So more and more Malaysians are calling for Pak Lah to step down. Muhammad ‘Mat Tyson’ Muhammed Taib yesterday equated such calls as unfair. How can one change the rules of a football game midway, he says, arguing Pak Lah ought to be allowed to finish his term as Prime Minister and leader of Umno.
Surely Mat Tyson has missed the point. Surely Mat Tyson is not a football player, nor a fan, not even a casual supporter.
For Malaysians to call for Pak Lah to take responsibilities for the state of the country is not changing the rules of the football game. It is an enforcement of the rules of the game.
A Mongolian woman gets blown up with military explosive, babies molested, little kids kidnapped and whisked off into thin air, snatch thieves roaming the cities, food prices going up up up, judges gallivanting with lawyers and businessmen, throwing some poor Indians into jail just because they’re fed up of being treated like pariahs and demand respect, muzzling the press and castrating all the editors-in-chief, satay sellers building palaces in Klang, highway tolls that never die despite being around for donkey years, petroleum money that is gushing out of Terengganu into God-knows-where so much so that even the Sultan is shouting ‘what the heck is going on?’ … the rules of our football game have been not only broken but stomped upon with glee and relish.
The players have gone offside so many times the spectators can’t even keep count. The referees have been issuing one yellow card after another. But the foul play continues. Not only are the players pulling shirts and using their elbows, they are now openly jabbing opponents in the eye and kicking them in the groin.
On March 8, a red card has been flashed. If the player won’t get off the field by himself, don’t blame the spectators for hissing and booing.
Everybody knows what the rules of the football game are. Mat Tyson, do you?
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Look Ma, No Hands
At the rate things are going, Pak Lah won’t have a Cabinet to tie two shoelaces together.
Today, another Cabinet member threw in his towel.
Ghapur Salleh, who is natural resources and environment deputy minister, has quit his post just eight days after accepting his appointment.
His reasons? ‘I don’t want to be tied down to government duties ... I just want to do my own thing.’
Why then did Ghapur Salleh accept the appointment in the first place? And what is the ‘own thing’ he’s wanting to do?
Anyway, Ghapur Salleh says he’s not quitting the party. He’ll be staying on as Umno Kalabakan chief. Ghapur Salleh, 64, is MP for Kalabakan. In 1990s, he was a deputy chief minister of Sabah.
In the last few days, Umno’s partners in Sabah have had to put up with some serious disrespect from the big boys in Kuala Lumpur. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Ghapur Salleh’s fallout has something to do with this.
Adnan Mansor, upon taking power as Umno secretary-general on March 19 after Radzi Sheikh Ahmad chucked the job, said Barisan Nasional should send people over to East Malaysia to check that no Barisan Sabah leaders attempt a defection to the opposition side.
Adnan’s suggestion has been lambasted by Sabah Progressive Party president Yong Teck Lee as 'insulting' and likens it to ‘spying on party colleagues.’
Poor Sabahans. This is the thanks you get for sticking up for your mates in KL.
Today, another Cabinet member threw in his towel.
Ghapur Salleh, who is natural resources and environment deputy minister, has quit his post just eight days after accepting his appointment.
His reasons? ‘I don’t want to be tied down to government duties ... I just want to do my own thing.’
Why then did Ghapur Salleh accept the appointment in the first place? And what is the ‘own thing’ he’s wanting to do?
Anyway, Ghapur Salleh says he’s not quitting the party. He’ll be staying on as Umno Kalabakan chief. Ghapur Salleh, 64, is MP for Kalabakan. In 1990s, he was a deputy chief minister of Sabah.
In the last few days, Umno’s partners in Sabah have had to put up with some serious disrespect from the big boys in Kuala Lumpur. It wouldn’t be a surprise if Ghapur Salleh’s fallout has something to do with this.
Adnan Mansor, upon taking power as Umno secretary-general on March 19 after Radzi Sheikh Ahmad chucked the job, said Barisan Nasional should send people over to East Malaysia to check that no Barisan Sabah leaders attempt a defection to the opposition side.
Adnan’s suggestion has been lambasted by Sabah Progressive Party president Yong Teck Lee as 'insulting' and likens it to ‘spying on party colleagues.’
Poor Sabahans. This is the thanks you get for sticking up for your mates in KL.
Blink And You’ll Miss It
Following his meeting with Sultan Mizan yesterday, Pak Lah announced Umno has decided to accept Ahmad Said as Mentri Besar of Terengganu.
So the ruler has made his point.
Too bad to those assemblymen who had wanted Pak Lah to stay firm and insist Idris Jusoh be reappointed MB.
So what’s the beef with Idris Jusoh and the Sultan?
Apparently, His Highness wanted the answer to one question: What’s happened to the 5% oil revenue that was promised to Terengganu?
There was no answer.
The 5% is understood to translate into RM1 billion.
No wonder the Sultan is angry. It’s about time someone stood up for those poor folks in Terengganu.
Ahmad Said who is Kemaman Umno chief took office on Tuesday. Perhaps he has been assigned to track down the missing money.
So the ruler has made his point.
Too bad to those assemblymen who had wanted Pak Lah to stay firm and insist Idris Jusoh be reappointed MB.
So what’s the beef with Idris Jusoh and the Sultan?
Apparently, His Highness wanted the answer to one question: What’s happened to the 5% oil revenue that was promised to Terengganu?
There was no answer.
The 5% is understood to translate into RM1 billion.
No wonder the Sultan is angry. It’s about time someone stood up for those poor folks in Terengganu.
Ahmad Said who is Kemaman Umno chief took office on Tuesday. Perhaps he has been assigned to track down the missing money.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Pete Out Of Pocket RM4 Million
Raja Petra Kamaruddin has just been ordered to pay RM2 million to an academician whom he has been said to have libelled.
The academician in question is Universiti Utara Malaysia vice-chancellor Nordin Kardi.
Alor Star high court registrar Priscilla Gengadaran gave judgement to Nordin today when Pete failed to enter his defence.
Pete is said to have posted the libellous article posted in his blog on Dec 16, 2006.
Nordin also sued Parti Keadilan Rakyat, its chief editor and the editor of the party bulletin Suara Keadilan. All in, the registrar gave Nordin damages of RM 7 million.
It is understood Nordin and UUM had first sought to obtain a whopping RM85 million in damages but later changed their minds.
None of the defendants dignified Nordin’s suit with a response or defence.
The offending article is entitled 'Datuk Dr Nordin Kardi Ciplak Karya Saya? Mohon Penjelasan... (Has Datuk Dr Nordin Kardi Plagiarised My Work? Please Explain...).
The article is written by one Muhtar Suhaili who said his essay 'Mahasiswa Dan Tanggujawab Menguruskan Kejayaan (Graduands And The Responsibility Of Managing Success) was plagiarised by a chap going by the name of Nordin Kardi.
After Pete posted the article on his blog, Suara Keadilan used it in their publication on Dec 27.
According to the media, Pete also has to pay RM2 million to UUM while Suara chief editor and editor are to each pay Nordin RM1 million and the university RM500, 000. The libel case against Keadilan itself has not been heard.
Nordin was seen on TV today crowing over the win, describing it as a landmark decision against cyber misconduct, and urged others to pursue lawsuits against bloggers.
Will the bloggers strike back?
The academician in question is Universiti Utara Malaysia vice-chancellor Nordin Kardi.
Alor Star high court registrar Priscilla Gengadaran gave judgement to Nordin today when Pete failed to enter his defence.
Pete is said to have posted the libellous article posted in his blog on Dec 16, 2006.
Nordin also sued Parti Keadilan Rakyat, its chief editor and the editor of the party bulletin Suara Keadilan. All in, the registrar gave Nordin damages of RM 7 million.
It is understood Nordin and UUM had first sought to obtain a whopping RM85 million in damages but later changed their minds.
None of the defendants dignified Nordin’s suit with a response or defence.
The offending article is entitled 'Datuk Dr Nordin Kardi Ciplak Karya Saya? Mohon Penjelasan... (Has Datuk Dr Nordin Kardi Plagiarised My Work? Please Explain...).
The article is written by one Muhtar Suhaili who said his essay 'Mahasiswa Dan Tanggujawab Menguruskan Kejayaan (Graduands And The Responsibility Of Managing Success) was plagiarised by a chap going by the name of Nordin Kardi.
After Pete posted the article on his blog, Suara Keadilan used it in their publication on Dec 27.
According to the media, Pete also has to pay RM2 million to UUM while Suara chief editor and editor are to each pay Nordin RM1 million and the university RM500, 000. The libel case against Keadilan itself has not been heard.
Nordin was seen on TV today crowing over the win, describing it as a landmark decision against cyber misconduct, and urged others to pursue lawsuits against bloggers.
Will the bloggers strike back?
LIMA Chief Thumps Ruler's Decision
Perak is experiencing more pangs in the lead-up to the birth of its new government, a multiracial government that ignores the old wisdom of Malay for Malay, Chinese for Chinese and Indian for Indian.
And the state’s newly appointed Mentri Besar appears to be a rather feisty fellow with a fairly egalitarian outlook despite his PAS affiliation and meek demeanour.
Today, after a meeting with some village chiefs, Mohamed Nizar Jamuluddin tackled head-on the mischievous attempts of some chauvinistic NGOs to subvert the authority of Sultan Azlan.
You’re playing with fire, is basically the message Nizar wants to send out to these NGOs, understood to be about 20 of them, who are making noise over the race of the assemblymen chosen to serve in new state executive council.
Nizar is PAS state secretary.
Perak’s proposed state executive council is to comprise six DAP assemblyman, three Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblyman and one PAS assemblyman.
The NGOs, led by one Nonee Ashirin Mohamed Radzi of a club that calls itself Prowaris, is protesting the line-up on the basis that it does not reflect the state’s racial makeup. Perak, they insist, is largely comprised of Malays and as such the state exco should have more Malays.
The NGOs, representing several trade associations and guilds, are also questioning the Sultan’s decision to appoint two Deputy Mentri Besar to assist Nizar. It is unclear whether these NGOs are part of Prowaris but their spokesman Nonee, a law graduate, is understood to be ‘director of defence’ for Prowaris and CEO of World Aerospace, the company which organized Lima ’07.
Prowaris stands for Pertubuhan Profesional Melayu Dan Pewaris Bangsa. Roughly translated, the name reads ‘Society for Malay Professionals and Heirs of the Race.’
Yesterday Nonee derided the ruler’s decision to have two Deputy MBs as a tool ‘to serve the DAP’s political interests.’ She insists Perak’s constitution has no provision for the post of two Deputy MBs.
Nizar, as newly appointed MB, appears to be taking a hard line against the bigotry and chauvinism of these NGOs.
He says the palace has already accepted the coalition’s proposed line-up and given its consent. A challenge to the line-up at this stage, reasons Nizar, is a challenge to the authority and will of Sultan Azlan.
Nizar says these NGOs are ‘inviting trouble from the palace’ if they keep insisting more Malays be put into the exco.
According to the media, Sultan Azlan is away in London and will be returning home soon to swear in the Deputy MBs and new state exco. DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham has been named the Deputy MB I. The Deputy MB II position is to be given to an assemblyman representing the Indian community and has yet to be named.
And the state’s newly appointed Mentri Besar appears to be a rather feisty fellow with a fairly egalitarian outlook despite his PAS affiliation and meek demeanour.
Today, after a meeting with some village chiefs, Mohamed Nizar Jamuluddin tackled head-on the mischievous attempts of some chauvinistic NGOs to subvert the authority of Sultan Azlan.
You’re playing with fire, is basically the message Nizar wants to send out to these NGOs, understood to be about 20 of them, who are making noise over the race of the assemblymen chosen to serve in new state executive council.
Nizar is PAS state secretary.
Perak’s proposed state executive council is to comprise six DAP assemblyman, three Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblyman and one PAS assemblyman.
The NGOs, led by one Nonee Ashirin Mohamed Radzi of a club that calls itself Prowaris, is protesting the line-up on the basis that it does not reflect the state’s racial makeup. Perak, they insist, is largely comprised of Malays and as such the state exco should have more Malays.
The NGOs, representing several trade associations and guilds, are also questioning the Sultan’s decision to appoint two Deputy Mentri Besar to assist Nizar. It is unclear whether these NGOs are part of Prowaris but their spokesman Nonee, a law graduate, is understood to be ‘director of defence’ for Prowaris and CEO of World Aerospace, the company which organized Lima ’07.
Prowaris stands for Pertubuhan Profesional Melayu Dan Pewaris Bangsa. Roughly translated, the name reads ‘Society for Malay Professionals and Heirs of the Race.’
Yesterday Nonee derided the ruler’s decision to have two Deputy MBs as a tool ‘to serve the DAP’s political interests.’ She insists Perak’s constitution has no provision for the post of two Deputy MBs.
Nizar, as newly appointed MB, appears to be taking a hard line against the bigotry and chauvinism of these NGOs.
He says the palace has already accepted the coalition’s proposed line-up and given its consent. A challenge to the line-up at this stage, reasons Nizar, is a challenge to the authority and will of Sultan Azlan.
Nizar says these NGOs are ‘inviting trouble from the palace’ if they keep insisting more Malays be put into the exco.
According to the media, Sultan Azlan is away in London and will be returning home soon to swear in the Deputy MBs and new state exco. DAP state chief Ngeh Koo Ham has been named the Deputy MB I. The Deputy MB II position is to be given to an assemblyman representing the Indian community and has yet to be named.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Terengganu MB Sacked, Sultan Mizan Miffed
Silat kilat, that’s what it is. Terengganu has just shed its reputation as the sleepy hollow of Malaysia in a lightning turn of events that has left federal politicians gasping for breath.
