Showing posts with label PKR. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PKR. Show all posts
Monday, November 15, 2010
Ex-member: In truth, PKR does not have 400,000 members
PETALING JAYA: A former PKR leader has accused the party of inflating membership figures to demand "political equity" in Pakatan Rakyat.
Former Selangor PKR secretary Mohd Nazmi Rosli said that having a large pool of members was vital in the seat negotiation process with its allies, the DAP and PAS.
"If PKR's membership is lower than that of those parties, it cannot demand for many seats," he said, alleging that tell-tales signs emerging from the poor voter turnout during the divisional polls showed that the party does not have the 400,000 members that it claims to have.
For example, he said, the Sungai Petani PKR division had boasted 3,222 members but only 202 participated in the polls.
"Likewise, the voter turnout in many of the divisions was barely 5% of the number of members the divisions claim to have," said Mohd Nazmi, adding that the size of the membership was vital in the negotiations for seats.
He also claimed that PKR depended on the PAS machinery in the general and by- elections.
"This is also another sign that PKR does not really have the numbers,'' he said, adding that the party would find it difficult to win seats without the help of PAS.
Despite that, he said, PKR still acted like it was the "boss" in Pakatan.
In the 12th general election, PKR won 31 parliamentary seats, followed by DAP (28) and PAS (23).
PKR won 42 state seats, in contrast with the 83 won by PAS and 71 by the DAP.
Barisan Nasional won 140 out of the 222 parliamentary seats and 307 out of the 505 state seats contested.
'Stop cheating': PKR protesters want polls halted
By G Vinod
PETALING JAYA: About 80 people turned up at the PKR headquarters here today in a bid to pressure the party leadership to halt the ongoing party election allegedly marred by irregularities.
The crowd arrived at about 10.30am, led by former PKR deputy presidential aspirant P Jenapala and former Kota Raja division chief, KS Kotappan. They demanded that the controversial party polls be halted and restarted from the division level itself.
“We want the central election committee (CEC) to stop the party polls. If it continues, it will mean that the party is cheating the public,” said Kotappan.
Kotappan claimed there were discrepancies in the last electoral list, which proved the existence of phantom voters.
“The same phantom voters will be voting again for the central leadership election,” he said.
He added that it was unfair that the party was still going through with the polls as the CEC has
suspended the results from several divisions.“There may be others who are interested to run for central leadership positions. How are they going to nominate their candidates now?”he asked.
When asked whether he agreed with supreme council member Zaid Ibrahim's recent outbursts on party de facto leader, Anwar Ibrahim, and another deputy presidential hopeful, Azmin Ali, Kotappan said there might be some truth in it.
“Zaid is a smart man. I am sure there is truth in his claims,” he said.
On Nov 8, Zaid pulled out from the deputy presidential race in protest against the alleged electoral irregularities. He blamed Anwar and Azmin for the electoral melee and urged them to step down.
'No such position'
Kotappan's sentiments were echoed by Jenapala, who said Anwar had no right to interfere in the election process.
“There is no such position called a de facto leader in the party and he should not get involved in party affairs,” said Jenapala.
He also urged party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail to step forward to end the electoral fiasco.
“However, if she wants to remain behind her husband's (Anwar) shadows, then she is not fit as well (to lead),” said Jenapala.
On Zaid's recent outbursts, he said he cannot blame the former law minister as he was also aware of the alleged manipulation in the party polls.
“So far, 162 complaints had been filed but none of them had been investigated,” claimed Jenapala.
Meanwhile, a group of youths claiming to be PKR members, said they did not know why they were brought to the party headquarters.
“All I know was that someone called Anand asked me to tag along with the crowd,” claimed R Logan, 19, who was joined by his friend, S Yuganathan 19.
Kamisah Ripin, 75, also said she has no idea what the protest was all about, and that she came just to show “support”.
“They told me to come show 'support'. So I came along,” said Kamisah.
When queried on the matter, Jenapala said while there might be some people “planted” in the crowd, almost everyone knew why they participated in the protest.
“Maybe they were not briefed earlier but they are all PKR members,” claimed Jenapala.
The crowd dispersed peacefully at about 12 noon.
Tombstone protest: PKR Wanita leaders threaten to quit
By Rahmah Ghazali
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR was thrown into more turmoil when some Wanita leaders prostested and threatened to quit the party after they claimed they were barred from voting during the Lembah Pantai party polls today.
And they are willing to cross over and join former contender in the deputy presidential race Zaid Ibrahim should he decide to form a new party.
The protest also took a bizarre turn when the protesters carried a tombstone to symbolise the demise of the party if the problems are not solved soon.
PKR is already reeling from allegations of discrepancies and fraud in the conduct of the nationwide polls for the number two slot, and the latest episode is not helping the party regain credibility among its members.
Pantai Murni Wanita branch chief Fauziah Manap, who led the protest during the Lembah Pantai elections, claimed that they were not allowed to vote as disciplinary action has been taken against them for speaking to the press.
Angry and frustrated, she said she and some 200 members from the branch were willing to follow Zaid should he decide to set up a breakaway party.
“My name was first listed as a voter during the previous branch election, but today my name is no longer there. It says I have been suspended. If a new party is formed by Zaid, God willing, I will join ,” she told reporters.
Zaid recently announced his withdrawal from the deputy presidential contest, citing irregularities and discrepancies in the ongoing party polls. He has also resigned from all PKR posts.
He claimed that his rival and frontrunner Azmin Ali and de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim had contributed to the electoral mess and demanded their resignation.
He also said he might form a new party if he was sacked.
Nurul Izzah under fire
The protesters added some drama when they carried the tombstone as a symbolic warning to the top leaders that the party would be buried if they fail to solve the crisis.
“This is a warning to Lembah Pantai PKR. If the matter is not resolved and if change fails to take place, we will bury the party with this tombstone,” said a member.
They also took a swipe at Nurul Izzah Anwar, the Lembah Pantai division chief and a contender for a vice-president's post.
Pantai Murni branch chief, Mohd Hassan Mohd Tahor, said Nurul has failed to meet the disgruntled members to untangle the knotty issue.
“She has not come to meet us. We are treated like enemies. Is it wrong for her to come and greet us? We work hard for her. We don’t want her money. We just want to be respected, that is all,” he said.
Meanwhile, efforts to contact Nurul have been futile.
A total of 41 divisions have gone to the polls today, where all eyes are focused on on several “hot” divisions in the Federal Territories and Selangor.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Indeed, Who Is Lying?
At 6.34pm today, to the ‘PKR Secretariat responds’ post, Potblack sent in the following comment :
“Bro Haris, Please be responsible in your reporting. Either the Sec.Gen or your informer is telling a lie.So can you tell us honestly whether there is any possibilty that your informer is using you to destroy the creditbility of the PKR elections?”
Potblack, I’m going to try and answer you.
Before I address the Sec-Gen’s statement today, let me just draw your attention to and comment on a statement that appeared in The Malaysian Insider yesterday.
“PKR has denied prominent social activist Haris Ibrahim’s claims that ballot papers for the on-going party election is available outside the polls for cheating by Azmin Ali’s camp, saying those in the lawyer’s possession are from the previous weekend’s voting…
“The problem is, that is the old ballot. This week’s ballot is a different colour,” a senior PKR official told The Malaysian Insider on condition of anonymity.
It is understood that party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution will issue a statement on the matter as soon as possible. He is also due to announce this weekend’s results on Monday” – Malaysian Insider.
