Leaky sub is more impt than who leaked info!

It’s so fun/ny to watch politicians trying to spin the most incredulous stuff to distract and cover things up:

It is an act of sabotage. This was the reaction…

More ► More ▼

It’s so fun/ny to watch politicians trying to spin the most incredulous stuff to distract and cover things up:

It is an act of sabotage. This was the reaction of Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday to the leaked information that led to unfavourable press reports about the country’s first submarine, the KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
“The person or persons who leaked the information on the submarine’s defects may have intentionally done it to sabotage and undermine the competency of the country’s defence system,” he said, adding that he suspects the culprit or culprits could be involved in the maintenance work of the submarine.
He said leaking information pertaining to the defence system was “very serious” and accused those involved of being traitors.

Always trying to blame the messenger and ignore the message.
The submarine that cost Malaysia an arm and a leg doesn’t even dive.
The only real threat to national security this is is the amount of our money stolen by corrupt leaders in this corrupt deal.
Everything stinks about this submarine purchase – from Altantuya all the way to the French investigations.
Zahid should stop idiotically blaming ‘leaks’ of information, and concentrate more about the leaks in the damned sub itself.
(today the Selangor government tabled the Freedom of Information enactment, observe the difference)
Oh, and what’s this about ‘those involved in the maintenance work’?
Wouldn’t that be Razak Baginda’s Ombak Laut, Perimekar, etc?
Jawablah, Najib.

▲

Get rid of Chinese NGOs as well, says Perkasa boss

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa boss Ibrahim Ali today challenged the government to eliminate Chinese NGOs such as education group Dong Jiao Zhong if…

More ► More ▼

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Perkasa boss Ibrahim Ali today challenged the government to eliminate Chinese NGOs such as education group Dong Jiao Zhong if it feels that the Malay right-wing group which he leads should be eradicated.

He was responding to Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz who said yesterday that it was best to "get rid of" groups like Perkasa, which are stumbling blocks to the 1Malaysia agenda.

"When Nazri said Umno does not support Perkasa, fine, we accept it. But when he said it is best to get rid of Perkasa, that is uncalled for.

“Why not get rid of other ethnic-based NGOs like Dong (Jiao) Zhong and others?" Ibrahim told reporters at Parliament House.

Nazri had made the remark when he shot down the proposal by MCA vice-president Donald Lim to set up a Chinese version of Perkasa to counter Ibrahim's movement.

However, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin had a different take, saying that everyone was entitled to form their own Perkasa.

'Utterly shocking'

This drew flak from DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang, who described Muhyiddin's statement as “utterly shocking” and accused the number two of blatant disrespect for his boss.

"It is utterly shocking that a deputy prime minister of the Najib administration which advocated the 1Malaysia policy could envisage and even publicly propose the formation of Chinese, Indian, Iban and Kadazan Perkasa to counter the racist posturings and outpourings of Perkasa,” he said.

However, Ibrahim claimed that Chinese chauvinist groups are attempting to paint Perkasa as a racist outfit, a charge which he vehemently denies.

"DAP is trying hard to exploit this notion... where the distorted portrayal of a great organisation like Perkasa has given the wrong impression to the public

"DAP is trying to manipulate the issue by harping on the statement made by the deputy prime minister, as if he is supporting Perkasa...,” he added.

Ibrahim, who is also the independent MP for Pasir Mas, stressed that Perkasa's struggle is to uphold the Federal Constitution and Najib's 1Malaysia.

DAP, he said, is making a “rude and perverted” demand for racial equality.

▲

Indian awakes from a coma while family weer preparing for funeral

In India, a 27-year-old man awakens from a coma while his family were making preparations for his funeral. That the paper Uthaya Surian said .

Sivakumar had only months ago,…

More ► More ▼

In India, a 27-year-old man awakens from a coma while his family were making preparations for his funeral. That the paper Uthaya Surian said .

Sivakumar had only months ago, a brain trauma after an accident with his rickshaw. Without a doctor to consult, was the man to buy drugs. Shortly after he had taken, he fell into a deep coma.

Final hours beaten
So deep that his family thought the last hour of Sivakumar was beaten. That was the diagnosis of the doctor. Everything was therefore prepared for the funeral of the man.

Hand
The son of Sivakumar, however, saw the hand of his father's move. The doctor was called in. To everyone's relief, which could establish that the rickshaw driver was out of his coma.

▲

'No new Penan rape cases'

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has today denied that there are new rape cases involving Penan women, as revealed…

More ► More ▼

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: The Women, Family and Community Development Ministry has today denied that there are new rape cases involving Penan women, as revealed in a report by Penan Support Group (PSG) last week. Its deputy minister Heng Seai Kei said this was based on a dialogue conducted between minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and the village heads yesterday and also on police record.

PSG last week released a report “A Wider Context of Sexual Exploitation of Penan Women and Girls in Middle and Ulu Baram, Sarawak, Malaysia”, which was presented to Parliament.

The report revealed that there were at least seven new rape cases, which indicates the exploitation of the indigenous community was more widespread than was previously thought.

However, Heng said that no official complaints have been made on the alleged incidents.

“Although the report was released by the PSG, the village head has denied there were any new rape cases. The police, too, have not received any official complaints,” he added.

Despite all this, Heng said the ministry will not treat the matter lightly.

“We are still concerned... Protecting women and children is important. If it really happened, we must take steps to ensure it will not recur,” she said.

Government assistance

Heng, however, was displeased with the public and the opposition for “accusing” the government of doing nothing to tackle the issue.

“We are very disappointed because the prime minister (Najib Tun Razak) has announced that he will visit Baram. Shahrizat has also gone there yesterday to have a closer look at the situation,” she said.

Besides, she said the government has made every effort to help the victims.

“The ministry has gone there to teach them to defend themselves from sexual harassment... ”

“Also, the Home Ministry has registered the births of the children so that they can attend schools. We have also allocated a site for 12,000 Penan people to resettle,” she said.

▲

Tropical Storm Conson rolls across Philippines

Residents repair their damaged shantyhouses along the coastal road in Paranaque, outside Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday
(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Conson weakened further Wednesday, as it rolled westward over the…

More ► More ▼

Residents repair their damaged shantyhouses along the coastal road in Paranaque, outside Manila, Philippines, on Wednesday
(CNN) -- Tropical Storm Conson weakened further Wednesday, as it rolled westward over the Philippines, stranding more than 1,300 people across the archipelago.

The Philippine National Disaster Coordinating Council issued warnings about flash floods, landslides and big waves. But the storm's winds dropped to 93 kph with gusts up to 120 kph, down from top sustained winds of 111 kph when Conson made landfall on the northern Philippine island of Luzon, about 66 kilometers east of the capital, Manila, late Tuesday evening.

Conson is moving to the west at 8 mph (13 kph), as it moves away from the Philippines and into the South China Sea. Manila received just over 3 inches (7.6 cm) of rain; the heaviest rain totals are from Daet where 6.5 inches (16.5 cm) have fallen.

The storm is expected to move into southern China on Friday, but the Joint Typhoon Warning Center is predicting little or no intensification before landfall there. Heavy rain and flooding will be a concern for southern China.

The National Disaster Coordinating Council of the Philippines said it knew of 19 missing fishermen, but the weather and choppy seas precluded officials from mounting search and rescue operations. Emergency responders were on alert, the council said.

The storm, known locally as "Basyang," became the first typhoon of 2010 on Monday before losing some steam.

But Conson's rains are potent enough still to cause flooding. The eastern Philippine island of Samar already has received about 4 inches (10.2 cm) of rain, according to Brandon Miller, CNN International's senior meteorologist. The National Disaster Coordinating Council said portions of Quezon City and Manila had flooded, with water ranging from "gutter deep" to 8 inches deep.

There were also power outages reported in Albay, the state-run Philippines News Agency said. However, all major roads and bridges were passable as of late Tuesday, the National Disaster Coordinating Council said.

▲

The broken dreams of Felda’s new generation

Siti Roslina Ismail (right) beside her mother said that she cannot afford a house at Felda Keratong low-cost housing project. - Picture by Jack Ooi

ROMPIN, July 14 — Deep…

More ► More ▼

Siti Roslina Ismail (right) beside her mother said that she cannot afford a house at Felda Keratong low-cost housing project. - Picture by Jack Ooi

ROMPIN, July 14 — Deep in the Pahang countryside, abandoned low-cost housing litter the pastoral surroundings of Felda Keratong while its serenity is now punctuated by the litany of complaints from a new generation of settlers.
The sons and daughters of the original pioneers of Tun Abdul Razak’s landmark programme to open up rural Malaysia to ordinary planters as part of the country’s wealth distribution policies are now disillusioned, and many feel they can no longer depend on the government to protect their welfare.
The remote settlement of Felda Keratong is just 15km from Muadzam Shah which in turn is near the state’s royal town of Pekan, which also happens to be the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
These children of the original settlers are angry with the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) because they claim local officers are only interested in protecting their own and not the interests of the people.
Surina Osman told The Malaysian Insider that the term “Felda’s second generation” is insignificant because it does not afford them any privileges.
“Felda’s second generation is only in name because we do not get anything from it,” said the 32-year-old mother.
She said Felda families are being forced to leave the plantation because they cannot find any future and opportunities in the settlement.
“The youth are jobless and have nothing to do. They come with qualifications and cannot find any jobs. They refused to work in the plantation because the pay is too low. So you end up seeing youths in plantations getting addicted to drugs,” she said.
Najib had recently announced that the government would build low-cost housing projects which are tailored for the second generation of settler families or their children.

