Police raid DAP HQ in Petaling Jaya - Malaysiakini

The police today raided the DAP headquarters in Petaling Jaya in search of documents believed to be related to the arrest of 16 party activists in Ampang on Thursday night.

MCPX

The raid, which took place at 6.25pm, was carried out by a team of 11 police officers. They left at 7.30pm.

The police had brought one of those arrested, Ulu Selangor councillor Ooi Leng Heng, 34, along with them in the raid.

Ooi, who is also DAP Youth's political education bureau director, was seen in handcuffs and dressed in the standard orange lock-up uniform.

In the one-hour raid, the police confiscated Ooi's computer monitor, keyboard, headphone, a number of CDs and a CPU (central processing unit).

According to witnesses, the cops did not show any search warrant.

An outraged Nga Kor Ming, who is DAP parliamentarian for Taiping, lambasted the raid.

"This is the first time in the 42-year history of DAP that police have raided our HQ," he fumed.

Investigated under PPPA

Sixteen people were arrested at the DAP Teratai service centre for holding a candlelight vigil.

Those arrested, including Teratai state assemblyperson Jenice Lee, have been held over the past two days at the Pandan Indah police lock-up to facilitate investigation.

It is learnt that they are being probed for illegal assembly as well as Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA).

At the candlelight vigil, DAP had distributed a two-page leaflet titled ‘507 Detik Hitam dalam Sejarah Demokrasi Malaysia!’ (507 - A Black Moment in Malaysia’s History of Democracy).

Under the PPPA, the police could charge them for publishing an illegal document or for spreading false news.

At a press conference, DAP Puchong parliamentarian Gobind Singh slammed the police for not producing a warrant, although this is a requirement under Section 16 of the PPPA.

“This is a clear cut case of invasion of privacy and trespass,” said Gobind, who is head of the party’s legal bureau.

Also at the press conference, DAP central committee member Teresa Kok said that the raid and detention of the 16 was a “scare tactic” by the police to pre-empt any future candlelight vigils.

“They are intentionally prolonging the detention of the people, putting additional charges (other than illegal assembly) just to discourage people from attending,” said Kok, who is Seputeh MP and Kinrara state assemblyperson.

Meanwhile, DAP chairperson and Cheras MP Tan Kok Wai said that the candlelight vigil outside his office in Cheras would still proceed tonight at 9pm tonight.

"Accessories after the fact to acts of Genocide"

Condemning the sponsorship, by twelve states, of a self-praising resolution submitted to the United Nations by the Government of Sri Lanka, before the scheduled UN Human Rights Council emergency session scheduled for Monday, Professor Boyle, an expert in International Law said Friday that these states have become accessories after the fact to the numerous acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes that the Government of Sri Lanka has perpetrated upon the Tamils.

Labelled “Assistance to Sri Lanka in the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights,” Sri Lanka’s proposed text is co-signed by Indonesia, China, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Bahrain, Philippines, Cuba, Egypt, Nicaragua, and Bolivia, reported UN Watch, a non-governmental organization based in Geneva whose mandate is to monitor the performance of the United Nations.

"Their sponsorship of this Resolution means that the above-mentioned states have thereby all become ACCESSORIES AFTER THE FACT to the numerous acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes that the Government of Sri Lanka has perpetrated upon the Tamils in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention, the Four Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Two Additional Protocols of 1977, as well as the rules of customary international criminal law, including humanitarian law and the laws of war," Prof. Boyle said.

"By definition, violations of international treaties, genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes cannot possibly fall within the domestic jurisdiction of a State.

"That Principle goes back to the Nuremberg Charter of 1945 and the Nuremberg Judgment of 1946 concerning the prosecution of the Nazis," Boyle added.

"This Resolution constitutes a total debasement and perversion of everything the United Nations Charter and the U.N. Human Rights Council are intended to stand for," Boyle said.

By contrast, the upcoming Monday session was initiated by the council’s European Union members and supported by Argentina, Bosnia, Canada, Chile, Mexico, Mauritius, South Korea, Switzerland, Ukraine and Uruguay, UN Watch said.

"Sri Lanka’s action today constitutes an outrageous abuse and show of contempt for the international human rights process," said Hillel Neuer, an international lawyer and the executive director of UN Watch, a Geneva-based human rights monitoring group.

US Congressional Rights Group urge investigation into Sri Lanka crimes

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission of the U.S. House of Representatives in a communication sent to President Obama said that the United States has to take concrete actions to to hold the Sri Lankan state accountable for its actions for rebuffing the international community, and urged the President to instruct the Department of Justice to look into the possible linkage of Sri Lanka officials to crimes committed during the prosecution of the war. The note mentioned Gotabaya Rajapakse, Basil Rajapakse, and Sarath Fonseka as possible perpetrators of war crimes.

• Congress Rights Committee Letter to Obama

"All credible efforts by members of the international community, including those by the United States through our outstanding Ambassador to Sri Lanka, RObert Blake, and those of Britain, France, Norway and the European Union, were either rebuffed or went mostly ignored by the Sri Lankan Government, which has made a determination that it will resolve the issue militarily.

"It has become increasingly obvious that the Sri Lankan government believes that there will be no political price to pay for its impunity. We believe this must change and that there are concrete measures that United States can take right now to hold the Sri Lankan state accountable for its actions, now and in the future," the communication said.

"[W]e call on you to instruct our Ambassador to the United Nations, Susan Rice, to immediately call for an emergency session of the Security Council to discuss the ongoing situation in Sri Lanka," the letter added.

"We ask you to publicly instruct the U.S. Executive Director to the IMF to use his voice and vote to suspend any further action on the pending $1.9b loan to Sri Lanka," the letter further said.

"Lastly, we ask that you instruct the Department of Justice to look into the possible legal ramifications regarding the fact that three of the key Sri Lankan actors in the implementation of the Sri Lankan military strategy are reported to be U.S.citizens for purposes of legal accountability should credible evidence link them to any of the above mentioned crimes," the letter concluded.

Perak verdict: Anwar disappointed but not surprised - Malaysiakini

Pakatan Rakyat leader Anwar Ibrahim is disappointed but not surprised with the appellate court ruling that Barisan Nasional's Zambry Abd Kadir was the legitimate Perak menteri besar.

MCPX

Speaking at a by-election rally in Padang Ibu, Penanti last night, Anwar said he was disappointed that ousted menteri besar Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin was denied the chance to “govern a people-orientated administration”.

He contended that Nizar did not deserve to be booted out because he was a “capable, clean and caring” leader.

