Mediation at all courts

The New Straits Times By V. Anbalagan

PUTRAJAYA: Mediation process will be introduced at all courts in an effort to dispose of cases speedily.

A statement from the judiciary, issued following the conclusion of the three-day Judges' Conference on Sunday, said disputing parties were encouraged to write to the respective courts if they intended to conclude their matters through mediation.

Currently, mediation is confined to the New Commercial Court (NCC) based at the High Courts in various states.

Mediation process is strongly advocated by the present administrators in the judiciary to dispose of backlog of cases.

The statement prepared by the Federal Court public relations officer, Yasmin Abdul Razak, said the achievement at the NCC, which began operations on Sept 1 last year, was very encouraging.

"The objective of setting up the court (NCC) is to ensure that the disposal of commercial cases can be increased and time taken to complete is shortened," the statement said.

Cases filed at the NCC could be completed within nine months from the date of registration.

In September, 289 cases were registered and up to end of March this year, only 39 cases had yet to be disposed of.

The statement said a special panel had been set up in the Court of Appeal to hear appeals relating to commercial matters.

"The panel will dispose of appeals one month from the date the appeal records are filed."

So far eight appeal cases have been dealt with.

"The judiciary's aspiration to clear NCC cases within a year at the Court of Appeal from the time they are registered has been achieved."

Chandran withdraws, three-corner fight ensues

EC told to remove 'provocative' BN billboards

Ibrahim Ali: Zaid bukan orang Melayu...

UMNO TNB: RM 900,000.00 allocation to repair 65 poor Malay houses. Indians poor excluded.

This is yet another classical case of UMNOs’ height of racism and this
“ blood letting ” ably watched over silently by our very own PKR, DAP and PAS by the omission of their 78 MPs’ and top leaders including their 11 Indian mandore MPs’ who do not and would not care to highlight or champion this for the simple reason that the victims are the poor and working class Indians. Never mind if they are otherwise not given the fair and equal opportunities to prosper.
The above is done as part of TNBs’ corporate social responsibility but blatantly excluding the poor and working class Indians ( UM (M) 16/4/2010 at page 12 ).
S. Jayathas.

Hulu Selangor: No Tamil school for 48 years for 500 families in Serendah; UMNO denies RM 6 million, PKR’s peanuts and denies Tamil school land. Lose-lose for Indians.

Hulu Selangor: No Tamil school for 48 years for 5000 Indians  in Serendah; UMNO denies RM 6 million, PKR’s peanuts and denies Tamil school land. Lose-lose for Indians.
Sinar Harian today reported that UMNO Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announcedin Bukit Beruntung Hulu Selangor, a grant of RM 6 million from the Federal Governemnt for land and a school building for a chinese school.
On the very same Sinar Harian 19/4/10 at page S5, the Indians in Serendah also in Hulu Selangor have been fighting for a local Tamil school for over the last ten years but to no avail.
UMNO’s Muhyiddin Yassin would not approve RM 6 million for this proposed Serendah Tamil school despite a proposal having sent to UMNO’s mandore ex MP for Hulu Selangor and National Deputy President of MIC, who asked these Indians to look for a suitable area.
The proposed local Serendah Tamil School having 500 families and 254 potential students in 12 housing estates, and with 5,000 local Indian residents requiring a local Tamil school.
The parents have to end up sending their children to the next town SJKT Sungai Cho Tamil School. And the school bus fare alone per family will work up to RM 700 per month. Children have to leave their homes at 5 am and their safety is not guaranteed as they have to take the local public buses.
It is over two years now that PKR, DAP & PAS has come to power but they too care a damn. You too Brutas! The Indian people in particular and Hindraf wanted change.
The application was submitted (to the UMNO Education Ministry) in 2000 and the approval was agreed to by the MIC National Deputy Chairman’s Division. But it is a lame approval as it is UMNO leadership that decides. Despite having been a supposed Charter member component party of BN since independence, and over the last 53 years this MIC third most senior coalition party No. 2 Chief cannot even get a small Tamil school built for the local community, let alone getting 100 Indian families Felda like ten acre land ownership schemes, JPN scholarships for 100 local students to do medicine and engineering overseas, securing million and billion dollar contracts and projects for 100 local Indian businessmen, getting 100 local Indians besi buruk licences, car wash, government built low rentals highway rest area food and tidbit stalls and other government built low rental stalls and shop lots, business opportunities for 100 local Indians in outlets like Mobil, Petronas, KFC, McDonalds, Ayamas, A&W, Proton Sevice Centre, Proton showroom, Burger King and Starbuck outlets, cleaning andmaintainance contracts, etc.
This MIC mandore party can do almost zero not because they do not want to do it but because they are not empowered by UMNO to do it.
Similarly despite having been in power for over two years now PKR maintains that there is no suitable place for this Tamil school in Hulu Selangor, which is as big as Malacca with thousands of acres of land in Serendah alone!
But then the PKR Selangor State government had gave them the political directions to vote for change, and to vote for PKR, DAP and PAS.
Yet, PKR has got their Indian Exco Mandore to continue with the 50 year old, a la MIC wayang kulit, of making empty (kosong) Tamil newspaper announcements of land for this Tamil school or that Tamil school, Hindu temple, cemetery or Indian settlement.
Then this Selangor Indian Exco mandore announces a tamil newspaper headline grabbing “grand” announcement of RM 522,000 but in reality this is for 97 Tamil schools, which is for a mere RM 5, 381.00 per school.
See the difference, RM 6 Million for the Bukit Beruntung Chinese school , RM 120 million for the almost 99.9% all Malay muslim Maktab Rendah sains Mara (MRSM) in Trolak, Perak, and RM 522,000 for 97 Tamil schools! The discrimination is right there for all to see!
This discrimination later translates into poor performance in Tamil schools, and then the schools are blamed, or the Tamil education is blamed, or the teachers are blamed, or the parents are blamed. In fact everyone is blamed except the government.
And to add insult to injury the PKR led Selangor State government has even refused to grant land to all the 98 Tamil schools in Selangor which can be done by the mere stroke of the pen by the Selangor Menteri Besar as they have 100% powers to do so. But PKR will not do this for the Indians because they fear losing the Malay votes.
So our only forward moving action is the Indian political empowernment strategy and HRP’s Project 15/38 with the creation of 15 Parliament seats and 38 state Indian majority seats.
P. Uthayakumar

Hulu S’gor: Calon MIC bukti BN tetap amal perkongsian kuasa, PKR disyor letak bukan Melayu

Hulu S’gor: Calon MIC bukti BN tetap amal perkongsian kuasa, PKR disyor letak bukan Melayu
(See BH 104/410 at page
PKR’s Anwar Ibrahim has, with his choice of candidates, been proven that he is and wants to prove to the Malays that he is more racist than UMNO. Even before coming to power Anwar Ibrahim refuses to share power with the Indians except with the PKR, DAP, PAS mandores who will, like UMNO’s MIC mandores, sell out the Indian poor’s interests in return for some personal gains. Imagine when he gets to Putrajaya!
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Hulu S’gor: RM 20 million for Tamil schools. Why not state land for all 98 Tamil schools?

Hulu S’gor: RM 20 million for Tamil schools. Why not state land for all 98 Tamil schools?
But Catch No 1 – by this PKR Indian Exco mandore is RM 20 million over the next five years! At this rate of mandorism, PKR will no longer rule Selangor in five years.
Catch No 2 – 12 new Kindergardens to be built! But this PKR’s Indian Exco mandore under his tuan Anwar Ibrahim and Tan Sri Ibrahim and Tan Sri Khalid’s scheme of plans has built zero kindergardens within Tamil schools todate, after two years in power.
Catch No 3 – RM 522,000 for 97 Tamil schools is only a peanut sum of RM 5,381 per school, but made into a fanfare a la MIC on a day to day basis and stretched out all year round in the three tamil papers.
Catch No 4 – 15 new kinderdartens in 10 Tamil schools. The names of these 10 Tamil schools have never been made public or is not in the Selangor Menteri Besar’s official website. We are hearing of these 10 Tamil school kindergardens for the first time during this Hulu Selangor by election season.
Catch No 5 – In any event despite we having repeated this 53 year old outstanding land titles for all these 98 Tamil schools problem on a daily basis over the last ten months, the PKR Supremo and his Indian mandores are turning a blind eye (The Star 16/4/10 pg N57).
Karunai Nithi @ Compassionate Justice

Nasihat Human Rights Party (Hindraf Makkal Sakthi) kepada pengundi India di Hulu Selangor.

Nasihat Human Rights Party (Hindraf Makkal Sakthi) kepada pengundi India di Hulu Selangor.

Pilihan raya maknanya masa untuk buat janji-janji manis oleh ahli-ahli politik BN dan Pakatan. Jika tidak berhati-hati, pengundi hanya akan berdepan dengan janji kosong dan penipuan selepas pilihan raya.

Pengundi India mesti mengundi calon yang menunaikan janji sahaja ! Jangan tertipu lagi !

