Pro-Israeli group's attack: Anwar blames Apco

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

FMT ALERT KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim today accused international firm Apco Worldwide of influencing the pro-Israeli group Binai B'rith to attack him.

"Apco is very influential, it even got the oldest Jewish body to attack me personally and punish me. The organisation even labelled me as their enemy," he told some 100 supporters who attended a roundtable talk titled 'Peace and Justice for Gaza' here.

In a letter dated May 25 to US Foreign Relations Senate Committee president John F Kerry, B'nai B'rith accused Anwar of inciting hatred towards Israel and Zionist-Jews. [read story here]

The group urged the US to sever ties with Anwar.

Binai B'rith had also expressed concern over the opposition leader's statements in Parliament in April when he linked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to Apco, a global image consultant.

The group also took offence with Anwar’s speech, where he claimed that Israeli agents had infiltrated the Bukit Aman police headquarters.

According to Anwar, Apco also submitted an "official report" to International Crisis Group (ICG), an organisation that the opposition leader is involved with, to create the impression that he is anti-Jewish and anti-semitic.

"I expected the attack. Apco even sent an official report to ICG to say I am anti-Jewish," he said.

During the roundtable talk, Anwar also lambasted US president Barack Obama as a “weak” leader.

"Obama is weak. He only said that he 'regretted' the attack (on the Gaza aid flotilla) when we actually need action (from him)," he said.

Sacked CWC member: Why I decided to appeal my sacking

By G Vinod - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: MIC central working committee member G Kumar Aamaan today went to great lengths to explain to his supporters his reason for appealing against his sacking from the party.

Kumar who was sacked on May 24 along with KP Samy, another CWC member, for urging party president S Samy Vellu to step down from his post, was given 14 days to appeal.

He submitted his appeal on June 2, two days ahead of the deadline and his decision to do so did not go down well his well wishers and supporters, some from as far as Australia.

Kumar and KP Samy joined forces with expelled MIC Youth deputy chief V Mugilan who on May 22 announced the launching of a mass movement called Gerakan Anti-Samy Vellu (GAS).

The movement attracted about 5,000 people in his maiden gathering to force the MIC president to vacate his post soon and make way for his deputy to take over.

“I think many people are still not clear about GAS' struggle which is not against the party but Samy Vellu who chooses to defy the wishes of the many who want him out,” said Kumar.

“We are MIC men at heart and we believe in the party's struggle and respect party principles and constitution. GAS is just against the stewardship of Samy Vellu.”

“Thus my appeal and Mugilan's (on June 2) as well is out of deference to the party constitution. We did not leave the party but were sacked by one man who made the decision on his own,” he added.

“Samy Vellu could also claim high moral ground and accuse us of being troublemakers who did not have no respect for the party, if we did not appeal despite being given 14 days to do so.

GAS' next move

Youth chief Mugilan was among the first to sacked for urging Samy Vellu to step down sooner than the nine-month time frame the latter had set for himself to retire.

Earlier, Petaling Jaya MIC division chairman Barat Maniam was sacked for telling the MIC president the party was not his family's to run it as he pleased.

Kumar said the next step for GAS once its had met its objective of getting rid of Samy Vellu will largely depend on the delegates who will decide the future of the party.

“Once Samy Vellu leaves, the deputy president G Palanivel will become acting president. From then on let the party delegates decide on whom should lead the party,” he said. “This will allow the party to be revitalised from within.”

Kumar added that the delegates can decide whether they want to call for an extraordinary general meeting or wait until the upcoming annual general meeting in 2013 to hold the party elections.

K.P.Samy Sue Vell Paari

Pakistan rules out offensive against Punjab militants

By M Ilyas Khan BBC News, Islamabad Militancy seems to be gaining ground in Punjab

Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik has stressed there are no plans for military action against militants in the Punjab province.

His remarks came hours after he told a parliamentary committee that "Punjabi Taliban" were entrenched in southern parts of Punjab.
Mr Malik said they were planning to destabilise the country.
Few Pakistani officials have acknowledged the existence of militant bases in Punjab despite media reports.
Over the past few years Pakistan has been waging a bitter battle against militants in the north of the country.
Any suggestion that the war is now spreading to the rest of Pakistan would raise concerns about the country's stability - both at home and abroad.
'Effective action' Mr Malik's comments come days after militants killed more than 90 people in attacks on two mosques of the minority Ahmedi Muslim community in Lahore.
Most Pakistani militancy has been in the north-west The attacks are being blamed on what are called the Punjabi Taliban, a loose alliance of militant groups linked to Taliban and al-Qaeda militants in Pakistan's north-western tribal areas.
The Punjab Chief Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, accused Mr Malik of "provincialism" for his use of the term "Punjabi Taliban".
This is the first time a top government minister has acknowledged that militants have bases in southern parts of Punjab province, which houses more than half of the country's population.
"No military operation is planned against banned [militant] outfits in Punjab... [but] effective action would jointly be taken [with the Punjab government] to eliminate them," Pakistan's official APP news agency quoted him as telling journalists on Wednesday.
Earlier, while briefing a parliamentary interior committee meeting, Mr Malik said groups of "Punjabi Taliban" had been involved in attacks in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and elsewhere in Punjab province.
He said these groups were entrenched in Punjab and were becoming increasingly dangerous.
Most parliamentarians from southern Punjab have been reluctant publicly to admit the existence of militants there, presumably due to reasons of personal security.
The ruling party of the Punjab province, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has also sought to dispel media reports that Taliban fighters hailing from Punjab province may have hideouts there.
A top minister of Punjab, Rana Sanaullah, recently attracted criticism for seeking the support of a militant organisation, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, during a by-election in March.

Aussie expert: Hamstrung without documents

The defence in the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy trial has applied for the supply of all clinical notes, reports, materials, specimens and other notes by the three Kuala Lumpur Hospital doctors.

It also wants a complete medical history of the alleged victim Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan's examination at the hospital.

In addition they want the prosecution to hand over the standard sexual assault equipment and kits used in the examination.

The defence also wants to know the qualification and experience of the three doctors - Dr Khairul Nizam Hassan, Dr Mohd Razali Ibrahim and Dr Siew Sheue Feng.

This follows the filing of the motion by the opposition leader this morning to obtain the documents.

The reason for the move is that Australian forensic expert, Dr David Wells (left) had complained that he would not be able to advise the defence team unless such documents were at hand.

In Dr Wells's supporting affidavit to the motion, the Professor at Victoria Institute of Forensic Medicine said that his capacity to advise the solicitors had been severely compromised by the absence of the documents.

"For any meaningful advice to the applicant's solicitors it is pertinent and essential to have sight of all documents and materials."

The restrictive ruling on providing such documentary evidence was handed down by the Federal Court, when the defence , even before the trial proper commenced had applied for the prosecution to provide them with all the necessary documents.

However, the Federal Court ruled that it was not necessary as the application could be made during the course of a trial.

Law amendment a hinderance

With this restrictive ruling if Anwar's defence wanted to apply for documents or any other evidence, it would have to submit an application like this notice of motion.

Normally, in all criminal cases all documentary evidence is provided before the start of a trial.

This follows provision of and amendments to Section 51 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Anwar's lawyer had on the outset applied for such documents to be handed over for a smooth running of the trial and to prevent any trial by ambush.

However, as in Anwar's case the apex court ruling may set a dangerous precedent in limiting the provision of such documents and evidence before a trial.

Judge Mohd Zabidin Mohd Diah has fixed June 18 to hear submissions on the notice of motion.

Key posts for Zaid, Jui Meng in PKR reshuffle

Zaid was formerly law minister in the Abdullah administration. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — PKR is likely to appoint Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and Datuk Chua Jui Meng to key posts within the national leadership, as the party seeks to widen its appeal ahead of the next general election.
The two former Barisan Nasional heavyweights currently hold no posts within PKR apart from their role in the party’s powerful political bureau. Zaid, who lost the Hulu Selangor by-election, now leads the Pakatan Rakyat secretariat working to formalise the coalition between PKR, DAP and PAS.
It is understood that PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will either have to create new posts or sacrifice incumbents, in a bid to keep the two in the party that has been shaken by a series of defections.
“They have to be given posts. These are political heavyweights with vast influence and Anwar would want greater roles for them or it would be a waste,” one top official told The Malaysian Insider.

Chua joined PKR two years ago. — file pic

The likely appointments also come six months before the party’s first direct elections for all top posts. Any changes in the line-up will be seen as Anwar’s way of indicating his future team. Sources said the move to give Chua, a former MCA vice-president, a post would likely cause discontent among the faction led by party strategic director Chua Tian Chang.
The first-term Batu MP is now the most prominent Chinese leader within PKR.
His early involvement with PKR — since the “Reformasi” days in 1998 when Anwar’s sacking as deputy prime minister triggered the popular movement — has forced the party’s de facto leader to “accommodate” his loyalty by naming him as the strategic director, replacing Saifuddin Nasution who was promoted to secretary-general.
Chua only joined the party two years ago after he lost in the MCA elections and a bigger, more influential post for him means a jump over the strategic director.
Sources said there would be unhappiness but all factions were likely to accept any decision made by Anwar.
The “reshuffle” would also see several leaders dropped from key strategic posts in PKR’s bid to make inroads among the Malay voters, who form the country’s dominant majority.

