THE ROAD TO ELECTION

BRUTALITY AND ROCK IT

2009-08-17T19:51:00.000-07:00

GOBALAKRISHNAN @ POLICE BRUTALITY IN PERMATANG PASIR

UMNO LEBIH PADA 'CELAKA' - ANWAR IBRAHIM

UCAPAN CALON PAS PERMATANG PASIR, USTAZ SALLEH MAN - 16 AUGUST 2009

STRAIGHT FIGHT FOR PERMATANG PASIR

SEKITAR PERARAKAN PENAMAAN CALON & BISIKAN NIZAR PADA TOK GURU

ANALYSIS - RACIAL POLITICS HEATS UP IN MALAYSIA

By Razak Ahmad

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A sharpening of racial language from Malaysia's largest ruling party may put at risk Prime Minister Najib Razak's efforts to win back support from ethnic minorities and dampen his economic reform plans.

Najib's United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the country's main ruling party, has ramped up language designed to to appeal to majority Malays who make up 55 percent of the Southeast Asian country's 27 million population.

The move comes after the National Front coalition made a surprisingly strong showing in a state by-election last month in a Malay seat and ahead of another state seat vote on Aug. 25.

Senior UMNO leaders have described the rainbow three-party opposition group led by Anwar Ibrahim, which offers itself as a less racial alternative to the ruling coalition, as being traitors to the Malay race.

"If there are trouble makers who create controversy and racial issues, we regard them as traitors to our race who need to be fought to the end," Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said on Sunday.

His views are echoed by the country's pro-government Malay language newspapers, which have portrayed the opposition and Anwar as being anti-Malay.

"What the Chinese, Indians and PAS (Pan Malaysian Islamic Party, an opposition party) want right now is larger political and administrative powers. Not justice and democracy," read a column in the UMNO owned Malay daily Utusan Malaysia on August 4.

UMNO has led the government for 51 years and is engaged in a battle with the Islamist PAS for Malay votes and its interests sometimes run counter to the other 12 race-based parties that represent ethnic Chinese and Indians in the National Front.

The coalition stumbled to its worst showing in national and state elections in parliament in 2008 and Najib took office in April this year pledging a more inclusive approach to ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

He has liberalised financial services and ended some rules binding companies to 30 percent Malay ownership, partly dismantling a 40 year old policy introduced by his father, Malaysia's second Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein.

These measures, Najib argued, would create wealth by attracting foreign money and boosting domestic investment so the Malays would become richer and more competitive.

But at the same time, Najib has introduced populist measures like toll road price cuts and cabinet voted down electricity price rises that would have hit poorer, Malay voters.

His economic reforms haven't yet touched on the controversial system of handing out government contracts to what critics say are UMNO cronies, the heart of Malaysia's patronage system which analysts say is an impediment to Malaysia's competitiveness.

"UMNO has to follow through on the government's economic liberalisation policy but it still needs to keep its Malay base loyal," said Ibrahim Suffian, director the Merdeka Center, an independent pollster.

As well as creating a class of Malay millionaires, government contracts are the lifeblood for more than 30,000 contractors. Among the most influential among them is a group of 17,000 mostly Malay contractors under the lowest classification of "Class F".

Allowed to bid for jobs worth up to 200,000 ringgit ($56,560), many Class F contractors are grassroots UMNO officials whose support is widely sought after by party leaders.

Ibrahim said if the government were to adopt a greater pro-Malay emphasis, then "certain parts of the continuing economic liberalisation that would impact the Malays, such as the restructuring of government contracts, could turn out to be problematic".

MALAYSIA OR MALAY HUE AND CRY?

The opposition gains in last year's elections were partly fuelled by anger over UMNO's patronage system that many see benefitting mainly a small group of party-linked businessmen.

Malays as well as Chinese and Indians deserted the ruling coalition in record numbers to vote for the opposition People's Alliance.

In his efforts to boost appeal across races, Najib launched 1Malaysia (www.1Malaysia.com), a programme that promotes inclusion and "Malaysian" values.

Najib also freed Hindu activists and earlier this month visited Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur, the site of the country's largest Hindu temple. It was the first official visit by a prime minister since 1970 when his father visited.

But in order to rouse the Malay vote, UMNO needs to ensure that it is seen as defending its constituency.

If that strategy gains traction in the Aug. 25 by-election, it will make it difficult to rebuild the National Front's smaller parties ahead of elections that must be held by 2013.

One option for UMNO may be to go for broke for the Malay vote in peninsular Malaysia and rely on the states of Sabah and Sarawak to deliver a workable, albeit smaller, majority in parliament.

At the same time UMNO can continue working to prise the Islamists out of Anwar's alliance.

The problems facing the National Front are to some extent mirrored in Anwar's alliance and spats have broken out between the Islamists and mainly ethnic Chinese secularists, most recently over a ban on alcohol for Muslims in the opposition-run state of Selangor.

"Knowing perhaps that the non-Malay vote would be difficult to get back, by calling into question People's Alliance's commitment to protect Malay interests, the government is using what I would see as a defensive strategy to stem the loss of the Malay vote," said political analyst Ong Kian Ming.

--REUTERS INDIA--

PENANTI BY-ELECTION ISSUES

2009-05-30T20:41:00.000-07:00

INIKAH BUKTI RAKAMAN SUARA PKR RASUAH KAK MINAH? - PART 1

INIKAH BUKTI RAKAMAN SUARA PKR RASUAH KAK MINAH? - PART 2

SAIFUDDIN DAKWA KAK MINAH JERAT SAHABAT SENDIRI

NIK AZIZ: UMNO SANGGUP TAWAR RM5 JUTA DI DALAM MASJID - NAUZUBILLAH!

ANWAR IBRAHIM'S STATEMENT ON THE ECONOMY

Posted by admin
Saturday, 30 May 2009 01:31

The administration’s lackadaisical approach to governance and accountability is deeply disturbing. At a time when Malaysian’s are forced to cut costs and worry if their hard earned money will cover the next month’s bills, our government continues to pour billions in taxpayer money down the drain.

The government’s neither-here-nor-there approach to the PKFZ scandal is a clear sign of UMNOs unwillingness to sacrifice its own delinquent members for the sake of the national good. The handling of the PKFZ affair amplifies the hypocrisy which was manifest in the investigations into money politics within UMNO and the selective persecution of foes of the new Najib administration.

The government has bragged that billions have been disbursed from the two fiscal stimulus packages. Yet there is virtually no information available to the public about the process of awarding tenders. We are left to assume that it is business as usual and have little confidence that the economy will benefit from the misappropriation of these funds that are being channeled to the same coterie of crony companies.

Inefficiency and largesse remain the prevailing traits of our bloated bureaucracy. Government monopolies preclude any significant change in the economic landscape of the nation and promises of liberalisation ring hollow when it comes to the lack of political will to implement change.

To date there is no plan in sight to resuscitate the economy and transform it as the Prime Minister has promised. We hear from him incoherent statements predicting a recovery by the end of the year while at the same time admitting that our economy is beholden to that of the US and Europe, which by their own account will remain weak into 2010.

Bank Negara has this week confirmed what most Malaysians have known already for eight months, save the Minister of Finance. The country is headed for recession. Thousands of jobs have already been lost and in the coming months we know that more factories will be shuttered and more will be laid off – by some estimates up to a half-million people. 2009 growth figures have been slashed to -5%, the worst economic scenario Malaysia has faced since the Financial Crisis.

These challenges require visionary leadership and the courage to act decisively against corruption and cronyism. Sadly both qualities are lacking in the current administration.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

BY-ELECTION & TROUBLE IN PERAK

2009-05-27T17:26:00.000-07:00

NIK AZIZ: UMNO JAGA NAFSU! TAK JAGA DEMOKRASI, JAUH SEKALI JAGA ISLAM!

NIZAR JAMALUDDIN: 'POLIS GARU TAPAK TANGAN SAYA'

PENANTI BY-ELECTION, ANWAR IBRAHIM: MENTERI 'BODOH' (24 MAY 09) PART 1

PENANTI BY-ELECTION, ANWAR IBRAHIM: 'KITA DIAM, MINYAK NAIK' (24 MAY 09) PART 2

AZMIN CABAR PM

BY-ELECTION: AM-NO DREAMS?

2009-03-31T19:19:00.000-07:00

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: DATO SERI IR.NIZAR JELAS ISU PERAK - PART 1

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: DATO SERI IR.NIZAR JELAS ISU PERAK - PART 2

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: TUAN GURU HJ. HADI AWANG - PART 1

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: TUAN GURU HJ. HADI AWANG - PART 2

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: TUAN GURU HJ. HADI AWANG - PART 3

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: ANWAR IBRAHIM 27 MAC 2009 (PART 1)

BKT. GANTANG BY-ELECTION: ANWAR IBRAHIM 27 MAC 2009 (PART 2)

DATO SERI IR. NIZAR JAMALUDDIN - WARNING!

DATO SERI IR. NIZAR JAMALUDDIN - KEMPEN

NIZAR STRIKES RIGHT CHORD IN SIMPANG

By Debra Chong

TAIPING, April 1 – “Woi, Nizar’s here!,” a Chinese youth called loudly to his friends in Mandarin at the night market at Kota Jaya in Simpang yesterday evening.

Quickly, those around him, vendors and visitors alike whipped their heads around and stretched out their necks, looking to catch sight of the popular Pasir Panjang state assemblyman who is gunning for a spot in Parliament.

Many rushed forward to shake his hands as he moved swiftly through each and every stall, smiling and greeting every hawker like an old friend, intimating a few words directly into their ears, clapping their shoulders, clasping an outstretched hand a tad tighter or holding it a millisecond longer. The traders returned the gesture, inviting him to try flipping a murtabak and taste their wares.

“This is not his first visit here,” a Malay food seller said. “It’s his third,” he added, explaining the apparent familiarity they had with Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, whom he still regards as his lawful menteri besar, ignoring the fact that another now sits in the Ipoh office.

The man looked on in amusement as other traders, Chinese mostly, went slack-jawed with surprise at their first encounter with Nizar.

If not for the large group of photographers clicking madly away at his every pose and the posse of Pakatan Rakyat allies from the DAP and PKR walking with him, Nizar would have simply blended into the night market. He had traded his regular suits and shiny leather shoes for a casual cotton short-sleeved shirt in light green.

A Chinese family selling clothes were tickled when he stopped at their stall and chatted in Mandarin with them. They took the chance to snap pictures with him on their camera phones.

As he moved on, the matriarch was overheard exclaiming, in Hokkien: “He looks much better in person, doesn’t he?”

“Ya lah... not so old,” was the daughter’s rejoinder.

But by far the biggest welcome he received was at a coffee shop, Mei Shi, down the road. Before he even reached the eatery, he was mobbed by the Chinese men outside, clapping their hands furiously before pulling him inside to join the rest of their mates engaged in a game of mah-jong. They asked Nizar to do the honours and shuffle the tiles, which he gamely did.

He wrapped up his follow-up visit to the night market with a short speech from the back of a lorry asking the public to support him with their votes on April 7, so that “this change can lead to a bigger change at the federal level”. It was the closest reference he made of his legal wrangle over the menteri besar crisis.

He ended with the Pakatan Rakyat war cry: “Hidup, hidup! Makkal Sakthi! Reformasi!” The crowd joined in and cheered.

Nizar appears to have won the hearts of the semi-urban voters.

The pro-Pas Malay food seller told The Malaysian Insider he would definitely do his duty by Nizar come polling day.

Repeating some of the slogans spouted by the opposition alliance, that justice must be served, the man seemed to have bought into Pakatan Rakyat’s campaign of

anger, at being unceremoniously kicked out of the state despite receiving the mandate from the rakyat.

He was most angry at his elected state representative, Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu (Changkat Jering, one of the three state seats within the Bukit Gantang parliamentary constituency) who had switched political camps and contributed to the fall of the PR state government.

“We voted him in because of the party, not because it was him. Must teach him a lesson,” the man explained.

Judging from the response from the mixed race crowd in the market, many are with him. But with six days left before polling day, anything can happen.

--THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER--

READY TO BY-ELECTIONs

2009-02-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

PERTARUNGAN 'DUA BUKIT'

Belum pun reda krisis 'rampasan kuasa' di Perak, satu lagi pertarungan serentak bakal berlangsung di dua pilihanraya kecil dalam jangka masa terdekat ini.Masing-masing di DUN Bkt. Selambau, Kedah dan Parlimen Bkt. Gantang, Perak.
Menariknya, harapan bakal menjadi kenyataan apabila Dato Seri Ir. Nizar Jamaluddin diletakkan sebagai calon pilihanraya kecil Parlimen Bkt. Gantang.
Lantas terfikir siapa pula lawan yang sesuai?

Bagaimana jika Dato Seri Nizar bertarung dengan Dr.zambry?
Masing-masing telah punyai kerusi DUN Perak dan masing-masing adalah 'MB'.
Pastinya satu pertarungan hebat dan pertarungan siapa yang rakyat mahukan.
MB NIZAR atau Dr.Zambry?

Tradisi 'Alif tendang Wau' belum pernah meletakan calon berjawatan tinggi untuk sesuatu pilihanraya kecil.Apatah lagi mereka sedar tiada lagi akar kuat yang boleh memberanikan mereka mencampakan Dr.Zambry sebagai calon pilihanraya kecil.

Justeru sejak menyertai UMNO, ada 'seekor harimau rongak' yang pandai mengacah-acah tetapi tidak berani menyerang terus atau menerkam musuh.
Mungkin juga kerana tidak bergigi...
Teringin benar kita melihat 'harimau rongak' ini bertarung dalam mana-mana pilihanraya.Jika dihitung 'KOTAK-KOTAK-nya' nampak seperti boleh menang mana-mana pilihanraya kecil.Namun kita masih menunggu secara terbuka kehadiranya dalam kancah 'reality kotak undi'.Sekiranya bertarung di Bkt. Gantang, apakah 'harimau rongak' ini mampu tumbangkan lawannya dari PR?

Secara peribadi, saya benar-benar berharap Dato Seri Ir. Nizar Jamaluddin diletakan sebagai calon bagi kerusi Bkt. Gantang sebagai satu bentuk sokongan, ke-jantan-an PR dan penghormatan buat beliau.
Sama-samalah kita menanti siapakah pilihan PAS Pusat, Negeri Perak serta PR dan siapa pula lawannya dari UMNO/BN nanti.

Sebagai peghormatan, AL-FATIHA buat Allahyarham Roslan Shaharum (Bekas MP BKT. GANTANG, PERAK).

PERAK DAP WANTS NIZAR VS ZAMBRY FOR BUKIT GANTANG

By Shannon Teoh

IPOH, Feb 9 — Perak DAP has proposed a Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin versus Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir contest for the Bukit Gantang by-election, in what is already shaping up as a referendum on the political impasse in Perak.

Perak DAP Chairman Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham mooted the idea at this evening’s emergency general meeting.

Tonight, at a Chap Goh Mei event in the new village of Bali, Tronoh, secretary Nga Kor Ming expounded on the idea, calling it a battle to see who is the rightful mentri besar.

“He is the best candidate for Bukit Gantang,” the Taiping MP said. “As you can see, even the Chinese here support Nizar,” he told the 300-strong crowd.

“Then we will see who the people accept as their mentri besar,” he told the audience at this Chinese outpost about 30km south of Ipoh.

“We will take the by-election as a fresh mandate against the coup d’etat by Barisan Nasional,” he told reporters after the dinner which was also attended by Nizar and Ngeh.

He also cited a recent Merdeka Centre poll that suggested only 41 per cent of respondents agreeing Datuk Seri Najib Razak would make a good prime minister.

According to Nga, an NTV7 SMS poll also saw only five per cent of respondents saying BN would take Bukit Gantang in the imminent by-election.

Nizar, however, told reporters that the decision on a candidate will be up to the Pakatan Rakyat leadership.

When quizzed on whether the contest would determine whose side Perakians were backing in the current stand-off, he said “it is too soon to analyse.”

Earlier today, Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin had said that the by-election would be a measure of people’s confidence.

“Before that, the BN government must prove that stability and confidence can be returned,” he said.

--The Malaysian Insider--

DID THEY REMEMBER THE "NATANG"?

About 1000 people gathered at the Ipoh City Hall field this afternoon to declare their support for the Malay Rulers.

The event was organized by Umno Youth and several NGOs including GPMS.

Umno Youth members came in from other states like Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan and Kedah to joun their Perak counterparts at the gathering.

"Elements like Karpal Singh who do not respect the sultans should disappear from the face of the earth", According to GPMS vice-president Jais Abdul Karim.

The crowd held banners, one of which read 'Nizar penderhaka Melayu Zaman moden', and shouted 'Daulat Tuanku'.

In his short address at the gathering, Khairy Jamaluddin suggested that the Perak Sultan should banish Mond Nizar from the state as many started to burn posters of the ousted menteri besar on the field.

Do we all remember the displayed word - Natang?

I presumed those who understands Bahasa Malaysia knows what it means without the need of dictionary.

Did they forget this banner displayed in Terengganu by Umno and Umno Youth members?

What did they call our DYTM Yang di Pertuan Agong who is also the DYMM Sultan of Terengganu?

--MALAYSIA TODAY--

ANWAR STAYS MUM OVER SEPTEMBER 16

2008-11-30T18:20:00.000-08:00

NAJIB NO DIFFERENT FROM DR M, SAYS AZIZAH

ANWAR STAYS MUM OVER SEPTEMBER 16 - PART 1

ANWAR STAYS MUM OVER SEPTEMBER 16 - PART 2

ANWAR SEEKS SUPPORT FROM SULTANS IN BATTLE FOR POWER

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 1 - Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is reaching out to Malaysia's powerful sultans in his latest strategy to try to wrest power from the government.

His wife, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, the nominal president of Anwar's Keadilan party, has offered to restore their powers if the opposition seizes power. "We are willing to return royal immunity and power to veto laws in the spirit of constitutional monarchy," she said.

Her statement has sparked debate over whether the Malay rulers, one of whom is chosen as ruling sultan every five years, should get back powers that were taken away in 1984 by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Dr Mahathir amended the constitution and removed the sultan's power to veto bills, making the government the highest authority in the country. A 1993 amendment removed royal immunity from prosecution.

Constitutional law expert Shad Saleem Faruqi said on Friday that he supported the reinstatement of royal powers, but under strict codes of conduct to prevent the abuse of power.

The proposal came a day after Tunku Naquiyuddin, the regent of Negri Sembilan, made a rare demand to the government to reinstate royal powers.

The government's response was lukewarm, with the minister for law Nazri Aziz saying that a proposal must be made by the Conference of Rulers, a body that represents the nine sultans.

Despite his reduced powers, the ruling sultan does have discretionary powers to convene and dissolve parliament and appoint chief ministers, judges and senior civil servants.

The royals have also been outspoken recently on a number of issues, and many went against the ruling by the National Fatwa Council, Malaysia's top religious authority, to ban yoga for Muslims. The sultans have also
been critical of Malaysia's scandal-plagued judiciary.

"The royals have an expanding role as a check on government excesses," said Ramon Navaratnam, the chairman of think-tank, Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute. "We should not reject their suggestion outright, but examine it carefully."

Anwar's move to win royal support could be politically significant if he wins the backing of the king, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, who can convene parliament - a tactic that could be used by Anwar to stage a mass defection of government backbenchers to his party.

--SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST--

ANWAR IBRAHIM: MALAYSIA DAY CELEBRATION

2008-09-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM: MALAYSIA DAY CELEBRATION - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM: MALAYSIA DAY CELEBRATION - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM: MALAYSIA DAY CELEBRATION - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM: MALAYSIA DAY CELEBRATION - PART 4

ANWAR IBRAHIM HAS MAJORITY TO RULE

Sep 16, 2008 10:16 PM

Malaysia's opposition alliance claimed it had enough support in parliament to oust the government and sought a meeting with the premier to discuss a handover as well as the king's consent.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim told a media conference that he expected Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to meet him within the next few days to discuss a transition of power from the government, which has ruled for more than 50 years.

It was the most forceful statement yet that Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, is close to winning Malaysia's top job after being imprisoned for sodomy and corruption in the late 1990s and barred from office.

He declined to spell out what his majority could be in the 222-member assembly, but he needs at least 30 MPs to cross the floor from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and join his 82-strong bloc, which is made up of three political parties.

"We have enough strength to form the government. Once we meet the prime minister, we will abide by the constitution and seek the consent of the king," Anwar told a news conference.

The government dismissed his claims of a parliamentary majority. Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak called talk of the opposition winning power the politics of deception.

Abdullah said he would not meet Anwar unless the opposition leader had something substantial to discuss.

His party is to hold a meeting of its top policy-making body on September 18 and there has been pressure on the prime minister to step down.

Anwar has not named MPs he says will change sides, nor have any Barisan Nasional members announced they would switch.

Piling pressure

Even though Anwar has had to unite a sometimes fractious coalition of reformers, Islamists and ethnic Chinese, as well as deal with a new trial on what he says are trumped up charges of sodomy, the opposition has piled pressure on the government.

In March it deprived Abdullah of his two-thirds majority in parliament, the first time since independence from Britain more than half a century ago that the government has not had the ability to change the constitution.

The rise in political tensions has unnerved investors.

The cost of insuring the country's debt has risen sharply to around $153,056 per $10 million, from $90,185 prior to the March election, based on prices for five-year credit default swaps , a barometer of risk.

Political analysts said it was likely that Anwar had his majority and that there was little the government could do.

"Whatever number of MPs Anwar will bring over to Pakatan Rakyat (his alliance), the moment he reveals their names he will want to have them hidden away," said James Chin, Professor of Political Science at Monash University's Malaysia campus.

Chin said that, once Anwar had letters of support from the MPs and is granted an audience by the king, the king would then ask the speaker of parliament to hold a formal vote on the prime minister's post.

He noted that the government could not suspend parliament and that the only option would be to call a state of emergency.

"The problem with declaring a state of emergency in Malaysia is that it needs the king's consent," Chin said.

UMNO to meet

Anwar's call came just two days ahead of a meeting of the top decision-making body of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the dominant force in the 14-party ruling coalition.

There have been calls for Abdullah to accelerate a planned transition of power to his deputy Najib set for 2010.

On Monday, Abdullah's law minister resigned in protest against the use of the harsh Internal Security Act (ISA) to detain an opposition MP, a journalist and a well-known blogger.

The ISA allows imprisonment without trial, although the journalist was later released.

That was the latest in a series of apparent mis-steps from a government that has struggled to connect with voters reeling from a surge in inflation to more than quarter-century highs.

Although ethnic Malays and UMNO dominate the government, they need the support of smaller ethnic Chinese and Indian parties who were outraged recently when an UMNO official labelled the country's Chinese immigrants and squatters.

Zaid Ibrahim, the outgoing law minister and an independent coopted into government, said he had largely failed to make the judiciary more independent and limit the use of the ISA.

--TVNZ NEW ZEALAND--

ANWAR CELEBRATE HIS WIN AT BKT. SEGAMBUT

2008-08-29T07:04:00.000-07:00

PERUTUSAN KEMERDEKAAN DARI DSAI

GOBALAKRISHNAN MENGAMUK, POLIS KENA KULIAH

DSAI AT BKT SEGAMBUT: SOLAT HAJAT SELEPAS PRK PTG. PAUH 28 AUGUST 08 - PART 1

DSAI AT BKT SEGAMBUT: SOLAT HAJAT SELEPAS PRK PTG. PAUH 28 AUGUST 08 - PART 2

DSAI AT BKT SEGAMBUT: SOLAT HAJAT SELEPAS PRK PTG. PAUH 28 AUGUST 08 - PART 3

DSAI AT BKT SEGAMBUT: SOLAT HAJAT SELEPAS PRK PTG. PAUH 28 AUGUST 08 - PART 4

DSAI AT BKT SEGAMBUT: SOLAT HAJAT SELEPAS PRK PTG. PAUH 28 AUGUST 08 - PART 5

DSAI AT BKT SEGAMBUT: SOLAT HAJAT SELEPAS PRK PTG. PAUH 28 AUGUST 08 - PART 6

MALAYSIA LEADER USES BUDGET SPEECH TO ATTACK ANWAR

By EILEEN NG and SEAN YOONG

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -

Malaysia's government announced Friday wide-ranging aid for the poor and higher development spending in its 2009 budget aimed at shoring up its popularity amid spiraling inflation and political weakness.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose administration has been shaken by an election debacle and slowing economic growth this year, also used his annual budget speech in Parliament to mount a scathing attack on the revitalized opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who was sworn in as a lawmaker Thursday after winning a by-election, wants to unseat Abdullah by Sept. 16 through parliamentary defections. Anwar's opposition alliance won an unprecedented 82 of Parliament's 222 seats in March general elections - 30 short of a majority.

Abdullah warned that "efforts by certain parties to destabilize the country by attempting to seize power through illegitimate means and without the mandate of the people must be rejected."

"I will not allow disturbances to continue. I will not permit the mandate given by the people to be seized" from the ruling party, he said.

In a clear reference to Anwar's pledge to cut retail gasoline prices if he seizes power, Abdullah blasted his "populist claims."

If implemented, they "would undermine the government's financial position and bequeath a bankrupt nation to the next generation," Abdullah said.

He announced a raft of public-friendly measures such as extending welfare aid to some 110,000 poor households, raising the threshold for taxable incomes to exempt 100,000 workers and handing higher pensions and bonuses to civil servants equivalent to a month's salary.

Other goodies included large allocations to upgrade electricity, water and rural road facilities in two eastern states on Borneo island where government lawmakers are rumored to be considering defections to the opposition.

Anwar criticized Abdullah for giving an expansionary budget "in response to public frustration over rising inflation."

"There are sweeteners here and there. But it fails to address some fundamental flaws in economic policy ... issues of efficiency, endemic corruption and governance," he said.

The Finance Ministry said in a report released separately that development expenditure is projected to rise to $15.2 billion in 2009, up 11.8 percent from $13.6 billion this year.

Development spending - a quarter of the 208 $62 billion budget - includes poverty reduction programs, educational training, health care and housing projects.

