Kayveas: BN must deal with discrimination and prejudice

People's Progrssive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas today said the rakyat's worry about discrimination and prejudice is the cause for the eroding support for BN.

"The opposition campaigned aggressively in…

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People's Progrssive Party (PPP) president M Kayveas today said the rakyat's worry about discrimination and prejudice is the cause for the eroding support for BN.

"The opposition campaigned aggressively in the last general election on these two issues to fan the the sentiment that discrimination still happened in this country in all aspects of live," he said during the PPP annual general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

He added that this has had an impact on BN's support which remains evident to this day.

"Even though transformation after transformation is carried our by our Prime Minister (Najib Abdul Razak), even with the concept of 1Malaysia being introduced, there are some who continue to blindly support the opposition.

"Why? Because they still perceive that discrimination and prejudice continue to happen under the current BN administration," he said.

In his opening speech entitled 'BN won't let the rakyat down', Kayveas said this perception of discrimination did not only exist among the minorities.

He explained that Malays who support Pakatan Rakyat believe that Malays in Umno had not distributed the country's wealth justly and also perceive that they had not walked the talk on corruption.

Winning hearts

Chinese on the other hand, he said, find themselves not receiving equal opportunities in business and education.

"Whereas the Indians feel that BN had sidelined them for almost 50 years in all aspects of life especially on the economy and education such that they have become poor in their own country," he said.

As such, he said BN's victory lies in the ruling coalition overcoming these two perception of prejudice and discrimination.

"... For us to win in the general election, we need to win the hearts and confidence of the people that BN is capable of overcoming discrimination and prejudice in social justice, economy and politics," he said.

Kayveas said if BN was willing to take this seriously, honestly and sincerely, then it would become the formula for victory as the opposition would have no attacking points against BN.

"The opposition coalition cannot match BN's strength because they are weak and lack vision.

"They are incoherent, intolerant and most importantly are walking a tightrope... their bond is weak and is only meant to capture Putrajaya," he said.

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Like US and UK, Ban Dogtor Zakir Naik in Bharat (India).

: Appeal to Hindus :
Join the demonstrations against Zakir Naik at Thane, Maharashtra

During Ganesh Festival, Dr. Zakir Naik had hurt religious sentiments of Hindus by making statements like…

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: Appeal to Hindus :
Join the demonstrations against Zakir Naik at Thane, Maharashtra

During Ganesh Festival, Dr. Zakir Naik had hurt religious sentiments of Hindus by making statements like ‘Prove that Ganapati is God; only then I will have the holy sacrament (Prasad)’. Cases have been filed against his above statement at many places; even then, Zakir has been granted permission to hold a public meeting at Mumbra. This has created a wave of anger amongst Hindus all over the country and intense demonstrations will be held on Monday, 3rd December 2012 at 4.00 p.m. outside Government Rest House near District Collector’s office at Thane (W) demanding withdrawal of the permission granted to Zakir Naik for holding the meeting and his arrest by filing case of treason against him.

After the demonstrations, delegation of pro-Hindu activists will meet the District Collector and Police Commissioner to submit a representation.

Hindu Janajagruti Samiti has made an appeal to all Hindus for participating in the demonstrations in large number. Dr. Zakir’s program at Somayya Grounds is cancelled !

Read more at : http://www.hindujagruti.org/news/14943.html

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15-year-old Bedouin girl stabbed to death in suspected honor killing

Victim was allegedly dating a boy against the wishes of her family, and refused to end their relations

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Victim was allegedly dating a boy against the wishes of her family, and refused to end their relations

An illustrative photo of an Israeli Bedouin girl, near Mitzpe Ramon (photo credit: Kobi Gideon/Flash90)

 

A 15-year-old girl was apparently stabbed to death on Monday in a suspected honor killing in the Bedouin town of Tel Sheva. The victim’s 24-year-old brother called the police to confess to killing her.

Police rushed to the scene and discovered signs of violence on her body. She was pronounced dead immediately. The brother who called the police was arrested, along with his two male siblings.

Police believe the girl was murdered because she was dating a boy against the wishes of her family, and refused to sever ties with him.

The brothers were cooperating with the investigation, police said.

Nineteen women were murdered by family members in Israel over the past year, representing a 26% decline from the previous year, Women’s International Zionist Organization (WIZO) reported in advance of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which took place on Sunday.