In seven days, its sultan has cast aside the state’s incumbent Mentri Besar, appointed a ‘streetfighter’ sort of fellow as its new chief minister, and is now moving towards a final showdown with Umno’s highest leadership.
Sultan Mizan may be right or wrong in his choice of appointing Ahmad Said as mentri besar but for what it’s worth, it is truly something to see a ruler stand up to the dictating of federal politics to make his own political choice.
On Saturday, Ahmad Said was supposed to be sworn in after 14 days of uncertainty over the state government’s leadership. However, as a result of the boycott by 22 state assemblymen who support Idris Jusoh, Ahmad Said only received his letter of appointment from the palace and was told to wait for his swearing-in ceremony to be held in three days.
On Sunday, however, Umno sacked Ahmad, stripping him from all his posts and his membership.
It is unclear whether the sacking is effective but if it is, this may make Ahmad Said the first Independent Mentri Besar in Malaysian history. That is if he doesn’t hop over to PAS, PKR, DAP (stranger things have happened) or challenge the legitimacy of the sacking.
Ahmad Said, who is Kemaman Umno chief, is said to be a gauche sort of politician, the sort who’d use fisticuffs rather than words to settle an argument. Why the palace has taken a shine to him is a mystery. In fact, quizzed about this in the past few days, Ahmad Said declares: ‘I never asked for this job. I only knew about my appointment as the menteri besar two days before receiving the letter of appointment form the Regency Advisory Council and I was asked to keep it a secret. Honestly, I do not know the reason. And I do not know if it was proper to decline an offer by the Sultan. I will leave it to you to make the assumption on my appointment.’
We may never know the reason. This could be another one of those ‘OSA state secret’-sort of thing. What we do know is Ahmad Said has been frequenting Istana Tamu having chats with Sultan Mizan before the appointment, after the appointment, etc.
What we do know is Ahmad Said, 51, is grinning a lot these days, his crooked toothy smile plastered in all the papers.
What we also know is the Sultan dislikes Idris Jusoh. Why, we don’t know. Sultan Mizan has kept the offence to himself.
Idris, who is Kijal assemblyman and state liaison chief for Umno, is Pak Lah’s choice for Mentri Besar. A suave, urbane creature, he had received his letter of appointment from Pak Lah earlier on and was under the impression this meant an automatic reappointment to the post of MB. His shock and consternation when the grinning Ahmad Said is called to the Istana instead is said to be of such a degree he immediately lost weight. Terengganu-folk report him looking thin and rather dishevelled in just three days.
In contrast, the ungainly Ahmad Said is said to be looking spiffy in his new suit and songkok, his overall bearing confident and cheery to match.
On Sunday, when Ahmad Said went to the palace to receive his letter from the ruler, 22 state assemblymen rushed over to protest the appointment. These 22 assemblymen handed over a signed petition declaring their intention to boycott Ahmad Said’s swearing in ceremony.
They also declared their intention to march against the decision. The protest march was to take place from Seri Iman, the official residence of the Mentri Besar, to the palace – a distance of 500m.
The fervour and sincerity of these politicians, however, appears to be suspect. As ‘short’ as the distance of the proposed protest march. By Monday, news filtered out that among the 22, many in fact supported Ahmad Said for MB. They were just signing the petition because it was the thing to do. Playing some good old Terengganu wayang kulit for the amusement of the Umno top leadership lest they be accused of treason against Pak Lah.
This morning, Idris Jusoh is reported grovelling at the palace’s feet, begging for forgiveness for disrespecting his highness, declaring over and over again he is willing to abide by the Sultan’s decisions ‘if’ such decisions were ‘good for the Rakyat.’
Idris appears to be repenting over some misunderstanding with the palace and states he is willing to ask for forgiveness if he has offended the Sultan.
Genuine remorse or is Idris Jusoh attempting to stave off a complete freeze-out in his
home state?
Ahmad Said says he has the support of seven out of the eight Umno Terengganu divisions. Idris says he has the written support of four (Kuala Terengganu, Jertih, Kuala Nerus and Besut) plus the endorsement of Pak Lah and deputy PM Najib Razak.
There is now a possibility the Sultan’s decision may be challenged legally.
Shad Saleem Faruqi, professor of law at Universiti Teknologi Mara, calls the situation a constitutional crisis with no precedence for a solution. Pak Lah himself openly defends Idris Jusoh’s claim to the position. ‘Appointments made other than this is against the constitution and is not valid,’ he said in an immediate response to the crisis.
But Sulaiman Abdullah, former Bar Council president, says the Sultan’s exercise of power is legal and legitimate. According to an NST report, Sulaiman says Section 1 (2) (a) of the Eighth Schedule of the Federal Constitution permits a ruler of a state to act in his discretion to appoint a Mentri Besar. He says if the ruler has made the wrong choice, the test is the first meeting of the legislative assembly when a vote of no-confidence can be passed. ‘If that happens, the Mentri Besar either resigns or advises the ruler to dissolve the legislative assembly.’ The ruler, he says can withhold consent for a request to dissolve the assembly.
In appointing Ahmad Said, the Terengganu palace had declared it was invoking Clause 14 paragraph (2) (a) of the state constitution.
Whatever the case, tiny Terengganu is rocking the nation.
Now perhaps a busload of Umno chaps from Perak will roll up and give the Terengganu Umno members a lengthy sermon on respecting the ruler. After all, they did such a good job on Lim Kit Siang.
In seven days, its sultan has cast aside the state’s incumbent Mentri Besar, appointed a ‘streetfighter’ sort of fellow as its new chief minister, and is now moving towards a final showdown with Umno’s highest leadership.
Sultan Mizan may be right or wrong in his choice of appointing Ahmad Said as mentri besar but for what it’s worth, it is truly something to see a ruler stand up to the dictating of federal politics to make his own political choice.
On Saturday, Ahmad Said was supposed to be sworn in after 14 days of uncertainty over the state government’s leadership. However, as a result of the boycott by 22 state assemblymen who support Idris Jusoh, Ahmad Said only received his letter of appointment from the palace and was told to wait for his swearing-in ceremony to be held in three days.
On Sunday, however, Umno sacked Ahmad, stripping him from all his posts and his membership.
It is unclear whether the sacking is effective but if it is, this may make Ahmad Said the first Independent Mentri Besar in Malaysian history. That is if he doesn’t hop over to PAS, PKR, DAP (stranger things have happened) or challenge the legitimacy of the sacking.
Ahmad Said, who is Kemaman Umno chief, is said to be a gauche sort of politician, the sort who’d use fisticuffs rather than words to settle an argument. Why the palace has taken a shine to him is a mystery. In fact, quizzed about this in the past few days, Ahmad Said declares: ‘I never asked for this job. I only knew about my appointment as the menteri besar two days before receiving the letter of appointment form the Regency Advisory Council and I was asked to keep it a secret. Honestly, I do not know the reason. And I do not know if it was proper to decline an offer by the Sultan. I will leave it to you to make the assumption on my appointment.’
We may never know the reason. This could be another one of those ‘OSA state secret’-sort of thing. What we do know is Ahmad Said has been frequenting Istana Tamu having chats with Sultan Mizan before the appointment, after the appointment, etc.
What we do know is Ahmad Said, 51, is grinning a lot these days, his crooked toothy smile plastered in all the papers.
What we also know is the Sultan dislikes Idris Jusoh. Why, we don’t know. Sultan Mizan has kept the offence to himself.
Idris, who is Kijal assemblyman and state liaison chief for Umno, is Pak Lah’s choice for Mentri Besar. A suave, urbane creature, he had received his letter of appointment from Pak Lah earlier on and was under the impression this meant an automatic reappointment to the post of MB. His shock and consternation when the grinning Ahmad Said is called to the Istana instead is said to be of such a degree he immediately lost weight. Terengganu-folk report him looking thin and rather dishevelled in just three days.
In contrast, the ungainly Ahmad Said is said to be looking spiffy in his new suit and songkok, his overall bearing confident and cheery to match.
On Sunday, when Ahmad Said went to the palace to receive his letter from the ruler, 22 state assemblymen rushed over to protest the appointment. These 22 assemblymen handed over a signed petition declaring their intention to boycott Ahmad Said’s swearing in ceremony.
They also declared their intention to march against the decision. The protest march was to take place from Seri Iman, the official residence of the Mentri Besar, to the palace – a distance of 500m.
The fervour and sincerity of these politicians, however, appears to be suspect. As ‘short’ as the distance of the proposed protest march. By Monday, news filtered out that among the 22, many in fact supported Ahmad Said for MB. They were just signing the petition because it was the thing to do. Playing some good old Terengganu wayang kulit for the amusement of the Umno top leadership lest they be accused of treason against Pak Lah.
This morning, Idris Jusoh is reported grovelling at the palace’s feet, begging for forgiveness for disrespecting his highness, declaring over and over again he is willing to abide by the Sultan’s decisions ‘if’ such decisions were ‘good for the Rakyat.’
Idris appears to be repenting over some misunderstanding with the palace and states he is willing to ask for forgiveness if he has offended the Sultan.
Genuine remorse or is Idris Jusoh attempting to stave off a complete freeze-out in his
home state?
Ahmad Said says he has the support of seven out of the eight Umno Terengganu divisions. Idris says he has the written support of four (Kuala Terengganu, Jertih, Kuala Nerus and Besut) plus the endorsement of Pak Lah and deputy PM Najib Razak.
There is now a possibility the Sultan’s decision may be challenged legally.
Shad Saleem Faruqi, professor of law at Universiti Teknologi Mara, calls the situation a constitutional crisis with no precedence for a solution. Pak Lah himself openly defends Idris Jusoh’s claim to the position. ‘Appointments made other than this is against the constitution and is not valid,’ he said in an immediate response to the crisis.
But Sulaiman Abdullah, former Bar Council president, says the Sultan’s exercise of power is legal and legitimate. According to an NST report, Sulaiman says Section 1 (2) (a) of the Eighth Schedule of the Federal Constitution permits a ruler of a state to act in his discretion to appoint a Mentri Besar. He says if the ruler has made the wrong choice, the test is the first meeting of the legislative assembly when a vote of no-confidence can be passed. ‘If that happens, the Mentri Besar either resigns or advises the ruler to dissolve the legislative assembly.’ The ruler, he says can withhold consent for a request to dissolve the assembly.
In appointing Ahmad Said, the Terengganu palace had declared it was invoking Clause 14 paragraph (2) (a) of the state constitution.
Whatever the case, tiny Terengganu is rocking the nation.
Now perhaps a busload of Umno chaps from Perak will roll up and give the Terengganu Umno members a lengthy sermon on respecting the ruler. After all, they did such a good job on Lim Kit Siang.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Adnan Dares To Advise Ku Li
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah has offered himself up as an alternative chief for Umno. He has also called for a post-mortem EGM to deliberate on Umno’s disastrous outing at the general elections.
'Now I am old but still fearless,' says Ku Li. He also says, 'I am independent from any influences and am willing to serve. I only have to answer to God.'
At 71, many younger Umno leaders regard Ku Li past his prime. However, his willingness to stick out his neck to challenge Pak Lah says something about him, especially with so many leaders pussyfooting around issue, swollen with ambition but not having any guts to admit it.
Whether or not Ku Li is the right man – that’s another issue.
The most hilarious thing now is Tengku Adnan Mansor has chided Ku Li for opening his mouth. Yesterday’s news quote Adnan ‘advising Ku Li not to create trouble.’
‘I don’t understand Ku Li for wanting to go against the Prime Minister. Please don’t create any more trouble,’ he says, speaking to the media at the Putra Mosque during the Maulidur Rasul celebrations.
Let us remind ourselves who Adnan is. He is our new Tourism Minister and the man who stepped into Radzi Sheikh Ahmad’s shoes as Umno secretary-general when Radzi quit his post a few days ago.
He’s also the man implicated in the VK Lingam judge-fixing video scandal.
Testifying in court on Thursday, last January 17, this is how he answered
questions by leading officer Azmi Ariffin as reported by The Star:
Azmi: There is an Indian man talking on the phone in the clip. Can you identify him?
Tengku Adnan: When I first looked, the image was not clear but after a while I could see that he was Datuk V.K. Lingam.
The Minister was then shown the 14-minute clip and confirmed it was Lingam using the phone in the clip.
After that he was asked about 11 parts of the video clip where Lingam made allegations attributed to him, all of which he categorically denied.
The following are the parts in the script read out by Azmi to Tengku Adnan and the Minister’s reply.
Azmi: Lingam said: ‘I told Tengku Adnan yesterday I had a meeting with him ... and he said no problem, he said he is going to make you ... acting or ... aa ... confirm your position as PCA ... working very hard and then get Tan Sri Mokhtar as the CJM lah.’ Was he telling the truth?
Adnan: No.
Azmi: ‘According to Tengku, I’m going to see him tomorrow, there is a letter sent to ... ah ... CJ ... ah I mean to Tan Sri Dzaiddin that Datuk Heliliah, Datuk Ali ... and Datuk Ramly and Datuk Ma’arop be made judges ... and aa ... he rejected ah ... that Dr Andrew Chew and apa itu Zainuddin Ismail lah because Zainuddin Ismail who condemned your appointment and Tan Sri Mokhtar’s appointment.’ Was this true or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘I told Tengku Adnan to inform PM, PM to call you for a meeting. But I ... I will organise this so that Tengku Adnan will call you directly ... and then I got your number. I will tell him to call you directly to arrange for you to meet PM lah. Ah so should be okay. Ah. Then ah ... correct, correct, correct, because it is very important that key players must be there.’ Was this within your knowledge?
Adnan: I did not know about it.
