The Muslim Brotherhood in flux

Egypt is on the cusp of dramatic change. For the first time in three decades, the country will soon have a new president, either through election in 2011 - which would be unprecedented in Egyptian history - or through the death of the ailing 82-year-old president Hosni Mubarak, an event that has the potential to set off the most significant civil unrest in the Middle East since the 1979 revolution in Iran.

The Egyptian government reportedly has a detailed plan to shut down the country if Mubarak dies, including such details as the "mournful Quranic verses" that will play on state television. The black-clothed and plain-clothed security forces, well experienced in using their batons to squelch dissent, would be mobilised en masse.

Still, it is impossible to predict what would happen if, despite Egyptians' reputation for political lethargy, opposition groups managed to put tens of thousands of followers into the streets of Cairo to protest what many expect will be an attempted handover of power to Mubarak's son, Gamal.

The key to any roadblock on the path to such "republarchy" lies with the Muslim Brotherhood, the world's most influential Islamist movement and far and away the largest and best-organised counterweight to Mubarak's National Democratic Party (NDP). Change in Egypt, for better or worse, does not materialise without the Brothers.

When former International Atomic Energy Agency chief and Nobel Prize winner Mohamed ElBaradei - the great hope of Egypt's secular leftists - returned home this year and launched a petition drive to demand the government lift its most onerous national security laws and reform electoral practices, his National Association for Change gathered 106,661 signatures in support by early September. The Muslim Brotherhood came up with more than 650,000.

The Brotherhood has 88 seats in parliament, compared to the 34 politicians representing all other non-NDP parties.

Protest groups such as the Egyptian Movement for Change, or Kifaya, which became a Western media darling during the 2005 election, rely on the Brotherhood to put thousands of supporters into the streets.

Yet with Egypt's November 28 parliamentary elections approaching, the Brotherhood finds itself in flux.

Long repressed by authorities and still technically outlawed, the group is coming off a landmark five-year term in which it served as the largest-ever minority bloc in Egypt's short multi-party political history and the loudest critic of Mubarak's 30-year authoritarian rule.

But the Brothers have bucked their best allies in the opposition by refusing calls for an election boycott, which some say is the most effective way to counter Egypt's gerrymandered electoral system. This, even as the Brotherhood itself believes it is about to suffer a rigged defeat at the polls that will reduce its representation in parliament by more than half.

Some Brotherhood members have said publicly that the choice to participate is a mistake, with others calling it a missed opportunity that reflects the group's internal strife and indicates the dearth of creative strategic thinkers in the conservative, 82-year-old organisation.

Others see the practical advantage to be had by holding even a slimmed parliamentary presence, while the group's leadership insists that their course is set by broad consensus and does not shift with the political winds.

As the Brotherhood is pulled inexorably toward a post-Mubarak world in which it figures to be a major player, nobody knows quite where it is headed.

The Brotherhood, five years on

Essam al-Arian, a member of the Brotherhood's cabinet and its unofficial spokesman, is a wanted man. On a recent night in Cairo, he was juggling calls from multiple journalists on his mobile phone, dealing with Egyptian television networks hungry for the group's opinion in the run-up to the election.

Even with many predicting the Brotherhood will win only 20 or 30 seats and be overtaken by the liberal but regime-friendly Wafd party, Arian said the Brotherhood is prepared to press forward.

"It is clear to all observers that we are going on [with] our strategy to participate politically," he told Al Jazeera. "Some people want us to be out of the seats, but ... we struggle [against] any attempt to exclude us from the political scene."

The Brotherhood, he said, is satisfied with its performance in parliament over the past five years, despite the suffocating effect of the NDP's majority hold on government.

In 2005, with the Bush administration publicly pressuring Mubarak to hold free and fair elections, the Brotherhood swept into parliament, winning nearly 20 per cent of the 444 seats up for the vote (10 deputies are appointed directly by Mubarak).

The Brotherhood's 88 victorious politicians officially ran as independents, since religious political parties are banned in Egypt, but their real affiliation was well known, and their campaign posters featured the group's slogan: "Islam is the solution."

Despite the tagline, the Brotherhood operated along straightforward reformist lines in parliament.

In a 2006 paper, Samer Shehata and Joshua Stacher examined the Brotherhood's new political life and noted several achievements: mobilising politicians to oppose the renewal of emergency laws in place since the assassination of Anwar al-Sadat and vowing to publish the names of those who voted in favour; protesting and calling for a no-confidence vote against Mahmoud Abu al-Layl, the justice minister many held responsible for allowing fraud in the 2005 vote; and raising awareness about and criticising the government's response to the H5N1 or "bird flu" virus.

Predictably, though, the Brotherhood's practical efforts to actually write, change or annul laws have been stifled.

"Of course we are now lacking freedom, we are lacking democracy, we are now suffering a lot from restrictions on the media," Arian said. "The regime is more old, more rigid, more [of a] dictatorship. All of this is changed backwards, not forwards."

Still on the scene

Since the election, the regime has cracked down. According to the Brotherhood, around 600 of its members have been arrested since the announcement in October that the group would participate in the 2010 vote but challenge only 30 per cent of the seats.

The government has struck at the Brotherhood's finances as well: in 2007, Khairat al-Shater and Hassan Malik, two Brotherhood members said to play prominent roles funding the group, were tried and convicted on money laundering and terrorism charges in a military court along with 25 other members.

According to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, the Brotherhood will field only 107 candidates for the upcoming vote, even as parliament has increased to 508 seats with the addition of 64 spots reserved for women. The Brotherhood at first put forward 135 candidates - a drop from the 160 they nominated in 2005 - but government officials disqualified 28.

Some outside observers have speculated that the result of a Brotherhood internal cabinet election last year signalled a power shift from so-called "moderates" like Arian, who reportedly favour challenging the regime at the ballot box, to "conservative" leaders, including current leader Mohammed Badie, who reportedly want to put more emphasis on the Brotherhood's traditional and quieter areas of expertise: social work and proselytising.

The December election for the 16-member executive bureau, called the Guide's Office, saw defeats for leading Brotherhood reformists such as Abdelmonem Abulfotouh and deputy general guide Mohammed Habib, though Arian retained his seat. The following month, Badie was elected the new General Guide - the Brotherhood's top leadership position.

Marc Lynch, an associate professor at George Washington University and an Egypt watcher, wrote on the Foreign Policy website after the cabinet vote that it "likely signals both a withdrawal from political engagement and possibly some serious internal splits".

"Such an internal retreat from democratic engagement has seemed increasingly likely ... as regime repression and political manipulation slammed the door in the face of [Brotherhood] efforts to be democrats," he wrote.

But Arian claimed that analysis missed the mark. The Brotherhood remains eager to use the political arena to promote its Islamist solutions to Egypt's quagmire, he said.

"That is our duty now, to make the link between the social and economic problems and the ultimate political reform," he said. "To explain such issues to the people and to create the link in their minds between poverty, unemployment, the constitutional crisis and the political situation."

Dissent in the ranks

But Abdelrahman Ayyash, a 21-year-old Brotherhood blogger, said that choosing to participate in the election this year was a mistake that has created a schism between the Brotherhood and reform leaders such as ElBaradei and Ayman Nour, the former presidential candidate for the secular Ghad party who was imprisoned and reportedly mistreated during the 2005 election.

Ayyash, a computer engineering student who said he sees a role for "liberal Islamists" in reforming Arab societies, faulted the Brotherhood's new conservative leadership for trying to "build a bridge" to the regime and said that reformist voices were being excluded.

"The Muslim Brotherhood now has no strategic point of view, in my opinion," he said.

Although Badie claimed that a survey of the group's parliament, or Shura Council, yielded 98 per cent support for participating in the election, Ayyash pointed to statements made by Hamid Ghazali, a Cairo University professor and former advisor to previous general guide Mohammed Akef, who said that no more than 52 per cent of the council agreed.

"The organisation will benefit a little from participating in the election, but what I'm worried about is the loss of the other parties, or of the other Egyptian activists or politicians, who will lose a lot," he said. "What we can make or gain by boycotting the election will be more" than what the Brotherhood can achieve in parliament.

'The opposition lost an opportunity'

The Brotherhood's decision to run may spring mostly from a simple desire to ensure its immediate survival, said Michele Dunne, a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment and former US government Middle East analyst.

"As a banned organisation that's constantly under the threat of being closed down ... I think they feel that having deputies in the assembly who have parliamentary immunity and who have a public platform to criticise any measures taken against the Brotherhood and who are in the media day in and day out, this is of some value for them," Dunne said.

Earlier this year, a group of Egypt's secular minority parties, including the Wafd, socialist Tagammu, liberal Democratic Front, and the nationalist Nasserists, put together a list of demands that they presented to the government. They asked for some electoral reforms - "simple stuff," Dunne said - and threatened a boycott if their demands were not honoured.

"They were stiffed, 100 per cent," she said. The Democratic Front party and Nour's Ghad party are the only groups that have followed through on boycotts.

But the Democratic Front is a new party and holds no seats in parliament, and other opposition groups, such as Baradei's National Association for Change and the April 6 Movement, are not parties and have nothing to lose when they make passionate calls for boycotts, Dunne said.

Shadi Hamid, the director of research at the Brookings Institution's branch in Qatar and a close observer of the Muslim Brotherhood, said he understood the Brotherhood's rationale but still disagreed with their decision.

"This was the time to boycott," he said. "The opposition really lost an opportunity."

Hamid, who has written recently about free but "meaningless" elections in the Arab world, sees little actual progress for opposition groups when regimes find ways to exclude candidates on technicalities and maintain upper houses of parliament with veto power over lower houses.

In a mostly overlooked June election for Egypt's upper house, the Shura Council, which was marred by reported vote-buying, police interference and violent clashes, the Muslim Brotherhood won no seats, while the NDP won 80 of 88.

Regimes like Egypt's rely on the facade of democratic freedom to appease their allies and sponsors in the West, Hamid said, and a full opposition boycott would have undermined this claim.

But the Brotherhood continues to preach patience, looking at their decades of work and seeing history on their side. "What makes sense for the Brotherhood might not make sense for the future of Egypt's democracy," Hamid said.

Built for the long haul

If the Brotherhood's behaviour toward Egypt's progressives seems questionable, it is worth remembering that the group is not really a political party, and that it has deep roots as a religious and social movement that many join simply to become better Muslims.

Even Hamid acknowledges that with at least 300,000 dedicated members, a "massive bureaucracy," and a constituency that is more conservative than its leadership, the Brotherhood should not be expected to make fast political adjustments.

