this country, be it as a part of the annual budget for education, or job opportunities or business licenses.

If the fact that Indian Malaysians are usually allocated about 1% of the total annual education budget (excluding higher learning) seems fair to you, then read no further. But if it seems a tad unfair, then ask yourself this question: How can this be challenged, and changed?

The same applies to all areas where the Indian Malaysian citizen has been excluded from, or has been deprived of.

How can this unfair state of affairs be challenged, and changed?

This does not only apply to the areas which fall under the control of the federal and state governments, but also in the private sector. As a quick exercise, imagine yourself to be an Indian Malaysian youth, of between 19 to 22 years of age, who is looking for some suitable part time or temporary employment. Now go to a popular job site like asiaparttime.com and see for yourself what percentage of the hundred odd new jobs advertised on that site daily will even accept an application from an Indian Malaysian like you.

The only area where an Indian Malaysian is automatically an equal to any other citizen in this country is when it is time to vote. An Indian vote is counted as one, just as a Malay or a Chinese vote is.

And it is from that position of equality, namely the vote, that Hindraf challenges and changes what is wrong, to what is right.

Now, some of you may say that it is the individual that determines his or her success in life, and not the circumstances that surround the individual’s particular race.

To this, we ask you to do another simple mental exercise. Give away all your possessions, empty your bank accounts and liquidate your investments, sell your properties and start from zero. But before you start, also burn your birth certificate and diplomas and degrees, destroy your passport and mykad and driving license. Once you are standing there with no document which identifies you as so and so, with no money or wealth, with no right to apply for a bank account or a driving license, to make a police report when someone assaults you and leaves you for dead, no means to obtain medical care in even a government clinic, no right to marry or have children, unless you want your children to share your fate, no way to enroll in school or apply for a job, with no right to property or security.

Once you stand there just like a stateless Indian Malaysian does, please show us how you will achieve everything you have achieved so far in life.

Even Einstein would have become a beggar, if he had been born as a stateless Indian Malaysian in this country.

This brings us to the first point from the MOU which we will address.

Statelessness among the Malaysian Indian poor shall be addressed by the following programs:

i) Identify all Stateless ethnic Indians as ethnic Indians without Birth Certificates and Blue Identification cards and those with Red Identity Cards.

ii) Develop Common Sense and transparent proposals to address the problems of Malaysian Indians who claim to have been born and raised in Malaysia but who do not have any documentary evidence whatsoever of their birth and residency.

iii) Develop policies including those that may allow defined local persons of repute who are given official standing to issue Statutory Declarations conveying their opinion that a said stateless person was indeed born and raised in their locality in Malaysia.

iv) Develop streamlined and transparent policies to resolve the large problem of all persons who only hold Red Identification Cards.

v) Differentiate a system that can differentiate legitimate from non-legitimate citizenship applications from ethnic Indians in Malaysia.

vi) Ensure that the common sense and transparent proposals developed should strictly adhere to the provisions of the Federal Constitution.

Point number three simply means this. A retired headmaster, or some other figure of local repute, can make a Statutory Declaration, which can lead to the stateless Indian Malaysian being released from the nightmare that is his nameless condition.

Now, we issue a real challenge to the reader who believes that Pakatan Rakyat is the salvation for Malaysia. Can you guarantee that Pakatan will at least match the criteria listed above, and eradicate the problem of the stateless Indian Malaysian once and for all?

We in Hindraf are not interested in your curses or your personal attacks. The people that lead and make up Hindraf are fighters, and we will take full responsibility to hold Barisan Nasional to what has been agreed in the MOU. What we are interested in is whether all of you who believe that there exists both the political will and moral backbone within the Pakatan Rakyat coalition to address the question of statelessness among the Indian Malaysian, to hold Pakatan Rakyat to the same standards by which we in Hindraf now hold Barisan Nasional.

If you cannot see the pragmatism that is the basis for the question above, then let it be forever beyond you. But if you understand the import, are you then prepared to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring that Pakatan does what is right? If your answer is no, then please find other matters to occupy you, and leave the task of bringing the Indian poor to the mainstream development of Malaysia, to those that can.

Vote to ensure a better Malaysia (UPDATED WITH TAMIL VERSION)

Press statement of Group of Concerned Citizens on the General Election

We are a group of Malaysians from diverse ethnicities, religions and backgrounds including military, academic, business, professional and the not-for-profit sector. We have been drawn together by our love for our country and our concern that this general election may see further setbacks in our aspiration for a better society.

