Malaysia is like Zimbabwe?

Political analyst Abdul Aziz Bari likened those who hold the reins of power in Malaysia to a bunch of 'thugs'.

According to him, these individuals do as they please without proper regard for the law of the land and the percepts laid down in the federal constitution.

"We are like Zimbabwe, just with another name!" stressed the law expert.

Elaborating, Abdul Aziz said: "I don't know how else to call them, sometimes we need to call a spade, a spade. What we have is a state of lawlessness, it's like the law of the jungle."

According to the UIA law professor, in Malaysia, "the judiciary takes its cue from the government."

"When you have a judiciary like what we have, what can we do? In normal circumstances you go to court to compel the parties who refuse to do its legal duty to do it. But not in our case," he said.

What is worse, according to Abdul Aziz, Barisan Nasional is "undermining or simply could not care less about the constitution."

"BN has demonstrated complete disregard for the rule of law and supremacy of the constitution, either the letter or the spirit of it," he said.

Abdul Aziz believes that the BN government is clearly going against the constitution when it set up the JPP (Federal Development Department) which is ultra vires of the defined rights of the states.

he also criticised the federal government's 'play acting' in making much ado when giving assistance and aid during natural disasters to opposition held states.

According to Abdul Aziz, this rot of lawlessness goes right down to BN's core which is Umno.

He is of the opinion that the Umno warlords cannot be reformed and as long as they exists, Umno cannot be reformed.

"They simply don't want to do it," he said.

**********************

SOURCE: MALAYSIAKINI.COM

***

Pak Lah to PPP: get out of BN if you wish

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi tells Kayveas and his PPP that they can leave Barisan Nasional if they wish. He reiterated that the government has no intention to amend the ISA.

Kayveas has his shoes stuck in his mouth!!!


Read more at Malaysiakini , NST or The Star

Law Minister Zaid 'tenders resignation'

Pre-emptive strike by Zaid Ibrahim: Resign!

According to a reliable source, Zaid's resignation letter was delivered to the Prime Minister's Office at around 2pm today.

Zaid had earlier said that he would try to meet Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi some time this week to discuss the matter.

Malaysiakini was informed that Zaid did not meet with his boss before the letter was submitted to the PM's office in Putrajaya this afternoon.

Syed Hamid Albar disagreed with Zaid over the detention of the threesome - Teresa Kok, Raja Petra and Tan Hoon Cheng.

This is what Syed Hamid tells Zaid Ibrahim:

Penahanan tiga orang di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA) kelmarin adalah keputusan kerajaan dan ia tidak sepatutnya dipersoalkan oleh mana-mana menteri termasuk Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Menteri Dalam Negeri, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar memberi peringatan itu sebagai reaksinya kepada kenyataan Zaid di Kota Bharu hari ini bahawa kerajaan tidak sewajarnya menggunakan ISA untuk menahan mereka sebaliknya perlu diadili mengikut sistem perundangan negara.

Menurut beliau, tindakannya meluluskan penahanan di bawah ISA itu adalah bagi pihak kerajaan yang memerintah, selaras dengan kedudukannya sebagai menteri Kabinet, bukannya ‘orang di luar kerajaan’.

Sehubungan itu, beliau mengingatkan bahawa Malaysia akan berdepan krisis pemerintahan jika setiap menteri yang ada pandangan tersendiri mula mempersoal dan membahaskan tugas menteri yang lain secara terbuka melalui media.

“Zaid ada dalam Kabinet, jika dia ada pendapat yang tersendiri, dia seharusnya membawa kepada Perdana Menteri.

There are just too many of the ministers who do not share Zaid's philosophy of justice. Zaid is a lone ranger. His boss could not defend him. His boss wanted judicial reform but cannot accept change and he is surrounded by a bunch of idiots. So either Zaid follow them and stick to the old policies of korek, korek and korek or alternatively pack his bag and to leave in the name of jurisprudence.

However, we commoners will continue to support a good man, a man who stood by his integrity and who would stand up to face the loss of power and position to affirm his ideology of justice and fairness. We salute Zaid!

Source: Malaysiakini & The Malaysian Bar

Quote for Today:

"Everybody has a life span and when the time comes, everybody must exit gracefully. Umno is no longer a safe port, having been worn out by abuses, corruption and money politics. It's a case of the birds have come to roost, and what you sow may be what you reap."

- Tan Sri Navaratnam. (source: Malaysiakini)

****

Quote for today

Armed Forces Chief:

Government must act to prevent chaos

KUALA LUMPUR Sept 9 — Malaysia’s Defence Forces Chief Jen Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Zainal has asked the government to take stern action against those who bring up racial issues.

This is because such issues can bring about chaos to the country.

The General's remarks comes amid rising tensions brought about by the controversial comments about the Chinese in Malaysia which was made by Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

Abdul Aziz's is considered unusual because it is rare for Malaysian military officials to comment on civilian issues.

Source: The Malaysian Insider

Related Article:

Do not lose faith in democracy

Ruzaimi Ramza: I’m a Malay and I disagree with Ahmad Ismail

Jeff Ooi: Incontinence

Sarawak DCM sound the warnings

Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam warned that Sarawak, with 30 MPs in Parliament are observing the current political upheavals in the peninsular and Sabah and is gravely concerned.

