It certainly looks an increaingly lawless country, our country - Four more Indians murdered by Malaysian police in Kulim .

KulimFour 1.jpg

HUMAN RIGHTS PARTY (HRP)
NO.6, Jalan Abdullah,

Off Jalan Bangsar,

59000 Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia
Tel: 03-2282 5241

Fax: 03-2282 5245

Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

Media Statement (6th October 2009)

RE: 1) Four (4) Indians murdered by Malaysian police in Kulim yesterday
(4 “robbers” killed in shoot-out- NST 06/10/09 at page 12).
Prosecute police for murder.
2) Two Indians charged with killing one policemen.
3) But the 21 suspected policemen who killed A. Kugan in a
police lock-up were never prosecuted for murder by UMNO’s
Attorney General and Inspector General of Police.

1) Four (4) Indians were shot dead and murdered by the Malaysian police in Kulim yesterday. Why is it almost always that it is the Indians who are shot dead by the Malaysian police. We have official statistics of 1.3 persons being murdered by the police every week (The Star 11/05/1999) and about 60% of the victims thereto are Indians. The Kedah Police Chief Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azlan said they were involved in “41 robbery cases”.

There are over one hundred thousand (100,000) policemen employed in Malaysia who could have easily captured these Indians alive. We also once again question why the police did not capture these Indians alive and prosecute them in a Court of law (if necessary) which is the due process of the law anyway. The law presumes a man innocent until proven guilty.

This is just the tip of iceberg of police victimization of in particular the Indians in Malaysia by either being brutally shot dead in cold blood, beaten up and tortured in police lock-ups, killed in police lock ups or thrown into jails and all this done with impunity.

2) To the contrary two Indians were charged with killing one policeman (The Star 6/10/09 at page N28- labourers charged with killing cop). “In Johor Bharu two odd job workers were charged with the murder of a policeman. S. Velo, 30 and S. Thavasilan, 21 were charged at the Magistrate’s Court with murdering constable C.Selva on 17th September 2009. Their offence was classified under Section 302 of the Penel Code”.

3) A. Kugan was tortured and beaten to death according to the second post-mortem report by Pathologist Dr. Prasanth of University Hospital. There were 21 police personnel who have had contact with A. Kugan while in detention but they were not prosecuted for murder by UMNO’s. Attorney General (AG) and Inspector General of police (IGP). We question the double standards practiced by the AG and IGP as opposed to A. Kugan’s case.

We demand that the 21 police personnel who had contact with A. Kugan similarly and by the same standards as in item 2 herein above be forthwith prosecuted under Section 302 of the Panel Code for the murder of A. Kugan.

We hereby protest this latest cold blooded police murder and call upon the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Attorney General and the Inspector General of police to similary as in item 2 hereinabove prosecute the responsible policemen for murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code.

Thank you.

Your faithfully,

____________________
S.Jayathas
Information Chief (HRP-Pro tem)
(H/P No : 012-636 2287)
HRP/06/10/09/r

C.C. 1) YAB. Dato Seri Najib Razak
Prime Minister of Malaysia,
Block Utama Bangunan Perdana
Putra,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan
Persekutuan,
62502

Fax : 03-8888 3444
E-Mail: najib@pmo.gov.my

2) Y.B Dato Seri Hishamuddin Hussein
Home Minister,
Aras 12 Block D 1,
Complex Kerajaan Fasa D,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62546 Putrajaya.
Fax : 03-8888 4913
E-Mail: hishamuddin@moha.gov.my

Muhyiddin claim that BN unites various races in Malaysia never sounded so hollow when Umno most guilty playing racial card to cling to power

by Lim Kit Siang,

In the Bagan Pinang by-election, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin claims that the government would not allow any quarters to disrupt racial unity in the country and would promptly act against those who played up sensitive racial issues.

He said since the Barisan Nasional (BN) governed the country, it had managed to unite the various races which had different cultures, customs and religions.

Muhyddin’s claim that BN unites the various races in Malaysia has never sounded so hollow when Umno is most guilty of playing the racial card to cling to power.

It is now Pakatan Rakyat which has a more legitimate claim to represent the diverse races, cultures and religions in the country than Barisan Nasional as demonstrated by the results of the March 8 general elections last year and subsequent developments.

Even in the Bagan Pinang by-election, it is Umno which had been most irresponsible and divisive in its election tactics, starting from Nomination Day last Saturday with the vicious and racist mudslinging through two anonymous publications to incite communal hatred and animosities – “Wajah Sebenar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim: Nasib Orang Melayu Selangor” and “50 Kemusykilan Tentang Manusia Bernama Anwar Ibrahim” – to attack Khalid and Anwar as traitors of the Malay race.

Up to now, no Umno leader had denounced or apologised for these two racist tracts which bear all the marks of Umno sponsorship.

The Umno origin of these two racist tracts is most obvious as no leader from the other Barisan Nasional component parties, whether MCA, Gerakan or MIC, dare to condemn such racist mud-slinging and incitement for they would be directing their fire at Umno “Big Brother”.

It has been reported that the “growing irrelevance” of MCA, MIC, Gerakan and even PPP was a major theme at the retreat of the Umno divisional leaders last week.

What better example to illustrate the “growing irrelevance” of MCA, MIC, Gerakan and other BN component parties when their leaders dare not take a stand in the Bagan Pinang by-election on two issues, viz: (i) at the nomination of Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad as the BN candidate despite his three-year suspension as Umno member for “money politics” but without being charged in court for corruption; and (ii) to denounce the dangerous and vicious race politics by the two Umno-sponsored books attacking Khalid and Anwar.

Will the Umno leaders allow the MCA, Gerakan and MIC leaders to publicly denounce the two Umno-sponsored books purveying race politics at its worst before the end of the Bagan Pinang by-election on Sunday to demonstrate that these BN component parties have not sunk into total irrelevance in Barisan Nasional and Malaysian politics?

4 armed robbers killed in shoot-out

By Adie Suri Zulkefli

KULIM: Police gunned down four armed robbers, three of whom were ex-convicts, in a shoot-out in Bukit Kukus here yesterday.

With the death of the robbers, police believed they have solved at least 41 armed robbery cases here and other parts of the state.

makkal osai 061009

The dead robbers were identified as M. Jayasilan, 29, from Kampung Lengkuas, Alor Star, R. Ramesh, 20, from Taman Intan, Sungai Petani, S. Sundrakanapathi, 26, from Batu Caves, Selangor and S.P. Suresh, 27.

Kedah police chief Datuk Syed Ismail Syed Azizan said one of the suspects was also wanted in connection with a heist at a jewellery outlet in Perlis recently.

He said the drama yesterday unfolded about 9am when police received a tip-off that four men in a Proton Waja were seen behaving suspiciously in Bukit Kukus.

The suspects drove off by the time the police party arrived at the area. The robbers' car, however, was spotted minutes later outside a house at the Kulim Teknologi Park.

One of the suspects was spotted wearing a ski mask and when they realised that a police team was watching them, the robbers sped off.

A chase ensued which lasted for about 30 minutes before the robbers were cornered near a water tank in Bukit Kukus.

"Police ordered the robbers to surrender but one of them fired several shots while the others armed themselves with parang," Syed Ismail told a press conference.

Police returned fire, killing all four suspects on the spot.

Police later found a .9mm Browning Star pistol with five bullets and two more live bullets inside the car.

"The team also seized three parang, two knives, four ski-masks, four full-face helmets and bags containing clothes."

He added that the car used by the suspects was rented from a man in Mergong, Alor Star on Friday.

"They have been involved in armed robberies at residential areas and factories," Syed Ismail said, adding that on Sunday night, the same gang had tried to break into two houses in Bedong, Merbok and Lunas here but failed.

********

Two men charged with murder of ex-policeman

2009/10/06

JOHOR BARU: Two men were charged at the magistrate's court yesterday with murdering an ex-police constable.