The number of appeals to the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel rose 16% over the same period.

Among the 19 women killed in the past year, 13 belonged to minority populations: Six were Ethiopian immigrants; four were Arab women; one was an immigrant from the former Soviet Union; one was a foreign worker from the Philippines; and one was an illegal migrant from Eritrea.

According to the WIZO report, approximately 10,600 women requested police protection from violent husbands in 2011. The annual report also indicated that some 89% of cases reported to the rape crisis centers involved women being attacked by men that they knew — 40% by family members, 26% by friends or acquaintances and 14% in places of employment and in the military.

Asher Zeiger contributed to this report.

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Will there be Justice in the Murder and Gang Rape of a Pakistani Girl?

Lahore: November 25, 2012. (LEAD) A Christian minor girl from Sahiwal, a city in Punjab, Pakistan, was murdered in the month of August 2012 after being "gang raped" by a…

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Lahore: November 25, 2012. (LEAD) A Christian minor girl from Sahiwal, a city in Punjab, Pakistan, was murdered in the month of August 2012 after being "gang raped" by a group of five Muslim men.

Her father Rafique Masih told Chief of LEAD and President PCC Lahore that he was satisfied with the role of police officials and hopeful for justice from Pakistani courts.

He also shared that he was under heavy debt which he had taken from the owner of brick kiln. He is receiving death threats and warning to take back his complaint against the culprits.

He said thanks for legal support which is providing him through Advocate Javed Sohotra on behalf of LEAD in this case.

He also said thanks for a little bit financial support which LEAD has provided to his family, he also requested to support in paying the debt back to brick kiln owner who is demanding work against the debt money and making him compelled to work on his brick kiln factory.

He also shared that he and his wife and children were feeling insecure after this tragic incident happened with his family.

LEAD needed partners so that LEAD can expand its aid efforts in whole Pakistan.

LEAD is working against the social, Constitutional and religious discrimination of Christians and other Religious Minorities in Pakistan. Blasphemy laws, forced conversion, rape and abduction are at a very high level in Pakistani society. We provide legal assistance and support and safe houses for the victims of religious persecution in Pakistan.

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Malaysia’s ruling party says LGBT community “of the devil”

Malaysia government continues LGBT crackdown, antagonism.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s ruling party, at its national conference, continued to attack the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, much to the anger…

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Malaysia government continues LGBT crackdown, antagonism.

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s ruling party, at its national conference, continued to attack the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, much to the anger of human rights activists in the country.

The Umno, in ending its final assembly gathering ahead of elections that must take place before April next year, said that anti-Islamic elements threaten the country, singling out homosexuality and those who promote liberalism in “mainly Muslim Malaysia.”

One delegate called for a rehabilitation center for the LGBT community to “re-educate” them and bring them back to society.

“We want to transform them from zaman kejahilan (dark age of ignorance),” Tanjong representative Mohd Shaharudin Mohd Hasan Tajudin told the over 2,000 delegates at Umno’s cavernous Putra World Trade Center (PWTC).

Shaharudin also suggested that high school students be taught to reject the LGBT lifestyle — along with pluralism and liberalism — in their religious education.

Another delegate, Ariffin Mohd Arif from Kimanis, called for an official sanction against those who spread pluralism and liberalism, which he called a “teaching of the Devil.”

“Just like al-Arqam … we must take action against these people. Our actions must be strict, and we must not budge,” Ariffin said.

The religious issues elicited animated responses from the delegates, with Shaharudin exclaiming that Umno fighters shall be “bathed in blood” should anyone mock Islamic principles.

“This LGBT is haram in Islam. (But the opposition) is making LGBT halal … they even said that the law on sodomy is obsolete,” said Pendang delegate Mohd Kamal Saidin, who accused Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim as the man responsible for the promotion of “vice.”

The ruling coalition and the opposition have been at loggerheads on the issues of LGBT, pluralism and liberalism, which are deemed sensitive in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Earlier in the week, Muhyiddin Yassin had revealed that Prime Minister Najib Razak had objected to the inclusion of LGBT rights when signing ASEAN’s first human rights charter recently, saying Malaysia could not accept principles that go against the order of human nature.

The deputy prime minister took a swipe at Anwar when warning him against legitimizing these “twisted practices” just because they were accepted by western nations, suggesting that it was the opposition leader’s “hobby”.