Tian Chua is currently the most prominent Chinese leader in PKR. — file pic

Anwar, in an interview with The Malaysian Insider recently, conceded that the battle for Putrajaya will be for the hearts of the rural Malay voters as PKR’s moderate image can only work its magic on the more exposed urban Malay electorate. “What we will see is the placement of more senior Malay leaders in strategic posts so the party can bridge that gap with the Malay voters,” said another party official.
The PKR secretary-general declined comment when asked about the reshuffle of officials in the national leadership.
“I reserve my comment for the time being. I had just spoken to Datuk Seri (Anwar) just now but I cannot share the details,” Saifuddin told The Malaysian Insider.
The Machang MP himself took the senior post in an earlier reshuffle, after former secretary-general Datuk Sallehuddin Hashim quit the post and party last January.
Since then, several lawmakers have exited the party to either be independents or join Umno.
The party’s sixth congress in Kota Baru last week had resolved to prevent further walkouts, focus on defending its seats and woo more voters in its efforts to capture Putrajaya.

KL police chief under fire for banning protests

By FMT Staff

SHAH ALAM: Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad has slammed Kuala Lumpur police chief Muhammad Sabtu Osman for his warning to Malaysians planning to join a massive anti-Israel demonstration at US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur today.

Muhammad Sabtu had issued a warning banning Malaysians from taking part in several protests in Kuala Lumpur after Friday prayers today, saying the protests were illegal.

Khalid said the demonstrations were aimed at allowing the public to vent their disgust on Israel for attacking a convoy of vessels carrying humanitarian aid to the blockaded Gaza Strip on Monday.

The Turkish ship, Mavi Marmara, was part of the flotilla ferrying 10,000 tonnes of medicines, food supplies and construction materials to the displaced Palestinians in Gaza when it was raided by Israeli commandos. Nine volunteers were killed and 30 injured in the attack.

Malaysians across the country have risen in protest against Israel.

“I am disappointed at the attitude and statement of the Kuala Lumpur police chief barring the public from joining the demonstrations against the cruel Israelis.

This (attack) is not accepted by citizens the world over irrespective of whether they are Muslims or not.

“The whole world is holding demonstrations to express their objections, but here in Malaysia, an Islamic state, there are still people who will not allow us to state our stand,” he said.

He said the police can monitor the gathering if they like but should not ban it.

“We are holding this demonstration not to cause trouble. We only want to show the US, which is an Israeli ally, that it must act immediately... ” he said when met after a 5,000-strong religious congregation turned up at Stadium Melawati last night in a show of anger against the high-handed Israeli action.

BN protest

Meanwhile, the organisers of the Anti-Israel 2010 Demonstration have hit out at Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin for going back on his word and organising a separate protest at the National Mosque.

Herman Samsudeen of the Anti-Israel 2010 Demonstration said all non-governmental organisations, including Perkasa and representatives of the Freedom Flotilla, would be participating in today’s peace walk to the US Embassy on a common platform.

The walk is to begin after Friday prayers at Masjid Jamek in Kampung Baru.

“We are all angry with Israel and united on the Palestinian cause.

“This is not a party or political matter. I don’t know why Khairy is organising a separate protest at the National Mosque when he had agreed on Monday to join this common gathering of NGOs.

“Is he afraid to demonstrate in front of the US Embassy? Is the protest led by him related to the government’s policy on Apco (Worldwide)?

‘Or is he just embarrassed that his voice as BN Youth chief will be drowned by others? He should not worry. We will give him space to speak like everyone else,” said Herman, adding that he is inviting Khairy to show some solidarity together with the majority of the public.

“Don’t limit yourself to the mosque. Our message to America must be loud and clear,” said Herman.

Oil spill clean-up ops in Johor a success

By G Vinod and Ken Vin Lek
JOHOR BARU: The oil spill which spread into Malaysian waters after a collision involving a Malaysian-registered tanker and a bulk carrier in the Singapore Straits recently has been virtually cleaned up, said the Department of Environment (DOE) today.
The spill, which threatened to be an environmental disaster affecting domestic tourism and the local fishing industy, stretched from Tanjung Pengelih to Pengerang, Teluk Ramunia.
The DOE, in a press statement, said that about 17.8km of the beach has thus far been cleaned except for minor mopping-up operations. About 10,761 bags of oil and sand and 20,991 litres of oil were collected by 141 workers.
Kota Tinggi local district officer Ismail Karim, meanwhile, told FMT that the cleaning process was almost complete and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia has undertaken an environmental impact study.
“Fishermen are back in the seas. But we are still trying to find out how much losses they incurred since the spill last week,” said Ismail.
Meanwhile, Pengerang Fishermen Association's chairman, Abu Bakar, estimated that the loss of revenue due to the spill to the local fishing industry to be RM1.5 million.
He added that of the 1,220 fishermen in his area, about 800 of them were affected by the spill.
UTM team monitoring situation
UTM's Institute of Enviromental Management and Water Resources associate professor Dr Abdul Rahim Yusof said his team is studying the damage to the environment caused by the oil spill.
“We have two teams working on it. One is gathering geo-information and the other is studying the impact of the spill to oceanic life,” said Abdul Rahim.
He added that his team will study the area for the next two months and monitor it.
The tourism industry was relatively unscathed. Pulau Desaru Beach Resort reception clerk Fazliatul Zakiah Papon said tourist arrivals at her resort was not affected by the incident.
“Last week, we did see some decline in booking but this week our rooms are fully booked,” she said.
MT Bunga Kelana 3 collided with the St Vincent-Grenadines registered bulk freighter MV Wailyon May 25.
MT Bunga spilled about 2,000 tonnes of crude oil into the Singapore Straits,13km southeast of Changi Air Base. No injuries were reported among the crew.

SUPP foresees trouble in retaining state seats

By Roselind Jarrow - Free Malaysia Today

MIRI: For the first time, Sarawak United People’s Party has admitted to having issues with the very community it represents – the Chinese.

“From the shocking defeat of the party in the Sibu by-election on May 16, we can conclude that we have some problems with the Chinese voters.

“The Sibu parliamentary constituency has always been the party’s stronghold, but in the by-election, we have lost it to the opposition,” said Peter Chin, SUPP organising secretary during a Gawai Dayak visit.

Describing the defeat as a “wake-up” call, Chin said that the party must find out the exact reason why the Chinese in Sibu are not giving their support to the party.

With the defeat, Chin confessed that the party may have trouble retaining its state seats in Bawang Assan and Pelawan in the coming state election. Both these constituencies, together with the Malay-dominated Nangka, form the Sibu parliamentary constituency.

SUPP lost the Sibu parliamentary seat to DAP in a closely fought tussle on May 16.

The party also foresees trouble in defending the state constituencies of Dudong and Bukit Assek in the Lanang parliamentary constituency, which is also part of Bandar Sibu.

Said Chin: “Bandar Sibu is very important to SUPP. Now we have lost one of the parliamentary seats (Sibu) to the DAP. It is our responsibility to ensure that we will be able to defend the state seats.”

Chin is also worried about the impact of the defeat on 11 other state seats in which Chinese voters form the majority.

In the last state election, SUPP was given 19 seats to contest, but lost eight to the opposition.

No pressure to name Riot

Meanwhile in Kuching, SUPP president George Chan has denied that his party was pressured to recommend Richard Riot to be appointed as deputy foreign minister.

He said Riot was recommended not because the party wanted to appease the Bidayuh and garner their support in the coming state election.

“Riot was recommended because he is the most capable and very experienced... he has been an MP for 20 years.

“There is no hidden motive in choosing Riot,” Chan said, amidst accusation by the opposition that the party was pressured to choose the Bidayuh MP from Serian from the Bidayuh community.

Chong Chieng Jen, Sarawak DAP secretary and MP for Bandar Kuching, said that SUPP which claimed to represent the Chinese community should have recommended a Chinese.

“There are eligible candidates such as Sim Kheng Hui, Hii Thai King and Tiong Thai King who are all senators. Why do they select Riot?” he asked.

“There should not be any race factor in the selection of a minister or deputy minister. But SUPP has always used Chinese representation as its propaganda,” Chong said.

'Uniform in trash bin' policewoman undergoing treatment

By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: A policewoman who made headlines for dumping her uniform in the trash bin and announcing her resignation to the media is undergoing treatment for mental problems.


Corporal Tai Poh Hiong, 51, who heads the enquiry section at the Selayang police station, is being treated at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre. She has been given a week-long medical leave since Wednesday.

Sources revealed that Tai's record shows that she had been treated by a psychologist in 1998, when she was attached to the administration department in the Sentul district police headquarters.

Even more shocking is the allegation that Tai had smashed the car of an ASP who had reprimanded her about five years ago. She herself had reportedly admitted to this.

Gombak deputy police chief Supt Rosly Hassasn told FMT that there is no decision on any disciplinary action yet, considering Tai's condition.

