Hence winning the general election has never been a worry for Umno or the Prime Ministers since the time of Merdeka. It is the internal Umno party elections that give the Umno Presidents cum Prime Ministers sleepless nights. And Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (and now Najib) all felt this heat. (Tun Razak Hussein died ‘early’ before the heat could build up).

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

The Pakatan Rakyat leaders and supporters are harbouring the misconception that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak is worried about the ‘Blackout 505’ demonstrations being organised all over the country.

Actually, Najib is not too worried about all this because street demonstrations will not be able to bring down the government. If they could it would have already happened 15 years ago during the days of Reformasi.

In fact, Umno is not even too worried about the general elections. They normally know at least a year or two before the general election how the ruling party is going to perform.

Why do you think back in 2008 I dared announce publicly during the ceramahs that I spoke at that Pakatan Rakyat was going to win between 80-100 Parliament seats plus five states (I even named the states as well)? And in the run-up to the May 2013 general election I sent out SMS messages about the best-case/worst-case scenario (145-130 Parliament seats for Barisan Nasional and 77-92 for Pakatan Rakyat).

It is because the ‘intelligence’ unit came up with these figures and the Prime Minister had been duly informed about it. And that is also why Najib aborted the plan to hold the 13th General Election in March 2012 and postponed it to May 2013 instead. He needed time to win back Malay and Indian support to offset the lack of Chinese support. The Chinese were expected to vote almost en bloc for Pakatan Rakyat.

Hence winning the general election has never been a worry for Umno or the Prime Ministers since the time of Merdeka. It is the internal Umno party elections that give the Umno Presidents cum Prime Ministers sleepless nights. And Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (and now Najib) all felt this heat. (Tun Razak Hussein died ‘early’ before the heat could build up).

External enemies have never been a problem for leaders since time immemorial. It is the internal enemies -- the ‘sleepers’, the ‘Trojan horses’, the ‘enemies in the blanket’, the ‘Brutus', and so on -- who are the problem to most leaders. These are the people who can bring you down (like what happened to Melaka in 1511).

And there is one such Brutus who is working behind the scene to bring Najib down and this man is called Alies Anor Abdul.

Who is Alies Anor Abdul? Well, you can read more about this person below.

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Alies to Najib: If you don’t help me I will help Muhyiddin

Cat Out of Bag (23 August 2011)

So it seems Datuk Rockybru has dismissed my earlier post about him leading a media onslaught against our Perdana Mentri Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Many in Tan Sri Muhyiddin and the great sepupu PM Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein’s camp have also claimed that my posts are the work of the opposition.

Really? Do you really think these Pakatan guys really have information that I have?

Like the information on what Datuk Seri Dr Alies Anor Abdul is up to. Now maybe you will be scrambling to guess who I am. If Tun Daim has an oracle maybe our PM has one too? Please lah stop guessing lah. And stop insulting my intelligence by dismissing it as an opposition tactic to drive a wedge between Najib and Muhyiddin.

For once, that Barking Magpie maybe on to something.

The split is real. And the traitors are led by the sepupu, businessmen and those funding Datuk Rocky. So to those who still support Najib, watch it when you are in the presence of the sepupu and Rocky.

And joining them soon is Datuk Seri Alies Anor Abdul.

Who is he? Alies is the chairman of Putra World Trade Centre, the grand Umno HQ. But crucially he has been a long-time servant of Najib and is now one of his closest advisers.

But he recently had a major fallout with his boss over the advice to crack down on the Bersih activists.

He led the team of advisers who won the day after a late night session with the PM just before the rally. The advice that won the day was for PM to allow his sepupu to crack down on the rally, and to allow Muhyiddin to play the hardline champion.

The result as PM realises now is that he has been forced to the right of centre and is no longer able to portray himself as a moderate leader for the country.

And the result of Alies falling out with PM is this – he has threatened to work for Muhyiddin.

This is also because PM is not supporting his bid for the airport cargo scanner project.

Alies has been the man behind the rise of Najib, since the days of the Wawasan team when Najib was part of Anwar Ibrahim’s gang poised to take over from Dr Mahathir.

He was Najib’s political secretary between 1999 and 2005, and so the fallout is a very serious matter indeed.

But now because of money and power, he wants more and is willing to help Muhyiddin if Najib doesn’t help him.

Najib is now being threatened and basically blackmailed by his own adviser. Of course Alies is not the only one.

One by one, the sepupu, Rockybru, Alies are all poised to jump ship to Muhyiddin’s side.

This may not happen immediately but they have given notice and are looking after their own futures.

Remember, the big elections soon may not be the general election. It may well be the next Umno elections.

http://catoutofbag.wordpress.com/2011/08/23/alies-to-najib-if-you-dont-help-me-i-will-help-muhyiddin/

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Alies Anor Abdul: the man who has been tasked with bringing down the Prime Minister

Datuk Seri Dr Alies Anor bin Abdul and Teras Dara Konsortium Sdn Bhd

EWT Transformer Sdn Bhd (formerly known as EPE Wilson Transformer Sdn Bhd) is a joint venture company whose principle shareholders are Malaysia’s Bumiputra Company, Teras Dara Konsortium Sdn Bhd (TDK) and Australia’s Wilson Transformer Company Pty Ltd (WTC).

TDK is a Malaysian company specialising in plantation, property and urban services development and management services and has diversified its business by acquiring majority shareholding in EWT.

WTC is the largest Australian owned company specialising in transformer manufacturing of both Power and Distribution Transformers.

EWT has now become one of the preferred suppliers of distribution transformers, compact substations and earthing transformers. With its proven track record, reliability of its products, and strong after sales services, EWT’s business has grown substantially over the 16 years period since its establishment. 

Since its inception, EWT has secured a significant number of contracts from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and other private sector customers. (Company statement).

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Sidek Baba and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad: The alliance of the assassins

Bocor!! Minit mesyuarat Alies Anor bekas Setiausaha Politik Najib & Sidek Baba

Minit Mesyuarat Kumpulan Tegar Siri 4/2012

Tarikh: 15 Disember 2012

Masa: 8.30 malam

Tempat: Bilik Operasi

Senarai Kehadiran:

Datuk Seri Alies Anor Abdul – Pengerusi

Datuk Dr Sidek Baba – Timbalan Pengerusi

Abdul Rahman Karimun

Raja Arif Kamaruddin

Osman Abdul Majid

Rahiman Salleh

Majid Hj Daud

Syed Abul Hussin Syed Kismas

Abdul Rashid Buyung - Setiauasaha

1. Ucapan Pengerusi

Mesyuarat dimulakan dengan bacaan AlFatihah.

Pengerusi mengucapkan terima kasih diatas kehadiran semua. Minit Siri 3/2012 diteliti dan diluluslan tanpa pindaaan.

Pengerusi mengingatkan bahawa pilihanraya sudah hampir dan tujuan mesyuarat malam ini bagi membincangkan projek yang belum selesai dan program yang akan dilaksanakan untuk tahun 2013.

2. Perkara-perkara berbangkit.

Datuk Dr Sidek Baba

Datuk Dr Sidek Baba memaklumkan program menghimpunkan 100 Pimpinan dan ahli ABIM dan para cendiakawan yang ada hubungan dengan ABIM telah berlangsung di UiTM Shah Alam. Jumlah yang hadir ialah 89 orang. Yang agak mengecewakan tidak ramai pimpinan ABIM yang hadir. Program berjalan lancar dan mencapai tujuan. Arahan jelas telah diberikan.

Tiga tindakan segera sebelum pilihanraya akan dilaksanakan.

Pertama, mereka akan menulis, mengutuk dan menghentam Anwar Ibrahim dalam blog-blog.

Kedua, sidang-sidang media akan diadakan dengan kekerapan setiap hari bagi mendedahkan keburukan Anwar dan familinya sebaik sahaja Parlimen dibubarkan.

Ketiga, bahan-bahan bercetak akan diedarkan menceritakan keburukan Anwar dan akan diedarkan di kawasan-kawasan Melayu sahaja. Semua penulis telah dikenalpasti.

Percetakan edaran akan dibuat oleh Dewan Bahasa. Senarai yang hadir dalam perjumpaan dan senarai penulis-penulis seperti yang diedarkan.

Datuk Dr Sidek juga memaklumkan beliau akan mengadakan perjumpaan dengan bekas-bekas pimpinan Keadilan yang meninggalkan Anwar bagi menyusun strategi dan gerakkerja untuk menyerang Anwar sebelum dan selepas pembubaran Parlimen. Mereka yang telah dihubungi dan bersetuju untuk sertai perbincangan ini ialah Senator Ezam Mohd Nor, Lokman Adam, Zahid Mohd Arip, Bekas Adun Perak Kapt. Osman Jailu, Jamaluddin Radzi dan Bekas Adun Kedah Mohd Radzi Salleh. Ada berapa nama lagi yang sedang diusahakan.

Datuk Dr Sidek juga memaklumkan Majlis Penerangan bersiri: Siapa itu Anwar Ibrahim akan bermula dengan gugu-guru MRSM Melaka dalam sedikit masa lagi. YAB Ketua Menteri telah dimaklumkan. Beliau mahu hadir bersama nanti.

Datuk Dr Sidek mencadangkan Urusetia berhubung dengan pejabat Tun Dr Mahathir agar satu pertemuan diadakan bagi menjelaskan gerakkerja yang kita lakukan. Juga bagi mendapat pandangan beliau apa lagi yang boleh dilakukan kerana Tun punyai banyak strategi menjatuhkan Anwar satu masa dulu. Mungkin pandangan Tun boleh dikongsi bersama.

En Osman Abdul Majid

En Osman memaklumkan kumpulan pelajar UUM yang diberi tugas untuk membina blog-blog telah bersedia untuk uploadkan berita Anwar. Empat dari mereka telah bertemu dengan bloger Papagomo di Pulau Pinang. Urusan pembayaran selesai.

En Osman memperingatkan mesyuarat kumpulan Pemuda UMNO yang ditugaskan untuk ganggu ceramah-ceramah Anwar tidak bagitu berkesan. Kelihatannya mereka takut kerana ada kes dimana mereka dipukul oleh penyokong Anwar dari kaum India, polis tidak bertindak mempertahankan mereka. Adalah dicadangkan khidmat Perkasa digunakan.

En Osman mohon Pengerusi ambil tindakan memaklumkan kepada Menteri Pertahanan akan terdapat kemasukkan Panglima Tentera secara ramai-ramai ke Pakatan Rakyat. Pegawai-pegawai tentera pangkat rendah sudah berani menghadiri ceramah-ceramah pembangkang. Dengan kemasukan Panglima mereka, ini akan memberi impak yang hebat.

En Osman juga bimbang dengan moral pihak polis yang bertugas di negeri-negeri yang diperintah oleh pembangkang. Mereka nampak akur dengan arahan pimpinan negeri. Sesuatu harus dilakukan. Mohon Pengerusi bawa perkara ini kepada pengetahuan Menteri Dalam Negeri.

Syed Abul Hussin Syed Kismas

Tuan Syed Hussin bangkitkan isu garis panduan media perdana. Terdapat isu-isu yang kontrovesial yang tidak diuruskan dengan baik oleh media. Sebagai contoh isu Kalimah Allah. Masyarakat Islam agak keliru dengan jawapan yang diberikan oleh Kerajaan. Minta Urusetia aturkan satu pertemuan diantara Majlis Keselamatan Negara dengan semua pimpinan media agar kegiatan diselaraskan. Semasa Pengerusi menjadi Setiausaha Politik Perdana Menteri, Pengerusi mainkan peranan ini tapi kini tidak terurus.

Tuan Syed Hussin ingatkan mesyuarat Anwar mempunyai pengaruh yang kuat dengan pemimpin Negara Islam dunia. Beliau bebas bergerak bertemu dengan mereka pada bila-bila masa. Pengerusi diminta menasihati Perdana Menteri supaya mesti ada program yang melibatkan Perdana Menteri dengan dunia Islam.

Antara yang boleh diambil tindakan segera ialah:

1) Lawatan ke Palestin.

2) Pertemuan dengan Pimpinan Islam di Filipina Selatan.

3) Pertemuan dengan Pimpinan Islam di Selatan Thailand.

4) menunaikan Umrah. Kegiatan ini boleh menaikkan sokongan Melayu kepada Perdana Menteri.

Raja Ariff Kamaruddin

YM Raja Ariff bangkitkan bagaimana media nyamok seperti Suara Keadilan, Harakah dan beberapa media lain bagitu berani menyiarkan berita Anwar. Kritikan Anwar di media ini memberi kesan kepada orang Melayu. Sekatan mesti dikenakan ke atas mereka.

YM Raja Ariff juga bangkitkan isu Anwar menang dalam perbicaraan saman Utusan Melayu dan beberapa saman yang lain. Adakah jalan yang boleh digunakan untuk mempengaruhi mahkamah untuk tidak umumkan keputusan sebelum pilihanraya. Jasa baik Menteri harus diguna untuk minta hakim-hakim tangguh pengumumkan. Kita tidak pengaruhi keputusan hakim tapi minta tangguh pengumuman sahaja. 

YM Raja Ariff menyebut media perdana banyak melaporkan kes kematian kaum India yang kononnya diakibatkan oleh Kerajaan. Anwar telah gunakan isu ini untuk mendapat sokongan dari kaum Bukan Melayu. Satu arahan tegas hendaklah dikeluarkan kepada media agar kes sebagini yang melibatkan Kerajaan dipadamkan dari pengetahuan umum.

3. Lain-lain hal

Pengerusi maklumkan beberapa projek dan program besar akan diumum dan dilaksanakan pada tahun hadapan dan minta mesyuarat beri pandangan dan feedback dalam mesyauart yang akan datang.

Parlimen besar kemungkinan akan dibubarkan pada awal bulan Mac 2013

Akan ada pergerakan Polis dan Tentera bersekala besar di Sabah pada bulan Januari dan Februari 2013.

Satu team baru yang akan diketuai oleh Papagomo telah ditubuh untuk rekacipta video clip skandal sex Anwar Ibrahim, keluarganya dan Pimpinan Kanan Keadilan. Projek ini akan beroperasi diluar Negara.

Pengerusi meminta Datuk Dr Sidek Baba ketuai sekumpulan pemikir bagaimana mahu pecahkan Pakatan Rakyat dan Anwar disisihkan oleh Pimpinan Pakatan yang lain. Dr Ramzan di Pejabat Tun akan membantu Dr Sidek.

Tuan Majid Daud diminta bina satu team bukan dari kalangan Pemuda UMNO untuk halang dan ganggu pergerakan Anwar dengan Bas Keadilan. Gunakan apa cara untuk memperlahan gerakan beliau. Elak dari berlaku pertembungan dua kumpulan kita dan mereka kerana kumpulan penyokong Anwar terlalu besar. Ini mungin membahayakan kumpulan kita. Jika apa-apa berlaku tidak tidak akan bertanggung jawab dan kita tidak akan mengaku mereka dari kumpulan kita.

Pengerusi memaklumkan semua ahli mesyuarat boleh mengambil tiket kapal terbang dari Zaleha, Setiausaha beliau dan mengucapkan selamat bercuti bersama famili.

Mesyuarat akan datang ialah pada minggu pertama bulan Januari 2013 dan akan dimaklumkan tarikhnya.