“All this politicking is leading us nowhere. This is not reaping any benefit for the rakyat.

“Are all these going to help bring down the price of fuel and food? Obviously, all is not well, even within the Barisan. Barisan needs to change. It must urgently revitalise itself.

“If we don’t change, the people will change us. Barisan needs to change or else it will be changed,” Chan told reporters here yesterday.

Dr Chan noted that the people of Sarawak were worried that the rights of certain section of the population were being questioned.

He said the recent incident in which an Umno leader referred the Chinese as migrants who do not deserve rights was very regrettable.

“Our rights as Malaysians have been guaranteed by the Constitution.

“We have the right to defend these rights. This sort of thing (the questioning of citizens’ rights) should not be happening in our country anymore.

“Look at the United States. Right now, an African American (Barack Obama) is on the verge of becoming president,” he said.

Source: The Star

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said the Chinese gained citizenship by sacrificing their lives for the country.

Some 300,000 Chinese died defending the country during the Japanese Occupation in the 1940s, he said.

“That was about 20% of the population then. They had joined the Anti-Japanese Army to fight the invasion when the British left us helpless.

“And this was what made the British give us citizenship. It wasn’t gained without any sacrifice or contribution on our part.

“Our citizenship had been exchanged with our courage, blood, sweat and tears for the country,” he said after opening the Perak Wanita MCA convention here yesterday.

Ong was responding to remarks made by Bukit Bendara Umno division head Datuk Ahmad Ismail on the Chinese during the Permatang Pauh by-election.

Calling Ahmad irresponsible and naïve for making the remarks, Ong said the issue should be put to a rest for the sake of racial harmony and unity among the people.

“We are all Malaysians. We need to stand united instead of being suspicious of one another,” he said.

On Ahmad’s demand that Gerakan acting president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon and Chinese community leaders apologise to him, Ong said:

“It is not about who should apologise or who should withdraw from Barisan Nasional but about respecting each other’s rights.”

Selangor Wanita MCA chief Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun said Ahmad’s remark damaged racial relationships and the MCA would have to review its ties in Barisan.

Outgoing Perak Youth chief Datuk Tan Chin Meng proposed that the MCA leave Barisan if Ahmad refused to apologise for his statements.

“The younger generation of Malaysians are born here. What Ahmad said was degrading to the younger generation,” he added.

Source: The Star

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Non-Malays in this country are Umno’s partners whose rights and interests will be safeguarded.

He said Umno has never regarded the Chinese in this country as “pendatang” (immigrants), and as the main pillar in Barisan Nasional, Umno’s policy is clear that the party accepts non-Malays as partners in nation-building .

Umno Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said racial and religious polarisation is getting worse and this is very unhealthy.

"Everyone should stop before we get divided even more,” he said.

Source: The Star

Meanwhile, Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Ahmad Ismail has claimed that his decision not to apologise for his racially inflammatory remarks has received “tremendous support” from Malay-Muslim groups.

Ahmad said those who supported him consist of professionals, top academicians, politicians, civil movements, relatives and friends.

"I am surprised with the unexpected overwhelming support I had received from Malay-Muslims across the country.

“It is going to be a major issue now,” cautioned Ahmad.

Source: Malaysiakini

Ahmad thinks he wants this issue to be a major issue.

I don't think the people feared him and his coterie. The people have had enough of the bullying, the blame game and then the interposing of the weaker party by making them the culprit. At the back of all these rhetorical conduct he and his coterie were the strategic partners with some Chinese businessmen in pillaging the nation's coffers via the doctrines of NEP and Malay privileges. The Malays in Umno cannot live without the Chinese businessmen - one party gets the projects in the name of Malay privilege, the other party pays commissions and upfront monies to buy the project - it was win-win; for them! The nation was pilfered and pillaged; who cares? Only the ordinary Malays suffers; yet, they are coyed into mystic thoughts. 50 years passed, they lament; another 50 years will pass too; and they would remain lamenting.

Permatang Pauh: What BN leaders say

Statement by Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz, minister in Prime Minister's Department

[Quote]

Anwar has got strong support in Permatang Pauh just like I got my strong support in Padang Rengas as it is my hometown. Permatang Pauh has always been an opposition fort. Anwar grabbed it from PAS Zabidi (Ali) in the 1980s, so he has been very popular there. Even when he was not the MP, his wife got in although she was not a local.

(On Sept 16) I'm still waiting. In fact, this morning I woke up to check whether I'm still a minister - that is why I came a bit late today, but the government has not crumbled yet.

[Unquote]

Statement by Ahmad Shabery Cheek, information minister

[Quote]

And in regards to his win in Permatang Pauh, I think all those in BN don't have to feel sad as that constituency has always been Anwar's base and stronghold for a long time. And it is not like he won BN's seat. (There's) no reason at all to be sad.

I say this because many opined that Anwar's victory threatens BN, but there is nothing to fear as that constituency was never BN's.

For PKR, the by-election is like ‘life or death'. However for BN, it was just another seat which was not Barisan's. It does not affect the leadership as Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is still the Kepala Batas MP and Deputy Prime MInsiter Najib Abdul Razak is Pekan MP.