Abandoned houses at the low-cost housing project for second generation Felda families in Felda Keratong. - Picture by Jack Ooi

However many of the Felda families are still not able to find homes because they cannot afford it.
Siti Roslina Ismail said her application was rejected by Felda because the officers told her that her family did not meet the criteria.
“We went to their office but they refused to entertain us. They rejected us because we do not have any pay slips. How can they expect my husband to have pay slips when he does not have a real job. He is only a basic plantation worker,” she said.
The mother of five added that the officers would only accept applications if the applicants earned at least RM1,000 a month.
“My husband only makes RM500. Felda should share its profits with the workers. For 14 years, my husband has never received any increment. The only time he received a bonus, he received RM700 including the salary. How can they expect us to survive? We have to pay for our children’s education,” said the 34-year-old housewife.
Siti Roslina now rents her brother’s place with her mother.
“I am very disappointed because how are we supposed to find a home with only RM500? I have to think about my children’s future? If my husband dies then what will happen to us?” she asked.
Felda also currently offers loans from RM20,000 to RM40,000 for settlers to repair or acquire a new house.
However Siti Roslina pointed out that each family could only apply for a loan for one house.
“We have already used my mother’s loan to buy my brother’s house. That is why we are staying here,” she said.

Haspanizan Setapa is angry that houses at the low-housing project are being sold to outsiders. - Picture by Jack Ooi

Haspanizan Setapa said that she was still waiting for approval from Felda to get her own house. “They told us that all of the houses are sold out but you can see that there are many empty houses around here,” said the 32-year-old.
She also claimed that many of the houses are sold to outsiders.
“Some of them actually buy two to three houses. They sell to teachers, police officers but they are willing to leave us with no homes. They use their connection with high-ranking officers to get the houses. We are only asking for one. Most of them don’t even stay here but rent the houses out,” she said
She said that it would be cheaper if the authorities allowed the families to buy the property instead of allowing outsiders to rent it.
“Some of them charged from RM300 to RM500 per month for the houses. That is too much. I think it would be cheaper if we are allowed to buy the houses because we only have to pay RM250 per month but what can we do? They won’t listen to us,” she said.
There are 430 units in the project with each unit costing RM40,000. However only 40 per cent of the houses are occupied.
Her neighbour, Nor Asiah Abdul Aziz, added that many had given up reporting their problems to the authorities.
“Who are we? We are nobody. We have no money. They only listen to those with money,” she said.

Rozali Misnin disappointed with the lack of support from Felda. - Picture by Jack Ooi

Rozali Misnin said that he was angry because he had to take a bank loan to buy his house even though he was a second generation Felda settler. “I am not satisfied that I had to take a bank loan. I should have been able to take a loan from Felda because I am second generation member but I had to take loan with interest which in the end will cost me about RM70, 000. This is not fair,” he said.
He said that he felt helpless because Felda authorities were only looking to make a profit.
“I had to do everything by myself. Even though they provided us with lawyers but the lawyers are from Felda. So every time I complained, the lawyer will do nothing and charged for things which I did not need. The Felda officers even charged RM2 for housing application forms which are actually free,” said the 39-year-old school teacher
His cousin, Aminudin Ahmad, also stressed that Felda should create more job opportunities in the settlements.
“If the second generation had a choice, they do not want to leave the settlement. So Felda should provide more opportunities by opening factories in Felda. Currently, there is only one factory and they only employ only 40 people. Where they do expect the rest to find jobs?” he said.
He added that the disparity between Felda and the Felda families is great that it will not affect them if Felda becomes bankrupt.
“So if there is anything that happens in Felda, the children of settlers will not feel the impact because we still have to pay our loans to the banks,” he said.

▲

Tan: Umno 'tak boleh pakai'

By Patrick Lee and Jamilah Kamarudin - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT EXCLUSIVE PETALING JAYA: The son of Gerakan co-founder Tan Chee Koon , Tan Kee Kwong has spent much of…

More ► More ▼

By Patrick Lee and Jamilah Kamarudin - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT EXCLUSIVE PETALING JAYA: The son of Gerakan co-founder Tan Chee Koon , Tan Kee Kwong has spent much of his life as a doctor before joining politics through Gerakan in 1995.
He then went on to assume the role of Segambut MP for three terms before it was given to Gerakan member Ma Woei Chyi in the 2008 general election. Segambut now belongs to DAP's Lim Lip Eng.

Once land and cooperatives deputy minister (1999-2004), Tan also sat on the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), questioning allegations of government mismanagement during his tenure.

He then quit Gerakan in September 2008 to join PKR, and has since remained an outspoken critic of the Najib administration. Tan currently sits on the party's central leadership council, and has been known to call PKR a “party of the future”.

In the final piece of the two-part interview, Tan talks to FMT about his experience in the Gerakan party and his disillusionment with the ruling government.

FMT: How did you join Gerakan?

Tan: In 1994, I was working quietly as a general practioner and looking after my aged parents. I was also doing some social work at Pusat Bantuan Sentul. I was then headhunted by Alex Lee, Gerakan vice-president (at the time), and joined the party two months before the 1995 general election.

Segambut was a new area in 1995. So I was asked to be a candidate. At that time I was under the mistaken notion that BN was doing okay and Mahathir Mohamad was all right.

In 1995, I won with a majority of 12,500 (votes). In 1999, when Najib (Tun Razak) won in Pekan by 200 votes, I won by 8,500. At that time, the BN got a hammering because of the Sodomy I (case). And then in 2004, I won with a massive majority of 17,000.

Did you join Gerakan because your father was one of the co-founders of the party?

(I joined) because it has a multi-racial approach to politics, which I believe in strongly. And of course, Gerakan started as an opposition party.

Were you in politics before 1995?

No. Never. I never joined any other party before Gerakan. Although politically aware, I was never a card-carrying member of any party.

You were in Gerakan until 2008. Why did you leave Gerakan?
Well, there are two reasons. One, I cannot respect the current leadership of Gerakan. (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) Koh Tsu Koon is totally ineffective as a leader. Although he is in charge of KPI (Key Performance Indicators), he failed his own KPI in Penang.

You (Koh Tsu Koon) were a Chief Minister for four terms, but you contested and lost by a massive majority of 10,000. So if you failed your KPI, how can you be a minister of KPI? As politicians, our KPI is to win elections, (hence) my own KPI is very good.

And secondly, and more importantly, Umno 'tak boleh pakai'. We (other parties in the Barisan Nasional) try to talk until our saliva drips -- talk outside cannot, so talk inside (proper channels), (but) it's wasting our time! They (Umno) are just not interested. Honestly from the bottom of my heart, they are totally not interested.

They want to use the BN component parties (as) a rubber stamp (for) their cause. And now it is very clear that Umno has got only two 'perjuangan': to 'gasak' and 'sapu' as fast as possible, and play racial and religious politics.

So how can I support an entity like that?

You were in BN for 13 years, so during those years, you tried...

Many, many times. Not just myself. The MCA, MIC, PPP. (They all) tried; but it was no use. Bloody waste of time. And now Chua Soi Lek (asks for) equal voice. Please lah brother, they will never give you equal voice.

One example was (Gerakan's discussions on the) ISA. Many years ago, Gerakan made a lot of noise about the ISA. We debated about this, until the order came from Umno to (former Gerakan president) Dr Lim Keng Yaik to tell him to shut up.

Why be a politician when you cannot say anything? Only Umno can say, (but) you cannot say.

So you're saying Umno 'tak boleh pakai?'
They are irrelevant to today's needs (and) everything. The prime minister himself doesn't even follow the guidelines. He openly tried to bribe the people in the Hulu Selangor and Sibu (by-elections), and he dares to say that he is taking care of the poor and the needy! I don't know how he's got a face to do that!

More like rape the poor and the needy. (Former finance minister) Daim (Zainuddin) said the other day, “Oh, we must have a corruption-free government (and) no hanky-panky.” He should be the last person qualified to talk like that! They think we were born yesterday, that we are only two years old!

(In comparison) yesteryear's leaders (were) different. When my father was in the Opposition, he started a hospital called Sentosa Medical Centre. In 1972, (former prime minister) Tun Abdul Razak came and opened it. This is what politics is about: about changing your thoughts and your mindset. Nothing personal (involved). Nowadays, if they don't stab you in the back, you're lucky already.