The ballot papers that I disclosed in my post yesterday ‘is the old ballot’, according to a senior PKR official.
The question of how I and the informant came to be in possession of this ‘old ballot’ has not been addressed.
This is an important question that has gone unanswered.
The very fact of my possession of the same contradicts the very first statement quoted.
At 2pm today, I met and had coffee with Dr Molly Cheah, the chairperson of the PKR central election committee, the body tasked with the duty of ensuring that the ongoing PKR elections is indeed free and fair.
I met her to hand over the copies of the ballot papers received from the informant, the serial numbers duly removed.
Interestingly, this was the first she was actually seeing the ballot papers.
It is for her now to verify, if she cares to, if these were indeed from the batch of ballot papers printed by HQ for use in weekend No.1 of the party elections, from 29th October to 31st October..
And if so, how then did I, who have no role to play in this electoral process, and the informant who had in his possession at least 100 of the same and claimed to have access to more than 1,000, come to be in possession of these if the central election committee have the ballot papers intended for use in all 4 weekend elections secured under lock and key?
Or, as appears to be the case, is the safekeeping of these ballot papers now entrusted to staff at the Secretariat who were intended to assist the central election committee on administrative matters, and no more?
If so, what other duties and functions of the central election committee have been assumed or, worse, seized, by these Secretariat staff?
Who is overseeing the elections, in truth?
If it is not the central election committee, then who?
The Secretariat staff again?
Free and fair elections overseen by Secretariat staff, then, and not Molly Cheah and her committee, anymore?
How convenient!
Potblack, in my post yesterday, I wrote that the informant explained that the central election committee returning officer could manipulate the list of members attending at the ongoing elections, where voter turnout is low, adjust it upwards and stuff additional ballot papers into the ballot box.
Saifuddin, in his press statement speaks of 5 security features : serial numbers, stamp of the Election Officer, different colour paper used for each week’s ballot papers, presence of candidates counting agents, and a tallying sheet.
Who is lying, you ask, Potblack?
“Zaid’s political secretary Rashid Azad Khan said the polls should be called off in view of allegations of irregularities and claims of phantom voters.
“For example, our polling agent reported that the voter turnout in Kubang Pasu was only 84.
“But the initial vote tally showed that Azmin clinched 80 votes while Zaid garnered 76 votes.
“Where did the additional 72 votes come from? Could they be phantom voters?’’ he asked.
Rashid also said the agents had reported that there was a 30-minute blackout immediately after balloting ended at 4pm Friday.
“Candidates’ agents were not allowed in, and the ballot boxes were not sealed at the time,’’ he claimed, adding one of the election officer was caught on camera wearing Azmin’s campaign badge raising questions over their impartiality.
Rashid claimed that following complaints, the election monitor decided that the Kubang Pasu result should be a tie of 81-81.
“I am appalled. How can the results simply be amended?’’ he asked” - The Star
Now, before I am accused of selectively believing the mainstream media, I have checked this story with Zaid’s political secretary, Rashid Azad Khan, who confirms the same.
Rashid also confirms that the Zaid team have evidence in hand of the fraud in Kubang Pasu and had communicated this to Saifuddin.
Rashid says that Saifuddin promised to see them but has reneged on the promise to this day.
PKR Deputy President Ballot Paper
This is the ballot paper that would have been used in the Kubang Pasu election on 29th October.
Potblack, Saifuddin will hold his usual press conference tomorrow at 11.30am at PKR HQ.
Ask him about Kubang Pasu.
Ask him who is lying.
You ask, Potblack, whether the informant is using me to destroy the credibility of PKR?
Really, Potblack, with all that we’ve seen over the last few months, has not PKR been doing an excellent job on its own in demolishing its own credibility?
At 7.35pm tonight, Sampalee sent in the following comment to the same ‘PKR Secretariat responds’ post :
“Dear Haris,To hide their nonsense,they will cast doubts on you to distract.Do not waste time with pr and get on with the third force.When the third force is up and running,we can then co-operate as peers”.
Bro Sampalee, I lost any hope that BN would reform after the 308 tsunami some time back.
Yes, BN will not reform until they are whipped at the 13th GE.
Today, I have lost all hope that PKR would heed the reprimands of the very persons they had previously counted as their friends, and reform.
Yes, I will not waste anymore time with PKR.
We have a nation to take back. - harismibrahim.wordpress.com
Thursday, October 7, 2010
VIDEO Defending or burying Anwar Ibrahim?
Related Stories: Syed Husin: PKR never endorsed any disruption to Rahimi PC... But are PKR members ? aren't they ? And the one also claim that he is Anwar's Indian affairs coordinator ? Didn't he ? So whether endorsed or not endorsed is the same as LPPL , right ? In case you don't understand lppl , it stands for lampah , pahlan .
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Latheefa denies Anwar's ex-aide Rahimi's accusations
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| Latheefa - Of course not |
PKR information chief Latheefa Koya has denied she had in any way coerced or influenced Rahimi Osman, a former aide of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, into signing two statutory declarations implicating Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor in fabricating sodomy charges against Anwar.
“Of course not, I categorically deny it,” Latheefa , a prominent human rights lawyer herself, told Malaysia Chronicle.
Sinister
According to a police report lodged by Rahimi at the Klang police station this afternoon, he claimed that he was forced to sign two statutory declarations by Latheefa and other party members at Quality Hotel in June 2008.
“I was forced to sign two statutory declarations in June 2008 about Anwar and Saiful. The declaration was not true because I did not write it. I was forced to sign it because I feared for my safety. At that time there were hundreds of Anwar’s supporters and right-hand men around Quality Hotel,” Malaysian Insider reported Rahimi as saying.
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| Rahimi and Anwar |
However, apart from Latheefa, Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair also questioned why Rahimi suddenly changed his mind after three years.
“Why is he making an about- turn only now after about three years? This clearly smells sinister," said Sankara.
"Initially he is being listed as part of Anwar's defence witnesses. He voluntarily approached us to testify for us in the case. I emphatically wish to state that Rahimi was not forced to sign the statutory declarations. He made the SDs voluntarily and the SDs were in Anwar's favour.”
Something fishy going on
Rahimi had lodged the police report at around 3pm and had arranged to give a press conference at the Lotus restaurant at 4 pm.
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| Najib and Rosmah met Saiful |
There were about six people allegedly led by PKR vice-president aspirant K Sureshkumar and another man by the name of M Jayabalan.
"Call off the press conference. How much were you paid? We know what happened between you and Saiful," yelled M Jayabalan repeatedly.
Meanwhile, PKR officials are investigating the incident which appears to be aimed at discrediting not only Anwar but also the party itself.
“We don’t know anything about that all. If the group that disrupted the PC are really PKR members, we will have to probe why they behaved the way they did. A lot of strange things seem to be happening of late," Latheefa told Malaysia Chronicle.
"If they did do it for whatever reasons of their own, they will still have to be responsible for it. It is not the smartest thing to do and if they had checked with the party, we would have warned them against such behavior."
Ex-aide 'lied' for Anwar, mob raids sodomy PC
By Teoh El Sen
FULL REPORT KLANG: In a new twist to the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy saga, a former aide has claimed that he was forced to lie for the opposition leader in two statutory declarations made in 2008.
Rahimi Osman also filed a police report on the matter this afternoon.In his report, the former aide said he was forced to ink the documents in June 2008 regarding Anwar and Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
"The SDs are untrue and was not written by myself," he said.
Rahimi claimed that he signed the documents because he feared for his safety at the time as he was surrounded by Anwar's supporters and his “right-hand men” in a hotel in Shah Alam.