"We have not decided yet as she is still being treated at the hospital. We are actually trying our best to help her after she completes her treatment.

“According to the doctor, she is being treated for 'unstable mind', " he said, adding that Tai was still a member of the force as no official resignation letter has been submitted.

Police chief: Let her calm down first

Meanwhile, Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said Tai could be under a lot of stress.

“Sometimes police work can be stressful. We will see what her problems are; let her calm down this one week and we will try our best to help her,” he told FMT.

“She has been with the force for many years, and it is only fair that we look at her side of the story as well,” he added.

A police friend of Tai, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told FMT that he was shocked when he first heard the news.

"I knew her as she was always at the front desk and we would chat occasionally. The last time I spoke to her she told me that she does not want to work aymore, but I didn't know it would turn out like this.

"It is such a waste. She was a policewoman for 28 years. She could have chosen an early retirement and not hand in a '24-hour resignation',” he said.

“She would have at least got some 60% of what she is earning now each month. Why did she act this way?” he added.

Commenting on her complaint that she lost about RM500 in allowances when she was transferred to the Gombak police station some 20 months ago, he said this was normal.

"Actually, she can apply for new allowances and it would usually be approved. Those first few months that went unpaid would be reimbursed, so it's no issue," he said.

"As for me, I feel that she was a little bit unstable. I am not a doctor, just a colleague and I think there was too much pressure.

“Not everyone can work in certain departments and the enquiry section requires one to attend to many calls each day," said the friend, who added that Tai was a “friendly but serious lady”.

'Lost 20kg in 20 months'

Earlier this week, Chinese dailies reported that Tai had resigned from the police force in a dramatic move that included throwing her uniform in a dustbin and calling for a press conference on Monday.

She had reportedly said:"I am finally free. I’m not a policewoman anymore!”

She had cited unhappiness with the hectic workload and little increment. Tai also said she had lost RM500 travel and communication allowances when she was promoted from a lance corporal in Sentul to a corporal and transferred to Gombak.

Tai also claimed that she had lost 20kg (from 65kg to 45kg) in the 20 months working at the Gombak police district headquarters.

She also cited witnessing close friends suffering permanent injuries or even being killed in the line of duty and felt that the pay does not make up for the risks.

Numerous attempts by FMT to contact Tai failed.

Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, PAS Central Working Committee Member.

It wasn’t always as bad. But of late, it has turned a lot worse. Judging by the spate of confusion and distress the nation is undergoing, Prime Minister Najib has to urgently invoke Divine Intervention to save his Administration from a tailspin – a choice which is as hard to him as to overturn the gambling license he recently awarded to the Ascot-Berjaya Group, in anticipation of a windfall from ‘sinful’ revenues.

Never mind the Limbang and Blok L-M fiasco. Never mind the Tanjong Pagar land swop which may turn out to be positive for us after all. Never mind the many exposé of the RM billion losses and colossal projects cost over-runs of stressed GLCs. Never mind even the Bollywood Sodomy 2.0 now showing. The citizenry are, by now, perhaps numbed and desensitized by it frequent occurrences.

Much worse is the latest Najib’s alarmist tactic and shock therapy which may prove to be ‘the medicine that will kill the patient’. Claims of the nation going bankrupt by 2019 may prove deadly. But to whom, you may really want to ask? The patient or the doctor?

Worst of it all is Najib’s newly-found-elegant-and-dignified escapism ie his latest ploy of leveraging credits for himself while swiftly and flagrantly passing the blame on others (read think-tanks) when challenged. This is despicable much as it’s very irresponsible for a Prime Minister.

As if admitting that the New Economic Model (NEM) was not a document of his government but merely a suggestion from Tan Sri Amirsham’s NEAC (National Economic Advisory Council) wasn’t dreadful enough, Najib’s earlier qualified support and now seen (after Perkasa) distancing himself from DS Idris Jala’s Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) subsidy rationalization programme, came down almost as the last straw that broke the nation’s back.

The nation is rudely reminded of the fate of Dr Lim Teck Ghee, the Asian Strategy Leadership Institute (ASLI) for challenging the alleged underachievement of 30% bumiputera corporate equity of the NEP. The power-that-be came down hard on him and he finally bowed out graciously. Will Idris Jala suffer the same fate?

Najib’s commitment is wavering while his direction is anything but clear. He truly displays his intrinsic character of indecision and fear, both traits miserably disqualifying him as a true statesman and a premier.

The nation now stood astounded, extremely distressed and enraged. How are they going to take all these and make sense of its disparate revelations?

This writer has penned numerous pieces on Najib’s penchant for flip-flopping and an open letter, imploring for his leadership to get us out of this unending quandary. A relentless optimist as he always claimed to be, this writer will not despair and will continue his advocacy. This piece is yet another.

Sooner rather than later, the better it is for Najib to take cognizant that the buck stops at him. He needs no reminder that as the Prime Minister he could only delegate tasks and assignments. But he still is responsible and accountable for it. Much as he wanted to, he couldn’t delegate responsibility. There’s no two ways about it. Najib must now take the bull by the horn and bite the bullet to the end. Otherwise it is best that he bows out graciously as did his Japanese counterpart a few days ago.

NEAC and Pemandu are his think-tankers. He could have more if he so wishes, each addressing specific predicament of this nation. Indeed he has a few more at his disposal. His think-thankers are about the best professional brains and talents of the nation, much superior to him at times, in their own respective expertise. But they are not there to be blamed for the various failures and shortcomings of Najib’s government.

Lest Najib thinks that this writer is yearning to see the eventual failure of the various blueprints of the government’s think-tanks, let it be known to him that he has to change his mind-set and negative perception. That’s of the obsolete paradigm of the Old Politics of the Umno/BN. That’s the destructive zero-sum game of the old political order. That needs debunking by all leaders of both political divides.

This writer, hopefully like all other opposition MPs and leaders would like to see and in fact would ensure and vouch that not only are the policies and blueprints of the BN’s government sound and viable, but they must also be judiciously and effectively implemented. Period.

To reiterate, Najib should know that from our perspective, the NEM as presented to date has finally addressed many pressing economic problems, both fundamentally and structurally. That is the good news ie that we generally are aware of our problems. We no longer could sweet talk and hoodwink the rakyat by our usual phrases of sound economic fundamentals, hefty foreign reserves and the healthy current account surplus.

Najib is eventually admitting that the economy has suffered a decade of stagnation as a result of being stifled by a middle-income trap, low value-added activities and low productivity. Over-reliance of unskilled foreign labour force and lagging in local human development to support a liberalized and high-valued-added economy were essentially the causal factors.

Similarly, there has been an over dependence on petro-dollars as revenue and a widening of a public-private investment gap. Confidence is at its lowest ebb, both foreign and local.

A mismatch of a high national saving with a low private investment rate is equally reflective of some structural problem of accessing credit and funds. The opposition and enlightened non-partisan bodies and academics had also been drumming that on to the deaf ears of the BN’s leaders for ages.

Of course it is important to get to the correct diagnosis as to ensure we have the right prescription to our problems. The NEM now sets as its target the achievement of a high income economy which is both inclusive and sustainable. That’s both encouraging and consoling to many.

Inclusivity provides for an equitable development for all regardless of race, religious and cultural divides. Sustainability consideration ensures that the future generations are not short-changed by reckless use of current resources by self-serving greedy leaders.

Unfortunately, the bad news is the fact that all these problems were known all along but there was hardly any serious effort to mitigate and resolve them.

What was missing then? A sheer political will to dismantle rent-seeking activities, debunk crony and corrupt practices which had endlessly subverted the otherwise good policies.

Quoting Najib verbatim, he admitted shamelessly, that out of RM54 billion of equity allocated to Bumiputra, only RM2 billion remains due to immediate and large sell down of Bumiputra shares in the capital market.

Embarrassingly, he went on to admit that “those who received bumiputra shares were not ordinary folk but mainly influential people ‘who sat in the front rows at functions such as Tan Sris and Datuk Sris”.

Has anything changed? Does Najib provide a leadership bent on reform and change?

What of Idris Jala’s subsidy cut and rationalization are new?

Yes, it has been presented in the most alarmist way as it could be. Yes he was apparently articulate. However, it is the conviction of this writer that the biggest loser and the most alarmed is not the rakyat, but none other than Najib himself and his Umno/BN political elites.

Idris Jala has certainly served his boss very well indeed. If anything he has overdone it.

His invoking bankruptcy has in fact finally let the cat out of the bag. Had it been said by any opposition leader, it will definitely be scorned at with such disdain and fury. Now it shall remain a political meal for their political nemesis.

It took a minister and ironically from the Prime Minister’s department to pronounce the Doomsday for Corporate Malaysia. With a prediction of an annual 12% increase of the federal government debt it would surely be RM1.03 trillion by year 2019. It’s well beyond Greece.

Admittedly, this writer has also been an ardent advocate of the need to have a blueprint or a national policy on subsidy in the parliament. It is in fact long outstanding. Both subsidy and taxation are two faces of the same coin for the stabilizing measures for a fiscal policy of any nation. It has a role and a place in the entire economy.

