Back to the wall, Tee Keat resorts to bizarre moves

Ong has named a new point man in The Star. — File pic

By Leslie Lau - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — Beleaguered Datuk Seri Ong Tee…

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Ong has named a new point man in The Star. — File pic

By Leslie Lau - The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 27 — Beleaguered Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is courting the support of his former foe Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik and is making a hugely unpopular appointment at The Star in a last-ditch bid to cling on to the MCA presidency.

His strange moves come after Associated Chinese Chamber of Commerce Industry president Tan Sri William Cheng lashed out at Ong yesterday for doing nothing to help the community.

With fresh party elections looming, Ong could face challenges from Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, and he is taking no chances in what can only be described as a desperate attempt to cling on to power.

Aside from reaching out to Dr Ling, he has decided to appoint a new point man at the MCA-owned The Star newspaper to be his eyes and ears, as well as to ensure the daily backs him.

Ng Kee Seng, an undistinguished veteran journalist from the rival The Sun daily, will take up the post of Executive Editor at The Star from Jan 1.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Ng’s appointment is already causing widespread unhappiness among the staff at The Star, which is Malaysia’s top-selling and most profitable newspaper group.

It is learned that many of the editors in The Star are not happy at the prospect of reporting to Ng, whom they have little respect for.

Ng’s appointment is only the latest change Ong has made to The Star to shore up his position. He recently removed Datuk Leong Tang Chong as chairman of the daily because the former MCA legal bureau head disagreed with him over party matters.

In terms of editorial policy, it is learned that Ong has also now removed Dr Ling, the former party president, from a “black list” of personalities the newspaper would give little or no coverage to.

Ong had been one of the leading lights in opposing Dr Ling when the latter was MCA president, and his courtship of his old foe indicates growing desperation in his camp.

Despite Ong’s moves, The Malaysian Insider understands that Dr Ling is not quite ready to bury the hatchet with him.

But Ong needs all the help he can get as he prepares to battle for the MCA presidency.

Dr Chua remains key in Ong’s bid to win re-election.

Even if the MCA No. 2 decides to stay out of the contest for the top post, both Ong and Liow will still need his backing to be sure of victory.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Dr Chua is still undecided over his options.

With Ong’s star continuing to fade, both Dr Chua and Liow have a good chance of winning the party presidency if they decide to go for it.

Yesterday, Cheng, the ACCIM president, made an unprecedented attack against Ong in an interview published by Sin Chew Daily, the country’s No. 1 Chinese-language daily.

Cheng said that under Ong’s leadership, the MCA had “split” from the country’s major Chinese organisations and clan associations.

He also criticised Ong for engaging in political infighting when the country was facing an economic crisis.

And in a stunning rebuff, Cheng said MCA representatives would for the first time not be invited to a quarterly dialogue between the country’s major Chinese organisations and clan associations this Sunday.

The current MCA crisis had been sparked by Ong, who had tried to sack Dr Chua as MCA deputy president and member.

But an EGM in October saw Dr Chua’s sacking overturned and Ong narrowly losing a no-confidence vote.

Despite saying he would resign if he lost the vote, Ong later reneged on his words and refused to quit.

He then turned against Liow as well as some of his other allies in the party leadership after they had asked him to resign.

After the intervention of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, he shockingly made peace with Dr Chua by appointing the latter’s supporters to key party positions.

But Liow and his supporters decided to instead call for another EGM to pave the way for fresh polls.

The new EGM was called off yesterday after an agreement was reached between Liow and Dr Chua to have fresh polls, possibly in January.

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The Bala Interview Part 3 of 3

Close down Biro Tata Negara if Najib is serious, sincere and genuine about the 1Malaysia concept

By Lim Kit Siang,

When he became Prime Minister seven months ago, Datuk Seri Najib Razak came out with the slogan of 1Malaysia.

It was an admission of the failure…

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By Lim Kit Siang,

When he became Prime Minister seven months ago, Datuk Seri Najib Razak came out with the slogan of 1Malaysia.

It was an admission of the failure of 52-year nation-building to create a Malaysian citizenry forged by a common Malaysian consciousness and identity, transcending their ethnic, religious, cultural and linguistic differences.

The Biro Tata Negara (BTN) is one important factor for this failure in Malaysian nation-building.

In Parliament in March this year, I read out an indignant email from a recent participant in BTN course, on how BTN operated as the propaganda arm of UMNO, pumping communal poison instead of spreading the message of national unity.

The complaints against the BTN included:

Their purpose is to convey THEIR Message to us but I think they are absolutely wrong. It made us more irritable towards BN government and make us more stronger to vote opposition.

Here are their messages:

1. Kontrak sosial about Kerakyatan and Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu Effects : Non Malay should appreciate and cannot expect more. They use Malay toleransi us and also “Terhutang Budi terhadap mereka”

2. The country is not safe after 308. The government is not strong enough to maintain the safety. The oppositions is creating chaos in the country . They give a lot of examples. If we continues like this, it might explode another 513 or war in Malaysia like in Iraq. They shows us the pictures and videos of Iraq. Therefore we need to vote BN for the peace

3. To protect Islam and Malay special rights Malays have to bersepadu for Ketuanan Melayu

4. Indians and Chinese contribute nothing to this country. It is the non Malays who wants to join the pakatan that time and we beg for that. Throughout the course they only emphasize on Malay’s contribution and say nothing on Non Malay.

5. their perpaduan means Ketuanan Malay and never sama rata because they said this is according to Kontrak Sosial. They conducted every facts on Chinese Malay and Indian and not mentioning Malaysian.

6. they claim oppositions is a spy from America and going to attack Malaysia soon

It is most shocking that the Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yasin could defend such communal poison in BTN courses as fostering “nationalism in line with 1Malaysia concept and instilling patriotism”, when responding to the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat government’s decision to bar its civil servants and students from state-owned institutions from the BTN’s racist “political indoctrination” and “brainwashing”.

Seven Selangor Pakatan Rakyat legislators have spoken up against the BTN courses for promoting hatred among the races, which is contrary to its original purpose as well as the Constitution.

Seri Setia Selangor State Assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, speaking from his own experience, said they were told that PKR members were Jewish agents, that DAP was a Singapore party, while PAS was labelled a deviant movement.

Batu Caves Selangor State Assemblyman Amirudin Shari said a big part of the programme had nothing to do with nation building or education but was an Umno and BN race-based programme where participants are indoctrinated with propaganda about “Ketuanan Melayu”.

If Najib is serious, sincere and genuine about the 1Malaysia concept, the first thing he must do is to close down the BTN as it is the biggest obstacle to 1Malaysia nation-building.

The BTN is the litmus test whether Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan is just empty rhetoric or whether he is really prepared to “walk the talk” of creating a united, harmonious and progressive Malaysia.

The BTN courses have been shrouded in great secrecy. Not only are participants not allowed their mobile phones and other electronic media gadgets, lectures and course notes are also not allowed to be taken away after the indoctrination.

