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KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — Exiled self-proclaimed Hindraf leader P. Waytha Moorthy has filed lawsuits totalling RM100 million against 10 people and organisations over claims that he mismanaged the outlawed organisation’s funds.
His brother, lawyer P. Uthayakumar, filed the suit on his behalf against Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr Ramasamy Palanisamy, Sungkai assemblyman Sivanesan Achalingam, Ganabatirau Veraman, ASP Vasantha Kumar Krishnan and six media organisation.
The media organisations are Makkal Osai, Tamil Nesan, Malaysia Nanban, Star Publications, M.Kini.Com (Malaysiakini) and The Malaysian Insider. Alamak M Kini and Malaysian Insider also got ah ? Ai yo yo ...
Uthayakumar explained that the suit was based on false allegations on the financial mismanagement in Hindraf published by the six media defendants.
“The media when they report, they cannot simply go around and report everything because it causes damage with far reaching consequences. So this is also a message to the press, just because somebody makes a statement you cannot go around publishing whatever you want,” he told reporters at the High Court here.
Uthayakumar also stressed that all 10 defendants cannot repeat the statement on the mishandling of funds by Waytha.
“They cannot publish or repeat the libellous statement because a civil suit has been filed specifically with regards to the plaintiff allegedly cheated and misused money collected from the Indian community,” he added.
Dr Ramasamy, Sivanesan, Ganabatirau and Vasantha are being sued for allegedly making false and incriminating accusation against the plantiff through the the six media organisation.
RM$100 million only ? Wah must be a very rich man if he were to win the case . But why so little ? I thought he sued the British Government for the malaise of the Indians in Malaysia , the amount also I forgot , I only know got many many zeros until cannot count lah ! RM$ **oooooooooooooooo , chukup ? atau tak chukup ??
Maybe pay him in Zimbabwe dollars lah ! boleh ? Latest Zimbabwe dollar denomination is $10Billion dollar note .
PKR politician Zaid Ibrahim has applauded constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari for speaking out "about the rotten state of the rule of law and democracy" in Malaysia.
In a reply by text-message, he described Abdul Aziz as "a well respected academic and a courageous one".
Zaid, a former Umno strongman who crossed to PKR, expressed hope that many will come forward and be unafraid to speak out for the sake of the country.
"Nothing will change unless those who know rise up to expose the vermin (that are) eating and destroying our national institutions and democratic values," said Zaid (right), once the de facto law minister.
Last Sunday, Malaysiakini reported Abdul Aziz's comments that likened the current state of 'lawlessness' in Malaysia to that in Zimbabwe.
When contacted, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng echoed many of the concerns expressed by Abdul Aziz.
In particular, he said Umno should not regard governance of the country as its birth-right, but realise that it is the people who have given it the mandate to lead.
However, Mahathir was quick to add that the royal commission should not be confined to his term as premier but also include his successor-turned-nemesis, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.In addition, he suggested the royal commission include the cost over-run in the construction of the multi-billion-ringgit Bakun hydroelectric dam project and to investigate the procedure how the contract for the second Penang Bridge was given out.
"Such a commission should not be made up of government nominees but should have as members impeccable people including foreigners and members of Transparency International," he said, apparently with his usual dose of sarcasm.
"I will cooperate fully with the commission," vowed Mahathir.
Release all gov't documents
Wain, who is the former managing editor of Asian Wall Street Journal, has estimated in his recently released book 'Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times' that Mahathir had squandered up to RM100 billion in his years as PM.
In his blog posting, Mahathir said Wain should provide "documentary proof" for his allegation.
At the same time, he suggested that the government reveal all the relevant documents.
"In order for the inquiry by the commission to be successful, the government must give the undertaking to give full access to the commission to all the documents and accounts of the government over the period 1981-2009," he said.
"There should be no cover-up of any kind."
Mahathir also called for Wain's book, said to be held up in Port Klang by the Customs Department, to be released.
"I am not in need of government protection," he stressed.
Chedet.com has expired
In 'Malaysian Maverick', Wain wrote that most of the scams, which included a government attempt to manipulate the international tin price and gambling by Bank Negara on global currency markets, occurred in the go-go years of the 1980s.
According to him, direct financial losses amounted to about RM50 billion. This doubled once the invisible costs, such as unrecorded write-offs, were taken into account.
However, some analysts have put the figure even higher.
Time magazine quoted Daniel Lian, a Southeast Asian economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore, as saying that Malaysia might have lost "as much as US$100 billion" (RM340 billion) during the Mahathir years.
Meanwhile, Mahathir's blog could not be accessed later this afternoon.
Those who visit his blog are brought to a free domain name website CC.CO displaying the message that "www.chedet.co.cc has expired".
Apparently, the registration of the domain name of chedet.co.cc was not renewed since Dec 12.
However, Mahathir can easily renew the domain name of his blog for free by logging into CC.CO and clicking the renew button.
But a check at 10pm showed that Mahathir's blogsite has been restored.
Am in Tokyo on private visit. Will give blog response 2Mahathir.
12/23/2009 09:49 PM
Mahathir wants Wain’s book 2b released forthwith. Who really believe Mahathir? Or is Najib or Hisham culprit blocking “Maverick M”’s release?
