Mahathir and Ku Li Gives A New Name for "The Mind Game".

Mahathir Mohamad has come out yet again, this time suggesting that Abdullah Badawi may not step down as Prime Minister in March 2009 when Najib Razak takes over the UMNO leadership. "There is talk that even if Najib becomes Umno president, he may not be the Prime Minister. I hear news that Abdullah is still interested to continue serving as Prime Minister"- The Malaysian Insider.

Is Mahathir Mohamad merely pointing out a possible outcome with no card underneath his sleeves, or is he dropping a hint to Abdullah Badawi indicating that the latter still holds the Ace?

Echoing Mahathir Mohamad, is the evergreen Ku Li.

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 3 — Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi does not need to step down as the Prime Minister after Datuk Seri

Najib Razak takes over as party president in March.

“That is his prerogative, he has received the mandate for five years,” said Razaleigh in response to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s contention that Abdullah was still interested to remain in power after the party polls.

“He commands the confidence of the majority of the MPs. And the Prime Minister is appointed by the King and not by the Umno General Assembly”- The Malaysian Insider.

Tengku Razeleigh went as far as even stating that he would support Abdullah Badawi, should the latter choose to remain in power.

The statement made my Mahathir Mohamad, and the immediate response by Tengku Razaleigh seems pre-meditated. After withdrawing his support for Najib Razak, it was quite obvious that Mahathir Mohamad had endorsed Tengku Razaleigh’s bid to challenge for UMNO’s top post. Many political observers back then speculated that they had gotten over their past bitter rivalry. Well, they may have been right.

Have Mahathir Mohamad and Tengku Razaleigh drawn themselves into playing their own version of the 'Mind Game' to set up the spark that would eventually see the destruction of UMNO, before they pick up the bits and pieces to re-launch it again?

Although an unpopular figure in the eye of most Malaysians to lead the nation, Najib Razak has what it takes to consolidate UMNO. Mahathir Mohamad had lost his trust in Najib Razak when Najib chose to stand by Abdullah Badawi, even when Mahathir had openly supported him. He saw Najib as an ally, but Najib stuck with Abdullah Badawi instead. Looking at this, the prospect of Najib coming into power does not appeal to Mahathir Mohamad anymore as it does not necessarily guarantee his well-being amongst those in power. Besides, Mahathir’s ego is too high to allow a personality that turned his back on him to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

It is a known fact that Mahathir Mohamad, is a shrewd politician. The Anwar Ibrahim saga was testimony to the character of this man. Today, those in UMNO who once worshipped him, have turned into his very own assailants. Is Mahathir prepared to allow these UMNO figures sit at the helm and continue to rule, while he continues to be at the sidelines? The answer is no. However, it is likely that this is how the scenario would turn out to be should Najib Razak become Prime Minister. I do not agree with the notion that Najib’s return would mean the return of Mahathir. However, it would surely mean the return of Mahathirism. We are set to see the same autocratic style of politics. And for once, ironically, this would be horrific even for Mahathir Mohamad.

Tengku Razaleigh, on the other, got a thrashing in his bid to require the minimum nominations needed to challenge Najib Razak. Any hope he had of moving up the ranks in UMNO is as good as gone. Yes, Tengku Razaleigh has been buried although he had far less controversies hanging over his head compared to Najib Razak. He had been buried on the day the official nomination counting ended in the same land that he donated to UMNO to house their Head Quarters.

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'Saya tidak berubah' - Raja Petra

Itu mungkin persepsi orang ramai, kata tahanan ISA dua kali ini

Oleh G. MANIMARAN, mStar Online

Pengendali dan editor laman blog Malaysia Today, Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin, yang bebas daripada tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) awal bulan lalu, menafikan andaian ramai bahawa beliau telah berubah, malah kritikannya tidak sepedas dulu.

Ketika dihubungi mStar Online hari ini, beliau yang turut dikenali sebagai RPK berkata, "itu mungkin persepsi (orang)."

"Ia tidak benar (andaian sudah berubah)," ujar beliau.

Beliau mengakui bahawa ramai yang mengharapkannya menghentam parti-parti politik apabila muncul dalam Al-Jazeera kelmarin.

"Saya memberikan pandangan mengenai dasar-dasar kerajaan, bukannya mengenai parti-parti politik," kata beliau ketika ditanya cakap-cakap bahawa sudah berubah sejak dibebaskan 7 November lalu.

Cakap-cakap itu antara lain mengatakan bahawa Raja Petra sudah tidak tegas, kemungkinan telah dineutralkan semasa dalam tahanan.

Persepsi sedemikian diberikan sejak beliau muncul dalam program temu bual bersama saluran Al-Jazeera, yang disiarkan dua hari lalu.

Raja Perta menjelaskan, beliau masih menulis dan memberikan pandangan kritis mengenai sesuatu isu yang menyentuh kepentingan rakyat.

Sebagai contoh katanya, beliau telah menyatakan pandangannya tentang ISA dalam forum anjuran Majlis Peguam Isnin lalu.

Walaupun banyak pandangan telah diberikan agar ISA dimansuhkan tetapi sehingga kini tiada sebarang perubahan, ujar beliau.

"Pada forum itu saya ada mengatakan bahawa Umno tidak mahu (ISA dihapuskan) dan saya juga mengatakan bahawa jika mahu memansuhkan ISA, Umno (parti komponen utama Barisan Nasional) perlu digantikan," katanya.

"Bukankah itu pandangan kritis?" katanya.

"Malah saya juga menulis dalam Malaysia Today sehingga sekarang, malah saya telah menulis tujuh artikel semasa ditahan di bawah ISA," kata beliau sambil menambah, "ini bukan kali pertama saya ditahan di bawah ISA."

Beliau pernah ditahan di bawah ISA pada 2001 dan kemudian mengendalikan Malaysia Today antara portal yang diikuti ramai.

Raja Petra ditahan sejak 12 September lalu dan dibebaskan 7 November.