The Malaysian government recently came under heavy fire again when it was reported to have endorsed a list of identifiable gay and lesbian traits for schools and parents, purportedly to prevent the spread of the phenomenon among teenagers, especially students.

In October, the country’s education minister said that being gay leads to HIV.

Mohd Puad Zarkashi lashed out at a few campaigns that jokingly criticized the governments recent efforts to “educate” parents on how to catch “symptoms” of their children being gay or lesbian.

He said that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues int he country “should not be a joking matter.”

He was commenting on the recent campaigns that saw a local restaurant offer discounts and free biryani to men wearing V-neck t-shirts after the government labeled that one of the tell-tale signs of a potential gay child.

He added that his ministry is determined to push forward to “curb the trend of LGBT” in Malaysia’s schools.

He said this “trend” appears to be prevalent in society and popular media, making it imperative for the government to prevent it from penetrating schools.”

LGBT activists have laughed at his comments, but told Bikyamasr.com that the reality is the government continues to attack something as if it is a disease, “instead of understanding that it is not a choice.”

But the minister was obstinate.

“It is not prevalent in school yet but preventive action is needed to ensure that it does not spread among students,” he said.

When asked how prevalent the phenomenon is in schools, he said the ministry has no data currently.

“I don’t know because we don’t have the facts. We don’t have the data to show how serious it is,” he told the Sunday Star.

He added that when the issue “exploded” – specifically the disputed LGBT-symptom guidelines – he received a lot of criticism, but it has only made his belief that the LGBT lifestyle “is not a healthy way of life.”

“There are two reasons: it is the biggest cause of HIV after drugs. It also causes a lot of social problems such as broken marriages. That is why we need to nip it in the bud,” he said, even though international health professionals have dispelled the myth that being gay or lesbian is a cause of HIV.

Activists in the country have repeatedly spoken out against the continued crackdown on the LGBT community, which has seen ministers and officials level accusations against the community over the past few months ahead of a general election.

Reiterating the government’s commitment to its project, the minister stressed that it is crucial for parents to get exposure and knowledge of the LGBT trend so that they can be more vigilant of the signs and tackle the threat early.

However, he declined to elaborate on what action would be taken to “correct” or “prevent” LGBT in schools, arguing instead that the “science of it is debatable.”

“I don’t want to be drawn into the debate of whether it (LGBT) is a lifestyle or natural instinct. That is why we want to bring it out in the open because it can be debated on. However, it is not something that should be joked about,” he continued.

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Waythamoorthy: State should help Gatco settlers

The Hindraf chairman says that the Negeri Sembilan state government has been in cahoots with state authorities and the Lotus Group against Gatco estate settlers.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P…

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The Hindraf chairman says that the Negeri Sembilan state government has been in cahoots with state authorities and the Lotus Group against Gatco estate settlers.

PETALING JAYA: Hindraf chairman P Waythamoorthy yesterday criticised the Negeri Sembilan state government for allegedly conspiring with politicians, state authorities and the Lotus Group to cause terror on Gatco estate settlers in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan.

“Seeing things going the way they were going, Menteri Besar Mohamad Hassan could easily have invoked provisions in the Land Acquisition Act and bought the land off the Lotus Group and returned it to the settlers.

“Instead, the state government turns up intervening, for the rich and powerful Lotus group of companies and has become a party to all this terror unleashed upon its people,” said Waythamoorthy.

He urged for the state government to immediately reverse their decisions and to start the process of helping these settlers regain their lands.

The settlers’ representative C John meanwhile declared that “we have had six elections so far where the contesting BN representative would promise us a solution to our land problems each time, but nothing has happened.

“If nothing happens to finally solve our problems before the coming elections, we plan to campaign around the state which has over 14 percent Indian voters and work to throw this government out, once and for all. Who needs a government that does not take care of its people?” he said.

On Nov 29, Rela members were brought into the Gatco estate along with heavy machinery to uproot the rubber trees on the land in dispute, a 4,000-acre land disputed between Syarikat Thamarai (Lotus Group) and the settlers.

There were some scuffling between Rela members and the settlers that went on for two hours. The Rela members were armed with thick batons and went after screaming women and beat male settlers who put up a fight with them.

