Taking A Break

I hope this will not be a disappointment to you all as I am informing you of my wish to take a break now after years of blogging in Malaysia's political arena.

I will be taking up a project start-up work in another country as the company I am working now is expanding to the other continent and they are doing greatly well.

However, not to disappoint you all, I would recommend you to go the blog of my friend, who also sits in the committee of our jointly managed Political Research Group (PRG). His name is Viktor Wong, who is also a socio-political analyst like me, and his full time profession is in the logistics.

Here comes his blog: Socio-Economy, Political and Education as he named it. Besides having his blog, Viktor Wong also manages and edits the DAP Bagan site regularly where is also the Editor-in-Chief.

Trust me, just ride into these two blogs and you would find it as interesting as mine.

Enjoy and Happy reading then!

Of Chua Soi Lek and his "stronghold" in Tenang

As the nomination of the Tenang by-election had just concluded, MCA and its party president Dr Chua Soi Lek fired their first salvo against the Pakatan's PAS candidate Normala Sudirman for her gloved hand shaking during her campaign rounds.

Well, BN has two kinds of campaign in the Tenang by-election. Umno is dispatched to most Malay kampungs telling the folks there that if PAS wins the by-election, it is DAP and the Chinese would be the most powerful influence over the constituency and PAS would only be a puppet, while MCA is dispatched into Chinese and urban areas telling the community on the fear of a possible Islamic state and the Taliban agenda should PAS were to win in this by-election.

Well, let us focus on Dr Chua's words - he told the press of the PAS candidate's "extremist" view because she wore gloves when shaking hands with the voters. Isn't that is her right of her religious practices and views? Does that represent any intention of PAS wanting to impose the Islamic state ruling in the Tenang constituency should the said Pakatan component party win?

Yeah, he just said that in the Chinese and urban areas during his campaign rounds. That is just one of the BN's split agenda. Umno with its own, while MCA with its own, just like we mentioned earlier.

So, what about Dr Chua's previous sexual fantasies? That is a moral issue too! If he said Normala shoke her hands in public in gloves, how is Dr Chua going to explain the showing of his "kuku bird" in public during his tenure as minister of health?

Come on, this is about election, and let us talk about achievements and getting results, as well as putting things to order. Why go after other people's personality.

We supposed BN has nothing else to say anymore in the campaign. It is just "development" and race, religion and "raja", while corruptions and mismanagements get the go ahead. It is all just BN is always "good" and "true" while what Pakatan Rakyat is doing are all lies and false.

We hope voters there would vote wisely in the upcoming by-election.

Nizar: Pakatan risks Malay support in state secretary dispute

By Adib Zalkapli

Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin has warned that the Selangor government was in danger of losing popularity among the Malays and being accused of treason for disputing the appointment of a new state secretary.
The ousted Perak mentri besar said Umno leaders might accuse Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim of undermining the Sultan’s role by opposing the appointment Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the state’s top civil servant, which has received royal assent.

“Because [of] their control of the press, they will use this issue to accuse Khalid of committing treason against the Sultan like what happened to me in Perak. For the Malays this is very serious,” Nizar told The Malaysian Insider in a reference to Umno, which supported Khusrin’s appointment.

“That is why they keep saying the Sultan has consented to the appointment,” he added.

Nizar lost the post of mentri besar almost two years ago after the Perak ruler refused to dissolve the state assembly following the defection of three Perak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) lawmakers. He was then accused of being a traitor after he insisted on calling for a fresh election.

The PAS central committee member also said despite strengthening PR’s traditional support base in urban Selangor, Khusrin’s presence in the administration would hamper the state’s efforts.

“This will strengthen Pakatan’s traditional support, but when Khusrin assumes office the government will be distracted. It is difficult for Khalid,” said Nizar.

“Khusrin is seen as the best candidate to challenge [the] MB and launch acts of insubordination,” he added pointing out that Khusrin, as the Selangor Islamic affairs department head, had on several occasions spoke out against the state government.

The country’s richest state has been in turmoil since Khusrin was handed the post after receiving the consent of the Sultan of Selangor.

The state government has maintained that it has not finalised a candidate list, saying Khalid has not been informed officially of the appointment.

Khalid had also formed a committee headed by Selangor Assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim, which shortlisted three names that were submitted to the palace.

Palace officials, however, have maintained the mentri besar was “late” in forwarding his candidate choices, with Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah’s aide Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani saying that Khalid had sent in three shortlisted candidates on December 7, after the Ruler had already agreed to the federal government’s pick.

A swearing in ceremony before Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has also been scheduled for January 6 and is expected to be boycotted by PR lawmakers.

Nizar had claimed that the appointment of Mohd Khusrin was part of an attempt by the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration that controls Putrajaya to stage a coup in Selangor similar to what was done in Perak in February 2009.

Nizar has now advised the Selangor government to prepare for a prolonged crisis and to explain to the public the decision to reject Mohd Khusrin’s appointment.

“As the mentri besar, he has the power to stop Khusrin from entering his office. The best thing to do is to make Khusrin miserable,” said Nizar.

“There will be further turmoil, the crisis will continue, but at least the people can be made aware of the constitution,” he added.

Nizar said that the Khalid administration would win public sympathy if it handles the issue well.

“Previously nobody knew about the Perak Constitution, but now everybody remembers it,” said Nizar relating his experience after his removal from the state government.

He also predicted that the issue would not end in Khalid’s favour, as could be seen in Perak when he tried to get the State Secretary Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Hashim replaced.