Premised on that, Jala’s rationale for a dire need for a subsidy cut is overly incomplete. His exposition is at best only half-truth and at worst misleading the nation. He couldn’t even convince himself that putting the entire blame on subsidy is justifiable.

He has chosen to exhibit selective amnesia when it comes to explaining how the economy has been crippled by endemic corruption and malignant leakages due to a dysfunctional delivery system. He also chose to overlook the Auditor General’s Report year in and out.

Of all those things said about the various subsidies given to the deserving citizenry and the least deserving ones like the IPPs, highways and other utility concessionaires, one that needs special mentioning here would be how money are spent to prop up (read subsdise) the Bursa composite index or its barometer on a daily basis. It is well into the billions yearly.

Call it what you may, but public funds from tax-payers money of the EPF and others, injected to support our blue chips of the GLCs need to also be addressed unequivocally and squarely along side with all other forms of ‘subsidy’. The various ‘incentives’, ‘grants’ and activities of ‘investment arms’ like Value-Cap and Ekuinas must not escape Idris Jala’s radar when he talks of the ballooning debt and widening fiscal deficit. Only then will he be truly honest and holistic about mitigating and averting the financial Armageddon in 2019.

Be that as it may, is Najib seriously contemplating to take it head on come what may?

Emphatically again, his greatest enemy is none other than himself. Perkasa, the Umno-ultra backed by the Tun, and other like-minded outfits will of course continue to challenge leaders out to execute change and reform. His Malay party will similarly derail his many intended reforms for reasons best known to them.

Najib has hardly a choice. He is placed between a hard place and a rock. After a succession of by-election defeats, failure is no longer an option.

Will he relent? Will he resort to blaming his think-tankers again? Will that be his greatest folly for now?

If he succumbs, he does it at his own peril. If so, Najib truly paves the way for a regime change. Hence the reason why we want a sound NEM, the 10 MP and all, in place soonest!

The moon rises

thenutgraph.com

(File pic of PAS flags by Danny Lim; moon by jcroatta / sxc.hu)

IN the midst of the 2009 Perak constitutional coup, embattled Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin won many Malaysians over with his moral courage, steadfastness and calm. He became the face of Malaysians who opposed an absolute monarchy.
Nizar was even hailed as a possible successor of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim by some non-Muslim Malaysians. To my knowledge, he was perhaps the first ever PAS leader who gained such acceptance as premier material by Malaysians across ethnic and religious lines.
Does this acceptance of Nizar indicate that PAS has really changed? Is PAS genuine in reaching out to non-Muslims? Will the party revert to its old mould if it gets into federal power?
National appeal
There is a caveat here: Those who cheer for the likes of Nizar, Shah Alam Member of Parliament (MP) Khalid Samad and Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat appear to be mostly from West Malaysia. We have rarely heard of Sarawakians and Sabahans who support PAS.
To many easygoing East Malaysians, any religious party is simply too heavy for them. And PAS cannot be a national party until it can be accepted by Malaysians from both sides of the South China Sea.

Nizar (File pic courtesy of theSun)Perhaps for this reason, the Sarawak United People's Party thought it could dissuade Sibu voters from choosing the DAP by making them believe that PAS, the DAP's ally, would threaten the beloved non-halal local dish, kampua mee.
Instead, the DAP brought Nizar to Sibu to help in the campaign. In one ceramah to a largely Christian audience, the audience laughed supportively when he said, "The largest sleeping Buddha in Southeast Asia lies in Kelantan where PAS has ruled since 1990. Have we awakened him or asked him to stand up?"
PAS is, indeed, more inclusive towards religious minorities now than many have imagined. However, one would not have been able to imagine the same PAS coming out so fearlessly to defend non-Muslim use of the word "Allah", say, five years ago.
But if PAS has managed to establish its Christian-friendly credibility in the "Allah" row, its Hindu-friendly reputation was sealed even earlier in 2007. When the Hindraf movement took conversion and body-snatching issues head on, painting Hindus as victims of religious persecution, PAS initially labelled them "extreme". But soon enough, PAS embraced Hindraf.

Siti Mariah Mahmud (Source:
drsitimariah.blogspot.com) That key decision sealed the victory for PAS in the 2008 elections in many mixed constituencies. For example, in the Kota Raja parliamentary seat, Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud won 68% of the popular vote — the highest for all PAS candidates — in a constituency with a 52% non-Malay Malaysian electorate.
Islamic state baggage
Even so, as late as 2001, PAS was still talking about establishing an Islamic state. In fact, this was the reason why the then opposition coalition, Barisan Alternatif, fell apart — the DAP couldn't stomach PAS's Islamist ambitions.
Up until its 2007 muktamar in Kota Baru, PAS still attacked Muslim groups that held different opinions as enemies of the faith. In the 2009 muktamar, the Shah Alam division demanded that Muslim feminist organisation Sisters in Islam be "investigated". However, things seemed different this time, because the motion was quickly challenged by PAS leaders themselves, such as Siti Mariah and Titiwangsa MP Dr Lo' Lo' Mohamad Ghazali.
Even so, after the watershed March 2008 elections, talks of a possible Umno-PAS unity government grabbed headlines intermittently. It was in this context that I asked once in this column: Will PAS turn blue? In other words, would PAS go out of its comfort zone, abandon the red ocean competition of Malay-Muslim nationalist politics with Umno, and go for the blue ocean of inclusive politics?
To me, the answer lies much in electoral incentives for PAS. If PAS can see its future in multiethnic politics, then it will interpret political Islam in the most liberal — still a dirty word for many PAS leaders—  or inclusive way. This it has done on several occasions. It did so in the "Allah" row, risking the displeasure of nationalist Muslim groups. It did it again in the infamous cow-head protest in Shah Alam, with Khalid vowing to uphold justice for Hindus even if it were to cost him votes.

And so, it is interesting that in PAS's upcoming muktamar, from 11 to 13 June 2010, non-Muslims will speak as leaders of the party's newest wing. In fact, it is almost certain that PAS will field a few non-Muslim candidates in the next general election. After all, it already fielded an Indian Malaysian woman candidate for a state seat in Johor in 2008.
Can PAS lead?
And so, the question that many should ask regarding the upcoming muktamar is: Will an increasingly multiethnic PAS be qualified to lead the nation?
While some PAS leaders have denied any ambition to replace Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as the leading party in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR), it is actually worth pondering on this possibility. After all, PKR is still suffering from two problems.
First, as a party that hoped to benefit from defections from the Barisan Nasional (BN), it is now losing its own elected representatives. Unlike PAS or the DAP, which denounced crossovers of elected representatives in principle, PKR still refuses to delegitimise such acts by insisting that its 16 Sept 2008 plot did not entail material incentives.

Khalid Ibrahim Second, many of PKR's leaders are still eyeing political appointments and government contracts. Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, who has been resisting such pressure so far, attracted the bulk of criticisms in the party's recently concluded convention. For many, that's a sign that PKR will likely become another Umno should it come to power.
A greater role for PAS in national politics may therefore be not only desirable but necessary should PKR lose to Umno in the defection game, or if it replaces Umno in the food chain of patronage.
PAS's best bets
PAS would be silly if it thinks that setting up its Dewan Himpunan Penyokong PAS is sufficient. The fact is, non-Muslims in PAS are not full members and still cannot vote in party elections.
Possible obstacles from the Registrar of Societies aside, PAS is probably worried that allowing non-Muslims to vote would make it even more vulnerable to Umno's accusations of "selling out Muslims". But not doing more is not a viable option for PAS, especially as Malaysian politics keeps undergoing quantum speed transformation.
Therefore, there are two urgent issues that PAS should address in this muktamar.The first is its stand on bumiputeraism. After all, the Malay nationalism championed by Umno has two strands: the cultural strand emphasising the supremacy of Islam and the Malay language; and the economic strand that survives on bumiputeraism.
PAS has proven that it can counter the cultural strand when it wants to, but what about the economic strand? How can PAS convince poor Malay Malaysians that abandoning the asabiyah (communalism) mentality will benefit them? Would it be time to reaffirm the party's appeal for a welfare state?
Second, is PAS willing to assure Malaysians that it will commit to multiparty democracy, and will not replace and replicate Umno even if it were to win the most seats in Parliament? If yes, as a starter, Malaysians need to know if and when PAS plans to introduce local elections and freedom of information enactments in Kelantan and Kedah, the two PR states it leads.
And until that happens, it's left to be seen if a new moon will rise over PAS.

MIC, Maika deserve to be cursed for 10 generations

By P. Ramakrishnan | Aliran

More than 66,000 Indians, mostly poor and from the estates, invested RM103 million with high expectations of good returns. That was what they were promised, and they were enticed to rally around this Indian venture that was solely for the Indians. Many pawned their jewellery, others took loans or invested their entire life-savings to support this venture that was touted as a sure-win undertaking.

For almost 30 years, they waited in vain to enjoy the fruit of their investment. Many continued to service their loans and suffered. Others passed on, dejected and frustrated. There was no hope for them whatsoever and they stopped dreaming of the wealth that was promised them.

