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Monday, 6 April 2009

Hindraf detainee's wife denies 'support BN' claim (Malaysiakini)

The wife of Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader T Vasanthakumar today denied that her husband is willing to support Barisan Nasional if he is released from detention under the Internal Security Act as claimed by a 'relative'.

MCPX

hindraf vasanthakumar hospital visit 180408 k. vickneswaryIn clarifying the matter, K Vickneswary said she does not know who the so-called relative (who made the statement) was.

Yesterday, A Latha, who claimed to be Vasanthakumar's cousin, told reporters that the latter mentioned to her that he would support BN if released.

Disputing this, Vickneswary said: "I don’t even know who this Latha is. Anybody can come and claim that they are my husband's relative. It is a political game," she said, stressing that any official statement should only come from her.

However, the mother of two added that she would not file a police report on the matter.

"I am not going to the police (for now). I am just not aware of this statement and I hope this will never happen again," she said.

'Praying for his release'

hindraf isa detainee r kenghadharan and v ganabatirau released 060409Yesterday, two Hindraf leaders V Ganabatirau and R Kenghadharan were released after spending 15 months in detention.

They were among five Hindraf leaders arrested in December 2007, shortly after organising a mammoth rally.

Apart from Vasanthakumar, the other two still in detention are P Uthayakumar and M Manoharan.

Ganabatirau and Kenghadharan were among 13 ISA detainees freed yesterday as pledged by newly appointed prime minister, Najib Abdul Razak.

Meanwhile, Vickneswary said she is looking forward to her husband's release as well. "I am praying really hard for it (to happen). I hope the new PM will look into this matter and release him."

She said their children, especially the couple’s seven-year-old daughter, miss their father.

Vote for Pakatan Rakyat

MENILITI KERTAS UNDI DAN ELAK TAKTIK KOTOR BN

KENYATAAN MEDIA
PILIHANRAYA KECIL N. 25 DUN BUKIT SELAMBAU

GESA PENGUNDI KELUAR AWAL SERTA MENILITI KERTAS UNDI DAN ELAK TAKTIK KOTOR BN

Ahli Parlimen Kapar S . Manikavasagam mengesa pengundi -pengundi DUN Bukit Selambau untuk memilih calon Pakatan Rakyat Sdr S . Manikumar yang bebas daripada Korupsi bukan seperti calon Barisan Nasional yang telah gagal besar nombor -nombor calon di akan di cetak pada kertas undi serta aturan nama -nama calon tidak mengikut turutan untuk mengelirukan pengundi yang kurang arif. Maka , beliau menasihatkan agar pengundi-pengundi meniliti Kertas Undi serta logo Parti Keadilan Rakyat. melaksanakan tugasan sewaktu menjadi Adun Lunas.
Memandangkan ianya kawasan Bukit Selambau sering menerima Hujan setiap petang beliau mengesa supaya Pengundi Bukit Selambau keluar mengundi seawal mungkin.
Demi mempertahankan maruah Barisan Nasional yang gagal dalam dua pilihanraya lepas, saya difahamkam kemungkinan


Kemenangan Calon MIC di Bukit Selambau akan memperkukuhkan keangkuhan President MIC Samy Velu untuk terus bertapa serta kembali bermaharaja lela di kalangan masyarakat India yang telah sekian lama tertindas.


Kemenangan Sdr S. Manikumar akan memastikan beliau dapar melaksanakan tugas sebagai Exco Negeri Kedah sambil memastikan mereka yang tertindas selama ini di bela secara saksama. Barisan Nasional yang memerintah Negeri Kedah selama 50 tahun gagal memberi Cuti Thaipusam, tetapi kini mereka mencerca Pakatan Rakyat . Saya pasti Sdr S Manikumar akan membawa perkara ini untuk perhatian YAB Menteri Besar Kedah secepat mungkin selepas beliau mula bertugas sebagai Adun dan Exco Kedah.


Sekiranya perlu , saya sedia memberi bantuan kepada beliau dalam membawa isu-isu seperti peruntukkan untuk Sekolah-sekolah Tamil ke Parlimen supaya tugasan beliau untuk membela rakyat dengan lebih efektif. Saya pasti Ahli-ahli Parlimen Pakatan Rakyat yang lain juga sudi membantu beliau.


Taktik Kotor Barisan Nasional yang mengunakan Jentera-jentera Kerajaan Persekutuan seperti Tekun dengan memberi wang RM3000 bantuan perniagaan, Akhbar-akhbar kroni mereka serta pembebasan 13 orang tahanan ISA termasuk dua orang penasihat undang-undang hindraf tidak akan melenturkan semangat perjuangan kita yang tertindas selama ini.


Saya juga mengesa supaya pengundi-pengundi jangan terperangkap dalam jerat penyokong-penyokong Barisan Nasional yang cuba mengacau . Mereka di bayar untuk berlakuan demikian walaupun hati dan jiwa mereka menyokong Pakatan Rakyat.


S Manikavasagam
Ahli Parlimen Kapar

Kugan’s post mortem files seized from UMMC

By Neville Spykerman - The Malaysian Insider

PETALING JAYA, April 6 — All files, pictures and samples in relation to A. Kugan, who died in custody, were seized by police from a hospital which had carried out a second post mortem on Jan 25.

A search warrant was issued to the University Malaya Medical Centre here before policemen took away the items.

Kugan was arrested on suspicion of car theft on Jan 15 but died at the police lockup five days later.

Federal Criminal Investigation Director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin told The Malaysian Insider police were instructed to make the seizures by the Attorney-General and the move was part of ongoing investigations into the case.

Lawyer N Surendren, who is representing Kugan’s family, said he was shocked with the latest development adding police had been at UMMC the whole morning.

“I have been informed in writing by the hospital because Kugan’s family had sought the second post mortem which was carried out there.”

Meanwhile Surendren also slammed the findings of an independent committee formed by the Health Ministry today which concluded he died due to water in the lungs or acute pulmonary edema, inflammation of heart muscles or acute myocarditis which was compounded by blunt force.

Surendren said the committee has effectively found a third cause of death which is inflammation of the heart, which was never found by either pathologist who carried out the first and second post mortem.

The first post mortem carried out at the Serdang Hospital by Dr Karim Tajuddin on Jan 21 stated Kugan’s casue of death as “acute pulmonary edema” or fluid in the lungs.

A second post mortem was carried out by Dr Prashant N. Samberkar and he found Kugan died from a condition known as rhabdomyolysis, which is the rapid break-down of skeletal muscle tissue which will lead to kidney failure.

Other discrepancies, peviously reported were V-shaped marks which were described as abrasions in the Serdang Hospital report but burn wounds with a heated object in the second report.

The first report only found 22 external injuries on his body while the second found 40 such injuries.

The second post-mortem revealed congested blood vessels in Kugan’s brain haemorrhage in his neck muscles, heart and spleen, and contradicts the Serdang Hospital report which found these organs were normal.

The Serdang Hospital report says other organs in Kugan’s body were examined and were normal but the second findings showed that the organs were intact and not even removed for dissection, before the second post-mortem was conducted.

Surendren said the committee had “second guessed” the findings of the two doctors without the benefit of carrying out a post mortem and labelled the committee a whitewash.

He said unlike an on going inquiry by the Malaysian Medical Council into the case, the government independent inquiry had not called in family members or himself to give evidence or observe proceedings.

Earlier at a press conference in Putrajaya, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican disclosed the findings of the committee which was formed to investigate the discrepancies in the two post mortems. An eight page report was released to the press.

The 10-men committee unanimously agreed there was no evidence to show that the deceased had been ‘branded’ or been given repeated application of heat with an instrument or object as reported in the second post mortem.

In their opinion the injuries were the result of repeated trauma by a blunt and flexible object, like a rubber hose.

The committee found that all injuries on Kugan were insufficient to directly cause death and the discrepancies in the two reports were due to the absence of communication between the two pathologists, the misinterpretation of post mortem changes and some of the injuries by the second pathologist.

They concluded the discrepancy was not because of any foul reporting, misleading of information and there was no intention to hide information.

Dr Ismail said the differences in the number of external injuries found on Kugan, was because of different methodology used by the doctors. Dr Karim had tabulated 22 external injuries because he had grouped them by regions while Dr Prashant had listed some individually and some in groups, on the body.

He said the findings will be handed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers tomorrow

BN man denies he is man in Thai bar girl photo

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

TAIPING, April 6 — With less than 12 hours before polling for the Bukit Gantang parliamentary election begins, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Ismail Saffian found himself to be a victim today of what he claims is gutter politics.

He was forced today to deny his involvement with a Thai bar girl in a photograph allegedly taken of him in a border town in Thailand.

In a specially called press conference late this afternoon, Ismail said a doctored picture showing him with a girl in Southern Thailand was circulated to discredit his credibility.

“It was done by desperate parties ahead of the polling day tomorrow,” he told reporters.

Recently a booklet detailing Selangor state executive councillor from PKR Elizabeth Wong’s alleged sex scandal was also circulated.

Ismail, who is facing Pas’s Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin and an independent, also denied that he had written a letter addressed to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak apologising to him over corruption cases.

The ‘letter’ was also circulated in the Bukit Gantang constituency.

Ismail added that he was selected to be the candidate after he was cleared by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC).

“I have strong evidence from MACC that I am clean and can contest here,” he told reporters.

Ismail later lodged a police report at the Simpang Police Station near here.

The campaign period for the by-election ends at midnight and the results of the polling which is scheduled to start at 8am tomorrow will be known by 10pm.

Jangan biar Nizar kalah

If they don't win tomorrow..........