12/23/2009 09:45 PM
Why Mahathir don’t sue me now if I had libelled him calling for RCI into Barry Wain’s RM100 million allegation in his book Maverick M?
12/23/2009 09:39 PM
Why his suit conditional on outcome of RCI into Barry Wain’s allegation when M will do utmost 2block RCI though claiming support publicly?
12/23/2009 09:35 PM
Why Mahathir reserved right 2sue me 4stmt calling 4RCI into allegation in “Maverick Mahathir” RM100 mil wasted or burned in 22 yrs PMship?
12/23/2009 09:31 PM
Hello Mr Royal Commission of Inquiry Lim is it RM$100 million or is it RM$100 billion ??
And by the way will you aslo call for a Royal Commission of Inquiry on your buddy buddy in PKR what happened to the RM$50 billion forex lossess suffered by Bank Negara in 1998 when he was the Finance Minister cum Deputy Prime Minister ? And now Mr Opposition leader ?
And is this part of the RM$100 billion losses ?
Mr RCI can you explain ?
Original Article:-
"I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life in prison".I haven't asked Ibrahim "Tiger" Yahaya (pic) who the threat came from. His posting this morning Ada Orang nak Penjarakan saya did not identify the person who issued the threat.
Like I said, I haven't had the chance to talk to the blogger Tiger (who's day job is to oversee the news operations of RTM). But two of his latest postings are critical of the DAP: Kerana Mulut Badan Binasa (Dec 25) on Guan Eng's claim recently that Teoh Beng Hock had been murdered and DAP semakin galak serang Melayu (Dec 24), an opinion piece.
Aduh, takutnya jadi blogger sekarang ni. Kalau tak kena saman, mahu dipenjarakan seumur hidup! Lepas tu sempat kutuk graduan2 ITM Mass Comm. Baru tu hari blogger A. Kadir Jasin dapat surat saman dari Zaid Saya-pun-Melayu Ibrahim. Baca portal Global Voices Online, dah jadi international news dah pun: Malásia: Defensor da Liberdade de Expressão Processa Blogueiro.
Imagine WHERE IS THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN CHAMPIONING ? THEY CAN CONDEMN AND KUTUK MCA AND BN BUT WE CANNOT ARE NOT ALLOW TO CONDEMN THEM , YA , THEY ARE ANGELS AND THE UNTOUCHABLES , WE ARE NOT ALLOWED AND CANNOT TOUCH THEM .
THEY CAN INTIMIDATED THE POLICE BY TELLING THE POLICE TO STOP INVESTIGATION ON LIM GUAN ENG BUT WHEN THE POLICE WANTS TO CALL UP EAN YONG THE SERI KEMBANGAN ASSEMBLYMAN OVER THAT STATEMENT HE MADE , THEY SPIN THAT TO MAKE AS IF THE POLICE IS INTIMIDATING HIM .....
Ya least I forget , that same poster called me a numskull for saying that I do not agree that the MACC murdered TBH . I wrote " And please don't tell me its the MACC , I do not agree , but if you write some over zealous officers from MACC , I can accept . in a similar analogy you cannot blame the temple or the Buddha for some monks who succumb to temptations .
These are the DAP cultists up to the Cheap Minister of Penang , they can say MACC murdered TBH , even though the official enquiry is still in process , but you are not allowed to have differing views . Yes I agree TBH was murdered but by who ? By some officers from MACC to whom TBH is their star witness ..... or by someone he knows very well and that someone wants to shut him up to prevent him from squealing ..
What would happen to us if they were to be Putra Jaya ? God Help Us Malaysia .
Chinese Chauvinist party DAP simply has no regard to court ruling. They are simply anti-establishment, despite that they claim that “The Supreme Law is the Constitution”.
Recently, Court of Appeal decided in favour of the MACC to allow questioning and interviews be carried out after office hours after a High Court ruling that MACC has to do about the business within office hours, on the application of Pakatan Rakyat Kajang Municipal Councillor Tan Boon Wah. Now, they conveniently want to ignore the Court of Appeal ruling.
The ‘Paper that cares’ has the story, here.
Case two :
| Alleged protestor attacked by mob | | |
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| BUTTERWORTH – A dispatch rider who was allegedly involved in a demonstration where a portrait of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng was burned claimed a group of men attacked him at the Mak Mandin industrial estate, near here, on Sunday. S Krishnan Nair, 46, said he was attacked with sharp objects and was punched in the chest by the mob, believed to comprise at least eight men. At the time of the incident at around 10pm he was travelling on his bike to Mak Mandin, from Butterworth. "As I reached the in Blocked his way Krishnan said the bikers overtook him and blocked his way; one of them said they wanted to talk to him. Krishnan said he invited the group, who was not known to him, to talk over some drinks or at his house. “Instead, they attacked me and fled,” he alleged. Krishnan then sought help from a friend, who brought him to the Seberang Jaya Hospital for treatment. He was accused of being among the more than 100 protestors who demonstrated against the state government outside the Penang legislative assembly on Nov 30. The group, who included leaders and supporters of Barisan Nasional component parties as well as residents of the controversial Kampung Buah Pala settlement, burnt a portrait of the chief minister to show their discontent. Seberang Perai Utara district police chief Supt Mohamad Sukri Awang, contacted by Bernama, confirmed there was a police report by Krishnan. No arrests have been made so far – Malaysian Mirror |
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 — MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong, who continues to be under attack over his alleged link with Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, today reiterated his innocence saying that he has been supporting a complete probe on the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
Wee (picture) who is aligned to vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai is one of the 13 MCA central committee members who had submitted their letters of resignation to trigger fresh party polls.