Bulan lalu, Mahkamah Tinggai Shah Alam membenarkan permohonan habeas corpus Raja Putra supaya dibebaskan daripada tahanan mengikut Seksyen 8 ISA dan mendapatkan pengisytiharan bahawa penahanannya tidak sah di sisi undang-undang.

Sebelum ini, Menteri Dalam Negeri menyatakan Raja Petra perlu ditahan di bawah ISA dengan alasan telah bertindak secara sedar, sengaja dan tidak bertanggungjawab dalam menyiarkan artikel tulisannya dan komen pembaca yang mempersendakan dan menghina orang Islam, kesucian agama Islam dan peribadi Nabi Muhamad SAW yang telah membangkitkan kegelisahan dan kemarahan masyarakat Islam di negara ini sekali gus boleh mewujudkan krisis keyakinan terhadap agama Islam serta mencetuskan persengketaan dan ketegangan agama antara masyarakat Islam dan bukan Islam di negara ini.

Jabatan Peguam Negara telah mengemukakan rayuan berhubung keputusan pembebasan itu.

Dalam ulasan lanjut, Raja Petra berkata, kemunculan beliau dalam Al-Jazeera adalah bagi memenuhi cita rasa dan kehendak kumpulan khalayak yang berlainan berbanding Malaysia Today.

"Khalayak Al-Jazeera yang melibatkan 180 juta isu rumah, merupakan penonton antarabangsa manakala isu yang disentuh ialah kebebasan akhbar.

"Saya bercakap mengenai isu iaitu kebebasan akhbar untuk khalayak antarabangsa dan saya perlu menyampaikan pandangan mengikut kumpulan sasaran itu.

"Oleh itu, saya tidak boleh bercakap macam kita bercakap dengan khalayak tempatan. Cara untuk bercakap dengan khalayak tempatan adalah berlainan, dan saya selalu siapa khalayak apabila bercakap tentang sesuatu isu," katanya.

Oleh itu, kata Raja Petra, mungkin ada pihak yang mengharapkan beliau bercakap mengikut khalayak tempatan.

Tambah beliau, kebebasan akhbar berkaitan dengan dasar kerajaan yang sedang memerintah.

"Ini bukan isu parti. Sekarang kerajaan ialah BN, dan jika Pakatan Rakyat memerintah dan isu ini masih wujud, saya akan menyentuh (menulis) mengenainya," katanya.

Kit Siang slams IGP over warning to politicians

By Adib Zalkapli

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 5 — DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today said he is offended by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan's warning to politicians against becoming role models for criminals.

"Does Musa regard Gandhi as having spent his whole life to be a 'role model for criminals', and if not, he should withdraw his offensive remark and apologise to all responsible and principled politicians in the country," said Lim in response to a New Straits Times report today.

"Responsible and principled politicians never hold themselves as models for criminals, as when we break the law or are held to have broken the law, it is not for any self-gain or profit like robbing public coffers or private wealth," he added.

Lim said that Musa has failed to understand the thrust of a Royal Commission report on the police force which recommended the police to make defending human rights as one of its priorities.

"When Musa cannot see the fundamental difference between politicians who are trying to mainstream human rights to create a better Malaysia from big-time criminals, it is time that Malaysia had a new Inspector-General of Police who can provide the leadership to create an efficient, incorruptible, human rights-sensitive, professional world-class police service which can be the pride of all Malaysians," he said in a statement today.

Today's New Straits Times quoted the IGP as saying politicians who held illegal demonstrations had become role models for criminals by blatantly defying the law.

In a separate statement, Lim said it was not appropriate for Jerlun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir to hide behind the 1956 Razak Report to defend his suggestion that vernacular schools should be closed.

In the report, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein proposed a single education system to unify students from all races.

"Mukhriz should realise that it was Razak who amended the Constitution in 1971 to make it an offence of sedition to propose the closure of Chinese and Tamil primary schools," said the Ipoh Timor MP.

"I am not advocating that Mukhriz be charged under the Sedition Act which could involve his disqualification as MP for Jerlun and the disenfranchisement of his civil rights to hold office in any political party or society for five years if he is convicted and fined RM2,000 or jailed for more than a year," added Lim.

He said that Mukhriz should realise that he has committed an offence.

Lim also slammed Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein for defending Mukhriz.

"The Education Minister should realise that he cannot usurp the functions and powers of the Attorney-General and the judiciary by overturning clear legal precedents that any call for the closure of Chinese and Tamil primary schools runs afoul of the four 'sensitive issues' protected by the 1971 constitution amendment," said Lim.

He also alleged that police are practising double standards for immediately investigating MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek for his remarks on Malay supremacy but taking no action so far against the son of the former Prime Minister.

Jan 17 fixed for KT by-election

UPDATED

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 5 — The Election Commission has fixed Jan 17 for the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election if there is a contest on the Jan 6 nomination day.

Commission deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar announced this after a meeting today.

The seat fell vacant when MP Datuk Razali Ismail, who was also Deputy Education Minister, died last Friday. The two-term MP won narrowly against Pas' Mohamed Sabu in the March 8 general election, winning by just 628 votes.

An independent, 89-year-old grandmother Maimun Yusuf, also contested the seat.

This is the second by-election after the March polls and both Umno and Pas expect a tough fight as Razali only captured the seat with a majority of fewer than 2,000 votes in the last two elections.

Potential Umno candidates are expected to besiege the on-going Monsoon Cup championships in Pulau Duyong in Kuala Terengganu to press their case to contest the seat. The leading contender is Deputy Home Minister Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh, who is also Kuala Terengganu Umno division chief.

Pas has said it has two candidates in mind and has appointed deputy president Nasaruddin Md Isa to lead the election campaign. Pas splinter group Angkatan Insan Malaysia (Akim) and even Maimun have also said they are interested to contest the by-election.

Akim president Hanafi Mamat contested the first by-election after the general election, in Permatang Pauh, when incumbent Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Ismail of PKR quit to pave the way for her husband, sacked Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, to make a political comeback.

