PKR lancar kempen kembalikan hak rakyat Perak

PKR akan melancarkan kempen penerangan "Krisis Perak: Kembali Pada Rakyat" pada jam 9 malam ini di Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya Selatan (Dataran Pasar Malam), PJS 2D/7 (Markaz PAS PJS).

Berikutan…

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PKR akan melancarkan kempen penerangan "Krisis Perak: Kembali Pada Rakyat" pada jam 9 malam ini di Taman Medan, Petaling Jaya Selatan (Dataran Pasar Malam), PJS 2D/7 (Markaz PAS PJS).

Berikutan itu satu ceramah perdana akan diadakan di situ malam ini yang akan dihadiri Ketua Pembangkang, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim; Menteri Besar Selangor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim; ADUN Perak, Chang Lih Kang (Teja) dan Kesavan (Hutan Melintang), serta ahli jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Idris Ahmad.

Menurut kenyataan biro penerangan PKR hari ini, kempen tersebut akan diteruskan ke seluruh negara dalam masa terdekat ini.

Kempen itu bertujuan memberikan penerangan berkenaan krisis politik di Perak; serta menyampaikan mesej kepada rakyat agar bersatu menuntut hak rakyat dikembalikan.

Perak dilanda kemelut politik apabila BN dan Pakatan Rakyat berebut pentadbiran kerajaan negeri.

Perak diperintah Pakatan selepas pilihanraya umum 2008 tetapi Februari lalu ia diambil alih oleh BN selepas tiga ADUN Pakatan keluar parti menjadi calon Bebas dan menyokong BN.

Sejak itu, isu tersebut telah diheret ke mahkamah. Minggu lalu Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur memutuskan bahawa Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin dari Pakatan sebagai menteri besar yang sah.

Berikutan itu, Menteri Besar BN, Datuk Zambry Abd Kadir serta barisan exconya telah mengosongkan pejabat untuk diambil alih oleh Nizar.

Bagaimanapun, pada hari berikutnnya, Zambry berjaya mendapat perintah Mahkamah Rayuan untuk menangguhkan pelaksanaan keputusan mahkamah tinggi berkenaan.

Ekoran itu, Nizar pula mengosongkan pejabat menteri besar untuk membolehkan Zambry kembali bertugas.

Berikutan itu, pelbagai pihak mendesak supaya DUN Perak dibebaskan bagi memboleh pilihanraya negeri diadakan bagi memilih kerajaan baru.

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Sri Lanka's Tigers 'silence guns' - Al Jazeera

The government says tens of thousands of civilians have been streaming out of the war zone [Reuters]

Sri Lanka's Tamil separatist fighters have decided to "silence" their weapons after admitting…

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The government says tens of thousands of civilians have been streaming out of the war zone [Reuters]

Sri Lanka's Tamil separatist fighters have decided to "silence" their weapons after admitting that the conflict in the north of the island had reached a "bitter end".

But the military rejected the declared ceasefire and said it would continue its offensive against the separatist fighters.

The declaration by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Sunday came shortly after the army said that at least 70 Tamil Tigers had been killed as they tried to flee the war zone.

"This battle has reached its bitter end," Selvarajah Pathmanathan, a spokesman for the LTTE, said in a statement.

"It is our people who are dying now from bombs, shells, illness and hunger. We cannot permit any more harm to befall them," he said.

"We remain with one last choice: to remove the last weak excuse of the enemy for killing our people. We have decided to silence our guns."

(Pathmanathan added that the separatist fighters' "only regrets are for the lives lost and that we could not hold out for longer".

Anura Yapa, the media minister, dismissed the ceasefire declaration, saying that "fighting is still going on in small pockets".

"We want to free this country from the terrorist LTTE," he said.

Far from the battlefield, thousands of Sri Lankans hugged soldiers, waved flags, set off firecrackers and danced to the beat of traditional drums in the streets of the capital, Colombo, celebrating the end of more than 25 years of conflict.

'Conflict not resolved'

Despite the government's apparent crushing military victory against the Tigers, however, Erik Solheim, a Norwegian minister and former negotiator in the conflict, warned on Sunday that "peace is long from being won".

Sri Lankans in Colombo have been celebrating the end of the war [AFP]

"The Sri Lankan authorities must demonstrate generosity towards the Tamil population and grant Tamils autonomy and create a state that includes everyone," Solheim, who is Norway's international development and environment minister, said.

"The conflict is not resolved even if the battle has been won."

Norway helped broker a ceasefire in February 2002, which came to an end in October 2006 when peace negotiations broke down.

Mahinda Rajapaksa, the president, has said that after defeating the separatists, his government would begin talks towards power sharing and political reconciliation between the Tamils and majority Sinhalese government.

But many Tamils are sceptical that the victorious government will be willing to make real concessions.

Leader still at large

And with Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the Tigers, still at large, the threat of renewed guerrilla warfare remains.

Narayan Swamy, the editor of Indo-Asian News Service and author of Tigers of Lanka: From Boys to Guerrillas, told Al Jazeera that it was "highly unlikely that Prabhakaran would ever surrender or show the white flag".

"Being captured alive would be the ultimate humiliation for a man who took on the Sri Lankan state with the view of breaking it up and forming an independent Tamil homeland.

"It is clear he has failed in his objective. That is bad enough," he said.

Swamy added that there remain "certain legitimate Tamil grievances".

"That's why the international community has repeatedly been telling the Sri Lankan government to get its act together," he said.

Displaced civilians

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, a spokesman for Sri Lanka's military, said about 63,000 civilians who had been trapped in the war zone fled to safety in the past 72 hours.

Pathmanathan, the Tigers' spokesman, said the bodies of thousands of wounded and slain civilians lay strewn across the war zone.

The government says "fighting is still going on in small pockets" [AFP]

Hundreds of thousands of civilians were either on the move or in camps for the displaced.

The Sri Lankan ministry of disaster management and human rights said on Sunday that it was continuing to process civilians rescued from the fighting.

Rajiva Wijesinha, a secretary at the ministry, told Al Jazeera from Colombo: "We heard that the last of them [civilians] had been saved. This was one of our great priorities in the last couple of weeks to make sure we got the civilians safely away."

Amin Awad, a representative of the UN refugee agency, said "almost all the population in the conflict zone - about 60,000 - had left".

He told Al Jazeera that the displaced were being "processed at the Omanthai crossing point. That leaves very few, if any, people in the conflict zone".

James Elder, a spokesman for Unicef, told Al Jazeera that civilians from the conflict zone were still arriving "sick and hungry" and that women and children were malnourished.

"This latest massive influx of people who have endured those extreme conditions is going to put even greater strain on those camps," he said.

"The Tamil struggle started long before the Tigers were born and will continue after the end of the Tigers" Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, leader, Tamil National Alliance

"These camps are being created by the government, which argues they are on the basis of state security and the time needed for mines to be cleared before resettlement can occur.

"At the same time, it is urgent that the government comes out with very clear screening and separation policies and a timeline so those who are termed non-combatants are allowed freedom of movement and are allowed to resettle."

The government and the Tigers alike have been criticised for not allowing civilians to safely leave the area and for precipitating a humanitarian disaster.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict that started in 1983 and the UN says 6,000 were killed and hundreds of thousands displaced in just the last four months.

'Struggle to continue'

The Tamil Tigers once controlled nearly a fifth of the Indian ocean island nation, running a shadow state that had courts, police and a tax system along with an army, navy and even nascent air force.

But by Sunday, government troops had surrounded the remaining fighters in a 1 sq km patch of land and were seeing suicide bomb attempts and plain suicides by fighters, the military said.

However, the struggle for a homeland for ethnic Tamils who say they are marginalised by the ruling majority Sinhalese government would continue, Rajavarothiam Sampanthan, the leader of the Tamil National Alliance, told Al Jazeera.

"The Tamil struggle started long before the Tigers were born and will continue after the end of the Tigers," he said from Chennai in India.

"The Tamils have always demanded self-determination, which would mean substantial self-rule in the areas of their historical habitation."

