PM: Learn from Dr M's mistake with Chinese votes

 

UMNO AGM Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has reminded Umno delegates of Dr Mahathir Mohamad's defeat in the 1969 general election after declaring that he did not need Chinese votes.
  
"How many times has Mahathir mentioned about his loss in the election during the (Umno assemblies)... the Malay votes were not enough (for him to win)," he added.

"He accidentally said he did not need Chinese votes and he lost, that is a lesson for him," he told delegates in his winding-up speech.

As such, Najib said declaring that the ruling coalition did not need Chinese votes was akin to the Malay proverb: "menang sorak, kampung tergadai" (Cheering but not gaining anything).

"Use your brains (guna akal)," he added.

The prime minister raised this after several delegates at the Umno general assembly this week took aim at Chinese voters for not supporting BN and urged the government to ignore them.

Using another example, Najib cited BN's recent victory in the Pengkalan Kubor by-election, where the Siamese community there only numbered 1,700.

"They are not many but if all of them went over to the opposition, we would have a 3,400-vote deficit; we would have lost," he said.

He added that former prime ministers Tunku Abdul Rahman and Abdul Razak Hussein would not have created the Alliance and BN respectively if they knew that Chinese votes were not needed.

"Surely there must be a reason. If we don't need their votes, what is the need for the Alliance and BN?" he said.

He added that the social contract was not only about winning elections but also for nation-building.

As such, Najib reiterated that the concept of BN had to be defended, but not at the expense of what is dear to the Malay community.

'Will Umno president be PM three years on?'

 

UMNO AGM Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin is unsure if Umno members can still address party president Najib Abdul Razak as "prime minister" in the party's convention three years from now.

Based on a simulation of BN’s position in the next general election, he said the coalition may only win 103 seats, which is a two percent drop from the 133 seats it won in the last polls.

"I don't know if in the next three years, whether we can address our president as prime minister or not," he said in his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly today.

"If we want to address this, our initiatives must be wholehearted. Let's increase our seats to 141. Can we do this?" Muhyiddin (right) asked the delegates.

Receiving a less than enthusiastic "yes", he said: "That's not loud enough. That means you are not confident".

At this, the delegates then responded with a resounding "yes".

"With hard work, we can increase our seats to 159," said Muhyiddin.

"The next election is at least 39 months from now. The question is, with such a short amount of time, what are the new initiatives we can implement to return people's confidence?" he asked.

Registration numbers worrying

Earlier, Umno vice-president Shafie Apdal (left) told delegates that the low voter registration from BN component parties is worrying.

Citing the Election Commission's statistics from its database, he said only 256 MCA members, 266 MIC members, and 373 Gerakan members registered as voters from June 2013 to Sept 2014.

"This is very worrying. As such, the party president (Najib Abdul Razak) has asked me to meet all BN component parties so that a national movement can be done," he said.

As for DAP, he said 9,309 had registered as voters while Umno saw 5,939 members registering.

Shafie then stressed that the party's survival was not based on laungan (shouts) only. We need to regain the seats we lost in the next general election," he added.

Have guts, Isma tells 'talk big' Najib

 

Calling on Najib Abdul Razak to keep his word, Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma) vice-president Abdul Rahman Mat Dali said the prime minister’s problem is his ‘anti-Malay’ advisers.

“Najib usually talks big (about Malay issues) during the (Umno) general assembly, but when he returns to Putrajaya, he will be straightened by his non-Muslim and anti-Malay advisers.

“So this time, we want to see a PM who is more courageous and credible.

“And therefore restoring the Malay community's and Umno’s confidence, which has eroded due to Najib’s weak leadership,” he added.

Abdul Rahman reminded Najib, who is also Umno president, not to betray the trust of the Malays and bumiputera in the issue of economic development.

He said during his policy speech at the Umno general assembly, Najib had said that Umno and BN are committed to strengthening the Malay and bumiputera’s economic status.

Therefore, he said, Najib must keep his promise.

“What has been said must be translated into action; don’t just dish out rhetoric,” he told Ismaweb today.

Rahman said there is no point that whenever Umno meets, there are fiery speeches but nothing happens.

“Year after year, there are no significant changes to the Malay and bumiputera economy,” he added.

Najib served legal notice over Hisham Rais video

 

Lawyers of activist Hishamuddin Rais have sent Prime Minister Najib Razak a legal letter over a video clip shown at this week's Umno general assembly that the former claims has "demonised" their client.

"On Nov 27, Najib Razak screened a short video clip during his speech at Umno assembly which portrayed activist Hishamuddin Rais (left) as a danger to society and as a person with a tendency to commit sedition.

"This uncalled for attack on our client by the prime minister personally, creates a real danger of prejudice to his right to a fair trial in the sedition charge against him which is now pending in KL Sessions Court," said lawyers Latheefa Koya and N Surendran in a statement today.

On Thursday Najib announced his U-turn on his pre-election 2012 promise to abolish the Sedition Act, to a standing ovation from Umno delegates present at the AGM in Kuala Lumpur.

The PM reportedly showed a video during his speech to drum up support for his highly anticipated announcement.

"The public demonising of our client was unjust and disturbing.

"The speech was widely aired on TV and other news media," said the lawyers.

The notice also demanded that  Najib "cease screenings or dissemination of the video at the remainder of the Umno assembly" or make any other allegations while the case is still pending in court.

The lawyers added that they have also reserved “Hisham's right to file contempt proceedings against Najib” and is awaiting the premier’s response before proceeding with the next course of action.

Meanwhile, Hishamuddin Rais in a separate statement said that the video clip screening would affect the decision of his on-going trial.

“The clip which was shown during the Umno annual general assembly will influence the verdict in my trial.”

He added that the reason for sending the legal notice was to warn Najib not to disseminate the video clip, especially during the current Umno general assembly.

Hishamuddin was charged under the Sedition Act 1948 on May 13 last year for a remark made at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall during a forum on the 1969 racial riots.

His statement was deemed to be inflammatory and seen as propagating a change in government by illegal means.

As Sedition Act stays, IGP wants it made easier to charge

(Malay Mail Online) – The Sedition Act should be “improved” to make it easier for authorities to prosecute those who violate the law, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.

Despite the already low threshold of the law that criminalises speech with an undefined “seditious tendency” and without need to prove intent, Khalid urged the Attorney-General’s Chambers to draft amendments soon that will help police present charges against those accused of sedition.

“I welcome the retention of the Sedition Act in conditions when the freedom of speech, opinion, writing and many more have been misused. This Act is a law that is very suited to address the problem,” Khalid was quoted as saying by Malay daily Utusan Malaysia today.

“We also ask that some parts (of the Sedition Act) be reinforced to, among others, make the process of charging those responsible for such crimes,” he continued.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak yesterday declared that the Sedition Act 1948 will remain, in an about-turn from his earlier pledge in 2012 to repeal the colonial era law.

He also announced that the Act will be strengthened with two extra provisions: one prohibiting insults against all religions, and the other prohibiting talks of Sabah and Sarawak seceding from Malaysia.

In his policy speech at the start of the 65th Umno General Assembly, he said the decision was made after consultation with party leaders, NGOs and grassroots members.

As part of his administration’s raft of reforms, the prime minister had in 2012 pledged to do away with the Sedition Act and replace it with laws on national harmony.

Despite the pledge, Putrajaya has in recent months increased its use of the law to hitherto unseen levels.

In just nine months this year, 12 cases have been prosecuted under the Sedition Act ― the highest figure since 2009 ― raising alarm in civil society of the government’s perceived clampdown on dissent.

Umno leaders and many self-styled Malay groups have been fighting hard to convince the Najib government to retain the Act, even going as far as saying there is a need to tighten it further to include provisions that specifically prohibits individuals from insulting Islam, the Malay race and the rulers.