[Unquote]


Statement by Dr Koh Tsu Koon, Penang BN chairman and Gerakan acting president

[Quote]

While the by-election results showed the preference of the Permatang Pauh voters, BN must also take serious note that it may well be reflective of the overall perception and feeling of Malaysians elsewhere.

BN must acknowledge and address the people's dissatisfaction and even disenchantment with the establishment for what was perceived as a lack of commitment, communication and concrete results, especially in the past two years.

[Unquote]



Source: Malaysiakini

***

Should Statutory Declaration be banned immediately or made illegal?

Another Statutory Declaration made ...aiyo, what has happen to our country?

Malaysia-Today reported that: [quote] "Thagarajoo a/l Thangavellu swore through a Statutory Declaration, that Najib and his wife, who may be born Muslims, are practicing Hindus." [unquote]

Tangarajoo, a former driver for Datuk K.S. Nallakaruppan, in his statutory declaration also revealed that in 1998 there was a conspiracy to implicate Anwar in sex scandals with various women

(Read more here)

Why has people got to resort to Statutory Declaration? Why can't they go make police report or file a complain with the ACA? or, tell the parliamentarians so that the scandals can be debated in parliament?

Is it because of the lack of integrity or the presence of distrust towards to a system administration?

Maybe, the present government may have to consider to review the laws relating to statutory declaration and make it illegal to make sworn statement against "credible" & "Powerful" personalities. Why can't they trust the police and the ACA and the courts? Why can't we have a government whom people can be confident to expose those scandals?

Are these people lying?

Or, are we now hearing of the truth that could and would not have been exposed if Mahathir is still PM? Or, was it because Mahathir had managed the country and the people so well that they would not speak of such "evils" or would not have allowed such scandalous news a chance to be made public?

I wonder! I ponder!

Distress & the "Evil" Bloggers.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described the action of a blogger in calling on his blogsite followers to fly the national flag upside down as a sign of protest as evil.

He said flying the Jalur Gemilang upside down could not be regarded as an act of mischief alone but a despicable one.

Abdullah hoped the police would act on the matter.

Source: Malaysian Insiders and Malaysiakini


He look so handsome with this uniform. He does look a handsome scout.

Anyway, coming back to the upside down flag thing; I'm not sure how it can be evil. I didn't fly it that way; so he is not directing his anger at me. So, I'm not despicable nor disrespectful to him.

Was flying the flag upside down wrong and unlawful? I don't think so; as this is universally accorded as an act to show that a nation is in distress.

I agree with Kickdefella that Malaysia is truly in distress. In what way did I affirmed my opinion?

The cost of living had reached a state of distress. Not me, I can afford another fuel hike of RM0.78. I am a crony, so I'm okay. But millions of Malaysians are feeling the distress; they are struggling to make ends meet and we have a prime minister and a deputy prime minister who responded to our plights by telling the people to "Ubah Gaya Hidup." But their gaya hidup is already rock bottom and their debts due to inflation and rising costs are multiplying. Many are crying: "Macam mana nak ubah lagi? Jual ponggong? Jual darah? Tak da nak ubah lagi. Installment kereta dan rumah dah banyak bulan tak bayar; periuk nasi pun dah kosong; apa lagi nak ubah? selipa dan selimut pun dah gadai."

If the fuel hike isn't bad enough, dear PM, please asked Jeanne to go to the sundry shops and supermarket to check the price of rice, cooking oil, canned food and all other essential goods; the prices had shot up more than 50% and continually inflating. To add more distress, while income are diminishing fast we are further told that the water tariffs and electricity tariffs are rising. Toll rates may be adjusted too.

That's not distressful enough? Well, I could not comprehend how a prime minister could have pronounced that a backside player who had allowed himself to be screwed 8 times without complain, for whatever reason, could be called a victim of abuse and the prime minister had repeatedly said that the law must accord justice to him. If ever the law said that sodomy is unlawful, both players who had spent eight occasions of pleasure must be indicted and charged; it can't be only one. And how is it that a PM who carved the Islam Hadhari explains his controversial moral philosophy with regards to these two Muslims? I am perplexed and distressed by his reasons which is beyond any logical or moral comprehension.

Nurin is dead and that murderer is still at large. Sharlinie has yet to be found. Altantunya's case are getting muddied each passing day, and Balasubramaniam and Dr Mohamed had gone hiding. There's more than four Statutory Declarations made and such instruments are meant to be effective, not subjective. And the police are busy with protecting Saiful and Mat Rempits at Permatang Pauh, while at the same time they are now called to attend to "Evil" bloggers. But the murderers and criminals are out there smiling and planning new jobs. And the steel gratings and drain gratings on the roads and drains had vanished. The burglars could be coming to all homes to collect all the steel and iron gates. We can't ruled out that they would not take the gates at Putrajaya and Istana too.

Aren't we in distress?

I can understand the dilemma and distress the prime minister is going through. He is also busy fighting for his own political survival. His own party members wants him to retire. His deputy is also working hard to allow it to happen while at the same time being empathetic towards him.