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BN’s other Perak dilemma: what to do with the three ‘frogs’?

MAY 18 – Just what should Barisan Nasional do with Messrs Hee, Osman and Jamaluddin? This question is increasingly being debated and discussed among top Umno/Barisan Nasional officials as the…

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MAY 18 – Just what should Barisan Nasional do with Messrs Hee, Osman and Jamaluddin? This question is increasingly being debated and discussed among top Umno/Barisan Nasional officials as the Perak power grab continues to dominate the headlines in Malaysia, much to the chagrin of the Najib administration.

BN officials say that as it stands today, the thinking is still to allow the courts to decide whether Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir or Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak, and then move a motion of no-confidence against the popular PAS politician, and continue ruling Perak.

But if the public sentiment in the state remains toxic even after the court ruling and if the Sultan of Perak comes under sustained pressure from the Opposition, public and civil society and dissolves the state legislature, the nascent political careers of Hee Yit Foong (Jelapang), Osman Jailu (Changkat Jering) and Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi (Behrang) could come to a abrupt end.

The Malaysian Insider has learnt that senior BN officials believe that one way out of the Perak quagmire is to persuade the three Pakatan Rakyat defectors to vacate their seats and contest by-elections in Jelapang, Changkat Jering and Behrang.

The winner will have a clear majority in the state assembly and will be able to form the state government. In addition, the move to have by-elections in the three constituencies may assuage Perakians who feel that they should have the last say in the government which represents them as well as dissipate some of the anger being directed at Sultan Azlan Shah for refusing Nizar’s request to dissolve the state assembly in February.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and several other senior BN leaders have been briefed of this “limited election” option but there is some opposition against taking this route.

A senior party official, familiar with discussions told The Malaysian Insider: “there is a view that if BN sacrifices the three representatives, then no lawmaker will ever think of defecting and joining the BN in future. We are confident that we can win in Changkat Jering and Behrang because Malay voters are with us but the perception of forcing the three to retire may not be good for BN.”

But he concedes that if the Sultan decides to dissolve the state assembly and calls for state elections, BN is going to face a dilemma over fielding Hee, Osman and Jamaluddin as BN candidates in their constituencies.

The defectors could face a severe backlash from voters who believe that the trio changed their political colours out of self-interest and not due to ideological differences with the DAP or PKR.

Fielding Osman and Jamaluddin could prove tricky as both lawmakers have been charged in court with corruption. Jamaluddin won the Behrang seat on March 8, 2008 with a 1,027 majority, Osman the Changkat Jering seat by a 1,102 majority.

Yet, dropping the three will be viewed as capitulation and acceptance of the Pakatan Rakyat position that the defection was illegal and unconstitutional.

The senior party official said: “as it stands today, the BN position is that we will go for a vote of no-confidence. Any elections, even a limited one, could be complicated.”

A key complication: what to do with Messrs Hee, Osman and Jamaluddin?

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Political row overshadows Najib’s economic reform

MAY 18 – In the past month, Prime Minister Najib Razak has liberalised 27 services sub-sectors and further pried open the financial services sector.

In short, he has acted speedily…

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MAY 18 – In the past month, Prime Minister Najib Razak has liberalised 27 services sub-sectors and further pried open the financial services sector.

In short, he has acted speedily on economic reform since becoming prime minister in April.

The country’s first leader to be trained as an economist, many believe his training and grounding likely afford him clearer insights as to what needs to be done to restructure Malaysia’s stagnant economy.

They could be right.

From his early speeches and measures, Najib appears to be on the ball in what ails the local economy and what needs to be done to push it up the value chain.

Whether it is because he has a better grasp of the problems, or has come in at a time when the globalised economy has evolved to a point where there is little option but to act lest the domestic economy is left trailing further behind, Najib has so far demonstrated a greater political will and determination to do the necessary despite the misgivings of some within his own party who would prefer the status quo be kept.

He has assured of continuing reform of the economy, some speedier and others more gradual, including the New Economic Policy - the affirmative action programme which favours the majority Malays and which is often cited as one of the main causes for the many structural inefficiencies within the local economy.

Market-friendly policies can only serve to boost local and foreign investments and to spur economic activities so that unemployment is kept at a manageable level.

The stock-market response has been bullish, year to date higher by some 15 per cent, with economists noting its “positive” wealth effect on domestic consumption.

It is unfortunate then that the wrangling on the political front has overshadowed the good engineered on the economic front.

Nothing better illustrates this sad state of affairs than the paralysis gripping Perak.

The constitutional impasse is now into its fourth month with neither the Barisan Nasional (BN) nor the opposition coalition Pakatan1 Rakyat (PR) budging on their claim to be the rightful government.

In the past fortnight, the debacle has turned into a bigger legal and legislative circus, possibly the most damaging being scenes of the Pakatan Speaker being physically hauled out of the state assembly.

Najib remains adamant BN’s majority in the Perak legislature – only achieved after the defection of three PR lawmakers, two of whom are facing corruption charges – gives it the mandate to rule.

But he cannot ignore the increasing public clamour – even within members of his coalition – for Perakians to be the final arbiter of this mess, which has led to investments in the state plunging as investors recoil from the imbroglio.

Najib is banking on his economic reform to reverse the anti-BN mood, which saw it lose four out of five by-elections since August.

Even though BN is perceived as the underdog should a fresh state election be held, the coalition ought to support calls for a dissolution of the state assembly, if only to enable Perakians and everyone else to move beyond the crisis and to look forward.

By so doing, Malaysians can better appreciate and acknowledge the strides Najib has made on the economic front, which in turn could help BN regain some of the support lost in the past year.

Allowing the crisis to prolong only detracts from it. – Business Times Singapore

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Muslimat perlu depani gerakan feminisme di Malaysia

Anifah broke new ground as Foreign Minister - admit internationally Najib’s credibility problem because of Mongolian C4 murder case

By Lim Kit Siang

New Foreign Minister, Datuk Anifah Aman broke new ground when he admitted internationally the credibility problem faced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak because…

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By Lim Kit Siang

New Foreign Minister, Datuk Anifah Aman broke new ground when he admitted internationally the credibility problem faced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak because of the Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu C4 murder case but he failed to bring it to a closure.

It was remarkable that Anifah raised the subject although he was not specifically asked about the Mongolian murder case in his joint press conference with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington on Friday, as the question posed to him was for his comment on Parliamentary Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim facing another sodomy trial, starting from July 1 and fixed for 24 days, which the US State Department in the annual human rights report described as “politically motivated”.

Apart from declaring “utmost faith in our judicial system”, Anifah launched into a political attack on Anwar. Anwar had responded to it through his lawyers.

What interests me is that without being asked specifically, Anifah raised the Altantuya Shaariibuu C4 murder case, yet failing to address the host of serious questions and allegations haunting and hounding Najib about his involvement in the murder case.

Since Anifah has internationally admitted to Najib’s credibility problem stemming from the Altantuya Shaariibuu C4 murder case, is he prepared to propose at the Cabinet the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry or even an independent international inquiry to once and for all clear Najib of all the haunting and hounding allegations dogging the Malaysian Prime Minister, whether in international circles or even inside the country?

Two other issues which Anifah adverted, though tangentially, in his joint press conference with Hilary Clinton were the independence of the judiciary and corruption in Malaysia, but he failed to give any convincing case that in both instances, Malaysia is making progress in achieving greater national and international confidence in restoring a just rule of law and a truly independent judiciary as well as improving in national integrity efforts to eradicate corruption.

Anifah should be better prepared to make a convincing case to the international community that Malaysia has reason to be proud of improvements in restoring national and international confidence in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the judiciary as well as in combatting corruption as both are important factors in determining Malaysia’s international competitiveness to attract foreign investments.

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Enhance, Not Review the Teaching of Science and Mathematics in English

by M. Bakri Musa

Minister of Education Muhyuddin Yassin is doing our nation a great disservice in further delaying the critical decision on the of teaching science and mathematics in…

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by M. Bakri Musa

Minister of Education Muhyuddin Yassin is doing our nation a great disservice in further delaying the critical decision on the of teaching science and mathematics in English (TSME, or its Malay acronym, PPSMI –Pengajaran dan Pembelajaran Sains dan Matematik Dalam Bahasa Inggeris) in our schools. His indecision merely compounds the uncertainty, especially among educators, parents and students.