Is the Cabinet prepared to order a full public inquiry into running of the BTN so that Malaysians can know the truth about the BTN courses and how it deviated from its original purpose to foster nationalism to become a great obstacle to national unity by pumping communal poison and promoting racial ill-will and hatred?

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Up to 60% funds diverted; MACC plans seminar

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has reportedly detected government projects in Sarawak where up to 60 per cent of the funding was diverted.

“Based on the investigations the Sarawak MACC…

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The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has reportedly detected government projects in Sarawak where up to 60 per cent of the funding was diverted.

“Based on the investigations the Sarawak MACC carried out on specific and real cases (projects), only about 40 per cent of the allocations were spent while the remaining 60 per cent is ‘bocor’ (leaked out),” MACC deputy chief commissioner (prevention) Zakaria Jaffar was quoted as saying.

These projects included roads, low-cost houses and mosques.

According to the Borneo Post:

Zakaria pointed out that while some projects were poorly completed, there were others that never took-off although payment was made.

“When we talk about development projects in the state, there are many cases of fake claims, whether it involves the officers or the contractors,” Zakaria pointed out.

He also told reporters that there were instances whereby contractors got allocations from members of parliament (MPs) and assemblymen for the same projects.

He explained that a project might cost about RM15,000, but the contractor would bid for that amount from both the MP and the assemblyman, thus the contractor would earn 100 per cent profit.

And the MPs and assembly members didn’t know about this?

So how is the MACC going to eliminate this?

He said the MACC from next year would conduct a seminar for contractors and also MPs and assemblymen.

He suggested that the Sarawak MACC hold such seminars with the state elected representatives, both MPs and assemblymen next year, on allocation for development projects.

Compare this with the MACC’s action in Selangor.

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When UMNO takes on MCA’s role

My SinChew

Attention all UMNO members. Yes, including you leaders.

你 好嗎？is Mandarin for "apa khabar?" or how are you? 我們會照顧你的 "kami akan jaga kamu" (we will take care of…

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My SinChew

Attention all UMNO members. Yes, including you leaders.

你 好嗎？is Mandarin for "apa khabar?" or how are you? 我們會照顧你的 "kami akan jaga kamu" (we will take care of you) and 請投我們一票 "tolong undi kami" or please vote for us.

That should do it for now. There's lots more to it though.

Mandarin to you, at your age, won't be easy. Any mispronounciation can give totally different meaning.

Be careful. Now how you wish you had gone to study in Chinese schools long time ago right? Still it's not too late. But you've got to work hard. Learn Mandarin well.

But if that's not hard enough, then there're the dialects--Cantonese, Hokkien, Hakka, Teowchew and many more.

Why you might ask must you endure or rather put yourself under all this "hardship"? Well, your Deputy President said recently that UMNO might take the role of "helping the Chinese community if MCA continues to be embroiled in crisis."

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said if MCA "is in such a state, obviously the Chinese community would not be happy and we don't want them to abandon the Barisan."

"So maybe there is no other recourse for UMNO to play that role (i.e. the MCA's role) for the time being to assist them," Muhyiddin went on to say as quoted by English daily The Star recently.

So there you have it. UMNO leaders and members must know Chinese well if they are to carry out the words of your Number Two man. Learning Mandarin and the other dialects is just the start. You must know what's dim sum, chee cheong fun, loh see fun, Mooncake Festival, Holy Ghost Festival, Chap Goh Meh, Zong Zhao Dong. The list goes on and on.

In short, you must know the Chinese culture, food, custom, etc. Again, how you wish you had gone to Chinese schools. (Come to think of it some UMNO folks weren't keen on Chinese schools in the first place and that's putting it mildly. Ask Zong Zhao Dong. Anyway put all that side and for the sake of the BN and Deputy President Muhyiddin get yourself ready.

Also please brace yourself to attend the many ceremonies and events. Including religious ones in temples. And you must attend events where non-halal food is served. Let's be blunt. When pork is the main dish.

You don't have to eat it of course. Nobody's going to force you to take it anyway. But just attend the ceremony, sit at the same table with other guests and respect those enjoying the food. And drinks. (You must know what yam seng means.)

Of course there's more. But you get the picture. You need to feel and live the community. You must realise the Chinese hold education very close to their hearts.

In short, you've got to be as Chinese as possible to understand and appreciate the Chinese. Only then you can "mendampingi" (get close to) the Chinese. Only then you get to carry out your task as envisaged by your Deputy President.

Still that's the easy part. The going will get tough when the Chinese community brings out issues which they want resolved.

There's no need to be specific, as being seasoned politicians in a big party like UMNO, you all know what the issues are, or at least can expect what will be raised.

Suffice to say equality is one. My two sen worth of advice is--get your answers ready.

Only then you can say with confidence 我們會照顧你的 ("kami akan jaga kamu," we will take care of you) and 請投我們一票 ("tolong undi kami," please vote for us). (By MOHSIN ABDULLAH/MySInchew)

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Don't Channel Compassionate Payment To State Government - PPP

KUALA KRAI, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The federal government's objectives of assisting the people of Kelantan through the compassionate payment will not be achieved if it is…

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KUALA KRAI, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- The federal government's objectives of assisting the people of Kelantan through the compassionate payment will not be achieved if it is channel directly to the state government as an oil royalty, PPP vice-president Datuk Nik Sapeia Nik Yusof said.

"I hope the federal government will not give in to the request by the state government," he said when asked to comment on the PAS government's intention bring the matter to the court.

Nik Sapeia claimed that PAS had ulterior motives in its determination to have the compassionate payment paid to the state government as an oil royalty.

The federal government early this month announced that starting next year Kelantan would recive a compassionate payment through the national petroleum company, Petronas.

The payment would be channelled to the Kelantan Federal Development Department.

The state government had previously written to the federal government seeking RM1 billion in oil royalty since 2004.

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VASANTHAKUMAR’S SPECIAL ROLE FOR THE SPECIAL BRANCH

In the Hindraf gathering in Klang on the 25^th of November many hopeful Indians were gathered to hear their leaders speak. But they were disappointed. This was a gathering…

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In the Hindraf gathering in Klang on the 25^th of November many hopeful Indians were gathered to hear their leaders speak. But they were disappointed. This was a gathering organized not to promote the agenda of the Indian poor but to promote the agenda of the Special branch of the Malaysian Police.

Vasanthakumar, presents himself to be a leader for the Indians. What he did that evening however projected a very different picture. Let me quote from The Malaysian Insider ““We the people are united in our grievances but they our leaders are divided and ready to kill each other,” said retired rubber tapper Palanisamy Perumal, 65, as he boarded the bus for the long, overnight journey back to his estate in Kedah.”I am disappointed,” he said with a sad smile.” This is after the speeches by Vasanthakumar and by Ganabatirau.

