Saturday, 6 June 2009
World obliged to act when genocide occurs- Obama
When asked about genocide, President Obama told reporters in Germany his administration is working to end the genocide in Sudan.
Later, during a visit to a Nazi concentration camp, President Obama argued today’s leaders of must not rest against the spread of such evil.
This place teaches us that we must be ever vigilant about the spread of evil in our times. ... We have to guard against cruelty in ourselves ....," President Obama said after touring the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald, where 56,000 Jews were killed.
"And it is now up to us, the living, in our work, wherever we are, to resist injustice and intolerance and indifference in whatever forms they may take and ensure that those who were lost here did not go in vain."
Last month, as thousands of Tamil civilians were being slaughtered by Sri Lankan artillery, President Obama addressed the Colombo regime directly, saying: [T]the government should stop the indiscriminate shelling that has taken hundreds of innocent lives, including (in) several hospitals."
However, Sri Lanka escalated its shelling killing a further thousand people a day, according to an investigation by the The Times newspaper in London.
Obama’s call came two months after US Secretary of State spoke directly to President Mahinda Rajapakse by telephone over the killing of civilians.
“The Secretary stated that the that the Sri Lankan Army should not fire into the civilian areas of the conflict zone,” a press release by the State Department said.
Over 20,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the four months before Sri Lanka declared victory, UN officials told The Times newspaper.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said Thursday that the UN stands ready to support an inquiry into abuses in Sri Lanka's civil war.
"I believe that accountability is a prerequisite for the attainment of justice and reconciliation for all Sri Lankans and, thus, a foundation for lasting peace," she said.
In response Sri Lanka attacked the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, saying it needed to be a "regionally a far more representative and transparent body," before Sri Lanka would cooperate with it.
UN chief urges Sri Lanka inquiry - Al Jazeera
The UN secretary-general has called for an inquiry into possible war crimes committed during Sri Lanka's offensive against Tamil Tiger separatists. Ban Ki-moon told UN Security Council on Friday that any "credible accusations" against either the military or the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) should be investigated. "Whenever and wherever there are credible allegations for the violations of international humanitarian law there should be a proper investigation," Ban told said after the closed-door meeting. "I'd like to ask the Sri Lankan government to recognise the international call for accountability and full transparency," he said. Ban declined to elaborate on exactly how the inquiry should be done, but he urged an examination of what he said were serious allegations of violations of international humanitarian laws. The Security Council took no action during its meetings on Sri Lanka while the military campaign was under way. UN diplomats said that Russia, China and others on the 15-nation council believed that the war against the LTTE was a domestic issue that Sri Lankan authorities should be allowed to address on their own. Government criticism Human rights groups have criticised the government for what they say was a complete disregard for human life during the final months of the war by continuously using heavy artillery to shell a tiny strip of land into which the Tigers had retreated, along with hundreds of thousands of civilians. Ban and other UN officials accused the LTTE of holding the civilians hostage and using them as human shields as they fought to hold on to their sliver of coast in northeastern Sri Lanka. The LTTE and Sri Lankan government rejected those charges. UN officials have said it is unclear how many civilians died during the final phase of the war, which ended when the government declared victory on May 18, but some have said that at least 7,000 civilians died in the war's final stages. John Holmes, the UN humanitarian chief, has said that several thousand civilians were killed and diplomatic sources have said the death toll was probably higher than 10,000. By contrast, the Sri Lankan government claims that only about 3,000 to 5,000 civilians were killed. The UN puts the number of deaths since the war began in 1983 at between 80,000 and 100,000. 'No triumphalism'
During his trip to Sri Lanka last month, Ban urged the government to improve UN humanitarian access to the refugee camps, which hold more than 300,000 people. He told reporters that the government had told him restrictions were being eased and conditions in the camps were better. Ban has also urged the government to ensure that it seeks reconciliation with the country's Tamil minority and that there is no "triumphalism" over the defeat of the LTTE now that the nearly 26-year war is over. HMGS Palihakkara, Sri Lanka's ambassador to the UN, told reporters that his government was taking UN recommendations to heart, but the government has said it will not accept a full-scale war crimes investigation. "We have initiated a process of reconciliation and fact-finding," he said. |
Manohara miss medical check up amid rumors of 'Interpol' interest
Written by Ali Cordoba, World Futures
Manohara Odelia, the American-French-Indonesian star (She is indeed extremely popular in Indonesia), missed her date with the doctors for a medical check up that was to confirm or rebuke her claims of abuse by her husband, the embattled prince of Kelantan.
Manohara's mother, Daesy Fajarina, who is now under attack by some quarters and is said to be on an Interpol 'Red' list, said her daughter was still sick after returning to Jakarta and had to give the check up a miss. The Kelantan Palace, distancing itself from the so called 'spokespersons' that represented the Prince to the Media, remained diplomatically calm after learning that the estranged wife of the prince had missed the chek up.
Interpol
Daesy is said to have been arrested 'temporarily' in Malaysia's KLIA airport since her name was on the 'Interpol' list. She was released from the KLIA by Indonesian Embassy staff.
However, Brata Mandala, a senior police liaison officer with the Indonesian embassy here at Kuala Lumpur, said this could be the reason Daisy was denied entry into Malaysia. Interpol, not being the Internat Police as some think it is, is an established international police organization that help local police in all countries in the world arrest suspects that are on their list. A person become an Interpol suspect if the authorities of some country informs the Interpol of the 'degree' of the crime committed by the person or the person is accused of.
Daesy has a 'criminal' case against her in France where her French husband is being held by the local police in the ongoing case. It is said to be a 'financial' criminal case but Daesy Fajarina did not speak much about this case. World Futures learned from its own sources in Jakarta that the mother of Manohara wanted to keep the cases seperate since mixing her case in France with Manohara's case would have made it more confusing for her daughter and herself.
It is also possible that Daesy's reaction to her daughter's spat with her hubby had something to do with the pending case in France but our source will reveal the facts, if any, at a later stage.
In the mean time, Manohara's absence at the hospital in Jakarta for the check-up forced a 'supporter' of the family OC Kaligis to retract his 'support' for Manohara and her mother. The lawyer who offered his assistance to help the Manohara family in the case against the prince of Kelantan was apparently not impressed by the latter's missing the check up which he said was salient in building an 'international' case against the Kelantan family.
