Anwar, Kit Siang losing a historic opportunity

I read with interest the article written by Dr Kua Kia Soong inMalaysiakini yesterday. I agree with

Kua that Pakatan leaders are missing a historic prospect.

Take today's The Star Online report. Apparently, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak spoke on the Tamil edition of Bernama TV's Hello Malaysia programme on Astro Channel 502. He is unquestionably taking efforts to reach the Indian grassroots.

Najib has been undertaking this ever since assuming office and many were wondering whether his methods would gain result. Some made fun of his recent Ponggal gathering that drew 100,000 Indians. It was a joke as everyone knew MIC paid those who attended RM50 each. Najib too knew this, but he persisted.

In the Bernama talk show, Najib positively sent the message to the Indian grassroots, who make up 70 percent of the voters in 67 key Parliament seats, that he was reaching out to the movement that brought BN down, the Hindraf movement. He acknowledged that BN lost big time as result of losing the marginal Indian votes.

Najib also acknowledged that the Indians were kingmakers. Well if you folks think he said this just to entertain the Indian electorate, then you are mistaken. He linked the kingmakers to the Hindraf movement. That is the key plug that I suppose most of those in Pakatan Rakyat would miss out.

Najib went on to say that he was engaging with the Hindraf movement actively and has advised it that extreme ways would not pay, and that the Hindraf movement was acceptable to an amicable conclusion to the years of failure of MIC, which again Najib was clever to acknowledge.

So looks like the prime minister has done his part and is continuously doing his part. The psyche of the grassroots Indian community needs to be understood. They are not warmongers.

Hindraf set the tone and the warpath from 2005 and the community slowly accepted that "someone needed to bell the cat" and Hindraf was their hope. They threw their support behind Hindraf and thus the "neo revolution" of 2007. Hindraf became a household name.

The opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang took advantage of this uprising, but they were not bright enough to acknowledge the true faces behind the Hindraf uprising. Anwar knowingly acknowledged a planted police agent as the true Hindraf leader.

The true faces P Uthayakumar and P Waythamoorthy were conveniently sidelined. Pakatan Rakyat thought acknowledging and taking take the brothers on board would court them trouble. They conveniently developed the denial syndrome that BN adopted in 2006-2007. They refused to acknowledge the true leaders of Hindraf.

Anwar openly criticised Hindraf as an extremist movement overseas, and locally to select groups. Then, he went on to say that he does not know which Hindraf to deal with as Hindraf has been broken into five pieces - according to him.

But every ordinary Indian on the street would know who is leading Hindraf. Ask a child in the estate who the leader of Hindraf is and she would loudly say it is Waythamoorthy. The denial syndrome of Anwar and his Pakatan allies have made them believe their own lies.

Najib is doing his part. He sent his delegation to talk to Hindraf and convince them that he is a reformist and would love to work with Hindraf. Hindraf, on its part, demanded that the ban on it be lifted and it was done. Then the organisation was legalised and talks with Hindraf took place formally on the 17th day of Waythamoorthy's hunger strike.

Najib seems to understand the psyche of Indians. Hunger strike is the highest weapon of the Indian culture against injustices. Mahatma Gandhi used this as his sathya graha to fight the British and every Indian understands this as a true weapon of dharma which is the highest order of justice and truth.

Najib has been advised by someone intelligent to take the "risk" of dealing with Hindraf at the right moment. And he did exactly that. The Indian community was so proud that their leader, who was undertaking a fast for 17 days, took the trouble, though he was weak, to meet Najib.

History was created when Hindraf openly engaged with its one time oppressors. They spoke for an hour and Najib offered more talks and this is progressing. As I said, Najib is a smart politician, taking good advice.

Anwar, on the other hand, seems to believe his own lies and the lies of his weakened Indian leaders that they do not need Hindraf to deliver the Indian votes. Since the hunger strike, there has been a sudden drop of Indians at Pakatan ceramah rpogrammes and yet they continued to believe their own lies.

And then, suddenly, Anwar decided to adopt four minor points from the Hindraf Five-Year Blueprint. Kit Siang stunned the Indians with hisGelang Patah Declaration by plagiarising the Hindraf blueprint as the instant noodle solution to Indian woes. He listened to his Indian leaders and made an unintelligent cut-and-paste from the Hindraf blueprint.