S. Velo, 30, and S. Thanasilan, 21, were jointly charged with murdering Selvaganesan Chandran, 25, at an oil palm plantation near a Chinese cemetery by Jalan Hang Kasturi in Taman Skudai Baru, Skudai, here between Sept 17 and 19.

Magistrate Nor Shahid Abdul Malik fixed Nov 11 for re-mention.

Selvaganesan, who was suspended from the force about two years ago, was found face down in a ditch at the oil palm plantation by a police team after they were alerted of a foul smell in the area by a member of the public.

The victim was reportedly abducted by a group of men from an apartment in Sri Stulang at 4am on Sept 17.

IPF's elusive dreams

By B.Suresh Ram

Tan Sri M. G. Pandithan’s dream of the All-Malaysia Indian Progressive Front (IPF), which he founded, joining the Barisan Nasional may remain just that.

Fifteen months after his death from leukemia, the chances of the MIC's splinter group joining the government appear slimmer than ever due to the emergence of competitors.
The Makkal Sakthi movement headed S.Theninthran, a former leader of the Hindu Rights Movement (Hindraf), appears poised to join the Barisan Nasional or at worst be a friend of the coalition.

his follows news that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak will launch the party on Oct 10, a sure sign that the party has official approval.
With the MIC’s fortunes on the decline after its dismal performance in the March 8 general election last year and with its president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu fighting “battles“ on several fronts, Makkal Sakthi could be the party to watch as the representative of the community.
That it has made no overtures to join the Pakatan Rakyat and the substancial support it enjoys in the community enhances its chances of enjoying the BN’s support.

The IPF has another competitor in the Malaysian Human Rights party headed by P. Uthayakumar, a colourful grassroots politician and lawyer who has his own following within the community.
His brushes with the law and dramatic efforts to highlight the cause of poor Indians caught the attention of the public and the law which saw him being detained under the Internal Security Act.
He has toned down the rhetoric after his release, seeking a more middle of the road path in efforts to represent the community.
With Makkal Sakthi poised to take off, there is a feeling in political circles that some disgruntled IPF members may switch allegiance to the new party.
There are also the challenges the party is facing from within in putting its house in order.
An ongoing internal fight has seen the party fractured along four fault lines.
The main faction is headed by Jayashree with the others led by Pandithan loyalists who broke ranks with Jayashree.
IPF Baru is headed by M. Panjamurthi, a third faction headed by former deputy president V. Senggutuan, and the last faction headed by another former vice-president, V. Mathialagan.
The one thing, however, that is still working in favour of the IPF is that it has a better relationship with the MIC than its competitors.
This follow the rapproachment between Pandithan and MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu in 2007 after 20 years of estrangement.
Clearly, the IPF which caters to a mostly lower-income membership, is facing some of its toughest times.
For most of its existence, it has ridden on the shoulders of the charismatic Pandithan who could keep an audience spellbound for hours with his oratory skills.
IPF was founded in 1989 after Samy Vellu sacked Pan dithan who was a MIC vice-president for alleged indiscipline.
On its establishment, the IPF supported Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s, Gagasan Rakyat, coalition in the 1990 general election.
Following the breaking up of the Gagasan, the IPG shifted its allegiance to the BN.
Despite the hard work over the years in supporting BN candidates in general elections and by-elections, it failed to gain entry into the BN.
It would have been unthinkable when Pandithan was at the helm but at the party annual general meeting last Sept 27, several members said the time had come for the IPF to review its position as far as the BN was concerned.
This was because they had become disillusioned with the failure to gain membership in the BN.

As for the larger-than-life Pandithan, his memory will be preserved for posterity with the renaming of Jalan Berhala as Jalan M.G. Pandithan.
The IPF, however, may be on the road to becoming a faint memory in the minds of Indians.

The multicultural question

The Nut Graph
By Ding Jo-Ann

Ever felt that Malaysians need to get out more and mix with people from other races and religions? And be open to dialogue with each other even if they hold different views?

Cultural studies expert Professor Ien Ang would probably agree, as demonstrated in her recent public lecture on multiculturalism. Ang, who is Distinguished Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Western Sydney, Australia said Malaysia was not alone in trying to figure out how to live with a multicultural society.

Speaking at a public lecture at Universiti Malaya on 28 Sept 2009, she said globalisation has fuelled vast movements of not just goods, but also people, across national borders. Rapid and constant changes in the population have posed challenges for nation states around the world on how to live with diverse views and perspectives within their society.

Dialogue between cultures

Ang said intercultural dialogue was needed in dealing with the multicultural question plaguing many nations today. "People and groups that are not normally brought together need to be brought together to dialogue," she said.

She noted that such dialogue was important even if the different groups did not necessarily agree with each other's views. "It is enough that people get used to living together and develop habits of co-existence. Inter-cultural dialogue is about becoming comfortable with living with the presence of people very different from ourselves," she continued.

Ang cited a survey which showed that younger Australians were more accepting of their multicultural reality than the older generation. They even felt that living with others was essential to their sense of belonging to contemporary Australia, she said.

Asked how the younger generation came to this understanding, Ang attributed it to the public education system and an environment where children from different cultural backgrounds could mingle and grow up together.

"The public education [system] did have a major role in inculcating the notion that Australia is a multicultural country," she said. "But more than that, the practice of just growing up with people from many different countries probably contributed to the change," she added.

"Children would go to school with other children from so many different nationalities. People's situations just made it so natural to live together with people from many different backgrounds. They become friends and get to know people. They become more used to it and are more appreciative of different people."

Consensus not as important as dialogue

Ang elaborated that it was the dialogue itself that was important and that consensus need not be a goal. "They need to focus not so much on shared values or a common culture but [on getting] to know each other and [learning] from each other. It is the process that matters, not the product," she said.

Ang recognised that tension and racial conflict would probably never go away even with the presence of dialogue. "Intercultural dialogue is not the solution to all the problems. It is a method that needs to be adopted so that problems don't escalate," she said. She also acknowledged that while intercultural dialogue can be delightful, "it can also be very vexing".

And what happens if dialogue is refused by one party? "If people don't want to talk, there's not much that can be done but to keep trying," she said.

Ang cited the example of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict where negotiations would often break down because one side refused to speak to the other. "There was a constant refusal of dialogue and then a process of coming back together which would be initiated," she said. "If dialogue is refused, there might be an escalation of conflict. If that happens, parties then need to get back to where the conversation can be restarted."

Multiculturalism not enough

Interestingly, Ang said adopting multiculturalism as a model, as Malaysia has done, was not enough to promote dialogue. Multiculturalism allowed for the proliferation of diverse groups but it did not necessarily encourage interaction amongst them, she said.

In answering a question regarding the break-up of the former Yugoslavia along ethnic lines, Ang said there was diversity in Yugoslavia but it had been defined in very rigid ways. Different groups such as the Bosnians, Croatians and Serbs were seen as mutually exclusive and "that's where the problem starts".

Ang elaborated that identities were not rigid and tended to overlap. "It's not that once you're an Indian, you're always an Indian or if you're Chinese, you're completely Chinese," she said. "Personhood consists of many parts which have nothing at all to do with ethnicity," she added.

"Intercultural dialogue avoids the creation of very rigid definitions," Ang said. "This would promote better inter-connectedness between different groups."

Creating spaces for intercultural dialogue

Ang said intercultural dialogue should be actively promoted as sharing was usually the exception rather than the norm in contemporary societies. "People tend to cluster and many cluster around perspectives informed by their ethnicity," she said. "Perspectives however can change and people often hold several at the same time. Sharing is not automatic, it has to be established."Where are the spaces for intercultural dialogue amongst Malaysians? Do Malaysians of diverse backgrounds and perspectives have sufficient opportunity to associate, and dialogue, with each other at work, school or elsewhere?

Two recent initiatives come to mind as examples of intercultural dialogue with a respectful and open mind: the visit by a group of people from different religious backgrounds to the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Shah Alam following the cow-head incident and the Fast for the Nation, Peace for Malaysia initiative.