“In August 2009, I called for a political bureau meeting and had invited the president to attend which was reported in the media,” said Wee in a written reply to The Malaysian Insider.
“We give full support to Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat in highlighting PKFZ issue and support any form of legal action against Tiong in order to to clear his name, when he was accused of taking RM10 million from Tiong,” he added.
Wee was responding to a remark made by the Merbuk MCA Youth chief Lau Hock Chai yesterday demanding the deputy education minister to come clean on his link with Tiong who heads the PKFZ turnkey contractor Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd.
Lau also reportedly claimed that one of Wee's aides was also serving Tiong at the same time.
“All my employees in my ministry of education office are experienced administrators and political aides; one worked for Datuk Chua Jui Meng before and join ministry of home affairs to work for Datuk Fu Ah Kiow, another worked for an SAPP assistant minister in Sabah, Melanie Chia before working for Tiong's company, two others were under Datuk Hon Choon Kim at the education ministry, they are now receiving one salary only from the government of Malaysia,” said Wee.
He was also accused of having personal interest in the PKFZ scandal but rebutted the allegation, saying that Hijau Sekitar, the firm which he founded in the early 1990s was only involved in a study for Port Klang development at Sungai Lumut in 2005.
Wee who is also a registered environmental impact assessment consultant added that Hijau Sekitar's involvement with the project ended when the ministry of transport did not give the green light for the firm to conduct EIA study.
“How can we charge our fees if we did not do the EIA study?” asked Wee, refuting the allegation that he had served Tiong for free.
Penang DAP Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is confusing Penangistes with the annual budget allocations for Penang and in the same breadth, politicize the ‘division of annual economic’ by the Federal Government.
The Star has the story:
Published: Saturday December 26, 2009 MYT 5:39:00 PM
Penang got just 3% of what
it had contributed: CM
By WINNIE YEOH
GEORGE TOWN: Penang has only received RM794mil in federal grants in the last eight years even though it had contributed RM25,670mil in taxes and custom duties.Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the numbers were revealed by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in a written reply in the recently concluded Parliamentary sitting.
“Penang received only a shocking 3% of what it had contributed from 2001 to 2008.
“The state has been left out of the development mainstream too long and that has resulted in a slower rate in the building of public infrastructure compared to other states,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He added that even Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew had made the observation that Penang was developing slower compared to other towns like Ipoh or Seremban.
“The Penang government will seek a fair deal from the Federal Government to allow all Penangites equal opportunity for success and prosperity regardless of race or background.
“Our efforts in ensuring that everyone has a share in the fruits of economic success has led Penang to become the first state to wipe out hardcore poverty with every family receiving at least RM500 a month,” he said.
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The fact is that, the Federation of Malaysia is about the practice of a centralised government. It means that income of the nation is collected by the Federal Government. Income taxes, import taxes, excise duties and such, are all incomes as stipulated by the Federal Constitution. Income and taxes derived from land matters such as rates, assessment rates and conversion fees are incomes as per stipulated by state constitution.
So are the expenses, meant for the nation. Federal Government pays for security (Police, Military and Martime Enforcement), education (primary, secondary and tertiary), health, infrastructure development such roads, bridges, ports, airports, electrification and social development such as labour, human capital development, agriculture, entrepreneur development and welfare matters.
As so, state governments no longer needed to look into these investments and spending. They should just focus on state programs, especially programs under local authorities and state agencies. Local authorities themselves collected a huge amount of income annually.
For Lim Guan Eng to quote Lee Kuan Yew that Penang is left far behind in development compared to Seremban is utterly false. In a short instance, Penang enjoyed Federal Government capital and operational expenses of the Penang Bridge, Penang International Airport and USM, as compared to Seremban. 35 years ago, UDA invested on the Komtar in Penang, instead in Kuala Lumpur. Penang is one of the states which immensely benefitted from Federal Government contiunous trade and investment programs abroad, which include trade missions and dialogues. Malaysia Airlines, which is a Federal Government GLC even operate directly to major world cities from Penang International Airport.
In the terms of security, Penang is a state where an infantry division is based. There is also a TUDM air base in Butterworth, which is operational despite is strategic and operational utility is doubtful (considering TUDM developed more strategic bases in Kuantan, Pahang and Gong Kedak, Terengganu). The Penang CPO is the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police. This post was elevated together with Johor and Perak, to join the ranks of the states such as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Sabah and Sarawak. This was even earlier as compared to Pahang and Kedah.
This statement by the DAP Secretary General depicts their Chinese Chauvinist attitude of continuously rubbishing the Malay controlled Federal Government, even by manipulating facts and circumstances. As a chief executive of one of the most productive economy in the Federation of Malaysia, it is irresponsibile for Lim to make this statement, especially in this tone. Penang is contributing to the national wealth undoubtably resulted from Federal Goverment’s continuous ‘investments’ and ‘promotions’ for the state.
In case you are wondering what is HSBC it is not Hong Kong , Shanghai Banking Corporation ......it stands for How Seow Bo Chun literally meaning bullshit and inaccurate ..