"We have solidarity, not individuality," Arian said.

But that might be a problem if rifts in the group become serious, said Andrew Albertson, the executive director of the Project on Middle East Democracy.

"There aren't a lot of high-level leaders who everyone respects," he said. "If you don't have someone who everyone commonly respects, it's hard to defuse the tension in a movement like this."

Working in the Brotherhood's favour, however, are its structure and elections system, which are arguably more democratic than Egypt's own.

As Hamid describes it, each member belongs to a local osra, or family. With around 10 to 20 other members, they meet every week and share an Islamic educational curriculum. Fifty families make up a sha'aba, or branch, and 10 branches make up a district. Multiple districts comprise governorates, which do not necessarily correspond to the 29 that make up the official Egyptian state.

Since 2004, the Brotherhood has held leadership elections at every level of its organisation, Hamid said.

The Brotherhood's parliament is similarly elected, though there have been allegations that supposedly secret ballots were compromised when members have visited others at home to apply pressure to vote a certain way. Egypt's repressive security situation also means that not every member is able to cast a vote, as reportedly occurred during the recent Guide's Office election.

Such measures have ensured the Brotherhood's survival, even its flourishing, in a political environment that is, to say the least, a harsh place for opposition elements to survive. Around two million Egyptians cast their vote for Brotherhood candidates in 2005, Arian claimed.

Though Brotherhood candidates are almost assuredly going to fare poorly this year, and the organisation will probably undergo an internal debate over its ideology in the post-election shakeout, its participation and the sliver of representation that will come from it grants the group a continued voice and legitimacy. It also means they retain a rhetorical right to complain about electoral procedures.

"Unless someone goes out and participates, it's going to be hard to point out the flaws in the system," Albertson said.

By contrast, the Brotherhood's political party in Jordan - the Islamic Action Front (IAF) - chose to sit out this year's parliamentary vote, anticipating - as Hamid wrote - that even a multi-party, "fair" election for the lower house would be meaningless and rigged. Hamid supported the boycott, but Albertson said the IAF will probably regret being unable to participate in parliament. Boycotting the vote is not likely to affect Jordanians' views of their government's legitimacy one way or the other, he said.

'Liberal Islamists' in an age of Islamophobia

By holding on to seats in parliament, the Egyptian Brotherhood also knows that its members will enjoy the general immunity from prosecution granted to elected officials and will be able to participate in official government meetings with representatives from the US, even if such contacts are not supposed to include discussion of Brotherhood-specific issues.

US embassy personnel sometimes meet behind the scenes with Brotherhood members, and there are no rules that say US diplomats cannot talk to the Brotherhood when they happen to bump into members at international gatherings, Hamid said. But whatever discussions the Brotherhood has had with the US do not seem to have resulted in any payoff with the Obama administration.

In a speech delivered in Cairo in 2009, Obama vowed to support democracy and the rule of law, calling them "human rights," but his effort on such issues in Egypt has been tepid. The Bush administration, which eventually walked back from its vigorous programme of democracy promotion after a Hamas victory in Palestine, was more outspoken before the 2005 Egyptian election. Many believe this led to the initial opening that allowed the Brotherhood to gain so many seats in the first round of voting.

The Brotherhood is constantly insecure about its perception in the West, Hamid said, fearing that in a post-September 11 age of Islamophobia, it will be lumped in with al-Qaeda.

"We won't be another Iran," Ayyash insisted, adding that he believes Islamists will support US national security interests. "The Islamists in general are trying to find the way between the liberal values of equality and citizenship and to put them in action, but from the Islamic aspect."

The role of women and members of other religions, especially whether a woman or a Coptic Christian, for instance, should be allowed to assume an elected position of power, remains a source of heated debate within the Brotherhood, Dunne said. The same goes for homosexuality, sexual liberty and drug and alcohol use. But the Brotherhood has reached general consensus on the principle that the ultimate authority in Egyptian society should be derived from the people, not religion, Dunne and others say.

"I believe that moderate Islamists will give the freedom for parties to form even if these parties are fighting their ideology," Ayyash said. "If the people say yes to homosexuality, for instance, if I were in power I think that I would leave power ... and I'll be in the opposition to try to convince people that this is wrong."

"But," he added, "I think Egyptians at this moment will refuse that because it is against the Quran."

Obama lays low

Despite such paeans to democracy, the Brotherhood remains officially unsupported and unprotected by the US.

Though the US state department did issue a statement about the upcoming parliamentary vote this week, employing the familiar rhetoric of "free and transparent" elections, Dunne said that the "few things" Obama officials have tried so far to promote democracy in Egypt "have not been all that successful".

But the administration's comparative caution is an improvement, said Brian Katulis, a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and a Middle East specialist.

"I don't think the Bush administration was all that smart in trying to advance its freedom agenda," he said. "I don't think it led to any openings at all, and in fact it elicited the sort of response that led to a retrenchment."

The Bush model involved sending secretary of state Condoleezza Rice to "scream from the rooftops," Katulis said. (In 2005, Rice delivered a speech at the American University in Cairo in which she said that "for 60 years, the United States pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the Middle East, and we achieved neither".)

"What [the Obama administration is] trying to do is be much more effective at figuring out what would create the space for those reformers who want to push forward pragmatic change," Katulis said.

In his view, that should mean not picking favourites, whether they might be ElBaradei or the Muslim Brotherhood.

"We always look for the Nelson Mandela-like figure," he said. "What's more important than individual leaders is building a system that sustains itself."

By most accounts, Egyptians today are both discouraged and disengaged with their country's political process. Even if one assumes the government's turnout numbers are accurate, only around 9 per cent of the total population cast a vote in the presidential race in 2005. And observers are nearly unanimous in their belief that democratic evolution will not proceed in Egypt without the Brotherhood.

"There was a certain group that we saw had a dominant voice under the Bush administration - neoconservatives who felt that you could have democracy without Islamists," Katulis said. "I think those people haven't spent much time on the ground in places like Egypt."

To deny the Muslim Brotherhood a strong role in government, as Mubarak seems intent on doing, means a huge swath of Egyptian society remains voiceless.

"It's hard to imagine a process of democratisation in Egypt that does not involve the pious middle class, which the Muslim Brotherhood so ably represents," Albertson said.

Obama should engage directly with the Brotherhood, said Hamid, adding that he believes Gamal Mubarak would be even more hostile to them.

"Liberals and leftists unfortunately can't bring people to the streets in the Arab world," Hamid said. Islamists have the benefit of an existing infrastructure for disseminating their message - the mosque - and political discourse in the region has historically circled around Islam, because "this is the language that people have".

Or in Ayyash's words: "The Arab people are very emotional and a very religious people, and they are more affected by the speech of the moderate Islamists than the regimes."

Source: Al Jazeera

13th General Elections: BN opens doors for direct membership. Arrogant PKR, DAP and PAS even refuses to talk to HRP & HINDRAF. Refuse to share even one seat with HRP.

“Doors open for associates” so announces the UMNO led bi racial One Malay-sia racist and supremacist Prime Minister Najib Razak. BN also opened it’s doors to NGOs’ and associations to become “friends of Barisan” by becoming BN affiliate members. (See below NST 21/11/10 at page N2)

But the arrogant PKR, DAP and PAS has refused to even talk to HRP and HINDRAF whose 25th November 2007 HINDRAF Rally was the catalyst that caused them to for the first time in the history of Malaysia win five states and deprive BN of their 2/3 majority in Parliament.

Just because HRP and HINDRAF has refused to become the Indian mandores for PKR, DAP and PAS as HRP and HINDRAF has refused to become the Indian mandores for BN.

Just because HRP and HINDRAF is fighting against the UMNO and also PKR, DAP and PAS racism and religious supremacy agenda.

Just because HRP and HINDRAF are fighting for social justice also for the Indian poor.

Just because HRP and HINDRAF are fighting to also include the Indian poor into the national mainstream development of bi racial One Malay-sia.

Just because HRP and HINDRAF speaks up for the Indian poor without fear or favour.

Just because HRP and HINDRAF is fighting to end all acts of racism and religious extremism against the Indian poor.

Even the cruel UMNO regime without even the MIC having to lift a finger has allocated to MIC/PPP ten Parliament and 20 State Assembly seats for the upcoming 13th General Elections in 2011/12/13.

PKR, DAP & PAS argument that they too have some 11 Indian MP’s and 14 Indian ADUNs does not hold water as they are merely used as the PKR, DAP & PAS Indian mandores just like how UMNO/BN had been using MIC/PPP MPs ADUNs as their Indian mandores. These PKR, DAP and PAS Indian mandores cannot speak up without fear or favour against their tuans, towkeys and tuan hajis in PKR, DAP and PAS.

They are precluded by the PKR, DAP and PAS towkays, tuan and tuan hajis from raising even 1% of the Indian poor problems raised in our website www.humanrightspartymalaysia.com which is highlighted on a day to day basis.

To the direct contrary the arrogant PKR, DAP and PAS has even refused to talk to HRP and HINDRAF let alone showing some form of gratitude for their 2008 Election tsunami victory.

Where is the change when compared to UMNO/BN? With this attitude will PKR, DAP and PAS make a difference when they get to Putrajaya?

Irrespective of whether Rama or Ravana is going to rule, HRP will proceed with it’s Project 15/38 ie HRP contesting in 15 Parliament and 38 State seats in the seven frontline Indian states as per P.Uthayakumar’s book "Malaysian Indian Political Empowerment Strategy- The Way Forward"

“Rights not Mercy”

S.JAYATHAS

Information Chief

Putrajaya fired over new sedition rules covering cyberspace

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Putrajaya’s plan to define the controversial sedition law for cyberspace has drawn fire from several quarters even before the details are out.

Opposition lawmakers and a few others who depend on the Internet and social media applications like Twitter and Face Book to get their messages to the masses today voiced fears the archaic law is being strengthened to clamp down on freedom of speech and cut out criticism against government policies.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishamuddin Hussein was yesterday reported saying the guidelines covering sedition on the Internet will be out next week, but not when they would be enforced. Under the ten-point Bill of Guarantees (BoGs) of the Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor launched in 1996, the government promised not to enforce any censorship.

He added Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Utama Dr Rais Yatim; Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz; and the Attorney General’s Office had been roped in to draw up the new rules on sedition.

PAS lawmaker Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad slammed the ruling Barisan Nasional federal government for moving to limit the spaces available for dissenting political views ahead of the 13th general elections, widely believed will be called in the next six months.