Zahid pledges to step-up arrests under Sedition Act

Home Minister pledges he will step up action under the new Sedition Act in a speech in which he received thunderous applause.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, in his winding up speech at the Umno General Assembly, pledged that he would step up action under the new Sedition Act and asked, “Do I look hardcore? Do I look like a fundamentalist?” and to which he received thunderous applause for.

“I am here because you voted for me. I am placed here by the prime minister and you to be the home minister.”

Delving into figures, he said 40 people were charged under the Sedition Act in 2010 and a further 12 this year alone.

“I promise when this Act has been strengthened by the prime minister, I will continue to take action against the offenders,” he said.

‘Don’t just push things to the police, the police are already investigating and conducting the arrests.”

He urged the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission and Attorney-General’s Chambers, to assist the police in securing prosecutions under the Sedition Act.

Sultans did not request road name changes

The FT Ministry's decision to change the names of the roads in the city was to honour the former kings.
FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: The change of names of nine roads in the city was not made upon the request of the Conference of Rulers, but was the decision of the Federal Territories Ministry.

Its minister, Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, said the decision was made because the former Kings were part of the country’s history and that the people should remember their names.

“The idea to change the names of those main roads did not come from the Conference of Rulers (as reported by alternative media portals), but was from the ministry.

“It was done with the aim to remind city dwellers, and Malaysians as a whole, of the names of our former Yang di-Pertuan Agong as they were part of Malaysia’s monarch system,” Tengku Adnan (left) told Bernama when contacted in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Kuala Lumpur City Council in a recent statement announced new names for Jalan Duta, Jalan Khidmat Usaha, Jalan Ipoh, Persiaran Duta, Jalan Khidmat Setia and Jalan Ibadah, Lebuhraya Mahameru, Persiaran Mahameru and Jalan Semarak.

The new names for the roads are Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, Jalan Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Persiaran Tunku Syed Sirajuddin, Jalan Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, Lebuhraya Sultan Iskandar, Persiaran Tuanku Ja’afar and Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, respectively.

The change took effect on Nov 26.

- BERNAMA

Muhyddin: Retaining Putrajaya a case of ‘do or be dead’

DPM says his job and the PM’s are on the line unless BN bucks up and ensures 44 grey areas do not fall into Pakatan Rakyat’s hands.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin gave a sobering winding-up speech today, cautioning Umno delegates that Barisan Nasional could end up losing Putrajaya if they dropped 2 per cent in votes in the next general elections.

Saying it was a question of “do or die”, Muhyiddin added, “If our situation doesn’t improve, if the debates we have had, the numerous talks on rejuvenation have not raised awareness, then we will experience a 2% drop in votes and will only win 103 seats.”

Arguing that two per cent was not a lot to ask for, he warned that should BN fail in achieving it, this might be the last time Umno delegates could address Najib Razak as their prime minister, or him as deputy prime minister.

Muhyddin also spoke about 44 “grey” areas that had been identified that risked falling into the hands of Pakatan Rakyat.

Saying 39 months was a very short time to make amends till the next general election, he added, “We are in a very dangerous situation” and asked what new programmes and initiatives could be carried in order to regain the confidence of the people, particularly the young.

General elections aside, Muhyiddin, who is also minister of education, said his ministry supported the teaching of a compulsory third language like Mandarin or Tamil in national schools.

He also dwelt on the logistics of such an undertaking, saying the ministry would require some 30,000 language teachers should the suggestion take shape and be implemented.

Triple politics of fear, hate and lies at the UMNO General Assembly

By Lim Kit Siang

The UMNO General Assemblies this week have been a disastrous demonstration of the triple divisive and dirty politics of fear, hate and lies.

The underlying theme of the UMNO General Assemblies was to propagate the siege mentality that the Malays and Islam are under attack, but not to allow any critical or rational thinking and inquiry as to whether and how after 57 years of UMNO rule under six UMNO Prime Ministers, the Malays and Islam are under siege in 2014.

If Malays and Islam are indeed under siege today, then UMNO which has ruled the country for 57 years with six UMNO Prime Ministers, must bear the fullest responsibility and blame.

Are the present UMNO leaders, led by Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as UMNO President and Deputy President as well as Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister respectively, prepared to admit that the 57 years of UMNO rule and the six UMNO Prime Ministers since 1957 had been such dismal failures as to result in Malays and Islam facing unprecedented siege in the nation’s history?

If 57-year UMNO rule under six UMNO Prime Ministers have brought such disastrous results to the Malays and Islam, then the answer must be found in removing UMNO from Putrajaya and not in perpetuating UMNO rule at the national level!

The politics of fear, hate and lies at the UMNO General Assemblies with the daily diet of Chinese and non-Malay bashing are detrimental to Malaysian nation-building.

Fortunately, they do not find support among the majority of rational Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans, who find what happened at the UMNO General Assemblies most shocking and outrageous.

One UMNO delegate said “We have become slaves in our own land” while another called for the use of “1 Melayu” in replacement of “1 Malaysia” slogan.

The success of Penang were alleged to be because of illegal businesses and crimes in broad daylight committed by the Chinese in the state while the Chinese community in Kedah was accused of burning the Quran “page by page during a prayer ritual”.

The lies about the Chinese community in Kedah being guilty of having “burned the Quran page by page during a prayer ritual”, made by the former Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Mashitah Ibrahim, is the worst example of the lies and falsehoods perpetrated at the UMNO General Assemblies.

What is most outrageous is that she betrayed neither regret nor remorse when it was pointed to her that the Kedah Mentri Besar, Mukriz Mahathir had admitted that it was a mentally-ill Malay individual in Alor Setar who had been arrested for tearing the Quran and who is being detained at the psychiatric ward and that there was no burning involved.

All she could offer was the weak excuse that she had been told of a different version of the incident by the Kuala Kedah UMNO Wanita Chief.

Was it a mentally-ill Malay individual who had torn the Quran or was it the Chinese community in Kedah which burned the Quran “by by page during a prayer ritual”?

Who had told a lie – Mashitah or Mukriz Mahathir?

If DAP or any Pakatan Rakyat leader had made similar provocative and baseless speech which was made by Mashitah, which seriously undermined inter-racial and inter-religious pace and harmony not only in Kedah but throughout the country, the police would have pounced on the DAP or PR leader, who would be in jail within 24 hours.

But Mashitah is confident that like all other UMNO leaders, she enjoys immunity and impunity to make the most provocative, incendiary and seditious speeches, even when they are based on lies and falsehoods in furtherance of the UMNO politics of fear and hatein Malaysia’s plural society.

This was the reason for her arrogance and contempt at the police report which DAP wanita leaders, namely Teo Nie Ching (MP for Kulai), Kasthuri Patto (MP for Batu Kawan), Dyana Sofia Mohd Daud and Syefura Othman had lodged against her for her politics of fear, hate and lies perpetrating the falsehood that the Chinese community in Kedah had burned the Quran.

Mashitah even challenged the DAP wanita leaders to sue her. There is no reason for the DAP Wanita leaders to sue Mashitah, for she will stand out as another glaring example of double standards of Barisan Nasional government in enforcing the law, the reason for the national reaction of shock and horror at Najib’s announcement that the Sedition Act will not only be retained but strengthened.

The message at the UMNO General Assemblies is that if UMNO loses in the forthcoming general elections, the Malays will be damned.

This is in fact the clearest admission by the UMNO leadership of the dismal failure of UMNO after 57 years of UMNO government through six UMNO Prime Ministers.

If UMNO had been successful in protecting the legitimate interests of the Malays and all other communities, the message it should be sending out is that whether UMNO wins or loses in the coming general elections, the rights and interests of the Malays are assured and fully protected.

Can UMNO leaders explain why they are incapable of sending out such a message?

(Speech at a coffee-shop dialogue in Taman University, Gelang Patah on Saturday, Novembr 29, 2014 at 11 am)

Is this the party that gave us the Tunku, Dr M?