For one the Federal Govt spends almost the whole of the Penang budget on Health Services ie the cost of health care provided by the Ministry of Health thru all the clinics and hospitals in Penang and is roughly close to $500 million per year .
Expenses spent by the Federal Govt in upgrading of all infrastructures , roads , Penang Airport expansion etc ...double tracking project to improve railway services ...etc
Expenses incurred in the second bridge construction which is expected to cost roughly $4.3 billion
Penang Bridge expansion from four lane to six lane ...cost ?
I think these should be sufficient ....I know there are many others which I left out .
So Mr Cheap minister of Penang can you please explain your claims that Penang only receive 3 % of what it had contributed from 2001 to 2008 ?
Speaking to Malaysiakini this morning, Anual confirmed the news but stressed that he had “no problems” in relinquishing his post.
He did not however touch on the accusation that Nik Aziz was practising cronyism in appointing his son-in-law Abdul Ariffahmi Ab Rahman as head of a strategic state government-linked company.| Youth leader to Wee:'Explain to us' | | |
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| ALOR STAR – A Kedah MCA Youth leader has advised movement chief Wee Ka Siong to ‘come clean’ over his links with Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the main developers of the troubled Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) project. Merbok MCA Youth head Lau Failure to do so would mean he has something to hide, said Lau, adding that it would also show Wee’s political motive in what has become the ‘final piece of jigsaw puzzle’ in the mess that the MCA had got itself into. “Wee (pic) has been inconsistent regarding his status with Tiong and this is confusing us. 'Outsiders' too want to know “Many outsiders have been asking us on his stand. I am not against him but I just hope he can make it clear in order to lead us well,” Lau said at a press conference on Monday. He was referring to media reports in October that Wee had denied any links with Ting but the deputy Education minister later revealed he had worked with the Bintulu MP. Lau questioned why Wee’s company, Hijau Sekitar Sdn Bhd, had worked free of charge for Kuala Dimensi. “Is it because the two (Wee and Tiong) enjoy a cosy relationship, or were there other reasons which Wee had concealed from the public? “Is Hijau Sekitar prepared to work for free for government-linked companies or agencies in the name of corporate social responsibility?” asked the Kedah leader. Lau also wanted to know if Wee’s staff at the Education ministry had worked for Tiong. Reluctant to be in forefront of PKFZ issue He also asked whether Wee had received much feedback about the Youth wing being ‘rather passive’ on the issue when the PKFZ report was released in May. “Was he reluctant to be at the forefront of the PKFZ issue due to his ties with Tiong?” asked Lau, referring to reports that Wee had admitted his former company provided consultancy work on Port Klang. We had reportedly said that Hijau Sekitar and four other consultancy firms were appointed by Wijaya Baru Sdn Bhd , the parent company of Kuala Dimensi, to carry out a conceptual study on Port Klang in 2005. He had, however, denied any link to the controversial PKFZ project. – Malaysian Mirror |
He called on the people to help realise the government's aspiration of strengthening racial unity and harmony in line with the 1Malaysia concept.Muslim or Indian?
To a claim that the Indian Muslims in the country have been neglected, Mahathir said they should choose to either become a Muslim or an Indian.
"The country is very liberal and I think they (Indian Muslims) will be accepted by all if they can pick either to become a Muslim or Indian," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.
Mahathir said there was no difference between the various races as everyone is a Malaysian.
"The federal constitution also defines a Muslim very clearly. If they want to become a Muslim then just follow the constitution," he added.
The former premier said if Indian Muslims in the country still call themselves as such, others might think that they still have links to their country of origin.
"The problem of Indian Muslims will be resolved if they can decide and choose to become either a Muslim or an Indian," he added.
SHAH ALAM - A group of Selangor residents wants PAS to withdraw from the tripartite pact with the DAP and PKR, saying the two parties were deceiving and neglecting PAS in the state’s decision-making.
While the group claimed they are PAS members, party insiders believe they are Umno supporters out to destablise the Pakatan Rakyat administration in Selangor.
Group spokesman Wan Hilman Abdul Rahim, who said he is from the PAS Gombak division, said they will be submitting a memorandum to Selangor PAS chief Hassan Ali (pic), who is also a state executive councillor,on Monday.
Grievances against alliance
The memorandum spells out their grievances against the Pakatan Rakyat adminiustration in Selangor.
"We feel PAS is being deceived and neglected in the decision-making process. We are not happy with the way the Selangor government takes care of Islamic interests and the people, especially the Malays,” said Wan Hilman.
The group of about 20 people held a peaceful demonstration outside the Selangor PAS office here Sunday.
“We want PAS to review its position in the Pakatan pact in Selangor," he told reporters at the scene.
He denied their action was ‘orchestrated’ by either Selangor Umno or PKR advisor Anwar Ibrahim.
'Don't accept memo'
It is learnt that in the past few days an SMS was being circulated to urge the Malays in Selangor to take part in the anti-Pakatan protest.
A PAS official who received the SMS said he traced the source of the phone message to an Umno leader.
Commenting on the matter, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub said the party was not connected to the group. He alleged it was formed to belittle the party.
"I do not know them. The group does not come under us (PAS), and this is all slanderous," he said when contacted by Bernama.
