'OK for Umno to rally, not Hindraf' - Malaysiakini

The police action to spray chemical-laced water on Hindu Rights Action Force supporters at the Brickfields police station in Kuala Lumpur yesterday was “brutal and inhumane”, an outraged Hindraf leader said today.

MCPX

The outlawed Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran accused the police of practicing double standards where "there is one set of laws for illegal and violent Umno demonstrators, and another for those participating in peaceful assemblies and gatherings."

"While the police were lenient and even provided protection for Umno illegal demonstrations, including mobsters, they resorted to forceful means to batter others," he said, referring to Umno Youth’s action against prominent opposition parliamentarian Karpal Singh.

Yesterday Hindraf supporters have gone to Brickfields police station to lodge mass reports against the Home Ministry and Kamunting Detention Centre authority for neglecting the health of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar.

They claimed that the authorities failed to provide proper medical treatment for Uthayakumar, a diabetic who is suffering from a fractured toe.

"We went to the police station only to exercise our fundamental rights to lodge police reports on behalf of Uthayakumar. It was not an illegal demonstration or protest,” lamented Thanenthiran.

“We cannot understand why the police resorted to violence to stop us. It was a gross violation of our basic human rights."

He accused Brickfields police chief Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid for going back on his words after acceding to ‘a gentleman’s agreement’ to allow Hindraf supporters to lodge reports at the police station.

According to Thanenthiran, Wan Abdul Bari had earlier agreed to allow 50 Hindraf supporters to lodge 10 joint police reports in separate groups of five, including family members of Uthayakumar.

"However, we were caught by surprise when Wan Abdul Bari suddenly gave the order to the supporters to disperse. It was a shock that the police resorted to brutality and inhumane action to disperse and arrest Hindraf supporters," said Thanenthiran, a former teacher.

Some had to seek medical attention

The police sprayed chemical-laced water at about 300 supporters of Uthayakumar, who had been detained under the draconian Internal Security Act since 2007.

Most of the crowd subsequently dispersed save for a few, including Kapar MP S Manikavasagam and Police Watch and Human Rights Committee coordinator S Jayathas.

The duo were among 17 individuals arrested, according to Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, who arrived at the scene later to act as the group’s lawyer.

They have all been released since.

A few people were injured and suffered from itchiness and breathing difficulties after they were doused with chemical-laced water and they had to seek treatment from the hospital.

Thanenthiran called on Malaysians to vote against Barisan Nasional in next month’s by-elections in Bukit Selambau state seat (Kedah) and Bukit Gantang parliamentary seat (Perak) to register their anger against the police brutality.

"This is not a racial issue. It’s about human rights. Malaysians must demonstrate their disagreement with the police action and BN’s arrogance in violating human rights," said the Hindraf leader.

Chaos in Brickfields - Part V

Part V


Part VI

Post-PM Pak Lah wants to fix what he couldn’t as PM

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 – Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is looking to play the role of a healer after he leaves office at the end of the month.

He has told government officials that he would like to tackle racial and religious polarisation, which has become more acute during his five-year term as the prime minister.

It is unclear if he is seeking an official position in any government body such as IKIM or any non-governmental organisation.

But several government officials told the Malaysian Insider that Abdullah is concerned that the increasingly strident rhetoric is driving the different races further apart – a situation which could end three decades of the country’s biggest selling point, political stability.

Abdullah is scheduled to speak about his concerns of a more divided Malaysia when he addresses the Umno general assembly this month.

News that he would like to play a role in bridging racial and religious differences in the country is likely to be met with some cynicism and apprehension, even from his own political party, Umno.

The more conservative spine of the party blames the opening up of public discourse and democratic space since he became prime minister in October 2003 for the robust debate on the New Economic Policy and other issues long considered out of bounds.

Abdullah’s supporters in the party also argue that, while the PM was all for more debate, he did not define clearly the perimeters of a more open society or manage the expectations of different groups.

The result: a free-for-all. Newspapers, religious groups and politicians have been willing to take hard line positions on race, religion and on the Federal Constitution.

Even in Parliament, the rhetoric has been divisive and the behavior abhorrent.

Increasingly, the middle ground is being deserted in Malaysia.

Abdullah is in a unique position as he leaves office.