"After Saiful made a police report saying he was sodomised by Anwar, Anwar's people as well as his laywers, including (PKR information chief) Latheefa Koya and Saiful Izham Ramli, forced me to stay at Quality Hotel," he said.
"They then forced me to put down my signature when I did not agree with the contents of the SDs at all," he added.
Rahimi stated that in his first SD signed on June 28, he had "accused" Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor of conspiring against Anwar.
He made a new SD today, because he wanted to "tell the truth".
"A few months ago, Latheefa called me to ask me to sign a new SD as she told me the one I signed previously was lost. However, I did not entertain them and tried my best to stay away from them,” he said.
In his police report, Rahimi also asked for protection since he was most likely to be called in as a witness in the sodomy trial.
Meanwhile, Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair denied Rahimi's claim of being forced to sign the SDs and questioned the timing of the latest revelation.
“He made the statutory declaration voluntarily and it was in Anwar's favour. By the way, why is he making an about turn now? After about three years?” he asked.
Mob storms restaurant
Rahimi's attempt to disclose the matter at a press conference in a restaurant here this evening was thwarted when a group of Anwar's supporters stormed the venue.
The men hurled abuses at Rahimi, and among others, shouted: “How many millions did you get?” and “We know everything”.
The men, led by PKR vice-presidential hopeful R Suresh Kumar, also threatened to forcefully drag Rahimi out of the restaurant if he did not end the press conference. He subsequently called off the press conference.
Speaking to reporters later, Suresh said he and his group came to protect Anwar from any false allegations.
"We don't know what he was going to expose but we know it's something bad. But he's the culprit. I know very well what he did to Saiful, I met his father also.
“Suddenly he comes out, definitely he got something from the government. So there's no story, there's nothing. Now the case is in court, why now? Who is Rahimi, why suddenly come out?" he asked.
Suresh also alleged that Rahimi and Saiful had a "special relationship" without elaborating.
Anwar was accused of sodomising Saiful in a condominium in Kuala Lumpur, and the opposition leader, who is facing his second sodomy charge in a decade, claimed that it was a sequel to the political conspiracy authored against him in 1998.
Ex-Anwar aide claims was forced to implicate Najib, Rosmah in Sodomy II
October 06, 2010
A former aide to Anwar Ibrahim, Rahimi Osman (second from right) claimed today that he was forced to implicate the Prime Minister and his wife in the Sodomy II case. – Picture by Choo Choy May
KLANG, Oct 6 — A former aide to Pakatan Rakyat (PR) defacto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim claimed today that he was forced to implicate Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datin Seri Rosmah in the on-going Sodomy II trial.
Rahimi Osman said that he was forced to sign two statutory declarations back on June 28, 2008 which accused Najib and Rosmah of masterminding a conspiracy against Anwar.
PKR members had stormed the press conference even before Rahimi could begin and demanded that he stop the press conference.
However, a police report made by Rahimi at 3.03 pm earlier was available to The Malaysian Insider.
According to the report, Rahimi claimed that he was forced to sign two statutory declarations by PKR information chief Latheefa Koya as well as party members at Quality Hotel back in June 2008.“I was forced to sign two statutory declarations on June 2008 about Anwar and Saiful. The declaration was not true because I did not write it.
“I was forced to sign it because I feared for my safety... at that time there were hundreds of Anwar’s supporters and right-hand men around Quality Hotel,” said Rahimi.
The former aide also claimed that he was forced to stay at the hotel for a few days after signing the SD.
Another ex-aide turns on Anwar?A press conference believed to be linked to Anwar Ibrahim's ongoing sodomy trial by his former aide Rahimi Osman was cancelled following disruption by a rowdy group of six individuals.
The press conference was to be held at the Lotus restaurant in Klang at 4pm today, but was later cancelled following the appearance of the group. Rahimi (centre) told reporters that he had lodged a police report at the Klang district police headquarters at 2pm today over two statutory declarations made in 2008. “The police report is to say that the prior two statutory declarations are not accurate,” said Rahimi's lawyer S Ravi Chandran. The statutory declarations were related to the ongoing Anwar's sodomy trial, where he was alleged to have sodomised another aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan.'Force to sign SD'
According to the Klang police, Rahimi had lodged a report alleging that he was pressured by Anwar's men into making the two statutory declarations.
Klang district police chief Mohamad Mat Yusop confirmed receiving the report but refused to divulge details as the matter has been transferred to the Shah Alam district police.
"I was forced to sign two declarations in June 2008 about Anwar," Rahimi said. Rahimi appeared unfazed by the tense atmosphere at the restaurant, which was packed with reporters and later joined by the group which tried to stop the press conference. "Call off the press conference. How much were you paid? We know what happened between you and Saiful," yelled a member of the group, identified as M Jayabalan, repeatedly.
Group: We are defending Anwar
Rahimi calmly replied: "This has nothing to do with (the court case). How can I negotiate with you when you are shouting?" 
Jayabalan was there with six others, led by PKR vice-president aspirant K Sureshkumar, who claimed to have campaigned with Rahimi during the 2008 general election. Also spotted among the group was a member of Anwar's daughter Nurul Izzah's winning team in the Lembah Pantai division polls. "We are here to stand up for Anwar. There is nothing to expose," said Sureshkumar, who is also Anwar's special assistant in charge of Indian affairs. After Rahimi decided to end the press conference, he shook hands with Jayabalan. Several police officers were also at the premises. Rahimi is Saiful's former schoolmate. He was believed to have referred Saiful to Anwar in 2008. Saiful later replaced Rahimi who left sometime that year to pursue a career in business.
Why complain 3 years later?
Contacted for comments, Anwar's counsel N Sankara denied claims that the statutory declarations were made under duress.
"Initially he is being listed as part of Anwar's defence witnesses. He voluntarily approached us to testify for us in the case.
"I emphatically wish to state that Rahimi was not forced to sign the statutory declarations. He made the SDs voluntarily and the SDs were in Anwar's favour.
"By the way, why is he making an about turn only now after about three years? This clearly smells sinister," he said.
Sankara said he reserved further comment until he sees Rahimi's police report and statutory declarations which he will then reference with those in his possession.
Who is Evelyn Salt in PKR?
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| William - PKR's treasurer-general |
Four PKR divisions postponed their elections due to fighting and disruption. Losing candidates called press conferences accusing the party headquarters of complicity in fraud and irregularities. The Deputy President aspirant Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s comments drew a retort from incumbent Deputy President Dr Syed Husin Ali, sparking an exchange between senior party leaders. The mainstream media lapped at the fracas and accusations. The public mourned in grief while BN leaders gleefully pointed out that disharmony were not confined to their political parties. Anwar Ibrahim said there were Trojan Horses out to cause chaos and disruption.
Who are the Trojan Horses? Adopting the tagline in the movie, “Who is Evelyn Salt in PKR?”
Angelina Jolie is a CIA agent, Evelyn Salt who swore an oath of loyalty to her country, the United States of America. She turns out to be a Russian spy, a sleeper. She is a spy embedded in America having infiltrated the CIA. She waits for decades before being activated to carry out her mission, to assassinate the Russian President visiting the USA thereby wreaking chaos and discord. The latest action in the Keadilan Party elections has turned out to be just as exciting as this blockbuster movie. Are the events unfolding in PKR an indication of PKR imploding or is this the work of a sleeper that has arisen to wreak havoc?