Anwar won with a bigger majority of 15,671 votes in the Aug 26 by-election, defeating BN's Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah and Hanafi.

Exclusive Interview with RPK

Gibberish English

YB Lim

This is found on the pages of our National Registration Dept website. Sigh, what a sad state of affairs, when such atrocious English is held up for display, for practically the whole world to see…..

And we are proud of sending a “space man” above???? A by-product of all the years that UMNO and BN has been in charge of our Education System. Now, it’s not just us M’sians who know that the quality of our local grads is hopeless, but this is being paraded for the whole world to see.

Don’t UMNO/BN have any shame? Hope you will raise this issue up at the righ forum.
Regards
Shanker

_______________

(Note, this page have since been amended by NRD)
http://www.jpn.gov.my/BI/4_5_kadpengenalan.php

1. I’m 17 year old, when should I change my identity card replacement?
A person whose had got first-time identity card namely during old 12 year, are required change again his identity card when have reached the age 18 year. If this change made within life time 18 - 25 year, no any penalty imposed.

2. I already 25 year old and still not have my own identity card. What shoul I do?
To them not yet own identity card although already aged more 16 year are advised to come to any nearby NRD to apply identity card past record. Applicant and promoter must showed up together to be interviewed, bringing with together following documents:-
Applicant Born Certificate / AnakAngkat’s Certificate / W’s Form Or
Applicant Enter Permit / Confirmation Form National Standard(if concerning)
Promoter Identity Card

3. I a foreign citizens and have gotten permit of entry from Jabatan Immigration Malaysia. Whether I qualified to apply identity card? What is conditions for I apply identity card.
You qualified to apply identity card with permanent resident status(Red). Applications requirements is bringing with permit of entry and passport and copy both of them and application fee as many as RM 40.00. Applications can be made in NRD Putrajaya Headquarters and NRD Branches only.

4. Is there any payment am being imposed in case happened damage for chip in my identity card.
Chip damage who is not due to purposely destroyed, misuse and others within one year from the date of submission card is give replacement by free, and if card period has been held by the applicant exceeding one year, payment as many as RM 10.00 imposed.

5. How many payment am being imposed if I loss identity card?
Lost identity card would be charged follow loss number. Please see payment schedule.

6. How long MyKad’s application period can be completed?
MyKad can be completed within 24 hours as applicant whose opted to take MyKad in NRD Putrajaya headquarters. For applicant opted to take MyKad in any NRD branches office in Peninsula of Malaysia, then MyKad would be completed within 10 working day while 30 working day for applicant opted to take MyKad in any NRD branches office in Sabah, a Sarawak or Labuan. MyKad’s charter completed this only involve applications from Warganegara Malaysia and prayer not problematical only.

7. Could I change address without change my identity card? If I can how many rates imposed?
Yes. With payment RM2.00 and new address information would be updated inside chip. If you want change identity card one time, the charge is RM10.00 .

8. Is it NRD receive payment other than cash ?
Yes, NRD comply accept payment electronically namely via credit card, card debit and MEPS.
However, there were limit minimum sum accept to payment via credit card there is as many as RM 50.00

_______________

http://www.jpn.gov.my/BI/3_3_1_pengenalan.php

WHAT IS MYKID

Mykid is identity card or introduction from children’s chip issued to children aged below 12 year.Mykid’s feature is the same as MyKad only it had no picture and fingerprints.

” My ” bring purpose “Malaysia” WHILE ” kid ” also is the abbreviation to ” Personal Identity Card “. Personal identification number that there were to Mykid this will be used in all business from born till the end.

Mykid contains 3 major application contain in chip namely:

* JPN’s Application (presentation data)
* Health information
* Education information

MYKID’S ADVANTAGE

* Current form ease of use deal government or private with the agency
* Are used during deal with the department or agencies as hospital or clinic supply health screening objective, schooling and others .
* Portable because miniaturized
* Have security feature to avoid from misused.
* With technology chip wherein information readable on the card or in chip. Chip in information stated also simple to be updated.
* Strikingly good-looking form

MYKID’S IMPLEMENTATION

MyKid were implemented in all NRD branches in Peninsula of Malaysia and it only to registration of birth just.

MyKid Enquiry, please contact 03-88808066

_______________

http://www.jpn.gov.my/BI/4_1_web.php

1. What is NRD’s website?

NRD website is abbreviation to official web National Registration Department. NRD website make major world to information and national registration department service through Internet.

2. Why this website been created?

Latterly, information and service majority National Registration Department has been prepared by online and NRD website been created to provide convenience to the public find information and service that are provided.

3. Whom were allowed surf and use this website ?

Generally, this website could be achieved by all society. However, there were some information and service that need registration.

4. What is privacy policy for this website? Am I been recorded or not?

All access and your use up on this website shall not be recorded. To further information, please visit to ‘Privacy Policy And Safety Policy’ in bottom of each page.

5. What method for I contact National Registration Department?

You can contact us:-
Public Relations Office
Tel: 03-8880 8206 / 7071 / 7077 / 7067 / 7069
Fax: 03-8880 8288 atau
Email: pro@jpn.gov.my

6. How should I sent my feedback to Goverment Agencies?

You can fill form in the division “Public Complaint System ” In NRD website. It would be channelled to the divisions relating.

Jerit cyclist freed on police bail

Jerit campaign cyclist Ruben s/o Loganathan was freed on police bail at 7.50pm yesterday.

The Jerit cycling team from the north are now on the way to Penang. Tomorrow, they are due to hand over a memorandum to Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng at 12.30pm in the Komtar foyer in front of Maybank.

The team’s campaign had earlier received the backing of the Kedah state government. Kedah state exco member Ismail Salleh had flagged off the cyclists from Alor Star.

WHAT IS TUN DR MAHATHIR SAYING, WE WON'T BE AFFECTED BY THE GLOBAL RECESSION

It was reported today that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had stated that Malaysians will not face the full extend of the global recession since the full-blown recession could be eased as Malaysia was linked to the world’s economy only through trade and have not invested much in the world’s economy outside Malaysia.