Last time, the Seenivasagam brothers used to argue with Tunku (Abdul Rahman) like mad in Parliament, but later, they (were seen) eating and drinking tea together. What is happening now?

And Umno has strayed far, far away from its original struggle.

What do think was its original struggle?

It was to fight for the poor and the needy. They championed the cause of the teachers, the fishermen, paddy planters, and so on. Umno was a very poor party. Now (if) you go and look at its AGM, look at the type of cars they are driving. Now, their struggles are all about finding contracts.

▲

Rocket trouble: DAP wants to meet Hisham

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - Free Malaysia Today

FMT ALERT KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has decided to take the diplomatic route by seeking an appointment with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein before…

More ► More ▼

By Syed Jaymal Zahiid - Free Malaysia Today

FMT ALERT KUALA LUMPUR: DAP has decided to take the diplomatic route by seeking an appointment with Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein before reacting to the show-cause letters issued to its organ, The Rocket.

Party national publicity secretary Tony Pua said DAP's all-powerful Central Executive Committee (CEC) will meet next week to discuss the matter.

Yesterday, the Home Ministry issued the two show-cause lettters for the party organ's Chinese and English editions, demanding an explanation within seven days as to why publication of the two versions was continuing despite their permits having expired.

The trilingual Rocket, which also has a Malay edition, could be suspended like PKR's Suara Keadilan if the ministry rejects its explanation.

Suara Keadilan was suspended over an article claiming that the Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) had gone bankrupt. The ministry claimed that the report was false.

▲

Conman bilking millions from double-tracking rail project

By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Well-dressed and speaking fluent Queen's English, a local man claiming to have connections with high-profile figures in India, has allegedly…

More ► More ▼

By Teoh El Sen - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Well-dressed and speaking fluent Queen's English, a local man claiming to have connections with high-profile figures in India, has allegedly conned more than 40 local companies with offers of contracts in large-scale government projects.

The man, a 56-year-old known only as 'Baladevan', has allegedly raked in over RM5 million from his victims in a span of 10 years.

One of the projects he 'sold' to these companies was an offer to be sub-contractors in the Seremban-Gemas double-tracking project in Negeri Sembilan.

Baladevan claimed close relationship with high-profile figures from India's Ministry of Railways, Railway Board and the main contractor Ircon International Limited.

The matter was brought to the attention of FMT by Consumers Association of Subang and Shah Alam (Cassa) president Jacob George.

Jacob initiated an extensive investigation into the man after two companies for which he had acted as legal advisor, fell victim to the scam.

He said the man's modus operandi was to approach companies and individuals proposing deals to be sub-contractors for the project.

He would claim to have ties with the 'powers that be' and that he was appointed as the official middleman by them.

Baladevan would then show them 'official documents' including 'a letter of award' between the Malaysian and Indian governments to prove that he was legitimate.

To further convince his victims, he even provided the full detailed designs, specifications, and prices of the said projects, always shown on a laptop he carries.

His victims would then pay a fee, said to be around RM300,000 to RM400,000, to lobby for the contract. They would later realise they had been dupped after the suspect had disappeared.

Jacob added that the man used a RM2 company called Zen bridge Sdn Bhd in several of his dubious transactions.

"Baladevan could not have acted alone without assistance from individuals in Delhi and Chennai. The documents all looked legitimate.

"The government of India must do its part to ascertain that they conduct exhaustive investigations, leaving no stones unturned," said Jacob.

Jacob said Baladevan had claimed that he was a relative of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi through marriage; claiming his nephew, a Singaporean by the name of G Aravindran was married to the CM's daughter, Kanimozhi.

"He also tells people his brother had worked as a 'special officer' to a former Works Minister S Samy Vellu. He was believable partly due to his age and the names he throws around and the people he has been seen with, " said Jacob.

Indian government must come clean
Jacob urged the Indian government and the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia to investigate the following:

• Who gave Baladevan the confidential letter of award for the Seremban-Gemas double track project between Malaysia and India?
• How did he get access to the total designs, specifications, drawings, pricing of the entire Seremban-Gemas project he showed to contractors to convince them?
• Who gave him two letters to Malaysian companies claimed to be from India's Ministry of Railway's Railway Board?
• An individual by the name of AP Misra was repeatedly named by Baladevan. What is AP Misra's role in all these allegations? Is he a victim or a player?

Jacob said he had notified Indian government officials, but to date, has not gotten any satisfactory reply in black-and-white, except a denial of any knowledge of the conman.
Jacob claimed Baladevan paid hundreds of thousands of ringgit to the said policymakers (ministers of rail and members of the railway board) to facilitate these approvals which included expensive branded watches, pens, jewellery and suits.

"I had personally visited New Delhi on three occasions and met the minister, senior railway ministry officials, the managing director and his top management team at Ircon International. It's for the government to explain officially whether it is forgery or not," said Jacob.

Jacob said Cassa received numerous complaints on the issue and urged those who have been cheated by this man to lodge police reports and to contact them at their hotline 016-3261700, promising confidentiality for informants.

"A third party has also come forward to offer a reward of RM5,000 to anyone who could provde information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of Baladevan who has financially ruined the lives of more than 27 individuals," he added.

On Jan 7, 2008, the Malaysian government announced that Indian company, Ircon International Limited (a subsidiary of Indian Railway), won the RM3.45billion contract to build the Seremban-Gemas Electrification and Double Tracking railway system.

The 100km railway project is scheduled to be completed by 2012.

▲

State govt has 'no business' on Orang Asli land

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LANGAT: Just when it appeared to have died down, the illegal sand mining fisaco in Selangor has reared its head once…

More ► More ▼

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LANGAT: Just when it appeared to have died down, the illegal sand mining fisaco in Selangor has reared its head once again.
Selangor opposition chief Mohd Khir Toyo claimed that RM220 million ringgit worth of sand has been excavated illegally in Kampung Bukit Changgang in Dengkil.
Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim has rubbished these allegations and said the mining area is not in Bukit Changgang as reported by the dailies but in Kampung Olak Lempit in Kuala Langat.

He added that the permit was issued by the Kuala Langat district office in January this year to state-owned Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (KSSB).

While it seems that its Khalid and Khir who have locked horns over the matter, the real war is being waged by the Orang Asli community there against the state government.

Kampung Olak Lempit falls under the vicinity of Mukim Tanjung 12 which has been gazetted as Orang Asli land by the Federation of Malay States in 1927. As far as the Orang Asli are concerned, the state government has no right to conduct any business there.

“This land is not state sanctioned,” Dewi Malam said angrily. “It belongs to the Orang Asli so we don't care whether KSSB has a permit or not. It shouldn't even be here in the first place. If anyone is mining here, it should be us!”

60-year-old Dewi is a respresentative of the Tok Batin in Kampung Pulau Kempas, one of the seven villages in Mukim Tanjung 12. He is also one of the many Orang Asli who are livid with the state government for encroaching on their land.

“By stealing our sand and land, they are also stealing our source of income,” he raged. “How can the government issue an open tender on a piece of land that doesn't even belong to them in the first place and then not include its rightful owners in the tendering process.”
Deal reneged
According to a source familiar with the sand mining on-goings there, the Orang Asli are also furious at KSSB for breaking a joint venture deal with them.

“KSSB and the Orang Asli were in talks to form a joint venture to carry out sand mining in the area,” he explained. “It would have been a good source of income which they would have used to raise their standard of living.”

“But when KSSB received the permit, it hired its own contractors and completely cut out the Orang Asli from the business. Then KSSB put their 'bodyguards' in place to keep the Orang Asli away from its mines.”

He also said that KSSB soon realised that the sand on its legitimate site wasn't enough to sustain long-term operations and proceeded to expand its operations to plots around it. This further angered the Orang Asli further who tried to reclaim their land but to no avail.

“The state government is fully aware that of the land's gazetted status,” he claimed. “The Orang Asli have written a letter to Khalid, complete with the documentation to prove that the land belongs to them.”

He further alleged that Khalid had forwarded this letter to Selangor executive councillor Yaakop Sapari for further action but none was taken.

Yaakop, who is the exco for agrivulture modernisation, natural resources management and entrepreneurial development, yesterday demanded an apology from four dailies for carrying 'slanderous reports' on sand mining activities in Dengkil.

To the Orang Asli, however, the only slanderous reports are those that justify the sand mining activities there.

“The real question shouldn't be whether the sand mining here is legal or not,” Dewi pointed out. “It should be why the state government is getting away with using gazetted Orang Asli land to fill its own pockets.”

▲

JPA scholarships: What will it be?

By Ding Jo-Ann | The Nut Graph,

 
14 June 2010: Insufficient funds to provide overseas scholarships

“We have to tell the truth. We just cannot afford it. Just like…

More ► More ▼

By Ding Jo-Ann | The Nut Graph,

 
14 June 2010: Insufficient funds to provide overseas scholarships

“We have to tell the truth. We just cannot afford it. Just like how a parent cannot afford to send their children abroad to further their studies, the government cannot afford it. We do not have the financial capacity that permits us to send every good student abroad.”
“Secondly, it is this: however we do it, whether we reclassify the As that the students get to A+, A [or] A-, the fact remains that in this year alone, the number of students who obtained 9A+ were over 1,200.”