Untuk perhatian Zaid Ibrahim
Menteri Besar (Pakatan) Selangor, selepas mesyuarat mingguan EXCO negeri, mengumumkan bahawa kerajaan Selangor akan memberi hak milik tanah kepada 100,000 keluarga setingggan dan TOL untuk mereka yang menghuni tanah berkenaan selama lebih 15 tahun. Menteri Besar juga menambah bahawa kerajaan negeri akan segera mengatasi masalah tanah untuk tempat beribadat, sekolah dan jalan.
Pemberian tanah ialah janji Menteri Besar Pakatan.
Bagi orang India yang miskin, janji itu mesti membawa maksud …
1. Mereka menerima hak milik tanah atas nama mereka sendiri dan dokumen dalam bentuk hitam putih ada di tangan mereka.
2. Proses pengambilan tanah untuk sekolah Tamil mestilah selari/konsisten dengan cara yang digunakan untuk sekolah kebangsaan.
3. Hak milik tanah untuk kuil dalam bentuk hitam putih mesti ada pada pihak pengurusan kuil untuk tanah di mana kuil itu berada sekarang.
Semua perkara ini mesti dibereskan sebelum 25 April, 2010.
Tuntutan HRP sebenarnya lebih daripada itu, tetapi sebagai permulaan kerajaan negeri bolehlah memberi tanah kepada semua 97 sekolah Tamil yang tidak memiliki tanah yang diduduki sekarang.
Untuk perhatian Kamalanathan
MIC/UMNO telah berjanji untuk memulangkan pelaburan orang India dalam MAIKA Holdings. Namun, ini hanyalah janji pilihan raya yang mungkin tidak akan ditunaikan atas pelbagai alasan. Kita pernah dengar banyak alasa sebelum ini.
Jadi, bagi orang India janji ini mesti membawa makna bahawa …
Semua pelabur India dalam MAIKA mesti menerima pemulangan pelaburan mereka dengan cek dikeluarkan atas nama mereka sendiri dan diserahkan kepada mereka dalam bentuk hitam putih.
MIC juga harus memulangkan jumlah saham berdasarkan nilai RM1.00 pada 1984, bukan nilai RM1.00 pada 2010. Kami rasa pelabur berhak menerima sekurang-kurang R4.00 untuk setiap pelaburan RM1.00 pada 1984. Tanyalah, akauntan mana pun tahu hakikat ini.
Semua ini mesti dibereskan sebelum 25 April 2010.
Kini bukan lagi masa untuk janji-janji kosong ahli politik, sebaliknya kini sudah tiba masa untuk menilai ahli politik melalui prestasi mereka yang sebenarnya.
Pakatan dan UMNO sama-sama tidak menunjukkan sebarang khidmat yang memuaskan untuk orang India selama mereka berkuasa.
Zaid Ibrahim atau Kamalanathan – undi hanya calon yang kotakan janji !
Jangan undi sesiapa yang tidak mengotakan janji sebelum 24 April, 2010.
Macam ni mudahkan?
Naragan
Human Rights Party Malaysia

Photos: HRP on the ground Campaigning

18/4/2010, Johor HRP Team lead by Johor Chief  Y.Mohan, campaigning for HRP 15/38 “Vote For Ourself” as per P.Uthayakumar’s book Malaysian Indian Political Empowerment Strategy  at Karai Nagar Sri Mariamman temple Kangar Pulai, Johor. There was very positive responses from all the people there and many took back HRP’s membership forms and sign up as HRP members.
Long live HRP/HINDRAF People Power Makkal Sakthi
Mayil.
HRP Johor

UMNO menafikan bantuan kepada nenek berusia 70 tahun yang menjaga anak kurang upaya berumur 39 tahun.

UMNO menafikan bantuan kepada nenek berusia 70 tahun yang menjaga anak kurang upaya berumur 39 tahun.
Kuantan, April 9- Ellammah yang merupakan seorang warga tua berumur 70 tahun sedang memikul tanggungjawab untuk menjaga anak lelakinya Ganesan yang kurang upaya berumur 39 tahun. Dia sedang mendapat RM300.00 dari badan kebajikan namun wang tersebut tidak mencukupi untuk membeli lampin dewasa serta susu bagi Ganesan. Kos penjagaan Ganesan sendiri melebihi RM350 sebulan.  Ellammah kini meminta bantuan orang ramai untuk mengurangkan beban hidup yang ditanggungnya pada usia tua ini.
Komen HRP: Daripada Bajet 2010 yang merangkumi  jumlah sebanyak RM191.5 bilion, sebanyak RM48 milion telah diperuntukkan khas untuk program termasuk memberi bantuan kebajikan dan juga bayaran sewa rumah untuk golongan miskin. Tetapi warga emas ini yang mendapat wang kebajikan sebanyak RM300 tidak dapat menampung kehidupan beliau serta anaknya yang kurang upaya kerana anaknya memerlukan rawatan perubatan untuk terus hidup. Malah ibu serta anak ini juga tidak diberi sebuah flat ataupun bayaran sewa daripada peruntukan kerajaan RM48 milion. Sekiranya mereka dibantu dengan bayaran sewa, maka wang kebajikan yang diterima serba sedikit dapat membantu mereka meneruskan kehidupan. Jadi amat jelas bahawa bantuan ini tidak sampai kepada mereka yang amat memerlukan. 
Malah Ellammah seharusnya diberi bantuan subsidi kad e-kasih. Ini kerana beliau tidak berupaya untuk bekerja ataupun anaknya Ganesan dibekalkan dengan perubatan percuma. Ini kerana menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan menjaga kebajikan rakyatnya. Bukan orang ramai yang harus memikul peranan kerajaan dalam membasmi kemiskinan.
Satu Malaysia : Rakyat Didahulukan … ?

Hulu Selangor Photos PKR’s unnecessary racial tensions by appointing a Malay candidate and not an Indian candidate.

Hulu Selangor Photos PKR’s unnecessary racial tensions by appointing a Malay candidate and not an Indian candidate.
As if UMNOs’ 53 years racism is not enough. PKR had the option and liberty to bring down one notch racial politics in Malaysia. But PKR allowed racism to near its ugly head. ( see MN headlines 18/4/2010)

Maika: Maika Share Buyout Proposal For Real, Says Vel Paari

HULU SELANGOR, April 19 (Bernama) -- The deal to sell Maika Holdings Bhd to a local Indian-owned consortium is for real and details are now being worked out, its chief executive officer, S. Vel Paari, said.

He denied that it was an election gimmick to attract Indian voters in Hulu Selangor.


Shareholders of Maika should "hold their horses just a little while longer as details of the deal will be announced as soon as possible after a number of issues have been ironed out," he told Bernama here.

On April 16, Bernama ran a story that the long wait by some 66,000 shareholders of Maika was about to end as a local Indian private sector group had agreed to purchase all of their investments for about RM106 million.

The proposed purchase value of the shares is RM20 million above the total net value of Maika's assets, which are only worth about RM85 million currently.

Maika shareholders are mainly poor Indian estate workers who had invested in Maika shares in 1984 by pawning their jewellery while some had withdrawn their life savings.

Maika was established in 1982 to enable Malaysian Indians to participate in the country's economic growth. However, the company was unable to produce the required results, much to the disillusionment of its shareholders.

The relatively poor return on investment of Maika shares had been a nagging problem for the MIC and the Malaysian Indian community for the past 26 years.

The matter had been brought to the attention of the government on numerous occasions and it was only recently that a decision was made to resolve it.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu, confirming the Bernama report last Saturday, said:"It has been a long and difficult journey but now the issue looks set to be resolved. I think the shareholders will be happy and we are relieved too. I have been briefed about the buyout."

Meanwhile, B. Krishnan, a Maika shareholder, when contacted by Bernama, said that while settling the problem was good, Maika should ensure that the deal was beneficial to shareholders.

"Now we at least see the light at the end of the tunnel after 28 years. It is positive and I hope the shareholders will agree to the deal and put an end to this nagging problem," he said.

He said Maika shareholders should not only be paid "ringgit for ringgit" for their investments but also be given "something extra" for their long wait.

M. Dharmakoundar, another shareholder, also agreed that dividends should be paid as well because Maika had not paid any in the past.

"If there is any buyout, then shareholders must be compensated adequately," he said.

S. Nadarajah, a Maika shareholder who has been campaigning for dividend payment for many years, said the proposal by the unnamed investor group put the share buyout at 80 sen per share against the entire shareholding of 125 million shares.

He claimed that the proposed purchase sum of RM106 million was also lower than the RM149 million offered by Usaha Tegas Sdn Bhd for Oriental Capital Assurance Bhd, a 74.165 per cent subsidiary of Maika, in 2008. Usaha Tegas is an investment company controlled by tycoon T. Ananda Krishnan.

He claimed that the latest share offer was inferior as the would-be investor would get to control the insurance company via the purchase of Maika for a lower price.

Nadarajah, who also asked whether the recent announcement was an election ploy as there were 1,500 Maika shareholders in Hulu Selangor, said Maika should provide details to clear the air on the proposal.