“It’s close to elections. They, meaning Umno-BN, want to narrow the space available to us in the cyber media to communicate our messages,” the Kuala Selangor MP told The Malaysian Insider today.

Dr Dzulkefly said the cyber world was the best bet for Pakatan Rakyat parties to reach out to the masses to deliver their messages because they lacked access to the traditional print and broadcast media.

He added that non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals critical of the BN government would also likely suffer under the new rules.

“If you look at the blogs that attack the government, they cannot tolerate anymore, so they come down heavily using sedition so nobody will dare to criticise,” said the PAS central working committee member.

“On my blog, I have found comments challenging me that were unjustified. I don’t mind that kind of dissent or attack.

“The issue of sedition is where is the boundary? When do you cross the line?” said the 53-year-old who posts regularly at blog.drdzul.com.

Dr Dzulfkefly said he is against enhancing the sedition act further, noting the authorities had misused the law in its present form and was likely to do once the new rules came into play.

“When it comes to prosecution, it’s always selective,” he said.

Blogger-turned-politician Jeff Ooi was more circumspect in commenting on the changes to the sedition law.

“I’d like to look at the details before I comment. I’d not want the new laws to stifle the freedom of expression of online media,” the Jelutong MP told The Malaysian Insider over the phone from George Town.

He noted the government’s greatest critics were the educated middle-class urbanites.

The ruling Barisan Nasional had lost a historic five states in the 2008 general elections as well as its two-thirds control of the Dewan Rakyat, which is necessary to amend the Federal Constitution but not if it wants to pass new laws.

The DAP man expressed doubt the changes will help to put down the heightened racial tension in present day Malaysia he claimed was being “pumped up” by Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.

“Traditional media has pumped up racial tensions, for example, Utusan with articles by its editor Zaini Hassan. The traditional laws have not been invoked to deal with such matters,” Ooi said.

He was referring to the Malay daily’s recent opinion piece calling for May 13 to be remembered as a “sacred day” after the bloody racial riots that broke out 41 years ago, prompting Malaysia’s second prime minister Tun Razak Hussein to revise an economic plan granting the Malays certain privileges to lift them from being mired in poverty.

“I suspect it’s an act for BN to stifle the freedom of speech,” he added.

Like Dr Dzulkefly, Ooi questioned the timing of the amendments to the sedition act.

“We’re fast approaching the next general elections. We already have one set of laws but it’s not being invoked.

“Whatever is seditious offline as in traditional media, the same principle should apply,” the politician said.

Lawyer Edmund Bon said he could not see the need for the Home Ministry to “refine” the law further.

“We think the Sedition Act is archaic and should be abolished,” said the Bar Council’s constitutional law chief.

Bon, a vocal civil rights activist tweets and writes with a passion for LoyarBurok.com — a free website that publishes law news.

He said Malaysian society would be moving backwards if the authorities moved to control the spread of information that is widely and freely available through electronic applications like Twitter and Face Book.

“With Twitter and the Internet, this kind of thing is so difficult to enforce and prosecute,” he said.

Bon described Putrajaya’s latest move as a “form of threat” to curtail dissent against government policies.

“The law must go, we should have nothing to do with perpetuating the breaches of the right to free speech on the Internet that will affect everyone and not just Malaysians,” he stressed.

Dhillon Andrew Kannabhiran said he is against the sedition law being enhanced to target online users.

But the founder and CEO of Hack in the Box, the country’s most prominent network security consultant firm, said Malaysia needed a law to deal with cybercrime, which includes acts that incite people to hate or act against a authority and threatens national security electronically.

“Everyone’s on Face Book, everyone’s on Twitter and people are saying all sorts of things. And what they say, it’s like it’s going to be on the Net forever and ever,” said Dhillon.

“Most people are unaware of the law but ignorance is no excuse. It doesn’t give them the right to shoot from the hip.

“If want to say something, they better be able to back it up with evidence,” he added.

He said he was not sure the number of cybercrimes that had been committed, but stressed that statistics should not be an excuse to overlook a crime being done. The present laws were not enough to deal with the problems.

“There are some grey areas, like where the servers are located. We’ll have to wait for the guidelines to come up, the security consultant said.

“There should be some new stuff. It remains to be seen if there will be enforcement. It will depend on the first test case that will be taken to court and if there’s conviction,” he added.

Dhillon noted it was a matter of time before such a law would have been introduced in Malaysia and with the elections coming, “it is happening sooner rather than later”.

He does not see the changes to the sedition law compromising the MSC Malaysia BoGs.

“I don’t think it’s going to affect foreign investment. They’re not censoring the Internet,” Dhillon remarked.

PKR polls: Leaked ballot papers surface again

By FMT Staff
UPDATED KUALA LUMPUR: While the PKR elections to pick national leaders entered its final day today, pictures of ballots papers, which should be issued after 10am to voters, have been furnished to FMT through an-email indicating a leak of the ballots, further strengthening claims of electoral fraud.

FMT received an e-mail early this morning and it contained photographs of ballot papers, for the post of deputy president and vice-presidents.

These ballot papers, with serial numbers, are only supposed to have been issued to the party members after 10am.

Earlier this month, PKR secretary general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that the party used different colour of ballot papers every week and it had been revealed that the colour is pink this weekend, the same as the photographs of the ballots sent in the e-mail.

The party is holding its elections to pick national leaders over the past four weekends, The final lap of the polls is today. PKR would hold its general assembly next weekend and announce the winners of the polls.
The party became the first political organisation in the country to introduce the one-member, one-vote system where ordinary members vote to pick national leaders.

While the system was to give ordinary members more say on who they want as leaders, the election had been mired with controversy after it was discovered that there had been election malpractices and mismanagement of the electoral process.
Allegations unchecked
The severity of the allegations remained unchecked so far, with the party saying that it was investigating claims of fraud in the polls.
The election also saw Zaid Ibrahim, a deputy president aspirant, pulling out of contest citing election fraud and manipulation. He had set Dec 16 to resign from the party.
The deputy president's race is now being led by party de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's blue-eyed-boy Azmin Ali. The only other contender is Perak PKR chief Mustaffa Kamil Ayub, who has in the past week said that he was contesting the polls under protest.
The e-mail sent to FMT reads: "Attached are the ballot papers for today's PKR elections."
"I am only sending this as I trust that you will do the necessary to ensure that this shenanigans that is legitimised as an election is made known," said the anonymous e-mail.
More than 30 PKR divisions will go to polls today. They include 13 divisions from Johor, 16 divisions from Sarawak and another seven divisions from Selangor. The divisions in Selangor are Gombak, Ampang, Hulu Langat, Selayang, Kuala Selangor, Pandan and Hulu Langat.
The issue of leaked ballot papers were raised before but the party brushed aside any claims of irregularities, citing that the ballot papers had tight security aspects, among which the colour coding was one.
Police in Puchong, mutiny in Ayer Hitam
The month-long election process which came to an end today continued to see further claims of irregularities.
Following an attempt by disgruntled members to stop polling in Hulu Selangor yesterday, the Ayer Hitam division in Johor today went a step further by refusing to hold elections.

The division refused to hold polls, despite being instructed by the party to do so, after claiming that the party secretariat had failed to follow procedures in not giving proper notice.

Meanwhile in Puchong, the police had to intervene to stop two competing vice-presidential candidates from accusing each other of “stealing the elections”.

One of the candidates had accused the elections officers of blatanly supporting his rival, resulting in a tense situation. The police were called in to escort the ballot boxes to the party headquarters in Petaling Jaya.

A group of members also gathered at the party headquarters today to protest the alleged electoral fraud.

Legal challenge tomorrow
The official results will be announced at the party's national congress next weekend with Azmin set to assume the deputy president's post.

Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah is leading the race for the vice-president's post. She is expected to be joined by party strategist Tian Chua, election director Fuziah Salleh and Penang PKR chairman Mansor Othman for the four available veep slots.

Incumbent Zuraida Kamaruddin also looks set to retain her Wanita chief's post while Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin is expected to brush aside a tough fight by challenger Badrul Hisham Shaharin for the Youth chief's post.

Before the party can officially announce its new batch of office bearers, it will have to overcome a legal challenge which is set to come before the courts tomorrow.

Former deputy secretary-general P Jenapala is seeking a court order to declare as invalid the election for the post of deputy president. He also applied for an injunction to prevent PKR from declaring any winning candidate to the post.

If the court rules in Jenapala's favour, the elections would have to be halted and held again, this time with Jenapala as one of the candidates.
FMT also learnt that a similar aplication could be filed by another member tomorrow.

Pemilihan hari terakhir dibayangi masalah sama

Oleh Fazy Sahir - Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: Proses pemilihan PKR yang bakal melabuhkan tirainya hari ini masih dicemari insiden seperti dakwaan pertikaian proses pengiraan undi dan kertas undi bocor yang dikesan dicabang yang mengadakan pengundian.
Insiden ini dikesan membabitkan cabang Ampang apabila terdapat segelintir anggota parti cuba membuat 'kecoh' sehingga proses pengiraan undi terpaksa mengalami penangguhan.
Menurut anggota cabang Ampang yang dihubungi FMT mengesahkan perkara itu dan difahamkan sekumpulan anggota PKR terdiri daripada 10 orang cuba membuat kacau ekoran tidak berpuas hati dengan proses pengiraan undi yang sedang berjalan itu.
Katanya kekecohan yang berlaku sehingga sejam itu memaksa pengiraan undi dilakukan semula oleh petugas Jawatankuasa Pemilihan Pusat (JPP).
Menurut anggota itu yang enggan namanya disiarkan berkata kira-kira 850 pengundi di cabang itu menjalankan tanggungjawab mengundi di Dewan Musa Bakti Sri Nilam hari ini.
Beliau turut mendakwa anggota yang datang membuat kacau itu bukan daripada pengundi Ampang.
"Mereka ini anggota daripada luar Ampang dan difahamkan mereka wakil beberapa calon. Perkara ini hanya benda kecil yang cuba diperbesarkan. Mereka kata pengiraan undi tipu sebab pengawas yang bertugas daripada cabang Ampang.
"Tidak dinafikan pengawas yang bertugas daripada cabang Ampang sendiri namun pengiraan undi dijalankan dengan telus. Mereka buat kecoh sehingga ketua pengawas bertindak untuk meleraikan hal ini.
"Disebabkan hal ini juga, petugas terpaksa kira setiap undi semula. Kira satu-satu undi daripada 850 pengundi yang datang kerana mahu puaskan hati semua orang. Maka berlaku kelewatan namun setakat ini proses pengiraan berjalan dengan lancar semula," kata anggota itu.
Ketika ditanya sama ada anggota tersebut adalah wakil calon-calon tertentu, beliau berkata mereka terdiri daripada salah seorang calon Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) dan pemerhati salah seorang wakil rakyat PKR.
Namun beliau yang berada ditempat kejadian enggan mengulas lanjut siapa 'punca' masalah sebaliknya menyifatkan tindakan itu sebagai 'tidak professional'.
"Mereka boleh memberi reaksi jika tidak puas hati dengan pengiraan undi itu, namun jangan bertindak tidak professional seperti ini," jelasnya.
Menurutnya, pengiraan undi dibuat semula kira-kira jam 7 petang tadi dan dijangka selesai 11 malam jika tiada sebarang masalah berlaku lagi.
Sementara itu, FMT turut melaporkan dakwaan kertas undi bocor sebelum pemilihan berlangsung namun sehingga kini tiada sebarang reaksi diberi oleh pihak parti untuk menjelaskan perkara berkenaan memandangkan satu mesyuarat biro politik masih berlangsung.
FMT menerima e-mail awal pagi ini yang turut dilampirkan gambar borang pemilihan jawatan timbalan presiden dan naib presiden berwarna merah jambu.