The 400 settlers had purchased the land in the late 1970s in a land resettlement scheme administered by Gatco corporation. In 1987, the settlers obtained a High Court declaration, after not being satisfied with Gatco for not giving them their land titles.

In 1998 Gatco went bankrupt as a corporation. In 2004 the land was put up for auction. The settlers put up the necessary “Earnest Deposit” money of RM 320,000 for the auction. However they were not allowed to participate in the auction and the land was then auctioned to the Lotus Group of companies for RM16 million.

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Deepak: I will not be silenced

However, the carpet trader says he agreed to "sit still" for the last day of the Umno AGM after a meeting with a high-ranking Umno supreme council member.

KUALA LUMPUR:…

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However, the carpet trader says he agreed to "sit still" for the last day of the Umno AGM after a meeting with a high-ranking Umno supreme council member.

KUALA LUMPUR: Deepak Jaikishan claimed that there was an attempt by a high ranking Umno man to ‘silence’ him following the various the interviews the carpet trader has given in the past few days.

Late Friday night, Deepak said he received a call by a “senior Umno supreme council member” asking him to meet at the Grand Dorsett Hotel in Subang. The man, who he refused to name, seemed aggressive, Deepak claimed.

Deepak said that he subsequently agreed to meet the person, but brought along some extra protection for his safety.

The meeting was also attended by a few pro-government bloggers, and Deepak said he was told not to make any more noise, at least until the end of the Umno AGM which was yesterday.

“They told me that I am under surveillance…I was given a caution because yesterday was their closing ceremony. They practically warned me not to have a press conference until they finish their convention,” he told FMT.

“I told them you cannot stop me from having press conferences… even if I have to go to the Istana Negara, I would do it. If they really force me… I would go in front of the palace and petition the King lah,” he said.

However, Deepak said he agreed to “give due respect” and cancelled all his media interviews he had lined up for Saturday.

He added that he originally thought he would be in danger but when he met the Umno man, “they were very civil”.

When asked to reveal the names of the individuals he met, Deepak said:”Oh, then I’ll be in serious trouble. Then it would be messy.” But he added:”I’m not afraid. If I am afraid I wouldn’t have come this far. I’m not under any political umbrella or anything.”

Asked if he was offered anything for his cooperation, Deepak said:” They offered me nothing. This is not something I would negotiate.”

He said that he would be giving more press conferences to explain things in full soon.

Fall-out with Najib’s family

In the past week, Deepak has resurfaced after a period of silence, giving several media interviews in which he claimed he regretted getting private investigator P Balasubramaniam to retract his first statutory declaration (SD) concerning murdered Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Balasubramaniam’s first SD had linked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak to the murder, while the second SD claimed otherwise. Balasubramaniam subsequently went missing.

In the interviews, Deepak said that he got involved as a favour to a “female friend”.

Deepak also spoke about a land dispute case, involving him, a Selangor Umno leader and the Defence Ministry, which Najib had then helmed. Deepak has accused Najib of receiving “contributions” from him for the former’s intervention in the land deal but was upset that the premier now refused to aid him in resolving the dispute.

He also talked about a fall-out with Najib’s family after his involvement in the Altantuya matter.

Subsequently, Deepak also claimed to have been forced out of 26 companies that he was a director in. He said that he was also harassed by government agencies and had several government-linked contracts cancelled.

Yesterday, Deepak cryptically alluded to a BN defeat in the next general election, suggesting that Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor was the weak link.

Deepak had previously referred to Rosmah as an “older sister”.

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Karpal: Pakatan can be wrong too

(The Star) - The DAP must speak up when Pakatan Rakyat does something wrong, said party chairman Karpal Singh.

He cited the recent demolition of a Hindu altar in a…

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(The Star) - The DAP must speak up when Pakatan Rakyat does something wrong, said party chairman Karpal Singh.

He cited the recent demolition of a Hindu altar in a house in Taman Seroja in Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi last week and the Kelantan municipal council by-laws prohibiting women from cutting men's hair in the state, saying both were wrong.

“The DAP's principles since its early days remain intact. We must point out when Pakatan is wrong,” he said.

Describing the Sepang Municipal Council (MPSP)'s action to demolish the altar as a “complete abuse of power”, Karpal said Pakatan must be sensitive to what is dear to the people.