While the Maika shareholders suffered, the directors of Maika continued to be paid very well. They did not take a pay cut but enjoyed their full benefits.

Now, there is some kind of offer for these shareholders. They are now being offered RM0.80 for every RM1.00 they had invested. After waiting for almost 30 years, now they have to suffer not only a 20 per cent loss on their investment but also the purchasing power of whatever they receive now is a lot lower than it was 30 years ago. Instead of some gains, they are forced to suffer a further loss after 30 long years. What a tragic end to their dreams!

Even if the shareholders were given a 0.05 sen profit, they would have been thankful. After 30 years, don’t they even deserve a wee bit for the sufferings that they have had to endure?

But to offer 80 per cent is not fair at all. The assets of Maika which include a potentially money-making insurance company and valuable land — besides other assets — should have been able to yield a better return for these poor Indians, who had been led up the garden path with rosy promises.

What is unforgiveable is the fact that it was an Indian effort to raise the welfare of the Indians that was so badly managed by Indians in positions of authority.

The 10 million Telekom shares that were offered to Maika in 1990 would have helped these unfortunate Indians to realise their dreams but the Great Leader of the Indians high-jacked 9 million shares and gave them to shell companies run by his cronies. He literally deprived them of their just dues. This unforgiveable betrayal robbed the Indians of what should have been theirs by right.

It looks as if 20 per cent of their assets will be given over to those who have come up with this package to buy up the shares of these frustrated Indians. Maika and MIC have caused enough misery to these shareholders to deserve their curse for ten generations! — Aliran

Israel Will Not Allow Aid Ship Rachel Corrie To Reach Gaza Strip, Says PM

JERUSALEM, June 4 (Bernama) -- Israel will not allow any ship reach the Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday, specifically refering to the approaching international aid ship of Rachel Corrie.

"We shall not allow the ships to reach Gaza. Not now and not later on," Netanyahu was quoted by local news service Ynet as saying, reported China's Xinhua news agency.

He made the comment during a meeting of senior ministers convened to discuss how to deal with the Rachel Corrie, a converted merchant ship heading for Gaza in a bid to breach the Israeli blockade on the Palestinian coastal enclave.

On board the vessel are a group of Irish and Malaysian peace activists.

The voyage is another attempt to challenge the siege following the "Freedom Flotilla," which is in the spotlight after engaged in a deadly Monday confrontation with the Israeli navy. Nine civilians were killed and dozens wounded in the highsea showdown.

Sources told Xinhua on Thursday that the Israeli defence echelon is considering boarding the ship in case it doesn't follow Israeli order to dock at southern Israel's Ashdod port.

They believe that taking over the vessel will be simple, as this is a small craft capable of only containing several dozen passengers.

MACC denies barring MP from Selcat meeting

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has denied stopping Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam from attending the Selangor Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) inquiry into sand theft.

It claimed MACC officers only advised him that he could not divulge the contents of his complaint to the MACC to anyone, as it came under Section 29 (4) of the MACC Act 2009.

Under the provision, a complaint to the MACC is confidential until the person concerned is prosecuted.

In a statement to Bernama yesterday, the MACC said divulging a complaint could affect its investigation.

It was commenting on a news portal which claimed that Manika-vasagam could not attend the Selcat inquiry on the instructions of the MACC.

The MACC, said Manikavasagam, had contacted the commission on whether he could divulge the contents of his complaint over the theft involving Kuala Semesta Sdn Bhd.

In Petaling Jaya, Bar Council chairman Ragunath Kesavan said Section 29 (4) was not intended to stop legitimate tribunals from carrying out investigations, reports SHAILA KOSHY.

“It is to prevent mischief; it is meant to protect witnesses and prevent the sensationalisation of a case by revealing information at press conferences while the MACC is carrying out its investigations.”

He was responding to a question on why any public-spirited person would come forward if they ended up having to choose between being prosecuted or cited for contempt.

“How can Selcat investigate KSSB and its officers and take action if it cannot get evidence of wrongdoing?” asked Ragunath.

“That’s like saying an employee who lodges a police report about an alleged offence at the workplace cannot then testify in a domestic inquiry into the same matter.”

Ragunath questioned the appropriateness of the MACC applying Section 29 (4) in this case, when so much of the information was already in the public domain.

Live – Anwar trial

Another day in the trial of Anwar Ibrahim.

More economic angles to sports betting

I wanted to:
a) Highlight some brilliant points made by Derek Fernandez recently
b) Reproduce an article I wrote some time back on TMI
My Malay article basically argues that the more gambling there is (and I think there’s no doubt there will be more than before), the more financial losses the rakyat will bear on aggregate, especially low to middle income earners.
Thus, there is plenty of economic reason (in addition to many moral ones) not to encourage more betting.
Derek Fernandez’s points thus rang very true to me, and added more perspectives that I hadn’t considered. Good read!
Malaysiakini:

He also said that there was a big difference between sports betting and the existing forms of legalised gambling in the country.
“Sports betting uses the media as a platform for the purposes of gaming. Mass media like TV is broadcasted into houses. It’s bringing gambling into our homes.
“So when you or your child look at football, you don’t look at it as entertainment but as gambling,” he said.
He also said that the federal government had years ago banned the live telecast of horseracing because it de-stigmatises the activity as a form of gambling.
“But now with sports betting, watching horseracing is the same as watching a game of football or badminton,” he said.
He also said that the current plethora of lottery games as well as slot machine premises were adequate to satisfy the public’s gambling needs.
“So there is no need for more,” he said, adding that the local councils do not plan to close existing gaming outlets.
The urban planning lawyer also rubbished the argument that legalised sports betting will put a stop to underground gambling syndicates, which Berjaya Corp has estimated to represent a loss of RM20 billion per annum in uncollected tax revenue.
“If legalisation is given to the individual illegal operators, then this argument is maybe valid.
But this is not the case. By giving a monopoly to just one operator, the illegal bookies will still not close down.
“In fact, it will just create a price war and the illegal operators will still raise the winnings payouts to make it more attractive to punters,” he said.
“If you really want to be honest about it, then just award the a sport betting licence to everyone.”

My article from TMI:
Judi bola: Politik dan ekonomi
26 MEI — Saya penagih poker. Kebanyakkan orang menganggap ini bermaksud saya suka judi, dan mereka tidak 100 per cent salah.
Sebenarnya, di kalangan pemain poker sendiri ada spektrum yang merangkumi pemain yang bersifat amat konservatif (“nits”) dan yang bermain secara lebih mengambil risiko (“loose/aggressive”). Saya biasanya dikira konservatif.
Saya tidak berminat mana-mana lain permainan yang melibatkan perjudian — terutamanya di kasino.
Pertamanya, saya tidak suka bergantung kepada nasib. Dalam poker, walaupun unsur nasib memang ada, menang kalah serta jumlah yang terlibat boleh dikawal sedikit dengan kemahiran dan disiplin.
Satu lagi sebab saya mengelak dari kasino, mainan nombor dan sebagainya diungkap baik dalam pepatah Inggeris “The house always wins.”
Maksudnya, permainan di kasino, judi nombor, dan sebagainya telah distrukturkan supaya badan yang mengawal permainan itu selalu untung dan tidak mungkin rugi sama sekali. Walaupun kadang kala (sebenarnya cukup jarang sekali) kita boleh menang, dalam jangka masa panjang, syarikat judi itu selalu menang.
Dilihat dari sudut lain, maksudnya orang yang judi selalu kalah.
Itulah sebabnya konglomerat judi di merata dunia selalu mengaut keuntungan yang luar biasa, dan nilai sahamnya tinggi sekali.
Saya tidak berapa layak untuk menilai soal judi bola di Malaysia dari segi moral, tetapi saya rasa berbaloi juga kita mendekati soalan ini dari segi ekonomi dan kebajikan rakyat.
Seorang rakan di universiti jurusan ekonomi dulu menulis tesisnya berasaskan dua soalan mudah: a) Patutkah sebuah kerajaan menganjurkan loteri? b) Pada keseluruhannya adakah loteri ini menguntungkan atau merugikan rakyat?
Soalan berkenaan penganjuran loteri secara langsung oleh kerajaan berpaksikan beberapa aspek. Keuntungan dari loteri ini boleh diandaikan sebagai sesuatu cukai (walaupun suatu cukai yang biasanya hanya dibayar oleh golongan miskin dan serdahana). Hasil cukai tersebut secara teorinya boleh digunakaan balik untuk manfaat masyarakat am.
Walaubagaimanapun, jika loteri atau mana-mana mainan judi yang lain dianjurkan oleh pihak swasta, manfaat ini amat dikurangkan kerana kebanyakan dari hasil untung disalurkan ke konglomerat (dalam kes kita: Berjaya, saudara Tan Sri Vincent Tan, dan pihak-pihak politik yang disokongnya) dan bukannya balik kepada rakyat (kecuali cukai kerajaan yang kecil — halalnya cukai ini mungkin boleh dipertikaikan).
Mainan judi sebegini jelas pada keseluruhannya merugikan rakyat. Jumlah duit yang dimenang melalui judi bola oleh golongan menang, contohnya, sudah tentu cukup kurang dari jumlah yang hilang oleh golongan kalah. Kesimpulannya, rakyat secara keseluruhannya lebih miskin selepas Piala Dunia dari sebelumnya.
Kita juga harus tanya: Siapakah yang biasanya berjudi sebegini? Dalam isu judi bola, dan lebih lagi untuk mainan nombor, kebanyakkan pemain terdiri daripada rakyat yang berkedudukan ekonomi rendah ke serdahana.
Ini bermaksud perluasan aktiviti judi yang menarik rakyat dengan janji-janji untung mudah dan besar sebenarnya memiskinkan lagi rakyat yang sudah cukup dibebankan dengan masalah ekonomi.
Ada yang berhujah bahawa pemberian lesen judi bola adalah berpatutan kerana sah atau tidak, kegiatan ini tetap berlaku — lebih baik ia diregulasasikan, dipantau, dan sebahagian keuntungannya dialirkan kepada kerajaan.
Ramai pula berbalas bahawa jika pendekatan ini logik, maka ia harus diperluaskan untuk merangkumi aktiviti-aktiviti seperti pelacuran, pinjaman wang melalui Ah Long dan sebagainya.
Saya ingin bertambah bahawa lesen judi bola juga akan memperbanyakkan nombor orang yang akan berjudi. Mereka yang dulunya takut untuk melibatkan diri dalam aktiviti yang tak sah dari segi undang-undang akan kini menampil untuk mengambil kesempatan peluang baru ini.
Memang sukar untuk kita percaya penganugerahan lesen judi bola tanpa apa-apa tender kepada Vincent Tan dan Berjaya tiada kaitan langsung dengan hubungan dekat Tan dengan pihak-pihak berkuasa.
Nama Tan kerap muncul dalam perbincangan melibatkan wakil-wakil rakyat yang telah melompat parti dalam setahun dua ini, dan kita terpaksa tanya dari mana datangnya dana untuk semua “hadiah-hadiah pilihanraya” di Hulu Selangor, Sibu dan seterusnya. Ramai juga mengaitkan lesen judi ini dengan “tabung dana” untuk pilihanraya umum ke-13 yang dirasai kian mendekati.
Usaha-usaha menggunakan cara haram untuk mengaut keuntungan yang meningkatkan beban ekonomi rakyat demi menyokong aktiviti-aktiviti yang lebih haram lagi haruslah dipantau dengan dekat oleh rakyat, dan jika didapati memang benar, dibantah sekeras-kerasnya.