They've got nearly unlimited financial resources to support their campaign, built instant development and bribe the voters. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people is not easily bought anymore.

They've shamelessly utilized every government machinery available to their advantage. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people finds this abuse of power utterly disgusting.

They've got the mainstream media - papers, radio and TV to spin lies and shower propaganda to all the people nationwide. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people can smell the bull from miles away.

They overthrew a democratically elected, legal government via threats and monetary rewards yet they have the audacity to ask the people for their blessings? If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that none of the people approved of that dastardly act.

They paid 13 so called 'independent' candidates who are actually former BN party members in an attempt to split the opposition votes. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that they've grossly underestimated our intelligence.

They played the racial card and sow the seeds of fear amongst the multi-racial Malaysian. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people have seen through this timeless but obsolete tactic.

They tried to portray PAS as a fundamentalist and extreme party to scare off the non-Muslim voters. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people is enlightened of the true colours of PAS who has only the people's interest at heart and know that 'extremist' PAS is many times better than racist and arrogant UMNO.

They've got the feel good factor of the newly elected prime minister and the return of the highly influential Tun Dr M to their fold. If they still don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people doesn't approve of the new premier and they still remember how the latter destroyed democracy and the judiciary and oppressed freedom in this country.

They robbed the people and the country of the rights and wealth in broad daylight for the past 50 years or so. If they don't win tomorrow then we'll know that the people have had enough of that and the winds of change is blowing well and strong.

They've got the police, EC, the judiciary on their side, harassing peaceful and harmless opposition ceramah, allowing dead and phantom voters to vote. If they still don't win tomorrow then we'll know maybe God is indeed on our side.

They've got all of the above and they still don't win? Then I don't know-lah.

Islam equals shit

Image

Hantu Laut just wrote that Islam equals shit and these ‘defenders of Islam’ are not in the least bothered. But they are extremely concerned that YB Nga Kor Ming, the Member of Parliament for Taiping, has recited a verse from the Quran even though he did so not out of disrespect.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Vote For PAS/Pakatan? Certainly Not!

Hantu Laut

Vote for Pakatan and you would probably be taking Malaysia on the road to this:

(See the video on http://hantulautan.blogspot.com/2009/04/vote-for-paspakatan-certainly-not.html )

PAS have been harping of passing Hudud law in this country. The graphic video above is a punishment under Hudud law. That was for a minor offence, but for more serious offence like stealing, no matter how small, the cutting of limbs is the appropriate punishment. Public executions are common practices in Hudud law. If one was later found innocent those limbs could not be re-attached. Under Hudud law miscarriage of justice is absolutely irreversible.

The DAP and PKR are helping Malaysia to eventually becoming a true republic and a truly Islamic nation with the prospect of 'Hudud law'.

Pakistan is an example of a country that have all the making of a modern nation but where politics have gone terribly wrong because of religion and religious deviants. The Talibans claimed they are practising the purest form of Islam. They are nothing but religious deviants. Islam doesn't teach it followers to kill innocent civilians in the name of the religion.

If PAS get the most MP seats, which is not impossible, among the three partners in the next general elections whom do you think would be prime minister of this nation?

Anwar Ibrahim?

Among the three, his party has been the most troublesome and eventually would be the weakest.

Don't kid yourself that this will never happen here.

Vote for Pakatan? Certainly not me.

http://hantulautan.blogspot.com/2009/04/vote-for-paspakatan-certainly-not.html

***************************************

Yesterday, a police report was made at the Taiping Police Station against YB Nga Kor Ming, the Member of Parliament for Taiping. The people who made this police report are Hj Osman Abu Bakar, the President of Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu, and Hj Hassan Hamzah, its Secretary. Hj Hassan is also the UMNO Bagan Datoh Division Deputy Head. Bagan Datoh is the constituency of Datuk Zahid Hamidi, one of the three newly elected Vice-Presidents of UMNO.

Make no bones about it. Hj Osman and Hj Hassan are Umno slime-balls and scumbags. And I call them slime-balls and scumbags because they are using Islam as a camouflage for politics. They, in a nutshell, are taking the Lord’s name in vain, as the Christians would say.

If these two Umno slime-balls and scumbags are really serious and sincere about ‘defending’ Islam, as they say they are, then they would have certainly made a police report, years ago, against the Kamunting Detention Centre for forbidding Muslim detainees from performing their Friday prayers.

I know what they will probably say. The detainees in Kamunting are under Internal Security Act detention. So there is no way they can be allowed to leave the detention centre to go to the nearby mosque to do their Friday prayers. Hey, who said they should be allowed to leave the detention centre to go to the nearby mosque to do their Friday prayers? The detainees are only asking to be allowed to do their Friday prayers in the detention centre. They are not asking to be allowed to leave the detention centre to go to the nearby mosque.

The Mufti of Perak, however, has ruled that the ISA detainees cannot perform their Friday prayers, even if they want to do it in the detention centre and not in the nearby mosque. This is a ruling, also known as a fatwah or religious decree, by none other than the head honcho of the Perak religious authority.

The detainees brought this matter to my attention when I was there briefly from September to November last year. I discussed this with the Kamunting authority and they confirmed that this was so. These detainees are so stubborn, I was told. The Mufti of Perak already told them they cannot perform their Friday prayers, lamented the Kamunting authority, so why are they still harping on the issue?

The irony of this whole issue is that the Kamunting detention centre has a prayer hall that can easily accommodate 100 people. Therefore, why is it so difficult to grant permission for less than 50 Muslim detainees to perform their Friday prayers in this prayer hall? And you only need 40 people to perform your Friday prayers, which the hall can more than accommodate.

The Muslim detainees are already performing their congregation prayers on Hari Raya Puasa and Hari Raya Haji. And they are performing these prayers not in the prayer hall but in an open field, the sepak raga court to be exact. Can’t the Friday prayers also be performed on this same sepak raga court? It is mind-boggling that the detainees can perform their Hari Raya prayers on the sepak raga court within the compound of the detention centre but can’t also perform their Friday prayers there. Utter crap, if you ask me.

I made a police report at the Sentul Police Station about this matter soon after I was released from Kamunting in November last year. The police, however, totally ignored my police report. They did not even bother to take my statement, as is the normal procedure when a police report is made. If the Hj Osman and Hj Hassan Umno slime-balls and scumbags really have the interest of Islam at heart, they would have taken up this issue with fervour and enthusiasm.

Anyway, this is not what I wanted to lament about today. What I want to talk about is the posting by Hantu Laut in his Blog http://hantulautan.blogspot.com/.

I don’t know whether Hantu Laut is a Malay or not, but Malays believe in all sorts of Hantu -- Hantu Laut, Hantu Dapor, Hantu Kopek (Boobs Ghost), Hantu Raya, and whatnot. I assume, however, that Hantu Laut is non-Malay and non-Muslim from the way he or she has whacked Islam.

I want to see whether the two Umno slime-balls and scumbags, Hj Osman and Hj Hassan, are going to make a police report against Hantu Laut as well. If they don’t, then another ‘pejuang Islam’ like the PKR Member of Parliament for Kulim, who said he would defend Islam to his last drop of blood, should instead.

Read what Hantu Laut said. He is ridiculing the Syariah. The Muslims consider the Syariah as God’s law. Ridiculing the Syariah tantamount to ridiculing Allah.

Hey, Hj Osman and Hj Hassan! Hantu Laut is mocking Allah. Hantu Laut has whacked the Quran and is dragging Islam through the mud. Are you going to remain silent? If YB Nga Kor Ming, the Member of Parliament for Taiping, has insulted Islam just because he recited a verse from the Quran, then what Hantu Laut wrote is many, many times more insulting. Are you going to do nothing?

I am going to see what happens from hereon. If no one bothers about what Hantu Laut wrote then it just confirms what I have always said about Malay-Muslims, they are full of shit. Hantu Laut just wrote that Islam equals shit and these ‘defenders of Islam’ are not in the least bothered. But they are extremely concerned that YB Nga Kor Ming, the Member of Parliament for Taiping, has recited a verse from the Quran even though he did so not out of disrespect.

Malays always quote from the Bible, although most times they don’t realise they are quoting the Bible. Do we see the Christians frothing at the mouth and rushing to make police reports? Haprak punya Melayu, Muslim munafiq! I would like to call these people dogs but then I love dogs and would not want to insult dogs in that manner.

Batang Ai & the two Bukits : The final push

By Haris Ibrahim,

We got word today that marine police had been intimidating the fishermen operating illegally in Kuala Sepetang.

Seems they were asked to disclose their ic numbers and to not turn up at the polling stations tomorrow.

You can guess what the gameplan is.

We are trying to arrange for a team to go out there to speak to some of the locals and at the same time launch the following sms campaign that is applicable in all three by-elections.

delCapo came up with the English and Sanjiun did the Chinese translation.

“Old dying snake (BN) is taking last desperate bites. DO NOT be intimidated by this old dying snake…. NO to BN! Come out & vote early… come out with family/friends/neighbours”

老残蛇国阵如今在做垂死挣扎。
请别被老残蛇的伎俩吓倒。
拒绝国阵!
请尽早前来投票,并转告和携带您的家人/朋友/邻居。

Remember the earlier two sms’s that were launched at the very beginning. Well here they are again, together with Chinese translations, again courtesy of Sanjiun.