He came into office wearing the mantle of the leader of all Malaysians. But indecision, weak leadership and his inability to resolve several religious disputes including the demolition of temples, the rights of non-Muslim converts to Islam, etc, has severely compromised his legacy as the PM of all Malaysians.

A comprehensive survey commissioned by Barisan Nasional (BN) last year showed that only 5.7 percent of Malays felt that he qualified as the leader of all Malaysians. Among the Chinese it was only 2.3 per cent, while it was 6.7 per cent of Indians and 6.7 per cent of non-Muslim bumiputeras.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that many of the non-Muslim religious groups voted for Pakatan Rakyat on March 8 2008, largely due to their disgust at the arrogance of Umno politicians and disappointment with the shrinking space of religious freedom in Malaysia.

They blamed Abdullah for not keeping his promise to be fair to all races, believing that he was unwilling to stand up to chauvinists in Umno.

Officials of the Malaysian Consultative Council of Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Taoism noted that they had difficulty obtaining an appointment with Abdullah after the controversy over the burial dispute of Everest hero, M. Moorthy.

Given this backdrop, even the non-Malays/Muslims may have some doubts about whether Abdullah will be able to play an effective role in reversing the trend in racial and religious polarisation.

But the reality is that someone needs to step up and play the role of the statesman before things get even worse here.

When the respondents in the BN survey last year were asked to name two of Abdullah’s strongest traits, they pinpointed his religious background and moderate nature.

He will have to showcase both in spades if he wants to become Malaysia’s own ambassador of peace and harmony.

Najib’s unethical and unconstitutional power grab in Perak may sow the seeds for his downfall as the sixth Prime Minister

by Lim Kit Siang

As the Prime Minister-in-waiting, Datuk Seri Najib Razak cannot be so ignorant as not to know that his statement that there could not be any Perak State Assembly meeting until the courts decide on the status of the state government is completely untenable, as it has no basis in law or constitutional practice.

The question is whether Najib is making this statement as Deputy Prime Minister after getting the proper advice of the Attorney-General’s Chambers or as UMNO Deputy President without the benefit of any proper expert legal opinion.

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had acted most improperly when he had earlier advised the “pretender” Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr. Zambry Abd Kadir to lodge police report against the Perak State Assembly Speaker, V. Sivakumar for suspending Zambry and the other six “pretender” state exco members from the state assembly, which also attracted the criticism of former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, when the Speaker’s decision or action is protected by law and conferred immunity from civil or criminal proceedings.

Clearly, Abdullah’s advice could not have emanated from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

But it has resulted in gross abuses of power by the Police as well as by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) in subjecting the Perak State Assembly Speaker to interrogation, which are gross violation of established world-wide parliamentary laws, practices ,conventions and traditions.

Najib’s statement that the Perak State Assembly cannot meet until the courts have decided on the status of the Perak state government is another example of a federal government position unsupported by law and made without reference or consultation with the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

One is reminded of the increasing calls by more and more Cabinet Ministers for DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh to be charged under the Sedition Act 1948 when Karpal had merely stated the legal position that Rulers can be taken to court in their official capacities and, after the UMNO-initiated 1994 Constitution Amendment, also in their personal capacities in a Special Court.

Cabinet Ministers, particularly those with legal background, know that Karpal had committed no offence under the law, let alone the Sedition Act, when he stated the simple legal position – but yet we have Cabinet Ministers publicly pressurising the Attorney-General to prosecute Karpal under the Sedition Act with the threat to challenge his credibility and fitness to hold office if there is no such prosecution.

The Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister should know that Karpal had not violated the law, let alone the Sedition Act, but why are they adopting a “hands-off” stance in the face of increasing pressures by UMNO leaders including UMNO Ministers to subvert the constitutional process to reduce the Attorney-General for Malaysia into an UMNO Attorney-General serving UMNO interests rather than upholding the Constitution?

With the daily countdown of his ascension as the sixth Prime Minister, this is the time for Najib to show that will be a Prime Minister for all Malaysians and be the national “unifier” to rally Malaysians regardless of race, religion, political affiliation or region to unite as one people to face the world’s worst economic crisis in 80 years.

But Najib has done the opposite – emerging as the most divisive national leader in the country.

Najib should be forewarned that his unethical and unconstitutional power grab in Perak may sow the seeds for his downfall as the sixth Prime Minister because of public revulsion not only in Perak but throughout the country.