It is really surprising to know how shallow thinking our former premier is, since every Malaysian knows that if the world economy collapses, who is going to buy our produce, and even if they purchase them how are they going to pay for them.

Another factor of importance is how the government is going to pay for the produce when our government is in total reliance of the private sector and the world market to fulfill this obligation.

Just giving false hope should not be the way of overcoming this situation.

If Malaysians are fore-warned, they will take steps to take precautions and will save for 'bad' times.

This is a global occurrence and the government should not feel ashamed to tell the truth.

No such thing as a sure thing

Why the hurry when it comes to Raja Petra? Is the hurriedness more about Najib than about Raja Petra? Are they hoping that what will be revealed in Raja Petra’s cases will be the noose around Najib’s neck?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

The Pink Panther

They say: justice delayed is justice denied. But who says the wheels of justice always move slowly. Justice can sometimes move extremely fast when they want it to, especially when it is court cases involving Raja Petra Kamarudin and when it relates to the Altantuya murder.

Raja Petra’s lawyer had not yet walked into his office after their court appearance at the Jalan Duta Court Complex this morning when a fax was waiting for him on his table. And even before he could digest the contents of the fax another fax came in. The Shah Alam High Court will hear the appeal by the Prosecution at 2.45pm tomorrow, Friday, 5 December 2008. So Raja Petra will, again, be in court -- tomorrow 2.45pm at the Shah Alam court.

This morning, Raja Petra and his lawyers were in court to confirm the date of the appeal on the criminal defamation case. Yesterday, by order of the court, these same lawyers spent eight hours at Bukit Aman for a forensic test on the computers the police confiscated from his house related to the sedition case. And tomorrow is the Prosecution’s appeal on the amendment of the charge on the sedition case.

Wow! Seldom have Malaysians seen the courts move so fast. There are so many court cases going on at the same time that it is beginning to become very difficult to keep track of who is the defender and who is the defendee, and who is the appealer and who is the appealee.

The issues before the various courts are as follows -- the Shah Alam court, the Petaling Jaya court and the Kuala Lumpur court. The prosecution tried to amend the charge in Raja Petra’s sedition case in the Petaling Jaya court but the judge turned it down. So the prosecution is appealing the judge’s decision in the Shah Alam court. And that is going to be heard tomorrow at 2.45pm.

Then, the prosecution is not happy that they did not find the evidence of any crime in the two computers the police confiscated -- meaning a copy of the article ‘Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell’. So they asked the Petaling Jaya court for permission to check both computers again in the hope that this time they might find something. They checked the first computer over eight hours in Bukit Aman yesterday and will do a forensic test on the second unit next Tuesday.

Then, Raja Petra’s lawyers are appealing against the decision to transfer the criminal defamation case from the Kuala Lumpur Magistrates Court to the Sessions Court and this appeal was slotted for mention this morning in the Kuala Lumpur High Court. The court ordered Raja Petra’s lawyers to file their submission on 12 December 2008 and for the Prosecution to reply to it on 19 December. The hearing will be on 20 January 2009 when the judge will probably deliver his judgment as to whether the case will be heard in the Sessions Court (as what the Prosecution wants) or whether it has to be sent back to the Magistrates Court (as what Raja Petra wants).

In the meantime, while the Shah Alam and Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur courts hear the various appeals and counter-appeals and applications to amend the charge and applications to oppose the amendment to the charge and application to do a second forensic on the two computers and so on and so forth, the hearings related to the crimes Raja Petra has been alleged to have committed are being delayed even further. And this has upset those who walk in the corridors of power.

The Prosecution has been told to wrap up all these many cases as soon as possible, preferably way before March 2009. March 2009 is when Najib Tun Razak is supposed to take over from Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as Prime Minister of Malaysia. Abdullah wants these cases settled fast but Najib would rather they drag on until way past March 2009.

Abdullah wants all the cases settled now in the hope that damaging evidence will surface during the trial, which will implicate Najib, or at least his wife, in the murder of Altantuya. If this happens, this will disqualify Najib from taking over as Prime Minister. Najib, however, wants things to remain as they are until he takes over so that, when he is already Prime Minister, he can sweep everything under the carpet and suffer no damage.

How he is going to sweep everything under the carpet will be a bridge he crosses when he comes to it. Dropping the charges would be one way or making sure the judge shouts ‘irrelevant’ every five minutes could probably work as well, as it did in Anwar Ibrahim’s trial in 1998-1999.

Raja Petra never dreamt how important his trials were going to be in deciding who would become the Prime Minister of Malaysia come March 2009. Everyone assumed that Najib would automatically be taking over from Abdullah at the ‘agreed’ time. But it appears like nothing has really been agreed yet. And this is troubling Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well who is banking on Najib taking over in March 2009 as planned.

However, according to Murphy’s Law, what can go wrong will go wrong. And the plan for Najib taking over from Abdullah in March 2009 can certainly go wrong. So Abdullah wants to see to it that it will definitely go wrong. And Mahathir is fully aware of this and he is already lamenting about it even before the plan can be put in place. Call it a preemptive strike if you wish and Mahathir is the master of preemption, amongst other things. So he is preempting Abdullah’s move to block Najib from taking over as Prime Minister in March 2009.

Mahathir realises that you need not be the Umno President to become Prime Minister. Tun Abdul Razak Hussein became Prime Minister without becoming the Umno President, till much later. Mahathir himself stayed on as Prime Minister in 1988 even though be had no party (when Umno closed down) and was an independent Member of Parliament (calun bebas) while Ling Liong Sik was the Barisan Nasional Chairman at that time. In fact, Ghafar Baba became Deputy Prime Minister in 1986 without ever becoming an Umno (Lama) member until Umno Baru was formed in 1988.

Yes, who says you must first become the Umno President or the Barisan Nasional Chairman to become Prime Minister of Malaysia. All the Constitution says is that you must be a Member of Parliament whom, in the opinion of the Agong, commands the confidence of the majority of the Members of the House -- in other words, the 222 Members of Parliament.