Samy to reveal resignation details on Dec 13

KUALA LUMPUR: S Samy Vellu said today that he will be revealing on Dec 13 details on his resignation as MIC president.
The 74-year-old leader said he looked forward to stepping down as MIC president as it would give him plenty of time to spend with his family, friends and also the community.
"On that particular day (Dec 13), I will also announce what my plans are after I step down as president," he told reporters after officiating Malaysian Hindu Youth Council's 46th Annual General Meeting here.
Also present was Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk T Murugiah.
In his speech, Samy Vellu urged Indian youths to think out of the box in order to be competitive.
He added that proper guidance from the family and also relevant organisations would help Indian youths in building a better future for themselves.
- Bernama

Lim: Sabah budget is 'cronies' enrichment programme'

By Queville To - Free Malaysia Today

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Musa Aman's 'timely' announcement of a special allocation of RM1 million to each Barisan Nasional representatives in Sabah next year has been described as a "form of political corruption".
DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang said Musa's announcement – under the state budget - warrants Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) attention and investigation.

“It is a political corruption to allocate RM1 million public funds to the BN constituencies alone. It is clearly an election budget to boost the winning chances of BN in the next general election and not for the benefit of the people. It is to be used to buy votes,” Lim charged.

Musa announced the special allocation under the state Budget 2011 on Friday. He said the allocation was to enable BN elected representatives to provide assistance to the people in their areas. The BN holds 57 out of 60 state seats in the state.

His announcement is viewed by many as 'timely' since Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is expected to call for the general election anytime next year. Opposition parties are speculating that Najib will call for the polls anytime between March and Novemebr 2011.

Crony programme
Meanwhile Lim noted that one of the National Key Result Area (NKRA) in the Government Transformation Program (GTP) is fighting corruption and one of the main aspects identified is to fight 'grand corruption' which is political corruption.

“The MACC should investigate and wipe out such political corruption to show the government is serious about fighting corruption.

"The Auditor-General too should conduct a special audit on all these (past) years of spending of such allocations by Sabah BN assemblymen and give a detailed audit report on abuses.

"This (abuse) must be exposed and stopped if Malaysia is going to be developed to become a modern, democratic nation. Public funds must not be abused for political purposes,” he stressed.

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday before returning to Kuala Lumpur, Lim said the allocation was against the United Nation’s report on “inclusive growth”, asserting that inclusive growth is supposed to mean for the benefit of everyone regardless of one’s political affiliation or support.

“How can you talk about giving RM1 million for each BN constituency and on the other hand you’re talking about 'inclusive growth'?” he asked.

Touching on the RM162 million allocated in the budget for poverty eradication, he was both puzzled and distraught by the fact that despite hundreds of millions of ringgit spent on poverty eradication programmes over the years since BN took over the state in 1994, Sabah has become the poorest state in the country.

“I think instead of calling it poverty eradication programme, it should be correctly termed as 'BN Cronies Enrichment Programme' in view of the fact that poverty remains high in Sabah,” he remarked.

Also present were assistant DAP national publicity Secretary cum MP for Serdang Teo Nie Ching, Sabah DAP chief cum MP for Kota Kinabalu Hiew King Cheu, his deputy cum Sri Tanjung assemblyman Jimmy Wong, its vice chairman Edward Mujie and its publicity secretary Edwin Bosi.

A demonstration of Malaysia Today’s commitment to free speech

Malaysia Today is committed to free speech in spite of some from the opposition who are of the opinion that I am being a bit unfair in the way I criticise Pakatan Rakyat. And to demonstrate my commitment to free speech I am publishing this article by Malaysia Instinct even how unfavourable it may be to me.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Raja Petra Is Almost Homeless In London

By Satu Hala, Malaysia Instinct

This news was received from a friend who I can say is quite influential via a phone call…

According to this friend, Raja Petra Kamarudin or RPK is now said to have almost reached the status of being ‘homeless’ in London.

He has yet to be evacuated or such, but talks are that his unpaid rent has mounted although for how long I’m not sure…

This stemmed from the declining sponsorship of two parties, namely Kalimullah Hassan and Datuk Soh Chee Wen (one of Anwar Ibrahim’s financial backers).

The dough from Kalimullah is still on the roll…but the money coming from Anwar has been halted since RPK has openly showed his tendency to criticize Anwar recently…especially following the onslaught of internal turmoil in Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s election…Also, RPK’s writings have ceased having an impact on society.

“Anwar wants to tame RPK again,” according to this friend.

What is troubling now is that money from one side is not enough. London ain’t cheap. There’re no street stalls like KL, so of course the expenses are high.

Obviously RPK is not the type to cook at home…he only dines at places where meals are infused with wine, and this is not counting in the price of a bottle of wine or alcohol to wash down his food. Also not forgetting the tabs on his drinks during his free time…so by now there should be a good understanding of what state he is in.

It is said that RPK now badly wants to go home…but he is also afraid of any action that would be taken against him…although that could only be his assumption…it is unlikely that any action would be taken against him…

But what is certain, if Anwar continues to deny him the financial aid and RPK himself doesn’t want to go home…he has a choice of either being a waiter in London or be a homeless bum on the streets there like a stray dog. Maybe that is the best punishment for someone who has sinned a lot towards others.

And maybe this writer’s article previously was accurate…it is wise for RPK to return to Malaysia and kneel and seek forgiveness from Najib and his family for all the slandering before this.

Come home RPK…or be prepared to be a wandering stray dog over there.

Friends of Pakatan Rakyat lives on without Zaid

Zaid Ibrahim (second left) with other PR leaders at the launch in July.KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — A London-based informal network of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters is set to continue despite the resignation of the man who launched them, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim from PKR this December 16, the pact’s leaders said today.

Friends of Pakatan Rakyat (FoPR) in London which started on July 4 said it did not revolve around a single personality.

Thus far, no one else has followed Zaid’s footsteps out of the party.

“It (Zaid’s leaving) doesn’t make the slightest bit of difference,” DAP deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw told The Malaysian Insider today.

“There are others who are in contact with Friends,” he added, naming DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, PAS treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli, and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Dr Hatta claimed that PR leaders did not play a founding role in the movement but merely officiated its launch.

“We were there as leaders of Pakatan Rakyat to officiate. It’s not a Zaid project, or my project or Nurul Izzah (Anwar)’s project. It’s the supporters of Pakatan,” said Dr Hatta.

“So if anyone of us leaves, too bad. But the thing must go on. It should not be affected by anyone leaving,” added the Kuala Krai MP.

Dr Hatta, Dr Tan, Nurul Izzah and Zaid were present at the FoPR launch in London on July 4 where maverick blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin gave a speech before over 200 people.

Nurul Izzah echoed Dr Hatta’s views and said that the FoPR would continue despite Zaid’s absence.

“Even though we may be devoid of the original leader (Zaid), the Friends of Pakatan Rakyat will still continue,” said the Lembah Pantai MP.

“The Friends of Pakatan Rakyat has been emailing us their updates from time to time,” she added.

Nurul Izzah also noted that a meeting between FoPR and Anwar has been scheduled for January next year.

“I believe that they (FoPR) remain consistent and are quite committed to the cause, but a proper meeting will be held between the representative and the Opposition Leader in January,” said Anwar’s eldest daughter.

In July, then PR secretariat coordinator Zaid said the network was aimed at stirring the Malaysian diasporas to pressure the Barisan Nasional (BN) government for their rights as citizens, including the right to vote.

He had also denied that the PR leadership was funding nor using the FoPR network to compete with partisan groups like the Umno Supporters’ Clubs.

Zaid dropped the quit bombshell earlier this month, blaming the party leadership for condoning electoral fraud and election malpractices.

He also resigned from all party posts, including his positions as PKR Federal Territories chief, PKR Wangsa Maju division chief and PKR political bureau member.

Recently, the former Umno minister confirmed that he would quit PKR this December 16, but would likely form his own party and contest in the coming general election.

Hanya 1.16% tanah milik Melayu

Agak menakutkan melihat nasib orang Melayu di Pulau Pinang hari ini kerana di bawah kepimpinan kerajaan DAP sekarang, agensi amanah yang ditubuhkan untuk menjaga kepentingan kaum Melayu di negeri itu menghadapi kesukaran untuk menjalankan projek.

Utusan Online

DAERAH Timur Laut merupakan kawasan yang paling pesat membangun di negeri Pulau Pinang. Ia kini muncul sebagai pusat komersial terbesar di negeri itu sekali gus menyaksikan kaum Cina menumpu di daerah tersebut.

Penumpuan kaum Cina di kawasan bandar yang kini meliputi hampir seluruh daerah itu bermula sejak kedatangan Francis Light pada 1786 yang mana beliau bertanggungjawab membawa masuk banyak imigran dari China.

Kesannya adalah apa yang kita lihat sekarang iaitu daerah Timur Laut kini mempunyai penduduk majoriti Cina.

Perkembangan itu memperlihatkan kaum Melayu yang telah ada di pulau tersebut 'ditolak' ke kawasan yang lebih jauh dari pesisir pantai Timur Laut. Ini menyebabkan banyak kaum Melayu menumpu ke kawasan Barat Daya yang mana Balik Pulau merupakan salah satu kawasan majoriti berpenduduk Melayu.