Mesyuarat ditangguhkan dengan membaca Wal’As.

http://gigitankerengga.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/bocor-minit-mesyuarat-alies-anor-sidek.html

Muzliza Mustafa, TMI

The organisers of this Saturday's Black 505 rally will face prosecution as they have not received approval from City Hall to use Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur for the gathering.

They will be investigated for contravening the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) 2012 if they go ahead with it.

This was the warning issued by Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainuddin Ahmad today. He said although the organisers had been given the police the required 10-day notice, they had not received approval for the use of the field from City Hall.

The police will not make any preparations to accommodate the rally but warned they will be there to enforce the law.

The Black 505 gathering is being organised by Pakatan Rakyat to protest the alleged fraud at the recent polls.

It is also to pressure the top two in the Election Commission to resign for their alleged failure to conduct a free and fair election. 

READ MORE HERE

Merah Tinta MSO

Sama ada memang benar berlaku penyelewengan dan ketidak-adilan (melampau) dalam pilihan raya KE-13 lalu, hakikatnya parti UBN masih berkuasa dan Najib Razak masih menjadi perdana menteri. Dalam permainan politik yang berpaksikan kepada 4C (teori saya) sebagai rukunnya, penegakkan kebenaran dengan segala macam fakta 'akli' atau bayangan tidak merubahkan keadaan.

Rakyat apa lagi rakyat berbangsa Melayu tidak mudah untuk digerakkan mengikut apa yang diagendakan. Bukan mereka cerdik atau pintar tetapi begitulah sifat dan ciri-ciri yang ada kepada mereka, Bangsa Melayu adalah bangsa separuh masak - kebaratan pun tidak ketimurtengahan juga pun tidak. Sebahagian besar orang Melayu masih berfikir secara ortodoks.

Puak pembangkang khasnya Anwar Ibrahim yang kagen dan kempunan hendak menjadi perdana menteri masih berusaha dengan cuba menafikan pilihan raya ke-13 tempoh hari. Anwar yang boleh dipuji beliau tidak pernah berputuas asa dan boleh mengubah segala janji dan ikrar politiknya. Sebelum ini dia bermadah akan bersara dalam politik sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat tidak menang. Saya sudah menduga awal-awal kenyataan (janji) itu sebahagian sebagai gimik dan modal politiknya demi meraih simpati.

Maka dicarilah satu dalih atau alasan untuk mengatakan Pakatan Rakyat menang bagi membolehkan beliau terus berada dalam gelanggang politik. Maka angka 51% diambil untuk menghalalkan tindakan. Kononnya Pakatan Rakyat mendapat suara 51% undi popular berbanding dengan UBN yang mendapat 47%. Dengan figure-figure yang disihirkan itu maka halallah Anwar untuk memungkiri janji politiknya untuk bersara.

Apapun kita ucapkan selamat kepada Anwar dan Pakatan Rakyat. Memang mereka tidak akan berpuas hati selagi Najib tidak jatuh dan di kalangan mereka (Anwar) yang akan dinobatkan sebagai perdana menteri. Orang yang mengatakan politik Pakatan Rakyat, baik Anwar, Lim Kit Siang dan lain-lain sebagai gilakan kuasa, orang itulah yang sebanarnya 'sinting' kerana seakan tidak mahu memahami politik itu yang mahukan kuasa. 'Budak'lah orang yang bermain politik tetapi tidak mahukan kuasa.

Ayuh teruskan Anwar dengan cara anda. Selagi rakyat masih mempercayai degan cara anda, silakan. Cuma ingat sedikit sudah ada bidalan, sepandai-pandai tupai melopat akhirnya ke tanah juga. Setinggi mana bangar terbang akhirnya hinggap di belakang kerbau juga. Hidup ini asa lapan dimensi bukannya empat. Mungkin bidalan ini tidak tepat. Apa yang hendak diceritakan, rakyat mempercayai kita hari ini esok dan lusa, tetapi bukan selamanya. Makanya tektik dan strategi kena tukar.

Bagaimana pun di sini saya ada formul kecil bagaiman kalau hendak jatuhkan Najib sebagai perdana menteri tanpa menunggu pilihan raya umum ke-14. Formula ini saya tidak mengira UBN akan tumbang. Tetapi khasnya untuk Najib semata-mata. Formula ini agak janggal dan tidak masuk akal. Namun kerana politik itu kadang kala di luar norma rentas pemikiran manusia, maka formula ini boleh dikira masih waras dalam kancah politik dan ia boleh dicuba.

Untuk menggugurkan seseorang bukan semestinya menerusi pilihan raya umum. Pilihan raya adalah cara formal yang yang ketat dengan syarat-syaratnya.Tetapi mereka juga boleh digugurkan secara lain. Kalau semua orang berfikir untuk jatuhkan Najib menerusi pilihan raya, maka pilihan raya ke-14 masih jauh. Masih ada empat tahun 10 bulan lagi. Dalam masa itu Najib boleh mempersiapkan dan memperkemaskan dirinya. Najib boleh berusaha untuk mengukuhkan kedudukannya. Belum tentu PRU-14 jalan mudah dan rapoh menjatuhkan Najib.

Makanya masa itu jangan dinanti. Ambil peluang dan cari jalan pintas.

READ MORE HERE

Saya dituduh kecewa kerana tidak menjadi calon dalam PRU 13 yang lepas dan ini merupakan komen yang sangat peribadi. Jika pun saya dijadikan calon ia tetap tidak melambangkan ‘multiracialism’ seperti yang dilaungkannya itu kerana ia akan hanya menambah bilangan Melayu di dalam senarai itu hanya menjadi dua orang sahaja dari seorang yang ada sekarang. 

Aspan Alias

Keputusan pilihanraya ke 13 sememangnya merupakan tanda aras dan memberikan banyak jawapan kepada isu-isu yang dibangkitkan oleh semua pihak sebelum pilihanraya itu diadakan. Malaysia sebagai sebuah negara yang memberikan semua rakyat hak untuk memilih akan memberikan semua jawapan yang di isukan dalam proses masing-masing mendapatkan sokongan dan kemenangan.

READ MORE HERE

(TMI) - Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak (gambar kiri) berada dalam keadaan tidak menentu selepas mengetuai kemenangan Barisan Nasional (BN) pada pilihan raya umum 5 Mei tanpa mencapai sasaran yang beliau sendiri tetapkan: merampas kembali majoriti tradisi dua pertiga di Parlimen.

Terdapat beberapa sesi untuk meredakan kemarahan ahli-ahli Parlimen tidak berpuas hati: berjanji kepada ahli-ahli politik Umno yang mahu dilantik sebagai ahli lembaga pengarah syarikat berkait kerajaan (GLC) dan memantau komen dari tokoh berpengaruh seperti Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (gambar kanan) dan laporan mengenai Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah – boleh menjadi pencabar berpotensi.

Kesimpulannya, ini adalah waktu mencabar bagi Najib.

Akan tetapi Isnin lalu merupakan hari baik bagi perdana menteri.

Dr Mahathir bertemu Najib dan memberi jaminan beliau percaya tidak perlu ada pertandingan bagi dua jawatan tertinggi Umno dalam pemilihan parti itu akhir tahun ini.

Jaminan itu hadir selepas bekas perdana menteri itu memberitahu sekumpulan pengurus dana dalam satu sesi tertutup di Kuala Lumpur Jumaat lalu mengenai perlunya pertandingan bagi jawatan tertinggi Umno.

Sumber dalaman memberitahu The Malaysian Insider Dr Mahathir percaya komen beliau kepada pengurus-pengurus dana telah disalah anggap.

Akan tetapi mereka yang hadir pada sesi di sebuah hotel di Kuala Lumpur mengatakan Dr Mahathir mengkritik pimpinan dan percaya pertandingan akan menonjolkan ciri-ciri demokratik Umno selain dari meningkatkan imej Najib di mata orang ramai.

Masih belum jelas apa yang menyebabkan Dr Mahathir mengubah pendiriannya mengenai pertandingan jawatan presiden dan timbalan presiden parti itu.

READ MORE HERE

(The Star) - A former Umno man who joined DAP last year has now turned on the Opposition party, saying it had fielded too few non-Chinese members in the General Election. Aspan Alias was among those not picked to stand for the elections.

Aspan, a former Negri Sembilan Umno veteran, said DAP also had too few non-Chinese in key party positions.

“How can this be? If you say that you are fighting for multi-racialism, you must show it in terms of having Malays, Chinese and Indians well represented,” he told The Star.

Aspan joined DAP along with fellow Umno member Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz, who had won the Raub parliamentary seat in the May 5 elections.

He said he signed up with DAP because he felt that Barisan had failed to develop national unity, but has since realised that DAP itself did not trust other races, especially the Malays.

“DAP attacks Barisan Nasional as racist, but many forget that DAP is racist, entirely,” he said.

“Now, I don't care if the party wants to sack me, because to me, a party is just a vehicle and my objective is more important.

“My objective is to achieve national unity,” he added.

Increasingly vocal in criticising both Pakatan Rakyat as well as Barisan Nasional in his recent blog entries (http://aspanaliasnet.blogspot.com/), Aspan said that he decided to speak up as he was worried about racial harmony in the country.

“Many people do not understand what nationhood is because to them it is just about a political struggle in order to win positions, so we need a new approach in order to bring a fresh start to the nation,” he said.

Aspan said that a national dialogue should be organised among all groups in society to foster national unity and to find a new approach in order for the country to move forward.

He suggested that Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah be invited to lead such a national dialogue as he was widely considered as a political figure who understands the issue intimately, as he had experience living through many tumultuous periods in Malaysia's history.

Meanwhile, DAP national organising secretary and the Negri Sembilan party chief Anthony Loke said that Aspan was merely disappointed that he was not picked to contest in the elections.

He also dismissed Aspan's claims, calling him “unimportant”.

“He is just an ordinary member. He can say what he wants. The party leadership will respond when necessary,” he said.

The party's disciplinary committee chief and national deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai also said that he will study Aspan's comments before deciding on any action.

FMT LETTER: From Natesan Visnu, via e-mail

The current talk of Tengku Razaleigh (Ku Li) for Prime Minister has created sensation among Malaysians. The possibility of Pakatan Rakyat forming the new government with 25 MPs from BN dissatisfied with Najib’s leadership crossing over and requesting Ku Li to lead the pact for Putrajaya has reignited the interest in Malaysian politics after the General Election No. 13 disappointment. Ku Li as Prime Minister?

With the recent developments, Najib or Anwar, now we have a seasoned ‘new’ player in Ku Li for Malaysia’s top office. Najib is wrestling for dominance internally and externally. With weak component parties, domestic power struggle to retain his post as Umno’s president, opposition’s dominance on popular votes; it’s hard to predict Najib’s political future. Anwar has united Malaysians and weakened BN’s dominance with his reformation agendas.

Echoing on Mahathir’s blog, the Malay chooses to support Umno despite their dissatisfaction within Umno leadership is due to Malay sentiments. On that note, for PR to really ‘win’ this election, they need to consider the idea of electing Ku Li as Prime Minister. In the past, PR has always backed Anwar to become the Prime Minister. But the political landscape has changed and Ku Li’s influence within Umno and PAS could be capitalised to favour PR and the ‘rakyat’.

Why Ku Li?

Ku Li is no stranger to Malaysian politics. He has an excellent track record serving government since 1960s. Due to his contribution and excellence leadership, he was made Minister of Finance (1976), Chairman of Asian Development Bank (1978), Chairman of Islamic Development Bank (1978) and Chairman of World Bank and IMF (1977). He was also responsible for setting up and developing PERNAS to uplift the poor Malays and reform Malaysian economy. He had a short fall back with Haw Par imbroglio in the 70s but managed to bring Sime Darby and London Mining Company back to Malaysian’s control.

He worked along with Mahathir and Khalid Ibrahim for the famous ‘Dawn Raid’ to wrench back Guthrie from the British. The ‘Dawn Raid’ marks the beginning for Mahathir’s era where Malaysians taught Thatcher’s led government a lesson by not being arrogant and the Brits were ashamed internationally with the tactical takeover. Apart from that, Ku Li was also responsible for the take over and formation of new business for various sectors; Mining (take over London Mining Company), banking (formation of Maybank), etc. His visit to China in 1971 resulted in an increase of trading with China from RM105.6 million (1971) to RM 1.6 billion (1980).

In 1974, Tun Abdul Razak said ““From among the new blood, I intended to bring Tengku Razaleigh into the Cabinet. However, I have an important job for him, a job as important as that of a Cabinet Minister. I have decided to appoint him as Chairman and Chief Executive of Petronas, which is equivalent to being a Cabinet Minister”. The rest they say is history. Today Petronas is a Fortune 500 company and the largest contributor for Malaysian revenue. Quoting from Mahathir’s memoir, if Razaleigh had been patient, maybe he would be Malaysia’s Prime Minister.

Ku Li and Anwar leadership

With Ku Li’s experience and Anwar’s reformation, the duo would be the ideal pair to lead Malaysia. Both have similarities in their political career, both rose within Umno rank at young age, both have experience opposing Mahathir, both have experience as Finance Minister and both were Prime Minister material. In the past, Ku Li has worked closely with DAP and PAS opposing BN. However, he disbanded Semanget 46 and rejoined Umno. Ku Li has always maintained a good reputation within Umno and he is seen as a wise politician. He still commands wide support at grass root level.

In every crisis there will be an opportunity, PR has that opportunity now with Ku Li. Capitalising on Ku Li’s influence, PR could pave their way to Putrajaya. Ku Li and Anwar could form the new government and spearhead the changes that every Malaysian aspires for. Ku Li as Prime Minister and Anwar as Deputy Prime Minister would be ideal for Malaysia’s transformation and paradigm shift. Both leaders has advocated on many reform ideas and it’s the time for both them to realise their ideologies.

Critics on Ku Li

The critics would argue on the basis that Ku Li has not demonstrated his loyalty in the past by rejoining Umno. In politics, the main concept is to serve for the people. Ku Li despite being with Umno now has questioned the government on issues related to Petronas royalty payment to Kelantan state government. He has been a neutral critic on government policies even after rejoining Umno. He has been sidelined from mainstream politics since his departure from Umno. The country has lost a credible leader that has been part of shaping the Malaysian politic and economy landscape since 1960s.

Due to political reasons, he could not continue to serve for Malaysia and we have lost a great talent. This is the right time to use two great political leaders to reform Malaysia and prepare the younger leaders for future. On that note, Ku Li and Anwar would the perfect choice to lead the country and PR has an opportunity once again to deliver the Malaysian dream. The ‘rakyat’ waits in anticipation for the political direction of this country. The ball is in PR’s court.

READ MORE HERE

A lawyer will give fresh details on the scandal at a Suaram dinner next month.

G Vinod, FMT

Suaram will make a further expose next month of allegedly corrupt dealings in Malaysia’s 2002 purchase of two Scorpene submarines.

A spokesman for the human rights movement told a press conference today that a local lawyer would reveal new details of the scandal at a fund raising dinner scheduled for July 19 at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre.

The lawyer has been in touch with the French authorities investigating the case, according to Peter Chong, who heads Suaram’s Ops Scorpene unit.

“The French court asked our team for the contact numbers of two Malaysian lawyers who are in the know of what transpired,” he said. “One of them will be at the dinner.”

The case, which the French are investigating at Suaram’s request, threatens to tarnish Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who was Defence Minister at the time the submarines were purchased. The controversial murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibu has been tied to the case.