Let’s say Anwar Ibrahim has the confidence of the 82 Pakatan Rakyat Members of Parliament. This leaves another 140 who are not with Anwar. Then, say, Abdullah has half the 140 with him, meaning 70. This leaves another 70. Let’s also say 20 abstain. This leaves 50. And, say, these 50 are with Najib.

In this case, Anwar Ibrahim has the confidence of the majority because he has 82, Abdullah has only 70, Najib 50, while 20 are ‘sitting on the fence’ and are not supporting any side.

It must be noted that Umno has only 66 Members of Parliament in Peninsular Malaysia. Even if the 13 Umno Sabah Members of Parliament stay united that would come to only 79. Pakatan Rakyat still has more at 82. Abdullah is said to control at least 20 Umno Members of Parliament. So Najib will be reduced to 59 against Pakatan Rakyat’s 82. The question would be: will Abdullah’s 20 remain neutral or will they swing to Pakatan Rakyat to give it 102? Either way, with only 59 Umno Members of Parliament, Najib would be far short and would need the other component members of Barisan Nasional to take the chair as Prime Minister.

MCA (15), MIC (3) and Gerakan (2) total another 20. These three parties plus PPP (which has no Parliamentarians) are totally pissed with Umno. They may not throw their lot behind Pakatan Rakyat but they would certainly stay neutral and become the ‘third force’ or ‘independents’. Though Pakatan Rakyat may not benefit from MCA’s, MIC’s and Gerakan’s 20 seats, neither would Umno, or rather Najib.

Najib would need the 30 non-Umno Members of Parliament from Sarawak and the balance 11 from Sabah (totaling 41) to make up his majority. If they too decide to follow MCA, MIC, Gerakan and PPP and stay ‘neutral’, then Najib is sunk. His 59 against Pakatan Rakyat’s 82, Abdullah’s ‘neutral’ 20, and the MCA’s, MIC’s, Gerakan’s, Sabah’s and Sarawak’s ‘neutral’ 61, would mean that he does not have the confidence of the majority and the Agong just can’t appoint him as the new Prime Minister.

Yes, many are looking forward to the 30 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament crossing over to Pakatan Rakyat to give it 112 seats in Parliament (111 of 222 is exactly 50% so it will be 50% plus one seat). But what if they don’t cross over? What if they just remain neutral or leave Barisan Nasional to create an ‘independent third force’? This too would be enough to deny Najib the Prime Ministership. And there is more than one reason for them to want to remain neutral or to leave Barisan Nasional to become a third force.

This is the dilemma facing Najib. And Mahathir is also greatly concerned. They both know that March 2009 is a long way away. And many things can happen from now till March 2009. The non-Umno component members of Barisan Nasional are reevaluating their relationship with Umno. It is no longer a matter of whether to abandon Umno, and in the process abandon Najib as well. Leaving Umno is almost a foregone conclusion. What they are undecided about is whether they should leave Barisan Nasional to join Pakatan Rakyat or leave to become an independent third force. Both have its merits. In Pakatan Rakyat there is good and bad, as an independent third force there is also good and bad. That is what is preoccupying the minds of the non-Umno component members of Barisan Nasional. And the more mistakes Umno makes the more reason for them to proceed with the divorce. And Umno is making mistakes by the dozen these days.

So they want Raja Petra’s various cases in the Shah Alam, Petaling Jaya and Kuala Lumpur courts to be settled super-fast. The legal brains are mind-boggled as to how fast the courts seem to move in dispensing with justice when it comes to Raja Petra’s cases, when other cases are sometimes known to stretch over ten or twenty years with no end in sight. Why the hurry when it comes to Raja Petra? Is the hurriedness more about Najib than about Raja Petra? Are they hoping that what will be revealed in Raja Petra’s cases will be the noose around Najib’s neck? I can only speculate on the reason but it does not take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.

Sure, Abdullah said that Najib will take over in March 2009. He even did not contest the Umno Presidency and allowed Najib a walkover as part of this plan. But it was not an unqualified assurance. It certainly is subject to certain conditions. And one of those conditions would be that he is free from any legal problems such as being implicated in a murder. The second would be he procures the confidence of the majority of the Members of the House. The failure to fulfill any one of these conditions is enough to disqualify him. And Abdullah has four months to work on the disqualification.

There is no such thing as a sure thing. Najib and Mahathir of all people should know this by now. And who said Abdullah is stupid? He may not be smart but this does not mean he is stupid. And Abdullah may yet prove he is sneakier than most people give him credit for. I think Malaysians should launch a ‘No to Najib’ campaign. Maybe they should collect 100,000 signatures for a petition to the Agong to appeal to His Majesty not to appoint Najib as Prime Minister in March 2009. Maybe it is not a bad idea after all that Abdullah stays on. At least Pakatan Rakyat can take him on come the next general election in 2012-2013 and finish the job they started on 8 March 2008.

Zaid: No intention to join any party now

Musa not fit to continue as IGP a single day

(LimKitSiang)My censure motion to cut the salary of Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Musa Hassan, in Parliament today was defeated by a 48 to 30 votes when it was put to the House.

I had moved the motion against Musa on two grounds, viz:

• For being more of a lobbyist for police megal deals instead of being the police leader to keep crime down and the country safe for Malaysians, tourists and investors; and

• Telling Malaysians that they had been living “a great lie” in the past five years under the Abdullah premiership by succumbing to the new police line that the real problem is not worsening crime situation or a misperception.

When winding-up, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heong admitted the veracity of the two letters I handed to him earlier during my speech, viz:

• letter from Musa as IGP to the Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop dated 12th February 2007 on the subject “Cadangan Kontrak Sewaan Helicopter Kepada Polis Diraja Malaysia Selama 30 Tahun Melalui Private Funding Initiative (PFI)” where Musa gave his full endorsement for the RM20 billion Asiacopter proposal to rent out 34 helicopters to the police for 30 years; and

• letter from Musa as IGP to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dated 3rd November 2006 on “E-Police Force Solution – Letter of Intent”, pressing for the issue of an “Letter of Exclusive Intent” to Web Power Sdn. Bhd. by the government for its RM4.2 billion “E-Police Force Solution” proposal.