It is unfortunate that seasoned politicians are repeating the mistakes of BN - the denial syndrome and believing their own lies. They have demonised Hindraf as extremist, just as Umno did in 2007. Hindraf is termed irrelevant, a mistake Umno had made.

Hindraf has empowered the Indians. The Indians want a conclusion to their problems. They are not warmongers and do not believe in rhetoric and political stunts.

Hindraf is well aware of the true needs of the Indian grassroots, who will be the kingmakers in 70 crucial Parliament seats. The underclass understand the Hindraf struggle and their commitment to finding a permanent solution to their problems.

With the denial syndrome of Anwar and Kit Siang, and they believing in their own lies, Pakatan is likely to lose Selangor and Kedah, while their hope of Putrajaya will remain their imagination forever. Unfortunately, PAS will be the biggest loser.

The dangerous 13 point Islamic demands of Hefajat-e-Islam and the future of Bangladesh Hindus.

The immense Clash between the Crude and Pseudo Islamist definitely leads into a deadlock of Democracy in Bangladesh upon the dead bodies of Hindus.

~ Upananda Brahmachari.

The Crude Islamists with BNP challenged the Pseudo Islamists led by Awami League (mind it this party is a off-shoot of Awami Muslim League) through a Call for indefinite Hartal on and from Tuesday. Jamat-e-Islami will start its separate Hartal from Thursday the 11 th April 2013 to strengthen the Bangla Taliban Movement in Bangladesh.

As per report of The Daily Star, “‘Sporadic violence in different parts of the country left one person killed and more than 50 injured yesterday (09 April 2013) as the 36-hour shutdown imposed by the BNP-led 18-party alliance began to press for the release of its leaders.

To add to the woes of city dwellers, especially the poor, Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, has called for another hartal tomorrow protesting the “torture of its detained president Delwar Hossain in police remand”.

In the capital, several crude bombs were exploded in different parts during the hartal. Law enforcers remained on guard at the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters since early morning yesterday.

A truck driver was killed when pickets threw brick chips in Baropur area on the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Bogra around 5:00am.

The brick-chips hit the driver, breaking through the windshield and leaving driver Shahidul Islam Khokon critically injured. Doctors declared him dead after he was taken to a hospital.

At least 25 people were injured in a clash between activists of the Bangladesh Chhatra League and Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal in Moulvibazar. At least 15 vehicles and 10 shops were vandalised during the violence. Police arrested four people.

In Narayanganj, 10 people were injured, two by bullets, as the opposition men fought with police. Twenty-three BNP men were detained in this connection.

Police and BNP men exchanged bullets at Chakaria upazila of Cox’s Bazaar, leaving two opposition activists wounded.

In Jamalpur, 10 people were injured in a clash between BCL and BNP men.

In Rajshahi, three people were injured when JCD men clashed with police. Law enforcers fired over 100 rubber bullets and teargas shells to disperse the JCD men, who blasted five cocktails.

Pickets vandalised ten battery-run auto rickshaws, a car and set fire to a pick-up van and three battery-run auto rickshaws at different points in Rangpur. Police arrested five pro-hartal activists.

Other districts such as Jessore, Pirojpur, Chapainawabganj, Chandpur, Gazipur, Pabna, Dinajpur, Chittagong and Khulna also witnessed clashes during the hartal hours.

Unidentified people burned two buses in Gazipur sadar upazila around 7:00pm yesterday.

Meanwhile, Khagrachhari, Rangamati and Bandarban have been exempted from the purview of the hartal on the occasion of Boishabi, a traditional festival of indigenous people welcoming the New Year.”’

From the report above it is clear the hard core Islamist Organisations like Hefajat-e-Islam Bangladesh as sponsored by Jamat-e-Islami Bangladesh or the Hizb ut-Tahrir from the back drop do not leave the ground of Dhaka until the revive a Fundamental Autocracy of Islam again in Bangladesh.

These Islamic nexus to destroy the remaining secular thread of Bangladesh through a huge source of money coming from Arabic and Talibani world. Now it is flashed that Tk 85cr was spent for Hefajat long march to Dhaka to boost up the Islamist of Bangladesh in a very Islamic way.