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, explaining the government’s decision to phase out most of the 1,500 Public Service Department (JPA) scholarships for undergraduate studies overseas from 2011 onwards.  Nazri said the cabinet had decided that JPA scholarships for overseas studies would only go to postgraduate students.
Nazri said this policy would also help to retain good students in local universities and keep their talent locally. (Source: Nazri: Putrajaya has no funds for bright students, The Malaysian Insider, 14 June 2010)

6 July 2010: Overseas scholarships for critical fields

“This is because manpower in these fields is much required by the public service sector and the country.”

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, explaining that JPA scholarships to study locally and abroad would still be given out to students with excellent Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) 2009 results.
He said the scholarships were for critical fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, veterinary, engineering, science and technology, and social sciences. (Source: Government continues to offer JPA scholarships, Malaysiakini, 6 July 2010)

10 July 2010: All students with 9A+ will get scholarships to study locally and abroad

“We have achieved one thing that we have never done in history. Every student who scores 9A+, irrespective of his or her ethnic background, will get a scholarship from the department. It doesn’t matter if they are Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban or others. If they score 9A+, they will get the scholarship whether for local or overseas studies. This is to show that 1Malaysia is not just a slogan.”

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, announcing that all students who scored 9A+ in their SPM exams would be given a JPA scholarship, whether for local or overseas studies. (Source: All top scorers to get JPA grants, The Star, 11 July 2010)

“The prime minister’s statement is a happy one for all sides.”

Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, on the announcement to grant all 9A+ students JPA scholarships. He said it would not be a problem to source for additional funding.  (Source: Go for PSD scholarships, The Star, 12 July 2010)

▲

'Ketuanan Melayu' enslaving the community

COMMENT (Malaysiakini) A lot of things have developed recently centring on the formulation and implementation of grandiose public policies under the Ketuanan Melayu leadership.

Public opinion and perception however say…

More ► More ▼

COMMENT (Malaysiakini) A lot of things have developed recently centring on the formulation and implementation of grandiose public policies under the Ketuanan Melayu leadership.

Public opinion and perception however say most of them have proven ill-conceived, poorly implemented or constructed, causing colossal wastage of life, money and other resources, and hardly ever comprehensively and professionally managed.

Many of them are even crooked and sinful in nature. Just look at the Maminco debacle, the forex fiasco in the 80s, the recent PKFZ controversy, faulty submarines, lost air force jet engines, abuse of public institutions, broken public institutions, and very recently the falling roof of a stadium in Terengganu and revelations of possible hanky panky with the construction figures of the new Agong's palace and with the Felda accounts.

It's the devil's free for all out there. When was the last time we got up in the morning, turned on the alternative communication media, read the latest exposure of government indiscretions and misconduct and not had our hair stand on end?

I am presenting this article hoping to understand the issue so as to enable us, the poor Malaysian citizenry, withstand the effects of failed Ketuanan Melayu policies. If we are to be run down by a bus, at least we should know what make it is.

Welcome to the C-string and the D list of Ketuanan Melayu thinking.

C for Contention

The C stands for 'Contentions' (or assumptions):

The basic assumption is that human thinking is divisible into two - the natural and the rational. There are several features of the natural norm:

i) It accepts all wisdom inherited from the elders, and that these are accepted without any criticism, doubt, or scepticism. Just look at the way the Malay accepts his culture and tradition, and even his religion to illustrate this point.

ii) Any inherited wisdom is considered the truth and the whole truth. It can never be wrong. Again take note of the Malay contention that the Malay race is the best, and Islam is the only one religion for mankind. His favourite ideology 'untuk agama, bangsa dan negara' says it all.

iii) It has no facility or avenue to realise its own mistakes. The Malay mind is not privy to alternatives so he is never wrong. So to follow his inherited wisdom as outlined in the illustrations on tradition, culture, and religion above is the right thing to do.

iv) It has no facility to solve its own mistakes on its own volition.

To illustrate the viability and credibility of these assumptions we might just look at this new institution called Perkasa under the leadership of Ibrahim Ali. We try to analyse the thinking underlying this institution's creation.

The objective mind can detect at least some of these assumptions, indicating the high probability that the Malay thinking norm belongs to this category.

The second is the rational or scientific norm, where all wisdom received from the past are first given evaluation, analysis, scepticism and doubt; where truth is based on observation, experimentation, deduction and induction. Nothing is accepted as the truth until it is proven beyond doubt that this is so.

Stringing the Cs

These four Contentions would produce the ensuing string of Cs:

i) Conformity:

The Malay accords high value to group (or Malay) interest, identity, influence and solidarity. Everything is done not in his name but in the name and interest of the family, and of course of the Malay race, the religion of Islam and (only) lastly, the country. The spirit of the individual in him is not fully developed. He pays scant regard to his individual interest.

ii) Conservatism:

The Malay penchant for conformity renders him supporting the status quo, to be conservative. Again his penchant to preserve and protect Malay tradition, language, and culture as an example of this feature.

iii) Comparison, lack of:

Malay thinking is unilateral ('Malay is the best race'), judgmental ('My ustaz is the best imam around') and the tendency for syllogism ('Najib is our present PM. Our past PMs have been good. Therefore Najib is the best PM we ever had'). It has tendency for hyperbolism, but not privy to alternatives.

iv) Control by a central authority:

The individual is under control of his parents in the family and by his ethnic society.

• The Malay polity is controlled by an autocratic body, in the form of a king or a strong personality.

• For religion, control has always been in the hands of a central body namely the priestly or ulama class.

• In a democracy, authority ought to be in the hands of the people, but this has been hijacked possibly by the elected governing body done by imitating the religious control exercised by the ulama. The government would almost automatically assume a superior role over the population.

Now, there is nothing silly or stupid about all these principles. Any and every culture would have undergone them at some point or other.

The moot point is they reflect the thinking norms of simpler days gone by and still found in simpler societies of today. But the world has become very complex and change comes quickly, so much so that they say you have to run in order to stay still.

Today humankind has a fairly firm understanding of nature and is able to control it. We live in a technical and scientific world buzzing with amazing technology.

This buzzing 'new world' is featured by change which unfortunately the conservative and conformist mind is not privy to.

v) Change:

There are two issues here. Change is an elusive concept and takes place only in the mind.

More importantly it takes place only if you are aware of it taking place. If there is no awareness, there is no change, only evolution.

My contention is that the mainstream Malay mind has not got sufficient awareness that change is taking place. His natural thinking has not developed to scientific thinking. So here comes the following Cs:

i) Conflict.

When heat meets with cold, when plus meets with minus, when black meets with white then sparks are created. There are very many plusses colliding with minuses in Malay life. The changing demands of an urban life with that of his pastoral past is a immediate example.

ii) Corrosion.

Malay beliefs and values are corroded. For example, the case of culture again. The 'old' Malay wants his traditions to be preserved, but modern life is eroding it at an alarming rate.

iii) Contradiction.

Vast amounts of contradiction are produced.

iv) Consistency, or lack of:

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership has been labelled by an irate public as flip-flopping, showing wobbly and inconsistent thinking. Remember when he cancelled an international inter-faith meeting to be held in Kuala Lumpur? The cancellation was so last minute participants including the Archbishop of Canterbury had to cancel their travel plans.

v) Criticise and condemn:

All new knowledge especially those that do not fall within the ambit of Malay perception of truth are criticised and condemned (and eventually rejected). The non-Malay segment of the citizenry are marginalised and termed 'pendatang' (immigrants), prostitutes and beggars. Political opponents are harassed and intimidated.

vi) Coercion:

This is where Malay polity believes very strongly that his views are right. He uses the central authority 'bestowed' on him to subdue the people.

These situations arise:

The individual is coerced to be loyal and show respect his elders, race and religion as a matter of sacred duty. The Malay mind is not privy to the modern day wisdom that loyalty and respect must be earned.

Society is coerced to adhere strictly to religious tenets and principles. The Islamic religion is full of dogmas to ensure this in any case.

The people are compelled to be loyal to the Ketuanan Melayu leadership and government of the day.

Those who do not conform are intimidated, penalised and punished. This is very easily done with the very long list of laws like the ISA, OSA, PPPA, and the Sedition Act.

vii) Corruption:

When the people are suitably intimidated, coerced into subservience and submission then the axiom that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely comes to full fruition (no illustration needed here).

We are fairly done with the C-string of the Malay mind. Feel free to add more, for there can be many more not yet touched upon.

D for Denial

Now for the D standing for 'Deny' or 'Denial'.

To the Malay mind, any and all that does not come within its known parameters are suspect. The Ketuanan Melayu will hardly ever voluntarily admit to any short-coming, mistake, misgiving, or mismanagement.