“I tried twice, I approached the Sultan, I met Tan Sri Sidek Hassan twice to get replacement but the KSN did not bother,” said Nizar.

Portal publishes photo of victim of alleged rape by 'senior minister'

An online news portal focussing on East Malaysian politics has published a photo it claimed was Robengah, an Indonesian women said to be a victim of rape by a 'senior minister', as revealed by WikiLeaks and several blogs recently.

Sabahkini.net also named the minister, a staunch critic of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad who made a cabinet comeback during the premiership of Abdullah Badawi, and who is still serving in the current cabinet.

Accompanied with a statement by non-governmental organisation Migrant Care, which had earlier claimed that a cabinet minister was let off despite allegation of rape by his maid, the website quoted a Sabah PKR leader urging the minister’s resignation.

Since the news about the hitherto unnamed cabinet minister's rape case was first exposed through WikiLeaks, it has been making waves on the internet, with users posting comments on blogs and microblogging site Twitter

UMNO leader wants action

When queried by one Twitter user, UMNO Youth's new media chief Tun Faisal urged action to be taken against the minister.

Meanwhile, a prominent blogger Ahirudin Attan or 'Rocky Bru', who is also editor-in-chief of free daily paper The Malay Mail, made a sarcastic comparison by highlighting the news report about an Israelil minister found guilty for raping his assistant.

“We cannot let the people accuse our leaders of committing crime without investigation. But because we did not investigate and the case was closed, now it looks as if we are trying to blind the people,” he wrote.

The scandal immediately shot to become one of the most read stories in Harakahdaily. The incident allegedly took place in 2007, when Abdullah Badawi was the prime minister.

Meanwhile, Alex Ong, Migrant Care's coordinator, told Harakahdaily that his group had done a thorough investigation into the complaints in July 2008.

On August 1, 2007, Alex together with two leaders from Migrant Care issued a press statement calling for action. On December 27, local rights group Tenaganita republished the statement in the hope that the authorities will re-open the case following the WikiLeaks expose - Harakahdaily.

Who is Najib kidding with minimal impact price hikes?

When one is earning RM3,000 a month, with no extra mouths to feed and cloth, single and live at home with parents with no housing and car loans to cover, a 20 sen increase in your favourite 'teh tarik' or Milo is quite insignificant.

Now substitute this with a 'real life scenario' of 'married with kids' to feed and cloth, insurance, car, housing and credit card loans to cover, you'll feel the pinch.

This is the type of scenario that DAP is spewing about.

The average household income in Malaysia in 2007 was slightly over RM3,500 a month. The take-home pay after mandatory deductions in such a scenario would in all probability be about RM3,100.

Now minus a car, housing and creditcard loan, this individual is poor by urban standards and a 55% hike in a consumer item will definetly hurt the household budget!

Which incidently is exactly what has happened since January 2010, according to DAP's national publicity chief Tony Pua.

The cost of white sugar, which is a core consumer item on every household list, has gone up 55%.

In July, the government launched a surprise “5-in-1” price hike programme, raising the prices of RON95 and RON97 petrol, diesel, white sugar and liquified petroluem gas (LPG) including cooking gas cyclinders as much as 15.2%.

"Then on Dec 3, 2010, less than 5 months later, they had another series of hikes.

"This time the price of RON95 went up five sen to RM1.90 per litre, diesel by five sen per litre to RM1.80 and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by five sen to RM1.90 per kg. Sugar was now RM2.10 per kg.

"In fact for white sugar, inclusive of a 20 sen hike in January on top of the 25 sen and 20 sen hike in July and December, prices have increased by more than 55% this year alone," said Pua.

Failed maths

He said the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Coffee Shop Association's recent announcement debunked Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak's claim in July that the price increases will have “minimal impact” on households in Malaysia.

The association had announced a proposed 20 sen increase in beverage prices.

"In July, Pemandu said the new teh tarik price, having taken into impact the subsidy reduction of fuel and upward price adjustment would be around RM1.0155. They advertised this in full page advertisements across all major mainstream newspapers.

"But in reality the 'teh tarik' and 'kopi susu' price was RM1.20. Now with the 20 cent increase these beverages will go up even higher," he said.

According to Pua something is seriously wrong with the method used in calculating matters involving our economy and our leadership's understanding of simple arithmetics.

"Someone in Pemandu has failed their mathematics. Firstly, there is a clear contradiction in “teh tarik” prices between the fact sheet issued in July which was only RM1.00 as compared to the new base price of RM1.20 in the December fact sheet.

"The government must explain the “mysterious” 20% increase in the base price between July and December, " he said.

He also accused Barisan Nasional and Pemandu of "living in a parallel imaginary universe" of price hikes involving increases of 1.55 sen or even 1 sen.

"I had issued a statement in July arguing that Pemandu should be “commended” for the audacity to publish such numbers which are at best applicable only in a fictitious and theoretical universe, and at worse, showing the complete lack of understanding of real world market dynamics on the price of goods and services.

"And to prove my point, it was reported yesterday in all major Chinese newspapers that the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Coffee Shop Association has announced the proposal to increase all beverage prices by 20 sen starting Jan 1, 2011.

"Kopi susu and the milk prices will be increased from RM1.20 to RM1.40 translating to a massive 16.7% increase in prices!" said Pua.

Stop spewing hypothetics

He said even the price of everyone's coffeeshop favourite “herbal tea” will be increased from RM1.10 to RM1.30 which is an 18% price hike.