All these hoodlums’ endeavor are meant for the cessation of rights of Non-Muslims in BD through declaring Bangladesh a complete Islamic State. They are not satisfied with a state religion status of Islam in Bangladesh, where 90% population comes under Islamic faith. The most dangerous 13 point demand of Hefajat has its every force to reconvert Bangladesh again as an Islamic State of Zia ul Haque regimen.

In a written statement, the Hefajat Ameer Shah Ahmad Shafi said, “Our current movement is not political. It’ll (govt) have to agree to our 13-point demand in order to continue in office.”

The ruling Awami League is also shifting gradually from its secular standpoints and have started giving relaxation to the Jamat, Chatra Shivir and Hefajt to calm down a huge mass in favour of the Islamic Law in Bangladesh.

The 13 points of the Islamist group Hefajat-e Islam may be the last thirteen nails in the coffin of Bangladesh Democracy as experts think too ominous. Undoubtedly, the following points must be the unlucky thirteen for the Bangladeshi minorities.

1. Restore the phrase ‘Complete faith and trust in the Almighty Allah’ in the constitution and repeal all the laws contrary to the holy Quran and Sunnah.

2. Pass a law in parliament keeping a provision of the maximum punishment of death sentence to prevent defaming Allah, Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) and Islam and smear campaigns against Muslims.

3. Take measures for stringent punishment against self-declared atheists and bloggers, led the so-called Shahbagh movement, and anti-Islamists who made derogatory remarks against the Prophet.

4. Stop infiltration of all alien-culture, including shamelessness in the name of individual’s freedom of expression, ant-social activities, adultery, free mixing of male and female and candle lighting.

5. Make Islamic education mandatory from primary to higher secondary levels canceling the anti-Islamic women policy and anti-religion education policy.

6. Officially declare Qadianis (Ahmadiyyas) as non-Muslim and stop their propaganda and all conspiratorial ill-moves.

7. Stop setting up sculptures at intersections, schools, colleges and universities across the country.

8. Lift restriction on saying payers in all mosques across the country, including Baitul Mukarram National Mosque, without any hassle and remove obstacles to carrying out religious activities.

9. Stop evil efforts to spread hatred in the mind of young generation regarding Islam through the misrepresentation of religious dresses and cultures in the media.

10. Stop anti-Islam activities by NGOs across the country, including in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and evil attempts of Christian missionaries for conversion.

11. Stop attacks, mass killing, oppression and indiscriminate shooting on Alem-Ulama, devout followers of the Prophet and towhidi janata (revolutionary people).

12. Stop threatening teachers and students of Qawmi madrasas, Islamic scholars, imams and khatibs and conspiracies against them.

13. Free immediately all the arrested Islamic scholars, madrasa students and towhidi janata and withdraw all false cases filed against them, compensate the victims and bring the assailants to justice.

In such a way the Insane Islam is pervading Bangladesh aiming a target to make Bangladesh as definite Hinduless in coming 10 years.

Lawyer: Recognize Victims of ‘Terrorist Rape’

Attorney reports clear trend of sexual assault motivated by hatred of Israel, calls on state to recognize victims as wounded by terrorism.

By Maayana Miskin

There is a clear trend of Arab men sexually assaulting Jewish girls and women as a form of anti-Israel terrorism, attorney Roni Sadovnik said Wednesday, speaking to Arutz Sheva.

Israel’s courts prefer to treat such crimes as solely criminal in nature rather than as crimes motivated by nationalist hate, she said. Changing the status of such crimes would give victims a wider array of services and assistance.

Currently, victims of sex crimes perpetrated by Palestinian Authority men are left to handle the trauma without special help from the state, she explained.

Sadovnik noted a particularly extreme case in which four PA resident teenagers grabbed a 13-year-old Jewish girl from the side of a road north of Jerusalem, beat her and raped her. The girl managed to escape after throwing sand in the eyes of one of her attackers.

The four rapists were convicted, but each will serve just two years in prison due to their young age.

Details of the case, including the attackers’ focus on humiliating their victim, show that the attack was motivated by anti-Jewish hate, Sadovnik said. The crime should have been treated as terrorist attacks are, she added.