No Dr Pornthip at Teoh inquest tomorrow

KUALA LUMPUR, April 19 — The much-awaited expert opinion by Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand on the second post-mortem on Teoh Beng Hock will be further delayed as the Selangor government did not receive any response from her today.

A state government official said: “Last week we wrote a letter to the Justice Ministry of Thailand for them to facilitate Dr Pornthip (picture) to attend the inquest but until this evening there was no response from the ministry.”

However, Dr Pornthip had unofficially indicated to the state counsel that she could attend, provided there was approval from the ministry where she was currently attached with, he said.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) head of prosecution Datuk Abdul Razak Musa, when contacted, confirmed that so far there was no indication from Dr Pornthip or Thai officials.

“As far we are concerned, the coroner is scheduled to hear Teoh’s brother Meng Kee’s ex-parte application to cite Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz tomorrow for contempt of court,” he said.

Last Friday, Meng Kee filed a notice at the Shah Alam magistrate’s court to cite Nazri for contempt of court for allegedly branding Dr Pornthip as a “liar” after she refused to attend the inquest tomorrow, claiming that she was under pressure from her own government and the Malaysian authorities.

Coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas had fixed tomorrow for Dr Pornthip to give her expert opinion on the second post-mortem on Teoh’s remains which was carried out by Dr Shahidan Md Noor at the Sungai Buloh Hospital on Nov 22 last year.

Azmil had also fixed April 26 and 27 for British pathologist Dr Peter Vanesis, who was hired by MACC, to give his expert opinion.

Teoh was found dead at Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, where the MACC state headquarters was located, on July 17 after being called for questioning by MACC officers over alleged irregular disbursement of state funds. — Bernama

Halili leaving is “not a big loss”, say PKR leaders

By FMT Staff

KUALA LUMPUR: PKR leaders are unfazed by neuro-surgeon Dr Halili Rahmat’s resignation as Hulu Selangor PKR treasurer earlier today, saying it will not affect the party’s campaign in the run-up to the polls on April 25.

Describing Halili as “a smart neuro-surgeon who failed to uphold the party’s principles”, Balik Pulau MP Yusmadi Yusoff said it was “not as big a loss” as perceived by Umno.

“I respect Halili's decision but at the same time I would like to say that as an educated person, he should want to see Malaysia (become) more democratic in nature.

“But his decision does not augment well for democratic practices in the country. It validates those who obviously do not appreciate the democratic ambitions of the Malaysian people,” he said.

Many view the timing of Halili’s move to quit PKR as an Umno-style strategy to undermine public perception of PKR.

Mainstream media and pro-Umno BN blogs are running riot with stories of unhappy PKR members and “mass” defections of members to Umno in the run-up to the Hulu Selangor by-election, which has been described as a “must win” for BN and Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak.

Halili, who is an Ulu Yam local, has twice contested in the general elections in 1999 (Hulu Selangor) and 2004 (Batang Kali state seat), but lost on both occasions.

He was on the list of PKR’s potential candidates for the Hulu Selangor seat which fell vacant following the death of incumbent Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25.

Zainal had wrested the seat from four-term BN MP G Palanivel, who is also MIC deputy president, in the March 2008 general election.

PKR, however, opted to field former law minister Zaid Ibrahim for the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat.

No hiccups to campaign

PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, in echoing Yusmadi’s views, said:

“Halili’s resignation won’t weaken us. I also disagree with his allegations.

“I do not see any weaknesses in our machinery or hiccups in our campaign process for this election as a result of his announcement today. It definitely won’t affect our candidate,” he said.

Batu MP Tian Chua, who is also PKR director of strategy, said Halili's resignation was a “non-issue” but more importantly, is the fact that BN had until now not announced what changes he will bring to the people of Hulu Selangor.

“A by-election is a battle of policies and personalities as well as the representative's agenda for serving the people.

“It is disappointing that until now the BN candidate has not told Hulu Selangor voters what he will do,” said Tian Chua.

Appoint an Indian as education minister

From Enthunan Nagandran, via e-mail

The government should appoint an Indian as deputy education minister in order to adequately address the needs of Indian students.
An Indian deputy education minister would be able to look after the interests and educational needs of Tamil schools in the country and also its student population.

[The writer is the chairman Seremban Jaya Hindu Sangam]

Enter 1M'sia candidate: He fears God, no one else

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

INTERVIEW KUALA KUBU BARU: P Kamalanathan's hitherto serene existence has been turned topsy-turvy after being named as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the April 25 Hulu Selangor by-election.
From being a relatively unknown figure, the 44-year-old MIC information chief has been catapulted to stardom, with his face hogging the media limelight.

Kamalanathan has been described as the "eleventh-hour" choice after a protracted tussle over the candidacy between MIC and the BN leadership, which eventually saw MIC deputy president G Palanivel's name being struck off the list.

FMT managed to catch up with the BN candidate recently amidst his hectic schedule to pick his brains on the upcoming three-way contest.

Since the onset, the Hulu Selangor by-election is being touted as a "David versus Goliath" showdown, with Kamalanathan facing the more experienced politician and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim from PKR.

Kamalanathan arrived at the BN command centre in Bukit Sentosa with a lean entourage and a flurry of apologies for being late. He was immediately swarmed by well-wishers who had come from as far as Kelantan.

Why did they pick me?

For someone who has never strutted in the spotlight, Kamalanathan was taking it in his stride. In fact, he looked remarkably composed despite battling a busy schedule and keeping an eye on the clock.

“I'm thoroughly enjoying this,” he said. “I love meeting people so this is all very exciting for me. And politics is my passion so that makes it even better!”

The MIC information chief claimed that he had no knowledge that his name was being considered as the BN candidate.

According to Kamalanathan, he got the phone call at lunchtime on the day (April 17) Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was scheduled to name the BN candidate.

He said the call came just as he was preparing to hit the campaign trail for either Palanivel or Hulu Selangor MIC Youth chief V Mugilan, the preferred choice of local Umno leaders.

“I was ready to roll up my sleeves for Palanivel or Mugilan. So I was shocked when I heard that I was the candidate. But this opportunity has come and I will fight wholeheartedly,” he pledged.

Asked why he was picked, Kamalanathan laughed and said that he has been asking himself the same question.

“Perhaps it's because I was involved in the re-branding of MIC or because of my background in public relations,” he mused.

“Politics is all about public relations. In public relations, there's the people and the organisation. In politics, there's the people and the government. We are the bridge that links them both,” he added.

Shelter, food and clothing

Should he win the Hulu Selangor seat, Kamalanathan said the building of that bridge will begin with the people's basic necessities.

While PKR waxes lyrical about the development it will bring to Hulu Selangor, the MIC man has a simpler agenda.

“Maslow's Hierarchy indicates that a person's basic needs are shelter, food and clothing. These are my priorities,” he stressed.

“There is no use in developing a town when the people still live in poverty. Yayasan Basmi Kemiskinan (YBK) wanted to run so many projects here but the (PKR-controlled) Selangor government stood in its way.

“If YBK was allowed to do its work, Hulu Selangor will have a university by now and will have led to more income for the locals in terms of housing rents, restaurants and side businesses. Their lives will have improved tremendously,” he added.

Only afraid of God
Kamalanathan also insisted on keeping a low profile, unless the situation warranted otherwise. He also vowed to play fair and keep the duel gentlemanly.

“In the new media you have to blow your own trumpet or else others will drown you with theirs. But I will only blow mine as and when it is required. Otherwise, I will do my work quietly like I've always done,” he said.

“The one thing I will not do is get involved in character assassination. I have always believed that defamation is a sin and I will not be goaded into it. Let people say what they want. Let them pit me against Zaid. I won't take the bait,” he added.

Kamalanathan is alo unfazed about the prospect of entering the ring with a "heavyweight".

“I am only afraid of God. Zaid is just another human being like me. I have the utmost respect for him and I will not say anything about him so please don't ask me that. But I will say this much.

“The people of Hulu Selangor want a local. I have lived in Rawang for 43 years. My parents married in Serendah and I went to school in Hulu Selangor. All my friends are scattered around Serendah, Sungai Buaya and Sungai Gapi. I am as local as it gets,” he said.

Zaid, on the other hand, hails from Kelantan and was the former Umno MP for Kota Baru.

Focused on unity

Meanwhile, Kamalanathan, who speaks fluent Malay, was also confident that his ability to mingle with people from all walks of life will give him an added advantage.

“I constantly update my tweets and pod casts. Just the other day, a Malay gentleman who watched me on You Tube posted a comment to say that I speak better Bahasa Malaysia than Zaid. I was extremely pleased,” he said.

Kamalanathan also elaborated on his 1Malaysia candidate description and his vision for Hulu Selangor.

“I have always been focused on unity, even before the concept of 1Malaysia. When I represented the Institute of Public Relations Malaysia in New Delhi, I presented a paper on this. Malaysia is all about multiracism and I will make sure that it lives long and strong in Hulu Selangor.