"And Pemandu has the audacity to claim that “herbal tea” prices will only increase from RM1.00 to RM1.012 or just a 1.2% increase

"In fact, out of the 70 everyday food and drink items listed on the Subsidy Rationalisation fact sheet, no item is expected to increase by more than 1.9% after the most recent round of price hikes!

"What is perhaps most embarrassing is for the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Deputy Minister Tan Lian Hoe to argue that a 10 sen increase in beverage prices “will be more reasonable”.

"A 10 sen increase will still result in a 8.3% increase for the price of “teh tarik” and “kopi susu”, 10 times higher than the 0.83% increase claimed by Pemandu.

"The government should stop spewing these ridiculous and out-of-these-world hypothetical data which demonstrate at best its sheer incompetence and irrelevance," Pua said - FMT.

Kit Siang: Muhyiddin's statement over 1Malaysia logo ban 'ridiculous'

DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang said Friday it was "downright ridiculous" for Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to assert that the Selangor state government's move to ban the 1Malaysia logo was due to its fear over the concept.

The Ipoh Timur MP also urged the Selangor state executive council to review its decision to ban the 1Malaysia logo from advertisement billboards, in order to prove that Muhyiddin was wrong in his claims that the Opposition is afraid of the concept created by Najib's administration.

It was reported Wednesday that the Selangor state government has banned advertisements on billboards that feature the 1Malaysia logo, which it claimed was a Barisan Nasional (BN) political symbol and therefore, contravenes local by-laws using political symbols in billboard advertisements.

Muhyiddin had responded to the 1Malaysia logo ban which was made known by Selangor exco member Ronnie Liu, saying that: "“They (Selangor government) are afraid of the 1Malaysia logo which has become iconic to the people. The 1Malaysia vision has noble intentions, one of which is to unite the people regardless of their political leanings.”

However, Lim said in his statement Friday that: "Muhyiddin’s statement is downright ridiculous as he himself has declared that he does not fully endorse the 1Malaysia concept, whose official objective is the creation of a Malaysian nation where every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first and race, religion, geography and socio-economic grouping second."

He pointed out that in March this year, Muhyiddin had declared himself "Malay first and Malaysian second" when Lim challenged all Ministers in Parliament to demonstrate their commitment to the 1Malaysia concept by identifying themselves as Malaysian first and race, religion or region second.

Lim also cited other examples which he claimed Muhyiddin had spoken totally inimical to the 1Malaysia concept, including the DPM's defensive stance over the National Civic Bureau (BTN) which has been criticized for being racist.

Lim also said: "His (Muhyiddin's) attempt to mitigate the Nasir Safar outrage claiming that it could have been 'a slip of the tongue' when Najib’s senior political aide labelled Indians and Chinese in Malaysia as 'pendatang', alleging that the Chinese came as beggars and the Chinese women as 'prostitutes.'"

"His (Muhyiddin) hamfisted attempt to aid and abet the inflammatory and incendiary campaign by Umno-controlled media like Utusan Malaysia, Berita Harian, government television and radio stations, playing the race and religious cards to viciously and falsely paint Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Pakatan Rakyat Penang State Government as “anti-Malay” and “anti-Islam,” he added.

"This is why Muhyiddin’s claim that Pakatan Rakyat is “running scared” of the 1Malaysia concept is so ridiculous, when the concept does not even get his full support," Lim said.

Saying that the number of "reckless rhetoric of racist extremism and religious bigotry which attack the very basis of the 1Malaysia slogan" has increased recently, Lim said the concept itself was an example of Najib's administration failure to "walk the talk".

"The 1Malaysia slogan is in fact the best example of the wide and increasing gulf between words and deeds of the Najib administration – its utter failure to walk the talk of the Najib signature policies whether 1Malaysia, Government Transformation Programme, New Economic Model or Economic Transformation Programme," the DAP veteran said - MM.

'Instant reforms' pledge riles up BN leaders

Pakatan Rakyat’s pledge for instant reforms in the event it comes to power at the Federal level has generated a litany of responses from Barisan Nasional leaders, most of whom dismissed the list of reforms as unrealistic.

Both prime minister Najib Razak and his deputy Muhiyiddin Yassin had come out separately with statements deriding the pledge which was outlined during PR's convention last Sunday.

Najib was quoted as saying that PR’s statements were unrealistic and made without any consideration of their ability to govern.

Muhyiddin on the other hand suggested a PR-led government would squander the nation's wealth.

“Pakatan can promise the sun, moon, stars and mountains... But that is not the way of the BN government. We cannot squander our nation's wealth.

“For BN, the prime minister has already a long road map for a high-income nation. But Pakatan only has plans for their first 100 days. They have absolutely no plans to reform the economy or anything," said Muhyiddin.

The remarks about 'wastage' surprised PAS information chief Idris Ahmad (left).

“It is ironic that UMNO-BN leaders accuse us of squandering wealth,” he told in a statement to Harakahdaily, and referred to the controversial multi-billion project announced by Najib during the last budget for a 100-storey tower.

Idris added the comments from BN leaders "smacked of hypocrisy" in view of their past actions, saying they considered projects beneficial to people as wastage.

“All the projects which are beneficial to the people are considered wastage like the Pakatan Rakyat Selangor state government's policy of giving 20 cubic metresof free water to the people.

"When Najib Tun Razak wants to build the 100 storey Menara Warisan tower, it is not considered wasteful. For the children and cronies, it is not a waste,” said Idris.