OC Kaligis is also of the opinion that Manohara's mother Daesy is acting unprofessionally and is also not serious in settling the matter with the Kelantan family, leaving the flood gate open for speculations. In a media statement to kapanlagi.com he said he was not into the matter to make money or gain popularity but to help the family in the moment of need. His dissapointment is with Manohara;'s mother whom he said did not reply to him why the young wife of the Kelantan prince did not go for the much mediatised and expected check-up.
However, sources in Jakarta told WFOL.TV that Manohara decided not to go for the check-up in order to cool the waters between her and her husband. The matter could now become a very 'family' affair as the Kelantan family want it to be but Manohara is not at all willing to be lead by the 'husband' by the nose in this affair.
The real reasons behind the 'international' spat between Manohara and her husband will be revealed in time, the source said, adding that some 'quarters' in Indonesia has advised the family to restrain from making too many media statements in order not to stir more troubles between Malaysia and Indonesia in the already tense relationship between the two Muslim states.
Malaysia, besides being downthrodden by Indonesian press and public, is also in a tense diplomatic state with Indonesia over the disputed Ambalat region which is said to be rich in oil and gas. In Indonesia, the public opinion is that the Malaysian authorities want to dictate Indonesia on the diplomatic and political level citing the Manohara case as a 'model' of Malaysia's mistreatment of Indonesian citizens and the Ambalat issue as a proof of the 'greed' of Malaysia.
Manohara remains a media 'miracle' in Indonesia and Malaysia as well as Singapore, bringing hits to websites and making newspaper sell more copies in these times of financial crises.
World Futures's generated more hits than expected in the past three months due our reports on the Manohara affair, this at a time when the Malaysian press (online and printed) refused to publicise the issue. Manohara has become one of our 'rising star' on the website with her articles dominating our most popular list.
Our article on 'Who is Manohara Odelia Pinot' - seen as a scoop for WFOL.TV has received 22,500 hits since its publication on our website in April.
Husam and other Kelantan Big Gun Lost in Muktamar
Let me take this oppurtunity to thank all for your supports and prayers. It is not possible for Husam to make this far without those supports. For those who have spent so much time praying for him, god willing this is not the end for Husam.
Husam wanted to be the bridge between Pulau Melaka and Rusila, while committed to push for a greater PAS legacy under the leadership of President Hadi Awang. But for now, it seems the delegates is not willing to lend their supports to all Nik Aziz’s state executive councillors. For now, let us begin the new journey by congratulate the winner.
Confidence motion in Parliament – Is Najib afraid that he will not get 100% support from Umno/BN MPs?
By Lim Kit Siang
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said in Beijing yesterday he would not emulate his father Tun Razak and dissolve Parliament on his return to Malaysia after his China visit.
Tun Razak returned from his historic six-day visit to China in 1974 and dissolved Parliament the next month and the fourth general elections were held on 24.8.1974.
The climax of Tun Razak’s visit to China was the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China on 31st May 1974, an objective the DAP had been advocating for eight years since the founding of the party in 1966.
For instance, I just came across a speech I made at the National Day reception of the Muar DAP Branch on 2nd Sept. 1973, where the subject of my speech was: “DAP calls for full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China”.
In saying that he would not follow his father’s example 35 years ago and return home to dissolve Parliament, Najib was fully aware that he is in a completely different political position from that of his father.
Tun Razak and the Barisan Nasional that he had just formed were at the height of their political power and influence in 1974, while Najib and the Barisan Nasional are now in the opposite polar position, struggling with lowest popularity ratings and to avoid the fate of United Kingdom Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Labour Party which suffered a complete wipe-out in yesterday’s local council elections.
Although Najib said there will be no dissolution of Parliament after his China trip as he has many “uncompleted things to do”, is Najib prepared to do what is right and proper, to seek a motion of confidence when Parliament reconvenes on June 15 to secure a clear mandate and establish his credibility, integrity and legitimacy as Prime Minister?
This is what his immediate predecessor Tun Abdullah did in his first week as Prime Minister on Nov. 3, 2003, and what the third Prime Minister, Tun Hussein did in the first fortnight as Prime Minister in an emergency session of Parliament in Jan 1976.
Najib has enough questions and doubts dogging him and casting a dark cloud on his ascent as Prime Minister without acquiring another serious one, that he dare not seek a clear mandate through a motion of confidence in Parliament, as if he has doubts about the total allegiance of the Umno and Barisan Nasional MPs and do not trust them to vote solidly for him in a parliamentary motion of confidence.
Nasharudin retains No. 2 but Nizar bags 85% of votes
Nasharudin has retained the Pas deputy presidency. He collected 480 votes, Husam Musa polled 281 while Mat Sabu won 261.
It looks as if the “progressive” or modernist votes have been split between Husam and Mat Sabu, who together collected 541 votes (54 per cent of votes cast) compared to Nasharudin’s 480 votes.
In comparison, Nizar easily topped the contest for committee positions with 85 per cent of the votes.
The result could have been different if Mat Sabu had pulled out of the contest for the deputy presidency leaving it as a straight fight between Husam and Nasharudin.
“I was surprised that Husam’s aides didn’t prevail on Mat Sabu to withdraw,” said a political commentator in an immediate response. “They were hoping that he would withdraw - and in the end, he played the spoiler’s role.”
“The big question is why didn’t Mat Sabu withdraw and what did he hope to achieve?”
Just before the official results were announced, rival news portals Malaysiakini and Malaysian Insider this morning both carried headline reports that Husam had won, according to unofficial sources.
When it became clear that Nasharudin had won instead, the Malaysian Insider was quick to interpret his victory as a triumph for the pro-Umno faction in Pas and a blow for Pas’ Pakatan partners.
But it is clear that Nasharudin bagged only 46 per cent of the votes cast, suggesting that support for cooperation with Umno is slightly in the minority.
The future of progressive politics in Pas perhaps lies in its second echelon leaders with Nizar bagging a total of 854 votes (or 85 per cent) of 1,004 votes cast.