The public is rightly concerned whether the party has lost its direction with infighting reported amongst the leaders. The present discord and disruption is an unfortunate but necessary growing pain PKR must undergo and overcome it, if it is to lead the way to Putrajaya. The party is made up of members from diverse ideologies and backgrounds. It needs to be bound and cemented by the common goal of removing racial politics, injustice and corruption and to articulate its policies in concrete terms. Although there are many selfless and tireless activists and reformists, it also has its share of ineffectual and indifferent members as well as opportunists. The party needs to clean up the deadwood and flush out the Trojan horses. The party acknowledges its weaknesses. It has hitherto a comparatively small membership. There is a lack of depth and quality in its leadership, both at the senior and middle level.
One of the criticisms made against Keadilan is the weaknesses of some of its elected representatives. It has suffered the ignominy of having the highest number of turn coats crossing over to the other side. It is imperative that the party take steps to improve the quality and quantity of the members, machinery and leaders.
Advocates of intra party democracy argue that political parties using internally democratic procedures are likely to select more capable and appealing leaders, to have more responsive policies and as a result, enjoy greater electoral success. Further, it is believed that political parties that “practice what they preach”, strengthen democratic culture generally. The party made two major decisions. The first was to embark on a membership drive. The second to amend its constitution to allow for direct election of party leaders by grass root members at a special congress on 26 February 2009.
The reason for the first decision is that the party must improve the quantity and quality of its members. The reason for the second decision is that if the party is to fight for democracy then it must lead in the practice of democracy. A democracy needs strong and sustainable political parties with the capacity to represent citizens and provide policies that demonstrate the political parties’ abilities to govern for the public good. Since the Mahathir era, there has been a disconnection between the citizens and the elected leaders of our country. This is due to a deliberate design to keep the people in the business of seeking a livelihood separate from the people seeking to maintain themselves in the business of politics. From students to businessmen and housewives, the people have been cowed to stay out of politics. Keadilan seeks to change this and to re-establish the connection between the people and government. A government of the people must be by the people and not by a select few.
The direct election is part of the transformation Keadilan seeks to create in re-establishing this connection. Keadilan seeks a more open political environment in which citizens can actively participate in the democratic process. No ordinary Umno member has ever voted to elect his president. The Umno President is elected by the handful of delegates and becomes the Prime Minister. No ordinary MCA member voted in the recent contest for the President. No ordinary MIC member voted even once for Samy Vellu to be President in the thirty-one years since he took over on September 13, 1979. By these party elections, every Malaysian who is a member of Keadilan has a right to vote for its President. Every Malaysian who becomes a member will be able to participate in the abolishing of unjust laws and formulating the new agenda for the nation in Keadilan’s division meetings. The ordinary citizen will be an active participant in determining the direction and policies of the nation.
There were valid concerns that the two decisions will lead to trouble in the party. The first is resistance from incumbents threatened by the new blood. The second is the opening of floodgates to opportunists and infiltrators into the party. There is no doubt that by opening its doors and in allowing direct election, the party earned the ire of ineffectual leaders and allowed infiltrators to slip through to wreak havoc; spreading misinformation and disinformation, sowing dissent and discord among the rank and file. Evelyn Salt was embedded or slipped in during this process.
With full cognisance of these concerns and dangers, the party leadership and grassroots took the brave step to unanimously approve the amendments to the party constitution. It was decided that if the battle for a better Malaysia is to be won, it would only be by Malaysians standing up for justice and freedom. It would be by Malaysians rejecting injustice and corruption. In the same vein, if the party is to transform and lead the fight, it can only do so if the members choose good leaders and not be misled by infiltrators, moles and Trojan horses. The party put its faith in the grass roots’ ability to make the right choice, reject deadwood and not be misled by the Trojan horses.
Evelyn Salt has been activated in these party elections.
Is Evelyn Salt the persons who assaulted the members in the division meetings, attacked reporters and destroyed the ballot boxes? No! There is a method to the madness. The goons and louts were agent provocateurs. The party disciplinary committee will take appropriate action against them. They were instigated by Evelyn Salt.
Is Evelyn Salt, Janapala a/l Perumal, the former assistant secretary who suddenly took upon himself the role of being a gadfly like Socrates did in ancient Athens. He started to hold press conferences to disclose the party’s alleged wrongdoings during these elections. The Athenians executed Socrates by ordering him to drink hemlock. Janapala too will have to answer for his deeds. But no, he is not Evelyn Salt. His allegation that he was wrongfully prevented from contesting in the party elections cannot hold water. He had been sacked more than a year before for forming a new political party. Sacked members cannot stand for elections. He has further admitted that he is an undischarged bankrupt. Bankrupts cannot hold party posts. In any event, the Official Assignee will be interested to find out how an undischarged bankrupt is able to afford holding a press conference in a hotel. Students having difficulty in learning Science and Mathematics in English should ask Janapala for tips as to how he improved his English overnight. He not only spoke the Queen’s English but used verses that will turn William Shakespeare green with envy when he read the prepared text at the press conference. He sounded more like an Englishman looking up to the figure of the famous admiral in Trafalgar Square and not the Malaysian English he used in the party meetings in Merchant Square. He is not Evelyn Salt but Evelyn Salt gave him misleading information such as claiming 800 immigrants with false identity cards were allowed to vote in the Kudat division. Records confirmed that only 268 members attended and voted. The claim of 800 illegal immigrants voting is false and a complete fabrication.
Is Evelyn Salt one of the candidates for senior party positions, making public statements in the mainstream and alternative media? No! Candidates making speeches and comments that the party will be doomed if they failed to be elected may have said or wrote things in the heat of the campaigning. They are more likely to have acted out of impetuous exuberance. Dr. Molly Cheah, Chairman of the Party Election Committee is there to keep their fervour in check. However, if despite the warnings candidates persist with rhetoric that burnt bridges within the party then the members will have to be wary of them. The candidates cannot adopt a slash and burn tactic in an internal party election. Such candidates even if they win will end up with pyrrhic victories. One who is sincere in seeking the job to look after the house cannot in the process of seeking that job burn down the very house one he is aspiring to manage. None of the candidates is Evelyn Salt but some may have been provoked and baited by Evelyn Salt to embark on a misguided scorched earth strategy.
So who is Evelyn Salt? He or she is not acting out of naïve exuberance. He or she is carrying out overt actions for a covert design. The members and public will be able to detect Evelyn Salt as the elections move to the next phase. The running dogs and the sleepers will reveal themselves eventually. He or she is the one who spreads misinformation, disseminates disinformation and instigate agent provocateurs to sow dissent and discord.
Misinformation is incorrect information. One of the most popular forms of misinformation on the internet, especially email is the passing along of urban legends. Urban legends are untrue stories that are passed along by sincere people who believe them and feel the need to inform others. The allegation that the headquarters is involved in irregularities in the party elections is an example of this misinformation. Due to weaknesses in previous administrations, the list of members for each division is incomplete. The Secretariat instructed each of the divisions to check the accuracy of the members’ list for the 2009 annual general meetings in preparation for these 2010 party elections. However, because there were no division elections, there was a lack of interests by both division leaders and the members to confirm the accuracy of the list then. As a consequence those whose names were not in the list of members were not able to vote at the present elections.
Disinformation is the lowest of the low. Never underestimate the evil intentions of some individuals or institutions to say or write whatever suits their particular purpose to the extent of deliberately fabricating false information. Propaganda is generally an appeal to emotion not to intellect. It shares techniques with advertising and public relations. Propaganda seeks to change the way people understand an issue for the purpose of changing their actions and expectations in ways that are desirable to the interest group. Propaganda is part of political warfare. Psychological warfare is one of its weapons.