“As for this consttituency, there is a Malay saying that goes 'membersihan sungai bermula di hulu' (the purification of a river begins upstream) and the purification of Selangor (as in BN recapturing the state) will begin with Hulu Selangor. That I promise,” he stressed.

Straight fight as Johan quits race

By Clara Chooi - The Malaysian Insider

HULU BERNAM, April 19 — In a dramatic turn of events, Johan Mohd Diah, the second independent candidate in the Hulu Selangor by-election, has withdrawn from the contest
Ironically, just two hours before he withdrew from the race at about 7.30pm, Johan had just completed an hour-long interview to the media in Felda Sungai Tengi here, expounding on his strong will to serve the people.
He had even gone as far as to thank V. S. Chandran who was the other independent candidate in the race for withdrawing his candidacy.
“I thank him very much. At least now, it gives me a bigger opportunity in the contest because the votes will only be divided three ways instead of four,” he had said.

The last independent candidate in the Hulu Selangor by-election, Johan Mohd Diah quits the race, leaving the floor wide open for PKR and BN to duel it out. - Picture by Choo Choy May

He had also claimed he had never been approached with offers to pull out of the race, and would not accept such offers even if they were made. Before that, Johan who is a Shah Alam Umno committee member and is currently facing a sacking from the party, had also launched his operation centre at house number 338, Desa Maju, Sungai Tengi, and his “cangkul” (hoe) campaign symbol, which he said represented the farmers.
He also launched his blog site, http://talianjohanrakyat.blogspot.com/, and said that his main campaign method was through the typical walkabouts, buntings, and through the internet via social networking sites like Facebook and My Space.
“After today, I will embark on a more aggressive campaign style to plead for votes from Hulu Selangor constituents,” he said.
At 9.30pm tonight however, Johan personally turned up at the Election Commission operation centre in Kuala Kubu Bharu about an hour away, and filed his withdrawal paper with the agency.
The deadline for candidates to withdraw is by 12 midnight tonight.
EC deputy director Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar confirmed this with The Malaysian Insider at about 10pm.
“Yes, he submitted his paper at about 9.30pm. He has pulled out of the race and it is now a straight fight,” he said when contacted.
Johan’s withdrawal means that now, the contest will be solely between PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and the Barisan Nasional’s P. Kamalanathan.
In his press conference earlier, Johan pleaded with the people of Hulu Selangor to vote for him, claiming that he was not a member of the “executive” or “corporate” group of people but was just a common man on the ground.
“I can better represent the views of the people here, especially the second generation of Felda settlers here. Unlike the other candidates, I am not from the executive group of people... I represent the larger community, which is the common man,” he said.
He pointed out that he used to work as a taxi driver, a factory van driver, and even an airport limousine driver for more than seven years of his life.
“I am now a businessman in the trading business,” he said. Johan added that of all the candidates, he was the one and only truly “local boy”.
“I was born here. My voting district is at Felda Soeharto. I studied in SJK Sungai Tengi and SMK Soeharto. People here know me well and support me... in fact they do not know me as Johan... they call me Apin,” he said.
Johan said that he was keen to focus on developing human capital from the Hulu Selangor constituency especially from the pull of second generation Felda settlers and the youths.
“This is why my main targets for support are the over 20,000 youths here, the 6,700 second generation settlers and of course, those who do not support the other candidates,” he said.
He added that he would also focus on drawing support from PAS and PKR members who were against the candidacy of PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim in the race.
“I will seek out their support,” he said.
Despite offering himself up as a candidate, Johan insisted that he still believed in the Barisan Nasional’s goals, principles and achievements.
“They have ruled us for over 50 years. I am very grateful to them and I still support them. However, I feel they have failed in the area of developing human capital in the constituency of Hulu Selangor,” he claimed.
Johan, a father of three children, added that he wanted to clear the stigma of Felda settlements being haunts for drug addicts.
“I want to clean that perception, that chop that the Felda people are addicts,” he said.
Throughout the press conference, Johan gave no indication of his intention to quit from the race.
After his withdrawal was made known tonight, Johan could not be reached on his mobile phone.

SPRM jamin Bala tidak ditahan jika beri keterangan

(Bernama) - Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) memberi jaminan tidak akan menahan penyiasat persendirian P. Balasubramaniam tetapi hanya mahu mengambil keterangan daripadanya.

Timbalan Ketua Pesuruhjaya (Operasi) SPRM Datuk Mohd Shukri Abdull berkata Balasubramaniam hanya sebagai saksi dan keterangannya membolehkan siasatan terhadap kes pembunuhan wanita Mongolia, Altantuya Shaariibuu, diselesaikan segera.

Katanya pihaknya bersedia merakam percakapan Balasubramaniam bukan sahaja di pejabat kedutaan Malaysia di luar negara malah di mana-mana tempat yang dirasakan sesuai oleh penyiasat itu.

“Jika dia minta peguamnya menemaninya semasa sesi keterangan diambil, kita tetap akan membenarkannya,” katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas Mesyuarat Tahunan Kerjasama antara SPRM dan Biro Mencegah Rasuah (BMR) Brunei Darussalam di sini, hari ini.

Mohd Shukri berkata semua kenyataan saksi lain telah diambil dan jika tempoh merekodkan keterangan Balasubramaniam terlalu lama maka pihaknya akan menyerahkan kes itu kepada Timbalan Pendakwa Raya untuk membuat keputusan.

Pada 3 Julai 2008, Balasubramaniam mengumumkan akuan bersumpahnya berkaitan pembunuhan Altantuya tetapi keesokannya menarik balik kenyataan akuan sumpah awalnya itu melalui akuan sumpah kedua sebelum bertindak menghilangkan diri dipercayai ke luar negara bersama keluarganya.

Sehingga kini, siasatan SPRM terhadap penyiasat persendirian itu menjadi sukar kerana lokasi di mana beliau berada masih tidak diketahui.

The Malay sense of values

The boys are for serving the Umno ‘Mak Datins’ in Kota Bharu. These young studs hang around the hotels waiting to be picked up by the horny and sex-starved Umno ‘Mak Datins’. The Umno Datuks are too busy screwing around so they no longer have any energy for their wives. So the ‘Mak Datins’ need to hire young studs to service them.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

I am sure many non-Malays don’t quite understand the Malay mind. They think that the Malays have a peculiar sense of values. And the current bashing of Zaid Ibrahim about his ‘drinking problem’ is a case in point.

Actually, back in the 1950s and 1960s, around the time of Merdeka, most Malays in the higher echelons of society drank. Most Malay homes had bars stocked with the best liquor that would put a London pub to shame. It was not unnatural or frowned upon. Malays drank, as the Malays would say, ‘like a fish’, although in reality fish do not drink.

The army had its NAAFI where you could buy beer very cheap, RM0.50 a can, and hardly any Malay army man did not drink. And the military personnel would toast the King with wine.

That is of course now a thing of the past and, today, drinking is not treated with the same tolerance that it was 50 years or so ago. Gambling, which was also a 'social event' of days gone by, is equally frowned upon. No longer do Malays meet for their weekly game of poker or hop down to the local betting shop to buy a lottery ticket.

When PAS took over Terengganu in 1999, the state government summoned the Chinese and Indians for a meeting to discuss the banning of liquor and betting shops in the state. The Chinese and Indians told the Menteri Besar, Hadi Awang, that they had no objections to the state banning gambling (as they considered it a social evil) but they would not agree to the banning of liquor. So the state government banned gambling but not liquor.

So you see, even PAS, the so-called extremist Islamic party, focused on two main sins or evils, drinking and gambling. These were the only two ‘social ills’ that the PAS state government talked about, drinking and gambling. In Kelantan, a state that PAS took over in 1990, the state government did the same thing. They banned gambling and liquor.

If you were to attend the congregational prayers in the mosques on Friday, you will hear the imam preach about the sins that Muslims perpetuate, drinking and gambling. The imams would condemn Muslims who drink and/or gamble. The Muslims would be made to understand that these are the two sins or vices they should avoid. So Muslims fully understand that drinking and gambling are to be shunned.

It is quite understandable, therefore, that they would use this against Zaid. If they can convince the Malay voters in Hulu Selangor that Zaid drinks (or, better still, drinks and gambles as well) then there would be a good chance the Malay voters would reject Zaid.

The non-Malays would not be faulted if they feel that there is something wrong with the Malay sense of values. Why are they only talking about drinking? Surely vices, sins and crimes extend beyond just drinking? Who do you harm if you drink? And we are not talking about someone being an alcoholic here. Even non-Malays look down on alcoholics. We are talking about social drinking. To the non-Malays this is not a sin or crime at all. So why is it such a big deal?

The non-Malays may be looking at things from their own perspective. If they would just look at it from the Malay perspective then they would understand the issue. For 50 years Malays have been indoctrinated with the belief that drinking and gambling are serious sins in Islam. Any Malay who drinks and/or gambles is to be condemned. That is what 50 years of sermons in the mosques have been screaming about. So they would hardly be any Malays in Malaysia who would dare defend drinking or gambling.