However he tried to dismiss the “integrity issues” in the two letters, although I said that this was the first time an IGP has breached general orders and gone out of his way to lobby for mega police deals for a particular company – which had never been done by his predecessors, whether Tan Sri Bakri Musa, Tan Sri Norian Mai, Tan Sri Rahim Noor or Tun Hanif Omar.

When I asked whether the government would welcome a three-prong investigations into the improprieties committed by Musa, especially as his son was working in one of the two companies which are inter-connected – government investigation into breach of standard operating procedures, Anti-Corruption Agency investigation and Public Accounts Committee inquiry, Chor merely replied that the PAC is entitled to investigate into both matters if it is minded to do so.

On my second reason for the censure motion against Musa, I rebutted claim that from international statistics, Malaysia is safer than Japan, Hong Kong and Australia and nearly on par with Singapore.

I pointed out the disgraceful phenomenon whereby Malaysians who crossed the Johore causeway into Singapore would feel very safe while instantly feeling very unsafe when they return to Johore Baru through the causeway – which is the most powerful testimony that Malaysia is a world away as compared to Singapore in terms of the comparative safety in each country.

As the Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib seemed to have adopted the new police line that Malaysia is safer than Japan, Hong Kong and Australia, I challenged Najib and Musa to walk the streets of Johore Baru without their retinue of escorts for a day to get a direct experience of the “fear of crime” which has become the daily nightmare of Malaysians.

I also reminded Musa of the long list of top government and police officials who have fallen victim to the endemic in the country after their retirement, including his most well-known predecessor as IGP Tun Hanif Omar, former Penang Chief Police Officer Datuk Albert Mah (who was murdered in his Petaling Jaya home in an armed robbery), former Sarawak Governor Tun Rahman Yaakob - warning that he himself might face the same fate after his retirement as IGP!

I omitted to mention the recent cases of the September murder of Hor Joo Lee, wife of former Penang MCA State Assemblyman, Lai Chew Hock to illustrate the gravity of the crime situation and why the Police leadership should end its denial syndrome about the endemic crime in the country.

When Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi did when became Prime Minister five years ago was to establish a Royal Commission Report, which reported in Chapter 4, viz:

“3.1 The incidence of crime increased dramatically in the last few years, from 121,176 cases in 1997 to 156,455 cases in 2004, an increase of 29 per cent.

“The increase seriously dented Malaysia’s reputation as a safe country. Malaysians in general, the business sector and foreign investors grew increasingly concerned with the situation. The fear was that, if the trend continues, there would be major social and economic consequences for Malaysia. A survey of 575 respondents from the public carried out by the Commission clearly demonstrates the extremely widespread concern among all ethnic groups and foreign residents. Between 82.2 per cent and 90 per cent of the respondents, or 8 to 9 persons in every 10, were concerned with the occurrence of crime.”

After three years, in 2007, the incidence of crime increased by 33.94% from 156,455 cases in 2004 to 209,559.

“3.2: There was an alarming increase in violent crime during the period. Violent crime grew from 16,919 cases in 1997 to 21,859 cases in 2004, an increase of 29.2 per cent in 8 years. Cases involving unarmed gang robbery saw an increase of 56.5 per cent followed by attempted murder (76.9 per cent) and unarmed robbery (80.7 per cent).”

After three years, in 2007:

1. Violent crime increased from 21,859 cases (2004) to 35,158 cases (2007) – an increase of 60.8 per cent.

2. Unarmed gang robbery saw an increase of 318.4 per cent (i.e. from 1,689 cases in 2004 to 7,067 cases in 2007).

3. Unarmed robbery increased by 30.4 per cent (i.e. from 13,211 cases in 2004 to 17,241 cases in 2007).

“3.3: There was also a significant increase in property crime during the period from 104,257 cases in 1997 to 134,596 cases in 2004, an increase of 29 per cent.

“The increase was most severe in theft of lorries and vans (171.6 percent), cars (161.4 per cent) and motor cycles (92.4 per cent). Actual figures for prioperty crime are believed to be higher5 due to non-reporting.”

In three years, in 2007,property crime increased from 134,596 cases in 2004 to 174,440 (an increase of 29.6%).

Because of this high incidence of crime, the Royal Police said it was “urgent” for a concerted police drive against crime.

It dedicated Chapter 7 to “Launch A Sustained Nation-Wide Drive Against Crime” and said:

“The Commission recommends that PDRM allot the highest priority to the campaign against crime, along with eradication of corruption and making policing more compliant with human rights and prescribed laws. The prioritization should remain until crime levels have reached a point considered no longer alarming.”

The Royal Police Commission recommended that the police formulate and implement annual and month crime reduction plans, and proposed the following target:

“As an immediate measure, PDRM should target a minimum of 20 per cent decrease in the number of crimes committed for each category within 12 months of this Report’s acceptance and implementation”.

It is now more than three years since the publication of the Royal Police Commission. What has the Police to show for its “sustained nation-wide drive against crime”, the proposed “annual and monthly crime reduction plans” and in particular “a minimum 20 per cent decrease in crimes within 12 months”?

The Police had its own target of reducing the crime index by five per cent a year. If this more modest target had been reached, then from 156,455 crime incidence in 2004, there should be a drop to 148,632 cases in 2005, 141,200 cases in 2006 and 134,140 cases in 2007.

However both the Royal Police Commission’s recommendation of a minimum of 20% decline of crime index in first 12 months or the police’s more modest target of 5% decline per year had not been achieved, and the Police is fighting a losing battle against crime with the traditional crime index breaking the 200,000 mark last year as well as this year.

The Inspector-General of Police is therefore doing the country a great disservice in now adopting a most irresponsible attitude in claiming that the worsening crime situation is not a fact but a mere misperception.