Situasi tersebut sekali gus menjawab kenapa kaum Melayu hampir tidak memiliki tanah di daerah Timur Laut.

Ini dibuktikan dengan statistik terkini yang menunjukkan hanya 1.16 peratus kaum Melayu memiliki tanah di daerah tersebut, berbanding kaum bukan Melayu sebanyak 19.84 peratus. Peratusan lain tanah dimiliki oleh syarikat, agensi dan kerajaan negeri.

Faktor yang menyebabkan kaum Melayu kurang mampu memiliki tanah di daerah tersebut adalah kerana harga tanah yang terlalu tinggi. Jika ada pun kaum Melayu memiliki tanah yang 'sekangkang kera' itu, ia adalah tanah yang diwarisi daripada datuk dan nenek moyang mereka sejak ratusan tahun lalu.

Untuk memiliki tanah baru adalah mustahil bagi kaum Melayu Pulau Pinang memandangkan ada tanah terutama di Georgetown berharga RM400 sekaki persegi.

Ini menyebabkan kaum Melayu tidak ramai yang tinggal di daerah tersebut yang juga merupakan pusat komersial utama di Pulau Pinang.

Jika diteliti dari aspek ekonomi, memang satu kerugian besar kepada kaum Melayu yang tidak mampu membeli rumah dan tanah di daerah tersebut. Ketidakmampuan itu juga adalah kerana harga rumah yang terlalu mahal dan tidak mampu dimiliki oleh kaum Melayu.

Rata-rata seunit rumah bertingkat iaitu pangsapuri kos sederhana dan pangsapuri mewah ditawarkan pada harga antara RM300,000 hingga RM500,000 seunit. Malah, ada yang menjangkau harga melebihi RM1 juta seunit. Rumah atas tanah pula seperti rumah berangkai, rumah teres dan banglo pula ditawarkan pada harga yang lebih mahal, iaitu melepasi tujuh angka.

Harga yang terlalu tinggi itu bukan sahaja menyebabkan kaum Melayu tidak mampu memilikinya, malah kaum Cina juga begitu. Ini kerana kebanyakan penduduk Cina yang kaya dan profesional kini lebih suka berhijrah ke luar negara.

"Saya ada banyak kawan berketutunan Cina yang bekerja sebagai jurutera di kilang-kilang di sekitar Bayan Lepas berhijrah ke luar negara, khususnya Australia," kata seorang penduduk, Fatimah Ariffin yang telah bermastautin di Pulau Pinang sejak 21 tahun lalu.

Faktor semakin ramai golongan profesional Cina dan kaya raya berhijrah ke luar negara diakui oleh Pensyarah Kanan Pusat Kajian Sains Kemasyarakatan, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Dr. Azeem Fazwan Ahmad Farouk.

Faktor berhijrah ke luar negara dan mempunyai anak yang sedikit dalam kalangan penduduk Cina menyebabkan jumlah penduduk majoriti Pulau Pinang hari ini adalah kaum Melayu.

Sumber daripada Jabatan Perangkaan Negeri Pulau Pinang menunjukkan Statistik Penduduk Pulau Pinang Bagi Tahun 2009 adalah 44.89 peratus penduduk bumiputera, manakala penduduk Cina sebanyak 44.27 peratus.

"Sungguhpun majoriti penduduk Pulau Pinang sekarang adalah kaum Melayu, tetapi jumlah mereka di bahagian pulau masih tidak dapat mengatasi jumlah penduduk Cina.

"Ini kerana orang Melayu tidak mampu membeli rumah yang terlalu mahal di pulau terutama di daerah Timur Laut. Ia sekali gus memaksa mereka memiliki hartanah di Seberang Prai.

"Mereka (orang Melayu) hanya berulang-alik dari seberang ke pulau untuk bekerja. Selain itu, kebanyakan kaum Melayu di daerah ini adalah kakitangan kerajaan. Dengan gaji kakitangan kerajaan, mana mereka mampu membeli rumah di sini," katanya.

Menurutnya, kaum Melayu juga didapati lebih selesa tinggal di tanah besar kerana selain faktor harga rumah yang jauh lebih murah, mereka juga boleh memiliki rumah atas tanah seperti rumah teres, rumah berangkai atau banglo.

Katanya, faktor keselesaan hidup di rumah atas tanah turut mempengaruhi kaum Melayu berpindah ke tanah besar.

Keadaan itu juga katanya membuatkan kehadiran orang Melayu di daerah Timur Laut tidak ada kesan untuk mewujudkan satu kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Melayu di situ.

"Dari aspek politik, apa yang patut wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional buat adalah mempertahankan kerusi yang sedia ada. Ini kerana kajian mendapati agensi amanah yang dianugerahkan tanah untuk bumiputera di daerah itu tidak mempunyai tanah yang cukup untuk bawa masuk orang Melayu (pengundi) ke Timur Laut," katanya.

Beliau juga berkata, kebanyakan tanah milik agensi amanah bumiputera pula terletak di kawasan yang tidak strategik sekali gus gagal menarik minat kaum Melayu untuk menetap di situ.

"Orang lebih suka tinggal di kawasan yang ada aktiviti ekonomi yang aktif. Kawasan seperti itu pula banyak terletak di pusat-pusat komersial di tengah bandar, sedangkan tidak ramai Melayu mampu tinggal di bandar.

"Keadaan ini menyebabkan lama kelamaan kehadiran orang Melayu di bandar dengan sendirinya akan terhakis," katanya.

Agak menakutkan melihat nasib orang Melayu di Pulau Pinang hari ini kerana di bawah kepimpinan kerajaan DAP sekarang, agensi amanah yang ditubuhkan untuk menjaga kepentingan kaum Melayu di negeri itu menghadapi kesukaran untuk menjalankan projek.

"Projek-projek yang dijalankan oleh pihak swasta pula semuanya lebih menjurus kepada meraih keuntungan yang berlipat kali ganda. Ini menyebabkan mereka hanya mendirikan projek pangsapuri mewah yang berharga lebih daripada RM300,000 seunit.

"Pada harga itu, tentulah orang Melayu tidak mampu membelinya. Lama kelamaan juga, orang Melayu dengan sendirinya akan berpindah ke seberang, sekali gus menghakis pemilikan hartanah di bahagian pulau,"tambahnya.

Azeem menegaskan, oleh kerana faktor yang menolak orang Melayu keluar ke seberang adalah ekonomi maka meningkatkan pencapaian ekonomi kaum Melayu perlu menjadi agenda utama pemimpin Melayu hari ini.

"Selagi orang Melayu tidak ada kuasa ekonomi dan kuasa beli sebagaimana kaum Cina, maka selagi itulah orang Melayu Pulau Pinang akan ketinggalan dan terus terpinggir," katanya.

A Gopeng PKR member’s report on voting day

By Haris Ibrahim,


On 17th November, gc sent in the following comment to my ‘Masa sudah sampai untuk era Baru…’ post.
‘sir, i want to write a report on last week saturday MPP pkr election which i attended . I have many copies of how the cheating is done by Azmin and shamsul. Email me and I will take scan of all the slips and write u a report on how they pursue / force / suggest / encourage me to vote for the inetrested personnels. Also while i am crossing X the person will watch me cause I ignore to listen to the cawangan way of voting their choices. And also I am not allowed to put inside the ballot box. One man standing there will take from me and he isolated the Parts and put inside the box in front of me. BUT he sees inside to whom I cross X’
I e-mailed gc that same day to say I was awaiting his report and accompanying proof.
The next day, gc e-mailed me his report with copies of documents which he believed supported his contention.
The report, however, was anonymous.
I e-mailed gc the next day as follows.
“Thank you for responding and sorry for this late reply.
I understand your concerns about being identified.
However, I would need to verify that you are indeed a member of PKR of the Gopeng division.
Otherwise, I would not be able to publish your disclosure.
I will not reveal your identity,but  I need to verify for myself.
Could you scan your membership card and send it to me?
You have my assurance that I will not disclose your details should I publish your disclosure at my blog.
If you choose not to, I will understand.
Please understand also that in those circumstances, I will not be able to publish your expose”.
gc responded with a photograph of his PKR membership card.
I reproduce gc’s report, with his photographic evidence, unedited.
____________________________________________
13 Nov 2010
cabang gopeng, perak
1.  I traveled 545km to Ipoh to vote at my cabang for MPP.
2.  Three people went for voting as we are members of PKR.

3.  A week earlier at night 3 people in car came to house and invited to come for voting and also gave slips “senarai pencalonan MPP 2010 “ of their choice and ask to follow the X cross marks. Although they never sound to be forcing but it was merely a suggestion and recommendation.

4. On 13 November 2010, we went to PKR office. We saw a big banner of ONLY Azmin and Putrajaya.

5. Ladies and men came to us after saw us holding blue pkr membership card. They almost had same slips. We told them we already had the slip which matches with their choice.

6. They pursue / suggest / encourage us to vote for their interested personnel. They have same dialogues “ Ikut saja pangkah ini semua “.

7. We showed  pkr blue membership card to register . Each got one small piece of paper with a number.

8. Again almost  4 other people approached us and gave the same slips and ask to follow the guideline given.

9. One guy showed us a big poster of how the balloting paper looks like and how to vote. choosing 1, 4 and 20 people and the rules. The poster had white tape censor zaid .

10.  We went to second floor. Gave small piece number and took the balloting papers.

11. We sat on sofa waiting for empty table.  I saw many voters “copy paste” from the slips and there is 2 ladies guiding them easily.

12. There are  4 long tables. Each table got 2 chairs.  Two ladies monitor two tables. These ladies every busybody and sees to whom you cross. They are happy as long as you keep the given suggestion slips side by side and do “copy paste”.

13. Also while I am crossing X the person will watch me cause I ignore to listen to the cawangan way of voting their choices. And also I am not allowed to put inside the ballot box. One man standing there will take from me and he isolated the paper parts and put inside the box in front of me. BUT he sees inside to whom I cross X.

14.  Many in 2nd floor curious and showed grumpy face because we never put the slip side by side with ballot paper and refer and cross. Something like copy from slip and paste in ballot paper. We slowly and carefully choose our own preferences.

15. The paper is new and don’t have zaid’s name.

16. One man collects the paper and drops into box. The box is covered and NOT transparent. This man opens the MPP and AMK paper and sees who we vote for.