Azmi: ‘Ah but never mind, I will do this ... I will get the ... Tengku Adnan to arrange for PM to call you and Tan Sri Vincent Tan.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘One day, I went to Vincent Tan’s house, I fired him at night in the house. I said bloody hell if you don’t do this, who will do it? All these people, Tun Eusoff Chin, Datuk Ahmad Fairuz, Tan Sri Zainon all fought for us. Then he called Tengku Adnan. I told Tengku Adnan. He said, saya bukan Perdana Menteri Malaysia-lah, you know, if the old man don’t want to listen to me, go to hell.’ True?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘But now, the PM is very alert because every time he gets letters from Tan Sri Dzaiddin ... he calls Tengku Adnan, he said discuss with Vincent, come and discuss and ... Yes, yes ... yah, correct ... correct ... Ya, but you see although I know PM, but my views ... I am a lawyer in practice, My views are not ... I go through them, I go through them lah.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘Oh but ... don’t worry, we will organise this, and if Tan Sri Vincent ... if Tan Sri Vincent and Tengku Adnan want to meet you privately, they will ... I will get them to ... I will call you. We will organise a private arrangement ... in a very neutral place.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘I am constantly working on this ... I ... Ya, ya don’t worry, don’t worry ah ... We work hard on this, Dato, and then aa ... if Tan Sri Vincent and Tengku want to see you, I will organise in such a ... a confidential place.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘Don’t worry. Dzaiddin recommended Malek ... Malek Ahmad to be Chief Judge of Malaya, but we went aa cut cut cut cut cut. I, Tengku Adnan, Vincent went and saw PM lah. Got him thrown out because he is anti-PM. We put Fairuz in.’ True or not?
Adnan: No, when he spoke he must have been drunk.
Azmi: ‘So, now I am working very hard. So, he agreed to meet Vincent Tan and PM and ah ... what you call ... Tengku Adnan.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘He knows ... I am a ... but when PM calls me on Anwar’s case, I can tell him ... He, he will listen. But if I go promote so and so, that means I got interest. So, I don’t do that. I use Vincent and Tengku to go there and I go f*** them up.’ True or not?
Adnan: He never used me to see the (ex) PM.
In 2001 when the video clip was made, Adnan was a Deputy Minister in the PM’s Department assisting the law minister. The chap who made the video, one Loh Gwe Burn has since gone on to stand for the general elections and won the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat. He is only 32 and stood on a Keadilan ticket.
'Now I am old but still fearless,' says Ku Li. He also says, 'I am independent from any influences and am willing to serve. I only have to answer to God.'
At 71, many younger Umno leaders regard Ku Li past his prime. However, his willingness to stick out his neck to challenge Pak Lah says something about him, especially with so many leaders pussyfooting around issue, swollen with ambition but not having any guts to admit it.
Whether or not Ku Li is the right man – that’s another issue.
The most hilarious thing now is Tengku Adnan Mansor has chided Ku Li for opening his mouth. Yesterday’s news quote Adnan ‘advising Ku Li not to create trouble.’
‘I don’t understand Ku Li for wanting to go against the Prime Minister. Please don’t create any more trouble,’ he says, speaking to the media at the Putra Mosque during the Maulidur Rasul celebrations.
Let us remind ourselves who Adnan is. He is our new Tourism Minister and the man who stepped into Radzi Sheikh Ahmad’s shoes as Umno secretary-general when Radzi quit his post a few days ago.
He’s also the man implicated in the VK Lingam judge-fixing video scandal.
Testifying in court on Thursday, last January 17, this is how he answered
questions by leading officer Azmi Ariffin as reported by The Star:
Azmi: There is an Indian man talking on the phone in the clip. Can you identify him?
Tengku Adnan: When I first looked, the image was not clear but after a while I could see that he was Datuk V.K. Lingam.
The Minister was then shown the 14-minute clip and confirmed it was Lingam using the phone in the clip.
After that he was asked about 11 parts of the video clip where Lingam made allegations attributed to him, all of which he categorically denied.
The following are the parts in the script read out by Azmi to Tengku Adnan and the Minister’s reply.
Azmi: Lingam said: ‘I told Tengku Adnan yesterday I had a meeting with him ... and he said no problem, he said he is going to make you ... acting or ... aa ... confirm your position as PCA ... working very hard and then get Tan Sri Mokhtar as the CJM lah.’ Was he telling the truth?
Adnan: No.
Azmi: ‘According to Tengku, I’m going to see him tomorrow, there is a letter sent to ... ah ... CJ ... ah I mean to Tan Sri Dzaiddin that Datuk Heliliah, Datuk Ali ... and Datuk Ramly and Datuk Ma’arop be made judges ... and aa ... he rejected ah ... that Dr Andrew Chew and apa itu Zainuddin Ismail lah because Zainuddin Ismail who condemned your appointment and Tan Sri Mokhtar’s appointment.’ Was this true or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘I told Tengku Adnan to inform PM, PM to call you for a meeting. But I ... I will organise this so that Tengku Adnan will call you directly ... and then I got your number. I will tell him to call you directly to arrange for you to meet PM lah. Ah so should be okay. Ah. Then ah ... correct, correct, correct, because it is very important that key players must be there.’ Was this within your knowledge?
Adnan: I did not know about it.
Azmi: ‘Ah but never mind, I will do this ... I will get the ... Tengku Adnan to arrange for PM to call you and Tan Sri Vincent Tan.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘One day, I went to Vincent Tan’s house, I fired him at night in the house. I said bloody hell if you don’t do this, who will do it? All these people, Tun Eusoff Chin, Datuk Ahmad Fairuz, Tan Sri Zainon all fought for us. Then he called Tengku Adnan. I told Tengku Adnan. He said, saya bukan Perdana Menteri Malaysia-lah, you know, if the old man don’t want to listen to me, go to hell.’ True?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘But now, the PM is very alert because every time he gets letters from Tan Sri Dzaiddin ... he calls Tengku Adnan, he said discuss with Vincent, come and discuss and ... Yes, yes ... yah, correct ... correct ... Ya, but you see although I know PM, but my views ... I am a lawyer in practice, My views are not ... I go through them, I go through them lah.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘Oh but ... don’t worry, we will organise this, and if Tan Sri Vincent ... if Tan Sri Vincent and Tengku Adnan want to meet you privately, they will ... I will get them to ... I will call you. We will organise a private arrangement ... in a very neutral place.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘I am constantly working on this ... I ... Ya, ya don’t worry, don’t worry ah ... We work hard on this, Dato, and then aa ... if Tan Sri Vincent and Tengku want to see you, I will organise in such a ... a confidential place.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘Don’t worry. Dzaiddin recommended Malek ... Malek Ahmad to be Chief Judge of Malaya, but we went aa cut cut cut cut cut. I, Tengku Adnan, Vincent went and saw PM lah. Got him thrown out because he is anti-PM. We put Fairuz in.’ True or not?
Adnan: No, when he spoke he must have been drunk.
Azmi: ‘So, now I am working very hard. So, he agreed to meet Vincent Tan and PM and ah ... what you call ... Tengku Adnan.’ True or not?
Adnan: Not true.
Azmi: ‘He knows ... I am a ... but when PM calls me on Anwar’s case, I can tell him ... He, he will listen. But if I go promote so and so, that means I got interest. So, I don’t do that. I use Vincent and Tengku to go there and I go f*** them up.’ True or not?
Adnan: He never used me to see the (ex) PM.
In 2001 when the video clip was made, Adnan was a Deputy Minister in the PM’s Department assisting the law minister. The chap who made the video, one Loh Gwe Burn has since gone on to stand for the general elections and won the Kelana Jaya parliamentary seat. He is only 32 and stood on a Keadilan ticket.
Three Knockdown Rule
One wonders. One really wonders. Of all the ministers in the new Cabinet, why make Muhammad Muhammad Taib one?
Our ‘Mike Tyson’ (we shall call him ‘Mat’ here since we reckon the real Mike Tyson may deem it even too much for him to be associated with this Umno chap) is a politician with one of the most tarnished reputations in, and out of, the country.
Eleven years ago, on April 14, 1997 he resigned as Selangor mentri besar following a nasty scandal.
En route from Queensland to New Zealand, he had been caught attempting to carry money through customs without making a proper declaration. The sum, a paltry A$1.26 million – paltry by Malaysian standards, that is – is apparently for the purchase of real estate.
He was charged in a Brisbane court. Amongst other things, he told the magistrate he didn’t read English and therefore couldn’t make a proper declaration on the relevant forms. He also told the court he had bought properties worth more than A$17 million in Australia and New Zealand under the names of his wife, Asbi Rohani Asnan. He was found not guilty.
As a result of this admission of assets, in June 1998 Mat Tyson was charged by the Malaysian ACA under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961. He had earlier on statutorily declared his assets to be worth only about RM11 million and A$3.5 million.
Then 53 and one of the three vice-presidents of Umno, Mat Tyson pleaded not guilty. Nothing more is reported of this case in the media but Mat Tyson resigned two weeks after the news broke.
It came out in an Aussie paper he had also bought 4,500ha of land in Currajong Park, near Brisbane, in the name of Asbi Rohani.
Prior to the corruption scandal, Mat Tyson was caught running off with the daughter of the then Sultan of Selangor. When confronted by the Ruler, he swore he had done no such thing. Wrote a letter to Sultan Salahuddin to that effect. Then somebody – we don’t know who – got hold of the marriage cert issued by the Thai authorities. The princess Tengku Zahariah’s name was on it and so was Mat Tyson’s.
Confronted the second time, Mat Tyson told the Sultan, ‘I beg your Highness’ forgiveness. But what’s a man do? It’s fated.’
Sometime later, he divorced the princess, paying RM16 million to settle the suit.
Yesterday, the papers reported Mat Tyson saying he was ‘utterly’ and pleasantly surprised by his appointment as a minister. He said his appointment was unexpected as he did not even contest in the general elections. He’s been made a Senator to enable him to take up the post as rural and regional development minister.
Well, he isn’t the only one surprised – or rather shall we say ’taken aback?’ – by this turn of events.
Pak Lah has promised the country a clean government. One that listens to the people. He says he has ‘learnt many lessons’ from its defeat in the general elections. So why bring back Mat Tyson?
Khir Toyo recently resigned as Selangor Umno and Barisan Nasional chief following the party’s sound trouncing at the hands of the opposition. In a heartbeat, it was announced Mat Tyson who is Umno information chief will be stepping in.
Hopefully, Pak Lah and Mat Tyson knows the three-knockdown rule. The money is one, the princess is two. One more scandal and Mat, it’s a TKO for you.
Our ‘Mike Tyson’ (we shall call him ‘Mat’ here since we reckon the real Mike Tyson may deem it even too much for him to be associated with this Umno chap) is a politician with one of the most tarnished reputations in, and out of, the country.
Eleven years ago, on April 14, 1997 he resigned as Selangor mentri besar following a nasty scandal.
En route from Queensland to New Zealand, he had been caught attempting to carry money through customs without making a proper declaration. The sum, a paltry A$1.26 million – paltry by Malaysian standards, that is – is apparently for the purchase of real estate.
He was charged in a Brisbane court. Amongst other things, he told the magistrate he didn’t read English and therefore couldn’t make a proper declaration on the relevant forms. He also told the court he had bought properties worth more than A$17 million in Australia and New Zealand under the names of his wife, Asbi Rohani Asnan. He was found not guilty.
As a result of this admission of assets, in June 1998 Mat Tyson was charged by the Malaysian ACA under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1961. He had earlier on statutorily declared his assets to be worth only about RM11 million and A$3.5 million.
Then 53 and one of the three vice-presidents of Umno, Mat Tyson pleaded not guilty. Nothing more is reported of this case in the media but Mat Tyson resigned two weeks after the news broke.
It came out in an Aussie paper he had also bought 4,500ha of land in Currajong Park, near Brisbane, in the name of Asbi Rohani.
Prior to the corruption scandal, Mat Tyson was caught running off with the daughter of the then Sultan of Selangor. When confronted by the Ruler, he swore he had done no such thing. Wrote a letter to Sultan Salahuddin to that effect. Then somebody – we don’t know who – got hold of the marriage cert issued by the Thai authorities. The princess Tengku Zahariah’s name was on it and so was Mat Tyson’s.
Confronted the second time, Mat Tyson told the Sultan, ‘I beg your Highness’ forgiveness. But what’s a man do? It’s fated.’
Sometime later, he divorced the princess, paying RM16 million to settle the suit.
Yesterday, the papers reported Mat Tyson saying he was ‘utterly’ and pleasantly surprised by his appointment as a minister. He said his appointment was unexpected as he did not even contest in the general elections. He’s been made a Senator to enable him to take up the post as rural and regional development minister.
Well, he isn’t the only one surprised – or rather shall we say ’taken aback?’ – by this turn of events.
Pak Lah has promised the country a clean government. One that listens to the people. He says he has ‘learnt many lessons’ from its defeat in the general elections. So why bring back Mat Tyson?
Khir Toyo recently resigned as Selangor Umno and Barisan Nasional chief following the party’s sound trouncing at the hands of the opposition. In a heartbeat, it was announced Mat Tyson who is Umno information chief will be stepping in.
Hopefully, Pak Lah and Mat Tyson knows the three-knockdown rule. The money is one, the princess is two. One more scandal and Mat, it’s a TKO for you.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Too Legit To Quit
Rafidah Aziz is stunned by Pak Lah’s decision to drop her from the Cabinet but states she won’t be quitting her post as Wanita Umno chief. ‘I’m staying,’ she says today.Looks like we’re headed for a battle royale this Umno general assembly.