Another example is the brutal rape last May in the Gan Ha'Ir mall in Tel Aviv, she said. In that attack, a PA resident man who had entered Israel illegally attacked two Jewish youths over the course of four hours, beating the male and beating and raping the female.

Again, the particular focus on humiliation shows that the motive “was clearly hatred between the peoples,” she said.

When such cases come to court, it is the girls and women who were attacked who are called on to prove that the attack was motivated by nationalism, she said. Prosecutors reach plea bargain arrangements with rapists and other sex attackers which do not include a confession of the attackers’ motives – a confession which could lead to the recognition of the victims as victims of terrorism.

Sadovnik noted that there is a conflict of interests at play. The State Prosecution is essentially part of the government, she said, and the government would be required to fund additional help for victims if the prosecution were to recognize them as victims of terrorism.

There is international precedent for recognizing rape as a crime of war, she said. Regarding the theory that the state may be deliberately reducing prosecution of PA residents for diplomatic reasons, Sadovnik said that she, too, believes it is time for peace – but that peace must not come at the expense of girls and young women attacked by rapists.

Rape has been an element of Arab attacks on Jews in the Land of Israel dating back to the 1929 Hevron Massacre and even earlier. Harassment of Jewish women has become a major issue in the Negev and in parts of Jerusalem, among other places.

In recent years several gang rapes committed by Israeli Arab men have been found to have been motivated by anti-Israel hate. Terrorists who murdered an American Christian female tourist in Israel were found to have committed rape in a separate attack.

The issue of Muslim rape of non-Muslim women has caused controversy outside Israel’s borders as well, including in Norway, where a stormy public debate erupted after police revealed that Muslim immigrants were responsible for nearly all rapes in Oslo.

Indians must go beyond communal thinking

R Kengadharan

Unless we Indians are prepared to make the effort to undertake the necessary changes, we may have to pay the political price.

At this point in time we have no common goals or objectives as we are fragmented and divided. That division is now quite alarming and disturbing.

For the last 55 years we have gone through national humiliation and defeat. We are still struggling to resolve to redeem our national pride.

While this would require greater effort, imagination, competence and creativity, there isn't an aggressive personality noticeable within the community who is a pragmatist willing to compromise, change, adapt and revive strategy.

There isn't the courage and vigour to work towards achieving non-racial democracy.

Any qualitative change will only emerge if our ideas go straight to the hearts.

No change would be effective if it fails to appeal to the community.

Maneuvering on prejudice is not rational. We strongly believe that Malaysia was conceived as belonging to Malaysians and any desired change must be for the greater benefit of all Malaysians regardless of race or religion.

In the present circumstances it is imperative that we must appreciate and correctly understand our current situation and position.

Is it correct and true to say that the Indians are being driven out of everything and could democratic socialism correct the many imbalances suffered by the community?

What has caused communalism in Malaysia? It is none other than profit motivation.

We must forget to work on the basis of race as a political party. Why the Indians must become entrenched in communal politics and is it wrong to adopt a non-communal ideology and would it weaken us?

This preponderance of thought that only a particular organisation is fit to defend the cause of the Indians is an extravagant claim.

If we desire to do what is right and fair we must be anxious to adjust and remove the present imbalances.

The community as a whole must distant itself from the policies of divide and rule and must help to demolish the old political structure which is ingrained in many.

The communal tendencies and prejudices today gravely influence political thinking.

As a consequence, Indian based political parties, NGOs and movements are often inclined to express themselves communally and when we invite and inculcate non-communal policies, attacks, libel and slanders are launched.

While the dire needs and plight of Indians must not be ignored nor shelved, it is imperative and necessary for Indians to affiliate to non-communal ideologies so as to secure their future permanently in the upcoming 13th general election.

Rais says ten minutes airtime is what Pakatan manifesto deserves

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — Datuk Seri Rais Yatim said today the 10-minute airtime given to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties to explain their polls manifesto was “suitable”.

The interim information, communications and culture minister also said the short time offered to PR was more than enough to showcase PR’s pledges.

“It was more than enough because we are only explaining the principles of a party’s struggle. So for BN and the opposition, they deserve to receive the respective airtime after we consider how important it is to explain their manifestos.

