Not Pretty : Tun Dr M Vs Najib

The heat is getting more intense now. The knives are out. All this in the wake of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's relentless attack on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak not only to answer those nagging questions surrounding1MDB (where has the money gone?) and so on but for Najib to step down as PM.

It seems to Dr Mahathir, Najib has no choice but to do so because he has failed the rakyat. He has failed to perform as PM.

Dr Mahathir has also resurrected the ghost of murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaaribuu by urging Najib to reopen the case following a declaration by her murderer Sirul Azhar that he and his partner-in-crime Azilah Hadri were instructed by someone to kill her.

Sirul, inexplicably escaped to Australia where he now is. So, Sirul -- just tell us who instructed you, will you? For crying out loud!

So, really. All's not pretty about the whole thing. If you are not depressed about the whole thing and about where is taking the country and how it's going to end, you can switch on your sense of humour and laugh out loud. Only that is not funny.

You have those questions and you have Najib's response that it is all being investigated by the Auditor-General, an external auditor and the Public Accounts Committee.

So, we'll just have to wait.

But Dr M has no confidence in them -- he wants a totally independent body to investigate 1MDB.

This is all so hot that on social media - Facebook, twitter and the blogs - people are having a field day. Dr Mahathir has his ardent and loyal followers and so has the Prime Minister. In fact, Umno Youth only the other demonstrated their open support.

One person I feel so bad for is Datuk Mukhriz - Kedah MB and Dr Mahathir's son. Talking of knives -- those pesky politicians are now turning their knives and guns on him.

Support the party president or step down as Kedah MB. they yell. Talk about fishing in muddy waters and seeing opportunity in calamity.

But we worry where and how this will all end.

Not pretty at all right now.

And then there is that ubiquitous Jho Low. For heaven's sake -- Was he or was he not involved?

Hey. Don't look at me. I have no freakin'  idea..

I just want a happy ending.

Samad Ismail : Of Friends & Foes

I read something about my late father yesterday. He was mentioned in an article written by a former Singapore Minister Othman Wok in a tribute to the republic's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew who died on Monday.

I reproduce it (in bold) from (excerpt) of Othman's piece that was published in the Straits Times (Singapore).

It is a nice tribute to Singapore's founding father. But the bit on my late dad - not so nice.

For reasons, perhaps known only to Othman who considers my father "a good friend", he chose to repeat and publish a false allegation made decades ago against my late father - that he was a "card-carrying member" of the Malayan Communist Party. A charge my father had denied following his release in 1981 after four-and-half years in detention under the ISA.

I write, on behalf of my sisters and brothers, to say that  - with due respect to Othman, we find the reference made of our father despicable and a deliberate act to malign him.

We will not be drawn into further remarks to set the record straight or to clear our father's name for obvious reasons. Individiuals  (from both sides of the causeway) responsible for the detention of our father are all dead and gone.

We will let it rest but we must register our protest and to express our regret and that we are deeply saddened by Othman's invocation of our father's name - by resurrecting and repeating a false accusation - a false narrative -  that had been put to rest decades ago.

Below is part of Othman's article.

"I told him my concerns were about how we were going to cope with the communist threat in an independent Singapore. He said to me: "You don't worry. I will handle them."

He made good on this promise, dealing firmly and deftly with the communists after Independence. Some have expressed disagreement with Kuan Yew on his subsequent actions, since many of those detained continued to insist for many years that they were not communists.

This is a misunderstanding of how the communists worked in that era. They did not admit they were communists then because communist organisations had been declared illegal from the time of the Malayan Emergency. So it became their strategy to go underground and to secretly infiltrate groups throughout society. My good friend Samad Ismail, also an Utusan Melayu newsman, did not admit to being a communist at the time, but he turned out to be a card-carrying member of the Malayan Communist Party.

Samad was detained in Malaysia in the 1970s. I have no doubt there were detainees in Singapore who, like him, were underground communist members or strong communist sympathisers who fought for the same violent cause. Kuan Yew fought the communists vigorously and Singapore is better off because of it."

You can read Othman's piece published by The Straits Times (Singapore) -  "Remembering Lee Kuan Yew: Trusted Friend and Political Comrade" HERE .  

Othman Wok, 90, served in Lee Kuan Yew's Cabinet as Social Affairs Minister from 1963 to 1977.

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Flip Flop On Fares Hike

I kinda don' get it.

One day you announce "adjustments" (hike) in train & bus fares.

And a couple of days later, you announce that the increase was being postponed.

I call that a clear case of flip flop. Brings back memories.

A decision is made, stick to your guns-lah. Then deal with the effects in the best way you can. GST (goods & services tax) or no GST.

The grounds for fare adjustments seem fair to me. Justified. After all, the last review was in 2009.

Why had there been no review from 2009 until today? Baffling. Unacceptable. You know the dire straits of public transport. The ongoing MRT project aside, our public transport is a sad affair. There has been improvement here and there, but overall, it is in quite a mess.

Is there a disconnect between the decision-makers, political masters and the situation on the ground that improving public transport is not considered terribly urgent.

The (fare) adjustments would spur an exercise to improve the taxi services in the Klang Valley. This decision follows a thorough study of what needs to be done to improve our public transport services overall.

The decision to increase fares by SPAD (The Land Public Transport Commission) certainly was not going be popular.

Any decision to increase goods and services is never popular. Nobody likes price hikes. That's the way we are.
And of course, the spectre of the GST is hovering, compelling the government to postpone the fare hike.