Propaganda can be classified according to the source and nature of the message. White propaganda generally comes from an openly identified source. Information provided by openly identified BN biased blogs and media is white propaganda. Black propaganda is identified from one source but in fact from another. This is most commonly done to disguise the true origins of the propaganda. Black propaganda and disinformation is fabricated by organizations purporting to convey information in a neutral or impartial manner but is in fact propaganda slanted insidiously towards its own interest group and its personal agenda.
Many associate the special branch as the men in black monitoring opposition party members. It must not be forgotten that the special branch is acknowledged as one of the best agencies in the world. Its ability to infiltrate the Malayan Communist Party (“MCP”), feed false information back to the MCP and to have a special branch agent not only infiltrating the MCP but elected as the second highest ranking official are legends in the world intelligence community. It is the special branch that taught the Americans in the Vietnam War the tactics now known as “Winning the Hearts and Minds of the People”.
The infiltrators into Keadilan have taken the playbook from the special branch manual in spreading misinformation, disinformation and black propaganda.
Democracy depends on a sufficient portion of the electorate having adequate and reliable information so that they can make well informed decisions. The crucial key to a successful democracy is not the quantity but the quality of information provided to voters. Little attention has been given to the role of misinformation, disinformation and propaganda in a democracy. There is misinformation, disinformation, propaganda and finally censorship. The withdrawal of Suara Keadilan’s license by the Ministry of Information, the sacking of radio and television broadcasters for airing news unfavorable to Barisan Nasional speaks volumes on the use of these tactics in Malaysia.
Winston Churchill said:
“A lie travels half way around the world before the truth puts on its shoes.”
A television broadcast or a newspaper article with misleading or even false facts can be seen by millions long before a statement countering the false allegations can be printed in some remote alternative media. Malaysians must be aware that the country is now in the midst of a political war. Barisan Nasional and its supporters are not fighting according to Queensberry Rules. Deception disinformation and propaganda are not new subjects in politics. As early as the 16th century Machiavelli concluded that there were two means for a nation to gain its objective from an unwilling adversary; force or fraud. Since the application of force entailed expending resources and taking serious risks, Machiavelli strongly recommended that a ruler should “never attempt to win by force what he might otherwise win by fraud”. The Chinese strategist, Sun Tzu wrote in the 4th Century B.C.E. that all warfare is based on deception and devoted an entire chapter on the use of spies. Do you expect Barisan Nasional to ignore Machiavelli and Sun Tzu in their attempt to retain control of their political powers?
An example of the disinformation and black propaganda is the story of the Keadilan leadership being undemocratic and that the headquarters is manipulating the party election by fraudulent means. The Headquarters appointed 120 volunteers to supervise the division elections. The volunteers are from a different state from the divisions holding the elections. They have no interest in the particular division elections and do not even know the members of that division. The allegation of fraud made against these volunteers who man the polling booths from 10.00am to 4.00pm and then count the votes for the 3 senior division posts and 15 committee positions and the same number of positions for the Women and Youth Wings would only be completed by 3.00 am or 4.30 am. This accusation is the unkindest cut of all.
The story of infighting amongst leaders such as Tian Chua with Chua Jui Meng is another piece of disingenuous disinformation. Disinformation can be detected when one compares the story with known and reliable facts. When a story is inconsistent with the known and established facts it must be viewed critically. This story is irreconcilable with established facts. Anwar who was imprisoned for more than six years for an offence that he did not commit, Dr Syed Husin Ali who was incarcerated in solitary confinement for eight years under the ISA, Tian Chua and others who have been detained without trial, can it be conceivable that they would all suddenly changed from waging a struggle for justice and freedom to a struggle for personal power? Chua Jui Meng has not declared any interest in vying for an elected position, so how can there be any disharmony between Chua Jui Meng and Tian Chua?
Malaysians need to be able to discern true information from propaganda, disinformation and deception. This means that one must learn to read, hear or view articles and information from the mainstream media, alternative media and even emails critically. We must analyze the stories with a clear awareness of the point of view they embody, recognizing the attempt to influence our thinking and beliefs. One must be vigilant that one sided presentations are not the truth. We must seek viewpoints that are dismissed or ignored. One must always ask oneself who is the author of the story, whether the article identifies the source of the information or whether it is from an anonymous source, the purpose for the statements and whether such a story is consistent with the known and trusted information on the person or subject matter of the story. In this information age, it is vital to know how one can be manipulated if one is not sensitive to verifying sources, determining quality, assessing plausibility and apprehending “effects”.
The same tactics used by Barisan Nasional against PBS in Sabah are now employed against Keadilan. It had turnover PBS leaders and lured them to cross over with offers of Ministerial positions and the establishment of new political parties. The most effective tactic of overcoming a strong opposition is to use the trusted method of “divide and conquer”. The people of Sabah were split when the PBS leaders established new political parties. In the end PBS loss control. It was rendered impotent by defections and establishment of what was deemed as third forces. Sabahans live to regret it to this day.
Those who proposed the formation of a third force on the excuse that Keadilan and Pakatan are weak or ineffective or are purporting to expose its weaknesses to champion the formation of a third force are in fact employing the same tactics used against PBS. These tactics are part of political manipulation. This tactic is commonly referred to as creating a “controlled opposition”. This is where the opposition to a party is infiltrated and manipulated until it is taken over and used as a foil to the benefit of the subverting party. It operates either by making a caricature of the opposing party through antics and scandals or by channeling popular opposition to an ultimately futile and demoralising direction.
The people must remember the saying:
“Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.”
The people must not be fooled again. The people must have faith that the majority of the Keadilan members will have the wisdom and the acumen to choose the right leaders. The people must believe that Keadilan is a rough diamond that will be polished in the crucible of fire by these party elections. It has started its detoxification process. It will overcome its shortcomings and mature into the party needed to lead this nation to a new dawn. Just like our computers, we must install in our minds anti-virus programmes to filter the information received and block disinformation. It is when the people can detect the lies and deception would the Evelyn Salts and Trojan horses be neutralised and wiped out. The American propaganda failed in Vietnam and those who try the same tricks in Malaysia should fail too. Keep the faith.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Bad political culture taking hold of PKR
By Luke Rintod
PENAMPANG: Something is not right with PKR if the party elections is the barometer.
A veteran leader of the now-defunct Unko (United National Kadazandusun Organisation), Fred Edwin Lojingki, 69, said the chaotic nature of the on-going polls in Sabah as well as inthe peninusula was a manifestation of a bad political culture being promoted in the party.
"I heard in Semporna that the incumbent divisional chief had to pull out his shotgun over something connected with the ballot boxes locked inside a room. In Batu Sapi, Sandakan, a candidate for divisional chief punched a party officer.
"Elsewhere boxing and kicking are the norm. In Semenanjung, there were cases where people were hurt and some even suffered broken legs. It is bewildering.
"Closer to my hometown Penampang, polling yesterday was also chaotic because of disturbances. It was very unruly, there was no peace. I was told this by my relatives who are PKR members," he added.
"In my long years in politics since the 1960s until now, both as activist and observer, I have never seen something like this where party election was marred by underhand tactics and run by questionable management.
"Not in Unko, not in Upko (United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation), not in Pekemas, not in any political party. What we had were isolated cases, but in PKR, chaos and violence seem to be the norm everywhere rather than the exception," he said.
Political animalism
Lojingki reminded younger politicians not to easily fall into the trap of a bad political culture practised by a few leaders that will eventually ruin civil society.