According to the opposition leader, Nizar had safeguarded the interests of the poor and needy in his one-year stint as Perak menteri besar.

“He did not misappropriate or spend lavish public funds on mega-projects. He did not steal logging revenue and solicit shares for himself.

“Maybe those were his wrongdoings,” quipped Anwar in his typical reverse psychology one-liner to the 3,000-strong crowd in the remote village.

PKR supremo Anwar said the court decision did not surprise him because “Pakatan Rakyat could sense it was coming based on series of judicial decisions over the years”.

The Court of Appeal yesterday allowed Zambry’s appeal and reversed the earlier Kuala Lumpur High Court decision that declared PAS leader Nizar as the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

Send a strong message to Putrajaya

The Permatang Pauh parliamentarian went on to lambast BN for not heeding popular demand to dissolve the Perak assembly and pave the way for a fresh state election.

BN and its media, he claimed, were now trying hard to convince the public that Pakatan was the cause of the Perak political deadlock when the truth was otherwise.

“We have called for a fresh election to end the impasse but BN has refused to do so,” he said.

He urged Penanti voters to give PKR candidate Mansor Othman (right) a big win in next Sunday’s by-election to send a strong message to the Putrajaya leadership that they were unhappy with the constitutional crisis in Perak.

“Give PKR and Pakatan a big win to convey everyone’s anger and frustration over the Perak crisis,” he said.

Why the U-turn on by-election?

He also criticised BN’s quick decision to contest the forthcoming Manek Urai state by-election in Kelantan after passing over Penanti.

He taunted BN for making a complete U-turn with its decision to join the fray in Manek Urai as this went against its reasons not to contest Penanti.

“BN said Penanti by-election was a waste of public resources which can be better used to rebuild the country’s economy.

“Don’t tell me that the economy has been rebuilt now and it would not be a waste of public fund, time and energy to contest Manek Urai.

“It clearly showed the real reasons behind BN pullout from Penanti,” said Anwar, suggesting that Umno was scared to fight PKR.

Nizar, Sivakumar on hunger strike for fresh polls

By Shannon Teoh - The Malaysian Insider

IPOH, May 23 — Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir may have mentioned Mahatma Gandhi but it is Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin who will walk the talk.

In its latest bid to force state elections, Pakatan Rakyat will organise a three-day hunger strike starting on Tuesday that will be led by the ousted Nizar and dumped state speaker V. Sivakumar.

The hunger strike was planned before the Court of Appeal yesterday unanimously overturned the High Court decision that Nizar is the rightful Perak mentri besar.

But the new ruling, which was greeted with disgust from several PR supporters, will likely add numbers to the planned fast.

It will take place in front of the DAP headquarters here, which sits not 50 metres from the gates of the state secretariat, the seat of power that has swung between Nizar and Zambry.

Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming also confirmed that PR would appeal to the Federal Court as the Court of Appeal decision had set a dangerous precedent.

"The ruling means that the Sultan can decide who is mentri besar and also that the Agong can decide who is prime minister. This devolves our system from a constitutional monarchy to an absolute monarchy," the former state executive councillor said.

Nga, who is the de facto No. 2 in Perak DAP, said that if the apex court, which has final say on matters, rules in favour of Nizar, it would "restore Perak's finest moment."

At the press conference, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran also slammed the judiciary for being incapable of dealing with constitutional matters.

He suggested a constitutional court presided over by experts in this field to be set up.

Samy Vellu: Don’t support Sri Lanka’s UN bid

KUALA LUMPUR, May 23 — Malaysia must not support a draft resolution tabled by Sri Lanka at the United Nations calling for member nations not to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka, MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said today.

In urging Malaysia to deny support for the resolution, he said he would write to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak asking Malaysia not to support any such resolution.

"Tamils in Malaysia constitute 1.4 million of the 1.8 million Indians in the country. As such, their feelings have to be respected. There has to be a war tribunal in Sri Lanka to bring those people who perpetrated crimes against the Tamil community there in their war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," he said in a statement.

Samy Vellu said these people had committed genocide and would have to pay the price for the actions of the Sri Lankan army.

Yesterday, a news portal reported that Malaysia was one of the countries which had backed the draft resolution, tabled by Sri Lanka at the United Nations, calling for the non-interference policy. — Bernama

Keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan diatur?

BY Husam Musa,

Posting saya tiga hari lalu telah 'meramalkan' Mahkamah Rayuan akan memihak kepada Zambry dan ia menjadi kenyataan hari ini.

Ia sebenarnya bukan ramalan tetapi maklumat. Maklumat selanjutnya ialah pembubaran DUN Perak dalam masa terdekat, selepas Mesyuarat Majlis BN sekali lagi Isnin atau Selasa ini.

Isu di sini ialah, jika maklumat ini terbukti tepat, adakah ujud unsur 'pre-arranged' dalam keputusan ini? Ia bukan tugas kita semua untuk membuktikannya tetapi ia tugas pihak berkuasa. Sudah tentu kita tidak dapat mengharapkan apa-apa pada hari ini.

Keputusan ini memberi kesan besar. Baik di Parlimen mahu pun di DUN yang lain, Agung atau Sultan boleh melantik PM atau MB yang baru tanpa PM atau MB berkenaan terlebih dahulu dilucutkan jawatan mereka melalui usul undi tidak percaya.

Adakah negara kita sudah bersedia menerima hakikat kemungkinan perubahan teraju kepimpinan melalui proses tabung uji di luar rahim iatu Dewan Rakyat atau DUN seperti yang difahami sebelum ini? Khususnya Najib, sudahkah bersedia untuk Ahli Dewan Rakyat mengumpulkan senarai bahawa mereka sudah hilang kepercayaan kepada beliau dan Agung boleh dengan itu melantik PM yang baru tanpa proses Dewan Rakyat?

Tiga atau lima atu tujuh hakim yang bersidang, bukan lagi ukuran untuk rakyat yakin dengan integriti dan kebebasan kehakiman kita, melainkan keputusan mereka yang dilihat wajar. Apa lagi keputusan Mahkamah ke atas krisis politik, memerlukan lebih ketelitian dan kebebasan.


Berbalik kepada Perak. 'Ramalan' saya seterusnya ialah, Majlis BN akan bersidang. Kemudian Zambry kononnya bersetuju menyerahkan mandat kepada rakyat dengan mengadap Sultan Perak untuk pembubaran.

Memang itu yang dihasratkan oleh PR tetapi proses mahkamah yang dianggap tidak selari dengan prinsip keadilan tetap menjadi satu medan yang tidak akan berakhir dengan pembubaran itu kelak. Pembubaran, ya. Proses undang-undang yang adil, juga ya.