He said Pakatan must not make mistakes and provide Barisan Nasional with “cannon fodder” to attack it.

“I've taken off my coat and I'm ready for battle. There's no doubt in my mind that we will retain Penang and win back Perak,” he declared.

Karpal, who is the Bukit Gelugor MP, “guaranteed” that the DAP would defend and win 19 state seats.

“We have high hopes that PKR will win more than nine seats with PAS holding on to what it has (in Penang),” he said at the party's annual state convention here on Sunday.

In his speech, state party chief Chow Kon Yeow said the Malays would remain in power (in their own land) if Pakatan took over Putrajaya.

He said the coming general election was the most important for the country as it would determine the nation's future direction.

“The latest prediction is that Barisan will win 120 seats compared to 100 to Pakatan if the election is held now.

“We are ready to face Umno and Barisan but we must use the coming 50 to 100 bonus days' to double our efforts,” he said.

He warned that Islamic issues such as calls for PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang to be the prime minister if Pakatan comes into power, must be handled well.

The debates at Sunday's meeting saw the proposal for DAP to adopt a one-man one-seat policy being fiercely debated by its delegates.

Taman Alma DAP branch head David Marshall, who is also DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) executive council member, said central executive committee (CEC) should not prevent party leaders from discussing the policy.

“The state committee members should explain their stand on the issue,” he said.

In a hastily staged press conference later, Chow said the policy had been raised numerous times in the CEC and national congress.

“CEC will table a resolution on the policy during the 16th National Congress to enable delegates to decide on whether to endorse or otherwise on this matter,” he explained.

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Rosmah bakal dapat RM26 bilion dakwa Deepak

(Harakah) - Deepak Jaikishan yakin, walaupun ramai calon Umno mempunyai peluang menang yang tinggi (Winnable candidate) tetapi dengan Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor yang menjadi penjaga golnya, Pakatan Rakyat mempunyai peluang…

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(Harakah) - Deepak Jaikishan yakin, walaupun ramai calon Umno mempunyai peluang menang yang tinggi (Winnable candidate) tetapi dengan Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor yang menjadi penjaga golnya, Pakatan Rakyat mempunyai peluang cerah untuk menjaringkan gol.

"Tangannya penuh dengan bilion ringgit untuk ditangkap, jadi dia tidak mempunyai masa untuk menangkap bola yang ditendang masuk," kata Deepak dalam kenyataannya kepada media.

Atas dasar itu, Deepak bekas kawan baik Rosmah itu berkata, BN bakal gagal dalam pilihan raya ini.

Beliau menjangkakan, Pakatan akan mendapat 123 kerusi, BN 99 kerusi dan Rosmah akan mendapat RM26 bilion.

Deepak mengulas kes ini ketika mengulas ucapan perwakilan dari Kelantan yang mendakwa pasukan Red Warior di Kelantan akan menjadi contoh pengurusan Umno pimpinan Najib yang bakal menang dalam pilihan raya ini.

Ketika ditanya, di manakah beliau mendapat angka RM26 bilion tersebut, Deepak berkata, ia adalah hasil kiraan beliau berdasarkan projek yang melibatkan Rosmah.

"Saya membuat kiraan berdasarkan projek yang saya terlibat dan projek yang saya tahu dimiliki oleh dia," kata Deepak dalam satu kenyataanya malam tadi.

Deepak sebelum ini mendakwa beliau adalah rakan perniagaan Rosmah sebelum berbangkitnya kes Penyataan Bersumpah (SD) P Balasubramaniam.

Sejak kes P Bala, hubungan mereka bermasalah kerana beliau didakwa tidak menunaikan janji untuk menyelesaikan kes Bala.

Deepak berkata, dia hanya menolong kawan dalam kes itu bukannya terlibat secara langsung.

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God, comedy and the Umno general assembly

Kee Thuan Chye

COMMENT The Umno general assembly has often come across as reality comedy. Its ‘performers’ unwittingly amuse us with their unintentionally comic turns. This year, they didn’t disappoint.…

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Kee Thuan Chye

COMMENT The Umno general assembly has often come across as reality comedy. Its ‘performers’ unwittingly amuse us with their unintentionally comic turns. This year, they didn’t disappoint.

Wanita chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, whose family is embroiled in the National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) scandal that forced her not to renew her senatorship, says that for the upcoming general election, she is a winnable candidate. God help her.