The Finance Ministry's report said Malaysia's economy is expected to expand by 5.7 percent this year and 5.4 percent in 2009, slowing from 6.3 percent growth in 2007.

The fiscal deficit was forecast to widen to 4.8 percent of gross domestic product in 2008 and 3.6 percent next year after achieving a low of 3.2 percent in 2007.

Fuel subsidies to keep the retail price of gasoline affordable are expected to soar by 142 percent on year to $5.3 billion this year, the ministry's report said.

Inflation spiked to 8.5 percent in July, the highest level in decades, after the government hiked gasoline prices by 41 percent in June to slash the runaway subsidy bill. Officials rolled back gasoline prices 5.6 percent last week and said further cuts are likely to quell anger.

Home Minister Syed Hamid called it a "people's budget."

"It looks after those who need assistance most," he said. "Everyone should be happy."

--FORBES.COM--

MORE THAN AZIZAH: A CLEAR SIGNAL ON A CLEAR AGENDA

2008-08-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

PUTERI UMNO APOLOGISING TO ANWAR IBRAHIM

VOTER TOLD HE IS DEAD (SAYA SUDAH MATI)

PKR REPS QUESTIONING SPR OFFICIALS ON VOTERS LIST

SCENES AT POLLING CENTRE

PRESS TV INTERVIEW ON ANWAR IBRAHIM BY-ELECTION

ANWAR MASUK PARLIMEN, BINCANG DENGAN MP BN

ANWAR & AZIZAH BUANG UNDI

MALAYSIA'S ISLAMISTS ENDORSE ANWAR IN BID FOR POWER

Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:30am BST

By David Chance and Soo Ai Peng

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's leading opposition figure, Anwar Ibrahim, cleared a major hurdle in his race to win power when an Islamist party endorsed him on Wednesday as leader of an anti-government alliance.

The move by Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) came after Anwar's convincing win in a by-election and was made despite reservations among some sections of the Islamic party about the "rainbow alliance" of which they are a part.

However, political analysts say that Anwar may struggle to hold his coalition together, let along find the 30 defectors from the ranks of government MPs he needs to join him to win power.

The government has been on the back foot since losing its two-thirds majority in an election in March and there were calls on Wednesday for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to quit.

Anwar also faces prosecution for sodomy, a reprise of charges which saw him jailed and in the late 1990s and forced him out of politics for a decade.

If convicted in a trial starting on September 10, his political career would be at an end.

But it is Malaysia's bitter racial and religious politics, which Anwar wants to end, that could be the biggest stumbling block in the former deputy prime minister's rush to lead the country of 27 million people.

"Even if he managed to get 30 MPs, it has to be of the correct distribution in terms of the Malay-Muslims and non-Malay-Muslims," said Lee Hock Guan, of Singapore's Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.

"It has to be in such a way that it won't upset the Malay-Muslims who are dominant in Pakatan Rakyat (Anwar's coalition), otherwise PAS may leave or something," he said.

Anwar's coalition has 82 MPs in parliament, of which 23 are from PAS, and needs to win over MPs from the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition to get a majority in the 222-seat parliament in a confidence vote he has said he will call for September.

The coalition has ruled Malaysia since independence from Britain in 1957.

CAMPAIGNING ON EQUALITY

Despite pledges to end Malaysia's decades-old policy of preference for ethnic Malays, who make up more than half of the country's population, Anwar swept the largely rural and Malay seat of Permatang Pauh in Tuesday's by-election.

That policy, which gives preferences at university and the civil service as well as in setting up companies has, Anwar believes has hampered economic growth and failed to help the people it was supposed to lift out of poverty.

The result has seen Malaysia slip in foreign investment (FDI) rankings and according to United Nations data FDI totalled $53.58 billion (29 billion pounds) in 2006, little changed from $52.75 billion in 2000, whereas neighbouring Thailand saw a surge to $68 billion in 2006 from around $30 billion in 2000.

Anwar wants to target government programmes at the poor, regardless of race.

His plans have won plaudits from some foreign analysts but may face a backlash from Malays who fear losing their privileges.

"I think the main contents of his (Anwar's) policies are sound, and they do make sense economically over the long run because it should have a positive impact on Malaysia's competitiveness," said Alvin Pontoh an economist at Capital Economics in London.

"But I do question his ability to deliver them when and if he does become prime minister, given that the opposition coalition that he leads is comprised of three parties with widely differing agendas and ideologies," Pontoh said.

The prospect that a rudderless and desperate Barisan government may try to spend its way to popularity is another reason to shun Malaysian assets, analysts said.

Malaysia will pass its 2009 budget on Friday and government dissident Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, who had earlier offered to challenge the prime minister for the presidency of the dominant party in the coalition in December, said Abdullah should quit.

He was joined by ex-prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, a trenchant critic of Abdullah.

(Additional reporting by Jalil Hamid, Soo Ai Peng and Liau Y-Sing; Editing by Alex Richardson)

--REUTERS UK--

A NEW DAWN FOR MALAYSIA

2008-08-25T06:32:00.000-07:00

DATO DR.HARUN DIN BERSAMA ANWAR - SOLAT MAGHRIB, MUNAJAT & TAZKIRAH

MEREKA TAK TAU MALU: ANWAR IBRAHIM IN PADANG IBU 24 AUGUST 2008 - PART 1

AKUAN BERSUMPAH - ROSMAH PUJA AGAMA HINDU: ANWAR IBRAHIM IN PADANG IBU 24 AUGUST 2008 - PART 2

MUNAJAT DIDEPAN BAITULLAH :ANWAR IBRAHIM IN PADANG IBU 24 AUGUST 2008 - PART 3

WILL THE REAL ANWAR IBRAHIM PLEASE STAND UP

Rambo | Aug 25, 08 4:30pm

Like many rational Malaysians, I am concerned about the future of the country. The re- emergence of Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia's political scene has resulted in a dynamic shift in politics.

The fusion of his established charisma, intriguing persona and current events have contributed to this dynamic shift.

However, what concerns me is his brand of politics, relying on the message of ‘hope’ for Malaysians. Hope is abstract and is infinite. Anwar is likened to a painter drawing on an empty canvass where the only limitation is his imagination.

‘Hope’ can be anything he wants it to be. Anwar has his ears close to the ground. Through his extensive network, he understands the sentiments on the ground and he uses this as colours for the empty canvass.

But as a rational Malaysian, the concern is that his painting of Malaysia's future is based on what will get him in power and not on substantive policy on a sustainable basis. Does he really believe in what he is saying? Can we believe what he is saying? Can Anwar change Malaysia?

Many think he is the leader that will bring forth the hope and aspirations of all Malaysians. I think not. If we look at Anwar's track record as a leader, his time in Umno was tainted with claims of cronyism and corruption. He was known to be a man in a hurry, ousting Umno stalwart Ghafar Baba mercilessly.

Maybe some would argue that his time in confinement has given him a different perspective of life. Somehow, his few years away warrants his ‘knighthood’ as South East Asia's Nelson Mandela.

Because of his 'suffering', he now has the moral authority to be the messenger of hope for Malaysian politics. However, I would argue that the best proxy to judge his current leadership post-Umno is his management of his party PKR today.

The party, reflects the leader. After March 8 swept the nation, Anwar's PKR has fell short of voter's expectations. The Selangor government fiasco(s), the recent Perak ‘sex and money’ scandal all indicate that the message of hope somehow got lost in translation.
Zulkifli Nordin's recent actions prove that there is trouble brewing in the multiracial party. What is Azmin Ali stand? Saifuddin Nasution’s? Even worse, Anwar Ibrahim’s?

The differences runs deep in PKR and it indicates that there is no strong strand of belief that is holding them together.

Another clear indication of Anwar's true brand of leadership is the behaviour of Anwar's hardcore supporters. Reports of gangsterism involving local and international media, reports of disruptive behaviour towards women, all this reflects on the real leadership stand of Anwar Ibrahim.

As rational Malaysians, we must judge Anwar on real and tangible events and not merely as the harbinger of hope. Not all of us are rats of Hamelin that will follow his mesmerising tune into our graves.

The question that rational Malaysians must ask therefore is, will the real Anwar Ibrahim, please stand up? Decide once and for all is your motto ‘A New Dawn For Malaysia’ or ‘Lawan Tetap Lawan’?

--MALAYSIAKINI--

WE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

2008-08-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

KJ TUKAR MERDEKA3 TO MELIWAT3:ANWAR IBRAHIM AT PTG. PAUH 23 AUGUST 08 - PART 1

DUDUK DEPAN PM DI BAJET 2009: ANWAR IBRAHIM AT PTG. PAUH 23 AUGUST 08 - PART 2

AMARAN PADA BUKAN ISLAM/MELAYU: ANWAR IBRAHIM AT PTG. PAUH 23 AUGUST 08 - PART 3

'KHAIRY, WE KNOW YOUR HEART IS WITH US'

Aug 25, 08 10:26am

‘Don't worry Khairy, we the public will forgive you because we know you will be the first person to join Anwar when he becomes prime minister.'

On Khairy: We've come to 'bury' Anwar

Dr M Raken: Khairy is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. On one hand, he must please Mahathir, Najib, Hishamuddin and Mukriz because they all hate Anwar.

On the other hand, it is his father-in-law who is hated by Mahathir and his associates.

Pak Lah knows that he is not going to be in power, so he would like to leave the fate of the country to people who prefer Anwar.

So Khairy is caught between his father-in-law and Mahathir's associates. If Khairy does not say something to show that he hates Anwar, Najib will say ‘there you are, supporting Anwar silently.'

Khairy must say something, like that he has come to ‘bury' Anwar.

Don't worry Khairy, We know your heart is with us. Anwar will forgive you for what you have said, but he will not forget the harm that BN has done to him.

We the public will also forgive you, Khairy, because we know you will be the first person to join Anwar when he becomes prime minister.

Shafer: It astounds me how many people still insist on joining the chorus against Khairy by quoting his relationship with the prime minister. Is it not time to judge the man by his own merit?

As for his call to end Anwar's political career, the responses published here have been akin not to those in a newspaper, but a Pakatan Rakyat online forum!

Emotionally charged rebuttals with little argumentative elements ignore one very important detail: Khairy was delivering a political ceramah at the height of the campaign period.

Just as Anwar takes liberties in his speeches against BN and Umno - like vague accusations about corruption and cronyism within Umno - Khairy too was at the limit in his pleading for votes.

A politically mature citizenry would be amused by the whole political tit-for-tat occurrence during this period and would make judgments based on hard facts gained through research and knowledge.

What it wouldn't do is call for a politician to live in the jungle (as one here did).

Timo Finian: It appears BN has unleashed Khairy to spew his brand of venom against DSAI. His attempts at humour can best be described as pathetic at the core.

He is another protégé actor of the Sandiwara Master himself, whose sterling performances have been well documented in 'movies' like ‘An evening in Port Dickson' and ‘High flying in Mongolia'.

Khairy goes on to say that if BN loses, Malaysia might as well be sold to the US. I mean, this guy must really think rural Malays are nitwits.
I urge Malays not to allow their intelligence to be insulted by him and to throw their weight behind the opposition.

On the subject of being sold to the US, Khairy should wake up and take a good look. This country has already been sold - not to the US, but to the devil himself for the last 50 yrs.

Every rational Malaysian should rally behind the opposition, making sure that Permatang Pauh doesn't fall into the sullied hands of the dark side.

Raptor 22: Khairy, do you still remember what you said about the Hindraf rally last November? Let me recall it for you - beruk-beruk di jalan raya.

But in this GE - when you stayed in one of the five-star hotels in Seremban for your Rembau parliamentary campaign - I saw you smiling at every Indian, bowing to them and going to the Indian-populated places to pinch their votes.

If your so-called father-in-law didn't misuse the law, do you think it would be so simple for you to become MP and deputy youth president in Umno?

First, you should answer Dr M's question ‘Who is Khairy?'

A Fed-up Citizen: Let me just remind you, KJ, that you will see something that has never happened before.

The BN candidate will lose his deposit because they will get less than an eighth of the total votes cast in this by election.

Congratulations to KJ for helping BN achieve this record in Malaysian history.

May all the voters in Permatang Pauh understand what is happening right now in our country and do their part to ensure that we have a new government - the Pakatan Rakyat government.

What A Leader?: Culture is far too deep-rooted to say that a race or a society has been allowed to ‘practice' its culture. Culture evolves - it is not forced.

So why talk about allowing a culture to exist?

Such a restricted and myopic view only frightens the already fragile unity, particularly when BN politicians talk uncontrollably during by elections. I feel sorry for them.

Adrian Lee: KJ feeds on the power of his father-in-law, Abdullah - a power-hungry man known to be behind a lot of unethical happenings. Why is there one law for the rich and mighty, and another one for the rest?

The Permatang Pauh by-election is about choosing between integrity, truth and good governance and lies, corruption and bad governance.

The majority of the rakyat are with Anwar Ibrahim! Let the rakyat ‘bury' the arrogant KJ and send him to oblivion.

Johan Azlan: Anwar keeps on saying that he has foreign political leaders behind him. May I ask why?

We are Malaysians - we have the ability to manage our own country.

My view on this matter is that the US is trying to control our leaders and our economy. I hope the voters at Permatang Pauh can see this clearly.

Apprehensively Hopeful: Answer the accusations Anwa for there are real questions to be answered.

Why was Saiful brought overseas? Should we keep our undying faith in the Pakatan after the allegations involving two PKR state exco members?

Why choose Permatang Pauh as a battleground at the expense of a female MP when female representation in parliament already leaves much to be desired?

I wish my fellow Malaysians would put their cynicism towards the government aside and entertain the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Anwar is not that white knight after all.

On Say sorry for 'Anwar kacau my wife' remark

RS: My dear Hamzah, blame only yourself for your wife wanting to be ‘kacaued' by another man.

There is a Malay proverb that says mana kucing tak makan ikan - look into your setbacks first, for your wife could be wanting more attention from you.

A man would not make passes at another woman if he sees no response from her. It takes two hands to clap, you know.

Mark S Lee: Of late, I have been following your news closely, and I must say, this is the dirtiest and most desperate political campaign I have ever seen.

The video projection of Saiful on the big TV screen nightly is indeed a disaster for a Muslim nation like yours, Malaysia.

When all else failed, they invoked the name of God and now come out with all sorts of character-assassination ideas for their rival, Anwar Ibrahim.

My conclusion is that your BN government really puts me off. I definitely will have to think over my application for your ‘Malaysia, My Second Home' programme.

On Anwar Ibrahim's promise to the poor

Xroy: I was thinking of the song called ‘Come September' by Bobby Darren in the late fifties or early sixties.

I think it should be the campaign music for Permatang Pauh because come September, Anwar Ibrahim will reclaim Merdeka for Malaysia.

Yes, he will reclaim our independence from the bunch of tyrants who have ruled without morality for quite some time now.

Sept 16 will indeed be a great day, as it is the day when Malaysia will be declared independent - the real Merdeka Day for Malaysians.

Aug 31, 1957, was the day that Malaya (Peninsular Malaysia today) became independent.

The day Sabah, Sarawak and Singapore joined us and we became one independent nation was Sept 16, 1963.

So Sept 16 is indeed an auspicious day - a day that will be Merdeka day and remembered as the day Anwar Ibrahim reclaimed merdeka for the entire nation.

So remember the song that is called ‘Come September' - it's a fantastic piece. Ask your DJs to play it for you, because come September, we'll all be celebrating Merdeka.

On Anwar laments attitude of ex-buddies

Duakalilima: Dear DSAI - I don't think you should complain much about your 'ex-friends'. You are doing the same thing too.

You were deputy prime minister, finance minister, Umno's national deputy president, Penang Umno Liaison Committee chief and Permatang Pauh division chief before your sacking from the government and party in 1998.

By saying this, people may start asking who created the path for you to climb up the Umno and government hierarchy. Think before you speak, man.

--MALAYSIAKINI--

NOMINATION DAY, DIRTY TRICK AND PRESS CONFERENCE

2008-08-18T21:32:00.000-07:00

SIAPA SEBENARNYA YANG TIDAK BERAKHLAK?

ANWAR IBRAHIM - NOMINATION DAY IN PTG. PAUH, PENANG (16 AUGUST 2008)

PAKATAN RAKYAT KUASAI HARI PENAMAAN CALON - PART 1

PAKATAN RAKYAT KUASAI HARI PENAMAAN CALON - PART 2

PRESS CONFERENCE WITH ANWAR IBRAHIM AT YAYASAN AMAN, PENANG

ANWAR ACCUSES OPPONENTS OF 'DIRTY TRICKS' CAMPAIGN

Malaysian opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim has accused the government of using dirty tricks to end to his campaign to return to parliament.

Over the weekend, Datuk Seri Anwar filed papers to contest a seat his former parliamentary seat in the nothern state of Penang. He says the ruling coalition is exploiting racial tensions, and highlighting new sodomy allegations against him, to avoid a landslide opposition victory. He accused the government of sending SMS messages to Malay villagers denouncing Anwar as an 'agent of the Chinese'. The opposition's unprecedented gains in the March elections brought record numbers of non-Malays into parliament. Now the August 26 by-election will be a further test of Anwar's bid to appeal to all of Malaysia's racial groups - a first in the nation's political history.

Presenter: Joanna McCarthy
Speaker: Assistant Professor Bridget Welsh from John Hopkins University

McCARTHY: You've just returned from the area where Anwar is standing for election. Have you seen evidence of what he's calling race-based tactics?

WELSH: Oh absolutely, but I think it's on both sides, but I think predominantly its happening from the BN where they are using character assassination, and in particular, as a main means of for its campaign.

McCARTHY: Indeed, Anwar's really trying to break the mould by forming a Coalition here that appeals across the racial divide. Now that's something that UMNO is working so hard to undermine. Do you think the People's Alliance can stay viable in the long term?

WELSH: I think it can, and I think it's very fragmented. It's fragmented by personality, ideological differences between PAS and the DAP in particular, particularly over the issue of Islamic law, which I think still is a major undercurrent. Just this weekend, you also had the Islamic Party also holding its annual meeting with its delegates and I think that came out as well. But Permatang Pauh though the People's Alliance has really already gone beyond expectations in the fact that is has held these last few months and I think it's going to be a key moment right now in the sense of whether or not it moves from state government to national government.

McCARTHY: And this by-election obviously will be a crucial test of the Opposition's performance at least in since March. Inspite of the charges against Anwar, can we still expect him to have a comfortable win?

WELSH: Yes, I mean this is traditionally his home seat. He's wife won the seat by 13,000 votes. When he was in office, he won the head a similar types of majorities and I think his home ground is from there, and he's using his local candidacy and his local roots in his own campaign. And I think this is likely to be the factor as it moves forward. The key will be whether or not the campaign tactics actually become much more confrontational. There were some small incidents of violence during the nomination process and after. I think also it will be crucial will be whether or not the election itself remains transparent. The process is very critical.

McCARTHY: And what do we know about the candidate whose standing against Anwar, Arif Shah from Barisan National?

WELSH: He's a state assemblyman in one of the three state seats which actually comprise Permatang Pauh. He won this seat by a slim majority of 533 votes in the 2008 election. He has been a candidate that actually has a pretty strong record and I would argue is one of the strongest candidates coming from UMNO. He's clean, he has a very strong record of service. His constituency where he comes from at the state level is one of the most multi-ethnic. There is three. There is Permatang Pauh, Pasian Pennanti and Seberang Jaya and the other two are much more Malay. This one is much more multi-ethnic and I think in a sense he actually appeals. Part of that is he speaks Hokkien and Mandarin and I think that is a very rare thing for UMNO politicians and I think that the BN recognises he needed to choose among its best in order to at least have a fighting chance and I think it still however will be a fighting chance.

McCARTHY: And Anwar of course is expecting to go on and win the by-election and then he's vowing he will bring down the Coalition by mid September through government defections. Now is this just political rhetoric or is he in a striking chance of succeeding?

WELSH: I think it's going to be difficult, because he will have to create momentum to get the crossovers and there are 30 seats differential and in order to be able to have that, you have to have people who are willing to make the move initially and so far that has not happened. And also you have a very difficult task of finding places for them within the Coalition itself, within the Pakapan Coalition hierarchy and that will be hard to figure out, because of the fragmentation that exists within the alliance. And I think at this particular point, it is really being the issue of September 16th is being used as a way to keep the Opposition together focused and united and I think that it's very difficult, it's hard to get into reality. This cannot be completely ruled out. The first step for the Opposition to be able to do this however, will be Anwar getting into parliament and that's what's happening in this campaign, this week.

--RADIO AUSTRALIA--

MALAYSIA'S MAHATHIR WON'T STAND AGAINST ANWAR IN VOTE: REPORT

2008-08-10T22:03:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT TAMAN MEDAN (7 AUGUST 2008) - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT TAMAN MEDAN (7 AUGUST 2008) - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT TAMAN MEDAN (7 AUGUST 2008) - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT TAMAN MEDAN (7 AUGUST 2008) - PART 4

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT TAMAN MEDAN (7 AUGUST 2008) - PART 5

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT TAMAN MEDAN (7 AUGUST 2008) - PART 6

MALAYSIA'S MAHATHIR WON'T STAND AGAINST ANWAR IN VOTE: REPORT

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Former Malaysian premier Mahathir Mohamad has denied speculation he will run against his arch-foe, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, in a by-election expected to return Anwar to parliament.

Anwar was Mahathir's deputy and heir apparent until 1998 when he was sacked and jailed on sodomy and corruption charges widely seen as retribution for challenging his one-time mentor.

Mahathir, who has also had a serious falling out with his successor, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said the ruling party has no one who can beat Anwar in the August 26 by-election.

"At the moment I do not see anyone who can give Anwar a run for his money," Mahathir said, according to the New Straits Times newspaper.

But Mahatir said he would not challenge Anwar for the seat vacated by Anwar's wife after he was charged with sodomy once again last week.

"No way, I have resigned in 2003 and I have said that I'm not coming back," he said, according to the state Bernama news agency.

Despite the new allegations that he sodomised a young male aide -- a serious offence in Malaysia that carries a penalty of 20 years imprisonment -- Anwar has said he is still on track to seize power.

Landmark general elections in March handed the opposition an unprecedented one-third of parliamentary seats, and Anwar would need just 30 lawmakers from the ranks of the ruling coalition to switch sides.

--AFP--

PAKATAN RAKYAT WILL SECURE FUNDAMENTAK LIBERTIES

2008-08-08T22:32:00.000-07:00

MENANTU TAK BAGI TAHU LAGI APA ITU 'DNA' - ANWAR IBRAHIM

COMFORTABLE NUMBER FOR SEPTEMBER 16

PRESS STATEMENT - PAKATAN RAKYAT WILL SECURE FUNDAMENTAL LIBERTIES

08 AUGUST 2008, PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA

I promise that under a Pakatan Rakyat government Malaysians will never again be subjected to such gross abuse of executive power as we are again witnessing today. Arbitrary arrest and detention, frivolous investigation and malicious prosecutions shall be a thing of the past. Police officers and prosecutors who launch conspiracies to defame and humiliate the innocent will be severely punished. The use of police powers as well the office of the Attorney General to persecute political opponents will be criminalized so as to ensure a healthy and vibrant democracy where dissent is not only tolerated but nurtured.

In this regard every Malaysian’s fundamental liberties will be treated as sacrosanct and safeguarded by a truly independent judiciary guided by principles of utmost integrity and an adherence to the spirit of the federal constitution.

The politically motivated trial launched against me will, Insha’Allah, be the last of its kind. No Malaysian will suffer from this cruel injustice ever again.

Yesterday’s events confirm my innocence from the charges that recently surfaced. The medical report and statutory declaration by Dr. Osman Abdul Hamid of the Pusrawi Hospital that surfaced on Thursday shatter lingering doubts as to whether the alleged act ever took place. Dr. Osman’s statement also confirms what we have already stated regarding deplorable actions by the police to fabricate evidence in a manner identical to the manipulation of my case in 1998. Anything short of a thorough investigation into the mishandling of this investigation would further tarnish the credibility of the police.

The doctor’s personal safety is a matter of deep concern to us. Material witnesses in high-profile cases in Malaysia have gone missing in the past such as the PI Balasubramanian. I applaud those brave individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to freedom and justice by coming forward with important evidence, and call upon the authorities to ensure their protection.

Yesterday in court we learned that the prosecution’s case has, in a manner similar to the botched trials of 1998, shape-shifted from a charge of assault to one of a consensual act. The conspiracy launched against me in the final week of June 2008 is falling apart. There is a hasty attempt by some to patch up glaring holes in the complainant’s testimony. This will certainly fail given the preponderance of evidence confirming my innocence.

The Prime Minister has actively involved himself in this matter in an attempt to derail the process of transformational change in Malaysia and stave off his own political demise. But in soiling his hands with this sordid matter he has deepened the crisis within his own administration. His most ardent supporters among the Malays have also expressed their disgust with the matter. Furthermore Prime Minister Badawi now faces investigation by the Anti Corruption Agency for his involvement in corruption and money politics.

The shadow of corruption and mismanagement of the economy darkens the legacy of his Premiership. Prime Minister Badawi has still offered no convincing explanation over the huge profits reaped by his family in the Oil For Food scandal at the expense of dying Iraqis.

I advise those around him to leave the sinking ship of his leadership while there is still a chance to do so.

Pakatan Rakyat’s reform agenda is firmly back on track and the New Dawn for Malaysia is well within reach. We will mount a unified campaign to win in Permatang Pauh with a solid majority encompassing that constituency’s diverse population. I look forward to entering Parliament on August 27th with the support of my friends in the coalition.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

ANWAR IBRAHIM SUMMONED TO COURT FOR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CHARGE

2008-08-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS STATEMENT

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTION & ANSWER - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTION & ANSWER - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTION & ANSWER - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM: 'BLAME ABDULLAH FOR THE SHAM TRIAL'

ABDULLAH DEFENDS DECISION TO CHARGE OPPOSITION LEADER

PRESS STATEMENT:
ANWAR IBRAHIM SUMMONED TO COURT FOR POLITICALLY MOTIVATED CHARGE

6 AUGUST 2008, PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA

This morning the Malaysian Election Commission announced nomination and polling day for the by-election that I will contest in Permatang Pauh. I look forward to the campaign period to meet with voters in my home constituency. I invite all Malaysians to join me in this historic campaign to bring forth a New Dawn for Malaysia as we work together to build a more peaceful and prosperous nation.