Pak Lah has also dropped Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis. Jamaluddin is the chap who caused outrage last year when he visited California and during a meal with some Malaysian tertiary students called one of them a ‘lower-class Indian’ and another an ‘upper-class Indian,’ remarking he was only able to help the ‘lower-class’ one. Jamaluddin had foolishly made the assumptions based on the complexions of the two Malaysians.Queried yesterday why he dropped the Rafidah and Jamaluddin despite their strong victories in their respective parliamentary seats of Kuala Kangsar and Rompin, Pak Lah retorted it was his prerogative.
‘I don’t need to discuss it. I believe she should also make way for new people.’
Funny thing is Pak Lah has replaced Rafidah not with a ‘new person’ but with a veteran: Muhyuddin Yassin, who was Agriculture Minister before this.
Looks like Pak Lah is playing hardball this time.
He has also axed two chaps who went behind his back to get Mohamed Isa Sabu appointed the new Perlis Mentri Besar instead of incumbent Shahidan Kassim: Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Azmi Khalid. Radzi was home affairs minister and Azmi the natural resources and environment minister.
Devastated, Radzi junked his job as Umno and Barisan Nasional secretary-general. Can’t work under such conditions, he complained. Former Tourism Minister Tengku Adnan Mansor quickly stepped into his shoes, the fast one.
The fallout of the reworked Cabinet also included two deputy ministers who refused their posts: Tengku Azlan Abu Bakar and Anifah Aman.
Previously, Anifah was deputy minister of plantation industries and commodities while Azlan was deputy transport minister. Time around, Anifah was appointed deputy transport minister while Azlan foreign minister.
It is understood both men were slighted by Pak Lah’s decision, regarding themselves senior enough to be given full ministerial posts.
Anifah, younger brother of Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, says he ‘wishes to make way for a younger man.’ Anifah is 54.
Gee, ministers are getting younger and younger these days.
A Cat Says No To Cream
Khairy Jamaluddin says he doesn’t want to be a minister, not while father-in-law Pak Lah is still in power.He’s telling the public this in the wake of the new Cabinet announcement.
Problem is, hardly anyone believes him.
For a chap who’s been throwing his weight around so much so he’s one of the most hated names among senior Malay politicians, this is completely uncharacteristic of him.
Perhaps he’s been humbled by Umno’s shocking defeat in the elections; he’s mentioned a few times several days ago Umno must work to repair its image. Malaysians have denounced the party as ‘arrogant’ and in five states given their votes to the opposition to staunch this arrogance. So perhaps KJ has had a moment of life flashing past before his eyes and ‘sudah bertaubat.’
And then again, perhaps not.
Certain circles tell of KJ harbouring hopes of getting a ministerial post this year but when Pak Lah broached the subject at party meetings, he was shouted down.
They say Pak Lah realizing he would further alienate his men if he pushed the issue has decided to keep KJ on ice until a more opportune time arises.
In the elections, KJ, who is Umno Youth deputy chief, took his Rembau parliamentary seat under seriously suspicious circumstances. In the wee hours of Sunday, March 9, the election officers counted a win for KJ’s opponent, Badrul Hisham Shaharin of Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Chegubard knocked out KJ by 141 votes in the keen contest. A few hours later, on KJ’s demand for a recount, he was announced the winner – by a clear majority of 5,500 votes.
The results of this recount has been strongly derided by large sections of the public, cynically such a large majority could have been missed on the first count.
At 32, and married to Pak Lah’s daughter Nori, KJ now needs to tread carefully.
The Umno mindset is still largely feudalistic and a pecking order exists in which seniority plays a major role in determining who gets which piece of the political pie.
With Pak Lah battling an eroded public confidence and internal rivalry, this is no time for him to stick a sinewy neck out.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Mukhriz Safe – For Now
Umno Youth has met and decided no action will be taken against Mukhriz Mahathir. Since everyone is jumping on Umno’s back, it was decided it’s better for Umno to do everything they can to prevent an implosion within the party.
According to the press, when Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein Onn announced the amnesty on Mukhriz at party HQ (Level 38, Menara Onn), Mukhriz’s supporters applauded enthusiastically.
Mukhriz, on the other hand, has not retracted his call for Pak Lah to step down as party chief and PM following the Barisan Nasional’s terrible defeat in this year’s elections.
According to the press, when Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein Onn announced the amnesty on Mukhriz at party HQ (Level 38, Menara Onn), Mukhriz’s supporters applauded enthusiastically.
Mukhriz, on the other hand, has not retracted his call for Pak Lah to step down as party chief and PM following the Barisan Nasional’s terrible defeat in this year’s elections.
Pak Lah's Lean Mean Fight-Back Machine
After 22 years of burning a hole on the benches, Shahrir Samad is back. Pak Lah’s new Cabinet announced today sees Shahrir appointed Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister. This is a tough post given the unhappiness of the rakyat over rising consumer goods prices. Shahrir, a vocal critic of his fellow ruling politicians, has been a thorn in the flesh for many ministers. Now he gets a shot to prove he can do better.
Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who resigned as Selangor Mentri Besar in 1997, is also back. He’s been made Rural and Regional Development Minister. The Umno information chief is an old faithful. Pak Lah needs as many allies as he can get in these troubled times.
Rafidah Aziz has been dropped.
Ahmah Shabery Cheek, the MP for Kemaman, has moved up to Information Minister. Shabery, an ex-Semangat 46 man, was Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary.
Pak Lah has trimmed his Cabinet from 90 to 70, apparently doing away with the positions of all parliamentary secretaries.
Here’s the full line-up:
Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department:
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz
Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim
Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz
Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department:
Datuk Johari Baharom
Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim
K. Devamany
Datuk Hasan Malek
Finance Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Second Finance Minister: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputies: Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Datuk Kong Cho Ha
Defence Minister: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop
Internal Security and Home Affairs Minister: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Deputies: Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh
Housing and Local Government Minister: Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputies: Datuk Robert Lau, Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin
Works Minister: Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad
Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
Energy, Water and Communications Minister: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy: Datin Paduka Rohani Abdul Karim
International Trade and Industry Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies: Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan
Foreign Affairs Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar
Education Minister: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies: Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Razali Ismail
Higher Education Minister - Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Dr Hou Kok Chung, Datuk Idris Harun
Transport Minister: Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy: Datuk Anifah Aman
Human Resources Minister: Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
Deputy: Datuk Noraini Ahmad
Women, Family and Community Development Minister: Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon
National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister: Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputy: Datuk Teng Boon Soon
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister: Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Fadilah Yusof
Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister: Datuk Noh Omar
Deputy: Datuk Saiffuddin Abdullah
Natural Resources and Environment Minister: Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy - Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh
Rural and Regional Development Minister: Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Joseph Entulu Belaun
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister: Datuk Shahrir Samad
Deputy: Jelaing Mersat
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Senator A. Kohilan
Youth and Sports Minister: Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob
Deputy: Wee Jeck Seng
Health Minister: Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy - Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad
Information Minister: Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe
Tourism Minister: Datuk Seri Azalina Othman
Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib
Federal Territories Minister: Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy: Datuk M. Saravanan
Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who resigned as Selangor Mentri Besar in 1997, is also back. He’s been made Rural and Regional Development Minister. The Umno information chief is an old faithful. Pak Lah needs as many allies as he can get in these troubled times.
Rafidah Aziz has been dropped.
Ahmah Shabery Cheek, the MP for Kemaman, has moved up to Information Minister. Shabery, an ex-Semangat 46 man, was Foreign Ministry parliamentary secretary.
Pak Lah has trimmed his Cabinet from 90 to 70, apparently doing away with the positions of all parliamentary secretaries.
Here’s the full line-up:
Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department:
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz
Datuk Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim
Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz
Deputy Ministers in the Prime Minister's Department:
Datuk Johari Baharom
Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim
K. Devamany
Datuk Hasan Malek
Finance Minister: Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Second Finance Minister: Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop
Deputies: Datuk Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Datuk Kong Cho Ha
Defence Minister: Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputy: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop
Internal Security and Home Affairs Minister: Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar
Deputies: Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Senator Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh
Housing and Local Government Minister: Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputies: Datuk Robert Lau, Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin
Works Minister: Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamad
Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng
Energy, Water and Communications Minister: Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum
Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister: Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputy: Datin Paduka Rohani Abdul Karim
International Trade and Industry Minister: Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies: Datuk Liew Vui Keong, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan
Foreign Affairs Minister: Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy: Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar
Education Minister: Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies: Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Razali Ismail
Higher Education Minister - Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Dr Hou Kok Chung, Datuk Idris Harun
Transport Minister: Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy: Datuk Anifah Aman
Human Resources Minister: Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
Deputy: Datuk Noraini Ahmad
Women, Family and Community Development Minister: Datuk Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon
National Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister: Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputy: Datuk Teng Boon Soon
Science, Technology and Innovation Minister: Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Fadilah Yusof
Entrepreneurial and Cooperative Development Minister: Datuk Noh Omar
Deputy: Datuk Saiffuddin Abdullah
Natural Resources and Environment Minister: Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy - Datuk Abdul Ghapur Salleh
Rural and Regional Development Minister: Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, Joseph Entulu Belaun
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister: Datuk Shahrir Samad
Deputy: Jelaing Mersat
Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister: Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Senator A. Kohilan
Youth and Sports Minister: Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaacob
Deputy: Wee Jeck Seng
Health Minister: Datuk Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy - Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad
Information Minister: Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe
Tourism Minister: Datuk Seri Azalina Othman
Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Taib
Federal Territories Minister: Datuk Seri Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy: Datuk M. Saravanan
Rafidah Aziz Loses Job
Today we bid Rafidah Aziz farewell as she vacates her ministry and makes way for Muhyiddin Yassin.Yes, she’s been embroiled in controversy in the past few years, most notably the Approved Permit corruption scandal, engaging former mentor and boss Dr Mahathir Mohamed in a highly-public feud. But Rafidah was one minister who knew her job well and never slept on the job. Malaysians owe her much for her skilful handling of our foreign trade relations.
Rafidah was the country’s longest serving trade minister – 21 years. An outspoken and feisty woman who brooks no nonsense from staff, pressmen, opponents and colleagues alike, she will be sorely missed in Parliament House.
Rafidah’s biodata:
Born: Nov 4, 1943
Place of birth: Selama, Perak
Husband: Datuk Mohd Basir Ahmad;
Daughters: Rohaiza, Rohaila;
Son: Alfian;
Son-in-law: Fazrin Azwar;
Granddaughter: Raihanna Azwar
Education:
SM Kampong Baru, Kuala Lumpur (1948 to 1950)
SM Convent Bukit Nanas, Kuala Lumpur (1951 to 1953 and 1956 to 1958)
Zainab School, Kota Baru, Kelantan (1953 to 1955)
Convent, Johor Baru (1959 to 1960)
Victoria Institution (1961 to 1962)
Universiti Malaya (BA in Economics in 1966 and Masters in Economics in 1970)
Career: In 1974, Rafidah was appointed Senator and, in 1976, Parliamentary Secretary to the Public Enterprises Minister; between 1977 and 1980 she was Deputy Minister of Finance. She was elected a Member of Parliament in 1978. Rafidah was Public Enterprises Minister from 1980 to 1987; since 1987 she has been serving as International Trade and Industry Minister.
Raja Petra Spins Out On PAS
For a terribly smart guy, Raja Petra Kamaruddin can be a downright rotter sometimes.
The story goes like this: Pete goes to a party. Pete meets a Chinese guy. Malaysian Chinese, that is. Guy says he’s scared of PAS. ‘Why?’ asks Pete. Guy says he doesn’t want Malaysia to turn into another ‘Iran.’
Pete gets offended. Asks guy, ‘Have you ever been to Iran?’ Guys says ‘no.’ Pete then makes a second lunge, asks guy, ‘Have you been to Kelantan?’ Guy again answers in the negative.
There you are, says Pete, point proven: the Malaysian Chinese don’t know how wonderful things can be under an Islamic government and are just shooting their mouths off without giving the idea a chance.
Pete, Pete, Pete. Why don’t you pick on somebody your own size?
Fancy picking on somebody who is obviously less articulate. Fancy bullying this chap with your cleverness and trying to make everyone swallow a lie.
Let’s look at Pete’s argument. He’s saying if one hasn’t physically travelled Iran, one cannot form an opinion of Iran. One cannot tell whether the Islamic clergy there have mucked things up for the people or otherwise. Pete gives the impression he himself has been to Iran and therefore is qualified to tell us how good or bad Iran is.
Is Pete’s argument acceptable?
So not many of us have had the chance to visit Tibet, not yet. Does this exclude us from being able to tell what is happening there?
Newsmen from around the world are right now reporting a crackdown by the Chinese government. They have published pictures of the violence and news that the army in the latest fracas has killed more than 80 people. They report Tibetans are marching in the streets demanding freedom.
Dissident Tibetans living abroad have expressed fear of returning home. They say they have spoken out against human rights violations committed by the government and now face terrible consequences if they venture home.
Thus, we have two sources of information concerning what’s happening in Tibet at the moment. The question is this: are these two sources of information reliable? If they are, then we who live so far away depend on them to form a valid and sound opinion on Tibet.
Let’s apply this to Iran. What have we got?
Hands up anyone who has not heard of the Ayatollah Khomeini. C’mon, hands up!
So who is this Iranian guy and why do people cringe at the mention of his name?
Khomeini, by the accounts of newsmen and exiled Iranians, was a clergyman who came into power in the 1970s. He was in power for 10 years and established what he believed was theocratic rule in Iran. ‘Theocratic’ means ‘ruled by the ulama.’
He thought the best way to make people holy was firstly to impose a strict dress code on everyone. In came the Syariah law and men and women had to cover up a la 7th century Arabic style. So Iranian men woke up every morning and checked if their beards were growing well because a well-grown beard was the sign of a holy heart. Shorts were the uniform of the devil, so no one could wear shorts. Women … ah well, we all know the story of the women and their permitted fashion.