Rakyat menolak politik kaum UMNO / BN. Politik kaum UMNO / BN hancurkan perpaduan rakyat. Jangan diperdayakan dengan politik kaum UMNO / BN. Politik Pakatan Rakyat menyatukan rakyat. Rakyat sehati sejiwa menyelamatkan negara yang dicintai. Undilah PAS / PKR pada 7/4/2009. Hidup rakyat. Sebar kpd kwn2 di Btg Ai / Bkt Gantang / Bkt Selambau

人民唾弃巫统/国阵的种族政治!种族政治阻碍全民团结。请不要被巫统/国阵的种族政治谎言骗倒。民联重视全民团结。全民必须团结,以拯救国土。请在7/4/2009,投回教党/公正党一票。人民万岁!请把此讯息转发给所有武吉干当/巴当艾/武吉士南卯的朋友。

Media massa arus p’dana akan m’perdayakan rkyt & m’cari helah utk gagalkan PAS di Bkt Gantang dan PKR di Btg Ai / Bkt Selambau dgn berita palsu - utk menanam rasa syak wasangka terhadap PAS & PKR. Jom boikot! Jgn beli s/kabar. Jgn p’caya berita radio/TV. Sebarkan kpd kwn2 di Bkt Gantang / Btg Ai / Bkt Selambau.

主流媒体欺骗人民,利用谎言制造猜疑,离间和打击武吉干当回教党和巴当艾/武吉士南卯公正党。请杯葛主流媒体/报章。勿轻易相信电视/电台新闻。请把此讯息转发给所有武吉干当/巴当艾/武吉士南卯的朋友。

And here’s a few more sms’s worth sending out to people you know may be voting tomorrow in any one of the three constituencies, all courtesy of Sanjiun.

“A vote for Pakatan Rakyat (Nizar/ PAS), is a vote AGAINST Najib”

给民联(回教党候选人尼查)的一票,就是反对纳吉的一票!

“Vote Nizar to Parliament to fight for Perak on federal level”

请投尼查一票!把他送入国会,为霹雳人民请命!

People, all the campaigning that could conceivably have been done has been done.

Today, our BR blogging team is on standby to track any last minute spin-doctoring by BN and, if need be, to address the same.

Tomorrow, many will be deployed in both Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau with a view to bringing you the most up-to-date news to you through the day and night as the results are released.

You can play your part in trying to bring about the change we all so desperately want and deserve.

Send these sms’s out to every person you know will be voting in any one of the constituencies.

Ask them to send it out to others whom they know will be voting, too.

Please ask voters to go out early to vote so as to not allow room for the ‘pengundi hantu’ to impact on the results tomorrow.

God save this country.

A simple man who won the hearts of the common people

By Haris Ibrahim

Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar !

That’s how some 4,000 diners and non-diners greeted the real MB of Perak last night at a 300-table dinner in Simpang hosted by DAP to lend support to Nizar’s efforts to gain election to Parliament as the representative of the good people of Bukit Gantang.

As he took to the stage

nizar-on-stage

diners and non-diners alike, were on their feet to warmly welcome a man who, in the shortest possible time, has won the affection of the people with his genuine concern for all, regardless of race or religion, and his drive to unite all Malaysians and to end race-based politics in the country.

dining-crowd3dining-crowddining-crowd1dining-crowd2

When he stepped up to the rostrum to deliver his short speech,

podium

he was passionate about what he had to say, he pulled no punches and was not bashful in asking those present to give him their vote to send him to parliament.

He call the by-election in Bukit Gantang the TURNING POINT, not just for this constituency, but for the whole nation.

He stressed how, in 10 months of governance, the Pakatan state government had begun the efforts to bring real harmonious co-existence amongst the various races in the state.

The crowd applauded their approval.

“It’s time for change, setuju?”, he asked.

“Setuju”, the crowd roared back.

“Enough of BN. Enough of their discriminatory, divisive policies, setuju?”, he asked again.

An even louder “Setuju”, was the response

“Let this by-election be a message to Najib. We don’t want you anymore”, Nizar urged.

“Let this by-election be the first step to the dissolution of the state assembly here, and then let the other states follow. Let this by-election pave the way for fresh elections in the country. Let this by-election pave the way for a new Pakatan Rakyat government to bring about the changes that the rakyat want”.

The crowd was ecstatic.

“On Tuesday, will you give your vote to send me to parliament to represent you?”

The crowd responded to this with another chorus of “Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar ! Nizar !

That said it all.

Mahathir’s coronation as eminence grise in Najib premiership

Many Malaysians must have very mixed thoughts about Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad’s appearance at the Bukit Gantang by-election hustings this morning and in particular at the 90-minute live telecast by TV1 of the entire event.

The first thought is that the Najib premiership has made no real difference with the continued unchecked and blatant abuse of government power and resources for Umno and Barisan Nasional purposes, the shocking lack of integrity in the inability of those in power to make the important distinctions among government, party and self which is the root cause of rampant corruption and abuses of power in a government dominated by Umno hegemony.

How can a government channel, TV1, give a live telecast to what is clearly a by-election campaigning by Umno/Barisan Nasional? TV1 is no different from RTM1, what it was known previously, which I had described as Radio/Television Mahathir in the 22-year Mahathir administration.

However, what must have occurred to many who happened to watch the live telecast was that they were not just watching Mahathir campaigning for Umno/BN in Bukit Gantang by-election after rejoining Umno, but a “coronation” of Mahathir as the eminence grise in the Najib premiership and the formal burial of the Abdullah legacy in Umno and Barisan Nasional!

These events happened quickly within 10 days of Najib taking over as the Umno President from Abdullah.

In his farewell winding-up speech as Umno President on the last day of the recent Umno General Assembly, Abdullah announced that he will see the Yang di Pertuan Agong to submit his resignation as Prime Minister.

On the 5th day, Abdullah had his last Cabinet meeting.

On the 6th day, Abdullah submitted his resignation as Prime Minister to the Yang di Pertuan Agong.

On the 7th day, Datuk Seri Najib Razak was sworn in as the sixth Prime Minister.

On the 8th day, Najib had a two-hour meeting with Mahathir who rejoined Umno.

On the 10th day this morning, Mahathir was “crowned” as the eminence grise of the Najib premiership, marking the return of both Mahathir and Mahathirism, with the former Prime Minister taking his position as the most powerful adviser and decision-maker who operates unofficially!

This morning’s event at Simpang in Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency also marks the formal burial of whatever there is left of the Abdullah legacy in Umno and Barisan Nasional!

This was why Mahathir’s “coronation” as the eminence grise of the Najib premiership was given such importance, not only telecast live for 90 minutes, but attended by heavy-weight Cabinet Ministers, including the Deputy Prime Minister-in-waiting, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, and Najib’s right-hand man, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi who scored the highest votes as Umno Vice President in the recent Umno party elections.

With Zahid standing next to Mahathir on the stage throughout Mahathir’s speech, leading the applause and clappings, who would have believed that it was none other than Zahid who had led the revolt against Mahathir a decade ago in the June 1998 Umno Youth General Assembly where Zahid used his position as Umno Youth leader to denounce Mahathir for KKN – corruption, cronyism and nepotism.

This shook up Mahathir as the KKN slogan had caused the downfall of President Suharto of Indonesia and the emergence of Indonesia reformasi.

Zahid’s denunciation of KKN was seen as an attempt to use the slogan to trigger the toppling of Mahathir as Prime Minister – which led to the sacking from office and persecution of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, the kangaroo trials and subsequent incarceration in Sungei Buloh Prison.

Zahid was detained for a week under the Internal Security Act but was completely “turned over” to become today one of the high priests for the return of Mahathirism in Malaysian government and politics.

Sad and pathetic that the Abdullah memory and legacy have been so summarily kicked aside for the “coronation” marking the triumphant return of Mahathir and Mahathirism in ten days of Najib premiership.

Hindraf men not exactly “free” men

By Baradan Kuppusamy, themalaysianinsider.com, April 06 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 — They are free but they will feel like they are still in jail.

The two Hindraf lawyers V. Ganabatirao and R. Kengadharan have been tied down with numerous conditions as part of their “freedom.”

They cannot leave the districts they live in, must be back home by 7pm, must get written permission from the district police to leave the districts and cannot give any press conference, take part in gatherings of more then five people or take part in organised political activities.

 ganapathi2.jpg
makklal Osai 060409
Gengatharn and Ganapathi Rao returning home


When they were freed and driven to their homes here — Ganabatirao in Kampung Jawa, Shah Alam and Kengadharan in Kelana Jaya — they were taken to the respective district police stations where the rules were read out to them.

While Kengadharan managed to say a few sentences at a press conference at his house, Ganabatirao was too shaken to say even a few words.

But he did tell The Malaysian Insider his disappointment that his “release” had not brought him the freedom he and his family had hoped for.

He was overcome with emotions when asked what was top most in his mind on the long drive from Kamunting Camp yesterday. “We paid the price, we sacrificed for the community but others are enjoying the benefits,” he said.

“We (Hindraf Five) cleared the jungle, tilled the soil, planted the seeds but we suffered in prison while others harvested the fruits,” he said before plainclothes police intervened and stopped him from speaking.

Earlier after his arrival in a police car, about 200 people greeted Ganabatirao with flowers, Tamil mridangam (drum) music and hoisted him on their shoulders and walked to his house at the 8th mile Jalan Kemuning.

His house is part of a settlement of uprooted Indians from estates who had settled in the land since the 1970s and had been given legal titles by the government in the 1990s — ironically after MIC representation.

Most people worked in numerous small scale family-based industries that dot the settlement and had migrated from Perak and Kedah, uprooted after the estates they worked in were redeveloped.

Ganabatirao’s father was uprooted from Teluk Intan while his wife B. Buvaneswary is from Sungei Petani.