What he should be doing instead is to explore ways of enhancing the implementation of the policy, not review it. He should be focusing on finding ways to get more competent teachers, explore innovative teaching techniques, and provide inexpensive textbooks. He should also be busy eliminating such expensive but ineffective teaching gimmicks as the “computerized teaching modules” with their laptops and LCDs that our teachers are unable to handle. Those machines are now either stolen or crashed because of viruses and dust.

The conditions of our students today have not changed from 2003 when the policy was first introduced. If any they are worse. Whatever the rationale was for adopting the policy back in 2003, it is still very much valid today.

Today’s many critics of the policy are latecomers. Where were they when the policy was first mooted six years ago? These critics have yet to answer the basic question on whether the policy itself is flawed or that the deficiencies are with its implementation. They are unable to answer this important question as they are entirely confused over the issue. Their opposition is based more on emotions rather than rational thinking.

Consider the joint statement of our five living National Laureates in Literature. First, the facts they cited were clearly erroneous. Stating that most Nobel Prize winners are from non-English-speaking countries is not only incorrect but missed the essential point that most of those luminaries are English literate. Similarly our National Laureates’ plea that we should emulate the Scandinavian countries missed the important point that their students and citizens are all fluently bilingual if not multilingual, with English being the most common second language. Indeed we should emulate the Scandinavian countries and ensure that our students are truly bilingual.

The Laureates’s concerns are grossly misguided. No one is questioning the status of the Malay language, or its importance in nation building. We all subscribe to that. It is unclear from their statement whether they are against our students learning a second language or against English as that second language.

They went on to make the totally irrelevant point that Mandarin would soon replace English as the most widely spoken language. Having made that observation, they failed to follow up on it. That is, even the Chinese government is now encouraging, no, forcing their students to learn English.

These laureates and other critics missed the essence of the current policy, which is to enhance our students’ ability to read and understand English. It is not the policy’s intention that we should learn English at the expense of Malay. In short, the policy aims to expand our students’ intellectual horizon, not curtail it.

The laureates’ muddled thinking only produces only muddled conclusions.

In truth, it is too early to pass any judgment on the wisdom of the policy. Any policy, especially one pertaining to education and social matters, takes time to discern its effects. To evaluate this policy credibly, one would need to let at least three to five cohorts of students finish the program. Meaning, a time period of about 15 years! Consider that we are only now recognizing the damaging effects of our educational reforms that were introduced back in the 1970s!

Yet we have “researchers” from the Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI) confidently declaring the policy “ineffective” barely four years after the policy was implemented. Earlier, just a few months after the policy’s adoption, a Ministry of Education’s “study” pronounced the remarkable “improvement” in test scores of our students taught under the new program. Who do these folks think they are kidding?

I could not get a copy of the Ministry’s paper, but I have the UPSI professors’. Suffice to say that it would never appear in the pages of refereed journals, except perhaps the Ulu Langat Bulletin of Education. Frankly if I had been an academic, I would be embarrassed to append my name to such a shoddy paper.

This policy would not have triggered its many belated critics had the leadership showed more resolve and greater commitment. They became vociferous and assertive only when former Minister of Education Hishamuddin misguidedly re-opened the issue. Why he did it is best left for him to answer, but I venture that the then looming UMNO leadership contest had plenty to do with it. Old Hishamuddin needed to display his nationalistic manhood once again, especially after the spectacular flop of his earlier unsheathing the keris.

Flawed Implementation

I have not seen any change in the Ministry of Education operations since or in response to the adoption of the policy. I would have thought that at least there would be a dozen English-medium teachers’ training colleges by now to provide for the necessary trained teachers. Likewise our universities should be expanding the number of classes in science and mathematics taught in English so there would be an ample supply of graduate teachers competent to implement the new policy.

Similarly, the ministry should have by now commissioned textbook writers and publishers. Failing that, I would have expected these officials to be contracting with established foreign publishers to buy their texts.

The fact that none of these measures have been undertaken reflects incompetence or lack of commitment to the new policy, or both. The fault then lies not with the policy but with those entrusted with the awesome responsibilities of carrying it out.

Those Malay language nationalists and other strident critics of TSME fail to recognize one glaring reality. That is, our current educational policy is failing our students and our nation. Those who can or have other options for their children have already abandoned our system. We see this especially among the non-Malays. Increasingly, more and more Malays are also following suit. This leaves those poor village folks who have no other choice; they are trapped in the current system. And they are almost all Malays. They are the ones left out, victimized by their own kind, the language nationalists on one side and the incompetent education bureaucrats on the other.

If not for the public sector and the various GLCs acting as employers of last resort, graduates of our current educational system would simply be without jobs. There is however, a limit to the government’s capacity as employer, and we are already way beyond that point.

For a society to advance, it must first come to terms with itself. A major part of that exercise involves recognizing our own weaknesses, for unless we acknowledge that we cannot even begin to overcome them. Malays must recognize that a major problem with our community is that we are not competitive, not even in our native land let alone the global arena. A major contributor to this sorry state of affairs is our defective education system that continues to produce graduates who have abysmal language and mathematical skills, as well as being science illiterate.

We have completely indoctrinated our young and ourselves with a “zero-sum mentality,” that learning another language could only come at the expense of our own. Worse, we have gone further and mentally programmed our young that fluency in another language is not an asset but an expression of hatred for one’s own. In so doing, we exposed our own collective limited intellectual capacity, and an inability to expand it. That is the sorry part.

We are only deluding our young by appealing to their base emotions. Exhortations of Ketuanan Melayu will never make them competitive or guarantee them a place under the sun, not even the sun in our Tanah Melayu. Unless we are competitive, we cannot survive, let alone be Tuan. On the other hand when we are competitive, we would be Tuan even in lands other than Tanah Melayu.

The other part of the exercise involves our willingness to learn from others, especially those more advanced. The ancient Arabs learned from the Greeks, the medieval Europeans from the Arabs, and the Japanese from the West. It saddens me that our luminaries by their actions and words are sending precisely the wrong message to our young. That is, we have nothing to learn from others.

Our political leaders are too preoccupied with their own short-term political survival and gamesmanship instead of leading the way forward. Unfortunately our children’s children will bear the burden of our current leaders’ stupidities.

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“BN has not forgiven us”

By N Shashi Kala and Zedeck Siew
thenutgraph.com

SELANGOR is considered among the wealthiest states in the peninsula, and control of its government has long been…

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By N Shashi Kala and Zedeck Siew
thenutgraph.com

SELANGOR is considered among the wealthiest states in the peninsula, and control of its government has long been seen as crucial to the Barisan Nasional (BN). Within its borders lie the administrative and national capitals of Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur. It is also home to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, and the nation's most important port, Port Klang.

It's no wonder then that Selangor's fall to the opposition parties in the 2008 general election rankled the BN so. But unlike in Perak, where the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) held only a slim majority and thus fell prey to BN's machinations in the February 2009 coup, the PR has 36 assemblypersons to BN's 20 in Selangor. Indeed, it would take more than a few defections to bring down the PR Selangor government.

Still, this has not stopped the BN from doing its best to upset the PR state government's apple cart. Menteri Besar (MB) Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, especially, has become a lightning rod for the BN's criticisms about the way the state is run. He has also had to fend off attacks on his integrity.

In the second and final part of a 45-minute interview with The Nut Graph on 29 April 2009, Khalid, in measured tones, shares his thoughts on the possibility of a Perak-like coup in Selangor; Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak; and Khalid's nemesis, former MB Datuk Seri Mohd Khir Toyo. He also outlines his vision for Selangor.

TNG: After the fall of the PR government in Perak, there were plenty of rumours of something similar happening in Selangor. There were rumours that some PKR (Parti Keadilan Rakyat) assemblypersons would cross over to BN. How did you deal with such uncertainty?