Umno was the party that moved for Malaya's independence and later the formation of Malaysia together with Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore.

Back then, Umno was a party of civil servants and intellectuals that advanced the cause of the Malays.

But if after the first couple of days of the Umno general assembly, Malaysians still believe in this party that gave us giants such as Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, they must be: a) suffering from permanent brain damage b) illiterate c) recent "citizens" d) Umno members e) all of the above.

It is not only the ridiculous fighting talk that has been nauseating, but the sheer obtuse nature of the debate and for want of a more palatable word, stupidity at display.

It is the ruling party since Merdeka, that is some 57 years ago, and yet it talks of an economic jihad for the Malays and Bumiputera as if the government it controls has done nothing.

It is the ruling party with access to all security information and yet one leader can brazenly say a Quran has been burnt in Kedah without any proof, and with a denial from no one less than the Kedah menteri besar.

It is a party obsessed with trivial issues such as the girth of its members rather than the shrinking wallets of Malaysian citizens – be it the urban worker or the smallholder facing a crunch from falling
commodity prices.

It is a party that should discuss ideas for the future but yet it still wants to talk about the past or show slides of the May 13 riot.

How has this grand Malay nationalist party sunk to be a caricature of itself where intelligent debate has given way to shrill laments and calls for unity? Isn't it ironic that these calls for unity are for a party named the United Malays National Organisation?

Dr Mahathir urged delegates to criticise the leadership for their missteps while Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi warned that laws such as Sedition Act is no guarantee to keep Umno in power forever.

Yet, was any of this discussed or debated?

Instead, it has turned into an orgy of blame against everyone but themselves over issues such as the economy and the drift of young Malays to other parties.

The reality is simple. This is Umno Baru: a pale shadow of the real Umno that had everyone's respect and support in first few decades of Malaysia's existence.

And in today's Umno, jokes get recycled, and some get elected too. – November 29, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/is-this-the-party-that-gave-us-the-tunku-dr-m#sthash.x8a3aMES.dpuf

Press Release | Repeal of Sedition Act 1948: A Promise Unfulfilled

The Malaysian Bar is very disappointed that the Prime Minister is reported in the news media as having said that the Sedition Act 1948 will not be repealed, and therefore he would not be keeping his promise in this regard.  As we ordinarily understand it, a promise is a commitment to carry through a matter despite difficult circumstances, and not only when it is convenient to do so.

The Malaysian Bar is further appalled that the Prime Minister is not only reneging on the promise he made two years ago to repeal the Sedition Act 1948, but that he intends to “strengthen” it.  It is ludicrous that Malaysians would not only be prohibited from discussing and debating issues of public and national interest, or constitutional matters, but would be criminally punished for doing so.  This is highly oppressive, and represents a lurch towards authoritarianism.  It is delusional to imagine that such draconian legislation would foster national peace and harmony.

It is folly to think that the Sedition Act 1948 is our answer to maintaining and promoting peace and harmony. There is nothing in the history of the Sedition Act 1948 and its use — either previously or currently — that supports any such notion.  This is unsurprising, because the Sedition Act 1948 was not designed nor intended to achieve true peace and harmony.  Its sole purpose was to entrench power and control by denying democratic rights and space through suppression and punishment.  Far from promoting a culture of meaningful, frank and robust discourse, the Sedition Act 1948 criminalises questions, criticisms and expressions of thought.  In our pursuit for peace and harmony, we must accept that questions, criticisms and disagreements are integral to the learning and maturing process.

In genuinely wanting peace and harmony, we should be honest with ourselves as to what the real causes of disharmony are in Malaysia.

In many instances, disharmony in Malaysia arises from insecurity, the exploitation of such insecurity, and the inability or unwillingness to deal with questions, criticisms or differing views in a mature manner.

There are quarters in Malaysia who have created an environment of disharmony — misinterpreting and abusing the Federal Constitution, distorting our history, exploiting insecurities, and resorting to scare-mongering and threats of, or incitement to, violence against property or persons, as a response to questions, criticisms or differing views.  These people are not brought to account by the law.  Instead, the Sedition Act 1948 is used against the persons who raise questions, concerns or criticisms.

In maintaining the Sedition Act 1948, we would be playing into the hands of, and caving to, pressure by these irresponsible quarters.  It is not peace and harmony that would be achieved through the maintenance of the Sedition Act 1948, but a perpetuation of disharmony.  Recent events, the abuse of the Sedition Act 1948, and the current disharmony in Malaysia directly inform us of this.

Achieving real and lasting peace and harmony requires commitment and hard work, and not the criminalisation of criticisms and expressions of thought.  Will our other national leaders also renege on their publicly stated stance against the Sedition Act 1948?  Will they take the easy option or do the right thing instead?

The Malaysian Bar calls upon the Government to abide by and put into effect its promise to repeal the Sedition Act 1948, and to propose new national harmony legislation that would serve to promote and achieve genuine peace and harmony.

 

Christopher Leong

President

Malaysian Bar

Do Not Dispute Anymore The Rights Of The Malays, Rulers And Islam - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- The 2014 Umno general assembly ended today with a firm and clear message from the party president that the special rights and privileges of the Malays, rulers and Islam, as enshrined in the Federal Constitution, should no longer be questioned.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Malaysians should stop fighting over the matter and to focus on efforts to further develop the country.

"There is a limit to freedom. Freedom is not absolute. (One) cannot insult Islam, cannot challenge the special rights and privileges of the Malays, cannot question the monarchy system, the Royal Malay Regiment and we safeguard the interests of other races.

"Then, there will be peace. Always fighting, no work can be done. I want us to focus on developing our beloved Malaysia. We want to bring Malaysia forward," he said in his speech when winding up the assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre on Saturday.

His speech was greeted with loud applause from the more than 2,700 delegates in the Merdeka Hall.

Najib said the Sedition Act 1948 was retained based on his responsibility to maintain national peace and harmony as well as to handle the action of certain groups who disputed the federal constitution.

"People say that the Sedition Act is not democratic, the international press attack me. (Accuse) that I went back on my word, use pressure.

"I want to inform, my responsibility as the prime minister is to maintain peace and security in our country," said Najib, who announced the retention of the Sedition Act 1948 when delivering his Presidential Policy Speech on Thursday.

Recalling how Malaysia gained its independence, enjoy peace and racial harmony in the country of various races and religions, he said that the solidarity concept was the key to success.

Najib also explained that the solidarity that he had emphasised when delivering the presidential policy speech and had become the topic of debate at the Umno General Assembly this time meant: 'unite in one strong and solid force'.

Showing the audience a copy of the Sept 1, 1957 issue of The Sunday Times, Najib said the words by the country's first Prime Minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, "Look at the past with gratitude, look to the future with confidence", remained relevant until Saturday.

He said the confidence was attained from the struggle by Umno since pre-Independence until today.

However, Najib drew the delegates' attention on the need for Umno and BN to continue to win the support of other races.

He said it was not possible for the past national leaders to form the Alliance Party, which represented the three largest ethnic groups in the country, and later rebranded as BN, if it did not benefit the Malays.

"That is why it is important for us to look after BN, but not to the extent of sacrificing principles which are close to the heart of the Malays.

"People say Malays are fair, firm, then why the need for the social contract and so on? It is because we are not only concerned about the election, but also to build a nation (Malaysia) and race that is successful," he added.

Meanwhile, Najib also blasted the opposition pact which he described as "the mother of all corruption" for attempting to offer a substantial amount of money to an Umno leader to bring a BN member of parliament to join the opposition in 2008.

The prime minister criticised the practice of nepotism by the opposition which 'sacrificed' an innocent member of the party merely to make way for others to hold position.

"(The opposition) can ask their elected representative to step down (because) the wife wanted to contest. Asked an innocent menteri besar (MB) to step down because the wife wanted to become MB.