17. Two of us did NOT cross for azmin or mustaffa but  I crossed for Chegubard. We also did not vote for anyone from the slips recommendation including nurul izzah except for one Chinese ADUN . I vote for  Chan Ming Kai because he deserves . He is very good adun for simpang pulai. Some sort like hannah yeoh.

18. It was totally disgusting and no privacy.

19.  We are cowards. They know our house. They can do anything in case they lose.

20. The only daring thing 3 of us did was did NOT follow the recommendation slip.

21. While we walking back to car, one PKR man came and said his name not in the “wanted /demanded” list.  He said pkr played dirty game as cowards scared to lose.

22. Finally Azmin and Shamsul controls the cabang Gopeng.

My main purpose to travel 565km is to vote for Zaid  But since news come out he quit. I had double mind to go or not to. But we went to see ourselves on the criminal breaches of trust happened in pkr voting.


I pity mustaffa’s people whom cannot get privileges in the pkr office. One guy came and give name card of mustaffa and yahya sahri. He did not speak anything but give and walked away. But since mustaffa is not my choice . I reject him too after watching news he said he supports anwar. He only complains but never withdraw from election.

Now I regretted voting for chegubard because he too complains but never withdraw from election. It looks like Mustaffa and Chegubard just like to talk to walls but NO reaction when there is action.

3 of us don’t support the individuals in party but as raja petra said we hate BN . So the alternative choice is PR. But that does not mean we love PR.

My personnel observation PSM is good. PSM also has many youngsters famous for JERIT.
Why we choose to be member of pkr ?

Cause PKR was nearest and available via eyes. Although PAS is in the 12^th general election voting for my place and we vote for PAS but this PAS we don’t even know where the office. DAP – never came to mind.
Why do I need to be a member in a party?

Cause I thought of supporting the PKR and increase their strength with high membership.
Am I glad with pkr till today ?

1. I am super happy with ADUN Chan Ming Kai although my place is under BN.
2. pkr elections involves members to vote.
3. Some good pkr members around Malaysia serving rakyat.

Do I regret now for becoming member of pkr?

No. nothing to regret cause it is just some money and power corrupted people spoils the party. In fact PAS and DAP also the same. To be surprised BN also has good candidate like YB Devamany of Cameron highlands.
Therefore, I will not quit pkr.  We need to conquer putrajaya.
I do not like anwar since he was menteri pendidikan. I also don’t like azizah from year 2000.  This pkr is not about his family but the work for rakyat. But now ever since last 2 weeks the hindraf memorandum squashed at anwar’s house made me angry so I also never vote for nurul . But for azmin and samsul , I only get to know his dirtiness this year 2010.

Winter Time In PKR

From Malaysian Insider
By Muaz Omar

As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak contemplates whether to call for a snap election, much of the focus is being centred on the fulcrum of the opposition coalition.

PKR, the biggest opposition party up until three of its MPs quit the party, has taken heavy body blows in the media recently.

Mainstream and alternative, print and electronic media have accorded massive coverage on the historic direct elections which give the right to each member to choose their leaders from the division right up to the central leadership.

The overwhelming media interest about the goings-on within the party soon zoomed in on the hotly-contested deputy president’s post vacated by veteran politician Dr Syed Husin Ali.

This extensive coverage of the party election is being fuelled by the fact that PKR is often viewed as the glue that binds the Pakatan Rakyat component parties.

When the opposition coalition dented BN’s two-thirds majority and captured five state governments (prior to BN recapturing Perak) in the 2008 general election, there was a real possibility that BN’s almost unchallenged political dominance may actually fall.

Hence, PKR’s leadership transition is of great importance to national politics as Pakatan Rakyat’s prime minister nominee originates from the party in the form of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

With Anwar’s sodomy trial entering its mature phase, the deputy president will ultimately hold the reins of the party should the courts decide against Anwar.

Anything concerning Anwar, personal or political, is bound to create extraordinary buzz in the domestic and international media.

It is also coupled by the fact that this is the political platform that Anwar hopes would enable him in partnership with Pakatan Rakyat’s allies to topple BN.

The other factor is the personalities vying for the deputy presidency.

PKR vice-president Azmin Ali and the party’s former Federal Territories chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim are considered political giants in one of the youngest political parties in the country with a meagre membership numbering some 500,000 people.

When Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin took on Datuk Seri Ali Rustam (until he was barred due to money politics) for Umno’s deputy presidency, it created a contest that political pundits, columnists and journalists hotly observed.

However, Azmin Ali vs Zaid Ibrahim is far juicier and, frankly, both of them have far more quality than the Umno contestants.

However, as it turns out the deputy presidency contest has not been as friendly as many party leaders had hoped for.

Azmin, the reserved but charismatic and well-known grassroots leader, went about building consensus and alliances among party leaders at the central, state and divisional leadership.

On the other hand, the effervescent but erratic and outspoken Zaid went on a media blitz using his liberal background to maximum effect in his efforts to charm party members.

One would think that the liberal Malays, NGO-oriented and non-Malays within the party would have an affinity for Zaid, and on the other hand grassroots Malays, who form the bulk of the party members, would associate themselves with Azmin.

As the campaign went on, Zaid used every opportunity to be on the front pages of the print and web media to highlight his take on issues concerning the party but his strong words only enabled him to create enemies within the party rather than build alliances.

He has poured scorn publicly on Azmin, Syed Husin, president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and finally Anwar himself.

nevitably, that was the straw that broke the camel’s back; Zaid was immediately viewed as a persona non grata within the party.

He has also managed to turn off those initially backing him — the NGO-aligned leaders and also influential grassroots Indian as well as Chinese leaders in the party.

Azmin, on the other hand, cranked up his meetings with state and divisional leaders as well as members throughout the country.

As a senior member of the party, it has been a whirlwind tour of sorts but something that isn’t new to him for the last 12 years ever since the Reformasi period.

At the same time, he has kept a low profile when it came to the media, opting not to counter Zaid’s accusations publicly but preferring to address the issues directly with party members.

As someone who can be an elite bourgeois and a grassroots man depending on the necessity, Azmin has played his cards almost to perfection.

Zaid’s first-day lead on the back of votes from his home state of Kelantan soon dwindled as the election period went on.

It also served to switch Azmin’s campaign machinery into overdrive and Zaid’s well-funded machinery found it hard going and by the first weekend, the lead had turned into a deficit for Zaid.

Zaid was banking heavily on Sabah to deliver him the votes but as the results rolled in, it was evident that Azmin’s week-long campaign for the Batu Sapi by-election followed by extensive groundwork had caused a breach in Zaid’s so-called fixed deposit.

When the numbers were turning out against him, Zaid went on another round of media blitzkrieg using pseudo-liberal bloggers and a particular web media to denounce the credibility of the party election.

Every single problem in the voting process — delays in the polls and vote counting — has been heaped on Anwar and Azmin.

After leaping over the party ranks in record time from supreme council, political bureau (which he then took six months’ leave due to disagreement with the party leadership), Hulu Selangor by-election candidate and FT chief, Zaid topped it all of by offering himself for the deputy presidency.

Zaid would have become a big leader for PKR and Pakatan Rakyat in the immediate future but he has built himself up as if he is bigger than the party which turns out to be a major turn-off.

His personality and probably his loud mouth finally got the better of him.

He cracked and called it quits from the race and the party, citing Anwar and Azmin as the source of all the party’s problem.

Party members were largely unhappy with the manner that Zaid and certain leaders handled the outcome of the party elections.

These gung-ho leaders instantly go to the media to voice their displeasure rather than go down to the ground to canvass for votes.

Party members have also been distracted with the writings of infamous bloggers like the Groucho-Marxist Hishamuddin Rais, self-proclaimed liberal Haris Ibrahim and demonstration activist Mat Saman Kati who have made it their personal vendetta to attack Anwar and Azmin.

Zaid’s ill-advised action to quit the party and lead a “Third Force” with the backing of bloggers such as Haris will only be seen as an attempt to undermine PKR and Pakatan Rakyat.

Chandra Muzaffar, Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Noor Adam and many other turncoats have failed in this aspect and Zaid is no more important to PKR than those three prior to them leaving the party.

Those who have been long in the party know that the dynamics of the party is one that is open, progressive and fluid.

It is surreal how an ordinary member of the party can have a major say in the leadership of the party and the openness within the party on the right to dissent has given unnecessary advantage to its enemies in Umno and BN.

Even though the party is understaffed and ill-equipped to undertake this gargantuan task, the leadership was adamant that this democratic process had to go through for the long-term benefit of the party.

No party that opened itself up will be able to avoid being subjected to the most minute scrutiny to the extent that criticisms become very personal and emotional rather than objective in nature.

PKR was prepared to go through this and the valiant effort of the leadership and the secretariat must be commended.

It may be a cold and blustery winter at the moment but spring beckons around the corner for PKR, as will the general election.

End trigger-happy shootings, lawmakers tell IGP

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers have demanded newly-installed Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to end indiscriminate fatal police shootings instead of “frolicking” at mock casinos.

Police had shot dead a 15-year-old suspected robber on November 13, just seven months after 14-year-old Aminulrasyid Amzah was gunned down by the police in Shah Alam on April 26.

“The top priority is to end cases of indiscriminate police shootings, reduce the crime rate and make people feel safer,” DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang told The Malaysian Insider today.

“These are the things that should receive the focus of the new IGP instead of going on a frolic having a mini casino,” he added.

Yesterday, the families of two of the three youths shot dead on November 13 after being suspected of robbing a petrol station claimed the trio were killed by the police in cold blood.

Muhammad Shamil Hafiz Shapiei, 15; Hairul Nizam Tuah, 20; and Mohd Hanafi Omar, 22, were killed by the police after a reported high-speed car chase in the early morning of November 13 in Glenmarie, Shah Alam.

The families’ lawyer, N. Surendran, described the shootings as a “gangland-style execution”, pointing out that the gunshot wounds showed that the victims were shot at close range and not in self-defence as the police had claimed.

“All three were shot in the head and chest with bullets exiting lower,” said Surendran.

Selangor acting police chief Datuk A. Thaiveegan, however, has reportedly defended his officers’ actions by describing the three suspected robbers as “seasoned criminals” who were allegedly involved in at least three armed robberies in Selangor last week. He claimed that the police shot the suspects in self-defence as they had allegedly rushed to attack the policemen with machetes after the pre-dawn car chase.

Today, Lim accused Ismail of mixing up his priorities and failing to end a police “culture” supporting a shoot-to-kill tendency.