However, are there many other concerted efforts to create spaces for Malaysians to interact and dialogue on a daily basis? Perhaps it is time that Malaysians stopped merely acknowledging the existence of the 'other' people and deliberately looked for ways to dialogue and engage with each other.

MALAYSIAN INDUSTRIES

1. I feel sorry for Malaysian manufacturers. They find it difficult and sometimes impossible to market their products in the country because somehow Malaysians, including the Government and its agencies cannot believe that Malaysian products are as good, if not better than imported goods.

2. When Malaysian products cannot be sold at home, it becomes almost impossible to convince foreign buyers to buy them. The question that foreigners often ask is whether Malaysians especially the Government have bought them.

3. Despite this failure to market Malaysian products locally, some have still managed to be marketed abroad. And some have been very successful.

4. These Malaysians are not asking for protection or even favours. All they want is to be properly evaluated against foreign competitors when they make bids. But somehow they seem to fail always.

5. There are excuses of course. The foreign suppliers have been supplying for years and years. They just cannot be dropped.

6. Even when the products have been well accepted abroad, the Government and its agencies cannot be convinced.

7. The Government wants to be transparent. Perhaps if awards of contracts are published just as offers of contracts are, then the public and the local businessmen would know who gets what, how many times and for how long. The contract process should also be made known. If contracts are to be for five years then we should know why contracts are given for longer periods.

8. Then Malaysians would know why they have been failing all these while. They would then be able to take necessary steps to become competitive. In fact other foreign suppliers too can take corrective action.

9. At the moment we can read the advertisements on new projects up for tender. But who wins the tender is not publicised.

10. An open Government keen to be transparent should do this. That it was never done before is no reason it cannot be done now. Previously no one promised to be transparent. But now we all hear about transparency.

11. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is not coming in as much as before. We cannot compete with China or Vietnam, not even with Thailand and Indonesia. While we should continue to promote FDI, we should also help the local investors. We should remember that their earnings stay in the country, much more than the earnings of foreign owned industries.

12. If we help them our industries can become world players. At the moment we do not have our Sony or Hitachi or Samsung or Hyundai. We have the technical capacities for truly Malaysian products and companies to be as well-known as those of Japan and Korea.

13. We merely need a little boost from Malaysians, particularly from the Government and its numerous agencies and companies.

14. I hesitate to write this article because I fear that those in charge would make life even more difficult for Malaysian companies, presuming that they had complained to me.

15. But what I say here is public knowledge. We should really be helping ourselves.

Umno’s defensiveness over Isa a telling indication

by Nathaniel Tan

In honesty, for a moment there, I feared that Isa’s (I almost spelt it ISAs) suspension was not seen by Bagan Pinang locals as a big deal.

It would appear otherwise :)

Sometimes, the enemy gives you the best indications of their own weaknesses.

For Najib to take such efforts to defend Isa’s record (all the way in France no less, where Najib himself has some questions to answer - see below) clearly indicate that Umno can no longer afford to ignore this problem - usually the best defense against a ‘non-issue.’ And remember: BN is privy to a lot more information regarding trends than we are.

(And c’mon, corruption = just a ‘techincal’ issue?? Yeah, maybe in Umno, but not in the real world my friend)

And then today, the empire strikes again:

At least two Chinese-language dailies have been ordered not to report on Isa Samad’s suspension from Umno, after he was found guilty of buying votes during the party polls in 2004.

… a source in a Chinese daily said the ban prevents any mention of Isa’s suspension in either news reports or commentaries.

“The reason given was that the suspension is a widely known old fact and that Isa has already been punished. As such, it would be best to let the voters to decide for themselves,” said the source.

“BN is also worried that the issue could become another blow to its campaign, given the internal problems between Isa and current Menteri Besar Mohammad Hassan.”

Tsk tsk.

I’m not counting unhatched chickens in what is clearly a tough battle in Bagan Pinang, but goodness, it’s nice to have the enemy on the defensive.

And yes, the problems between Isa and Mohammad Hassan can’t possibly be good for the ruling party.

On a bigger picture note, it seems that many have expounded on the fact that Umno may win this battle, but by displaying in choosing Isa a complete lack of interest in mending its corrupt ways, lose the war.

I’ve heard talk about how disappointed ‘reformists’ within Umno have viewed this development, quashing hopes that some semblance of integrity may yet be salvaged within the party.

Oh well.

Anyway, I hope Pakatan gets the message clearly and adds Isa’s tarnished reputation to its campaign arsenal (unless of course this is all a feint to get Pakatan to campaign counter-productively, but who knows where the rightful place of such ‘paranoia’ is :P :)

*

Re: Najib in Paris, a statement from the Altantuya Foundation -

October 4, 2009 Paris, France

Sunday will mark the start of Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s first official four-day visit to France to discuss bilateral, regional and international issues with top French leaders including President Nicolas Sarkozy and Prime Minister Francois Fillon.

France is one of Malaysia ’s key trading partners with bilateral trade in 2008 reaching a total of RM13.91 billion. Currently, several French companies operate in Malaysia including Lafarge (cement), Technip (infrastructure for gas and oil exploration), Alcatel (telecommunications), Alstom (energy and railway equipment) and Carrefour (retail).

However what was omitted from mainstream reports in Malaysia and France is that Najib since assuming Premiership in March 2008 is easily the most controversial Prime Minister since political independence in 1957 as he has been linked, through two policemen in charge of his protection and according to the statutory declaration of a private investigator, to a murder case. And we are not talking of any “normal” murder case but the gruesome murder of a beautiful Mongolian woman Altantuya Shariibuu connected to the purchase of French submarines worth a billion euros.

How is Najib linked then? Apparently, she was introduced by Najib to Abdul Razak Baginda, a close friend and defense analyst from the Malaysian Strategic Research Centre think-tank, to work for the deal Baginda was brokering for the Malaysian government to buy three submarines from France for one billion euros. According to the same private investigator, the duo quickly became romantically involved.

In October 2006, Altantuya was informed that the commission of 114 million euros was paid into the account of Perimekar, a company Baginda controlled. Altantuya then went to Kuala Lumpur to demand her share of the commission, which was to have been US$500,000. She went missing on 19 October 2006. In the last letter she wrote before her murder, she said that she had been blackmailing Baginda. The private investigator who linked PM Najib to Altantuya a few days after reneged on his first statement and then disappeared.

The Malaysian police found fragments of her bone in a forested area in Shah Alam, some 30 km from Kuala Lumpur . Police investigation revealed that she was shot twice before C4 explosives were used on her remains. Baginda and two members of the police force were arrested and charged for her murder. The two murder suspects Azilah Hadri, 30 and Sirul Azhar Umar, 35 are members of the elite Unit Tindakan Khas (the Malaysian Police Special Action Force or counter-terrorism unit) and were both assigned to the office of the then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who was also the Defence Minister. Both policemen were found guilty and sentenced to death while Baginda was acquitted. The Malaysian Attorney General has not appealed on Baginda’s acquittal and he is now a free man.

The father of Altantuya, Professor Shariibuu Setev who had tried but failed to seek satisfactory justice and accountability in Malaysia will issue a statement in Paris to highlight his daughter’s murder and how its linked to the Malaysian Prime Minister and the billion euro French submarine deal.

Lim To Take On Koh Without Preconditions

PENANG, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is ready "anytime and anywhere" to take on Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon in a live telecast debate without pre-conditions.

The DAP secretary-general told reporters today that he could debate with the Gerakan president, even at the Gerakan or Umno headquarters, provided there was no condition.

Lim said the debate on the Kampung Buah Pala issue should go on without any condition, when commenting on the status of the highly-anticipated debate between the two leaders.

Nevertheless, the chief minister said there was no necessity to de-classify minutes of the state executive council meeting on the Kampang Buah Pala issue as requested by Dr Koh.

"The current state government did not make a single decision in favour of the cooperative or developers...I did not sign any document in favour of any party, so there is no point in de-classifying the minutes," he said.