I rest my case

From time to time we hear stories about the Malaysian judiciary that make the prostitutes operating in Jalan Alor look like Mother Teresa by comparison. (I mean I heard lah people say that they operate in Jalan Alor).

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

However, I'm rather interested in asking him to reply me. If the trial is held in KL, would he appear, since it's not part of Selangor?

But of course not, there's the ISA threat there.

So you know what I'm going to do for you, RPK?

I'll write to the Home Minister to address that fear. Perhaps a guarantee from him and the IGP should be well enough for you to show up?

And since we want to see justice served, perhaps the Bar Council should step up as well, be proactive for once.

Also, why not ask the prosecutor to transfer the case to KL anyways, since you're apparently "self exiled" from the state of Selangor.

With these conditions met, how now, RPK?

Posted by: Hafidz Baharom http://blog.thestar.com.my/permalink.asp?id=23679

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

Last year, in a press conference in the lobby of the courts in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Bin Abdullah (in English that translates to ‘Praiseworthy Broker the Son of the Servant of Allah’ -- but don’t for one minute you believe that utter bullshit) told about 20 or 30 journalists that he wants to meet me in court. To make sure I agree to go to court, he said he would allow me to choose the judge I would like. And if I do not have money to pay the legal fees he would be very happy to help cover the cost on my behalf.



Shafee Abdullah (left) and his client Razak Baginda

Anyone who did not know Shafee better would probably think he was just bragging even though he does have a name Praiseworthy Broker. Note that, according to his name, he is not the servant of Allah but the son of the servant of Allah. He, personally, is the Praiseworthy Broker and any praiseworthy broker worth his brokerage fees must certainly be able to indulge in the widely rumoured and long-standing problem of judge fixing in the Malaysian courts.



VK Linggam and Chief Justice Eusoff Chin on an overseas holiday together

If I remember right, the Linggamtape scandal was also about judge fixing. However, they first had to fix who gets elevated and promoted before they can get these judges to fix cases. It is said by those who walk in the corridors of the palace of injustice, if you want to fix a civil case then go to Linggam and if it is a criminal case you go to Shafee. But be prepared to pay through your backside because that would probably be what you will need to sell to afford the exorbitant fees.

Back in 1998 or thereabouts, a ‘poison pen letter’ -- purportedly written by a judge named Syed Aidid -- made its rounds in Malaysia. In this very lengthy letter, the author identified all those judges who were on the take and what their fetishes were. Power, money and sex, but not necessarily in that order, were of course the common denominator for all. Syed Aidid’s letter would have been shorter, maybe half a page or so instead of the 40 pages, if he had listed down all those judges who were clean and pure.

From time to time we hear stories about the Malaysian judiciary that make the prostitutes operating in Jalan Alor look like Mother Teresa by comparison. (I mean I heard lah people say that they operate in Jalan Alor). Sometimes we really just can’t believe that all this could be true and that they must be exaggerating a wee bit -- that is, until you end up in court and discover not only is it true but actually worse than what they say.

Hafidz Baharom who has offered to help fix my judges

And read what Hafidz Baharom said in his Blog posting above. Yes, that’s right, he can help arrange to transfer my many cases to the court of my choice. Hey, who the hell is he? I mean, if it were Slime-ball Number One, Praiseworthy Broker the Son of the Servant of Allah, I would quite understand. After all they don’t call him Slime-ball Number One for nothing and his father did name him Praiseworthy Broker. But for a so unimportant and extremely insignificant fellow like Hafidz, who is way low down the food chain, to be able to offer to fix the judges on my behalf, it appears like this problem is even worse than we initially thought.

I rest my case. And if you still have doubts about the sorry state of the Malaysian judiciary then maybe I can interest you in some swampland that you should invest all your life savings in without further delay.

Khir Toyo - Suspend him from Selangor State Assembly but not his assemblyman’s allowances

The Selangor State Assembly should not suspend Datuk Seri Dr. Mohd Khir Toyo’s state assemblyman allowances even if it endorses the Selangor State Assembly Rights and Privileges Committee recommendations to punish and suspend the former Selangor Mentri Besar from the Assembly for grave breach of privileges.

The Selangor State Assembly Rights and Privileges Committee has recommended that Khir be suspended for a year from the state assembly without state assemblyman’s allowances and privileges for not attending an inquiry conducted by the state’s Select Committee on Competence, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) in March on the disbursement of state agency funds to Balis – the Wives of Selangor Assemblymen and MPs Welfare and Charity Organisation.

Khir is also found guilty of three other charges of making disparaging remarks and negative statements about Selcat in the media and on his blog, with the recommended sentence of six months’ suspension each, with all the suspensions to run concurrently.

Four other Barisan Nasional assemblymen Datuk Warno Dogol (Sabak Bernam), Datuk Mohd Idris Abu Bakar (Hulu Bernam), Mohd Isa Abu Kassim (Batang Kali) and Datuk Marsum Paing (Dengkil) have also been found guilty of attacking Selcat in the media, all to be suspended six months each without allowances and privileges.

These findings and recommendations of the Rights and Privileges Committee will be presented to the July meeting of the Selangor State Assembly for endorsement before they could take effect.

The Selangor State Assembly should not suspend Khir Toyo’s allowances – or the allowances of the other four Barisan Nasional Assemblymen - even if it endorses the recommendations of the Selangor State Assembly Rights and Privileges Committee to punish the former Selangor Mentri Besar and the other four Barisan Nasional Assemblymen for gross breach of privileges.

The Selangor State Assembly can suspend Assembly members from attending the Assembly for gross breach of privileges but it should not suspend their allowances as State Assembly members are elected by the voters to represent them at the state government level and voters should not be placed in a limbo of not having an elected Assemblyman to represent them as an intermediary with the state government even if he is suspended from State Assembly sittings.

Suspending state assembly members from the State Assembly for gross breach of privilege is appropriate punishment.

It is only recently that the Barisan Nasional embarked on the unhealthy and undemocratic practice not only in suspending members from the legislature but also their allowances.

This is a deplorable practice which Pakatan Rakyat-controlled legislatures should not follow.

There can be no dispute that Khir had been guilty of gross breach of privileges in boycotting the Selcat inquiry into the Balkis financial scandal and he has only himself to blame if he is suspended from the Selangor State Assembly for defying the Assembly’s concerns about good governance, in particular with regard to accountability and transparency in the Balkis financial scandal..