In trying to convince Malaysians that they had been living under a “great lie” in the past five years under the Abdullah premiership in succumbing to the misperception of a worsening crime situation, Musa Hassan is not fit to continue as IGP for a single day.

Jerit campaign cyclist arrested near Kulim

Just received word that one of the 45 Jerit cyclists heading from Alor Star to KL via Penang has been arrested in the small village of Merbau Pulas near Kulim this evening.

According to Sungai Siput MP Jeyakumar Devaraj, Ruben was detained for distributing leaflets which did not indicate the Jerit office address. Leaflets are supposed to bear the publisher’s name and address. The Jerit leaflets only displayed the Jerit website address, the Jerit email, and the Jerit office phone number.

But the Jerit website shows the Jerit office address.

Jeyakumar Devaraj, the MP for Sungai Siput, is now at the Sungai Karangan police station near Kulim, where he is negotiating with the officers.

The cyclists are due to be flagged off from Penang on 6 December by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

Another team of cyclists is making its way up from the South. They are due to converge on Parliament on 18 December to hand in a memorandum with six demands to Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

The six demands are:

• A minimum wage
• The repeal of oppressive laws such as the ISA
• An end to the privatisation of public utilities.
• Price controls for essential items
• The return of local council elections
• Decent, affordable homes for the people

TUN DR MAHATHIR - DATUK ZAID A 'BAD APPLE' IF IN UMNO & A WRONG CHOICE FOR HAVING APPOINTED HIM

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad once again blasted his predecessor Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, this time by saying he made the wrong choice of candidate, referring to Datuk Zaid Ibrahim's appointment, a former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and de facto Law Minister despite his own division Kota Bahru not having 'confidence' with him.

As stated in Tun Dr Mahathir's blog chedet posting today that "This is the man who was held in high esteem by UMNO President Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi so that from among hundreds of UMNO leaders of sorts, he chose Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, a dubious character who could not be accepted even by his own Kota Bahru division and was not made a candidate in the 2008 elections. It is known that Datuk Zaid was in Perth, Australia, during the elections."Seeing Datuk Zaid's behaviour towards UMNO lately, the rumours that he was supporting the opposition against the UMNO/Barisan Nasional candidate in the March 2008 elections must have been true.

"Now Datuk Zaid has left his benefactor with controversial issues which can only undermine the support for UMNO/BN whatever his benefactor may try to do. And Datuk Seri Najib will inherit these headaches when he takes over".

Meanwhile, it was also reported that the sacking of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim from UMNO should serve as a lesson for other leaders in the party as stated by UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim today while party members and leaders should understand the party’s struggle and not resort to actions deemed to be extreme.“If the council did not act, it would be seen as being toothless because the demeanour (of Datuk Zaid) was actionable,” Datuk Seri Dr Rais said when asked to comment on Datuk Zaid’s sacking from UMNO.

What Datuk Seri Dr Rais clearly wanted to state was as an UMNOputra you must always keep your mouth shut though you may think what the leaders are doing is wrong.The UMNO leaders are always right, even though they might stashed away millions of ringgit, like what the minister "who speak no Inglish" did, not too long ago. They are always immune to our laws. To UMNO attending opposition meetings is "haram" and practising corruption is "halal". In UMNO you must always follow the leaders blindly. In other words you are a "YES" man or a "lembu pawah" that can be pulled along by the nose as the master wishes. No wonder intellects like Datuk Seri Dr Rais and a few others, once in UMNO becomes "dungus". Yet UMNO's president wants UMNO members and the rakyat to work with him and speak the truth (as quoted in tumpang sekole....?).

Datuk Zaid in an press conference today clearly stated that he would not join any political party but would continue to work with his My Future Foundation whose aim is to seek and encourage young Malaysians to bring about positive change regarding race relations and other beneficial reforms.

Will UMNO realise and change or will the people have to change UMNO?

ABDULLAH'S MARCH

1. When Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he would be stepping down in March 2009 he said he needed the extra three months to complete certain missions he had set out to do.

2. These initiatives, he said, are needed "to regain the country's competitiveness, to face the challenges that the world has in store for us".

3. Among the initiatives are the reform of the judiciary, the setting up of an Anti-Corruption Commission, Special Complaints Commission, equitable distribution of the fruits of growth, strengthening and enlarging the social safety net, development of corridor initiatives etc etc.

4. It is now December 2008. So far we have seen no progress at all in any of these glorious initiatives. Instead the Prime Minister is busy visiting foreign countries with his family in the beatiful, big and new Airbus A320.

5. After announcing that there is no money to build the second Penang Bridge, the contract was signed during the PM's China visit to build the bridge after all. There is a lot of money involved here.

6. In Uzbekistan, Petronas is to invest a few hundred million Ringgit. Trips are also scheduled for Iran and Turkmenistan. No doubt more contracts and more money would be involved. Some contractors will benefit.

7. After failing to implement any of the promises made in the 2004 or 2008 elections, it looks like nothing is being done either with regards to the promise to carry out a variety of so-called reforms as mentioned in the press statement on why the PM would step down in March 2009 - three months after the scheduled UMNO General Assembly.

8. But the visits to foreign countries to sign contracts which were not mentioned in the statement are being assiduously carried out.

9. I wonder why.

10. On the political front Abdullah has been busy campaigning for his chosen candidates for the posts of Deputy President, Wanita chief and Pemuda chief and other posts which will lead to appointments as Ministers.

11. Najib is going to be surrounded by Abdullah's people and through these people Abdullah will control the Government of Najib.

12. Najib has already abandoned Muhyiddin, the fierce critic of Abdullah. He does not want to incur the displeasure of his boss. Would he refuse to appoint Abdullah's nominees? Would he dare go against them?

Zaid's sacking not unusual, says Pak Lah

By Adib Zalkapli(Themalaysianisider)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 - Umno President Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi downplayed the sacking of Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, saying it was not unusual for the party to sack its members.