"This is the biggest nepotism. Why don't we blame him. Attack the opposition," he pointed out.

Referring to the rejuvenation issue which was hotly debated by the delegates at the general assembly this time, Najib reminded the 3.47 million party members that Umno had to draw up the best strategy to realise the party cadreship agenda.

Realising the 'coolness' between a small section of the old leaders and the new which had existed even from before, he again stressed the importance of all the generations in Umno to cooperate to move in a single direction.

"If we have to look behind us and feel that there are people wanting to attack us, then we will never achieve solidarity. But, in the meantime, where necessary (we) give a chance," said Najib.

However, he said, the opportunity would only be given to the young people who were truly qualified and fulfilled the traits of future Umno leaders that had been outlined.

Najib said what was important was that every Umno member must rejuvenate the spirit of the Umno struggle in themselves.

Doktor: Setiap butir nasi yang dimakan adalah kera

Pertahan tanah Melayu: Umno hampir gaduh dengan pelajar

Palestinian Preacher at Key Holy Site Calls on Allah to ‘Annihilate America’

A Palestinian Muslim preacher ranted against the United States and Israel at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque, where he called on Allah to “annihilate America” and “cut off their heads.”

“Oh Allah, annihilate America and its coalition,” preacher Ali Abu Ahmad said. “Oh Allah, enable us to cut off their heads. Oh Allah, help our brothers, the mujahideen in the land of Iraq and Syria.”

According to the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI), which found video of the impromptu sermon and translated it, Abu Ahmad spoke Friday at the Al-Aqsa mosque on the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism and third holiest site to Muslims after Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia.

Shouting so he could get the attention of other worshippers and waving his hands to emphasize his points, Abu Ahmad called for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate and appeared to warn against the danger of U.S. military strikes on Islamic State group strongholds.

“Do you want America to bring you a caliphate tailored to its interests? Such a caliphate would sanction the killing of Muslims, would shed their blood, and would violate the honor of their women, in the name of Islam,” the Palestinian said according to MEMRI.

“Absolutely not, oh servants of Allah. We want a caliphate in the path of the Prophet, which will protect lives, will defend women’s honor, and will liberate Jerusalem from the Jews, the most vile of creatures,” he added.

Abu Ahmad appealed to Muslims to “seek refuge in Allah the Almighty, the Avenger” and warned the current time was “merely a prelude” to the “elimination” of the Jews both in Israel and overseas.

Read more: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/11/26/palestinian-preacher-at-key-holy-site-calls-on-allah-to-annihilate-america/

Muslim Grooming Gang Jailed In Bristol, One Of The Paedophiles Claimed Its “A Religious Requirement”.

By Kafir Crusaders

Details of the first case, which happened in 2013, can only now be reported after legal restrictions were lifted

Thirteen men have been convicted of a string of child sex crimes in Bristol involving the abuse, rape and prostitution of teenage girls.

Bristol Crown Court heard one victim, aged 16, was assaulted by five Somali men after she was moved to the city while in the care of another authority.

Her 14-year-old sister was raped by a member of the gang while visiting her.

The inquiry led to police uncovering another gang of Somali origin who had been abusing four other girls.

The four teenagers were paid £30 or given drugs, alcohol and gifts to perform sex acts on older men from the Somali community.

‘Shocked and shaken’

The court heard some were persuaded to have sex with other gang members as they were told by the gang it was Somali “culture and tradition” and “men always have sex with each other’s girlfriends”.

One 13-year-old victim was raped four times by three different men in a Premier Inn in Bristol city centre.

A statement from the Bristol Somali community said: “The community is deeply shocked and shaken by the outcome of this case. They are unforgivable acts of cruelty against the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Malays will lose out if RMAF base turned into art centre – Bernama

The proposed development of the current site of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base in Butterworth into an art and recreational centre is a threat to the future wellbeing of the Malays in Penang.

Permatang Pauh Umno division leader Datuk Mohd Zaidi Mohd Said said the proposed project in an area covering 430ha would also affect the geopolitics of the Malays.

He wanted Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to intervene and shelve plans to develop the site.

In the speech when debating the presidential policy speech, Zaidi said the RMAF base was in the Air Tawar state constituency, which was won by Umno.

According to reports, the current site of the RMAF base in Butterworth would be developed into an art and recreation centre by a private company through a land exchange concept, whereby it would provide a new site for the RMAF base.

Zaidi claimed that the proposed project would also involve the construction of luxury beach homes. – Bernama, November 28, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malays-will-lose-out-if-rmaf-base-turned-into-art-centre-bernama#sthash.BfinAl28.dpuf

Malaysian footballers caught smoking in national team jerseys

A photo posted on Facebook of Malaysia’s national footballers smoking in their team jerseys has been making its rounds online.

The footballers are in Singapore ahead of their Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup Group B clash against Singapore tomorrow.

The players are in the yellow and black jerseys of the Malaysia team. Striker Safee Sali is visibly smoking in the picture.

The photo was posted on Facebook today by a Facebook user "Jose Raymond" at 9.50am.

In the post, he said: “Here’s one reason why I am confident our Lions will go through to the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup. At least have the decency to remove your national colours. Recognise any of them? Tsk tsk tsk.”

Raymond, who is chief executive officer at the Singapore Environment Council, went on to say in the comments section that the photo was taken while the players were having supper at a coffeeshop near the hotel where the team is staying.

“Also serves as a reminder to all of us that the world is a very different place today and you are being watched all the time, regardless where we are, especially so when we are public figures,” Raymond added.

Speaking to TODAY, local footballer and Tanjong Pagar United captain Hafiz Osman feels that what happens off the field is the player’s “personal responsibility”.

“(Safee Sali) should have gone to a quieter place so that no one could see him when he took a puff,” Osman said.

Calling him one of the best strikers in Malaysia, Osman added that he “is human after all” and “you cannot judge him based on his actions”. – TODAY Online, November 28, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysian-footballers-caught-smoking-in-team-jerseys#sthash.RLIDP6Eq.dpuf

Is Umno the right party to help poor Bumiputera?

Umno wants more control of the nation’s economic levers to raise the income of Bumiputera to be on par with other communities.

This is despite the fact it has been in power for more than 50 years and has limited success in this endeavour with all its affirmative action policies.

The first part was clearly the gist of the grassroots' debate at its assembly yesterday, while the second was the part it would not admit.

For who else was responsible for the affirmative action policies that were supposed to eradicate income disparities between Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera?

Yet the irony – demanding more chances after it had wasted so many – was lost on the party’s delegates.

What was of greater concern was not just that Umno members were demanding their leaders continue policies to “improve the lot of Bumiputera” but their refusal to give up on methods and the same policies that have failed the Malays.

Party must control government

Delegates, who are essentially representing the grassroots, started debating on the Bumiputera economic agenda since Thursday.

Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin of Perlis Umno railed against a civil service policy forbidding government departments and agencies from accepting support letters from politicians.

These support letters, usually written by elected representatives, accompany applications for almost everything, from loans to contracts.

Zahidi wanted party leaders, such as the president-cum-prime minister, to cancel this policy.

“The party must control the government,” said Zahidi, who is also Padang Besar MP.

His colleague from Federal Territory Umno, Datuk Norainah Musa, seconded this in her speech, saying that support letters from Umno division leaders should also be accepted.

“What’s wrong with support letters from division leaders? Are our signatures only valuable during an election?” asked Norainah.

Another favourite demand was that Petronas and other government-linked companies must be compelled to choose Bumiputera companies as vendors.

“Even (former prime minister) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said Petronas’s responsibility is to help local companies, especially Bumiputera ones,” said Pahang Umno delegate, Datuk Maznah Abdul Hamid.

Another “prescription” is that the government encourage lower-income Bumiputera households to dabble in small businesses to earn an extra income.