“A significant proportion of the votes for Nizar may be due to triumphalism, in the sense that Nizar was a popular MB and many of the Pas faithful would like to revel in that,” observed the commentator mentioned earlier. “But it is clear that he has an inclusive multiracial approach, reflected in the overwhelming support he received in Kuala Sepetang (in Bukit Gantang), which is predominantly Chinese.”
Chin Peng, an issue grossly exploited
I have no idea where Mr Chin Peng is now.
No one seems to know for sure whether he really wants to come back to his home country--with this I mean Malaysia--and we have not heard that he is applying to come back either.
Weird enough, the issue of Chin Peng returning to Malaysia has all of a sudden been cooked up.
With Utusan Malaysia taking the lead, many have branded Chin Peng the "enemy of the state" deeply ingrained in heinous crimes, one who must never be allowed to set foot on this land again!
As if that is not enough, they even urged the government to cite the Internal Security Act to detain anyone holding dissident views.
A veteran soldier might still be sunken deep into the war syndrome, overlooking the fact that the war has ended decades ago, such that he would demand actions against people supporting Chin Peng's return.
Even Dr Mahathir has jumped into the bandwagon, feeling that the government should be firm in its stand not to allow Chin Peng to return to Malaysia.
Under the auspices of Dr Mahathir himself, though, the Malaysian government signed a peace accord with the Malayan Communist Party some 20 years ago.
Frankly speaking, that was one of the not-too-bad things the long serving ex-premier did during his tenure!
Interestingly, didn't Dr Mahathir reiterate that we should lay down our historical baggage and allow past hatred to precipitate? It doesn't make any sense for him to grow less tolerant as his age advances.
In addition, the driving force behind the peace accord back then, former IGP Abdul Rahim Noor said during an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily that the struggles with MCP had actually hastened the independence of Malaya. In other words, he admitted that MCP had its own contributions towards the nation-building process.
Didn't everyone of us cheer the peace accord then?
If the government is indeed persistent in its policy of denying Chin Peng, why doesn't it make this very clear, so that no one would cook up this issue again every now and then? (By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)
Show Appreciation For 1Malaysia Concept, Says King
KUALA LUMPUR, June 6 (Bernama) -- The Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, today called on the people to show appreciation for the 1Malaysia concept introduced as an extension of government efforts to grow the national unity sown at the time of the nation's independence more than 50 years ago.
He said every citizen had a huge responsibility in this undertaking because it was the people themselves who would determine the rise and fall of a nation.
Tuanku Mizan said he hoped that Malaysians would continue to maintain unity and share their blessings and responsibilities as this was something unique and a source of their strength.
"I am very happy because the people have demonstrated that they are able to live in an atmosphere of harmony and mutual respect given the diversity of race, ethnicity, religion, culture and lifestyle," he said at the investiture at Istana Negara in conjunction with his birthday.
Tuanku Mizan also said that he was happy that the 1Malaysia concept introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was based on the principle of "People First, Performance Now".
Tuanku Mizan also said that the government should continue to improve the national administrative and implementation machinery, which served as the pulse of national development, to provide the best service for the well-being of the people.
He said he hoped that the benefits of the two economic stimulus packages launched by the government would reach the target groups.
He said he also believed that the government would be able to use prudence in stepping up efforts to balance economic development with social needs to bring about peace and prosperity for the people so that no race or group, including women, youths, the elderly and the handicapped, was neglected.
"In fact, existing government policies have provided for social balance among the people of various races with a prudent economic development strategy. I am happy that the number of people yet to enjoy the benefits of national development is shrinking," he said.
Tuanku Mizan also wanted the young generation of the country to equip themselves with all kinds of knowledge and skills to inherit the invaluable asset of a nation of pride and respect that had been shaped by the government.
The king said he was happy that the national leadership transition in April had proceeded smoothly and congratulated Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his appointment as the prime minister.
He said Najib had demonstrated dynamic leadership and commitment since his appointment as the prime minister.
Tuanku Mizan also thanked former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his leadership and services to the nation.
Earlier, at the Dataran Merdeka, Tuanku Mizan and the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tuanku Nur Zahirah, witnessed the trooping of the colours by the armed forces.
The ceremony was to pay homage to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Their Majesties were accorded the honour of a 21-gun salute and a flypast by five armed forces' helicopters carrying the flags of Malaysia, the armed forces and its three branches.
Tuanku Mizan inspected a guard-of-honour mounted by 22 officers and 546 men of the army, navy and air force, accompanied by Chief of Defence Forces Gen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal and head of the guard-of-honour Lt Col Nazim Mohd Alim.
Their Majesties then witnessed the trooping of the colours in full military tradition as the military bank played patriotic music.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and their wives were also present at the ceremony.
No confirmation RPK is in Brisbane - Malaysiakini
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said today he had no information on the whereabouts of Malaysia Today website editor, who has two warrant of arrest against him after he failed to turn up for his trial in two cases.
According to Bernama, Hishammuddin said he could not confirm a report that Raja Petra is now in Brisbane, Australia.
On May 27, the Immigration Department said it believed Raja Petra had used one of the so-called "rat trails" to leave the country.
This is because there was no record of him having left the country at the normal immigration exit points.
Interpol’s help sought
Raja Petra, 59, has been charged for sedition for posting the article, titled 'Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell' on his website.
He is also charged for criminal defamation for implicating Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s wife Rosmah Mansor and two others in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.
All of them have denied any involvement in the murder of the Mongolian national.
The courts, which are hearing the two cases separately, slapped Raja Petra with an arrest warrant after he failed to turn up to defend the charges.
In explaining his absence, Raja Petra - who is of royal descent - claimed to be in self-imposed exile from Selangor following a fallout with the palace over his refusal to apologise to the Perak sultan.
A news report has earlier quoted the police as claiming that the fugitive blogger had fled to Brisbane and that they were seeking Interpol's help to find him.
Manohara, Kelantan prince may make up
PETALING JAYA, June 5 — Datuk Kadar Shah Sulaiman, the man who helped Indonesian beauty Manohara Odelia Pinot escape her Kelantan prince, now says that a break is just what the couple need now and alluded to a possible reconciliation.