Khir’s contention that it was unfair to make him face an inquiry chaired by his political nemesis does not hold water. Is Khir prepared to face an independent public inquiry specially set up to inquire into the Balkis scandal?

If so, let Khir show his sincerity and honesty by announcing that he and his wife are prepared to attend and fully co-operate with such a separate public inquiry set up to probe into the Balkis scandal.

Perak - the epicentre of Umno fault-line

by Augustine Anthony
22.3.09

(This article was written in anticipation of the Court of Appeal judgment in Nizar vs Zambry)

The judgment of Justice Abdul Aziz Abd. Rahim in the case of Nizar vs Zambry has attained clairvoyance status.

It had positioned the institution of rulers above politics, dignified the sultans and preserved the revered constitutional monarchy for generations to come.

In the ancient times the announcement of gestation or birth of crown prince will usually send sages and spiritual leaders into solitude in meditation and prayers in the harsh wilderness with the hope that the ruler to come will be benevolent to the subjects. History bears testimony of such adoration with monuments and poems of virtues and valour of such kings.

Today more than a billion souls, Hindus, Christians and Muslims all in India salute the great emperor Asoka knowingly or unknowingly when they rise in veneration of the majestic Indian national flag, the centre of it bears the wheel of Asoka.

But not all Rulers invite admiration. Scorn and disdain of the people witnessed the extinction of absolute monarchy in many parts of the world and replaced with power to the people by new systems of constitutional monarchy or an outright republic of a nation.

Power is placed in the hands of people’s representatives but authority is given not to deny the will and wishes of the people.

But the hearts of men are so easily corrupted.

Neither constitutional monarchy nor the presidency of a republic could remove the abuse of power and expansion of corrupt playing fields of those in whose hands the people have placed their power and authority that were removed systematically from the absolute monarchs.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, so the saying goes.

The creation of constitutional monarchy and a system of parliamentary democracy with people’s power concentrated in the hands of UMNO in the last 52 years only goes to show that indeed UMNO enjoys the goodwill of the people of Malaysia.

But all that is about to change.

The epicentre of UMNO’s power shattering phenomenon is hidden deep in the emotions of the Perakians. It may well be UMNO’s fault line that may trigger the next and decisive Tsunami. A sea of people with their emotion translated into tidal waves of anger may well bring about permanent destruction to the once invincible fortress that now lies damaged at the shoreline built by UMNO painstakingly for more than 50 years led by many of their visionary leaders of the past.

But wait! Alas, those political leaders opposed to UMNO who now ride these tidal waves of anger (except for some notable veterans), are poor surfers unable to comprehend the deep current and direction of the waves. Tidal waves are fast and furious. Either you surf it or sink in it.

Many of these surfers are amateur opposition new kids on the bloc with the new found fame of Yang Berhormat. They try very hard to impress the undecided and uncertain people who had swung to the opposition in anger during the 2008 general election.

These YB’s must bear in mind that it takes more to continue winning the hearts and minds of the people than apple distribution in parliament house or bicycle paddling to the parliament entrance or constant holding of candle light in vigils and screaming “Saya YB, Saya YB” when apprehended by the law enforcement officers or even offering prayers to the ghost of unknown Ghengis Khan descendant who was blown to smithereens.

Many of these meaningless publicity stunts exhibited by these poor surfers are not only amusing but alarmingly annoying.

Internal squabbles aplenty, in short the Opposition’s value to people is fast descending to junk bond status.

While the surfers struggle at the high sea, close to shoreline the current Chief Architect surveys the damaged fortress and the coming of the tidal waves. Both he must confront and contain swiftly.

This Chief Architect is formidable, commanding an army of bureaucrat’s allegiance. His monumental fortitude sends uncluttered vibrations that he is determined to stay for more than one term as the commander in chief of the government of Malaysia.

The RAHMAN theory must die or UMNO will die. Die UMNO, this, the Chief Architect cannot and will not allow.

Najib Razak is a bangsawan pedigree. A Razak creation. Born and bred in the ways of leadership. As the son who enjoys the unseen goodwill left behind by the then chief architect of NEP in the 1970’s, he now enjoys the ancient cryptic command of the universe; the Vedas call it positive karma.

His reading of people’s anger is correct. He knows that he needs time to waft like gentle breeze to soothe the angry and humid emotion of the people. His weekly meet the people sessions is just about the right antidote in times like these. Just like his father.

His less than one hundred days in the seat of power shows that he is moving in the right direction.

Will Najib initiate the correct moves to dissolve the Perak State Legislative Assembly? Every thought is pointing to the inevitable. Dissolution of the Perak State Legislative Assembly is imminent.

To save UMNO or to squander the goodwill of the Malaysian?

It is your turn to think, YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak

LIVE: Penanti Nomination Day - Anil Netto

People In Perak Wants Political Crisis In The State Resolved

IPOH, May 23 (Bernama) -- The majority of the people in Perak wants the political crisis in the state to be resolved amicably without affecting peace, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

He said everyone involved should ease the political tension which had been causing uneasiness among the people all this while.

He said it had been left to the court to find a solution to the problem, so let the legal process take its course without affecting peace.

"In order to ease the political tension in the state, politicians must be responsible and play their role by not creating chaos through their ceramah," he told reporters after opening the 35th annual general meeting of Perak Perkim, here today.

Dr Zambry remained as Perak Menteri Besar after the Court of Appeal overturned the decision of the High Court on May 11 which had declared Datuk Seri Mohamad Nizar Jamaluddin as the legitimate Menteri Besar.

Dr Zambry said he would focus on ensuring that the administration of the Perak state government would function smoothly and strive to ensure that solidarity among the people of various races was maintained.

He said the main agenda was to ensure economic development in the state and regain stability so that the people could live in peace and harmony.

Hunger Strike Launched - Kula's blog

Today the Pakaatan Rakyat component parties announced that a 3 day Hunger Strike would be launched beginning at the DAP Perak HQ and finally ending at the PAS HQ at Taman Istana Ipoh.

We have been planning this strike for some time and finally last night during the Perak Pakaatan Rakyat leaders meeting we decided to commence it this Tuesday and it will end on this Thursday.

Many people for various reasons have in their struggles carried out “hunger strike”. For example the Gandhi had fasted to near death a number of times for the sake of India’s unity. Many more have died due to hunger strike all over the world. One place where there are evidences of death by reason of hunger strike is if one visit sees the Cellular Jail in the Andaman Islands, India where hundreds have died while fighting against the British. In recent time I get reminded the death of Bobby Sands while agitating against British rule in Northern Ireland.

