Hutan Melintang PKR man quits party?

In the letter, he cited dissatisfaction with the PKR leadership as a reason to turn independent


K Pragalath, FMT

Two-term Hutan Melintang state assemblyman S Kesavan has allegedly quit PKR to be an independent assemblyman.

A source from the Perak Speaker’s office confirmed receiving a party resignation letter purportedly from Kesavan, and is trying to verify if the letter was indeed sent by Kesavan.

FMT also obtained a copy of a letter allegedly signed by Kesavan. He could not be contacted to confirm the resignation.

The letter is dated Jan 2 and is addressed to Perak state legislative assembly speaker SK Devamany. It was received by Devamany’s office today.

In it, Kesavan declared that he was quitting PKR effective immediately after losing confidence and dissatisfaction with the PKR leadership.

The state assemblyman first won the seat in 2008 by polling 7,804 votes against MIC candidate S Thangaswari. He defended his position in 2013 by polling 10,155 votes in a four cornered tussle.

News of this resignation letter has taken Perak DAP by surprise with its state chief Ngeh Koo Ham reportedly saying that he was not informed of the matter.

PKR supreme council member Mustafa Kamil Ayub meanwhile was reported to have said in a mainstream news portal that Kesavan did not mention his intention when he met him during the party’s supreme council meeting last month.

Meanwhile, in a twist of events, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil denied Kesavan had submitted a resignation letter to the state speaker.

“After receiving an explanation from YB Kesavan, PKR confirms that he had never sent that letter, nor has he quit the party,” Fahmi said in a brief statement.

“YB Kesavan has also been advised to lodge a police report over the fake letter,” he added.
 
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Anwar: What I would do as S’gor MB

Malaysiakini
The first person that visitors to the PKR headquarters would meet is mustachioed security guard Balu, who usually stands at the entrance of the building in the high-end neighbourhood of Tropicana, Selangor.
Although he has a seat in the information booth, Balu cannot help but crack a joke when asked why PKR has not provided him a chair: “In this party, the biggest problem is seats.”
In the latest episode, the seat in question is the post of Selangor menteri besar, with the ‘Kajang Move’ being seen as a way to unseat Abdul Khalid Ibrahim and replace him with PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim.
A consummate politician, Anwar who is contesting the Kajang by-election in a bid to enter the state legislative assembly, insisted on prefacing his plans with the word ‘If’.
“If I become MB,” he said, raising his voice on ‘if’, “it will be until I become prime minister.”

His meeting with Malaysiakini yesterday was sandwiched between a long list of media interviews, and even his cheery pink candy-stripe shirt did not mask the shadow of fatigue on his face.
Still, fatigue cannot push a seasoned player like Anwar to say what he should not – that the MB’s post is merely a stepping stone and Khalid another pawn to be toppled on the longer route to the premiership.
Instead, Anwar painted a gentler picture of friendship and politics. Khalid, he said, is a good friend but Selangor needs “political clout”.
“It is sad how … he has to leave. It is sad. The circumstances and the dictate of the time requires that Selangor be driven,” he said, clenching his fist at the end to prove this point.
“I cannot accept Selangor being held every time to ransom. Every other week you have this problem, this attack.
“We seem to be quite helpless, either they (the BN) use state apparatus or some NGO and not much can be done … we will not allow this to happen. This requires political leadership.”
‘It’s not about the money’
Enter Anwar – former finance minister and someone so deft in political manouevring that he managed to oust Ghafar Baba for the Umno deputy president’s post in a heartbeat despite Ghafar’s four-decade long career in the party.
But Khalid, too, has solid credentials. Under his stewardship, Selangor reserves now stand at an astounding RM3 billion, a mountain of cash that he jealously guards.
He has refused to play politics with the funds, either by through politically-expedient projects camouflaged as state initiatives or through feeding the party.
Critics of the ‘Kajang Move’ allege that this is actually the main reason behind the manouevre. They say it is just a bid by PKR to break into the coffers.
Anwar shrugged, as if this is nothing new, and without missing a beat lamented how “unfair” such accusations are.
“How can I, at this stage of my political career, compromise on good governance? It is sheer insanity if I do that! … On that score, I am not going to change.”
What he will change, however, is how the reserves are used. He argued that there is no point of talking about reserves with issues like poverty and public housing still a problem in the state.
“The mantel of economic management is not good reserves but good management of the economy. If you spend money, say the reserves, for public housing and free education for Universiti Selangor students, then is it wasting public money?”
Solution to Bible seizure
Anwar took the long and winding route in responding to a question as to why he chose to finally intervene in Selangor.
At the end of this, it is not hard to conclude that one of his grouses was the way the state has handled the Bible seizure issue.
While the Bible Society of Malaysia continues to await the return of the copies seized, Anwar sees this as a cut-and-dried “administrative” matter. This, he said, will be his first stop as MB.
“I would say: ‘Guarantee that they won’t be distributed to Muslims, don’t send them to schools and only use them for Christians. I want it in writing.’ And then I (would) send them back,” he said.
Comparing himself to Anwar, Khalid last week had said that, unlike him, Anwar can face impossible demands (he uses Hindraf’s demands as an example) but at the end of the meeting, those making the demands will be part of Anwar’s fanclub.
It is this trait that Anwar seems to be banking on to deal with rising religious tensions over the use of ‘Allah’ by non-Muslims.
If he heads the Selangor government, Anwar said he can use state resources to build the confidence of Muslims so they would not feel threatened by purported threats to their faith.
He said he has met Muslims who are “virtually fearful” of mass Christianisation and this means the issue is “beyond political”.
“No, I don’t believe Islam is threatened or (that) we (would) allow it to happen. I would say you have all the resources at your disposal to strengthen the position of Islam, to use the mosque to educate, to launch your dakwah (preaching) programmes.
“But you should never allow people to be held to ransom, to instill this sort of fear among the non-Muslims. This is something that is just pathetic after half a century of independence.”
If Anwar becomes the MB, would he then support a change in the state enactment to bar non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’?
In answer, he related the anecdote of a Permatang Pauh Muslim scholar who had questioned him as to why non-Muslims want to change the enactment.
“I told him, Tuan Guru, if you have a non-Muslim living on Jalan Masjid, then technically he cannot use the term ‘Jalan Masjid’.
“(The scholar) said, ‘He can.’ I said, ‘But this is the law.’ Then he was shocked and his immediate reaction was (that) you have to correct the law, not knowing the implications.
“So I think we have to explain. People say, no, we change the law. But I think give it time, we have to explain. Don’t under-estimate or over-estimate your influence or power without engaging with the people.”
Deference to palace
Outside Khalid’s reverence for his “political animal” instincts, Anwar, too, prides himself as being in tune with sentiments on the ground.
Reading this while planning the ‘Kajang Move’, Anwar has known that, even if the palace cannot legally reject his nomination as MB, it would be unwise to arrogantly brush off the influence of the palace.

“I know the (state) constitution, I understand it. But as deference to the ruler, I always said that in a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, it’s not just the legal constitution.
“If you accept the institution of royalty, of kingship (sic), then there is the paraphernalia, the facade of office that you need to recognise, and that means deference.”
Royal assent, protest votes and consensus within Pakatan Rakyat are hurdles he has to clear to become MB, but these are all things that Anwar and his team of advisors have accounted for.
This is why his candidacy was announced less than 24 hours of Kajang incumbent Lee Chin Cheh’s resignation from the state seat and why he is “taking the soft line” in explaining why it was done.
It also means admitting to “mistakes” – like leaving DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng in the dark over the ‘Kajang Move’, blaming “pressure” to get things going and miscommunication (he thought DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang would tell his son).
Simply put, he said, Kajang was chosen among several seats because its demographics reflect that of the state and doing it now means there will still be time for Anwar and Pakatan to prove their chops in Selangor before the next general election.
“I cannot go on with this (and the feud within PKR Selangor and attacks by BN) on a protracted basis. I have to decide. It was a very difficult decision, not very popular in this instance andMalaysiakini is partly responsible.
“But the decision has to be made for the larger interest and I think, at least for a start, we have caught BN off guard. Nobody anticipated it …”
Neither did the people, some of whom are incensed that PKR is forcing yet another by-election.
For now, though, Anwar almost appears proud.
“It’s not bad (our responses). It means we had read the sentiments, which to me is a positive trait in political leadership.”

Najib should invite Teresa Kok to screen her “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” and give proper translation of the Cantonese-Mandarin dialogue and background at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow before more UMNO Ministers make fools of themselves

Another UMNO Minister has jumped into the fray over DAP MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s 11-minute video “Onderful Malaysia CNY 2014”, another UMNO leader to make a fool of himself as if he understands Cantonese and Mandarin, the languages used in the video dialogue.