Personally, I felt it was justified and about time too seeing how this could fix some really bad problems in our public transport services and system. You have to start somewhere.

So what if it is unpopular. Besides, the decision to postpone ain't gonna make you popular, let me tell you that.

It is therefore,  status quo.

I know consumers and commuters got really upset by the announcement to increase the fares.

I am so politically incorrect when I say that it is a mistake to postpone the hike.. In the long-term it benefits no one -- not the regulators, not the operators and certainly not the consumers.

Perhaps, they are waiting for the MRT to begin operation before any increase is affected.

Let me express my concern -- the last review was in 2009. Don't wait too long.  It's not going to be a pretty picture.
Meanwhile - good luck!

BN Leaders Support PM

Bikin serupa cakap, ya.

Here's the NST report today:

KUALA LUMPUR: Leaders of all 14 Barisan Nasional component parties yesterday expressed their full support for Datuk Seri Najib Razak as the prime minister and BN chairman.

Speaking on behalf of the leaders, MCA president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said they also backed Najib’s leadership in implementing the national transformation programme to drive the nation and achieve its vision of becoming a developed nation by 2020.

“We will stand behind him and have confidence in his leadership. We are confident that the national transformation programme will achieve its target before 2020,” he said at Parliament yesterday. 

Present were BN leaders, including MIC president Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, Gerakan president Datuk Mah Siew Kiong, PPP president Tan Sri M. Kayveas, PBS president Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, PBRS president Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, LDP president Datuk Teo Chee Kang, UPKO acting president Datuk Wilfred Madius Tangau, SPDP president Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, PRS president Tan Sri Dr James Masing and SUPP president Tan Sri Peter Chin Fah Kui. 

Liow said the decision to express their support for Najib was made by all the component party leaders following a meeting earlier yesterday.

“All of us decided to voice our support for the prime minister. “It is important for us to be united and strong to face challenges, especially in the years ahead when we are transforming BN.”

Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the statement of support was unanimous and there were no dissenting voices. 

“This includes all BN component parties in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.” He said the support was made “to avoid any unnecessary speculation on BN”.

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Let's Talk Hudud

Most people say if you are no Islamic scholar or have no expertise in Islamic law and jurisprudence, you should shut the F up and not comment on Hudud.

This issue has been the subject of heated debate in the wake of the Kelantan Hudud.

It is also the source of discontent in the Pakatan Rakyat with PAS at loggerheads with its partners DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Ugly politics here but pure unadulterated show of conflicting ideologies. And everyone is saying - "See, I told you so. All this marriage of convenience is bound to fall apart because they differ in fundamentals".

Siapa nak makan humble pie?

Back to this subject of Hudud.

So, why can't I talk about Hudud? It affects me directly.
Can't I just do some plain talking about whether I agree to Hudud or not. I am no scholar but I know what the Shariah (Syariah) is.

In my beloved country, Malaysia, there is a dual legal system in force in which Muslims are subject to the laws of Islam pertaining to family, marriage&divorce, inheritance and apostasy and other Islamic practices.

(Crimes such as theft, rape , sodomy and murder come under the Malaysian penal code.)

The shariah laws are established in state laws and in each state they differ in practice and enforcement.

If you ask any Muslim, he or she will most likely not reject the Hudud which we all understand to be God's laws and God is fair, just, compassionate and merciful.

Even if they do, most will not be open about it. This, I have found to be the case because there are too many holier-than-thou people out there ready to demonise their Muslim brothers and sisters with differing views.

In my simple view, if God's laws are in force, heaven is on this earth. There should be no poverty and no inequality. There should be peace for mankind. And women will be protected and respected. And there will be no teen pregnancies or baby dumping.

How ideal is that?

Under Islamic law, when a man steals, he does not lose his limbs just like that. No sireeee.

The accused will be tried and his background will be scrutinised.  Is he too poor? Why is he poor that he was pushed to steal? And so on and so on. Mitigating factors are serious considerations. That is justice.

So, to me how wonderful IF we can enforce the Shariah to a T as God ordains it.

My problem is that I have little confidence in the enforcers of Hudud.

These enforcers are no saints. They are not infallible.They are not perfect .
 How do we check against abuse? Like I said I am not going to debate the Hudud.

I have trust issues.
Having seen how our moral guardians have shown themselves to be.

I speak in general terms here because I am sure there are good people in that institution. But what we have witnessed so far (without my going into details) does not convince me that we are ready for Hudud.

Besides, the issue is outrightly so politically-infused, it is embarrassing.

Be that as it may, let me say here that I'd like to see a better and more effective enforcement of shariah laws that are now in place in THIS country. Strengthen that first and then we can do Hudud.

For now, let's just talk about it.

Did Nurul Izzah Utter Seditious Remarks In Parliament?

Maybe she did.

Even if she did, should she be slapped with sedition charges. Is there another way of dealing with this MP?

Parti Keadilan Rakyat vice-president and Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah was alleged to have made seditious remarks in Parliament when she delivered a speech on behalf of her father, jailed Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

She is now freed on bail.

Nurul Izzah attacked the judiciary - specifically the five Federal Court judges who upheld Anwar's conviction under Section 377A.

Her supporters are defending her legal right  saying that she enjoyed parliamentary privileges as her her remarks were uttered in parliament.

Others who are pissed with her have cited a section under the Sedition Act on parliamentary privileges.

Whether or not Nurul Izzah as an MP,  is subject to or is exempted from this privilege is an issue of debate.