"A cooling-off period of a few weeks or months and they may fall back in love," Kadar Shah told The Malaysian Insider from Jakarta last night.
"You know these type of love affairs, how they are. And Manohara is still so young. She's a princess now and may miss palace life," said the Muar Umno branch chief.
He said, however, that if it still does not work out after a few months’ break, then the couple should divorce.
The marital spat between Tengku Temenggong Tengku Mohamad Fakhry Petra and the 17-year-old model has created a sensation in both Southeast Asian countries.
Manohara has claimed that she was physically and sexually abused while the Kelantan palace has insisted that it is a private matter between husband and wife.
Kadar Shah was the go-between the Kelantan palace and Manohara's family and claimed he was "given the blessing" of the palace to sort the matter out.
It took two months of planning and going back and forth before Manohara's dramatic escape in Singapore last Saturday.
Kadar Shah said he tried to work out a deal and get both sides to compromise and convince the prince to allow Manohara to meet her mother Daisy Fajarina.
The mother has been appearing on Indonesian TV shows alleging that Manohara had been abused since her marriage to the Kelantan prince last August.
When the Sultan of Kelantan sought medical treatment in Singapore, Tengku Fakhry and Manohara went to Singapore to visit him.
Kadar Shah also went to Singapore and arranged a lunch where he said he managed communicate to Manohara despite the presence of Tengku Fakhry's men.
"If you feel unhappy or unsafe, you have to korek (scratch) my hand when we shake hands.
"When we shook hands, she korek so hard, because you know, she has long finger nails," he recalled.
"Even when she went to the toilet, she was followed. However, before she left she left a note on a piece of tissue: 'I am not happy, please help me. I want to go home'.”
The tissue was shown by Kadar Shah on Indonesia TV.
"What I did was for the best for everybody," said the Umno man.
Modern interrogation methods of the Malaysian police
Jalan Ke Putrajaya Sudah Tiba
STATUS AGAMA PENDUDUK MALAYSIA – BACAAN POLITIK SEPINTAS LALU
Sebagai sebuah Negara berbilang kaum, penduduk Malaysia juga menganut pelbagai agama. Penganut Agama Islam adalah yang terbesar di Malaysia dengan 59.1% penduduknya beragama Islam.
Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) merupakan satu-satu parti politik di Malaysia yang berteraskan agama. Bagaimanapun, sejak awal penglibatan parti ini di dalam politik, PAS sudah mengamalkan dasar PAS untuk semua dengan menekankan perjuangan kebajikan untuk semua lapisan masyarakat. Ini bersandarkan kenyataan Timbalan Presiden PAS kepada Majalah Belia Bilangan 16 Tahun 1, 27 Julai 1955 sewaktu berkempen untuk kerusi Parlimen Selangor Tengah.
Namun agenda Islam yang dibawa PAS seringkali digunakan oleh parti lawannya untuk menjadikan PAS sebuah parti yang sempit perjuangannya atau parti untuk perjuangkan orang-orang Islam sahaja.
Walaubagaimanapun, jika dilihat dari skop sempit sekalipun, perjuangan PAS mempunyai pasaran yang lebih besar kerana penduduk Malaysia beragama Islam adalah lebih besar jumlahnya daripada penduduk Malaysia dari kumpulan etnik Melayu. Iaitu Islam sebanyak 59.1% dan Melayu pula ialah 50.3%.
TABURAN PENDUDUK ISLAM DAN MELAYU – BACAAN POLITIK SEPINTAS LALU
Walaupun jumlah penduduk Malaysia beragama Islam adalah lebih ramai daripada kumpulan etnik Melayu, bagaimanapun dari segi politik, PAS sentiasa lebih lemah dari UMNO dalam banyak aspek seperti terutamanya,
- Jumlah keahlian, cawangan dan kawasan.
- Jumlah kerusi di Parlimen.
- Jumlah negeri yang ditadbir.
Namun begitu PAS sentiasa menunjukkan prestasi yang membanggakan di Kelantan di mana ia pernah memerintah semenjak merdeka sehingga 1978 (1974-1977 PAS di dalam Barisan Nasional). PAS berjaya menawan semula Kelantan pada 1990 dan mentadbirnya sehingga ke hari ini.
Terengganu, negeri yang mempunyai bilangan penduduk Islam dan Melayu terbesar juga pernah ditadbir oleh PAS dan kali terakhir ialah selama satu penggal dari tahun 1999 hingga 2004.
Pada Pilihanraya Umum ke 12, PAS juga dapat menawan Negeri Kedah dari BN.
Perlis, sebuah lagi negeri yang mempunyai peratus penduduk beragama Islam yang tinggi juga sering dilihat sebagai berpotensi di tawan oleh PAS, namun masih gagal. Pilihanraya 2008 bagaimanapun menampakkan peningkatan yang memberangsangkan.
Di negeri-negeri dan wilayah lainnya PAS gagal menyaingi UMNO dan BN. Ini kerana sebelum 2008, UMNO sering mampu meraih sokongan daripada pengundi bukan Melayu. Sokongan ini diantara lain disebabkan faktor hubungan UMNO dengan parti-parti komponen BN yang mewakili lain-lain etnik.
Politik berteraskan ras sebelum ini juga dilihat sebagai sesuatu yang perlu dan penting bagi mengekalkan kerhamonian masyarakat berbilang kaum.
Segregasi politik mengikut ras juga adalah senjata utama BN yang telah bertahun-tahun menanam ke dalam masyarakat bahawa keseimbangan dan kestabilan politik negara hanya akan tercapai menerusi sokongan kepada parti-parti politik berteraskan ras.
Oleh yang demikian, pengundi-pengundi merasakan perlu mereka mengundi mengikut garisan perkauman kerana takut etnik mereka kehilangan suara dan pengaruh di dalam Kerajaan.
Bagaimanapun sebelum pilihanraya 2008, perlahan-lahan arus perubahan sudah mula dapat dirasai. Arus itu pada mulanya datang bersama gerakan reformasi pada tahun 1998 tetapi reda setelah Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamed meletakkan jawatan.
Bagaimanapun, gerakan reformasi 1998 membawa keprihatinan di dalam generasi baru tentang peranan mereka dalam menentukan hala tuju politik negara.