Things started happening fast right after this. Institutions were set up to consolidate his power. Books not in line with Khomeini’s understanding of the Quran were banned or burnt. People not in lined with Khomeini’s understanding of how people ought to be were … get this, FIRED, IMPRISONED or EXECUTED.
Oh, and did we mention what Khomeini did to the supporters of then reigning monarch Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlavi? The monarch escaped with his life to another country. His supporters weren’t so lucky. They all met their Maker in one horrid way or another, thanks to Khomeini.
In the 1980s, Khomeini stepped up persecution against those who cried out against his violent ways and those who practiced other faiths. He called it Operation Eternal Light. Khomeini’s second in command and intended successor, the Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, would later write in his memoir how thousands of political activists were murdered. Some Iranians say Montazeri’s suppressed memoir places the death toll at 30,000.
During the Khomeini’s reign, Iranians became poorer than they had been under the Shah, inflation skyrocketed. The economy was unstable and there was no job security. Khomeini’s answer to this? God only cares about people’s spiritual condition, He isn’t doesn’t care if you could no longer afford bread.
Khomeini also gagged the press and anyone who opposed his oppressive ways. Listen to what he had to say to justify shutting down opposition newspapers: `The club of the pen and the club of the tongue is the worst of clubs, whose corruption is a 100 times greater than other clubs.’
Those who wanted elections, free speech, the right to gather, the right to protest, were demonised. Said Khomeini: ‘Those who are trying to bring corruption and destruction to our country in the name of democracy will be oppressed. They are worse than Bani-Ghorizeh Jews, and they must be hanged. We will oppress them by God's order and God's call to prayer.’
How do we know all this? Eyewitness accounts. Journalists from all over the world who are based in Iran and the Middle East; families of those who were killed or imprisoned; Khomeini’s own men who trusted him at first but later were sickened by the bloodthirsty and unjust way in which he interpreted and imposed God’s laws on fellowmen.
Mercifully, Khomeini has died.
Was Khomeini better than Shah Pahlavi, the monarch who lived lavishly, allowed corruption, and ignored the poverty of his subjects? Did his harsh laws make the people more God-fearing or did it just make them fear-ridden? Did Khomeini show more mercy to his fellowmen than the Shah whom he had accused of being blind to human suffering?
Iran is still in the hands of the clergy and continues to struggle in all areas, politically, economically and socially. Exile Iranians (especially the Ba’hais who suffered the severest oppression) today call themselves ‘Persians’ rather than ‘Iranians’ so ashamed and traumatized are they by the theocrats’ abuse.
Which brings us to the next part of Pete’s story: Kelantan.
To strengthen his argument, Pete says though PAS is in power in Kelantan and has been for quite sometime (since 1990), non-Muslims need not be unduly worried about their rights.
Now, here comes the horrific part: As an example, points out Pete, prostitution can still be found in many places in Kelantan. Pete then shares a personal story of encountering and teasing a Malay male prostitute in the streets of Kota Baru.
C’mon, Pete! What an insult to every moral person in Malaysia.
Pete’s line of argument implies the main reason non-Muslim Malaysians object to PAS rule is they’re afraid PAS would put an end to their merry debauching ways. Drinking, fornicating, eating unclean meats, going out in the streets in various degrees of undressed.
Is this the truth? Are Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs that shallow? Are they that immoral? Does Pete have any idea what their scriptures teach and what values they hold dear?
It doesn't help that even without ulama rule, we have cases of Muslim clergymen snatching bodies of dead people from their grieving families; locking up persons who want their ICs changed to reflect they are not practising Muslims; barging into tourists' hotel rooms charging them with 'khalwat' when the tourists are foreigners and married to each other; bulldozing down kuils and temples; banning Bahasa Malaysia-language Bibles; banning non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God, forbidding churches from putting crosses on their places of worship.
Such things are what most non-Muslims are worried about. Much as they accept and respect PAS as having a right to the democratic privileges in this country, they are not convinced PAS, once supreme, will value the same democracy that put them in power.
Malaysians instinctively know absolute power corrupts absolutely, which is why in this election, they voted decisively for a strong opposition and gave five out of 13 states to the Barisan Rakyat instead of Barisan Nasional. One or two states under the theocracy of PAS is sufferable. But the entire nation under PAS? That's another story. What chance does a man in the street have when the government of the day uses GOD ALMIGHTY to hammer him and his entire family into submission? God have mercy on us all if that day comes!
The story goes like this: Pete goes to a party. Pete meets a Chinese guy. Malaysian Chinese, that is. Guy says he’s scared of PAS. ‘Why?’ asks Pete. Guy says he doesn’t want Malaysia to turn into another ‘Iran.’
Pete gets offended. Asks guy, ‘Have you ever been to Iran?’ Guys says ‘no.’ Pete then makes a second lunge, asks guy, ‘Have you been to Kelantan?’ Guy again answers in the negative.
There you are, says Pete, point proven: the Malaysian Chinese don’t know how wonderful things can be under an Islamic government and are just shooting their mouths off without giving the idea a chance.
Pete, Pete, Pete. Why don’t you pick on somebody your own size?
Fancy picking on somebody who is obviously less articulate. Fancy bullying this chap with your cleverness and trying to make everyone swallow a lie.
Let’s look at Pete’s argument. He’s saying if one hasn’t physically travelled Iran, one cannot form an opinion of Iran. One cannot tell whether the Islamic clergy there have mucked things up for the people or otherwise. Pete gives the impression he himself has been to Iran and therefore is qualified to tell us how good or bad Iran is.
Is Pete’s argument acceptable?
So not many of us have had the chance to visit Tibet, not yet. Does this exclude us from being able to tell what is happening there?
Newsmen from around the world are right now reporting a crackdown by the Chinese government. They have published pictures of the violence and news that the army in the latest fracas has killed more than 80 people. They report Tibetans are marching in the streets demanding freedom.
Dissident Tibetans living abroad have expressed fear of returning home. They say they have spoken out against human rights violations committed by the government and now face terrible consequences if they venture home.
Thus, we have two sources of information concerning what’s happening in Tibet at the moment. The question is this: are these two sources of information reliable? If they are, then we who live so far away depend on them to form a valid and sound opinion on Tibet.
Let’s apply this to Iran. What have we got?
Hands up anyone who has not heard of the Ayatollah Khomeini. C’mon, hands up!
So who is this Iranian guy and why do people cringe at the mention of his name?
Khomeini, by the accounts of newsmen and exiled Iranians, was a clergyman who came into power in the 1970s. He was in power for 10 years and established what he believed was theocratic rule in Iran. ‘Theocratic’ means ‘ruled by the ulama.’
He thought the best way to make people holy was firstly to impose a strict dress code on everyone. In came the Syariah law and men and women had to cover up a la 7th century Arabic style. So Iranian men woke up every morning and checked if their beards were growing well because a well-grown beard was the sign of a holy heart. Shorts were the uniform of the devil, so no one could wear shorts. Women … ah well, we all know the story of the women and their permitted fashion.
Things started happening fast right after this. Institutions were set up to consolidate his power. Books not in line with Khomeini’s understanding of the Quran were banned or burnt. People not in lined with Khomeini’s understanding of how people ought to be were … get this, FIRED, IMPRISONED or EXECUTED.
Oh, and did we mention what Khomeini did to the supporters of then reigning monarch Shah Mohamed Reza Pahlavi? The monarch escaped with his life to another country. His supporters weren’t so lucky. They all met their Maker in one horrid way or another, thanks to Khomeini.
In the 1980s, Khomeini stepped up persecution against those who cried out against his violent ways and those who practiced other faiths. He called it Operation Eternal Light. Khomeini’s second in command and intended successor, the Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri, would later write in his memoir how thousands of political activists were murdered. Some Iranians say Montazeri’s suppressed memoir places the death toll at 30,000.
During the Khomeini’s reign, Iranians became poorer than they had been under the Shah, inflation skyrocketed. The economy was unstable and there was no job security. Khomeini’s answer to this? God only cares about people’s spiritual condition, He isn’t doesn’t care if you could no longer afford bread.
Khomeini also gagged the press and anyone who opposed his oppressive ways. Listen to what he had to say to justify shutting down opposition newspapers: `The club of the pen and the club of the tongue is the worst of clubs, whose corruption is a 100 times greater than other clubs.’
Those who wanted elections, free speech, the right to gather, the right to protest, were demonised. Said Khomeini: ‘Those who are trying to bring corruption and destruction to our country in the name of democracy will be oppressed. They are worse than Bani-Ghorizeh Jews, and they must be hanged. We will oppress them by God's order and God's call to prayer.’
How do we know all this? Eyewitness accounts. Journalists from all over the world who are based in Iran and the Middle East; families of those who were killed or imprisoned; Khomeini’s own men who trusted him at first but later were sickened by the bloodthirsty and unjust way in which he interpreted and imposed God’s laws on fellowmen.
Mercifully, Khomeini has died.
Was Khomeini better than Shah Pahlavi, the monarch who lived lavishly, allowed corruption, and ignored the poverty of his subjects? Did his harsh laws make the people more God-fearing or did it just make them fear-ridden? Did Khomeini show more mercy to his fellowmen than the Shah whom he had accused of being blind to human suffering?
Iran is still in the hands of the clergy and continues to struggle in all areas, politically, economically and socially. Exile Iranians (especially the Ba’hais who suffered the severest oppression) today call themselves ‘Persians’ rather than ‘Iranians’ so ashamed and traumatized are they by the theocrats’ abuse.
Which brings us to the next part of Pete’s story: Kelantan.
To strengthen his argument, Pete says though PAS is in power in Kelantan and has been for quite sometime (since 1990), non-Muslims need not be unduly worried about their rights.
Now, here comes the horrific part: As an example, points out Pete, prostitution can still be found in many places in Kelantan. Pete then shares a personal story of encountering and teasing a Malay male prostitute in the streets of Kota Baru.
C’mon, Pete! What an insult to every moral person in Malaysia.
Pete’s line of argument implies the main reason non-Muslim Malaysians object to PAS rule is they’re afraid PAS would put an end to their merry debauching ways. Drinking, fornicating, eating unclean meats, going out in the streets in various degrees of undressed.
Is this the truth? Are Buddhists, Taoists, Hindus, Christians and Sikhs that shallow? Are they that immoral? Does Pete have any idea what their scriptures teach and what values they hold dear?
It doesn't help that even without ulama rule, we have cases of Muslim clergymen snatching bodies of dead people from their grieving families; locking up persons who want their ICs changed to reflect they are not practising Muslims; barging into tourists' hotel rooms charging them with 'khalwat' when the tourists are foreigners and married to each other; bulldozing down kuils and temples; banning Bahasa Malaysia-language Bibles; banning non-Muslims from using the Arabic word for God, forbidding churches from putting crosses on their places of worship.
Such things are what most non-Muslims are worried about. Much as they accept and respect PAS as having a right to the democratic privileges in this country, they are not convinced PAS, once supreme, will value the same democracy that put them in power.
Malaysians instinctively know absolute power corrupts absolutely, which is why in this election, they voted decisively for a strong opposition and gave five out of 13 states to the Barisan Rakyat instead of Barisan Nasional. One or two states under the theocracy of PAS is sufferable. But the entire nation under PAS? That's another story. What chance does a man in the street have when the government of the day uses GOD ALMIGHTY to hammer him and his entire family into submission? God have mercy on us all if that day comes!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Son of Hussein Onn vs Son of Mahathir?
The knives are out for Mukhriz Mahathir as Umno Youth chief Hishamuddin Hussein Onn comes under the gun to prove his loyalties.
Yesterday, Hishamuddin said the youth exco would meet after the Cabinet has been formed. The exco, he said, will discuss Mukhriz’s unsanctioned action of writing a letter to Pak Lah suggesting he steps down as Prime Minister.
A few days ago, Pak Lah told the press Umno Youth would be dealing with Mukhriz. In response, Hishamuddin then told newsmen Mukhriz had written the letter in his own personal capacity, i.e. it wasn’t Umno Youth’s business.
Now Hishamuddin is singing a different tune, calling Mukhriz’s letter ‘irresponsible’. Obviously, he has been ‘spoken to.’
The son of Hussein Onn versus the son of Mahathir Mohamed: is this the showdown for which we’re headed?
In ordering this execution, Pak Lah may be inadvertently choosing his successor (leaving wannabe successors like Najib Tun Razak completely out in the cold.)
Warring leads to the taking of sides. The taking of sides leads to a consolidation of power base. The icing on the cake: massive publicity for the warring factions, the winner taking the lion’s share.
Mukhriz has his support. He is not Mahathir’s son for nothing. In 2004, he won a seat in the Umno Youth exco polling the highest number of votes, pushing Pirdaus Ismail to second place. Pirdaus is considered an Umno strongman and was sent to battle Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for Permatang Pauh in the general elections. He lost. Mukhriz, 44, won his Jerlun parliamentary seat by a 2,200-odd majority.
But is Mukhriz strong enough yet?
Hishamuddin on the other hand, purely on the strength of his lineage and being a good son who knows which side his roti canai is buttered, is firmly entrenched in Johor. In the elections he won his Sembrong parliamentary seat by more than 11,000 votes. Not only has he been Umno Youth chief since 2004, he’s also done the rounds serving as head of Umno Youth’s economic and information bureaux and spearheading the Barisan challenge in Johor Tenggara. In short, he’s been around the block a few times while Mukhriz is the new kid.