Salahuddin, the Kubang Kerian MP, said PAS will study the issue before considering whether ornot to sue the group. "We will look into that (legal action) later. Let things be for now," he said.
Meanwhile, a p
ro-PAS blogger, bongkarsauh, urged Hassan not to accept the memorandum.
To accept the memorandum would mean going against the fellowship principle of the Pakatan, the blogger said.
New state govt in January?
“An important stand has to be made. This is not the time to show goodness, be friendly, be open minded..and what else...with those who have devious intentions,” the blogger added.
In another development, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin (pic) said Umno leaders was spreading the word within the various state government agencies that the Barisan Nasional is set to take over the Selangor government in January.
“Following this, state agencies that are still led by Umno supporters are not functioning as they should,” he said, adding that these agencies were waiting to see if this prediction would come true. – Malaysian Mirror
PETALING JAYA, Dis 28 — Mursyidul Am PAS Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat mendakwa DAP kini sudah dapat menerima rancangan penubuhan sebuah negara Islam yang diperjuangkan oleh PAS selama ini.
Nik Aziz berkata kesediaan pemimpin DAP membawa lambang PAS dalam Pakatan Rakyat ketika ini membuktikan mereka semakin memahami dan dapat menerima dasar perjuangan PAS.
"Saya rasa bangga dan terharu dengan perubahan yang ditunjukkan kepimpinan DAP kini, yang selama ini dengan jelas membantah dasar Islam yang akan dilaksanakan oleh PAS dalam usaha melaksanakan sebuah negara Islam sekiranya berkuasa kelak.
"Lo ini (sekarang) alhamdulillah semua tuduhan yang dilemparkan (DAP) terhadap hasrat PAS untuk melaksanakan dasar negara Islam itu sudah diterima oleh mereka," kata beliau dipetik Berita Harian hari ini.
Nik Aziz yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan dilaporkan berkata demikian semasa berucap merasmikan Majlis Perhimpunan Kesedaran Wanita Kelantan dekat Temangan, Machang.
Beliau mengakui turut memakai lambang parti DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat dan PAS untuk membuktikan kesetiaan dan hubungan baik yang dijalin antara mereka dalam Pakatan Rakyat ketika konvensyen sulung mereka di Shah Alam, Selangor 19 Dis lalu.
Kata beliau semua pemimpin memakai baju yang memaparkan lambang tiga parti termasuklah Pengerusi DAP Karpal Singh dan Presiden PAS Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang pada majlis itu tanpa dirancang.
"Apa salahnya menggunakan lambang roket? Dulu DAP menentang PAS pasal hukum hudud, namun sekarang mereka sudah faham mengenai hukum hudud," katanya.
Nik Aziz berkata pemimpin DAP sepatutnya sudah lama menyedari yang penubuhan sebuah negara Islam yang dicadangkan PAS dikuatkuasakan terhadap orang Islam sahaja.
Katanya selain membantah cadangan itu DAP juga pernah menuduh kerajaan PAS Kelantan di bawah pimpinannya menzalimi orang bukan Islam tetapi gagal membuktikan dakwaan itu sehingga kini.
Ketika berucap pada konvensyen itu, Nik Aziz berkata "di dada Karpal ada bulan" merujuk kepada lambang PAS bulan.
Kedua-dua Nik Aziz dan Karpal buat pertama kali bertemu di satu pentas.
Karpal dalam ucapannya pula berkata beliau bukan sahaja duduk di sebelah Nik Aziz hari ini tetapi di antara Nik Aziz dan Hadi.
DEC 28 — I wish to thank Utusan Malaysia columnist Dr Ridhuan Tee Abdullah for being so clever to suggest that Malay-Muslims have more rights because they form the majority in Malaysia. His articulate political reconnaissance will surely contribute a much bigger swing of votes to the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) at the next general election.
Tee has proposed in his article a formula based on the racial and religious breakdown of the 27 million population of the nation, to apportion the share of what is due to each community in terms of rights, festivities and celebrations.
His so-called formula is based on the statistical breakdown of races and religions in the Year 2000 census, where the percentages of Malaysians by religions were 60 per cent Islam, 22 per cent Buddhist-Taoism-Confucius, 9 per cent Christian, 6 per cent Hindu, 3 per cent other races and religions.
Am I correct to interpret the Tee formula to mean that the numbers of residential houses, number of festive and religious holidays, allocation of land for places of worship and burial ground, permits and premises for business and trading, number of educational institutions and scholarships, quota of jobs in both the public and private sectors, number of professionals in all fields, or even the number of inmates in old folk's homes, orphanages and prisons, must be all be apportionable or assigned according to 60 per cent for the Malay-Muslims, 22 per cent for Buddhist-Taoism-Confucius devotees, 9 per cent Christians, 6 per cent Hindus, 3 per cent followers of other religions?
Tee said that his formula can be applied in the context of the nationalisation (read: forced enforcement), including the justification on the rights of religious festivals and celebrations of all races.
He claimed that there were an overwhelming number of non-Muslim places of worship, with their festival celebrations actually drowning Muslims celebrations even though the non-Muslims are the minority races.
As a university lecturer, Tee must provide tangible evidence from empirical observation and in-depth studies to justify such a general sweeping assessment. Otherwise he stands condemned as a mere rumour-monger for his speculative conjecture.