Indeed, God was invoked on several occasions throughout the general assembly, sometimes for the sake of seeking his help.

President Najib Abdul Razak urged Umno members to pray hard to God in order to win the general election. “Let us pray so that with His blessings, we will continue to be the country’s ruling party,” he said.

The subtext of that smacked of a loss in confidence.

In fact, Najib’s rhetoric in the past several months has been reflective of that. He has been practically begging his audiences to “give us another term”, an appeal no Umno leader has ever stooped to. They had always taken it for granted that they would rule long-term.

He has been persuading voters not to change the government, as if he were expecting them to. He has been bashing the opposition parties at every available opportunity, to influence voters not to vote for them.

At the general assembly, he even entertained the prospect of losing: “We can replace treasures or honour that are lost, but if we lose this fight, we will be left with nothing.”

He was of course exaggerating - because not winning Putrajaya doesn’t amount to losing everything - but he was nonetheless acknowledging the possibility of defeat.

No other Umno president before him has ever had to countenance that.

Apology too little too late?

Now Najib cannot bank on the confidence of the Umno of the past to carry him cockily to the general election; it has been too deeply mired in corruption and cronyism, and the rakyat have got wise to it.

He even apologised at the general assembly for all the wrongdoings of Umno and the other parties in the BN coalition. But, as they say, it may be a case of ‘too little, too late’. And it certainly is of no use if the corrupt practices are still continuing.

Why, for instance, he has not answered the allegations of businessman Deepak Jaikishan that for his help in facilitating a project deal, his family was paid by the latter, and that Deepak got involved in the case involving the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu because he wanted to help Najib’s family? Why did Najib leave it to Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to volunteer to reply to Deepak?

This exposé, the NFC scandal and the question surrounding the RM40 million 'political donation' received by Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman have caused untold damage to Umno. It may not fully recover from the blows.

Even so, there was much bravado flaunted at the general assembly. There was talk among Umno leaders of winning the general election with a two-thirds majority and recapturing all the four states now in Pakatan Rakyat’s hands. They might have prayed to God first before they offered these predictions.

Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob even told the media, “I tell you, DAP cannot win in Bentong. Cannot win! If DAP wins in Bentong, you cut off my ears and I’ll jump into the Pahang river.”

Such haughtiness! Well, just to see if he will keep his word, the electorate should vote BN out of Bentong. Earless Adnan might be a more humble person after that!

Hey, but the next day, probably feeling scared that his Bentong prediction might actually prove wrong, he did a flip-flop. That, however, made him even more laughable. He said he didn’t mean “cut off my ears” literally. He said he was using figurative language.

“Do you know figurative speech? In English language, we have figurative speech. We have simile, we have metaphor, hyberbole,” he said. “So when I say cut off my ears, that means they (DAP) can never win ... not that if we (BN) lose, they (the opposition) will take a knife and cut off my ears literally.”

And why did he use “figurative language”? His reply: “… to let people learn English”!

Ha ha ha! That got me rolling on the floor - because “cut off my ears” is not at all a figure of speech in the English language. And it definitely wouldn’t mean someone can’t win. Adnan doesn’t know that and he wants others to learn English? What a clown, the epitome of the know-nothing who behaves like a know-all. Or a case of someone who’s caught and simply tembak (shoots).

And since there’s no such figure of speech, dear voters, please continue sharpening your knives.

Divine intervention badly needed

Meanwhile, enjoy the most hilarious, most misplaced joke that came out of the assembly – courtesy of Umno Youth information chief Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who said Umno is the party chosen by God to liberate the chosen land of Malaysia.

Woweee! This is fresh, this is creative! This is … divine!

He even said God’s chosen people are the Malays living in Malaysia.

But hang on, doesn’t 'God’s chosen people' traditionally refer to the Israelites? And the chosen land to the nation of Israel? Jews, baby.

Did Reezal make a boo-boo in associating with the enemy? Was he even aware of it?

He said God is the true authority over all governments, the giver of power to those that he has chosen, so he must believe that Umno-BN will win the next general election. But what if it doesn’t? Will he stop believing in God?

What kooky thinking. Here’s something Adnan could learn from in terms of the English language - an example of a hyperbole.