Suaram chief Cynthia Gabriel told today’s press conference that French investigators had traced the money trail to several companies located in Hong Kong and linked to “well-connected Malaysians”.

“The Hong Kong authorities are cooperating with the French team,” she added.

Responding to a reporter’s question, she said the probe was taking a long time because of the nature of the French judicial system.

READ MORE HERE

Dalam tempoh 7 tahun lagi ke arah negara maju pada 2020, adakah corak berpolitik pakatan pembangkang ini boleh dinamakan politik matang?

Mohd Hisham Abdul Rafar, Bernama

Sebilangan rakyat Malaysia masih tidak berpuas hati dengan keputusan pilihan raya umum ke-13 (PRU13) dan terus mahu mengadakan bantahan.

Beberapa siri demonstrasi dan perhimpunan diadakan sejak 8 Mei, dengan ucapan berbaur fitnah, tohmahan, maki hamun dan hasutan semakin galak dilakukan oleh mereka yang berkepentingan, lantas memanipulasi sentimen dan emosi orang ramai seolah-olah inilah cara politik baharu di Malaysia.

Persidangan Dewan Rakyat bagi penggal pertama selepas PRU13 sudahpun ditetapkan bermula 24 Jun ini seakan-akan ‘tidak bermakna’ bagi anggota pakatan DAP-PKR-PAS meskipun mereka kini mempunyai 89 kerusi daripada keseluruhan 222 kerusi Parlimen.

Persoalannya, dalam tempoh tujuh tahun lagi ke arah negara maju pada 2020, adakah corak berpolitik pakatan pembangkang ini boleh dinamakan politik matang?

Mengupas persoalan itu, Prof Madya Datuk Dr Samsul Adabi Mamat dari Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) berkata untuk Malaysia menjadi negara maju menuntut anjakan paradigma rakyat menjadi lebih matang dengan setiap pihak mengamalkan cara berpolitik berimbang dan penuh kesederhanaan.

Beliau berkata perbuatan seperti perhimpunan serta demonstrasi jalanan sebagai satu proses bangkangan dalam negara, merupakan ekspresi politik yang mampu mempengaruhi rakyat dan pada masa sama mendatangkan kerugian kepada negara dalam aspek ekonomi, sosial dan pembangunan.

“Politik yang matang adalah politik yang mengamalkan kesederhanaan dan berimbang berbanding politik ekstrem yang akan memusnahkan negara. Ini yang rakyat perlu faham,” katanya.

Pensyarah Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Kemanusiaan itu berkata kestabilan politik sahaja tidak mencukupi seandainya tidak disertai kematangan berpolitik.

Katanya ahli politik dan rakyat perlu faham bahawa negara bukan sahaja berdepan dengan cabaran dalam negara tetapi juga ancaman dari luar serta anasir asing yang bertujuan mewujudkan suasana tidak aman.

Samsul Adabi berkata kematangan berpolitik juga boleh membawa maksud bahawa masyarakat berpengetahuan tinggi dan mengerti tindak-tanduk serta boleh membuat analisis mudah perbuatan mana-mana pihak sama ada ia bagus atau buruk untuk negara.

Mengulas lanjut, beliau berkata Amerika Syarikat, Britain dan Jepun adalah contoh negara yang berjaya mengamalkan politik matang manakala Malaysia semakin bergerak ke hadapan menuju demokrasi yang progresif.

Keputusan PRU13 yang menyaksikan pertambahan kerusi yang dimenangi pakatan DAP-PKR-PAS dengan bilangan pengundi yang keluar mengundi mencecah 84.8 peratus turut mencerminkan rakyat mengamalkan demokrasi untuk melakukan perubahan melalui undi.

Namun mampukah pakatan pembangkang memainkan peranan mereka untuk mengawasi dan menegur kepada kerajaan atau hanya terus berpolitik dan memanipulasi sentimen dan emosi rakyat?

“Bangkangan perlulah dilakukan secara berhemah. Sekiranya bangkangan yang dilakukan melampau… maka kerajaan perlulah bertindak tegas kerana ia akan memberi ancaman dalam soal keselamatan,” katanya.

Sejauh mana pula unsur kebencian, fitnah, demonstrasi, maki hamun dalam berpolitik masa kini mampu menjamin perpaduan di kalangan kaum terus utuh di masa hadapan?

Mengamalkan elemen sedemikian, menurut Samsul Adabi hanya akan ‘membunuh’ rasa hormat sesama kaum di negara ini, bahkan akan mengheret negara ke arah kemunduran.

Aktivis sosial Khairil Hafizd Khairuddin, 31, berpendapat politik yang diamalkan di negara ini adalah separuh matang memandangkan tindakan sesetengahpihak yang lebih mengikut emosi sehingga menjejaskan ketenteraman awam.

Katanya kekurangan ilmu politik menjadi punca ada di kalangan rakyat mudah terpengaruh dan sanggup berdemonstrasi dan berhimpun tanpa memahami kesan perbuatan itu.

“Adalah tidak matang untuk mana-mana pihak menyuarakan rasa tidak berpuas hati menerusi demonstrasi atau perhimpunan atau apa jua bentuk kerana apalah gunanya Parlimen dibentuk jika permasalahan rakyat gagal disuarakan di sana, dan kenapa perlu memilih jalan raya?

“Pada saya ini semua bertujuan memburukkan imej kerajaan dan negara selain mahu menjayakan agenda pihak tertentu termasuk pihak asing,” katanya.

It seems that the more extreme one’s discourse is, the more it mesmerises and excites others. 

Lim Mun Fah, Sin Chew Daily 

The word sedition gets on many people’s nerves as it equates a jail term if convicted.

There was no lack of instigators historically, the most notorious one is the great dictator Adolf Hitler.

The common characteristic of an instigator is always under the guise of a patriot or nationalist, holding the fulcrum of morality and is adept at seditious discourses.

Take Adolf Hitler for instance, his charms, to a great extent derive from his volubility. His eloquence was even once analogised as a deadly excitant.

Adolf Hitler’s oratory is highly personalised. His refined language was dynamic. A ten minute speech of his is as inciting as a long one. It all attributed to his fomenting tongue. His tone is always aspirational, bringing his audience to a longing trance, mesmerizing them further to a restive abyss of total submission.

Most people are deeply interested not only in Hitler’s moustache that he wears above his mouth which is like a black sticking plaster the size of his nose, but also his unique delivery style inclusively which can be found from his biographical movies and documentaries. For example, he would not speak in full spate once he stepped on the stage but would play a trick of silence, letting his audience to quieten from unchecked nosiness. When the audience began to calm down and exchange murmurs, he would strike the chatterbox, from a monotonous tone to a haranguing one, building up a climax with hysterical effect.

The contents of Hitler’s talks prevail with his personal aspirations, calling others’ as well. “Country”, “nation”, “revitalisation” and “righteousness” are the key words of all his speeches.

“Our struggle has only two possible outcomes: it is either our enemy march on stepping our corpses or vice versa.” Most Germans were boiling with hot blood agitated by Hitler’s “quotations” and subsequently a historical havoc known as the Second World War was triggered.

Luckily, German is a nation who is ready to admit mistakes and start afresh. Eyeing the German’s rationality and self abstention redolent of the predominant Hitlerism in history, we cannot help but to wonder disbelievingly when the erstwhile Germans acted fanatically, in bigotry and stupidity abetted by an agitator.

We might sigh and carry grave misgivings knowing that an agitator like Hitler will have followers everywhere. Hitlerian discourses, given any time and context, will be marketable. Unfortunately, in Malaysia, similar instigators and market for instigators do exist.

Immediately after the general elections, reconciliation and rational calling is comparatively bleak. Aggressive and provoking discourses are justified and going strong. It seems that the more extreme one’s discourse is, the more it mesmerises and excites others. Though these Hitler juniors are no match for the authentic Adolf Hitler in terms of charms and dexterity, they are like waiting tiny sparks, ever ready to kindle any fire anywhere to run their capers. Should we not beware?

(Phil Star) - Some 400 fighters and volunteers in the Royal Security Force (RSF) of the Sultanate of Sulu have engaged Malaysian security forces in a firefight in Kampung Dengan Tungku in Lahad Datu, Sabah on Monday afternoon, Abraham Idjirani, spokesman for the Sulu sultanate, said the fresh fighting was reported to him by Agbimuddin Kiram, brother of Sulu sultan Jamalul Kiram III and commander of the RSF.

Agbimuddin reported that the RSF fighters were moving through Dengan Tungku at about 1 p.m. when they encountered the Malaysian troops.

"There was a rather long exchange of fire. The RSF later was forced back into their base in Lahad Datu," Idjirani told the STAR.

Idjirani said the RSF did not sustain any casualty during the firefight. There was no information about casualties on the Malaysian side.

"The size of the RSF force involved in the fight would also give you an idea how large was the Malaysian force they had encountered. This only shows that Malaysia is really bent not to give up its hold on Sabah," said Idjirani.

Idjirani added that the clash in Dengan Tungku was also confirmed by Hajib Mujaha Hashim, chairman of the Moro National Liberation Front's Islamic Command Council.

Meanwhile, the sultanate of Sulu met with representatives of the Bayan Muna party list led by Satur Ocampo to tap the party's help in pushing for the Sabah issue at the House of Representatives. 

Idjirani said the Sulu sultanate handed over to Ocampo several legal and historical documents detailing the sultanate's claim over Sabah.

"We handed these documents for them to study. Ka Satur has promised that the Sabah issue will be pushed by Bayan Muna and seven other allied representatives at the House of Representatives," said Idjirani. 

(mStar) - Malaysia menyangkal dakwaan media Filipina mengenai berlaku pertempuran di antara pasukan keselamatan dengan kira-kira 400 tentera Sulu di daerah Lahad Datu.

Ketua Pengarah Kawasan Keselamatan Khas Pantai Timur (Esscom), Datuk Mohamad Mantek memberitahu The Star pada selasa bahawa dakwaan berlaku pertempuran itu adalah tidak masuk akal.

"Tiada insiden seperti itu berlaku.

"Tiada berlaku sebarang pencerobohan atau pergerakan sesiapa. Tiada apa-apa berlaku," katanya.

Menurut beliau, dakwaan sedemikian adalah berniat jahat dan bertujuan untuk mencetuskan huru-hara.

Mohamad berkata, polis sedang meneruskan siasatan terhadap seorang remaja perempuan berusia 14 tahun yang mendakwa diculik sekumpulan lelaki bertopeng di Kampung Tanagian, dalam Zon Tanjung Labian, Lahad Datu pada petang Isnin sebelum mereke menghilangkan diri.

Media Filipina melaporkan bahawa kira-kira 400 lelaki bersenjata Sulu bertempur dengan pasukan keselamatan Malaysia di Kampung Tungku dekat Lahad Datu pada petang Isnin.

Jurucakap kumpulan bersenjata Sulu, Abraham Idjirani mendakwa pertempuran itu dilaporkan kepadanya oleh Agbimuddin Kiram yang juga adik kepada Sultan Sulu, Jamalul Kiram.

Abraham mengakui mereka memasuki Kampung Tungku kira-kira pukul 1 petang sebelum bertembung dengan pasukan keselamatan Malaysia. 

(Bernama) - "Going to the same school increases the chances of togetherness. I'm the product of this kind of school" 

There is a need to rewrite Malaysian history books to include problems faced in the past and steps taken by the government to solve such issues, so as to offer a better understanding of the country's history to the younger generation.

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this move would also help Malaysia to establish a more educated society, and "thus create more vocal leaders."

It will also help unite Malaysians, create a rounded education for the young, he said in his keynote address titled Better Times Ahead for Malaysian Politics, Post General Elecetion-13 at the Perdana Leadership Foundation CEO Forum in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

"We need to do a lot of things. We should also learn from the history of other countries such as why the Arab Spring occurred.

"Then we ask ourselves, do we want this to happen in this country? "There are some people who literally say they want to see an Arab Spring in Malaysia. They prefer to ignore stability, peace and overthrow the leaders.

"Therefore, we need to settle down and understand what democracy is and tell them to trust the government," he added.

Touching on education, Dr Mahathir suggested that having a national school under one roof for all races, can keep Malaysia peaceful, united and will help build a better future for its citizens.

"The problem we face today is that we do not come together, and barely speak or use the national language. We should use it more (national language).

"We should have less segregation in schools for example, and make it compulsory to use and learn the national language," he said.

"Going to the same school increases the chances of togetherness. I'm the product of this kind of school," he said.

On learning the national language, Dr Mahathir was curious as some foreign diplomats who worked in other countries like Indonesia could master the language of that particular country, but not in Malaysia.

He said it was because Malaysians themselves communicated in English and not in their national language, and thus forgetting that language was one of the factors that unifies society.

The overwhelming majority of complaints to date on matters of serious concern, such as deaths in custody, have pertained to the police. This is a fact that cannot be ignored, just as we cannot blind ourselves to the fact that the EAIC simply does not enjoy the confidence of the majority of Malaysians, many of whom had not even heard of the commission until the current debate started.

Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, fz.com 

IN LATE May this year, Utah authorities arrested six individuals for the torture of their roommate, Thomas Chapman. They are alleged to have handcuffed him, repeatedly assaulted him with boards and sticks, kicked him repeatedly in the ribs and the head, and stapled his ears, chest and lips, all while he was being held at gunpoint. His assailants believed that Chapman had set one of them up earlier in the month.

Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/too-much-ask#ixzz2WcyjR2qt

The earth moves again as Terence Fernandez makes his exit from Malay Mail to join fz.com, a socio-political news portal owned by a corporate mover linked, at least once upon a time, to Anwar Ibrahim. The Star's Wong Sai Wan, one of the few Datuks in journalism, has already started at the Malay Mail in charge of Special Projects.

Rocky's Bru 

The biggest newsmaker would have been Datuk Syed Nadzri, who is the media adviser of RedBerry: the ex Group Editor of NST was tipped to be joining joining The Star as one of its directors with executive power BUT my man at the newspaper says it's NOT true. The post of NST group editor is still vacant. Wallahualambisawab.

p.s. Lionel and team comprising my ex Malay Mail staff Rita Jong and Muzliza, among others, will be starting work at TMI tomorrow. Terrence will start work at fz-com on August 1. 

Read more at: http://www.rockybru.com.my/2013/06/exodus-nst-as-insider-recruits.html 

Let us not forget that despite the protests, the state governments of Kelantan, Selangor and Penang have been sworn in. So, am I to understand elections were run “legitimately” in these states and not in the rest of the country? 

Adam Netto

As a Malaysian living abroad, I joined my fellow countrymen who made the trek down to respective consulates / embassies on the 28th of April 2013 to cast our vote. We had arrived at the same conclusion a while back that being thousands of miles away from the homeland would not prevent us from having our say in who should be given the reins of the country.

Sadly, though, since the 5th of May 2013, I have become more and more disillusioned with the state of politics in Malaysia. I am deeply disappointed with both sides across the political divide and I will explain why.

The protests led by Pakatan Rakyat that followed the results of the elections have been laughable. So, let me try to understand this. Pakatan Rakyat complained that the election were “rigged” to favor the ruling coalition way before the 5th of May 2013, took part nevertheless and started protesting when the results did not go their way? Personally, if I was going to place a bet and was certain beforehand that the game was “rigged”, saving myself those few dollars would be a very simple choice. Some may dispute this analogy but I believe there were two choices here. Play the game, knowing it is “rigged”, and accept the results gracefully or decide to boycott the “game” and bring world attention onto the matter. Let us not forget that despite the protests, the state governments of Kelantan, Selangor and Penang have been sworn in. So, am I to understand elections were run “legitimately” in these states and not in the rest of the country?