“For BN, its more than that, it is a commitment and a vow just as announced by the prime minister,” Rais (picture) told reporters after attending a closed door meeting between BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the coalition’s division leaders at PWTC here.

PR had snubbed the offer, calling it a “joke” and a mockery to the freedom of press.

Leaders from the opposition pact said it had wanted the right of reply, not only during the general elections, but at all times in all of the mainstream media and TV stations, almost all of which are BN-controlled.

Free access to media was among the key eight demands made by the opposition and poll reform group Bersih 2.0. It was also one of the recommendations made by a parliamentary select committee for free and fair elections.

Rais, who told state news agency Bernama it was “ok” to use state assets to campaign ahead of the official campaigning period, said the opportunity was provided in respect of the democratic system of the country and described the snub as “arrogant”.

Meanwhile, the Elections Commission (EC) claimed the offer was to be serial and not one-off and said the opposition had misunderstood government’s intention.

MIC fed up with Pahang BN

Foot-dragging on its request for a state exco position is testing the patience of its members who are now threatening to join Pakatan.

PETALING JAYA: Pahang MIC leaders are miffed that their request for an Indian to be appointed in the Pahang executive council has yet to be resolved by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

A state MIC branch leader said that the Indian community in the state were “fed up” with the Umno-led state leadership for dragging its feet over the long-standing issue.

“It’s no more a state issue but a national concern as it would convince Indians in other states that BN was indeed not concerned about the plight of the community,” he told FMT.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, he added that the possibility of Indians in Pahang crossing over to Pakatan in the upcoming election was high because of this issue.

“Since 1995, Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakop has been giving various excuses to deny us this privilege although Indians constitute five percent of Pahang’s total population.”

According to him, MIC president G Palanivel had raised this matter on various occasions, prompting Najib to agree in principle to appoint an Indian in the Pahang executive council.

Currently, there are 10 executive council posts in the state of which eight is occupied by Umno and two by MCA.

“We hope under the 1Malaysia concept, Najib would direct the incoming menteri besar to announce an Indian executive councillor for the betterment of the community in Pahang soon.”

Last year, Pahang DAP had pledged to appoint an Indian executive councillor in the state government if Pakatan wrests power in Pahang after the 13th general election.

Unhappy with Palanivel

In a related development, another MIC branch chairman from Kuantan urged the national party leadership to revamp the state MIC which he claimed was in a “deplorable” state.

He also forwarded a letter to FMT, penned by disgruntled members of the state MIC, which contained all the wrongdoings of Pahang MIC leaders.

“It is time for Palanivel to ‘clean up’ the state liaison committee whose members are tainted with allegations of being involved in vice activities and corruption,” he said.

“The present batch of leaders in the state have been in their positions for far too long, thus they should retire from politics and pave the way for the younger generation,” he added.

When asked about the Sabai state seat, the only MIC seat in Pahang, the branch leader said there are both pluses and minuses about the seat.

“The good thing is, the incumbent and three-term assemblyman, M Davendran, had decided not to contest this time around as to make way for fresh faces.

“The bad thing is Palanivel is still adamant on fielding an outsider for the seat despite protestations from Sabai voters who are keen on a local [Bentong] candidate.”

Speculation is that Palanivel has identified state deputy chairman R Goonasakaren for Sabai. Goonasakaren is also Adnan Yaakop’s special officer.

It is learnt that the state BN leadership is unhappy with Palanivel’s choice of Goonasakaren.

Ambiga wows Seremban crowd

Thousands brave the rain to hear the Bersih leader speak of voters’ rights and responsibilities.

SEREMBAN: Thousands of rain-drenched spectators cheered last night as Bersih chief S Ambiga delivered a spirited speech that urged voters to come out in full force to minimise the effect of fraud in the 13th general election.

Making her first public appearance in Negeri Sembilan as leader of the election watchdog group, Ambiga spoke about “one of the most important elections” in Malaysian history and appeared to have the crowd eating out of her hands as she threw them leading questions about the responsibility of voters, their rights as citizens in a democracy and whether they deserved a better government.

It drizzled throughout the night at Taman AST in Seremban, but the large crowd—most estimates put the number at around 10,000—stayed to the end, yelling out the appropriate “Yes” or “No” to every question she asked.