It is not too late for Najib to undo the damage he has done to himself, Umno, Barisan Nasional and national unity with his unethical and unconstitutional power grab in Perak – by allowing the people of Perak through a new state general election to elect the state government of their choice.

Najib should not compound his political mistakes and miscalculations and should allow the emergency sitting of the Perak State Assembly on Tuesday to be held as convened by the Perak Speaker.

MACC: Old Wine In a New Bottle – Tunku Abdul Aziz

From The Malaysian Insider

MARCH 1 – What a waste of public funds! The creation of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will go down in history as a feeble and pathetic final clutch at the straws by a sitting duck prime minister best remembered for his inexhaustible supply of good intentions but with nothing to show for them.

The MACC was hastily conceived against a murky background of a web of duplicity and deceit. It was a desperate attempt at deluding the people of this country and the world anti-corruption community at large that the Abdullah Badawi administration still had a lot of fire in its belly to make corruption a high risk and low return business.

The whole process was nothing more that a charade, a sleight of hand that we had come to expect of this government.

In the meantime, corruption continues to be in robust good health.

In 1995 my friends and I started to look at corruption in our country seriously and to view with growing unease its debilitating effects on our society.

This led, incidentally, to the formation of Transparency International Malaysia as it has come to be known.

We saw the Anti-Corruption Agency for what it really was in operational terms. It was the weakest link in both the “supply and demand sides” of the corruption equation.

We saw the ACA as part of the problem of corruption and not, as it should rightly have been, part of the solution. We thought its claim to “independence” was a joke in poor taste. It was as independent as a beached whale.

We demanded from day one that the ACA be converted into an independent commission along the lines of the highly professional Independent Commission Against Corruption with a strong and influential oversight civilian committee to keep an eye on the staff who could otherwise be tempted to abuse their wide powers.

After years of insisting that the ACA was independent despite glaring examples to the contrary, the government finally relented just as the Abdullah Badawi administration went into its death throes.

Abdullah Badawi woke up all of a sudden to try to put in place the flawed Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission. He is, he has just told us, happy with the judiciary and the MACC.

But then our prime minister is an easy man to please. You will note that for all the rhetoric about an independent commission, the key operating word itself does not appear in the name and title of the new body. I suppose it matters not what name you give it, the creation of the MACC is nothing if not a clumsy attempt at decanting old wine into a new bottle.

As for the much hyped up “Hong Kong model” upon which the new corruption fighting machine is apparently based, the less said about this the better. It is clear for all to see that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission falls far short of the Hong Kong template on at least two counts.

The first and most obvious shortcoming is an absence in the current law of a provision enabling a MACC officer to call anyone to account for their wealth and lifestyle that stick out like a sore thumb against his known income.

It is not a crime for public servants to be wealthy, but would they please explain how they have acquired their wealth to the satisfaction of the authorities, assuming naturally that the authorities themselves are incorruptible?

The absence of this specific provision in the law renders the fight against corruption an exercise in futility.

The legions of the corrupt in Malaysian public life know that they cannot be touched. The framers of the law knew what they were doing when they decided to omit this powerful provision both in the 1997 Act as well as the current law.

They claim that there is no need for it as there is already in the statute book a provision against money laundering. They have missed the point deliberately and with a cynicism of Machiavellian proportions. It is frighteningly sinister.

The second and equally serious shortcoming is the quality of the commissioners. You cannot by any stretch of the imagination compare them with their highly professional Hong Kong counterparts.

I have kept abreast of the excellent work of the Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption from the time when the iconic Bertrand de Speville was its commissioner.

The Hong Kong model works because of the quality of the officers employed. They are all of them drawn from the professions, and are well trained to behave and act professionally. Above all, the ICAC is truly independent, set out to be just that from day one.

Now that the MACC has been officially launched, let us hope it will shed its reputation for bias and sloppy approach to its mission, and above all, its officers must resist the great temptation of seeking premature publicity such as the “million flying licences” of some years ago.

Let your professionalism be its own reward, and Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan, the head of the organisation should learn to keep his counsel and not repeat that most uncalled for and disgraceful act of finding Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim guilty while his “car and cow” case was still a work in progress.