This, they said, could be done through microcredit loans under Tekun Nasional and more entrepreneur skills-training programmes under Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia.

Is Umno the right one for the job?

The delegates' intention is not misplaced.

A Khazanah study on the state of households showed that there is inter-ethnic inequality even after more than 40 years of affirmative action.

The median household income for Bumiputera is RM3,282, while for Indians it is RM3,676 and Chinese, RM4,643.

Economist Azrul Azwa Ahmad Tajudin said the data justified the argument that affirmative action must continue.

The trick is how to do it without repeating past mistakes.

Umno supreme council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, who listened to the delegates, said a Bumiputera-only economic agenda would not be effective.

“The Bumiputera have to accept that there are other communities, so any economic agenda must be inclusive.”

This is since the private sector, which contributes 48% to gross domestic product, was not as easily demarcated along ethnic lines, he said.

Company workers, managers, along with consumers, for instance, were made up of members of all communities who interacted in ways which are too complex for a mono-ethnic policy to work, said Ahmad Husni, who is also Second Finance Minister.

Azrul Azwa said that too much of the debate on reducing the wealth gap had focused on increasing Bumiputera corporate equity to 30%, a favourite talking point at Umno assemblies, including this one.

“More emphasis should be on what the man-on-the-street really needs to increase his income and to deal with cost of living pressure.”

Much of the approach of the past has also created a section of society dependent on subsidies and handouts, which are easily used for political gain, he said.

And then there is the emphasis on entrepreneurship, which automatically assumes every low-income household can be successful at business.

“Many people are good wage earners and workers. More focus should be given to increase their wages,” said Azrul Azwar.

The obsession with entrepreneurship then becomes a way of not dealing with a key structural problem with the Malaysian economy – that it is based on the creation of low-value products at low cost and low wages.

This structure ensures that wages for Malaysians would always be suppressed because Malaysian companies could choose foreign workers who worked for peanuts, he said.

“And the government continues to allow this to happen.” – November 29, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/is-umno-the-right-party-to-help-poor-bumiputera#sthash.MFgNPPkJ.dpuf

Doc: Each grain of rice you eat is due to Umno

 

UMNO AGM Kedah Umno delegate Dr Mohamad Nawar Ariffin said he is a medical specialist now because of Umno.

Therefore, he expressed gratitude to the party, which has "contributed immensely to the Malay community."

"I told my 12-year-old child that every grain of rice you eat is because of Umno," he said during the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur today.

However, Nawar (left)  lamented that most of his friends, who now have "a lot of money and high positions", like to accuse Umno of corruption.

"Don't be like my friends who have become rich but like to accuse Umno of corruption.

"What is most important is our contribution to society," he said, when debating Umno president Najib Abdul Razak's policy speech.

Umno is 'sick' and needs treatment

Earlier, Nawar had admitted that support for Umno had decreased as the party is "sick", therefore requiring "medicine".

He then pointed out that people prefer to go to private hospitals and clinics due to the "quality and security".

"Reflecting on this, I am sure that if our quality is high, we will be accepted by all.

"If our leaders have no quality, minta maaflah... (sorry to say). Do we want to go to clinics for low quality medicine?" he queried.

In order for more quality leaders to be created, he said they must possess integrity and pay attention to detail.

"Also, the approach must be based on performance. For example, if you give the same medicine but the person is still sick, that means the medicine is not working.

"And all these (becoming high quality leaders), must come from the heart," he added.

Forget Chinese votes, says Umno delegate

 

UMNO AGM Umno leaders have been told not to waste their time in getting Chinese votes as it will be a futile effort.

Perak delegate Mohd Radzi Manan (right) said this is because their votes will not increase for the BN.

"Getting their votes is like curah air di padang pasir (pouring water on sand, futile). Their votes won't increase.

"(Therefore), Umno must go back to their own race (the Malays)," said the Kampar division leader.

Mohd Radzi also rapped Umno leaders for going back to the 'kapitan Cina' (Chinese capitan) after winning the elections.

"When wanting votes, they go to the Malays, but when they win, they go back to the Chinese kapitan," he said.

Mohd Radzi, who was debating Umno president Najib Abdul Razak’s policy speech, however did not specify any particular individual when mentioning the Chinese Kapitan.

Meanwhile, he also advised Umno leaders to be closer to the younger generation.

“We should ask whether our policies make them happy and whether they are satisfied with how we spend money.

“Because they have no problems with the Penang bridge but for the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M), they consider it a waste,” he said.

At this juncture, he urged the party’s Youth wing to “do more”.

“Wake up, Umno Youth. You are not doing enough,” he said.

He also urged that Puteri Umno be fortified, lamenting that its chief, Mas Ermieyati Samsudin, was only an MP.

“She is only an MP, there is not much that she can do.

“If we do not give the ‘vehicle’, how can they (Umno Youth and Puteri Umno) move,” he asked.

3mil Umno members deciding for 30mil citizens

 

The Sedition Act is here to stay. The members of Umno attending their annual general meeting gave a thunderous applause as Najib Abdul Razak, their party president, announced, “Hence I, as the prime minister, decided that the Sedition Act 1948 will remain.”

Najib’s surprise U-turn on his stand comes closely behind the heels of its Youh chief Khairy Jamaluddin’s alarm when he blazed that “without it (the Act) to protect us, the nation would be in ruins”.

But Najib’s shocking announcement was also preceded by a wiser Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (Pak Lah) cautioning that “Umno’s power and strength comes from the people’s support. Remember, if the people no longer support us, there is no law on God’s earth that can save Umno from losing power.”

The nation’s 30 million citizens, minus Umno’s 3 million members, would also take note of what Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa said, in reaction to the shocking announcement by Najib.

As a member of the National Unity Consultative Council that was convened to draft a new bill to replace the draconian law, Mujahid said the Sedition Act also had a low burden of proof and was exposed to misuse as to the meaning of the word sedition.

He added that in contrast, the proposed National Harmony Act tightened the burden of proof aspect and also offered protection on freedom of speech.

But to what avail? It seems now that Najib has stuck with his mantra of ‘endless possibilities’ like a leech.

What is most perturbing is how millions around the globe will perceive all these.

As Jack Trout advocates, “Perceptions are really what make you and break you,” Najib needs to know foremost that he stood for the entire nation, deciding and speaking on behalf of 30 million Malaysians on the Umno platform that boasts of only 3 million citizens.

A national decision made on a party platform? Should not such a serious decision with far reaching implications and reverberations not have been made in Parliament where the government rules?

And as we examine the sentiments and arguments postulated at the Umno assembly justifying the need for the resurrection of the draconian rule, surely the nation at large will begin to also wander in the window light of Pak Lah’s caution.

Many will also wonder what would Najib do if five million citizens agreed that it has to be a ‘no go’ for the Sedition Act? Would the three million voices of Umno still overrule the majority voice?

The Sedition Act announcement signals loudly that for as long as Umno thinks its enemies are the nation’s own citizens, it has only crippled its hopes for national transformation; and for as long as Umno leaders think that laws alone will protect the party’s relevancy, its members are duped.

'PM's Sedition Act U-turn cowardly, malicious'

 

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's decision of to retain the Sedition Act is "cowardly" and "reeks of malice", says Gerakan Hapus Akta Hasutan (GHAH).

“GHAH is deeply disturbed and outraged with Najib’s cowardly decision to renege on his promise to abolish the Sedition Act and to ‘fortify and strengthen’ the Act instead,” the leading coalition for the Act's abolition said in a statement yesterday.

Led by Suaram, Lawyers for Liberty and the Civil Rights Committee of Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, GHAH added the decision is in bad faith on the part of the government.

“The sudden decision ... allegedly protect the sanctity of Islam and other religions and to address those calling for the secession of Sabah and Sarawak reeks of malice and bad faith, as the Act has been rampantly abused to charge politicians, activists and dissidents.”