At the same time we would reiterate our longstanding concerns about the integrity of the electoral process. To this date, the evidence of phantom voters and ballot box stuffing has yet to be addressed by the Election Commission. The poor handling of the use of indelible ink in the General Elections gives all Malaysians, particularly those in Permatang Pauh, reason to be concerned about the conduct of polling this month. I urge the Election Commission to take this opportunity to restore some credibility to its reputation by fulfilling its constitutional mandate to ensure that voting is fair and unbiased.

On a darker note, I regret to say that I fear an enormous injustice is about to be perpetrated upon the Malaysian people, worse than those actions taken in 1988 and 1998 which rendered almost irreparable harm against the institutions of democracy and the rule of law. While some individuals suffered greatly by those actions, the Malaysian people have been the greatest losers.

Tomorrow I will be charged with a crime I did not commit. The real criminals will, in their efforts to humiliate me and to derail the people's aspirations for transformational change in Malaysia, hide behind a smokescreen created by the government controlled mainstream media.

This travesty of justice will take place. It will happen with the active support and the criminal involvement of the highest echelons of the police and politicians—including the office of the Prime Minister.

We have been informed that the Attorney General's chambers has advised against charging me after having studying the investigation papers. Despite its views, some individuals within the Police have insisted on pursuing this case even though the legal professionals in the AG's Chambers take a different view.

The evidence proves that the accuser lied in his initial report. He has been seen to be working in close collaboration with the police, notably his meeting with SAC2 Rodwan who was working hand in hand with Musa Hassan to conspire against me in 1998. Other witnesses in this matter have been threatened and harassed in order to fabricate evidence. Doctors appear to have been pressured to violate all norms of medical ethics. Senior Ministers, in their comments about the case, have demonstrated their consistent interference in the investigation.

We are also informed that some individuals within the Prime Minister's close circles are adamant about pursuing this case. Their involvement further undermines the credibility of the case and proves that the entire conspiracy hatched against me is politically motivated.

Today the Prime Minister faces a crisis of confidence. His approval ratings have plummeted since the March elections and senior members of the Barisan Nasional have joined Pakatan Rakyat in droves. The economy under his abysmal management has reached its lowest ebb in decades and all signs point to further weakening. And just yesterday prominent UMNO members have initiated an investigation into his own involvement in corruption and money politics. This is a man under siege – and he sees no way out but to deflect the attention of the Malaysian people with a sham trial against me.

He is now burning the forest to save his own tree!

I have thus far constrained my criticism of the Prime Minister to his failed policies and general incompetence in leading the nation. But now it is clear that his vendetta against those who would seek his early dismissal from office knows no boundaries and will transgress all limits of the rule of law.

I hold the Prime Minister personally responsible for the damage that is about to be done to the nation and to the integrity and dignity of the Malays.

Our international standing, recently lambasted by prominent leaders from around the world, will plummet even further. Overseas investors are already deeply skeptical about Malaysia on account of its reputation for deeply engrained corruption and economic inefficiency. They will certainly be further dissuaded from any further activity in Malaysia. The continued decline in the economy will lead to greater unemployment and rampant stagflation.

I will fight this with the hope and energy of the people who have supported reformasi in Malaysia. I will not allow this cowardly attack to derail Pakatan Rakyat's agenda for change. Insha'Allah we will win in Permatang Pauh. Insha'Allah we will win convincingly. I look forward to joining my colleagues in the Parliament to prepare for the historic transition that the country is eagerly awaiting.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY

2008-08-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 4

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 5

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 6

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 7

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 8

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 9

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 10

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 11

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 12

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 13

ANWAR IBRAHIM WITH KICK ANDY ON METRO TV INDONESIA - PART 14

USE INDELIBLE INK FOR PERMATANG PAUH, URGES PKR

Tuesday August 5, 2008 MYT 5:52:27 PM

By DERRICK VINESH

BUTTERWORTH: PKR is urging the Election Commission to use the indelible ink in the coming Permatang Pauh by-election.

Its Youth chief Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said it was a waste of public funds spent on the ink, if it was not used.

“This is the best time for the EC to test and see if the usage of indelible ink is workable,” he said on Tuesday.

Shamsul said the usage of the ink would help promote greater transparency in the country’s election process.

The use of indelible ink for the March 8 general election was scrapped at the last minute after reports that some irresponsible people had smuggled in the ink, casting doubt on security concerns.

Shamsul also said the party’s youth wing was gearing up for the by-election, following the opening of its operations centre in Taman Sama Gagah, Permatang Pauh last Sunday.

“While the Yayasan Aman premises in Penanti will be used as PKR’s main election operations centre, the one in Taman Sama Gagah will act as our base.

“We will soon open similar youth centres in Seberang Jaya and Penanti,” he said.

--THE STAR ONLINE--

POLITICAL SEX SCANDALS

2008-08-04T01:53:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM 3 AUGUST 08: 2000 JOIN PKR AT KLANG - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM 3 AUGUST 08: 2000 JOIN PKR AT KLANG - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM 3 AUGUST 08: 2000 JOIN PKR AT KLANG - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM 3 AUGUST 08: 2000 JOIN PKR AT KLANG - PART 4

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE - 3 AUGUST 08

POLITICAL SEX SCANDALS ROCK MODEST MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur Journal

By THOMAS FULLER
Published: August 4, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Government censors in this majority Muslim nation have upheld an ethos of modesty by snipping sex scenes from films and banning entertainers from wearing outfits that reveal too much on Malaysian stages; bare belly buttons and figure-hugging outfits are off limits.

But these days Malaysians looking to avoid R-rated content might be advised to steer clear of news reports about their own leaders. Two top politicians are embroiled in scandal, one accused of sodomy and the other of romantic links to a Mongolian woman gruesomely killed in 2006.

Reports on the finer points of a rectal examination and revelations about the sexual preferences of the dead woman make other sex scandals that once shocked people here — including Monica Lewinsky and her blue dress — seem almost Victorian.

This is not the first time that sex and politics have collided in Malaysia. In the 1990s, the sodomy trial of Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy prime minister, featured, among other highlights, a bloodstained mattress being hauled into the courtroom.

This time, wider use of the Internet has helped disseminate documents, facts and rumors that would otherwise have been filtered out of the mainstream news media that are tightly controlled by the government.

The scandals encompass much more than sex; each is a potential career-ender for a man vying to become Malaysia’s next prime minister, with control over a political patronage system that dominates the economy.

Mr. Anwar is now facing new accusations of sodomy — a crime punishable here by up to 20 years in prison — at a time when he is making strides toward unseating the governing coalition, which has run Malaysia since its independence from Britain 51 years ago. His principal political rival, Najib Razak, the deputy prime minister and anointed heir to the current prime minister, has been persistently linked to the slain Mongolian woman, despite his insistence that he never even met her. She was shot and her body obliterated with explosives in the jungle outside Kuala Lumpur.

The defendants in that case are a former political adviser to Mr. Najib and two commandos who were bodyguards for Malaysia’s top leaders.

Tampering is suspected in both cases. Testimony revealed that immigration records of the slain woman had been deleted. Witnesses have dropped from sight, including a private investigator, Balasubramaniam Perumal, who said in a sworn statement in early July that the Mongolian woman was Mr. Najib’s mistress. He retracted his allegations the next day in a hastily convened news conference, and then disappeared, along with his wife and three children. The family’s two Rottweilers were left behind in their cages.

“It’s obvious what has happened here,” said Americk Sidhu, the investigator’s lawyer. “You don’t need to be a rocket scientist. Somebody needed him to shut up.”

Mr. Balasubramaniam, who worked for the Najib adviser now on trial, Abdul Razak Baginda, spent two months writing and revising a 16-page declaration about the case, based on conversations he had with Mr. Abdul Razak and, before her death, with the woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Many of the most salacious facts and rumors about both cases have been funneled into the public realm by one prolific blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, formerly a political associate of Mr. Anwar’s wife.

Citing sources in military intelligence, he issued a sworn declaration in June alleging that Mr. Najib’s wife was present at Ms. Altantuya’s killing. Mr. Najib called it “total lies, fabrication and total garbage” and a “desperate and pathetic attempt to discredit and taint my political image.”

Mr. Raja Petra was also responsible for leaking a medical report relating to the sodomy case against Mr. Anwar. The accuser, a 23-year-old former campaign volunteer, went to a private hospital in Kuala Lumpur hours before lodging a police report charging that Mr. Anwar had sodomized him. The medical report said he complained of a piece of plastic being inserted into his anus. The doctor who wrote the report, Mohamed Osman, said he found no active bleeding, no pus, tear or scar.

Since then, Dr. Osman also has disappeared. The hospital says he will be back on Monday.

The government has charged Mr. Raja Petra with criminal libel, invoking a law that lawyers say has not been used in recent memory in Malaysia and that, unlike civil defamation, can carry a two-year prison term. He has also been charged with sedition, and his house has been raided several times.

Mr. Anwar, who announced Thursday that he would run for Parliament in his quest to become prime minister, said in an interview that he expected to be arrested soon.

He said he had refused to give a DNA sample because he believed that it would be used against him. “There’s nothing stopping them from fabricating evidence again,” Mr. Anwar said.

Although Malaysians enthusiastically share the latest developments in both cases, some have grown tired of the graphic details.

“A good word is disgust — whether it’s sodomy or blowing up the Mongolian lady,” said the Rev. Wong Kim Kong, executive adviser of the National Evangelical Christian Fellowship, a group of Protestant churches. A narrow majority of Malaysians are Muslim, but the country has sizable Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Sikh minorities.

Mr. Wong said the constant barrage of accusations made by bloggers, paired with the government’s steady denials, had left Malaysians pining for clarity.

“People just cannot trust the word of any of these people,” Mr. Wong said. “They cannot distinguish who is telling the truth.”

The scandals come at a time of great political uncertainty in Malaysia. The governing coalition, and the ethnic-based system of politics that it represents, is in disarray. There is simmering resentment among the majority Malays and the minority Chinese and Indians, and corruption within the government is rampant, despite promises by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to clean up the system.

Mr. Anwar has vowed to remake the country’s politics and revoke the authoritarian laws that, among other things, ban students from protesting, keep the media controlled and allow the government to lock up dissidents without trial. But he remains a polarizing figure who is not trusted by many in the elite.

“I think there will at some point be a crisis of legitimacy,” said Ibrahim Suffian, the director of the Merdeka Center, a polling agency. “The leaders seem to feel that they can get away with a lot of things so long as the masses are satisfied with the economic opportunities given to them.

“But the economy is so bad that people are losing faith. There is a feeling that maybe it’s time for major changes.”

--New York Times--

LATEST ANWAR IBRAHIM IN KUALA LUMPUR

2008-08-01T19:32:00.000-07:00

DATO' SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM 31 JULY 08 - PART 1

DATO' SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM 31 JULY 08 - PART 2

DATO' SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM 31 JULY 08 - PART 3

AN ACT OF A LOVING WIFE, SAYS DR. MAHATHIR

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has termed Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail's resignation as Permatang Pauh MP as an act of a loving wife.

"Of course, of course, a loving wife could do nothing better," he told a press conference yesterday.

"I'm quite sure that if my wife (Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali) were in the same position, she would step down and let me 'run.' I'll run faster than she does."

The ever sarcastic and witty former prime minister added: "Has he (PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) been training and running?" he quipped referring to Anwar's political readiness.

His comments came minutes after reporters who learned of Dr Wan Azizah's resignation via SMS, asked Dr Mahathir for his comments.

The press conference was originally held to express the Perdana Global Peace Organisation's disgust that Malaysia was hosting former British prime minister Tony Blair to speak on the rule of law and good governance at the 22nd Sultan Azlan Shah Law Lecture.

Dr Mahathir maintained his sarcasm when asked to comment on the proposed merger between PAS and Umno saying: "We know that cross-breeding is a difficult science. It's like between a cat and - shall we say, goat?"

Dr Mahathir added that he was eager to see how PAS would give up its hudud laws to accommodate the mainstream party practice and vice versa.

--ASIA ONE, SINGAPORE--

ANWAR IBRAHIM TO CONTEST IN BY-ELECTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

2008-07-31T18:11:00.000-07:00

PRESS STATEMENT: DATO' SERI DR. WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL

ANWAR IBRAHIM TO CONTEST PERMATANG PAUH

KHAIRY TAK CERMIN DIRI

Khairy Jamaludin semalam mendakwa bahawa Anwar memilih tempat selamat untuk bertanding dalam pilihanraya kecil dan cuba lari dari isu liwatnya.

KJ tak sedar diri dan tidak cermin diri sendiri dalam dakwaan terbarunya terhadap Anwar.KJ menang kerusi selamat di Rembau, Negeri Sembilan bahkan dikhabarkan menang dengan cara kotor.Sememangnya Anwar perlu bertanding di Permatang Pauh kerana dijamin selamat dan memungkinkan BN untuk tidak berani melanyak rakyat Ptg Pauh dengan kemewahan, fitnah dan permainan kotor.

Salam untuk Ezam Md Nor...Sila lah bertamu ke permatang pauh
jika kamu benar-benar anak jantan :-)

PRESS STATEMENT - ANWAR IBRAHIM TO CONTEST IN BY-ELECTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

After deliberating with my family, the Keadilan party leadership and our partners in the Pakatan Rakyat, I have officially submitted my resignation as Member of Parliament of Permatang Pauh to the Speaker of Parliament YB Tan Sri Datuk Pandikar Amin Bin Hj. Mulia today to make way for my husband, Anwar Ibrahim, to contest as a candidate for Pakatan Rakyat in a by-election as soon as possible.

This is consistent with our goals towards securing a Parliamentary majority and forming a new government within this year.

This decision is the right decision for Malaysia.

The nation now faces some of the greatest challenges it has encountered since gaining independence. The UMNO-led Barisan Nasional government has mismanaged the economy and steered the nation towards a catastrophe. It has allowed the integrity of the justice system to fall into deeper infamy. It has stroked the flames of racism and driven a wedge of mistrust between Malays, Chinese and Indians, while thoroughly neglecting the needs of the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak.

Anwar Ibrahim has articulated a vision for Malaysia that has brought hope to the people. He has the experience and intelligence to reinvigorate our economy, and the charisma and integrity to unite the Malaysian people and restore credibility to our institutions of governance.

I will continue to serve as president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat and as chairperson of the Yayasan Aman (Peace Foundation).

I whole-heartedly thank my supporters in Permatang Pauh who have stood by me in the most difficult of times since September 1998 and have shared in the joy of victory we all experienced on March 8th. The future of our nation lies in the dedication and commitment to justice and freedom that I have experienced as your representative in Parliament and I look forward to many more years of serving you with sincerity and with humility.

DATO' SERI DR. WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
President Parti Keadilan Rakyat

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE (QUESTION AND ANSWER)

2008-07-30T03:42:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT RELIGIOUS DEPT TO GIVE STATEMENT

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS STATEMENT (IN MALAY)

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE (QUESTION AND ANSWER) - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE (QUESTION AND ANSWER) - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE MEDICAL REPORT BY MOHD OSMAN

ANWAR IBRAHIM: IT CONFIRMS PLOT TO FRAME ME

HOSPITAL: ANWAR SODOMY CASE REPORT 'LOOKS GENUINE'

The Associated Press
Published: July 30, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: A medical report that appeared to prove Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's innocence in a sodomy case "looks genuine," an official said Wednesday.

Anwar was accused last month of sodomizing his male aide, who filed a police complaint after being examined at two hospitals, first at the Pusrawi Hospital and then at the government's Kuala Lumpur General Hospital.

Anwar — who has consistently denied this sodomy allegation, the second against him in a decade — says he is a victim of a political conspiracy by the government to stop him from seizing power.

On Tuesday, Anwar cited a purported Pusrawi Hospital medical report, published by several news portals on the Internet, in which the doctor who examined the 23-year-old aide wrote he found no evidence of sodomy. The hospital confirmed Wednesday the report was authentic.

"It looks genuine," said Kamaruddin Ahmad, the medical director of the partly government-owned Pusrawi Hospital. But he told reporters that a sodomy examination must be done by a specialist.

Anwar's accuser went to the hospital on June 28, complaining of a stomach ache and a painful anus, and was examined by a general practitioner who is a Myanmar national but "not qualified to make any conclusions on sodomy."

Handwritten notes on the two-page medical report indicated that the doctor found no anal bleeding, tears or scars. He suggested the patient go to the government hospital and file a police report.

The accuser went to the government hospital for a second examination. It is not clear what transpired there, but the accuser filed a complaint at a police station against Anwar the same day.

Anwar is currently out on bail after being arrested on suspicion of committing sodomy, which punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

The new accusation surfaced as Anwar seeks to unseat the government.

Anwar plans to contest a by-election in a northern state in a bid to return to Parliament about 10 years after his rising career was shattered by sodomy and corruption allegations. He is believed to be nurturing ambitions to be Malaysia's next prime minister.

He was barred from contesting general elections in March — when his coalition made spectacular gains — because of a previous corruption conviction. The ban expired in April.

He was also charged with sodomy in 1998, but that charge was overturned in 2004.

--INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE--

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN MALACCA

2008-07-28T18:11:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 4

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 5

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 6

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN JASIN, MELAKA - PART 7

WERE THE ANWAR SODOMY CHARGES FAKED

Jed Yoong
28 July 2008

A medical report surfaces saying the male aide who filed charges against the opposition leader wasn’t molested

See the Doctor's Report

The doctor who examined a 23-year-old male aide allegedly sodomized by Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim found no evidence of tearing or scarring that would indicate penetration, according to a medical report leaked to local journalists.

If the document is genuine, it can be expected to raise further suspicions of complicity on the part of top government leaders in attempting to destroy Anwar politically. The charges against Anwar, filed by the youth on June 28, could end the opposition politician's political career and put him back behind bars, where he had spent six years from 1999 on similar charges, which human rights organizations across the world condemned as trumped up. Sodomy is a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment and caning

Anwar was arrested two weeks after the youth filed the complaint and was jailed overnight on July 15 after police, some wearing balaclava masks, descended on his home, a move that sent Anwar's supporters into the streets around the police station where he was being held. He refused at that time to give a DNA specimen, charging that it could be misused.

According the medical report, which allegedly was filed at Hospital Pusrawi Sdn Bhd on Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur, the aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, was examined by Dr Mohamed Osman on June 28 at 2 pm. After he had gone to the hospital to complain about pain he said he was suffering in his anus, he allegedly told hospital personnel that he had been assaulted by a "very important person."

After Dr Mohamad refused to write a report that Saiful had been sodomized, according to Malaysia Today, the doctor suggested that the youth obtain another diagnosis at a government hospital. Doctors at that hospital also refused to confirm a diagnosis of sodomy, according to the publication, although it did not name the doctors.

Nonetheless, Malaysia Today reported, Saiful filed the report of assault at a nearby police kiosk four hours later.

After Mohamad Osman made the report indicating no sexual assault had taken place, police picked up the doctor and detained him for three days to attempt to persuade him to change his diagnosis, according to Malaysia Today. The doctor, the publication said, has since gone into hiding with his family.

In a telephone interview with Asia Sentinel, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ismail Omar confirmed that Dr Mohamad had been questioned, but said he had never been detained.

Attempts to reach hospital officials were unsuccessful. They were said to be in a meeting. However, although the medical report could not be independently verified, a senior Pusrawi Hospital official told the Internet publication Malaysiakini this morning that the hospital had launched an internal investigation on how Saiful's medical report was leaked, which is widely considered as a major infringement of patient privacy.

When Malaysiakini showed the official a copy of the report, he refused to return it but he didn't describe it as fake, saying, "It's our document."

Anwar's party issued a statement saying that "the medical report leaked today appears to confirm what we have always believed - that the allegations against Anwar Ibrahim are without merit and politically motivated."

The existence of the report, the statement continued, "further erodes any confidence the public would have in the credibility of the police report that has been filed against Anwar Ibrahim, a report which remains shrouded in secrecy. Why has this medical report surfaced only today, over one month after the allegations were made, after (Anwar) spent a night in jail, and after the police have spent so much time and money on this case?"

Anwar and his three-party coalition, made up of his own Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the Democratic Action Party and Parti Islam se-Malaysia, are attempting to oust the ruling Barisan Nasional, or National Coalition, from 50 years of unbroken power. In March 8 elections, the opposition coalition broke the two-thirds hold the BN had enjoyed in parliament since independence.

Anwar was in the political wilderness for a decade after he broke with former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. Although the 1999l sodomy charge against him was later reversed, the 61-year-old former deputy prime minister was barred from running for political office because the corruption charge remained. That ban, however, has been repealed and Anwar expects to stand in a by-election. If he is victorious, he has repeatedly forecast that in mid-September he will lure enough pro-Barisan lawmakers this side to take over the government. Anwar has made numerous allegations of political corruption against top leaders of the United Malays National Organisation, the lead party in the three-party Barisan Nasional.

If the coalition indeed takes power, top members of the government, the judiciary and law enforcement have a great deal to fear. Anwar has already sought to have his original conviction reversed and has filed charges against Abdul Ghani Patail, the attorney general, and Musa Hassan, the chief of police for allegedly fabricating the evidence against him in the original case.

Malaysia Today earlier reported that a witness told the publication Saiful had met with Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the designated successor to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Anwar's rival for political power, concerning the filing of the charges. Najib had first told reporters he had never met with the youth and later said he had only met him briefly for "career counseling."

Raja Petra himself has been a major source of embarrassment to the government, directly accusing Najib and his wife of being involved in the brutal execution murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu, who was shot twice in the head in October of 2006 and dumped in a patch of jungle before she was blown up with plastic explosive. In response, the government - although neither Najib nor his wife - has charged Raja Petra with both sedition and criminal libel, a statute that is very rarely used today and deals with the danger to national security.

Raja Petra, a member of the Selangor sultanate, has refused to back down, saying that if he goes to jail, he intends to take Najib down with him. Prime Minister Badawi has fully backed Najib and named him as his successor. Despite numerous attempts to get Najib into court for interrogation, the judge in the year-old trial of one of his best friends and two of his bodyguards for Altantuya's murder has refused to call him, most recently last week.

--ASIA SENTINEL--

ANWAR, PAS AND UMNO

2008-07-23T00:23:00.000-07:00

MUZAKARAH PAS - UMNO

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN CHENG, MELAKA - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN CHENG, MELAKA - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN CHENG, MELAKA - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM IN CHENG, MELAKA - PART 4
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MALAYSIA DEMANDS US STOP 'INTERFERING' IN ANWAR CASE

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Malaysian Foreign Minister Rais Yatim Friday demanded the United States stop "interfering" in an investigation into sodomy allegations against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Thursday urged Malaysia to ensure a "transparent" investigation into the sexual misconduct allegations against Anwar -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

"Whatever others say from outside Malaysia is irrelevant. Ultimately it is the decision of Malaysians that will be counted in this case," Rais Yatim told AFP.

"Anwar may have many friends overseas to prop him up for his image and for his present situation but Malaysia has its own laws and domestic constitution," he said.

"The US has got this larger-than-life image in assuming the position as policemen of the world. They want to project this all along but they have to stop interfering and making comments such as these," the minister said.

"After a certain point, if they keep interfering with the internal affairs of other countries, then the US has got to answer to the big question of responsibility and whether they have the jurisdiction to do that, as powerful as they may be," he said.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi also got stuck into the US.

"I want to make this important point: We are a sovereign country and we have our own set of laws. Whatever we do we will make sure it is consistent with the laws and spirit of the laws in Malaysia and I hope people will respect it," he told reporters.

Malaysia has accused the US of meddling in its internal affairs by raising concerns over Anwar's arrest last week.

Rice however said the US would continue to speak out on cases involving human rights and politics although it did so "in a spirit of respect for Malaysia".

Former Canadian prime minister Paul Martin, ex-World Bank chief James Wolfensohn, and Michel Camdessus, the former head of the International Monetary Fund have also urged the sodomy allegations be dropped.

They also reiterated their "full confidence," in Anwar's moral integrity.

Anwar spent a night in custody last week after being arrested over accusations that he sodomised a 23-year-old male aide. He was released on bail and must report back to police on August 18.

The allegations threaten to derail Anwar's spectacular political comeback, after March elections that handed the opposition a third of parliamentary seats.

He has said he plans to seize power soon with the help of government defectors.

Anwar was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed for six years on corruption and sodomy charges.

The sex conviction was overturned by the nation's highest court in 2004.

--AFP--

ANWAR IBRAHIM: FIGHT FOR MY RIGHT

2008-07-18T19:12:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM ARRESTED OUTSIDE HIS HOUSE

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT KUALA LUMPUR GENRAL HOSPITAL

SIDANG MEDIA ANWAR SELEPAS DIBEBASKAN [BHG 1]

SIDANG MEDIA ANWAR SELEPAS DIBEBASKAN [BHG 2]

SIDANG MEDIA ANWAR SELEPAS DIBEBASKAN [BHG 3]

SIDANG MEDIA ANWAR SELEPAS DIBEBASKAN [BHG 4]

ANWAR BIMBANG DNA DIMANIPULASI

ANWAR IBRAHIM: OF MALAYSIA RELEASED ON BAIL 18 JULY 2008

SAIFUDIN NASUTION: EXPOSING THE SODOMY CONSPIRACY

2008-07-14T21:39:00.000-07:00

CLICK-> VIDEO: MAJORITI MP BN VS YB. AZMIN ALI

CLICK-> VIDEO: DUN SELANGOR (KHIR TOYO KENA BELASAH)

CLICK-> VIDEO: ANWAR VS NAJIB, PAK LAH - KJ SENYUM

SAIFUDIN NASUTION: EXPOSING THE CONSPIRACY AT PETALING JAYA - PART 1

SAIFUDIN NASUTION: EXPOSING THE CONSPIRACY AT PETALING JAYA - PART 2

SAIFUDIN NASUTION: EXPOSING THE CONSPIRACY AT PETALING JAYA - PART 3

ANWAR FACES ARREST AFTER DEFYING ORDER

July 14, 2008 - 8:01PM

Malaysia's opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim could face arrest, police said, after refusing to be questioned over allegations of sodomy, the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

Anwar's Keadilan party said he defied the order because it was not served properly and he was angry over being barred from parliament where the opposition was attempting to mount an anti-government debate.