Perhaps, her remarks were excessive. And offensive. In fact, they were meant to attack the judges. After all, that was Anwar's speech.

Frankly, I think there are "better" ways to deal with this kind of situations. Censure her, perhaps. Debate it in the august house, perhaps.

That was clearly very political, on Nurul Izzah's part. So, deal with her on the same turf even if it is in the House.

You can explain it all you want. Justfify it all you want. You know that this ain't looking good from wherever you are standing.

You and I may disagree with her remarks but they were were uttered in Parliament. She did not touch on the Rulers and all that are forbidden.

And you still wonder why?

Damn If They Do, Damn If They Don't

SPAD: Higher Taxi & Bus Fares

There is never a good time to raise fares because consumers are directly affected.

I say it is about time.

If I hadn't known about how little cabbies in the is country make a month in earnings, I would have responded as anyone would to price increase -- in anger.

And it is easy to only see one side because we see and hear from only one side -- the consumers whom we have always regarded to be the aggrieved party.

I mean, haven't we heard of errant taxi drivers who do not use their meters and cheat not only tourists but Malaysians? Time and again.
How could they have got away with their shenanigans all this while?

What about the rogue cabbies at KLCC who make life hell for people and other cabbies?

Where is the enforcement?
What have the enforcement authorities been doing?

This was not happening just yesterday. It's been happening for decades.

People feel that the way our taxis operate is like a Third World country. You can't trust them. So we need to have coupons and tickets at the airports and train stations.

We should have overhauled and cleaned up the taxi services along with taxi ownership and fare structure a long time ago so that today we have a system that we can be proud of.

That being said, I must confess that I am among people who do not need to take taxis to move round the city.  I used to during my pre-car-ownership days in the mid 70s.

My complaint then would be that cabbies were selective of destinations and many refused to use meters during peak/rush hours.

Anyway, today, I would have ordinarily been rather caustic in response to the announcement by SPAD (The Land Public Transport Commission) today of taxi&bus fare increase but after looking from their side, I empathise and sympathise.

Most cabbies make less than RM2,000 - many as little as RM800  - a month. They have to make daily payments for their taxis to companies or individuals. It is tough. How to live like that?

For details read  the latest posting by Another Brick In The Wall "Plight of Cab Drivers".

The last taxi & bus fare increase was in 2009.

Let's face it. Prices of so many things have gone up. The cost of living is madness today -- so seems only right and fair that these fares go up. And it is not was though they are going be 100 times richer.

As for SPAD -- obviously they will be brutalised by angry consumers/commuters and well,  political machais.

But it is true -- damn if they don't, damn if they do.  Te devil and the deep blue sea,

Now here's where I would like to rant.

When I began working back in the late 70s, the first thing I wanted to own was a car. I dreaded having to take cabs to move around to get to work, assignments and home. It was the way the taxis operate.

Then when the call-a-cab operations came into being, it was a bit better.

I didn't like take buses because of their schedule.

The moment I could afford a car, I bought one.

And then there was the taxi system at the airports. So Third World until today. I don't know the rationale but I understand it is an ugly legacy or baggage from an era gone by.

Here's the thing - there are more than 30,000 cabbies in the Klang Valley. People still need them. Even with a fantastic bus or rail transport system, people will still need taxis for convenience.

With the  first phase of the  MRT to be in operation by end of next year, taxis will face some stiff competition for sure.

I'd like to see the authorities overhaul the taxi operation system/structure. Clean it up. Raise it. Enhance it. Make it profitable for cabbies and of value to commuters.

Listen. The last time taxi&bus fares were raised was in 2009. That is so cavalier.

Why did the government NOT review the fares since then?

That is so sloppy and negligent. Inexcusable to neglect this sector.

But let's not gripe and bitch. Let's mvd forward.

Let's look at some workable models from other countries that we can adapt and use.

If we have this lethargic mindset to not want to change, we deserve all that's not going right for us.

I'm no transport expert but even I can say that there surely is a win-win system.

B for Billionaires

The world has 155 new billionaires, pushing the worldwide total to 2,325.

That's a 7% jump from 2013, according to the 2014 "Billionaire Census" from Wealth-X and UBS.So who is your standard billionaire? According to the report, the typical billionaire has about $3.1 billion, is 63 years old, and did not reach the $1 billion threshold until their late 40s. 

Almost 90% of them are married, and on average, have two kids a piece. 

They like to hang with other billionaires: They have relationships with nine ultra-high net worth individuals, three of whom are billionaires.

Read the rest of the article here.

Hello 2015!

The less said the better about how 2014 has been for us all.

Still -- all I can say is we have to make the best of what we have, move on, move ahead, learn from the dark episodes, be grateful and so on... you know what I mean...

So, everyone -- Let's hope and pray for a Happier and Better New Year!

And resolutions? What resolutions?

Sedition Act Is Here To Stay

Not only that, it will be strengthened, said PM Najib Razakin his keynote address as Umno president at the party's annual general assembly in the PWTC in Kuala Lumpur today.

Najib said that he, as the Prime Minister, decided that the Sedition Act 1948 should be retained to safeguard national security.

He said the government would also strengthen the Act by inserting two special provisions, one of which is to protect the sanctity of Islam and other religions.

The second provision allows action could be taken against anyone who attempted to rouse sentiment to cede Sabah and Sarawak from Malaysia.

He got a standing ovation and rousing applause for this announcement.

Today is the start of the three-day assembly.

You know, I can hear the boos among well -- that group and the cheers as well from that side.