Anwar is also giving a lot of problem to him; Anwar keeps telling and professing September 16 and this is surely stressful and causing sleepless nights for our PM (but he still sleeps because he is too tired).

Umno's convention is in December and there's much internal disorders within Umno. Mahathir had been consistent in his call for the PM to step down and Mahathir is still popular and influential.

Recession is arriving and should it reached our shores it could be devastating. The price of food stuff keeps rising; fortunately, crude price is coming down.

Sabah BN partners are giving our PM a hard time. Sarawak keeps inviting PM and DPM over for functions and at each function a billion Ringgit federal development fundings must be pledged. But where to find so much money needed? And BN has still owes RM218mil for election materials since 2004.

It must be extremely stressful, distressful and agonizing for our PM. Many PM in such distressing situation would have been warded into the psychiatric chambers and certifed mad. Fortunately, our PM can still tahan because he has sufficient sleep. But Raja Petra has been causing him consistent nightmares. RPK has intermittently reveals enigmas and progressively reveals new mystics and caused him much miseries.

So, I've decided not to fly the Jalur Gemilang upside down because I do not want to add to the mammoth agonies and miseries of our dear PM. Let's pray for our PM who is suffering psychiatric pains resembling raging infernos. The distress can possibly drive him insane, or, if not, it may drive him to suffer from insane delusion.

Let's pray for our PM and DPM, and let's also pray that the ghost of Altantunya will not disturb him nor disturb his close aide. This is the 7th Chinese calendar month which the Chinese believed is the month when the ghosts go roaming around earth. The Chinese must help burn more incense and hell notes to Altantunya, Nurin and many others whose souls had not reached heaven's gate as yet. Their spirit may still be on earth and we need to take care of them.

Dear PM, I fly the flag for our nation.

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

But the true Merdeka is the day when all Malaysians respect each other as Bangsa Malaysia.

Yong: BN coffers is near bankrupt

BN has sent in thousands of campaigners, according to Yong Teck Lee. He added that knowing the extent and extravagance of BN’s campaigning - especially since he was Sabah’s BN chief minister before - the total bill will rise to tens of millions of ringgit.

Sabah BN alone has pledged hundreds of campaigners for Permatang Pauh.

Umno Sabah's various wings and BN component parties like PBS are keen to impress federal leaders, Yong said.

For many Umno divisional delegates, a trip to Permatang Pauh is a joy trip associated with the on-going party divisional election, he suggested. The cost of travel, accommodation, food and actual campaigning overall would be sizeable.

Yong queries where the money will come from. He feels it is less likely from the national BN coffers which is near bankrupt as indicated by their failure to settle the RM218 million owing for 2004's campaign material.

"It remains to be seen how the BN will settle the election debts of the March 2008 general election. And now the BN has to face their most-feared opponent in a by-election.

"We call on the Sabah government leaders not to allow Sabah to be the milking cow for the BN election debts of RM218 million and for the Permatang Pauh by-election."

Yong referred to the reported RM16 million intercepted by anti-money laundering authorities in a foreign country. The fund were apparently on its way to the Peninsula by-election from Sabah via a third country.

SAPP implored Sabah Umno and other BN leaders to consider their conscience in this matter.

"At a time when families in Sabah cannot afford an extra meal, people struggling with petrol prices, children foregoing tuition classes, sick people missing out on medical treatment, tenants worried about over due rentals and electricity bills, Sabah BN leaders must show that they care enough to do something about the peoples’ livelihood.

"By year end, families will face the prospects of higher school bus fares and various expenses related to schooling."

All these factored with rising inflation and higher joblessness have made SAPP wary about what the future holds for Sabah.

***

Source: Malaysiakini

***

Zaid: The govt. can no longer continue to be in denial mode

An excerpt of Zaid Ibrahim speech:

[quote]

The governments can no longer say they subscribe to the rule of law and yet compromise on the issues of human rights.

Equally they cannot say they believe in the rule of law and yet practice arbitrary detention without regard for oversights and adequate review process.

It is the recognition of human rights that we then embrace the rule of law, the right to equality, right to fair trial, right to information and so on and so forth.

The governments should realise that human rights can no longer be "discounted as an inconvenient truth."

Today, it has the power to determine the outcome of elections.

What is it that the younger generation of this country so desperately wants? I believe they want justice and fairness. They want the institutions of governments to be credible, to reflect integrity, they want an independent judiciary where if all else fails them, the final bulwark of justice will step in to keep the powers-that-be on the straight and narrow.

They want space to voice their dissatisfaction; they want room to exercise their right to assemble, to expression, to livelihood, education, the right to know and be informed. They want transparent and accountable use of power by the authorities and they want a government that is corrupt free.

The government can no longer continue to be in denial mode or it will have to pay the "heavy price for holding on to this delusion."

Reform is the only choice.

I have been a minister for just about three months and in that time I have talked about various issues - the need to review legislation such as the Internal Security Act, judicial reform, granting wider public access to justice through legal aid, tackling the backlog of cases, the case for greater press freedoms.

Such talk has caused consternation to some elements within my own party, to the point that I am accused of espousing opposition policies, and thus I should resign.