Police rolled out a massive security lockdown around parliament, saying Anwar was planning a rally in support of the motion to discuss the shortcomings of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is facing calls to quit.

"We have given him the chance and space to turn up," said Criminal Investigation Department director Bakri Zinan after Anwar's no-show. "We have other options to compel him to turn up."

Asked whether Anwar could be arrested to force him to submit to questioning, he said: "Yes, it is one of the options".

Anwar has vowed to fight the sodomy accusations levelled by 23-year-old Mohamad Saiful Bukhari Azlan, which he says have been fabricated by the government to prevent him from seizing power after landmark March elections.

Mohamad Saiful has been under police protection since accusing Anwar of sodomy - the very charge that saw the opposition leader jailed a decade ago.

Keadilan said the police order summoning Anwar for questioning had been served on Anwar's daughter and not the opposition leader himself and that police must issue it properly.

"Anwar will not obey the order. He is at home. He is upset with the action of the police to secure a court order to ban him from going to parliament today," the party's information chief Tian Chua told AFP.

Anwar's lawyer Sankara Nair said there was "no fear" of arrest and that when the order was issued properly he would cooperate fully.

The sex misconduct claim threatens to derail a stunning political comeback by Anwar, who was sacked as deputy premier in 1998 and jailed on sodomy and corruption allegations that he said were politically motivated.

Anwar has said he is poised to seize power from Abdullah with the help of government defectors, after his opposition alliance claimed one third of parliamentary seats and five states in March elections.

--THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD--

ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN

2008-07-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

SHAH ALAM: ANWAR IBRAHIM KENA BELASAH

SEREMBAN: ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN - PART 1

SEREMBAN: ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN - PART 2

SEREMBAN: ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN - PART 3

SEREMBAN: ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN - PART 4

SEREMBAN: ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN - PART 5

SEREMBAN: ANWAR IBRAHIM VS UMNO/BN - PART 6

ANTI FUEL HIKE RALLY

2008-07-07T20:29:00.000-07:00

CABURATOR DUNG TUNJUK PUNGGUNG - KONSERT PROTES

ANWAR IBRAHIM SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 4

AFSHIN RATTANSI INTERVIEW WITH ANWAR IBRAHIM

AZMIN ALI SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT

LIM KIT SIANG SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 1

LIM KIT SIANG SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 2

LIM KIT SIANG SPEECH AT PROTES - GERAMM SEJUTA RAKYAT - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM: I CAN'T STOP!

2008-07-02T02:19:00.000-07:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE 1 JULY 2008 - PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE 1 JULY 2008 - PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE 1 JULY 2008 - PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM PRESS CONFERENCE 1 JULY 2008 - PART 4

PM ASSURES SAFETY OF BOTH COMPLAINANT, ACCUSED

ANWAR IBRAHIM DAH MENGAMUK - 01/07/2008 SHAH ALAM PART 1

ANWAR IBRAHIM DAH MENGAMUK - 01/07/2008 SHAH ALAM PART 2

ANWAR IBRAHIM DAH MENGAMUK - 01/07/2008 SHAH ALAM PART 3

ANWAR IBRAHIM DAH MENGAMUK - 01/07/2008 SHAH ALAM PART 4

ANWAR IBRAHIM DAH MENGAMUK (LAST WARNING) - 01/07/2008 SHAH ALAM PART 5

MALAYSIA'S ANWAR VOWS TO SEIZE POWER

By VIJAY JOSHI

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) — Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has vowed to seize power soon, stepping up his campaign against the government as he fights an accusation of sodomizing a young worker in his office.

Addressing some 7,000 people on Tuesday night, Anwar accused the ruling National Front coalition government of being corrupt, inefficient and uncaring. He promised to set right the problems plaguing the country, including bringing down fuel prices, which were raised by a whopping 41 percent to 63 percent last month.

The opposition will "rule in a short while" and "the next day we will lower the price of oil," he said to loud cheers in his first public meeting since he was hit by the sodomy accusation last week.

Police are investigating the allegation by a 23-year-old male aide. Anwar, 60, who is married with six children, says he is a victim of a conspiracy by a desperate government clinging to power.

Sodomy, even if consensual, is punishable by up to 20 years in prison in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

The government has denied any hand in the claim.

Anwar was fired as deputy prime minister in 1998 when he was faced with a similar sodomy accusation, and spent six years in prison until Malaysia's highest court overturned the charge in 2004. While in custody, he was beaten by police and suffered from arsenic poisoning.

"I went to prison once and was beaten half to death. Do you think I will remain silent now? We will fight!" he said, adding that his accuser was being manipulated by a top politician in the government.

Anwar led a three-party opposition coalition to spectacular gains in March 8 general elections, which reduced the National Front's strength to 140 seats for a thin 30-seat majority in the 222-member Parliament. Anwar has said he will be able to pull 30 lawmakers to his side by mid-September.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is also under pressure from some of his own party members to step down.

"The National Front is in turmoil, with enemies from within and attacks from outside," Anwar said. "If the elections had been free and fair, the opposition would be in power, not the National Front."

The National Front has run the government since independence in 1957, and an opposition leadership was unthinkable until this year. Its massive gains are a reflection not only of Anwar's charisma and strategic skills but also of the growing disenchantment with the National Front among the majority ethnic Malays.

The political uncertainty because of Anwar's campaign and the government's weakness has hit the stock market hard.

The Composite Index slipped 1.8 percent to 1,153.7 points Wednesday — falling below the 1,157 points that it fell to on March 10 after the general elections.

Ibrahim Suffian, director of the independent Merdeka Center opinion research firm, said many people think the sodomy allegation was aimed at derailing Anwar's political plans.

"It's still early days ... but Anwar may gain more out of this because of the credibility issues that the government needs to face," Ibrahim told The Associated Press.

--AP--

ANWAR UNDER ATTACK

2008-06-29T21:16:00.000-07:00

SIAPA MAHU PERCAYA?

Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail telah mendedahkan bukti awal bahawa lelaki yang mengaku diliwat oleh Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim adalah orang kuat pemimpin tertentu UMNO/BN dan dia bukan ahli PKR.
Dalam satu sidang akhbar, Datin Seri Wan Azizah turut mendedahkan gambar pemuda tersebut yang bergambar dengan seseorang berlatar belakangkan pejabat Timbalan Perdana Menteri.Turut didedahkan gambar pemuda tersebut bersama-sama dengan menteri hal ehwal pengguna, Dato Sharil Samad,
Dato Mustapha Muhammad Dan Darto Azalina Othman Said
Persoalan mula timbul, siapakah sebenarnya pemuda ini?
Dia hanya wujud secara sukarela dalam watak PKR sejak 3 bulan lalu dan kelihatan 'familiar' dengan pejabat kerajaan.

Apakah ia kebetulan atau 'keBRUTALan'

Gambar-gambar yang didedahkan menimbulkan curiga apatah lagi dalam keadaan DSAI terlalu gagah dipentas politik sejak PRU 12 yang lalu.

Laporan terbaru menyebut bahawa Saiful(ORANG YANG MENUDUH) adalah seorang ketua pelajar di UNITEN dan seorang yang sangat suka berkawan termasuk dengan menteri-menteri, ketua-ketua pembangkang, samseng dan tukang sapu jalanan.

"Wah, bagus sungguh pemuda ini...suka berkawan sehingga sanggup dirinya diLIWAT?"
Sedarkah dia bahawa samseng boleh menggunakan kayu baseball untuk meliwat?

Dalam wawancara melalui telefon bersama AFP, DSAI memberi tahu bahawa beliau menuntut komitmen dari kerajaan agar keselamatannya tidak terancam dan beliau bersedia keluar dari kedutaan Turki andai kerajaan mampu memberi jaminan tersebut.Anwar turut menyatakan bahawa beliau pernah hampir mati 10 tahun lalu.

Sememangnya DSAI berhak untuk berlindung kerana beliau telah melalui tiap jalan badan-badan yang bertanggungjawab memenjarakannya.Maksudnya, Dsai tidak mungkin mahu mempercayai sistem perundangan negara yang dikawal oleh orang-orang tertentu.Buktinya: Kes VK Linggam, pengakuan hakim Ian Chin yang mendakwa diugut oleh bekas PM Tun Dr. Mahathir, Pegawai penyiasat kes 1998 Tan Sri Musa Hassan yang kini sebagai ketua polis negara (KPN) dan ketua pendakwaraya ketika kes 1998 adalah peguam negara ketika ini.Apakah anda akan menyerah sekiranya anda berada ditempat DSAI?

Apapun saya mengharap agar politik dan bumi Malaysia tidak terjerumus kedalam kancah sedahsyat politik di Lebanon, Pakistan, India, Sri Langka dan beberapa negara lain yang sinonim dengan pembunuhan, letupan bom dan darurat yang sememangnya telah menghancurkan harapan keamanan.

Semoga ALLAH melindungi bumi Malaysia.

ANTARA GAMBAR-GAMBAR SAIFUL BERSAMA ORANG BESAR NEGARA

ANWAR NAFI TUDUHAN

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAIFUL WAS A STUDENT LEADER AT UNITEN

Monday June 30, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan, the man who is accusing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of sodomy, was a student leader at Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten) for the 2006/2007 term.

The 23-year-old Saiful wrote in a reply in a blog a few months ago that he opted out of the university due to poor results and it would take another two-and-a-half years to complete his electrical course, something he did not want. He wrote that although active in student politics, he harboured ambitions to become a pilot. He took up the electrical course as he was offered a scholarship.

Saiful described himself as someone who liked to make friends, “regardless if they were ministers, opposition leaders, gangsters or even road sweepers.”

--the star online--

MALAYSIA'S ANWAR DEMANDS GOVT SAFETY GUARANTEE, SHELTERING IN TURKISH EMBASSY

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) — Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who took refuge at the Turkish embassy amid threats and sodomy accusations, said on Monday he will not leave until the Malaysian government guarantees his safety.

Foreign Minister Rais Yatim reportedly accused Turkey of meddling in Malaysia's affairs, saying it had no right to give sanctuary to Anwar, a friend of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

"I need categorical assurance on my safety. You know I have previously been assaulted to near death," Anwar said, referring to a beating he received after being sacked as deputy premier and hit with sex and corruption charges in 1998.

"Sure, if they give me an assurance for my safety today I will leave the embassy today," he told AFP in a phone interview from the mission in downtown Kuala Lumpur.

Anwar fled there on Sunday, saying he had been threatened and feared a government assassination plot after facing "fabricated" accusations that he sodomised a male aide -- the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago.

"There's two reasons why I decided to come to the embassy. It's not just for my personal safety, it's also for the stability of the nation," he said, referring to expectations of major protests if he is arrested.

"I urge my supporters to be calm but firm. Enough is enough, we will fight it out."

Anwar's lawyers on Monday filed a writ at the High Court charging the 23-year-old aide with libel and filing a false police report, saying the complaint was malicious and designed to "destroy" his political career.

Rais Yatim said Turkish ambassador Barlas Ozener will have to explain his actions at a meeting at the ministry scheduled for Monday.

"When you run away from the law, it is not the same as facing some political persecution. As such, the embassy cannot grant him any sort of protection," Rais told The Star daily.

Anwar said the allegations were aimed at derailing his spectacular political comeback as the figurehead of the opposition which made unprecedented gains in March elections, and came just as he was about to re-enter parliament.

"This is their intention. You know we will announce a by-election this week. I will contest in the by-election, the police knew that," he told AFP.

After his sacking, a watershed event in Malaysian politics, Anwar was convicted on sodomy and corruption charges which landed him in jail for six years. He was released in 2004 when the sex charge was overturned.

Anwar, who has said since the March elections that he has the numbers to form a new government with the help of defecting lawmakers from the ruling coalition, said he was still on track to seize power.

"The momentum is still on, I will continue to monitor the progress. It has never been so good, they know that," he said of the government which is led by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's UMNO party.

"UMNO members and MPs have promised to come out and campaign for me so they come out with these sexual allegations to stop me from securing power," he said.

Anwar said that after his experiences a decade ago, he had no faith in the "due process" of the law in Malaysia, and reiterated allegations that elements in the government had orchestrated the new charges.

"Certain people in the hierarchy are involved in these allegations. Evidence from photos shows this," he said, referring to images of his accuser posing with ministers and government aides which his party has aired.

"They have made fabrications in the court, do they want me to believe in due process?" he asked.

Anwar said that elements in the police who were involved in the original investigation against him were now acting to sideline him because they feared revenge if he becomes prime minister.

"If you want to fight a political battle, do it cleanly," he said.

--AFP--

ANWAR IBRAHIM - TOWARDS THE NEW HOPE

2008-06-09T21:44:00.000-07:00

PART 1

PART 2

PART 3

PART 4

PART 5

PART 6

EZAM VS ANWAR IBRAHIM

2008-06-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

PILIHAN RAYA KECIL PALING SENGIT?

Terlintas difikiran selepas menonton temuramah bersama Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim oleh Bloomberg Tv yang telah mengajukan beberapa soalan yang
antara lain mengajukan:
Apakah DSAI mahu bertanding dalam pilihan raya kecil?
Dan DSAI dengan tegas menyatakan akan bertanding dalam pilihan Raya kecil.
Apakah nanti kita bakal menyaksikan pertarungan
paling sengit dalam sejarah pilihan raya negara?
Pada perkiraan saya, sememangnya UMNO merasakan hanya Ezam mampu menyekat kemaraan DSAI menerusi pilihanraya kecil.Ini kerana saya pasti tidak ada sesiapa dikalangan UMNO yang berani mempertaruhkan masa depan politik semata-mata untuk berhadapan dengan DSAI nanti.Dalam hal ini, Ezam dilihat yang paling berani dan tidak kisah sekiranya tewas jika diletakan untuk berpencak bersama DSAI.

Menyentuh sedikit tentang kemasukan Ezam kedalam UMNO, saya melihat Ezam seolah-olah keliru sendirian dan terjerumus kedalam golongan orang-orang yang keliru.
Dikatakan bahawa tertarik dengan REFORM yang mahu dilakukan, lalu Ezam lupa hal-hal besar yang berlaku dalam isu ECM/UDA, WPI - THE 2nd NAKBA IN THE MAKING dan berbagai lagi kelemahan yang Ezam sendiri tidak akan mampu menjadi VACUUM CLEANER.

Perkiraan terakhir yang saya fikir, mungkin Pak Lah mahu mencipta sendiri bakal Perdana Menteri ke-6 dari membiarkan Timbalannya ketika ini menaiki tahkta.

MALAYSIA'S MAHATHIR DISMISSES OPPOSITION CLAIM

Sat May 31, 2008 5:20am EDT

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's former premier Mahathir Mohamad on Saturday dismissed de facto opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's claim that he can soon form a new government, easing worries about a change in rule that has unnerved markets.

Anwar had said some ruling coalition lawmakers were ready to join the opposition, giving it enough support to form a new government by September.

Concerns about a possible change in government coupled with a challenge to the leadership of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi have cast a pall over financial markets in recent months.

But Mahathir brushed aside Anwar's claim, reversing his earlier view that the assertion should not be taken lightly.

"He's not likely to get support of MPs coming over," Mahathir told reporters after giving a talk attended by about 400 people.

"That is what he claims. He makes a lot of claims. We will see in September."

The opposition Pakatan Rakyat -- a loose alliance of Islamists, a Chinese-based party and Anwar's multi-racial group -- won a record 82 seats in the 222-seat lower house of parliament in the March general elections. It needs just 30 seats to win a simple majority and form the government.

Mahathir's remarks come as Abdullah meets lawmakers in the eastern state of Sabah on Borneo island, where unhappy MPs have indicated they are ready to leave the ruling coalition if their demands are not met.

The former premier also repeated calls for lawmakers to leave the ruling coalition, and chided members of the main United Malays National Organization (UMNO) party for fearing to speak out against the party leadership.

"I find UMNO members are afraid of doing anything," he said. "I have suggested that if they are not happy that they leave and be independent."

After months of public criticism against Abdullah's leadership, Mahathir has stepped up pressure for him to quit following the March poll which saw the ruling coalition recording its worst-ever performance in its 50-year rule.

Earlier this month, Mahathir resigned from UMNO in an attempt to force Abdullah to step down, saying he would not return to the party until the prime minister left office.

Mahathir also said a move by former opposition figure Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor to rejoin UMNO could be an opposition ploy.

"In politics everything is possible," he said. "He may be that (Trojan horse). Anwar is quite anxious to be supported by UMNO."

(Writing by Liau Y-Sing; Editing by Valerie Lee)

--REUTERS--

ANWAR WILL RUN FOR MALAYSIA PARLIAMENT ONCE ELIGIBLE

By Haslinda Amin and Angus Whitley

May 29 (Bloomberg) -- Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, freed from prison in 2004, said he'll ``immediately'' contest a parliamentary seat once he confirms his eligibility, part of a plan to topple the government by mid-September.

``If we're absolutely certain of my eligibility, we would opt to do it immediately,'' he told Bloomberg Television in an interview today. Anwar said he doesn't have confirmation from Malaysia's Attorney General that he can hold public office, after serving time in jail on corruption charges he denies.

Anwar, 60, a former Malaysian deputy premier, is seeking to overthrow a coalition that's ruled since independence from Britain in 1957. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, weakened in March 8 elections, is introducing measures to slow inflation and reduce corruption to win back public support.

Anwar, who has calculated he was legally able to be a lawmaker in mid-April, said he may instruct his lawyers to seek an official response from the Attorney General unless he has a ruling by the end of this month.

Malaysian Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail declined to comment when reached on his mobile phone today.

Anwar today repeated claims that his alliance has lined up the necessary 30 defections from Abdullah's coalition to take power. He also said the opposition coalition will discuss who might have the role of deputy prime minister in any potential government that he would lead.

``The issue now is to ensure a smooth transition of power, according to constitutional provisions,'' Anwar said.

Anwar's People's Justice Party, the Democratic Action Party, and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party won control of five of Malaysia's 13 states in the March elections, and denied the coalition its usual two-thirds majority in Parliament.

--BLOOMBERG.COM--

BMC TRAGEDY

2008-05-28T20:52:00.000-07:00

TRAGEDI DI BANDAR MAHKOTA CHERAS (BMC)

BERCERAI KITA ROBOH - BERSATU BOLEH MEROBOH

MANGSA KEGANASAN POLIS?

SERANG HENDAP...?

SUARA RAKYAT BMC

MB: WE'LL HAVE AN EGM SOON

Thursday May 29, 2008

By DHARMENDER SINGH

SHAH ALAM: The state government will exercise its right as a stakeholder in Grand Saga Sdn Bhd to call for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) soon to discuss the Bandar Mahkota Cheras access road issue.

It has a stake in the highway concessionaire through its subsidiary Kumpulan Perangsang Selangor Bhd, which owns 20% of Taliworks Corp Bhd. The latter holds a 55% stake in Cerah Sama Sdn Bhd that wholly owns Grand Saga.

Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said since the state government held a substantial share in Grand Saga, it wanted to inform shareholders of Grand Saga's actions and to ask them to decide if such actions, which have caused problems for residents, were ethical.

He said the closing of the access road and stand-offs with residents in the area had led to them getting hurt, and the state government wanted to put an end to it.

“We will also ask for an audit of the company’s finances to see if it hired thugs to stop residents from removing the barricades, as claimed by residents.

“If this is true, action will be taken against the company officials involved and its director,” he said after chairing the weekly state executive council meeting here yesterday.

He said he had met, and would write to, Works Minister Datuk Mohd Zin Mohamed for an official decision as to whether the company should be allowed to put up the barricades as highways came under the ministry’s purview.

Khalid said the state government also met senior officials from Taliworks Corp, the Public Works Department and the Kajang Municipal Council (MPKJ) yesterday and had decided to seek Malaysian Highway Authority (LLM)’s clarification as to whether it had given its approval for the barricades, as claimed by Grand Saga.

And, if LLM did not, then the state government would immediately order the removal of the barricades, he added.

“The tussle is between the developer (Narajaya Sdn Bhd) and Grand Saga because the concessionaire wants the developer to pay it for loss of income since its toll will be bypassed,” he said, adding that the matter was already in court.

“There is no need to deprive the people of the use of the road because it will be opened, no matter which way the court decides and the issue is only whether the developer will have to compensate the highway concessionaire.”

Khalid urged residents to be patient while the state government worked out a solution.

--THE STAR ONLINE--

SPR VS GOVT

2008-05-19T05:52:00.000-07:00

Minggu lalu SPR menerusi pengerusinya Tan Sri Rashid mendedahkan bahawa kabinet yang diketuai oleh Pak Lah telah bertanggungjawab untuk membatalkan penggunaan dakwat pada Pilihan Raya Umum ke 12.

Kenyataan ini sememangnya tidak mengejutkan kerana secara peribadi saya yakin ketika dakwat dibatalkan, sememangnya pengerusi SPR tidak bersendirian dalam membuat pengumuman tersebut ketika itu.
Lantaran dari pengumuman tersebut, Pak Lah telah menafikan kenyataan SPR dengan alasan keputusan tersebut adalah atas budi-bicara SPR sendiri.

Kini apakah akan ada tindakan menyiasat 'konspirasi' antara ketua polis negara (KPN),
SPR dan Kerajaan?

IT WAS ONLY A SUGGESTION, SAYS PM

Sunday May 18, 2008

By SHAHANAAZ HABIB

KUALA LUMPUR: The Cabinet had merely suggested to the Election Commission (EC) to not use the indelible ink for the general election. It was not a directive, said Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The Prime Minister disclosed that a week before Parliament was dissolved, the Cabinet had made the suggestion, giving its reasons why it did not want the ink to be used.

“We had received information that some quarters had bought the ink although they had no authority to do so and we were suspicious that it could be used to cause confusion and complications during the voting process,” he told reporters yesterday after delivering his closing remarks at the end of the 11th MSC Malaysia International Advisory Panel Meeting.

Abdullah said the Cabinet believed that the election process would go on smoothly and all eligible voters could cast their votes if the indelible ink was not used.

“It was only a suggestion we made to the EC chairman. It was up to him to think it over and agree or to proceed with the original decision to use the ink,” he said.

When the decision to scrap the ink was announced at the eleventh hour of the general election, Barisan Nasional leaders, including Abdullah, had said that they wanted an explanation from the EC on why it was doing away with the indelible ink.

On why the Government did not come clean on the indelible ink in the first place, Abdullah said that if anything tainted the voting process it would be the Government that would be blamed.

Earlier, EC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman said the Cabinet decided not to approve the proposal to use indelible ink “on the day of Parliament dissolution, on Feb 13”.

“They did not approve because of two very strong reasons, and I agreed with them over those reasons.

“One was security and the other was law, relating to Article 119 of the Federal Constitution, which states that it is the fundamental right of a person to vote,” he told the press after opening the National Seminar on Elections 2008: Democracy at Work here yesterday.

Asked if he tried to convince the Cabinet otherwise, Abdul Rashid said “he could not” , adding: “But I took responsibility for it.”

“I was told that the Cabinet had been briefed about an attempt by PAS, that they had bought some ink from Thailand, and were going around to mark old voters. And when Umno came to know, they also went and bought the ink. This was given to me in black and white by the police,” he said.

On May 6, Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said in a Parliament reply to DAP’s Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan that police did not find evidence of smuggled indelible ink and statements made by complainants and witnesses were rumours.

Meanwhile, the Opposition said the revelation that it was the Cabinet that did not approve the use of the indelible ink was the “best proof” that the EC was not independent or neutral.

DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang said it was unacceptable for the Cabinet to have made such a decision and that it went against the spirit of the Constitution of having an independent EC.

PAS research centre director Dr Dzulkifly Ahmad, said: “This is shocking. With this revelation, we come to realise the reasons and rationale why the indelible ink was withdrawn at the eleventh hour. His remark vindicates our claim all along that this is the underpinning reasons. The jigsaw puzzle is now complete.”

Transparency International Malaysia president Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam said he was not only surprised but confused by the conflicting statements.

--The Star Online--

ANWAR DEFENDS MORALITY OF CROSSOVERS

2008-05-12T20:08:00.000-07:00

ANWAR JAWAB TUN DR. MAHATHIR

PEMBERIAN JAWATAN TIMBALAN MENTERI HINA RAKYAT SABAH - GHAFUR

Harakahdaily
Mon | May 12, 08 | 6:25:36 pm MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, 12 Mei (Hrkh) - Bernama melaporkan seorang wakil Sabah hari ini lantang membidas kerajaan Persekutuan di Dewan Rakyat sambil menegaskan bahawa "luahan dan keluhan" rakyat negeri itu tidak harus dipandang ringan kerana ia boleh membawa implikasi besar pada pilihan raya akan datang.

Dato' Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh (BN-Kalabakan), yang sebelum ini meletak jawatan sebagai Timbalan Menteri Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar, menyarankan Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi membuat rombakan untuk memberi jawatan menteri portfolio lebih penting kepada wakil Sabah.

"Kita mahu keadilan, bukan (mahu) Parti Keadilan (Rakyat). Jangan cakap orang Sabah mengarut, kita mesti ambil serius (masalah mereka)," katanya semasa membahaskan usul menjunjung kasih titah Yang di-Pertuan Agong hari Isnin.

Abdul Ghapur, yang pernah menjadi Timbalan Ketua Menteri Sabah, berkata Sabah masih dianaktirikan dan keluhan wakil rakyat dari negeri itu sering "masuk telinga kanan, keluar telinga kiri sahaja".

Menurutnya ucapan Dato' Anifah Aman (BN-Kimanis) di Dewan Rakyat minggu lepas semasa bercakap mengenai ura-ura wakil Sabah melompat parti adalah sebenarnya mencerminkan sentimen rakyat Sabah.