Actually, back in the 1970s, PAS in Terengganu too had a wakil rakyat, an ex-army officer, who drank. Everyone knew about it but no one talked about it. Maybe today that would not be possible but back then even PAS ‘closed its eyes’ to the issue.

I remember a story about the PAS President, Asri Muda, meeting the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in his home. The Tunku greeted Asri at the door with a whiskey glass in hand and Asri exclaimed his shock. After all, it was still breakfast time and too early to ‘hit the bottle’.

The Tunku replied that he had just done his subuh prayers and still had his ablution (wuduk). So, in that sense, he has performed his religious duty and his drinking does not dilute his prayers. “Liquor and water do not mix,” the Tunku replied.

No, there was no bullshit or hypocrisy in those days. The Umno President cum Malaysian Prime Minister drank and he never hid that fact. He even met the PAS President for breakfast with a whiskey glass in hand. And he still had his ablution while he held his whiskey glass.

Umno people drink. They still do till today. You can see them all over town. Just go to Heritage Row or the Havana Club or the Press Club and see for yourself. Most members of the Royal Family drink as well, many in the privacy of their homes and some in public as well. Show me how many top guns of Umno or members of the Royal Family who do not drink. Okay, some do not, but most do, so those who drink are in the majority, not the minority.

The issue we should focus on is not whether Zaid drinks and therefore whether this makes him an unsuitable leader. The issue we should focus on is whom are those making this allegation? Those making this allegation are those who themselves drink.

I know many ‘Mak Datins’, wives of top Umno people, who don’t drink or gamble. But they do other things that could be considered worse. I personally know a group of Umno ‘Mak Datins’ from Terengganu who go to Thailand or Indonesia from time to time. They normally go in groups of four or five. And the purpose of these jaunts is to look for young studs for a weekend of wild sex.

Yes, these ‘Mak Datins’ do not drink or gamble. But they make excursions to neighbouring countries for a good screw. I, of course, know them personally. One even sent me a message saying that if I wanted to screw her she would drop her panties for me any time.

Unfortunately my wife intercepted that message and she made sure that this ‘Mak Datin’ kept her distance. This particular ‘Mak Datin’ even invited my wife to join their gang on a trip to Kuala Lumpur where they had a few young studs waiting to service them. My wife never joined them of course but since then she made sure that when I made any trip to Kuala Lumpur these ‘Mak Datins’ were also not ‘coincidentally’ in town having a party.

Kelantan has been under an Islamic government over the last 20 years since 1990. Liquor and gambling is no longer allowed in that state. But if you were to cruise round Kota Bharu you can find young girls and boys hanging around the main hotels waiting for clients. Yes, young girls and boys. What the girls are doing there is obvious but why the boys, you might ask.

The boys are for serving the Umno ‘Mak Datins’ in Kota Bharu. These young studs hang around the hotels waiting to be picked up by the horny and sex-starved Umno ‘Mak Datins’. The Umno Datuks are too busy screwing around so they no longer have any energy for their wives. So the ‘Mak Datins’ need to hire young studs to service them.

I once took my wife for a cruise round Kota Bharu to prove this. We stopped at a back lane at one of leading hotels and a young man walked over to our car. My wife was tickled that the most Islamic town in Malaysia in the most Islamic state, Serambi Mekah (the Corridor to Mekah), is more ‘advanced’ than Kuala Lumpur.

Yes, Zaid is ‘immoral’ because, according to Umno, he drinks. If this allegation came from PAS I would not want to say more. But this allegation is coming from Umno. And when the Umno Datuks and Umno ‘Mak Datins’ screw around, which Zaid and his wife do not, I just do not see how the hand that has sinned even worse can cast the first stone.

And I am not yet even talking about corruption, abuse of power, robbing from the rakyat, and whatnot. I doubt I need to talk about those issues that all Malaysians are aware of.

What is perplexing is that Malays get all hot and bothered on the issue of drinking. But when it comes to screwing around, corruption, and much more, the Malays are cool. They will reject someone who is said to be drinking. But they have no problems embracing someone who screws around or is corrupted to the core.

How does one explain the Malay mind? How do we analyse the Malay sense of values?

Don’t ask me. I have stopped trying to understand the Malay mind a long time ago.

By the way, if you need to get in touch with any of these ‘Mak Datins’ don’t give me a call because they will tell you they will agree to meet you only if you bring me along and that is going to get me into a whole load of trouble with my wife.

PETANG ITU - 38 TAHUN DAHULU

Pada petang itu, 38 tahun dahulu, si Zaid telah tidak terpengaruh dengan tohmah anti-komunis, anti-kiri dan anti-sosialis. Sifat demokratiknya telah tertanam dalam sebelum dia meletakan jawatan sebagai menteri kabinet kerana menentang ISA. Susuk yang bernama Zaid Ibrahim dapat melihat salah dan benar.

DARI JELEBU

Hishamuddin Rais

Ini cerita lama. Tapi baik juga untuk dibuka kembali agar kita semua dapat tahu apa yang berlaku puluhan tahun dahulu. Cerita-cerita ini kalau baik kita jadikan tauladan. Kalau tidak molek dapat kita jadikan sempadan. Kalau tidak pun kita baca untuk ketawa.

Ceritanya bagini:

Saya ingat lagi pada tahun 1972 - ketika itu saya anak mahasiswa yang mengulang tahun satu di Universiti Malaya. Saya telah aktif dalam perjuangan gerakan mahasiswa sejak dari awal tahun pertama lagi. Pada tahun itu, ketika Kongres Tahunan Persatuan Kebangsaan Pelajar-Pelajar Malaysia (PKPM ), saya telah dilantik untuk menjadi Setiausaha Agung. Badan yang bernama PKPM ini telah diharamkan pada tahun 1974 - sesudah demo pelajar menyokong warga Baling.

Ketika saya dilantik sebagai SU Agung PKPM – perang Vietnam sedang rancak. Kuasa imperial Amerika sedang melancarkan perang kolonial ke atas Vietnam, Laos dan Kamboja – sama seperti yang sedang berlaku di Iraq dan Afghanistan hari ini.

Justeru dalam Kongres PKPM tahun 1972 itu ada terdapat resolusi yang mengutuk imperialis Amerika Syarikat dan menyokong perjuangan menuntut keadilan oleh rakyat Indo China. Ketetapan yang dibuat dalam kongres akan menjadi dasar persatuan sehingga ke kongres tahun hadapan.

Pada zaman itu gerakan mahasiswa cukup rancak. Saya adalah seorang ahli kelab sosialis yang aktif. Justeru pandangan politik saya adalah kiri. Buku dan akhbar yang saya baca adalah kiri. Negara dan pemimpin negara yang saya hormati adalah dari jalur kiri.

Berdasarkan resolusi PKPM yang anti-Amerika saya telah memasang poster-poster anti-perang Vietnam yang kami terima dari International Union of Students yang berpengkalan di Prague.

Rupa-rupanya ada juga kumpulan mahasiswa, terutama dari PMUKM yang yang tidak bersetuju dengan pemasangan poster ini. Lalu saya dikritik sebagai SU Agung PKPM yang tidak bertanggungjawab. Sebenarnya isu poster anti-perang Vietnam ini hanya alasan. Kritikan ini datang dari pelajar reaksionari bermazhab kanan.

Akhirnya satu persidangan tergempar telah diadakan. Persidangan ini diadakan di Dewan Majlis Persatuan Universiti Malaya. Saya ingat lagi petang itu – delegasi dari PMUKM, dari Serdang College, dari Institut Teknoloji Kebangsaan, KSITM dan tuan rumah PMUM turut hadir.

Saya dapat merasakan seolah-olah telah ada persetujuan untuk menyingkirkan saya dari PKPM. Idris Jusi, dari PMUKM mula bercakap membuka kes tentang saya yang dikatakan tidak mengikut dasar PKPM dan dilihat pro-komunis. Dari KSITM, presidennya Zahari tidak pula bercakap. Yang banyak bercakap ialah Ibrahim Ali.

Pandangan-pandangan kanan dan reaskioner bertaburan pada petang itu.

Sebelum keputusan dibuat untuk menyingkirkan saya dari PPPM tiba-tiba seorang wakil delegasi dari KSITM mengangkat tangan untuk berucap. Saya masih ingat lagi anak muda itu. Dia kurus lansing dan kacak. Berkulit sawo matang. Anak muda ini memakai seluar hitam dan berbaju biru. Mustahil saya akan melupakan susuk ini. Sampai akhir hayat saya ingat apa yang berlaku pada petang itu. Tidak mungkin saya akan lupa kerana pada petang itu saya sedang disalib.

Masih terngiang di telinga saya hingga ke hari ini apa yang dikatakan oleh anak muda itu:

“Sebelum dia dibuang, dia berhak untuk diberi peluang bersuara. Ini adalah cita-cita demokrasi pelajar… dan ini adalah hak dia.”