Is this the mindset any leader worth his salt wants in his people? He could have been a little more imaginative in this portrayal. He could have been a little more magnanimous, he could have been a little more regal. Instead he chose to be slanderous, he chose to be untruthful, he chose to dishonor his audience by hitting out in crass terms at their idols. This is not, what the people had come there for.

In my opinion it is not as if Vasanthakumar did this unknowingly. He did this with full knowledge and with a very clear purpose. His purpose is to sow the seed of confusion. You saw the confusion in the remarks by Palanisamy. Someone who uses a public forum not to educate the people about their lost rights, not to create awareness for their redemption, but to smear, to pour venom can only mean to mislead and to confuse.

If Vasanthakumar were truly interested in improving the lot of Indian poor, as the leader he portrays himself to be should be targeting those who are responsible for the predicament of the Indian poor, UMNO, period. But looking at his ludicrous outbursts at the gathering in Dewan Hamzah, I can only surmise that his real agenda is not improving the lot of the Indian poor which is the raisond’etre for Hindraf BUT TO SERVE HIS BENEFACTOR THE SPECIAL BRANCH OF THE POLICE BY CAUSING CONFUSION AMONG THE SUPPORTERS OF HINDRAF .

It is a known tactic by the Special Branch as part of its psychological warfare to cause confusion. Vasanthakumar is doing it par excellence for his benefactors. Good try my boy, Vasanthakumar.

I am surprised and I am sorry that Anwar chose to buy himself a Special Branch Agent in Vasanthakumar the “Hindrafian”. Anwar has been making many blunders lately. This is yet another. Anwar must either be desperate or he is terribly misinformed. In any case this is now going to set him back significantly – just wait and watch. This is a self goal. UMNO has just slid in the knife and it cuts all ways. Better than even with the MMSP ploy.

In the meantime, Vasanthakumar keep up your Special Role for the Special Branch.

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Reaching out to all, Hindraf’s theme for 3rd Year (Malaysiakini)

The outlawed Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Front) will reach out to all the marginalised, disadvantaged and under-privileged sectors of society in Malaysia as it enters its third year.

This…

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The outlawed Hindraf (Hindu Rights Action Front) will reach out to all the marginalised, disadvantaged and under-privileged sectors of society in Malaysia as it enters its third year.

This is the pledge taken by Hindraf chairperson P Waythamoorthy (right), a political exile in London after his passport number was allegedly “blacklisted by British Immigration when the authorities in Malaysia cancelled it”.

The British have since granted the human rights lawyer political asylum, travel papers and access to legal aid.

Waythamoorthy denies that he has had a sudden change of heart in exile and stressed that Hindraf was being stigmatized by Umno and the IGP (Inspector General of Police) Musa Hassan as a racist, extremist organisation run by terrorists.

Hindraf, he clarified, has never been all that ascribed to it by the Malaysian authorities.

“It’s seems it’s not racist for them (Umno) to discriminate against anyone and deny them their place in the sun.

“But if you speak up about discrimination and racism, they will label you a racist,” noted Waythamoorthy in an exclusive telephone interview last night with Malaysiakini from London. “We were never about Hindus or Indians only.”

Good progress on NGO cooperation front

Initially, the Hindraf chairman acknowledged, the movement started off by raising Indian issues “but we have always been prepared to work with others in the same boat as us.”

Waythamoorthy clarified that Hindraf cannot be taking up the cause of the Penans in Sarawak, for example, if the community itself is not willing to stand up to the “brutal repression” and does not throw up leaders who are willing to make sacrifices for the common good.

“If someone from the Penan community is willing to come forward and contact us, we will assist them in every way possible,” he promised. “I am just naming the Penan as an example. I have just been reading some articles in Malaysiakini on the Penans.”

Waythamoorthy initially touched only on the Penan community during his telephone call before coming to the “reaching out” reason for him to contact Malaysiakini.

He added that of late they have made good progress in working together with NGOs from Sabah and Sarawak. He then referred to their recent announcement in Singapore that they will be joining them for a briefing at the British Parliament in London in mid-January, expressing regret that there will be no Penan representatives among them.

Going forward, Waythamoorthy sees the House of Commons briefing being followed by similar affairs at the international level.

Other stops include the US State Department, the United Nations and the European Parliament. “We have firmed up everything so far except the European Parliament,” confirmed Waythamoorthy. “I have also been contacted by some Flemish advocates who want their region to separate from Belgium. Their society goes about these things in a very civilized way.”

He added that his Flemish experience will come in useful “since there are groups in Sabah and Sarawak who want to review the participation of their countries in the Malaysian Federation”.

“I am among those who agree with DAP vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz’s recent column in MySinChew that Kuala Lumpur should let Sabah and Sarawak go free,” he said.

“Malaysia has been a miserable failure in Borneo. It was apparent when Singapore left the Federation in 1965.”

Rather than owning up to the failures of the Malaysian Federation, charged Waythamoorthy, the ruling elite in Kuala Lumpur have been outdoing the British colonialists and “running Sabah and Sarawak indirectly through local proxies, traitors and stooges”.

“There is no excuse in the 21st century for the continued rape and plunder of the resources of Malaysian Borneo by the ruling elite in KL,” he said. “The Penans in Sarawak have particularly suffered because their communal forests are the last remaining stretch of virgin timberland in the state.”

The Taib government in Sarawak, Waythamoorthy is convinced, sees the Penans as a nuisance.

“There is no limit to the greed and avarice of the politicians in Sarawak and the Penans continue to suffer as a result of this,” said the Hindraf leader. “How long is this going to go on? There is no sign that Taib is going to go anytime soon. And he also wants his family members to take over from him just like the Brooke Dynasty of the White Rajahs.”

Hindraf, stressed Waythamoorthy, offers a way out for the Penans, “just as it offers a way out for every other Malaysian suffering under Umno’s rule.”

He leaves no one in any doubt that he sees Umno as “the sworn enemy of the Indian community”, others as well, in Malaysia.

“That’s why we were very disappointed that some Hindraf activists sold their souls to Umno and set up the Makkal Sakthi party to work together with the Barisan Nasional,” he said.”Makkal Sakthi (people power) is our theme and now this battle cry has been stolen by the BN to hoodwink the Indian community into capitulating to them. This will mean even more misery for the Indian community.”