Another issue that has been eating at me is the Lahad Datu incursion that occurred shortly before the elections which resulted in the unfortunate loss of life of our servicemen. We were given daily updates by all local news outlets and then all that stopped. What has happened since? Were we not technically at a “state of war”? Have they captured all remaining intruders? Are we looking to extradite their leader in Philippines? What are we doing to prevent something similar reoccurring? Instead of spending his time running around the country organizing protest rallies, should not the leader of the Opposition be asking these very important questions?

On the other side of the political divide, the ruling coalition has been given a fresh mandate. Instead of putting the elections behind them and using this mandate to chart a path forward for Malaysia in very challenging economical times, all component parties of the ruling coalition are more interested in upcoming party elections.

Pray tell, who is running the country?

Malaysian student Bong Meen Szer (center) takes part in calligraphy contest at Xiamen University. She welcomed the college's plan to open a campus in Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. 

(China Daily) - Cross-border expansion signifies China's growing clout and rising world interest in country, report Luo Wangshu in Chongqing, Cao Yin in Beijing and Wang Hongyi in Shanghai.

Loke Pui Yan has been studying for her master's degree at Xiamen University in Fujian province since the autumn. The campus, which is along a beach, is a sight to behold. It is scattered with elegant historical buildings, enjoys pleasant weather and ocean breezes, and almost, but not quite, erases any feelings Loke has of culture shock and homesickness.

Although the 29-year-old Malaysian has enjoyed her studies and her stay in China, she was thrilled to learn that the college is ready to establish a campus in her homeland.

Xiamen University will be the first Chinese college to open a campus abroad to showcase its ideas and culture, improve China's image in the world and enhance relations with other countries.

Unlike Western universities, which have flocked to China, the country has come late to the party.

Now it is trying to play catch-up and ride the globalization of the education business.

Over the past decades, a large number of overseas universities have come to China to set up joint institutions and exchange programs. The Ministry of Education put the number of joint projects now at about 1,500, including Shanghai New York University, Wenzhou Kean University and Kunshan Duke University.

But the number of Chinese higher education institutes going out and establishing cooperation with overseas education bodies is small, although the Chinese government is supporting the internationalization of higher education to spread influence in the world, a process known as soft diplomacy.

Zhang Xiuqin, director of international cooperation and exchanges at the Ministry of Education, said China will support and help eligible universities to go out and globalize.

Xiamen University announced in February it will be the first one to take the step. And in May, Zhejiang University, one of the nation's top-five colleges, said it will also build a campus in London. It also has signed a Memorandum of Understanding for furthering academic collaboration with London University's Imperial College.

Innovative model

"This is indeed an exciting opportunity but needs much innovative effort," said Song Yonghua, executive vice-president of Zhejiang University, speaking of the establishment of the London campus.

He said Zhejiang University and Imperial College will start exploring the feasibility of establishing facilities in the new Imperial West campus for joint academic activities.

Xu Liping, deputy director of the South Asian Studies Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said, "It is innovative for Chinese universities to go abroad to show their educational ideas and culture."

Most activities so far between Chinese universities and foreign institutes are too simple and superficial, and do not provide long-term development, Xu said.

Chinese universities started to expand toward the end of the 20th century. With the fast development of colleges, many universities are seeking international cooperation, including faculty collaboration and student exchange programs.

In addition to these programs, most Chinese universities reach foreign counterparts through Confucius Institutes, offering language and cultural classes.

However, setting up campuses and granting degrees is still a new field.

"Xiamen University is attempting to break through the superficial educational or teaching communications between countries," Xu said, adding it will be good for China to improve its image in the world and enhance its relationship with neighbors.

Xiamen University's 60-hectare Malaysia campus will be built in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, at a cost of about 1.26 billion yuan ($205 million).

Construction will start in January 2014 and recruitment will begin in the autumn of 2015. The first class intake will be 500 students.

The student population will number 5,000 by 2020. The campus is ambitious to become home to 10,000 students, including 9,000 undergraduates and 1,000 graduate students.

Five majors will be open to students in the first stage at the Malaysia campus: Chinese language and culture, Chinese medicine, computer sciences, economics and electronic engineering. All lectures will be in English, except for those on Chinese language and culture and Chinese medicine.

Read more at: http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-06/17/content_16628675.htm 

We expect the police to be like the Lotus plant which lives, stands upright and displays its beauty even in filthy ponds – we each have to excel at what we do. Yet, the police have to deal with bad folks more frequently than the rest of us. Period. It’s not easy to remain different from the bad folks. And therein lies the challenge: bad folks taunt us; bad folks mock us; bad folks hurt us.

write2rest 

Read more at: http://write2rest.blogspot.nl/2013/06/the-reason-cops-shouldnt-abuse-suspects.html 

(Channel News Asia) - Both Mr Shanmugam and Dr Balakrishnan referred to the claim by an Indonesian Forestry Ministry official in the media that Malaysian and Singapore palm oil companies that had invested in Indonesia may be responsible for starting the fires in Riau.

Singapore Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said there is a need to exert commercial pressure against companies causing the haze.

Singapore has asked Indonesia to name the errant companies involved in illegal burning.

The primary responsibility to take legal and enforcement actions against these companies lie with Indonesia - as they have clearly violated Indonesian laws within Indonesian jurisdiction.

This was highlighted in a joint statement by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

Earlier, Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam and Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan had spoken to their Indonesian counterparts - Indonesian Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Marty Natalegawa and Indonesian Environment Minister Dr Balthasar Kambuaya - to register Singapore's strong concerns about the worsening haze situation.

The two ministers highlighted that Singapore's PSI had breached 150 on Monday, and had entered the unhealthy zone.

The Singaporean ministers emphasised the urgency of the situation while also reaffirming Singapore's commitment to help Indonesia fight the fires in Sumatra.

Dr Balakrishnan requested that Indonesia share relevant information to improve monitoring of hotspots and land clearing activities.

This had been agreed between Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand in October 2012.

Read more at: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/s-pore-urges-indonesia-to/714724.html 

(CNet) - Popular mobile chat app warned of possible blockage after voice and messaging app Viber was blocked last week.

Saudi Arabia plans to block WhatsApp in coming weeks if the makers of the mobile chat app don't comply with local regulations.

The warning comes after the Communications and Information Technology Commission blocked popular voice and messaging app Viber last week.

"We have been communicating with WhatsApp and other similar communication platforms to get them to cooperate and comply with the Saudi telecom providers, however nothing has come of this communication yet," Abdullah Al-Darrab, governor of the CITC, told English languageArab News.

One of the regulations stipulates that WhatsApp establish a local server that allows officials to monitor user activity, Al-Darrab told the news agency.

Read more at: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57589517-93/saudi-arabia-may-block-whatsapp-within-weeks/ 

Zaid Ibrahim

Some of my friends have been somewhat critical of my tweets and blog posts lately, simply because I have been commenting on UMNO and even praising Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The less sophisticated have interpreted this as my way of trying to get back into the UMNO fold. But the truth is it’s UMNO season and whatever happens in the party will affect all of us, whether we like it or not. Given that, I write with the hope that some of what I say can, in some small way, influence the delegates and the party chiefs.

Uppermost in the UMNO vocabulary is the expression of the Malay Agenda, a potpourri of rights and entitlements that the party claims is fundamental for the Malays. This will be the main thrust of the party leaders’ speeches during the upcoming UMNO General Assembly. With the results of GE13 and the Chinese and Indian communities’ rejection of UMNO/the Barisan Nasional, it’s natural to expect that everyone will have a wild time bashing the Chinese. Some nutty ones will ask for the Treason Act to be enacted—they will want the Chinese to be sent back to China and Islam and the Malay Rulers to be strengthened. These are the kind of steps the unthinking Malays in UMNO will be clamouring for, but all that will lead to is yet another show of misplaced anger and another round of wasted time.

It would be far more constructive if they were to instead talk sensibly about why the Malay/Bumiputera community has been steadily leaving UMNO. It’s no use ridiculing them for being “ungrateful”; instead, focus on the plight of young voters and how to overcome their concerns. To get these young voters back, party leaders have to offer more than just slogans and speeches laden with racial overtones. They need to address corruption, abuse of power, the wastage of resources and mindless bureaucracy. If Malay leaders could be honest enough to admit it, they would recognise that giving more power to the Malay Rulers and “strengthening Islam” (whatever that means) will not solve these problems.

To be useful, the Malay Agenda has to be introspective. UMNO can continue to take the easy way out and just blame the Chinese, the ungrateful Malays and everyone else, but one of the most cited reasons why people are not supporting the party is the corruption of its leaders. Corruption denotes a system where those with money are able to overcome any policy or rule because the leaders are corruptible. So UMNO can shout “Hidup Melayu” loudly and clearly, but if the decision-maker, who is invariably Malay, can be bought then no policy or special privilege will save the Malays. Prime Minister and UMNO President Dato Sri Najib Razak mistakenly describes this as a perception problem, when it is all too real. To continue to deny this is a sign of weakness and unwillingness to address the future of his own people.

Then look at education; if Umno thinks they should get more Malays to the universities because they can increase the quota then think again; these unemployed or unemployable graduates will be the ones who will pull them down in the next election. Its better to have  Malays / Bumiputras skilled  at the highest level by giving them proper training  in business and technical know how than sending them to universities .Just to increase the number of graduates so we have more than the Chinese is a silly strategy unless the standards are high and employment is assured. Learn from Singapore where they limit the number of graduates as a proportion of their population. Unemployed graduates and especially the unemployable ones are ripe for street marches.

READ MORE HERE

Hence we are going to see a battle to decide not only the new Umno leadership but the direction Umno is to take over these next four or five years leading to the 14th General Election. Those who feel that Umno needs to appeal to the middle ground will back Najib. Those who feel that Najib has ‘sold out’ to the non-Malays will oppose him.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is attempting to keep the divide within Umno under wraps with his call that the top two posts in the party not be contested, said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.

He said that after Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the general election, Umno is undergoing a period of uncertainty and is currently mulling two options.

The options are whether to become more Malay-centric in its approach or to convert BN into a single party for all races.

“Mahathir is trying to keep the fight between the respective factions in support of either options within Umno’s walls."

“If there is contest for the top posts, the battle may come out in the open and the party will become a target for its opponents,” said Khoo.

Yesterday, Mahathir backed the growing calls within Umno circles to leave Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin to remain party president and deputy president respectively.

He said the contest for the top two positions would split Umno, like what happened in 1987, when then Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah challenged Mahathir for the presidency.

“Going by the democratic practice, we should have contests but Malaysians do not really understand the practice."

“If they lose, they will quit the party and set up another, causing the Malays and Umno to split further, “ Mahathir was reported as saying.

Khoo said that at the end of the day, it did not matter who was helming Umno as the real decision makers in the party would be its supreme council members.

“The real focus should be on its supreme council as they will decide on which direction the party president will have to take."

“So even if Najib wants to push forward his liberal ideas, his fate will be determined by the supreme council,” he said.

However as a democratic party, Khoo said Umno members should allow contest for all posts in the party.

“And Umno will see 150,000 of its delegates participating in the party election this time around,” he added.

Nottingham Malaysia University analyst Zaharom Nain said that it did not matter whether Najib or Muhyiddin led Umno as the right wing faction in the party is getting stronger.

“Would it really make much of a difference if it is Najib or Muhyiddin? Push comes to shove, aren’t they but mirror images of one other?"

“Indeed, bottom line is that the right-wing faction in Umno is getting stronger and both leaders are invariably constrained by this,” said Zaharom.

(READ MORE HERE)

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Students of history will know that the tussle between King Henry VIII and Rome was more than just about getting the Pope’s permission to divorce his Queen. That is the more popular notion, of course, because that sounds more ‘romantic’. But there are other more crucial factors to be considered in the reason behind England’s break from Rome.

The church throughout Europe was very rich. The church owned 20% of the land and the noblemen another 20%. And the serfs paid the church (and the nobles) heavy taxes to work this land -- money that the church sent to Rome. Hence Rome was a source of ‘capital flight’ that for centuries had been ‘stealing’ the wealth of England.

Europe, England included, was perpetually involved in wars and this drained the treasury. It came to a stage that the state coffers had dried up and the only way the Crown could get its hands on more money was to raise taxes (which means, of course, tax the nobles) or confiscate the church's property (which was exempted from taxes) and stop the outflow of wealth to Rome.

Henry VIII decided on the latter and overnight the King of England became the richest monarch in Europe (after hovering on the verge of bankruptcy). He, of course, had to burn the Catholic churches and kill all the Catholic priests in the process.

King Charles I, about 100 years later, faced the same financial crisis that Henry VIII faced -- and for the same reason as well, wars. But there were no church properties to confiscate so be raised taxes (meaning the nobles now had to pay higher taxes).

This upset the nobles who protested (together with the rakyat, who the nobles transferred the increased taxes to) and this caused a split between the pro-monarchs and the anti-monarchs. Not long after that the English Civil War broke out and England became a Republic after the execution of the King.

Just like in the case of Henry VIII, the popular notion is that Charles and Parliament disagreed on issues involving Christianity. Hence it was a ‘Sunni-Shia’ conflict of sorts. However, money was very much the factor in all this with religion being the excuse to go to war.

And so on and so forth for all the other conflicts and revolutions throughout Europe as well over 100 years from the early 1800s to the early 1900s. At the end of the day, money was always the reason to go to war and to kill each other -- with other factors being cited as the more ‘noble’ reason.

The point to all these stories is that what you see is not always what you get. You think you know the reason for what happened -- or for what is going on -- but you never really know what is ‘behind the scenes’.

So, what do you understand about what is currently going on in Umno? Is this about the recent general election on 5th May 2013? Is this about how poorly Najib Tun Razak performed compared to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi on 8th March 2008?

Actually, Umno is not concerned about the results of the recent general election -- or at least they are not too concerned. They already knew back in 2012 that the best-case scenario was a win of 145 Parliament seats and the worst-case scenario was only 130 seats. Hence 133 seats is still within the ‘boundary’ although not as good as the 140 seats in 2008. And they won the states they expected to win and lost the states they expected to lose. So no big deal there as well.

So what is really going on in Umno then if this is not an aftershock to the 5th May 2013 general election? After all, Umno did increase its seats to 88 from just 79 in 2008. So it actually performed better by winning an additional nine seats.

What is going on in Umno is a power struggle between the rightists and the centrists. Umno is finally trying to decide whether it will move in the direction that Najib would like to bring it -- that is, to be more liberal -- or to move more towards the right -- that is, to be more Malay-centric and nationalistic.

Najib represents the face of liberal Umno. And the ultra-Malays do not like that. These people feel that Najib wasted his time in trying too hard to become a Prime Minister for all Malaysians when the non-Malays want Umno dead anyway. And the voting pattern of the non-Malays, in particular the Chinese, in the recent general election proved that Najib was barking up the wrong tree.

These people are of the opinion that Najib should have focused on the Malays and should have spent more resources on the Malays rather than try to woo the non-Malays. And the voting pattern proved that there is no way Umno can woo the non-Malays, not even with money, budgets and promises of this, that and the other.