Saya terperanjat kerana tidak ada sesiapa dari persatuan lain yang menyokong saya kecuali PMUM. Saya terperanjat kerana anak muda ini berani ‘pecah regu’ untuk menyokong saya. Saya kagum atas keberanian nya.

Saya tidak kenal anak muda ini. Tapi saya tahu anak muda ini datang dari KSITM – satu persatuan pelajar yang saya anggap reaksionari. Bila saya selidiki baru saya sedari anak muda ini ialah Zaid Ibrahim – pelajar jurusan undang-undang Institut Teknoloji Mara. Saya juga difahamkan si Zaid ini datang dari Sekolah Tuanku Abdul Rahman (STAR) seteru kuat sekolah saya, MCKK.

Semenjak petang itu saya tidak bertemu dengan Zaid Ibrahim. Kami meneruskan keyakinan diri. Saya difahamkan Zaid telah menjadi seorang peguam yang berjaya. Saya terus menjadi diri saya.

Lima tahun dahulu seorang kawan dari MCKK mengajak saya untuk menjadi ahli Civil Society of Malaysia. Ini badan hak asasi manusia yang cuba diwujudkan oleh Zaid Ibrahim. Cuma ada ‘catch’ - sesiapa yang ingin menjadi ahli wajib membayar RM250. Jumlah ini agak berat untuk saya - lalu saya menolak jemputan ini.

Seminggu sebelum Ngo ini berkumpul dan bersidang saya telah mendapat panggilan telefon mengatakan bahawa RM250 telah dibayar oleh Zaid Ibrahim. Saya hairan kerana seumur hidup saya – saya belum pernah bercakap sepatah pun dengan susuk ini. Dari panggilan talipon - saya telah diberi kebenran untuk datang ke persidangan pertama Civil Society ini di Hotel Renaisance.

Inilah kali kedua saya melihat Zaid Ibrahim. Kali kedua ini agak berbeza. Anak muda kurus yang berbaju biru dan berseluar hitam dahulu telah agak bersisi. Rambutnya telah dicantikan oleh anyaman uban. Baju dan pantalon yang dipakainya kelihatan dari jenis yang baik dan bermutu. Nah! Pastilah dia telah berjaya hinggakan sanggup membayar yuran untuk orang yang tidak dikenalinya.

Dua hari sebelum nama Zaid Ibarahim dimahsyurkan sebagai calon di Hulu Selangor saya telah pergi menemuinya. Rumah kediaman si Zaid ini bukanlah sama seperti bilik sewa tempat saya menginap. Ini kawasan lumayan yang hanya 30 minit dari Serendah Hulu Selangor.

Mata saya memerhati dengan rapi untuk mengetahui lebih dalam lagi manusia yang bernama Zaid Ibrahim ini. Rumahnya tidak mengancam tapi pastilah lebih luas dari bilik sewa saya. Dalaman tidak lucah dan bukan bermotifkan budaya ‘arriviste – horray henry’ yang sering kita temui di wilayah-wilayah mewah.

Tujuan saya datang kerana ingin bertanya apakah dia masih ingat lagi apa yang terjadi di Dewan Majlis PMUM 38 tahun dahulu. Zaid termenong sabentar sebelum mengakui yang dia pernah datang ke PMUM untuk bermesyurat. Tetapi tidak ingat apa tujuan dia hadir. Malah dia juga tidak ingat bahawa pada petang itu yang di salib ialah saya.

Saya tidak merasa kecewa kerana si Zaid tidak mengingati episod itu. Inilah perjalanan hidup kita sebagai manusia . Terpencar pencar - ada yang kita ingati dan ada yang kita lupakan. Untuk kita – pekara yang ini mungkin penting dan untuk orang lain pekara yang sama adalah ‘non event – tidak ada apa apa yang penting’.

Kenapa saya menulis kesah ini? Saya menulis kerana susuk yang bernama Zaid Ibrahim ini sedang berkempen untuk memenangi kerusi di Parlimen. Saya menulis ini kerana saya yakin bahawa manusia yang bernama Zaid Ibrahim ini adalah manusia demokrat. Tiga puluh lapan tahun dahulu – ketika kami masih lagi anak pelajar - si Zaid ini telah memperlihatkan sifat jujur dan demokratnya.

Pada petang itu, 38 tahun dahulu, si Zaid telah tidak terpengaruh dengan tohmah anti-komunis, anti-kiri dan anti-sosialis. Sifat demokratiknya telah tertanam dalam sebelum dia meletakan jawatan sebagai menteri kabinet kerana menentang ISA. Susuk yang bernama Zaid Ibrahim dapat melihat salah dan benar.

Jika saya warga Hulu Selangor saya merasa senang hati untuk menobatkan Zaid Ibrahim sebagai wakil suara saya di Parlimen.

Kamalanathan is MIC president material. He has mastered the art of sucking up to UMNO and PERKASA

“Right-wing group Perkasa is not belligerent against non-Malays as its aim is to promote the empowerment of the Malay community” – Kamalanathan, quoted in Malaysiakini two days ago.
September, last year, the twelve UMNO or UMNO-connected individuals who were involved with the cow-head protest were charged in Shah Alam sessions court. You can read about this HERE.
On 9th September, last year, Staronline reported Ibrahim Ali of PERKASA as saying that Perkasa wants to provide legal counsel to the 12 “cow head protestors”, and that several lawyers within PERKASA were willing to take up the case ‘as a “jihad,” or any war undertaken in the name of Islam against unbelievers or backsliders’.
Ibrahim and PERKASA plainly support the acts of the cow-head demonstrators.
Kamalanathan has stated that “Perkasa is not belligerent against non-Malays”.
Can we assume, then, that in the eyes of Kamalanathan, the cow-head demonstration was not a belligerent act against non-Malays and, in the instant case, against the Hindus of this country?
If so, would this explain why, in the days after that demonstration, not a word condemning that insensitive demonstration, was ever uttered by this MIC chief of communcation?
Or, for that matter, anyone else from MIC?

A teaser for Kerismudin and the rest of the UMNO munafik, lest they forget!

On nomination day at Kuala Kubu Baru, UMNO supporters had only one clarion issue to cry out.
‘Kaki botol! Kaki botol!’.
Posters have begun to appear everywhere with a superimposed picture of Zaid downing a bottle of God knows what.
That tells you how bankrupt they are of issues to take up in this by-election!
And Zaid has not let me down.
He’s taken the rubbish that they’ve thrown at him square on his chin and, like the gentleman that I’ve come to know him to be, has refused to return like for like.
Malaysiakini reported yesterday that Zaid said  “I am not like Umno leaders. They are hypocrites” and then ” confessed to reporters that he did indeed consume alcohol, as alleged by BN in their campaign, but only in his younger days, and that he has now repented”.
Zaid also made the pertinent observation that his “immorality did not stop BN from fielding him as a candidate, and appointing him as law minister”.
The same Malaysiakini report has it that when asked  “if he would play the same game and speak about the vices of his former party-mates, he said that he had a “better pedigree than that”.
Well, I don’t have your pedigree, Zaid.
That’s right, Zaid, you address the real issues that the good people need to know about how UMNO is sending this country straight to the cesspool.
Leave it to the bloggers to deal with those hypocrites in UMNO.
Let’s start with the most dishonest Home Minister this nation has ever had to endure.
Malaysiakini also reported yesterday that Kerismudin said that Umno is not behind the allegation of alcohol-guzzling habit against Zaid and that it was raised by bloggers.
Oi dumbo, when are you going to get it through that thick skull of yours that the public are not as stupid as you think?
Bloggers making up the UMNO crowd on nomination day and chanting “Kaki botol! Kaki botol!”?
Bloggers running around the constituency putting up that superimposed picture I mentioned above?
You think everybody stupid, ah?
Somewhat cheekily, this dumbo is reported to have then said, “What are they afraid of, why panic if it is not true?”.

Recognise this, dumbo?
Anchor beer, huh?
What ere you afraid of, dumbo, if this is not true?
This is not new. Read the original expose HERE.
You want to see more photos, dumbo?
Any of you UMNO munafik want to see your spicy stories on prime time blogosphere?
How your kids misbehave here and overseas?
I swear I will spare no one.
Or should we allow this election to be about real issues affecting the people?
You shithead UMNO munafiks decide if you want cyberspace to be peppered with your bloody scandals.

Kamalanathan, explain to the Hindus of Hulu Selangor why Samy Vellu ordered the temple demolished

Penipuan Mereka Pecah

Betapa jeleknya Umno. Belum sampai dua jam mereka memfitnah Zaid Ibrahim, penipuan mereka pecah!

Gambar yang diubah bagi tujuan memfitnah

Gambar asal

A Star is Reborn

(Asia Sentinel)A Filipino beauty pageant relents, restores its princess

To read more about the disqualified beauty queens and see their pics click here

The selection, dethronement and ultimate reinstatement of Maria Venus Raj as the reigning Filipina Miss Universe finalist is a story that seems perfect for the Philippines, with its overtones of glamour, outrage, pathos, belief in the intervention of God, final redemption and tacky quotes – although none by Venus, who appears to be formidably articulate and intelligent.