"Anwar Ibrahim, being the de facto leader of PKR, is the one to be blamed for all this ruckus. There were claims within PKR that Anwar himself promotes 'political animalism' against good ethics, and this worries many.
"One must remember that we don't live forever in this world. We as leaders must leave behind a legacy of good examples of how to get things done correctly. We must not do everything, including bad things, just to achieve the ends we want," he said.
Lojingki, who is a keen follower of PKR but not a member, said he was saddened and disappointed to see Sabahan politicians in PKR getting themselves entangled in violent and dirty politics.
Results for the Penampang election will be known later.
Police report, walkout mar Penampang PKR polls
By Queville To
PENAMPANG: A faction in Penampang PKR has filed a police report over the conduct of the party divisional election here.
The faction claimed that the election was improperly conducted and against the party constitution.Led by Innocent Makajil, the faction staged a walkout in protest during polling here Sunday.
“As far as we are concerned, the election was illegal as it was not properly conducted in accordance to the party constitution," said Penampang PKR secretary Franky Lobinjang.
"To begin with, there was no proper dissolution of the present committee, as there was no passing of the minutes of the previous AGM (Annual General Meeting) and no secretary or treasurer reports were presented."
He also claimed that the AGM was chaired by James Ghani, Papar PKR chief, who he said had no connection to the Penampang division.
“By right, it should be chaired by the permanent chairman of the division, Aloysius Sikuis or someone who is duly elected by the members of the division, and not someone who is not even a member of Penampang PKR,” he contended.
Outside voters
Adding to the problem was the presence of 'outsiders' among the 1,000 over members who turned up to cast their votes at the polling station at the compound of a member’s residence in Kg Tuavon, in Kasigui here.
Lobinjang also claimed that some of the members were not given ballot papers and polling closing early.
“We are absolutely not happy with what happened today and we will lodge an official report with the Registrar of Office (RoS) after this,” vowed Lobinjang.
The atmosphere at the polling station was also said to be rather tense at one point of time, until the Federal Reserve Unit had to be called in to standby at the district police station.
PKR vice president Jeffrey Kitingan and his entourage were also present at the venue to observe the election at around 3pm but left shortly after.
Despite the protest by the disgruntled faction, the election proceeded with a three-cornered fight between incumbent Penampang PKR chief Roland Chia, businessman Brett Chua and Darell Liking, a lawyer.
Meanwhile, when contacted later, Roland brushed aside Lobinjang's claims, saying that it was just the “usual things” during party election.
He expected the counting of votes to take a long time citing the large voter turnout.
Clean sweep for Lim’s team in Bukit Gelugor
By Athi Shankar
GEORGE TOWN: Contrary to widespread anticipation, the Bukit Gelugor PKR division election process on Sunday was admirably smooth, free and fair, unlike its neighbouring Bayan Baru division polls last week.
The party election steering committee headed by Molly Cheah and election coordinating team led by Abd Hamid Yussof were praised for ensuring a smooth flowing polling day.
“Albeit minor arguments and differences of opinions on certain issues, I am happy that today’s election did not see a repeat of Bayan Baru,” the newly elected division chairman Lim Boo Chang told a post-victory press conference.
Lim, who dedicated his victory to his determined and hardworking election team, praised Abd Hamid’s team carrying out the task in independent and impartial manner.
Bayan Baru election, which was won by Pantai Jerejak assemblyman Sim Tze Tzin’s Team Reformis, was marred by alleged electoral malpractises, including vote-rigging, cheating, biasness of election duty officers.
The defeated Team Rakyat, helmed by M Ngnanasegaran, has already filed several complaints to Molly Cheah’s committee seeking a re-election.
In the hotly contested Bukit Gelugor polls, Penang Island Municipal (MPPP) councillor Lim crushed Batu Uban state assemblyman S Raveentharan to become to the new chairman.
Lawyer Lim’s Team Progresif also clean swept all positions up for grabs in the division polls routing candidates from incumbent chairman Raveentharan’s Team Berjiwa Rakyat.
Former Gerakan and MCA elected representative Lim secured 309 votes for 133-majority win to oust incumbent Raveentharan, also a lawyer, who got 176 votes.
For the deputy chairman post, Lim’s running-mate Roslan Ramansah garnered 300 votes to defeat Raveentharan's ally Johan Johari, the outgoing secretary, who got 188.
In the vice-chairman clash, outgoing division permanent chairman K Asokan from Lim’s camp secured 304 votes to triumph over Cheah Peng Guan’s 182 votes.
Team Progressif’s Shahul Hamid Abdul Kader won the Youth chief position securing 112 votes against direct rival Muhammed Annaruddin Akbar Ali’s 59 votes.
In the women chief contest, Cheryl Chew Hong Wah got 91 votes to win over Raveentharan team’s Jurinah Hassan, who received 60 votes.
Bukit Gelugor division has 1,790 eligible members, but nearly 500 turned up to vote at the Taman Tun Sardon market complex in Gelugor.
Zaid for deputy
Lim immediately offered an olive branch to his rival Raveentharan, calling on all division grassroots leaders and members to close ranks and work together to face the next general election.
Referring to the heated and mud-slinging pre-election campaign, he called on all to “let bygones be bygones.”
“Today I can be the winner, tomorrow I can the loser.
“That’s politics,” said Lim, who joined PKR from MCA after the 2008 general election.
Lim was formerly Barisan Nasional’s Datuk Keramat state representative and Gerakan national youth chief.
Raveentharan suggested his defeat could be a blessing in disguise, giving him more time to concentrate in his constituency works.
“I have been relieved off my duties as division chairman.
"I can spend more time now with Batu Uban constituents,” said politician-cum-lawyer.
He said he was carrying no grudge or hard feelings against his rival because he took the contest in brotherhood spirit.
A PKR deputy secretary-general, Raveentharan’s defeat cast doubts over his candidature for re-election in Batu Uban constituency in the next general election.
Earlier during the division annual general meeting, members nominated Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for the presidency and Zaid Ibrahim for the deputy president post.
Azmin Ali, state PKR chief Mansor Othman, Nurul Izzah Anwar were nominated for the vice-presidency.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
'DAP members voted in PKR polls'
By Joseph Tawie
KUCHING: The controversies surrounding the PKR divisional elections nationwide continued to pile up, with the latest allegation being DAP members having voted in the Sri Aman division contest.
However, Ibi claimed that her supporters had detected irregularities.
“We found that eight voters who cast their votes for Donald are DAP members. Not only that, they are also DAP Sri Aman division committee members. This is the ‘father and son’ strategy,” Ibi said, referring to Donald's son, Leon, who is a DAP member.
“When PKR is having its election, they claim to be PKR members and take part in the election. And likewise when DAP has its election, they say they are DAP members,” she added.
Ibi, who is the Sarawak PKR Wanita chief, said her supporters were collecting more information on those who could have dual party memberships.
'Disqualification a blow for Azmin'
Meanwhile, state PKR information chief See Chee How said the party election committee could declare Donald's election null and void if there was basis to the allegation.
If Donald was disqualified, party sources said it would render a blow to vice-president Azmin Ali's bid for deputy presidency as the former is a stauch supporter of Azmin.
The division was also expected to be hit by resignations as those elected had refused to work with Donald. Ten out of the 15 elected members are aligned to Ibi.
Ibi said that she had informed the state PKR headquarters and party election committee in Kuala Lumpur about the irregularities.
Contacted later, PKR deputy secretary-general Paul Kadang said that the headquarters was aware of the matter and was looking through it.