His brother Papparaidu, a councillor under the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor government and a DAP member, did most of the talking for his brother, his eyes always straying to the plainclothes police officers hanging in the background.

Ganabatirao and the four others were detained since December 13, 2007 for leading the largest Indian uprising in the country on Nov 25, 2007, that helped mobilise Indian support for the opposition Pakatan Rakyat.

He and 12 other detainees were freed by Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak on his first day as the sixth prime minister three days ago.

Both Ganabatirao and Kengadharan still have their law offices as their wives had been paying the rent but they face a tough job to get their once prospering practices going again.

For one they cannot leave their respective districts without permission and that would hinder their legal practice as most of their work is in Kuala Lumpur.

Most of all they will have to adjust to living as “free” men again because in the detention camp every thing was regulated — from waking up to eating, exercising, reading and lights off time.

But now they have to create a new routine. It will take some adjusting to get use to the fact that now they can turn off the light as they like.

Buvaneswary says she will not stop Ganabatirao from restarting his political work, if he wants to.

But friends of Genga as Kengadharan is popularly known, says he might concentrate on his legal practice.

 ganapathi2.jpg


 ganapathi2.jpg

Kugan: Kugan Died Of Acute Pulmonary Oedema: Inquiry

PUTRAJAYA, Apr 6 (Bernama) -- Remand prisoner A. Kugan died of Acute Pulmonary Oedema due to acute myocarditis, or acute inflammation of the heart muscle, compounded by blunt force trauma, an independent committee investigating the two post-mortem reports on him concluded.

Director-General of Health Tan Sri Dr Mohd Ismail Merican said Monday Kugan was found to have a underlying acute myocarditis, while the blunt force trauma could have led to acute renal failure aggravating the acute myocarditis, resulting in acute pulmonary oedema.


"Acute myocarditis is an acute inflammation of the heart muscle which may be caused by infections or toxins. It is a known cause of sudden death in young adults and gross examination of the heart appears unremarkable in up to 30 per cent of the cases," he said to reporters here.

Dr Ismail said all body injuries noted on Kugan were insufficient, either individually or collectively, to cause death directly.

"There was no evidence of injuries to the internal organs and no skeletal fractures were detected," he said.

Kugan, who was detained by the police on Jan 15 for investigation for alleged car theft, died on Jan 20 while in police custody.

The post-mortem done by the Head of the Forensic Unit of Serdang Hospital, Dr Abdul Karim Tajuddin, concluded the cause of death as Acute Pulmonary Oedema.

Kugan's family requested a second post-mortem, which was done by the University Malaya Medical Centre's (UMMC) pathologist, Dr Prashant N Samberkar, who gave the provisional cause of death (pending toxicology) as Acute Renal Failure due to Rhbdomyolysis due to blunt trauma to skeletal muscles.

The dicrepancies between the two reports had raised some questions and this led the Health Ministry to set up a committee to investigate.

Dr Ismail said the committee, which was chaired by Kuala Lumpur Hospital senior consultant forensic pathologist Dr Mohd Shah Mahmood and comprised by nine other local and foreign doctors including those from Singapore and Saudi Arabia, also found that both pathologists who did the post-mortems had no intention of misleading or hiding any information on the findings.

However, he said, the second pathologist had misidentified and misinterpreted some of the post-mortem changes as being part of the initial injuries sustained by Kugan.

He said the pathologist also misinterpreted the patterned imprint injuries on the body as 'burn wounds', as there was no evidence of inflammatory infiltrates or thermal injuries in the skin from the back of the deceased, which would be present in thermal injury.

"It has to be emphasised that the autopsy report by Dr Prashant is a provisional report because he has not completed the autopsy as the toxicology is still pending, as stated in his report," he said.

Dr Ismail said the committee also was not able to establish how and where Kugan's body was kept after being released to his family until it was brought to UMMC for the second post-mortem, as it would significantly affect the physical state of the body.

The report would be handed over to the Attorney-General tomorrow and it is up to him to take any actions needed, he said.

-- BERNAMA

++++++++

Kugan’s post mortem files seized from UMMC

By Neville Spykerman, themalaysianinsider.com

PETALING JAYA, April 6 — All files, pictures and samples in relation to A. Kugan, who died in custody, were seized by police from a hospital which had carried out a second post mortem on Jan 25.

A search warrant was issued to the University Malaya Medical Centre here before policemen took away the items.

Kugan was arrested on suspicion of car theft on Jan 15 but died at the police lockup five days later.

Federal Criminal Investigation Director Datuk Seri Bakri Zinin told The Malaysian Insider police were instructed to make the seizures by the Attorney-General and the move was part of ongoing investigations into the case.

Lawyer N Surendren, who is representing Kugan’s family, said he was shocked with the latest development adding police had been at UMMC the whole morning.

“I have been informed in writing by the hospital because Kugan’s family had sought the second post mortem which was carried out there.”

Meanwhile Surendren also slammed the findings of an independent committee formed by the Health Ministry today which concluded he died due to water in the lungs or acute pulmonary edema, inflammation of heart muscles or acute myocarditis which was compounded by blunt force.

Surendren said the committee has effectively found a third cause of death which is inflammation of the heart, which was never found by either pathologist who carried out the first and second post mortem.

The first post mortem carried out at the Serdang Hospital by Dr Karim Tajuddin on Jan 21 stated Kugan’s casue of death as “acute pulmonary edema” or fluid in the lungs.

A second post mortem was carried out by Dr Prashant N. Samberkar and he found Kugan died from a condition known as rhabdomyolysis, which is the rapid break-down of skeletal muscle tissue which will lead to kidney failure.

Other discrepancies, peviously reported were V-shaped marks which were described as abrasions in the Serdang Hospital report but burn wounds with a heated object in the second report.

The first report only found 22 external injuries on his body while the second found 40 such injuries.

The second post-mortem revealed congested blood vessels in Kugan’s brain haemorrhage in his neck muscles, heart and spleen, and contradicts the Serdang Hospital report which found these organs were normal.

The Serdang Hospital report says other organs in Kugan’s body were examined and were normal but the second findings showed that the organs were intact and not even removed for dissection, before the second post-mortem was conducted.

Surendren said the committee had “second guessed” the findings of the two doctors without the benefit of carrying out a post mortem and labelled the committee a whitewash.

He said unlike an on going inquiry by the Malaysian Medical Council into the case, the government independent inquiry had not called in family members or himself to give evidence or observe proceedings.

Earlier at a press conference in Putrajaya, Health Director-General Tan Sri Dr Ismail Merican disclosed the findings of the committee which was formed to investigate the discrepancies in the two post mortems. An eight page report was released to the press.

The 10-men committee unanimously agreed there was no evidence to show that the deceased had been ‘branded’ or been given repeated application of heat with an instrument or object as reported in the second post mortem.

In their opinion the injuries were the result of repeated trauma by a blunt and flexible object, like a rubber hose.

The committee found that all injuries on Kugan were insufficient to directly cause death and the discrepancies in the two reports were due to the absence of communication between the two pathologists, the misinterpretation of post mortem changes and some of the injuries by the second pathologist.

They concluded the discrepancy was not because of any foul reporting, misleading of information and there was no intention to hide information.

Dr Ismail said the differences in the number of external injuries found on Kugan, was because of different methodology used by the doctors. Dr Karim had tabulated 22 external injuries because he had grouped them by regions while Dr Prashant had listed some individually and some in groups, on the body.

He said the findings will be handed to the Attorney-General’s Chambers tomorrow.

Bk Selambau : Me a senator? Samy Vellu dismisses idea

NST, April 06 2008

SUNGAI PETANI: Senator S. Samy Vellu? Definitely not.

The MIC president yesterday rubbished opposition claims that he would demand to be appointed a senator and returned to the cabinet if the MIC candidate won the Bukit Selambau by-election.

He said this in response to a claim by former PPP vice-president Datuk V. Nadarajan that Samy Vellu would ask Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for a cabinet post in the event Datuk S. Ganesan won the seat.


Nadarajan announced yesterday that he was bringing six divisions, 62 branches and 6,000 Kedah PPP members with him to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Samy Vellu, scoffing at reports that a mass PPP exodus to PKR had taken place, asked where the other 5,500 members were as he only noticed about 500 PPP members campaigning for Pakatan Rakyat.
"Where are they? I don't see them except for some 500 PPP members. We are not worried about them."

Samy Vellu said the MIC's chances of winning the seat, as of yesterday, were good.

He said the people were becoming less hostile towards the party, with more people talking to MIC leaders.

Party secretary-general Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said 60 per cent of Indian voters were in favour of Barisan Nasional, compared with 20 per cent earlier.

He said PKR Jerai division head B. Kalai Vanar's resignation from the party showed that things were not rosy in the party and that Indian issues were not being addressed by the PKR leadership.

"When we say this, people don't believe us but now we have people like Kalai Vanar, who were part of PKR, bringing it up."

Ganesan, when met on the campaign trail, said the police report lodged against him on Saturday was a false report and that he would file a counter report against those who did it.

"There is no truth in that. I did not cheat anyone. It's a false report," he said, adding that the report alleging that he had cheated some 50 people of their low-cost houses would not affect his chances of winning.

Former information minister Tan Sri Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, who was campaigning house to house with Ganesan, said Ganesan was a "first-class wakil rakyat" when he was the Lunas state assemblyman.

"He attended to the people's problems with sincerity. Not many wakil rakyat can claim to do that."

********
2009/04/06
Too close to call, says Murugan the parakeet


NST

SUNGAI PETANI: Campaigning for the Bukit Selambau by-election ends and everyone is having difficulty calling its outcome.