He is none other than the Minister for Communications and Multimedia Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who weighed in on the subject today, denouncing Teresa’s satirical Chinese New Year video “unbecoming of a leader” and deploying a string of derogatory ephithets for the video: “annoying”, “more nauseating”, “more disgusting”.

How does Ahmad Shabery know? Has he suddenly understood Mandarin and Cantonese, or was it based on hearsay, and biased and prejudiced hearsay by MCA or Gerakan leaders?

The first UMNO leader who tried to get political mileage from Teresa’s video is the Minister for Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who accused Teresa’s video of lampooning the Malaysian security forces and the Lahad Datuk intrusion tragedy which saw the loss of lives among soliders and policemen.

Shafie succeeded in getting the police to swing into immediate action within hours with the Police Internal Security and Public Order director Datuk Seri Salleh Mat Rashid declaring that Teresa’s video clip would be investigated for sedition and defamation.

In actual fact, Teresa’s video did not lampoon the security forces as it did not make any mention of the security forces or the Lahad Datuk incursion tragedy.

This is a simple, open-and-shut case.

This is why I invited Shafie yesterday to a public get-together with Teresa and he could come with his experts and advisers so that his team could publicly point out where the security forces or the Lahad Datu intrusion tragedy had been the subject of ridicule by the video satire.

I am not surprised that Shafie has kept his silence because he had been caught red-handed making a fool of himself saying something he knows nothing about – unless he knows Mandarin and Cantonese to understand the video dialogue, which would make him even more culpable as deliberately telling a lie.

At present, we can only say that Shafie was foolish enough to be misled and misinformed about something he does not know as to make baseless allegations about Teresa’s video.

Who had misinformed Shafie? Was it MCA or Gerakan leaders in the BN? Is he prepared to reveal their identities.

Now another UMNO Minister, Ahmad Shabery has jumped into the morass with his eyes closed – as he could not have understood Mandarin or Cantonese.

Before more UMNO Ministers make fools of themselves, I seriously suggest that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should invite Teresa Kok to screen her 11-minute video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” and to give proper translation of the Cantonese-Mandarin dialogue and background at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow so that UMNO Ministers will not be so easily misled whether by MCA or Gerakan on the issue.

May be Parliament when it reconvenes on March 10 next month should have a full screening of Teresa’s 11-minute video “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” with Teresa providing the correct translation of the Chinese-Mandarin dialogue and background.

Teresa should be congratulated instead of being criticized for her creative video which is heading for a million hits on YouTube – getting more hits than the most popular That Effing Show on YouTube, “Let Them Eat Kangkung” which scored 182,634 hits in two weeks as compared to Teresa’s video which received 187,334 hits in six days.

Not everybody like the “Onederful Malaysia” video, which is controversial and which is why it has collected 2,631 likes to 1,619 dislikes on YouTube.

But this does not make it seditious or criminal defamation as to be subject of police investigation.

As Bar Council President Christoper Leong has rightly said in his interview with Free Malaysia Today yesterday, action cannot be taken against Teresa on her Chinese New Year video as it was not seditious.

Leong said there was nothing seditious about the video as far as the law and the Sedition Act is concerned, regardless whether some may find the video entertaining or otherwise.
He pointed out how there were various ways to highlight serious issues or expound issues of concern.

Leong said: “Being grim-faced with frown lines when doing so is one way, but that is not necessarily the only way.

“One may convey concerns or express an opinion on issues through numerous mediums like oratory, debate, written articles, cartoons, theatrical plays, satire and poems.”
As such, it is all about getting a message across in a peaceful way.

Leong said: “There does not appear to be any element of incitement in the video. The fact that some people are taking offence to it and may excite or incite themselves, does not mean that the video and its contents are unlawful.”

He added that in order to move forward, people should not interpret laws to pander to the lowest denominator.

“Education must be the key, not outmoded draconian laws,” said Leong.

Umno Minister should not be guilty of interpreting laws to pander to the lowest denominator.

Clearly, among the first persons that need to be educated about political satires are UMNO Cabinet Ministers like Shafie and Ahmad Shabery. - Lim Kit Siang

Victim just wants to go back to school

The Star
by RUBEN SARIO

KOTA KINABALU: The family of a 13-year-old rape victim hopes that she can move on with her life and go back to school now that the culprit has been sentenced to 12 years’ jail and ordered to be given two strokes of the rotan.

Rights groups have lauded the sentencing, saying it sent a “loud and clear” message to would-be rapists.

An aunt who has been taking care of the girl said she was a bright student and dreamed of becoming a doctor.

“We just want her to get on with her life and achieve her dreams,” said the sister of the girl’s father outside the Sessions Court after 41-year-old restaurant manager Riduan Masmud was sentenced.

Riduan was found guilty of raping the girl, then about 12, in a car by a roadside near the Kionsom Waterfall in Inanam between 9am and 10am on Feb 18, last year.

On May 20, last year, Riduan told the court that he had married the girl, but the Attorney-General’s Chambers decided to go ahead and prosecute him for the offence.

Sessions judge Ummu Kalthom Abdul Samad, when sentencing Riduan, noted that the girl had stopped schooling since the incident and was deprived of her “teenage life” when she became a housewife.

Hailing the sentence, the Sabah Women’s Action Resource Group said the penalty would send a strong message to would-be rapists that they could not prey on children and then try to manipulate the system to escape punishment.

“This is important because of the worrying trend in rape committed against children in Sabah,” said its president Winnie Yee.

She noted that 80% of rape cases in the state last year involved girls under the age of 16. Of this, 17% could be categorised as paedophilia as the victims were 13 years and below while the rapists were at least five years older.

In KUALA LUMPUR, Bar Council chairman Christopher Leong said the decision reflected the serious views held by law and society on statutory rape.

“It is also a welcome message that perpetrators cannot use the device of marrying the underage victim as an excuse to escape criminal liability,” he said.

Leong also commended the Attorney-General’s Chambers on the prosecution, and said parents should realise that marrying a child to her rapist often added to the harm done to their daughters.

Association of Women Lawyers president Meera Samanther said the decision showed that justice could and would be served.

“The message in the judgment is loud and clear – rapists cannot circumvent punishment by marrying the victim,” she added.

Sisters In Islam programme manager Suri Kempe said a rehabilitation order should have been included in the sentence to address the root cause of the rapist’s behaviour.

“The man did not see anything wrong with his actions and has thus far expressed no remorse. He even made a public announcement that he was going to marry his victim and tried to circumvent the criminal justice system,” she added.

Syariah Lawyers Association secretary-general Moeis Basri said the girl had to apply for an annulment as the Syariah Court could not do so on its own despite the man being convicted.

“The Syariah Court on its own motion cannot annul the marriage unless the wife applies to the court for it to be dissolved.

“Under the Syariah law, if the husband is imprisoned for more than a year, the wife can apply for a dissolution,” he said.

Moeis said the conviction was an important lesson that a rapist could not escape punishment by marrying his victim, especially when she is a minor.

“It sends an important message to society that marriage is not a licence to escape rape charges.”

Hishamuddin Rais: Saya sokong Anwar bertanding di Kajang

Riot-hit Muslims find solace in Hindu village

Ram Singh (left), the community elder, speaks at Palda in Muzaffarnagar on Saturday. Picture by Prem Singh

Palda (Muzaffarnagar), Feb. 2: Mehndi Hasan, Roshan Ali and Mohammed Rasheed call Palda a “terrain of peace”.

Theirs are among 450 riot-hit Muslim families that have each bought a small plot in this predominantly Hindu village, looking to settle down among its “kind and generous” people.

Hasan, 45, had fled his home in Qutba, just 3km away, with his wife, five children and parents after rioters ran amok, killing and burning, in the Muslim village on September 7. But the Hindus of Jat-dominated Palda provided shelter to them and another 100-odd Muslim refugees for weeks and months.

“They fought off their own community members who wanted to attack us,” Rasheed said.

After the word spread, and the government’s riot compensation began trickling in, hundreds of Muslims from several relief camps began buying small slices of farmland here — about 150 to 200 square yards each — to build houses.

“We welcome them with open arms,” village elder Ram Singh, 60, told The Telegraph on Saturday.

About 100 of Palda’s 500 households were Muslims; now its population will double and Hindus may lose their majority — something that should have no bearing on everyday life unless someone plays mischief.

“We want to send a strong message to political parties that are trying to divide people for votes,” Ram Singh said, drawing claps from the Hindus and Muslims sharing a charpoy with him.