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Lighting of the 18 agal vilaku for 18 point demands

Lighting of the 18 agal vilaku for 18 point demands

Kottumalai Pillayar Temple Pudu KL and 100 other temple nation wide

UMNOs’ ploy to kill off Indian mini market business. Tip of iceberg. (The Star 26/11/2009 )

UMNOs’ ploy to kill off Indian mini market business. Tip of iceberg. (The Star 26/11/2009 )

This is about UMNOs’ latest and most blatant and direct discrimination against an Indian…

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UMNOs’ ploy to kill off Indian mini market business. Tip of iceberg. (The Star 26/11/2009 )

This is about UMNOs’ latest and most blatant and direct discrimination against an Indian businessman and hundreds of others. This mini market owner Mr. Subramaniam has been in this mini market business in Lanchang, Pahang for 30 long years since 1979 when suddenly in 2005 the UMNO authorities had refused to renew his licence with the view to kill this Indian man’s small mini market business. Had Subramaniam been a malay muslim he would probably have stood the best chance to own a Supermarket in Lanchang. But UMNO is so racist and religious extremist that they want to kill and finish off even this small time, small town, mini market owner. Racism and religious extremism at this level does not happen in any other part of the world except in Prime Minister Najib Razak’s One Malaysia.

Hundreds of thousands of other Indians have been denied licences and business loans by the UMNO government authorities like Agro Bank, Entrepreneur Development Ministry, Agriculture Ministry etc and the UMNO controlled Maybank, Bank Industry, CIMB Bank etc.

Editor.

www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

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MSRM has even O’ levels but 99.99 % deserving Indians excluded.

MSRM has even O’ levels but 99.99 % deserving Indians excluded.

Maktab Rendah Sains Mara already has O’ levels at it’s Bentong Campus fully residential school. ( BH 26/11/09 at…

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MSRM has even O’ levels but 99.99 % deserving Indians excluded.

Maktab Rendah Sains Mara already has O’ levels at it’s Bentong Campus fully residential school. ( BH 26/11/09 at page 30).But 99.99% of the deserving Indians have been excluded from the 12,440 ( ref BH 21/11/09 at page 7 ) places in Mara and government fully residential schools.

Only the few Indian parents in the upper class have and end up depleting their savings to send their children to private colleges to do their O’ Levels.

But even almost all the average, middle average and working class malay muslim students are given the opportunity by UMNO to study even O’ Levels at MSRM.In fact for almost all the malay mulims in Malaysia, the sky is the limit in so far as education is concerned.But the same thing cannot be said for especially the working class Indians

Editor

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It’s more than just political

By the time the course ends the Malays would understand that the non-Malays are the enemy and that Umno is the only protection they have against the Chinese, Indians and…

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By the time the course ends the Malays would understand that the non-Malays are the enemy and that Umno is the only protection they have against the Chinese, Indians and ‘others’. This is what BTN is all about.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

BTN courses not politically motivated, says Muhyiddin

MUAR: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin denied claims that courses run by the Biro Tatanegara (BTN) or National Civics Bureau were a form of political indoctrination, saying they were to inculcate nationalism and unity among the people in line with the 1Malaysia concept.

“BTN courses are not for ‘converting’ participants to Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN). There are no ulterior motives; these courses are well intended,” the Deputy Prime Minister told reporters after presenting cows for the Aidiladha in Pagoh, here Thursday.

He said members of the public and employees of private companies should not be stopped from attending courses organised by the government’s agency.

He added that the Selangor state government and Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim were given a wrong impression on the courses run by the BTN.

Muyhiddin, who is Umno deputy president, was commenting on the decision by the Selangor government on Wednesday, barring state civil servants, students in state-run higher learning institutions and employees of state government linked companies from attending courses organised by the BTN, effective immediately.

State Education, Higher Education and Human Capital Development Committee chairman Halimah Ali was reported to have said that courses run by the BTN were an indoctrination process by the Barisan and that they created racist phenomenon.

Muhyiddin said the Selangor menteri besar had no right to stop federal civil servants, members of the public and staff of private companies from attending BTN courses.

He said that federal civil servants were not subject to the directive issued by the state government.

“Show me under what law the Selangor menteri besar can do that,” he said, adding that the BTN would continue holding such courses.

“If Selangor does not want to participate, it’s okay; but we cannot stop the people from learning about 1Malaysia, about nationalism and unity,” he said.

On the Aidiladha, which will be celebrated Friday, Muhyiddin said the spirit of sacrifice should be appreciated and internalised.

At the event, Muhyiddin presented 31 cows for tomorrow’s celebration.

He also wished all Muslims in the country, including those who are still performing the haj in Mecca, a happy Aidiladha. – Bernama

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

The Deputy Prime Minister says that the BTN courses are not politically motivated. Actually, he is not quite wrong here because the BTN courses are more than just politically motivated. As for his statement that there are no ulterior motives behind the BTN courses, this is of course a lie. There is nothing but ulterior motives behind the entire BTN setup.

The purpose of BTN is to brainwash the Malays and ensure that they understand and subscribe to the concept of Ketuanan Melayu or Malay Supremacy. The government gets very angry when we equate Ketuanan Melayu to Apartheid. If it is not called Apartheid then what do we call it? Would not women who sell their bodies for money be said to be involved in prostitution? If it is not called prostitution then what is it called?

So, Ketuanan Melayu is as much Apartheid as the oldest profession in the world is prostitution. There are no other ways of describing it.

BTN is an extension of Umno. Its job is to ensure that the Malays continue supporting Umno and not get swayed by the opposition. The Malays are told that DAP is a Chinese chauvinist party whose sole objective is to rob the Malays of their rights while Anwar Ibrahim is an American agent and a tool of the Jews. This, therefore, makes Anwar dangerous to the Malay cause. Anwar, in fact, is a traitor to the Malay race and is selling out the Malays to the Chinese and the Americans.

There are those, the Malays are told, who would like to abolish the Monarchy in favour of a Republic. Malaysia needs to remain a Monarchy. It can’t be turned into a Republic. This is because the Monarchy is a symbol of Ketuanan Melayu and that is why the Rulers are called Raja-raja Melayu, the Malay Rulers. They are not called Raja-raja Malaysia or Malaysian Rulers.

To remove the Rulers means Malay Supremacy would end. Then the Malays would no longer be ‘special people’. They would be just one more of the many citizens in Malaysia and at par with the Chinese, Indians and ‘others’.

So Umno will defend the institution of the Monarchy and this is what the Malays must do as well. The future of the Malays depends on this. It is because of the Raja-raja Melayu that the Malays have this ‘special position’. Without the Rulers, the Malays would be ‘nothing’; a second class race in their own country.

The British, in their wisdom, realised that if the Chinese and Indians are not kept in check then they would eventually take over the country and the Malays would become slaves in their own country. Today’s slavery is no longer the slavery of olden days. Today’s slavery is economic domination and the Malays would become economic slaves because the Chinese and Indians would control the economy of Malaysia.

So the British, in their wisdom, wrote into the Federal Constitution of Malaya (now Malaysia) some ‘special clauses’. And these special clauses can’t be challenged. To challenge them would mean you are committing a crime under the Sedition Act. And if there is not enough evidence to charge you in court they can always classify you as a threat to national security and detain you without trial under the Internal Security Act.