He said it was necessary for the party's supreme council to sack the former de facto law minister.

"The decision has been made, it was a normal decision and it was necessary," said Abdullah when asked to comment on Zaid's remarks earlier today that he was not even given a chance to defend himself.

The Prime Minister also reiterated the party's stand that the former Law Minister cannot appeal the decision made late Tuesday night.

But Abdullah also said Zaid is welcomed to attend Umno functions if invited.

On Zaid's argument that party members who made racist remarks did not receive similar action, Abdullah said: "It's an interpretation."

In September former Bukit Bendera Umno chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail was suspended for three years by the party for calling the Chinese immigrants.

Last weekend Zaid attended a DAP victory dinner and PKR's annual national congress.

The lawyer who was brought into Cabinet after the last general election to carry out judicial reform had also said he did not expect to be sacked from the party, arguing that his presence at opposition events merely indicated his interest in politics.

Since his resignation from the Cabinet in September, speculation has been rife that he would be joining one of the Pakatan Rakyat parties.

But today Zaid declared that he would not be joining any of the federal opposition parties and wanted to remain independent.

Yesterday Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Zaid is an asset and would welcome his admission into PR.

Mukhriz: Razak said it first

Mukhriz says the unified education system was first proposed in the Razak report of 1956. The Razak report was headed by Malaysia's second Prime Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein.

By Shannon Teoh(Themalaysianinsider)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 - Umno Youth chief candidate Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir continued to defend his proposal to unify the education system today, stating that it is an idea that was first mooted in the Penyata Razak (Razak Report) of 1956.

He made reference to the report by former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, the then Education Minister, which was to "unify students from all races with one education system that covers all races. We are of the opinion that to carry this out, we need to integrate the syllabus of all schools."

"Of course, it did not set a deadline for this. But it has been 52 years, so when are we going to do it?" Mukhriz said as part of a panel on local television channel Astro Awani's Analisis Awani show this evening.

Mukhriz had on Monday suggested that the current dual-stream system of national and vernacular schools be scrapped and be replaced by one which would use Bahasa Malaysia as its medium of instruction in all subjects except science, math and other language subjects.

It came under heavy fire from both Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat parties, to the extent of being accused of sedition with a police report filed against him.

The Jerlun MP added today that to an extent, the Wawasan schools idea could achieve the integration that was the objective of his suggestion as at the very least, the shared field, canteen and other facilities would allow the students to play and mix with each other.

Mukhriz, the son of former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed, also hit back at DAP for saying that he should be charged under the Sedition Act for questioning a sensitive issue that is protected under the Federal Constitution.

"In fact, all languages are protected not just Mandarin and Tamil. But while the opposition continues to criticise the allocation for vernacular schools, Ibans and Kadazans get no allocation at all," he said, implying that the opposition was playing to the gallery.

Mukhriz concluded by saying that his suggestion should be taken with an open mind and discussed together between various political parties and NGOs to come up with a policy that is accepted by all to be tabled in Parliament.

Another panellist, Mental Development Institute (Inmind) chief executive Norizan Sharif, said that the reason Mukhriz had come under heavy criticism was due to the ongoing roiling debate on the social contract and Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) and his suggestion was immediately viewed from a racial viewpoint.

Dr M says there is no Ketuanan Melayu without parity

By Shannon Teoh(Themalaysianinsider)

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 - Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed joined the roiling debate on race relations by declaring there was no such thing as Ketuanan Melayu, or Malay Supremacy because racial parity had not been achieved yet.

He also said that Malaysians were not yet ready for freedom of speech, while he also expressed doubts about Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s leadership abilities.

Speaking on a special interview with Riz Khan on satellite television station Al-Jazeera, he said that Malays were in fact, the underdogs.

"There is no such thing as Ketuanan Melayu. We are the underdog.

"The shoe-polisher is not the Tuan (master). The man who pays you is the Tuan. I used to have a Chinese driver, he called me Tuan," he quipped.

Dr Mahathir defended the Malay affirmative action policies in Malaysia despitethe fact that Malays formed the majority of the country, whereas affirmative action in other countries were implemented to help minorities.

"It is not about majority or minority. It is to address the disparity.

"The Chinese dominate the economy but the majority is poor and we need to bring them up to achieve parity," he said.

Having been in office for over two decades, Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister added that the stronger presence of the Malays in the political field was to balance out the dominance of the Chinese in the economy.

He also added that there was nothing to stop the country from having a non-Malay Prime Minister so long as "he has the support of the majority."

When Khan suggested that the system was skewed to the Malays, Dr Mahathir disagreed, saying "it is not skewed, it is in the constitution."

Dr Mahathir also insisted that he was a Malay and not an Indian. Khan had implied that Dr Mahathir had tried to deny his Indian ancestry in the past.

"There is a lot of foreign blood in this country... we are at the crossing point between the East and West," Mahathir replied, adding that he is Malay by definition.

He also expressed concerns that current Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak might not step up to the premiership after the March Umno party polls despite winning the presidency unconstested.

Dr Mahathir had recently said that his successor and current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi may choose to stay on as PM despite not being Umno president, which he claims will be to the detriment of the party and country.

"Najib has not shown any strength in the political field. He is more a follower than a leader and he must change that," Dr Mahathir explained.

Khan then asked if this "change" meant a reversion to "Mahathirism."

"Mahathirism... I do not know what that is," was the elder statesman's reply.

He rejected the idea that his rule was autocratic but merely "sensible" due to the fact that Malaysia is "prone to instability" as it is a multiracial society. He further suggested that Mahathirism was synonymous with economic development instead.

On this point, he also criticised the level of openness practised by the current administration, stating that the country is not ready for such liberalisation.

"They say it is good to be more open but it is premature. The people do not understand freedom of speech and it has caused racial tension," he said.

He told Khan that in his tenure as Prime Minister, such matters were discussed between leaders behind closed doors. He concurred with the suggestion that racial sentiments were more heated today than during his premiership as "now, the different races are at each other's throats.”