But Palda should not be simplified as a feel-good story. The village stands out in a belt blighted by fear and suspicion since the September violence, which killed over 50 people in the neighbouring districts of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli.

Palda’s experience till now suggests integrated neighbourhoods, not ghettoised compartments, are the best protection for both communities.

But Palda’s solitary status underscores the challenge before integration. Of the 50,000 riot-displaced, at least 15,000 are still too afraid to leave the relief camps. Of the rest, at least half have relocated to relatives’ villages or other Muslim-dominated settlements, often with help from minority organisations, leaving the region largely ghettoised.

“But Palda has become a riot-free terrain of peace (danga-mukt shanti kshetra) for us. The Hindus here are very nice and, thanks to them, many Muslim families are alive today,” said Rasheed, a former inmate of the Shahpur relief camp, 3km away, who bought his piece of Palda a month ago.

He has now pitched a tent and lives in it with his family. “We feel very safe here,” he said. “My new neighbours have been offering us food for the past one month. I’ll soon begin building my house.”

Willy-nilly, strife has become an economic factor, too.

Most of the 450 families of settlers, whom Ram Singh calls the village’s “guests”, are among the 1,000-odd households that have received the Rs 5 lakh compensation announced by the state government. Thousands more are still waitlisted in what critics cite as the latest example of the Akhilesh Yadav government’s poor handling of the tragedy.

“I bought a small plot in Palda paying Rs 3.5 lakh out of the Rs 5 lakh I got from the government,” said Roshan Ali. “I shall build a small house and live here with my family for the rest of my life.”

A municipal official in Shahpur said these plots were sold at rates up to three times the prices that prevailed before the demand from the riot-displaced rose. He added that this was true also of the towns and Muslim-dominated villages where some of the victims have relocated.

Like most Muslims in the region, the new settlers in Palda were mainly landless farm labourers in their native villages and now plan to work in their Jat neighbours’ fields. The rest — masons and blacksmiths — hope to continue in their earlier professions.

Palda is conscious and proud of its newfound fame. Every evening, a group of young villagers assemble at Singh’s home to provide bulletins on the day’s events in the deeply divided neighbourhood.

On Saturday, the discussions centred on Narendra Modi’s Sunday rally in Meerut, about 45km from Muzaffarnagar.

“We’ll go to the rally; some of our Muslim brothers too have decided to accompany us. We’ll submit a memorandum to Modi asking him to intervene and do something for the common people in the area,” said Raj Kumar Singh.

Those who had gone to the rally hadn’t returned home by late Sunday evening; so it remained unclear whether they had been able to hand the memorandum over.

The mood in villages even a couple of kilometres away throw the bonhomie in Palda into sharp relief.

Biram Singh, an elderly villager in Qutbi, which adjoins Qutba where Hasan and fellow residents were attacked, nurses bitter feelings towards his former Muslim neighbours.

“Some Muslims took loans of several lakhs from many people in our village and fled on the pretext of riots. No Hindu from our village attacked Muslims. We asked them not to leave but they did not heed us and even lodged FIRs against some of us,” Biram said.

“The trust between the two communities is gone,” acknowledged Shabana, 40, a widow who is building a single-room house near the Shahpur relief camp with her government compensation.

She has four children, including a 14-year-old son who has not been to school the past five months.

Shabana said the riot had left behind a legacy of hate among the children and youths of both communities. “We don’t know when the scars will heal and people will start living together again,” the Class IV dropout said.

Case to nullify polls result on March 11

Ex Bagan Luar DAP branch chairman is seeking to declare the result of the Bagan Dalam state seat null and void.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang High Court will hear the case of former Bagan Luar DAP branch chairman who is challenging the victory of Bagan Dalam assemblyman A Tanasekharan in the general election on March 11.

G Asoghan, who is represented by counsel V Amarason, said the court had fixed the date after the documents were submitted earlier today.

Asoghan wants the Tanasekharan’s victory declared null and void because DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is not recognised by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) and therefore cannot sign the letter of consent to contest in the elections.

Asoghan, who is also a party delegate to national congress, was sacked on April 23 last year after he contested the Bagan Dalam state constituency as an independent candidate.

He said the ROS, through a letter issued before the general election in May, had set aside the DAP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) election results on Dec 12 and ordered fresh polls.

“Therefore a by-election should be held for the Bagan Dalam state seat,” he said.

Asoghan named Thanasekharan and the Elections Committee as the defendants.

Palani under fire again over new appointments - FMT

The MIC president is taken to task for naming state deputies without consulting the chairmen.

PETALING JAYA: MIC president G Palanivel has come under fire again, this time for appointing deputy chairmen for the party’s state offices without consulting the chairmen.

A state chairman told FMT this had caused further division in the party.

“Quite a number of state chairmen are unhappy with the president’s move to name state deputies without prior consultation,” he said.

“Even a phone call to state chairmen informing them of the appointments would have been sufficient.

“Those appointed deputy state chiefs are his people. Obviously he wants to check on the state chairmen.

“We know it is his right to appoint state deputy chairmen but he should consult leaders in the state.”

Palanivel announced the appointment of 13 state deputy chairmen yesterday in a statement to an online newspaper.

He also announced the names of new coordinators for MIC’s Putera and Puteri movements. The new Putera chief is K Ravenkumar and his Puteri counterpart in J Gunamalar.

The unhappiness over the appointment of deputy state chiefs is reminiscent of remarks made last week by MIC Youth chief C Sivarraajh following Palanivel’s appointment of state youth leaders.

“I am not satisfied with the overall appointments,” Sivarraajh said on Jan 28.“Most of the names put forth by the youth wing seems to have been rejected by the president. He has taken the liberty to make his own appointments.”

Prerogative

Sivarraajh acknowledged that it was Palanivel’s prerogative to appoint the new leaders, but said he should have chosen people who could work well with officials of the parent MIC Youth movement.

The state chairman who spoke to FMT also criticised Palanivel for making yesterday’s announcement through an online portal.

“Has he lost trust in the mainstream media?,” he said.

“He can easily use mainstream media like Bernama and the Tamil papers. Why is he using this news portal to announce appointments? The news portal is not MIC owned.

“Why doesn’t the president call for a press conference in announcing the appointments? Is he scared to answer questions from the media?

“We know Palanivel is media shy despite being a former journalist. But by making announcements through a news portal that is not even popular, he has stooped to a new low.”

He said Palanivel had been avoiding not only the mainstream media but also the Tamil vernacular dailies.

“He used to have a say in a particular Tamil newspaper, but that particular newspaper has been bought over by someone else.

“So now he has lost his voice in the Tamil media. That is why he is using this news portal.

“Palanivel must by now realise that he is making all the wrong moves.

“Maybe it is about time he moved out as party president as he does not have control over the party.”

Crisis brewing in Penang MIC

Meanwhile in Penang, majority MIC divisions in the state are not happy with the appointments of M Shanker as state party Youth chief and R Prema as the Wanita head, reports Athi Shankar.

Sources said Palanivel had appointed both the leaders and this had not gone down well with party diehards in the island state.

Representatives from nine out of the 13 divisions in the state held a secret meeting last Saturday to deliberate on an action plan to force the president to change both the youth and women leaders.

They want the state MIC leadership under M Karuppanan to meet the president and convey their message immediately.

“The divisions may even plot to oust Karuppanan if he fails them,” said sources.

The divisions felt both Shankar, who is the Bukit Mertajam division youth chief, and Prema, were politically inexperienced and incapable of spearheading and transforming their respective wings as vibrant movements.

Sources also revealed that the divisions had proposed Tasek Gelugor division youth head A Murugan to head the state youth movement but this was never fulfilled by Palanivel.

The divisions are also against Prema’s appointment, which they claim was an “express political promotion.”

Prema became the Jelutong MIC division women leader only last October and barely after three months she heads the state wanita wing.

“From nowhere, Prema is now state women head by-passing so many others.

“This is undemocratic,” said the sources.

A prominent division leader recalled that former MIC president S Samy Velu, even though a tough character, would listen and act on grassroots views and sentiments.

“But Palanivel political style is even worse than his predecessor. He simply bulldozes his way without giving any explanation,” said the leader.

Allah row: Pakistani cleric blames Umno - FMT

Pakistani Muslim cleric Younus AlGohar ups the ante on his criticism on the Appeals Court judgment over the Allah row.
VIDEO INSIDE

PETALING JAYA: Pakistani Muslim cleric Younus AlGohar has implied that the Allah row between Muslims and Christians is caused by Umno to shore up support from the majority Muslim community.