While politicians will have to grapple with political correctness, human rights advocates are made of "sterner, stronger stuff" who should speak their mind.

[unquote]

Above are the speech made by Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, the minister in the Prime Minister's Department at a dinner function last night.

Source: Malaysiakini: Zaid: Both sides want me to resign

Don't confuse the public and sabotage investigations

The police as reported are considering investigating the webportals and blogsites medical report allegedly issued by Pusrawi Hospital. (refer: POLICE: Website's report an attempt to sabotage investigations, confuse public)

Medical reports are confidential documents and it is a fact that someone had committed this crime of secrecy. Therefore the police will have to investigate this heinous act. The police will not allow such criminal and disgusting act to be committed by people who may claim their act is done in the name of justice and divine virtue.

This revelation may upset the sodomy investigation process and confuse the public, and upset the positions of the parties implicated. So far every effort were made to give the public very clear picture of what is happening but the blogs and webportals keep revealing informations that contradicts the good efforts and causes anxieties to all parties. Now we have a totally flabbergasted public and they may blame the police and the government for such contradictions and ambiguity.

The government is gravely concern about this issue and hope that all parties will restraint and not cause more unnecessary contradictions and make the work of our loyal police force more difficult and onerous. The people must trust the government and the police; if they placed their confidence and trust in them, then the government will be able to uphold its integrity and excellence.

As an initiation towards the promotion of the common good of the people, the Barisan Nasional government will be launching community programmes to help people reduce their energy use and adopt other cost-saving habits.

These include more use of public transport and developing edible home gardens under the federal government's Bumi Hijau campaign.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told BN menteris besar and chief ministers this at a meeting yesterday. (Refer: BN states to promote cost-saving habits)

Although the energy price will be increased soon due to the fact that TNB's profit had dropped 70%, the government will make sure that such inflationary pressures would not burdened the people beyond their threshold. The government understands the plight of the people when it increased the price of fuel and reduce the subsidy by some 40-60% but that was inevitable and beyond the control of the government as the price of crude oil had ballooned at the same hike caused largely by speculative trading and hedging by the Western economies.

The government is now promoting the Bumi Hijau campaign to help the people learn how to grow their own vegetables and fruits in their own garden. As for those who stays in flats and apartments and do not have own garden, the government is studying ways to help them grow vegetables inside their bedroom and toilets.

With regard to high fuel prices, the government will promote better public transport that do not consume fuel such as bicycled-bus services, mass giant-rickshaws services. The government will also organize campaigns to encourage the people to walk to work as a form of exercise to better their health and at the same time save fuel cost, parking and toll charges. The government have also advised the state governments to use Mercedes Benz only for foreign dignitaries and functions. The state government must show respect to foreign dignitaries and VIPs and it will not be good for them to be transported by Perdanas (which occasionally breakdown on its journey as observed)

As addition, in order to make the people feel better and brighter, the government will be organizing more promotions and campaigns to keep explaining to the people (until they fully understand) about all these uncontrollable situations. To ensure the total success of these campaigns the government have allocated many millions for the roadshow. It is hope that all these roadshows and campaigns will help to alleviate the peoples' suffering.

PM admit it wasn't about Islam; it was about Power-sharing

Prime Minister finally admitted that it truthfully wasn't about Malay unity nor Islam unity on the dialogue between Umno and PAS on the March 10 meeting. It was about POWER SHARING DEAL with PAS!

So, do not twist and manipulate in the name of one’s religion for the sake of political gain or personal profit. This principle is affirmatively enunciated by none other than the prime minister himself (refer to his earlier statements here).

The official agenda was to discuss issues concerning the unity of Islam and the Malays. There is never an issue about Umno and PAS having dialogues to promote unity and to promote Islam and nobody is against it. But to use the reasons of religious unity in order to strike a power deal to gain control of a state is in essence an act of contriving and iniquitous; and this is blasphemous. It is not wrong for a political party to seek alliance so as to form a government but as Muslims they should be honest about it and not lie about it by misusing the name of Islam. Do not forget that Umno also tried to lure the Indians and Chinese state assemblymen from Perak to defect to BN and they can't contradict themselves and sell their souls by claiming it to be in the interest of Islam; it can only be for the interest of retaining power and political domination. (Remember that Tajol Rosli had announced that DAP and PKR ADUNs will be defecting to BN before August 31).

AS reported at Malaysiakini, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today said Umno had offered to share power with PAS in Selangor after the general elections as it was within its right as the incumbent state government.

"Maybe at the early stages when it was undecided on who would form the government at that time because Umno had the highest number of seats in Selangor," he added.

"So, at that time Umno felt that it has a right to seek the opportunity to form the government and to negotiate with any party to form the government," he told reporters.

Previously, Umno leaders said the talks were limited to the subject of Malay unity and Islamic matters and not political cooperation.

This is the first time that Abdullah, who is also Umno president, had admitted to the possibility of a political alliance with PAS on the subject of Selangor.

Former Selangor MB Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo was the first Umno politician to admit that the offer was made shortly after the March 8 polls.