Ambiga was careful not to declare her preference for any party contesting in the election, but she spoke about the necessity for change.

“Saudara, saudari,” she said. “Don’t be afraid of change. Nothing wrong with change. There are people who say, ‘Don’t change. If you change, we don’t know what will happen. There will be unrest and this and that.’

“Don’t believe them. Do you believe them?”

“No,” came the thunderous reply.

In an apparent response to the BN rhetoric about experience in governance, she said voters in the 13th general election were fortunate to have the opportunity to compare how BN and Pakatan Rakyat had performed as state governments in the last five years.

“Some of them say Pakatan Rakyat doesn’t have a track record. I’m telling you, for the first time in our life, we can compare Barisan Nasional with Pakatan Rakyat.

“Both now have track records. You can compare [and decide] which is good governance, clean, transparent and accountable.

“You can make the decision. I’m not telling you who to vote for. That I can’t do.”

The thrust of her speech, however, was to urge for a good voter turnout.

“We want free and peaceful elections. So can I have your promise, saudara saudari, that all of you will go out and vote? Go to the polling station early and vote early. Can you do that?”

The multiracial crowd replied with a deafening “Yes.”

Bersih, Pakatan accused of using dirty tactics

Former Transparent International-Malaysia president Tunku Aziz claims election agents and voters have been trained to create chaos on polling day.

PETALING JAYA: Former Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) president Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim today urged Bersih and Pakatan Rakyat to state their stand on the purported strategies designed to create “chaos” on polling day.

“We have received related documents that appear to indicate that there are plans by certain parties to disrupt the 13th general election by creating chaos and besmirching the Election Commission [EC] to undermine the public’s confidence in the integrity of the democratic electoral process.

“Training sessions, known as PACABA, have been conducted for polling and counting agents by the NGO Tindak Malaysia. One particular aspect of such training sessions is to teach the voter to guard the secrecy of his or her vote,” he said.

He further claimed that people are being trained to demand for random ballot paper in order to guarantee the secrecy of their votes.

Tunku Aziz said asking for random ballot paper means that a voter will demand for a ballot paper from the middle or bottom of the pile and not the one on the top.

“The people attending such training are encouraged to challenge the election clerks on duty of committing an electoral offence if they refuse to issue a random ballot to the voter, while polling agents have been trained to support such a request by the voter.

“These people are specially trained to cause trouble and when the police have to intervene and remove the people involved, this would make it look like the election is dirty and video recordings of such instances will attract a lot of international attention,” claimed Tunku Aziz.

He said that such training sessions have been conducted at various places, in “certain state-owned venues under the administration of the Pakatan state governments.”

“They are teaching people to make a mockery of the democratic system. These are also strategies to demonise the EC and to make Malaysia look like a country run by a bunch of dictators.

“We have also seen an internal PKR document dated Dec 15, 2012 which lists out various steps to create chaos and dissatisfaction against the EC on polling day by raising repeated protests at the polling station so as to cause the other voters waiting in the queue to be unhappy and dissatisfied with the EC,” he said.

Negative perception

He said this is to delay the entire voting process thereby causing long queues at certain designated polling stations.

“All these are designed to cast a negative perception on the EC and stir public outrage against the EC, bringing it into disrepute.

“The PKR document and what that has been promoted by Tindak Malaysia show how easily chaos can be created at polling stations on polling day,” he said.

Tunku Aziz also urged Bersih co-chairperson S Ambiga to state her stand in the issue.

“Ambiga should make a declaration as to her involvement or otherwise in this. She should come out in the open and say whether she is a part of it or not.

“Also, since Tindak Malaysia by its own admission works with Bersih and Bersih is also known to be close to leaders from the Pakatan Rakyat coalition, we want to ask Bersih: does Bersih condone such training sessions insisting on randomisation of ballot papers by Tindak Malaysia?

“If yes, has Bersih ever made this one of its demands for electoral reforms to the EC? If not, is there a hidden agenda?” he asked.

The former DAP vice-chairman and senator also challenged all political parties to state their stand on the randomisation of the ballot paper.

“Randomisation of the ballot paper has never been an issue in all the past 12 general elections. Such an attack against the integrity of an institution like the EC is totally uncalled for and tantamount to undermining the entire democratic and electoral process of this country.