“If shooting is necessary and unavoidable to protect policemen’s lives, standard operating procedures must be followed so as not to kill but to maim. It would appear that with the change of IGP, there is no change in the police culture as such. There should be a total overhaul of police standard operating procedures in such cases,” said the veteran DAP leader.

“Yesterday, the media reported police having mock casinos. This is the wrong set of priorities,” he added.

Ismail, who replaced Tan Sri Musa Hassan as the country’s top cop on September 13, reportedly set up a mock casino at the Cheras police college in a bid to train policemen on nabbing gamblers.

Policemen are reportedly taught various gambling games available in casinos and other entertainment outlets.

PAS vice-president Datuk Mahfuz Omar echoed Lim’s views and said that Ismail must assure the public that it was safe from indiscriminate police shootings.

“The new IGP needs to bolster public confidence that the police will not simply shoot indiscriminately,” said Mahfuz.

He also pointed out that Ismail should train his men on various procedures to be followed in shooting cases instead of card games.

“Training should be given on how to shoot, in which circumstance, what must be done before the shooting, the criteria for a suspect who can be shot, mental training… not training on gambling,” said the Pokok Sena MP.

Mahfuz also called for a thorough probe into the families’ complaints.

“A complete investigation should be done to check if the people who were shot were really suspected robbers, and to see if the shots were fired not to kill but to apprehend them,” he said.

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar supported Mahfuz’s points and further demanded for the formation of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC).

“The shooting is deplorable,” said Nurul Izzah.”I call for immediate investigations and reiterate the need of the IPCMC in its entirety,” she added.

The IPCMC was proposed by the Royal Commission on the Enhancement of the Management and Operations of the Police in 2005 but the government rejected the proposal on the grounds that its powers were too broad. In place of the IPCMC, the government last year established the Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission (EAIC) to investigate not only the police but other enforcement agencies.

The commission has, however, not been called upon to investigate Aminulrasyid’s shooting or other fatal police shootings.

The PKR vice-presidency contender also lambasted the Malaysian Crime Prevention Foundation (MCPF) for saying today that negative public perception of the police was a new “crime” that should be curbed immediately.

“What’s worse is MCPF’s latest comments, which sidesteps the readiness to take stock of the problem and ownership in providing solutions,” said Nurul Izzah.

Meanwhile, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said a report on the incident was necessary to ascertain the facts of the case.

“It’s better for us to get the report,” said Shafie.

Echoing PR leaders, Umno’s Johor Baru MP Datuk Seri Shahrir Abdul Samad also said that an open investigation should be conducted.

“I reckon since the parents made the complaints, there must be an investigation,” said Shahrir.

“As with Aminulrasyid’s situation, I don’t think there will be any cover up,” he added.

Besides Aminulrasyid, a second case involving the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Mohd Afham Arin in Johor Baru on October 20 last year has also surfaced after the victim’s mother recently demanded an independent commission to investigate the case.

According to human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram), 88 people died in police shootings last year.

The NGO also claimed that not even one police officer has been held accountable and that the high number of deaths in 2009 was “alarming”, considering that there were only 13 such cases in the previous two years.

More Pressure On PKR To Stop Polls

PETALING JAYA, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The PKR leadership is under increasing pressure to halt polls for its central leadership.

Sunday, a group of about 500 party members held a peaceful assembly outside the party's headquarters to urge PKR's leaders to call off the polls.

The group, which came in 14 buses from Johor, Selangor, Penang and Perak, also asked the party's senior leaders including PKR's adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, President Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, vice-President Mohamed Azmin Ali the party's secretary-general to resign.

The assembly, which started at 4.30pm and ended one hour later, was led by PKR's former deputy secretary-general S.Jenapala Perumal, with most of them carrying banners demanding Anwar's resignation.

While the assembly was going on, no representative or PKR leader came forward to calm down the situation and the entrance door to the party's headquarters was also locked.

However, PKR's Election Director Fuziah Salleh, who is also Kuantan Member of Parliament, and PKR's Strategic Director and Batu Member of Parliament suddenly appeared out of nowhere to calm down the situation when the assembly was about to disperse.

Before moving away from the scene, Tian Chua managed to speak to B.Rajandran, the candidate for deputy head of the Selayang division, telling him that all outstanding problems should be resolved through party channels.

Speaking to reporters later, Rajandran said he was not satisfied because the leadership of the party was not serious in handling the problems as raised by the grassroot members.

Pro-ISA group disrupts anti-ISA forum

That’s bad. No, pathetic. Who is really behind them? And what’s the point of the protest? They are not going to convince anyone – unless their aim is to stifle freedom of expression.
The protesters should be free to hold their own event anywhere else – Speakers’ Square, perhaps? Why disrupt others from speaking out against the ISA? Read more

Asylum seekers: Britain has let us down

Police: Suspicious bag found in Namibian airport was a 'test device'

(CNN) -- A suspicious piece of luggage that was about to be loaded onto a flight in Namibia was a "test device" from a U.S. company that sells products designed to test security, German Interior Minister Thomas de Maiziere said in a news conference Friday in Hamburg, Germany.

Namibian Police on Friday warned that whoever is responsible for planting the device among the luggage of an Air Berlin flight Wednesday would be severely dealt with, warning that Namibia was not to be used as an unauthorized testing ground for aviation security.

"The preliminary investigations have revealed that the suspicious parcel does not contain any explosive substances; however, it is an explosive simulation training device, manufactured by an American-based company, 'Larry Copello Incorporated,' " Lt. Gen. Sebastian Ndeitunga, Namibia's top policeman, told reporters Friday at a news conference in Windhoek, the capital.

The device is a training aid to help screeners identify explosive devices, Larry Copello, founder and CEO of Larry Copello, Inc., told CNN Friday. Copello described the device as "non-hazardous ...not a threat to anyone."

Copello said his company sells such devices to law enforcement agencies, governments and corporate clients, but did not know to whom this particular device was sold. He learned of the Namibia incident on Thursday when the FBI called him. He said he is cooperating with the investigation.

An official with the U.S. Transportation Security Administration said Friday that they are working with German and Namibian authorities to determine the origin of the device and the reason it was to be transported on the plane.

"We applaud the vigilance of the aviation security authorities who discovered the device and took quick action to ensure that it did not pose a threat to the aircraft and passengers," the TSA official told CNN.

The discovery of the bag at Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport in Namibia delayed flight 7377 to Munich, Germany, on Wednesday and raised security concerns, a spokeswoman for the airline, Air Berlin, said Thursday.

De Maiziere said he believed the device was from a U.S.-based company, but did not know which company. He said no one was warned in advance about the test device. The bag contained a functioning electronic clock with wiring attached, but no explosives.

"Air Berlin has confirmed that there was no explosive material in the laptop bag found in Namibia," Sabina Teller, a spokeswoman for Air Berlin, told CNN. "The luggage was found in the airport, at no point was on the plane. It had no luggage label, so it was impossible to know where it was going, which company it was supposed to fly with or who it belonged to," she said

De Maiziere said authorities are investigating the bag's origin and its intended destination.

After the bag was discovered, the flight's 296 passengers and all bags were given additional security checks. The plane later landed safely in Munich after a six- or seven-hour delay, Air Berlin spokeswoman Silke Manitz said.

Germany raised its threat level Wednesday, saying concrete evidence had emerged of a possible attack planned in Germany later this month. It said there was evidence of persistent efforts by Islamists to launch an attack. A senior German counterterrorism source told CNN on Thursday that the German Interior Ministry warning was linked to recent threats to the country from al Qaeda in Pakistan.

Interior Minister de Maiziere addressed the threat level Friday by reiterating that people should go about their lives as usual.

Indian Actor Kamal Haasan Disagrees Tamil Movies Spark Violent Acts

By Santhiran Munisamy

PORT KLANG, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Leading Kollywood actor Kamal Haasan and film director K. S. Ravikumar have debunked a belief that excessive violent scenes in Tamil movies had a bearing on violent acts committed by Indian youths in Malaysia.

They vehemently disagreed with some Indian-based political parties and non-governmental organisations in the country that such a link existed, dismissing it as a wrong perception.

According to Kamal, what was featured in Tamil movies was a general reflection of what happened in society.

"Violent conduct is widely reported on the daily life of the people in Tamal Nadu, particularly in rural areas, and we, via the movies, attempt to highlight the social problems," he said in an exclusive interview with Bernama here.

Kamal, 56, and the crew of his latest movie, 'Manmadhan Ambu', made a one-day stopover in Malaysia and boarded cruise ship Virgo at Glenn Cruise Terminal, Pulau Indah here, heading to Singapore to attend the grand audio launch of the movie which is expected to be released late next month.

"It's our obligation and responsibility as key players of the industry in highlighting the matter, and we will continue to do it," said Kamal, who has won several Indian film awards.

After making his debut in 1960 as a child artist in 'Kalathoor Kannammaa', he went on to star in more than 150 movies, in almost all the major Indian languages such as Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam.

Kamal further defended Kollywood movie producers by saying that Tamil movies were "mirrors" which reflected incidents, occurences and behavioural patterns of people going about their daily life.

"It's like a mirror which reflects on the plus and minus points of each one of us. It's up to them to correct themselves by adjusting themselves while looking at the mirror...it's as simple as that," he said casually.

On a serious note, Kamal said violent conduct was an international phenomenon and not confined to a particular community or country, adding that actors like him and directors were not portraying non-existent violence.

His advice to youths? Kamal said he was not in favour of giving advice to anyone for, as a youth before, he did not appreciate such advice.

"Rather than advising them, they should be encouraged to adopt the lifestyles of successful people, such as Mahatma Ghandhi, who himself had said his life itself was a message to the people.

Asked on the possibility of talented Malaysians being given opportunities to appear in his movies, Kamal said: "Definitely".

He said the matter was even discussed during Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's visit to Tamil Nadu early this year.

"We had discussion over the matter but so far, no significant progress has been made. But I can give my word that talented Malaysians will definitely be featured in my movies," he stressed.

In April, Kamal had a discussion with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia here to explore ways for both countries to cooperate in producing films in the near future.

Meanwhile, Ravikumar, who is directing Kamal's latest movie, said those blaming Tamil movies for violent conduct of some youths in Malaysia, were ignorant.

"There are so many factors to this social problem and blaming the movies is something really wrong," he said, noting that movies from the US and South Korea, in particular, depicted far more excessive violent scenes.

"For me, these people are getting their facts wrong... every individual has a perception on these matters. Violent scenes in Tamil movies are still at acceptable level," added Ravikumar.