The authorities should haul up people who make such unsubstantial and seditious allegations which could incite racial disharmony.
Tee gave as an example the widespread celebration of Christmas, with the shopping malls going all out to promote the festival, although Christians constituted only 9 per cent of the population.
Such an example reflects uninformed and shallow thinking, unbefitting someone who holds a doctorate degree and is a university lecturer.
Such a person simply does no understand that the Christmas celebration, although associated with the Christian faith, has now evolved into an international multi-racial, commercial, cultural festival. Christmas is celebrated nationwide in even a Shinto-Zen Buddhist country like Japan, with nothing much to do with the Christian faith.
It is sad, but true, that the real meaning and significance of Christmas, which is the birthday of the Lord Jesus Christ, has been degenerated into a mere cultural event. Even a so-called "educated" person like Tee associates Christmas with Santa Claus. He has condemned a state executive councillor for taking a Santa Claus to meet his leader, implying that what he knows or understands about Christmas is merely all about Santa Claus.
Tee also accused the DAP, which he labelled the "ultra kiasu group", of allegedly raising sensitive issues that could lead to racial chaos similar to that of the May 13 riots in 1969.
If what the DAP has been doing since its establishment more than 40 years and is still doing — that is raising issues and fighting for true democratic practices, social justice, human, civil and constitutional rights of the citizens — is being "ultra kiasu" (meaning extremely afraid of losing), then people like Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh, Lim Guan Eng, the late P. Patto and many others would have been thoroughly broken and destroyed by their unjust incarceration under the oppressive legal instrument called the ISA (Internal Security Act), and the DAP would have disappeared from the face of this Earth years ago. It is simply their brave, bold and bona fide conviction and commitment to the causes of democracy and social justice and their passionate love for the country that they have the strength and courage to go through the intense emotional sufferings of separation from their loved ones while under detention.
To alleged that the DAP, and by implication its leaders, is "ultra kiasu" is simply the unkindest cut of all, and armchair critics like Tee should be thoroughly ashamed to have made such an unjust allegation.
The DAP and its leaders have proven over the last 40 years that they have been consistent in their vision of a fair, just and united Malaysian Malaysia, and have worked and struggled truthfully and tirelessly, without fear or favour. The party's clean, corrupt-free record is testimony to the character and conduct of its leaders.
Kiasu? Please conduct an honest scholarly research studies into the political history of post-Merdeka Malaysia, Dr Tee. I also give you the benefit of doubt that you are not writing what you wrote to draw attention of the political bosses to the fact that you have truly become in essence a Malay as defined in the Federal Constitution, despite your ethnic origin as a Chinese.
AN AFTERTHOUGHT: Sometimes I wonder about the intellectual capacity or even the simple level of intelligence of many of the so-called doctorate degree holders in our country, given the way many of them articulate the vital issues of the nation. For example, there is a Ph.D holder who did a thesis on the evil of the ISA, but then endorsed and supported the oppressive law. Another Ph.D holder and university lecturer wrote a thesis about social justice but made unfounded and unjust allegations against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
NOTE: Thomas Lee, who retired as a deputy editor in The Star in June 2009, has been a socio-political analyst for nearly 35 years.
| LETTER I refer to the news item "MCA rebel leader decries character assassination" (published in malaysiakini Dec 26). I think Wee Ka Siong's clarification only raised more questions than it answers. While there is no question that the services offered by his company, Hijau Sekitar Sdn Bhd, to Wijaya Baru is legal and valid, there are moral questions which went unanswered. Related story: |
2009/12/27
B. Suresh Ram and Shuhada Elis
KUALA LUMPUR: The Dec 25 deadline for MCA central committee members to tender their resignations has come and gone. And from the looks of it, fresh elections are unlikely.The source revealed that many of the CC members did not want to quit after holding their posts for just over a year.
"They fought hard to win. And they do not see why they should betray the delegates who voted them in. Besides, quitting gives the impression that they were listening to outsiders," said the source.
Wong said the special committee would convene a meeting as soon as possible to come up with a solution to the imbroglio.
Wong declined to reveal the names of CC members who had tendered their resignations, saying "he did not want to cause confusion".
Former MCA secretary-general Tan Sri Ting Chew Peh said many had expected that the majority of CC members would not resign as they were elected for a three-year term last year.
"CC members should work together for the next 11/2 years until the next party elections."
The former housing and local government minister said there was no point pushing for fresh elections just to get rid of "one or two persons" in the party.
"Fresh elections may sound nice but the factions should not use this for personal interest.
"If they still go on (about the elections), they will be rejected by the people."
He described the en bloc resignations of the faction led by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai as wayang kulit (shadow play).
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 26 — Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (picture) said today he would be demanding a fairer deal from Putrajaya, after it was revealed that the state contributed RM25.6 billion to federal coffers between 2001 and 2008, but received only RM794 million in federal grants during the period.
In his Christmas message to the state, Lim said the Finance Minister had revealed recently in Parliament in a written reply to him that Penang contributed RM25.670 billion in the form of taxes and customs duties between 2001 and 2008.
"In other words, Penang received back only a shocking three per cent of what it contributed during the 8 years from 2001-2008.
Do you seriously think the Federal Government would give you more funds when you DEMAND ? Who are you to DEMAND ? This is not the first time you DEMAND . ! Mr Opposition !