“There are elections in Malaysia. There is a political party raising issues to unite Muslims to support them. And the party comes from the government,” said Younus in Urdu.

He said this in a video recording entitled “Restricting Allah to Islam is Shirk (syirik)” by AIRa TV two days ago in reference to the Malaysian Appeals Court decision in the case involving a Christian weekly publication, The Herald.

In mid-October last year, three judges – Federal Court judge Mohamed Apandi Ali and Appeals Court judges Mohd Zawawi Salleh and Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim – were unanimous in their decision that Allah’s name can only be used by Muslims and barred the Malay edition of The Herald from using ‘Allah’ to refer to God.

The three judges found that the word Allah was not an integral part of the Malaysian Christian’s faith.

Zawawi said that usage of the word Allah would only serve to confuse the Christians as well as the Muslims due to the Trinity concept practiced in Christianity.

The judge had also said that Christian Bibles in the Indonesian, Middle Eastern and Malay languages had erred by using Allah when referring to God.

An appeal has been filed against this judgment. The case is scheduled to be heard at the Federal Court on March 5.

In November 2013, Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah decreed that Allah cannot be used by non-Muslims in the state.

Various other states have now also begun enforcing enactments to bar non-Muslims from using ‘Allah’ as well as a list of other Arabic words deemed as Islamic.

Early last month, more than 300 Al-Kitab and Bup Kudus (Malay and Iban language bibles) were seized by the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais).

Two weeks ago, Kedah Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah who is the current Agong also backed the Appeals Court judgment.

Ignorant ruling

Younus said that the Appeals Court judgment deifed the Quranic verse, “La ilaha illallah” which means “there is no God but God”.

“Malaysian Muslims are asking Christians to call upon their God with their own name for God but according to Islam, there is no illah other than Allah.

“When there is no illah other than Allah, everybody should call him Allah,” he explained.

In his criticism against the judgment, he said that the Appeals Court ruling was ignorant and “unIslamic”.

“There are Qurans in Saudi Arabia, India and Pakistan. Aren’t there Qurans in Malaysia? Allah says there is no God but Allah.

“Who are you to interpret otherwise? This is unIslamic and insulting to Islam,” said Younos AlGohar.

He had previously criticised the court ruling in another video message.

Iranian prisoners claim mistreatment - FMT

Hundreds of Iranians held for drug-trafficking offences in prisons are suffering and in need of medical treatment, proper food and clean water.
EXCLUSIVE

PETALING JAYA: About 400 Iranians are allegedly being mistreated in prisons in the country after being arrested for drug-trafficking offences.

The drug traffickers were also denied their basic rights and had to bribe prison guards for proper food, soap or a packet of cigarettes.

This was revealed by an Iranian woman living in Malaysia who had conducted her own investigation after her friend was tricked into becoming a drug mule.

The woman gave FMT a letter written by an Iranian inmate on the numerous problems faced in prison.

“We are kept in cells resembling cages and kept locked 23 hours and only allowed to walk outside the prison yard for an hour.

“Most of us have not drank a glass of clean water in two or three years.

“The water is yellow in colour and the food served is of low quality and unhygienic,” the letter said.

The woman told FMT that many of them were suffering from chronic infectious diseases and the medicine given was ineffective.

On Jan 24, an alleged drug mule who is a diabetic, told FMT during a court appearance that he had been detained at the Sungai Buloh prison for more than a year while awaiting trial.

He said he had already informed the guards about his health condition but had yet to receive any medication.

Warning from embassy

He added that many prisoners were having skin infection due to bad prison condition and lack of clean water.

“The medicines given is not good and we need proper health care,” the alleged drug mule said.

It is also learnt that eight inmates were put in a small cell with an open toilet.

The woman said the inmates had complained that they could not even eat because of the awful smell from the toilet.

She said Iranian ambassador to Malaysia and the Teheran government could not care less about their own people.

“I have been interviewed by several TV stations from Iran on the condition of the inmates,” said the woman.

She added that the Iranian embassy had asked her to stop highlighting the issue and even threatened to send her back to Teheran.

Syariah police

A stronger Umno is why other Barisan parties are ‘powerless’, says former MCA chief

(TMI) – Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek (pic) today said that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had made Umno politically stronger during his tenure as prime minister, leaving Umno’s coalition partners in Barisan Nasional (BN) “powerless”.

The former Labis MP said the number of Malay parliamentary seats increased through the redelineation exercise over the last three elections and this subsequently worries the Chinese community.

“The Chinese are generally worried about a very strong Malay government lest their political rights and economic status will be encroached upon,” Dr Chua said in a blog posting today.

He added that the poor implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP) had also posed a greater worry to the community, and this ultimately left it losing faith in the government.

Against this backdrop, Dr Chua said BN component parties were edged into the background and the Umno supreme council’s decisions often became Cabinet decisions.

“I had mentioned before during the BN convention, that to the people, Umno is the taiko (master) and if it becomes arrogant and dictatorial, it will have an adverse impact on other component parties,” Dr Chua said.

Dr Chua in his posting, also expressed his disagreement with Dr Mahathir’s claim that economic liberalisation by the government was a way to appease Chinese voters.

Dr Chua said that instead, bumiputras should not see economic liberalisation as a compromise with the Chinese on the economy and be upset with the liberalisation policy.

“The income gap does not happen just between the bumiputras and the non-bumiputras. It happens within the bumiputras too

“In Kuala Lumpur, there are rich bumiputras and poor bumiputras; the bumiputras in the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak, too, have income discrepancy,” he added.

'Kajang bid not to distract from sodomy case'

 

The decision by PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to contest in the Kajang by-election is not to divert attention from his sodomy case appeal this month, but to bring Selangor to greater heights, a senior academician has said.

Universiti Malaya Centre for Democracy and Elections (Umcedel) director professor Mohammad Redzuan Othman (left) opined that Anwar is already immune to court cases as he has faced a slew of them since 1998.

"Since 1998, Anwar has been in and out of courts and I do not think his move to contest in Kajang is to divert the attention away from then prosecution's appeal to his sodomy II acquittal as he is already used to being in and outside of courtrooms and has even served jail term.

"The fact is, the people are also aware of other high-profile cases like the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal and other matters that sees the failure of the prosecution (to garner convictions) and government's handling of them (by not appealing) compared to Anwar's case," he told Malaysiakini.

Redzuan said the bigger picture of Anwar's move to contest in a Selangor state seat is to consolidate Pakatan's position and to ensure the opposition retains the state in the next general election.

The prosecution's appeal will be heard on Feb 12 and 13 at the Court of Appeal. Whether Anwar is convicted or acquitted again, legal proceedings will probably go on.

Certain quarters like former MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek, have said Anwar's decision to contest in the Kajang by-election is to divert attention from the sodomy appeal.

The matter was also raised again yesterday in Umno owned daily Mingguan Malaysia in quoting Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin, who was once with PKR.

'Lacking political acumen'

Redzuan sees Anwar's immediate objective after winning Kajang is to replace Selangor Menteri Besar Khalid Ibrahim.

This, would also help resolve the feud between Khalid and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali (right), he said.

The Social Science faculty dean who is an advent political observer, added Khalid lacks the political acumen to counter the threat posed by BN.

He also pointed out the seizure of the Al-Kitab bibles, failure to address rising house prices, and the uneven roads and potholes in the state, are problems Khalid have yet to solve despite entering his second term.

Redzuan said there have not been much improvement in race relations following the seizure of the bibles.

The economy is also not in good shape following a drop in the prices of rubber and palm oil, and the hike in prices following the withdrawal of subsidies.

PKR party insiders also say that Khalid's failure to address the water issue in the state is another reason why the party is massing against him.

“I think Anwar sees that Selangor should be a model state for Pakatan and the other states in the country as they view the development in the Klang valley with much interest.

"If Anwar is successful in solving the issues here, it would reflect well on him,” he said.

 “If he manages to make improvements in all these aspects, it would also improve the opposition's chances in the next polls and pave its way to Putrajaya.

"Khalid (left) is seen not pro-active in resolving some of these problems as he is not a politician but a corporate leader. Anwar is seen as an international figure who has the top-down approach to reach out the people,” he said.

Redzuan also sees Khalid as being loyal to Anwar, to the point of relinquishing the Selangor MB's post, as he had announced the opposition leader's candidacy in a show of solidarity.

However, he said BN may have a tough time if it decides not to contest in this by-election, as it would be deemed weak.

"If it puts up an Umno candidate, it will receive a backlash as a MCA candidate is traditionally named. But if they put up a candidate from MCA, it may not get the full Chinese support.