Ten instant reforms

Idris also took to task deputy Education minister Mohd Puad Zarkashi for saying that the instant reforms promise was "a political drama" to cover up PR's failure.

"Did not BN leaders promised the people on November 3, 2010 that there would be no more increase in oil price, at least until year end, but on December 3, the price of RON95 went up by 5 sen?” he asked.

He said in contrast, PR states, in spite of their financial limitation, were trying to fulfill their manifesto.

Last weekend, Pakatan Rakyat parties dished out what is known as instant reforms which would be implemented in the first 100 days after winning the general election.

They include:
1. Restructure of institutions including the Elections Commission (EC), the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Royal Malaysian Police.
2. Repeal of the Internal Security Act (ISA)
3. Take over of tolled highway so that tolls can be abolished
4. Restructure of the country’s subsidies, including transferring gas subsidies to private power producers to the public at large
5. Revamp the salary scale of civil servants and increasing teachers' salary by RM500 a month
6. Transferring private water concessions to the government
7. Free wireless Internet access to those in urban and semi-urban areas
8. Cancelling Felda plantations and opening up its farms to second- and third generation Felda settlers
9. Increasing oil royalty payments to Sabah, Sarawak, Terengganu and Kelantan from 5 percent to 20 per cent, and
10. Formation of a Royal Commission to solve the problem of illegal immigrants and citizenship issues in Sabah and Sarawak.

Harakahdaily.

PKR likely unscathed in polls turmoil, survey shows

By Yow Hong Chieh

The media spotlight on PKR’s fractious party election appears to have had little effect on public opinion, according to the latest poll of voters in peninsular Malaysia.
The results of the poll suggests that Malaysians are undecided if media reports accurately reflected the party’s woes.

Thirty-four per cent of those surveyed by the independent Merdeka Center earlier this month believed unfavourable reports were a true reflection of the opposition party’s troubles.

But another 34 per cent of voters surveyed said the reports were exaggerated. The remaining 32 per cent said they were not sure.

Malays were the most evenly split, with 37 per cent believing the reports accurate compared to 36 per cent who said news of PKR’s “internal conflicts” had been played up.

Indians were more likely to believe the reports overemphasised the party’s problems.

Fourty-six per cent of the Indians surveyed said the reports were exaggerations versus 32 per cent who thought otherwise.

In contrast, the Chinese were the least likely to believe stories of PKR’s woes were being sensationalised.

Only 26 per cent said they thought the stories overblown, while 31 per cent said the stories were accurate.

The Chinese, however, were also the most ambivalent, with 43 per cent unsure if the reports were truthful or not.

The poll was conducted in the first two weeks of this month following PKR’s first ever direct election, which was marred by low voter turnout, allegations of fraud and the acrimonious exit of then-Federal Territories PKR chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

Deputy presidential contender Zaid quit PKR claiming the party had failed to uphold democratic principles.

This month’s poll mirrors the results of a mid-term survey on Pakatan Rakyat (PR) performance in Selangor, where PKR controls nine out of 22 parliamentary seats, the most of any party.

The mid-term survey suggested that PR will be able to defend Selangor in the next general election.

The PR government there scored the highest with the Indian community, followed by Malays and then the Chinese.

Selangor Mentri Besar and former Selangor PKR chief Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim, however, scored the lowest among Malays, with 38 per cent saying they were not confident in his leadership, compared to 14 and 17 per cent of the Chinese and Indians, respectively.

Most Malaysians against 100-storey project

By Leslie Lau

The majority of voters in peninsular Malaysia are against the proposed construction of the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka project, a recent survey by the independent Merdeka Center has revealed.
The survey, conducted between November 30 and December 11, found that 65 per cent of those polled disagreed with the construction of what would be the tallest building in the country.

Opposition to the project was uniform across all three major communities.

Sixty per cent of Malay voters polled disagreed with the project while 76 per cent of Chinese opposed its construction. Among Indians, 58 per cent were against it.

The findings suggest that a recent online protest on the Facebook social networking site was a fair reflection of public opposition to the project.

More than 200,000 Malaysians registered their protest on Facebook in a campaign launched soon after the project was announced a few months ago.

Last month, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned of a property glut that would result from the construction of the proposed tower.

Dr Mahathir had said that the government should consult the public before proceeding with the project, announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when tabling Budget 2011.

Government investment arm Pemodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) had defended the RM5 billion project, saying that it would neither involve public nor depositor funds.

PNB has formed PNB Merdeka Ventures as a wholly-owned unit to undertake the RM5 billion skyscraper project on the land it bought from Pengurusan Danaharta Nasional Berhad in 2000.

PNB paid RM310 million or RM220 per sq ft to buy the land, but the market value of the land has since appreciated to RM800 per sq ft today.

The land was initially given to UEM Berhad in exchange for the infrastructure giant building the National Stadium complex in Bukit Jalil for the 1998 Commonwealth Games.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders have also derided the grandiose skyscraper project as wasteful and accused Datuk Seri Najib Razak of trying to “out-Mahathir” Dr Mahathir.

Dr Mahathir had embarked on a massive development spree after he took power in 1981 by building highways, the Penang Bridge, opening new industrial estates and oversaw the construction of the Petronas Twin Towers, the KL International Airport, the Sepang International Circuit, intra-city train lines, several ports, and the new administrative capital Putrajaya and its neighbouring Cyberjaya, which was central to the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) project.