This was the first report of alleged irregularities in PKR elections in the state. So far, 13 divisions had elected their representatives and committee members.
Starting today, another 16 divisions would elect their chairmen and committee members.
According to sources, winning the chairmanship of each division was akin to coming one-step closer to being selected as candidates for the coming state election.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
The ugly side of PKR
NEW PKR took great pride in holding its first direct election for party posts, a practice never seen in other political parties. But it turned out to be a shameful show of democracy turned topsy-turvy. In several divisions, the elections descended into rowdy scenes, which do not bode well for a party aiming to capture the heartbeat of the nation in the next general election. Vandalism, verbal abuse and balloting irregularities were the order of the day, causing some divisions to postpone their AGMs and division polls. What went wrong?
In large measure, the blame can be pinned on poor preparations. PKR was all heady when it spoke about its transparent democratic voting process but gave little thought to the reality on the ground. The party should have realised that with 400,000 members in its fold, it would not be an easy walk in the park to carry out direct elections without encountering daunting hurdles along the way. But perhaps blinded by over-confidence and creeping hubris, the top leaders did not see the need to sort out the nitty-gritty of an electoral process, especially when the nationwide operation involved massive infrastructural and logistical problems. Perhaps, PKR assumed that its right-thinking members will do a mature job or that all's well that ends well.
PKR should have mobilised an army of workers from both camps – contenders and incumbents – to oversee the smooth running of the operation. But shockingly it failed to do so. Unsupervised, the field was left wide open to gross abuse: voters were intimidated, ballot boxes were switched or broken, phantom voters were brought in, votes were rigged, names had gone missing, bankrupts had been allowed to jump into the ring. Worse still, violence erupted in several divisions: in one incident, a candidate vying for the chief post was beaten up by a well-known medical doctor although it was denied. In another division, groups of men wreaked havoc when they smashed the ballot boxes, chairs and tables in a thuggery attempt to disrupt the meeting. It also defies logic when only one election official was sent to collect election fees from thousands of eligible voters. As a result, many were left out of the democratic loop because they could not produce the official receipts to cast their votes.
If PKR had done its homework properly, it would have ensured that things would have proceeded smoothly. Election fees could have been collected and receipts issued well in advance of polling day. The list of candidates could have been vetted thoroughly and kept safe in some strong vaults of the PKR headquarters. Bigger halls could have been rented to accommodate the large crowds. Volunteers or even the police could have been roped in to keep out mischief makers and disqualified candidates and keep in eligible voters. The grassroots members should have been left in peace to perform their democratic duty. Sadly, PKR missed the golden opportunity to prove that the party can conduct free and fair elections.
The fingers must also be pointed at seasoned politicians like Anwar Ibrahim who have created an unhealthy climate with their partisan politics. The whole world knows that Anwar is all for Azmin Ali in the latter's quest for the number two spot in the party hierarchy. And the whole world knows that Zaid Ibrahim, the other title chaser, is out in the cold and the target of character assassination. It is an open secret that the intense rivalry between these two political pugilists has spilled into the divisional contests and fuelled the squabbles between the followers of the two factions. When the ballot box is defiled, democracy is thrown out of the window.
PKR is in the dock in this “show trial”. How it performs is crucial to its chances of forming the next federal government. But the party which took the national stage by storm in 2008 is showing all the classic symptoms of the Umno malady – internal spats, political skullduggery, factionalism, smear campaigns, back-stabbing, unrestrained greed for power and glory. This is not a promising development for Anwar's “child” for the child is already becoming wayward and ill-mannered. Suddenly, the scales have dropped and people are seeing the true colours of PKR. If the party cannot put its own house in order, it cannot claim the right to put the whole country into better shape.
PKR to kick out Zaid?
By FMT Staff
KUALA LUMPUR: PKR deputy presidential contender Zaid Ibrahim may end up being suspended or sacked from the party, according to a posting on the popular blog Haris Ibrahim.
Haris, blogging in his People’s Parliament, quoted “someone high up” in PKR, as saying:
“If Zaid cannot be persuaded to pull out after nominations are closed, they’ll find a way to disqualify Zaid from contesting.
“A charge of misconduct, money politics, or of bringing the party into disrepute will be trumped up, and Zaid will be either suspended or sacked.”
According to the blogger’s source, party supremo Anwar Ibrahim and Zaid's rival Azmin Ali would ensure that Azmin would win the deputy presidency uncontested.
“Both Anwar and Azmin realise that even if Azmin pulls off an impressive tally of nominations for the No.2 post, that in no way guarantees that the members’ vote will go the same way,” Haris quoted the PKR man as saying.
According to the latest reports, 90 PKR divisions have nominated Azmin and 33 have nominated Zaid.
In recent weeks, Zaid has given interviews to the mainstream media in which he had questioned Anwar's role as the party advisor, urging him to contest for the president's post.
He has also spoken about lies and attacks hurled at him by certain party leaders following his decision to contest for the deputy's post.
Haris’s article also strengthened rumours that Anwar will eventually announce his candidacy for president.
Claiming that he got his information from insider sources, the blogger said Anwar’s dream team would consist of Azmin as deputy president, Rafizi Ramli as youth chief, Zuraidah Kamaruddin as women’s chief, Mansor Othman, Lee Boon Chye, R Sivarasa and someone from Sabah or Sarawak as elected vice presidents, and Fuziah Salleh, Chua Jui Meng and another candidate from Sabah or Sarawak as appointed vice presidents.
Haris alleged that Anwar and Azmin were trying to undermine Zaid’s popularity in the East Malaysian states. He said his PKR source confirmed this and quoted him as follows:
“Zaid’s frequent trips to Sabah and Sarawak and his increasing popularity there got both Anwar and Azmin concerned. In fact, I know that ex sec-gen Salehuddin (Hashim) had remarked to Zaid on one of those trips that he (Zaid) was finished in the party.
“Last year, when Anwar directed Zaid not to go to Sabah for the Hari Raya celebration, and Zaid defied the former, it became clear to Anwar that Zaid would not and could not be controlled.”
Read Haris' blog:
What now, given that Anwar’s dream team has hit an oil spill? Simple. Sack or suspend Zaid
MBPJ hires 'crony' firm: Mayor, PKR leaders cry 'No'
By Teoh El Sen
PETALING JAYA: Cases involving the Petaling Jaya City Muncipal Council (MBPJ) are being given to a law firm where two PKR leaders R Sivarasa and Latheefa Koya, a MBPJ councillor, work.
He also dismissed the allegation that it was a case of special preference and denied that it could lead to a conflict of interest.
"No, I cannot answer this. This was discussed in a meeting some time ago and everything had been dealt with; this is a non-issue,” he told FMT.
“We don't think it is a conflict of interest for a councillor to be a lawyer in a law firm we engage. Latheefa is not a shareholder of the firm," he explained.
Roslan also refuted the claim that the firm Daim & Gamany was not in the list of MBPJ's legal panel, saying the firm was fully sanctioned by the council.
Sources told FMT that the issue was raised by several councillors during a special MBPJ meeting last year.
The councillors wanted to know why Daim & Gamany had been allowed to represent the council since it might lead to a conflict of interest.
During that meeting, the council had decided that there was no issue and the matter was closed.
However, sources said that Daim & Gamany had been given at least four cases to handle in recent months.
“The firm charges the maximum fee allowed by MBPJ. Other firms had quoted lower fees and yet they were not appointed to represent the council,” said a source.