GHAH added Najib’s announcement to further fortify the Act will stifle dissent and lead to a “bleak and undemocratic future”.

“This decision tightens the noose around freedom of speech and expression and makes clear what a bleak and undemocratic future we have under Najib's administration.

“The shocking increase in sedition charges and investigations in the past two years reaffirms the prime minister's false reformist credentials and it is evident that his administration is still reliant on the draconian and antiquated legislation to control and suppress democratic norms and legitimate dissent.

Promise not kept

Najib's highly anticipated announcement at the height of the Umno AGM yesterday received a standing ovation and rousing applause from the ruling party's members, who had stepped up calls for their president to back down from his pre-election promise in 2012 to abolish the Act.

After BN's poorest showing in recent history during the 13th general election in 2013, there have been growing calls from Umno's right wing to retain the Act, which has since been used in a massive dragnet over the past year against opposition members and other voices of dissent.

Last Friday, a group of GHAH activists handed over an anti-Sedition Act petition to the Parliament.

It was no surprise that speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia rejected the petition signed by 3,005 people, citing a procedure breach that some of the petitioners did not place their signatures or thumbprints in the petition.

Khalid Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) however persisted to move for the petition to be read out in the House but Pandikar stood firm on his decision.

Mashitah unfazed by police report

 

Wanita Umno delegate Mashitah Ibrahim is unfazed by the police report filed by DAP over her remark that the Chinese had burned the Quran in Kedah.

Quizzed on the report at the sidelines of the Umno general assembly today, the former deputy minister said: "Even if they want to sue me, they can go ahead."

Pointed out that her remarks regarding the incident differed from Kedah Menteri Besar Mukhriz Mahathir's clarification, she said: "You have to check with him (Mukhriz)."

"My version is based on what was informed to me by Kuala Kedah Wanita chief (Noor Hasita Mat Isa)," she told Malaysiakini.

On Monday, Mukhriz said a mentally-ill Malay individual was arrested for tearing the Quran and is being detained at the psychiatric ward. There was no burning involved.

However, when speaking at the Wanita Umno assembly on Wednesday, Mashitah related how she was informed that the Chinese community had burned the Quran during a prayer ritual.  

"Do you feel challenged? Sensitive? Sad? Frustrated?" she had asked the delegates.

"If you feel that way, why not voice out? Don't be quiet. Where is our voice in the media, in cyberspace?

"Don't be the silent majority. (Don't allow) the minority to talk," she added.

This morning, DAP MPs Teo Nie Ching and Kasthuri Patto filed a police report against Mashitah and criticised her for making the irresponsible statement.

MCMC Seeks Facebook, Youtube’s Help

(The Sun Daily) - MCMC, through a special team, will assist police track down suspects attempting to create tension in the country by touching on racial and religious issues.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is ready to discuss with social website owners in the US to close accounts suspected of inciting violence and those touching on racial and religious sensitivities.

MCMC chairman Datuk Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi told Bernama, the commission would be applying to Facebook and YouTube of Google Inc to close accounts or videos which have been investigated by the Malaysian police for having elements of stoking Malaysians to join militant activities.

He said MCMC, through a special team, will assist police track down suspects attempting to create tension in the country by touching on racial and religious issues.

“However, we can only apply to the site owners and it depends on their decision. The fact is we cannot restrict the entry of social media and the internet,” he said.

He was commenting on allegations by certain parties that MCMC was slow in acting to close accounts and videos which could threaten public order.

Today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, in tabling a White Paper on combating threats posed by the militant group, Islamic State (IS), in the Dewan Rakyat, appealed for people’s support in the effort to curb the ideology of IS and proposed new laws to eradicate the involvement of Malaysians in militant and violent activities.

Mohamed Sharil said MCMC could not close specific individual accounts or control the entry of videos as the country may have to block the entry of Facebook and YouTube completely.

He said the action would not be in line with the national policy for internet freedom and right to freedom of expression.

As such, he said the best move would be to educate the people in the country on smart internet usage.

He was speaking at a “Click Wisely” campaign at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Ministry kiosk held in conjunction with the Umno general assembly on level three of Putra World Trade Centre here from Nov 22 to 29.

Sabah delegate defends vernacular schools

The government should focus on raising the standard of the national language in vernacular schools.

FMT

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah delegate, Taufiq Abu Bakar Titingan, told the Umno General Assembly on Friday that Orang Asal students form a near majority, if not a majority, in many Chinese schools in Sabah.

He was explaining why he was not in favour of any move to close down vernacular schools in the country.

Citing figures, he said 84 per cent of one Chinese school in Sabah were Orang Asal.

He disclosed that 15,120 out of 35,162 students in Chinese vernacular schools were Orang Asal.

“If we close these schools, where are they going to go?” he asked.

“We want all Malaysians to be able to speak the national language fluently, no matter which schools they attended.”

He conceded that many students in vernacular schools were not proficient enough in the national language and suggested that more efforts be put in to raise the standard of the Malay language in these schools.

Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, in a recent blog posting on the education system dividing the people, said the natives in Sabah and Sarawak preferred to send their children to Chinese schools.

Gobind jubilant at proposal to pay suspended MPs

Puchong MP says this should extend to all elected reps regardless of party as this is a matter of principle that extends beyond politics.

FMT

PETALING JAYA: MP for Puchong Gobind Singh Deo applauded the proposal made by the Selangor State Assembly to pay back salaries to suspended representatives following the decision of the Federal Court in his case against the Speaker of Parliament.

Gobind agreed the proposal which the House’s rights and privileges committee chairperson Hannah Yeoh confirmed today as “being considered”, was “definitely a step in the right direction.”

Explaining that representatives continued to carry out their duties despite the suspension, Gobind said it was only right that they were paid back what was duly owed to them.

He also explained that many elected representatives were full time politicians whose families depended wholly on their salaries.

“Taking away their salary not only cripples them financially but it has a very serious impact on their families as well.”

Adding that he hoped Parliament would consider reimbursing all the MP’s who had been suspended without pay in the past, Gobind said, “My call extends to all elected representatives from all political sides as this is a matter of principle which must necessarily extend beyond politics.”

Why we need a new NEP with no race bias

The DPM's recent statement deserves serious attention.

By Ramon Navaratnam - FMT

Umno Deputy President Muhyiddin Yassin made a striking statement last Tuesday at the opening of the Umno Youth, Wanita and Puteri assemblies. He said a new national economic policy needed to be drawn up to bridge the gap between the rich and poor, regardless of race.

That was exactly the real intention of the original New Economic Policy and what in fact was also proposed to the government in the New Economic Model (NEM), which has unfortunately been sidelined.

For this reason, Muhyiddin’s statement deserves much more attention than it has been given so far.

Interestingly, his statement was almost a direct quote from the original New Economic Policy (NEP) announced in 1970. Hence, after 44 years, it now appears that we have to go back to our starting point because the spirit behind the original NEP has faded away.

Actually, the recent United Nations Development Programme Report on Malaysia suggests clearly that the NEP has failed to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor.

Why is this so? Is it largely because we concentrated too much on the second prong of the NEP, which relates to equity ownership? The second prong was aimed at removing the identity of race with occupation. For many reasons, it was more attractive to many policy planners and implementers. Thus the issue of equity ownership was given higher priority than the issue of raising the incomes of the lower 40% income groups .

Education standards have been low and they have not helped to produce graduates of sufficiently high calibre. That is why we have low-productivity graduates and high graduate unemployment. If our graduates, at levels from schools to universities, were better equipped, especially in Science, Technology and the English language, they would be able to earn much higher incomes for their technical skills and greater productivity. This would have helped to considerably reduce the serious income disparities that have developed over the years..