Rabu lepas, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Dato' Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi bertanya Anifah mengapa wakil-wakil Sabah mahu "tukar dari rumah banglo ke rumah teres", dan Anifah menjawab, "lebih baik rumah teres jika tidak selesa tinggal di rumah banglo".

Abdul Ghapur juga menyifatkan jawatan timbalan menteri yang diberi kepada beliau dan Anifah sebagai suatu penghinaan, kerana menurutnya, Sabah dan Sarawak telah menyelamatkan Barisan Nasional (BN) untuk membentuk kerajaan Persekutuan sekarang.

"Sabah dan Sarawak yang menyelamatkan BN tetapi jawatan tiga menteri tidak ada makna kepada rakyat Sabah. Ini memalukan rakyat Sabah...harus diperbaiki dan tidak boleh dibiarkan. Sudahlah ketinggalan, kemudian dianaktirikan, diasingkan," katanya.

Abdul Ghapur berkata: "Ada negeri mendapat tujuh menteri yang penting, ada negeri kalah dapat empat menteri penting, mana keadilan? Minta PM rombak balik, bagi (Sabah) menteri yang penting".

Katanya walaupun wakil-wakil di Sabah tidak akan melompat parti, mereka mungkin boleh menubuhkan parti baru dan "kita boleh join (sertai) sini atau join sana".

Abdul Ghapur menjelaskan bahawa rakyat Sabah masih mundur hinggakan ada yang masih minum air perigi, rumah berdinding daun atap dan murid sekolah duduk atas lantai, tetapi kerajaan Persekutuan sering memberi alasan bahawa peruntukan tidak cukup.

Dato' Abdul Rahman Dahalan (BN-Kota Belud) pula mencelah dan bertanya Abdul Ghapur sama ada setuju supaya projek Jambatan Pulau Pinang dibatalkan dan peruntukannya diberi kepada Sabah.

Abdul Ghapur berkata walaupun beliau seolah-olah seperti pembangkang dalam BN, beliau berharap kepimpinan negara dapat menerima hakikat itu dan menganggap kritikannya sebagai suatu yang membina.

Beliau meminta menteri-menteri pusat datang ke Sabah dan meninjau keadaan rakyat di luar bandar serta berusaha memperbaiki keadaan mereka.

Abdul Ghapur juga, antara lain, meminta agar royalti minyak kepada Sabah dinaikkan daripada lima peratus kepada 20 peratus manakala berita-berita mengenai negeri diberi paparan yang lebih.

Ketika ditanya pemberita di lobi Parlimen mengenai kemungkinan wakil-wakil Sabah menubuhkan parti baru, Abdul Ghapur berkata beliau tidak akan lompat parti.

"(Tetapi) kalau ada kawan-kawan ajak bina parti baru, ada kemungkinan (akan tubuhkan)," katanya.

Ketika ditanya sama ada Umno masih relevan di Sabah, beliau berkata Umno tetap relevan di hati orang Melayu.

"Tetapi kalau cakap Umno tidak didengar maka tidak relevanlah Umno, kalau kata-kata saya tidak diendahkan, tsunami akan sampai dan saya serta kawan-kawan akan hanyut pada pilihan raya akan datang," katanya.

MALAYSIA'S ANWAR DEMANDS PROSECUTION OF TOP FIGURES IN JUDGE-FIXING SCANDAL

The Associated Press
Published: May 12, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim demanded Monday that high-profile judicial and government figures be prosecuted for allegedly manipulating the appointments of judges.

Anwar called for tough measures to restore public confidence in the judiciary after a government inquiry panel reportedly found that a top lawyer had conspired with senior judges and other political and business allies to broker judicial appointments.

The scandal erupted in September when Anwar leaked a video that allegedly showed prominent lawyer V.K. Lingam speaking by telephone in 2001 to a former top judge, Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim, about the promotions of judges.

Earlier this year the government appointed a panel to check the video's authenticity. The investigators completed their report last week, but government leaders said they were still considering whether to publicize the results.

The Star and New Straits Times newspapers, citing unidentified officials, reported during the weekend that the inquiry panel believed that Lingam was talking to Ahmad Fairuz and that the substance of their conversation was what Anwar had claimed.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, said the government "should take this report to its logical culmination, which is the investigation and prosecution of those whom the report deems to have deviated the course of justice."

"A halfhearted attempt at restoration (of judicial integrity) would be as unsatisfactory as no restoration at all," he told reporters. "This is a major issue affecting Malaysia at large."

Anwar did not specify who he thought should be prosecuted or with what charges.

The video shows a man widely believed to be Lingam talking about planning to work with a senior politician and a business tycoon to help Ahmad Fairuz become Malaysia's top-ranking judge.

Lingam has refused to confirm or deny that he was in the video. Ahmad Fairuz, who has denied speaking to Lingam, became chief justice in 2003 and retired last year.

Malaysia's judiciary has long been plagued by allegations of favoritism, corruption and influence-peddling. Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced last month that an independent panel would be established to help select new judges as part of legal reforms.

--INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE--

MP ALSO WANTS SABAHANS IN KEY CABINET POSTS

Tuesday May 13, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR: The grouses of the people in Sabah should not be viewed lightly as this could bring about major implications in the next general election, Datuk Seri Abdul Ghapur Salleh said.

The Kalabakan MP, who resigned as deputy natural resources and environment minister last month, also called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to reshuffle the Cabinet by the end of the year to include Sabah MPs in key ministerial posts.

“We want justice. Don’t say we Sabahans are talking nonsense,” he said when debating the motion of thanks on the royal address.

He also asked for an increase of oil royalty from 5% to 20% so that the RM500mil allocation would be increased to RM2bil.

Ghapur, who was once a Sabah deputy chief minister, also said the speech by Datuk Anifah Aman (BN - Kimanis) in the Dewan last week was a reflection of the sentiments in Sabah.

Anifah had said that it was not wrong to switch parties or “to vacate a bungalow and move to a terraced house if we are not given sufficient room in the bungalow”.

Ghapur said it was an insult to Sabah MPs to be given a total of three ministerial posts when it was Sabah and Sarawak MPs who had helped Barisan Nasional secure a simple majority in the recent general election.

“They are tasked to look after museums (referring to Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal) and technology (referring to Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili) and one in the Prime Minister’s Department (Tan Sri Bernard Dompok).

“These are not important Cabinet posts. I dare not take up the post of deputy minister. People in Sabah are not happy with the allocation.

“One state has seven ministers (referring to Johor), another state lost its state government and yet has four ministers (referring to Selangor),” he added.

Ghapur said even though the representatives from Sabah might not cross over to the Opposition, they might form new parties and “we can then have the option of joining them”.

He said the matter should be given serious attention, as it was something that could happen.

Ghapur also talked about conditions in Sabah where many people still live in attap-roofed houses and rely on wells for water supply.

There were also students who were forced to sit on the floor because there were not enough chairs in classrooms, he said.

“Where is keadilan (justice) here?” he asked, to which many PKR MPs replied, “We are here”.

When Ghapur finished his speech the session broke for lunch and he was surrounded by Opposition MPs who shook his hand.

When met by reporters later at the Parliament lobby, Ghapur said he would not be leaving Barisan to join another party.

“If we can solve the problem within, why should we look outside?

“But if no one will listen to what I have said, then a tsunami will hit and I, and many of my friends, will be swept away in the next election,” he said.

He also denied meeting with PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

--THE STAR ONLINE--

ROCKER AND ULAMA

2008-05-05T06:41:00.000-07:00

BILA ROCKER BERTEMU ULAMA.

PERTEMUAN DUA SIFU

Intan Abdullah | Foto Nasir Sudin
Mon | May 05, 08 | 12:21:04 pm MYT
KUALA LUMPUR, 5 Mei (Hrkh) - Mursyidul Am PAS, Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat meluangkan masa makan tengahari di Restoran Cheng Ho milik penyanyi popular, Suhaimi Abdul Rahman, 50, atau Amy Search di Wangsa Maju, Setapak, Ahad lalu. Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz yang juga Menteri Besar Kelantan sebelum itu merasmikan cawangan baru kedai buku Sarjana Media di Carrefour Wangsa Maju.
Kehadiran beliau di Restoran Cheng Ho disambut mesra Amy dan isteri.
Amy yang terharu dengan kehadiran pemimpin utama
PAS itu mengambil kesempatan membincangkan cadangannya
menubuhkan sebuah rumah anak yatim dan tahfiz al-Qur'an di Johor.

Turut hadir dalam majlis itu Ketua Pemuda PAS Pusat, Salahuddin Ayub dan kolumnis Harakah, Haji Subky Abdul Latif. - tajdid

--HARAKAHDAILY.NET--

PAKATAN RAKYAT WORKING ON MINIMUM WAGE AND MATERNITY LEAVE

By DHARMENDER SINGH and FLORENCE A. SAMY

SHAH ALAM: The five Pakatan Rakyat-held states will meet to discuss a standard policy on labour matters, including the contentious issue of minimum wage.

Penang Deputy Chief Minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin said the leaders needed to work together to come up with a policy that would be applied in all five states.

“We have to look at the details and discuss them thoroughly. We believe in the Pakatan spirit and whatever we come up with will reflect the spirit of our cooperation,” he told reporters at a press conference during the Workers Assembly and National Forum here yesterday.

Mohammad Fairus said a joint decision was necessary, as the coalition did not want the people in the five states to feel that they were being treated differently in each state.

He earlier said Penang was looking into increasing maternity leave from 60 to 75 days and was carrying out a detailed study on this.

He added that they would also hold dialogues with people’s representatives before coming up with the policy to protect the rights of the women.

Kedah state executive councillor Phahrolrazi Zawawi said all the states should have a common stand on the issue of minimum wage, maternity leave and other worker welfare related matters.

“We also cannot decide separately and we need to work with the Federal Government so that we can have a common policy,” he said.

Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin said they would be collecting data on birth rate and female workers in the public and private sector, and had already started a study in the public sector.

On minimum wage, Nizar said they would not only look at how other countries implemented them but also ensure there was a fair balance between employers and employees.

--THE STAR ONLINE--

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

2008-05-01T23:12:00.000-07:00

NAJIB JAWAB ISU ALTANTUYA

*Menjawab di laman Malaysia Today milik RAJA PETRA KAMARUDDIN.

*Tidak lama dulu, saudara Tian Chua pernah menimbulkan kontroversi menerusi kaedah superimpose dimana beliau membayangkan suasana pertemuan dimeja bulat dekat Paris seperti yang dinyataan oleh Amy (sepupu Altantuya) dimahkamah.

BERIKUT DIANTARA PETIKAN DARI LAMAN MALAYSIA KINI.

PETRA DISIASAT KES NAJIB-ALTANTUYA

May 2, 08 12:27pm

Polis menyerbu rumah Raja Petra Kamaruddin pagi ini berhubung siasatan mengenai tulisannya yang menyentuh timbalan perdana menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak dengan Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Seramai lapan anggota polis tiba di rumah beliau pada jam 9 pagi tadi dan menyoalnya berhubung tulisan tersebut.

Pasukan tersebut diketuai oleh DSP Victor Sanjos dari bahagian jenayah siber Bukit Aman.

Polis yang berada selama dua jam di rumahnya, turut merampaskan komputer ribanya.

Tengku Sariffuddin juga menafikan beberapa dakwaan dalam artikel tersebut, antaranya:

* Najib dan isterinya Rosmah Mansor ada kaitan dengan pembunuhan Altantuya,
* timbalan perdana menteri pernah menyokong permohonan visa wanita itu, dan
* rekod imigresen wanita itu telah sengaja dihapuskan.

"Semua kenyataan ini merupakan kenyataan pandang dengar (hearsay) yang tidak pernah dibuktikan, tetapi pihak tuan sewenang-wenangnya menyiarkan kenyataan seperti itu seolah-olah ia (adalah) fakta," katanya.

Menjawab kenyataan ini pada hari yang sama, Raja Petra berkata beliau berasa gembira dan dihormati apabila setiausaha akhbar kepada timbalan perdana menteri sendiri sanggup menulis kepada Malaysia Today.

"Seperti saya nyatakan beberapa kali sebelum ini, satu-satunya jalan menangani media independen ialah berdepan dengannya, bukan mengabaikannya, kerana pengabaian anda boleh memusnahkan anda sendiri," katanya, memulakan reaksi segera dalam artikelnya "My reply to Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad".

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PRESS STATEMENT FROM DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER DATO SERI MOHD NAJIB TUN RAZAK

Posted by Raja Petra

Wednesday, 30 April 2008
I would like to refer to an article posted on your website under the heading “Let’s Send the Altantuya Murderers to Hell ” on April 25. For the benefits ofyour readers, I would to like to put the record straight since there were insinuations and unjustified comments made against the Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Sri Rosmah Mansor in respect of the murder case.

2.The article alleged that the DPM and his wife were implicated in the murder of the Mongolian girl, the Deputy Prime Minister supported her visas application, her immigration record had been erased and there were pictures taken with her. These are hearsays which you have deemed alright to published as reflected by your position “we too have conducted our own trial by court of public opinion and we have already arrived at our verdict”.

3.The article also gave the impression that police investigation was flawed and the legal proceeding was being compromise (show trial in the kangaroo court) and designed to hide the real perpetrators. While it is up to the judiciary and police to deal with these allegations, Dato Sri Mohd Najib reserved the right in this “public opinion” court to reiterate his earlier comments that he did not know and has never met the deceased. As such all these allegations are unfounded and designed to tarnish his standing within the Malaysian public.

4.A witness claimed that Altantuya had dinner with Razak and Najib was never corroborated. No picture was produced in court except that of PKR Information Chief Tian Chua who posted a concocted ‘picture’ on the web. Strangely, no legal attempt had been made to produce this picture as evidence in court to date by PKR as it appears it is only admissible in the public opinion court.

5.The case is a private matter involving Encik Razak Baginda and how the policemen were involved will come out in the open during the court proceedings. I would like to also point out that the claims that Altantuya murder was linked to the country’s purchase of the submarine as baseless and unfounded, it was done to make a good and believable story in the public opinion court.

6.Dato Sri Mohd Najib has been very restrained and guarded in making any public statement on the matter since people known to him have been implicated and have been charged in court. It could be misinterpreted or seen interfering in the case since the court proceedings is on going. In fact, a former Deputy Prime Minister was convicted for abuse of power when trying to suppress a sexual misconduct investigations against him.

7.As pointed out in the article there is an issue of subjudice or contempt of court and Dato Sri Mohd Najib, Malaysians and foreigners here must respect the laws and system that all of us are subject too. As such it is unfair that unfounded and wild allegations in such a serious matter had been made which will tarnish the Deputy Prime Minister’s standing in public.

8.As stated in your article “But this is not about politics and should not be dealt as such”, the DPM also shared this sentiment that this case should seek out the truth and justice should be served. However, it is clear that there are those who are not interested in finding justice for Altantuya. It is the politics of Altantuya they are concerned with and it is my sincere hope that your readers will be able to differentiate between truth, half-truth, falsehood and lies since politicians are judge in the public opinion court.

9.Since the allegations are serious and damaging in nature, the DPM will not hesitate to seek legal redress on the matter.

Thank you.

MY REPLY TO DATUK TENGKU SARIFFUDDIN TENGKU AHMAD

Posted by Raja Petra
Wednesday, 30 April 2008

One very respected retired Chief Justice, who is known as an extremely straight and no-nonsense chap, remarked, if he had to be tried in court, he would not like it to be in a Malaysian court. He further remarked that the windscreens of the cars of judges are blacked-out not for security reasons but because the judges are ashamed to be seen by the public.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin
Dear Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad,

First of all, thank you for writing to Malaysia Today. (Read letter here). As promised, I have published your letter in toto without any amendments, additions, deletions, or ‘touch up’, though I felt some improvement to the language may have been necessary. Nevertheless, I was very careful in not ‘doctoring’ any parts of your letter lest I open myself to accusations of any sort.

I must admit I am pleased and honoured that the Press Secretary of the Deputy Prime Minister and likely future Prime Minister would take the trouble to write to Malaysia Today. As I have said so many times in the past, the only way to deal with the independent media is to engage it, not ignore it, for you ignore it at your own peril. And note that I have used the term ‘independent’ media and not ‘alternative’ media or ‘opposition’ media -- because that is exactly what we are. In fact, what you call the ‘mainstream’ media, today, could actually be called the alternative media.

Now, on the points in your letter. A ‘trial’ by court of public opinion has been what we, the Rakyat, have had to rely on since 1998. Some say that the judiciary has in fact been compromised since 1988 after the sacking of Tun Salleh Abbas and his fellow judges. The fact that these half a dozen or so judges were recently honoured in a dinner graced by the Prime Minister where Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the government will spend millions of the taxpayers’ money to pay these judges their 20 years back-pay confirms that the Abdullah government, in which Dato Sri Mohd Najib Tun Razak is part of, agrees with the court of public opinion’s view of events that happened 20 years ago.

This opinion is of course strengthened by your very own de facto Law Minister’s statement, barely a few days after taking office, that the government should apologise to Tun Salleh and his fellow judges. This was of course shot down by the Cabinet, and instead of an apology, they are being paid millions of Ringgit, which Najib said should not be interpreted as an apology. Maybe Najib is right when he says that if the government pays out millions of Ringgit of the taxpayers’ money this should be only taken as 20 years back-pay and not be taken as an apology. Nevertheless, this still tantamount to an admission that the judges had been wrongfully dismissed, apology or no apology.

We must also not forget the statement by Justice Kamil when he delivered his judgement in the Likas election petition case. Yang Arif admitted that he always receives instructions from the top before he delivers his judgement on important or crucial cases. Justice Kamli also said that he is not the only judge to receive such instructions but that many other judges are also subjected to interference and instructions from the top and that they are told how they should rule. When asked who this person from the top is, he replied that we should know whom it is he means and he left it at that. No one had any misgivings as to whom Justice Kamil meant.

One very respected retired Chief Justice, who is known as an extremely straight and no-nonsense chap, remarked, if he had to be tried in court, he would not like it to be in a Malaysian court. He further remarked that the windscreens of the cars of judges are blacked-out not for security reasons but because the judges are ashamed to be seen by the public. This is coming from someone who is placed above normal men and when someone of that calibre makes such statements how can the public not feel that the Malaysian judiciary can no longer be trusted? As they say, let you be judged by your peers, and the judiciary’s peers have made their ruling.

Dear Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad,

To argue that we should leave this matter to the courts to decide is just not on. It can never be on until we see genuine and real reforms in the judiciary. And when the talk amongst legal circles is that, in September, the President of the Court of Appeal will take over as the new Chief Justice, this just erodes our confidence in the judiciary even further. Putting Umno’s lawyer in charge of the judiciary is like putting the fox in charge of the henhouse or, as the Malays would say, putting the kambing in charge of the sireh. And you want us to leave it to the courts to decide? When you have highly-respected judges and retired Chief Justices openly condemning the Malaysian judiciary what do you expect the lesser-learned Rakyat like us to do?

Of course, you will say that one is innocent until proven guilty. That is a beautiful concept. However, if you believe such a thing is possible in Malaysia, then you probably believe in the Tooth Fairy and Santa Claus as well. Do you remember Anwar Ibrahim’s trial ten years ago? Anwar was tried in a court of public opinion when they paraded that mattress in and out of court every day. What happened to that mattress? It was never part of the evidence and eventually just quietly disappeared out of sight. Was that not grandstanding for the media and TV cameras?

In Anwar’s case, he was not innocent until proven guilty. Though the Malaysian judicial system, which follows the British and not the French system, stipulates that a man is innocent until proven guilty, Anwar was assumed guilty and he was made to prove his innocence. The onus should be on the court to prove guilt but in Anwar’s case he was considered guilty and he had to prove his innocence. And the judge sent Anwar to jail because, according to the judge, Anwar had failed to prove his innocence.

We are therefore using the same ‘burden of proof’ on the present Deputy Prime Minister just like what the previous Deputy Prime Minister was subjected to. If this system of ‘prove you are innocent or else we have to assume you are guilty’ was good enough for Anwar then it is certainly good enough for Najib. Why should there be different standards between one Deputy Prime Minister and another? Should there not be one standard for all?

Note that Malaysia has a law called the Internal Security Act. When you are detained under this law, you are assumed guilty until you can prove you are innocent. And if you fail to prove your innocence then you are detained without trial indefinitely. Some Malaysians have spent more than 20 years under detention because the hapless person was not able to prove his innocence. Ahmad Boestaman, the famous Malay nationalist and independence fighter, was detained for 14 years or so. You may remember him. His son, Rustam Sani, died recently.

Dear Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad,

I must remind you that I too was arrested on Hari Raya Haji Day in 2001 after I walked into the police station to be with my wife who had earlier been arrested. Her ‘crime’ was for trying to help an old woman who had a knee injury and who was struggling to walk up a hill. The police arrested my wife, the poor old woman, and her daughter.

When I walked into the police station, Bakri Zinin, the current CID Director, assaulted me when I attempted to step outside to make a phone call. I was trying to step outside because a policeman shouted at me that I am not allowed to make a phone call inside the police station. But when I tried to step outside as instructed, Bakri assaulted me. He then instructed his officers to arrest me.

When I asked what my crime was and as to the reason I was being arrested, they told me they will think of something later. In the meantime they will arrest me first. I then insisted I be allowed to make a police report against Bakri but they refused to take my report. When I refused to accept no for an answer, they reluctantly took my report but nothing further was done after that. That police report made on Hari Haji Day of 2001 is probably no longer in the file.

Dear Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad,

I am glad you talk about respect for the law. I just wish you and Najib had said the same thing when they beat me up, handcuffed me, and threw me into the lockup without a charge back in 2001. Will I be accorded justice as well just like how you and Najib want to see justice done? Will Bakri Zinin be taken to task for beating me and for arresting me without any charge? Thus far, the only action taken against him is that he has been promoted from OCPD Dang Wangi to Director CID. Let us talk about justice when I see justice done to me as well. Until then we shall rule by law of public opinion, as that appears to be the only ‘system’ available to us.

I understand the concept of subjudice when commenting on an ongoing trial. So allow me to comment only on what the mainstream newspapers have already covered. The mainstream newspapers reported about a green Suzuki Vitara. The registration plate of the car was also mentioned in that newspaper report. Malaysia Today traced the owner of this car to an address in Ijok. On further checking with the SPR registration, it was confirmed that this person exists and his name, address and IC number tally with that in the JPJ registration.

The house exists and the neighbours confirm that the person concerned does live there and that the green Suzuki Vitara has been seen in front of the house. This, according to the newspapers, is the car that took Altantuya away after she was arrested in front of Razak Baginda’s house and taken to Bukit Aman.

Has this man been picked up? And, if not, then why since Altantuya was last seen alive driving off with him? Malaysia Today has revealed his name, address and IC number. And this man’s neighbours in Ijok confirm his existence and that of the car. Note that this was raised in the trial and was reported by the mainstream newspapers. So this is not mere insinuations and innuendoes.

In an interview in 2002 or 2003, Razak Baginda confirmed that his company brokered the submarine deal. He even mentioned the commission he had earned. This matter was confirmed by Razak himself and is documented in that interview. So this is also no insinuation or innuendo. And have we forgotten Razak’s wife’s outburst when she said that her husband is innocent and that it is not he who wants to become the next Prime Minister? Was Razak’s wife talking about Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Anwar Ibrahim or Khairy Jamaluddin? And was not Razak’s wife once a magistrate who would therefore know the law and know what constitutes subjudice?

Dear Datuk Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad,

I can go on but let the above suffice for the meantime. The issue of the changing of the judge after the filing of the Affidavit during the bail hearing (which was raised by Karpal Singh), the defence lawyers resigning because of threats from certain people (which Zulkifli Nordin confirmed), the changing of the entire prosecuting team the morning of the trial (which the prosecutor admitted when he asked for a one-month postponement), and much more are all documented and are on public record. Let the court of public opinion decide whether Malaysia Today is merely raising what is already well-documented or whether Malaysia Today is dabbling in insinuations and innuendoes.

Again, I thank you for your letter and really appreciate you taking the time to write to us. Let us together, in the spirit of Islam, the religion we profess, seek the truth and oppose transgressions -- as made mandatory by Islam under the concept of amar maaruf, nahi munkar. From God we come and to God we shall return. And we shall be made accountable for all that we have done on this earth. And, in the eyes of God, those defending kemunkaran will be as guilty as those committing it. Let us not fear man for man proposes but God disposes. And nothing will befall us that God has not planned will befall us. Subjudice and contempt of court are creations of man that will not carry any weight in God’s court. So fear God because man even as powerful as Prime Ministers and Deputy Prime Ministers will be powerless to help you in God’s court where we shall all ultimately be judged.

Yours truly,

Raja Petra Bin Raja Kamarudin

--MALAYSIA-TODAY.NET--

KASIM BABA 2008

2008-04-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

KASIM BABA 2008 - KARPET, AIRCOND....DUIT?

Dari penerangan oleh Dato Dr. Hassan Ali dalam video dibawah, nyata dan sah cakap-cakap sebelum ini bahawa fail-fail telah dilarikan atau dihapuskan oleh UMNO/BN di negeri Selangor.Bahkan KARPET, AIRCOND serta beberapa barang lain turut dilarikan.Soal Dr. Hassan lagi, "jika karpet dan aircond pun UMNO boleh larikan, bagaimana dengan DUIT negeri Selangor"?

Sungguh memalukan bekas MB dan konco-konconya begitu takut dengan bayangnya sendiri sehingga sanggup memusnahkan dokumen-dokumen penting dan menjadikan pejabat seperti 'GUA MATA KAJI'.Dato Hassan Ali menyatakan bahawa tiada satu fail dan tiada sehelai kertas pun ketika PAKATAN RAKYAT mahu mengambil alih pemerintahan di Selangor.

Siapakah punya angkara yang bertindak seperti 'KANDA KASIM BABA' sehingga 'MELICINKAN GUA MATA KAJI'?

Saya yakin para pembaca tahu dan sedar siapakah orang yang memegang watak 'KASIM BABA 2008' ini.