Instead it thinks nothing of cheating, lying, hiding of facts, projecting half-truths, or cover-ups. When Khairy Jamaludin sarcastically called Ibrahim Ali (right) a 'jaguh kampung' or village champion, a deragotary remark, Ibrahim Ali turned it around by claiming it as a huge compliment!

This is a clear example that the Ketuanan Melayu institution and leadership is all about, firstly, its political and social survival following the axiom that politics is the art of the impossible; and secondly, not having to say sorry.

The features, purpose and method of denial are many, some of which are:

• Protecting the status quo.

• Not acknowledging the existence of established facts despite obvious evidence, like disputing the happening of the Holocaust.

• Conflict and contradiction are deemed to be the work of the devil or enemies of Islam.

• All myths and perceptions are constantly nurtured by constant repetition via the government controlled mass media.

• By constant indoctrination.

• By discrediting the messenger.

• By making the work of civic societies difficult. This is to deny all and sundry from volunteering information or feedback. Just ask the Sisters in Islam for proof. The notion that no Muslim or non-Muslim may even analyse and criticise any tenets of Islam is another illustration.

Pygmalion effect

My rationale for listing this C-string and the D list is quite simple.

There is this item in human psychology known as the Pygmalion effect. Simply stated it means that a person will behave in the manner he is treated by another.

An illustration would be a teacher saying to his students that they are stupid and will not pass their exams. The students will somehow become stupid with many failing their exams.

Now the Ketuanan Melayu has been spoon-feeding the Malay, strengthening his crutches, giving accolades to his 'Third World' mentality.

Furthermore, it drums into the Malay mind that he is weak, needs help now and forever and is dependent on the government for his survival. Without this concerted help the Malay will not survive, it says again and again and again. It is creating the Pygmalion effect.

Because of this the Malay mind will be more deeply embedded in the changeless paradigm box of confusion, conformity, conservatism, contradiction, conflict, and always denying his shortcomings. The Ketuanan Melayu is also denying new ideas from rescuing the Malay from the box of the changeless status quo.

In this situation his leaders are busy involving themselves with the most rotten C of all - corruption.

Now I propose to name the make of the bus that is flattening the Malaysian polity. I wish to call it the 'Ketuanan Melayu Pygmalion'.

AB SULAIMAN is an observer of human traits and foibles, especially within the context of religion and culture. As a liberal, he marvels at the way orthodoxy fights to maintain its credibility in a devilishly fast-changing world. He hopes to provide some understanding to the issues at hand and wherever possible, suggest some solutions. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (Leicester, UK) and a Diploma in Public Administration, Universiti Malaya.

▲

French deputies pass face veil ban

Michele Alliot-Marie, the justice minister, said that life in France is 'carried out with a bare face' [AFP] France's lower house of parliament has voted to ban the wearing of face-covering…

More ► More ▼

Michele Alliot-Marie, the justice minister, said that life in France is 'carried out with a bare face' [AFP] France's lower house of parliament has voted to ban the wearing of face-covering veils in public places by 336 votes to one in the 557-seat assembly. The bill, which has received overwhelming support in opinion polls, must now be ratified by the senate in September to become law. The opposition Socialist party, who originally wanted the ban limited only to public buildings, boycotted Tuesday's vote. France's highest administrative body warned in March that the bill could be found to be unconstitutional and therefore thrown out. Estelle Youssouffa, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Paris, said: "The Council of the State warned the government that the French law and the EU law could find this bill unconstitutional, as it violates human rights and religious freedom." 'Bare face' The bill makes it illegal to cover the face anywhere in public and those caught wearing a full veil would face fines of $190 or be ordered to enrol in a "citizenship course".

Men who force their wives or daughters to wear the full veil face a fine of up to $37,754 and a one-year jail term, according to the draft legislation.

Nicolas Sarkozy, the French president, said earlier this year that the full veil "hurts the dignity of women and is not acceptable in French society".

Life in France is "carried out with a bare face", Michele Alliot-Marie, the justice minister, said last week as she opened the debate in the National Assembly.

Face-covering veils "call into question the idea of integration, which is founded on the acceptance of the values of our society", Alliot-Marie said.

Muslim fears

The main body representing French Muslims says face-covering veils are not required by Islam and not suitable in France, but it worries that the law will stigmatise Muslims in general.

The veil is widely seen in France as a sign of extremism and an attack on women's rights and secularism, a central value of modern-day France.

Critics say the ban is a ploy to attract far-right voters.

Our correspondent said the Muslim community in France is uncomfortable with the bill and feels it is stigmatising the whole community.

"French Muslims say less than only 2,000 women use the veil and are seen as ultra-orthodox minority and do not represent the whole community," she said.

In April, politicians in Belgium's lower house voted almost unanimously to ban the wearing of face veils in public places.

▲

Polis Raja Di Malay-sia. Will Prabakar get justice in Malay-sian courts?

There is almost zero history of criminal policemen appropriately sent to jail.
Prabakar today told us that he was beaten up at the Brickfields police station on his head, sole…

More ► More ▼

There is almost zero history of criminal policemen appropriately sent to jail.
Prabakar today told us that he was beaten up at the Brickfields police station on his head, sole of feet and body and boiling hot water poured over them for six and a half hours from 10.00 p.m on 23/12/08 to 4.30 p.m on 24/12/08 by eleven policemen. Seven of these eleven Malay policemen actively beat up Prabakar and Solomon with his hands cuffed and legs tied up to an office chair and a hose pipe used to beat up the sole of his feet.
And all seven policemen took turns to pour boiling hot water on Prabakar and Solomon. Their bodies became swollen with hot water boils sprouting out.
Seeing all this Chief Inspector Shahar did not immediately order the arrest of the seven policemen and had allowed the police above the law mindset to prevail. The victims were never ordered to be sent to hospital.
In court the next day another Malay policeman told Prabakar that if he complained to the magistret he would be beaten up some more or be killed when brought back to the police station. This policeman has got away scot free for this death threat and aiding and abetting this crime of attempted murder, which is supposed to be an aggravating factor.
But these seven policemen were merely prosecuted for a light offence under Section 330 of the Penal Code (voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession) by the pro UMNO Attorney General Gani Patail.
Even with these very serious injuries the victims were hand cuffed in all their six days of unlawful detention.
The Brickfields OCPD, KL CPO, Federal CID, Director or even the IGP had refused to order the police to take photographs of the injuries in their usual Polis Raja Di Malaysia fashion of Police Cover Up.
Prabakar was a car park attendant merely doing his job when he and Solomon were arrested.
Solomon has since been caused to be “disappeared” and the police are accountable for his disappearance. But under the Polis Raja di Malaysia policy, zero action would be taken against the criminal policemen.
Will Prabakar get justice in the Malay-sian courts as almost zero police criminals have been appropriately punished for their crimes.
The trial yesterday 12/7/10 finally took off for the first day of it’s hearing after about five previous postponements. Waiting for the heat to die down?
P. Uthayakumar

▲

Pakatan needs 20pc swing to capture Sarawak

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — A five per cent voter swing in Election 2008 saw Pakatan Rakyat (PR) take charge of five state governments in peninsular Malaysia, but the Barisan…

More ► More ▼

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — A five per cent voter swing in Election 2008 saw Pakatan Rakyat (PR) take charge of five state governments in peninsular Malaysia, but the Barisan Nasional’s (BN) rivals in Sarawak will need four times that to unseat the ruling front.

Political analyst Faizal Hazis said today that PR’s dream of taking over Putrajaya by capturing Sarawak in the coming state polls, widely expected to be held soon, is “ridiculous”.

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud has been ruling the state under the BN banner for the past 29 years.

The Opposition bloc in Malaysia’s largest state only has eight out of 71 seats in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly.

The DAP holds the lion’s share with six seats, with one seat each belonging to PKR and Sarawak National Party (Snap).

“To change the state government, it will need at least a 20 per cent voter swing...which equals 36 seats,” the Universiti Sarawak (Unimas) department head of political and international relations told reporters here today.

The lecturer recently teamed up with the independent Merdeka Center to present an analysis of voting behaviour in Sarawak.

In his paper titled “Between Continuity and Change”, Faisal noted there were 12 “marginal seats” or those that showed a greater likelihood of falling to PR.

With the eight already in PR’s hands, the new total would “still not be enough to deny the ruling party a two-thirds majority’ in the state legislative assembly, he said.

While Sarawak’s politics is not racially-driven, Faisal said the electorate had generally voted along party lines.

The voters, especially the Bumiputera, want a party that can fulfil their development needs.

“Generally, this means Barisan Nasional,” he said, adding that the ruling front’s traditional strategy of dishing out development projects will likely remain an effective tool in ensuring it wins substantial votes.

Certain short-term factors could still tip the scales in PR’s favour, Faisal said, pointing to the Bersih and Hindraf rallies in West Malaysia and more recently, the DAP’s “Allah” campaign in the Sibu by-election two months ago as examples.

But it may not be enough, as voters in Sarawak still look at the candidate’s credentials in elections.