By and large, Filipinas are usually characterized as short, cute and brown. Miss Universe candidates are tall, exotic and statuesque. That has led to a contortion of reality in the Philippines, which is mad for beauty contests and for the Miss Universe contest most of all. If one were to judge from the universe of Miss Universe aspirants, the Philippines would lie not in Southeast Asia but in some alternate world of willowy wonders.

The problem of locating this contestant/ideal woman has been solved by a rising tide of mixed-blood beauties who now largely dominate beauty contests, magazine advertisements, fashion shows and catwalks, not only in Manila but Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and other cities. It can be dicey. Since 1998, four of the winners of Miss Philippines-Universe contests in Manila have been disqualified. Anjanette Palencia Abayari and Janelle Delfin Bautista were dethroned because they were American citizens. In 1998, Olivia Tisha Carlos Silang was dethroned because she is Canadian.

The fourth is Venus Raj, a 5-foot 9-inch, 21-year-old beauty with a life story to match her looks. She grew up in a nipa hut made of wood, bamboo and palm thatch, raised by her single mother, a dressmaker and tenant farmer, after she had been born out of wedlock. The hut, in the middle of a rice field in the Bicol region of Luzon Island 400-odd kilometres south of Manila, had no electricity.

But Venus persevered, learning to walk like a model, she said, by treading narrow rice paddy dikes. Ultimately she graduated cum laude with a degree in journalism from Bicol University. The youngest of five children, she started entering beauty contests when she was 17 years old and used the money from her prizes to buy land on an installment basis for her mother. She now works as an information assistant for the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources when she isn't modelling.

Venus has no intention to become a journalist. She was the overwhelming choice of the judges in the 2010 Binibining Pilipinas (Miss Philippines) contest held on March 6, which chooses the young woman destined to compete for the international title, and was named Miss Friendship by her fellow contestants as well. But she was disqualified on March 29 because it transpired that although her birth certificate said she was born in the town of Bato, that her father was a Filipino Catholic and that her parents were married, she had been born in Qatar to an Indian father and her Filipina mother – a sign that overseas workers can bring back more desirable goods than just money. Her aunt, Josephine Ramos, had filed the document three years after she was born, she said, to protect the family from embarrassment. She has never met her father, she told Asia Sentinel.

The pageant organizers dethroned her because her birth certificate contained false information. She was replaced by Helen Nicolette Henson, also nearly 5 feet nine inches tall and also 21. The dethronement kicked off a huge furor in the Philippines, with the Internet coming alive with demands for Venus's reinstatement.

The beauty queen hired lawyers to demand that the pageant organizer reinstate her unconditionally and to clear her name of wrongdoing, saying the dethronement tarnished her reputation and cast doubts on her right to the title. She had been too poor to go to court to correct the inconsistencies in her records, which she says weren't her idea anyway, and that she had told the organizers she had been born in Qatar.
"It really was quite difficult for me," she said. "Lots of people criticize you and your family, but as long as I am telling the truth, and doing the right thing, it is all right. I come from a poor family, but my mother taught me the value of integrity and credibility."

Along with lawyers, politicians got into the act with Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero, a fellow Bicoleno, and Joey Salceda, the governor of her home area of Albay demanding explanations and saying the pageant should reinstate her. Vice presidential candidate Loren Legarda, left-wing party-list representative and senatorial candidate Liza Maza, Commission on Human Rights Chair Leila de Lima and Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Chair Dante Jimenez all jumped into the fray.

An army of Internet users installed a Petition for Venus Raj to remain as Bb. Pilipinas Universe 2010 on Facebook. "Spare Venus from that black propaganda. Make peace, [pageant]. Venus may have nothing in life but we are the angels helping her. She has her family and us. Take note of that," said one post.

It was amazing, she says. "Thousands of people protested."

The pageant held out for 11 days. Then, in a public statement sent to Manila newspapers, the organization caved in. "The Executive Committee of Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. (BPCI) announces today that after due deliberation, it has reassessed the situation pertaining to Ms. Maria Venus Raj and has decided, for humanitarian reasons, that if she is able to obtain a valid Philippine passport, they will goive her crown back reinstate her as the reigning Bb. Pilipinas-Universe," said the statement.

"I honestly think it's the grace of God working through all the bloggers, forums, Facebook community, and TV and newspaper coverage," said Joyce Burton-Titular, a former beauty queen, on her blog. "They were all moved because they felt the humility and honesty of Venus. Her story of being raised on a farm, in a hut with no electricity, graduating cum laude and winning pageants is powerful. And she still goes home to that same hut today."

"God sees the truth and hears our prayers. Cheer up Venus, smile and show the world how beautiful you are inside and out," one of Raj's supporters posted. "Petitions were heard, our prayers were answered," another fan wrote.

Venus has until June to get a Philippine passport. She is confident it will be taken care of. "My lawyers are taking care of the technicalities," she said. Then she has to find a place to go. They haven't found a venue for the final event yet. Las Vegas is a possibility, Bali another.

And after that? "I will seek out whatever opportunities there are," she said firmly. Newspapers need not apply to see if she would like to be an intern. She has other plans.

Time To Revisit Look East Policy - Najib

TOKYO, April 20 (Bernama) -- While more than 15,000 Malaysians have benefited from the Look East Policy introduced 28 years ago, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak says it is now perhaps timely to revisit the policy and introduce new and innovative fields.

He said Malaysia and Japan both shared the views that it was now timely to revisit the policy to introduce new and innovative areas such as cutting edge technology, green technology, sustainable technology and biotechnology.

Najib welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's remarks that Malaysia and Japan should realise the establishment of a new institution in the form of Malaysia-Japan University which would symbolise not only their bilateral ties but also a strong leadership role that Japan intended to play in Malaysia and within Asean.

"We believe the creation of such institution will be a lasting legacy that Japan can leave behind for the future development of Asean countries," he said at a banquet hosted by Hatoyama at the Prime Minister's Office, Sori Kantei on the occasion of Najib's first official visit to Japan, here Monday night.

Present were Najib's wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, Hatoyama's wife, Miyuki, and Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who is also acting Foreign Minister, and his wife, Datin Seri Masnah Rais.

Espousing on the 1Malaysian concept, Najib, who is on a four-day visit to Japan beginning yesterday, explained to Hatoyama metaphorically, "If you imagine a house, the roof symbolises One Malaysia, which forms our overarching guiding philosophy for the nation and the two pillars constitute the Government Transformation Programme and the Economic Transformation Programme.

"And the floor (is) the 10th and 11th Malaysia plans which provide financial resources and incentives for us to reach our goal by the year 2020.

"In the spirit of 1Malaysia, we can move together as one people and one nation," said Najib.

The Prime Minister said with Japan under the leadership of Hatoyama, bilateral relations between Malaysia and Japan would go from strength to strength.

"I look forward to a new era of closer cooperation and collaboration between Malaysia and Japan," he said.

"Prime Minister Hatoyama is right to say that if you want to reform, there will be some pain before we get to gain and we all know that the pain is immediate but the gain is later.

"But we have to be steadfast if we want to change our nation and transform our nation to become more unified, stronger and more prosperous," said Najib.

He said the people must be strong in their resolve to continue with the reforms so that the ultimate goal could be realised.

"So I wish Prime Minister Hatoyama all the very best in his journey (to reform his country) and I hope to see him in Malaysia in the near future," added Najib.

Razak Baginda surfaces in Singapore - Anil Netto

Abdul Razak Baginda – remember him? – surfaced in Singapore today.
He gave a talk on the Islamic Caliphate(!) at Nanyang Technical University at 10.00am, according to a source. About 80 people were believed to have signed up for the talk, but just over 40 actually attended.

He was later interviewed by Singaporean journalists.
What is Baginda’s next move now? It would be interesting to find out.

Rewarding 'Party Hoppers'- From Opposition: Datukship, US Trips,... BN to Opposition: MPship/ADUNship/Leadership?

What do 'party hoppers' get when they jump ship? In Malaysia, it seems that they are 'rewarded'...Hence, the reason for 'jumping' may not really be for pure principles - but the 'rewards' that they can get. That is why, we should have a 'cooling off' period of maybe 5 years, whereby these 'party hoppers' are not given MP/ADUN seats to contest...or appointed into the leadership positions at National/State levels of parties/coalitions.

For those who hop out of Opposition parties, they get "Datukship", US Trips, etc...

Jelapang state representative Hee Yit Foong, whose defection from DAP triggered BN's takeover of Perak, will today receive the Darjah Datuk Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP).

She is among 919 who will be conferred with awards and medals in conjunction with Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah's 82nd birthday. - Malaysiakini, 19/4/2010, She's now 'Datuk' Hee Yit Fong 

Minister in the Prime Minister Department Nazri Abdul Aziz confirmed that the Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak will be accompanied by two independent MPs for a visit to the US Congress.

The duo are Bayan Baru MP Zahrain Hashim (left) and Kulim Bandar Baru parliamentarian Zulkifli Noordin, who were both former PKR members.