MIC chief Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu is leaving it to God.

"God willing, we will win the seat. God willing," he said.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is counting on voters' good sense by offering them "two for one" -- a good state assemblyman and a state executive councillor.

Analysts contacted by the NST are split.
The ultimate "analyst", Murugan the parakeet at the Sri Muneswara temple in Jalan Baru, took the middle road, picking cards that showed Barisan Nasional's Datuk S. Ganesan and Parti Keadilan Rakyat's S. Manikumar running neck and neck.

A reliable "pundit", Murugan predicted Samy Vellu's defeat in the March 8 polls last year.

Murugan, asked to look at Ganesan's fortune, hopped among the cards spread on a piece of red cloth and mulled a pick.

It drew a card with a picture of Goddess Kaanji Kamatchi.

"This means Ganesan is anticipating something and is awaiting results," said Murugan's 61-year-old owner, astrologer V.C. Kanthasamy.

Kanthasamy then asked the bird to pick a card for Manikumar and Murugan chose Madurai Meenatchi.

"He is also awaiting something. Both pictures show the two goddesses waiting for Lord Shiva and are anticipating his arrival."

He said based on the card readings, the time was not good for both.

"The readings for both them are about the same. Both of them will have difficulties as their time is not good," he said.

Interestingly, he said the outlook looked very good for both in two months.

He added that both were equal in power and strength.

Pressed further to pick a winner, Kanthasamy asked the bird to pick a card to show who was leading.

The parakeet picked a card with pictures of Lord Ganesha (also known as Lord Ganesan) and Goddess Laxmi (goddess of wealth).

"Ganesan's chances are better than Manikumar because he has better wealth and power," he explained.

However, the bird could not call this by-election.

Asked why only parakeets were used for predictions, Kanthasamy said thousands of years ago, a sage was meditating under a tree seeking enlightenment from Lord Shiva.

With his eyes closed, he began writing down men's destiny and kept writing without realising that his writings were flying all around.

The parakeets around him saw this and began to stack them up neatly and when the sage opened his eyes, he saw what they had done.

He then bestowed upon the birds the power to enlighten man on his destiny. -- By Suganthi Suparmaniam

Batang Ai: BN does not practise discrimination?

The BN claims it does not practise discrimination in dishing out projects. Oh yeah? Read these news snippets and form your own conclusions.

BN does not practise discrimination: Masing

Borneo Post, April 1, 2009

Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) president Dato Sri Dr James Masing said the Barisan Nasional (BN) does not practise ‘pilih kasih’ (favouritism) when it comes to disbursing funds for projects or allocating projects.

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49590

NCR land devt aimed at helping owners

Borneo Post, April 3, 2009

…On the by-election, Gramong said it was very important for the voters to make the right choice. He said the BN government, since 1963, had been faithfully dishing out development projects like schools, health centres, hospitals, roads, water and power supplies not only to towns but also rural areas. He said a lot could be achieved if they voted for the BN.

“Vote the opposition and you will be in the political wilderness. Your representative will be sitting with the other opposition members, shouting to have their voices heard. They will be blaming and criticising others for their own shortcomings and failures,” he said.

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49666

Muhyiddin announced an allocation of over RM1 billion for the development of basic amenities and infrastructure in Sabah and Sarawak.

Borneo Post, April 5th, 2009

Muhyiddin said from his meetings with community leaders and headmen in Batang Ai, he felt confident that the people supported the BN and its aspiration to develop Batang Ai through a new elected representative. He said the prevailing issues in Batang Ai were basic necessities like roads and other infrastructure, which only the BN could provide.

“If the people support the PKR candidate, they will not get anything because they do not have the ability to deliver and furthermore, it is not an indigenous party in Sarawak and I feel that the people really want a BN representative there.”

And from what he had gathered yesterday, he believed that Mussen, though a greenhorn, had an “excellent” chance of winning.

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49827

BN needs strong convincing margin to develop Btg Ai, says Taib
By Churchill Edward, Borneo Post, April 6, 2009

LUBOK ANTU: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud yesterday called on the Batang Ai electorate to ensure Barisan Nasional’s (BN) victory with a wider margin when they cast their votes tomorrow.

The Sarawak BN chairman said that if the coalition won but did not have a strong mandate in Batang Ai, the constituency could still experience a slow pace of development.

“A strong and convincing victory for BN is important for the people because we are working for the people and therefore we need their support,” he told reporters after the earth breaking ceremony for the new Giat Mara centre here.

Taib said anything less than a convincing margin could mean that some people would “be led in different ways”.

“Such people get agitated because they cannot achieve what they want and then this same old story (of slow development pace) repeats itself again,” he said.

http://www.theborneopost.com/?p=49871

Five PKR Division Chiefs Quit Party

SUNGAI PETANI, April 6 (Bernama) -- Five Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) division chiefs in Kedah announced Monday they had quit the party as they had lost confidence in the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

They are Jerlun division chief Azhar Ahmad, Bakar Din (Baling), Hamid Othman (Padang Serai), Wahab Mat Isa (Sik) and Bakar Hamid (Pendang).

Azhar claimed that the struggles of the party were no longer relevant.

"We are disappointed that Anwar is giving more importance to the views of PAS and DAP leaders," he said, adding that Anwar had also neglected his division, especially in terms of appointment to the village chief council.

The five former PKR division chiefs called on voters in the Bukit Selambau state by-election tomorrow to reject PKR candidate S. Manikumar.

-- BERNAMA

This is on HEE of Jelapang. Follow carefully.........

1. Remember the venue where she held the press meet yesterday.

2. Remember - how many special draws were held by a gaming company in
February/March 2009? Check the website. And why did the Finance
Ministry (helmed by who?) allow these draws during those months?

3. How is the gaming company and the venue connected?

4. It can be true that BN did not fund anything.

5. But do not discount the fact that the gaming company is connected
to the funding - and recovering it through special draws. After all no
Muslim gambles - there are enough notices at such venues that gambling
is ‘haram’. So the customers are non-Muslims only.

It means non-Muslims encouraged to patronize and this duit haram is
then used to fund Hee.

Why should the funding be in this way?

Simply because - that has been the way from the time Tg Razaleigh lost
narrowly to be a party president. Remember how the voting was done
that time. Staggered basis - over a period of time.

The talk that time was, it gave the incumbent, enough time to alert a
business ‘kaki’ who used his charm to swing votes from a power centre
in the party - who incidentally has risen to great heights recently.
After that, was that same style of voting done in the subsequent party
elections? No!

This time around, the same approach was used?
The 'business' kaki is still around and what is the guarantee that
this same 'buying' technique was not used?

Hee said that she will even support the opposition if there were merits.

Thats rubbish. Will the BN allow such situation?
After getting her to switch sides?

She is still valuable.

When the Perak assembly sitting is to be held, she can still play an
important role - if Sivakumar is made to go missing like Bala.
That time she will take over as assistant speaker and can wreck all
efforts of PR.

Do not take her for granted.
She has been well trained and well funded.

Money being distributed?

Pictures from Bukit Selambau


1. Pictures taken at Sg Getah as privately owned plantation
2. More than 40 families had moved out of the plantation due to lack of basic amenities
NO WATER , NO ELECTRICITY
3. But Check out Newly Tar Roads Gift by BN to them. What is the use of having new Tar road without
even clean water.
4. Check out also condition of the Temple.

5 Apr 2009

Pakatan Rakyat Government after discussion with JBA managed to connect back the main water outlet.
While, the Government promise to look into possibilities of acquiring said land for development of houses to effected families

Other :
Pictures showing our house to house campaign despite rain or shine.
Pictures taken at “Ceramah Kelompok” .


On the stump Dr M pulls in the crowds

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider

TAIPING, April 6 - Just days after submitting his application to rejoin Umno Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today hit the campaign trail for the Bukit Gantang by-election to endorse Barisan Nasional's Ismail Safian and launch his renewed attacks against his former deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

In the past election, Dr Mahathir's continuous attacks against the administration of Tun Abdullah Badawi had largely benefited the opposition.

He is now hoping to bring in the votes for BN.

Speaking at what was probably the largest public rally of the Bukit Gantang by-election so far, he also down played the results of last year's general election which saw BN lose its two thirds majority by saying it was exaggerated by the Opposition Leader.

"That man just wants to create uncertainty. He said something big would happen on September 16 but in the end, nothing happened," he told thousands of party supporters here, referring to Anwar's promise to topple the government by Malaysia Day last year.

Dr Mahathir who led the government through two constitutional amendments which reduced the powers of the Malay Rulers and abolished their immunity also slammed ousted Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin for defying Sultan Azlan Shah's order to resign.

"I don't want to say much about the opponent. I guess everyone knows. Some of them are even traitors. He said 'pohon derhaka', this is very special, I have never heard of such words," said Dr Mahathir to cheers from the largely Malay crowd.

Dr Mahathir also criticised Nizar's move to award permanent land titles to villagers in the state.

"This man just wants to be popular. He gave out land to be popular," he added.

Dr Mahathir also told the crowd of his success in leading the nation for 22 years claiming that he had been successful in preserving racial harmony.

"Show me which country that allows three different schooling systems," he said referring to the vernacular schools.

"We are definitely more liberal, if not there would be riots all the time," he said.

Dr Mahathir who left the party in May last year to express his dissatisfaction with Abdullah's leadership also urged BN supporters who abandoned the party last year to return.

"I hope those who have left Umno, those who supported the opposition to return to us," he said.

Dr Mahathir added that the new administration under Datuk Seri Najib Razak has realised their mistakes that caused BN's worst ever electoral worst performance last year.