“We challenge all political parties participating in the election to sign a public declaration that they will not under any circumstances be involved in any move to disrupt the electoral process on polling day,” he said.

Muhideen Yassin’s call to Tamil school teachers is shallow and insincere

S.Ramakrishnan

Yesterday (8/4/2013) Tan Sri Muhiddin Yassin met Tamil school teachers and headmasters from all over Malaysia in SRJK (T) Simpang Lima, Klang. Teachers from all over Malaysia had left their teaching responsibilities and their students to do their own work and had to travel to Klang just to be ordered to support BN in the forthcoming general elections.

He further reminded them not to make any anti-government statements in facebook and other social media and not say anything negative about the government. He had also ordered them to vote for BN in the forthcoming general elections.


Voting is a democratic choice of a citizen. The former DPM has no business to order anybody to vote for a particular party. Besides it is secret and nobody will know whom anyone votes for. Tan Sri MuhideenYassin is no more minister of education to issue such undemocratic orders that restricts the citizen’s right to vote for his/her choice of candidates in the coming elections.

As a caretaker minister his business is to conduct only ordinary matters of administration and not to abuse the government machinery by subtly ordering teachers and other government servants. Isn’t it a waste of government money and abuse of power to have called for such a meeting for political purpose?


After losing 2/3 majority in parliament and 4 states to Pakatan Rakyat, BN is superficially courting Indian votes by making promises on more handouts to Tamil Schools. Tan Sri Muhiddin Yassin is duty bound to explain how education quality has improved in Tamil schools during his tenure in the ministry.

What structural reform has he made to include Tamil school’s development into the mainstream of education framework? UMNO will never accept vernacular education into the mainstream of education system. But MIC will bend backward to accommodate and tolerate UMNO’s step motherly attitude.


Indian contractors who submitted quotations for tenders on renovation work in Tamil Schools are disgusted at the education ministry’s flip flop policies and procedures. Can Tan Sri Muhiddin Yassin inform the Malaysian Indians how much of the RM100 million announced by Prime Minister in 2012 and 2013 budget delivered to schools and given to Indian contractors?

There is no information and transparency in this allocation announced by the prime minister. UMNO/BN has deprived Tamil Schools and Indians their equal opportunity for facilities and scholarships.


Can Tan Sri Muhiddin Yassin reveal why nearly 65% of Tamil school students go to remove classes? What has the ministry of education done to reduce this figure? Most remove class students drop off before completing secondary schools.

Did Tan Sri Muhiddin Yassin call for urgent meetings to resolve this issue? By removing remove class without addressing the weakness in syllabus content will only transfer the problem to from one.

Ministry of education officers have no clue or rather will and wish to handle this issue.
For the information of Tan Sri Muhiddin Yassin, Indians are no more BN’s fixed deposits. Indians want equal rights as citizens of this county.

Is it agreeable to you Tan Sri? Will you redress these denied justice and rights of Malaysian Indians? Election gimmicks are observable and people are more aware of the parochial and racist traits of UMNO/BN.

At least one term as opposition party, will transform UMNO/BN into a more inclusive and a party for all.

Regardless of whether the BN candidate is Ghani Othman or other UMNO heavyweight, the Battle of Gelang Patah for a Malaysian Dream and to kick off a political tsunami from the south to complete the 2008 political tsunami is definitely on

Deputy Barisan Nasional (BN) Chairman and Deputy UMNO President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin predicted that I would be defeated in the BN fortress of Gelang Patah.

Muhyiddin said the BN is looking into the possibility of fielding Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Abdul Ghani Othman in Gelang Patah and that I am “trapped” as I had not anticipated an UMNO big-gun being deployed to contest in the constituency.

I admit that I had not anticipated an UMNO big-gun being deployed to contest in Gelang Patah, as who would have thought that MCA leadership could so openly admit that they don’t have a single MCA “big-gun” left for Gelang Patah or that MCA would have a President for the first time in MCA history who is prepared to give away parliamentary and state assembly seats to be contested by other BN parties, like Gelang Patah, Kuantan, Wangsa Maju and Tronoh as if conducting a “fire sale” of MCA assets.