For me, personally -- well, for one this is not my favourite subject. As someone said -- it is something we, journos and bloggers love to hate.
Some say it is a necessary evil. Much like the ISA..

I'll ask this--  will it curb freedom of expression? Yes.  But so what? The fight for this freedom will not end. It sure will not with the Sedition Act. 

I'll ask another -  which part of that expression will the Act curb?  All those nasty inciting of hate and hatred against Islam and other religions , and on Sabah and Sarawak that is covered under the Act.

Isn't that a good thing? Because if you ask me -- I've seen a lot of nasty things flying around. Really nasty things. 

Aah.. only a right-wing Malay will say that? That's always the easiest to say. 

Wait a minute -- what about you? You -- people - naysayers, racists who are denying the foundation this country was built on? 

That's why you shouldn't label people.

But I know what that nagging feeling is  -- fear that the Act will be abused.

I'll tell you one thing -- in this day and age , that comes with a huge price. Abuse - that is. 

It goes viral. Supported by social media. Redress in social media. Pressure from social media.

And that's not seditious, you know.

In this day and age -- really -- you can run but cannot hide.

The fight for freedom of speech and expression will relentlessly continue.

I am not afraid of a strong Sedition Act. Why should you? Don't you think it will strengthen your resolve to fight for a better Malaysia... or whatever it is we are all crying for.

Azmin's Selangor

All I can say is that the whole Selangor Menteri Besar drama was an anti-climax. Not complaining. Just, so relieved all this has been resolved with the appointment of PKR's Azmin Ali as MB.

It had been too exhausting and made so unbelievably convoluted by all the personalities and characters involved . This has got people to be so numbed, almost dismissive. What will be, will be-lah, many seemed to say. So farcical and comical, this whole thing.

That is why I am so relieved. And glad, for now.

But I reckon there is a sequel to this. You can see it as continuing or just beginning. I mean you don't have to be a political scientist to guess that. And we will just have to see things unfold. However, being a voter of Selangor, I want Azmin to prove everyone wrong -- that he can administer Selangor. That he has learnt from the mistakes of his predecessors. No c'est la vie this round. 

So today, after he was sworn in, Azmin told reporters that  the new Selangor executive council line-up will be decided on Thursday and sworn in on Friday.

Here's a report: 

Azmin said the three component parties in Pakatan Rakyat will have a discussion this evening regarding the composition of the exco.

"The Sultan has decreed that it should be solved quickly and God willing, the swearing-in ceremony for the excos will be carried out on Friday," he told reporters after he took the oath as Menteri Besar at Alam Shah palace, here, today.

Whether any of the old exco members will be maintained will be subject to the discussion later, he added.

When asked whether PKR president Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail will be included in the line-up, Azmin said the discussion process had not started and any news will be informed later.

He also denied rumours that a deputy Menteri Besar will be appointed, saying that such an issue did not arise.

In referring to his predecessor Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Azmin said Khalid had set a good foundation in administering the state.

"My duty is to continue the policies that prioritise the people and to ensure the state is free of corruption," he said.

Selangor Sultan Played "A Most Delicate Non-Partisan Role"

This is the opinion of  Lukman Sheriff , a lawyer, of the Sultan's role in the whole drama about who was going to be the new Selangor Menteri Besar after Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim.

He posted this on his Facebook wall.

Daulat Tuanku

As the news developed, HRH has made the most wise decision in appointing AA under the circumstances.

AA may not be the best candidate for Selangor but HRH's decision has managed to avoid my dear state, Selangor, being a stooge of the most daring arrogant political machination our country has seen or will ever see. And for this I have nothing but acerbic criticism of the architects of Kajang Move, PKR and its strategist Rafizi Ramli for taking us on a merry go round of pure lies and wanton lust of power.

As written many times, we cannot have for the first time, if I must say, in modern democratic history, a de factor leadership or in normal parlance "remote control MB" for Selangor. This is against any semblance of good or proper governance lauded strangely by DAP as the new politics.

From the inception, Wan Azizah's admission of Anwar's role in the State administration and inability to stand on her own was clear enough to the thinking public that she is just a "puppet" for an unelected leader. This impression was cast to stone when it was Anwar and not her, as a legal elected political party leader, who sought permission to seek an audience with the Sultan for her appointment. Anwar and Azizah's utter inability to differentiate the positions can only point to a doom state full of abuse of positions. HRH saw this and out of this concern and love of the State, put a stop to this mess.

For the record, Azizah's, PKR's and PR's allegation that she has the majority by SD and the HRH must recognise this has no basis in law. It is a spin to me of a deliberate misrepresentation. There is no precedent that HRH must recognise the SD. HRH may still interview one by one the ADUN as in the Perak's case and each may deny their support of Wan Azizah. In fact the acceptance by AA of the MB position which must surely include a few other PKR ADUNs clearly shows the SD method is not tenable and cannot be relied in law. The SD from my read was never made public and no one knows what the content is. In fact, as the law stands, whatever the house decide will prevail despite the SD. Aziz Bari is again spewing baseless opinion on this. TMI FMT are merely printing what they wish to propagate. Really sad state of affairs we are in as many are simply misled on this issue.

As for AA's appointment, there won't be enough majority in the house anymore for a vote of no confidence. Azizah does not have the 30 and PR allege. HRH in his infinite wisdom I believe appoint a a person with a majority. He would have consulted PAS and UMNO who would stand by his decision. With AA and his supporters that would be an easy calculation of a simple majority.