Najib appeared to distance himself from the controversial tower when he made it known that the project did not originate from him but PNB.

He nevertheless defended it, saying that it would have a “multiplier effect” on the economy and help drive it forward, in addition to providing an attractive commercial centre for Bumiputera and non-Bumiputera businesses alike.

In his 2011 Budget speech, Najib said the rationale for the Warisan Merdeka tower was similar to that of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, in that it would serve as a symbol of a modern and developed Malaysia.

The 19-acre development area of the mega project — which includes a condominium and a shopping mall — is sited on the car park and land adjacent to Stadium Negara and Stadium Merdeka.

Zaid, take a break and refocus your efforts

By Aloysius Pinto

Zaid should take a break from party politics and focus on developing the necessary tools and mechanisms to put in place a shadow cabinet based on the Pakatan Rakyat policy framework.

It should provide guidelines and directions on how to develop the various policies, directions and action plans for all the different areas highlighted in the framework.

The numerous offers of expertise by civil society, which includes NGOs, professionals, academicians and concerned citizens should be tapped to form the shadow cabinet.

It is not important at this time to identify the shadow cabinet ministers. He must harness the discontent of civil society to come up with action plans to deliver election promises.

Zaid is the appropriate person to lead, organise and moderate the various sessions that needs to be organised for shadow cabinet ministries. If Zaid is not doing this, who else?

Yes, Zaid should take a break from party politics and just focus on bringing the various stakeholders through forums, seminars, dialogues and even a convention.

Enormous talents are willing to provide their expertise so that Pakatan not only retains control of the four states, but also instil confidence in the rakyat that it is ready for Putrajaya.

Otherwise Zaid, don’t bother about party politics at all.

There are already too many politicians around. In fact, more than necessary, that’s why the jostling for positions!

Be a statesman Zaid and lead this work that needs to be done to prepare Pakatan to govern the nation.

Shamala's verdict: Court should have resolved issues of law

By A.Vaithilingam

In my opinion, there is a tendency for judges who are Muslim to consider that they have a duty to protect their faith. There appears to be a pattern in this direction.

As I understand Islam, in all my years in religious organizations, judges must be unbiased.

This is similar to all other religious teachings. When Muslim judges and non Muslim judges give different judgments in matters involving Islamic tenets, it is confusing for lay people.

I hope all judges will decide all cases according to what they think is just, regardless of their views about their own faith.

When the civil High Court judge, in giving joint custody of the two children to husband and wife, ordered Shamala Sathiaseelan not to expose her two children to her own religion of Hinduism, the judge did not cite any civil law authority for such a decision.

When the government Islamic religious authority converted her own infant children to Islam without her consent, and the civil High Court refused to intervene telling her instead to submit to that religious department for assistance, it was the last straw for her.

If she committed contempt of court by leaving the country with her children, the above can be considered strong mitigating factors.

The husband who deserted her was being given special consideration because he was a Muslim.

Both the High Court and the government religious authorities did not give recognition to her equal rights as a mother and a woman.

She appealed to the Court of Appeal who referred the matter to the Federal Court. She hoped she would get justice. But the Federal Court has shut her out completely.

If she was in contempt of court, that offence must be considered separately.

It did not mean that she should be denied relief in the substantive matters she complained about.

Pull together, Guan Eng tells Perak DAP factions

By Clara Chooi

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng told the warring factions in the party’s Perak chapter to close ranks after today’s polls and concentrate on recapturing the state in the next general election.

Lim, who opened the polls this morning, reminded party members to keep their sights set on the bigger picture and unite under the common goal of helping Pakatan Rakyat (PR) regain Perak from Barisan Nasional (BN).

“Two years ago, at the last Perak Ordinary Convention, it was at that moment in time, that we were celebrating the achievement of being a partner in power with winning the Perak government. But now, Perak voters have lost their freedom to elect their government following the coup d’état that negated the people’s mandate.

“But I believe that two years again into the future, we will return this power. This is the responsibility of all members, to ensure that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is reinstated as the Perak mentri besar,” he said in his opening address.

Ngeh is expected to retain his post in today’s polls.

Perak DAP was at the forefront of PR’s success in wresting Perak from BN during Election 2008, when it swept all the 18 state seats it had contested. PKR won in seven state seats while PAS took six, earning the three opposition parties a majority of 31 seats to BN’s 28.

Due to the subsequent defections of three PR representatives — two from PKR and one from DAP — the state fell back into BN’s hands in February 2009.

Since then, another DAP representative has deserted the party to turn independent, leaving DAP with 16 state seats to its name.

In a press conference later, Lim expressed hope that both feuding factions in Perak DAP would close ranks following today’s polls, regardless of the results.

“As we said, we want to come up as a team, a cohesive team that is in concert with the aspirations of the people,” he said.

Today’s state polls is said to be a crucial test for the Perak DAP leadership, which has been split between two factions headed by the Ngeh-Nga cousins and M. Kulasegaran respectively.

It is, however, believed that the cousins — incumbent state DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and secretary Nga Kor Ming — will likely be re-elected into one of the 15 posts in the state committee once the polls close today.

The cousins have been at loggerheads with Kulasegaran and his loyalists over several leadership issues, including the formation of branches in the state and the alleged dictatorial leadership methods employed by the duo.

At the climax of the leadership crisis last month, Kulasegaran caused an uproar when an unsettled dispute with the cousins led him to threaten to quit all his state party posts and expose his grouses in public.