However, whether the BN candidate in Gelang Patah is Ghani or some other UMNO heavyweight does not change the basic objectives and thrust of the Battle of Gelang Patah, which has the dual objective of firstly, mobilising Malaysians in support of the Malaysian Dream as the one envisioned by the great Johor Malay leader and founding UMNO President, Datuk Onn Jafaar in 1951 and secondly, to kick off a political tsunami from the south in the 13GE to complete the partial 2008 political tsunami towards the establishment of a Pakatan Rakyat federal government.

The Battle of Gelang Patah, which is in fact the Battle of Johor and the Battle of Malaysia, is definitely set and on regardless of whom I have to face as BN candidate.

Come what may, even facing the possibility of defeat, I shall not withdraw from the Gelang Patah constituency.

I had already taken a high-risk decision in leaving the Ipoh Timor parliamentary constituency where I had won with over 21,000-vote majority in the 2008 general elections to contest in a BN “fortress” which was won by the BN candidate with close to 9,000-vote majority in 2008 and the humongous majority of 31,666 votes in 2004.

If Ghani, a four-term Johor Mentri Besar, contests in Gelang Patah, the pressure on me will increase by a thousand tons!

But I shall not withdraw, as the reasons for initiating the Battle of Gelang Patah remains as valid as ever whether Ghani is a candidate or not.

I have the greatest respect for Ghani but if I have to contest against him in Gelang Patah, I invite him to join me to make the Gelang Patah battle the model of a gentlemanly electoral battle throughout the country, where the candidates and their respective parties will conduct the most free, fair, clean and gentlemanly election campaign for the entire 13GE – which is most important pertinent and relevant with worrying signs that the 13GE is shaping up to be the dirtiest in the history of general elections since the first GE in 1959.

BN Leaders Not Chosen Must Accept Decision With Open Heart - Tun Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 (Bernama) -- Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today reminded Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders who are not chosen as candidates for the 13th General Election (GE13), to accept the decision with an open heart.

Mahathir said they (those not chosen) must accept the reality that time will come for them to step aside.

"If they really love the party, they will accept the decision made by the party leadership with an open heart and support the chosen candidate. They must realise that when they were chosen, it was due to the support from the ground that helped them win, so it is now their turn to support them," he said during a question and answer session that was broadcast on TV3, Wednesday night.

The programme was hosted by Media Prima news and editorial operations executive director Datuk Ahmad A.Talib.

Mahathir said ideally candidates must be replaced at every general election to provide an opportunity for new faces to serve the party and people.

He said for example, in Umno, if the same old faces were to contest, it would result in members shying away from the party.

"As a result, Umno's membership will shrink because it comprise people who are stale and not talented," he said.

Mahathir also reminded elected representatives in BN who are not chosen, to continue supporting the party, to repay their gratitude to the party for having given them an opportunity in the past.

If they cannot accept decisions made, it meant they are self-centered and not in line with the party's principle, that of to serve the people, he said.

Najib To Launch Selangor BN Special Manifesto Next Week

SHAH ALAM, April 10 (Bernama) -- The Selangor Barisan Nasional (BN) special manifesto for the 13th general election is expected to be launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak next week.

Najib is also Selangor BN chairman and election director.

Selangor BN election deputy director Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Mohamed said they were in the midst of finding the suitable date for the launch.

Generally, the Selangor BN manifesto was aimed at making Selangor a premier state, in line with the federal government's development, through the Economic Transformation Programme to add value to the knowledge-based economy and human resources," he told reporters after meeting with Federal Village Security and Development Committee representatives here Wednesday.

Mohd Zin said the manifesto also emphasised on people's welfare and wellbeing, as well as on efforts to turn Selangor as Malaysia's new economic growth booster.

He said through the manifesto, Selangor BN also promised to provide affordable homes, incentives and various aids to the people, development along the road linking Klang and Port Klang, as well as an economic growth area covering Port Klang, KL International Airport and Kuala Lumpur.

Selangor BN also promised to solve the issues of water supply, flash floods and waste disposal in the state, he said.

Mohd Zin said Selangor BN was also prepared to face the general election and the members were in high spirit to ensure victory for the coalition.

"I can see that their spirit, level of preparedness and mood, have increased since the dissolution of Parliament on April 3," he added.