I would like to make a small clarification. Though I think there are other more competent ADUNs than AA and that AA may still make Selangor admin worse than TSKI's, I do think that under the circumstances and the legal provisions, AA is the most appropriate candidate.

Daulat Tuanku. You have indeed played a most delicate non partisan role. It shows the relevance and need of a constitutional monarch to keep politics and its evil machination in its rightful place.

Blog Posting Not Defamatory - Judge

From The malaymailonline

THE High Court has struck out a defamation suit filed by a lawyer against a journalist on grounds the case was an abuse of the judicial process.

The ruling was made by judge Datuk Yeoh Wee Siam in chambers yesterday.

The suit was filed by Datuk Mohamad Bustaman Abdullah against Malay Mail executive editor Haresh Deol on August 15, 2012, over an article posted on the latter’s blog Foul! (www. hareshdeol.blogspot.com).

Haresh had in the posting “Judge Walks Out” on June 27, 2012, republished a Malay Mail article “Judge walks out as question turns personal”, a hyperlink to an article “Ethics vital for lawyers” published in The Star Online on June 27 and a YouTube video clip titled “Hooligan lawyer assaults client”.

Mohamad Bustaman, had claimed the Malay Mail article, which was a court hearing between National Sports Council (NSC) and Mesuma Sports Sdn Bhd, was defamatory to him.

He had acted for the NSC in the matter involving a trademark dispute over the tiger stripe design on the national jersey.

Mohamad Bustaman claimed The Star Online article, by way of juxtaposition, bore the meaning he was an unethical lawyer and the video, by way of juxtaposition, bore the meaning the plaintiff was a hooligan lawyer.

He had on June 2012 sued Malay Mail and its former journalist, T.K. Letchumy Tamboo, for defamation over the article. He had claimed the article was defamatory, not true and had affected his reputation as a solicitor.

Yeoh, who presided over the case against Malay Mail, had on November 2013 dismissed the suit saying the defendants were not liable for defamation.

Mohamad Bustaman appealed against Yeoh’s decision but the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court’s decision.

Haresh’s lawyer, Datuk Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, said Yeoh had struck out the suit in chambers and also ordered Mohamad Bustaman to pay RM5,000 in costs.

Jababerdeen said: “The judge said the plaintiff should have withdrawn the matter against the defendant immediately after the Court of Appeal’s decision as the suit by the plaintiff is a relitigation of issues of an earlier suit and was an abuse of the court process.

“The judge also said the hyperlink to the article in The Star Online and YouTube posting in the blog did not refer to the plaintiff.”

Mohamad Bustaman was represented by B. Mahendra Kumar.

Of Najib, ISA, ex ISA Detainees

From the blog of Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin  - Zamkata.

"Dalam  menghapuskan ISA, Najib bimbang penerusannya  akan menyebabkan berlakunya lagi penyalahgunaan kuasa atau ketidakadilan . Beliau tidak mahu menanggung dosa. Apakah  kesilapan Hussein Onn menjadi dorongan besar kepada tindakan popularnya  menghapuskan ISA?  Polis  yang senantiasa mengikuti perentah tidak boleh disalahkan dalam penyalahgunaan ISA kerana pucannya adalah  kepimpinan politik yang tidak bijak dan tidak berwibawa.

Barangkali Najib hendak membasoh kesilapan besar bapa saudaranya tetapi  menghapuskan ISA berasaskan kepada tekanan politik dan cita- cita politik untuk kelihatan demokratik dan liberal mengikut citarasa  kuasa besar Barat dan juga untuk mencari populariti dalam negeri adalah juga suatu perbuatan yang tidak ikhlas yang mementingkan kepentingan diri.

Lebih buruk lagi hal ini dilakukan ketika negara berada dalam keadaan tidak stabil dari segi perpaduan dan keselamatan dan bangsanya sendiri sedang  dalam kelemasan.ISA lebih banyak jasanya dari aspek negatifnya.

 Najib memikirkan bahawa Malaysia akan lebih diyakini dunia  dengan transformasi politiknya sedangkan kekukuhan keselamatan   dan kestabilan  Singapore di bawah  ISA dan Akta Hasutan lebih menjamin masa depannya. China yang melakukan reformasi ekonomi tanpa reformasi politik,mencapai kemajuan yang menakjubkan dalam masa yang singkat di bawah displin komunisme berbanding dengan Soviet Union yang perpecahannya  mengakibatkan kekacauan yang terus menerus hingga sekarang.

Dan inilah yang sedang berlaku di Malaysia sekarang .Setelah lebih 50 tahun merdeka,perpaduan negara dan rakyat tergugat ,pihak keselamatan tidak dapat bertindak untuk " prevention better than cure"  terhadap anasir anasirdeviant dan  pemisah  Sabah dan Sarawak   tanpa  ISA sekalipun pendedahan telah dibuat. . Sebelumnya Sabah  telah dicemarkan oleh peristiwa  berdarah Lahad Datu.".

In his latest posting "Kesilapan Hussein Onn Dorong Najib Hapuskan ISA",  Zam - journalist, writer, former Utusan Malaysia editor and former Information Minister - says that Hussein's action during his premiership in the use (or abuse) of the ISA had pushed him to make that decision for he feared abuse of that piece of legislation.

 Zam wrote on Hussein's term of office including his orders to arrest and detain under the ISA senior journalists and close aides of his predecessor (and brother-in-law) Tun Razak Hussein.