Following intervention from the party’s national leaders, however, Kulasegaran held back on his threat and stayed on in his post, abiding the gag order that the leadership had issued.

Today, however, Lim claimed that no such order had ever existed and insisted that he had merely advised both factions not to air their dirty linen in public.

“No gag order. There was none, none that I am aware of. That was just an advice given by me. All party matters should be resolved internally and it was agreed by both parties so why was it twisted to be a gag order?” he said.

He reiterated the importance for the party leaders to stand together as a team to face the coming general election.

“We want also to honour the memories of those who sacrificed for their dreams so that we can live in ours. So the best way is we must work together,” he said.

Lim also called on the media not to manipulate the issues plaguing Perak DAP, pointing out that it would only serve the interest of their enemies in BN.

“Just let the delegates decide,” he said.

During today’s convention, a total of 78 per cent or 961 delegates of 1,228 delegates were present.

The results of the polls are expected to be announced shortly.

Kula's faction voted out in DAP election

By Clara Chooi

In a surprising turn of events, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran and most of his loyalists failed to survive Perak DAP’s crucial party polls today and was not voted into the top 15 posts on the state committee.

Only one member of his faction, Jalong assemblyman and incumbent party treasurer Leong Mee Meng, made the 15th spot, when the polls results were announced at 7.15pm this evening.

Others in Kulasegaran’s camp like Pasir Pinji assemblyman and incumbent organising secretary Thomas Su Keong Seong; Pasir Berdamar assemblyman and incumbent state committee member Seah Leong Peng; and Cheong Cheong Chi Khing, also an incumbent state committee member; failed to make the cut, along with their leader.

Kulasegaran’s arch-rivals, on the other hand, incumbent state DAP chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham and incumbent secretary Nga Kor Ming cruised to an easy win and polled the top two highest number of votes of the 41 candidates in the contest.

The results further strengthen the cousin’s hold over DAP’s Perak chapter, once seen to be wracked by a leadership crisis involving the two warring factions.

Musa, time for you to spill out !

Gerard Samuel Vijayan: All of these allegations and suspicions could have been avoided if the IGP (inspector-general of police) and the RMP (Royal Malaysian Police) had supported the formation of the IPCMC (Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission).

Even the government, for reasons best known to it, was opposed to the IPCMC when the Royal Commission on the Operations and Management of the RMP made its recommendations to the then PM Abdullah Badawi, who was supportive of the IPCMC, to set it up as soon as possible to restore public confidence in the police force.

To date, even the watered down Enforcement Agencies Integrity Commission has yet to see the light of day although the Act setting it up received the Royal Assent last year. Until the politicians from the ruling BN/Umno government stop interfering directly or indirectly with the police force and the force itself is reformed from top to bottom to eradicate corruption and abuses and to restore integrity, professionalism, discipline and ethics, the RMP will remain suspect in the minds of many right-thinking Malaysians.

Multi Racial: This is the problem with the government. They think the people are stupid. We all knew what Musa Hassan is talking about when he mentioned interference from Home Ministry. I am sure Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein and Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam knew that too.

Musa was referring to the Home Ministry interfering with the police doing their job. But Mahmood, thinking we are stupid, cleverly twisted the story as if the interference meant the Home Ministry not acceding to police's requests. Come on, learn to speak the truth.

Anonymous: Do you expect Hishammuddin to say, "Yes, I did interfere"? Of course, he is going to deny it. That's what the BN government is good at. All the major institutions in the country, including the judiciary and police, have lost the respect of the rakyat due to such interferences.

Artchan: With Musa's allegations against the Home Ministry, all Hishammuddin could do was come with a feeble statement denying any interference. Hisham is his boss and should recommend that the IGP be disciplined for his foul mouth. But Hisham is not the man he is, or he cannot afford Musa to spill the beans if any action is taken.

They can take away Musa's one-year extension, but they can't muzzle him. Maybe to buy his silence, they would probably give him a big golden handshake.

Ferdtan: Musa Hassan said he may consider the suggestion to lodge a report over the alleged interference when he becomes a civilian on Sept 13. There is no way he would do that; for as a civilian, Musa, without the unbridled power as an IGP, not only will fail in his action but will be humiliated by the system which served him so well during his time with the police.

Welcome to the real world, citizen Musa, you may have to pay for your past sins. In your case, is it too late for atonement?

Teh: If he makes a report, he may be questioned by the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission). Then he will have to strangle himself and fall off a window from a tall building.

LI Ting Rui: Musa, you cannot be in power forever. Change is inevitable. You have exhausted your usefulness to Umno. Only you are the one responsible for all the evils that you have done. Sayonara!

Concerned Citizen: The outgoing IGP is acting like sour grapes. Leave like a gentleman. What you don't like, such as the so-called interference or whatever, tell that privately to your successor on how to handle it.

Dingy: Musa, will you come out in open when there is a change of government? The people still want to know who allegedly gave the order to blow up Altantuya Shaariibuu. Whose baby did she carry at the time as it was rumoured that she was pregnant? The rakyat believe you have the evidence and we are sure that you used it to bargain for another extension to your service.

Unfortunately you failed this time. I am sure you will keep this in your heart and strike when opportunities prevail, just like the former IGP who punched Anwar Ibrahim.

Arbee: There's a saying, "no smoke without fire". Of course, nowadays such smoke can be created without fire. So, two options are open here; namely to conduct transparent investigation or allow the complainant to speak openly without fear or favor.