"So BN is seen as truly placed in a corner in this contest," said Redzuan.

When satire is seen as a national threat

(TMI) Can Malaysians take a joke? Can Malaysians take satire or parodies?

Well, it would seem that there is a segment of society that takes offence at jokes, satires or parodies - and these people are usually your generic Umno member.

This past few days, Malaysians have been treated to the spectacle of some Umno members, including Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, taking offence at Seputeh MP Teresa Kok's Lunar New Year greeting video clip.

And they want action taken against her, notwithstanding that she has a right to self-expression and not be dictated by others on what she should say in her new year greeting and how she should say it.

Has Malaysia reached a point where everything said is seen as an attack against Umno or the Malays?

Every right-thinking Malaysian (this excludes Umno) should defend this right because it is easy to see where the likes of Shafie Apdal are taking this although Kok has denied the satirical video clip she uploaded on YouTube a few days ago was an insult to the Malays, the security forces, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his wife.

“I hope they stop it as the false allegations can cause racial tension. They should research on Mandarin and Cantonese before making baseless accusations as they are only embarrassing themselves," said Kok, who is also a DAP national vice-chairman.

Kok said the video, titled 'Onederful' Malaysia CNY 2014, was meant to be humorous and directed at those who spoke Mandarin and Cantonese.

The thing is, any video or writing critical of Umno and the government is being framed in racial and religious terms.

And if Umno cannot control the discourse by demolishing the argument, it will want to intimidate Malaysians by constantly waving threats of punitive action. That would be the only way to shut criticisms.

Or as Kok suspects, Umno's intention in playing the racial card could be a ploy to divert the rakyat's attention from the real issues affecting Malaysians, like the rising cost of living.

Such games and diversions are not necessary. Counter her arguments if need be but without threat, which has now made her video clip even more popular.

That popularity does not make satire a national threat. It just makes the accusers a bigger joke. – February 2, 2014.

Ensure Effective Enforcement Of Laws, Regulatons To Protect Consumers - DPM

DPM says laws must be fully enforced!BANGI, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has called on the relevant ministry and government agencies to be more proactive in enforcing the laws and regulations in order to protect consumers.

He said in this effort, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minisry should play an important role in ensuring that the consumer-protection laws were fully enforced.

Muhyiddin said he was displeased with the attitude of most traders who had still not adhered to the order and regulations requiring them to label and display the price tags of goods which, according to him, caused inconvenience to consumers when making choices in buying goods at reasonable prices.

"The laws have been implemented but not fully enforced. So I think, in line with our move of monitoring prices to prevent customers from being cheated by the traders, these laws must be fully enforced.

"We hope for this, but perhaps time needed be given to traders who have requested for more time through their associations and chambers of commerce. But after that, the laws must be fully enforced," Muhyiddin said.

He said this at a news conference after making a surprise check on prices of goods at Section 16, Bandar Baru Bangi, Monday.

Also present was Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister, Datuk Hasan Malek.

Muhyiddin suggested that the ministry relaunch the labelling and price tagging campaign, besides giving traders a grace period of two months to label and put price tags on their goods for sale.

"Perhaps previously we had taken action but not comprehensively. This time after we've given them the grace period, they won't be able to find anymore excuses not to follow the order. I leave this effort to the ministry," he said.

He said various measures had been and were being taken by the government in tackling price increases and in reducing the people's burden, including preparing a detailed report on the rising cost of living by Pemandu (Performance Management and Delivery Unit).

"This report will be tabled at a meeting this Feb 5. Some areas have been focused on, including energy and fuel, food and beverage and services, transportation and toll.

"We will look at these and other areas holistically," he said.

Muhyiddin said the government always looked at and implement measures that could benefit consumers, besides ensuring that the economy remains strong.

'Tudung' singer accepts apology in the spirit of Chinese New Year

Jabhat al-Nusra Insists on Destroying the Cherubim Monastery in Saidnaya

Militants from Jabhat al-Nusra (al-Qaeda) in collaboration with the Ghuraba' (Foreigners) Brigade have attacked the Cherubim monastery in Saidnaya, located on the highest hilltop in the Qalamoun mountain range. The militants have unsuccessfully been trying to sneak into and attack the monastery for the last couple of months. This time, they were able to start destroying the monastery, while aiming to bring down what they perceive as the "idolatrous" statue of Jesus.

Polygamist politician with FOUR wives thrashes out in divorce in UK court

A foreign politician is involved in a divorce cash fight in a London court after his marriage to one of his FOUR wives broke down.

The foreign national was ordered to pay £20,000 a month after wife number four moved to UK following break up of marriage

The man, who is in his 60s but was not named, has four wives because polygamy is permitted in his home country. Wife number four is an Egyptian who moved to the UK with the couple's two children following the failure of their marriage.

The woman, who had run up legal fees of more than £200,000, asked for £38,000 a month. But judge Mr Justice Mostyn said that was "disproportionate" and said she should get £20,000 a month until the next hearing - due to be held on February 21.

He also ordered the man to pay the children's school fees due this month.

Details of the divorce have emerged in a written ruling by Mr Justice Mostyn in the Family Division of the High Court following a pre-trial hearing.

The judge said relations between the couple were "so antagonistic" that they could not agree on how much money the woman should get for herself and the children prior to the next scheduled hearing in February.

Mr Justice Mostyn said the couple had enjoyed a "high, possibly very high" standard of living.

He did not say where the man came from, but outlined some of his background.

"The husband is a foreign national, aged 62," said Mr Justice Mostyn in the ruling.

"He has four wives by virtue of polygamy being permitted in his home country, of which this wife is number four, who he married in 1999.

"In the 1990s, his involvement in politics in his home country led to self-imposed exile.

"He later returned, was tried and convicted and confined in prison until 2004, when he was released on house arrest, and released therefrom in 2006."

Group denies involvement in Tamil daily fracas

 

 Rajayoga Power Transcendental Meditation Centre Sdn Bhd, or better known as RPT, has today denied it was involved in yesterday’s attack at daily Tamil Malar's office.

The RPT support team, in an email reply to Malaysiakini, expressed shock over the incident and said it should not have happened.

“RPT is not involved in anyway with the incident at their (Tamil Malar) office as we are a law-abiding entity. We do not condone any such acts of violence as we believe in moderation.

“RPT strongly denies any involvement in the incident, and any attempt to link us to it is merely for some cheap publicity,” they said.

The new Tamil daily's office at Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, was attacked by three-parang wielding men at 11am yesterday.

Following the incident, Tamil Malar's managing editor SM Periasamy lodged a police report, in which he stated he suspected RPT of being behind the attack.

Mulling legal action against daily

RPT, founded by V Balakrishan, who is widely known as 'Datuk Seri Guruji' or 'coat-suit Guruji' as he always pictured in a suit.

Tamil Malar's editor Rajeswary Ganesan (left)  also claimed the attack was not the first experienced by the daily after exposing the alleged Guruji “cult”.

She alleged the daily has been harassed and threatened by an unidentified man through phone calls, warning them to stop writing about ‘Guruji’.

“However, we will not stop writing about it. Today we wrote that Guruji could come to sue us if he did not agree with what we write, but until now he still has not shown up,” Rajeswary was reported to have said.

RPT noted that the daily has been publishing articles against it, meant the tarnish its reputation.

“We have sought legal guidance pertaining to this matter and our solicitors are in the midst of preparing the legal paper work,” they said.

Palanivel’s leadership puts MIC in a dilemma

A party insider alleges that Palanivel is hard headed and never listens to any suggestions brought forward by members and fellow leaders

PETALING JAYA: The widespread criticism against the MIC President G Palanivel over his leadership style has put the party in a dilemma.

And it is not only the Malaysian Indians in general that have criticised him for his ‘silence is golden’ stand but also members from his own party.

In reality many MIC members are of the opinion that he should step down as the president after losing his voice within the federal government and at party level too.

“He should make way for his deputy Dr S Subramaniam for the sake of the party which is already divided into two camps,’ said a party insider.

In remaining anonymous, the party’s former central working committee (CWC) member stressed that Palanivel is too weak to handle MIC, the nation’s largest Indian-based party.

“He just do not care about the party since he took over the leadership from former president S Samy Vellu,” he told FMT.

“On numerous occasions, he put his own interest above the party’s benefit.

He also said that the CWC meetings chaired by Palanivel were just for namesake instead a forum to discuss the community’s woes.

“He just never listens to any ideas which are brought up in the CWC meetings,” he said.

“For example, during the 13th general-election, the party’s CWC gave a mandate to Palanivel not to give up any parliament or state assembly seat to BN component parties,” he said.