"Penahanan Tiga Abdul yang terdiri dari Abdullah Ahmad, Abdul Samad Ismail dan Abdullah Majid di bawah ISA dibuat dengan arahan Perdana Menteri Hussein Onn setelah  dipengaruhi oleh Lee Kuan Yew(LKY) Perdana Menteri Singapura  yang dikunjunginya  setelah kematian  Tun Abdul Razak. 
Tujuannya  untuk memulakan suatu perhubungan baru setelah hubungan LKY  dengan Tun Abdul Razak penuh dengan prasangka." 

He elaborated:

"LKY tidak selesa  dengan Tun Razak yang disifatkannnya sebagai tidak boleh dipercayai dibandingkan dengan  Hussein On yang katanya" He was open and direct  when he dealt with me,coming straight to the point,unlike Razak, I liked him"(muka 271 buku Memoirs Of Lee Kuan Yew From Third World To First)

Dalam buku ini di muka yang sama Lee Kuan mendedahkan  dalam pertemuan empat mata dengan Hussein , beliau telah mempengaruhi Hussein On supaya   menangkap anasir  anasir komunis yang berada disekeliling Tun Razak.

Kata Lee Kuan Yew " I told him my fears of Malay communists and their sympathisers penetrating Malaysia's  mass media and their radical Malay students and trade union leadership.We talked freely  and frankly about the Malay communist infiltration of his media,including the activities of Samad Ismail,an MCP member from his time in Singapore in the 1950s,and his group.

"When Razak was Prime Mninister,he worked his way into UMNO and became a powerful figure in the New Straits Times, building up a coterie of supporters. Hussein agreed this was a danger but said that the communists  and student radicals could not be arrested without upsetting the Malay  ground".

Kemudiannya  dalam bulan June 1976 "The Malaysian  Special Branch arrested  Samad  and his Kuala Lumpur group (halaman 271 dan 272)" setelah namanya dilibatkan oleh seorang wartawan Berita Harian yang di tahan di Singapura. Cerita wartawan ini adalah cerita lama tentang Pak Samad.

 LKY memuji Hussein Onn  kerana "had the courage to act  against  a pro -communist Malay intelligentsia although this was likely to cost him some support".

Read the whole article HERE.

Because I am his daughter, do read this episode of Tuesdays with Bapak 

and maybe THIS, or THIS and may as well THIS

The Selangor Saga Continues

Is it too late now for Anwar Ibrahim to "fix" a really bad situation.

Or is there any fixing to be done, in the first place as far as he and his supporters are concerned.

The Sultan of Selangor is right in the middle of it -- and not of (his) choice.

It aint looking too good.

At some point earlier, before it got to be so messy, Anwar could have "right" a bad situation. At that point, the ball was in his court. 

If there is such a thing as "it is never too late", this is it...but..

Here is the latest report by the NST.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has reprimanded PKR and DAP for submitting only one name as their nominee for the state’s Menteri Besar post.

“DAP and PKR had only submitted one name (PKR president) Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as a Selangor Menteri Besar candidate.

“The Sultan of Selangor is extremely disappointed with DAP and PKR for not abiding to His Royal Highness’ decree he made on Aug 27.

“DAP and PKR’s actions showed their insolence towards the royal institution and also an act of treason (derhaka) towards the Sultan of Selangor,” said a statement issued by the Sultan’s private secretary, Datuk Munir Bani.

In the statement, Munir confirmed that only Pas had submitted three names to the Palace to be considered the post.

It also said that the Sultan had decreed each party in the Pakatan coalition to submit more than two names for the position, and said that it was the Palace’s convention that had been practised.

“This is to allow the Sultan to make a choice as a suitable candidate for the position, by looking not only at the majority support of the state assemblymen, but also in terms of skills, experience, integrity and capabilities.

“These are important to guarantee the state government’s smooth administration, to ensure the harmony of the people of Selangor,” he said.

Munir said the Sultan would scrutinise each name before deciding.

“The power of appointing a menteri besar rests in the hands of the Sultan, hence, His Highness will also look at other state assemblymen from Pakatan which the Sultan feels is qualified and who, to his understanding, holds the majority support of the state assemblymen.” he will remains to be seen.

Of Politics, Divorce And A whole Lot Of Money : The Sarawak Case (2)

Sarawak business entrepreneur Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib today continued his testimony in the Shariah Court of Kuala Lumpur.

He spoke on the inaccuracies with regards to the magnitude of his wealth raised by his former wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid.

The article below is extracted from a news release issued by his office.

In earlier proceedings, Shahnaz had relied on forensic accounting reports by Ferrier Hodgson.

In his testimony today,  which Mahmud pointed out that land purported to have oil palms, was actually secondary forest. 

Ferrier Hodgson, he said, had failed to conduct a site visit of the said land where there were no productive crops or harvests to have generated incomes claimed by the forensics accounting firm.

“Their methodology is not realistic. In fact, it is flawed and cannot be counted to assess my income,” Mahmud said. He was giving his  testimony before Judge Muhamad Abdul Karim Wahab in the ‘mutaah’ divorce claim by his ex-wife. His examination was conducted by his legal counsel Sa’adiah Din .

Mahmud said if Ferrier Hodgson had sought for factual documents from him to prove their claims in their forensics report, he had not received any request or correspondence to that effect.

His former wife, he said, had been duped into believing that he has massive wealth running into billions.

 In a previous hearing on Sept 2, he said that his wife had been made to believe he had millions in off shore accounts by Canadian fraudsters Cullen Johnson and Elaine White. He also testified that an international conspiracy by Sarawak Report led by political activist Clare Rewcastle-Brown and the Bruno Manser Fund had contributed to all this.