Sebelum 2008, kebanyakan masyarakat Malaysia semakin resah dengan corak pentadbiran UMNO dan BN yang antara lain dilihat semakin berleluasa dengan
- Amalan korupsi
- Kronisma
- Nepotisme
- Diskriminasi kaum dan agama
Beberapa insiden pemusnahan rumah ibadat pelbagai agama mendapat liputan meluas terutamanya dengan berkembangnya teknologi informasi.
Lahirnya web portal dan laman-laman blog serta jaringan penetrasi jalur lebar yang lebih meluas memudahkan audio dan video dipamer dan ditonton.
Perkembangan teknologi informasi ini akhirnya menamatkan cengkaman kerajaan didalam penyebaran maklumat.
Akhirnya, Pilihanraya Umum 2008 menyaksikan satu trend baru pengundian yang melampaui batasan agama dan etnik.
ANALISA PEMILIH DALAM PRU12
Menurut statistik pengundian yang didapati dari laman web Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia jumlah pemilih dalam PRU12 ialah 10,740,277 orang. (Daftar pemilih yang diwartakan pada 5 Februari 2008 jumlah pemilih sekarang ialah 10,922,141 orang).
PRU 12 menyaksikan jumlah pemilih keluar mengundi yang tinggi iaitu 76%. Laporan dari parti-parti politik juga memaklumkan kadar pengundi saluran muda yang tinggi (tiada data rasmi dari SPR).
Didalam forum-forum pasca PRU12, para penganalisa politik dan pemerhati pilihanraya berpendapat, PRU12 adalah penamat kepada trend pengundian menerusi garisan ras.
Pilihanraya-pilihanraya kecil selepas PRU12 juga membenarkan kesimpulan itu apabila parti yang tidak berteraskan ras memenangi 4 daripada 5 kerusi yang diadakan pilihnaraya semula.
ANALISA UNDI YANG DITERIMA OLEH PARTI-PARTI BERTANDING
Di dalam PRU12, BN yang bertanding di kesemua 222 kerusi parlimen menerima hanya 51% undi popular. Dalam erti kata lain, daripada sejumlah 7.9 juta kertas undi yang dipulangkan, 3,861,688 tidak mengundi BN.
Malangnya pihak SPR mengeluarkan statistik undi yang diterima oleh setiap parti komponen BN sebaliknya ianya disatukan dibawah satu sahaja,
Walaupun tidak mustahil, tetapi ia akan mengambil masa untuk secara tepat mengumpulkan semua undi-undi yang BN terima menurut parti komponennya. Bagaimanapun adalah menarik untuk menghitungnya bagi melihat undian yang dibuat berteraskan garisan ras.
PAS adalah parti kedua yang menerima undi popular terbanyak dan merupakan parti pembangkan yang memperolehi undi popular paling banyak di Parlimen.
PAS bertanding sejumlah 66 kerusi parlimen dan memperolehi 19.3% undi popular. Ini diikuti oleh PKR yang bertanding di sejumlah 97 kerusi dan memperolehi 14.8% undi.
DAP pula bertanding sejumlah 66 kerusi parlimen dan memperolehi 13.8% undi popular.
Walaupun begitu dari segi kerusi Parlimen, PKR memperolehi 31 kerusi, DAP 28 dan PAS 23 (termasuk kerusi PAS yang ditandingi oleh bukan ahli).
PAS memperlehi tambahan satu kerusi apabila berjaya merampas kerusi Parlimen Kuala Terengganu dari UMNO BN di dalam Pilihanraya Kecil yang diadakan pada Januari 2008.
ANALISA KEPUTUSAN PILIHANRAYA DEWAN RAKYAT / PARLIMEN – SEPINTAS LALU
Keputusan Pilihanraya Umum ke 12 mengejutkan semua pihak. Buat pertama kali di dalam sejarah, BN kehilangan majoriti 2/3 nya di Parlimen.
Barisan Nasional memenangi sebanyak 140 (sekarang 139) kerusi di Dewan Rakyat. Gabungan PAS PKR dan DAP yang bergelar Pakatan Rakyat memperolehi sejumlah 82 (Kini 83) kerusi di Parlimen. Bagaimanapun satu kerusi Pakatan Rakyat yang dimenangi oleh PAS di Pasir Mas di kira sebagai kerusi Bebas.
Daripada jumlah tersebut, BN hanya memenangi 85 kerusi (kini 84) kerusi di Semenanjung Malaysia manakala Pakatan Rakyat memperolehi 80 (kini 81) kerusi.
Dalam erti kata lain, Semenanjung Malaysia bukan lagi kubu bagi BN. Harus diingat bahawa UMNO adalah parti tunjang bagi BN dan agenda UMNO adalah agenda Melayu.
Adalah ironi bila Malaysia Timur menjadi kubu kuat BN sedangkan UMNO parti tunjang BN hanya bertapak di 26 daripada 57 kawasan Parlimennya.
Dan di 25 daripada kawasan Parlimen tempat UMNO dibenarkan wujud ini, iaitu di Negeri Sabah, peratus penduduk Melayu hanyalah 15.3%.
Jika suasana politik dan sentimen yang membuak dikalangan rakyat di Semananjung berterusan, BN berkemungkinan akan menjadi minoriti di Semenanjung Malaysia.
Parti politik berteraskan ras di Semenanjung seperti Gerakan, MCA, MIC dan PPP berkemungkinan untuk pupus di Parlimen.
UMNO juga tidak terlepas untuk kehilangan tapaknya di Semenanjung.
APA AKAN JADI PADA MELAYU SELEPAS PRU 13?
Pasca PRU 12, keresahan dikalangan segelintir orang-orang Melayu mula membuak-buak. Melayu dilihat bukan sahaja semakin mengecil dari aspek komposisi kaum tetapi juga semakin kehilangan ketuanannya dalam politik Malaysia.
Perangkaan 2003 menunjukkan etnik Melayu adalah 50.3% sahaja. Jumlah ini diambil berdasarkan kelahiran seseorang itu daripada etnik Melayu, iaitu tidak mengambil kira sama ada individu tersebut membesar dengan mengamalkan budaya dan cara hidup Melayu.