"I am confident that the government realises the disappointment of the people of various races," he said.

Earlier Dr Mahathir arrived to shouts of "Hidup Tun! Hidup Barisan!" and traditional drum performances.

By-elections a test of Dr M’s clout

By Pauline Ng (Business Times Singapore)

APRIL 6 – Over the weekend, Mahathir Mohamad returned to the fold of Umno after a near one-year absence.

His great disappointment, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, had finally exited the prime minister’s office after handing over the baton to his successor Najib Razak, who was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth premier last Friday.

Despite leaving the party in a huff last year because he could not stomach Abdullah’s leadership, Dr Mahathir has made clear that his affection for the party that he had led for 22 years remains undiminished.

Najib and Umno – the dominant party in the coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) – are now counting on the 83-year-old party icon to rally the troops and act as the trump card for fence sitters at three simultaneous by-elections – one parliamentary and two state seats – taking place tomorrow.

Local media have observed how quickly the indefatigable octogenarian has swung into action over the weekend, running in between states to press the flesh and reinforce the message that BN would look after their interests best.

That Dr Mahathir is set to play a significant role in the new administration – whether in an official or unofficial capacity – appears inevitable.

It was evident in the way Najib made a special point of turning to acknowledge the presence of his senior upon walking into the Throne Room of the palace last Friday where he took his oath of office before the King, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. Dr Mahathir returned the gesture with a slight nod of his own.

Najib has said that he intends to seek his advice, as well as that of Abdullah – a point that the straight-talking Dr Mahathir observed made little sense since he and Abdullah hold such different perspectives.

Taking a leaf out of Dr Mahathir’s book, Najib also saw fit to release 13 who were detained under the country’s Internal Security Act, reminiscent of Dr Mahathir’s executive act of setting free 21 detainees when he became premier.

Perhaps having witnessed the fury unleashed on a hapless Abdullah by the wrath of a Dr Mahathir scorned, Najib prefers to keep the latter’s counsel.

Or perhaps he truly admires the tight ship that the elder man ran during his two-decade-plus rule.

Consulting him on the future composition of his Cabinet could be scraping the bottom of the barrel, however. Many of the present Cabinet are past their ministerial prime, throwbacks from Dr Mahathir’s era, a number even perceived to be tainted. They were ministers that Abdullah lacked the will to reject for fear of offending his predecessor.

Even so, the results of the three by-elections could provide a guide as to whether Dr Mahathir’s influence is still strong or on the wane.

Much has been made of Umno and BN’s resurgence following the leadership change.

In the days leading to the polls, BN appears to have chipped away at the support of opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in the two seats of Bukit Gantang in Perak and Bukit Selambau in Kedah.

PR previously held the two seats and had looked set to repeat their wins. Most pundits think they are still likely to make it.

In the Batang Ai seat, BN is fighting tooth and nail, fully aware that defeat – or even a result that goes down to the wire – could set the wheels in motion for PR to emerge as strong contenders in state-wide elections due by 2011.

Despite Najib’s contention that the by-elections are not a referendum of his leadership, there is no denying that the BN needs to show a win after suffering two consecutive by-election drubbings in Permatang Pauh, Penang and Kuala Terengganu.

Should BN win either or both of the ‘Bukit seats’, much will be made of Najib’s role as the new captain.

But expect Dr Mahathir to also be credited. If so, chances are his influence on Najib and Umno will grow rather than be diminished.

Indeed, there is much riding on Tuesday’s results.

PRM : nyahkan calon BN dalam 3 pilihanraya kecil

Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) menyeru pengundi di kawasan Parlimen Bukit Gantang memberikan sokongan bulat kepada calon PAS Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin serta tolak calon BN.

Pada masa yang sama, PRM juga menyeru pengundi DUN Bukit Selambau di Kedah dan Batang Ai di Sarawak tolak calon BN dalam pilihanraya kecil.

Pilihanraya kecil yang sedang berlangsung kini, khususnya pilihanraya kecil di kawasan Parlimen Bukit Gantang mempunyai makna yang penting dalam peringkat perkembangan sejarah negara, keputusannya akan mempengaruhi halatuju politik dan demokrasi di negara kita serta dasar-dasar ekonomi dan social akan datang.

Seperti yang dikatakan oleh calon Parlimen kawasan Bukit Gantang, Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin, pilihanraya kecil harus ditanggap sebagai pungutan suara rakyat (referendum) terhadap dasar dan politik UMNO yang tidak demokratik dan korup serta terhadap perbuatan UMNO yang merampas kuasa pemerintahan negeri Perak daripada kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat tanpa mengikut peraturan dan proses yang sah.

Inilah peluang dan ketika yang sesuai untuk rakyat sekali lagi menyuarakan bahawa mereka telah muak dan tolak politik dan dasar UMNO-BN yang dasarnya hanya menguntungkan segelintir manusia yang berkuasa, dan rakyat Negara ini mahu menyaksikan perubahan yang tulin dan bernas dilakukan. Rakyat telah tolak BN di dua pilihanraya kecil yang telah lepas, iaitu pilihanraya kecil parlimen Permatang Pauh di Pulau Pinang dan kawasan parlimen Kuala Terengganu di Terengganu.

Rakyat negera ini telah menyaksikan manfaat pertukaran separa (partial) parti pemerintah di lima buah negeri pada PRU ke-12. Perubahan memang baik untuk rakyat.

Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Perak di bawah pimpinan Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin telah melaksanakan beberapa perubahan dasar yang dicita-citakan oleh rakyat negeri Perak dalam masa pemerintahan yang singkat. Perubahan begini tidak mungkin berlaku langsung pada bila-bila masa di bawah kerajaan UMNO-BN.

Rakyat juga menyaksikan kebajikan rakyat di negeri-negeri di bawah kuasa Pakatan Rakyat dijaga jika berbanding dengan pemerintahan BN, umpamanya dasar air percuma bagi penggunaan air 20 meter padu yang pertama telah dilaksanakan di negeri Selangor , sebuah negeri di bawah pakatan Rakyat.

Akan tetapi, apabila kerajaan negeri Selangor hendak membeli balik syarikat yang mengurus air paip, kerajaan pusat di bawah UMNO-BN masuk campurtangan dan hendak mengambil alih syarikat berkenaan, kini cas air di negeri Selangor akan dinaikkan sebanyak 31% menurut laporan. Ini jelas menunjukkan tujuan Pusat ialah menjaga kepentingan kroni UMNO yang menguasai syarikat tersebut tetapi mengalami

kerugian teruk , serta mencuba menggagalkan dasar air percuma bagi 20 meter padu kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat, dan seterusnya menghapuskan mana-mana dasar yang menjaga kepentingan rakyat.

Rakyat juga menyaksikan bahawa UMNO-BN yang telah melampau lama memerintah Negara ini iaitu selama 50 tahun , tetapi dinyahkan kuasa pemerintahan di lima buah negeri pada PRU ke-12 telah melalui sedikit perubahan sikap yang angkuh dan bongkak. Pada perhimpunan yang baru lepas, UMNO telah mempunyai barisan kepimpinan baru, dan kepimpinan ini juga beria-ia hendak melakukan perubahan dan menjaga kepentingan rakyat. UMNO telah menerima isyarat bahawa rakyat Negara ini mahu nampak perubahan.

Walaupun kepimpinan UMNO telah bertukar tangan , UMNO tidak akan melakukan apa-apa perubahan yang bernas, perubahan hanya kosmetik jika ada untuk mengabukan mata dan meredakan kemarahan rakyat , menutup kekorupan dan ketamakan UMNO.

Pada hal, Abdullah Badawi dilucutkan jawatan Presiden dan Perdana Menteri oleh UMNO lebih awal daripada yang ditetapkan oleh Abdullah Badawi jelas menunjukkan pemimpin UMNO dari atas ke bawah telah menolak agenda perubahan yang hendak dilakukan Abdullah Badawi. Apa yang hendak dikekalkan ialah “order lama UMNO”, meminjam ucapan Abdullah Badawi baru-baru ini dalam perhimpunan UMNO.

Pemimpin-pemimpin besar dan kecil UMNO tidak dapat menerima perubahan Abdullah Badawi, maka tidak hairanlah Abdullah Badawi dinyahkan dari tampuk kuasa UMNO. Najib Tun Razak yang mengambil-alih jawatan Presiden dan Perdana Menteri tidak akan melakukan apa-apa perubahan bernas. Jika beliau tegas hendak melakukannya, pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO akan menolak dan membuangnya.

Perubahan yang dicadangkan Najib Tun Razak dan Timbalannya Muhyiddin adalah cakap-cakap kosong, semata-mata untuk mengalihkan kelihatan rakyat daripada perbuatan UMNO untuk terus merampas kekayaan rakyat dan Negara. Boleh dijangkakan, kehidupan rakyat tidak akan maju baik, bahkan akan merosot dan sengsara jika negara terus di bawah kuasa UMNO .

Apabila Abdullah Badawi memberikan ucapan terakhirnya di perhimpunan UMNO, beliau dengan jelas mengatakan bahawa kepimpinan UMNO yang menggantinya masih mencuba mengguna cara lama untuk menyekat dan menindas kritikan rakyat. Jika begitu, UMNO akan ditolak rakyat pada PRU ke-13.

PRM berpendapat jika rakyat hendak UMNO-BN melakukan perubahan yang bernas, pengundi di ketiga-tiga kawasan pilihanraya kecil perlu memberikan undi mereka kepada calon Pakatan Rakyat. Penolakan UMNO-BN dalam pilihanraya kecil adalah isyarat kepada UMNO-BN bahawa rakyat Negara ini hendak perubahan yang bernas , khususnya pengundi Kawasan Parlimen Bukit Gantang harus memberikan sokongan bulat kepada Mohamad Nizar, sebagai suara menolak perbuatan UMNO yang tidak demokratik dan menolak cara yang tidak mengikut peraturan.