Earlier, state Gerakan Youth vice-chairman H'ng Khoon Leng said, de-classifying the minutes would show the DAP-led government as betraying the Kampung Buah Pala residents.

Isa And Zulkefly Shake Hands During Surprise Meeting At Teluk Kemang Market

PORT DICKSON, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Bagan Pinang by-election candidates Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad from Barisan Nasional (BN) and Zulkefly Mohamad Omar from PAS, came face-to-face while campaigning at the Teluk Kemang market Tuesday.

The unexpected meeting took place while both were campaigning at the stalls in the market, on the fourth day of campaigning, today.

Isa was on his way out after visiting traders in the market since 8.30am when he bumped into Zulkefly who was on his way in and both the candidates shook hands and had a short chat.

"This is the first time I am meeting him (Zulkefly), after he was nominated as the candidate on Saturday (Oct 3)," Isa told reporters after visiting some of the stalls outside the market.

His presence took some the traders by surprise.

Fatimah Lassim, 58, hoped the visit by candidates to the market which was opened 30 years ago, would help solve problems faced by about 40 traders here.

"I do not care who wins but we want the candidate who won to try and solve our problems and the market which is already old," said Fatimah who is among voters for the Bagan Pinang state assembly seat on Sunday.

Isa meanwhile, said the problems raised by the traders can actually be solved immediately by the local council.

"This market is old and a number of facilities need to be upgraded to ease the burden of the people," he said.

MIED's not walking away

By Rocky's Bru,

Palani blogs. Before politics, the MIC deputy president, G. Palanivel, was a Bernama journalist. We worked quite closely together when he was the press secretary for S. Samy Vellu, who was the Works Minister back then.
If Palani's concerned or unhappy about the way the mainstream media are treating his boss with regards to issues affecting the party and the Indian community (the latest being Samy's purported intention to "hijack" the Maju Institute of Educational Development or MIED), he's handling it well. No table and chest thumping from this man. This morning, he merely sms-ed me to say that he has posted his views on the MIED issue on his blog h e r e and asked me to read it when I have the time.



Another blogger just added to my blogroll is Lim Kok Wing. His latest posting here warns Malaysia that it will continue to lose its best if the system continues to ignore its wealth of talent.

PKFZ: Many fingers crossed... many a sleep rudely disrupted

With this much awaited book, at last, I want to see the defining distance between "non-compliance with procedure" and "outright crime". Nothing else should come in between the two.

Citizen-Nades' 5-year trail on the PKFZ Scandal is now being bound at the printers, and it will be available officially on October 15, just in time before Parliament reconvenes October 19.

Note: The book is available strictly via online purchase. Details on Citizen-Nades.com.

Grab a copy!

Khalid: Malay nationalism vs Islam

Vasantha's Hindraf backs PAS in Bagan Pinang - Malaysiakini

Ex-ISA detainee K Vasanthakumar today said he is backing PAS candidate Zulkefly Mohamad Omar in the Bagan Pinang by-election this Sunday.

"I will campaign as a Hindraf activist, sharing a platform with PAS. I'm a Pakatan Rakyat supporter," he said in a press conference in Kuala Lumpur.

Upset that the BN was dishing out hampers, food and holding concerts for the Indian community there, he declared: "Umno is a permanent enemy of Hindraf".

He added that the recent formation of several new Indian-based parties was a deliberate "ploy by BN to divide and rule the Indian community".

He also alleged that P Uthayakumar (the public face of Hindraf) was indirectly supporting Umno by calling on the Indians to boycott the Bagan Pinang by-election.

Vasanthakumar's claims to be speaking on behalf of Hindraf is set to raise some eyebrows as it will cast doubts on the leadership of P Waythamoorthy who is presently based in London.

Vasanthakumar claimed that he was the "sole proprietor of the Hindraf enterprise".

"Waythamoorthy is the self-proclaimed chairperson of Hindraf. We did not appoint him as chairperson," he said. "I'm the sole proprietor of the Hindraf enterprise."

He explained that the Registrar of Societies had rejected documents with Waythamoorthy's name as chairperson of the Hindraf enterprise.

Former coordinator under attack

Hindraf gained prominence in 2007 for its nationwide roadshows to protest temple demolitions. Five people, including Vasanthakumar and Uthayakumar, were arrested under the Internal Secutiry Act in December 2007 for their role in Hindraf.

Waythamoorthy had by then left the country to lobby for Hindraf in the international arena. The government subsequently banned Hindraf in October last year.

At the press conference today, Vasanthakumar also lashed out at RS Thanenthiran's Malaysia Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP).

He said MMSP hijacked Hindraf's rallying cry of 'Makkal Sakti', its 18-point demand and its signature orange-coloured T-shirt.

Thanenthiran was the national coordinator of Hindraf until he was removed in May this year. He had then formed his own party which is aligned to the BN.

Also present at the press conference today was another ex-ISA Hindraf detainee V Ganabatirau , who also threw his support for the PAS candidate.

He also criticised Thanenthiran for causing a rift between himself and Uthayakumar.

Waytha: I'm ready to face charges

Did Hishamuddin Hussein and Syed Hamid Albar lie about Waythamoorthy's passport? The complete Story from "The Malaysain Heart"

SAD FAREWELL: A picture of Waythamoorthy and his daughter, taken after their breakfast in Singapore,
before he departed for UK yesterday (photo and caption from this Malay Mail report datelined 28/9/09)

One of the standard responses of Umno/BN to any people's power movement that they find threatening, is to to impugn the movements motives and cast aspersions on the honour and credibility of its leaders via lies and propaganda. The Hindraf phenomenon have been (and still are) treated the same: they have been called terrorists, traitors, embezzlers and so on by our government and its mouthpieces. One such smear was the attempt to paint Hindraf leader P. Waythamoorthy, who is in exile in the UK, as a dishonest man who exiled himself just to enjoy a comfortable life in London living on Hindraf's money. Part of that smear is the lie that Waythamoorthy had willingly surrendered his passport to the Malaysian High Commission in London, and lied about it having been revoked by the Malaysian authorities.

These are the news articles that reported what Syed Hamid Albar (the former home minister) and Hishamuddin Hussein (the present one), said:

• Hindraf leader ‘still has his passport’ - 17 May 2008
• Waytha's passport still active: Syed Hamid - 26 May 08
• Syed Hamid: Hindraf chief's passport never revoked: - 26 May 2008
• Syed Hamid: Waythamoorthy free to travel - 27 May 2008
• Hindraf Leader P. Waytha Moorthy's Passport Was Never Revoked: Syed Hamid - 22 October 2008
• Balik-lah, says Syed Hamid: - 28 September 2009
• Home Ministry says Hindraf man's passport not cancelled - 30 September 2009
• Waythamoorthy claim over withheld passport untrue: Hishammuddin - 30 September 2009
• iKDN: P.Waythamoorty Masih Warganegara
  

These are some of the specific things they said:

Hishamuddin showing a copy of Waythamoorthy's passport to the media (photo from here).

Hishamuddin has said the following:

Reported here: "Dia sendiri yang datang serahkan dan bukan kita yang pergi rampas. Bahkan paspot itu masih lagi sah digunakan dan di dalam simpan pejabat Pesuruhjaya Tinggi kita di London," and added, "Beliau sewajarnya berhenti dari menuduh kita macam-macam...beliau boleh ke pejabat kita (Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia) untuk ambil paspot yang dipulangkan oleh beliau sendiri itu pada bila-bila masa. Mungkin beliau merasa malu sendiri" .

Reported here: “Yes, he was the one who surrendered the passport,” he [Hishamuddin] confirmed. He added that Waythamoorthy should stop claiming that the government is stopping him from getting his passport. “Why should we apologise to him? Would you? Of course, not,” he said. Hishammuddin also added that Waythamoorthy could be too ashamed to go and get his passport because he had surrendered the document himself. “Maybe he received a better offer at that moment, he felt that the grass is always greener on the other side but when he went to the other side, he felt that it was not worth it. "Maybe he was ashamed because he himself surrendered the passport. That is why he claimed that we did not allow him to have his passport,” he said.."