Source: Malaysiakini: PM confirms power share deal with PAS

Abusing God and Religion

ABDULLAH: Name of god and religion being abused to justify violence and terrorism

BERNAMA News report

Many individuals and groups have abused the name of God and religion to justify violence and terrorism, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said today.

The prime minister said such extremism had been observed many times in the course of history and in each instance, the virtuous teachings of religion had been twisted and manipulated on behalf of one’s religion, for the sake of political gain or personal profit.

“In our own time, we have witnessed many injustices committed in the name of religion, including the occupation of someone else’s land and the dispossession that ensues from it. This is surely an affront to the dignity of the person, and a blemish upon the freedom that is a human being’s birthright.”

“The phenomenon of religious extremism should compel most of us, especially religious scholars and intellectuals to engage with the wider public in order for them to play a vital role in combating ignorance and the perversion of religion,” Abdullah said.

He said it was not enough to produce intellectual works and present papers at scholarly meetings, nor to lock themselves away in their ivory towers.

The prime minister was speaking at the opening of the International Conference on Religion in The Quest for Global Justice and Peace, here today.

Source: NST

Dear Prime Minister,

How true; very true! Your statement is without reservation the spoken reality and are empirical observations of the real world and in particular, we can see it happening in Malaysia, more so, within Umno's functions and public statements from those name-sake politically-connected Umno-controlled NGOs.

I would like to reiterate your statements, in particular these lines: "... the virtuous teachings of religion had been twisted and manipulated on behalf of one’s religion, for the sake of political gain or personal profit.

“In our own time, we have witnessed many injustices committed in the name of religion ..."

"... This is surely an affront to the dignity of the person, and a blemish upon the freedom that is a human being’s birthright.”

These lines you preached sums up the pure realities and reflects the factual situations of our very own racially-divisive intra-connected political systems.

But how come you attended the March 10 meeting with PAS and Khir Toyo to conspire the takeover of the 4 State Government that BN had lost?

That meeting was made and addressed in the name of Islam and Malay Unity and the reality as espoused, exposed and revealed by Khir Toyo and Abdul Khalid Samad was the pure fact revealed by Khir who said Anwar was the man behind the failure of Umno and PAS to agree to a conspiracy to eliminate Pakatan Rakyat and KeAdiLan from forming the state government of Selangor, Perak and Kedah; thus ensuring the continued domination of Umno with PAS as it's new sleeping partner while at the same time Umno continued to sleep in the same bed with MCA Chinese, Gerakan Chinese and MIC Indians, plus Kadazan Christians, Dayak Christians, Iban Christians, Bidayuhs, Malanaus, Dusuns, Muruts, in the name of multi-racial power-sharing and wealth sharing in a constricted and stultified environment.

Dear Pak Lah,

You mention about blemishing upon the human rights birthrights and I am truly impressed and at the same time apprehensive. I am Chinese and born in Malaysia; constitutionally granted a Malaysian Citizenship and possesses the rights to all that is stipulated in the sacred Constitution. Isn't this my human rights birthrights and should also include my children's birthrights and also all others too? Why is it that Umno Tajuddin and Ibrahim Ali and many others in Umno including your son-in-law, states that all Malaysian non-Malay children should not be equally and fairly granted government-PSD scholarships (which used money contributed by all taxpayers) and that 80% PSD scholarships should be exclusively reserved for Malays only, while the non-Malays and Natives from Sabah and Sarawak consists of more than 45% of the population would be sharing 20% crumps? Why is UiTM reserved 100% for Malays only? Why is Design-Built Contracts reserved exclusively for Bumiputeras only? Why does rich Malays enjoy 15% discounts for buying houses while the poors from other races are deprived from these discounts?

I accepted wholeheartedly that the underprivileged and poor Malays must be assisted and enabled, which is the express provision inscribed in the Constitution and fully respected by all citizen; but it should not, and never should it ever be, an outright exclusivity of a single race only.

Professor Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi from UiTM said the spirit of Article 153 is of affirmative action for Malays and natives, not of hostile discrimination against “non-bumiputras” and I am certain all jurisprudence scholars and intellectuals would agree absolutely with him.

Dear Pak Lah, did you read the article by Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi? I have linked it above just in case you miss it. For your benefit I shall re-linked it here and here again in case TheStar had deleted the article as directed.

Please Mr PM, can you explain the contradistinction and contradiction between the above phenomenas.

Umno's racial Conspiracy

On March 10 (or 11, as PAS Abdul Khalid Samad could not remember the exact date) Umno president Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, former Selangor menteri besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and PAS leaders, Nasharudin Mat Isa, Mustafa Ali and Khalid Samad were huddled together in a building in Kuala Lumpur for a secret meeting.

PAS committee member Abdul Khalid Samad revealed that Khir Toyo had proposed during the meeting that Umno and PAS form a joint government to rule Selangor.

Khalid who is also the MP for Shah Alam, claimed that the meeting was colored with a racial agenda - to halt the predominantly Chinese DAP from making inroads into the Selangor government.

Khalid said Khir Toyo was willing to become deputy menteri besar if Selangor PAS commissioner Dr Hassan Ali is made menteri besar.

According to Khalid, "Khir said (at the meeting) this was one of the solutions to overcome the problems facing Islam and the Malays," he added.