Malaysians need a better government and good governance, especially in these tumultuous times of heightened racial discord and religious hatred and extremism.

If we succeed, we can be a modest example for the rest of the world in the way we tackle our racial and religious differences and in our resolve and actions to ensure social justice and the fair distribution of the wealth of our land.

Past governments and politicians have too often failed us by abusing the public treasury for private gain, by concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few, and by debasing our democratic rights. For some years now, we have been one of the top countries in the world in terms of illicit outflows of money. According to Global Financial Integrity, the total 10-year estimate of financial outflow for Malaysia was RM871.4 billion for 2000-2010. No country in the world can afford such a high level of capital flight.

The coming elections provides us an opportunity to exercise our individual and collective right to decide on who will lead this country in the next five years and manage our finances, economy and society in a fair and just manner. If we choose badly we will have only ourselves to blame.

click on picture to enlarge

click on picture to enlarge

We wish to share with voters in this election pamphlet, which is being disseminated throughout the country, our concerns as well as our position on the principles and values that can propel our country towards that better society that we seek and which all Malaysians deserve and can be proud of. We believe that most Malaysians share not only these concerns but also our expectations of the high moral and ethical standards from the parties and politicians that will soon come into power. 

We hope that this election message – a non-partisan one – will be etched in the minds and memories of those who will shortly take political office as well as of all voters so that the promise of moral and good governance is in the forefront of national priority, not just during the election campaign period and particularly on election day but every day during the next four or five years.

Other citizens and civil society organisations wishing to endorse this or a similar message are free to adopt or adapt it, and disseminate in their own names.

Civil society leaders endorsing this message:

Ahmad Farouk Musa
Arshad Raji
Azmi Sharom
K J John
Koon Yew Yin
Lim Teck Ghee
Masjaliza Hamzah
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Ramon Navaratnam
Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh
Thasleem Mohamed Ibrahim
S Thayaparan
Zaid Ibrahim

Satu lagi fitnah UMNO tentang 13 Mei untuk menaman rasa benci orang Melayu terhadap DAP; tetapi orang Melayu sudah bersedia untuk perubahan bersama Pakatan Rakyat dalam PRU13.

DAP menjadi mangsa fitnah Berita Harian, akhbar harian kawalan UMNO, hari ini Rabu 24 April 2013 apabila ruangan Rencana di muka surat 25 yang ditulis oleh “Lanang” telah mendakwa, tanpa sebarang bukti, bahawa DAP adalah “parti perkauman yang memperalatkan hak sama rata”. Malah rencana itu menuduh “Masa kempen pilihan raya 10 Mei 1969, DAP ghairah mainkan isu perkauman. Hasilnya sengketa 13 Mei 1969”.

Satu lagi fitnah UMNO tentang 13 Mei untuk menaman rasa benci orang Melayu terhadap DAP; tetapi orang Melayu sudah bersedia untuk UBAH bersama Pakatan Rakyat dalam PRU13. Semakin ramai orang Melayu sedar bahawa DAP bukan pencetus tragedi 13 Mei 1969.

Saya ingin jelaskan bahawa ini adalah pembohongan dan penipuan. Saya telah banyak kali jelaskan bahawa tuduhan itu tidak benar sama sekali kerana DAP tidak mencetuskan peristiwa 13 Mei 1969. Malah saya telah menuntut kepada kerajaan Malaysia supaya membuat siasatan terbuka dan pendedahan awam sepenuhnya tentang rusuhan kaum 13 Mei 1969 kerana masih banyak rahsia yang tidak didedahkan oleh pihak berkuasa. Tetapi sehingga sekarang tidak ada mana-mana pemimpin kerajaan BN yang berani berbuat demikian.

Kemudian, tulisan Lanang itu dalam Berita Harian mendakwa pula “DAP hanya benarkan PAS dan PKR bergasak sesama sendiri di tujuh kawasan. Yang untungnya DAP kerana berjaya melihat Melayu pecah” dan “Akhirnya yang rugi adalah Melayu. Yang berkuasa dan memencilkan kuasa Melayu adalah pihak lain. Kita dapat tulang, depa dapat isi.”