“However, Palanivel overruled the mandate by letting Umno grab two state assembly seats belonging to the Perak MIC, and in return the party was awarded an extra senatorship post,” he added.

Later, MCA allocated one of their state seat (Jelapang) ‘on loan’ to MIC, but MIC lost all their state seats it contested.

“During another CWC meeting, Palanivel shot down a proposal by S Vell Paari, who suggested the candidates in Penang.”

According to him, during the meeting Vell Paari had suggested the former youth treasurer J Dheenagaran and incumbent CWC member Henry Benedict Aasirvaatham be given the opportunity to contest under the BN banner in Bagan Dalam and Perai state seat respectively.

“Vell Paari also said that by fielding both the leaders it would give a tough fight to DAP.”

“However, Palanivel immediately dismissed his suggestion by claiming that MIC should not ‘disturb’ the DAP in Penang.”

“We, the CWC members, were shocked when Palanivel said DAP is doing an excellent job in Penang and let them remain in power,” added the former CWC member.

“Worse still, Palanivel added that he is a close friend of Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister (II) P Ramasamy. Thus, it is unprofessional for him to put strong candidates in Penang,” he added.

Contacted later, Vell Paari confirmed with FMT that his suggestion was turned down by Palanivel.

“I cannot remember which CWC meeting. But, I still remember that he rejected my view by saying that MIC should not disturb DAP in Penang,” said Vell Paari.

Selangor diancam bahaya sabotaj dalaman

Inilah masanya rakyat nak luahkan kemarahan mereka kepada BN khususnya kerajaan Pusat

PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) dinasihati supaya tidak meletakkan calonnya bertanding dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) N25 Kajang

Ahli Parlimen Shah Alam Khalid Samad berkata, PSM sepatutnya memberi laluan kepada PKR bersemuka dengan BN sekaligus dapat menumpukan usaha memenangkan Pakatan Rakyat.

“Seruan kepada PSM biarlah ini merupakan satu referendum antara Pakatan Rakyat dan Barisan Nasional (BN).

“Inilah masanya rakyat nak luahkan kemarahan mereka kepada BN khususnya kerajaan Pusat mengenai persoalan kos hidup dan harga barang,” katanya dalam sidang media di Pejabat Parlimen Shah Alam di sini hari ini.

PSM sebelum ini dalam laporan media tidak menolak kemungkinan akan bertanding di Kajang atas dorongan orang ramai yang mahu parti itu ‘memberi pengajaran kepada PKR’.

Sementara itu, Khalid turut mempertahankan tindakan bekas Adun Kajang Lee Chin Cheh meletakkan jawatan atas alasan mahu menyelamatkan Selangor daripada ancaman sabotaj dalaman.

Khalid berkata, pihaknya dimaklumkan PKR bahawa parti itu merasakan Selangor berada dalam ancaman kerana dua faktor utama.

Ancaman utama ialah wujudnya cubaan Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) merampas kembali Selangor dalam apa jua cara sekalipun termasuk usaha sabotaj daripada pihak tertentu yang mahu menggagalkan prestasi kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat.

Antaranya beberapa projek kerajaan negeri yang tak bergerak walaupun bajet sudah diluluskan.

“Ada juga tanah yang sepatutnya diberi kepada Kumpulan Darul Ehsan Berhad (KDEB) dan sudah diluluskan Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Selangor (MTES) tapi tak ditukar-tukar namanya lebih setahun.

“Ini semua kerja-kerja sabotaj yang sedang berlaku atas sebab tertentu untuk menghalang keberkesanan dan akhirnya rakyat jadi marah…ini persoalan yang perlu ditangani,” katanya dalam sidang media di Pejabat Parlimen Shah Alam di sini hari ini.

Dakwanya, isu rampasan Bible juga merupakan salah satu isu sabotaj yang sengaja direka untuk mencalarkan imej pentadbiran negeri.

Selain itu, krisis dalaman PKR itu sendiri antara Menteri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim dan Timbalan Pengerusi PKR Azmin Ali yang memerlukan penyelesaian cepat dan segera.

Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat itu berkata, soal perebutan Menteri Besar tak timbul kerana jawatan itu tidak boleh ditentukan oleh mana-mana parti.

Katanya, PKR, DAP, atau PAS tidak ada yang memperoleh 29 kerusi majoriti.

“Kalau nak ada perubahan Menteri Besar ia mesti mendapat sokongan 29 ADUN dan bagi PR ianya mesti dapat persetujuan Majlis Presiden Pakatan Rakyat.

“Jadi tidak ada apa cara PKR boleh tentukan Menteri Besar seorang diri,” katanya.

Beliau turut menyeru kepada semua ahli PAS membantu memenangkan Ketua Umum PKR Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim kekalkan kemenangan kerusi DUN Kajang dan akan bersama jentera PAS Shah Alam turun padang untuk membantu.

“Walaupun ada yang tak setuju tapi kita lebih tak setuju kalau kerusi Kajang jatuh ke tangan BN,” katanya yang menganggap kemarahan akar umbi PAS itu berpunca daripada khabar angin.

Beliau yakin ahli PAS perlahan-lahan akan terima Anwar sebagai calon DUN Kajang jika arahan diberikan pemimpin Pusat.

“Itu (kemarahan) luahan tertentu kerana kita tahu PAS akhirnya akan akur arahan pimpinan,” katanya.

Statewide polls could be triggered if Khalid steps down, claims lawyer

(MM) - The ongoing drama surrounding the Kajang by-elections could get much worse, with the possibility of statewide elections if swirling rumours that PKR may want to replace current Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim prove true, a lawyer claimed today.

By vacating his seat, Khalid would leave a void in the state’s executive arm and going by the state constitution, the entire executive council would be required to leave along with him, said human rights and constitutional lawyer Edmund Bon.

In his latest post on loyarburok.com, Bon said the Sultan of Selangor as head of state has the power to dissolve the assembly and pave the way for fresh elections if he isn’t convinced that there is a suitable replacement for Khalid who commands majority confidence in the state assembly.

“Given the intra-party factionalism in PKR, it would be unlikely His Royal Highness appoints the MB from PKR. Anyway, PKR is in the minority in PR,” he said, referring to the state’s ruling Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

PR is facing widespread criticism after PKR’s Kajang assemblyman, Lee Chin Cheh, abruptly quit the state assembly, giving an opening for his party’s de-facto chief Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to become a member of the state legislative assembly.

Lee’s sudden resignation came hot on the heels of media speculation that a state by-election was in the offing to make Anwar a Selangor lawmaker, qualifying him to take over the post of mentri besar from Khalid.

Kajang Folks please use your brain

No Democracy and Good Governance in PKR, only Cloak and Dagger Stuff

Nathaniel Tan, Malaysia Flip Flop

For years I defended Anwar Ibrahim. For years I defended PKR. I defended and I defended, until the day came where it became impossible to defend the indefensible. People always like to speculate whether people change their positions due to money. In all honesty, I think that’s a healthy speculation.

After yesterday’s article, more than one person asked about the profits I made working for the Selangor government. I had a good run, and earned a similar amount as the people I went to school with, for the three years I was with Selangor.

In the middle of last year, I was informed my services would no longer be required. They did not explain why at length (except perhaps to hint that I was costing too much), and I did not really ask or pursue the matter. My last day of work was around November 2013, and I have not had any professional engagement with them since.

Given the abrupt dismissal, perhaps people would have been less surprised if I had turned on Abdul Khalid Ibrahim instead of Anwar Ibrahim.

In any case, let’s get to it. Many people are throwing about words like ‘tactics’, ‘strategy’, ‘Mahathirism’, ‘racial and religious incitement’, ‘strengthening Pakatan Rakyat’, etc, etc.

I’ll spend a few words on all those later, but for my money, they have nothing to do with the most important implication of what is going on.

The murky game of cloaks and daggers

To me, the real problem pivots on how Anwar and his associates are running PKR in a manner that is completely bereft of transparency, accountability and democratic principles.

Let’s carry out a simple thought exercise: How did the decision to carry out the Kajang plan come about? I don’t know, do you? Many have speculated (myself included), many claim it happened one way or another, but the truth is: nobody outside the nebulous ‘inner circle’ has any idea.

PKR has a large supreme council that is mostly democratically elected, and a smaller political bureau. Can we say with confidence that members of both were given an opportunity to voice their opinions, much less be made fully aware of what was going on? Are there official minutes perhaps, that we might refer to?