Khalid: Those [were] rumours.

I think BN has not forgiven us for taking over Selangor, Perak, Penang [and Kedah]. They don't mind losing Kelantan, because they are traditional losers there. But they won't forgive us for the rest.

So we were never given a free chance in Selangor. There have been a lot of disturbances and noise. I think it has started to level off, but their intention of trying to gain back Selangor, and other states, is well announced.

Do you think the recent announcement that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is going to personally helm the state Umno is a strong indication that the party will focus on "reclaiming" Selangor?

Well, yeah. We are delighted to have him. Selangor Umno is quite weak. Let's see.

We'd like him to work together with us to give more development to the people of Selangor. To show that BN is a mature party that can tackle things together (with the PR).

Like in Australia. You could have the Labour Party in Canberra, and the Liberal Party in New South Wales or Queensland. And still they can work together.

So we expect that.

With Najib as PM, how do you foresee the state government's relationship with the federal government? Will it be more cordial?

Our relationship with the federal government is quite reasonable now. For example, in the case of water, the federal government would like us to have a cordial discussion. We are establishing a joint task-force to handle this.

Are you optimistic that an amicable solution to the water deal will be found?

It should be resolved for the sake of the people of Selangor, and for the future of the Water Services Industry Act, as envisaged by the federal government.

Over the past year, you've been involved in a running battle with former Selangor MB Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, and been embroiled in controversies such as corruption allegations over the maintenance of your Lexus and cows for korban. An NGO, Gerak, has also made police reports alleging abuse of power on your part.

It never crossed my mind that my car, and cows, would become part of the political debate.

It made me very angry, in the beginning. If they want to play tough, the tough will get going. And we proved to them how transparency in government can help to reduce these so-called noises.

When we developed Selcat (Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency to probe the financial dealings of Balkis) we can see that the previous state government had not been doing something [in the right manner], taking into consideration that this money is the people's money. And that's how you should be managing it, with your conscience.

I think former MB Khir Toyo didn't have a reasonable level of political training. He shouldn't waste his time trying to throw stones at people. In the end, our current community, after many years of good education, has told him that — with that level of political style — nobody would give any support to him.

This is reflected in the survey done by the Merdeka Centre. It found that people feel that Khir Toyo is not acceptable, politically. Another survey, done by Sin Chew (Daily), found that the current Selangor government has a 75% acceptance level. This is very high, by any standard of the imagination.

I'm quite happy for Khir Toyo to continue to do this. It exposes more of him than me. The task of answering him now falls to our young political group including my political secretary. I do not think he deserves my answer.

What about the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Committee probe into your alleged abuse of power. They had previously come out with a strong, and some would say damning, statement about you, but have since gone quiet. Have you heard anything?

Nothing. But that doesn't really matter. They should check their facts first.

They should have checked whether we followed the procedures or not. And the state followed procedures, and therefore we can use it. There are a number of MBs, in other states, who also use their own cars. The state provides the maintenance of the car: including petrol, tyres and all that. Not major repairs — that would be done by the owner. After all, that car is a state car.

It is not strange. All these things are not strange.

In terms of giving cows to the poor, it's been done, not only in Selangor. There is no benefit to the MB at all. By giving cows you get elected? I think there'd be a lot more cows being distributed all over the country.

I think MACC's concern is quite far-fetched.

Are you surprised at how long the investigation into the case has dragged on for? They were surprisingly quick off the mark in concluding investigations into Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin's corruption case.

That's the standard of MACC's conduct. Some people think that the voters are not intelligent enough to understand all this.

But that's good for us. I don't regard this as a negative thing.

If you want to enter the political world, you have to face this type of thing. It may hurt you, in terms of "How on earth could people have used this against me?", and trying to belittle you because of your conduct.

It may hurt me, but as far as I'm concerned, at the end, my conscience and my attitudes are very clear.

What's your vision for Selangor? Under Khir Toyo, it was Selangor reaching developed status.

Even though Selangor is a developed state, we are moving to a higher platform. The federal government talks about stimulus packages. Selangor says that they are talking about concepts. We are talking about the practical things.

We just came out of a very productive discussion on how to harness our river assets. Mind you, Khir Toyo could have done this four or five years ago. Maybe he is short of capacity or vision.

If you read their reports in the last four years, versus our one-year-and-two-months report — I think we have done far, far more tangible things than this group of people who thought that they managed the state.

Fortunately, you can have a fool to manage the state, and yet the state will grow, because of its momentum. But you need a much more skilled visionary if you want to move the state onto a higher level. That's where I intend to take the state.

Now people will see how the Klang River will be transformed into a beautiful river — as it was before. That's imagination that has not, till now, been discussed.

And they have not seen the way we are looking at transportation. The use on public transportation is only 10% now. We want to increase this to 25% so that less private transportation will be used.

That's where PR comes in. We prove to people that we are far, far more resourceful and proactive than the BN. They know how to spend the money, but they don't know how to create wealth.

Will all this wealth trickle down to the people?

Of course! That's why we talk about Merakyatkan Ekonomi Selangor which has various people-centric programmes. And then from our economic stimulus package... could you imagine, the Klang River is not only one location, but it is 120 km long. Everybody will benefit. Even the people of KL benefit out of our activity.

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Press Release: BERSIH: Hishamuddin must resign if Najib means business

The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) supports the Bar Council's demand for the resignation of the Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, the Brickfields OCPD…

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The Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (BERSIH) supports the Bar Council's demand for the resignation of the Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein, Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan, the Brickfields OCPD Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid and investigating officer on-duty Jude Pereira over the unlawful arrest of five lawyers on duty on May 7, 2009.

Responding to the Bar's demand for an apology, Hishamuddin has replied that "lawyers are not above the law", implying that lawyers representing detainees can be construed as a "criminal" act. BERSIH stresses that, such responses reveal a lack of both competence and integrity on the part of the Home Minister who is in charge of law and order issues.

BERSIH calls upon Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to immediately remove Hishamuddin from his Home Affairs portfolio if the Minister refuses to resign. A minor reshuffle of the Cabinet is inevitable if the Prime Minister means business in his slogan "performance now". Like the Perak coup, Hishamuddin's abysmal and misjudged performance is now a liability to the new Cabinet.

BERSIH also calls upon Koh Tsu Koon, the Minister in charge of monitoring the performance of all Ministers to either recommend the removal of Hishamuddin or come out in defence of the Minister. Koh's portfolio in quality control (QC) would be pointless if he does not respond to crises but produces a KPI report only after months of disastrous ministerial incompetence.

BERSIH stresses that the Bar Council's resolution to demand political accountability and seek judicial remedy over the unlawful arrest of lawyers on duty is an act to protect public interest, and must not be seen as driven by self-interest. Civil society groups including other professional organizations should therefore show solidarity with the Bar in demanding an unreserved apology from the government and the resignation of the Ministers and police officers for their misconduct.

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Mahathir: Chedet.cc has gotten 19million visitors from May 1 '08 to May 1 '09

Dr M 'blames' editors for self-censorship

Supporters throng Bt Caves for Uthaya's hair offering

Some 3,000 people thronged the Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur to witness Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar shave his beard and snip off his long locks…

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Some 3,000 people thronged the Batu Caves temple in Kuala Lumpur to witness Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) leader P Uthayakumar shave his beard and snip off his long locks in an offering of gratitude for his release.

MCPX

Supporters gathered at the riverbank near the temple as early as 8.30am hoping to catch a glimpse of the activist.

About 50 people, including children, also shaved their heads in support of the lawyer who was recently freed from detention under the Internal Security Act.

Uthayakumar, who arrived at about 10.30am, was given a hero's welcome accompanied by energetic drums beats.

An hour later, the leader of the now-banned Hindraf movement got his hair-cut and shave.

The supporters, who came from as far as Johor, Kedah and Penang, then carried Uthayakumar on their shoulders and marched from the riverbank to the Sri Subramaniam temple.

They also chanted 'Valga Uthayakumar' (Long Live Uthayakumar) and 'Valga Hindraf'. Posters, T-shirts and badges bearing the Hindraf leader’s face were also on sale.