 

In court, Mahmud also spoke of the selective revelation of his confidential American Express platinum corporate card account by Malayan Banking Berhad.

The plaintiff does not have the expressed permission of the card account holder or Bank Negara Malaysia.

“BAFIA rules are explicitly clear to protect and safeguard the privacy of all bank customers from harms way. I am disappointed by the revelations and violations by Malayan Banking Berhad brought about by the plaintiff,” he said.

“As a rule, banks are obliged to protect confidential banking information in law, in contract and in their fiduciary duty from being reproduced, given, divulged, revealed, published or otherwise disclosed to any person, or to make a record for any person, of any information or document whatsoever relating to the accounts of its customers published to any third party.”

He said this when examined by his legal counsel if he had granted permission to the bank to reveal his confidential corporate credit card account.

In addition to the RM100 million for conciliatory gift (mutaah) claim today, Shanaz had also filed a number of other claims amounting to RM300 million for matrimonial assets division, RM200 million for child maintenance to include a terrace house in London (RM60 million), two Aston Martins (RM5.5 million), a private trust fund (RM40 million to be held by her), and including a claim for half of her former husband’s assets.

The purported wealth of her former husband had been greatly exaggerated to support the massive claims.

Hearing continues on Nov 17 2014.

Of PASMA and Anwar

The politics of Anwar Ibrahim is all about the lust for power and the trail of destruction his quest/struggle/campaign -- whatever you want to call it -- leaves (not behind).

His old and former supporter, uber still-a-controversial blogger Raja Petra reminds his readers what Anwar is all about.

"What is Anwar Ibrahim’s greatest achievement? How will Anwar be remembered? He will be remembered as the person who broke up and weakened the largest and strongest Malay party, Umno, and then broke up and weakened the largest and strongest Muslim party, PAS."

 This is an excerpt from Raja Petra's posting in Malaysia Today on the soon-to-be-launched PASMA - Pas Breakaway Party .

Raja Petra says that this "was a long time coming."

He said the division in PAS between the ulama and the liberal (Erdogan) factions has been there for a long time and it was a matter of time before the liberals leave to form another party which is also nothing new in the Islamist party.

Raja Petra pointed out that PAS itself is a splinter of Umno when the ulama faction left just before Merdeka to form a new Islamist party.
That was five years after Umno was formed.
In 1977, Then, later on, PAS member Mohamad Nasir, left the party to form Berjasa in 1977. In 1983, Asri Muda, left the party to form Hamim.
 
The blogger likened problem in PAS to that of Umno in 1997-98 which saw a split between pro-Anwar and pro-Mahathir factions.

He also pointed out that Parti Keadilan Nasional  (now Parti Keadilan Rakyat - a merger with Parti Rakyat) was of Adil, an association formed in 1999 by Anwar who was already sacked from Umno.

"In 1997-1998, Anwar was the catalyst to the problems in Umno. Today, Anwar is also the catalyst to the problems in PAS. And we may soon see what happened to Umno in 1997-1998 happening again, but this time to PAS," Raja Petra wrote.

In his latest posting PASMA: Anwar's Secret Weapon , Raja Petra gives his take on why Anwar needs PASMA.
 

Of Politics and Divorce - The Sarawak Case

Global political conspiracy stemming from my divorce case, says Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib

KUALA LUMPUR --- Sarawak business entrepreneur Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib today continued his testimony in the Shariah Court of Kuala Lumpur testifying that a global politically motivated conspiracy had evolved from his divorce maintenance hearings against him and his family, in particular, his father Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Governor of Sarawak and immediate former chief minister of the state.

“What was suppose to be a private matter in divorce maintenance claims before the courts was blown up into a global attack and slander to change the political landscape of Sarawak,” he said.

He cited attacks from Sarawak Report led by British political activist Clare Rewcastle-Brown who is related to former UK prime minister Gordon Brown. Ms Rewcastle, he said, had picked up every conceivable piece of gossip and political scandal to undermine his reputation and credibility.

He said that the attacks stemmed from his former wife and her team, one of whom is related to Malaysian opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. As a result, Harakah the opposition news organ and Sarawak Report had reported immensely, a string of distortions, misrepresentations and fabrications – much of which one can see from the evidence submitted to court by his former wife Shahnaz Abdul Majid.

“It saddens me that my divorce, which is painful enough for all, should have been hijacked by politicians and activists, and used to disseminate falsehoods under the cover of this respected court.”

As a result, the attacks even continued into the Swiss Parliament where MPs had demanded that Swiss banks reveal his accounts following Shahnaz’s revelation of 111 purported offshore bank accounts.

“These bank accounts are forgeries masquerading as hacks. They are not real,” he said.

“The forged documents were obtained by my former wife and her team at a time when the fraudsters were running away from the arms of the law. The fugitives took refuge at Turks and Caicos Islands in 2010 where they continued to dupe clients in an international scheme that involved bogus promises of offshore millions.

“The Canadian pair had fabricated astoundingly realistic-looking banking information that would lead one party to believe the other had millions of dollars in assets offshore.”

On 10 April 2013, the fraudsters Cullen Johnson and Elaine White were extradited to the US from a Turks and Caicos prison on charges of money laundering, tax evasion and several charges of fraud valued at over US$1m. They have been indicted and jailed.

Datuk Seri Mahmud made this testimony at the Kuala Lumpur Shariah High Court today before Judge Muhamad Abdul Karim Wahab in the ‘mutaah’ divorce claim by his ex wife.