Who wants to give you money when everytime you have a chance you want to condemn and hurl all sorts of accusations against PM , the Federal Govt and Govt Agencies ? Stupid boy , never learn , never grow up . You want sweets , better say nicely , daddy please give me some sweets . Probably daddy will give you one , not some . And do it in private not openly . If you do it openly thru the press , chances are you get nothing since you are an illegitimate child .
In a statement yesterday, Ean Yong described the police probe as politically motivated and an attempt to cover up the real reasons behind the death of his political aide, Teoh Beng Hock.
Khalid adds that Lim will be called in for questioning next week for saying that Teoh was killed. He also advised Lim not to make unfounded remarks about the case, which is being investigated in an inquest.Words don't kill, killers do
Meanwhile, four Selangor DAP parliamentarians ticked the police off for their “misguided priority”.
They urged the police to "tackle crime with the same vigour they are putting in to intimidate and persecute Pakatan leaders".
“Guan Eng's statement cannot be deemed as unsubstantiated remarks as he was only echoing the conclusion of the acclaimed Thai forensic pathologist Dr Porntip Rojanasunan, who attended the second post-mortem on Teoh Beng Hock last month as an observer, that there was an 80 percent possibility of homicide in Beng Hock's death,” they said in a statement released today.
“We want to remind Selangor police chief Khalid Abu Bakar that Guan Eng was only repeating what millions of people in the country and the world are saying.”
The statement was signed by Tony Pua (PJ Utara MP), Gobind Singh Deo (Puchong), Charles Santiago (Klang) and Teo Nie Ching (Serdang).
“PDRM should be putting more resources into tackling real rather than imaginary criminals. Words don't kill, killers do. Khalid Abu Bakar need to be reminded that PDRM should take care of the interest of rakyat, not the interest of MACC and/or BN.”
Oh these people who wants crime stop but protecting the criminals . They would politicise and protect car thieves and can say anything under the sky whether right or wrong , true or false without fear of being prosecuted .
Lim Guan Eng , cannot and does not have the quality of a CM and does not fit to be CM , still thinking and acting like an Opposition while forgetting he is now the CM of Penang . A good politician does not go around claiming this and claiming that and making a seditious statement while the case is still in the courts .
Just like he was arrested and jailed for making claims that the underaged girl was in jail while the rapist was running around free when the actual fact is that the girl was placed at a welfare home as she is underaged nad not in jail . Lim Guan Eng never learns , same like his father Mr Royal Commission , everything must go under a Royal Commission of Inquiry . Another idiotic slanted eye alien .
Hasan has repeatedly clashed with his Pakatan Rakyat partners. — File pic
SHAH ALAM, Dec 23 — PAS may end up the biggest losers in Selangor come the next general elections.
The Islamic party, which won eight out of the 56 state seats in Election 2008, in mostly urban or semi-urban constituencies, stands to lose the support of non-Muslims who make up between 20 and 40 per of voters in these constituencies, according to its own ground reports.
PAS contested a further 12 seats in predominantly rural Malay majority constituencies but lost all of them to Umno.
A PAS state lawmaker, who did not want to be named, told The Malaysian Insider that the support the party received from non-Muslims is dissipating.
“I don’t even know if I can retain my own seat in the next general elections.
“I’m on the ground, we meet the non-Malays and know they are not happy,” he said, adding that their main grouse is against the state Pas leadership, which has invited one controversy after another.
Earlier this year, PAS Commissioner Datuk Dr Hasan Ali proposed a beer ban for Muslim-majority areas and moved to empower mosques officials to arrest Muslims caught drinking.
Although PAS attempted to explain that the proposals, which were eventually not implemented, would only affect Muslims, it triggered uneasiness among non-Muslims and created the perception that the party was pushing a hard-line Islamic agenda.
Non-muslims make up 47 per cent of Selangor ‘s population.
Worse still, Hasan has repeatedly clashed with his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) partners.
He made an open challenge in the media calling for his State Executive colleague, Ronnie Liu, to resign for allegedly ordering the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) to return beer seized illegally from a 7-Eleven outlet.
More recently he caused another stir by undermining the authority of the special select committee for competency, accountability and transparency (Selcat) which was investigating abuse of state funds by former Barisan Nasional (BN) lawmakers just before the general elections last year.
Hasan accused Speaker Teng Chang Khim, who heads the state government watchdog, of bullying civil servants during a public inquiry into the misuse of funds.
“I think we are going to be in trouble if there is no change in direction or in the state leadership,” said the Pas lawmaker.
Ibrahim Suffian from the Merdeka Center for Independent Research who spoke to The Malaysian Insider did not, however, completely share the lawmaker’s pessimism.
“Overall PAS is gaining more support from non-Muslims, more so now after last week’s PR Convention when they reiterated their stand with the coalition.”
Before the March 8 general elections, non-Malay sentiment was to vote for any party which was not in the ruling BN coalition including PAS despite the reservations they might have had about the Islamic party.
In subsequent by-elections, Chinese and Indians, especially in Perak, willingly voted for PAS.
However, in Selangor, he could not discount the negative publicity generated by Pas Selangor including forcing their values on non-Muslims.
“Their urban seats could be in jeopardy.”
Whether Selangor PAS continues to clash with their PR partners and alienate non-Muslims could depend on the party’s disciplinary committee.