Even the Umno ‘running dogs’ such as MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, etc., which used to be able to get a reasonable level of non-Malay support in the past, can no longer do so. And PSY and his ‘Gangnam Style’ could not do it as well.

The 5th May 2013 ‘wakeup call’ did wake Umno up. It is not that it did not. In fact, Umno already ‘woke up’ back in March 2008. It is just that they took a long time to stir out of bed after waking up. But now Umno has fully woken up to the fact that it needs to get its house in order.

But what do we mean by ‘getting its house in order’? Your interpretation of what that means may not be quite the same as Umno’s interpretation. To me, getting your house in order means more liberalism and democracy so that you can appeal to the ‘middle ground’. To the rightists in Umno, ‘getting its house in order’ would mean being more Malay-centric and nationalistic so that you can appeal to the rural and nationalist Malays.

Hence we are going to see a battle to decide not only the new Umno leadership but the direction Umno is to take over these next four or five years leading to the 14th General Election. Those who feel that Umno needs to appeal to the middle ground will back Najib. Those who feel that Najib has ‘sold out’ to the non-Malays will oppose him.

It does not matter whether Najib is going to be challenged or not in the party’s general assembly. Pak Lah was not challenged either. Pak Lah was not ousted during the general assembly. He was ousted after that. And that too will be when Najib is going to be ousted if he is ousted -- after the general assembly.

And if Najib is ousted that is going to mean only one thing -- and that is Umno is moving to the right and the liberals in Umno will no longer have a voice. And that can only bring Malaysia deeper into racial politics at the risk of exploding some time in the future to fulfill Lim Kit Siang’s prophecy of a time bomb ticking away in Malaysia.

(The Star) - The Court of Appeal has ordered the terrorism case of former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee Yazid Sufaat to be heard before a new High Court judge.

The panel led by Justice Abu Samah Nordin allowed the prosecution's appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to acquit and discharge Yazid and cafeteria helper Muhammad Hilmi Hasim of charges of promoting acts of terrorism in strife-torn Syria.

"The learned judge had erred in his interpretation of the charges. It did not refer to acts of terrorism outside the country," Justice Abu Samah said Tuesday.

He added that counsel for Yazid, Amer Hamzah Arshad had conceded that threats to security could come from within or outside the country.

"The judge also misconstrued Article 149 (of the Federal Constitution), the charge against the respondents (Yazid and Muhammad Hilmi) are within the scope of Article 149," ruled Justice Abu Samah.

The panel, which also included Justices Zawawi Salleh and Azhar Mohamed, remitted the case back to the Kuala Lumpur High Court and fixed June 24 for next mention.

The court also set Aug 5 for the case mention of religious teacher Halimah Hussein, charged with abetting Yazid in the same case.

Counsel Amer applied for a stay of proceedings, saying that the High Court had ordered all three be tried together pending the appeal.

Deputy public prosecutor Datuk Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria raised no objection to the application, which was allowed by the panel.

The Court of Appeal had, on May 31, issued a warrant of arrest for Halimah, who is the second respondent in the prosecution's appeal and has so far failed to appear in court.

Amer had submitted that even if the case was ordered to go to trial, it should be done through the Criminal Procedure Code, not the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) which would deny the accused certain liberties in the trial.

"Let us see their witnesses face to face, so we can cross examine them, not have them hidden behind some veil of secrecy," said Amer.

Under Sosma, the prosecution would be allowed to use witness testimony without requiring the witness to attend court.

On Feb 8, Yazid was charged with promoting acts of terrorism in Syria.

Halimah and Muhammad Hilmi were later charged with abetting Yazid at a house in Ampang between August and October, last year.

The three were alleged to have "threatened the public in Syria" with these acts, the penalty for which is up to 30 years' jail and a fine under Section 130G (a) of the Penal Code.

They were the first people to be arrested under Sosma.

On May 20, High Court Judge Kamardin Hashim ruled that the Act could not be used against the three, as it was went beyond the scope of Article 149 of the Federal Constitution, which covered only domestic terrorism.

He said Sosma could not be used as a procedure to prove the charge against Yazid, 49, Muhammad Hilmi, 33, and Halimah, 52.

Yazid was detained under the ISA in 2001 for seven years on suspicion of being involved with the Jemaah Islamiyah militant group.

Md Izwan, TMI

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad admitted today he might have made a mistake in giving guarantees for internet freedom, which has been blamed for empowering and enabling opposition parties to win more seats in Election 2013.

The former prime minister said if he had the opportunity to do so again he would reconsider his decision to grant absolute freedom for the internet when setting up the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) in 1996.

"When I headed the MSC, I was asked by an American woman whether we would block the internet.

"I told her no, we will be very free... but now I will think twice about it," Dr Mahathir said at the closing of the CEO Forum 2013 at the Berjaya Times Square in Kuala Lumpur today.

READ MORE HERE

Several analysts say that the growing calls of no contest for Umno's top two posts is an attempt to conceal the divide in the party. 

Nottingham Malaysia University analyst Zaharom Nain said that it did not matter whether Najib or Muhyiddin led Umno as the right wing faction in the party is getting stronger.

G Vinod, FMT

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad is attempting to keep the divide within Umno under wraps with his call that the top two posts in the party not be contested, said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.

He said that after Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the general election, Umno is undergoing a period of uncertainty and is currently mulling two options.

The options are whether to become more Malay centric in its approach or to convert BN into a single party for all races.

“Mahathir is trying to keep the fight between the respective factions in support of either options within Umno’s walls.

“If there is contest for the top posts, the battle may come out in the open and the party will become a target for its opponnents,” said Khoo.

Yesterday, Mahathir backed the growing calls within Umno circles to leave Najib Tun Razak and Muhyiddin Yassin to remain party president and deputy president respectively.

He said the contest for the top two positions would split Umno, like what happened in 1987, when then Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah challenged Mahathir for the presidency.

“Going by the democratic practice, we should have contests but Malaysians do not really understand the practice.

“If they lose, they will quit the party and set up another, causing the Malays and Umno to split further, “ Mahathir was reported as saying.

Khoo said that at the end of the day, it did not matter who was helming Umno as the real decision makers in the party would be its supreme council members.

“The real focus should be on its supreme council as they will decide on which direction the party president will have to take.

“So even if Najib wants to push forward his liberal ideas, his fate will be determined by the supreme council,” he said.

However as a democratic party, Khoo said Umno members should allow contest for all posts in the party.

READ MORE HERE

The Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong claims that the Bahasa Malaysia translation of the Federal Constitution is leading to a lot of misinterpretation.

G Lavendran, FMT

Malaysian Bar president Christopher Leong claims that the Bahasa Malaysia version of the Federal Constitution is causing a lot of confusion when translated.

And all, I repeat, ALL, these people pay ‘protection money’ to the police. So is this not Chinese bribing Malays? Hence if Chinese do not respect Malays for taking bribes do we respect the Chinese for bribing Malays? Again, just like the ex-Mufti regarding the issue of criticising the monarchs, the ex-IGP did not explain this part.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

From time to time, friends contact me to tell me that they or so-and-so within our ‘circle’ are not happy with me. They then cite my ‘stand’ as the reason for their unhappiness. Some have even ‘deleted’ me from their Skype or Blackberry contact list so that I can no longer reach them. Others ignore my text messages or emails as a ‘message’ that I am no longer ‘in their life’.

Invariably, most of these people are ‘new’ friends -- people who have become my friends since 2007-2008 or since the days of Reformasi-Free Anwar Campaign of 2000.

On the reverse side, quite a number who had been my friends since the 1960s (my school days) or the 1970s-1980s (my working days) stopped being my friends after 2000 because they did not agree with my ‘stand’ -- meaning I supported Reformasi-Anwar Ibrahim and they did not: so they are not happy with me.

At the end of the day, the termination of our friendship is all about their happiness or unhappiness. When I make them unhappy by taking a ‘stand’ opposite to them then I cease to be their friends. In other words, our continued friendship depends on whether I can continue to make them happy. And if I cannot continue to make them happy then our friendship has to end.

None of these people ask me about my happiness. It is all about their happiness. And if I am unable to make them happy then our friendship has to end. It is a one-way street. It is only about their happiness. My happiness or unhappiness does not factor into our friendship. As long as they are happy it does not matter whether I am happy or unhappy. My happiness or unhappiness is not a criterion to our friendship.

I suppose this reveals the true character (or lack of character) of these ex-friends of mine. Our friendship is based on how I can make them happy. And if I cannot make them happy, or cannot continue to make them happy, then they see no value in being friends with me.

I wonder what type of marriage these people have. Is their marriage based on whether their spouse can make them happy? And if their spouse cannot make them happy then they would consider it a bad marriage, I suppose.  Their marriage is not based on whether they can make their spouse happy. It is about whether their spouse can make them happy.

This is the same very selfish attitude of voters all over the world -- never mind whether it is in first-world or third-world countries. They vote for people who can make them happy. It is about their happiness and not about what is good for society or good the country. It is always about me…me…me.

If you can promise the voters cheap houses, cheap cars, cheap petrol, no tax, more and better highways, no toll charges, higher salaries, lower cost of living, no council tax, free schooling, free healthcare, and much more, then they will vote for you.

But how do you pay for all this? Who will be paying for all this? Over the long term is this good for the country’s financial health? Can the country sustain itself with no taxes while giving away everything free?

That, of course, is of no concern to the voters. They want no taxes and everything free. That will make them happy. Even if that is not good for the country it is okay just as long as they are happy. Their happiness comes first. The country’s ‘health’ comes last.

Never mind whether it is friends, family or voters, the same rule applies. If you make me happy I am your friend/supporter. If you cannot then I have absolutely no use for you. Whether the relationship also makes you happy is of no consequence to me. This is just about me…me…me.

This is what was reported in Free Malaysia Today:

While openly disagreeing with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is permissible, there is a limit to it, says ex-mufti.

Openly disagreeing with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and royal family is permissible but criticisms have to be constructive and polite, a former mufti said today.

Ex-Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said today it was not wrong to disagree with the King and kin, as they are “not Allah and the prophet (Muhammad), but human beings like the rest of us”. (Read more here).

I am both happy and unhappy with this statement (yes, this is now about MY happiness). I am happy because I have been constantly criticised regarding my ‘distorted’ views on Islam and now we have one of the most renowned Muftis saying what I have been saying for so long. So that makes me happy. I am happy when people agree with me and prove me right. I am unhappy when they do not agree with me.

And is this not how most of you look at things as well? You used to be very happy when Michelle Yeoh, a Malaysian Chinese, became world-famous. This shows that the Chinese are great. But you are now unhappy because she supports Barisan Nasional. This shows that the Chinese are sometimes ‘stupid’. The fact that the Chinese have been ‘stupid’ for more than 50 years since 1955 does not matter. That is in the past. Today, the Chinese are already clever and Michelle Yeoh is spoiling everything by showing that some Chinese are still ‘stupid’.

Is Michelle Yeoh happy? That does not matter. This is not about her happiness. Her happiness is of no consequence. This is only about your happiness -- me...me…me.

Okay, I am both happy and unhappy with the ex-Mufti’s statement. I am happy that finally someone with the ‘right’ religious credentials agrees with what I have been saying and thus proving that my views are not ‘distorted’. But I am unhappy because he did not also say that monarchs do not exist in Islam. Why did the ex-Mufti not go one step further and argue that Islam does not recognise monarchies?

So, he says that it is not wrong in criticising the monarchs. But then is it wrong if we also criticise the monarchy? There is a difference here. Criticising the monarch is different from criticising the monarchy. Criticising the monarch is criticising the person while criticising the monarchy is criticising the system.

For example, we may criticise the Election Commission but that does not mean we are also criticising the manner in which we choose our government -- meaning through Parliamentary and State elections. So, criticising one does not mean we are also criticising the other.

The ex-IGP too has criticised the Malays. (Why do all these people criticise something only when they are ‘ex’ and not while they are still in office?). The ex-IGP (read more here) said that the Chinese do not respect the Malays because the Malays are corrupt.

Fair comment, I suppose. But the ex-IGP’s interpretation of ‘corruption’ is merely regarding receiving bribes. What about the act of giving bribes? Should the Malays now also not respect the Chinese because they pay bribes?

I know sometimes Malays bribe Malays while Chinese bribe Chinese. However, most of the civil servants and police officers are Malays and these are the people who take bribes. Hence the bribe-takers, as what the ex-IGP is implying, are Malays. But then whom are the ones paying these bribes?

The underworld, triads and prostitution, loan shark, gambling and drug syndicates are Chinese-run. I have, in fact, personally met many of their bosses and many hold Datuk and Tan Sri titles. They are actually very nice people (until you cross them) and I know I am well protected with them as my friends. So don’t try to threaten my life or else you will end up in a mining pool.

And all, I repeat, ALL, these people pay ‘protection money’ to the police. So is this not Chinese bribing Malays? Hence if Chinese do not respect Malays for taking bribes do we respect the Chinese for bribing Malays? Again, just like the ex-Mufti regarding the issue of criticising the monarchs, the ex-IGP did not explain this part.

Anyway, what is the definition of corruption? Is corruption only about receiving money? There are many types of corruption. Corruption is not just about receiving money.

Let’s go through some examples. There are many but for purposes of this article allow me to highlight a few.

The government says that 90% of the personal income tax is paid by the Chinese. This tax is then used to build mosques. So, technically, the taxpayers are paying for these mosques. But then the non-Muslims, say the Christians, are not at liberty to build churches.

The Christians are not even asking for the government to pay for the building of these churches. They are prepared to pay for the cost themselves. They just want permission to build the churches. But even this is not easy to obtain.

Is this not another form of corruption?

UiTM is 100% Malay and it is funded by the government from money paid by the taxpayers. The non-Malays pay 90% of the tax to build schools that are 100% Malay. Is this not yet another form of corruption?

So corruption is not just about Malays receiving bribes from the Chinese. There are so many forms of corruption. The only thing is we do not call it corruption. We call it the New Economic Policy.

Why are the IGPs and DIGPs Malay? Are there no Chinese, Indians, Sikhs, etc., who are equally qualified or better qualified to become the IGP or DIGP? Why must only Malays hold top positions in the government, police, military, GLCs, etc?

Is this not corruption when the better candidate is by-passed because of race in favour of a less capable Malay?

We need to broaden our perspective regarding the meaning of corruption. Bribes is merely one and very basic form of corruption. Corruption extends beyond just the act of receiving bribes. And Islam is not just about criticising the person (like a monarch) but also about criticising the system (like the monarchy).

You cannot be a little bit pregnant. You also cannot criticise the dog collar when it is the dog that bit you.

With four days to go before the Black 505 rally in Padang Merbok, PKR is going ahead and making preparations for the event on Saturday.

Leven Woon, FMT

PKR has started making preparations to use Padang Merbok in Kuala Lumpur as the venue for the Black 505 rally on Saturday.

PKR strategic director Rafizi Ramli told FMT today that they had set up a technical team headed by the rally chief organiser Johari Abdul and PAS deputy president Mohd Sabu.

Asked what if the field is fenced up later this week, he said they would still congregate at Padang Merbok.

“Our technical team will make contingency plans, including crowd control for the day,” he said.

The Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) has reject PKR’s application to use the venue last week saying that the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) need to use it on Saturday to prepare for a charity run the next day, preserve the landscape surrounding Padang Merbok and to avoid traffic congestion.