He said it has been widely reported on the Internet that Sarawak Report political activist Clare Rewcastle-Brown had been in communication with Cullen Johnson. Johnson was also reported to have been in communication with his former wife and her team through a local private investigator.

Shahnaz had in her earlier testimony said that Datuk Seri Mahmud had income and assets in excess of billions of Ringgit. She had testified that her former husband had properties both locally and abroad. She also claimed that he had a string of offshore bank accounts in Canada, the US, the Caribbean, France, Luxembourg, Monaco, Hong Kong and Switzerland.

However, Shahnaz had yet to produce in court witnesses from any of the international banks to testify and confirm.

“The reason why my former wife and her team have not been able to produce any witnesses from the international arena is simply because the offshore bank accounts do not exist. They are forgeries.”

In addition to the RM100 million for conciliatory gift (mutaah) claim today, Shanaz had also filed a number of other claims amounting to RM300 million for matrimonial assets division, RM200 million for child maintenance to include a terrace house in London (RM60 million), two Aston Martins (RM5.5 million), a private trust fund (RM40 million to be held by her), and including a claim for half of her former husband’s assets.

The purported wealth of her former husband had been wildly exaggerated to support the massive claims.

“The court needs to hear how Shanaz and her team commissioned and obtained forgeries from fraudsters who were subsequently indicted and jailed,” said Datuk Seri Mahmud.

NEWS RELEASE issued from the office of Datuk Seri Mahmud Abu Bekir Taib. 

Guan Eng's Own Little Army

It is called the Penang Voluntary Patrol Unit or PPS. As it's name suggests, it is a voluntary unit. However, it is not registered.
 
There are now more than 9,000 PPS members in Penang.

You can say what you like-lah...throw in a few senior citizens and, voila, here is just another "harmless" voluntary patrol unit.

Looks like an army to me.

Do you need this unit to do what you have been touting it to have been doing?

Imagine if each chief minister or menteri besar has his own little army?

Yesterday (Aug 31), about 200 PPS members were arrested and brought to the Beach Street police station after they completed a march past in the Merdeka parade at Esplanade in Penang.

Among those arrested was state executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, who is also PPS chairman.

Earlier this week, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police are investigating the PPS under Section 41 of the Societies Act as the group is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).

Today, Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng is reported to have ordered PPS to suspend their unit activities until the validity of PPS is confirmed.

He said this after meeting the state Exco in an ad hoc meeting.

He also said all 156 PPS members, who were detained, would be paid RM200 for everyday they are detained.

Wow. Ain't that something? 

Guan Eng was also reported (in the NST) to have challenged the IGP to debate on the PPS.

Lim said if  Khalid was right in arresting 156 PPS members, then Khalid should prove it.

"If Khalid thinks he is right in the arrests, then I challenge him for a debate”.

Oh come on, Guan Eng. What for? Khalid is a policeman. You are a politician. Go pick somebody your own size.

At about 10am today, about 200 PPS members were arrested and brought to the Beach Street police station immediately after they completed a march past in the Merdeka parade at Esplanade. - See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/arrest-of-pps-members-a-taint-on-merdeka-festivities-said-penang-pkr-youth#sthash.fn3lRvny.dpuf

PPS was formed by the state government in May 2011 to assist the public in all situations including directing traffic, in times of disaster and to patrol the streets as a preventive measure against crime.

Of course, no one expected the arrest of PPS members to go ignored.
Penang PKR Youth information chief Aidil Ibrahim condemned the arrest saying it was shocking and called for the immediate release of the PPS members.

He defended the PPS saying that it had provided community and social services to the public.

Meanwhile, Penang DAP MP Ng Wei Aik who is Penang DAP Socialist Youth chief  says it all politically- motivated designed to throw the DAP-led northern state into turmoil by forcing by-elections in several seats.

In other words, a BN grand scheme to recapture the state.
He warned Prime Minister Najib Razak and  Zahid Hamidi that the BN will be taught a "big lesson" by Penangites for doing this number  - police high-handed crackdown -  in the event that any seat falls vacant following the conviction of elected representatives in their relations to the PPS.

Well, you get his drift.

But you know what Mr Ng, the BN is not in denial about Penang. I don't think the BN wants to waste its resources to recapture Penang. You do the maths lah.

 You have to hand it to our Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin who lambasted the PPS in his tweet today. He questioned why the state government had not worked with the Royal Malaysian Police’s Rakan Cop programme.

“Penang state government should have worked with @PDRMsia’s Rakan Cop instead of forming illegal PPS.
“The police already have the Rakan Cop programme Community oriented policing. Why did you need to form your own army in Penang?”

Why, indeed, Khairy?

I know you know why.

Penang DAP MP Ng Wei A

Earlier this week, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police are investigating the PPS under Section 41 of the Societies Act as the group is not registered with the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
He then warned PPS members of arrest if they continued to participate in the unit’s activities.
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar also reportedly said police have information that the unit acted like vigilantes and that the PPS members must be stopped from getting out of hand.
PPS was formed by the state government in May 2011 to assist the public in all situations including directing traffic, in times of disaster and to patrol the streets as a preventive measure against crime.
Currently, there are more than 9,000 PPS members in the state and the members have all undergone various training courses that include first aid and disaster management.
- See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/arrest-of-pps-members-a-taint-on-merdeka-festivities-said-penang-pkr-youth#sthash.lg7SHlBa.dpuf

Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS)

Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS)

Penang volunteer patrol unit (PPS)