Every step of the way, Uthayakumar was greeted by more supporters, who shook his hands and hugged him.

Earlier, Puchong (DAP) MP Gobind Singh, who was present, described Uthayakumar as an "icon of Malaysia." Also there to lend support was Kapar (PKR) MP S Manikavasagam and Hindraf lawyer N Surendran (photo below).

Police presence was at a minimal although the massive crowd which swelled to about 3,000 by noon, brought traffic to a standstill at the narrow roads which lead to the temple.

Uthayakumar was among the five Hindraf leaders detained under the ISA in Dec 2007 after staging a massive street rally.

All of them have since been released upon the orders of newly minted prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

'Verdict of the people speaks for itself'

At about 1pm, a clean-shaven Uthayakumar, accompanied by his family, walked up the 272-steps leading to the main shrine in the temple complex. He was flanked by former Hindraf coordinators S Jayathas and K Selvam as well as other ardent supporters.

K Shanthi, the wife of Uthayakumar's younger brother Waythamoorthy, carried a 'paal kudam' (milk pot) and their daughter, Vwaishhnnavi, carried a 'vel' (spear) as offerings.

"This is my first public function after my 514 days of incarceration... I have been unlawfully and unconstitutionally detained without trial," said Uthayakumar after descending the steps.

"I have been falsely accused of having links with terrorists but today the verdict of the people speaks for itself," he said referring to the mass turnout.

"I am no Mahatma Gandhi, I am no Nelson Mandela and I am no Martin Luther King, but it is the genuine grievances of the people which had brought about the Nov 25, 2007 protest.

"I am a free man, Article 5 of the Federal Constitution says that no person may be deprived of life or personal liberty save in accordance with law... I did not sign the conditions of my release," he said, when asked if he would be going to the Kamunting detention camp on Tuesday to appear before the ISA advisory board.

He said the conditions had prevented the other four Hindraf leaders from appearing before the gathering today as there is a prohibition on speaking at public events.

On the issue of political affiliations, Uthayakumar said: "We don't know yet. As for now we are not going to join anyone."

"We are getting feedback from the people, and next month we are having a gathering and we hope to announce our plans,” he added, declining to elaborate further.

Quizzed on his plans for the future, Uthayakumar said: "Our forward plan will be based on democratic principles... (it will be) something that has not been done for the past 52 years and we hope to implement it after speaking to supporters and well-wishers."

Uthayakumar also said that the offerings made today were in recognition of all those who joined the Makkal Sakthi movement.

"They were beaten, exposed to tear-gas and there were two who died, some lost their jobs and some saw their families breaking up and yet they stood by me," he said drawing cheers from the crowd.

He also told reporters that his brother Waythamoorthy, who is in London on self-exile, will be joining him soon.

"He is hoping to come back early next month... he is not frightened of being imprisoned," he added.

Addressing his supporters from a makeshift podium, Uthayakumar recounted his days in detention and the 'mental torture' he endured.

He also warned them of those who were trying to create disharmony and internal disputes to break up Hindraf.

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Breakaway Hindraf group forms new party - Malaysiakini

A breakaway group from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has formed a political party to spearhead what they claimed to be "a political struggle for the betterment of the…

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A breakaway group from the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) has formed a political party to spearhead what they claimed to be "a political struggle for the betterment of the Malaysian Indian community".

MCPX

In what is the first major split in the Hindu rights movement, the group led by suspended Hindraf national coordinator RS Thanenthiran is said to have submitted an application to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) to register a party named as Malaysian Makkal Sakthi Party (MMSP).

The ROS, it is learnt had approved the registration last week for the proposed Indian-based MMSP, paving way for its official launching within the next one month.

Sources said Thanenthiran and company has decided to go ahead to set up the political party after the Bukit Selambau by-election in March.

Although sources said that initially the new political party would remain outside both the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat groups, a source close to Thanenthiran said that the party could join either coalition depending on which one could fulfill their wishes and demands.

Among the group’s major wish is Hindraf's 18-point demand to upgrade the standard of living of Indians, ranging from housing, education, welfare, political, economic and employment rights.

'They don't trust Pakatan leaders anymore'

Thanenthiran's group currently appeared to be happier and comfortable working with Prime Minister and BN chairperson Najib Abdul Razak rather than Pakatan leaders such as Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Lim Guan Eng, P Ramasamy and Abdul Hadi Awang.

"They don't trust Pakatan leaders anymore. They believe Pakatan was only using Hindraf for their own selfish political gain," said a source.

The breakaway group's major grouse is that Pakatan-controlled states of Penang, Kedah, Selangor and Kelantan, and previously also Perak, have let down the Indian community and failed to implement any comprehensive policies to upgrade the standard of living of the community.

"They are upset that Pakatan governments have used Hindraf to capture Indian votes, but neglected them after achieving unprecedented electoral gains in the last general election," said the source.

The breakaway former Hindraf leaders were obviously unhappy with the Pakatan decision to turn down their demand to nominate Thanenthiran as PKR candidate for the Bukit Selambau by-election in Kedah in March.

Thanenthiran claims to have many supporters

When contacted, Butterworth-based Thanenthiran confirmed the setting up of a political party under his leadership and claimed he has the support of many former Hindraf members across the country.

Thanenthiran and company decided to go their own way when Hindraf supremo, London-based P Waythamoorthy, expressed reluctance to establish a political party that would sever all links with Pakatan.

For Waythamoorthy - the founder member of Hindraf - and his brother Uthayakumar, Umno and Barisan Nasional were worse off than Pakatan.

The rift reared its ugly head when the Hindraf leader decided to back PKR in Bukit Selambau after Thanenthiran and company have openly called on Hindraf supporters to boycott Pakatan candidate S Manikumar.

Thanenthiran and his Hindraf colleagues were unhappy that Waythamoorthy had decided to back Pakatan without consulting them.

Waythamoorthy had then justified his decision, made after a long telephone conversation with PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim, was to get rid of Hindraf and Pakatan’s common political foes - Umno and BN.

Waythamoorthy also told his close friends that he was not worried with Thanenthiran's intention to form a party but preferred to distance Hindraf from it.

Whether Thanenthiran’s new party will be able to gain support from Indian Malaysians, and to improve the living conditions and standard of this minority community remains to be seen.

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MAJOR LAND SCANDALS INVOLVING BN LEADERS TO BE EXPOSED SOON

By MP Kapar,

Below was forward to my email address.

quote

Dear Friends,

Some of you maybe aware of an untold story of Kampung Perapat but let me reveal the…

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By MP Kapar,

Below was forward to my email address.

quote

Dear Friends,

Some of you maybe aware of an untold story of Kampung Perapat but let me reveal the truth to those who are unawre of the happenings….

Goverment has allocated some piece of land to some families in KP about 25years back under Rancangan Hijau where the locals have to pay very minimal amount and the land title will be given to them under their individual names. However, a great man called Dato Anbalagan has used his influence in local Pejabat Daerah and confused the public and has changed all the title names under his own name.

This later became very sensational issue where even went to cabinet and later Federal Goverment has instructed the then MB Datuk Seri Khir Toyo to ensure that all lands to be handed over to the respective owner accordingly BUT until today nothing has been done! Do you guys know who is the lawyer who represented the Great Dato Anbalagan?? Its no other than Manoharan (Hindraf) who is fighting for JUSTICE now but then was representing INJUSTICE.

It has been 25 years but the issue has not been resolved until today… During the last election, our leader MP Manikavasagam used this issue for his election campaign and has promised those families that he will make sure all land ownership to be given to individual owners but after winning the PRU he ‘washed his hands’ over this matter.

I have few question here which might make you guys think rationally,

1. Why Manoharan who fights for entire Malaysian Indian cant do anything over this matter as this is his native place!? “Charity Starts from Home” Why not another demonstration for this useful matter instead of a demonstration for publicity???

2. Do you guys think Manoharan who faught for the injustice then is now fighting for JUSTICE???

3. Selangor goverment is now full piece cake of Pakatan Rakyat what so why cant them return the land back to the lawful owners?