Syed Hamid Albar (photo from here)

Syed Hamid has said the following (reported here):

"In other words, the Malaysian government has never made any cancellation to the mentioned travel document," said Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar Syed Hamid in a statement today.

On 3 October 2009, Waytha's wife Mrs. Shanti, his brother P. Uthayakumar and lawyer N. Surendran held a press conference at Hindraf's office where they (again) presented evidence to prove that Malaysian authorities had informed the British authorities that Waythamoorthy's passport had been cancelled, and had requested them to impound and return it to the Malaysian authorities.

Here is the letter they gave reporters, which you can download in pdf format from the link below:

UK Border Agency Letter to Waytha's Lawyers

I reproduce here the 4 questions asked by Waytha's lawyers, and the answers received from the UK Border Agency:

1. The precise date when the British Embassy in Kuala Lumpur was notified of the cancellation?
A: The letter from the Malaysian authorities to the High Commission was dated 14 March 2008.

2. Which Malaysian authority notified the British Embassy (was it, for example, the Immigration authorities, Foreign Office or Home Ministry, or any other department)?
A: l can confirm that the Home Office does hold information that is relevant to this part of your request. However, we have decided not to communicate this information to you in accordance with the exemption under Section 27 (2) of the Freedom of Information (FOl) A[ct] 2000, which covers confidential information obtained from a State other than the United Kingdom or from an international organisation or international court. I have explained more about this exemption below.

3. Whether any particular reason was given for the said cancellation
A: The passport was cancelled as the Malaysian authorities were seeking your client’s arre[st] to face criminal charges.

4. When was the request made by the issuing authority for the return of the passport and was there any reason given for this request?
A: A request was made by the Malaysian authorities for the return of your client’s passport on 2 July 2008 no reason was given for why they wanted the passport returned to them, Malaysian passports are of the property of the issuing authority and not of the individual holder and therefore this is why we intend to return the passport to them.

Based on this and other evidence, we can draw a timeline of events surrounding the issue of Waytha's passport. I have emphasised our minister's statements in bold:

• 25 November 2007 - Hindraf rally in KL
• 28 November 2007 - Waythamoorthy leaves Malaysia to avoid possible detention under the Internal Security Act and to obtain international support for HINDRAF's cause. He goes to India, then to London.
• 13 December 2007 - Uthayakumar and 4 others detained under ISA
• 14 March 2008 - British High Commision in KL receives letter from Malaysian authorities, informing them that Waytha's passport had been cancelled because the Malaysian authorities were seeking Waytha's arrest to face criminal charges
• 17 April 2008 - Waytha goes to Geneva to brief the United Nations High Commissioner’s office on Human Rights
• 19 April 2008 - Waytha moorthy returned to London from Geneva (where he had ), but was and informed that the Malaysian government had revoked his passport, and therefore refused entry at Gatwick airport. Waytha asked the British authorities to seek a confirmation with the Malaysian government that my passport was, indeed, being revoked. Waytha spent 2 days at Gatwick.
• 21 April 2008 - UK Border Agency British immigration confirmed that Waytha's passport was revoked by the Malaysian government, and they (UK Border Agency) impounded his passport upon the Malaysian authorities' request. It was only then that Waytha decided to seek political asylum, which was duly given by the British authorities.
• 26 May 2008 - Malaysian Insider article: Syed Hamid: Hindraf chief's passport never revoked
  
• 2 July 2008 - Malaysian authorities requested the British authorities (in writing) for the return of Waytha's passport to them.
• 22 October 2008 - Bernama article: Hindraf Leader P. Waytha Moorthy's Passport Was Never Revoked: Syed Hamid
  

What are we to make of this? It seems to me that either the UK Border Agency is lying, or our ministers are. It's sad that some Malaysians have swallowed whole the disinformation and lies of Umno/BN, and parrot them in the online discussions and comments sections without question.

Sincerely,
Malaysian Heart

P.S. The only news organisations (which I could find) had reported the press conference were:
Malaysiakini: Proof of lies, claims Waytha's lawyer
Malaysian Insider: Uthayakumar claims proof Hishammuddin lied

What happened to the others? What's the point of paying them RM 1.50 or RM 1.20 every day if they choose not to report the news that matters?

Santiago: Set up royal panel on Kugan's death - Malaysiakini

Klang MP Charles Santiago has called for a royal commission to investigate what led to the death of A Kugan while in police custody.

"[This is] as an immediate step in restoring confidence in the government and its enforcement agencies," said the Selangor DAP chairperson in a statement today.

Kugan, who was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a car theft case, died early this year in the USJ Taipan police lockup.

A post-mortem revealed injuries allegedly sustained while in police custody, and included deep lacerations, cuts, wounds and burn marks on the body.

After eight months, police constable V Navindran was charged last week with two counts of causing grievous hurt to Kugan while attempting to obtain a confession. Navindran has claimed trial to both charges.

However, Santiago claimed that, just like the first autopsy and investigation into Kugan's death, the government's latest decision only continues to vex the public.

"If the attorney-general (AG) thinks he can walk around with a smug expression for having discharged his duties, he would certainly be disappointed as most Malaysians are questioning the obvious irregularities in Kugan's case," said the Klang MP.

One such 'irregularity', according to Santiago, is why the case - earlier classified as murder by the AG - now involves a lesser offence.

"This would certainly prevent the court from looking at the case in its entirety or from coming up with a decision that matches the gory injuries sustained by Kugan," he said, voicing support for lawyer Gobind Singh Deo's call to amend the charges against Navindran.

"Considering the extent of Kugan's injuries, why weren't other officers charged for Kugan's death?

"The AG's rhetoric rarely makes for a good case. But in this instance his attempts to shrug off the obvious link between the injuries and cause of death clearly illustrates his attempts to mask the larger truth."

Last Wednesday, AG Abdul Gani Patail told the media: "There is no evidence that the deceased suffered instant death. Instead, the deceased died four days after the alleged beating. Therefore, there was a wide gap in between and a charge of murder could not be preferred against the suspect."

Santiago claimed the AG's decision protects the cosy relationship shared by the government, the AG's chamber and the police force.

"Instead of acting in the interest of justice, they provide cover for each other to promote the self-interest of the ruling elite.

"As such the only measure to restore confidence in the police force and government institutions would be for the AG to cut short his shadow play and instead charge all the police officers who are responsible for Kugan's death."

Policing the police

Santiago noted that the increasing incidence of custodial deaths has tarnished the credibility of the police force and other government institutions.

He cited a parliamentary report which revealed that 1,535 custodial deaths had occurred between 2003 and 2007, and alleged that most of these cases were not investigated.

"In the event the police chief offered an explanation for the sudden death of another detainee, it would always be crafted around a sloppy script with a fuzzy outline and couched in political jargon."

He reiterated the need to monitor the force, urging the premier to set up the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) without further delay.

Human rights activists, opposition politicians and members of the civil society have been demanding for the IPCMC, recommended by Royal Commission to Enhance the Operation and Management of the Royal Malaysian Police in 2005.

The government has instead proposed a Special Complaints Commission to check abuse by personnel in all enforcement agencies.

In enemy territory, Zulkefly traces his childhood

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

PORT DICKSON, Oct 6 — When Omar Kased, 75, found out that Zulkefly Omar was the PAS candidate standing in his constituency, the retired teacher made plans to meet his grandnephew at one of the campaign stops.

He was reunited with the PAS Negeri Sembilan chief last night when Zulkefly shook the hand of the frail old man.

“I am glad he remembers the time when he stayed in my house, I have already forgotten that, but I think he came with one of my grandsons,” said Omar, who is married to Zulkefly’s grandaunt from Lenggeng, a small town bordering Selangor situated some 60km from here.

Omar (left) speaks alongside Zulkefly during yesterday’s Aidilfitri celebrations. — Pictures by Choo Choy May

Omar, who was born in Rembau, moved to Port Dickson a few months before Merdeka and now calls it home.