Yang benar

Koh Swe Yong

Setiausaha Agung

Another day to go and Najib is going to eat humble pie

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What is your wish list for the three by-elections this Tuesday? Well, this is mine. I hope, of course, Pakatan Rakyat will sweep all three seats with an impressive enough majority that will force Najib to eat humble pie.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

For the Permatang Pauh and Kuala Terengganu by-elections, I gave my forecast even before Nomination Day. This time around I did not give any forecast for the three by-elections mainly because I am not on the ground and I have to depend on the Barisan Rakyat Bloggers for feedback. Furthermore, because I had given a forecast twice before, many placed bets on the outcome and, may I add, won the bet.

Today, with just a day to go, I am going to just give you my wish list. No, this is not my forecast. This is what I hope will happen. And if it does not happen with a majority that I hope for, then I would regard it as a failure. A Pakatan Rakyat win is not good enough. It must be an impressive win to send a message to Barisan Nasional that the 8 March 2008 Tsunami is still very much alive.

Batang Ai has 8,000 registered voters, about 95% Ibans. The two contenders are five-term Lubok Antu MP Jawah Gerang and newcomer Malcom Mussem Lamoh from Barisan Nasional. The feedback I get is that there is heavy internal sabotage, which may thwart the opposition’s chances of winning this seat.

Nevertheless, the opposition campaign team, in particular the Sarawak Bloggers, are working extremely hard on the ground. So Pakatan Rakyat still has a chance of winning this seat. But it will be a photo finish either way. Even if Pakatan Rakyat sweeps this seat with a majority of 500 votes I will be very happy and in a celebrative mood.

In 2004, Bukit Gantang, which has about 55,000 voters, was won by Barisan Nasional with a majority of 8,888 votes and, in 2008, Pakatan Rakyat, with a majority of 1,566 votes. That is a swing of about 10,000 votes. Pakatan Rakyat must win it this time with a majority of 2,500 to 3,000 votes to really make Najib eat humble pie.

The police have visited the gangsters in Bukit Gantang and told them to make sure that Barisan Nasional wins this seat. If Barisan Nasional loses, then the police will launch an operasi and crackdown on the Bukit Gantang underworld. This means two things. First, the police are more gangsters than the gangsters. Second, the police make deals with gangsters. Now, are we surprised by that?

Anyway, the gangsters have told them to go to hell. They are not going to allow themselves to be used by the police or Barisan Nasional as bouncers to threaten the Bukit Gantang voters to vote for Barisan Nasional. Hey, even gangsters have principles and code of ethics. And that is more than what I can say for the Malaysian police who are even less principled than the gangsters.

Bukit Selambau has about 35,000 voters. In 2004, Barisan Nasional won this seat with a majority of 7,695 votes and, in 2008, Pakatan Rakyat, with a majority of 2,362 votes. That is a swing of about 10,000 votes just like in Bukit Gantang. Again, to make Najib eat humble pie, Pakatan Rakyat must win this seat with a majority of 2,500 to 3,000 votes.

Well, that is my wish list for tomorrow. Is that your wish list too?

Najib, for what little gain will you sell the Holy Qur’an?

By Haris Ibrahim

5.30pm yesterday evening, was alerted by one in the team that a police report was due to be made at the Taiping police IPD against YB Nga Kor Ming, the member of parliament for Taiping.

The complaint, so the information went, was that the YB had the audacity to recite verses from the Holy Qur’an at a ceramah the night before.

Gan, Ariff and I got to the balai by about 5.40pm.

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Other media members were already waiting at the entrance to the balai. Someone had obviously gone to great lengths to leak the story.

Ariff and I stepped into the balai to inquire if such a report had been lodged.

The officer manning the frontdesk kindly checked and confirmed that no such report had been lodged.

As we walked back to the entrance, we saw the entourage.

group

The person who appeared to be leading the pack, Hj Osman Abu Bakar, Ketua Umum / Presiden of Barisan Bertindak Perpaduan Melayu (BBPM ), was persuaded to speak to the media before the group entered the balai to lodge the report.

osman1Osman alleged that the night before, at a ceramah, Yb Nga had recited from the Holy Qur’an, had got the rendition all wrong, and had even puported from a non-existent Surah Aurat, when there was no such surah in the holy book.

By this, he contended, YB Nga had ‘mempersendakan Islam’. He went on quite a bit about this until someone else stepped into the limelight.

hassan1Hj Hassan Hamzah introduced himself as the Setiausaha Terhormat of the BBPM.

He picked up where Osman had left off.

“Islam dipersendakan”, he asserted, almost as if both he and Osman were parroting from a script.

He went on.

“Niat YB Nga adalah untuk menghina Islam, meghina orang Melayu dan mecabar hak istimewa orang Melayu”, he insisted.

And I thought, “Oh God, more of this rubbish from these monkeys”.

Asked what they hoped to achieve by making the report, Hassan justified it on the basis of Fardhu Khifayah, that it behoved every Muslim to step forward and correct this wrong done towards Islam.

I’d heard enough and removed myself from the ongoing press conference, stepping out of the balai compound for a smoke.

The group stepped into the balai to lodge the report.

I thought it was over.

Wrong.

Hasssan was out again, this time singing like a canary.

And he seemed to have forgotten the script.

The man just wouldn’t stop talking, even as he was being pumped with questions by the media, but he seemed most interested in the camera man from NTV7 / TV3.

He volunteered that the mufti of Perak was waiting to be interviewed on this issue, and that the camera man from NTV7 / TV3 should hurry to do that interview so that they could run the story that night. In fact, he suggested that the views of Tok Guru Nik Aziz be also sought on the issue.

Hassan had just inadvertantly disclosed that an elaborate plan of sorts had been hatched.

Somewhere along the way, the man forgot himself and disclosed that he was the timbalan ketua cawangan UMNO bahagian Bagan Datoh. Those who are not familiar, this is the constituency of Datuk Zahid Hamidi, one of the three newly elected vice-presidents of UMNO and the one who has been hankering to lick Najib’s boots.

Having made this disclosure, he was now pressed if the report might not be politically motivated, although he had just earlier insisted that the police report coupled with some well-timed media reports would make for a good polemic on the issue.

He conceded that it was political.

Then he dropped the bombshell.

If the TV could get this news out, complete with the interview with the eagerly awaiting mufti, by the next day (today), they’d put together a video clip showing an excerpt of YB Nga’s speech together with excerpts from the news report, burn 50,000 CDs and flood Bukit Gantang with the same.

Asked on whose instructions he was acting, he replied that instructions for this came from the very top.

By this time, there was little talk about defending Islam.

No these were not defenders of Islam.

These ae manipulators of the faith and its adherents, for any little they can gain for themselves!

UMNO’s Incompetent Disciplinary Committee

by M. Bakri Musa

Now that UMNO elections are done with, the raging controversies over its Disciplinary Committee’s decisions will soon be forgotten, until the next election season. It is a sad commentary that the party’s attempt at eradicating corruption succeeded in only creating more problems and aggravating existing ones.

It reflects poorly on members of the Disciplinary Committee, made up supposedly of the party’s distinguished elder statesmen. Its chairman for example, was a former foreign minister. They were given a major task and they bungled it.

Their botched performance reflects a more general theme: the dearth of competence and talent in the party’s upper reaches. That, together with pervasive corruption within the party, is what ails UMNO.

The internal affairs of UMNO would not ordinarily interest me except that the party still represents a major (though fast diminishing) segment of the Malay community, and UMNO leaders are also the leaders of our country. Until this reality is altered by voters, what happens in UMNO should interest all Malaysians.

Root Cause Analysis

That UMNO is rotten to the core is acknowledged by all, including its leaders. Unfortunately, that is the extent of their insight. I have yet to hear any reflection on the part of the party’s leaders, from Prime Minister Abdullah down to the lowest cawangan head, of how or why the party had degenerated to such a sorry state.

To date they have been content dealing merely with the symptoms of corruption. Like other human vices, corruption is infinite in its variations. Thus dealing with any one manifestation forces corruption to morph into other more sophisticated forms that would be even more destructive and difficult to detect or eradicate.

The Disciplinary Committee has been at it now for years, mechanically investigating the cases reported to it. The committee has yet to reflect on how to avoid or prevent the problems in the first place.

The committee members are like amahs busily preoccupied wiping the wet floor but never figuring what caused the problem. Had they looked up they would have noticed that the problem could have been more effectively dealt with by fixing the leaking faucet above. In fact they are worse than amahs. A maid may not know anything about sealing the leak but at least she has the common sense to call for a plumber.

The committee has dealt with literally hundreds if not thousands of alleged cases of money politics and other breaches of party ethics. Yet it has not issued any report to share their members’ insight with the rest of party, like how to prevent money politics in the first place.

Even if that was not part of their mandate, I would have thought that they would have been unrestrained in wanting to share their accumulated wisdom. They must have learned something, unless of course they were content with merely being amahs busily and robotically mopping the soiled floor but never bothering to look up to see the leaking faucet.

There are two ways for the committee to discover the metaphorical leaking faucet. One is through a careful systemic analysis to determine patterns and elicit commonalities. The other is to do a “root cause analysis” and “follow the money,” especially with the more egregious abuses, as when top personalities were implicated or large sums of money were involved. Examples would be the current case with Ali Rustam and the earlier one involving former Federal Minister Isa Samad.