A recent public opinion survey by the Merdeka Center showed 64 per cent of the electorate firmly backing the BN, because they believed the ruling coalition was capable of delivering reforms.

But both Faisal and the Merdeka Center admitted the survey was not definitive.

“The poll did not ask Sarawakians whether they wanted Taib Mahmud to be CM though,” Faisal quipped.

▲

Tan's challenge to Najib's Felda

By Patrick Lee and Jamilah Kamarudin - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT EXCLUSIVE PETALING JAYA: PKR supreme council member Tan Kee Kwong was recently thrust into the political spotlight after posting…

More ► More ▼

By Patrick Lee and Jamilah Kamarudin - Free Malaysia Today,

FMT EXCLUSIVE PETALING JAYA: PKR supreme council member Tan Kee Kwong was recently thrust into the political spotlight after posting an open letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak in early June.
In his letter, the former deputy minister of land and cooperatives accused Najib and the government of mismanaging Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) funds.

The former Segambut MP and WP Gerakan chief alleged that Felda's cash reserves had dropped by more than RM4 billion to about RM200 million this year.

Tan also questioned the need for the government-linked company to invest RM660 million in a “five-star” office building.

Government reaction to the allegation was both swift and heavy-handed. Former Felda liaison director and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Ahmad Maslan, announced that Felda was going to sue Suara Keadilan and several PKR party leaders, including Tan, for RM200 million.

Several hours later, the party organ was summoned to the Home Ministry in Putrajaya. But the meeting was to no avail, as Suara Keadilan found its printing licence suspended.

However, no PKR party leader to date has received a letter from Felda. In a two-part interview, Tan talks to FMT about his grievances with the Najib administration.

FMT: Tell us about your time as deputy minister of land and cooperatives.
Tan: In 1999, I was given the task of answering questions about Felda. That's why I know so much about Felda. I was the only one in the administration who answered questions. We also looked after strata titles as well.

You said you're the only one who answered questions about Felda?

Yes, my minister gave me the sole responsibility.

Who was your minister at the time?

Kasitah Gaddam.

What was happening to Felda during your time as deputy minister?

Actually, Felda was a shining example of giving land to the landless. It was a scheme where they built a house, planted rubber trees and oil palm for them... 10-acre lots. And slowly over the years, they paid back. That's fine. Very, very successful.

Until about 1993, with the original settlers getting old, they (Felda) realised they cannot work on the ladang kecil anymore. So they changed their plan, and any new land opened after 1993 became Felda plantations, what they call Felda corporate.

So what did you notice?

At that time, Felda was a very fine organisation. Its chairman for many years was Raja Muhammad Alias. So we just left it alone, and it was fine.

So you just let it go on, because it obviously gave returns.

Well, you know the figures. In 2001, the assets of Felda were RM7 billion. Cash in the bank, RM4.5 billion. Loans, zero. Not one sen. How can an entity with this type of balance sheet go so wrong?

And how is it that with the record price of oil palm recently, other companies such as IOI are recording profits while Felda's cash reserves are going down? It doesn't make sense! You don't need to be an oil palm expert. What happened to the reserves?

So you think the cash reserves should be going up.

Of course! Definitely! My advice to Najib and gang is: stick to your core business. You don't need Felda Global Ventures and all that rubbish. How can you justify your six-star building? How is it going to help the settlers? Felda is about the settlers, not for making money!

Najib said that the cash reserves went down, but the assets went up.
Assets, what are the assets? Don't forget: if tomorrow India doesn't want to buy your palm oil, you've got no cash flow. How are you going to run the company? And also loans from EPF. Felda is so big, why does it need loans from anybody?

Felda borrowed money from EPF?

Yes. Felda Global Ventures (borrowed money)... Felda Glocal, as they say. You just stick to oil palm, day and night it will make profit for you. Why on earth do you need to go Felda Global?

How do you justify the RM500 million spent in Boston and Cincinnati? Tell us! What is Twin Rivers Technology?

But from an outsider's point of view, it would appear Felda is doing very well...

Was! Was doing very well, until Najib took upon himself to run Felda (in 2004), (when he was) a very busy deputy prime minister, and was also minister of defence at the time; why did he want to jaga Felda? Has he got nothing to do? Why?

But you also know a few weeks ago, some Felda settlers came over to Suara Keadilan office, and burnt some Suara Keadilan newspapers, condemning it. Do you think some settlers do not agree with what you are saying?

There are 113,000 Felda settlers. Surely you don't expect all of them to agree with you. In any organisation, there is no way everybody is going to agree with you.

But we are asking some basic questions here. Tell us the rationale of not building on your own land, where the land cost is zero. Not so far away from KLCC, you plan on building a six-star office on the land that is the most expensive in the country.
How is the building going to help the settlers? Felda has never been five or six-star. Never! Why suddenly the change in direction?

(I also want to ask) what is the special relationship between Najib and Naza TTDI? How come Naza got the job of building Matrade? Matrade should have gone for an international tender.

If you compare Naza to the big-time developers in the country, such as Ho Hup, Gamuda, and all the others, Naza is a recent entry, isn't it? They're experts in cars, what do they have to do with buildings?

You've met a lot of Felda settlers. What have they told you?

Obviously they're not very happy. Many of them are taking action. They are short-changed. A group of settlers are going to court in Negri Sembilan, while one in Kelantan went to court and won.

Some of them have called me about the RM2 billion for the replanting fund. They are asking, is our money still intact or not!? The hundreds of millions that have been deducted, is there any money left? Is the replanting fund which belongs to the settlers all directed to Felda Global Ventures?

Do you find it funny that Felda hasn't published an annual report since 2007?

Felda is supposed to be a government-linked company (GLC). As a GLC, it belongs to the people, like Petronas. Petronas also doesn't publish their accounts, so it's left for us to grope (in the dark). Those who want to know real information, can't. Why?

You don't have a proper report. You don't let us look at your accounts. All secret. Why?

You've known about all this for a long time.

No. I minded my own business until two months ago, when somebody came up to me and told me that only RM200 million was left in the cash reserves!

Was this man a settler?

That one I cannot tell. Obviously he was someone in the know.

But Husam Musa (PAS vice-president) also said that Felda lost about RM8 billion, a number far more than your own. What are your comments on that?

Government, please come out with all the figures for the past 10 years. What happened before Najib, and what happened after Najib? Give us the details. What about the RM600 million for the cattle farm?

About Ahmad Maslan (Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department) and the debate.

Yes, Mazlan Aliman (president of National Association of Felda Settlers' Children) challenged Ahmad to an open debate. Ahmad said, “No problem, just name the date.” Then he backed off. Why? Have a debate at Angkasapuri on all the channels, no problem!

Mazlan knows everything because he was brought up in a Felda scheme since he was two years old! So come and debate lah! If you are so smart in all the figures and everything, you should be able to tear up Mazlan to bits! Why you dare not?

Do you know why they (the government) are very upset? It is very obvious. About 45 parliamentary seats are in the settlements. Prime Minister, Felda settlers are waking up. Your fixed deposit is not so fixed.

Can you tell us what was the difference between Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) and Najib when it comes to Felda?

The politicians never campur tangan in Felda up to 2004. Never!

Not even Mahathir?

No! Because Raja Alias would not allow anyone to interfere with Felda.

So Mahathir wasn't interested in Felda?

Not to say not interested. He didn't steal from Felda. He just let Felda run on its own, like a car would run on its own. So if it's running on its own, why do you want to jaga Felda?

▲

Death of PTD officer: Umno-linked company off the hook?

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Izzah Anwar today questioned the government’s decision not to charge the company responsible for training diplomatic and administrative…

More ► More ▼

By Rahmah Ghazali - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: Lembah Pantai MP Izzah Anwar today questioned the government’s decision not to charge the company responsible for training diplomatic and administrative officers with Nor Hashimah Wahid’s death on May 31.

Nurul Izzah said the Umno-linked company, Tuntas Consultancy Sdn Bhd, was awarded a government contract to oversee the training centres and as such, should also be held responsible.

She said it was grossly unfair to only “transfer” the six government officers involved in the programme and “free” the company, which is owned by the off-springs of former Higher Education Minister and ex-Kuala Langat MP Shafie Salleh.

“Why are the government servants made the scapegoats?

“If it is true that the contract was given to Tuntas, why are their instructors let off the hook?” she asked.

She has also questioned the type of training provided by the firm and the quality of the instructors.

Nor Hashimah, who fell unconscious during the commando-style training, died after drifting in and out of consciousness for four days. She died of severe pneumonia with multiple organ failure.

Following this, many reports have indicated that the 30-year-old mother was “bullied” and was even made to drink a “stocking juice” by an instructor at Selangor Enforcement Training Centre in Jugra, Banting.

Nor Hashimah’s family has alleged that the camp management only took her to Banting Hospital when her condition worsened and she had breathing difficulties.

She was warded for a day but was forced to continue with her training after her discharge.