Beyond PKR, there are the leaders of PAS and DAP, and there are the representatives of the Selangor State Assembly – all democratically elected as representatives by party members, and by the rakyat. How many of them had a say in the decision that would so heavily influence who would be the number one person in the Selangor state government? Were there broad consultations among party leaders, elected representatives, and (God forbid) the rakyat? Or was it presented to the world as a fait accompli?

The day Lee Chin Cheh (left) resigned his seat in Kajang, someone theoretically in the top 10 ranking of PKR leaders messaged me, saying: “I guess I’m always the last to know. Sigh” If he or she is the last to know, what more the rest of us?

This is the latest – and by my reckoning the last straw – in a culture of cloak and dagger politics within PKR that for too long now has circumvented transparency and democracy in favour of whispered deals made in backrooms that no one is privy to.

I suppose it was stupid of us to expect democracy from a party whose ‘de facto leader’ has no democratic mandate whatsoever. These issues have not been the focus of public attention, but in my mind, the implications of this style of politics continuing to spiral out of control is the most significant factor in the entire crisis.

‘The bigger picture’

All these years, I felt that despite these problems, it was important to maintain unity in order to fight the bigger enemy: UMNO. It’s a sad day when you turn around and realise that the people you’ve been fighting for have come to live and breathe so deeply the culture you thought you were fighting against.

Over the years, I have spent countless words trying to fight cynicism against politics, and speaking out against armchair critics who seem fueled mostly by self-righteous anger, and who never seem to get their hands dirty.

I did this because, like so many others, I wanted to concentrate on the big picture. I desperately wanted a Malaysia free of UMNO. On Tuesday, I realised how far some politicians would go in abusing and manipulating this desperation.

For too long now, I think Anwar, PKR and Pakatan have become convinced that they can get away with murder, because they believe those of us who hunger for change simply have no other options.

They assume we truly, truly will vote for Pakatan (and Anwar) no matter what, as long as no alternative (like another party, or say, Khalid) exists. I had always thought there was a limit as to how far they would go. It would appear not.

READ MORE HERE

Selesai segera isu kaum dan agama

Pelbagai pihak kini sedang memerhatikan dengan cemas segala perkembangan yang berlaku di tanah air, yang dilihat sangat membimbangkan.

Ini akibat segala isu yang berbangkit menuju ke arah maraknya api perkauman dan pertentangan agama sedang dibakar oleh pihak tertentu yang mempunyai pelbagai kepentingan dan keadaan ini sangat mencemaskan.

Isu berbangkit yang mana tidak diheret ke lembah perkauman dan pandangan agama sempit? Isu kangkung turun harga, isu kalimah Allah, GST dan keputusan PRU13 lalu di mana ada pemimpin negara menganggap sebagai 'tsunami Cina' berikutan kebanyakan pengundi bandar, khususnya pengundi Cina, menolak calon Barisan Nasional. Semuanya diheret menjadi isu perkauman.

Kini selepas lebih enam bulan PRU13, isu perkauman masih dimainkan dalam pelbagai variasi dan bentuk. Semuanya ini sangat membimbangkan.

Sehubungan itu, NGO Islam mengalu-alukan usaha Pakatan Rakyat untuk duduk bersama Umno/BN bagi membincangkan isu perkauman dengan segera bagi mencari formula terbaik demi memelihara kesejahteraan rakyat negara ini.

Presiden Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim), Amidi Abd Manan, berkata saranan Pakatan Rakyat itu wajar disambut oleh BN sekiranya mereka benar-benar ikhlas mahu menjaga kesejahteraan rakyat negara ini.

Katanya, Umno terutamanya wajar menerima cadangan itu kerana sering dilihat membakar api perkauman, jika benar-benar memikirkan kesejahteraan negara.

Beliau berkata, emosi rakyat sedang dibakar dengan api perkauman, maka sebelum ia menjadi tidak terkawal wajar pihak yang terlibat terutama pemimpin parti politik duduk bersama berbincang.

Menurut Abim, cadangan Pakatan Rakyat itu adalah satu tindakan yang menunjukkan kematangan berpolitik dan wajar disambut oleh Umno BN.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Ikram Malaysia (Ikram), Zaid Kamaruddin, berkata walaupun saranan ini 'overdue' tetapi ia satu usaha yang bagus kerana memperlihatkan kemuafakatan parti politik demi menjaga kepentingan negara dan rakyat.

Kelmarin, Majlis Pakatan Rakyat sepakat mengajak Umno BN untuk duduk bersama membincangkan isu perkauman yang dilihat semakin dijadikan modal oleh pihak tertentu bagi menimbulkan suasana tegang di kalangan rakyat.

Keadaan ini berikutan ada pihak cuba menimbulkan provokasi seperti menimbulkan ancaman berulang peristiwa 13 Mei setelah tidak berpuas hati apabila rakyat mengadakan demonstrasi 'kangkung' sebagai bantahan terhadap kenaikan harga barang di Pulau Pinang. PAS berpendapat masalah perkauman ini mesti diselesaikan segera.

Timbalan Presiden PAS, Mohamad Sabu, berkata demonstrasi 'kangkung' itu tiada kaitan dengan isu perkauman sebaliknya adalah isu ekonomi iaitu kenaikan harga barang yang membuatkan rakyat semakin terhimpit.

Sementara itu, jika kita melihat kepada sejarah Melayu itu sendiri, menunjukkan bahawa sejak zaman penjajah lagi, pertentangan bukan saja berlaku di antara Melayu dan bukan Melayu disebabkan hasutan penjajah, tetapi antara sesama Melayu.

Sejarah Melayu memaparkan bahawa 'peperangan' banyak berlaku di antara penduduk daerah di Semenanjung untuk merebut hasil cukai dan lain-lain. Penguasa daerah di zaman itu sanggup mengerakkan para 'panglima'nya menyerang daerah sempadan untuk menguasai hasil.

Oleh itu, tidak hairan jika elemen mempertahankan kaum berlanjutan hingga kini dan kita wajar memahami sejarah Melayu - perwatakan Melayu dengan mengelus kata-kata Hang Tuah 'Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia', sebuah kata-kata yang entah benar, entah tidak disebutkan. Namun, kata-kata ini menjadi sesuatu yang sangat menghibur dan menyenangkan hati orang Melayu.

Persoalannya di sini ialah apakah orang Melayu, walaupun menjadi kaum majoriti di negara ini mampu menghadapi pelbagai cabaran yang ada sekarang untuk bersaing dengan bangsa lain di negara ini dalam pelbagai bidang kehidupan.

Adakah orang Melayu mampu menghadapi cabaran dengan hanya mengelus emosi, nostalgia masa lampau dan menjeritkan suara perkauman tanpa melakukan persiapan untuk bersaing, terutama di segi pendidikan, ekonomi dan politik moden.

Itulah sebabnya adalah tidak wajar kita bermain atau melayani semangat perkauman untuk memastikan kelansungan hidup bangsa Melayu, tanpa berusaha memperkukuh kedudukan orang Melayu di segi yang saya sebutkan itu.

Sehubungan itu, menjadi kebimbangan banyak pihak jika isu perkauman terus dijeritkan, ia akan mengundang bahaya besar kepada negara, kerana kesannya akan menimpa seluruh kaum di negara ini. Islam sendiri dengan tegas menentang sebarang bentuk perkauman, malah Nabi Muhammad sendiri menegaskan bahawa Baginda tidak mengakui umat mereka yang meneriakkan perkauman.

Oleh itu, sangat wajar pelbagai pihak berusaha mengurangkan ketegangan kaum ini dengan mengadakan rundingan dan apa-apa bentuk wacanapun untuk mengatasi krisis yang berat ini.

Saya kira, pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat mengambil sikap yang jujur, ikhlas dan tepat pada masanya, dengan mengajak semua pihak, khususnya antara Pakatan dan Barisan Nasional untuk berbincang mengendurkan ketegangan ini.

Tidak ada siapa atau pihak yang untung dengan mengapi-apikan semangat perkauman kecuali samseng dan petualang politik yang tidak bertanggungjawab, kerana mereka tidak mengambil kira bahaya perkauman itu sendiri.

Pemimpin politik berjiwa besar, yang tidak hanya memikirkan kemenangan pilihan raya partinya saja, tetapi keselamatan negara dan rakyatnya, akan tampil untuk bersama-sama menyelesaikan masalah perkauman ini.

Saya fikir akan ramai lagi NGO dan rakyat prihatin yang akan tampil menyokong usaha mengadakan rundingan menyelesaikan persoalan ini dan nampaknya pemimpin PAS dengan fikiran terbuka sudah sangat bersedia menyokong sebarang usaha ke arah terebut.