In what way are you a threat to national security? Well, if you challenge the position of the Rulers or the special position of the Malays this may anger the Malays and it could trigger a race riot. The Malays may run amok and take to the streets like they once did in May 1969. So you must not make the Malays angry by questioning the Raja-raja Melayu or the special position of the Malays. If you do, then you are a threat to national security and therefore you can be detained without trial under the ISA.

The Malays accept this argument. And it is the job of BTN to make sure that the Malays not only understand this and accept this but also defend this with blood if necessary. And that makes BTN more than just political in objective.

Another thing the Malays are told is that Malaysia can’t be turned into a Republic because the Rulers are crucial to the survival of the Malays. Article 41 of the Constitution says: The Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall be the Supreme Commander of the armed forces of the Federation. Further to that, the various state Rulers are Commanders-in-Chief of the navy, air force, infantry, artillery, calvary, Malay Regiment, commandos, and so on. This means the armed forces comes under the command of the Raja-raja Melayu.

Now, this is very important. The Chinese and Indians may control the economy. But the Malays control the military. And in the event the Chinese and Indians need to be put in their places then the Malays would have the means to do so. So it is crucial that the Raja-raja Melayu be retained and defended. That is the last line of defence for the Malays in the event they need to take back the country from the non-Malays.

The Malays are taught this. And it is the job of BTN to educate the Malays about this. Umno’s survival depends on the Malays understanding this, accepting this, and defending this. So BTN is basically Umno’s ‘survival kit’. It ensures that the Malays become very worried about their future and become aware of the threat the non-Malays pose to the future of the Malays. And it ensures that the Malays see that only Umno can guarantee the future of the Malays. Without Umno the Malays are dead. And BTN will explain during these courses how and why this is so.

By the time the course ends the Malays would understand that the non-Malays are the enemy and that Umno is the only protection they have against the Chinese, Indians and ‘others’. This is what BTN is all about.

But it does not stop there. BTN not only brings civil servants and students to the courses. BTN also infiltrates the universities. Is it any wonder that Nordin Kardi who heads UUM is from BTN? And speak to any student of UITM and hear what he or she has to say about the non-Malays. BTN and Umno have bred an entire generation of racists who view this country as a Malay country and the non-Malays as enemies and traitors who should be treated with great suspicion.

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Seetha’s death reveals hidden injury of the underclass

By CT Wong (CPI)

Suicide, of whatever cause, is always tragic. The iconic self-burning to death of the Buddhist monk was meant to turn the world’s attention on war-torn Vietnam.…

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By CT Wong (CPI)

Suicide, of whatever cause, is always tragic. The iconic self-burning to death of the Buddhist monk was meant to turn the world’s attention on war-torn Vietnam. It was a cry of pain, a cry for help and a cry of protest.

In common with the monk’s suicide, housewife R. Seetha’s death was foremost a cry of pain, although it touchingly telegraphed to the world her community’s cry for help.

The pain within her was so unbearable that she wanted an end – to the pain of being human, the pain of being born an Indian in Malaysia. Thus her suicide at age 33 was an unintentional cry of protest. To see her tragic death as a cry for help instead as a legal or moral wrong, we need to understand the deeper underlying causes.

Before going into arguments of causal attribution, let’s first examine the moral condemnation directed at Seetha for giving paraquat to her children to drink.

Homicide-and-then-suicide cases are very rare. The homicidal aspect tends to overshadow the underlying causes of hopelessness in suicide.

In fact, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, “…Studies have shown that the perpetrators have profiles that resemble individuals who commit suicide rather than those who commit homicide – the role of untreated depression in their stories is often lost in the news account.”

Moral condemnation serves only to distance ourselves from suicide victims. It does not help to prevent future suicides because any simplistic moral categorization of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ does not tell us much about the profound pain of their despair.

Mother wished to pre-empt cruelty

We do not know exactly what was going on in Seetha’s mind before she took that final, fatal step.

James Gilligan, an American psychiatrist, wrote about the tragic violence in his own family history. He had a relative who was a violent rancher that repeatedly hit his son. The rancher’s wife was believed to have fed their son a piece of poisoned pie. Gilligan argued that the mother was very possibly trying to prevent any further cruelty inflicted on the child. This was the tragedy of violence.

A central issue of the Seetha controversy is how we attribute causes.

The death of her brother Surendran in an alleged police shootout was reported to have led to Seetha’s depression and subsequent suicide attempt (Malaysiakini, Nov 15, 2009).

It is untrue that the shootout had nothing to do with Seetha’s death because all these events, like falling dominoes, happened in close proximity – the nearer the events in time, the higher the correlation or causation. Also, human beings do not exist in a vacuum but in relationships through a web of interconnectedness.

Two persons in the same family facing a traumatic event may react differently because they each have differing interpretations of that same episode.

So it is not true either that her brother’s killing at the hands of the police is the direct cause of Seetha’s death. (Police fearing bad publicity had apparently forced Seetha to sign a declaration stating that her suicide attempt had nothing to do with Surendran’s demise, their father claimed.)

Evidence-based psychological perspective

Understanding the complexity of human behaviour, in particular abnormal or maladaptive responses in causal terms, is an enormous challenge. Hence, risk factors as variables correlated with abnormal outcomes are often used by psychology researchers. It is however important to note that correlation is not causation.

The causes underlying suicide and suicide attempts are many and complex. The factors that place individuals at risk mutually interact with each other and can be classified as follows: psychiatric disorders, demographics (age, sex, social-economic status, employment status, occupation and marital status) and personality (impulsivity).

We do not know the exact causes of Seetha committing suicide but a single precipitating event alone does not explain the whys nor do the underlying social conditions alone. Chronic and triggering risk factors both need to be taken into account.

For example, there is the perpetuating risk factor like being born into a racial group subjected to discrimination, the predisposing risk factor of suffering from depression, the contributory factor of easy access of poisons, the acute risk factor of hopelessness and entrapment and the “precipitating or triggering stimuli of any real or anticipated event causing or threatening shame, guilt, despair, humiliation, unacceptable loss of face or status.” (adapted from source: American Association of Suicidology).

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, basing on psychological autopsy studies done in various countries over almost 50 years, there is a consistent pattern where “90 % of people who die by suicide are suffering from one or more psychiatric disorders.” These include “major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, alcohol or substance abuse, schizophrenia and personality disorder.”

Of all the psychiatric disorders, depression is the most important in suicide.

Cycle of hopelessness

Most depressed people do not commit suicide. However, most people who attempt or complete suicide were depressed. Depression as a psychiatric or psychological illness plays a major role in suicidal behaviour. It also has a social basis.

Unfortunately, they are often not diagnosed or treated either for lack of knowledge or resources to cope with psychiatric illnesses. The better-off can get immediate and long-term help.

However, as the poor have difficulty in making ends meet, any mental illnesses or developmental disabilities occurring in the family would impose an immense financial and psychological burden on them. And so the illness spirals downward.

The plight of the Native Americans shows the relationship between suicide and the destructive forces of prejudice and discrimination.