The conclusion however is far from being forgone. Many an Umno youth chief has never made it to the top post of party president and hence Prime Ministership. Anwar Ibrahim is one. Najib, who was party youth chief in the 90s, is still waiting in the wings.
So far, only two Umno leaders have piped up over the chastising of Mukhriz business: Penang Umno secretary Azhar Ibrahim who wants Mukhriz sacked, saying ‘such a person is unfit to be a national Youth leader; and Selangor Umno Youth chief Shukor Idrus who basically told a press conference Mukhriz was ‘uncouth’ to have written the letter and circulated its copies to other party leaders.
How many leaders will back up Mukhriz, how many Hishamuddin?
On July 10, 1981 Mahathir Mohamed made Hussein Onn resign as PM. Wouldn’t it be funny if history repeats itself.
Yesterday, Hishamuddin said the youth exco would meet after the Cabinet has been formed. The exco, he said, will discuss Mukhriz’s unsanctioned action of writing a letter to Pak Lah suggesting he steps down as Prime Minister.
A few days ago, Pak Lah told the press Umno Youth would be dealing with Mukhriz. In response, Hishamuddin then told newsmen Mukhriz had written the letter in his own personal capacity, i.e. it wasn’t Umno Youth’s business.
Now Hishamuddin is singing a different tune, calling Mukhriz’s letter ‘irresponsible’. Obviously, he has been ‘spoken to.’
The son of Hussein Onn versus the son of Mahathir Mohamed: is this the showdown for which we’re headed?
In ordering this execution, Pak Lah may be inadvertently choosing his successor (leaving wannabe successors like Najib Tun Razak completely out in the cold.)
Warring leads to the taking of sides. The taking of sides leads to a consolidation of power base. The icing on the cake: massive publicity for the warring factions, the winner taking the lion’s share.
Mukhriz has his support. He is not Mahathir’s son for nothing. In 2004, he won a seat in the Umno Youth exco polling the highest number of votes, pushing Pirdaus Ismail to second place. Pirdaus is considered an Umno strongman and was sent to battle Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for Permatang Pauh in the general elections. He lost. Mukhriz, 44, won his Jerlun parliamentary seat by a 2,200-odd majority.
But is Mukhriz strong enough yet?
Hishamuddin on the other hand, purely on the strength of his lineage and being a good son who knows which side his roti canai is buttered, is firmly entrenched in Johor. In the elections he won his Sembrong parliamentary seat by more than 11,000 votes. Not only has he been Umno Youth chief since 2004, he’s also done the rounds serving as head of Umno Youth’s economic and information bureaux and spearheading the Barisan challenge in Johor Tenggara. In short, he’s been around the block a few times while Mukhriz is the new kid.
The conclusion however is far from being forgone. Many an Umno youth chief has never made it to the top post of party president and hence Prime Ministership. Anwar Ibrahim is one. Najib, who was party youth chief in the 90s, is still waiting in the wings.
So far, only two Umno leaders have piped up over the chastising of Mukhriz business: Penang Umno secretary Azhar Ibrahim who wants Mukhriz sacked, saying ‘such a person is unfit to be a national Youth leader; and Selangor Umno Youth chief Shukor Idrus who basically told a press conference Mukhriz was ‘uncouth’ to have written the letter and circulated its copies to other party leaders.
How many leaders will back up Mukhriz, how many Hishamuddin?
On July 10, 1981 Mahathir Mohamed made Hussein Onn resign as PM. Wouldn’t it be funny if history repeats itself.
Ampu Bodek Sultan
Now this is so embarrassing one is almost reluctant to talk about it. Over the weekend, a bunch of self-proclaimed royalists gathered at the Ipoh Padang to demonstrate against the DAP.
According to news reports, this bunch of illegal demonstrators wanted to ‘pledge their support for Sultan Azlan Shah and his choice for the new Mentri Besar.’
The rabble-rousers’ spokesman – one Mior Azman Mior Aris – told reporters, ‘We demand Lim Kit Siang apologize directly to the palace and the people of Perak, and not through the Internet or email.’
He said, ‘We are not enemies of any race or group but this is our royal institution which we have long revered. We demand an apology.’
‘Our’ royal institution?
Newsflash, Mior Azman: Sultan Azlan Shah is the sultan for ALL the peoples of Perak; Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli. He doesn’t belong to you. He isn’t YOUR royal institution. He is the monarch of ALL THE PEOPLES OF PERAK.
Talk about a revolting case of ‘ampu bodek.’
It is almost as if this group of people are unaware of the results of the general elections; unaware Malaysians are sick and tired of race politics, unaware such narrow-minded chauvinism has just been given a swift kick on its backside; unaware this is the year 2008.
If Lim Kit Siang has offended anyone, it is HIS OWN SULTAN, since he is also MP for Ipoh Timur, representing the voice of a segment of Perakians who are directly under the protective covering of Sultan Azlan.
Every right-minded citizen of Perak should denounce this oafish ‘ampu bodek’ nonsense. What right has Mior Azman and his bunch of law-breaking friends to tell Sultan Azlan that he is Ruler only of the Malays of Perak but not the Chinese, the Indians and the Orang Asli? What right have they to exclude the non-Malays of Perak from enjoying the protective covering of the Ruler? What right have they to fan the anger of the Ruler against a certain segment of his subjects in this racist manner? Is it not treason of the highest order if a subject manipulates to subvert the just and fair dominion of his Ruler?
Who is Mior Azman to demand an apology when the Ruler himself has not spoken? If Sultan Azlan choses to be gracious and forgive Lim Kit Siang, who is Mior Azman to appoint himself a ‘batu api’ to poke fire? Is Mior Azman and his friends the official palace spokesmen now? Let them show their letters of appointment. Otherwise, they are mere mischief-makers and ought to be treated as such.
According to news reports, this bunch of illegal demonstrators wanted to ‘pledge their support for Sultan Azlan Shah and his choice for the new Mentri Besar.’
The rabble-rousers’ spokesman – one Mior Azman Mior Aris – told reporters, ‘We demand Lim Kit Siang apologize directly to the palace and the people of Perak, and not through the Internet or email.’
He said, ‘We are not enemies of any race or group but this is our royal institution which we have long revered. We demand an apology.’
‘Our’ royal institution?
Newsflash, Mior Azman: Sultan Azlan Shah is the sultan for ALL the peoples of Perak; Malay, Chinese, Indian, Orang Asli. He doesn’t belong to you. He isn’t YOUR royal institution. He is the monarch of ALL THE PEOPLES OF PERAK.
Talk about a revolting case of ‘ampu bodek.’
It is almost as if this group of people are unaware of the results of the general elections; unaware Malaysians are sick and tired of race politics, unaware such narrow-minded chauvinism has just been given a swift kick on its backside; unaware this is the year 2008.
If Lim Kit Siang has offended anyone, it is HIS OWN SULTAN, since he is also MP for Ipoh Timur, representing the voice of a segment of Perakians who are directly under the protective covering of Sultan Azlan.
Every right-minded citizen of Perak should denounce this oafish ‘ampu bodek’ nonsense. What right has Mior Azman and his bunch of law-breaking friends to tell Sultan Azlan that he is Ruler only of the Malays of Perak but not the Chinese, the Indians and the Orang Asli? What right have they to exclude the non-Malays of Perak from enjoying the protective covering of the Ruler? What right have they to fan the anger of the Ruler against a certain segment of his subjects in this racist manner? Is it not treason of the highest order if a subject manipulates to subvert the just and fair dominion of his Ruler?
Who is Mior Azman to demand an apology when the Ruler himself has not spoken? If Sultan Azlan choses to be gracious and forgive Lim Kit Siang, who is Mior Azman to appoint himself a ‘batu api’ to poke fire? Is Mior Azman and his friends the official palace spokesmen now? Let them show their letters of appointment. Otherwise, they are mere mischief-makers and ought to be treated as such.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Anti-Pak Lah Posters Hit KL
The brutality of it all. It’s been what? Less than 48 hours since Mukhriz Mahathir’s open letter to Pak Lah telling him he should step down and anti-Pak Lah posters are all over town.
Umno Putri chief Noraini Ahmad has credited this assault to the opposition. Her women have lodged a police report.
Which beggars the question: can one fight fire on so many fronts? Isn't the so-called opposition busy forming governments in the five states they taken?
It's doubtful Mukhriz is behind the poster war. Pak Lah's now like a wounded impala who has fallen into the Amazon River and the piranhas are all out.
Umno Putri chief Noraini Ahmad has credited this assault to the opposition. Her women have lodged a police report.
Which beggars the question: can one fight fire on so many fronts? Isn't the so-called opposition busy forming governments in the five states they taken?
It's doubtful Mukhriz is behind the poster war. Pak Lah's now like a wounded impala who has fallen into the Amazon River and the piranhas are all out.
Mutiny in Perlis
Outgoing Mentri Besar Shahidan Kassim has just discovered how outgoing he is.
Going out fast through the front door that is.
A few days ago, Pak Lah gave him a letter enabling his re-appointment as Mentri Besar of Perlis.
But guess what? Yep, didn’t happen.
Instead today, Shahidan, who is chairman of the state Barisan liaison committee, has discovered that the Raja of Perlis has given the consent to another man: Mohamed Isa Sabu.
Why did Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin do this?
Shahidan believes this is the work of two Umno leaders Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Azmi Khalid. Going against Pak Lah’s wishes, they nominated Mohamed Isa Sabu, who is Bintong assemblyman, and the Raja of Perlis, consented.
If only someone could interview the Raja of Perlis. If only someone could interview all the Raja-Raja of the country.
Then we’ll see the big picture.
Why did Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Azmi Khalid go against the wishes of Pak Lah? Hmm …
Going out fast through the front door that is.
A few days ago, Pak Lah gave him a letter enabling his re-appointment as Mentri Besar of Perlis.
But guess what? Yep, didn’t happen.
Instead today, Shahidan, who is chairman of the state Barisan liaison committee, has discovered that the Raja of Perlis has given the consent to another man: Mohamed Isa Sabu.
Why did Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin do this?
Shahidan believes this is the work of two Umno leaders Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Azmi Khalid. Going against Pak Lah’s wishes, they nominated Mohamed Isa Sabu, who is Bintong assemblyman, and the Raja of Perlis, consented.
If only someone could interview the Raja of Perlis. If only someone could interview all the Raja-Raja of the country.
Then we’ll see the big picture.
Why did Radzi Sheikh Ahmad and Azmi Khalid go against the wishes of Pak Lah? Hmm …
Mukhriz Says: Go, Pak Lah, Go!
Mukhriz Mahathir wants Pak Lah to step down. Pak Lah wants Hishamuddin Hussein Onn to bop Mukhriz Mahathir over the head for suggesting such an audacious thing.
Will he or won’t he – bop Mukhriz Mahathir over the head?
Clever lad that he is, Hishamuddin Hussein Onn has declined. Mukhriz Mahathir’s letter to Pak Lah, says Hishamuddin, is Mukhriz’s personal business, has nothing to do with the Umno Youth. After all, Mukhriz is also MP for Jerlun.
Now what will Pak Lah do? Suruh dia buat, dia tak nak buat. Pak Lah must be feeling quite frustrated that as Umno president his orders to the Umno youth chief is ignored.
Looks like everyone these days is giving Pak Lah a tough time.
Some people say Pak Lah has brought this on himself. Look what he did in the aftermath of the elections.
Instead of being a gracious gentleman, he acted the sore loser. He issued a warning to Penang’s new Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, saying Lim will be sorry ‘if he marginalized the Malays.’
All Lim said was the new Penang government would no longer use the NEP in running its state’s business. The reason, says Lim, is because the NEP method produces a lot of ‘you’re my friend, I’ll give you the state contract’-sort of business. He wants things done in a fairer, more transparent way. He also wants to set up a portal whereby all state contracts can be viewed by the public. Isn't this a good thing? Did the man say he was going to ‘marginalized the poor Malay?’ Is Lim off his rocker already?
Yesterday, a pack of Umno members protested in Penang, outside Komtar, the state administrative building. The police had to be called in. There were water cannons and there were trucks. Mercifully, no one lost his head and the protest was disbanded after awhile.
The New York Times called it ‘ethnic protests.’ A pox on those New Yorkers! They love to exaggerate things, don’t they?
Pak Lah, Pak Lah. Don’t you go around stirring up conflict among Malaysians, ok? Give peace a chance.
Will he or won’t he – bop Mukhriz Mahathir over the head?
Clever lad that he is, Hishamuddin Hussein Onn has declined. Mukhriz Mahathir’s letter to Pak Lah, says Hishamuddin, is Mukhriz’s personal business, has nothing to do with the Umno Youth. After all, Mukhriz is also MP for Jerlun.
Now what will Pak Lah do? Suruh dia buat, dia tak nak buat. Pak Lah must be feeling quite frustrated that as Umno president his orders to the Umno youth chief is ignored.
Looks like everyone these days is giving Pak Lah a tough time.
Some people say Pak Lah has brought this on himself. Look what he did in the aftermath of the elections.
Instead of being a gracious gentleman, he acted the sore loser. He issued a warning to Penang’s new Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, saying Lim will be sorry ‘if he marginalized the Malays.’
All Lim said was the new Penang government would no longer use the NEP in running its state’s business. The reason, says Lim, is because the NEP method produces a lot of ‘you’re my friend, I’ll give you the state contract’-sort of business. He wants things done in a fairer, more transparent way. He also wants to set up a portal whereby all state contracts can be viewed by the public. Isn't this a good thing? Did the man say he was going to ‘marginalized the poor Malay?’ Is Lim off his rocker already?
Yesterday, a pack of Umno members protested in Penang, outside Komtar, the state administrative building. The police had to be called in. There were water cannons and there were trucks. Mercifully, no one lost his head and the protest was disbanded after awhile.