Cronies of all kinds

Corruption has badly undermined the noble original aims of the NEP. Much of the land alienated for farming (for example, in Cameron Highlands), equity shares, permits, licenses and non-tendered government contracts, were easily provided to many incapable Malay and Bumiputera contractors and to cronies of all kinds. Thus Malay and Bumiputera businessmen lost out despite the billions of ringgit of public funds allocated to develop a more active and sustainable entrepreneurial class among them. Incomes therefore did not rise much for Malay and Bumiputera participants, except for a few.

Urban poverty was not given the high priority that rural poverty enjoyed under the premiership of Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. Today, the vast majority of our population is settled in the urban areas. Yet the financial and human resources directed to urban development to improve the welfare and quality of life of the urban poor have been quite inadequate. This has also increased income disparities.

Competition has been curtailed by many continued protectionist policies and practices. Thus a Culture of Mediocrity has seeped in throughout the whole socio-economic system and even the political system.

We have to examine the performance of the Malays and Bumiputeras in all fields to understand the debilitating consequences of pampering or “manja manja”. For instance, we need to assess how they fare in education and business, after so much financial support given so liberally for so long. Why, people ask, is there a predominance of graduate unemployment amongst them? Is it not because they are found wanting in their abilities? Don’t we realise that any good businessman or woman, regardless of race, cannot afford not to employ competent and competitive graduates, regardless of race?

The Ethos of Bumiputeraism and Ketuanan are in themselves psychologically and emotionally disruptive and self deprecating.

Why, for example, should young people – and for that matter even the older ones – want to work hard and excel if they believe that pampering and progress in their careers or businesses, are their birth rights which they may feel is the government’s responsibility to provide for them regardless of their ability to perform?

The observations above provide some insights into why there is growing income disparity and why we have to take up the challenge to review the NEP and move towards a better and more equitable, prosperous and stable Malaysia.

We hope that the DPM’s call for a review of the NEP will help to narrow the gap between the rich and the poor, without any race bias, as we are all Malaysians first and foremost.

Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam is Chairman of the ASLI Centre of Public Policy Studies.

MCA, MIC and Gerakan utterly irrelevant, but have Sarawak and Sabah also become irrelevant in BN national decision-making process on issues directly affecting the two states?

By Lim Kit Siang Blog

When buckling under pressure from the rightists and extremists in UMNO and UMNO-sponsored NGOs, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak not only reneged on his specific promise in July 2012 to repeal the Sedition Act, but added salt to injury by declaring that the Sedition Act would be further strengthened and become even more draconian and repressive.

MCA, MIC and Gerakan are utterly irrelevant in the UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional scheme of things, as evident by the way the views of these three parties and their leaders were ignored and not even sought in Umno-BN’s major decision-making process.
However, are the views and legitimate interests of Sarawak and Sabah similarly disregarded in the Umno-Barisan Nasional national decision-making process, especially in matters directly affecting the people in the two states?

Najib announced yesterday that the Sedition Act would not only be retained, it would be fortified, so as to deal with calls for secession of Sarawak and Sabah.

Have the Sarawak and Saban Barisan Nasional leaders been fully consulted and given their consent to the proposal to criminalise calls for secession of Sarawak and Sabah by making them offences under the repressive Sedition Act?

DAP opposes any call for the secession of Sarawak and Sabah from Malaysia but I fully agree the Sarawak Land Development Minister Tan Sri Dr. James Masing that only a small group of people have advocated secession of Sarawak and Sabah and instead of criminalising such calls, the wisest political and nation-building response is to engage with these groups to find out what are the causes of their unhappiness. Don’t kill the messenger but miss the message!

Having tasted victory in forcing the Prime Minister to buckle under their pressures, the rightist and extremist elements are piling further pressures to put back the clock of democratisation and national transformation.

A former Court of Appeal judge, Datuk Mohd Noor Abdullah wants offenders under the Sedition Act to be punished with a jail sentence of not less than three years and not exceeding 10 years instead of the present penalty of a fine of RM5,000 or a maximum jail sentence of three years or both.

Mohd Noor also wants the definition of sedition to be widened to any acts that caused fear to the Malays.

It is already unbelievable that a former Court of Appeal judge has so little confidence in the discretion and judgement of judges when imposing sentence that he supports the removal of such discretion to be given to judges, but what really boggles the imagination is that he could be so blinkered, biased and sectarian that he could advocate that in a plural nation like Malaysia, sedition includes any acts that caused fears to the Malays.

The Inspector-General of Police meanwhile wants the Sedition Act to be “improved” to make it easier for authorities to prosecute those who violate the law.

It is most shocking that the Prime Minister has failed to address widespread concerns about selective and malicious investigation and prosecution under the Sedition Act against Pakatan Rakyat leaders, intellectuals and activists in the recent “white terror” campaign to create a climate of fear in the country.

It would appear that even before any amendments to “fortify” the Sedition Act, there would be pressures for another dragnet of selective/malicious prosecution against PR leaders, activists and dissent.

Najib would be making a fatal mistake if he thinks that by buckling to the rightist and extremist pressures over the retention of the Sedition Act, he has consolidated his position in UMNO.

The opposite appears to be the case, as illustrated by the blog of Zainuddin Maidin, ex-Minister who is clearly the spokesman of the rightists and extremists in UMNO and UMNO-sponsored NGOs, who warned that “a quiet revolution is under way in Umno” and the applause Najib received was not a show of support, but a release of pent-up emotions and a rejection of his “weak and liberal leadership”.

Zainuddin warned: “If he hadn’t made that announcement, all the Umno members would have buried him, and his future in Umno would have been destroyed”

He added: “Najib’s respite this time, would be his last breath.”

Ominous warning from the rightists and extremists in UMNO and UMNO-sponsored NGOs indeed.

What Umno reps need to talk about

 

As a child growing up in the birthplace of Umno in the 60s, who saw his beloved grandfather a devoted member of this party of the 50s cry like a child in a corner by his radiogram when Abdul Razak Hussein died in the 70s, and one who has studied how this party stopped progressing by the early 80s, degenerating from a party of pride and dignity to pariah and dying with diseases of greed and gluttony by late 90s, I would like to suggest the following be discussed in order to lend the benefits of a life-support system to it.

I am also suggesting a poem be read out by the members. The following should be my humble suggestions for Umno, a party my ancestors, too, were members of, to undertake:

• Coming up with strategies to create a better understanding between the races, since we’ve been together for centuries?
• Designing our education system to be inclusive of all Malaysians with each race treated on equal terms,
• Helping any group progress, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation, since we are all lawful citizens and we are not going back to “where we belong”,
• Dismantling all systems that will perpetuate hatred amongst us and redesign our lives around celebrating our strength in diversity,
• Find ways to unify all races as one dignified race of Malaysians united against any threats from outside (if there are any real or imagined),
• Coming together as Malaysians to redesign our education system that will truly enhance children’s understanding of concepts, skills, attitude to become good learners, global and transcultural in outlook, and will grow up to see each other as a human race with a common humane destiny, rather than see more divisions and destructions,
• Collaborating with all races to see how best we can help those who are marginalised regardless of race and religion, and how best we can design an economic system that will promote cooperation, collaboration, and the enculturalisation of conscience and conscientiousness amongst us, rather that perpetually create competitions that lead to hatred and warmongering,
• Mediating the differences between Muslims of different interpretive practices, schools of thoughts, ways of leading their ‘Islamic life’ rather than create bogeymen and bogey-women for the purpose of witch-hunting and persecuting each other of the things we cannot fully understand,
• Stopping the total closing of the Malay mind by constantly instilling fear of themselves since time immemorial, since feudal times, so that the Malays can be spared of being called stupid, weak, lazy, and dependent on Umno as savior - all these a perfect model of a Master-Slave Narrative,
• Asking all members and members of your race-based component parties to read Thomas Kuhn’s ‘Structure of Scientific Revolutions’ and Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s ‘Social Contract’ and to be prepared to exist merely as world-class culture clubs rather than hay-wired political parties, due to the nature of changing times, paradigm shifts, and the realisation of the true meaning of ‘social contract’.