The American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology (vol. 38, 2007) revealed that “…After generations of displacement, forced assimilation, poverty and neglect, many American Indians are trapped in a cycle of hopelessness that often leads to substance abuse, violence and in many cases suicide. The suicide rate for American Indians is two and a half times higher than the national average…”

The chronic socioeconomic deprivation of the Indian community has been well articulated in the article ‘Sad road to Seetha’s suicide’ by Helen Ang (Malaysiakini, Nov 18, 2009). It depicts how a community has been broken up since the 1980s when the plantations were fragmented and workers evicted, with the effect that the young generation was displaced to urban settlements and creating slums.

Social support, social reform

Deprivation has not only a material but a psychological dimension as well.

Breaking up a community humiliates and shames its members. This institutionalized coercion also deprives the socially dispossessed of their dignity, self-respect and ethnic pride as a minority.

This is the hidden injury of the underclass. When we look deep into the Indian problem, we find that it is a question of human desire to seek dignity. When we look deep into the human problem, we meet the Indian problem. Suffering is suffering is suffering; it doesn’t really matter what you label it.

To understand and to intervene in suicide, we need to know the underlying causes and the precipitating causes.

If we attribute the causes to only within Seetha, we are just blaming the victim. If it is all her fault, then there is no necessity to identify the causes of suicide or to prevent future occurrences. However, if we attribute causes existing external to her, then there is the necessity of providing social support, of advocating social reforms.

Bullets can kill criminals or even the innocents but not the social conditions that create shame and violence. Racial discrimination inflicts deep psychological scars of shaming upon the psyche of the discriminated. Ultimately, it is socioeconomic equity, not structural violence or coercion, that will reduce shame and hence violence.

Psycho-socio education on suicide and suicide intervention is important for the public so that those in need are not socially isolated, especially when mental illness still remains a stigma.

Also of critical importance is keeping intact and functional the spiritual and cultural traditions of the ethnic minorities. It is these traditions that provide effective coping mechanisms for maintaining the dignity and self-respect of the group.

And it is these mechanisms that can help in healing the scourge of racial discrimination when a small community is broken by big government and big business.

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No urgency for succession plan, says Kelantan Deputy MB

By Adib Zalkapli- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 – Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob today downplayed the issue of a succession plan in the state government,…

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By Adib Zalkapli- The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 – Kelantan Deputy Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob today downplayed the issue of a succession plan in the state government, arguing that Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was still capable of performing his duties.

“The matter is not urgent, we can discuss it within the party’s forum if there is a need to, but the MB is well. He should continue,” said Ahmad.

He was asked to comment reports that he is the most likely successor to Nik Aziz who has been the Kelantan mentri besar for 19 years. “It is a non-issue here,” Ahmad told The Malaysian Insider.

Ahmad is said to be the preferred candidate to take over from Nik Aziz due to his seniority in the state party hierarchy and because he is acceptable to the various factions in Kelantan PAS.

Like Nik Aziz, Ahmad who became deputy mentri besar in 2004, is also a respected religious teacher in the state.

On Monday, state executive councillor Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, in urging Nik Aziz to name his successor, said a succession plan would stabilise the Kelantan government.

Nik Aziz has not named anyone to lead the Kelantan government after his departure but said that the succession would be based on the state administration and party hierarchy.

Meanwhile, another state executive councillor Abdul Fattah Mahmood said the question of succession should only be decided collectively by the party leadership.

“Such matters should be decided by the party leaders. We have the central committee or the Dewan Harian (management committee) to deliberate on the matter,” Fattah told The Malaysian Insider.

He also said there was no need to evaluate Nik Aziz’s position. “The more he fights, the stronger he gets,” said Fattah.

Nik Aziz has been bogged down by accusations of cronyism and corruption since early this month over the controversial appointment of his son-in-law Ariffahmi Abdul Rahmad as the CEO of Kelantan Mentri Besar Corporation (PMBK) and for receiving sponsorship to perform the pilgrimage in Mecca from a businessman.

Nik Aziz has cancelled the religious trip and ordered his son-in-law to leave the state investment arm following pressure from party leaders and the public.

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Pakatan courting division with Hindraf faction

themalaysianinsider.com,

Vasanthakumar attacked his former Hindraf comrades in a one-hour tirade. — Picture by Jack Ooi

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KLANG, Nov 26 — In accepting former Hindraf treasurer K. Vasanthakumar…

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themalaysianinsider.com,

Vasanthakumar attacked his former Hindraf comrades in a one-hour tirade. — Picture by Jack Ooi

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KLANG, Nov 26 — In accepting former Hindraf treasurer K. Vasanthakumar as a leading member, the PKR may have invited in a quarrelsome and difficult person unlikely to contribute to unity among the Indian members of the multi-ethnic party.

An immediate indicator of the turbulent times ahead was the announcement Vasanthakumar made at the close of the gathering in Klang to commemorate the 2nd anniversary of the Nov 25, 2007 Hindraf protest — that his camp had "sacked" P. Waythamoorthy as chairman of Hindraf.

“He was sacked because he is incompetent and causing confusion,” said Vasanthakumar, who was accused of being a police agent by Waythamoorthy and his brother P. Uthayakumar.

His act took many Pakatan Rakyat leaders by surprise because the coalition's national co-ordinator Datuk Zaid Ibrahim had recently held cordial discussions with Waythamoorthy.

“We are wooing him and hope to form an alliance with him ahead of the next general election,” said a senior PR leader, expressing worry over Vasanthakumar’s unbridled anger and hostility towards Waythamoorthy and his brother Uthayakumar, who is head of the yet-to-be-registered Human Rights Party Malaysia.

“Have we bought ourselves a uncontrollable wild horse in Vasanthakumar?,” the leader wondered.

Vasanthakumar, who has denied the charges, attacked the brothers in a one-hour tirade yesterday, accusing them of not accounting for large sums of money, misleading and failing the Indian community and for not pursuing a billion ringgit lawsuit in London against the British government for “abandoning” Indians to exploitation in Malaysia.

He named names, amounts and bank accounts he, as treasurer of Hindraf, had deposited the money into and questioned why the cash had not been accounted for.

He also attacked in unvarnished terms former Hindraf national co-coordinator R.S. Thanenthiran, who is founder president of the new Makkal Shakti Party, as a traitor and Umno stooge.

Screaming in a high-pitched voice, he declared that “Umno is the permanent enemy of Hindraf” to muted response from the crowd gathered in Klang last night.

The audience appeared shocked by his anger.

Significantly, a good part of the former Hindraf leadership skipped the function except for fellow ISA detainee Ganapathy Rao who also spoke at the function but minus the ranting.

Others Hindraf leaders close to Uthayakumar, who held rival events marking the day like DAP leaders Manoharan Malayalam and Kapar MP S. Manicavasagam, also skipped the function that was opened by PR supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar arrived early, gave a short speech acknowledging and thanking Indian contributions toward PR’s performance in Election 2008.