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DATO SERI IR. MOHAMMAD NIZAR JAMALUDDIN - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 1

DATO SERI IR. MOHAMMAD NIZAR JAMALUDDIN - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 2

DATO SERI IR. MOHAMMAD NIZAR JAMALUDDIN - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 3

DATO SERI IR. MOHAMMAD NIZAR JAMALUDDIN - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 4

DATO DR. HASSAN ALI - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 1

DATO DR. HASSAN ALI - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 2

DATO DR. HASSAN ALI - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 3

MB KEDAH USTZ. AZIZAN ABD RAZAK - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 1

MB KEDAH USTZ. AZIZAN ABD RAZAK - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 2

MB KEDAH USTZ. AZIZAN ABD RAZAK - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 3

DATO HUSAM MUSA (WAKIL MB KELANTAN) - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 1

DATO HUSAM MUSA (WAKIL MB KELANTAN) - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 2

DATO HUSAM MUSA (WAKIL MB KELANTAN) - HIMPUNAN PAKATAN RAKYAT 3

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MALAYSIA's ANWAR SAYS HE WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER PM THAN ABDULLAH OR MAHATHIR

The Associated Press
Published: April 23, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim said for the first time he would likely become prime minister if his coalition takes power, and vowed to clean up Malaysia's corruption and halt its colonial-era jailing of suspects without trial.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Anwar said he was in no hurry to take control of government despite his opposition alliance's spectacular gains in elections in March.

But when he was asked whether he would take the job of prime minister if his People's Alliance were to come to power, he said, "There is a likelihood."

Political commentators and aides have often talked about Anwar's prime ministerial ambitions, but this was the first time he spoke in depth about how he would handle the top job.

He said he would be a better prime minister than current leader Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad.

"Well, I wouldn't detain people without trial," Anwar said, referring to a colonial-era law that allows for indefinite detention without charges. The law often was used by Mahathir, and Abdullah has exercised it a few times.

"I will check corruption for sure," Anwar said. "With the little experience I have (in the government), I believe I can do much better, but it is for people to judge. But first I have to be there to consider the question relevant."

Anwar was Mahathir's finance minister and deputy prime minister, and was once considered Mahathir's likely successor. But Mahathir sacked him in 1998 during a power struggle, accusing him of corruption and homosexuality.

Anwar was sentenced to 15 years in jail on charges of sodomy and abuse of power. He was freed in September 2004 after the sodomy charge was overturned. But the corruption sentence stood.

Although Anwar always maintained the charges were trumped up, he was written off as a political relic because of the allegations.

But he returned to Malaysian politics with a bang last year, stitching together an unlikely alliance made up of his multiracial People's Justice Party, the left-leaning Democratic Action Party and the religious-based Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.

The rare opposition unity presented a formidable electoral challenge to the ruling National Front coalition, which is dominated by Abdullah's United Malays National Organization party.

The National Front lost its traditional two-thirds majority for the first time in 40 years, while the opposition boosted its strength to 82 seats from 19 seats in the 222-member Parliament. The opposition is now just 30 seats short of a simple majority, something Anwar says is within reach because of expected defections from the National Front.

"We already have the numbers," he said.

But rather than taking down the government now with a wafer-thin majority over the National Front, Anwar said the opposition is waiting for "a comfortable majority."

Anwar said when the opposition comes to power it would provide a much better government than the National Front.

"It is not very difficult to be a better government, to control corruption, to be more just, to improve the quality of education, public health, to stop the squandering of billions of dollars on your family members and cronies. That is quite easy," he said

"The more challenging task is to change the course" of the country, he said, listing economic competitiveness, promoting a market economy, social justice and training of manpower as the main tasks.

"We are not here to improve. We are here to change for the better," he said.

Since the election blow, Abdullah has been facing calls from many in his party to step down immediately. Abdullah has said he will announce a succession plan only after December.

Anwar said the postelection turmoil in the National Front was benefiting the opposition.

"Either way, it is good for us," he said. If Abdullah is ousted, "it will break UMNO. If Abdullah continues, it is also good for us because he is weak."

--INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE--

THE 'GREAT' BLACK 14

2008-04-15T05:18:00.000-07:00

BLACK 14:ANWAR IBRAHIM JAWAB MAHATHIR
DAN AMARAN JIKA NAJIB NAIK

Alahmdulillah!
Perhimpunan BLACK 14 telah selesai dengan aman malam semalam.Walaupun Polis masih belum selesaikan 'masalah' berkaitan perhimpunan BLACK 14 itu.

BLACK 14 juga telah menjadi medan menjawab segala serangan dari pelbagai sudut dan platform oleh media serta individu 'kecut'.DSAI semalam menyerang serta mempersoalkan sikap UMNO yang mengisukan masalah ketuanan MELAYU walhal sebelum pilihanraya tidak kedengaran soal-soal ini.Juga mempersoalkan tentang tekanan terhadap Pak Lah walaupun sebenarnya Najib turut sepatutnya dipersoalkan.

BABI DI SELANGOR

Kita sudah melalui kempen 'seminggu bersama babi di
stesen-stesen media LIDAH HITAM'.
Betapa hina dan aib bilamana anggota kerajaan dari MCA sendiri yang mendedahkan tentang kaitan YB UMNO serta ketua Kg yang sebenarnya terbabit dengan project babi sebelum PRU-12 lagi.Tetapi, bila PAKATAN RAKYAT (PR) mahu meneruskan project tersebut dengan kaedah paling berkesan yang tidak pernah mahu dibuat oleh UMNO/BN dahulu, tiba-tiba LIDAH HITAM kembali kepada 'MOOD PRA PRU-12'.

Maka berbelit-belitlah lidah-lidah mereka yang ditemuramah serta ketua-ketua yang tak sedar diri kerana 'tak lagi menjadi ketua' mempersoalkan kelulusan project babi tersebut.Menerusi TV3 dan UTUSAN MALAYSIA, para peminat mereka diulit mimpi ngeri dan amarah dengan project tersebut.Walhal, terang-terangan LIDAH HITAM sedang mendedahkan pekung sendiri.Rakyat dikawasan project tersebut menyatakan soal kebersihan dan pencemaran.Malah dibangkitkan soal hak MELAYU sedang dirobek.Sedangkan masalah yang dikatakan itu tidak ada kena-mengena sama-sekali dengan PR yang baru berusia sebulan.

Masalah penduduk disitu telah dilalui ketika era urus tadbir korup BN/UMNO yang lalu.PR hadir untuk keterbukaan dan trasparent untuk penyelesaian masalah yang sebenarnya menjadi penyelamat pada pencemaran dikawasan lain di negeri Selanor.

Saya menyeru kepada mereka-mereka yang masih menjadikan MEDIA LIDAH HITAM sebagai sumber berita supaya mencari alternatif lain.Akhbar paling bacul masih disandang oleh UTUSAN MALAYSIA sedang akhbar lain sudah ada keterbukaan.Akhbar paling berani ketika ini, disandang oleh SINAR HARIAN yang bijak serta cuba menyampaikan berita sebenar.

Buletin UTAMA masih menjadi platform UMNO/BN dengan kesempitan minda untuk terus mengandang tahap pemikiran rakyat.Saya kasihankan penduduk luar bandar yang kurang mendapat pendedahan media alternatif.Mereka ini hanya mengharap kepada tv3 dan akhbar bacul.Pada pagi hari membuang undi yang lalu, seorang mak cik menyapa saya disebuah kedai runcit.Lalu kami berbual dan bertanya tentang membuang undi.Mak cik itu kata belum pergi lagi.Dan saya tanyakan apakah dia akan memangkah BN?
Dengan penuh keyakinan dia mengatakan bahawa sejak 21 tahun yang lalu tidak pernah mengundi selain BN.

"MAK CIK DARI DULU BN.DAH 21 TAHUN MAK CIK 'POTONG' (pangkah) BN JE".
Kemudian menambah lagi dengan sesuatu yang menyedihkan saya:
"MAK CIK TAK NAK POTONG PAS.SEBAB DIA ORANG PAKAI SERBAN, TUDUNG BESAR-BESAR TAPI MULUT JAHAT"!

Saya bertanyakan apakah benar apa yang dikatakan itu?
lalu dia tanyakan saya pula :
"anak tak tengok berita ke? hari-hari orang PAS cakap kotor".

Dan saya menjawab:

"SAYA TAK TENGOK TV3 SEBAB, DIA ORANG JADI MANUSIA YANG HINA.JADI SAYA TENGOK TV PAS JE."

MAK CIK: Rumah mak cik tak dapat pun tv PAS...Lagi pun PAS mana ada tv!

Saya terangkan sedikit tentang dunia cyber walaupun agak sukar untuk makcik itu memahaminya.Diakhirnya makcik itu kata: "TAK KISAH LA MANA-MANA PUN...YANG PENTING DUA-DUA (PAS & UMNO) ORANG KITA". Saya sekadar senyum.

Dari situasi diatas, saya fikir kemenangan UMNO hanya dikawasan-kawasan yang ada jiwa UMNO sahaja.Walaupun ada sesetengahnya tahu tentang masalah UMNO itu sendiri.
Dikawasan saya, undi makcik itu telah membantu kemenangan calon BN mengalahkan tokoh besar dari PAS.Ternyata akses internet yang kurang turut gagal membawa info baik terhadap golongan seperti mak cik tadi.

Masalah info mengenai babi contohnya dapat sampai kerumah-rumah kg. andai ada pihak melakukan sesuatu seperti mana ketika mereka sibuk berkempen untuk PRU lalu.
Saya harapkan akan ada lebih banyak perhimpunan rakyat seperti di stadium MALAWATI Shah Alam, MPS Selayang, BLACK 14.Tetapi bukan dibuat dikawasan stadium bahkan perlu dikawasan kg-kg hatta ditengah sawah sekalipun demi untuk menyampaikan sesuatu yang positif.

Ikuti video-video dari perhimpunan BLACK 14 di bawah ini:-

BLACK 14 - 1 (KUASA MEREKA TERGUGAT, BARU FIKIR SOAL BANGSA)

BLACK 14 - 2 (BABI MODEN UMNO)

BLACK 14 - 3 (TUNGGU DUA MINGGU LAGI)

BLACK 14 - 4 (SELAMATKAN NEGARA - NAIKAN ISLAM

BLACK 14 - 5 (BILA PM AKAN PERGI DAN DIGANTI)

BLACK 14 - 6 (GANGGUAN POLIS)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I COULD TOPPLE MALAYSIAN GOVT: ANWAR IBRAHIM

April 15, 2008 - 2:58PM

Malaysia's opposition parties have the support of enough lawmakers to topple the government but are waiting for the right moment, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim says.

Anwar was speaking just before police broke up a jubilant rally of thousands of his supporters in the Malaysian capital to mark the end of a five-year ban on his seeking public office.

Police, who had earlier said the rally was illegal, halted Anwar an hour into his speech. The crowd dispersed peacefully.

Police said 4,000 people took part in the rally but organisers put the number at more than 10,000, most of them ethnic Malays seated on a grassy plot surrounded by red, white and blue political party flags.

Officially Malaysia's opposition coalition has 82 seats in the 222-member parliament but unofficially has enough MPs to form a government, Anwar said before police surrounded the rostrum where he was speaking.

"We are just waiting for the right time. We want to create a new era for Malaysia," Anwar said to applause.

"We will hand over the parliamentary opposition post to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi," he added.

Police said the rally was illegal because it did not have a permit required by Malaysian law for all public assemblies of more than five people, and had urged people to stay away.

Anwar, who made a dramatic political comeback at elections on March 8, again said lawmakers from Malaysia's ruling coalition were willing to defect to the opposition, particularly members of smaller constituent parties based on Borneo island.

Anwar was cast into the political wilderness after being dumped in 1998 by his former mentor, ex-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. But his political fortunes revived after the opposition made surprisingly big gains in general elections last month.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition prevented the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition from taking a two-thirds parliamentary majority and seized control of five states.

Barisan's poor showing sparked some calls for Abdullah to resign, although he has insisted he will not step down.

Anwar can only run for office again on April 15, after the five-year ban imposed following a conviction for corruption, expires.

Anwar has said he is in no hurry to contest a by-election, preferring instead to focus on building an effective and credible opposition.

On Monday, Anwar promised to cut fuel prices, stamp out corruption and quadruple the royalty for Malaysia's oil-producing states when the opposition comes to power.

Police later said they were investigating Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's wife and three others for taking part in the rally.

Anwar's wife Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is the president of his People's Justice Party, and three other party members were served with notices to report to police for investigation of illegal assembly, said Tian Chua, a senior party official.

He said the notices stemmed from the night rally.

--THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD--

MALAYSIA PROBES OPPOSITION LEADERS

Malaysian police say they are investigating leaders of Anwar Ibrahim's Keadilan party over a gathering held to mark the de facto opposition leader's formal return to politics.

Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ibrahim, who is president of the party, was among four leaders told to report to the police for questioning over their participation at the rally which police said was illegal.

Tian Chua, a senior party official, said the leaders did not plan to report to the police on Tuesday as demanded, adding that they would "find another appropriate date".

"Today is not an appropriate time," he told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "We have other work."

Threat to government

On Monday night thousands gathered in the heart of Kuala Lumpur to hear Anwar declare that he had enough support for the opposition to form the government.

He made the claim just before police broke up the rally held to celebrate the end on Monday of a five-year ban that had kept him from running for political office.

"Now I can say for the first time that we are ready to govern the country," Anwar said.

He said parliamentarians belonging to the ruling coalition were willing to defect to the opposition.

"We have the numbers ... some [government legislators] have had discussions with us, but we are not in a hurry."

Organisers estimated 40,000 people gathered to hear Anwar's first public speech in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, since last month's general elections.

Police said the number was closer to 4,000.

"We are just waiting for the right time. We want to create a new era for Malaysia," Anwar said to applause from the crowd.

"We will hand over the parliamentary opposition post to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi."

Illegal rally

Police halted Anwar an hour into his speech and the crowd dispersed peacefully.

Police said the rally was illegal because it did not have a permit required by Malaysian law for all public assemblies of more than five people, and had urged people to stay away.

Officially Malaysia's opposition coalition has 82 seats in the 222-member parliament but unofficially has enough parliamentary members to form a government, Anwar said before police surrounded the rostrum where he was speaking.

Anwar was cast into the political wilderness after being dropped in 1998 by Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's prime minister then and, originally, a mentor of Anwar's.

But his political fortunes have been revived by the opposition's gains in last month's general elections.

For the first time in 40 years, the opposition prevented the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition from taking a two-thirds parliamentary majority and got control of five states.

Barisan's poor showing sparked some calls for Abdullah to resign, although he has refused to step down.

--Al jazeera--

THE JEWS WAITING FOR ANWAR?

2008-04-09T20:37:00.000-07:00

YAHUDI TERNANTI-NANTI?

Dalam ruangan pendapat akhbar UMNO, UTUSAN MALAYSIA 7 April 2008 seorang yang bernama M.Hanafiah A.Samad dari Kuala Lumpur telah membebaskan ideanya atas tajuk MENGAPA ISRAEL PRIHATIN POLITIK MALAYSIA?

Pada saya, penulis tersebut sekadar memikirkan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI) tetapi tidak pada pemimpin lain dalam keadaan yang lain.Hanafiah membangkitkan pelbagai perkara yang diantaranya ialah:

Kegusaran andai negara jadi alat yahudi.Tetapi tidak gusar DSAI jadi PM. - Adakah beliau tahu dan percaya bahawa DSAI tidak seperti yang dituduh?

Hanafiah juga mempersoalkan mengapa dari beribu-ribu akhbar didunia, hanya JERUSALEM POST yang memberi perhatian pada perkembangan politik negara khusunya kemungkinan DSAI menjadi PM.Hanafiah juga risau dengan minat JERUSALEM POST terhadap ladskap politik negara ketika ini. - Tahukah anda, CNN, BBC, ABC serta FOX TV dan banyak lagi media barat yang ditunjangi yahudi.Sebelum PRU 12, PM Pak Lah telah ditemu bual oleh CNN.Apakah Pak Lah juga mendapat perhatian dan minat Yahudi?

Orang yahudi memberi liputan tentang DSAI diatas beberapa sebab berikut:

Disebabkan DSAI adalah musuh utama Dr. Mahathir, maka yahudi sudah tentu mahu melihat DSAI berjaya dalam politik kerana mengharapkan DSAI akan membalas dendam terhadap DR. Mahathir.Ini kerana Dr. Mahathir juga telah dilihat sebagai musuh oleh beberapa yahudi diatas kenyataan ANTI-SEMITIC yang menghentam Yahudi di PBB beberapa tahun dahulu.
Seperkara lagi, DSAI dilihat begitu rapat dan kuat bersama rakan-rakan dari barat termasuk sahabatnya FORMER IMF MANAGING DIRECTOR, Paul Wolfowitz.DSAI mengakui persahabatanya dengan pemimpin barat lain tetapi tegas menyatakan bahwa persahabatanya tetap berbatas.DSAI turut mempunyai ramai sahabat dikalangan Arab.Sikap peramah DSAI terhadap mereka dari barat telah menyenangkan hati mereka berbanding sikap kepura-puraan Dr. M yang diakhir pemerintahanya telah menyerang yahudi sedang ketika kuat sebagai PM, Dr. Mahathir begitu rapat dengan yahudi.Buktinya, Soros telah berbaik dengan Dr.M.
Begitu juga dengan penasihat MMS yang didakwa sebagai
seorang yahudi suatu ketika dahulu.
Sejarah telah terpalit dimana era Dr. Mahathir telah menyaksikan kehadiran barisan pemain kriket Israel kenegara ini.
Kehadiran skuad kriket Israel telah mendapat bantahan pelbagai pihak termasuk menerusi demonstrasi jalanan.

Susulan dari itu, mereka yang berdemo, telah didakwa dimahkamah.
Siapakah yang patut dibimbangi?
Kuat sengatkah pasukan kriket Israel sehingga perlu dibenarkan beraksi diMalaysia?

Hanafiah juga mendakwa Malaysia sebagai negara Islam yang kuat menentang penjajahan Israel keatas Palestine. - Suka di ingatkan bahawa tiada lagi negara ISLAM TULEN didunia ini yang perlu dibimbangi oleh Israel dan Israel begitu sedar bahawa Malaysia adalah negara pengamal dasar-dasar sekular yang telah dicipta oleh nenek-moyang yahudi dahulu.Israel juga tidak pernah risau dengan tentangan-tentangan Malaysia dan negara-negara penentang mereka yang lain kerana penentang ini hanya sekadar penentangan 'AIR LIUR' tanpa susulan yang lebih penting.

Era kepimpinan Pak Lah pula dilihat lebih berlembut dengan Singapura.Kita tahu singapore adalah negara yang PRO USA-ISRAEL.Atas semangat kejiranan, kita perlu berlembut sehingga membatalkan pelbagai projek baik?
Perlukah kita menggadai tanah di WILAYAH PEMBANGUNAN ISKANDAR (WPI) untuk Singapore?
Sekiranya ditakdirkan DSAI menjadi PM dimasa akan datang, maka beliau sangatlah sedar akan kejayaanya selama berpuluh tahun adalah didokong oleh golongan rakyat pelbagai lapisan sehingga sanggup berjuang didepan barisan FRU dan bermandi WATERCANON.

Dan jika DSAI menepati ramalan UMNO/Dr. Mahathir sebagai ejen pro barat/yahudi, maka kita juga sebagai rakyat mempunyai kuasa untuk menarik beliau turun dari kerusi PM.

Perkembangan terbaru, kerajaan BN mungkin membenarkan kemasukan pengurus dan seorang pemain yahudi dari pasukan Chelsea untuk lawatan pra musim di Malaysia pada bulan July nanti.Hal ini disokong oleh beberapa tokoh sukan tempatan atas semangat sukan.
Bagus sangatkah 2 orang yahudi itu sehingga perlu
dibenarkan masuk ke negara ini?
Jika benar benci dan boycott yahudi, tidak perlu mencari alasan untuk kemasukan 2 yahudi tersebut.

Siapakah sebenarnya yang PRO-YAHUDI?
FIKIR DAN RENUNGKANLAH.

Ada beberapa lagi fakta untuk didedahkan terutama tentang dimana yahudi di dalam negara kita ini.Insyallah, dimasa mendatang saya akan dedahkan siapa yahudi di Malaysia ini.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ANWAR IBRAHIM: MALAYSIA's FUTURE PM?
Mar 20, 2008 15:46 | Updated Mar 20, 2008 16:13

By SHANI ROSS

Malaysia's opposition parties made significant gains in the parliamentary elections held on Sunday, March 8. Their success demonstrated a growing desire for political change and the furthering of democracy in Malaysia. The
election result means that the ruling Barisan National (National Front (BN)), no longer has a two third parliamentary majority. This means that its power has been limited in some respects, for example it can not amend the constitution or make key appointments without support from the opposition.

Ultimately, the election results means a stronger system of checks and balances, a principle requirement for any true democracy.

The largest of the opposition parties, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (People's Justice Party (PKR)) won 31 seats, a significant gain compared to the single seat it won in the 2004 elections. The PKR's success has been attributed largely to the revival of former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's political career. As a proponent of moderate Islam, cultural and religious impartiality, and liberal democracy, Anwar's popularity is gaining strength, with some reports suggesting that should the opposition coalition win the next election, he may well be next in line as Malaysia's Prime Minister.

Anwar launched his political career in 1982 by joining the United Malays National Organization (UNMO), currently the largest party within the ruling Barisan National (National Front (BN)). The UNMO was led by Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia longest-serving Prime Minister. By 1991, Anwar was
appointed Minister of Finance after which he was appointed as Mahathir's Deputy Prime Minister in 1993. Anwar's term as Minister of Finance was
characterized by unprecedented economic prosperity and growth, awarding him widespread acclamation. However, his political career came to an abrupt stop when he voiced strong opposition to Mahathir's support for the Bumiputra
('Sons of the Soil'), programme. This opposition led to criminal convictions for corruption and sodomy (the sentencing was 6 and 9 years respectively, although the sodomy conviction was overturned in 2004).

Despite, if not because of his criminal convictions, Anwar became an icon for political progress, justice and equality. He maintained considerable support throughout the years largely because of the work of his wife, Wan Azizah Ismail, who established the PKR in 1999, to call for her husband's release. The PKR also kept Anwar's political reforms (the latter becoming
known as 'reformasi') agenda alive. Since his release from prison, Anwar has sought to revitalize his political campaign by challenging the current government, headed by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, on a host of issues, in particular the 'New Economic Policy'. Created in the late 1970s (currently termed the National Vision Policy), the policy intended to create
conditions for national unity by reducing interethnic disparities, however in practice it granted the Bumiputra preferential treatment, creating an increasing ethnic Malay middle class and thus substantial opposition from ethnic Indian and Chinese who did not reap the benefits.

Anwar has been awarded acclaim by many for his success in creating unity amongst the previously divided opposition parties, which resulted in a
coalition that won an unprecedented total of 82 seats out of parliament's 222 seats in the latest election. Considered to be one of Malaysia's most
charismatic speakers, Anwar's endorsement of PKR's political platform is gaining significant momentum. In February 2008, the PKR published the
Keadilan Manifesto titled "A New Dawn for Malaysia," detailing the party's vision for putting Malaysia back on a track of economic, political, educational and cultural prosperity. Centering on five central positions, the party first and foremost advocates for a constitutional state for all whereby ³bumiputera rights are guaranteed fully alongside with non-bumiputera rights² and thus creating non-racial based politics.

With a growing percentage of the population unsatisfied with the political status quo, the PKR's reform agenda, as advocated by Anwar, appears to be the change that Malaysia increasingly desires. Anwar's political ban is due
to end in April and if reports hold true, he will easily win a by-election and resume a parliamentary role after his wife expectedly vacates her seat.

The main obstacle that analysts suggest is that once Anwar formally re-enters politics, he will need to continue to prove his political competence and ensure the long time fragmented opposition parties sustain a successful coalition and thus an effective governance implementing reforms within the states in which they hold a majority. Should they do so, analysts further predict that the opposition coalition may have a strong chance of defeating the ruling party in the 2013 elections, thus likely placing Anwar
as the forerunner as Prime Minister.

Shani Ross is the Coordinator for the Executive Programs & Conferences at the International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT), Interdisciplinary Centre Herzliya, Israel.

-JERUSALEM POST--

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: ANWAR IBRAHIM - MAN OF THE MATCH

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 14 (IPS) - Anwar Ibrahim, the man credited with radically changing the political landscape of Malaysia, could not contest the Mar. 8 general elections that saw the ruling coalition lose five state governments and its long-held two-thirds majority in parliament.

There is a story in Ibrahim's having been crippled by a five-year-ban on contesting elections, as a result of having had to serve time in jail on criminal charges, trumped-up by his political opponents.

But the former deputy prime minister fought his way back to the political centre-stage and overcame ten years of virulent government propaganda mounted against him to forge an alliance and establish a powerful opposition in parliament.

"He is clearly the man of the hour, he made it possible," said Steven Gan, editor of the independent online news provider Malaysiakini.com. "He glued together a viable opposition, set a common theme and led the opposition to victory."

After Saturday's opposition successes politics in Malaysia will never be the same again and it was made possible through Ibrahim’s multi-racial People’s Justice Party which won the highest number of seats on the opposition benches in Parliament.

Together with the pro-Chinese Democratic Action Party and the Islamist Pan Malaysian Islamic Party or PAS, the opposition commands 82 seats, just 30 seats short of capturing the government.

It is the best ever showing by the opposition since independence in 1957 and heralds a new era of transparency, accountability and clean government that Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi promised but never delivered. The voters punished him, sending his ministers and his state governments falling like ninepins.

"He has made a big comeback and has given multi-racial politics a firm foothold," said Gan. "Now a two-party system of politics is possible not a single domineering entity that is corrupt and dictatorial."

During an interview with IPS, Ibrahim pledged to defend and promote free-market economy, foreign investment and continue the development process. But he emphasised that progress and wealth will now benefit the poor of all races, not the rich and ruling elite.

"We are confident that under our leadership and working closely with our partners (in the opposition) we will begin to implement policies to ensure a stronger and more vibrant economy in Malaysia," he said.