Gangsterism - Indian Malaysia

We are the minority in this community yet we contribute to a high crime rate. A visit to Simpang Renggam may explain to you better where the chunk of Indian community is.

Writing it with a proper statistics, we can list them as 7 percent of the population in Malaysia, 60 percent crimes belong to our community and we contribute to 14 percent of the population in prisons. Picking a specific statistics In 1994, 128 of the 377 murders committed in Malaysia were by Indians. ' '

Frankly speaking, as a minority, we should be able to have a good control of our group.The smaller, the better. However, it seems to be vice verse in this matter. So, I decided to do little yet sufficient 'homework' on this. After few reading, flipping through statistics,gathering of information from reliable sources, I compiled all of them in a piece of writing and that's what you are reading now.

One thing that is obvious that there is no proper statistics on these 'secret groups'(Gangs) because as time goes on, the groups evolve and change. Frequently, sub gangs are formed. Thus, any statistics to gauge gangsterism would have less use because the number changes often(unless there is someone who is constantly keeping track). Example of groups which are sustaining up to date are

1. Geng 04
2. Geng 08
3. Geng 24
4. Geng 303
5. Geng 18
6. Geng 36

The figure represents the amount you pay as 'protection'. For example if you belong to 'Geng 04', you pay RM4 per month and so on.

Each gang has sub-gangs. For example, Geng 24 has Ranggi24, Satu Hati 24 and so on as the sub gangs (These are the branches)

Whether the gang sustains or not depends on the leader. If the leader is caught, most probably the gang will set to 'sleep mode' until a new leader takes over.


Where , Why , How

The grass root of gangsterism is secondary school. The supply begins from secondary school. Zooming down to this issue, there some other things swim up to the surface. Low achievers meaning students who are performing below average academically seem to stand a 'good chance' to be groomed as gangsters. Mostly, these guys are from 'peralihan' classes. Some are forced into gangsterism while some choose to be part of the gang.In many cases, students who have low self esteem and who are lacking of personal awareness are the target. At school, they are usually marginalized because not many teachers are concern about them. Well, it is obvious that these students are labeled as 'problem makers'. These students usually need attention. They need someone to invest trust in them and inject some confidence in them, telling them they too can succeed. While they are tail less, has no goals in life, they find short cuts to make them self good or at least impress the girls. So they kick start behaving as 'macho guys' by committing small crimes at school. At this point, the network between these students and the 'hardcore' gangsters start to evolve. At one corner, the parents lose tracks on what are the kids doing. This is the point where they take a step higher. Network with hardcore gangster is established. They meet up, agree to be the member with the agreed amount. Once they are part of the team, they progress. Crimes that they commit set a benchmark for the progress. More crimes they commit, better position in the gang.

Mean while, some try to get some pocket money through gang activities. Usually these gangs at a bigger scale commit robbery, drug trafficking, and etc. They are also 'orang kanan' for some 'Important people'. The members are groomed in a way to receive and act as how their 'important people' have instructed, of course for a 'big money'. In this context, they are involved in murdering (Sounds like a Tamil Movie but that's the reality here). Students are usually involved in drug trafficking Recalling one of the conversations with 17 year-old boy when I attended a meeting with a NGO, he was a drug addict. He started to indulge in drugs in the age of 13. He then was involved in drug trafficking. He said he was earning around RM300 one day. However, he was unable to sustain his 'luxuries' due to his addiction.

Putting the thoughts clearer there is one strong root that contributes to gangsterism, namely, POVERTY. Lacking of parental guidance, peer pressure and etc are secondary factors.
In contemporary, Indian community's social and political mobility have been thwarted. In the Indian community, rich is getting richer while poor is getting poorer. Strangely, middle class family is doing well. The main problem is the people at grass root. The problem is there is hardly a connection and communication between well ding group with these poor people. Indirectly, this reflects the lacking of social commitment among Indians.

Moreover, our education system focuses on high achievers. Indirectly, low achievers (where you can see our boys there) are swept out. Although skill training and other options are available, these guys are clue less especially after they graduated from high school. What they need is a bit of confidence and a pinch of feeling good. Many times, there are few sources and people whom can they turn to. Some tend to be lucky to bump with the right person who actually show them the way to live while many are dragged far into the well of crimes. If we can show these people to acquire financial stability, I am certain in the future, the problem will not repeat. Grooming a person is equivalent to grooming a family

Amarjit Kaur, professor of Economic History, University of New England, Australia mentioned in his research that social problems should not be viewed as an isolated problems. It goes parallel with economy. When the economy of Indians is threaten, it gives an impact on the social compartment.

Personally I believe that this is the time where we need to bridge the gap between the 'well doing; group and the grass root people.Gangsterism in our community has reached to a point where there is no turning back.Time to look at this matter with a serious planning.

Regards,

Dinesweri
Undergraduate
Bachelor of Education (TESL)
University of Malaya
libra_dines@yahoo.com

HKL doc: No injuries, but there was penetration

Selcat: PKR’s six months bonus from two months service, 20 days salary compensation for 30 years as Indian rubber tapper

The New Straits Times on 3/6/10 at page 22 sub headlines “Select probes 6 month bonus” refers.

The Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat) questioned the payment of six months bonus to employees of Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB) from Sept 2008 to June 2009 when the state-owned sand mining firm was only established in July 2008. (We have been told that Selangor Menteri Besar’s brother is running Kumpulan Semesta, which is being probed by Selcat).

On this very same day Malaysian Indian estate workers of the Bedfort estate in this very same PKR ruled state of Selangor who had worked for up to 30 years are paid a mere 20 days salary and peanuts of RM 500. To add insult to injury this was described as ‘Durian runtuh’ (Windfall).

Which now is durian runtuh – the estate workers or Kumpulan Semesta?

This is how both UMNO and PKR rewards Malaysian Indian estate workers who slogged it out for 30 long years and to the contrary how PKR starts rewarding with a six month bonus from the second month onwards!

Why hasn’t the PKR Selangor state government given out the ten acre land ownership agriculture land plots to these poor and landless Indian rubber tappers as has been given out to 442,000 almost all malay muslim in the Felda, Felcra, Risda, Fama Mardi and thousands more plots in the parallel land schemes by the 13 state governments (BH 25/2/2010 at page 4)? Why not PKR? Why not Prime Minister in waiting Anwar Ibrahim?

But when we point out to these direct discrimination we instead are accused of having a racist agenda by PKR, DAP, PAS, and their supporters.! What a shrewd way to direct away from addressing the problems of the Indian poor and landless.