The reunion was important for Zulkefly as Umno campaigners are exploiting the fact that he is not a local boy and will not be able to serve the constituents well, unlike his opponent Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad who grew up in the area and had been their representative from 1978 till 2004.

After addressing the crowd at a rally in Taman Eastern here, Zulkefly then invited Omar to the stage to give a short a speech.

“I have a relative here,” Zulkefly told party loyalists at the rally.

It was not the first time Zulkefly had attempted to show his personal connection to the Umno stronghold.

Earlier at the party media briefing, he highlighted the fact that he has been actively fighting for the rights of the pig farmers near Port Dickson who were affected by the JE outbreak more than 10 years ago.

“I then worked alongside Yap Ah Peng, the former Jimah assemblyman,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

But with or without personal connections in the constituency, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) has a bigger problem of preparing itself to take over the Negeri Sembilan government in the 13th general election.

Zulkefly greets supporters during the ceramah in Taman Eastern.

DAP, which controls 10 out of the 15 PR seats in the 36-member state legislative assembly, has already declared that the Bagan Pinang campaign will be the beginning of the coalition’s march to power in the state. Barisan Nasional (BN) is currently ruling Negeri Sembilan with a simple majority for the first time.

Implying a similar situation to Perak, where the PR government was led by PAS despite being a minority party, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had warned against the prospect of having such a government in the state.

“A coalition government that is always in disagreement with each other, will not have the time to run the state efficiently,” he said at a Hari Raya celebration yesterday when urging the crowd to continue backing the BN government.

“What is wrong with a PAS-led government supported by the DAP?” said Zulkefly when asked about the criticism against the coalition government.

But he was coy when asked of his new role if PR takes over the state government.

“We will sort that out within Pakatan, let us win here first,” said Zulkefly.

The growing irrelevance of Umno’s partner

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — The MCA, MIC, Gerakan and even PPP have only themselves to blame for coming to a stage where Umno is thinking seriously of reducing their seat allocation in the next general elections.

These non-Malay political parties in the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition are growing in irrelevance among the racial constituencies they once represented.

At a retreat of Umno divisional leaders last week, a common refrain heard was that Umno should be less generous in giving up Malay-majority seats to representatives of MCA, MIC, Gerakan and other component parties.

MCA is again caught in a leadership tussle.

The general view among division chiefs was that the component parties were much weaker than Umno and would not be able to swing votes from the non-Malays or the Malays.

They are not wrong.

Firstly, these parties have been hit by infighting which has prevented them from speaking with a collective voice.

Secondly, they have been pushovers for so long that Umno officials have no qualms about sidelining them.

In the last few months, none of the component parties have been able to check the right wing tendencies of Umno.

The publication of the two books to hammer PKR politicians for “selling out” to non-Malays is just the latest slap in the face of Chinese- and Indian-based BN component parties.

The current scenario reignites a classic question in Malaysian politics. On one side an imperative to stand up for issues affecting their communities; on the other the risks of overreach and thereby affecting race relations either real or contrived.

The non-Malay parties’ inability in striking a balance has left them, through the years, as ineffective political representatives.

In Election 2008, Chinese and Indian voters in particular were so turned off by parties like MCA, MIC and Gerakan that they placed their faith in a loose opposition alliance of DAP, PKR and PAS.

More than one-and-a-half years on, the support for the opposition alliance — now known as the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) — remain strong among the Chinese and the Indians.

... As is MIC.

MCA and MIC have done very little to show why Chinese and Indians should once again back them.

Umno also lost votes last year to the opposition and increasingly feels the need to raise race rhetoric to regain votes from disaffected Malays or at least reenergise its own members.

The championing of issues related to “Malay rights” is like staple to the party faithful, despite the discomfort felt by non-Malay communities.

Under Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Umno has slowly begun to regain its footing.

A win this week in the Bagan Pinang by-election— which is likely — will serve to give Umno a much needed boost to get its members energised enough to take on a PR alliance still wracked with squabbles among its own disparate members.

For Umno and even some members of the Najib administration, it is becoming clear that MCA, MIC and Gerakan offer no solution to the problem of the non-Malay vote.

The best bet for Najib and BN is the economy.

Najib and Umno are finding their BN partners to be less than useful

If the economy picks up enough by the next general elections, significant numbers of Chinese and Indian voters could decide to back BN again.

For his part, Najib continues his own efforts in trying to court the non-Malay vote directly without the MCA and MIC.

From the perspective of the ordinary non-Malay voter, the MCA, MIC, and even Gerakan and PPP have not shown how they are able to stand up for the respective communities they represent.

On one issue after another, these parties have either kept silent or pretended to protest before ultimately acceding to Umno.

So if in the next general elections MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP are sidelined, they should not be surprised.

They were active participants in their own marginalisation.

The battle for Indian voters in Bagan Pinang

By Baradan Kuppusamy - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — In Election 2008 in Bagan Pinang, the majority of Indians there had voted for PAS while the majority of Malays voted for Umno, with the minority Chinese, who are about 10 per cent of the electorate of 13,334 voters, evenly backing both factions.

It was largely because of strong Indian support that PAS managed to reduce Umno’s majority from 4,411 votes in the 2004 general election to 2,333 votes in the 2008 polls.

Will this pattern repeat itself on Oct 11?

In 2008 PAS won in five streams — Ladang Atherton, Pekan Siliau, Ladang Bradwell, Sua Betong and in Kampung Bagan Pinang.

While the first four areas have an Indian majority, Kampung Bagan Pinang is predominantly Malay with a large Indian population of 500 voters compared to 1,731 Malays and 113 Chinese.

With former Mentri Besar Tan Sri Isa Samad returning to contest against PAS state chief Zulkefly Mohamad Omar, there is no reason for traditional Umno supporters and fence sitters to shy away from Umno.

Hardcore PAS supporters will continue to back the party. The question is how the Indians, who are a sizeable 20 per cent of the electorate, will vote.

Herein lies the confusion — there are now simply one too many groups out to woo the Indian voters.

The irony is that while Hindraf founder P. Uthayakumar is urging Indians to boycott the polls, others are actively wooing them either to vote PAS or Umno and these include the DAP, PPP, MIC, PAS and Umno itself.

In addition various factions opposed to these political parties but supportive of Umno/BN are also campaigning for Indian voters, making the campaign a true merry go round.

Among these groups of leaders are the Barisan Nasional Supporters Club led by former MIC Youth leader S.A Vicknesvaran, the Makkal Sakthi Party led by former Hindraf national co-ordinator R. S. Thanenthiran and expelled PPP member Datuk S. Murugiah.

On the stump for PAS are the DAP and PKR Indian leaders like Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran, Sungkai state assemblyman A. Sivanesan and PKR’s Padang Serai MP. P. Gobalakrisnan and Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam.

The 2,800 voters are spoilt for choice.

“I have never seen so many people knock on my doors with all kinds of hampers,” said S. Athimugam, in Bradwell estate. “I am not even a registered voter,” he said with a wink.

He said many older Indians see the by-election as a contest between Isa and PAS not Umno. “Umno does not come into the picture because Isa is such a dominant figure in Teluk Kemang,” he said. “His father was likewise a dominant figure before Isa.”

But the younger generation of Indians, who work elsewhere but will return to vote, they see the contest as a struggle between Umno and Pakatan Rakyat supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

“They see Anwar as a credible leader for the Indians not Samy Vellu or Kulasegaran or Thanenthiran or Uthayakumar,” said Wilson Sagamani, a retired teacher in Port Dickson.

“They are so badly discriminated in everyway they want to punish Umno…it’s that simple for them,” he said, adding that nobody is expected to heed Uthayakumar’s call to boycott the election.

“It is a carnival for them, they are diehard Pakatan supporters and the last people in the world to boycott the election,” Sagamani said.

While Umno and its many affiliates are all consistently wooing the Indian votes to raise Umno’s winning majority, PAS is also courting them in the hope of combining their support together with Malay fence sitters to tip the balance in their favour.