Both the parties met last Friday but failed to come to an agreement, with PKR saying they would consult the NGOs involved before making the final decision.

Rafizi said today the rally slated for noon on Saturday would not coincide with the scheduled preparations of OCM which would only begin after 6pm.

“As far as we are told by the DBKL, OCM can only put up things after 6pm. That’s no such thing that our rally will interfere with OCM’s preparations.

“Besides, they will not even use the field while the run will begin and end at Dataran Merdeka,” he said.

He also said NGO leaders such as Anything But Umno’s Haris Ibrahim and Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia’s Badrul Hisham Shaharin had agreed to the arrangements.

Pakatan Rakyat has been organising a string of Black 505 rallies nationwide in protest of the alleged frauds in the recent 13th General Election.

"Dalam surat itu, Tsu Koon memaklumkan bahawa beliau perlu melaporkan perkara itu kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Pulau Pinang ketika itu, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.”

(Sinar Harian) - Ahli Parlimen Tanjung, Ng Wei Aik mempersoalkan tindakan kerajaan negeri yang diterajui Gerakan sebelum ini berhubung kebenaran pembinaan Menara Umno dibina sebelum pelan pembangunannya dikemukakan dan diluluskan.

Menurutnya, kerajaan tempatan ketika itu membenarkan bangunan itu dibangunkan seperti yang dimohon kontraktor di atas klasifikasi sebagai kerja khas iaitu pada 23 Disember 1995, sedangkan pelan bangunan yang pertama diserahkan selepas dua tahun iaitu pada 31 Julai 1997 manakala pelan yang diubahsuai pula dihantar pada 24 Julai 1998.

“Bagaimana kerajaan negeri ketika itu tunduk kepada Umno negeri dengan membenarkan kerja bermula walaupun pelan bangunan itu belum dikemuka?

Jika kita lihat dari sejarah terdahulu, pada 1 Oktober 1996, Timbalan Ketua Menteri ketika itu, Datuk Seri Mohd Shariff Omar telah melawat bangunan berkenaan seolah-olah 'merestui' ia dibangunkan walaupun pembinaan pelan bangunan masih belum diserahkan.

“Selepas itu, bekas Ketua Menteri, Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon pula mengeluarkan satu surat kepada Exco kerajaan negeri, Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan untuk bertanya kepadanya alasan mengapa berlaku kelewatan di dalam projek berkenaan.

"Dalam surat itu, Tsu Koon memaklumkan bahawa beliau perlu melaporkan perkara itu kepada Timbalan Perdana Menteri dan Pengerusi Badan Perhubungan Umno Pulau Pinang ketika itu, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,” katanya kepada media di tapak kejadian semalam.

Ketika dihubungi, Hock Nan berkata, kejadian itu berpunca daripada 'masalah teknikal yang berlaku semasa bencana alam' yang mana arkitek dan jurutera terlibat tidak dapat meramalkan bahawa penebat kilat itu akan jatuh dari bangunan berkenaan.

“Terdapat banyak bangunan lain dengan struktur yang sama seperti di Menara Umno namun, selagi arkitek bertanggungjawab bersedia untuk membayar denda jika mereka tidak mematuhi garis panduan, prosedur dan pelan bangunan, saya rasa itu tidak menimbulkan masalah. Kita mengadakan garis panduan dan prosedur yang ketat serta telus pada masa bangunan itu dibangunkan.

“Arkitek yang dilantik juga adalah dari sebuah syarikat antarabangsa terkenal dan pernah memenangi anugerah di peringkat antarabangsa berikutan hasil kerja mereka setaraf dengan anugerah yang diberikan.

Apa yang Wei Aik cuba sampaikan dengan mengajukan soalan sebegini?” katanya.

Menurutnya, Wei Aik tidak sepatutnya menyalahkan mana-mana pihak berikutan apa yang lebih penting ialah memastikan kejadian itu tidak berlaku lagi pada masa akan datang.

“Persoalan beliau dilihat seperti cuba untuk memberi gambaran bahawa kerajaan negeri sebelum ini membenarkan bangunan itu dibina dengan cepat seperti yang dimahukan Umno tanpa mengambil kira keselamatan orang awam.

“Kenyataan itu sangat tidak bertanggungjawab dan tidak wajar dikeluarkan. Tidak wajar untuk mewujudkan kebencian rakyat terhadap  pentadbiran kerajaan sebelum ini terutama kepada keluarga dan rakan-rakan mangsa,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Ketua Pemuda Umno, Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin berkata, bangunan itu dibina pada 1998.

“Seingat saya, bangunan ini dibina pada 1998 iaitu ketika Anwar selaku orang pertama dalam Umno di negeri ini. Oleh itu, saya tidak boleh komen lebih berhubung status bangunan ini serta reka bentuknya.

“Jika sesiapa yang hendak tahu lebih berhubung perkara ini, sila bertanya kepada Anwar kerana saya percaya, beliau lebih tahu semuanya,” katanya.

(The Star) - Organisers of an Opposition rally here on Saturday say they are not out to create an “Arab Spring” and have no intention to bring down the Government.

“This is our end route to call for free and fair elections,” said social activist and blogger Badrul Hisham Shaharin.

He added that the organisers would comply with police directives at the rally and hand over any troublemaker during the event.

The so-called “black” rally at Padang Merbok, however, is deemed illegal because the organisers have allegedly failed to meet the requirements of the Peaceful Assembly Act and get approval from City Hall to use the field.

Furthermore, the Olympic Council of Malaysia had booked the field in preparation for an Olympic Run that would be held on Sunday.

Mayor Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib had suggested that the rally be held at a stadium but the proposal has been shot down by the organisers.

(The Arab Spring refers to the wave of demonstrations that led to riots and civil wars in the Arab world since 2010, forcing governments to fall in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Yemen.)

Badrul Hisham, who chairs NGO Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) and blogs under the name Chegubard, said some supporters planned to camp at Padang Merbok and the nearby Dataran Merdeka ahead of the rally.

“As SAMM chairman, I support this but I will meet these groups to see how we can plan this (camping out) in an organised manner,” he said.

He reiterated that the rally would demand for the resignation of the entire Election Commission and make calls for fresh polls in constituencies where there were alleged irregularities.

Malay political leaders who have achieved the pinnacle of their career do so by a combination of guile, political pedigree and money – plenty of money.

CT Ali, FMT

Malays who are pillars and leaders of society, Malays who are in high public offices, Malays possessing great executive and political power with wide discretion in using that power and minimal accountability, will, more often than not, misuse that power to their personal advantage, resulting in the detriment of the very people whom they lead.

This was true of the Sultans who were not hesitant on calling upon the British to safeguard their royal prerogatives while surrendering their interest, that of their subjects and of their country into the avaricious hands of the British.

The British then proceeded to hand over part of our nation in the north to Thailand and unilaterally reigned over Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Selangor, Johor, Kedah and Perak – appointing themselves as “advisors” to these Sultans “whose advise must be acted upon”.

In the process Sultans who were compliant with the wishes of the British were put on the thrones of Kedah, Perak and elsewhere and whatever changes deemed necessary by the British to the constitution of Malaya to reflect the interest of the British – changes that have literally changed forever the very foundation of our nation – for good and for bad.

This is also true of Umno from the time they took government after Merdeka to this very day where political power in their hands were abuse for the personal gain of their own kind to the detriment of the Malays and our nation.

And it is true today of those Malays who have been privileged to hold high public office and who then proceed to sell their executive powers along with their integrity and credibility to the highest bidders while taking for themselves whatever could be taken from our national coffers.
How cheaply they sell themselves and how little they care for the common good of our people and our nation! They do not seem to understand that with great power comes great responsibility.

This not to say that all Malays with power will misuse that power but the prevalence of this scourge amongst Malay leaders plagues too many of them, so many that it raises the question of whether the Malays can really lead responsibly.

As a Malay, it pains me to raise that question that only a Malay can rightfully ask of his own leaders before others ask it – if that is not already being done.

For the Malays, the sum of the negatives far outweighs the positive. Our problems are multi dimensional but none more so than the dearth of worthy leaders to lead us in this darkest hour of our nation, if not of the Malays.

Malay political leaders who have achieved the pinnacle of their career do so by a combination of guile, political pedigree and money – plenty of money.

It is never by being a force for common good and for positive change within their party, within government and for the people and our nation.

It gives rise to the question as to what they will do once power is in their hands. How will they sustain and keep their hold on power? With guile, with an over dependence on their political pedigree (for whatever it is worth), and with money too?

And none reflect this more than the two alpha Malay leaders that now take centre stage in our political life – Anwar Ibrahim and Najib Tun Razak.

Abusing the trust

Both had greatness thrust upon them at an early age not by their own accord but by others. Najib because of his pedigree and Anwar by Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Whether deserved or not of that greatness, both then proceeded with unrestrained aplomb to abuse the trust placed upon them.

Najib through his personal indiscretion and a lacklustre political career, Anwar by his rabid attempts at consolidating around him political power and the financial means to achieve that power.

Today we know enough of these two individuals to wonder how is it that after all that they have done to themselves, to our people and to our country, they are still at the top of the heap amongst the Malays, nay amongst all Malaysian, to be able to give us no other choices for our leaders but themselves! How is this so?

Are the Malays selling themselves short? Of course we are! We deserve better! We cannot be silent anymore.

We cannot continue doing nothing anymore, and there is no time quite like the present if the Malays are to awake and begin the process of stopping the rot. Otherwise that saying “Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia” will no longer have any relevance or the ability to move future generations of Malays as it has moved Malays in the past.

Today the Malays are synonymous with political power – failed political power and abused political power!

Political power has been misused and abused for so long because the institutional framework that makes this possible exists. And it exists because of this outdated and horrendous belief that the majority rules, that the minority and the individual can be egregiously discriminated against with impunity by those in power, that justice will not prevail.

The result of the 13th general election is a travesty of what majority rule should be all about when it was first institutionalised by Umno in the time when it had its two-third majority in Parliament.

During that time, majority for Umno meant consolidating and maintaining their two-third majority in Parliament. This they proceeded to do by manipulating district boundaries to create a disproportionate political advantage for themselves.

It is like a household comprising of the father, mother and four children. The mother and the four children are given one vote each when it comes to deciding where they should go for a holiday.

The father gives himself six votes. So no matter how they vote it is the father who will have his way over the others. In Malaysia, Umno is the father and we are the rest of the family.

READ MORE HERE

“Whoever believes the statements and actions of the King and his kin cannot be disputed, that means he has made a human being a God” 

(FMT) - While openly disagreeing with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong is permissible, there is a limit to it, says ex-mufti.

Openly disagreeing with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and royal family is permissible but criticisms have to be constructive and polite, a former mufti said today.

Ex-Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin said today it was not wrong to disagree with the King and kin, as they are “not Allah and the prophet (Muhammad), but human beings like the rest of us”.

Mohd Asri’s statement follows numerous reports of individuals being arrested for seditious remarks against the king Tuanku Abdul
Halim Mu’adzam Shah. However, he stressed that comments and criticisms had to be polite and respectful.

“I am a free man. I may give an opinion that is different from them, but that does not mean I do not respect them. I respect them as a
ruler, but they are not Allah and rasul (prophet),” Mohd Asri told FMT.

He explained his need to clarify the issue as he claimed both Muslims and non-Muslims alike believe Islam forbids its followers to speak out against the King.

“I am performing my role as a scholar. I do not want to intervene politically, but want to give the right opinion on Islam so that people do not misunderstand,” he said.

“Only Allah and His book (the Holy Quran) are free from criticism. Even the prophet Muhammad was faced with open criticisms and differences in opinion during his lifetime unless delivering His divine messages.

Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/06/18/okay-to-disagree-with-king/ 

(CNN) - A single man stood silently in Istanbul's Taksim Square for hours Monday night, defying police who broke up weekend anti-government protests with tear gas and water cannon and drawing hundreds of others to his vigil.

For more than five hours, he appeared to stare at a portrait of Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish state. Police eventually moved in to arrest many of those who joined him, but whether Erdem Gunduz -- a performance artist quickly dubbed the "standing man" -- was in custody was unclear early Tuesday.

Turkey has been wracked by more than two weeks of protests against the government of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. But many of those who joined Gunduz late Monday said they were standing only for peace, not taking sides.

"I'm standing against all violence," said Koray Konuk, one of those arrested. "I'm standing there so that the events that we've been witnessing and the events taking place over the last two to three weeks can come to a standstill."

Konuk, 45, told CNN that police put him on a bus with up to 20 other people who had joined Gunduz, but Gunduz was not with them.

"I was just standing. They arrested a man who was just standing," he said. "That is absurd."

Monday's hushed tableau came two days after police swept into Taksim Square and neighboring Gezi Park to clear out anti-Erdogan protesters. The demonstrators tried to return to the park on Sunday, only to be driven back by police.

Trade unions put fresh pressure on Erdogan earlier Monday, mounting a nationwide strike. But a crowd that marched on Taksim Square dispersed when faced with riot squads backed by water cannon.

The protests started at the end of May over authorities' plans to turn Gezi Park, central Istanbul's last green space, into a mall. They quickly turned into large anti-government demonstrations that included calls for political reforms.

'There is a level of desperation'

Read more at: http://m.cnn.com/primary/cnnd_fullarticle?topic=newsarticle&category=cnnd_latest&articleId=cnn/2013/06/17/world/europe/turkey-protests#page2 

(The Malay Mail) - Two MIC appointees in Perak govt fail to show up citing professional reasons 

THE unsettled business between MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel and Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir (pic) regarding the position of the state legislative assembly speaker is taking a new twist.

While Palanivel is adamant his party would reject any posts in the Perak government if it was not given the speaker's chair, two of his men have been offered positions in the state government to represent the Indian community.

On Friday, in a press statement from the menteri besar’s office Lumut MIC division chief V. Elango was named adviser to menteri besar while MIC national Youth secretary-general C. Sivaraj for the position of a special officer effective last Saturday.

Both were supposed to report for duty yesterday but did not show up to sign their letters of appointment.

Both claimed that they needed more time.

“I am still attached to Yayasan Bina Upaya Darul Ridzuan as the 1Malaysia unit manager and I need to resign before I take up a new position,” Sivaraj told The Malay Mail.

He said he needed time to handover most of his responsibilities in the party to his assistant before taking up the position.

Although Elango and Sivaraj have cited professional reasons for the delay, party insiders have indicated the duo are tied down by the party’s stand.

“The party will have to deliberate on the matter before they are allowed to take any positions offered. The party is still firm on their stand in wanting the speaker's post,” he said.

It is learnt that MIC central working committee (CWC) was expected to discuss the matter today.

"That's why both are bidding for more time. They want to make sure they do not offend any side. But it will be sticky if they have to choose either one," he said.

The senior member said although most party members hoped Palanivel and Zambry would sort their differences as soon as possible, the chances are looking slimmer by the day.

“The battle is getting tougher with each one trying to outdo the other,” he said. 

(FMT) - If the grassroots insist, the MCA president may defend his post in the coming party polls.

There is a possibility that MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek may change his mind and defend his post in the next party polls, said a MCA insider.

“In politics, anything is possible. If the grassroots want Chua to remain, he may just do that,” he told FMT.

On May 6, Chua announced that he would not be defending his presidency in the party polls scheduled to be held end of the year.

The decision was triggered after MCA performed poorly in the general election.