P. Uthayakumar

Surat kepada PM:Mariammah 72 tahun, uzur, terpaksa kerja sebagai tukang sapu. Dinafikan kewarganegaraan dan bantuan kebajikan. (Peringatan Pertama)

NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com

Your Reference :

In Reply : Misc/ Jan 2010

Date : 3/6/2010

Peringatan pertama

YAB. Dato Seri Najib Razak

Perdana Menteri Malaysia,

Blok Utama Bangunan Perdana Putra,

Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan, Fax: 03-88883444

62502 Putrajaya E-Mail: najib@pmo.gov.my

Y.B Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein,

Menteri Dalam Negeri,

Kementerian Dalam Negeri,
Blok D1 & D2, Kompleks D,
Pusat Pentadbiran,
Kerajaan Persekutuan, Fax: 03-2693 3131
62546 Putrajaya E-Mail: menteri@moha.gov.my

Y.B. Senator Dato’ Sri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil

Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat,

Aras 1-6, Blok E, Kompleks Pejabat Kerajaan,

Bukit Perdana,

Jalan Dato Onn, Fax: 03-2693 4982

50515 Kuala Lumpur E-Mail: shahrizat@kpwkm.gov.my

Per: 1) Mariammah (72) masih terpaksa bekerja kerana miskin

2) Tuntutan Kad Pengenalan (Biru) untuk warganegara Malaysia

3) Bantuan Kebajikan dinafikan.

Kami merujuk kepada perkara yang tersebut di atas dan kepada surat kami bertarikh 29/4/2010 dan ingin membawa kepada perhatian pihak tuan bahawa Puan Mariammah a/p Sinnammah yang berusia 72 tahun, No. kad pengenalan 380921-10-5390 yang beralamat di 6, Tingkat 14, Blok D, Impian Baiduri, Sungai Way, Petaling Jaya kini berhadapan dengan masalah di usia tuanya. Beliau yang telah dilahirkan di Jenjarom, Banting Malaysia tetapi telah hanya diberikan Kad Pengenalan berstatus Pemastautin tetap. Penafian status kewarganegaraan Malaysia ini adalah bercanggahan dengan Artikel 10 Perlembagaan Persekutuan (citizenship by operation of law). Kami dengan ini memohon supaya Kad Pengenalan dengan status warganegara Malaysia dikeluarkan kepada Mariammah pada kadar segera.

Selepas suaminya meninggal dunia lebih kurang 20 tahun yang lau, Mariammah terpaksa bekerja dengan Alam Flora di Petaling Jaya untuk meneruskan kehidupan tetapi kini beliau tidak lagi larat bekerja kerana tidak dapat berdiri untuk tempoh yang lama serta penglihatanya semakin hari semakin kabur. S.Mariammah yang telah tumpang di rumah anaknya sekarang telah dihalau keluar oleh anaknya yang turut mengalami masalah kemiskinan keluarganya sendiri. Dia juga sedang merana kerana kakinya mengalami luka dan tidak mampu untuk merawatinya sebab tidak lagi mampu. Malah beliau tiada cukup duit untuk mengalas perut walaupun sekali dalam sehari.

Sebagai salah seorang warga emas negara ini beliau tidak pernah mendapat sebarang bantuan kebajikan. Kini beliau amat memerlukan sebuah tempat tinggal dan bantuan kebajikan setiap bulan untuk menyara kehidupannya.

Kami sedia maklum bahawa dalam Bajet 2010 kerajaan telah menyediakan RM48 Million untuk program kebajikan termasuk bantuan serta bayaran sewa dan juga RM174 Million untuk warga emas. (NST 24/10/09 muka surat 10). Dalam Bajet 2010 Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kewangan Dato Seri Najib telah mengumumkan bahawa indeks garisan kemiskinan bagi sebulan ialah RM 687.00. Akan tetapi Mariammah dan beratus ribu lagi orang- orang miskin dan miskin tegar dari kalangan masyarakat India telah dinafikan bantuan ini. Kenapa peruntukan berjuta- juta ringgit ini tidak sampai kepada Mariammah dan juga beratus-ribu masyarakat India yang miskin yang lain. Juga kenapa Mariammah tidak diberi Kad subsidi e-kasih yang termasuk dalam peruntukan sebanyak RM 174 Million untuk warga emas tersebut. (NST 24/10/09 muka surat 12).

Oleh yang demikian kami meminta agar S. Mariammah diberikan Kad Pengenalan dengan status sebagai warganegara Malaysia, bantuan kebajikan sebanyak RM687.00 sebulan serta Kad subsidi e-kasih dan sebuah rumah flat satu bilik. Dengan ini mudah- mudahan akhir hayat Mariammah akan lebih bermakna dan beliau dapat menghembuskan nafas terakhirnya sebagai seorang warganegara Malaysia dalam Satu Malaysia seperti yang diwar-warkan oleh Perdana Menteri.

Jawapan dan tindakan segera pihak YAB/YB dalam perkara ini disanjung tinggi.

Sekian,

Terima Kasih,

Yang Benar,

____________________

P.Uthayakumar

Setiausaha Agong (penaja)

7As’ and above but denied JPA, Matriculation & University. Affected parents and students Meeting.

NO.6, Jalan Abdullah, Off Jalan Bangsar,
59000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia  
Tel: 03-2282 5241 Fax: 03-2282 5245                 Website: www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com Email:info@humanrightspartymalaysia.com

7As’ & above SPM students denied JPA scholarships, Matriculation & local public Universities places. Action plan Meeting on sunday 6/6/2010 @ 11.00a.m. All affected parents and students are welcome @ HRP H.Q, Bangsar. 03-22825241 www.humarightspartymalaysia.com.
This is recurring problem year in year out in over the last 35 years. The purpose of this meeting is to deliberate on ways and means to resolve this year’s problem and so that it does not recur in the future.
Please circulate this to all your friends.
Sambhu : 010-2774096
Thiaga: 019-3085944
Latha : 016-6019703

Yours Faithfully,
____________
P.Uthayakumar
Secretary General (protem)

MIC Thugs

Rafidah defends Samy Vellu, calls detractors ‘ungrateful’

The Malaysian Insider

Rafidah recounted how Samy Vellu had fought for the Indian community 

previously. — Picture by Choo Choo May

KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 — A veteran Umno leader has broken the party’s silence over the fiasco surrounding MIC party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu by calling his detractors “ungrateful” and lacking in grace.

Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz, who used to sit in the Cabinet with Samy Vellu for decades before the 2008 general elections, has come out in full support of the party president and urged all quarters to respect his exit plan.
The outspoken leader, known as the “iron lady”, said she truly “pitied” Samy Vellu as it was evident from the rising revolt against him that his efforts and struggles over the past three decades had been long forgotten.
“For someone who has worked so long and fought so hard for the Indian community, it is really unfair to drag him out like this.
“I was in Cabinet with him and I know how hard he had fought to get things for the community. He fought with us all, against us all.
“I pity him, really, and how people have failed to acknowledge what he has done... it is just unfair,” she told The Malaysian Insider in a recent interview.
Rafidah urged Samy Vellu’s opponents not to publicly embarrass their long-serving president by attempting to oust him before his time but to respect his quit plan.
“He says he will step down, so why not respect his plan? MIC will not go to ashes just because Samy Vellu sticks around for just a few more months,” she said.
Rafidah pointed out that those who were trying to take over from Samy Vellu lacked grace in their manner of publicly humiliating the leader.
“Always do things with grace. This is so that when you take over, your leadership will be blessed. If you pull people down and you talk bad about them or mount pressure to reject them, it shows you are not a leader.
“Leaders unite, they do not divide,” she said.

Samy Vellu’s retirement plan was met with opposition from some party members. — file pic

After Samy Vellu revealed his plan to resign as president by September 2011, ahead of his term of expiration in May 2012, his words were met with much criticism. Top party leaders complained that the president should leave even earlier than his stipulated plan and urged him to step down during the party’s congress next month.
Among those in the fray were former MIC Youth deputy chief, V. Mugilan, and central working committee members, KP Samy and G. Kumar Aamaan.
All three have since been sacked after speaking out, and have gone on to lead a revolt called the Anti-Samy Vellu Movement (GAS) to express party members’ dissatisfaction with the president.
Former party secretary-general S. Murugessan was also subsequently dismissed from his post when he disagreed with Samy Vellu’s decision to expel the leaders.
Mugilan and Kumar Aamaan yesterday appealed their expulsions.
Rafidah defended Samy Vellu’s sacking orders and said that his members should already be well aware that this was the fiery leader’s way of doing things.
“This has always been his style. Sure, people may not agree but then people already know that this is his style.
“So why work against him when you can work with him? Instead of washing your dirty linen in public, why not speak with him privately and tell him of your disagreements?
“No leader appreciates being repudiated publicly, even the most patient ones will snap,” she said.
******
The Star