Swipenter: Musa, once you retire you are going to slide into oblivion like many before you. Of course, nobody believes that the Home Ministry's denial that the PDRM is a completely independent institution. If you dare to say it, please prove your allegations and confirm what the rakyat has been suspecting.

Sentinel: Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court judge Supang Lian said the outgoing IGP was a liar. And today he was caught lying again about not being told that his contract would not be extended. What a serial liar!

Gen2: Our civil service has been corrupted so much that senior officials can lie to you in public with a straight face.

Vijay: Musa Hassan, you are exactly one of the hopeless cases picked up from the way side and elevated to a lofty position because you serve well your political masters. And like the spineless wretch you are, you blame everybody else for your shameful record as IGP. In Malaysia, we do not have that attribute where someone takes blame and responsibility for what he failed to do. It is always somebody else that made you do it.
Mr ex-IGP, you should have listened to your own outgoing speech, not when you left the service, but when you accepted the post.

Bozuka: Musa, will you comment if your tenure is extended for another year?

Agencies

RM30 mil donation gone: Explain why, MCA

Anonymous: Now we will see what the MCA politicians are all about - declining a RM30 million donation. The MCA leadership will have to explain point-by-point why they rejected this offer. Well, what can a layman say? It is all about vested interests.

Mr Koon Yew Yin, perhaps you should come up with other ideas of helping poor families from all races. I am sure your RM30 million can provides scholarships to all the nine-A students who miss out on other scholarships. They can pay back to your fund to help other students. Who cares a damn for MCA political leaders who have bastardised the system by being corrupt like their Umno warlords.

DontPlayGod: Sorry for sounding cynical, but when such things like this happen, quite often, it is always that some fat cat has some monetary designs involved somewhere. Maybe that RM30 million meant for building hostels is a threat to those powers-that-be who are already raking in a handsome amount from rentals of houses in the nearby housing areas? If not, what other reason can there be?

Clearwater: Within the MCA universe, self-interest trumps public interest anytime. If Utar were to accept Koon's offer to build hostels for the good of the students, property-owning MCA members and sympathisers in the vicinity will suffer economic loss; and MCA, their votes. The reason to reject Koon's offer is all too obvious.

Utar students just have to suck it up, they have no say in the matter.

RubyStar: It is unbecoming of MCA to reject an offer of RM30 million donation. Mr Koon has no personal agenda and until the offer was rejected, nobody actually knew of the donation. MCA and its band of financial marauders have perhaps ring-fenced the whole area near Utar to be parceled out among its band of conniving thieves to share the loot.

I remembered when I was studying in Universiti Malaya, the biggest problem a student faced is cheap accommodation near the campus. Mr Koon, you are doing a great and selfless service to the students of Utar. Please keep up your crusade.

Anonymous: Mr Koon, do not give this money to Utar. Actually, their educational standard is very low. Give it other institutions. Or start your foundation in Singapore to help Malaysian students who want to study there. That way, we can be sure they will benefit only on merit. Or start a foundation to channel these funds to opposition candidates in the next general elections.

Yap Chee Seng: Some people built a lot of shops and are depending on the students to rent their rooms. Otherwise these shops will be empty. So there is great resistance to Koon's cheap, affordable hostels!

Hello: Dear Mr Koon, instead of arguing with those MCA idiots and getting them to agree to accept your generous offer of RM30 million, why don't you buy a piece of land in Kampar, build your hostel and rent it out to the Utar students at cheap rates and according to the terms stated by you? Wouldn't that solve the dilemma of everyone, especially those poor students?

Sarawakian: It's obvious that someone is after the land. Once the hostels are built, they cannot sell the land. That's how corrupt politicians think. The students can sleep in the streets for all they care.

Malaysiakini

Radio 988's sackings: Why the rush?

YF: Everyone knows that it is a common practise to send a warning letter first before issuing the letter of termination. Instead, we see a rushed sacking without even giving the employees sufficient notice to inform them what they did wrong and what correction or remedial punishment is needed. Why the rush? Why the drastic act?

And where is this so-called Malay rights activist group Perkasa? A Malay is being persecuted here, so why the silence? Unless, of course, Perkasa is nothing but an Umno tool and are bed buddies with the likes of Dr Chua Soi Lek.

Amaso: Why didn't StarFM challenge Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) findings in court? Why did it simply accepted MCMC's findings and sacked the duo?

Alexander Yuan: Jamaluddin Ibrahim, start your own independent radio services. I bet there will be even more listeners than Radio MCA (988)!

CarL: The thing about Malaysia now is the increasing number of would-be martyrs. For crying out loud, this guy is only a DJ, and he is lapping it up like he was placed under the Internal Security Act (ISA) or something. It certainly won't do his job prospects much good.

Louis: Jamaluddin and the Radio 988 CEO should know better. The BN leadership only want you to sing song of praises for them, never mind that they are rotten to the core. Exposing their weakness is a sin nowadays, and can lead even whistleblowers to be sent behind bars. Both of them must thank their lucky stars that they were given the sack only.

Wira: Who is the licensee? Is Jamaluddin the license holder of 988 or its presenter? The company should hold itself responsible and accountable for the content since the morning programme had been running for many months with no caution nor warning from the station owners.

It is even more ridiculous to suggest that the morning programme presentation breaches condition 10.3, that is, on the moral and cultural values of the community aspirations of the nation. I suggest the duo get for themselves a good solicitor like Gorbind Singh Deo and sue their employer.