Nurul Izzah also expressed her disappointment with the ex-gratia settlement paid by the government to the victim’s family as compensation.

“The payment made is nothing out of the ordinary as it is usually paid to those who died of natural causes (unlike Nor Hashimah’s),” she said.

▲

Oh yeah? Then come get me!

  The utility of a properly managed system of informers is recognised throughout the common law world. As long as crimes are committed, informers have a role to play in…

More ► More ▼

  The utility of a properly managed system of informers is recognised throughout the common law world. As long as crimes are committed, informers have a role to play in their investigation and prosecution. They may either be professional informers, acting for self-serving purposes, or they may be ordinary citizens, motivated by public-spiritedness. Whatever their reason, it is in the public interest that nothing should be done which is likely to discourage persons of either class from coming forward (R v Rankine [1986] 1 QB 861 at 865).

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

That’s the problem with some Malays when you take them out of the kampong and send them to school. They think that just because they went to school this means they have also received an education.

Do they know that going to school means just that; that you have gone to school? It does not mean you are educated. After all, you can take the Malay out of the kampong but you can’t always take the kampong out of the Malay.

And this is the problem with those Malays who are still sending me hate-mail and the Malays in Umno and the Malays in Utusan Malaysia and Berita Harian as well as the Umno Bloggers. They are still talking about getting me. Well, stop talking and come get me. But first go get an education and stop embarrassing the entire Malay race with all this stupid talk.

And this includes the IGP and AG and Umno Ministers who are all singing the same stupid tune. They are all demonstrating that they know nothing about the law. And that is pathetic because they are supposed to be the lawmakers and enforcers and upholders of the law. Yet they are ignorant of the law.

What do they plan to get me on? Do they wish to slap me with a new ISA detention order? Detention without trial does not apply in the UK. Furthermore, whatever I wrote since February 2009 was written outside Malaysia. And Malaysia does not have any jurisdiction on what I do outside the country. My host country would have to arrest and charge me in the event it feels I have committed a crime on its soil.

For example, in the UK, I can enter into a gay marriage (now, even in church) and, like Elton John, can receive a congratulatory message from the British Prime Minister. Malaysia can’t extradite me for sodomy since what I did I did in the UK and not in Malaysia -- where sodomy is a crime. So the crime must have been committed in Malaysia and must be a crime in both Malaysia and the UK -- dual criminality -- before Malaysia can extradite me.

Or do they wish to slap me with new charges? What new charges? A crime under the Official Secrets Act maybe on the PKFZ Cabinet Papers that I published? Sorry, in the UK they have the Freedom of Information Act. So it is not a crime to reveal information of wrongdoing by the government. In fact, it is the opposite. In the UK it is a crime to hide information of wrongdoing. So here in the UK I would be given an award, not an arrest warrant.

Maybe they want to re-charge me on the old charges that have been dropped (discharged not amounting to an acquittal)? Well, there were only two charges. One was for sedition and the other for criminal defamation.

The UK no longer has the Sedition Act. This law was abrogated on 1st January this year. So, under the dual criminality clause, they can’t extradite me for that charge. So that leaves only one charge left, the criminal defamation charge.

Okay, let’s talk about that one remaining charge then.

I am alleged to have defamed Rosmah Mansor. But Rosmah is not a government officer. She is only the one-time mistress of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, a home-wrecker who stole another woman’s husband. Just because she is Najib’s sex partner this does not make her a Malaysian government official. So the criminal defamation law does not apply to her. How, then, can I get charged for criminal defamation?

Would this mean if I were to defame half a dozen other women then I would face another six criminal defamation charges just because Najib also had sex with them and therefore they are now officially employed by the Malaysian government?

Bila kata Melayu bodoh, marah. Tapi kalau dah bodoh nak kata apa lagi?

Anyway, never mind. Come get me. Apply to extradite me. Then let’s see what the court has to say about that.

What crime did I commit under the criminal defamation charge? I signed a statutory declaration at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in front of a lawyer and the court registrar. Then the lawyer sent it to the prosecutors in the Altantuya murder trial.

In the UK that is not a crime. That is a duty. If you have information that a crime may have been committed -- even if you are not too sure but there may be a possibility -- then you must report it. And that is exactly what I did; I reported it.

And in the UK those who report a crime are given immunity and cannot be charged for the crime of reporting a crime. But this is what happened to me in Malaysia -- I was arrested and charged for reporting a crime.

This is what the British court said:

The utility of a properly managed system of informers is recognised throughout the common law world. As long as crimes are committed, informers have a role to play in their investigation and prosecution. They may either be professional informers, acting for self-serving purposes, or they may be ordinary citizens, motivated by public-spiritedness. Whatever their reason, it is in the public interest that nothing should be done which is likely to discourage persons of either class from coming forward (R v Rankine [1986] 1 QB 861 at 865).

You need more ‘enlightenment’? Then read the four attachments below which explains the issue.

A person who reports a crime cannot be charged, like what they did to me in Malaysia. This is something that the IGP and AG (or the Umno Bloggers, Ministers, etc.) do not seem to know. And that is why they need more education on how the law works.

And only after they have received this education should they attempt to extradite me. If not then even a non-lawyer like me is going to run rings around them. And that will buat Melayu lagi malu.

▲

CNN says Anwar didn't pay to appear on TV programme

(Bernama) -- CNN says news stories about the TV network having accepted payment from people on behalf of opposition politician Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appear on the "Connect the…

More ► More ▼

(Bernama) -- CNN says news stories about the TV network having accepted payment from people on behalf of opposition politician Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to appear on the "Connect the World" programme were clearly fabricated.

A CNN spokesperson said today it was disturbing that no effort was made to contact the network and "independently verify these groundless allegations before they were subsequently reported as fact".

Over the past few days, a number of people had commented about Anwar's appearance on the CNN programme.

They had based their comments on an article by Joshua Trevino in The Ledger, a US online publication, which was also quoted by one or two local newspapers here.

Trevino had only alluded to the fact that those who had been hired by Anwar to run his public relations campaign in the United States had solid media contacts.

▲

KHAZANAH...

1. Fresh from losing three billion ringgit via its majority owned firm Sime Darby, I hear that Khazanah is buying or going to buy "Aman Resorts".

2. These are six…

More ► More ▼

1. Fresh from losing three billion ringgit via its majority owned firm Sime Darby, I hear that Khazanah is buying or going to buy "Aman Resorts".

2. These are six star resorts in Bali, Phuket and other exotic places. I don't know how profitable they are but I do know that hotels and resorts are not easy to manage, even less easy to make profits. It is the management companies which make the profits because profitable or not they get their cut of the takings.

3. I am sure Khazanah is well aware of this. Perhaps it is also aware that its investments in fishing had failed. The boats, the nets and other fishing paraphernalia are now dumped in the Langkawi Boustead boatyard. I am told they are for sale.

4. It was a great fishing venture. Special nets were supposed to be used to catch young tuna fish in the Indian Ocean. The fish would not be landed but would instead be dragged while still in the net to Langkawi. There they would be fed and grown until big enough to harvest.

5. It was as innovative a way to catch fish as any and a multimillion Ringgit industry was forecast. I don't know how much Khazanah invested in this failed venture.

6. Well, as I said, the whole investment had ended with the hardware and boats dumped in Langkawi. It did not involve billions, but it must involve maybe a hundred million plus. It is peanuts by comparison to the kind of money handled by Khazanah. We should regard it as a failed experiment. Research cost money. There is no guarantee of results. But it would be interesting to know how Khazanah came upon this idea, what were the fees, who bought the boats and fishing tackle and at what price.

7. Experience is a good teacher. Has this experience taught anyone anything.

▲

“Sarawak will remain with BN”

By Ding Jo-Ann | The Nut Graph
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 July 2010: The Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to rule Sarawak for at least two more state elections, sa…

More ► More ▼

By Ding Jo-Ann | The Nut Graph
KUALA LUMPUR, 13 July 2010: The Barisan Nasional (BN) will continue to rule Sarawak for at least two more state elections, said a Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) political scientist.
Citing the latest Merdeka Center for Opinion Research poll on Malaysian political values, Faisal S Hazis said the perception that the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) could take control of Sarawak was unjustified.
“Sarawak will remain with the BN for one, maybe two more decades,” Faisal, who is Unimas’s political and international relations department head, said today at a Kuala Lumpur forum by Merdeka Center to present the poll results.
He said despite doubts about the BN’s grip on Sarawak, especially after the Sibu by-election, 64.1% of the Sarawakian respondents in the poll indicated support for the BN.
This, he noted, was an increase by 1.1% of the popular vote that the BN secured in the 2006 state election.
Sarawak must hold a state election by the middle of 2011, although talk has been rife that it will be called earlier.
The BN has consistently won at least 55% of the popular vote in Sarawak since 1974. It won 71.2% of the popular vote in the 2001 election. However, this dropped to 62.9% in 2006. Still, voter support remains substantial.
Massive swing needed
Faisal said the 2006 election data showed that there were only 12 marginal seats out of 71 in Sarawak.
“If there was a 5% vote swing towards the opposition, it would only give them five more seats. A 10% vote swing would give the opposition 12 more seats and a total of 21 seats in the state assembly,” said Faisal.
However, for the opposition to capture 36 seats and take over the government, it would require a vote swing of 20%, which Faisal categorised as “ridiculously impossible” by the next election.
Faisal also said Sarawak’s size and terrain was challenging for the opposition, especially since the state government controlled most of the resources. An average-sized constituency such as Krian is about the size of Singapore, whereas the largest constituency, Belaga, is the size of Pahang.
Faisal said an opposition candidate told him that just to bring supporters to polling centres on polling day cost RM50,000.
Desire for change

Faisal

However, all is not gloomy for the opposition. While between 70% and 80% of respondents had a positive perception of the BN, many of them were at the same time skeptical of the government.