Waiting for the next PRU is it?

4. What happened to MP Manikavasagam’s promises? If he cant fulfill those promises then be a gentleman and resign, let better people complete this job.

I trust all the above mentioned truth will make you guys think and you’re always welcome to question me if i am at a wrong side. I accept the truth and facts as it is. But i want the justice being served to those suffering Indians out there. If those involved cant explain this matter, then…….. ’sattam thaan kadameyyai seiyum’

SJ

Unquote

Reply by MPKAPAR.

The writer seems to be taking instruction from someone else, in an effort to provoke myself. Well I’m aware the writer has personal interest at Kg Perepat. The timing for him to bring up this issue is very much politically motivated? As far as Manoharan concern, let him reply as it involves lawyer and client relationship.

Meanwhile, I Invite readers to glance thru the following blog posts and newspaper article to understand further about Kg Perepat and what I had done since became Kapar MP.

SUPER EXPRESS 24 HOURS LAND TRANSFER

A PLANNED OVERSIGHT BY LEARNED LAND ADMINISTRATOR

ADUAN POLIS: MASALAH TANAH KG PEREPAT, KAPAR

Penduduk Dua Kampung Dakwa Teraniaya

Land scam to be investigated

Where were the writer and his masters’ prior Mar 8 2008 election, leaving only Non Governmental organisations voice up. We need to investigate who is Anbalagan first and how could he transfer TOL lands within 24 hours.

The culprit Anbalagan reported to have stayed at MIC President’s family house in Australia while studying there. They been the driving force for him to continue mislead poor Indians in Kg Perepat. Their strong relationship, prevented former Selangor Exco Members Late Thamadurai , Late Sivalinggam, Mahalinggam and former MIC’s Kapar Mps fail to act against Anbalagan.

During a year plus Pakatan Selangor Government had managed to settle few land matters in Kapar Parliamentary, notably Kg Nelayan Sementa while Kg Perepat issue still in process as it need to be investigate together with another MAJOR LAND SCANDALS INVOLVING MIC AND OTHER BARISAN NASIONAL LEADER THAT TO BE EXPOSED VERY SOON.

Since, the writer want justice being served to those suffering Indians out there I wish he could also query MIC the followings :

a) What happen to money invested by over 60,000 shareholders in MAIKA HOLDINGS? They been promising to pay in 90 days, 120 days but still no sign of any initiated from their side to settle the matter amicably.

Hundreds of shareholders had walked into my office complaining about MAIKA Holdings until some of then scorn “Celaka Punya Samyvelu”. My lawyer P. Uthayakumar is expect to file a suit soon.

b) And more interesting who murdered actress K Sujatha? Where is Shaila Nair now?

Instead of calling me to resign, the writer should had made such call to power craze MIC leaders whom still depriving Indian rights in Malaysia. While, I’m ready to face any MIC Top gun at next Election at Kapar or relinquish my position any time but can writer assure that his MIC masters’ able to settle at least Indian matters such MAIKA Holdings matter in next 30days, send the murderers of Sujatha ,Krishnasamy, former Tenggaroh assemblyman,Dr Joe Fernandez, former Lunas assemblyman to prison and can they find justice for death of 80 over detainees while in police custody including Kugan who was killed early this year.

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Jagalah hati Melayu - Awang Selamat

MEI 17 - UMNO, parti utama dalam komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) menyambut ulang tahun ke-63 pada 11 Mei lalu.

Sambutan kali ini walaupun diadakan serba sederhana, mempunyai keistimewaan tersendiri. Parti…

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MEI 17 - UMNO, parti utama dalam komponen Barisan Nasional (BN) menyambut ulang tahun ke-63 pada 11 Mei lalu.

Sambutan kali ini walaupun diadakan serba sederhana, mempunyai keistimewaan tersendiri. Parti itu baru sahaja menyaksikan peralihan kepimpinan di bawah Presiden, Mohd. Najib Tun Razak dan penampilan barisan baru ahli Majlis Tertinggi (MT).

Pada saf tersebut, terpikul cabaran besar dan getir pasca Pilihan Raya Umum ke-12 yang mengubah dengan ketara landskap politik tanah air.

Malah pada tarikh ulang tahun Umno itu, parti tersebut dikejutkan dengan keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi berhubung kemelut jawatan Menteri Besar Perak, yang tidak memihak kepada BN.

Berita mengenai keputusan kes itu mencuri perhatian rakyat dan turut menjadi bualan hangat ahli-ahli serta para penyokong Umno.

Keresahan berikutan kes berkenaan reda apabila para pemimpin Umno berhimpun sempena sambutan tersebut di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra, di ibu negara pada malam itu.

Turut hadir Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, mantan Presiden Umno dan Perdana Menteri.

Najib telah memberikan reaksi yang cukup tenang. Katanya, Umno pernah lalui ujian lebih getir ketika parti itu diharamkan dan akhirnya mampu bangkit.
Bahkan beliau menampakkan keyakinan untuk menangani kemelut di Perak.

Tiada pun riak kegusaran di wajahnya. Sebenarnya keyakinanlah yang amat diperlukan oleh UMNO bagi mengembalikan kekuatannya.
Untuk menguruskan sebuah parti yang besar, telah lama berkuasa dan Berjaya seperti Umno, bukan sesuatu yang mudah.

Lebih-lebih lagi parti itu berdepan dengan asakan paling kuat dari pelbagai penjuru, kesan keputusan
pilihan raya umum lalu (PRU-12) yang membawa tamparan besar kepada BN dan Umno.

Pakatan pembangkang sudah membayangkan peluang lebih cerah untuk menumbangkan BN pada pilihan raya akan datang.

Dengan kata lain, Umno diambang kematian dan kerajaan BN yang ada sekarang merupakan yang
terakhir.

Benarkah? Berdasarkan banyak petunjuk terbaru Awang yakin apa yang diramalkan oleh pembangkang tidak akan berlaku.

Pembaharuan yang digerakkan oleh Najib mula menampakkan kesan positif. Perkembangan
terkini politik tanah air juga tidak banyak memihak kepada pembangkang.

Pada masa yang sama, UMNO masih menjadi sandaran utama orang Melayu yang boleh dibuktikan menerusi undi yang terus meningkat dalam beberapa pilihan raya kecil selepas PRU-12 (sedangkan majoriti pengundi Cina misalnya, masih menyokong pembangkang). Jangan lupa pada pilihan raya umum itu juga Umno memperoleh 79 kerusi - parti tunggal yang mempunyai kerusi terbanyak. Prestasi BN merudum tetapi tidak bagi Umno.

Parti pesaing bagi UMNO iaitu Pas hanya mempunyai 22 kerusi dan PKR 31 kerusi.

Ia juga memberi mesej yang jelas bahawa UMNO perlu meneruskan agenda menjaga kepentingan Melayu. Janganlah kerana ghairah mahu menarik sokongan bukan Melayu, UMNO mengabaikan pula asas kekuatannya.

Ketika DAP, MCA, MIC misalnya makin lantang memperjuangkan kepentingan kaum mereka tanpa sedikitpun rasa kekok, tiada sebab untuk Umno teragak-agak dan terlalu mahu menjaga hati kaum lain. Umno perlu bijak menyulam peranannya sebagai pemimpin BN untuk semua kaum tanpa mengorbankan kepentingan orang Melayu.

Jasa Umno terlalu besar kepada orang Melayu, begitu juga kepada kaum lain walaupun hakikat ini cuba dinafikan. UMNOlah yang mempertahankan bukan Melayu sejak awal kemerdekaan daripada aliran
politik ekstremisme.

Ketika Pas menjauhi parti dan kaum bukan Melayu serta menganggap mereka kafir selama beberapa dekad lamanya, Umno menghulur tangan permuafakatan.