The only difference between now and in 2008 is the Isa factor which by all counts is a big factor in Teluk Kemang.

Will Tee Keat quit if he loses EGM vote?

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 — Any hope that the MCA power tussle will end after the party’s EGM vote this week could be dashed with speculation growing among members that Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat will not quit even if the vote goes against him.

Ong, the party president, had said last month that he would step down even if just a simple majority of MCA delegates vote to reinstate Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as deputy president.

But party insiders now claim that Ong has now backtracked and has told them he would not quit.

Ong was not available for comment.

“Ong is now afraid. Now he’s saying that he would quit only if two-thirds of the central delegates agree to adopt the resolutions,” said a party source who spoke on condition he was not named.

Alibaba.com - Fast & easy sourcing right from your computer

“It’s really contrary to what the president had said in the past-that he would quit if majority agrees for Chua to be reinstalled as the party deputy president,” added the source.

Chua was sacked by the party’s presidential council after he was accused of tainting the party’s image following the distribution of his sex DVD, a scandal the former MCA no. 2 claimed was the doing of his political rivals.

A day after the sacking, supporters of Chua initiated their EGM campaign in a move to allow their leader to return to the party and oust Ong.

The party’s powerful central committee, dominated by Ong’s men, in a move to fend off the possibility of a damaging rebellion led by Dr Chua, then decided to annul the sacking and suspend the latter’s membership for four years instead.

This move, however, has proven to be futile as Chua and his men have decided to continue to engage Ong in a do-or-die battle.

At a function yesterday, Chua unveiled a manifesto for this weekend’s campaign and said he was ready to helm the party.

But he pointed out that the EGM was not a bid at a power grab.

While pointing out that he wanted to revive and rejuvenate the party, he promised there would be no witch-hunt if he took over the party.

Freeze on teacher-intake?

by TN
Letters

I would like to firstly thank you for your blog posts.

I do not know where to go with this but my sibling who is in a government university (UPSI) told me she will be not be getting any posting for the next 2 years after she graduates.

She said that the reason given by the university is that the economy is doing badly and no new teachers will be taken in.

I hope this issue would be investigated and higlighted to the mass media.

"Jalan-jalan cari undi"

By Shanon Shah
thenutgraph.com

Isa Samad poses at a Hari Raya Aidilfitri event in Bagan Pinang

"THIS is part of my programme for the Bagan Pinang by-election: jalan-jalan cari undi," says Tan Sri Isa Samad, 60, riffing off the popular TV3 food travelogue, Jalan-Jalan Cari Makan. The 3,000-strong crowd here in Taman PD Utama initially looks more interested in the Aidilfitri spread at the Umno-organised function. But when Isa speaks, a few seem to perk up, and giggles can be heard. Before long, Isa gains momentum with his audience.

It's not that Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who spoke before Isa's arrival, was a slouch. Muhyiddin spoke with gusto, but he never quite managed to whip the crowd into a frenzied mass. Granted, there are not many Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders known for electrifying their audience at massive ceramah. That is not their style anymore.

But Isa gives it a shot on the night of 4 Oct 2009, the second day of the by-election campaign. Bit by bit he takes on the allegations against him by PAS and its Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners. First up: the threats by the PR's Bagan Pinang by-election director and PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub to expose Isa's mismanagement as Negeri Sembilan menteri besar.

"Salahuddin should go and help the Kelantan menteri besar (Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat) to develop Kelantan instead. Only an unbalanced person would say that Kelantan is more developed than Negeri Sembilan," Isa retorts.

He is on a roll. "These PAS people should just stick to setting up roadside stalls," he says, and is greeted with more laughter. PAS-aligned stalls, selling clothes, snacks, perfumes and party t-shirts, have mushroomed all around Port Dickson since the campaign started. "They come here and behave like this is their father's state!" he thunders, and for the first time during the night, the multiracial crowd roars its approval.

The crowd at the ceramah in Taman PD Utama

And then Isa rounds off his little speech: "Ladies and gentlemen, actually the candidate shouldn't talk for too long." Again, the crowd giggles. "I just have so much fun walloping PAS. It's fun walloping liars when we are in the right."

It is at functions like these that the BN's pre-nomination dilemma becomes clear: whether to field Isa the charmer, or to not field Isa, the leader Umno itself found guilty of corruption in 2005.

Isa's chutzpah

After the BN's Rohaizat Othman — a lawyer disbarred by the Bar Council for swindling a client — was trounced in the Permatang Pasir by-election, many thought the BN would have learnt its lesson. Umno veterans Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah expressed their frustration openly regarding Isa. But as Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin says, Isa is very different from Rohaizat.

In some ways, Khairy is right. True, Isa was suspended from Umno in 2005 and could not contest the March 2008 general election due to money politics. Technically, his suspension ended in June 2008, so he is actually free to enter politics as an Umno member again. And Isa is, as Khairy says, a "godfather" in local politics.

To Isa's credit also, he does not shy away from difficult questions from reporters. He stops and waits when journalists call for impromptu press conferences. He invites questions: about what PAS is saying about him, about whether he abused his position when he was in power. He takes these questions on and even uses them as material during his speeches later.

Isa delivers his campaign speech He jokes and teases reporters; his humour actually feels spontaneous, good-natured and unforced. And he doesn't just scoot off to his next function. He always asks, "Any more questions?" and waits a beat before bidding a cheerful goodbye. And herein lies Isa's secret weapon: the guy can't help being funny, witty and likeable. He's like a small-sized pak cik you hope will show up at your open house celebration.

And so, according to Isa, critics are mistaken in calling him a "recycled candidate". "If they think I'm recycled, what about the de facto leader of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim), who was out in the political wilderness for six years? Even rubbish decomposes when you leave it out that long," he quips.

And Isa is right. He is not a recycled candidate. He is actually a very charismatic contender, albeit one who has to recycle a very old script. Just look at his campaign rhetoric to date: that he has brought (and will bring more) development to Negeri Sembilan; that he is close to federal and state BN leaders; that he has valuable institutional memory and experience as a former menteri besar.

This is merely a variation of the BN's campaign rhetoric in the seven by-elections it has contested since March 2008. And look where it's brought the BN: six out of seven losses thus far. Perhaps asking Isa to make this tired script work is like asking Harrison Ford to make another Indiana Jones movie. It might work, but at what cost?

That's Isa in a nutshell — an adorable charmer with a tainted past, reading from a tired script. The BN, being the incumbent in this seat, already has an edge over the PR. But if it really wants to clinch a convincing victory, the BN has got to revise its script and address Isa's corrupt past more convincingly. After all, great performers have been undone by bad scripts before. And a few have been destroyed by pasts that refuse to stop haunting them.

Penan issue exaggerated? - Anil Netto

The Sarawak Women and Family Council (SWFC) chairperson Fatimah Abdullah has said that the “sensitive” Penan issue has been highlighted and over-exaggerated because of their “political and commercial value”.

It’s not that the Penan are more important than any other ethnic group in Sarawak – though they are one of the most marginalised groups in the country. But their blockades reflect their desperation. Their situation now is a microcosm of the damaging effects of what is taking place in Sarawak: the clearing of rainforests for logging and plantations, the loss of biodiversity, the dam-building frenzy (at public expense for private profit?), the emergence of polluting industry, the unhealthy nexus of politics and business, and of course the marginalisation of indigenous groups, their dispossesion from native customary land, accompanied by ill-conceived resettlement plans.

Excerpt from The Borneo Post

It’s all because of ‘political, commercial value’: Fatimah
By Nigel Edgar

Penan issue very sensitive matter and should be dealt with carefully

KUCHING: The Penan issue has been highlighted and over-exaggerated by some people because of their “political and commercial value”.

Sarawak Women and Family Council (SWFC) chairperson Datin Fatimah Abdullah said if the issue involved other ethnic groups, it would have a slim chance of being picked-up as an issue to be used against the government.