We can observed with clarity and empirically that Islam can be used to grab power and also Islam can also be used as a tool for racial divide. Islam was thus extremely useful for human purposes - the greed for power, wealth and positions.

Umno was prepared to bow down to PAS and play second fiddle so long as they can hold on to power-sharing and to continue to rule the state. How they would later deal with PAS's power was secondary and unimportant at that moment so long as PAS is willing to collaborate with them in the game of power and help them to maintain a stranglehold albeit the fact that they would play the role of mistresses. Thereafter, they can later have secret deals with the others from DAP and PKR ADUNs and uses money and positions to buy over a few of them into BN which would then give BN the majority control; thus overthrow PAS.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi admitted that Umno had held three top-leadership meetings with PAS to discuss the situation of Islam and Malays in the country. However, he declined to elaborate.

Last night, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang also confirmed that talks took place between the two parties.

Pak Lah had always emphasized that he is the PM for all Malaysians - the Malays, Indians, Chinese, Ibans, Kazadans, Dayaks, etc. But he was in a secret meeting to conspire using the racial cards as the prime motive - that they want to halt the predominantly Chinese DAP from making inroads into the Selangor government. That was revealed by PAS Khalid Samad.

Pak Lah, are you still a PM for all Malaysians?

Source: Malaysiakini: Umno offered PAS to jointly rule S'gor

**********

MCA disagreed with Umno Perak on corruption of power

MCA said Barisan Nasional should wait until the next general election to wrest back the states lost to Pakatan Rakyat.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan, who is also Perak MCA chairman, said winning the state through the votes of the people would safeguard BN's image and signal the return of public confidence in the Perak BN.

"People may not have a healthy perception of BN if it comes to power with the help of defecting PR state assemblymen.

"They may think that BN resorted to corrupt practices even if the party did not do such a thing," Ong said.

"I, too, want to see a BN state government in Perak, but let's use the legitimate process so that the credibility of the BN government will not be questioned."

In the meantime, Perak BN should make use of the next three or four years to plug weaknesses which had caused it to lose seats and the state in the general election, he said.

"The state BN must work hard to identify its weaknesses so that it will be strong by the next general election and be able to wrest Perak from Pakatan Rakyat."

Source: NST

However, Umno is impatient; they are not used to be powerless, as power provides wealth and influence, and more power means more wealth for their leaders and some of it for their followers.

It's been 4 months since, and these few months had being hard times for those Umno leaders. Those days, they wake up and money flows in; now they wake up and they had to find some money to buy breakfast for themselves and their family members. Lunch time, they will also need to find money; those days, lunches and dinners are fully sponsored by bodekers and agents who are sourcing for projects and kangtaus. Worse off, the leaders will also need to pay for their visitors who come running for help. They would now have to cry out loud to Pak Lah to pass some undertable sums to the state-level and divisional levels for the Umno members who are suffering from the lack of pay-offs and kangtaus. Pity the Umno leaders; it has not being easy for them to live a life where they had to earn monies to survive and pay for their own expenses.

Tajol Rosli: Perak PR govt will 'fall by Aug 31'

Former MB of Perak Tajol Rosli said Pakatan Rakyat's government in Perak will fall by 31st August.

"It's not easy, (but) I'm very confident," he said, predicting that BN would resume its rule over the state, but declined to reveal details.

Tajol Rosli acknowledged that Umno and BN had approached several PR assemblymen coaxing them to join BN, adding that they should be crossing over.

"It was only a matter of waiting for the first state representative to join BN", he said.

Ezam, the former PKR youth chief who rejoined Umno, would give courage to other PKR members to do the same, Tajol Rosli said.

Meanwhile, Ezam said he was informed by sources in PKR that the PR alliance would fall apart earlier than expected.

"I have many friends in PR and they have voiced discomfort and suspicion concerning the state government."

Ezam said Anwar was not fit to lead the country as he no longer had the spirit of a statesman, where one would put the nation's interest ahead of his own.

Source: Perak PR govt will 'fall by Aug 31'

***

I wonder! BN and Umno use to talk so much about personal integrity and loyalty and many leaders in Umno had accused the Pakatan coalition for this lack of integrity. But what we hear from Tajol Rosli does confirm that Barisan Nasional and Umno are birds of the same feather and equally lacks integrity. Tajol said many PR assemblymen are being approached to join BN; this statement alone is proof.

Ezam; he is just a Trojan Horse... he is buying confidence and faith. he's probably a "25-man"; this is only a guess.

PAS invites Vigneswaran & MIC members to join

PAS today invited former MIC Youth chief SA Vigneswaran, who had quit the BN-based party on Sunday, to come and join it along with his supporters.

The invitation was made through the PAS Supporters' Club today.

"Let us join forces and battle for equality and justice for all races in this country," said PAS national committee for unity chief Khariul Faizi Ahmad Kamil in a statement today.

Khariul also welcomed other MIC members to join PAS.

Meanwhile, at the Dewan Rakyat Datuk Tajudin Abdul Rahman (BN - Pasir Salak) urge education minister to only help non-bumiputra students, who achieved academic excellence but not at the expense of jeopardising scholarships awarded to bumiputras.