Hasan, along with his one-time deputy, Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who has openly criticised the former’s policies have been hauled up before the committee for “jeopardizing the party’s image.”
Both men have responded to show-cause letters and the disciplinary committee is expected to decide on the next course of action today.
The committee could decide there is no case to answer, which would lead to status quo in the state leadership, or opt to suspend or remove Hasan as state commissioner, but this is unlikely because of his close links to PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, who appointed him in the first place.
The most likely outcome could be a face-saving slap on the wrist for either Hasan or for both men.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 — Pakatan Rakyat (PR) officials had raised concerns that even Kota Baru in the PAS stronghold state of Kelantan could fall into the hands of Barisan Nasional (BN) if local council elections were restored.
These concerns caused PR to water down its commitment to restore local council elections should the fledgling coalition take federal power.
PR officials from DAP, PAS and PKR who spoke to The Malaysian Insider confirmed the coalition's technical committee, responsible for putting together its common platform, had grappled at length with the issue amid fears that the BN machinery, which they considered far superior to that of PR’s, would grab the lion's share of local council seats.
And in doing so, it was felt that BN could cause problems even for the administration of PR-held states.
These "tactical considerations" were understood to have been brought up by PAS.
"In terms of resources, certain quarters fear that they will not be able to compete with the BN machinery and major cities within PR-controlled states," said one senior PR leader.
"One of the major concerns raised during PR's secretariat meeting on this issue is that Kota Baru will fall into BN hands," he added.
The fall of Kota Baru — the administrative capital of PAS-ruled Kelantan — into their political rivals' hands would be disastrous for the party, it was argued.
Another senior leader from PKR concurred with this tactical view, saying that in Selangor itself the pact faced various technical problems pertaining to the third vote.
"In principle I will tell you that nobody in PR disagrees with the view that the third vote should be implemented."
The senior leader explained that there was a pervasive fear that BN would have the upper hand should the third vote be restored, given their superior resources and also the fact that civil servants within local councils "are tied to the BN-led federal government".
Another problem PR is facing, said the PKR leader, is with how the municipalities are carved out.
PR-led state governments are losing out to the BN-led federal government in terms of cash and while maintaining municipalities should be done by local councils, the federal government is also pouring in money into them in a bid to woo voters.
"So our supporters on the ground feel that we often lose out to BN. While we struggle to maintain the big municipalities with our limited resources, they can easily pour in cash," said the leader.
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 19 — Now that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties have had their first ever convention, does anyone have any inkling what a Malaysia under their control would look like?
No idea?
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his allies made a big show this morning of putting together the fledgling coalition’s common platform.
But far from any concrete proposals that would differentiate them from Barisan Nasional (BN) parties, it was a vague, watered down commitment to provide better social justice, uplift the judiciary and be less corrupt.
In other words, PR’s message to Malaysia appears to be “we will not be as bad as BN.”
Depending on public perception towards BN, that may well be enough to unseat the ruling coalition in the next general election.
But BN and Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s men are not sitting down idly warming the seats in Putrajaya for Anwar.
It is looking increasingly clear that Najib is going to try to bet his political future on improving the economy.
Najib’s strategy is clear and simple — put enough money in people’s pockets and not only will all those problems like race relations go away, the public will back BN again in big numbers.
Well, achieving high economic growth will be the tricky part.
But at least Najib knows that it is all about the economy.
Perhaps Anwar and PR knows it is about the economy too.
Perhaps Anwar and PR are hoping the economy will slide so badly again that the public will vote out BN.
Isn’t that the “we are not as bad as BN” strategy?
is that all PR stands for? Is PR merely defined by the fact it is the “anti-BN?”
The public will have to be forgiven if that is the impression they get.
It is well and fine to blame BN and the media controlled by the ruling coalition for “manipulating” public perception against PR parties.
But the fact is PR parties have not done much to shake off the perception that they cannot rise beyond an “opposition” mindset.
And so long as they see themselves as the “opposition”, the “opposition” they shall remain.
What PR needs to understand is that it needs to present a clearly define choice to voters as to what a vote for them will mean.
Will there be higher taxes? Lower taxes? Will Bumiputera policies be abolished or amended? What about the country’s immigration policies? Will more expatriates be brought in? Will protectionism be a thing of the past? What about our national car policies? Our education system?
At least Najib’s National Key Results Areas (NKRAs) gives Malaysians an inkling of what the current administration is trying to sell.
The targets of Najib’s initiatives are lofty and many cynics say the proof of the pudding is in the eating, but nearly all Malaysians agree that the NKRAs are what needs fixing.
Compare the NKRAs to PR’s common platform, and it would appear that Najib has a better idea of the pulse of the country.
Whether Najib can deliver or not is another question.
But it is clear that Anwar has a commitment problem.
He will not be pinned down as to what his PR coalition offers Malaysians except for the “we are not as bad as BN” strategy.
The public, who are consumers, want a choice when they purchase a product.
And if the label on any product does not clearly say what it is, the consumer is likely to stick with the familiar brand even if he or she is not quite happy with it.
Leslie Lau is Consultant Editor for The Malaysian Insider
Hock Chai said it will be a test of Wee’s integrity to provide an explanation on his connections with the company and its chief executive officer, Tiong King Sing.