For us in the present scenario in the Perak political crisis this “hunger strike” is one of the many programes to push for dissolving of the state assembly of Perak. People may ask why only 3 days? But why not?

Yesterday the Court of Appeal decision to allow the appeal by Zambry is not surprising. I differ from the views of the Pakaatan leaders. I am of the view the present constitutional crisis is not for the courts to give a solution. But rather the politicians should get to the people and agitate for a final outcome.

Yesterday’s decision by the court of Appeal may have been a damper. But this is only a small dent. While in the wet market in Tawas today I met many lay people who are dismayed by the courts decision. The encouraging words from all of them are keep on the struggle and you will make it great in the nest elections.

Barisan has won in the courts but the Pakaatan Rakyat will win the hearts and minds of the people. We just lost a battle but end of the day we will win the war!

Mahkamah Rayuan tolak keputusan Mahkamah Tinggi

Court of Appeal: Zambry is MB

Mogok lapar desak bubar DUN Perak

PTPTN Telah Luluskan RM26.28 Billion Dana Pendidikan

Pemberitahuan Pertanyaan Dewan Rakyat (Bukan Lisan) soalan No .191

Tuan Manikavasagam A/L Sundaram [Kapar] minta Menteri Pengajian Tinggi menyatakan jumlah pinjaman yang telah di keluarkan dan berapakah jumlah yang masih belum dibayar oleh pelajar. Senaraikan jumlah pinjaman dan jumlah yang masih tertunggak daripada peminjam mengikut Kaum bagi tahun 2005 hingga 2008

Tuan Yang Di Pertua,

Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, sehingga 31 Disember 2008, PTPTN telah meluluskan dana pendidikan sejumlah RM26.28 billion yang melibatkan 1,266,671 peminjam. Daripada jumlah tersebut, RM 17.69 billion telah dikeluarkan kepada peminjam secara berperingkat mengikut semester pengajian.

Amaun pinjaman yang sepatutnya dibayar balik oleh peminjam kepada PTPTN adalah sebanyak RM 2.12 billion yang melibatkan 597,066 peminjam. Daripada jumlah tersebut, sebanyak RM1.02 billion telah berjaya dikutip manakala baki yang tertunggak adalah sebanyak RM1.09 billion. Daripada jumlah baki tertunggak tersebut, sebanyak RM 798.07 Juta (73.2%) adalah terdiri dari peminjam kaum Melayu, RM 174.05 (16.0 %) dari peminjam kaum Cina, RM 51.0 juta (4.7%) dari peminjam kaum India dan RM 67.3 (6.2%) terdiri daripada peminjam lain-lain kaum.

Keputusan Tiga Hakim Mahkamah Rayuan dianggap luar biasa

(TV Antara) - Tiga hakim Mahkamah Rayuan hanya mengambil lima minit untuk mengumumkan Zambry Kadir dari UMNO adalah Menteri Besar Perak yang sah, dan bukannya Nizar Jamaluddin dari Pakatan Rakyat.

Lebih mengejutkan ketiga-tiga hakim berkenaan mengambil pendirian senada bahawa Sultan Perak mempunyai kuasa penuh untuk melantik Zambry tanpa mengadakan sidang Dewan Undangan Negeri untuk mengambil undi tidak percaya terhadap Nizar.

Hakim Md Raus Sharif, Zainun Ali dan Ahmad Maarop tidak memberikan hujah bertulis bagi menyokong keputusan mereka yang mempunyai implikasi mendalam terhadap sistem demokrasi berparlimen di negara ini dan kuasa-kuasa istana sebagaimana yang termaktub dalam perlembagaan.

Mengulas keputusan mahkamah itu, peguam Nizar, Sulaiman Abdullah berkata, “negara kita mempunyai hakim-hakim luar biasa dengan kebolehan luar biasa.”

Kini Nizar hanya boleh merayu kepada Mahkamah Persekutuan sebagai ruang perundangan terakhir untuk menegakkan mandat rakyat dan perlembagaan negeri Perak.

Keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan hari ini tentunya sukar ditelan oleh bukan sahaja penyokong Pakatan Rakyat tetapi juga pendokong demokrasi malah di kalangan peguam sendiri.

Presiden Majlis Peguam Malaysia K.Ragunath berkata keputusan mahkamah hari ini seolah-olah meletakkan kuasa-kuasa Sultan sebagai menjangkau parlimen atau dewan undangan negeri.

Ragunath berkata Mahkamah Rayuan seolah-olah memberikan Sultan kuasa-kuasa yang menjangkaui daripada apa yang diperuntukan oleh perlembagaan. .

Penasihat DAP Lim Kit Siang berkata keputusan mahkamah tanpa penghujahan bernas adalah mengejutkan dan satu penganiayaan proses keadilan.

Namun beliau menjangka keputusan itu akan menjejaskan lagi kredibiliti Perdana Menteri Najib Tun Razak.

“Keputusan hari ini hanya membuatkan rakyat lebih marah dan mempercepatkan kejatuhan BN,” kata Kit Siang.

Ketua Pemuda Angkatan Keadilan Pemuda Samsul Iskandar menyifatkan keputusan itu “memualkan” dan dipengaruhi oleh tekanan politik.

Beliau berkata keputusan tiga hakim itu jelas begitu cetek, tanpa disokong oleh fakta bernas, bukan sebagaimana penghujahan lengkap yang diberikan oleh Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur yang mengisytiharkan Nizar sebagai Menteri Besar sah sebelum ini.

Pemerhati politik berpandangan bahawa keputusan ini memang sudah dijangka kerana bibit-bibit campurtangan politik ini telah diwar-warkan oleh Perdana Menteri sendiri apabila beliau berkata BN hanya akan menimbang mengadakan pertemuan dengan Pakatan Rakyat bagi mencari penyelesaian krisis politik Perak setelah selesai proses mahkamah.

Umumnya penyelesaian politik tidak ada kena-mengenai dengan keputusan mahkamah dan kenyataan Najib itu menimbulkan persepsi beliau sudah tahu hala keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan sebelum membuat kenyataan itu awal minggu ini.

Perak - the epicentre of Umno fault-line

by Augustine Anthony
22.3.09

(This article was written in anticipation of the Court of Appeal judgment in Nizar vs Zambry)

The judgment of Justice Abdul Aziz Abd. Rahim in the case of Nizar vs Zambry has attained clairvoyance status.

It had positioned the institution of rulers above politics, dignified the sultans and preserved the revered constitutional monarchy for generations to come.