Thursday June 3, 2010

Sacked leader slams Samy Vellu

PETALING JAYA: Senator Datuk G. Palanivel’s appointment as a deputy minister exposes MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu’s insincerity in handing the reins to his deputy.
Sacked party leader K.P. Samy questioned why Palanivel was given a deputy ministerial post when party vice-president Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam remains as Human Resource Minister.
“This goes against the party hierarchy. If Samy Vellu was sincere in passing over the pre­sidency to Palanivel, should he not have recommended that Palanivel be made minister?
“Did he (Samy Vellu) not follow party hierarchy when he demoted (Tan Sri) Mahalingam from deputy minister to parliamentary secretary more than 10 years ago?” asked K.P. Samy.
Palanivel was appointed Deputy Planta­tion Industries and Commo­dities Minister as part of a mini Cabinet reshuffle announced on Tuesday.
K.P. Samy also urged Dr Subramaniam to step down as minister to pave the way for Palanivel, claiming that failure to do so would be an indication that Dr Subramaniam was also “eyeing the presidency”.
On the Gerakan Anti-Samy (GAS), K.P. Samy said the next gathering would be held in Klang on June 13 despite the lower-than-expected crowd during its launch on May 30.
GAS was formed to pressure Samy Vellu to quit before his September deadline next year.
“Our message is for Samy Vellu to step down quickly, otherwise the in-fighting will continue. But we will be using a different approach. There will be no personal attacks against him,” he added.
On whether he would appeal against his sacking, K.P. Samy said he would discuss with his followers before making a decision after the June 13 gathering.
*****

Saiful was sodomised, says doctor

KUALA LUMPUR: A doctor who examined the young man accusing Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy testified today there was evidence of sexual penetration even though he found no injuries.

Anwar, a former deputy premier who was sacked and jailed on separate sex and corruption counts a decade ago, has insisted the charges have been concocted in a conspiracy to end his political career.

On Thursday prosecutors at his trial took aim at the defence's argument that medical reports showed no evidence of anal sex.

Mohamad Razali Ibrahim, a doctor at Kuala Lumpur Hospital who examined 25-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan after he complained he had been sodomised in 2008, said semen was detected on swabs he took from his body.

"With all the reports before me now, I would say there is evidence of penetration even without clinical injuries. With the presence of semen I would say there is anal penetration," he told the court.

The hearing adjourned for the day but defence counsel Sankara Nair said outside the court that the semen could have been introduced artificially.

"The semen could be anybody's, they have not established whose semen it is," he told reporters.

Nair said that Anwar had an alibi and would argue that during the time of the alleged incident, at an upmarket Kuala Lumpur condominium, he was in fact at a meeting at another apartment in the building.

"The alibi is our defence. He (Anwar) was at the opposite condo with several people including the owner," he said.

Anwar has said he is the victim of a plot to prevent him from taking power, after the opposition made huge strides in 2008 elections, stunning the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition which has been in power for half a century.

The trial began in February but has been punctuated by lengthy delays. At the end of the week it will go into a hiatus until mid-July.

Which condo unit?

Meanwhile Mohd Saiful, when questioned by Anwar's lead counsel Karpal Singh, denied that Anwar was in another condominium unit at the time of the alleged act.

Mohd Saiful, the prosecution's key witness in the sodomy trial, maintained that Anwar was at the unit of the Desa Damansara Condominium where the alleged sodomy took place, and not in another unit of the condominium as suggested by Anwar's counsel Karpal Singh.

Saiful said he had gone to the first unit of the condominium on June 26, 2008, to deliver a document to Anwar.

Karpal Singh: I put it to you that what you stated in your testimony in court did not take place in Unit 11-5-1 of that condominium.

Mohd Saiful: Not true.

Karpal Singh: I put it to you that Anwar was in Unit 11-5-2 of that condominium.

Mohd Saiful: No.

Karpal Singh: Again, as you said in court, it was not true that Anwar was in Unit 11-5-1 of the condominium.

Mohd Saiful: No. He was in Unit 11-5-1.

Karpal Singh: I suggest that Anwar was in Unit 11-5-2.

Mohd Saiful: No.

Karpal Singh then told the court that he had submitted the copy of the alibi notice that his client was not present at Unit 11-5-1 as alleged, to the prosecution on June 19 last year.

Judge Datuk Mohamad Zabidin Mohd Diah allowed Karpal Singh's application that the hearing, subsequently, be held in camera as it involved the alibi notice of his client.

The hearing in camera took about 14 minutes and the public were allowed to re-enter the courtroom after the defence had finished its cross-examination of Mohd Saiful, who appeared calm and soft-spoken while answering Karpal Singh's questions.

Anwar, 63, who is also the Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament, is charged with sodomising Mohd Saiful, 25, his former aide, at Unit 11-5-1, Desa Damansara Condominium, Jalan Setiakasih, Bukit Damansara here, between 3.01pm and 4.30pm on June 26, 2008.

- AFP/Bernama

12 Malaysian volunteers coming home on Sunday

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign Minister Anifah Aman and the 12 Malaysian volunteers seized by Israeli troops in Monday's raid on a Gaza humanitarian ship convoy are scheduled to return to Malaysia on Sunday.
The Foreign Ministry, in a statement here today, said that the group was expected to arrive at the KL International Airport (KLIA) at 5.40am.
Wisma Putra and the staff of the Malaysian embassy in Amman are assisting the volunteers with their travel documents and arrangements for them to travel to Istanbul, Turkey, tomorrow to collect their belongings.
Anifah, who met all the 12 volunteers in Jordan last night, shortly upon his arrival in Amman, was relieved to see that everyone was safe and that the deportation process from Israel went smoothly, the statement said.
"On behalf of the government of Malaysia, the Foreign Minister would like to reiterate his deepest gratitude to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for its assistance in successfully bringing the 12 Malaysians safely out of Israel."
The 12, including two Astro Awani television crew members, were on board the Turkish ship, "Mavi Marmara", which was stormed by Israeli forces in international waters on Monday, with 10 people reported killed.
-Bernama

The arsehole is boss

Today, I thought I might as well jump onto the bandwagon and also talk about arseholes. After all, I don’t want anyone to allege that Malaysia Today is not keeping up with the latest issue.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

One day, all the different parts of the body had a meeting to discuss who should be the boss.

The brain said it should be the boss because it did all the thinking.

The eyes said it should be the boss because it did all the seeing.

The ears said it should be the boss because it did all the hearing.

The mouth said it should be the boss because it allowed the body to eat.

The tongue said it should be the boss because without it the body would not be able to talk or taste any of the food that it ate.

And so the debate continued with the hands, feet, fingers, toes, neck and all the other parts of the body arguing their case as to why they should be the boss. And the debate went on without any consensus until the arsehole butted in (pun intended) and argued that it should be the boss.

There was a moment of total silence before all the parts of the body rolled on the ground laughing uncontrollably. “You can’t be the boss,” they replied. “You are just an arsehole.”

This made the arsehole very angry and it clammed up and refused to open. Nothing could enter the body through the arsehole, not even a plastic device. More importantly, nothing could leave the body and after a week or so the brain became mushy and could no longer think. The eyes became watery and could no longer see. The ears became zingy and could no longer hear. The mouth, tongue, hands, feet, fingers, toes and whatnot all became weak and could no longer function properly.

By the tenth day the body was at the point of death and all the parts of the body relented and agreed that the arsehole should be the boss. The arsehole had clearly proven that it was the most superior part of the body.

From that day on the arsehole became the boss and ruled over the entire body. And this proves you do not have to be smart to become the boss. You just need to be an arsehole. And Malaysia is living testimony to this doctrine that only arseholes can become the boss.

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

One day, a woman went to her doctor to discuss a ‘problem’ she was facing.

“My husband loves anal sex,” she told the doctor.

“So?” the doctor asked.

“Well, is it safe?” asked the woman.

“Do you enjoy it?” asked the doctor.

With a blush on her face and not daring to look the doctor in the eye, she admitted that she does.

“Well, carry on then,” the doctor replied, “as long as you also enjoy it.”

“But can I become pregnant through anal sex?” asked the woman.

“Of course you can,” the doctor replied. “Where do you think politicians come from?”

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

“And what is the purpose of the two stories above?” you might ask.

Well, considering that the world is crumbling around us -- the Middle East is bringing the world to the brink of a Third World War with Israel’s attack on the Peace Flotilla, three Israeli submarines are now in the Persian Gulf and are aiming its nuclear missiles on Iran, the three PIGs (Portugal, Italy and Greece) are going bankrupt and may drag the entire world including Malaysia down with it, and much, much more -- yet the entire country is focused on just one issue, Saiful’s arsehole. So, today, I thought I might as well jump onto the bandwagon and also talk about arseholes. After all, I don’t want anyone to allege that Malaysia Today is not keeping up with the latest issue.

And below is a graphical presentation of what is the number one issue for Malaysia and which will decide the future of this country -- whether Anwar had or had not penetrated Saiful’s arsehole with his pecker.

Sad, very sad, when one arsehole decides the future of a country of 27 million people. I wonder, 100 years from now, when Malaysians look back on 2010, what the historians would be saying about this period of Malaysian history. India had its ‘Black Hole of Calcutta’ in June 1756 that changed the history of the Indian continent and planted the seed of the Indian nationalist movement. Are we going to see the ‘Black Hole of Saiful’ in June 2010 also change the course of Malaysian history?