"We will ensure that investor confidence remains strong during the transition period and also to identify areas of concern that our new governments (state governments) will address in enhancing and improving their operations and performance in Malaysia," he said.

The opposition is now busy forming coalition governments in the five states it won and is promising a new economic agenda to the people, mainly by eliminating corruption. "We will have zero tolerance for corruption and this will have a big impact in reducing business costs and build confidence in small and medium enterprises," Ibrahim vowed.

"We also plan to divorce government employees from doing business with the government, thereby reducing incentives for cronyism and insider deals which are plaguing the current administration," he said.

Ibrahim’s comeback is astounding, considering that he spent six years in prison, unfairly accused and convicted on corruption and sodomy charges -- now proven to be motivated by a political conspiracy at the highest levels involving judges, crony tycoons and political leaders.

A former Islamist student activist who turned Malay nationalist, Ibrahim has successfully reinvented himself as a leader of all of Malaysia’s races and campaigned on a reformist agenda.

"The result of the election is testament to Anwar's acceptability as a leader to all Malaysians because his agenda is fair and just and involves all races, especially the poor," said Ragu Kesavan, a human rights lawyer.

How did Ibrahim manage it? What is his winning formula? Political analysts say a key was his success in persuading the Islamist PAS party to drop its fiery rhetoric demanding a theocratic Islamic state -- an agenda that usually drives the all important Chinese voters, about 30 percent of the electorate, into the arms of the ruling National Front.

He then forged a loose opposition alliance of three parties, allowing each to mobilise its supporters but campaign on a common theme, attacking rising prices of food and fuel, cronyism in the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) party and equality for all races.

Religion, Islamic theocracy or parochial and racial issues did not figure in the opposition campaign this time, giving no ammunition to the government to exploit. Ibrahim’s message of change resonated with ordinary Malaysians irrespective of their race or religion, observers said, because it touched on rising food and fuel prices which affected all people. They said people were aware of the real danger of their prosperous country going bankrupt through the pursuit of narrow policies. "Voters voted against Badawi because of his inability to deliver on the promises he made in 2004, including the promise to fight corruption, the promise to reform the police force, the promise to be a prime minister for all ethnic groups, and the promise to improve the civil service," said political researcher Ong Kian Ming.

Chinese and Indians, descendents of immigrants under British colonial rule, who have long felt treated as second-class citizens rallied to Ibrahim's "we are all equal" banner.

He also won over urban Malay voters who had not benefited from the New Economic Policy (NEP) -- a Malays first affirmative action policy -- by saying the benefits had been hijacked by the Malay elites.

Early in the campaign voters were wary of Ibrahim's reformist agenda and the turnout at his campaign rallies seldom reached 1,000 people, but midway during the 13-day campaign the turnout steadily swelled to over 30,000.

Although Ibrahim did not contest, he is the de-facto opposition leader. He is unlikely to formalise his position by contesting in a by-election and return to parliament as opposition leader.

Pressed on this, Ibrahim told IPS: ‘’I rather look at myself as an alternative government or a government-in-waiting than an opposition leader."

He also surprisingly did not rule out accepting smaller political parties which are now members of the ruling National Front into his opposition coalition provided they subscribe to his reformist agenda.

Political parties, now partnering the substantially weakened ruling coalition, may switch allegiance and join Ibrahim. Crossing the floor is not without precedent in Malaysia and even the beleaguered Badawi has come down to saying that anyone crossing over from opposition benches would be welcomed.

--IPS NEWS--

ALLAHU'AKHBAR

2008-03-25T23:57:00.000-07:00

HIMPUNAN RAKYAT DI STADIUM MALAWATI SHAH ALAM - PART 1

HIMPUNAN RAKYAT DI STADIUM MALAWATI SHAH ALAM - PART 2

HIMPUNAN RAKYAT DI STADIUM MALAWATI SHAH ALAM - PART 3

HIMPUNAN RAKYAT DI STADIUM MAJLIS PERBANDARAN SELAYANG - PART 1

HIMPUNAN RAKYAT DI STADIUM MAJLIS PERBANDARAN SELAYANG - PART 2

HIMPUNAN RAKYAT DI STADIUM MAJLIS PERBANDARAN SELAYANG - PART 3

ITs NOW CALLED PAKATAN RAKYAT

By : Marc Lourdes

PETALING JAYA: The tripartite Pas-DAP-PKR grouping, which made significant gains in last month's general election, has agreed to a formal coalition called Pakatan Rakyat.
Bigwigs from the three ideologically diverse parties, including Parti Keadilan Rakyat president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, met at the office of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday to discuss the arrangement.

In a joint statement, they said the name Pakatan Rakyat had been proposed pending official endorsement by the respective parties.

It is still uncertain whether the formalised coalition would seek an immediate registration, with Lim and Anwar non-committal on the matter when asked.

One of the understandings reached was that all state governments under their control (Kelantan, Penang, Perak, Kedah and Selangor) would conduct policies in accordance with those of Pakatan Rakyat.
Anwar said the coalition, which would be led collectively, would work towards common principles as published in the various party manifestos.

A joint secretariat, consisting three representatives of each party, has been formed to develop and strengthen the structure and framework of Pakatan Rakyat.

Asked about how Pas and DAP, which have very differing ideologies, would approach the coalition, Anwar said they worked together on principles like justice and fairness.

"We are committed to a reform programme backed by the spirit of the Constitution.

"I don't see any difficulty. We have reached a consensus," he said.

Questioned as to which party would dominate the coalition, Anwar replied that the dominant force was the rakyat.

"The agenda is clear. It makes no difference whoever is the menteri besar. They are tied to policies determined by Pakatan Rakyat."

Replying to questions on Pas' alleged intentions to form an Islamic state, Anwar and Abdul Hadi both said it was an issue that should not be made contentious any more.

"It was not mentioned in the Pas manifesto and has not been mentioned for a long time.

"It is no longer an issue," Anwar said.

Abdul Hadi said the issue should not be raised to create trouble and that the truth was that Islam as a religion supported basic principles such as fighting corruption and creating good governance.

Speaking on the failed attempt to create a workable coalition via the Barisan Alternatif in 1999, Lim said they had learnt the lesson from that first, abortive attempt at forming a multi-ethnic opposition front.

"We have learnt and come together on common principles that the people can support," he said.

In a telephone interview later, Lim said he expected the Pakatan Rakyat framework to be finalised in a matter of weeks.

He added that DAP had no relationship with Pas prior to March 8, but the message from the people on that day was that they wanted the parties to work together to restore justice, freedom and democracy.

"The challenge is for us to rise to the expectations of the people."

A convention of all Pakatan Rakyat parliamentary and state assembly representatives will be held on April 27 to further the understanding of the coalition's policies.

On Monday night, at a rally at Stadium Melawati in Shah Alam, Abdul Hadi spoke about the formation of the coalition, saying it would welcome defecting Barisan Nasional parliamentarians.

--NST ONLINE--

FIGHTING FOR WHATs RIGHT?

2008-03-24T01:51:00.000-07:00

UMNO VS SULTAN @ AGONG

Ketika Lim Kit Siang mengesyorkan supaya dipulaukan majlis angkat sumpah di Perak, maka lahirlah secara mengejut para pengibar panji-panji MELAYU.
Umum mengehtahui bahawa yang memekik itu adalah Melayu UMNO.Tidak kurang juga melayu dikalangan PAS dan PKR yang marah dengan sikap Lim Kit Siang ketika itu.Namun dengan cepat Kit Siang memohon maaf diatas keterlanjuranya.Tetapi beliau tetap tidak putus-putus menerima kritikan.
Terkini, Sultan yang juga ketua negara sedang 'dilanyak' dengan ber-PLATFORM-kan undang-undang dan perlembagaan.
Dimana pekikan MELAYU UMNO?
Mengapa Peguam Negara,
Perdana Menteri
Serta ADUN PRO
Idris Jusoh begitu bersemangat
dengan penderhakaan ini?
Apa yang cuba ditegakan oleh mereka-mereka yang biadap ini?
Pak Lah sedang menconteng arang ke mukanya sendiri selepas berjaya menconteng arang pada rekod UMNO-BN pada PRU 12 yang lalu.

Gelagat dan kerenah mereka-mereka yang gilakan kuasa ini sedang diperhatikan dengan jelik sekali oleh rakyat Terengganu serta rakyat seluruh Malaysia.
Tanpa segan silu, mereka MENDERHAKA melebihi apa yang diperkatakan oleh Lim Kit Siang tempoh hari.

Bahkan mereka ini melampaui batasan sehingga
membuat bantahan kepintu Istana Sultan.
Dimana maruah anda sebagai orang MELAYU?
Bila bangsa lain membuat kesilapan,
anda dengan pantas menyerang dari pelbagai sudut.
Kini, kamu pula yang berkelakuan melebihi mangsa sebelum ini.

UMNO perlu ingat, Sultan yang juga AGONG ketika ini turut mempunyai hak dan kuasa tersendiri.Hatta ketika ini, kuasa rakyat turut berada bersama Sultan.
Jangan cuba membawa sentimen dan terus menghina Sultan.
Apabila Sultan Murka, maka buruk padahnya.

DAULAT TUANKU | DAULAT TUANKU | DAULAT TUANKU

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INVITE TERENGGANU MB TO CROSS OVER, PAS'

Mar 24, 08 11:48am

PAS Terengganu should do the right thing - simply invite Ahmad Said to join PAS or if Ahmad Said doesn’t want to join PAS, support him to form the new Terengganu government.

On MB crisis deepens in Terengganu

Noor Yahaya Hamzah: So Ahmad Said, you have been kicked out of Umno because you defied the PM Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Kudos to Ahmad Said, you are my hero. You know where your loyalty should lie, to the Sultan, first and your country, as written in the Rukunegara. As long as the ‘titah perintah Tuanku’ is not against Allah's laws and commandments. Your loyalty is absolutely not to the prime minister for the Sultan’s word takes precedent.

Now that Ahmad Said is the Sultan-appointed Menteri Besar, without support from his Umno colleagues, I can see only one solution to this problem, and it depends on PAS Terengganu.

Here I call on PAS Terengganu to do the right thing - simply invite Ahmad Said to join PAS or if Ahmad Said doesn’t want to join PAS, support him to form the new Terengganu government. For the sake of Terengganu.

The Healer: How absurd! When Lim Kit Siang lashed out at the Sultan of Perak, he was dogged about it but Lim was humble enough to apologise to the Regent. And now, we have 22 Umno leaders lashing out at not only the Sultan of Terengganu, but also at the Agong (although Sultan of Terengganu would be more relevant as it is a state matter). Should not these leaders be seen as insulting the Sultan just as Lim Kit Siang was criticised for? Not only that, even the PM, DPM are together in this.

To Your Majesty the Sultan of Terengganu, be firm of your decision and not be wavered by these hypocrites. Be assured that the rakyat fully support Your Majesty’s decision to appoint Ahmad Said as the MB of Terengganu. Do not be afraid! Stand for righteousness and for justice!

And to Ahmad Said, you have been terminated as an Umno leader unjustly, as it is, Umno has yet to learn their lesson that should be learnt during the latest General Elections, and yet they continue to show their arrogance and ignorance, even towards the honourable Sultan! Take comfort, for justice will prevail!

Batmanm: Umno wants to boycott the swearing in ceremony of the new Terengganu Menteri Besar, Ahmad Said by the Sultan of Trengganu today. For good measure, Ahmad Said was also sacked from the party.

As the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Tuanku must have some strong reasons why Tuanku decided to appoint Ahmad instead of Idris Jusoh. From what we have heard, Umno Terengganu members support the appointment but the top brass still wants Idris. Surely something must not be right.

Before this crisis, Umno put on a strong display that they support and protect the Sultans. Now, Umno has shown that they are insulting the Sultan of Terengganu who is also the Yang Di Pertuan Agong. As the saying goes, what goes around, comes around.

The self-claimed protector and the defender of the royal houses, the NEP and the Malays has become irrelevant to the very people that they claim to champion.

Sbj: The Sultan of Terengganu has exercised his right in accordance with the state constitution. The prime minister on the other hand should accept the fact that the power to appoint a menteri besar is the prerogative of the state ruler.

If he can tolerate the Sultan of Johore's refusal to accept his candidate as a menteri besar he should be consistent with other states when the rulers disagree with his choice In the case of Terengganu, he should have gracefully withdrawn candidate of his choice. Normal practice should not be allowed to take precedence over express constitutional provisions.

It's high time that the PM knows the limit of his power. After all, he has accepted the reality that even as a PM, he doesn't have any say in the appointment either MB/ CM in the five states which have fallen to the Barisan Rakyat.

Pro-Palace: Politicians should not downplay the constitution for their own ends. The Sultan has the absolute right to appoint a menteri besar of his choice. So please don't ever mix politics with palace affairs. As loyal citizens of this country we must respect the palace.

Dark Justice: Umno has upgraded themselves from being a sour loser to the biggest hypocrite as shown in the Terengganu MB tussle. Not only they disrespect the Sultan of Terengganu but they also stopped a fellow Umno member from taking up the MB’s position by stripping him of his Umno membership.

What is wrong in him taking up the MB’s position is he is trusted by the Sultan? Does this mean that Umno has disrespected the Sultan of Terengganu?

HL Ooi: May I ask for the opinion of persons who are well-versed in these matters as to whether the 22 BN representatives in Terengganu will commit an act deemed to be disrespectful to HRH the Sultan of Terengganu when they boycott the swearing-in session for the Regent’s nominee for Mentri Besar?

One can’t help seeing parallels in this case with the recent one in Perak. What would be a solution to this crisis that both respects the dignity of the Terengganu palace and the will of the people of Terengganu?

On Anwar says he is moving toward forming a new gov't

Pride: The ‘frog’ culture that gave Sabahans a bad name in 1994 and in many other instances should never be allowed to happen in national politics. Politicians must, therefore, refrain from hatching the idea of forming the federal government through ‘katak’ manipulation for the sake of Malaysia. .

Lets accept the elections result and let the rule of law and constitution operate normally. I do not think the number of cabinet seats given to East Malaysian states matter to majority of us. What we Sabahans need is delivery of timely and quality services, fair development allocations, constitutional promises and equal opportunities in every field - all this devoid of manipulation of worst degree, as happened prior to the last elections.

True Malaysians must not let electoral ‘betrayal’ be taught as something that is okay for our younger generations, whatever the reasons be.

Ceejay: This is not musical chairs. Please respect the votes of the people. It is a corrupt practice to lure MPs away from their respective parties in order to realise one's ambition. We voted for a government that is accountable, responsible and free of corruption.

How can any responsible party or coalition form a good government if it consists of turncoats and their partners in crime? We must never ever have a repeat of the 1994 Sabah elections where the PBS MPs were paid to desert their party en masse.

Sabahan: Much as I dislike ‘frogs’, (being from Sabah) I consider accepting them at this time a necessity for the following reasons. The Election Commission, judiciary, police and Anti- Corruption Agency need to be cleaned up and that can only be done if the Barisan Rakyat is the government of the day.

If we wait another 4-5 years for the next elections, God knows what new tricks the BN government will have up their sleeves to ensure that their minority vote is enough to be the government. Another five years under BN will also ensure that the corrupt leaders get richer.

Arjunaidi Jamaludin: I find it rather disturbing that Anwar Ibrahim has not ruled out attempting to make some BN elected representatives to cross-over to the DAP-PKR-PAS loose coalition.This is being considered on the premise that instead of controlling five states now, the coalition could muster enough seats to defeat Abdullah Badawi's BN govt and form an national DAP-PKR-PAS government. I object to to this cross-over strategy for the following reasons:

1. The BN representatives won because their party/ideology/ideas appealed to BN supporters. It is morally wrong to tempt them to switch allegiance to DAP-PKR-PAS. It would tantamount to betrayal of the voters' trust.

2. BN representatives who switch allegiance may want rewards in the form of cabinet positions, etc. It would be unfair to DAP-PKR-PAS stalwarts who have unselfishly struggled for their parties.

3. The strategy would condone party-hopping. If I am not mistaken, DAP's elected representatives have pledged to vacate their seats if they switch allegiance to another party.

4. The DAP-PKR-PAS coalition should focus on setting good governance in the five states and working towards delivering their election promises.

Flaneur: BR should not just accept party grasshoppers. If such people feel very strongly about switching camps, then they should do the honourable thing for Sabahans and Sarawakians who voted them in by resigning and standing again as BR candidates. Then only will we know if they are genuine representatives of the people or opportunists who practise lallang politics.

Granted that there will be extra expenses etc but it's a small price to pay for true, clean democracy. We hope that maestro Sdr Anwar who so won the hearts of Malaysians with his multiracial approach will not succumb to the temptation of becoming PM by default as a result of these defections (if any).

Let him also advise those who are contemplating deserting the BN ship to do so by resigning from their party and position as MP and standing again as BR candidates in a by-election. The whole world will applaud if the new government comes about through this morally and legitimate way

On Shahrir: We need more aggressive ministers

Azhar Victor: My view is that Shahrir would not be any different from the rest of his buddies in the great cover-up. There were many reports submitted to him as PAC Chairman on corruption and misdeeds. People have personally seen him at his office with evidence and signed statements. There was not even an acknowledgment not to mention any sort of follow-up. The people who lodged the reports were not contacted or informed of the status of the reports. Can he be expected to do any better as a minister?

On MCA leader: BN singing same old tune

OneView: We have known it all along but now there is confirmation from the horse's mouth. I am sure that we shall be hearing more and more of the truth as people shed their fears of intimidation and share the truth with all Malaysians. At the least, telling the truth will set their souls free. I know of at least one case where a former state assemblyperson blatantly made provocative race-based remarks.

The ex-assemblyperson was asked to help with an application for a vendor's license for a neighbourhood vegetable seller. The vendor was being harassed weekly by the local council's enforcement officers. He had to ‘settle’ the matter each time they came around. When asked why he did not get a license, he replied that he tried several times but was not successful.

This was told to the ex-assemblyperson. His reply was ‘You do not understand. He will not be able to get a license because of his colour’. He made some other racial remarks which is best not repeated here.

That was the game. It is wrong but their thinking is: ‘I close one eye and you close the other and all the people will be in the dark’. The people, however, have seen the light.

ANWAR IBRAHIM: PCYCHOLOGY OR REALITY?

2008-03-18T21:01:00.001-07:00

PSIKOLOGI ATAU BAKAL JADI REALITI?

*Rafidah letak jawan?
*Radzi sah letak jawatan.

Datuk Seri Tengku Azlan Sultan Abu Bakar tolak jawatan timbalan menteri luar dengan alasan beliau telah lama berkhidmat dan sewajarnya diberikan jawatan menteri.Menurut satu laporan, Anifah menolak pelantikan atas sebab yang sama. --MALAYSIAKINI--

Semalam heboh dikatakan disana-sini tentang dakwaan Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim bahawa BA=BRAISAN RAKYAT semakin hampir dengan Putrajaya (MEMERINTAH).

Lalu ada yang mendakwa bahawa Anwar hanya bermain kata-kata dan ada juga yang meyakini kenyataan tersebut sebagai sesuatu yang bakal menjadi realiti.
Dalam kenyataanya, Dato Seri Anwar mengatakan bahawa AHLI-AHLI PARLIMEN KHUSUSNYA DARI SABAH DAN SARAWAK BERMINAT MELOMPAT KE BARISAN ALTERNATIF (BA).

Selepas pengumuman kabinet oleh PM Pak Lah, kita menyaksikan situasi berat sebelah yang didakwa oleh Dato Husam Musa sebagai 'ABDULLAH's FLAVOUR' dan Mahfuz Omar pula mengatakan 'DIA (PAK LAH) AKAN JATUH'.

Susulan dengan pengumuman kabinet tersebut, Dato Anifah Aman yang juga adik kepada Ketua Menteri Sabah telah menarik diri dari jawatan Timbalan Menteri Pengankutan.
Beliau memberi alasan longgar dengan mendakwa 'muka baru' LEBIH LAYAK DARINYA.

Sentimen kekecewaan didakwa telah terbit dari kalangan mereka yang berjaya di Sabah dan Sarawak.MALAYSIA KINI melaporkan, bahawa tokoh-tokoh BN dari Borneo begitu kecewa dengan keadaan kabinet baru ini.Mereka mendakwa tokoh BN dari negeri yang berprestasi buruk tetap diutamakan berbanding negeri-negeri yang telah membantu menyelamatkan BN dari terus tersungkur.

Kekecewaan yang sama turut berlaku dikalangan wanita UMNO yang dipetik oleh MALAYSIA KINI sebagai banyak membantu BN.

Sebentar tadi, bekas Menteri Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz dikatakan akan melepaskan jawatan ketua Wanita Umno.
Rafidah yang didakwa tidak berpuas hati dengan kabinet baru yang gagal memartabatkan kaum wanita, mungkin meletakan jawatanya sebagai Ketua Wanita Umno.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Agong UMNO, Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad yang tidak dilantik semula ke kabinet, telah meletak jawatan sebagai setiausaha agung Umno dan Barisan Nasional (BN) atas alasan tidak boleh lagi meneruskan tugas-tugas tersebut secara berkesan.Perletakan jawatan tersebut telah diterima oleh Pak Lah.

Apakah ini juga menunjukan adanya perkembangan tidak sihat dari dalam UMNO (BN) sendiri yang semakin hari semakin menampakkan kekalutan....
Mungkinkah dakwaan Dato Seri Anwar bakal menjadi realiti dalam masa terdekat ini?

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MALAYSIA'S ANWAR SAYS RULING PARTY MEMBERS WANT TO DEFECT

Published: March 17, 2008

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia: Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim claimed Monday that many lawmakers in the ruling coalition want to defect to his camp after their election debacle.

Anwar told reporters he has been approached by many ruling party lawmakers who won in the March 8 general elections. They are welcome to defect but no bribes will be paid to make them to cross over, he said.

"We will remain consistent and committed to the code of ethics. If you want to surrender at a price you have chosen the wrong party," he told reporters.

Buying political support, especially by paying voters money, is common in Malaysia, and bribing lawmakers to defect, while not widespread, is known to occur.

The three-party opposition alliance stitched together by Anwar won an unprecedented 82 seats in the 222-member Parliament in the elections. It needs 30 more lawmakers to get a majority needed to unseat the National Front coalition's government.

Anwar's claim could not be immediately confirmed, but would add to persistent rumors of political horse-trading in the aftermath of the disastrous poll results for Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's coalition.

Abdullah says he has the full support of his party, and has rejected calls to step down. But Anwar's claim, if true, would add pressure on him to keep the party together.

Anwar did not say how many National Front members have approached him, but said they belonged to Abdullah's United Malays National Organization, the main party in the National Front, as well as other smaller parties.

"People have approached and discussed ... but no one dared raise the issue of price (of defection) to me," he said, without elaborating. He said he believes some will eventually defect, even without monetary inducement.

But he refused to say if the numbers would be enough to topple the National Front government, which is facing its worst political crisis in the 51 years it has been in power.

Although the National Front suffered losses in some previous elections, notably in 1999, it is the first time its parliamentary majority has been eroded to this extent. In addition, Anwar's opposition alliance won control of governments in five of Malaysia's 13 states.

Anwar said many of those who approached him won their seats from Sabah and Sarawak states on Borneo island, which have emerged as UMNO's political stronghold after its spectacular loss of support in mainland Malaysia.

The National Front won 54 out of the 56 seats in the two states, accounting for nearly 39 percent of its total 140 seats it Parliament. Most of the 54 seats were won by UMNO candidates.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, was once an UMNO star before being accused of corruption and sodomy by then Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in 1998. He was convicted of both charges but the sodomy charge was later overturned.

While he was in jail, Anwar's wife formed the People's Justice Party, or PKR, which emerged as the largest opposition party in the elections with 31 parliamentary seats. It is in a coalition with the Democratic Action Party and the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.
Terms of Use

--INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE--

NEW CABINET

2008-03-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

KABINET: RAFIDAH, RADZI, TG ADNAN GUGUR

Mar 18, 08 11:59am

kemaskini 1:10pm

Dalam barisan kabinet baru yang diumumkan Perdana Menteri tadi, lima menteri digugurkan termasuk Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz dan Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor.

Rafidah dan Tengku Adnan, dua tokoh kontroversi, masing-masing memegang portfolio Perdagangan Antarabangsa dan Industri, dan Pelancongan.

Dua tokoh dari Perlis, Datuk Seri Radzi Sheikh Ahmad (Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri) dan Datuk Azmi Khalid (Sumber Asli dan Alam Sekitar) turut digugurkan. Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis (Sains, Teknologi dan Inovasi) tidak dilantik semula.

Sementara muka-muka baru pula, termasuklah, Mohd Zaid Ibrahim sebagai menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Shahrir Samad (Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna), Datuk Shabery Chik (Penerangan), Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib (Kemajuan Luar Bandar dan Wilayah).

Seorang lagi muka baru ialah setiausaha agung MCA, Datuk Ong Ka Chuan yang dilantik sebagai menteri perumahan dan kerajaan tempatan dan Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Belia dan Sukan),

Ketua Puteri Umno, Datuk Noraini Ahmad pula dilantik sebagai timbalan menteri sumber manusia.

Anak ketua menteri Sarawak - Datuk Sulaiman Taib dilantik sebagai timbalan menteri pelancongan.

Barisan kabinet yang diumumkan Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hari ini juga lebih kecil - dikurangkan daripada 90 kepada 68 orang.

Lebih separuh daripadanya muka-muka baru untuk mengisi 27 kementerian - lebih kecil sedikit daripada 32 kementerian penggal lepas.

Jawatan setiausaha parlimen pula dimansuhkan, sementara empat kementerian pula digabungkan menjadi dua.

"Ini bermakna menteri dan timbalan menteri perlu lebih aktif di parlimen," kata Abdullah dalam satu sidang akhbar khas di pejabatnya di Putrajaya.

Seorang lagi muka baru, ketua pegawai eksekutif Maybank, Datuk Amirsham Abdul Aziz dilantik sebagai menteri di JPM.