Koh Stanley Columnist: What is the big deal about the programme's content going against cultural and moral sensitivities vis-a-vis community's aspirations when a political leader with a DVD sex scandal can become a president of the party that owns the radio.

Malaysiakini

PKR must change

The upcoming Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) National Congress to commence starting from tomorrow until 30 May at the Trade Centre in Kota Bahru, Kelantan will be watched by all supporters of Pakatan Rakyat.

During the congress, the PKR leadership must come up with a firm and concrete solution to stem out its defection sickness as well as to shed off its "ex-Umno" image in order to become a formidable opposition party in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition.

Since after the general elections, PKR has been frequently rocked by series of resignations and defections of its members of parliament and state assemblymen which saw the numbers of its seat in the parliament being reduced to 25 as compared to the previous outstanding number.

The leaders of PKR must be brave enough to come up strongly against opportunist in its party and to get rid of those "Umno characteristic" leaders and members in order not to jeopardize its image and reputation again in the next general election.

Besides, PKR leaders must also stop all its favoritism in its election candidate selection and all its potential candidates ought to be filter and censored as careful as possible in order to avoid another round of defections.

If defections in PKR continues, it is feared that its supporters and voters will not be able to put their trust on its candidates anymore in the next general election.

So, PKR you need to act fast.

MIC rebel against Samy

Aiyoyo Samy, only now did the MIC leaders and members realized that their party president Datuk Seri S.Samy Vellu who was defeated in the last general election was a mere Umno tool.

Only now did the MIC leaders and member realized that Samy Vellu had all these years made use of the party for his political and self interest.

We really feel sorry for the conditions in the MIC. After decades and years of Samy's firm grip over the party organization and after Samy's fist had firmly control the party, only did the members today realized his dictatorship is going to destroy the party.

You know why, this is because one after another party leader who went against Samy the president got the sack immediately after they made their statement publicly calling him to leave the party presidency soonest.

Well, they didn't realize that Samy as the party president got the dictatorial presidential powers to outdo the central committee and sack anyone at his own discretion. What a disgusting chapter in the party.

MIC now exist only in name. It no longer enjoy the support from the Indian community like what it has been 50 years ago. MIC today only exist just because of Umno. Umno wanted to make use of MIC in order to dress the Barisan Naisonal (BN) coalition as a multiracial organization but in actual fact it is not.

In the BN coalition, Umno calls all the shots. Its coalition partners, MCA, MIC, Gerakan, PPP, PBS, LDP, PRS, SPDP, Upko, PBB and SUPP are mere puppets in the Umno dominated coalition. Umno dictates and make all the decisions for and on behalf of the coalition.

Only now did the MIC leaders and members realized how irrelevant their party is with Samy Vellu at helm. An when the rebellion began to spread to the entire party machinery, the Samy Vellu faction started to point their fingers at their political master Umno who in turn called them "biadap".

What had Samy Vellu's MIC done for the Malaysian Indian community? Nothing, nothing at all. The majority in the community is getting poorer and frustrated, while those rich MIC leaders had established themselves far away from the community and made themselves "Bangsawan India".

Will MIC ever survive the current leadership crisis this time?

Zambry says Soi Lek can strengthen Perak MCA (with oral sex)

The Perak head of the rebel state government Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has expressed confidence that the appointment of MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek as the Perak MCA Liaison Committee chairman could strengthen the party and the BN in the state.

Strengthen MCA and the BN in Perak with what? Oral sex parties? He is going to bring oral sex into the state BN leadership and its members as well.

When Dr Chua's oral sex adventure is proven and shown on videos and youtubes to the entire nation, he was forgiven by the BN top leadership, the home ministry, the police and the MCA central delegates and in the end got elected as party president.

What about the case of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim? He was accused of an offense which is similar to the oral sex that is considered as a crime in the penal code. But has it being proven? No, the prosecution had to-date failed to prove that Datuk Seri Anwar had committed the act.

But the Umno-led BN federal government is now pressuring the judiciary to ensure Datuk Seri Anwar is "proven" and found guilty as soon as possible in order to prevent him from participating in the next general elections.

Well, BN had already decided that oral sex within its coalition is a right thing to do, while what has been done outside are all wrong even if it is yet to be proven.

Does that mean, lets join BN to do whatever you like above the law and break as many as you like? The police will salute you!

MIC's Mugilan top Umno choice for Hulu Selangor by election

MIC Youth deputy leader V. Mugilan is the top Umno choice as Barisan Nasional candidate for Hulu Selangor over his political mentor and party deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel.

Besides, Mugilan's faction in the MIC is also said to be working hand in hand with Umno in order to get the latter's assistance in lobbying at the top BN leadership level, thus sidelining the MIC deputy president Palanivel.

It looks like Palanivel himself often seen as a Samy Vellu shadow had been irrelevant within MIC itself. However, Palanivel is not giving up so easily. His faction who is closely aligned with Samy is quick to sought the party central committee's help to pressure the BN top leaders to move Mugilan aside to pave way for the MIC deputy president.

The factional lobbying ad infighting in the MIC between the pro-Umno and the pro-Samy ones are intensifying as the nomination day approaches.

What is Najib's choice now? An MIC top leader or its youth leader? What if Najib selects the MIC youth leader, thus, hurting the MIC leadership and what if Najib selects the MIC top leader instead and its youth leader decides to rebel in the party? And then Samy takes this opportunity to sack him?