Bancian dibuat setiap 10 tahun dan ia akan dilakukan semula pada tahun 2010. Kemungkinan besar perangkaan baru selepas 2010 akan menunjukkan bahawa etnik Melayu akan kurang dari 50%.
Secara langsung ini akan menjadi masalah utama bagi UMNO yang memperjuangkan agenda Melayu. Ia kerana pasaran bagi mereka semakin menguncup.
ISLAM SEMAKIN BERKEMBANG
Hampir 60% penduduk Malaysia beragama Islam. Tidak seperti masalah menguncupnya etnik Melayu di Malaysia, Islam sebagai sebuah agama boleh terus dikembangkan.
Adalah mustahil untuk meMelayukan orang bukan Melayu tetapi tidak mustahil untuk mengembangkan Islam di kalangan bukan Melayu.
Perangkaan terkini menunjukkan hampir 10% penduduk Islam di Malaysia adalah bukan dari etnik Melayu. PAS sebagai gerakan Islam telah memainkan peranan dan perlu terus memainkan peranannya untuk mengembangkan umat Islam di Malaysia.
Pas dapat mengembangkan Islam bukan sahaja menerusi dakwah tetapi menerusi dasar pentadbiran Islam.
PERANAN BARU PAS
PAS perlu bersedia untuk mengambil alih peranan UMNO sebagai parti induk etnik Melayu.
Adalah amat sukar bagi UMNO untuk mengikis persepsi masyarakat terhadapnya sebagai sebuah parti politik yang korup, mengamalkan dasar diskriminasi kaum, kronisme dan nepotisme.
Sebahagian orang Melayu telah menolak UMNO dalam PRU12. Namun begitu, itu bukanlah kerisauan utama. Apa yang merisaukan UMNO ialah majoriti penduduk bukan Melayu telah menolaknya.
Mungkin UMNO berpeluang mengembalikan sokongan sebahagian orang Melayu yang menolaknya, tetapi adalah mustahil untuk UMNO melaksanakan satu polisi yang boleh berjaya dalam jangka masa pendek untuk menarik orang Melayu dan bukan Melayu serentak kembali kepadanya dan BN.
Tambahan pula isu rampasan Kerajaan menerusi jalan belakang oleh UMNO dan BN di Perak terus membuat orang-orang bukan Melayu jauh hati dengannya.
UMNO memerlukan sokongan padu bukan Melayu untuk mempertahankan kekuasaannya di negeri-negeri di Pantai Barat. Tanpa sokongan orang-orang bukan Melayu, UMNO dan BN akan berdepan dengan cabaran getir di Johor, Negeri Sembilan dan Melaka.
Untuk mengambil alih teraju UMNO sebagai parti induk Melayu, PAS harus memperkukuhkan kedudukannya di dalam Pakatan Rakyat.
Tetapi untuk tujuan itu, PAS harus terlebih dahulu meperkasakan hubungannya dengan parti-parti lain di dalam Pakatan.
MENGAPA PAKATAN RAKYAT ADALAH PILIHAN YANG LEBIH BAIK DARI BN?
Sekiranya PAS bersama BN pada hari ini, PAS akan menjadi parti kedua terbesar di dalam BN. Tetapi, PAS akan selamanya menjadi parti yang lebih kecil dari UMNO.
Ini bermakna UMNO akan sentiasa boleh mengawal perkembangan PAS.
Memandangkan kebanyakan kerusi Parlimen yang ditandingi PAS adalah menentang UMNO, sudah tentu berlaku perebutan kerusi ini dalam pilihanraya akan datang.
UMNO mungkin bersedia memberi PAS lebih kerusi tetapi sudah tentu ia tidak akan melakukan sesuatu yang boleh melemahkan kekuasaan dan ketuanannya dalam BN.
Menerusi pembahagian kerusi Parlimen sahaja UMNO sudah boleh melemahkan PAS. Sudah tentu keutamaan bagi UMNO ialah untuk memberikan kepada PAS kerusi-kerusi parlimen yang tidak selamat untuk UMNO tandingi.
Akibatnya, UMNO akan sentiasa lebih besar dan PAS akan sentiasa lebih kecil.
Implikasinya, agenda PAS untuk melaksanakan pentadbiran berlandaskan ajaran Islam akan tidak tercapai kerana UMNO akan sentiasa lebih besar dari PAS.
Bagaimanapun, jika PAS bersama PR, peluang untuk PAS mengambil alih kedudukan UMNO terbuka luas. PAS hanya perlu menewaskan UMNO di kubu-kubu terakhirnya.
Dengan itu, PAS akan terus berkembang dan mempunyai harapan menjadi parti yang terbesar pengaruhnya dan dengan itu ia akan dapat melaksanakan agenda-agendanya.
Menewaskan UMNO di kubu-kubu kuat UMNO adalah bukan tugas mudah tetapi ianya juga bukanlah tugas yang mustahil dilaksanakan.
Keputusan PRU12 dan keputusan-keputusan pilihanraya kecil membuktikan kenyataan di atas.
ANALISA KONSTITUENSI PARLIMEN PAS TEWAS DALAM PRU 12
Daripada 66 kerusi Parlimen yang ditandingi, PAS tewas 43 buah kerusi. Bagaimanapun ia berjaya merampas Kuala Terengganu dalam pilihanraya kecil.
Dalam PRU12 PAS telah bertanding di 30 konstituensi di negeri-negeri penduduk Melayunya lebih 60%. Daripada jumlah tersebut, PAS telah menang di 17 konstituensi dan tewas di 18 konstituensi lain. Prestasi PAS di Terengganu adalah amat mengecewakan memandangkan secara keseluruhan PAS mendapat peningkatan besar undi popular di negeri-negeri lain.
PAS tewas di kesemua 2 konstituensi yang ditandinginya di Perlis tetapi ia telah mendapat undi yang memberangsangkan. Di Arau PAS tewas dengan majoriti kurang dari 1% manakala di Padang Besar PAS tewas dengan majoriti kurang dari 5,500 undi.