He said there were shortcomings but PR was doing its best to resolve Indian.

DAP leader and Penang Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy expanded on the themes touched by Vasanthakumar by calling Waythamoorthy, but without specifically naming him, a traitor and coward, for staying abroad while “our Hindraf” leaders suffered under the ISA.

Ramasamy also attacked Thanenthiran and other Hindraf leaders as traitors and compared them to historical Tamil figures like Ettapan, who allegedly betrayed the Tamil ruler Veerapandiya Kattabomban to the British invaders.

He said that if PR captured Putrajaya, Hindraf would be given legal recognition, all partially-aided Tamil schools would be converted into fully-aided Tamil schools, Tamil education would continue from “primary level right up to the university” and an Indian would be named Deputy Prime Minister.

Neither the brothers nor Thanenthiran and their supporters are expected to stay quiet after last night's attacks on them.

The event had been touted as a night for reconciliation with Anwar reconnecting with Hindraf.

But instead after Anwar left for another engagement, the daggers came out and the night ended with more recriminations than reconciliation.

“We the people are united in our grievances but they our leaders are divided and ready to kill each other,” said retired rubber tapper Palanisamy Perumal, 65, as he boarded the bus for the long, overnight journey back to his estate in Kedah.

“I am disappointed,” he said with a sad smile.

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Two years on, Hindraf a spent force

Hindraf supporters stage a hunger strike in front of KLCC in Kuala Lumpur this morning to mark the second anniversary of the massive Hindraf protest in the city. — Picture by Jack Ooi

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 25 — Two years ago on this day in 2007 Hindraf organised a protest that saw thousands of working-class Indians take to the streets here, but little remains of its influence today.

The way the rival Hindraf factions are marking the 2nd anniversary of the protest today is indicative of the bleak future of the movement founded by brothers P. Waythamoorthy and Uthayakumar, both lawyers.

While several of the original six Hindraf leaders, including the five who were held under the ISA, are apathetic, many of its members have moved on by joining political parties like the DAP or PKR.

Leaders like Uthayakumar and the former national co-ordinator R.S. Thanenthiran have set up their own political parties and others like former Hindraf treasurer Vasantha Kumar have set up their own NGOs.

All are one way or the other using the Hindraf or Makkal Sakthi name to keep the Indian protest fire alive and hope to ride the wave to political victory in the next general election.

Vasantha Kumar is organising a large-scale Hindraf 2nd anniversary gathering in Klang tonight where he is also expected to formally join the PKR.

A VVIP, believed to be PKR supremo Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is expected to attend, a key organiser of the function told The Malaysian Insider.

He said however that Anwar’s attendance would depend on the size of the crowd and whether the police permit is cancelled at the last minute.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed,” said the organiser who declined to be named.

“Police had shut down a gathering in Johor last week just before Anwar spoke… the same can happen here.”

“We expect at least 5,000 people,” he said.

Text messages are also circulating claiming that Uthayakumar would attend Vasantha Kumar's rally but Uthayakumar when contacted denied he would attend.

"We are marking the Hindraf anniversary in a grand way with protests, fast, prayers and other events," he said.

Uthayakumar and Vasantha Kumar were once close but have since fallen out, accusing each other of pilfering money or working for the police.

A rival Hindraf gathering is also being organised in Klang and probably targeted to draw the crowd away from Vasantha Kumar’s event.

Hindraf insiders say the rival event is organised by supporters of Uthayakumar, who is pro-tem president of the Human Rights Party Malaysia.

Uthayakumar's aides say it is all right for Hindraf supporters to organise functions to mark Hindraf’s 2nd anniversary anywhere in the country.

"We have a strong support base in Klang," the aide said, declining to comment on Vasantha Kumar's rally. "He has betrayed the Hindraf aims and mission."

Vasantha Kumar could not be reached for comment.

To mark the day Uthayakumar is organising several events under the title of “neo-democratic revolution” against the “totalitarian government led by Umno.”

The event involves a protest fast by 18 supporters outside KLCC, a memorandum to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and prayers at “more than 100 locations” in the country followed by a Ruthra Yagam or fire ritual prayers at the Agora Veerabathrar Sanggili Karuppar temple at 17½ mile Kampung. Benggali, Rawang, on Nov 29.

Unlike 2007, Hindraf is increasingly giving up on direct political action and relying more on religion through fasting and prayers as tools to organise and win over the Indian working class.

At the other end of the spectrum is the newly-formed pro-Barisan Nasional Makkal Sakthi party which is well funded. It is using a direct house-to-house approach to meet and persuade Indians to join up and support BN.

Its weapon of persuasion is the measures taken by the government under Najib to resolve longstanding woes like getting citizenship and identity cards.

"We are finally recognised and our demands are gradually met... this is the time for us to reap the benefits for our community," said a state leader of the Makkal Sakthi Party. "Pakatan promised but failed to deliver, Barisan is delivering without even promising."

Makkal Sakthi party is particularly active in Perak where the balance of power between Pakatan Rakyat and BN is almost even and Indian voters can make or break either coalition.

The MIC too is rebuilding itself from defeat and with long-time president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu expected to exit by May 2010; the party will have a new leader and probably a new mission — to reunite Indians under its wings.

With its ranks woefully split and challenged from outside by new players and a re-energised MIC, Hindraf is fast losing its influence.

It also lacks a creative and imaginative leadership to pull it out of the rut and turn it into a united and national political force.

More Pictures

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Najib in Washington DC without any agenda

By Din Merican

Prime Minister Najib Razak was in Washington DC today, busy eating nasi lemak and mee goreng as Bernama proudly reports. No mention of meetings with State Department,…

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By Din Merican

Prime Minister Najib Razak was in Washington DC today, busy eating nasi lemak and mee goreng as Bernama proudly reports. No mention of meetings with State Department, on Capitol Hill, with the White House, or any think tanks.

Instead he bragged about 1Malaysia to the choir of Malaysians who have already heard it so many times. He also offered some comments on Malaysia’s economy, which according to a recent report is failing to make much progress these days.

What is the point of a 20 million dollar contract with APCO if our prime minister cannot even get a manufactured speaking slot at the National Press Club? We’re not even talking about Brookings or SAIS where one has to have something meaningful to say to be invited. Anyone can speak at the Press Club so long as they can afford the cost of organising the function. Does the concept of 1World not carry much weight in the halls of international diplomacy or in the most powerful city in the world? I guess not.

I think taxpayers should demand to know why, after spending that much money on a DC lobby our prime minister cannot even get an interview on the local news.

On Anwar Ibrahim’s recent trip to the United States, in just a few days he held events at Brookings, SAIS (even our US Ambassador attended the function),Georgetown and the Council on Foreign Relations. He met with officials from the House foreign relations committee, the Senate Foreign relations committee, the state department and the White House. His visit covered in the media including the Wall Street Journal, Far Eastern Economic Review and theWashington Post (but not Bernama), Saudi television and ABS-CBN from Manila.