I wrote this piece before the official launch of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday, and I am glad that I delayed submitting it to the editors so that I can now have the pleasure of congratulating Datuk Anwar Fazal, a partner in the setting up of Transparency International Malaysia, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin, and Tan Sri Yong Poh Kon, all strong anti-corruption advocates and my co-workers, on their appointment to the advisory board. They have their work cut out for them, and I wish them well.

As for the MACC, remember this; we can have the best legal framework, systems and procedures, but if we put crooks in charge, nothing will change. A “bunga tahi ayam” by any other name will not smell like a rose. – MySinchew

Moral And Political Issues In Malaysia

By Syed Azwan Syed Ali

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) -- The controversy on the posting of semi-nude pictures of a Selangor state executive councillor in the internet recently, and then, the resurfacing of a sex video involving a former cabinet minister, have created a polemic on eastern values and moral principles among the people.

Since then, issues on morality has become a hot topic of conversation, not only in coffee shops and offices, but also in cyber space.

While some demand those involved to resign, there are many who regard the matter as personal and an intrusion of one's privacy and private rights, while some claim that it is a political conspiracy.

The question, however, is whether the moral standing of a leader does have a bearing on his/her leadership and integrity.

"Morals and integrity are important for a leader, as people say, the freshness of a fish begins from the head," political analyst Associate Prof Dr Mohammad Agus Yusoff, from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) told Bernama here.

Moral or "moralitas" in Latin, means a code of conduct which is held to be authoritative in matters of right and wrong.

Referring to Bukit Lanjan assemblyman Elizabeth Wong, whose pictures were posted in the internet, Mohammad Agus said her case was a moral issue.

"The reason being that the other person was allowed to enter (her house/room). Meanwhile, defecting to another party is also a moral issue because it is unethical," he added.

Following the circulation of her semi-nude pictures, Wong, has offered to resign as state executive councillor and assemblyman.

Until now, the Selangor government led by the opposition coalition views Wong's case as an intrusion of her private rights and not a question of her moral standing, besides claiming that it was planned by Barisan Nasional.

Prior to Wong's case, the then health minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek was forced to resign as a cabinet minister, as well as his post in MCA, when a video of him having sex with a woman was widely circulated.

Despite the bru-ha-ha over their morality, the opposition coalition - DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and PAS, continue to support Wong, and likewise the MCA members also gave their support to Dr Chua, who made a comeback in MCA after winning the party's deputy presidency.

The question is what are the rationale and lessons from these incidents.

"Everybody makes mistakes. What is more important is whether they want to change and make amends," a sociologist from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Dr Lee Yok Fee said.

On Dr Chua's return to MCA, he said it was a decision made by the party members and did not reflect the views of the masses, adding that the interpretation on morality varies from one person to another.

"For example, it is normal to bathe nude, but if a person sits naked watching television alone (and the neighbours get to know about it), that has to do with psychological problem," he added.

He said it was an individual's private rights to do what he/she liked as long as the action did not disturb others.

A voter in Bandar Tun Razak said the results of the 12th general election clearly indicated the type of leadership the people wanted.

"If we want leaders with integrity, not corrupt, who do not abuse their power, do not neglect the people, we must elect those with moral," he added.

However, for veteran politician and the Association of Malaysian Muslim Lawyers president, Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang, he said the question of morality should be based on religious teachings.

He said a leader's morality and integrity should not be regarded as personal because, like celebrities, they belonged to the public.

They should be role models for the people, he added.

Opposition leaders condemn arrest of protesters

Opposition leaders today condemned police use of water cannon against ethnic Indian demonstrators and the arrest of 17 protesting at the alleged ill-treatment of a detained rights group leader.

MCPX

Nearly 400 supporters of banned Indian rights group Hindraf had gathered Saturday at a police station in the capital when police hit the crowd with chemical-laced water.

"This is clearly an example of an excessive and unjustified use of police force on the people," senior opposition parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang told AFP.

"All these people were doing was just trying to get the government to give much needed medical attention to one of their leaders and to use such force on them should be condemned," he added.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said the move by police to disperse demonstrators filing reports on the health of detained Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar, who is being held in the Kamunting detention facility in northern Perak state, was worrying.

"I protest. People who lodged police reports against (senior opposition figure) Karpal Singh escape while those who defended their friends at Kamunting are detained," he was quoted as saying by the state news agency Bernama.