Jangan dibiarkan negara ini 'hangus' dibakar oleh api perkauman dan pertentangan agama kerana ia suatu kejahatan. – 30 Januari, 2014.

* Ini adalah pendapat peribadi penulis dan tidak semestinya mewakili pandangan The Malaysian Insider.

Putrajaya condoning racial and religious tension, says Ambiga

 

The Church of Assumption at Lebuah Farquhar, Penang, where a Molotov cocktail bomb exploded at its compound on Monday morning. A former Bar Council chief says the Najib administration should take a firmer stand against those inciting racial and religious tension in the country. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain – January 29, 2014.

Putrajaya is condoning the raging racial and religious tension in the country, Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan said last night, hitting out at the prime minister for not taking firm action to stop those inciting hatred among Malaysians.

The former co-chairman of electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 said Datuk Seri Najib Razak , together with the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, have the power to stop the escalating tension.

"This situation between the races is being condoned by the leadership. That's my inference because as far as I am concerned, you can stop it and if you don't, you are condoning it," she said at a forum organised by DAP in Kuala Lumpur.

Criticising Najib, who had called on Malaysians to remain calm after a month of high tension, Ambiga said he should have taken firmer action by warning those who incited religious and racial tension that they would face the full brunt of the law.

Najib and his government, the former Bar Council chief said, should set the tone and standards and make a firm stand of zero tolerance towards those who incited racism and hatred.

"That's what he should say instead of asking people to 'keep calm'. That's nonsense."

The senior lawyer expressed concern over Putrajaya's lack of decisiveness in dealing with those who stoked racial and religious tension, saying this had emboldened irresponsible groups.

"These groups have become bolder because they know they are beyond the law, they can say or do anything they want and nobody touches them.

"That's what I am concerned about and it is created by the country’s leadership,” she told a crowd of about 50 at the DAP headquarters.

As such, Ambiga welcomed Pakatan Rakyat's offer to Barisan Nasional for a bipartisan dialogue to cool down the current temperature, but noted if the talks failed to take off, then the opposition pact should hold a special meeting and invite the public to participate and give their views.

"Let them set the agenda for the country and show leadership because we have a leadership void and someone has to fill it."

She said there was nothing to lose if the government accepted the offer, noting that instead, it would show that there was leadership in the country.

"There is nothing to be afraid of, nothing's wrong with talking and listening, that's what makes a fine leader."

Ambiga called on Malaysians to take a stand and say "in the strongest term" that they did not tolerate any provocative acts.

"Speak up! If you do not speak up against it, then you condone it. You are part of it, you are encouraging it."

Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, who was also at the forum, said he was afraid of another May 13, 1969 racial riots, not because he had experienced it, but because he did not want to see the country in ruins.

"Everyone will suffer and the country will go down the drain. So yes, I am afraid of May 13 and I am not ashamed to admit it," he said, adding that no one benefited if the country was in an upheaval.

Tension reached a high when two Molotov cocktails were thrown into the compound of the Church of the Assumption in Lebuh Farquhar, Penang, two days ago.

One of the bombs exploded while the other fell on the grass and did not explode in the incident which occurred early Monday morning.

Initial police investigation revealed two men on a motorcycle committed the crime.

The day before, a number of banners, which read "Allah is Great, Jesus is the son of Allah", were hung outside five churches in Penang – the Victory Lutheran Church, St John Britto Catholic Church, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Church of the Assumption on the island and the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Butterworth.

The churches have denied they put up the banners and have lodged police reports over the matter.

Tension between Muslims and Christians has been on a high since 2009, after the Home Ministry banned the Catholic weekly Herald from using the word “Allah” in its Bahasa Malaysia section.

In 2010, several churches nationwide and a Catholic school were attacked at the height of the “Allah” controversy, following the High Court's ruling which overturned the ministry's ban on the use of the word “Allah” by the Herald.

The Metro Tabernacle church in Kuala Lumpur suffered the worst damage after arsonists torched its premises in Desa Melawati, Kuala Lumpur, leaving its ground floor destroyed.

The church subsequently moved to a new building in Batu Caves.

In August 2010, the Sessions Court found siblings Raja Muhammad Faizal Raja Ibrahim and Raja Muhammad Idzham Raja Ibrahim guilty of the arson attack. – January 29, 2014.

Reject Any Form Of Threat, Violence Or Extremism - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has called on Malaysians to reject any form of threat, violence or act of extremism that would strain the harmonious relationship shared and enjoyed by the various races in the country.

The prime minister, in his Chinese New Year greetings, said that while people rejoiced in welcoming the Year of the Horse, the unity and racial harmony that Malaysians had enjoyed so far must be upheld.

"I believe we should all listen to the voice of reason. It is therefore incumbent upon us to act sensibly and to listen to each other's views.

"In Malaysia's cultural melting pot, we must respect the rules of law and proceed with sensitivity toward other people's beliefs," he said in a post on his www.1Malaysia.com.my blog.

He pointed out that despite the transformation advances that had been made, there was still a long way to go and much work to do.

Najib said the transformation programmes needed support from the people from all walks of life - especially so from the Chinese community who are known for their entrepreneurial skills.

He said that there were countless initiatives being undertaken to improve the livelihood of the people, such as ongoing programmes like the 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M), 1Malaysia People's Shops (KR1M), 'Ops Harga' against the arbitrary raising of prices and many others to help mitigate the pinch of global inflationary forces.

Prime minister said there were also ongoing consultative meetings and discussions that were focused solely on addressing the issue of easing the people's burden and that the efforts would go asunder without the support of the people.

"Together, we must remain resilient in the face of economic challenges to sustain stability and progress for our future generation," he said.

Najib also expressed his appreciation for the nation-building role played by Malaysian Chinese since independence.

Narendra Modi meets Mr. Waytha Moorthy, Deputy Minister in Malaysia’s Prime Minister Office

On Thursday 30th January 2014 Shri Narendra Modi met Mr. Waytha Moorthy, who serves as the Deputy Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office in Malaysia.

The two leaders discussed avenues of cooperation between Gujarat and Malaysia and they spoke of a youth exchange programme between India and Malaysia. The Minister also shared the message of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

‘Wake up from your slumber, Pakatan’

Former PKR member Zaid Ibrahim says it is important for Pakatan Rakyat to act as a united political entity.

PETALING JAYA: Pakatan Rakyat leaders should wake-up from their slumber and start acting as a single organised group.

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim in his blog today said that “it is not too late for the opposition coalition to do so”.

With regards to speculation that PKR want to replace the present Selangor menteri besar, Zaid said it was easy for the Selangor Sultan [Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah] to reject any request to remove Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

“Had the Pakatan Rakyat acted as a single and united political entity, then the change would have been an issue worth fighting for.

“It would have been a matter of the people’s democratic choice of a representative government and the role of the constitutional monarch plays in that choice. The people usually win such contests but the opportunity was lost,” he said.

Zaid said that it was Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’s desperation with Khalid rather than his ambition which has led him to engineer the coming Kajang by-election.

He however said that the by-election’s outcome was unclear.

“Anwar might lose in Kajang; and even if he were to win, what makes anyone think the Sultan will appoint him menteri besar?” he said.

Therefore, Zaid reasoned that Pakatan’s top leaders must seek an audience with the Sultan, who will certainly not refuse them on such an important matter of state.

Zaid said they should also provide the Sultan with a list of prospective candidates for menteri besar post and the list should also not be limited to only PKR.

MB candidates

Other than Anwar and Azmin, Zaid recommended former International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) lecturer Abdul Aziz Bari and Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad as well as DAP’s Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz as potential candidates for the post.

“As such, Pakatan leaders must start trusting one another. They must behave like an alliance in fact, not just in name. In this sense, it doesn’t really matter which party ultimately contests the Kajang by-election.

“His Highness will also be required to make a stand on the matter, and any acceptable candidate will have a good chance of winning the by-election,” he said.

Although acknowledging that Anwar has sacrificed a great deal for the country, Zaid said the former deputy prime minister must first change his style of leadership to be successful.

“He must learn to trust his Pakatan Rakyat team and he must know that he cannot beat the Barisan Nasional by pandering to narrow party interests.

“He must galvanise the forces of change, for the rakyat will provide its support only if his intentions are clear,” he said.

He then urged Selangor Pakatan Rakyat to speak with one voice.

“It should ideally propose only one candidate for menteri besar and not lobby for different names from PKR as is being done now,” said Zaid.

He however pointed out that Selangor Pakatan Rakyat members must be prepared to break ranks in order to forge real political unity.

“Neither Anwar nor the Pakatan Rakyat can survive without that unity,” he said.