The New York Times called it ‘ethnic protests.’ A pox on those New Yorkers! They love to exaggerate things, don’t they?
Pak Lah, Pak Lah. Don’t you go around stirring up conflict among Malaysians, ok? Give peace a chance.
Up and Down The River Are Crocodiles
Things in Perak are getting a bit crazy.
All the back and forth in post-elections horsetrading over the post of Mentri Besar and the state executive council – reminds one of the story of Pak Pandir. Ke hulu, ke hilir – upstream and downstream – this village idiot rowed his sampan, trying to figure out which of two wedding feasts he ought to attend. In the end, his flakiness caused him to miss both kenduri and he went home hungry.
On Thursday, just when everybody thought the madness was over, the palace called off the swearing-in ceremony of PAS state secretary Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin as MB.
Raja Nazrin, it seems, was unsatisfied Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin had the support of all 31-coalition assemblymen.
PKR, which had been stumped by the decision for Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin to be picked over their own Jamaluddin Mohamed Radzi, was also unhappy with the allocation of the exco seats. The DAP was to take eight and PAS the remaining two, which basically leaves the PKR out in the cold despite having won seven state seats.
So Raja Nazrin demanded a written undertaking from each coalition assemblyman he’d support the new MB.
According to one news report, all 31 assemblymen signed and handed over the undertaking by 10pm on Thursday.
Furthermore, a new deal was brokered giving the DAP six seats, PKR three and PAS one.
Is this the end of the story or will our village idiots get into their rickety sampan again and try to go upstream and downstream? The waters are rough and there are a lot of buayas in the river. If they are not careful, they’re going to end up in the belly of a reptile.
All the back and forth in post-elections horsetrading over the post of Mentri Besar and the state executive council – reminds one of the story of Pak Pandir. Ke hulu, ke hilir – upstream and downstream – this village idiot rowed his sampan, trying to figure out which of two wedding feasts he ought to attend. In the end, his flakiness caused him to miss both kenduri and he went home hungry.
On Thursday, just when everybody thought the madness was over, the palace called off the swearing-in ceremony of PAS state secretary Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin as MB.
Raja Nazrin, it seems, was unsatisfied Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin had the support of all 31-coalition assemblymen.
PKR, which had been stumped by the decision for Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin to be picked over their own Jamaluddin Mohamed Radzi, was also unhappy with the allocation of the exco seats. The DAP was to take eight and PAS the remaining two, which basically leaves the PKR out in the cold despite having won seven state seats.
So Raja Nazrin demanded a written undertaking from each coalition assemblyman he’d support the new MB.
According to one news report, all 31 assemblymen signed and handed over the undertaking by 10pm on Thursday.
Furthermore, a new deal was brokered giving the DAP six seats, PKR three and PAS one.
Is this the end of the story or will our village idiots get into their rickety sampan again and try to go upstream and downstream? The waters are rough and there are a lot of buayas in the river. If they are not careful, they’re going to end up in the belly of a reptile.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Kit Siang says OK to Nizar
What to do? The rice has become porridge.
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has decided to relent, apologizing for any offence the palace might have suffered as a result of yesterday’s statement that DAP will boycott the appointment of PAS state secretary Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Mentri Besar.
Apparently, Kit Siang has slept over it, listened to his advisers, and decided it was better to be a gentleman rather than flog a dead horse.
Accordingly, the DAP will be attending the swearing in ceremony at Istana Kinta at 4pm today.
The palace has yet to announce the Deputy Mentri Besar II, which will come from Parti Keadilan Rakyat and represent the Indian community.
DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham, who will be sworn in As Deputy Mentri Besar I, has stated his willingness to work with Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin, a move perceived as conciliatory and sensible given the population makeup of Perak.
With the election of representatives from each of the major races to the chief posts of the state legislative assemblies in Penang and Perak, it looks like these two states will be at the forefront of the Great Malaysian Experiment. Penang will be led by DAP man Lim Guang Eng as Chief Minister, PKR’s Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin as Deputy CM I and PAD Prai assemblyman P. Ramasamy as Deputy CM II.
Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin is 32, a graduate from UK while P. Ramasamy, 58, is a political scientist. Both are fresh faces in the political scene.
In Selangor, there is still no news of the appointment of its Deputy Mentri Besar although PKR secretary-general and Ijok assemblyman Khalid Ibrahim will be sworn in as Mentri Besar at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam at 2pm today.
Among the candidates being considered for the Deputy post are Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, who is also Seputeh MP; Pandamaran assemblyman Ronny Liu; and Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim. All three are from the DAP. Teresa Kok’s candidature is followed with keen interest as it would make history for Malaysia should she be chosen. It would make her the first woman Deputy Mentri Besar in the country.
DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has decided to relent, apologizing for any offence the palace might have suffered as a result of yesterday’s statement that DAP will boycott the appointment of PAS state secretary Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Mentri Besar.
Apparently, Kit Siang has slept over it, listened to his advisers, and decided it was better to be a gentleman rather than flog a dead horse.
Accordingly, the DAP will be attending the swearing in ceremony at Istana Kinta at 4pm today.
The palace has yet to announce the Deputy Mentri Besar II, which will come from Parti Keadilan Rakyat and represent the Indian community.
DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham, who will be sworn in As Deputy Mentri Besar I, has stated his willingness to work with Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin, a move perceived as conciliatory and sensible given the population makeup of Perak.
With the election of representatives from each of the major races to the chief posts of the state legislative assemblies in Penang and Perak, it looks like these two states will be at the forefront of the Great Malaysian Experiment. Penang will be led by DAP man Lim Guang Eng as Chief Minister, PKR’s Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin as Deputy CM I and PAD Prai assemblyman P. Ramasamy as Deputy CM II.
Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin is 32, a graduate from UK while P. Ramasamy, 58, is a political scientist. Both are fresh faces in the political scene.
In Selangor, there is still no news of the appointment of its Deputy Mentri Besar although PKR secretary-general and Ijok assemblyman Khalid Ibrahim will be sworn in as Mentri Besar at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam at 2pm today.
Among the candidates being considered for the Deputy post are Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, who is also Seputeh MP; Pandamaran assemblyman Ronny Liu; and Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim. All three are from the DAP. Teresa Kok’s candidature is followed with keen interest as it would make history for Malaysia should she be chosen. It would make her the first woman Deputy Mentri Besar in the country.
A Whiffy Situation
Obviously something has gone very wrong. The DAP has turned 180˚ from its position of accepting whatever Raja Nazrin decides concerning the appointment of Perak’s new Mentri Besar to refusing to turn out for the swearing-in ceremony of PAS man Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin on Thursday.
From the way things are playing out, it seems DAP had been belabouring under the idea that even though three nominees where submitted to the Ruler in actuality only two were really up for consideration, namely that of the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Now who and whatever gave them this idea, I wonder? Was it an impression formed by the DAP itself or had someone deliberately misrepresented the situation to trick the DAP into agreeing to the submission of three names?
How many of us have heard stories of unscrupulous lawyers saying, ‘it’s ok, just sign the form, don’t worry about the small print, it’s only a mere formality,’ when in reality the small print talks of signing away all of one’s inheritance and possessions?
Now, the situation is so bad the even DAP supporters themselves are baying for blood, offended that Kit Siang and the DAP are being ultra-Chinese, rejecting a PAS man just for the heck of it.
I wonder who advised the DAP concerning the submission of three names. If the DAP can very quickly inform the public of this, it would most certainly clarify their position and prevent mischief-makers from accusing them of disrespecting Raja Nazrin’s decision.
Better yet if the DAP can name names so that all of us can know who those with forked tongues are and steer clear of them.
From the way things are playing out, it seems DAP had been belabouring under the idea that even though three nominees where submitted to the Ruler in actuality only two were really up for consideration, namely that of the DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat.
Now who and whatever gave them this idea, I wonder? Was it an impression formed by the DAP itself or had someone deliberately misrepresented the situation to trick the DAP into agreeing to the submission of three names?
How many of us have heard stories of unscrupulous lawyers saying, ‘it’s ok, just sign the form, don’t worry about the small print, it’s only a mere formality,’ when in reality the small print talks of signing away all of one’s inheritance and possessions?
Now, the situation is so bad the even DAP supporters themselves are baying for blood, offended that Kit Siang and the DAP are being ultra-Chinese, rejecting a PAS man just for the heck of it.
I wonder who advised the DAP concerning the submission of three names. If the DAP can very quickly inform the public of this, it would most certainly clarify their position and prevent mischief-makers from accusing them of disrespecting Raja Nazrin’s decision.
Better yet if the DAP can name names so that all of us can know who those with forked tongues are and steer clear of them.
Time To Say Goodbye - Con Te Partiro
Gerakan acting chief Koh Tsu Koon has offered to resign, accepting responsibility for his party’s disastrous outing in Saturday’s general elections. Ong Ka Ting has announced he will not accept a Cabinet position since he too accepts responsibility as MCA president for the party terrible defeat in the 25 out of the 40 parliamentary seats it contested.
Pak Lah, however, has stated he is not going to resign despite the debacle.
And, Samy Vellu has stated he will work even more vigorously than ever to ‘rebuild’ his party, the MIC.
Rightly or wrongly, the first two men have been perceived as gentlemen. Repentant gentlemen who accept the rebuke they received from the Rakyat.
The latter two?
In order to answer this question, one must first explore the necessity and viability for Pak Lah to resign as Umno president. What’s the mood in the country? Is it ready to accept second-in-command Najib Tun Razak in the event of Pak Lah stepping down?
One suspects not. Not while the Altantuya murder case is meandering somewhere in the ether, tied up in the knots of legal technicality. The Malaysian of 2008 isn’t a dithering idiot with Attention Deficit Disorder. He remembers Altantuya the Mongolian beauty is murdered by explosives, blown to smithereens by military-issue C4. He remembers testimony that cops were seen bundling the woman away. He remembers Altantuya is Abdul Razak Baginda’s self-confessed former mistress. He remembers Abdul Razak Baginda’s ‘kam-ching’ relationship with Najib as confidante and head of his political think-tank. He knows the case is going into technicalities which he does not understand but is patiently waiting to see whether justice will be done or whether some shady lawyerlike character will pick up his phone and ‘correct, correct, correct’ the whole sordid affair into oblivion.
So Pak Lah cannot step down. Not yet. Not till there is a viable candidate to take over. And by viable, one must absolutely discount then Khairy Jamaluddin, Pak Lah’s son-in-law. Never in the history of general elections has there been such an outpouring of hatred and anger towards this one chap. Young, cocky, ambitious to the hilt. Hundreds of blogs have dedicated airspace to vilifying him. And it didn’t help that in these elections, he went up against a popular Parti Keadilan Rakyat man Chegubard, defeating the man by 5,000 votes under extremely shady circumstances. (Initial report said Badrul Hisham Shahani won by 140-odd votes, the fight went into a recount, and then KJ suddenly emerged victor with a decent majority.)
Which leads us to Hishamuddin Hussein Onn. This is one man whose name actually encompasses that of three men: his, his father’s and his grandfather’s. Blue blood to the core as far as Malaysian politics go. Too bad he went around waving a keris and annoying the hell out of millions of Chinese and Indians. But then again, if we forgave Anwar Ibrahim his rabid rantings against the Chinese, who are we to withhold a pardon for Hishamuddin Hussein Onn?
So Pak Lah gets to stay. For now.
Samy, Samy, Samy. Ayoyo. Sometimes one feels really sorry for him. On his 72nd birthday, he gets booted out of Sungai Siput by Dr D. Jeyakumar Devaraj of PKR.
Not only did he lose, all but three members of his platoon was wiped out. Deputy and successor-in the-wing G. Palanivel also got chucked into the burning bier like an unwilling sati widow. What a way to go.
And now Samy says he will stay to ‘rebuild’ the MIC.
One really questions the logic of this reasoning.
Has no one told Samy yet why the MIC lost?
It lost because of Samy. Samy is the cancer. Not the cure. If he needs evidence of that, just go read some of the posters and banners plastered all over town by the Indians. And now Samy wants to play doctor and ‘heal’ the MIC. Someone seriously needs to let him know that honorary doctorates from Annamalai University does not qualify one to perform heart-and-brain surgery.
Minority Rule
The Raja Muda of Perak has made his choice.
PAS state secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin will be Perak’s new Mentri Besar. Nizar, 51, is an engineer by qualification and a businessman by occupation.
DAP’s state chief Ngeh Koo Kam, a lawyer, will be one of two Deputy MBs, a first in the state’s history. Ngeh, 47, is a lawyer.
The second deputy has yet to be named but it’s understood that he will come from the Indian community.
According to a report by The Star, DAP’s central executive committee is flabbergasted by this decision since PAS has the least representative in the state legislative council.
Apparently, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has announced the party will boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the new MB on Thursday as a sign of protest.
An unreasonable gesture?
It is unclear what has influenced Raja Nazrin’s decision. It would be helpful if the people of the state heard from the Raja Muda himself.
While it is said the choice of Mentri Besar is the Ruler’s prerogative, it would be naïve for one to assume in today’s political scenario that such a choice is made without the influence of rivalling political forces.
Talk is PAS members kicked up a big ruckus over Ngeh’s candidature as the Mentri Besar because he is a Christian.
If this were true, then it is damning indeed and proof of PAS’ bigotry towards Malaysians of the non-Muslim faiths. It will also be strong evidence of PAS’ insincerity in honouring the coalition’s agenda of working towards a fairer and less racially divided Malaysia. If it were true.
Perak, with its almost 50-50 ratio of Malays and non-Malays, is in dire need of assurance that it will not be thrown back into the Dark Ages of racialism and cronyism. Will this decision sit well?