All protesters released

Hindraf coordinator R Thanenthiran, who had been detained, said he and opposition lawmaker S Manickavasagam were negotiating with police in filing close to 50 police reports when they were hit.

"All we were trying to do is file police reports over the government's lack of medical treatment for... Uthayakumar and the police watercannoned us," he told AFP.

Police said Sunday all 17 protesters had been released on police bail.

Uthayakumar was arrested in 2007 under the Internal Security Act, which allows for indefinite detention without trial, after organising an anti-discrimination rally that saw more than 8,000 people take to the streets.

He has since complained of a lack of treatment for his diabetes while in custody and his lawyer says there is a fear that he may lose his leg because of a lack of access to medical care.

The authorities have denied the claim, saying he has been treated by government doctors.

-AFP

India urges 'pause' in Sri Lankan fighting

NEW DELHI, India (CNN) -- India has called for a "pause" in the fighting between Sri Lankan forces and Tamil rebels to allow the evacuation of thousands of civilians trapped in the nation's northern war zone.

Ethnic Tamils beat an effigy of Sri Lanka's Prime Minister with shoes in front of the U.N. office in Kuala Lumpur.

In a statement issued Saturday, India's external affairs minister, Pranab Mukherjee, warned that the humanitarian crisis was "building up with every passing day" in Sri Lanka.

Mukherjee referred to the recent rebel offer of a cease-fire as an "opportunity" for the Sri Lankan government to stave off the crisis.

"While this (the cease-fire proposal) may fall short of a declaration of willingness to lay down arms, it is our view that the government of Sri Lanka should seize the opportunity presented by the offer to bring about a pause in the hostilities," Mukherjee said.

Mukherjee said a civilian evacuation would require cooperation by the Tamil rebels as well. There are reports of more than 70,000 civilians trapped in the war zone.

Fighting is occurring in the Mulaittivu region. Mukherjee said people are dying, and there are shortages of food, water and medicine in the war zone.

He said India is working on sending an emergency medical team and medicines to the internally displaced people in the north.

"The pause in hostilities must be utilized to facilitate the movement of Tamil population out of the war-affected areas to secure locations where proper rehabilitation is possible, and international aid organizations ... have free access and scope to provide medical and other forms of humanitarian aid," Mukherjee said, using the International Committee of the Red Cross as an example.

The Tamil Tiger militant group has fought for an independent Tamil state since 1983. The Sri Lankan military has recently made gains against strongholds of the group, officially known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Mukherjee said Sri Lanka should also carry out what he called "a proper devolution of powers to the provinces," after shifting war victims to safe locations.

He called for "assurances of equality and equal rights to all citizens, particularly the Tamil people, within the constitutional framework of Sri Lanka maintaining its territorial integrity."

28Feb09. Police Report Uthayakumar health & 17 Arrested

By Jayathas Sirkunavelu

Im fine. Myself, YB.Mike,YB.Manogar and Thanindren, we negotiated with OCPD and he allow 10 group to make report and assured that no will be arrested. We came out spoke to our supporters and 50 ppl were allowed in to make report. When all 50 in the station. THE OCPD give 10 second to disperse and we were wack with chemical lace watercanon, some ... Read morewere kick and some fainted. The OCPD is a lied and trick us. When UMNO demo there is no action taken but when minority Indian when to make police report we are treated like dogs. This what injustices happening in our country. Double standard.

Listen to Us, We too Angry

From MPKapar

Just because an opposition lawmaker called ruling parties youth movement “damn” , some opportunities entered Parliament house try to confront with him. While their out going leader whom Malaysian Education Minister supports their action on ground a word slipped out of senior Opposition leader in side Parliament house had created Anger among their members. It’s Education Minister saying so ! What will happen if a student got angry against his teacher whom called him “Anjing” (DOG) and Kelxng ? Does he has right to call his friends and WARM his teacher then? What a childish statement ?

Malaysian Indian had shown their displeasure against ruling government on Nov 25,2007 when hundred of thousand then walked the street of Kuala Lumpur despite road blocks from North to South of Peninsular Malaysia. They shown the same displeasure by moving away their loyal support in creating Political tsunami during 12th general election on Mar 8 2008.