How about those suggestions above for a change and for better speeches in future?

Umno leaders and delegates can read this poem, maybe... instead of those hate-filled speeches clenching fists of fury awkwardly.

‘ode to folks of kuala lumpur city’

even if in your lifetime you will taste poverty
aplenty
live a life corrupt-free
and with highest dignity
... there is beauty in deep reverie
when others are living a life obsessed with money
i have seen friends and family fall flat on their face
for a life of greed and gluttony
never take a single cent you do not deserve out of your hard work
and reward you wait patiently
that was the constant advice given by our ancestors remembered so lovingly
how much must one accumulate in life to prepare for one's life
in the uncertainties of eternity
the daily papers tell me how corrupt this malaysian society has chosen to be
millions and billions changing hands with people refusing to work hard like the coolie with the deepest sense of honesty
dig not your million-dollar-grave, friends and family
people these days are getting crazy
over money money money
offer me not a million a billion a trillion maybe
these have no meaning for me who prefers a life of simplicity
where i could ride the, bus, meditate on the train, or watch ships sail the seven seas
i could do these without any worry, where my next million going to crawl to me
how many souls i will need to destroy - him as utility and his entire family
in my path towards achieving the highest glory in life based on money aplenty
no, i shall not sacrifice my cave, my poetry, my love for philosophy, the arts and humanities, my love for humanity, my freedom

to take my midnight walks along highways taking me to the the sea and its serenity
a free spirit i am
blessed will be i hope all - whose life in this kuala lumpur city
is about destroying each other as taught by machiavelli

---

DR AZLY RAHMAN, born in Singapore and grew up in Johor Baru, holds a Columbia University (New York City) doctorate in International Education Development and Masters degrees in four areas: Education, International Affairs, Peace Studies and Communication. He has taught more than 40 courses in six different departments and has written more than 350 analyses on Malaysia. His teaching experience in Malaysia and the United States spans over a wide range of subjects, from elementary to graduate education. He has edited and authored six books; Multiethnic Malaysia: Past, Present, Future (2009), Thesis on Cyberjaya: Hegemony and Utopianism in a Southeast Asian State (2012), The Allah Controversy and Other Essays on Malaysian Hypermodernity (2013), a first Malay publication Kalimah Allah Milik Siapa?: Renungan dan Nukilan Tentang Malaysia di Era Pancaroba (2014), and Controlled Chaos: Essays on Mahathirism, Multimedia Super Corridor and Malaysia’s ‘New Politics’ (forthcoming 2014). He currently resides in the United States where he teaches courses in Philosophy, Cultural Studies, Political Science, and American Studies. Twitter, blog.

Court affirms rights of Orang Asli in customary land battle

The Court of Appeal today has affirmed that Orang Asli in the peninsula have rights under the common law over their ancestral land.

A three-man bench ruled unanimously today to set aside the findings of a high court which dismissed the rights of 82 Orang Asli over their ancestral land, spanning 2,832ha between Maran and Kuantan.

Judge Datuk Dr Prasad Abraham, who delivered the judgment, said the bench was of the opinion that two previous court of appeal rulings were correct in stating the legal principles on the rights of the Orang Asli.

Prasad, however, said the present case of Yebet Saman and 81 others from the Semaq Beri tribe will be reheard before a new judge as evidence on the status of the land was unclear.

He said Yebet Saman and the rest of the tribe members would have to prove that they were aborigines; that they had continuously occupied the land; and had maintained the traditional connection with the property in order to be accorded customary rights.

"The high court has to take oral evidence from the plaintiffs to establish this facts," said Abraham who sat with Datuk Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahim and Datuk Mah Weng Kwai.

In the first case, an Orang Asli, Adong Kuwau brought an action against the Johor government for encroaching on ancestral land and the Court of Appeal for the first time established the concept of native title in Malaysian law.

The Federal Court in 1998 upheld Adong’s right to the land although he did not possess any land title. However, no written grounds was made available by the apex court.

In the second, Sagong Tasi and 26 other families from the Temuan tribe mounted a legal challenge in 2002 after their ancestral land in Kampung Tampoi in Sepang, Selangor, was marked out to build the Nilai-KLIA expressway.

In 2005, the appellate court affirmed a high court ruling that the families had native titles to the land based on common law and the Federal Constitution.

Lawyer Yogeswaran Subramaniam, who appeared for the Orang Asli, told reporters that the appellate court ruling was a victory for the community as the judiciary had once again recognised their rights to their ancestral land.

"We had to battle it out of court because the executive and the legislature are not recognising their rights."

Yogeswaran said the court agreed with their submission and added that the common law superseded what was provided in the Aborigines People's Act 1954.

"The court has also looked into legal rights of natives in other Commonwealth countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada in arriving at its decision."

Yebet and the rest took their appeal to Putrajaya after what high court judge Datuk Marina Yahya did was found to be against the principles established by the court of appeal.

The judge ruled that the Pahang government had power over land maters and did not recognise the rights sought by the Orang Asli.

The Semaq Beri tribe is seeking a declaration that 7,000 acres be declared as customary land.

The tribe filed their suit in 2012 against Putrajaya, the Pahang government, director-general of Orang Asli Development Department, a developer and a sub-contractor.

They said they had occupied the customary land since time immemorial, but like many other Orang Asli groups, they were temporarily relocated by the government during the Emergency (1948 to 1960) for security reasons.

But, they had continuously returned to their customary land to tend their orchards, forage for jungle products and visit sacred sites during this period.

In 1970 a number of them returned permanently to Kampung Mengkapur.

Despite acknowledging the tribe's presence, occupation and use of the customary land, the Pahang government failed to gazette the areas as Orange Asli settlements.

In 2010, the 82 Orang Asli found a notice detailing logging activities over part of the forests on their land and about 1,000 acres had been alienated for oil palm plantation.

Yebet, 64, who was present, said the struggle to exert their right over the land would continue even if they had to wait.

"I believe justice will be served so that we can exercise our right over the land. We have to be patient." – November 28, 2014.

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/court-affirms-rights-of-orang-asli-in-customary-land-battle#sthash.AWKdsPEt.dpuf

Umno Assembly Significant In Determining Country's Direction - Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 28 (Bernama) -- Umno President Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the party general assembly will continue to be a significant platform to determine the country's direction.

He said the content in the assembly was not only important for party members, but also for the Malays, bumiputera and the country, as a whole.

"Therefore the coverage and analysis by the mass media, and whatever perception that was projected at this assembly is important for the people to understand what is actually Umno's aspiration," he said when interviewed by Astro Awani during a visit to the media centre at the Putra World Trade Centre on Friday.

A total of 1,452 media practitioners from 106 local and foreign newspaper organisations and news agencies are covering the 2014 Umno general assembly.

During a visit to the Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) operations centre, Najib said he was satisfied with the coverage on the assembly by the mass media.

"The coverage this time is more extensive and able to give a more accurate perspective because now the media is equipped with latest facilities technology applications.

"Hence, the ability of the media to produce fast and more accurate reports is better. I believe with the use of more sophisticated technology in future, the coverage will be better and faster," he said in an interview with RTM.

Present to receive the Umno president at the RTM operations centre was Umno Supreme Council member Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, who is Communications and Multimedia Minister.

Najib also spent some time meeting media practitioners from other news agencies, including the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), where he was welcomed by Bernama chairman Datuk Abdul Rahman Sulaiman and Deputy Editor-in-Chief (General News Service) Datuk Zakaria Abd Wahab.

Earlier, Najib launched the National Women Undergraduates Secretariat (Swinas), a club set up under the auspices of the Puteri Umno movement, and at another venue, launched a book, "Politik Islam dan Melayu", written by Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM) president Senator Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.