Isu menjadi calon pun mahu dijadikan isu perkauman? Berita Harian bersikap hipokrit kerana isu pertindihan kerusi Pakatan Rakyat hanya berlaku di tujuh kawasan sedangkan ia melibatkan 61 orang di kawasan-kawasan BN! Sehinggakan UMNO terpaksa memecat 58 pemimpin dan ahlinya yang menjadi calon bebas! Malah, orang penting seperti Naib Ketua Wanita UMNO Datuk Kamalia Ibrahim pun menentang parti dengan bertanding sebagai calon bebas di Parlimen Kuala Kangsar.

Beranikah Berita Harian, sebagai alat propaganda UMNO, mengatakan “MCA dan MIC untung kerana berjaya melihat Melayu pecah” kerana 61 ahli BN berebut kerusi menjadi calon bebas menentang BN? Atau adakah Berita Harian hanya berani memfitnah DAP dan Pakatan Rakyat kerana ia cukup yakin bahawa Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) dan pihak polis tidak akan berani mengambil apa-apa tindakan terhadapnya kerana ia adalah alat UMNO-BN?

Rakyat Malaysia, terutamanya orang Melayu, sudah bosan dan marah dengan ketidakadilan dan kezaliman yang berlaku. Mungkin hanya UMNO dan Berita Harian belum sedar tetapi ramai orang Melayu sudah mula condong ke arah Pakatan Rakyat. Kita rakyat Malaysia sudah bersedia untuk UBAH.

Ini kali lah!

PM Calls For Healthy GE Campaign After Arson Attacks

KUALA LUMPUR, April 24 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has urged all quarters, including political parties, to ensure a healthy campaign for the 13th General Election, following two arson attacks within a spate of 24 hours.

An explosion occurred near the Nibong Tebal Barisan Nasional (BN) election operations room in Penang last night, causing minor leg injury to a man, and this morning, two petrol bombs caused a fire at the BN operations room in Sekinchan, Selangor.

The police, who found two improvised explosive devices at the scene, believed the Nibong Tebal incident was aimed at creating tension in the state.

"Political parties vying for parliamentary and state seats should compete in a healthy manner, in tandem with democratic practices," Najib said on the second day of a whirlwind visit to Sabah.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has asked the police to nab the culprits swiftly because voters might worry about coming out to vote or attend ceramahs by political parties.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar has ordered the police to step up checks and patrols near ceramah locations to prevent a recurrence.

"All political parties are reminded to cooperate and apply for ceramah permits from their respective district police chiefs to enable the police to make early preparations to ensure the safety of all," he said after inspecting preparations at the Perak police contingent headquarters.

Najib, who is BN chairman, returned to Sabah yesterday for his second visit in less than a fortnight, to meet locals including Chinese, Kadazandusun, Murut and Bajau communities in the west coast and interior highlands to campaign after launching the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) in Lahad Datu on April 13.

He unveiled a supplementary manifesto outlining development plans of the state in Tenom earlier today, assuring the people of Sabah that a BN government would fulfill its pledges.

Najib also reiterated that the BN government would do all it could to protect Sabah's peace and sovereignty, in the wake of the Lahad Datu terrorist intrusion.

"The BN's commitment can be witnessed through the decisions and actions taken," he said after attending a lunch gathering with the people at the Keningau Sports Complex.

Najib, who is leading BN into the general electon for the first time as prime minister, praised Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan Pairin for his people-first approach and urged the local community to support BN candidates, including Pairin, who is defending the Keningau parliamentary seat and the state seat in his Tambunan hometown.

The prime minister is confident that the people of Sabah would continue to support the BN.

Speaking at a press conference, Najib said the opposition DAP should clarify its stand on the implementation of the hudud law so that the rakyat would not be confused.

PAS Deputy Spiritual Leader Datuk Dr Haron Din said yesterday that hudud laws would be implemented if the opposition formed the new federal government.

Sungai Siput: Jeyakumar rebuts allegations (Video)

Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj’s campaign in Sungai Siput has been blacked out by much of the BN and even some opposition media, making it difficult for him to respond to allegations.


Here he is attempting to dispel criticism that he and his colleagues advocate violent behaviour, discourage religious beliefs and practise racism.

Anyone who knows Jeyakumar will know he is one of the most ethical and upright politicians around, deeply concerned about the impact of neoliberal economic policies on the people.