“More than half believed that the government’s aid would not reach the needy, while almost half felt that the government is not spending money prudently,” said Faisal.
He added that a high percentage, 65.7%, said they were having trouble making ends meet. Many respondents also wanted to see an increased level of democracy, and for the government to be free from corruption.
There were also some positive indicators for the opposition. This included endorsement of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s leadership; increasing popularity of the new media; and a strong sense of skepticism and distrust towards the ruling party.
“If a unified opposition can exploit the people’s grievances and their desire for change, the coming state election could become a feisty affair,” said Faisal.
Less racial politics

Faisal noted that racial politics was not played out in Sarawak as much as in Peninsular Malaysia. “All the BN parties in Sarawak are multiracial parties. So are all the opposition parties,” he said.
“This is because Sarawak is a multiracial state. A race-based political party which focuses only on one race would not survive.”
Faisal, however, pointed out that racial and religious issues “imported” from Peninsular Malaysia could be divisive.
He cited the “Allah” controversy as one example. “In Sarawak, Christians have been using ‘Allah’ for ages, so it’s a non-issue. But during the Sibu by-election, the opposition managed to exploit the issue by saying that the electorate should teach peninsular Malaysians to be as accommodating as the bumiputera in Sarawak. It played an important role in moving the fence-sitters,” he said.
The Merdeka Center survey, which looked at voters’ views about unity, government spending, interest in politics and race-based affirmative action, polled 3,141 adults nationwide between January and April 2010. Out of that figure, 518 were Sarawakians.

▲

Dr Mahathir yang Sebenar: Kawan baik Yahudi dan Antek AS

Dari Just Gan

Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata jika penasihat Parti Rakyat Keadilan (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim setia kepada kumpulan-kumpulan Yahudi, dia tidak akan setia kepada…

More ► More ▼

Dari Just Gan

Bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad berkata jika penasihat Parti Rakyat Keadilan (PKR) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim setia kepada kumpulan-kumpulan Yahudi, dia tidak akan setia kepada negaranya sendiri” (Bernama,. 12 Julai 2010).

Jika logik ini digunapakai, maka bekas PM Dr Mahathir meludah ke langit terkena muka sendiri, kerana sejarah menunjukkan Dr Mahathir yang sebenarnya tidak setia kepada Malaysia.Mahathir telah terlibat Salmon Smith Barney (sebuah syarikat Yahudi) sebagai penasihat kewangan selama krisis mata wang. Dia juga terlibat Goldman Sach (firma lain Yahudi) untuk tugas-tugas lain. Putera Mahathir, Mirzan, bekerja untuk Salomon Brothers (sebuah syarikat Yahudi). Mahathir berdamai dengan George Soros, seorang Yahudi yang pernah dihinanya, tetapi ketika Soros melawat Malaysia beberapa tahun yang lalu Mahathir secara terbuka menyatakan (untuk alasan yang masih misteri ) bahawa Soros tidak bertanggung jawab atas krisis kewangan Malaysia.Abramoff, seorang Yahudi, menetapkan pertemuan antara Mahathir dan George Bush selepas kerajaan Mahathir membayar USD 1.2 Juta ke Heritage Foundation yang dikendalikan oleh Abramoff. Ini hanya beberapa dari kerjasama Mahathir-Yahudi.

Jadi, siapa yang teman baik orang Yahudi ‘? Mahathir atau Anwar? Mungkin Dr Mahathir sekali lagi menderita dari (dengan) nya penyimpangan mental yang dia alami selama kes VK Lingam ketika dia terlalu mudah lupa (atau buat-buat lupa?) butiran asas dan tidak hairan jika Dr Mahathir telah lupa kerjasama dan hubungannya dengan syarikat Yahudi dan individu.

Mahathir juga sering disebut Anwar sebagai antek AS, dan akhir-akhir ini Rais Yatim, pembodek Mahathir, telah memfitnah Anwar sebagai agen CIA atas artikel sampah Utusan yang mengambil blog seorang penulis yang tidak boleh dipercayai kesahihannya (lihat rencana John Mallot’s: Rais Yatim perlu meminta maaf kepada Anwar Ibrahim) Ya, beberapa orang terkemuka dari AS berbicara untuk diri Anwar selama Sodomi I dan berbicara kembali setelah Sodomi II.

Anwar tidak meletup di AS seperti munafik tertentu menderita diare akut oral. Apakah yang membuat Anwar budak suruhan AS atau agen CIA? Soalan terkini RPK, Siapa agen AS? Anwar atau Najib?, menunjukkan kepada orang lain sebagai agen CIA – Mahathir.Hal ini Mahathir yang merupakan antek dan tali barut AS, si pencuri yang sebenarnya yang berteriak “pencuri, pencuri, pencuri, …” untuk mengalihkan perhatian dari dirinya sendiri. Dalam sambutannya kepada Heritage Foundation pada 3, Mei 2002 Menteri Pertahanan Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak, memberi butiran lengkap tentang tatacara rahsia Malaysia dengan Amerika Syarikat dalam hal pertahanan (lihat http://www.heritage.org/Research/Lecture/US -Malaysia-Pertahanan-Kerjasama). Ini juga telah disebutkan oleh Barry Wain dalam bukunya, yang Maverick Malaysia.

Melihat apa yang terjadi antara AS dan Malaysia, terutama dalam sektor pertahanan dan masalah-masalah ekonomi, selama pemerintahan Mahathir, tidak salah jika disimpulkan bahawa Mahathir mengikat Malaysia sebagai negara pengikut AS, sebuah negara yang bergantung pada AS untuk kemajuan juga sebagai kelangsungan hidup.

Malaysia di bawah Mahathir mempunyai sokongan US sokongan dalam pertahanan di Asia Tenggara. Ekonomi Malaysia juga paling bergantung pada AS, AS muncul sebagai nombor 1 pasaran eksport dan pelabur untuk Malaysia.Adakah perhambaan akrab antara dua negara yang paling kritis mungkin jika hubungan antara Malaysia dan AS bermusuhan seperti yang digembar-gemburkan oleh Mahathir?

Bolehkah satu bangsa (Malaysia) bersikap musuh ketat terhadap bangsa lain (AS) tetapi pada masa yang sama Malaysia bergantung pada AS untuk kelangsungan hidup ekonomi dan keselamatan? Hanya orang bodoh dan munafik akan percaya dan mempertahankan logik dangkal ini.Mahathir membodohi Malaysia dengan bertindak dan berpura-pura bahawa dia anti-AS, tetapi selama ini sebagai tali barut dan antek dari Amerika Syarikat.

Sebahagian rakyat Malaysia berfikir bahawa Mahathir berani dan kasar terhadap Amerika Syarikat. Banyak negara-negara dunia ketiga dan negara-negara Islam juga terpukau dengan lakonan jijik Mahathir dan menyatakan dia sebagai juru bicara dunia ketiga dan negara-negara Islam.

Mereka tidak tahu bahawa Mahathir dibenarkan untuk membuat semua laporan anti-AS sebagai taktik menipu umat Islam bahawa dia sebenarnya tali barut AS.Martin Jalleh menulis dalam MT pada bulan Januari 2010 bahawa Dr Mahathir adalah “Kejadian dari AS” tetapi hanya segelintir rakyat yang membaca dan menghadam isi sebenar rencana ini. Hujah artikel beliau mengekpos Mahathir yang sebenarnya: seorang munafik yang tidak segan untuk melakukan apa-apa untuk memenuhi keserakahan yang tak dapat diukur kekuasaan, kekayaan dan kemasyhuran.Bolehkah Mahathir membuat amaran dan ucapan kaustik tentang AS tanpa apa-apa tindakan seperti yang dikenakan keatas Iran, Myanmar, Zimbabwe oleh AS kecuali CIA telah memungkinkan dia untuk melakukannya? Seperti Mahathir berpendapat, jika AS dapat menghasilkan Avatar, mereka boleh merancang serangan 9 / 11 Twin Tower sebagai serangan pengganas. Jadi, apa yang begitu sukar bagi CIA untuk menangani Mahathir, kecuali Mahathir adalah orang mereka yang melakukan arahan mereka?

▲