Di Kedah PAS menang 6 dari 8 kerusi yang ditandinginya manakala di Kelantan, PAS menang 9 kerusi dan tewas di konstituensi Gua Musang dan Jeli.
Di negeri Perdana Menteri Malaysia, PAS melihat harapan untuk melakukan sesuatu walau tewas kesemua 6 konstituensi Parlimen yang ditandinginya. Di konstituensi Jerantut, Bera, Lipis dan Kuala Krau, kesemuanya PAS tewas dengan peratusan majoriti kurang dari 20% atau jumlah undi kurang dari 5,300 undi.
Prestasi PAS di Negeri-Negeri Melayu Kurang 60%
PAS meletakkan calonnya di 31 konstituensi di 9 negeri dan wilayah yang majoriti penduduk Melayunya kurang dari 60%. PAS telah berjaya meraih 7 kerusi Parlimen iaitu 1 di Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, dua di Perak dan 4 di Pahang.
Terdapat 7 konstituensi di mana jika diteruskan momentum PRU12, PAS mempunyai harapan untuk merampasnya. Konstituensi tersebut ialah,
- Larut
- Kuala Kangsar
- Sepang
- Tasek Gelugor
- Parit
- Tanjong Karang
- Sungai Besar
- Lenggong
Calon-calon PAS tewas dengan peratusan minima 6% dan undi maksimum 5,000 undi sahaja.
Di dalam konteks PRU 12, prestasi PAS paling corot adalah di Johor dan Wilayah Persekutuan Labuan. Bagaimanapun, jika sentimen yang di lihat di Bukit Gantang berterusan, PAS ada harapan menawan 3 kerusi Parlimen di Johor.
Kesimpulan
Berdasarkan momentum PRU12 dan sentimen semasa hari ini, harapan PAS untuk melangkah sebagai parti induk orang Melayu memang cerah. Bahkan, tidak mustahil untuk PAS akan berjaya mengambil alih peranan UMNO jika langkah yang tepat diambilnya.
Bagaimanapun, PAS perlu belajar dari UMNO, iaitu, kekuatan UMNO sebagai parti induk orang Melayu bukanlah pada konstituensi yang majoriti Melayunya tinggi. Tetapi UMNO menjadi parti induk Melayu di arena politik Malaysia untuk sekian lamanya ialah kerana ia berjaya meraih sokongan dari pengundi-pengundi bukan Melayu.
Kejayaan UMNO adalah kerana ia bertanding di bawah banner Perikatan dan kemudiannya Barisan Nasional.
PAS hari ini sudah berada dilandasan yang betul bersama Pakatan Rakyat. PAS hari ini sudah berjaya meraih undi bukan Melayu. Apa yang perlu ialah memperkukuhkan kedudukannya dan komitmennya didalam Pakatan Rakyat.
Untuk salinan pdf analisa di atas dan analisa lengkap 17 konstituensi PAS tewas kurang 5,000 undi sila klik di Data dan Analisa PRU12.
“Unity talk” for PR-BN government - never arose or discussed at any PR leadership meeting
I attended the 15th PAS Muktamar opening ceremony at Stadium Melawati, Shah Alam this morning and left after lunch.
The media have been chasing after me to comment on what PAS President, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang said in a media conference after his presidential address.
I do not know what Hadi actually said, but in view of the public interest on the question of “unity talks”, I have two comments while making the general observation that political parties and political leaders must be prepared to talk to anyone on any issue concerning public interest, viz:
Firstly, that the question of unity talk to form a Pakatan Rakyat-Barisan Nasional government never arose or discussed at any Pakatan Rakyat leadership meeting.
Secondly, on the so-called unity talks to form Umno-Pas government, it is something I read in the media. The subject was never discussed or raised in any PR leadership meeting.
KJ: PR a “coalition of convenience”
By Gan Pei Ling
thenutgraph.com
PETALING JAYA, 5 June 2009: Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin has called Pakatan Rakyat (PR) "a coalition of convenience" that is not yet ready to lead the country.
In a posting on his blog today titled Who's the Boss?, Khairy cited as proof yesterday's incident where eight out of nine Seberang Perai councillors from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) boycotted the swearing-in ceremony of new Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) president Mokhtar Mohd Jait.
Khairy (File pic) Khairy said: "That PKR politicians brought themselves to boycott an official ceremony in [Penang] already spells trouble for Pakatan."
The Rembau Member of Parliament (MP) added that the PKR councillors expected a political appointee, and claimed that they had already decided to nominate newly-appointed Penang Deputy Chief Minister I and Penanti assemblyperson Dr Mansor Othman to the post.
"Notwithstanding whether or not Mokhtar was appointed to curb the influence of PKR, this action is a clear indication of DAP setting the agenda," Khairy said, adding that Jeff Ooi's demand that the PKR councillors resign also demonstrated "who the boss is" in Penang.
Ooi, who is the DAP MP for Jelutong and Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's chief of staff, yesterday called on the councillor's immediate resignation following their boycott of the swearing-in ceremony.
Today, two other DAP leaders — Komtar assemblyperson Ng Wei Wik and Soon Lip Chee, the DAP whip in MPSP — also urged the eight PKR councillors to resign immediately.
In response, PKR whip and MPSP councillor Johari Kassim said DAP should mind its own business.
"We were nominated by PKR to sit as councillors.
"It's for our party to decide on our fate, not DAP," Johari, who led the boycott yesterday, was quoted in a Malaysiakini report.
"While we have problems in Barisan Nasional, at least we have been and are ready to lead as a team," said Khairy.
Murky pecking order
Hadi Awang at the muktamar Khairy also commented on PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's opening speech at the 55th PAS muktamar today.
Khairy said "the natural pecking order in Pakatan becomes murkier" when Hadi proclaimed that PAS was ready to lead change and the nation in the 13th general election.
"I have long suspected that Pakatan Rakyat, beneath its superficial unity over the supposedly shared agenda of promoting justice and transparency, is really born out of political expediency and necessity to challenge the Barisan Nasional...," he said.
He noted that PR did not have any central body to formulate, regulate and institutionalise internal PR.
"Pakatan is struggling to create and sustain a coalition of coherence and this has grave implications about its readiness to form the next federal government...I don't think they are," Khairy concluded.