“By all means, we help them but not at the expense of bumiputra students. I do not agree to increase the ratio of scholarships to non-bumiputra students.

“The ratio of 80% for bumiputra students should remain. I am ready to face the Education Minister for (saying) this,” he said, when debating on the motion on the mid-term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

Source: TheStar Online

When did the 80% rights exists? How could that percentage be maintain if the number of scholarships are a fixed quantum and the number of scholarships for non-Bumis to be increase without a reduction in the percentum for Bumis? If ever the quota system is exercised it should have been 60%-25%-10%-5%. How about those with CGPA of 0.8 and 1.0 being granted scholarships by Umno or DPM?

Trusting PAS and it's Islamic policies has far more integrity than Umno and it's kleptocratic system. In reality, it's rhetorics from Umno reps only; they can never help the Malays except for a few. In the end, the Malays are the ones that would suffer heavily under such mediocre system which do not promote competency and lacks integrity.

One thing is certain: globalization is driving competitiveness and competency to such a high level that those left far behind would never ever be able to catch up, even given the gravy train.

Those who had been discriminated over the decades had build up a system of self-reliance and competencies to deal with the situations and to face global opportunities. Through hardwork, frugality and persistence, and under oppressive and suppressive policies and dictates, they had built a strong culture of self-dependence and self-support; they would not be cowed and bullied by oppressive policies and suppressive political dictates. They had continued to forged ahead and face the world of reality with their competency and integrity. In the years to come, and with an impending recession looming, the pain of reality will surface and would hurt most those who lacks capabilities, competencies and integrity and those who had relied on handouts and rent-seeking.

Bung Mokhtar arse-talk cock

Datuk Bung Mokhtar, the Barisan MP for Kinabatangan said there is no need to give federal funds, not even a single sen, to opposition controlled states.

“After giving so much the rakyat should at least support Barisan,” Bung Mokhtar said.

Mr Bung, don't threatened the citizens; I warned you. You are not our boss; you are elected by the rakyat to serve the peoples' interest, not Barisan Nasional's interest.

Don't ever claimed that the Barisan government give money to the people; That money are tax payers money, not Barisan Nasional monies, nor monies from their families neither from Mr Bung's pocket. If at all, the public monies had been pocketed into individuals from the legislature, people with the power to abuse public funds.

The constitution provides that every citizen had a right to vote and the freedom to vote for any candidate of their choice at the general election and it is not for the government to use the peoples' money as a means to cause the voting public to be unduly influenced to vote for Barisan.

Mr Bung, your statement is a betrayal of yourself and of the people who had voted you as an MP to represent them.

The rights of the citizens are provided in the constitution; not granted by Barisan Nasional and neither is it a goodwill nor a favor.

Mr Bung, you should be ashame of yourself; you should also be held for contempt of parliament as you had been elected by the citizen to represents the interest of the citizen, not your political party. You have accepted to be responsible to the people and had accepted the fiduciary duty to act in the interest of the people; how could you threatened the rakyat and encourage the Barisan government to abuse their power and authority as to the management of the federal funds?

The rakyat must reject all these morons!!!

Perak State Assemblywoman humiliates the Speaker

At the Perak State Assembly debate, Barisan Nasional ADUN for Sungai Rapat Hamidah Osman asked the State assembly speaker V. Sivakumar whether he agreed to disagree with the well-known fable of whether a snake or a man from a certain racial community should be killed first.

Hamidah is a Muslim and as a Muslim how could she say such a thing against another human being who is also a creation from God? The Quran does not permit a Muslim to humiliate another person in such manner.

Gov't ‘colour-blind' in recruiting cops

Selective Color Blindness

Deputy Home Minister Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said the government was color-blind when it came to recruiting police officers into the police force.

In response to a supplementary question by Gobind Singh Deo (DAP-Puchong), he said the force recruited new personnel based on their qualifications and regardless of their skin colour.

Remember Ford Motor famous quote:

"You can have any color you want for your car as long as it is black."
- Henry Ford



RM544 mil Petronas-owned hospital under spotlight

The government has defended its decision to build the RM544 million five-star Prince Court Medical Centre (PCMC) in Kuala Lumpur through state-owned oil company Petronas.

Responding to Azmin Ali (PKR-Gombak) during the oral question session today, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Amirsham A Aziz said the hospital was part of the effort to promote health tourism in the country.

"The involvement of Petronas in the health services especially in the setting up of PCMC was made after taking into account its commercial returns from this investment," said Amirsham.

Cognitive disorder

Remember what Petronas said sometime ago? That Petronas will not invest monies on projects unrelated to oil and gas such as the 2nd Penang Bridge project? Suka-suka management!

Monthly landscaping costs for Putrajaya: RM1.5 million

Federal Territories Minister Zulhasnan Rafique said the government spends RM1.5 million every month to maintain Putrajaya's landscaping.

In a written reply to a question from Liew Chin Tong (DAP-Bukit Bendera), Zulhasnan said the RM18 million paid annually goes to 29 landscaping contractors.

How much does these 29 landscape contractors have to pay from each of these contracts? How much was the top-up sum?


Source: Malaysiakini