In addition, Chua also upheld the party’s resolution in not accepting any government posts due to the dismal performance, which caused friction among party leaders.

Describing Chua as a tactical genius, the party insider said that the former health minister had always been effective in usurping his rivals “at the last minute”.

“Look at Chua’s track record. Despite being marred with a sex scandal, he managed to become MCA deputy president in 2008 after resigning from all posts.

“And in the 2009 party polls, he managed to dislodge then party president Ong Tee Keat and former party president Ong Ka Ting to become MCA president. Don’t underestimate him,” said the source.

The party insider added that those opposed to Chua must remain on high alert as the vocal party leader had been very quiet in recent times.

“It means Chua has something up his sleeve,” said the source.

Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/06/18/chua-may-defend-his-post/ 

(Rappler) - Mandela chose forgiveness as a tool to liberate himself from the shackles of resentment and in so doing, inspired his fellow South Africans to do the same. He helped the African National Congress, the ruling party, to transition from a liberation struggle party to one that governs and accepts a government in which ex-revolutionaries sit alongside ex-enemies.

You have probably read the news by now.

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s iconic liberation hero and father figure, is once again in hospital fighting a persistent lung infection. With this being his fourth hospitalization in six months, the prognosis for our 94-year-old former president is not good.

Our nation is now facing the psychological battle of acknowledging and accepting the inevitably imminent passing of our beloved ‘Madiba.’ In the face of political and economic uncertainty, South Africans are holding on to our ailing hero as the remaining thread of consistency in our miracle ‘rainbow nation’ story.

Although President Mandela left the political stage in 1999 after one term as Head of State, one would be hard-pressed to find a South African today, fourteen years later, who has not been profoundly influenced by the world’s most famous political prisoner. His 27 years spent behind bars fighting the apartheid regime followed by his reconciliatory efforts after the historic national peace and constitutional negotiations of the early 1990s, has earned him respect and admiration the world over.

For the average South African like myself, he has become the symbol of our better nature—the personification of humanity, forgiveness and non-racialism.

As a resident of Johannesburg, I often have the privilege of taking my international friends around the city when they visit. The sight I am often most excited to show off is Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto.

Why? My family’s first home was in the area and I was born into a resilient but deeply traumatized community.

Vilakazi Street also housed a powerful symbol of liberation in the form of Mandela’s first home—a very modest four room house that was often petrol-bombed and raided by members of the police force under the apartheid regime. Vilakazi Street also was and continues to be Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s residence, thus making it the only street in the world that has housed two Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.

HOME. On Vilakazi street, one can find Mandela's first home which has now been turned into a museum. Photo by Zanele Hlatshwayo

This street is steeped in history and every time I visit I am reminded of both the injustices of apartheid but also of the overwhelming ability of human beings to endure, to overcome and most importantly, to forgive. A bloodless and democratic post-apartheid South Africa has been nothing short of a miracle. We have Madiba to thank for this.

His insistence on replacing anger and resentment with forgiveness and tolerance following his release from prison elevated him to iconic status. In response to a question in 1993 regarding South Africa’s post-apartheid future, Mandela famously responded ‘I see a country for everyone, a rainbow nation, a country at peace with itself and with the world. I see no future in hate’.

This remarkable human being was able to see the humanity in the faces of the prison warders who tortured him, of the police officers who ruthlessly killed his friends and comrades and, of the indignant westerners who turned their backs on non-white South Africans at a time when they needed them most.

Mandela chose forgiveness as a tool to liberate himself from the shackles of resentment and in so doing, inspired his fellow South Africans to do the same. He helped the African National Congress, the ruling party, to transition from a liberation struggle party to one that governs and accepts a government in which ex-revolutionaries sit alongside ex-enemies.

Simply put: Mandela helped birth a unique leadership and magnanimity which astonished and impressed the international community in equal measure.

As a proud South African who grew up with Madiba as a second father, it is tempting to paint him and his role in the liberation struggle in rainbow colors. However, in the interest of remaining objective, it is important to highlight the fact that Mandela, as revered as he is, is human and thus fallible. As a disciplined and astute politician, he made decisions and compromises that were not always seen to be ideologically aligned. However, much like other global icons – like Mahatma Ghandi and Aung San Suu Kyi—Mandela believed in practical politics but still applied his values consistently.

Read more at: http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/ispeak/31429-no-future-hate-mandela-taught-us-all 

(Sinar Harian) - Maklumat rundingan TPP bukan sahaja tidak didedahkan kepada rakyat tetapi ahli Parlimen juga tidak dimaklumkan isu ini untuk dibahaskan di Dewan Rakyat.

MUNGKIN tidak ramai yang tahu pada ketika ini, satu rundingan perdagangan bebas (FTA) dinamakan perjanjian Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (TPP) sedang diadakan antara Malaysia dan 10 negara lain, termasuk Amerika Syarikat (AS).

Perjanjian yang didakwa dijalankan penuh rahsia itu dijangka akan ditandatangani Oktober depan, dengan kehadiran Presiden AS Barack Obama di salah sebuah negara Asean.

Namun, terlalu sedikit maklumat diketahui mengenai rundingan yang telah berjalan selama 24 bulan dan hampir memasuki peringkat akhir itu.

Menurut beberapa badan bukan kerajaan (NGO), maklumat rundingan TPP bukan sahaja tidak didedahkan kepada rakyat tetapi ahli Parlimen juga tidak dimaklumkan isu ini untuk dibahaskan di Dewan Rakyat.

“Kami kesal ia tidak didedahkan sedangkan rakyat yang akan terima kesan buruk jika ia dimeterai. Perjanjian seperti ini tidak sepatutnya dimeterai secara rahsia dan terlindung dari pengetahuan orang awam.

“Rakyat berhak tahu dan beri pandangan bila perjanjian seperti ini melibatkan kualiti hidup,” menurut Presiden Majlis Perundingan Pertubuhan Islam Malaysia (Mapim), Mohd Azmi Abdul Hamid dalam satu kenyataan baru-baru ini.

Apa disembunyikan?

Majlis Tindakan Ekonomi Melayu (MTEM), iaitu antara NGO paling giat memperjuangkan isu ini menganggap kerahsiaan melampau dalam perbincangan perjanjian itu menimbulkan pelbagai tanda tanya.

“Jika TPP ini perjanjian yang begitu bagus, kenapa kerajaan perlu rahsiakan butirannya?,” soal Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif MTEM, Mohd Nizam Mahshar.

Persoalan Mohd Nizam itu dikongsi Persatuan Pengguna Pulau Pinang (CAP) yang menggesa kerajaan mendedahkan teks perjanjian untuk diteliti orang ramai jika benar perjanjian FTA seperti itu memberi manfaat kepada rakyat.

“Mengapa kerajaan bersembunyi di sebalik perjanjian kerahsiaan (antara semua negara perunding)? Jaminan daripada kerajaan sahaja tidak cukup,” menurut CAP dalam satu kenyataan, baru-baru ini.

Selain Malaysia dan AS, sembilan lagi negara yang menyertai rundingan TPP adalah Australia, Brunei, Kanada, Chile, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapura dan Vietnam manakala Jepun dijangka menjadi negara ke-12 menyertai TPP semasa rundingan seterusnya pada 15 hingga 25 Julai di Malaysia.

Ubat naik harga, petani terjejas

Melalui dokumen bocor yang diperolehi, TPP dipercayai akan memberi kesan buruk kepada Malaysia terutama dalam bekalan ubat-ubatan.

Kajian MTEM menunjukkan TPP akan menaikkan harga ubat-ubatan 60 hingga 80 peratus lebih tinggi berbanding sekarang.

“AS mahu semua negara TPP bersetuju dengan hak Harta Intelek (IP) yang hanya akan memberi pulangan tinggi kepada syarikat farmasi negara itu," menurut laporan MTEM mengenai kesan TPP kepada rakyat.

Sementara itu, menurut Mapim, penekanan kepada hak IP hanya akan memberi keuntungan kepada syarikat gergasi kerana ubat generik, iaitu ubat lebih murah yang mempunyai kandungan dan kesan sama dengan ubat asli tidak akan dibenarkan untuk dijual di pasaran negara peserta TPP.

“Ini bermakna ubat hanya boleh dibeli secara langsung dari syarikat farmasi asal, menyebabkan kos ubat sangat mahal,” kata Mohd Azmi.

Beliau menambah, TPP juga akan memberi kesan buruk ke atas industri padi negara apabila beras dari AS yang menerima subsidi tinggi oleh kerajaan negara itu dipasarkan di Malaysia.

“Ratusan ribu keluarga petani padi di negara ini akan terjejas jika TPP dimeterai,” menurut Mohd Azmi.

Bulan lalu, Kesatuan Kerjasama Pertanian Pusat Jepun turut menentang keputusan kerajaan negara itu menyertai rundingan TPP kerana petani Jepun dikhuatiri terpaksa bersaing dengan AS melalui penghapusan cukai produk pertanian.

AS sembunyi agenda, Miti tutup mulut?

Minat AS kepada rantau ini bukanlah satu rahsia. Obama dalam ucapannya di sidang kemuncak Kerjasama Ekonomi Asia Pasifik (Apec) pada November 2011 berkata, tiada rantau lain yang boleh membantu membentuk masa depan ekonomi AS selain Apec.

Mohd Nizam mendakwa, AS kini memberi tekanan kepada negara peserta supaya mempercepatkan tarikh menandatangani perjanjian itu yang dianggap penjajahan ekonomi ke atas Malaysia dan bakal menggadaikan
kedaulatan negara.

Mohd Nizam turut mempersoal dakwaan kerajaan AS memberi kebenaran kepada wakil syarikat antarabangsa gergasi di negara itu untuk meneliti teks rundingan serta memberi cadangan kepada Washington berhubung butiran perjanjian.

“Miti gagal menjawab pertanyaan ini semasa pertemuan kami dan jika ianya benar, mengapa AS boleh memberi akses kepada wakil industri, tetapi tidak di Malaysia?,” soalnya lagi. 

(WKRN) - The images from the video contrasted with the abbot's message on the temple's homepage that read: "The true core of those who preach Buddha's teachings is to not to own any objects at all." 

Thailand's Buddhism body said it is monitoring monks nationwide for any inappropriate behavior after a video showed monks using luxurious personal items while flying on a private jet.

The YouTube video showed one of the monks was wearing stylish aviator sunglasses, carrying a luxury brand travel bag and sporting a pair of modern-looking wireless headphones. It attracted criticism from Buddhists nationwide.

Office of National Buddhism director-general Nopparat Benjawatananun said Monday that the agency saw the video early this year and had warned the monks from a monastery in Thailand's northeast not to repeat the lavish behavior.

A country with the world's largest Buddhist population, Thailand has attempted to help Buddha's 2,600-year-old doctrine stand the test of time through a variety of means, including banning the sale of alcohol on religious holidays. The efforts, however, are sometimes tainted by the Buddhist monks themselves.

Read more at: http://www.wkrn.com/story/22615400/thai-buddhist-monks-criticized-for-lavish-behavior 

(The Star) - Ministers from several Asean countries will meet here to discuss ways to tackle the return of the haze to the region and the likelihood of it worsening due to the hot and dry weather.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivelsaid he would chair a meeting on Aug 20 with his counterparts from Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand.

“We will also study several proposals on early fire detection mechanisms through satellite technology and a fire danger rating system,” he said yesterday.

He said the National Haze Action Plan would come into action where key departments and agencies would move to handle the fires depending on the different alert levels based on the Air Pollutant Index (API).

Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Ewon Ebin said the ministry was mulling over cloud seeding if dry weather persisted.

Satellite images from the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre revealed that hot spots in Sumatra had increased from 46 on Friday to 136 on Sunday, while 113 were recorded as of 8.30am yesterday.

The air quality in Malaysia, however, has improved slightly, with four places recording unhealthy levels yesterday compared with six on Sunday.

The API readings showed unhealthy levels for Balok Baru (110) in Pahang and Kemaman (121) in Terengganu with other parts of the country reading good to mode- rate levels.

Under the air quality index, readings of between 0 and 50 are classified as Good, 51 to 100 (Moderate) 101 to 200 (Unhealthy), 201 to 300 (Very Unhealthy) and 300 and above (Hazardous).

In Kuala Terengganu, the levels in Paka were 92 and Kuala Terengganu at 70.

In Nusajaya, Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the state government would keep the people posted on the matter if the situation worsens.

In Penang, state Environment Department director Datuk Hassan Matsaid the API levels on the is-land was 53 yesterday, while visibility in Bayan Lepas, Prai and Butterworth stood at between 9km and 10km. 

Children are exposed to a lot of negative inputs and need more vigilance on the part of the adults responsible for their upbringing and education, but the opposite is happening. 

Ravinder Singh, FMT 

Justice Zamani Abdul Rahim who recused himself from hearing a case in the Penang High Court concerning a young man’s insulting behaviour towards the Queen was quoted as having said: “I am worried about the younger generation today…I am worried because the younger generation does not respect older people… The Chinese should respect the Malays, and the Malays should respect the Chinese, the Malays should respect the Indians, and the Indians should respect the Malays and Chinese… Saya risau apa yang akan berlaku kepada cucu saya, cicit saya (I am worried for what will happen to my grandchildren)”, (Star, June 15,2013).

Well, I couldn’t agree more with the feelings of the honourable judge on the question of the moral values of the younger generation. He is not alone in having these feelings. However, the voices of those who are worried about this problem in our society are very few, and they are not the voices of those in authority to do something about it. So their cries remain voices in the wilderness, even though they are very true.

It is ironical that those who have the power to make changes to bring about the inculcation of moral values in our school children in an effective way are in denial mode of the situation spoken of by the judge, i.e. eroded moral values of our younger generation. They see no discipline problem in our schools. They see no relationship between indiscipline in the schools and indiscipline among the younger generation of adults. So they don’t want to hear about it, let alone talk about it seriously.

They are blind to the fact that what behaviour children are allowed to practice in school is the behaviour they will practice in adult life. For how long are they going to keep on bluffing themselves that there is no discipline problem in our schools, and trying to make the nation believe their bluff? The Education Review Blueprint that was prepared by so-called experts last year does not say a word about the prevailing discipline situation in the schools, why it happened and how to remedy it. Why this total avoidance of a problem that lies at the root of character development in early childhood, that determines the character of children entering adulthood, that determines the character of a nation? Who is to blame for this situation? How did the erosion of the good moral values of the 50s and 60s happen?

The erosion did not happen like a landslide and the children did not bring it upon themselves. So children, even those who have grown up and become indisciplined adults, must not be blamed because they have not known better behaviour right from childhood.

Some 20 years or so ago a case was reported in a local newspaper of a teenager who told his crying parents in court that they should not cry for him but for themselves. He had been found guilty of being violent and causing bodily injury to someone, and sentenced. He told his parents that he had grown up to be violent because they had not corrected his violent behaviour when he was small. In other words, he was saying that as a child he did not know it was wrong to hit someone, but when he was doing it they had failed to stop him and help change his behaviour. So he grew up doing what he had been doing as a child and believing that was the way to live life.

These words must have hit the parents like a bolt, but they were very true words. In another case, there was this 20 something, big sized young man who had got into a teacher training college. The first time he entered a certain lecturer’s class, he was wearing very dark sunglasses. The lecturer asked if he was having sore eyes. He answered ‘no’. Then why was he wearing dark glasses? Nonchalantly he said he had always been wearing them for the past 3 years at his previous workplace and no one had said anything. Where was he working? Supervisor at a construction site.