Despite then , ruling government keep ignoring their voice. For them a Life of Indian born as Malaysian citizen is worthless compare to their buildings and lifeless assets. Check out statement by Musa Hassan IGP ” “The police station is a security area and we cannot allow such huge numbers inside for security reasons’’- the Star.

It’s Police duty to accept any number of reports filed by public. Why preventing the basic right been practice? Don’t Indian have right to file a single police report?

When you’re aware that plans under way to make massive police report, you should had instructed your subordinates to prepare such huge influx of people. If they need to work overtime, do it. I will simple classified them as COWARDS hiding behind authorities, machines and weapons.

REMEMBER AN ANT TOO CAN KILL AN ELEPHANT

இண்ட்ராஃப் ஆதரவாளர்களின்மீது வன்முறை!

by Olaichuvadi

வழக்கறிஞர் உதயகுமாருக்கு முறையான சிகிச்சை வழங்கப்படாதது குறித்து அதிருப்தியடைந்த இண்ட்ராஃப் ஆதரவாளார்கள், நேற்று (சனிக்கிழமை 28/02/2009) காலை 10 மணியளவில் பிரிக்பீல்ட்ஸ் காவல் நிலையத்தில் தனிப்பட்ட முறையில் புகார் அளிக்கச் சென்றபொழுது, காவல்த்துறையினர் மிகவும் கடுமையாக நடந்துகொண்டது மட்டுமல்லாமல், வன்முறையைக் கட்டவிழ்க்கும் வகையில் அமில நீரைப் பீய்ச்சியடித்து ஆதரவாளர்களை கலைந்துபோகச் செய்துள்ளனர். இச்சம்பவத்தில் காயமடைந்த மூவர் மருத்துவமனையில் சேர்க்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

காவல்த்துறையின் இவ்வராஜகச் செயலை தற்சமயம் லண்டன் மருத்துவமனையில் சிகிச்சைப் பெற்றுவரும் திரு.வேதமூர்த்தி கண்டித்துள்ளார். காவல்த்துறையினரிடம் ஓரவஞ்சனை ஒருபோதும் இருத்தல் கூடாது எனவும், இச்சம்பவம் காவல்த்துறையினரின் நன்மதிப்பை பொதுமக்கள் மத்தியில் மேலும் கெடச் செய்கிறது எனவும் அவர் கூறினார்.

பொதுமக்கள் மீது கட்டவிழ்க்கப்பட்ட இவ்வன்முறைக்கு பொறுப்பானவர்களை சுஹாகாம் மனித உரிமைக் கழகம் முறையான விசாரணைக்குட்படுத்த வேண்டும் என இண்ட்ராஃப் தலைவர் திரு.வேதமூர்த்தி கேட்டுக் கொண்டுள்ளார்.

அந்நிகழ்வின் காணொளிக்காட்சி கீழே..

Part 3

"Nyah Karpal" di Rembau

Anti-Karpal in Khairy's county. Every time I balik kampung in Lubok Cina at the Melaka-N.Sembilan border about 90-min drive at legal speed on the North-South Highway from KL, I exit at Pedas-Linggi and must pass through Khairy Jamaluddin's constituency of Rembau.

You see more lembu, kambing and other binatang ternakan than you see people along the narrow and winding Fed roads of Rembau. Yesterday, I saw more angry posters and banners than people.

Even though you don't see many of them, you can tell that of late the people in Rembau do not like Karpal Singh.

They don't like him for two reasons:

1. Because he is kurang ajar and biadap to Sultan of Perak, and
2. Because he called Pemuda Umno "celaka"

Said one Khairy Jamaluddin's supporter: "Tak guno cilako Karpal tu .. Den doa biar dio mampuih!"

How much the Nyah Karpal tactic will help the son-in-law at the elections for the Umno Youth leader later this month remains to be seen, but it's clear that Karpal has succeeded in touching the hearts and minds of the Malays in the kampung and not just at Dewan Rakyat.

Transkrip “Amanat Harapan” Kepada Kepimpinan KeADILan Pada 28 Februari 2009 di Hotel Quality Shah Alam

Hadirin Sekalian,

Himpunan hari ini menjadi bukti kepada bulatnya tekad serta matlamat kita semua untuk berbakti kepada negara dan rakyat negara ini. Bersama rakan-rakan dalam Pakatan Rakyat, kita akan pastikan Perubahan mengambil tempat dan menyempurnakan janji untuk membawa Harapan Baru kepada negara ini.