In the ancient times the announcement of gestation or birth of crown prince will usually send sages and spiritual leaders into solitude in meditation and prayers in the harsh wilderness with the hope that the ruler to come will be benevolent to the subjects. History bears testimony of such adoration with monuments and poems of virtues and valour of such kings.

Today more than a billion souls, Hindus, Christians and Muslims all in India salute the great emperor Asoka knowingly or unknowingly when they rise in veneration of the majestic Indian national flag, the centre of it bears the wheel of Asoka.

But not all Rulers invite admiration. Scorn and disdain of the people witnessed the extinction of absolute monarchy in many parts of the world and replaced with power to the people by new systems of constitutional monarchy or an outright republic of a nation.

Power is placed in the hands of people’s representatives but authority is given not to deny the will and wishes of the people.

But the hearts of men are so easily corrupted.

Neither constitutional monarchy nor the presidency of a republic could remove the abuse of power and expansion of corrupt playing fields of those in whose hands the people have placed their power and authority that were removed systematically from the absolute monarchs.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, so the saying goes.

The creation of constitutional monarchy and a system of parliamentary democracy with people’s power concentrated in the hands of UMNO in the last 52 years only goes to show that indeed UMNO enjoys the goodwill of the people of Malaysia.

But all that is about to change.

The epicentre of UMNO’s power shattering phenomenon is hidden deep in the emotions of the Perakians. It may well be UMNO’s fault line that may trigger the next and decisive Tsunami. A sea of people with their emotion translated into tidal waves of anger may well bring about permanent destruction to the once invincible fortress that now lies damaged at the shoreline built by UMNO painstakingly for more than 50 years led by many of their visionary leaders of the past.

But wait! Alas, those political leaders opposed to UMNO who now ride these tidal waves of anger (except for some notable veterans), are poor surfers unable to comprehend the deep current and direction of the waves. Tidal waves are fast and furious. Either you surf it or sink in it.

Many of these surfers are amateur opposition new kids on the bloc with the new found fame of Yang Berhormat. They try very hard to impress the undecided and uncertain people who had swung to the opposition in anger during the 2008 general election.

These YB’s must bear in mind that it takes more to continue winning the hearts and minds of the people than apple distribution in parliament house or bicycle paddling to the parliament entrance or constant holding of candle light in vigils and screaming “Saya YB, Saya YB” when apprehended by the law enforcement officers or even offering prayers to the ghost of unknown Ghengis Khan descendant who was blown to smithereens.

Many of these meaningless publicity stunts exhibited by these poor surfers are not only amusing but alarmingly annoying.

Internal squabbles aplenty, in short the Opposition’s value to people is fast descending to junk bond status.

While the surfers struggle at the high sea, close to shoreline the current Chief Architect surveys the damaged fortress and the coming of the tidal waves. Both he must confront and contain swiftly.

This Chief Architect is formidable, commanding an army of bureaucrat’s allegiance. His monumental fortitude sends uncluttered vibrations that he is determined to stay for more than one term as the commander in chief of the government of Malaysia.

The RAHMAN theory must die or UMNO will die. Die UMNO, this, the Chief Architect cannot and will not allow.

Najib Razak is a bangsawan pedigree. A Razak creation. Born and bred in the ways of leadership. As the son who enjoys the unseen goodwill left behind by the then chief architect of NEP in the 1970’s, he now enjoys the ancient cryptic command of the universe; the Vedas call it positive karma.

His reading of people’s anger is correct. He knows that he needs time to waft like gentle breeze to soothe the angry and humid emotion of the people. His weekly meet the people sessions is just about the right antidote in times like these. Just like his father.

His less than one hundred days in the seat of power shows that he is moving in the right direction.

Will Najib initiate the correct moves to dissolve the Perak State Legislative Assembly? Every thought is pointing to the inevitable. Dissolution of the Perak State Legislative Assembly is imminent.

To save UMNO or to squander the goodwill of the Malaysian?

It is your turn to think, YAB Dato’ Sri Najib Tun Razak

DMK ups stakes, threatens to walk out

PTI, May 22 2009

NEW DELHI: Congress got a reality check of sorts on Thursday even before Manmohan Singh began his second innings as PM. Its Tamil Nadu ally, DMK,

DMK chief M Karunanidhi. (PTI Photo)

threw a mega tantrum and threatened to stay outside the government unless it got more ministerial berths than the Congress was willing to give.

DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, who signalle

DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, who signalled his resolve to extract a high price for his support by booking himself and his party MPs on the Indian Airlines 10.10am flight on Friday for Chennai, walked out of negotiations when Congress refused to give DMK four Cabinet berths, independent charge for one minister of state and another minister of state.

Not just this, DMK has made demands for specific portfolios — shipping, surface transport, communications and environment. It's learnt that it wants railways too which has already been promised to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee. Mamata, in fact, is not asking for any other Cabinet berth, although she wants five ministers of state, including one in home ministry.

Late Thursday night, Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh is learnt to have called up Karunanidhi to reason out with him. There were indications that the Dravidian leader would eventually relent. Sources in the DMK also said that the party would not boycott the swearing-in ceremony on Friday, which means Karunanidhi and his team are unlikely to take the morning flight back to Chennai.

Still, it will be interesting to see how this game of brinkmanship plays out and how much the Congress gives in to DMK's demands. Having won 206 Lok Sabha seats, the Congress was expected to dictate terms to its allies. If it succumbs to DMK's demands now, it will appear vulnerable to blackmail by allies.

Apart from DMK, the deal with other allies appears to have been stitched up. Other than Mamata, other Trinamool ministers will be Saugata Roy, Sisir Adhikari, Dinesh Trivedi, Sultan Ahmad and Mukul Roy. They are likely to be adjusted as MoS in the ministries of rural development, urban affairs, health, tourism, culture or I&B.

Congress is said to have reached an agreement with Sharad Pawar's NCP — status quo is expected to stay with Pawar retaining agriculture and Praful Patel, civil aviation. There were unconfirmed reports about NCP nudging Congress for another post, possibly that of a junior minister.

The stand-off with DMK threatens to cast a shadow over the swearing-in of the Manmohan Singh government and take attention away from ministry making. Congress had to concentrate on firefighting on a day which began on an uncertain note with Singh calling off a scheduled 10.30am appointment with President Pratibha Patil.

``Congress's proposal is not acceptable to DMK. Our leader Karunanidhi has decided to support the government from outside,'' said T R Baalu, Karunanidhi's close associate after the failure of several rounds of negotiations to resolve the deadlock. Sources in DMK said the party has shrugged aside Congress's ``discreet hints'' to drop Baalu and Raja, both Cabinet ministers in the outgoing government, with a less than satisfactory track record.