“If I tell you about the Ibans or the Melanaus in my constituency having these problems, these ‘people’ would not pick their issues because they are of no commercial and political value,” she told reporters at the Sarawak Single Mothers’ Association Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration at Salma Villa at Jalan Depo here yesterday.

Fatimah said it was a very sensitive matter and should be dealt with carefully.

“We have to look at things in the right context,” she said.

In view of that, Fatimah said, it was best the opposition dealt with the Penan issue with sincerity.

MIED Will Serve Indian Community For Long Haul, Says Palanivel

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Although the Maju Institute of Education Development (MIED), the education arm of the MIC, is a separate entity from the party, it will serve the community for the long haul, party deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel said Tuesday.

"Last evening when I was in Bagan Pinang, I managed to get a few minutes with (MIC president) Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu and asked about the MIED matter and he gave me his explanation. He explained what he meant when he said the MIED was a separate entity.

"Yes, we all know that it is a separate entity governed by trustees. The MIED is a child of MIC. It was born in the MIC with its president, Samy Vellu, as its founder.

"All the trustees and most of the board members are all MIC leaders at various levels, both past and present.

Therefore, it is a well-placed organisation, structured to serve the community for the long haul," he said in his jottings in his blog.

Over the week, newspapers and the new media on the Internet had lambasted Samy Vellu after he said that the MIED, worth RM1 billion including the party's Asian Institute of Medicine, Science and Technology (AIMST), was a separate entity from the MIC.

He was also reported to have said that since it was a separate entity, the Malaysian Indian community or the MIC had nothing to do with it, although the MIED was run under the umbrella of the largest Indian-based political party in the country.

This remark had drawn the ire of several party leaders and the community as it was a known fact that the MIED, and especially AIMST, were built on monies collected from the community and the party grassroot leaders.

"In a recent conversation with me at the MIC headquarters, Samy Vellu said that even when he is no longer president of MIC he will still be coming to the MIED office, which is in the same building, to work. I had jokingly replied 'that means the people will not be coming to see me'.

"Let us put to rest the question of the MIED walking away or being hijacked. The MIED is the pride of the Indian community. Let us keep it that way," Palanivel said.

Noting that the media had been chasing him for comment on the MIED over the week, he said he had been busy with a myriad of things including the Bagan Pinang by-election, functions in the Hulu Selangor constituency and preparations for Deepavali events for the poor.

Besides, he had never been one to comment on issues without giving them thought, neither was he one to make attempts to be seen as a champion for things when there was no necessity to do so, he said.

EC Asks Pakatan Rakyat To Register As A Party

KUALA KRAI, Oct 6 (Bernama) -- Election Commission (EC) chairman Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof has suggested that the opposition parties register Pakatan Rakyat as a legal entity like the Barisan Nasional to enable them to campaign as a coalition.

"Register with the Registrar of Societies as Pakatan Rakyat and the EC will not disturb any more," he said, referring to the EC's action in taking down the campaign materials of parties that are not contesting in Bagan Pinang yesterday, which turned ugly when opposition supporters surrounded the EC enforcement staff.

The contesting parties in the Bagan Pinang state by-election were PAS and the Barisan Nasional (BN) while the other parties did not pay the deposit and had no permit to campaign, he told reporters after an Aidilfitri celebration here last night.

"That's why our monitoring team took down the flags, symbols and pictures of the parties which were not contesting," he said.

Abdul Aziz said the EC had advised all the parties about this prohibition but many still persisted.

"When we take stern action, I hope that they will accept it with open hearts," he added.

He also said that his vehicle was surrounded during nomination day in Bagan Pinang on Saturday.

"Our vehicle was stopped. We were verbally abused and money was shoved at our faces. I was frightened to look at their faces and worried for our safety, like the vehicle being overturned," he said.

He said that was why the EC had advised the contesting parties not to bring along too many supporters, not more than 5,000, to accompany their supporters on nomination day but it was not heeded.

DAP Alternative Budget 2010

The third Parliament sitting for the year will resume October 19, 2009, and PM cum Finance Minister Najib Abdul Razak will table his debut Budget on October 23.

We treat national budgetting very seriously. In view of that, my party, DAP, will be officially launching tomorrow our Alternative National Budget for 2010, themed: Democratising Malaysia's Economy.

You are welcome to join us for the launch and the press conference. It will be helmed by DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng together with our Members of Parliament and state assemblymen.

Date: 7 October 2009 (Wednesday)
Time: 11.00 am
Venue: Rocket United Cafe (1st Flr), 18 Jalan SS2/63, Petaling Jaya

RSVP details here.

In the spirit of Pakatan Rakyat, our Alternative Budget will be forwarded to the coalition's Top Leadership Council for consideration and adoption, and the views and opinions of our coalition partners will be taken into due account.

We also welcome Najib to borrow our budget proposals and make some last-minute changes to his Budget Speech to cater to the needs of Malaysians' Malaysia.

For those who are interested, a copy of our Alternative Budget will be made available for download from the DAP website after the launch. Hard copy of the Alternative Budget can be purchased at RM15.

Yemeni cleric blames Iran for war

A leading Yemeni religious leader has accused Iran of inciting violence in the north of the country, where a predominantly Shia Muslim group is waging a war against the government. Sheikh Abdul Majid al-Zandani, the head of Yemen's Imam University, told supporters that Tehran was trying to promote the Shia ideology in the country by backing the Houthi fighters. "The way events are moving in this country latest indicates to us that Iran wants to export the Shia ideology by force, which we utterly reject," al-Zandani said. Fighters from the Houthi group, named after its leader, have been battling the predominantly government forces in Saada province since 2004. The military launched a major offensive - dubbed Operation Scorched Earth - in the north on August 11 in an attempt to crush the group. Yemen divisions The conflict has divided the predominantly Sunni nation, with many demanding that it be resolved quickly as it has claims an increasing number of lives and drains the country's resources. "I hope wise Sunnis and Shias will hold dialogue, determine what they have agreed on and work according to it, and determine what they have disagreed on and refer these disputes to their prominent scholars to give a final decision on them," al-Zandani said. "Let them work according to what they have agreed on, and set policies for whatever they disagree on. But to doubt our religion, doubt our beliefs, pull our students, sons and people to their side and turn them against us, encourage them to carry weapons to kill us! This is rejected." Dr Mahjoob Zweiri, the head of the Iran studies unit at the university of Jordan, said that claims of Iranian involvement in the conflict were being exaggerated. "Since about 2003 there has been a trend in Middle East politics that any civil conflict in the region which has relation with Shia or Islamists is being related to Iran," he told Al Jazeera from Amman. "Iran has a shortage of tools to control such a situation, but there is, however, support in terms of sympathy. "The issue of Saada needs to be looked at in a Yemeni context, in a tribal context. I think that bringing the issue of Wahabbis [a Sunni sect dominant in Saudi Arabia] and Shia to the matter is complicating the matter, not solving it." Houthi 'renegades' Ali Abdullah Saleh, the president and a member of the Zaidi sect who make up the Houthis, has repeatedly vowed to defeat the fighters. "The government is resolved to end the unrest and reinforce security and stability in Saada province in order to focus on development and reconstruction," the Saba state news agency quoted him as telling troops heading north. "We reject... any kind of rebellion and we reject any foreign interference [in Yemen]" Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egypt's foreign minister "The war was imposed on the government by those renegades." Arab governments have supported Sanaa's effort to crush the Houthis. "We reject... any kind of rebellion and we reject any foreign interference [in Yemen]. Egypt is wholly supporting - with all its power and capabilities - its sister Yemen," Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egypt's foreign minister, said on Sunday. Prince Ahmad bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi deputy interior minister, said that Riyadh was co-operating with Sanaa in its battle against the Houthis, but dismissed allegations that the Saudi air force was involved in air raids as "absolutely not true". The fighting in the rugged mountainous north has sent thousands of people fleeing from their homes, with the United Nations putting the total at around 55,000 displaced because of the conflict. On Sunday, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said that it expects to send a convoy of relief goods within days to the displaced.