He advised moviegoers to look at the "beauty" (positive aspects) of the movie in totality, rather than just picking on the negative elements.

"People like me, have a social responsibility in moulding our society, especially our youths, irrespective whether they are in India or other parts of the world.

"Therefore, youths should take the positive aspect of each movie," said the much-acclaimed movie director.

Dr M cautions KLCI rise not an indicator of healthy economy

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad threw cold water today to the belief that the rising Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) indicates a healthy economy, saying it is mainly due to foreign funds buying cheap stocks for short-term gains.

The FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI) was at 1,502.73, up 6.08 points, at 3.30pm today. It has been rising steadily in the past few weeks to breach 1,500-point mark.

“Some people believe that the rise of the KLCI is an indicator of the healthy state of the Malaysian economy. This may be true but let me throw some cold water in the belief that the index indicates that the economy is doing very well,” the former prime minister said in a posting in his popular www.chedet.cc blog today.

He admitted the local economy was doing well but doubted it was “enough to push the KLCI to record highs”.

“What is happening is that a lot of foreign money is coming in to buy Malaysian stocks. In itself it is not bad.

“It is also a kind of foreign direct investment (FDI). But this kind of FDI is not about setting up industries to produce goods for export. The latter will not be easily liquidated to take the invested capital out. The plants which are set up cannot be easily sold. The investors will have to manage them through good and bad times to get a return on their investments,” Dr Mahathir (picture) said.

The plain-speaking politician pointed out that FDI in stocks and shares can be sold any time and the proceeds taken out, saying that just “as increases in investments push up share prices and the KLCI, rapid or massive divestments will push down the share prices and index”.

He noted reports the Federal Reserve Bank of the United States was pumping US$600 billion (RM1.86 trillion) into the US economy with part of the money possibly being invested in stock and shares of developing countries, similar to previous episodes of hot money flooding stock markets around the world 12 years ago.

Dr Mahathir recalled that in 1997-1998, foreign investors pulled out their investments and the KLCI dropped from 1,300 to 262.

“Naturally, a lot of local investors lost money. They could not meet margin calls nor raise money to augment collaterals for their bank loans. The banks found themselves burdened with large numbers of non-performing loans and had to face the threat of bankruptcy.

“Should the banks collapse the economy of the country will go into a tailspin. It did in 1997-1998. It will happen again should the foreign investors dump their Malaysian shares to take profits from capital gains,” he added.

He bluntly said that foreign funds, especially from the US coming in to invest in Malaysia’s stock market at this time, must be considered as hot money.

“I would not be surprised when the KLCI peaks the foreign investors will dump their shares and collect capital gains. The share prices will fall rapidly and Malaysians who had chased the shares on their way up will be asked to meet margin calls. If they fail they will lose a lot of money.

“I hope I am wrong. But sometimes my predictions about money and markets have proven to be right,” Dr Mahathir said, declaring that he only owns 200 Malayan Tobacco shares bought before he became the education minister in the 1974.

“I have nothing to gain or to lose, but the country and the stock market investors will lose,” he added.

Current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is betting on a RM1.4 trillion 10-year programme to lift the country to a higher-income nation under the Vision 2020 plan mooted by Dr Mahathir in 1991. However, vociferous sections of the dominant Malay community want the government to guarantee they still have a mandatory 30 per cent equity in all business ventures, a policy that has kept many investors away.

How SYABAS is stealing billions of our money from under our noses

Here’s a basic simple write-up. If you can afford the time, do swing by a briefing:

Date : Saturday, 20th November 2010
Time : 2.30pm – 5.00pm
Venue : Bilik Gerakan, 1st Floor, MBPJ Headquarters, Jalan Yong Shook Lin

In 1997, the Barisan Nasional state and federal governments began privatising the water industry in Selangor. Then Menteri Besar Muhammad Taib chose the treasurer from his Umno division, Tan Sri Rozali Ismail to be the main beneficiary of this privatisation exercise.

By 2010, the amounts of losses generated by leakage and corruption in the private water companies have now run into the hundreds of millions. Amongst the many questionable financial practices found in the private water companies are:

1. An audit report on Syabas showed more than 72% of contracts, worth RM 600 million in total, was awarded to companies chosen through direct negotiation not by open tender process. Also, RM 325 million was found to be ‘missing’ in discrepancies between Syabas’ public accounts and the records of contracts awarded from 2005 to 2007.

3. In June 2005, Syabas contravened the terms of their concession when they imported RM 375 million worth of pipes from an Indonesian company instead of sourcing them locally. The Indonesian company was owned by Tan Sri Rozali Ismail, the CEO of Syabas.

4. Tan Sri Rozali Ismail’s salary is RM 5.1 million a year or RM 425,000 a month.

5. The four water companies have a combined debt of RM 6.4 billion. The federal government has given Syabas a soft loan of RM 320 million. The total interest on this 20 year loan is RM 250 million, and Syabas will not be required to pay a single sen of this amount. Instead, this cost will be fully borne by Malaysian taxpayers.

In light of this appalling financial mismanagement, the Selangor state government has prevented Syabas from raising water tariffs by 37%, and is now endeavouring to reacquire all water concessions from the private water companies. Their goal is to eliminate the element ofprivatised profit and socialised losses, stop the corruption and leakage, and ensure quality delivery of water at affordable rates. This move requires public and support and pressure to succeed.

Al-Qaeda branch warns France

The leader of al-Qaeda's North African wing has demanded the withdrawal of French forces from Afghanistan in return for the safety of French nationals kidnapped in Niger.

Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb [AQIM], made the comments in an audio tape aired by Al Jazeera on Thursday.

Five French nationals and two Africans - employees of French companies Areva and Vinci - were kidnapped in Niger on September 16.

Abdel Wadoud also said that any negotiations over the release of the hostages should be carried out directly with al-Qaeda's leader, Osama bin Laden.

"The summary of the message is very clear," he said in the broadcast.

"You will not find security anywhere until we also have security and safety in Palestine, Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, the Maghreb and so on.

"If you don't stop intervening in our affairs and the oppression of Muslim people, and if you want peace for your citizens that we hold hostage, you must withdraw your forces from Afghanistan as soon possible according to a set timetable that you will announce publicly.

"If you reject this offer, you will be held responsible in the eyes of your people."

French reaction

France said on Friday it was working to authenticate Abdel Wadoud's message. Bernard Valero, the French foreign ministry spokesman, told the AFP news agency that the recording "is being authenticated now".

He said that France was "fully mobilised" in an effort to secure the release of the five French hostages along with the Togo and a Madagascar nationals.

"For this kind of complex and delicate situation, discretion is an important part of our activity," Valero said.

Herve Morin, who was closely following the hostage crisis until losing his defence portfolio in last week's cabinet reshuffle in France, said that the reference to Bin Laden was new.

"Withdrawing French troops from Afghanistan is a kind of classic, traditional demand for all kinds of attacks," he told France Info radio.

"What's new is the reference to bin Laden. Generally, and particularly with AQIM, it's more of a franchise."

Last month AQIM offered to release the hostages in exchange for a repeal of the ban on the face veil in France, the release of fighters and €7m [$9.88m], according to a report by Al Arabiya television.

Bin Laden had said in an audio tape also aired on Al Jazeera last month that the kidnapping was prompted by France's unjust treatment of Muslims.

Source:Al Jazeera and agencies

Tamil school near KLCC Twin Towers but still in 1924 colonial workers quarters. UMNO, PKR, DAP and PAS cheats Indian via Tamil newspaper propaganda.

The St. Joseph Tamil school in Sentul was made to operate in 1924 in a colonial master’s house.

While One Malay-sia has grown leaps and bounds as evidenced by the KLCC Twin Towers which is within sight of this school, this Tamil school remains in dilapidated conditions. After being eaten by white ants, this school building poses a danger to it’s 168 children. But never mind under the One Malay-sian UMNO regime, because the children are merely from the poor and working class Indian community. (see picture below in MN 19/11/10 at page 18).

And on this very same page Malaysia Nanban reports of dilapidated Mentakab and Lanchang Tamil schools. And in the front page of this very same Malaysia Nanban today the UMNO/BN Johor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Gani Osman’s wayang kulit mega ceremony opening the site of the Mount Austin Tamil school and posing in colour photos with his MIC Indian mandores all garlanded.

And the Menteri Besar’s kosong announcements of funds for this Tamil school new site.

We have never read reports of a grand propaganda school site opening ceremony of a Malay, Chinese, Orang Asli, Kadazan or Iban school. Why this kosong propaganda only for Tamil schools? Because this proposed St. Austin Tamil school may not take off in the first place but UMNO would have created the impressions and perception and created the feel good feeling among the Indian poor? But no more though after the 25th November 2007 Hindraf Rally.

Even the opening of a five star hotel entrance looking Chinese school hall, or any of the elite 99% Malay muslim MRSM schools, is never similarly publicized.

Why all these kosong propaganda only for Tamil schools? So that all the rest of the 523 Tamil schools nationwide could be made to remain in dilapidated conditions and with the view to be systematically ethnically cleansed!

Section 28 of the U.N Convention on the rights of the child provides for compulsory and free education. But Najib Razak’s One Malay-sia systematically intends Tamil Schools to remain this way as part of the UMNO racist and religious supremacist agenda.

And to add insult to injury the opposition PKR, DAP and PAS state governments of Selangor, Penang and Kedah are following UMNO/BN by their one by one, land here and land there, and kosong peanuts cash aid for this Tamil school and that Tamil school through their MP, EXCO ADUN and Councillor Indian Mandores.
The latest being the Kapar Indian MP and Exco mandore’s kosong RM 50,000 cash aid (that is if and when they receive it in full) for the Kapar Valambarosa Tamil school. (TN 19/11/2010 at page 4).

The world’s only basement Tamil school and another Tamil school in a combination of shipping cabins and plantation workers quarters ie the Assad Tamil school and the Batu Kawan Tamil schools.

Despite nearly three years of taking power in Selangor, Penang and Kedah even the Anwar Ibrahim led supposedly multi racial PKR, DAP and PAS led states have refused to grant state land to all it’s 98, 22 and 54 tamil schools respectively despite having 100% powers to do so. Simply because PKR, DAP and PAS would lose Malay muslim votes which UMNO would exploit when land is given to these Tamil schools. In conclusion neither UMNO/BN nor PKR, DAP and PAS intends to grant a permanent solution to all 523 Tamil schools in Malaysia.

Where is the change when compared to the previous 50 year old UMNO regime?

P. Uthayakumar