It's learnt that DMK has asked for Cabinet berths for the controversial duo and Karunanidhi's grand-nephew, Dayanidhi Maran. It has demanded that Karunanidhi's son Azhagiri and daughter Kanimozhi be given independent charge of important ministries of railways and health. MoS slots for Palanimanikkam and Jagatrakshakan complete the wish list.

The tough posture, exactly a repeat of what Karunanidhi did in 2004 when he threatened not to join the government in order to force the government to accept his terms and conditions, defied Congress's estimate that its enhanced size would make partners defer to it. It went against another calculation as well: that DMK's dependence on Congress's 34 MLAs in the Tamil Nadu would help sober down the Dravidian partner.

Congress reacted to what party insiders called DMK's ``gunboat diplomacy'' by charging Karunanidhi with unreasonableness. "They did not accept what was offered to them. They are making unreasonable demands. They were asking for too much,'' said party spokesperson Janardan Dwivedi in a remarkably candid comment which many felt was meant to signal party's determination to stare down DMK's challenge.

The stand-off presented Congress with a big dilemma. With a procession of parties ready for support, it does not have a problem with numbers. But it would like to keep the DMK within the government and avoid taking the help of parties like SP, BSP and RJD which it seeks to compete for the party's revival in the heartland. At the same time, if it blinks and gives in to DMK's pressure tactics, it will expose itself to the charge of succumbing to precisely the kind of politics from which it wants to break away.

Even while expressing his apparent disgust with DMK, Dwivedi said that negotiations would continue. At night, a senior leader told TOI that the issue would be settled on Friday, indicating that a compromise has been sounded out. In any case, it will be a climbdown for Congress which had decided to get the allies to settle for far less than what they had earlier secured.

Zambry wins in MB vs MB case

By Deborah Loh
thenutgraph.com

PUTRAJAYA, 22 May 2009: Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir is the lawful menteri besar (MB) of Perak after the Court of Appeal ruled today that the sultan of Perak was right in finding that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin had lost the confidence of the majority of state assemblypersons.

The appellate court set aside the High Court decision on 11 May that Nizar was the rightful MB.

The three-person bench unanimously ruled that Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan Shah was right to have appointed Zambry as the new MB on 6 Feb, after determining that Nizar had ceased to command the majority's confidence in the assembly.

Justices Datuk Md Raus Shariff, Datuk Zainun Ali and Datuk Ahmad Maarop ruled that the sultan was entitled to ascertain where the confidence of the majority of assemblypersons lay by means other than a vote of no-confidence in the assembly.

"There is no mandatory or express requirement that provides that there must a motion of no confidence to be tabled in the state legislative assembly," said Md Raus, who read out the judgement.

Zambry wins in this round of the legal battle to be the rightful Perak MB

The judgement was read out in about 10 minutes. In deciding to allow Zambry's appeal, the judges held that:

• the granting or withholding of consent to a request for dissolution of the legislative assembly was a royal prerogative;
• the facts of the cased showed that Nizar's request for dissolution fell under Article 16(6) and not Article 36(2) of the Perak Constitution;
• that under Article 16(6), Nizar had to tender his resignation together with that of his executive councillors after the sultan withheld consent to his request for dissolution;
• that there was no mandatory or express provision in the state constitution for a motion of no confidence to be tabled in the legislative assembly against Nizar, who had ceased to command the confidence of the majority;
• the fact that Nizar had lost the majority's confidence could be obtained or established by alternative means, and that the sultan was right in making enquiries on whether he had lost the majority before rejecting his request for a dissolution of the legislative assembly;
• that because Nizar had ceased to command the majority's confidence, the sultan was right under Article 16(2) in appointing Zambry as MB after being satisfied that Zambry commanded the confidence of the majority; and,
• that the High Court judge had erred and failed to appreciate all the evidence before him in making a decision.

As such, Nizar's application to set aside the stay order granted to Zambry has been struck out. Zambry had obtained a stay of execution on the High Court's earlier decision that Nizar was the rightful MB.

Nizar to appeal

Nizar's lawyer Sulaiman Abdullah said they would be appealing in the Federal Court. Firstly though, Nizar would have to obtain leave from the Federal Court in order to file the appeal, as cases moving from the Court of Appeal to the Federal Court do not get an automatic right of appeal.

Sulaiman also asked Md Raus to issue the written judgement urgently to expedite their application for leave to file the appeal. Md Raus said he would try or else have the judgement ready in about a week.

"I appreciate that the learned judges could reach a decision in such a short time. We have extraordinary judges in Malaysia with extraordinary abilities," Sulaiman told reporters later, when asked if he was surprised with the overnight decision given that Zambry's appeal was only heard yesterday.

In arguing Nizar's case, Sulaiman had told the court that no law existed to remove a menteri besar or prime minister. He also argued that the only way to determine if an MB had the confidence of the majority in the assembly was by a vote of no-confidence in the House.

Zambry's lawyers have argued that Nizar had to resign under Article 16(6) upon losing the confidence of the majority of the assemblypersons, and upon the sultan's rejection of his request for a dissolution. They argued that the sultan could use other means to determine where the majority's confidence lay.

"Absolute monarchy" now

Neither Nizar nor Zambry was in court today.

Pantai Remis assemblyperson Nga Kor Ming, who was present on behalf of Nizar, said the judgement today showed that Malaysia was now an "absolute monarchy".

"The Agong can now sack the prime minister at his pleasure without a motion of no-confidence in Parliament. Though we are disappointed that we have lost the legal battle, we know we have won the hearts of many. The Perak constitutional crisis was never meant to be solved in the courts," Nga said.

A huge crowd showed up at the appeals court

Zambry's counsel, Umno lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun said the judgement put Malaysia's law "in line" with other Commonwealth countries.

"We hope there are no more requests to dissolve the state legislative assembly as that is now academic," he said.

Outside the courtroom were about 100 supporters who cheered Sulaiman and the rest of Nizar's legal team as they left.

Earlier, many journalists were unhappy when police prevented them from entering the courtroom. Police said they had to limit the number of reporters in the courtroom on the orders of the Court Registrar's Office.

After much protest, and with the pleading of lawyers and reporters already inside the courtroom, the court registrar allowed a few more reporters with a limit of one reporter for each news organisation.