Yestereday, Penang BN leader Datuk Azhar Ibrahim also accused DAP of sidelining PKR and PAS, while Penang Gerakan chief Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nam urged PR to resolve the conflict quickly.Voting underway in Pas elections
Face to face: Mat Sabu (left) with Nasharudin - Photo courtesy of Harakah Daily
Polling for the Pas party elections is now underway as 1,044 delegates cast their ballots. The party elections committee is expected to announce all the official results tomorrow morning.
Who would be the most suitable candidate for the Pas deputy presidency?
- Husam (89.0%, 375 Votes)
- Mat Sabu (6.0%, 25 Votes)
- Nasharudin (3.0%, 11 Votes)
- Don't know/Don't care/Doesn't matter (3.0%, 11 Votes)
Total Voters: 422
Meanwhile, check out Farish Noor’s latest article here.
Expelled Members Will Be Accepted, Except Murugiah: Kayveas
This was because Murugiah had caused great damage, not only to the PPP but also the Barisan Nasional, he said.
"The other expelled members were misled by Murugiah and therefore, they could be accepted," he told a press conference at the party headquarters here Friday.
Last month, Murugiah and six other members were expelled for breach of party discipline.
Kayveas and Murugiah, who is also deputy minister in the prime minister's department, have been involved in a long spat, with each claiming to be the rightful party president.
However, in a press statement on Thursday, the Registrar of Societies had confirmed that Kayveas was the lawful president and that he had no objection to PPP holding its general assembly this Sunday.A similar confirmation, via a letter, was also given to Barisan Nasional secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor which was read out to reporters at the press conference.
Kayveas confirmed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in his capacity as Barisan Nasional chairman, would officiate the opening of the assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre.
On Murugiah's position as a deputy minister representing the PPP, Kayveas said: "He will have to go, now that he is no longer a PPP member. There is no platform for him."
He said the party had a replacement, but did not name him.
Last Saturday, Kayveas was returned unopposed as PPP president for a fourth five-year term at the party nominations.
According to Kayveas, 4,390 delegates and 2,300 observers would attend the assembly where nine would vie for the three vice-president posts and 29 for the 25 supreme council seats.
Meanwhile, Murugiah insists he is the rightful PPP president as "I was duly elected by members at the May 24 Emergency General Meeting".
"I am not sure whether the registrar has the powers to decide on the (party) presidency as it is the members who will determine this," he said.
Ingatan buat Dr. M ; kalau tak nak perjuangan Umno diperlekeh maka Umno jangan perlekeh perjuangan orang lain.
Tulisan beliau berikutan kononya ada usaha memperlekehkan perjuangan kemerdekaan Umno.
Di sini cheGuBard ingin merakamkan 'ingatan' buat Dr. Mahathir. Janganlah kita terlalu 'jumud' atau 'taksub' dengan pertubuhan atau sejarah ciptaan kita sendiri.
Pertama seharusnya Dr. M harus ingat ialah Umno yang ada kini ialah Umno (Baru) ciptaannya sendiri setelah Umno asal telah diharamkan oleh mahkamah.
Kedua jika Umno tidak mahu diperlekehkan lebih penting ialah Umno juga seharusnya belajar jangan memperlekehkan perjuangan orang lain.
Dalam bab kemerdekaan Umno bukan pertubuhan 'tunggal' yang memperjuangkan kemerdekaan.
Banyak lagi pertubuhan lain seperti Kesatuan Melayu Muda dan seumpamanya. Namun bukan kerana pertubuhan atau pergerakan lain tidak mendapat sambutan lebih tepat pertubuhan lain telah diharamkan oleh penjajah British cuma Umno telah mendapat restu penjajah.
KMM diharamkan oleh British pada 18 Jun 1948, selepas diharamkan pemimpin gerakan anak Melayu Muda ini telah ada yang ditahan malah ada yang diculik dan hilang , dipercayai dibunuh oleh anasir penjajah pada ketika itu. Manakala Umno diberikan keselesaan bergerak. Maka ada ahli gerakan KMM yang membuat keputusan dari menunggu berisiko mati lebih baik masuk ke dalam hutan memikul senjata demi prinsip perjuangan demi membebaskan negara dari penjajah.
Kenapa dan bagaimana hanya Umno mendapat restu penjajah maka itu yang harus difikirkan....?
Jika Umno terus memperlekehkan perjuangan gerakan lain maka sudah pasti dengan sejarah juga Umno boleh diperlekehkan dengan memungkinkan Umno dipilih oleh penjajah pada masa itu kerana hanya Umno yang sesuai untuk meneruskan 'agenda' penjajah selepas terpaksa memberikan kemerdekaan selepas tekanan yang hebat dari gerakan rakyat yang lain.....?
Cukuplah memanipulasi dan mewarisi taktik pecah perintah yang diwarisi penjajah. Umno dan kini Barisan Nasional sentiasa menggunakan taktik membakar sentimen perkauman untuk menguatkan cengkaman politik mereka. Setiap kali parti komponen Bn yang berpaksikan kaum lemah maka pasti isu perkauman dibangkitkan dengan harapan rakyat yang dipecah perintahkan berdasarkan kaum akan rasa tidak selamat dan kembali 'berlindung' dibawah parti perkauman.
Contoh terdekat oleh kerana sokongan terhadap Umno dan parti perkauman lain jelas melemah maka dibangkitkan 'hikayat 16 Mei' dan ketuanan Melayu tetapi rakyat seolah sudah tidak melayan maka dibangkitkan pula cerita komunis dan Chin Peng.
Kemudian jelas mungkin Dr. Mahathir sudah terlalu tua (nyayok) untuk mengulas persoalan semasa. Mana mungkin menyamakan komunisme dengan Singapura... Komunisme ialah ideologi yang sama sekali menentang pasaran bebas dan Singapura ialah negara yang mengamalkan pasaran bebas.
Maka dengan itu sampai bila pun bangsa ini tidak akan menjadi kuat.
Sejarah harus dikupas dengan jujur dan berani. Bukan dijadikan momokan buat anak muda untuk sentasa takut dan kecut.
Sudah - sudah lah tu Dr. Mahathir oiiii