Menerusi dasar dan naungan Umno, kaum minoriti bukan sahaja terjamin hak malah mampu menguasai ekonomi negara.
Sesungguhnya UMNO tidak pernah mengkhianati bukan Melayu. Apa yang mula berlaku adalah sebaliknya. Jadi, jagalah hati Melayu terlebih dahulu. - Mingguan Malaysia

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Menilai UthayaKumar

MEI 17 - Awang tidak terkejut dengan reaksi pemimpin pertubuhan haram Hindraf, P. Uthayakumar selepas dibebaskan daripada tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), baru-baru ini.

Menurut Uthayakumar, beliau tidak akan berterima kasih kepada kerajaan kerana bertindak membebaskannya (lebih awal daripada tempoh sepatutnya iaitu dua tahun). Beliau mendakwa tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan dan penahanannya itu dibuat tidak mengikut undang-undang.

Seperti yang ditegaskan oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri, Hishammuddin Tun Hussein bahawa kerajaan tidak mengharapkan penghargaan dan ucapan terima kasih daripada tahanan ISA yang dibebaskan, ramai juga tidak terfikir orang seperti Uthayakumar akan berbuat demikian.

Beliau juga sengaja membiarkan rambut dan janggutnya panjang sebagai protes terhadap ISA. Awang hanya senyum.
Biarlah apa sahaja reaksi dan protes yang mahu ditunjukkan, rakyat boleh menilai dengan baik.

Tetapi Awang juga ada reaksi tersendiri. Pertama, Awang sedikitpun tidak teruja dengan pembebasannya. Kedua, Awang percaya ramai yang tidak akan lupa mudarat yang telah Hindraf lakukan. Beberapa siri perhimpunan haram yang mereka anjurkan ternyata ganas termasuk memukul anggota polis yang menjalankan tugas. Peniaga terpaksa menutup kedai, pemandu teksi ketakutan dan aktiviti pelancongan di ibu negara terjejas teruk.

Lebih daripada itu, kempen dan fitnah yang dilemparkan termasuk di luar negara, adalah keterlaluan. Siapa yang menuduh kerajaan melakukan penghapusan etnik dan bermacam lagi yang tidak boleh diterima dek akal?

Siapa sebenarnya yang mengamalkan semangat perkauman melampau kalau bukan Hindraf, nyaris mencetuskan tindak balas orang Melayu (yang dikhuatiri mencetuskan ketegangan kaum), seandainya kerajaan tidak bertindak cepat menahan mereka di bawah ISA.

Malah ada fakta yang dijaja ke serata dunia oleh Hindraf kononnya kaum India paling miskin di negara ini juga didapati tidak benar.

Berdasarkan kajian UNDP, yang paling miskin dan bilangan miskin teramai, adalah daripada kalangan orang Melayu. Sepatutnya orang Melayu yang banyak beralah dan kompromi kepada kaum lain, lebih berhak untuk merusuh.

Bayangkan sampai hari ini setelah lebih 50 tahun merdeka, Melayu adalah kaum majoriti tetapi ada kaum minoriti yang menguasai kekayaan negara.

Orang Melayu jugalah yang paling ramai ditahan ISA sejak dulu lagi tetapi tidakpun dijadikan isu perkauman.

Maka dalam isu Hindraf ini, selagi para pemimpinnya tidak meminta maaf terhadap apa yang telah dilakukan, jangan harap Awang dan ramai lagi rakyat Malaysia akan mengubah pendirian dan persepsi terhadap pertubuhan haram itu. Haram tetap haram.

Anehnya MIC, parti komponen BN menawarkan diri untuk bekerjasama dengan Hindraf, yang boleh mengundang pelbagai tafsiran.

Apa pun, semoga Hindraf mendapat pengajaran bernilai daripada tindakan pihak berkuasa. Janganlah lagi mengambil mudah dan menyalahgunakan demokrasi untuk kepentingan sendiri. Bumi Malaysia ini bertuah untuk semua kaum termasuk golongan minoriti.

Tetapi jika merasakan sebaliknya, sesiapa sahaja bebas untuk berhijrah ke negara lain yang difikirkan lebih baik.

Tepuk dada, tanya selera. - Mingguan Malaysia

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UTHAYAKUMAR SHAVES HIS HAIR

Watch this video of former ISA detainee P. Uthayakumar having his hair shaved at Batu Caves Temple, which was grown when he was detained since 30 October 2007

Why is Zambry getting ’special treatment’?

By Lim Kit Siang

(When I spoke at the public forum “From May 13 to 1Malaysia – The Future of Malaysian Nation Building” at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre on…

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By Lim Kit Siang

(When I spoke at the public forum “From May 13 to 1Malaysia – The Future of Malaysian Nation Building” at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre on Wednesday, 13th May 2009, I had posed two questions, viz:

1. Why the Court of Appeal could fast-track to hear within three hours Datuk Zambry Abdul Kadir’s application for “stay” of Justice Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim’s landmark judgment delivered on 11th May that Nizar was the lawful Perak Mentri Besar and grant it in another hour; while it was snail-pace in needing five days to hear Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin’s application to discharge Zambry’s “stay”; and

2. Whether Malaysians can expect justice in cases involving top Umno leaders when there is an Umno Chief Justice, Tan Sri Zaki Azmi?

This proved to be an understatement, as last Friday, it was announced that Nizar’s application to set aside the stay order, filed on 13th May, was postponed from May 18 to May 21 - the hearing date for Zambry’s appeal.

Zambry required less than three hours after filing his application to get a single-judge Court of Appeal to hear his “stay” request, while Nazry requires eight (from the earlier five) days to get his application to discharge the “stay” order heard.

Is this justice.

No wonder Leong Cheok Keng, Nizar’s solicitors, raised a very pertinent question in his six-point statement below, framed by Malaysiakini as “Why is Zambry getting ’special treatment’?”:

By Leong Cheok Keng
16th May 2009

1. My client is truly disappointed that his much awaited hearing on 18.5.2009 has been adjourned by the Court.

2. I received the letter from the Registry of the Court of Appeal at about 4pm yesterday on 15.5.2009 which says that it has been re-scheduled to 21.5.2009 and it will be heard together with the appeal proper. The apparent reason is that since the hearing of the appeal is imminent, my client’s application for the discharge of the stay order might as well be adjourned and there is now no urgency to hear the same.

3. Without any explanation given by the Court, the public will be left with the perception that the Court is once again going out of its way to accommodate the Appellant and putting my client at a disadvantage.

4. My client would like the issue of whether the Appellant, Zambry did or did not have the right in law under section 43 and 44 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964 to obtain the relief of a full blooded stay despite not having made a formal written application to the High Court which made the declaration that my client is the lawful and valid Menteri Besar. On 11.5.2009, when Zambry’s lawyer’s oral application for a stay was refused, he was clearly asked by the High Court to put in a written application, which the lawyer did not do.

5. An explanation is also appreciated from the Court Registry as to why an application from my client is being delayed consistently when compared to Zambry’s application which was fixed for hearing and a decision made not more than 24 hours after the Judgment of the High Court? The hearing commenced within 3 hours of filing and stay order pronounced within 2 hours of hearing.

6. I also await eagerly the grounds of the one-man Court of Appeal panel for granting the “stay” order.

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Decision To Sack Him A Cowardly Act, Says Murugiah

BENTONG, May 17 (Bernama) -- Senator Datuk T. Murugiah today described the People's Progressive Party's (PPP) decision to sack him and six other party members as a cowardly act by…

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BENTONG, May 17 (Bernama) -- Senator Datuk T. Murugiah today described the People's Progressive Party's (PPP) decision to sack him and six other party members as a cowardly act by party president, Datuk M. Kayveas.

For one, Murugiah said the decision made by the party's disciplinary board yesterday had denied the party members the right to decide on the party leadership.

"To me, I'm not expelled and still a PPP (supreme council) member. Yesterday's meeting was illegal. They (disciplinary board members) were not elected by the party, they are Kayveas' cronies.

"If he dares, ask him to call for an election. Don't be a coward. I dare him to face me," he told reporters after opening a seminar on small business, agro-business and franchise, here, today.

He also described his sacking as Kayveas' dictatorial act which had not only tarnished the party's image, but would also cause problems to Barisan Nasional (BN), which should not happen especially in the current political situation faced by BN.