Report: Bar Council Legal Aid Quintet Released Unconditionally

The (5) Legal Aid Lawyers who were arrested on 7 May 2009 were told that their respective police bails were revoked when they turned up at the Brickfields Police Station at 10.00a.m. today. This announcement by the police meant that the (5) Legal Aid Lawyers arrested - Fadiah Nadwa binti Fikri, Murnie Hidayah binti Anuar, Puspawati binti Rosman, Ravinder Singh Dhalliwal and Syuhaini binti Safwan – have been released unconditionally.

Police bails were also revoked for the (14) individuals who had been arrested in connection with a candlelight vigil held on 7 May to protest the arrest of BERSIH activist Wong Chin Huat.

About (50) people, including lawyers and chambering pupils, gathered outside the police station this morning to show their support for these lawyers and individuals.

Mahathirism

1. One way of demonising an opponent, particularly a political opponent, is to give him a derogatory label.

2. At one time Lee Kuan Yew labeled me as a Malay ultra. After that caught on, I could do nothing that would not be labeled as extreme. Even if I make the most innocent statement, it would be considered as extreme, as racist.

3. It took me decades to live it down. When I was appointed Deputy Prime Minister there was consternation among the Chinese. What was

4. However, by the time I stepped down I had managed to belie that description. In the 1999 Election it was Chinese votes which helped give me the 2/3 majority in Parliament.

5. Now the doomsday label is Mahathirism. Such was the fear of this thing called Mahathirism that Tan Sri Muhyiddin had to assure the public that Najib's ascendancy to the Premiership would not bring back Mahathirism. The foreign press seem to imply authoritarian Government with Mahathirism.

6. No one has yet described the rule of Dato Seri Abdullah Badawi as Badawism. It must be because he is said to be liberal and free from authoritarianism. But is he?

7. It appears to be simply because the mainstream media, print or electronic, is totally controlled by him through his hatchet man, Kalimullah. And Kali ensures that the media plays up Abdullah's supposed liberalism, his transparency, his tolerance of the press etc. That the media blacks out any news that is not flattering of him is not noticed by readers, especially the foreign press.

8. Until the bloggers came into the picture and their blogs became extremely popular as they reported the truth, the black-out was effective. Now Kali's media reports some of the news and views appearing on the blogs.

9. But still the general public is not aware of the kind of authoritarianism of Abdullah. Ministers and civil servants critical of him have been removed. Many are in cold storage. Tan Sri Sanusi Junid who was President of the International Islamic University was one of those removed. No one has been appointed to his vacant place yet.

10. A whole bunch of journalists working with the UMNO owned paper had to resign, to be replaced by Kali's nominees from Singapore.

11. But Kali has friends amongst the foreign journalists. So we do not hear of Badawism. But privately people have given all kinds of uncomplimentary labels to the 5 years of misrule by the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia.

12. By now people can draw their own conclusions as to whether Mahathirism in whatever form has returned.

Malaysia abused: Perak, Police, Profiling?

by Nathaniel Tan

Behold Perak! You are to be led by Mahatma Mandela himself. Something tells me the appeal process via the Federal Court will be neither quick nor satisfactory.

I was told that in the High Court, judges for a particular case cannot be picked - it’s whoever is free at the time. A Court of Appeal lineup of judges for a case however, is handpicked.

How do the rakyat feel about this? Well, I think the video below showing you how police manpower is spent instead of keeping you safe should give some indication (sorry slow to write about this, busy night :P )

God forbid that you should ever, ever gather in black to celebrate a birthday with candles.

The police are getting more vicious. The group of 16 led by YB Jenice Lee was remanded not for one, but TWO nights. Take a good look at Jenice Lee. Does she look like a criminal to you?

It really sucks ass to be plonked in a police lockup. It’s a terrible place to be, and now, we have 16 law abiding citizens who care about Malaysia fill these lockups instead of the dozens of snatch thieves I will bet you anything had a field day in Ampang the night of these arrests.

Looks like between this and Muhyiddin’s completely ignoramus comments, Najib’s initial overtures to the non-Malay communities appear to have turned 180 degrees. Now they seem totally out to screw everyone else, and try to maintain power in Malaysia by pandering just to one ethnic group.

Well, good luck to ya. Especially given the ass whooping they’re likely to receive in the Kelantan by-election.. Oops I forgot, it’s no longer BN’s style to contest by-elections :P (can’t wait to see what nonsense they spout if there’s one where they actually stand a chance of winning)

I think it’s time the rest of Pakatan and civil society jump on the bandwagon. To be fair, there have been some really big ceramahs organised (two in PJ, one in Klang, etc), but there might be some wrong messages if only DAP flers keep getting arrested.

Umno Introduces Two Formulas To Win Back Kedah

ALOR SETAR, May 22 (Bernama) -- Umno has introduced two formulas, known as SMSS and KBSM, in an effort to win back Kedah in the next general election.

Umno information chief Ahmad Maslan said the SMSS formula stressed on working day and night while KBSM encouraged Umno leaders to attend four important events, namely feast, funeral and visit new mothers and care for the ill.

"It is not impossible for Barisan Nasional (BN) to win over Kedah if they practise these two formulas," he told reporters holding a meeting with the State Umno Information Committee, here Friday.

He said all Umno Information machinery need to increase efforts to gain the confidence of the people.

He said Kedah Umno targetted to wrest back 10 state assembly and six parliamentary seat which they lost to the opposition in the last general election with a majority of less than 1,000 voters.

Perak Crisis... The Court of Appeal round

By Jeff Ooi,

Who says our judiciary isn't independent? It's just that the Courts work like pendulum often times.

Today, Barisan Nasional's Zambry Abd Kadir has been ruled by the Court of Appeal as the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

The judges also ruled that the Sultan was right in appointing Zambry the MB and that there was no need for a vote of no confidence in the House against Nizar.

With that, the May 11 Kuala Lumpur High Court decision that declared Pakatan Rakyat leader Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as the rightful menteri besar of Perak has been reversed, and overturned.

The 3-member bench comprised Justices Md Raus Sharif, Zainun Ali and Ahmad Maarop.

Lead judge Md Raus said it was a unanimous decision by the 3-member panel of judges.

When asked if shocked with judgment, Nizar's lead counsel Sulaiman Abdullah said: "We have extraordinary judges with extraordinary ability."

Read the backgrounder in Screenshots yesterday. Wasn't Shad Saleem Faruqi sounding prescient of the whole thing, quote:

There are no winner-take-all solutions to the Perak political crisis, a hydra-headed monster that cannot be eliminated by ding-dong judicial decisions.

Federal Court is the next course of legal process for MB vs. MB, while Speaker vs. Speaker will take place next.

Ultimately, the Court of People may soon take over.