Tidak lama dahulu ramai yang percaya parti ini tidak ada masa hadapan. Mereka mentertawakan hasrat serta cita-cita kita. Muncullah nujum-nujum politik yang meramalkan kepupusan PKR kerana tidak percaya politik baru yang kita bawa; sebuah negara yang benar-benar bersatu dan tidak terperangkap dengan politik sentimen perkauman yang sempit.

Kepada rakan-rakan sekalian percayalah bahtera perjuangan ini tidak akan karam. Jangan sesekali keutuhan tekad perjuangan kita melonggar lemah.

Kepada mereka yang masih tersemat keraguan, percayalah kepada keluhuran akal budi rakyat, bukannya nujum-nujum yang sebenarnya masih terus mendokong regim korup. Parti ini sudahpun memasuki tahun yang ke 10 dan perjuangan kita mulai menunjukkan hasil. Yakinilah haluan tepat negara ini berada di tangan-tangan kita.

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Emergency Sitting Of Perak Assembly Cannot Be Held, Says Najib

KUANTAN, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the Perak State Assembly Speaker cannot call an emergency sitting of the assembly because the court has yet to make a decision on the status of the government in the state.

The Deputy Prime Minister said any decision to hold a state assembly sitting in Perak depended on the decision made by the court in relation to the case.

"It (sitting) cannot be held because there has been a court action," he told reporters after opening an assembly of undergraduates of Universiti Malaysia Pahang and the Eastern Zone National Education Carnival, here Saturday.

Najib said this when asked to comment on Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar yesterday announcing that an emergency sitting of the assembly would be held on Tuesday.

Asked if the sitting was aimed at toppling the Barisan Nasional (BN) government in Perak, Najib said : "Whatever it is, we have to wait for the decision of the court first. We have to first establish the status of the Perak government in terms of the constitution."

On Feb 13, former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin initiated court action in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to get a declaration that he is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak.

He also sought an injunction to prevent the new menteri besar, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir from carrying out the menteri besar's duties and for a fresh election to be held in Perak.

Najib added that the important thing now was for the new government in Perak to focus on serving the people of the state well.

"The state leaders in Perak must go down to the ground and show the people the new government's priority is their welfare," he said.

Also present at the function were Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob and Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.

In TAIPING, Zambry said Sivakumar's action was ultra-vires the Perak constitution and the Standing Orders of the state's legislature.

"He (Sivakumar) is making his own rules, it's up to him what he wants to do. He thinks by doing this he can circumvent the Sultan (of Perak) and others... some people say 'Singh is King' but I do not know if anyone is saying 'Siva is King'," he told reporters after launching the BN's election machinery for the Bukit Gantang by-election, here today.

Asked if he would be initiating legal action to prevent the sitting, Zambry said: "That is what he (Sivakumar) wants, bring everything to the courts. We must understand the state constitution and the assembly's Standing Orders are very clear on these matters. You can interpret them any way you want but they must be followed."

It is understood the emergency meeting is being called to move a vote of confidence in Mohammad Nizar as the Menteri Besar of Perak.

With Sivakumar having issued suspension orders on Zambry and his six executive councillors for 18 months and 12 months respectively from attending state assembly sittings and not recognising three lawmakers who defected from their parties as assemblymen, the ousted opposition government thinks it can return to power in Perak as the majority in the assembly now has shifted in its favour (28 versus 21).

Anwar Regrets Detention Of Kapar MP

(Bernama) -- Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim regrets the detention of Kapar member of parliament (MP) S.Manikavasagam and 17 supporters of Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee P.Uthayakumar at an illegal rally at Brickfields police headquarters today.He said police should not have prevented the supporters from handing a report that diabetic Uthayakumar was not given proper treatment.

"I protest. People who lodged police reports against Karpal Singh escape while those who defended their friends at Kamunting are detained.

"I've seen Umno's demonstration in Penang. They controlled the entire area but nobody was even questioned," he said at a "peoples' aspiration address" here today.

Anwar also claimed that the toll rates would be increased after the by-elections at Bukit Gantang (Perak), Bukit Selambau (Kedah) and Batang Ai (Sarawak).

The Cabinet has decided to postpone indefinitely the toll increase for five expressways that was supposed to take effect on Sunday.