There are definitely patterns to be discovered. One, money politics plagues UMNO only during party elections, with the worse offenders being those pursuing top positions. Ali Rustam was after the Deputy President position; Isa Samad, the Vice-President.

The other is that most of the offences were committed in the pursuit of securing the party’s nominations. So why not dispense entirely with the current quota system of nominations? Let anyone who wishes to be a candidate does so without having the division nominate him or her. Further, do away with the current “tradition” of no-contest rule for the top positions. With these barriers removed, there would no longer be the need to bribe anyone just to get your name on the ballot. Such a reform would also open up the process and attract talented candidates. Under its present rule UMNO will never see its Barrack Obama emerge.

With many more candidates contesting, your members would get a better and wider choice. The election process would of course need to be changed to accommodate the anticipated bigger slate. Thus should any one candidate fail to secure a majority vote, there will be run-off elections but with the bottom candidate eliminated. This process continues until we have one who successfully secures a majority vote. Otherwise you would get the current divisiveness and rancor as seen with the recently concluded UMNO Youth election where it leaders failed to gain the confidence of the majority of its members.

A “root cause analysis” would reveal that money politics involves the trading of cash for votes (or promised thereof). Tengku Razaleigh made an eminently sensible suggestion of not only removing the nomination quotas but also having the entire membership vote for the national party leadership instead of at present, leaving it to the delegates. It is near impossible to bribe three million UMNO members; it is much easier with only 2,500 delegates.

UMNO could hire the Elections Commission to conduct such party elections. The cost would be considerably cheaper then the costs of the current “money politics.” It would also be fairer and cleaner.

Incoming UMNO President Najib Razak is finally aware of this. Unfortunately he did not spell out in his recent speech how far he was willing to open up UMNO’s election process.

Equally productive is to “follow the money.” Where do these guys get their cash? After all it was not too long ago that they (or their parents) were stuck in the poverty of the kampong. Many are also former civil servants; we all know how much they earn (at least their legitimate income).

The other major source of money politics and outright corruption is in securing juicy government contracts. Again here, having open tenders would ameliorate this scourge. The problem would also be reduced were the government to curtail its involvement in business. Fewer contracts to dole out, fewer opportunities for corruption!

The Disciplinary Committee missed out on these sensible recommendations because its members are too busy mopping the floor. They had no time, or more likely no intellectual capacity, to think and reflect on these matters. Or perhaps they were thinking of their job security! As long as that leaking faucet is not fixed, the floor will always need to be continually mopped!

A Superior Solution

No wonder the Committee members find their task onerous and unappreciated, or in the words of its chairman, “Damn if we do and damn if we don’t!” They have no clear idea of going about their work. Kampong folks have an apt phrase to describe those who bungle their work. “Tak tau buek kojo!” (They don’t know what the heck they are doing!)

The Committee did not spell out its rules of evidence and the level of burden of proof required. Did it use the threshold of “beyond reasonable doubt” as with the criminal justice system, or merely the “preponderance of evidence” as with civil cases?

The Committee could streamline as well as enhance the quality of its work if it were to classify the cases it received into three categories. First would be those that were obviously without merit. The second would be the egregious abuses with more than just a hint of criminality. The third would the large number of in-between cases.

The Committee should deal only with this third group. It should quickly dispose of the first group. As for the second, those with shades of criminality, they should be referred directly to the Anti Corruption Agency (ACA). The committee should have nothing more to do beyond forwarding all the evidences to the Agency, which is equipped with the necessary investigative and prosecutorial tools.

It boggles my mind that to date the Committee has yet to make a single referral to the criminal justice system. I would have expected where the Committee imposed such severe penalties, as with Isa Samad and Ali Rustam, it must have found compelling evidence that ordinary citizens would classify as criminal. Yet even in both cases there was no referral to the ACA.

Corruption is a criminal act regardless where it is perpetrated. It does not magically be sanitized to “money politics” or “breach of party ethics” just because it is committed within the confines of UMNO.

The chair and vice-chair of the Disciplinary Committee are both lawyers; they were or perhaps still are members of the Bar. As officers of the court they are duty bound to report to the appropriate authorities if they suspect that a crime has been perpetrated. Failure to do so would be a serious breach of their professional ethics that would merit disbarment, at least in America.

Perhaps the best commentary on the Disciplinary Committee was the response from Isa Samad to a television interviewer who inquired as to the extent of money politics in UMNO today. He replied, with a straight face, it must no longer be a problem today since he was the only one the committee found guilty a few years ago!

Isa summed it well! Unfortunately it is unlikely that UMNO leaders or members of its Disciplinary Committee would grasp the subtle sarcasm of Isa Samad’s sharp but accurate observation.

Catatan Kempen di Dua Bukit

Bukit Gantang - 5 April 2009

Sewaktu saya menjawat Menteri Kewangan, Jaafar Sheikh Idris, ulama’ dari Sudan mengingatkan saya berkenaan intipati pembangunan yakni ianya mestilah berasaskan hati yang suci.

Semalam, ketika menyampaikan tazkirah Maghrib kepada para jemaah Surau Kuning Sari, Bukit Gantang saya nukilkan kembali pesanan Jaafar Sheikh Idris ini beserta kupasan ayat 7-10 dari Surah Asy-Syams yang bermaksud:

Demi diri manusia dan Yang menyempurnakan kejadiannya (dengan kelengkapan yang sesuai dengan keadaannya); Serta mengilhamkannya (untuk mengenal) jalan yang membawanya kepada kejahatan, dan yang membawanya kepada bertaqwa; Sesungguhnya berjayalah orang yang menjadikan dirinya - yang sedia bersih - bertambah-tambah bersih (dengan iman dan amal kebajikan), Dan sesungguhnya hampalah orang yang menjadikan dirinya - yang sedia bersih - itu susut dan terbenam kebersihannya (dengan sebab kekotoran maksiat).

Saya terkesan untuk memetik ayat-ayat tersebut tatkala mengenang kembali situasi umat yang kini berhadapan dengan kefasadan yang membarah. Maka olih yang demikian, pembaikan sedaya mungkin (al islaha mastata’tum) harus dilakukan demi kebaikan manusia seluruhnya.

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Bukit Selambau - 4 April 2009

Dalam tazkirah kepada para jemaah di Masjid Kampung Raja, Batu 2, saya memetik ungkapan keramat Pak Natsir yakni “Jangan kita ghairah untuk membangun sambil merobohkan”. Saya tekankan kepentingan akhlak dalam falsafah pembangunan Pakatan Rakyat. Kupasan ini turut menjadi tajuk utama wacana yang dilontarkan oleh Paul Krugman dan Amartya Sen.

Masalah ketamakan dan menggunakan dana tanpa menghiraukan risiko kepada pelabur menyebabkan berlakunya kegawatan ekonomi sekarang. Apa yang dirisaukan ialah bila mana pendekatan pengurusan ekonomi negara sama sekali tidak mempedulikan persoalan akhlak yang sedang membarah.

Maka yang demikian kita menggagaskan prinsip ekonomi manusiawi (humane economy), tadbir urus yang baik (good governance), ketelusan (transparency) dan pertanggungjawaban (accountability). Amanah mesti dipegang erat dan tanggungjawab wajib dilaksanakan.

Saya kemudiannya ka Tanah Licin untuk menemui komuniti Siam. Keluhan mereka cukup mengesankan terutamanya berkenaan dasar pembangunan yang tempang di kawasan tersebut. Hanya kerana perbedaan ras, mereka dipinggirkan. Seharusnya kita merenung kembali gesaan di dalam Al-Quran yang menyeru umat menegakkan keadilan dan ihsan (al ‘adl wal ihsan).

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Bukit Selambau - 3 April 2009

Saya berkempen di Kuala Sin tengah hari tadi. Manakala dimaklumkan bahawa asal perkataan ’sin’ berakarkan kalimat ’saing’, maka saya menyeru warga Kuala Sin supaya menidakkan kemenangan Umno-BN dalam pilihan raya kecil Bukit Selambau ini.

Usai bersolat Jumaat di Masjid Kuala Sin, saya hadhir ka majlis jamuan rakyat. Pada sabelah malamnya, saya menyertai majlis makan malam bersama komuniti Cina, seterusnya berceramah di Laguna Merbok dan kemudiannya bersama YB Karpal dan Tuan Guru Nik Aziz berceramah di Pekan Bukit Selambau.

Mesej saya jelas yakni agenda perubahan mestilah bersifat menyeluruh melalui penegakkan negara hukum. Sendi-sendi umpama kebebasan akhbar dan wibawa kehakiman seharusnya kembali dipulihkan. Kita tidak mahu hari ini mendabik dada dengan retorik perubahan, walhal kemudiannya menghumban mereka yang tak sehaluan ke kamar penjara!

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Bukit Gantang - 2 April 2009

Saya tiba sedikit lewat ka markas PAS di Trong. Hujan mencurah namun penduduk Bukit Gantang tetap bersemangat hadhir mendengar ceramah.

Seterusnya acara kempen di Sungai Tinggi. Saya mengajak rakyat menolak politik tidak siuman pimpinan Umno-BN.

Sekonyong-konyong, perubahan menjadi mantera popular pimpinan Umno. Pastinya esok muka depan media milik Umno-BN dipenuhi dengan slogan perubahan yang muluk-muluk.

Lagak mereka seperti baru mendengar perkataan tersebut. Perubahan pastinya bukan sekadar retorik. Ianya adalah kata sakti yang dizahirkan dari iltizam berterusan!

ANWAR IBRAHIM