Does the Prime Minister’s flimsy schedule have anything to do with the scandal that just won’t go away? Not PKFZ. Not the Bukit Antarabangsa slide. Not the collapsed bridge. None other than the Mongolian who we cannot talk about. And in the time it took me to write this, how many new designer bags did the Prime Minister’s wife purchase?

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What Next For MCA After Second EGM Is Called Off?

By Alan Ting

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The squabbling factions in MCA still have not come to terms when fresh party polls should be held…

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By Alan Ting

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 (Bernama) -- The squabbling factions in MCA still have not come to terms when fresh party polls should be held despite consensus that there is a need for elections.

All those involved have shown signs they are willing to compromise to ensure that the peace talks continue.

This is especially so with the faction led by MCA vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, which announced the calling off of the second Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) scheduled for Saturday at the party headquarters. Instead, they will turn it into a briefing session.

It is also learnt that the factions headed by president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat and deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek have agreed to postpone the party's Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for Dec 5.

"Yes, the AGM is likely to be postponed. The only thing is that we have not announced it as all parties involved have not come to any agreement on the fresh polls date. We will only announce it after all sides have agreed on the date," a party leader aligned to Ong told Bernama Thursday.

However, party secretary-general Wong Foon Meng said that so far no directive of the postponement had been given to him. Moreover, the party's constitution requires that the AGM be held before Dec 31 of each year.

"If the new date is after Dec 31, we must then consult ROS about the requirement," he said.

Liow's faction said it had decided to called off the second EGM after that faction and the Ong-Chua factions reached "a tripartite consensus" on fresh elections.

Party sources said all parties involved were still in disagreement on whether fresh polls should be limited only to the CC or should include the entire party structure such as the youth and women's wings as well as the central delegates.

They are said to be waiting for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's return from overseas to break the deadlock on the fresh polls date while Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin continues to work towards finding an acceptable date.

Both sides had met twice with Muhyiddin, on Nov 23 and Nov 24, but were still unable to find an agreeable date and whether the polls should be limited to the CC or be extended to the entire party.

Ong's faction claimed that Liow's group had no choice but to call off the second EGM as it did not have enough number of delegates, saying that having a briefing would be a face-saving measure.

MCA CC member Datuk Ti Lian Ker said that by having a briefing, more people could attend and it would not be limited to delegates only.

However, Liow's faction denied that it did not have enough delegates.

"We have 1,300 delegates registered with us. However, we decided to turn it into a briefing due to the tripartite consensus and not because we did not have the numbers," said the second EGM chief requisitionist Wong Nai Chee.

One thing clear is that under the party constitution, a fresh polls can only be called if two-thirds of the CC resign or their term is up for re-election.

The party had just held its election, in October last year, and the existing CC members' term will only expire in October 2011.

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Raya Haji - Rocky's Bru

Salam Aidil Adha to all my Muslim brothers and sisters, whether they have performed the haj or going to. And to my fellow Malaysians enjoying the holiday, especially those on…

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Salam Aidil Adha to all my Muslim brothers and sisters, whether they have performed the haj or going to. And to my fellow Malaysians enjoying the holiday, especially those on the road, take care and have a great holiday.

I haven't performed the Haj but it is my dream to make that journey one day.

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Port Dickson menjadi mangsa projek runding terus

Negara ini telah mendapat anugerah alam sekitar (bentuk alam) yang amat berharga. Keindahan Port Dickson kelihatan begitu jauh jika dibandingkan dengan jumlah pelancong dan pendapatan hasil industri pelancongan yang berjaya…

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Negara ini telah mendapat anugerah alam sekitar (bentuk alam) yang amat berharga. Keindahan Port Dickson kelihatan begitu jauh jika dibandingkan dengan jumlah pelancong dan pendapatan hasil industri pelancongan yang berjaya dijana. Banyak alasan namun antara sebab utama yan g tidak boleh dinafikan ialah pembinaan infra yang lemah khususnya jalanraya. Boleh dikatakan dari segi alam Port Dickson ialah permata bertaraf dunia yang gagal kerana persiapan infra yang jauh ketinggalan.

Kegagalan ini berpunca dari sikap tidak serius dan persiapan infra yang hanya mengambil kira untung poket tertentu.

Contohnya projek membina jalan baru dari Lebuh Raya Seremban-Port Dickson, Jalan Persekutuan 5 di Pasir Panjang dan menaik taraf Jalan Persekutuan 5 dari Pasir Panjang ke Linggi telah dimulakan sejak 14 Febuari 2005 dan sepatutnya siap mengikut kontrak pada 12 Ogos 2007.

Projek ini telah dilaksanakan secara RUNDING TERUS, REKA DAN BINA dan dianugerahkan kepada Kontraktornya, Hartajaya-Genting Timur-AMR Jeli JV Sdn. Bhd. Setelah gagal menyiapkan projek pada 12 Ogos 2007 seperti syarat kontrak, kerajaan telah menganugerahkan syarikat tersebut dengan menunda tarikh siap projek (tanpa denda) ke Disember 2009.

Kemajuan fizikal sebenar projek sehingga 30 Oktober 2009 ialah 65.6% berbanding dengan sepatutnya 97.7%. Notis bagi tujuan penamatan kerja kontraktor telah dikeluarkan oleh kementerian atau JKR pada 1 Oktober 2009.

Kelewatan tersebut yang berpunca dari prestasi kontraktor dan birokrasi yang wujud telah menyebabkan kos pembinaan naik. Kerajaan sekali lagi dengan murah hati telah menawarkan bantuan melalui perubahan harga variation of price ( variasi harga ) kepada kontraktor untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut.

Walaubagaimanapun berdasarkan prestasi semasa walaupun dengan bantuan beberapa kali, sudah pasti bukan sahaja kos projek ini akan meningkat, ianya akan mengambil masa lama lagi untuk siap memandangkan hanya 65.6% sahaja kerja telah disiapkan. Inilah yang Pakatan Rakyat bangkitkan dalam membincangkan mengenai belanjawan negara, mengenai pengendalian projek-projek runding terus yang akhirnya mengakibatkan tergendala dan cost-overrun ( berlebihan kos ). Kontrak-kontrak seperti ini menyumbang kepada ketirisan penggunaan dana negara yang akan memuncak diantara 5% ke 10% ( RM 10 billion ke RM 20 billion ) SETAHUN !

Akhirnya kerugian berganda buat rakyat....hilang wang kerana membayar kontraktor lemah, hilang wang masuk hasil industri pelancongan.

Persoalanya siapa punya syarikat ? siapa dapat komisyen ? SPRM kuda kayu, Polis buta bisu...media hilang daya....

BANGKIT !! atau saudara antara rakyat yang lesu, bisu, kayu dan hilang daya.

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