Hence, Murugiah urged BN to temporarily suspend Kayveas from its Supreme Council meeting until the domestic issues in PPP had been resolved.

The two-hour meeting attended by 39 PPP disciplinary board members yesterday made the decision on the ground that Murugiah had used his Deputy Minister's office in the Prime Minister's Department to hold a press conference which tarnished the good name of the party and making defamatory remarks against the party, its Supreme Council and party leadership.

The board also said that Murugiah had threatened the party's lawyer and a supreme council member that he would use all his power to get PPP deregistered.

Murugiah said he would personally go to the Registrar of Society tomorrow to seek verification on the status of the party.

"The party's financial statement had never been tabled at the party's annual general assembly. There must be something wrong," he said.

On the allegation that he was involved in money politics, Murugiah said the allegation was baseless.

He said he was only a Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of the Public Complaints Bureau, Public Service Commission and Education Commission and so did not have the money to give away nor the power to give projects to anyone.

Asked whether he was being investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Murugiah said: "They (MACC) did come to my office recently, but only to check on a few documents, nothing else."

Meanwhile, Murugiah also said that he was contacted by an important individual in MIC inviting him to join the party.

"I thank MIC for seeing me as a potential leader," he said, adding that he had not decided on the matter.

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Prabhakaran body believed found: Lankan military sources

17 May 2009, REUTERS

COLOMBO: A body believed to be that of Tamil Tiger founder leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran has been found but the identity of the corpse has notbeen confirmed,…

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17 May 2009, REUTERS

COLOMBO: A body believed to be that of Tamil Tiger founder leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran has been found but the identity of the corpse has notbeen confirmed, Sri Lankan military sources said on Sunday. ( Watch )

"They are taking the body for checks to confirm it is the real Prabhakaran," one military official said on conditions of anonymity.

Four other military sources confirmed the recovery and said identity checks were under way.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara denied the report.

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Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers admit defeat 17 May 2009, , AFP

COLOMBO: The Tamil Tigers have given up their fight against a Sri Lankan government offensive and "have decided to silence our guns," a statementcarried by the pro-rebel Tamilnet website said on Sunday. "This battle has reached its bitter end," said the admission of defeat from the rebels' chief of international relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan. "We remain with one last choice -- to remove the last weak excuse of the enemy for killing our people. We have decided to silence our guns. Our only regrets are for the lives lost and that we could not hold out for longer." The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have been fighting for an independent homeland on the ethnic Sinhalese-majority island since the 1970s. "There is not a person who can doubt the LTTE's fearless and unending commitment to this cause with which we have been entrusted by our people. No force can prevent the attainment of justice for our people," Pathmanathan said. "We willingly stand up with courage and silence our guns. We have no other option other than to continue our plea to the international community to save our people." The statement came as the island's defence ministry said all civilians held by the Tamil Tigers had escaped the war zone, with the last few rebel fighters boxed into a 2.4-square-kilometre (one-square-mile) patch of jungle. "They were actually defeated some time ago, but they have formally accepted defeat only now," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said. "They fought for an Eelam (separate state) that they could never win. It was only a waste of lives. They have caused massive death and destruction over the years. Finally they themselves have realised that it is all over," he said.

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Obama “salutes” Najib? DPM’s post “very lucrative”? - Anil Netto

A Bernama report titled ‘Obama congratulates Najib on premiership’ has been given a new headline in the NST: ‘Obama salutes Najib’.

If you read the Bernama report…

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A Bernama report titled ‘Obama congratulates Najib on premiership’ has been given a new headline in the NST: ‘Obama salutes Najib’.

If you read the Bernama report carefully, the language is just one of diplomatic courtesy and niceties. It’s the sort of message - often drafted by an underling - that a national leader would regularly send to a new leader elsewhere. Nothing exceptional in there to give the impression of Obama “saluting” Najib - and that too, one and a half months after the latter assumed the top post.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman let rip into Anwar during a joint press conference with Hillary Clinton in Washington - but in the process, he dropped a clanger. The US State Department reported Anifah as saying:

And also just for the information of the audience here that, you know, he also said that he will form a government on 16 September and he has changed the dates many time. And he was trying to entice the members of parliament. And I was personally offered to jump into the oppositions and offered a very lucrative position, and also to be told it’s like a deputy prime minister. And these are not known to the world at large.

This doesn’t make sense. Why did Anifah believe it when he was told that the lucrative position was like a DPM’s post?

How can the DPM’s position be considered lucrative, when even the premiership has only a salary plus allowance that’s far below the RM5 million paid to the chief honcho of Puncak Niaga, the Selangor water concessionaire? Unless Anifah believes that the DPM’s post has other “perks”?

To make matters worse, Anifah said this in Washington - a place where no one would think of describing the vice-presidency - or for that matter, the presidency - as “a very lucrative position”. In trying to slam Anwar Ibrahim, the Foreign Minister has just turned us into a laughing stock.

Anifah should tell us in what way the DPM’s post is similar to a lucrative position. Incidentally, would he consider the Foreign Minister’s position to be “very lucrative” as well?

Anifah added:

And we have lost five states and we willingly and accept the people’s verdict. And all the time we leave it to the people to decide, and which, on the other hand (Anwar) has not been able to accept.

Umm, you accept the people’s verdict (the loss of five states) - and all the time, you leave it to the people to decide? Like in Perak?

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Anifah Aman’s Allegations Was Baseless, Untrue & Defamatory

We SN Nair & Partners act for Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and are authorised to issue this statement on his behalf.

Our client vehemently denies Datuk Anifah Aman’s allegations in…

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We SN Nair & Partners act for Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and are authorised to issue this statement on his behalf.

Our client vehemently denies Datuk Anifah Aman’s allegations in the said story and puts him to strict proof. At no time were any such offers made to Anifah by our client.

The allegations made in the said story are baseless, untrue, defamatory and made with malicious intent to tarnish Anwar’s reputation.

We have instructions to file a defamation (libel) suit against him (Anifah) if he does not retract and make an apology within 24 hours from now.

SN NAIR

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Minnal FM Should Play Role To Unite Indians - Saravanan

KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan wants RTM's radio channel Minnal FM to play a more effective role in uniting the…

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KUALA LUMPUR, May 17 (Bernama) -- MIC information chief Datuk M. Saravanan wants RTM's radio channel Minnal FM to play a more effective role in uniting the Indian community in the country.

The deputy federal territories minister said the channel could also play another important role of passing information on development from the government to the Indians who had been feeling that they had been neglected.

"Recently, for instance, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced a RM100 million allocation to upgrade Tamil schools nationwide.

"It's a big amount....such an amount has never been given before for the purpose, and if the Indian community wish to know more about this, they can phone Minnal FM," he told reporters after officiating at a special Mother's Day concert organised by the radio channel, here, Sunday.

Earlier, in his speech, Saravanan reminded the Indian community to appreciate and respect the role of mothers in bringing up and educating their children to become useful individuals.

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Brainstorming

By Kula's Blog,

The DAP annual retreat was held over the weekend. All state assemblyman and Members of Parliament attended the event. The retreat was supposed to take place in…

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By Kula's Blog,

The DAP annual retreat was held over the weekend. All state assemblyman and Members of Parliament attended the event. The retreat was supposed to take place in the beginning of January but it had to be postponed twice by reason of the Kuala Terengganu and Bukit Gantang by elections.

We were briefed on the latest political situation by our party leaders. Even outside experts came and spoke to the audience. Notable entrepreneurs also gave they views as to how to achieve certain goals within a certain time.

We were also told the number of new members have increased by nearly 30% since the last general elections. In all aspect the gathering was a success.

DS Anuar spoke to us over lunch. He announced that Pakatan Rakyat(PR) has now agreed to form a number of committees to specifically address issues were members of the PR differ from one another. In particular a committee has now been established to look into and to take a common stand on conversion. Yes, in PR we have differences but we are willing to sit down on equal terms to sort out matters.

Many of the attendees felt very recharged with the event. I hope we will all “turun padang” and get the election machinery working as we expect the Perak state elections will take place soon.

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