Raja Nazrin has had to make a tough call. And he has chosen to take an unbeaten path, making Perak probably the first state in the history of Malaysia to be led by a Mentri Besar from the smallest minority party within the state.
Can Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin hold things together and be a leader for every man, woman and child in Perak or will things fall apart like an unset jello?
Only time will tell. The next few weeks will be very interesting.
PAS state secretary Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin will be Perak’s new Mentri Besar. Nizar, 51, is an engineer by qualification and a businessman by occupation.
DAP’s state chief Ngeh Koo Kam, a lawyer, will be one of two Deputy MBs, a first in the state’s history. Ngeh, 47, is a lawyer.
The second deputy has yet to be named but it’s understood that he will come from the Indian community.
According to a report by The Star, DAP’s central executive committee is flabbergasted by this decision since PAS has the least representative in the state legislative council.
Apparently, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has announced the party will boycott the swearing-in ceremony of the new MB on Thursday as a sign of protest.
An unreasonable gesture?
It is unclear what has influenced Raja Nazrin’s decision. It would be helpful if the people of the state heard from the Raja Muda himself.
While it is said the choice of Mentri Besar is the Ruler’s prerogative, it would be naïve for one to assume in today’s political scenario that such a choice is made without the influence of rivalling political forces.
Talk is PAS members kicked up a big ruckus over Ngeh’s candidature as the Mentri Besar because he is a Christian.
If this were true, then it is damning indeed and proof of PAS’ bigotry towards Malaysians of the non-Muslim faiths. It will also be strong evidence of PAS’ insincerity in honouring the coalition’s agenda of working towards a fairer and less racially divided Malaysia. If it were true.
Perak, with its almost 50-50 ratio of Malays and non-Malays, is in dire need of assurance that it will not be thrown back into the Dark Ages of racialism and cronyism. Will this decision sit well?
Raja Nazrin has had to make a tough call. And he has chosen to take an unbeaten path, making Perak probably the first state in the history of Malaysia to be led by a Mentri Besar from the smallest minority party within the state.
Can Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin hold things together and be a leader for every man, woman and child in Perak or will things fall apart like an unset jello?
Only time will tell. The next few weeks will be very interesting.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A Mentri Besar For Perak
What a terrible insult to Perak. People are saying Perak, especially the Malays, do not have the ability to be led by a democratically elected leader except he be Muslim and Malay also.
They say that even though the DAP has taken 18 state seats, the party has no right to submit a candidate for the Mentri Besar post because none of the victorious candidates are Malay.
The Mentri Besar, they argue, must come from either Parti Keadilan Rakyat or PAS, which had won seven and six state seats respectively since among these two parties are found Malay-Muslim candidates.
What racist balderdash. And how utterly unconstitutional. Do these punters think the people of Perak still live in trees?
According to the state constitution, Perak’s Mentri Besar is to be Malay and Muslim as a first choice. However, the Ruler of the State can waive this condition so that a qualified non-Malay can also be MB.
The question is this. Among the DAP is there no person qualified?
Last year Raja Nazrin, delivering the keynote address at the Roundtable Discussion on National Unity and Development in Malaysia: Challenges and Prospects for Nation Building, made a very important statement.
He said: ‘Malaysians of all races, religions, and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun. Only when each citizen believes that he or she has a common home and is working towards a common destiny, will he or she make the sacrifices needed for the long haul.’
Today, Raja Nazrin, as Regent of Perak has to decide who the MB would be. How should the people of Perak want the monarch to decide? To look at a man’s skin or to base it on something deeper than that?
These are the three candidates before Raja Nazrin:
DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham, Sitiawan assemblyman.
PKR’s Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.
PAS’ Pasir Panjang assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin.
Between these three men, who possesses the greatest number of qualities of a good leader? Which one has integrity and vision? Which one can make decisions, take risks, motivate others and build teams? Which one can communicate effectively and cares about helping others, more than himself, to succeed? Which one has the strength stand up for what is right and the humility to face up to correction?
Perak needs a man of passion, competence and accountability.
Since the DAP won the most state seats amongst the opposition alliance, it is only fair and just that we give its state chief a first shot. Eighteen seats, after all, is eighteen constituency mandates. So the question is: does Ngeh Koo Ham have the abilities of a good leader?
If he does, then give him the job. If he doesn’t, then only consider the next candidate. To sideline DAP’s Perak chief just because he isn’t Malay and Muslim would be a terrible act of racism. And the people of Perak might as well just hand the keys of Ipoh city back to Tajol Rosli and his men.
They say that even though the DAP has taken 18 state seats, the party has no right to submit a candidate for the Mentri Besar post because none of the victorious candidates are Malay.
The Mentri Besar, they argue, must come from either Parti Keadilan Rakyat or PAS, which had won seven and six state seats respectively since among these two parties are found Malay-Muslim candidates.
What racist balderdash. And how utterly unconstitutional. Do these punters think the people of Perak still live in trees?
According to the state constitution, Perak’s Mentri Besar is to be Malay and Muslim as a first choice. However, the Ruler of the State can waive this condition so that a qualified non-Malay can also be MB.
The question is this. Among the DAP is there no person qualified?
Last year Raja Nazrin, delivering the keynote address at the Roundtable Discussion on National Unity and Development in Malaysia: Challenges and Prospects for Nation Building, made a very important statement.
He said: ‘Malaysians of all races, religions, and geographic locations need to believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that they have a place under the Malaysian sun. Only when each citizen believes that he or she has a common home and is working towards a common destiny, will he or she make the sacrifices needed for the long haul.’
Today, Raja Nazrin, as Regent of Perak has to decide who the MB would be. How should the people of Perak want the monarch to decide? To look at a man’s skin or to base it on something deeper than that?
These are the three candidates before Raja Nazrin:
DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham, Sitiawan assemblyman.
PKR’s Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi.
PAS’ Pasir Panjang assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin.
Between these three men, who possesses the greatest number of qualities of a good leader? Which one has integrity and vision? Which one can make decisions, take risks, motivate others and build teams? Which one can communicate effectively and cares about helping others, more than himself, to succeed? Which one has the strength stand up for what is right and the humility to face up to correction?
Perak needs a man of passion, competence and accountability.
Since the DAP won the most state seats amongst the opposition alliance, it is only fair and just that we give its state chief a first shot. Eighteen seats, after all, is eighteen constituency mandates. So the question is: does Ngeh Koo Ham have the abilities of a good leader?
If he does, then give him the job. If he doesn’t, then only consider the next candidate. To sideline DAP’s Perak chief just because he isn’t Malay and Muslim would be a terrible act of racism. And the people of Perak might as well just hand the keys of Ipoh city back to Tajol Rosli and his men.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Here's A Kleenex, Tajol Rosli
Post-elections, there is an astonishing article in Utusan Malaysia concerning the outgoing Mentri Besar of Perak, Tajol Rosli Mohamed Ghazali.
Apparently, he is so devastated by Saturday’s general elections results he is holed up inside the official residence weeping like a boy.
Word is he is unable to compose himself long enough to even talk to the press and make an official statement conceding defeat to the opposition alliance.
Yes, it is shocking that the alliance between DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and PAS, has won 31 out of the 59 state executive seats. But really, is it surprising – especially in Perak where years of neglect and incompetence has turned the state into one of the poorest economic performers in the country?
For the last 30 years, Perak has had to live with the disgrace of starting off brilliantly – thanks to mining and rubber – and ending up dismally. Its state capital Ipoh does not even have a university. In fact, many parts of the city have fallen into decay and disrepair as more and more businesses close shop and move out of Perak. From one of the richest and most well resourced states in the country, Perak has fallen to the par of the rice-growing states. We have the per capita of a true ‘pomelo country’ here.
With the lack of a thriving economy in the heart of the capital, Perak has lost a whole generation of youth and manpower to dynamic neighbouring states. The joke is there is an invisible community of interstate commuters. Young men and women who work in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya from Monday to Friday and coming home to their families in Perak on Saturday before leaving again on Sunday. But it ain’t a haha-funny kind of joke. Not when people from richer states snigger and call you ‘Ipoh mali’ to your face.
And then there are the issues of flyovers being built over people’s heads and light industrial areas being allowed to be developed 100 metres from residential doorsteps. Hills that are cut down indiscriminately, marring one of the most beloved natural limestone landscapes in the country. Elderly people being mugged and killed on evening walks. Illegal plastic factories. The $4.5 million Perak State Park two-storey building that collapsed in Tasik Banding.
When a man can’t even ‘cari makan’ in his own hometown, when his kids don’t even have access to a proper university (without being subjected to the humiliating process of passing a KULIT-FICATION test), when on a daily basis his health, safety, economic and moral welfare is being threatened, what do you think he’ll do?
Because of all these things, Umno has lost. Barisan has lost. Yes, Tajol Rosli, cry. It’s your party and you should cry because you need to.
Apparently, he is so devastated by Saturday’s general elections results he is holed up inside the official residence weeping like a boy.
Word is he is unable to compose himself long enough to even talk to the press and make an official statement conceding defeat to the opposition alliance.
Yes, it is shocking that the alliance between DAP, Parti Keadilan Rakyat and PAS, has won 31 out of the 59 state executive seats. But really, is it surprising – especially in Perak where years of neglect and incompetence has turned the state into one of the poorest economic performers in the country?
For the last 30 years, Perak has had to live with the disgrace of starting off brilliantly – thanks to mining and rubber – and ending up dismally. Its state capital Ipoh does not even have a university. In fact, many parts of the city have fallen into decay and disrepair as more and more businesses close shop and move out of Perak. From one of the richest and most well resourced states in the country, Perak has fallen to the par of the rice-growing states. We have the per capita of a true ‘pomelo country’ here.
With the lack of a thriving economy in the heart of the capital, Perak has lost a whole generation of youth and manpower to dynamic neighbouring states. The joke is there is an invisible community of interstate commuters. Young men and women who work in Kuala Lumpur and Petaling Jaya from Monday to Friday and coming home to their families in Perak on Saturday before leaving again on Sunday. But it ain’t a haha-funny kind of joke. Not when people from richer states snigger and call you ‘Ipoh mali’ to your face.
And then there are the issues of flyovers being built over people’s heads and light industrial areas being allowed to be developed 100 metres from residential doorsteps. Hills that are cut down indiscriminately, marring one of the most beloved natural limestone landscapes in the country. Elderly people being mugged and killed on evening walks. Illegal plastic factories. The $4.5 million Perak State Park two-storey building that collapsed in Tasik Banding.
When a man can’t even ‘cari makan’ in his own hometown, when his kids don’t even have access to a proper university (without being subjected to the humiliating process of passing a KULIT-FICATION test), when on a daily basis his health, safety, economic and moral welfare is being threatened, what do you think he’ll do?
Because of all these things, Umno has lost. Barisan has lost. Yes, Tajol Rosli, cry. It’s your party and you should cry because you need to.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
A Bloodbath Indeed
Samy Vellu is out. Palanivel is out. Sothinathan is out. Koh Tsu Koon and the whole Gerakan team are out. Sharizat Abdul Jalil is out. Aziz Shamsuddin is out. Zainuddin Maidin is out. Donald Lim is out. Chew Mei Fun is out. Kayveas is out.
Barisan Nasional has taken eight states. But the rest - Kelantan, Penang, Selangor, Perak and Kedah - have fallen into opposition hands. For the first time in Malaysia's 51 years of history, the Barisan is also denied a two-third majority in Parliament.
The final score at our 12th general elections: 140 to 82.
Parliament is going to get very, very interesting from now on. Bet nobody’s ever going to catch forty winks ever again while a session is running.
The only problem is now that almost all the cyber-journos have joined politics, who’s going to give us the unbiased news? It’s no good looking at the mainstream papers and TV stations; they’ve all been either bought, beaten up or muzzled ages ago and are about as honest, gutsy and impartial as a judge on the take.
The alternative media?
Well, can we really trust journalists who are also part of the let’s-carry-banners-and-shout-political-slogans crowd? Too much emotions involved, no objectivity. Some perhaps are even as rabid and sycophantic as an NST editor, if not more, except for the fact they’re pro-opposition.
I blame the Barisan. They started all this. Partisan journalism. Now even Jeff Ooi and his gang have been suckered into the trap. Goodbye, bloggers; hello, politicians.
Damn.
Anyway, here's something for a good laugh. From the Comedy Court duo Allan Perera and Indi Nadarajah:
Barisan Nasional has taken eight states. But the rest - Kelantan, Penang, Selangor, Perak and Kedah - have fallen into opposition hands. For the first time in Malaysia's 51 years of history, the Barisan is also denied a two-third majority in Parliament.
The final score at our 12th general elections: 140 to 82.
Parliament is going to get very, very interesting from now on. Bet nobody’s ever going to catch forty winks ever again while a session is running.
The only problem is now that almost all the cyber-journos have joined politics, who’s going to give us the unbiased news? It’s no good looking at the mainstream papers and TV stations; they’ve all been either bought, beaten up or muzzled ages ago and are about as honest, gutsy and impartial as a judge on the take.
The alternative media?
Well, can we really trust journalists who are also part of the let’s-carry-banners-and-shout-political-slogans crowd? Too much emotions involved, no objectivity. Some perhaps are even as rabid and sycophantic as an NST editor, if not more, except for the fact they’re pro-opposition.
I blame the Barisan. They started all this. Partisan journalism. Now even Jeff Ooi and his gang have been suckered into the trap. Goodbye, bloggers; hello, politicians.
Damn.
Anyway, here's something for a good laugh. From the Comedy Court duo Allan Perera and Indi Nadarajah:
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