"In a few recent court cases, procedures and policies for selecting legal firms were bypassed. The council is supposed to send letters to all firms on the legal panel when there is a case, and ask for their price quotations, but this was not done,” added the source.
'Conflict of interest'
As for conflict of interest, the sources cited Section 35 of the Local Government Act 1976 which states: "No councillor shall by himself or his partner or agent act in any professional capacity for or against the local authority of which he is a councillor."
The sources said although Latheefa, who is also PKR information chief, might not be personally handling MBPJ cases, her position in the council and law firm, however, gave rise to a conflict of interest.
This was because she could have access to sensitive information and documents, they said.
The sources also cited another example where in 2003 and 2005, Sivarasa, who is PKR vice-president, had represented the residents of Taman Desaria PJS5.
The residents had taken legal action against the then Barisan Nasional-controlled Selangor government and MBPJ for allowing low-cost flats to be built in their area for the nearby squatters of Taman Medan.
In 2005, the court ruled in favour of the residents and declared the flats illegal. It also awarded damages to the residents and declared MBPJ's development order issued to Mentari Properties Sdn Bhd null and void.
In the landmark ruling, the court held that local authorities must hear the views of affected residents before issuing any development orders.
Soon after Pakatan Rakyat took over Selangor in 2008, MBPJ decided to appeal against the decision and it is understood that Sivarasa continued to act for the Taman Desaria residents. The case is still pending.
Professional conduct
Another MBPJ councillor Derek Fernandez, who had also acted for the Desaria residents in the past, discharged himself on grounds of conflict of interest.
However, sources said MBPJ's move to appoint Sivarasa's firm for several cases was strongly supported by Fernandez.
"How can Sivarasa be acting in a suit against the council and at the same time be given cases to defend MBPJ? Isn't that a clear-cut case of conflict of interest?" asked a source.
In another case last year, Sivarasa represented the council when residents of Taman Sri Aman, Petaling Jaya protested against a condominium project being undertaken in their area.
MBPJ then issued a stop-work order to the developer, Sri Aman Development Sdn Bhd, which was building the Paramount View condominium and an access road.
Subsequently, the developer went to court and filed for a judicial review of MBPJ's action. The court ruled in favour of the developer.
Several lawyers told FMT that such examples of conflict of interest went against the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978, where a lawyer should not accept a case if his professional conduct could be challenged.
FMT learnt that Sivarasa was also representing MBPJ in two judicial review cases involving the council and two outdoor advertising companies.
'These are wild allegations to shame us'
Both Sivarasa and Lateefa denied that they were involved in cases that gave rise to conflict of interest.
"The Local Government Act prohibits only councillor-lawyer from acting for or against the council... I am not a councillor, so where is the conflict?" asked Sivarasa, who has been practising law for 24 years.
The PKR leader explained that he was mostly hired by MBPJ for judicial review cases, which was his area of specialisation.
"These allegations are simply caused by ignorance. These people do not understand what conflict of interest is. In the Taman Desaria case, conflict of interest does not arise at all,” he said.
On the allegation of high legal fees, he said: "This is subjective. Lawyers come in all shapes and sizes. I charge according to what I feel is fair and it is subject to MBPJ's decision."
Meanwhile, Latheefa described it as “wild allegations made by those with their own agenda to shame a few of us”.
The lawyer said she had never acted for or against MBPJ since she was appointed as councillor in 2008.
"Bringing this up is a nasty thing to do. I never participated in any discussion at council meetings. In fact, I deliberately stayed away from such meetings whenever my legal firm was involved.
"In what way have I breached Section 35? It doesn't mean that just because I am in the same law firm, everything I do gives rise to conflict of interest," she added.
Latheefa stressed that conflict of interest occured only when sensitive information was involved.
Monday, September 27, 2010
PKR vote turns shambolic
Is this the way they proclaim they can run the Federal Government ? Better open your eyes . Imagine if they form the Federal Govt , habis lah ! They no No Different from UMNO . UPDATED @ 12:24:03 AM 27-09-2010
September 26, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 — Irregularity after irregularity has thrown PKR’s first ever direct elections into chaos, causing the unprecedented suspension of six divisional annual general meetings after disputes were raised
Five Selangor divisions — Klang, Kapar, Kuala Langat, Subang, and Kota Raja — and the Johor division of Parit Sulong were all forced to abandon their annual meets today.
In Petaling Jaya Utara, Selangor state exco Elizabeth Wong was defeated and immediately cried foul, claiming that her opponent should have been disqualified but was still allowed to run in the elections.
One party leader involved in the management of the elections described today’s events, particularly those in the Selangor divisions, as “embarrassing” and completely unexpected.
“This is the first time we’re holding direct elections, where the members are supposed to show the rest of the nation that PKR is able to hold elections with composure and civility, but instead this is what happens,” said the leader who requested anonymity.
The person also alleged of threats to election officers and pressure on them to allow voting to continue, in an apparent reference to occurrences in Subang, which earlier had voting postponed owing to irregularities on the ballots, but where observation officers were forced to proceed regardless after being threatened.
The AGM there had previously passed a resolution to defer voting to mid-day, after some of the division’s members had left owing to the late issuance of revised ballots. The original ballots were forced to be replaced after the names of several candidates were found to be missing.
The Malaysian Insider understands that voting was, however, made to proceed — minus the supporters of vice president R. Sivarasa — after the election officers were menaced.
“With all the pressure and tension, we had no choice but to proceed. We leave it in the party’s hands whether to uphold the validity of the election,” said one officer.
When contacted, the Subang MP said: “In my opinion, the vote was invalid as the election officers had already decided to postpone it.”
“I can’t say anything more as I am a candidate,” he said when contacted again later in the evening.
PKR’s election commission is believed to have convened an emergency meeting for 10.30pm tonight to consider today’s developments.
The meeting was called following several other incidents, including those in Kampung Raja where ballot boxed were allegedly hijacked, leading to the police being called in.
“The affected ballot boxes have been brought to the party headquarters for further action.
“It is uncertain if the ballots will be tallied tonight or tomorrow, or possibly the day after,” said the same officer.
The Kapar AGM was initially postponed after the venue, a multi-purpose hall in Meru, failed to accommodate all the members present, plus the names of some Youth and Women’s wing candidates’ were missing from the ballots.
“The officers could not control the situation when the representatives started creating a ruckus, but there were no flying chairs in Kapar,” the area’s MP, S. Manikavasagam, told The Malaysian Insider.
Over in Klang, apparent discontent with the election outcome forced the voting to be abandoned.
“Three candidates vying for the chair of the division proposed for the voting to be postponed, and then became unhappy with the election officer’s decision.
“They then grabbed the ballot boxes and broke down the doors,” claimed the incumbent chairman Suhaimi Mohd Nor.
He added that turnout had been higher than anticipated, resulting in a shortage of ballots.
“We had only printed 2,000 ballots, enough for the estimated 30 per cent of the members. However, almost 50 per cent attended and the election commission was forced to make duplicate ballots,” he said.
The meeting in Kuala Langat experienced similar pains, when members attempted to seize both the ballots and ballot boxes to disrupt voting.
“This happened because some candidates knew they were headed for defeat,” said chairman Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid.
PKR amended its constitution last year allowing all 450,000 of its members to vote for divisional leaders and the 25 members of the central leadership council — including the president, deputy president and four vice-presidents.
The party’s 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings: One for the annual general meeting and election of divisional leaders, and a second meeting to vote for national leaders.
The divisions will vote for national leaders over several weekends, from October 29 to November 21.
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