Reezal was probably trying to outdo his Umno Youth boss, Khairy Jamaluddin, by waxing so hyperbolic. The day before, Khairy quoted from Winston Churchill’s famous speeches in his call to fight Pakatan Rakyat, but he obviously went overboard.

He was comparing the next general election to World War Two. But come on lah, brudder, they’re not the same lah.

While Churchill’s “we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets” and “we will continue hand in hand like comrades and brothers until every vestige of the Nazi regime has been beaten into the ground” are inspiring, Khairy’s “we will debate them in Parliament, we will smash their arguments in coffeeshops, we will expose their lies in cyberspace … we will lay this wretched Pakatan coalition into the ground!” sounds terribly frivolous. Schoolboyish even.

Level of intellect worrying

The scary thing about all this comedy is that among the people spewing this rubbish are holders of high public office, and that some of the Umno Youth upstarts may one day become ministers.

Even outside of the general assembly, you get the Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam, accusing Singapore of interfering in Malaysian politics simply because the briefing by French lawyers on the Scorpene investigations in France was recently held there.

Worse, last week Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Latiff Ahmad disparaged the name of French lawyer William Bourdon by changing the surname to 'Bodoh' (stupid). The jury may have no difficulty in deciding who was being ‘bodoh’ in this case, but it showed the level of class and intellectuality among our so-called leaders.

It is the level of intellectuality that comes from decades of playing to the gallery, of pandering to the masses who have been deliberately manipulated to remain politically immature and intellectually challenged through being provided substandard education. And so to reach out to these masses, our so-called leaders appeal to the lowest common denominator.

They are the avatars of “the devil we know” - the phrase Mahathir Mohamad recently coined to describe Umno-BN - and they often exhibit the worst characteristics of politicians. The crucial question is: do we want these types to continue leading the country? Do we want them to be the chosen ones, i.e. chosen by us? At the coming general election, do we vote them in - again?

All I can say is, God help us if we do.

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KEE THUAN CHYE is the author of the new book ‘No More Bullshit, Please, We're All Malaysians'.

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Only BN Can Give People A Better Future, Says Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today called on the people to give their full mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for…

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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak today called on the people to give their full mandate to the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for another five-year term to secure a better future for themselves and the country.

He said this was because the BN government had varied experience in administering the country since 55 years ago compared to the opposition pact which had no basic understanding in charting a good direction for the country.

Najib said the BN government was sincere in helping all citizens and that after four years (since the last general election), its success was proven with the country recording an economic growth of 5.2 per cent, increased investments from domestic and foreign investors and more than 300,000 job opportunities created.

"The future cannot be gambled away. A vote for the opposition is a vote for uncertain future. But a vote for BN is for a better, secure and prosperous future," he said in his speech when opening the People's Progressive Party's (PPP) 59th Annual General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre, here, today.

Also present were former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, PPP president Datuk Seri M.Kayveas, its senior vice-president and Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz, BN secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Dewan Negara president Tan Sri Abu Zahar Ujang.

Najib promised that as prime minister, he would do his best for the people and country, and also to govern in a fairer and more just manner in ensuring the people received the attention and benefits from BN's policies and administration.

"As a national leader and BN chairman, I must be able to feel the pulse of the people and realise that today they have changed because of the government's success in providing access to education and information communication technology," he said.

The prime minister said the BN government was also aware and understood the people's aspirations under the BN government.

Najib also reminded the 13 component parties of BN to move in one formation that was well organised and systematic towards one objective, that was, absolute unity and understanding so that BN would remain a strong party beyond compare with the opposition.

"Therefore, we must ensure zero internal problem in the party and also zero problem between the BN component parties. Without any major problem, (God willing) BN will win big in the coming general election," he said.

Najib added that BN was determined to rise again after the "nightmares" of the 12th general election and realised the message sent by the people to BN for it to bring about transformation to ensure a better future for them.

The prime minister also reminded the PPP election machinery to be always prepared and to re-energise and revitalise itself in struggling for BN in the coming elections.

A total of 4,047 party delegates attended the PPP Annual General Assembly with the theme, 'BN Won't Let Rakyat Down'.

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Delegates’ tears flow as Najib prays for Umno-BN victory

Urging delegates to rise and clench their fists, Najib brings the Umno general assembly to a rousing and emotional close – but not before invoking divine assistance for success in the coming general election.

Watch from 43:30