Nazri explained that as the opposition practises bloc voting, BN had to make sure that it has sufficient members in the parliament.

"Therefore I have decided not to send (any) BN MPs to follow the prime minister (to Washington DC). During a parliamentary sitting, we will not allow any BN MPs to leave the country."

Nazri said that the BN MPs are aware that that the party will be at a disadvantage if its majority is reduced and are not disgruntled with his decision.

"That is why, from BN, only the Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Rais Yatim, will be going with the prime minister." - Malaysiakini, 8/4/2010, Zul, Zahrain to 'tag along with PM' on US trip

And for those who jump from the BN parties to the Opposition parties (even without any MPship or ADUNship...) - they are rewarded by being made opposition leaders, and the chance to get elected as Opposition MPs/ADUNs...

Given the fact that most seem to be jumping over to PKR, rather than the DAP or PAS, it must be because PKR's 'rewards' are better and maybe the other Opposition parties like PAS and DAP is not at all keen to reward these 'party hoppers'...[Also should be noted that save for 1 State Assembly person from the DAP, all the other MPs and ADUNs that have left the Opposition are from PKR..]

BN confident of 3,000 majority win in Hulu Selangor

BUKIT BERUNTONG, April 19 —  Pasir Mas independent MP Datuk Ibrahim Ali expects Barisan Nasional (BN) to win the Hulu Selangor by-election by a majority of up to 3,000 votes, in an assessment which dovetails with ground reports on voter sentiment.
Initial reports also show that Hulu Selangor voters are likely to back BN because of support for the reform policies of Datuk Seri Najib Razak and as a reaction to problems being faced by Pakatan Rakyat (PR) party PKR.
Ibrahim, who is campaigning for BN in Hulu Selangor, is certain of candidate P.Kamalanathan’s victory.
Hulu Selangor has since the first general election in 1959 been a BN stronghold, except for the blip in 2008 when it ceded the seat to PKR’s Datuk Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
“What do you think? I say, the Barisan Nasional will win by approximately 3,000 votes,” Ibrahim said.
The Perkasa president, who was speaking in a ceramah in Batang Kali yesterday, said his prognosis stems from the change in sentiment among Hulu Selangor voters with regards to Najib’s leadership.
“Besides the introduction of the New Economic Model, the economy has started to recover, plus PKR is facing internal strife.  I am confident that the BN candidate’s vote count will increase to around a 3,000 majority,” said Ibrahim.
He was also sure about the BN keeping the votes it earned in 2008.
“About 95 per cent of the votes gained by Datuk  G.Palanivel who contested for the fifth time two years ago will stay with the BN.
“The BN will move from that point and gain even more votes,” he said.
He estimated that BN can achieve his projected majority if the candidate gets 65 per cent of the Indian votes, 55 per cent of the Malay votes and 45 per cent of the Chinese votes.
He felt the likely votes for PR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim will drop, more so since PAS has been lukewarm in their campaigning.
Zaid has been the characterised as a “social person” by his opponents which is becoming a concern in winning over the Malay vote. The Malaysian Insider understands that there will be a low voter-turnout due to the prevailing perception about the BN and PR candidates.
However Ibrahim believes the turnout will be higher than the 72 per cent in 2008.
“If people don’t come out to vote as much, this will benefit BN,” he said.
About 15,000 voters here live outside the constituency.
Also contesting are MIC Hulu Selangor’s deputy chairman V.S. Chandran, 56, and businessman Johan Mohd. Diah, 31.
The by-election was called after the unfortunate death of Zainal Abidin last month, who beat Palanivel by 198 votes in 2008.
There are 64,500 registered voters.

Hulu Selangor's Dr Halili Rahmat quits PKR

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysian Insider
PETALING JAYA, April 19 — Datuk Dr Halili Rahmat, who was previously speculated to be picked as PKR’s candidate for the Hulu Selangor by-election, quit the party today.
The party instead picked Datuk Zaid Ibrahim to contest the April 25 by election.
Dr Halili, who was division treasurer, said he would apply to join Umno as he claimed PKR has deviated from its original struggle.
Also present at the announcement was former PKR secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim who chaired the press conference.
A neurosurgeon, Dr Halili was one of the founding leaders of the then National Justice Party and contested in the 1999 and 2004 general election in Hulu Selangor and in Batang Kali.
A close friend of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Halili was listed by the party as one of 12 the potential candidates for the federal seat left vacant by the death of PKR MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad.
“Today’s PKR is under the control of a small group of leftists who are not acceptable to the Malays and Malaysians,” said Dr Halili who was reading from a prepared statement.
“At the same time I can see that the government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Najib Razak has been working very hard and sincere in bringing political change,” he said.
Dr Halili told the media that he chose to make the announcement during the Hulu Selangor campaign period as he does not want his name to be used by his former party.
“I am aware that some will accuse me of being disappointed for not selected as candidate, but I have never offered myself to be the Hulu Selangor candidate,” said Dr Halili who is from Hulu Yam, a neighbourhood within the Hulu Selangor constituency.
When asked whether he will help in the Barisan Nasional (BN) campaign, Dr Halili replied he may be unable to do so as he has to attend his son’s convocation in Australia.
He also said he attended the PKR candidate announcement rally out of curiosity.
“Maybe my name would be announced, I just wanted to know,” said Dr Halili when asked about his presence at the rally in Serendah last week.
On his relationship with Anwar, Dr Halili said he only served Anwar in his professional capacity.
“I am a professional, if I’m needed I have to give treatment, it’s a private matter,” he said adding that he has been Anwar’s personal surgeon since 1994.

Chandran to pull out of Hulu Selangor vote

By G. Manimaran - The Malaysian Insider
Bahasa Malaysia Editor
HULU SELANGOR, April 19 — The Hulu Selangor by-election will be reduced to a three-cornered fight today when candidate V.S. Chandran as expected announces his withdrawal from the contest.
The former Hulu Selangor MIC deputy chief is due to inform the Election Commission (EC) of his decision this morning, before the withdrawal deadline ends midnight today. Polling is on April 25.
Chandran is due to meet reporters after going to the EC, according to a text message received by The Malaysian Insider.
But efforts to get Chandran to confirm the news failed as he is not picking up his phone despite his camp confirming his withdrawal.
“Yes, Chandran has decided to withdraw from contesting due to certain reasons,” a source told The Malaysian Insider late last night.
It is understood Chandran took the step to prevent the Indian vote, especially from MIC members, from splitting and affecting the chances of Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate, party information chief P. Kamalanathan.
Others contesting the federal seat are PKR’s Datuk Zaid Ibrahim and another independent, Johan Md Diah who still faces the possibility of the sack from his party, Umno for joining the fray.
Chandran, who faces a similar scenario from MIC, is said to command support from the party’s local division. The Indians form 19.3 per cent of the 64,500 voters in Hulu Selangor.
“He (Chandran) is just angry at MIC, but his heart still loves Barisan Nasional. He has himself said he strongly supports Barisan and it’s because of that love, he will pull out,” the source said.
A straw poll by The Malaysian Insider showed a section of MIC members are still disappointed with BN’s decision to drop party deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel from contesting the seat he had held for four terms until Election 2008.
They have said they will not vote for the BN choice, making it difficult for the ruling coalition to overturn the 198-vote loss by Palanivel to PKR MP Datuk Dr Zainal Abidin Ahmad whose death triggered the by-election.
The main fight remains between the 44-year-old Kamalanathan, who is seen as a compromise candidate, and Zaid, who was sacked from Umno after he quit as a minister in the Abdullah administration in 2008.

Neuro-surgeon quits 'power-crazy' PKR, to join Umno

FMT ALERT KUALA LUMPUR: Hulu Selangor PKR treasurer Dr Halili Rahmat has announced that he is quitting the party to join Umno.
Halili, who had contested the Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat previously, was initially speculated to be the candidate this time around as well.

However, the party opted for its supreme council member and former law minister Zaid Ibrahim instead.

Speaking at a press conference this morning, the 58-year-old neuro-surgeon said PKR is led by “narrow-minded little Napoleons”.

“PKR is power crazy to the point that it has overlooked the people's mandate whereas Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak wants to meet the needs of the people,” he added.

Halili, who claims to be PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim's private physician, said he was not disappointed that the party did not name him as the candidate for the upcoming by-election.

The doctor said he has yet to inform the PKR leadership regarding his decision, adding that it was not an overnight decision to leave.

Halili claimed that the locals have told him that PKR has failed to deliver despite being in power for two years.

He explained that he made the announcement now because he did not want PKR to use his name to fish for votes.

The Hulu Selangor parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of PKR incumbent Zainal Abidin Ahmad on March 25.

In the 2008 general election, Zainal had defeated MIC deputy president, G Palanivel, the seat's four-term MP, by 198 votes.

The by-election is on April 25, and Zaid will be facing MIC information chief P Kamalanathan and two other independent candidates.

However, one of the independent candidates, V S Chandran, is expected to withdraw from the race.