The lecturer told him that that job was under the blazing sun while now he was in an air-cond room with dark tinted window glasses and curtains. It was rude to be wearing dark glasses in a class unless he had sore eyes. He took off the glasses, but with resentment. It was observed that after this the student only took off the glasses in this lecturer’s class and not in the others’ classes. Reason: the other lecturers’ had not bothered about this guy sitting in their classes with the dark glasses on. So much for inculcating moral values in our institutions of learning!

If you do not teach a child to know right from wrong from a very young age, the child will absorb whatever is around him as he simply does not know right from wrong. He does not have a built-in filtration system that will keep the bad out and allow only the good to pass through and be absorbed. Repeatedly practicing what he has picked up, be it language or physical behaviour, internalizes it in him. Once internalised, it is very difficult to change. So the bad must be recognised by the adults as soon as the child starts showing it and removed immediately, even if need be by a smack or two. The adults who should do this are the parents and teachers.

Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/06/18/eroded-moral-values-children-not-to-blame/ 

In moments like these, it is easy to hate the arbitrary nature and high-handedness of the ruling government too. This is all the more the case when the ruling establishment, once again, is showing signs of attempting to remain in power on the sly. 

Nurul Izzah Anwar 

Thousands of Malaysians voted abroad during the 13th general election. Many more returned from Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, London and Taiwan, traditionally places with large numbers of Malaysians, to exercise their right to suffrage on May 5th.

This is a peculiar phenomenon.

Why do Malaysians who have found greener pastures abroad feel compelled to return to the country to cast their ballot? This certainly goes against the thesis of Albert O. Hirshman — who argued in a famous treatise in 1970 that when people have the chance to leave, they will, especially if they have found the entity to be increasingly dysfunctional and inefficient.

Malaysia, or rather its government, over the last few decades, has certainly manifested such features.

Concurrently, those who decided to 'stay back' would attempt to improve the country by voicing out. Be that as it may, those who have left the country are not expected to express their voices anymore let alone to vote. Yet, vote they did.

The quick and short answer to the above phenomenon is that they care. Indeed, not only do they care about the future of their immediate and extended families still in Malaysia, but they care about Malaysia, period.  

And that is where Malaysia draws its greatest pride from — Malaysians and their sense of belonging, of camaraderie.

Beyond caring, they also know, through their collective exposure in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, if not as far away as United Kingdom, Japan and Australia, that Malaysia has been back-pedaling, especially on issues like corruption and crime let alone in building a vibrant democracy.

Take corruption, for example. The national debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio at 54 per cent, it is one per cent shy of the constitutional limit; and this figure is a conservative estimate. When one lumps in the debt of the government linked companies (GLCS), often with the element of corruption still at work, the ratio is easily in the range of the mid-70s.

While many do not like to use the B word (i.e. bankcruptcy), the next generation is expected to foot the financial profligacy of the present one. Malaysians abroad share the same concern and anxieties with those at home.

Not surprisingly, up 75 to 85 per cent of the voters abroad, almost without fail, voted for the opposition according to exit polls.

Like the 51 per cent of the people in Malaysia, they chose to throw their lot with Pakatan Rakyat, this despite the fact that Pakatan Rakyat did not have any offices or representatives outside the country.

In fact, one may even wonder if they did so purely to register their disgust with Barisan National, rather than due to any objective attachment to Pakatan Rakyat; a trend that was discernible across all racial groups in urban areas from 2008 onwards.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/the-oppositions-new-mandate-nurul-izzah-anwar/ 

Read more at: http://www.fz.com/content/election-law-amendments-top-private-members-bill-proposals#ixzz2WXDljwX3

Forming a single unit of Pakatan campaign managers is crucial for the pact to remedy what had happened prior to GE13 on matters of seat allocations. 

Kuo Yong Kooi  

What has clearly emanate through before GE-13 to a political observer was that the component parties of Pakatan Rakyat were squabbling over their "territorial seats". Once the seats were allocated to that particular component party, the task of allocating the right candidates for the squabbled seats were then given to their own party boss(es).

In a situation where there are disputed seats between component parties, last minute meetings was held to remedy a situation where there are not enough time to print election leaflets and campaign materials, let alone do the campaigning. This is a clear case of lack of cohesion amongst the top brass of the component party members on deciding over the seat allocation matters.

PKR meetings with PSM over those disputed seats was dragged till the last days before nomination day. This process and practice of seat allocation need to stop immediately.

Forming a single unit of Pakatan campaign managers is crucial for the pact to remedy what had happened prior to GE13 on matters of seat allocations.

The questions of who is the right candidate to run at a particular constituency should be dealt with in a total "free and frank" atmosphere amongst the "Pakatan seat allocation strategists". 

Potential candidates should be chosen and agreed upon by the "team" as early as possible to allow time for the potential candidates to immerse themselves in their electorate. This is to avoid the parachuting candidates practice which can cause backlash from disgruntled potential local candidates and their followers. Parachuting candidates might be acceptable in urban electorates but is a disaster if applied to the rural constituencies because the "Balas Budi" culture is still strong in rural areas.

Eric C Thompson in his article GE 13 and the politics of urban chauvinism;  http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/ge13-and-the-politics-of-urban-chauvinism-eric-c.-thompson/  noted that in rural district of Selama, Perak, voters rejected a PAS candidate whose main qualification was that he was the son-in-law of the PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. He had been nominated by PAS amidst significant protests and at the expense of a local PAS leader with deep local roots. Hadi’s son-in-law lost by a little over 600 votes. 

The same can be said when Pakatan sidelined PSM in the Jelapang and Semenyih seats. Although Pakatan has the upper hand in decision making, their actions caused a fatal rippling effect on the election result elsewhere. 

PSM do have members around the country. No matter how small they are, every vote counts. BN won a paper thin margin of 80 votes in the seat of Cameron Highlands. PSM has got a local member working at the Cameron Highlands constituency for many years. I am sure some PSM members and sympathisers there did not turn up to vote or at worst voted against Pakatan because of what Pakatan did to PSM during the seat allocations negotiations.

Giving the individual component party boss(es) the overriding power of allocating candidates on the squabbled territorial seats is a "disaster waiting to happen". The particular party boss(es) have the potential to act according to their personal interests above the party's and national interest.

Azmin Ali allocated seats to all his henchmen and discarded PKR president Dr Wan Azzizah is a classis example of how the seat allocation strategy adopted by Pakatan has failed us. If a team of Pakatan election strategists is involved, the team has to agree (unanimously or by majority) that Dr Wan Azzizah is definitely a winnable candidate. It does not matter which Party she belongs to, a seat is to be allocated for her on that merit alone is a clear way out of this conundrum.

The team of election strategists effectively acts as a buffer to a potential concentration of a power block lead by an individual who oversea the seat allocation matters. 

If blogger Raja Petra Kammaruddin assertion is true about Azmin Ali's possible defection to the BN camp then Malaysia will be in deep trouble because BN might just have the two third majority needed to sail through the delineation process due at the end of this year. 

To Azmin Ali's credit, this has not happened yet but that do no strike out the plausibility of future defections lead by a high profile Pakatan leader with his/her team over to the BN camp. That thought alone send shivers to the spine of Pakatan supporters.

There are no legislation against party hopping in place at the moment. That gives further impetus for Pakatan to reconsider their seat allocation strategy.

On hindsight if a Pakatan "war room" team existed long before the GE-13, Azmin Ali would need to convince the team that Dr Wan Azizah is not a winnable candidate. Azmin Ali would also need to discuss with the team on S Arulchelvan's candidacy in the Semenyih seat. The team would have easily decided on choosing Arulchelvan on the basis that he is 100% defection proof. He was and still is loyal to the Pakatan cause. Unfortunately Azmin Ali had shown to defy this logic.

PAS President Hadi Awang would not have been able to act unilaterally to field his own favoured candidate in Kota Damansara which forces a three cornered fight and cause a Pakatan seat loss.

The tussle of who's right to nominate the Selangor Mentei Besar is another example indicative of Pakatan's need to form a cohesive collective unit to deal with matters electioneering.  The Menteri Besar matter would have settled by the team long before the campaign commences. The decision were made collectively based on merits not based on which party wins the most seats.

Kuo Yong Kooi 

(Bernama) - The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has asked DAP to present proof of mistake during vote counting at the Central Executive Committee (CEC) elections.

Registrar Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman said this was to determine whether it was due to a computer glitch or cheating.

"We are still investigating and one of the major issue is the votes received by candidates in the party elections," he said in a statement on Monday.

DAP reportedly admitted that a mistake was made during vote counting for CEC elections last December and blamed it on technical error.

Abdul Rahman said ROS had to issue a statement to inform the public on the progress of investigation to avoid manipulation of facts such as contents of the ROS letter dated April 17, 2013.

"This act is unethical. ROS must investigate more carefully to avoid the manipulation of facts," he added.

On April 18, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng claimed he received a letter from the ROS dated April 17 that DAP was not empowered to issue appointment letters to party candidates using the rocket symbol at the general election as the ROS decided not to recognise the election of CEC members.

(fz.com) - Nearly 26 staff, including managing editor Joan Lau and executive editor Leslie Lau have left The Malaysian Insider (TMI), Marketing-Interactive.com's Advertising and Marketing (A+M) portal reported today.

(Bernama) - Lawyers Datuk Seri M. Kayveas and his diplomat wife lost their appeal at the Federal Court in Putrajaya today to set aside an Advocates and Solicitors Disciplinary Board's decision which found them guilty of misconduct and fined them RM5,000 each.

A five-member panel led by Chief Justice Tun Arifin Zakaria unanimously dismissed their appeal and upheld the board's decision.

"The breach of the undertaking and stakeholding by the appellants (Kayveas and Datin Blanche O'Leary) were clearly conducted in a professional capacity that amounted to grave impropriety," said Federal Court judge Datuk Jeffrey Tan Kok Wha who delivered the judgment.

He said it was undoubted that Kayveas and Blanche, who were partners in the legal firm Blanche Kayveas & Co, were guilty of misconduct under section 94 (3) of the Legal Profession Act 1976.

Kayveas, who is also People's Progressive Party president, and once a former deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, and his wife, Datin Blanche O'Leary, the High Commissioner designate to Papua New Guinea, were said to have breached the terms of entrustment as stakeholders in a RM2 million property sale and purchase transaction between two companies.

The other judges on the panel were Federal Court judges Datuk Hashim Yusoff, Tan Sri Ahmad Maarop and Datuk Hasan Lah. In the judgment, Justice Tan disagreed with Kayveas's contention that he was not complicit in the breach of the agreement. He said there was not a strand of evidence that Kayveas was not complicit or was not at fault.

"In a partnership, an undertaking given by a partner in the course of practice binds all the partners. A partner remains liable on undertakings given while he was a partner, even after he has left the firm or the firm is dissolved."

"The complaint of the Bar Council was against the partners of Blanche Kayveas & Co," said Justice Tan, adding that "no fault" was not a plausible defence to misconduct.

Justice Tan said it was beyond argument that a stakeholder is a trustee and that breach of a stakeholding term was not just a breach of undertaking but also a breach of trust, adding that failure to honour an undertaking was prima facie evidence of professional misconduct.

Both Kayveas and Blanche were ordered by the board on March 17, 2005 to pay the penalty to the discipline fund. The Court of Appeal dismissed their appeal on Dec 12, 2011.

 In their submission, the couple contended, among others, that the Court of Appeal failed to consider that there was no element of dishonesty on their part.

Kayveas who contested the Pasir Bedamar state seat in Perak in the 13th general election, lost to DAP's V.R.Terence Naidu by a 13,037 vote majority.

(The Mole) - Former Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Umno’s top two posts should not be contested to avoid internal party squabbles.

Dr Mahathir, who is also the nation’s fourth prime minister said even though the president and deputy president post should be contested in the spirit of democracy, Malaysians do not really understand democracy.

“If (they) lose, they will withdraw themselves and form another party which will break Umno. I support contests but if there is a contest, Umno will break into two,” he was by Utusan Malaysia.

Dr Mahathir said currently there are three Malay-based parties and it may be four if Umno splits into two up, before it eventually breaks up.

“Other posts can be put up for contest but there is no need for the top posts to be so,” he said after launching a book called The Prisoners’ Diaries by Puan Sri Norma Hashim at Perdana Leadership Foundation on Monday.

Prior to this a blog post at Another Brick in The Wall have stated that having the top two posts not to be contested in Umno will only be seen as a cheap attempt at self preservation of power.

The Mole had previously reported political analysts have described that the proposals by some Umno leaders that the posts of the president and its deputy are not contested, is not reflecting the party's spirit of democracy.

Several Umno leaders have said that the position of president and his deputy, currently held by Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak and Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin respectively, should not be contested.

They argued that it would bring disunity among members.

Kedah Umno had also reportedly supporting the proposal that the top two posts in the party should not be contested in the elections this year.

In 2008, DAP and PAS committed their support for Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to be PM, only Anwar Ibrahim and some BN MPs stood in the way. 

Hawkeye, FMT

Former Umno vice-president Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah did not initiate the discussions between him and several MPs from Sabah and Sarawak.

In fact, according to “individuals privy to the proceedings”, it was the MPs who mooted the meeting. They formed an informal delegation to seek advise from the veteran Umno leader.

It was “just a chit-chat” veered towards the possibility of combining resources to impress upon other MPs that time is ripe for a leadership change.

A breakaway from Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat styled politics was also seen as necessary to ensure the country regains its path as a progressive nation.

The “individuals” said Tengku Razaleigh is seen as an eminent statesman regardless of what his critics may say about the 78-year old Kelantan Prince.

It is therefore only natural for some politicians to seek his input on how the country’s future is shaping up, especially those from Sabah and Sarawak who feel slighted that their states were overlooked in the federal cabinet line-up.

The “individuals” who declined to be named due to the “sensitive” nature of the issue, confirmed that among the matters discussed was the filing of a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak when the 13th Parliament session begins its first sitting next week.

This is where the numbers game come in.

It is uncertain if Tengku Razaleigh can muster the magical number of 35 MPs from Barisan Nasional  to join him.

It is also uncertain if he is able to coax the 89 MPs from Pakatan Rakyat to agree to such a proposal.

‘Drama’ a warning?

If Tengku Razaleigh has 124 MPs behind him then the motion could be filed, debated and put to vote in Parliament as it quantifies more than half of the House.

There are 222 elected parliamentarians in Dewan Rakyat and BN under Najib have 133 MPs in the house.

Some insiders opined that the whole ‘drama’ could just be a signal from some MPs for Najib to re-evaluate the current political scenario and to govern better.

They said it “may not” represent a concerted effort to oust Najib.

Among the issues raised is Najib’s ability to lead.

The many concessions given to the Chinese and their rounded rejection of BN in the recently concluded general election, corruption, raciasm as well as lagging development in Sabah and Sarawak has left observers mulling over his leadership ability now seen as “weak”.

Then there are also references to the young voters (aged 40 and below) who will soon become the bulk of the voters in the nation’s electoral list before 2020.

Tengku Razaleigh’s aides meanwhile are pessimistic over any bid to move a no confidence motion against Najib.

They believe most Umno MPs may not support the no-confidence proposal, as many did not want their party further weakened when it already has to deal with a frail BN.

Neither, is there a clear signal from Pakatan on whether they will support it.

READ MORE HERE