MENGAPA KHAIRY TIDAK TERSENARAI? - CLICK

Menurut perdana menteri, Zaid yang akan mengangkat sumpah sebagai senator petang ini akan ditugaskan untuk membantu membuat cadangan bagi perubahan dan reformasi dalam sistem kehakiman negara.

Manakala, Amirsham pula, katanya, akan dilantik mengetui Unit Perancangan Ekonomi (EPU), menggantikan Effendi yang tidak bertanding dalam pilihanraya umum lalu.

Manakala naib ketua Pemuda Umno, Khairy Jamaluddin juga tidak dilantik menganggotai barisan kabinet kali ini seperti diura-urakan sesetengah pihak.

Mereka yang dinaikkan pangkat menjadi menteri ialah Datuk Ong Tee Kiat (Pengangkutan), Dr Ng Yen Yen (Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat), Datuk Noh Omar (Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi), Datuk Zin Mohamad (Kerja Raya), Datuk Shaziman Mansor (Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi).

Turut dilantik sebagai menteri ialah Datuk Liow Ting Lai (Kesihatan), Shabery Chik (Penerangan), Datuk Dr S Subramaniam (Sumber Manusia) dan Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri).

Perdana Menteri mengekalkan jawatannya di Kementerian Kewangan, sementara jawatannya di Kementerian Keselamatan Dalam Negeri diserahkan kepada Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Timbalan perdana menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak masih lagi di Kementerian Pertahanan.

Menteri Kewangan II dikekalkan kepada Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop.

--MALAYSIAKINI--

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PM ANNOUNCES NEW CABINET

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced his new administration on Tuesday, trimming his Cabinet from 32 to 27 seats, of which more than half featured new faces.

He also scrapped the post of parliamentary secretary and dropped big guns such as Datuk Seri Rafidah Aziz (former International Trade and Industry Minister), Datuk Azmi Khalid (Home Affairs Minister) and Datuk Dr Jamaluddin Jarjis (Science, Technology and Innovations Minister).

He also merged the Home Affairs and Internal Security ministries, saying that they had many overlapping functions, and named former Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar as its minister.

The full list:

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 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
Datuk K. Devamany
Datuk Hassan Malik

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 Heong, Senator Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh

Housing and Local Government
Minister -Datuk Ong Ka Chuan
Deputies - Datuk Robert Lau , Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Works Minister
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- Loh Wei Keong, Datuk Jacob Dungau Sagan

Foreign Affairs
Minister -Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputy- Tunku Azlan Abu Bakar

Education
Minister -Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputies -Datuk Wee Ka Siong, Datuk Razali Ismail

Higher Education
Minister - Datuk Khaled Nordin
Deputies - Khoo Kok Choong, Datuk Idris Harun

Transport
Datuk Ong Tee Keat
Deputy - Anifah Aman

Human Resources
Datuk 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 Abu Ghapur Salleh

Rural and Regional Development
Minister - Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib
Deputy- Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

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 Jack 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 Azalina Othman
Deputy - Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abu Taib

FT
Minister - Datuk Zulhasnan Rafique
Deputy- M. Saravanan

--THE STAR ONLINE--

MALAYSIA PM SHAKES UP CABINET AFTER POLL SETBACK

Tue Mar 18, 2008 1:09am EDT

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (Reuters) - Malaysia's prime minister made sweeping changes to his cabinet line-up on Tuesday, dumping his long-serving trade minister, after the ruling coalition suffered a heavy setback at elections this month.

The omission of Trade Minister Rafidah Aziz, a minister for almost 30 years and a senior member of the main ruling party, was the biggest surprise in the new line-up, which could shape Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's political future.

"Half (of the cabinet) will be new faces and will represent the people effectively," said Abdullah, who faces a possible test of his leadership at party elections later this year.

Asked why Rafidah, reputedly the world's longest-serving trade minister with 20 years in the job, had been dropped, he replied: "I don't want to discuss this. I don't need to explain further.

"Rafidah needs to make way for someone new to take over."

Rafidah was replaced by ex-farm minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

Abdullah's National Front coalition suffered the biggest electoral setback in its 50-year reign on March 8, when it lost its two-thirds majority in federal parliament and five of the country's 13 states to opposition parties.

He kept technocrat Nor Mohamed Yakcop as second finance minister, a role in which he effectively runs economic and fiscal policy, though Abdullah formally remains the finance minister.

The new line-up comprises some younger politicians than the previous cabinet, which was known as the "mummified cabinet" by opposition parties because it included several ministers with more than 20 years of service.

(Reporting by Jalil Hamid, writing by Mark Bendeich; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani).

4th FLOOR CONSPIRACY

2008-03-11T22:59:00.000-07:00

ALLAH S.W.T TELAH MAKBULKAN

Merujuk kepada kenyataan bekas menteri penerangan, Dato Zainudin Maidin maka sah dan sahih apa yang difikirkan dan dirisaukan oleh seluruh rakyat Malaysia termasuk bekas PM Tun Dr Mahathir.Dan perkara ini saya telah dapat hidu selepas menilai tiap-tiap calon UMNO(BN) khusunya calon-calon baru.Calon-Calon baru ini adalah pro 'seorang lelaki' yang gilakan kuasa dan bercita-cita besar dalam gelombang politik tempatan.
Calon-calon yang pro 'Lelaki Ini' diharap dapat membantunya pada Perhimpunan Agong UMNO akan datang.Supaya segalanya dapat tertunai dengan mudah.
Pakatan ini telah diketahui umum lebih-lebih lagi selepas pendedahan demi pendedahan yang dibuat oleh Tun Dr Mahathir mengenai kuasa 'LUAR BIASA' yang dimiliki oleh 'Lelaki Ini'.Tahukah anda apa sebenarnya yang membuatkan orang-orang cina menyebarkan maklumat supaya kaum cina hanya mengundi calon-calon cina tanpa mengira parti pada PRU 12 yang lalu?

Kaum cina amat faham dan cekap menghidu sikap 'Lelaki Ini' yang pernah didakwa oleh Tun Dr Mahathir sebagai bersikap perkauman.Dan mereka, kaum cina ini bimbang jika 'Lelaki Ini' berjaya secara total pada PRU 12 dan bimbang akan lahir 'THE NEXT PM' yang tebal sikap perkaumanya.

Berkat usaha serta doa dari pelbagai lapisan masyarakat, maka berlakulah gelombang TSUNAMI yang menumbangkan GERAKAN, melemahkan MCA dan MIC serta MENEMPANGKAN UMNO.

Saya yakin, ada dikalangan ahli UMNO sendiri yang gembira dengan TSUNAMI ini.Terutama bagi calon-calon yang berjaya melepasi cabaran TSUNAMI.Mereka telah maklum dan hanya berdoa agar cita-cita 'Lelaki Ini' tidak kesampaian.Kerana masing-masing ada agenda peribadi dan rasa tercabar bila hadir satu 'PAKATAN' yang mampu menikam kerjaya mereka sendiri.

Kini segala yang dirancang telah hancur-lebur dek penangan TSUNAMI yang banyak menghanyutkan calon-calon pro 'Lelaki Ini'.
Lalu semuanya berubah menjadi sedikit Demokrasi (MEDIA) terutama ucapan-ucapan keangkuhan sudah tidak kita dengar lagi kecuali Rafidah Aziz yang masih angkuh dengan menyalahkan sikap pengundi.

Media cetak hari ini memainkan sentimen dengan merujuk penghapusan DEB di Pulau Pinang.Walaupun DAP menjanjikan kesaksamaan kepada semua kaum serta ketelusan dalam pemberian tender.Malah DAP bakal membuka sebuah laman web khas untuk tender-tender yang bakal dibuka dengan pengkhususan kepada pemegang lesen yang didaftarkan di Pulau Pinang.Kita perlu lebih positif dari 'MENANTI dan MENDAKWA' sesuatu sebagai negatif.

Saya nak tanya....selama ini, adakah rakyat melayu dibawah ini merasa
dan menikmati DEB?
Bukankah DEB hanya mengayakan mereka-mereka yang berada diatas?
Malah Tun Dr. Mahathir sendiri merasakan bahawa pertumbuhan 6% ekonomi negara tidak memberi nikmat kepada rakyat kerana dasar-dasar kerajaan.

Kerajaan lebih sibuk dengan KORIDOR-KORIDOR yang kononya bakal merubah dan memajukan orang-orang melayu.Dalam masa yang sama rakyat dihimpit dan tertekan dengan peningkatan kadar inflasi akibat kenaikan harga Petrol sekaligus meningkatkan kos sara hidup terutama bagi penduduk dibandar-bandar yang terpaksa melaluinya juga dengan tekanan tambahan akibat kenaikan TOL.

Disebabkan itu, maka berlaku TSUNAMI diKuala Lumpur dan bandar-bandar maju diSelangor.Dengan tambahan keangkuhan sikap MB Selangor dalam pentadbiranya yang penuh dengan birokrasi dan kronisme.Beliau naik secara tiba-tiba dan turun dengan hanya '1 RENTAPAN'.Kini hanya tinggal TEMPE dan PENYAPU sebagai sebuah kenangan terindah.

Sikap media tradisional juga terlalu melampaui batasan sehingga menjelikan.
Tiap hari akan ada perkatan "PEMBANGKANG SEMAKIN TERDESAK", AHLI KELUAR PARTI DAN DRAMA PENDEK BERUNSUR SABOTAJ TERHADAP PEMBANGKANG.Walhal media era digital semakin menguasai rakyat yang akhirnya berjaya membawa 1 mesej selamat kecuali ditempat-tempat tertentu khusunya dikawasan pedalaman.

Kini selepas TSUNAMI, barulah kita dengar suara-suara dari media tradisional bahawa DSAI masih relevan dan media tradisional ini juga mula berani menyampaikan kebenaran yang mahu disampaikan oleh 'Mereka-Mereka Yang Sekian Lama Telah MENGKRITIK Sistem Pentadbiran Pak Lah'.

Berbalik kepada isu 'Lelaki Ini', Zainudin Maidin dalam kenyataan berlapiknya mendakwa ada pakatan terancang dari golongan muda yang mahu mentadbir negara ini.Namun beliau tidak mahu mengulas lanjut mengenainya.
Saya yakin, mesej yang dituju adalah 'PAKATAN TINGKAT 4 PUTRAJAYA' yang dikepalai oleh menantu Imam Hadhari, KHAIRY JAMALUDIN.
Semua warga Malaysia tahu dan yakin bahawa KJ menggangu pentadbiran Pak Lah dengan pelbagai jalan dan cara.

Apa akan terjadi jika 'PAKATAN KJ' berjaya mencapai cita-citanya?
Sedangkan kita tahu siapa dianya KHAIRY ini.

Hal ini sudah saya bangkitkan pada penulisan Jumaat lalu dibawah LEBEL: video - road to pru 12, sehari sebelum hari membuang undi.Ternyata doa rakyat Malaysia telah DIMAKBULKAN OLEH ALLAH S.W.T.
Kemenangan BA (PAS, PKR, DAP) adalah lebih SELAMAT dan menjamin masa depan bangsa Malaysia.Kini giliran kita mempertahankan keputusan TSUNAMI ini dari sebarang ancaman termasuk yang berbaur PERKAUMAN.

Dikawasan saya sendiri sudah mula menunjukan tanda-tanda unsur perkauman dengan dakwaan bahawa 'HAK ISTIMEWA ORANG MELAYU DAN ISLAM' sudah mula hilang serta kendur.Tetapi golongan yang membawa 'ISU' ini masih berurusan dengan 'TAUKE-TAUKE JUDI EKOR HARAM'.Barangkali ini dinamakan kemesraan antara kaum.Tengah malam mereka kepusat-pusat hiburan ALA-BARAT dan pulang dengan ketidakwarasan lagi.Ini juga dinamakan sebagai memelihara hak ISLAM (HADHARI) barangkali.

Apa guna menjaja 'ISU BAHAYA' sebegini jika
hidup lebih hina dari orang bukan ISLAM?

Saya tahu bahawa golongan sebegini sebenarnya adalah golongan yang berkepentingan dan tertinggal kepentinganya pada pentadbiran kerajaan lama yang telah tumbang(KRONISME).Bimbang kalau-kalau kerajaan baru membuatkan mereka ini 'TERJONGKIT'.Jika kita menerima apa-apa mesej yang boleh meruntuhkan dan menghancurkan keadaan negara ini, maka selidikilah dahulu.Jangan kita 'CEPAT MELATAH'.
Terima kasih kepada Tun Dr. Mahathir, DSAI dan KEPIMPINAN PAS serta individu-indivudu lain yang berjaya menghidu serta mendedahkan taktik dan permainan KJ selama ini.
Dan pendedahan nama-nama besar dalam pelbagai skandal yang sehingga kini tidak dapat dijawab lalu menimbulkan pelbagai tanda-tanya dan persoalan dijiwa rakyat MALAYSIA yang sememangnya cintakan keamanan dan keharmonian.

SEMOGA ALLAH S.W.T MEMELIHARA JIHAD KITA DEMI AGAMA, AL-QURAN DAN SUNNAH RASULULLAH S.A.W DARI SEBARANG KEHANCURAN.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ELECTION POST-MOTEM: TOP 10 FACTORS

Bridget Welsh | Mar 12, 08 1:50pm

Few expected that the wave of protest would snowball into the record losses for the Barisan National. My own analysis was the gains would be at maximum 70 seats and two state governments, not the record five state governments and 82 seats for the opposition.

While the ground swell of disgruntlement was there, concerns about electoral fairness and persistent patterns of ethnic voting dampened the optimism, even among the opposition. Yet, the record breaking losses for the BN have created a fundamental rupture in Malaysian politics.

Based on following the campaign and the generosity of ordinary people and political elites sharing their views, here are my top 10 reasons for the outcome:

1. Reformasi spirit lives on

The BN severely miscalculated in its assessment of the Malaysian electorate. In 2004, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi embraced the reform agenda that catapulted into the electoral agenda in the 1999 election.

The fight against corruption, increased transparency, and, most important, better governance underscored his 2004 campaign. Recall the advertisements for a more effective civil service, and the focus on building on his ‘Mr Clean’ persona.

Coupled with Abdullah's affable personal style and the groundswell of goodwill, Malaysians embraced his leadership, giving him then a record mandate. But the mandate was not just about Abdullah the man, it was also about the issues that he used to get himself and the BN elected.

The 2004 campaign was filled with promises of reform of the police to address crime and pledges to reduce corruption. Not only were these promises not fulfilled, the problems have been seen to deepen during his tenure as reform efforts were abandoned and anti-corruption efforts were selectively applied.

Many in the 2008 BN slate continued to have questions about alleged corruption, from S Samy Vellu (Maika scandal) to others close to the prime minister. These charges were not investigated, and in fact with the continued selection of candidates this round with corruption clouds, the Abdullah administration failed to show a commitment to address the problems it acknowledged in 2004.

At the core, Malaysians want - and deserve - a better government. The spirit of reform remained alive and kicked back in this election.

2. Abdullah's laissez-faire lackluster leadership

Abdullah brought about a profound transformation in liberalising the political system, allowing more voices to be heard, and graciously accepting the electoral results. In these areas, he deserves high praise.

Yet, he failed in the key area that has been the backbone of the BN's legitimacy - economic performance. The macro numbers in Malaysia are strong and the country remains one of the most competitive for investment regionally. Yet, it is falling behind in maintaining competitiveness and the economic gains are not being effectively distributed to the population.

Abdullah's administration corresponded to high inflation - the highest since the early 70s. Inequality is rising sharply and ordinary people, notably the middle-class based in the urban areas, are feeling the pinch. Even though commodity prices have brought more wealth to the rural areas, it is not keeping up with rising costs. This was brought home to me with conversations with Malay rubber tappers in Larut, Perak, who supported PAS in record numbers.

In fairness, the rising prices are the result of an appreciating ringgit, rising oil prices and high government subsidies, issues that are either out of Abdullah's control or he inherited. Yet, his economic team proved not able to manage domestic prices effectively and translate the oil and gas revenue into gains for society at large that could be felt in ordinary households.

The recent Hari Raya, Chinese New Year and Deepavali holidays were noticeably less plush than before, a real sign of fiscal difficulties. Wages have comparatively dropped and those working in the service sector make barely enough to survive. The starting take-home salary at 7-Eleven is RM700 a month. Unemployment among younger people remains too high, and not all of them can be absorbed into the civil service.

Difficult conditions are compared sharply to the wealth of the political elite, including Abdullah and his family with a reported new home in Perth. The conspicuous display of consumption of the elite is on display from the rural areas of Perak to the Kuala Lumpur shopping malls.

Beyond the bread-and-butter issues, was a more serious dynamic - the inability to instill confidence in promoting long-term economic development, increasing Malaysia's economic competitiveness. The economic vision was missing in Abdullah's first term, and the fiscal liquidity in the country was not adequately invested locally.

The economic reforms needed to bring about the changes were not pursued with the zeal to keep Malaysia ahead of countries like Vietnam. In particular, Malaysia faces the difficult task of making is domestic business entrepreneurs more competitive. This involves weaning them off a dependence on contracts. This is true for both the Malay and Chinese business communities alike.

Abdullah's administration strengthened its use of patronage, and did not send a clear message to end wasteful big projects. The new economic corridors have yet to be shown to be effective allocations of resources, rather than avenues for elite economic gain. Malaysia did not aggressively pursue trade liberalisation in a means to attract more foreign capital.

Moreover, the much-needed reforms in education, to strengthen Malaysia's human capital, were not effectively implemented, although good ideas were touted. Investors want confidence, and effective policy implementation.

Abdullah's decision-making style has yet to yield the results his 2004 mandate should have given him. The ideas were developed, but not implemented. The talent in Malaysia is there, but Abdullah was not able to effectively harness it. The BN is fooling itself if it thinks the electorate does not appreciate the larger issues that affect their children's futures.

3. BN coalition failings and infighting

Abdullah's poor management extended to the BN itself. The component parties within the BN were dismissed and ignored. Whether this involved the PGCC (Penang Global City Centre) project in Penang in which the opposition of Gerakan to the project was completely by-passed or the memorandum on Article 11 that the parties were forced to withdraw, the perception was created that voices for non-Malays in the coalition were not being heard.

Umno came across as too arrogant within the coalition. This came to a head in the Hindraf affair, when voices within the system rejected the concerns of ordinary voices and added salt to the wound by arresting the Indian Malaysian leaders. This seriously delegitimised the MIC as the voice of the Indian Malaysian community. It is not a coincidence that Devamany S Krishasamy, the MP from Cameron Highlands, who had the bravery to at least acknowledge concerns, was reelected and Samy Vellu, who justified the arrests, lost.

The issue of problematic BN management extended to the dominant party within the BN itself, Umno. Abdullah came into office without a strong political base within his party. The party rallied around him in the office of the PM, yet he continued to face dissension inside. Rumours of rifts between him and his deputy Najib Razak continued, and were denied as in fact their working relationship was overall sound in the first term.

Yet, the dissension continued to percolate, with former premier Dr Mahathir Mahathir leading the charge. The March polls were not just about national elections, they were also about positioning for the next Umno elections. In this regard, the March polls were used as a means to strengthen Abdullah and his allies positions within the party.

Mentri besars were given much more influence over the candidate slates. Popular candidates, those that hold important division chief positions within Umno, were dropped. It is no wonder the Umno machinery did not work as effectively in this election compared to the last. As one Umno elite described it, there were too many "fronts" opened this campaign to mend. The impact of Umno infighting is most obvious historically in Kelantan, but can account for losses elsewhere and reduced majorities even in safe areas such as Perlis.

The divisions within Umno were paralleled by splits within the other important component parties. For the MCA, the battle over leadership was already on the agenda before the election and the ouster of Chua Soi Lek, distancing of Chan Kong Choy and rise of Ong Ka Chuan, the brother of the party’s president have created serious ripples within the party.

The MCA knew defeat was coming, but not as serious as the outcome. They slated the least number of incumbents - 35% - due to infighting and the difficult Chinese electoral terrain. The MCA's loss in the urban areas shows that they lost both Chinese and English-educated Chinese, the latter of which have not been effectively included in Ong Ka Ting's tenure.

The MIC's crisis is well-known, as a similar dynamic over succession permeated the election, and the record number of new candidates for the MIC only served to have MIC fight itself in places like Perai in Penang. Gerakan's internal difficulties in the chief ministership issue were also on public display, although for the purposes of the election, the party maintained unity - to no avail.

4. Better messaging by the opposition

It is thus not surprising that the BN campaign lacked a coherence. In reading the messages about its record, the issues raised were disparate and lacked focus. While clearly polished posters and top printing quality, the BN content did not resonate clearly. The messages used in different states did not fit clearly under one umbrella, such as Umno's focus on it being the party of the struggle for Islam in Terengganu and Kelantan.

In fact, many of the messages belied the experience of ordinary Malaysians - end of poverty? clean police force? prices least in the region? The connection to society was missing. The tone of the campaign was one in which the voices of society were not listened to, and people were talked down to.

Many pointed to the arrogance of the BN in its campaign - highlighting the ‘One Choice’ poster as a fundamental lack of appreciation that there was another choice in this campaign, a choice that the majority of the electorate chose. The defensive posture of the BN campaign failed to offer hope to the electorate. "Be grateful for what you have" does not evoke support in a context of increased economic difficulties.

In comparison, the opposition was united in promoting one message of "change". While they differed in their priorities of what they wanted to change, they all concurred on introducing more checks and balances in the system. Each party had a common template and umbrella that allowed candidates that were unknown to build on the individual party's identity.

The message was modest in goals and a positive message. This more effective messaging allowed the opposition to reach out to new voters, and convinced many Malaysians to vote outside of ethnic lines.

5. Embracing modern campaigning: New mediums

A critical component of the opposition's stronger campaign was its more aggressive move to modern campaign techniques. While Malaysia elections continue to be labour intensive affairs, with house-to-house campaigning the norm, the use of polling of the electorate and the embrace of the Internet, blogs and SMS worked more the advantage for the opposition.

The opposition was denied balanced coverage in the mainstream media, and thus was forced to adopt new campaign techniques for greater penetration of their message. PAS was perhaps the most effective of all the opposition parties in using its website to reach out to its supporters, with its candidates profiled early on. Yet, PKR and DAP were also close behind, using email list-serves and YouTube. The uploading of ceramah allowed a wider audience to hear their message.

The BN lacked the same level of adoption of these techniques. In part, it believed that control over the media and resources would work. This is understandable. They have worked in the past. Yet, Malaysia is no longer the same place. Now 42 percent of Malaysians reportedly use the Internet, and they have access to alternative opinions.

No matter what level of control over blogging the government introduces, they cannot control cyberspace. The BN will need to adjust its campaigning methods to reach out effectively, especially to younger voters.

6. Timing of election and campaign period

The long campaign worked in favour of the opposition, not the government. This has to do in part with the cheaper means to conduct campaigns noted above - CD's, Internet and SMS are cheaper than paying campaign workers.

Yet the longer campaign period - the longest since 1969 - allowed the opposition to get its message out, to respond to the issues that the BN were raising. Instead of a blast in which the focus was on a few key messages, candidates from all parties had to adapt and change their messages as the campaign evolved.

This was most evident in Penang, where the response of outgoing chief minister Dr Koh Tsu Koon to the issue of the state's future leadership, provided fodder to the opposition during the campaign itself. The BN proved less willing to adapt as the campaign evolved.

Thirteen is clearly not Abdullah's lucky number. This election was called too early. While there is no doubt that economic pressures would have made the context difficult, the possible international recession might have given Abdullah more ability to deflect blame. As is, he alone was faced with an assessment of his economic management.

The scheduling of the elections only a few months after Hindraf and during the Chinese New Year celebrations did not help build confidence among non-Malays. Rushing the seat allocation within the coalition contributed to internal BN disgruntlement. More policies should have been implemented to address ethnic relations and more efforts to address the infighting within the coalition needed to be done before the election. The election was clearly poorly timed.

7. Opposition cooperation

The opposition is comprised of three different political parties with different political outlooks and philosophies. It is also comprised of strong personalities. After the DAP left the Barisan Alternatif in 2001, the divide between the opposition parties widened, as the ideological differences over Islamic governance split the DAP and PAS, and even had ripple effects within PKR.

Bringing the opposition together into the non-aggression pact of this election and the common umbrella was a massive effort, led by members within all the parties who recognised that national gains were not possible without cooperation.

All the parties needed cooperation to win new ground - DAP in Penang, PAS in Kedah and all the parties in Selangor and Perak. The seat negotiations were heated and difficult, but in West Malaysia successful. All the party leaders are responsible for this success. It involved moving PAS away from an openly Islamist agenda, which it adopted in the 2004 campaign, and all the parties to embrace multiracialism.

Operationally, cooperation involved joint PKR-DAP and PKR-PAS ceramah and on the ground canvassing, in which PKR and Anwar Ibrahim in particular brought parties together. For the campaign, the common goal of breaking two-thirds majority blinded the opposition to the ideological differences within itself and instilled more party discipline in all the parties.

Electorally, the opposition was seen as a viable alternative as the opposition, not individual parties.

8. Strong opposition candidates

The opposition also slated strong articulate candidates who spoke about the issues. From Nurul Izzah Anwar's discussion of housing, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad's attention to education and Liew Chin Tong's focus on the chief ministership issue to Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi's highlight of the royalty disbursement in Terengganu, the candidates in the opposition spoke concretely about concerns in their constituencies.

The opposition is now comprised of a greater number of professionals - up to over 45% - and now includes businessmen such as incoming PKR MB of Selangor Khalid Ibrahim as well as social activists such as Dr Lee Boon Chye in Perak. Those that have stayed in the opposition and joined the parties after the heyday of 1999 are deeply committed to the principles the opposition calls for. While lacking in governing experience, there is talent and many who listened to the ceramah recognised this.

This is not to say that the BN did not slate capable candidates. The share of professionals remained high - over 30% - and the parties have extraordinarily capable people. Yet, the few that are tainted by scandals spoil the chances for others. Clean politicians within the BN - and there are many hardworking representatives within the BN - are negatively affected by the image that BN governance is about gaining wealth, not public service.

This time round, even the hardest working parliamentarians such as Chew Mei Fun, could not meet the challenge of the younger dynamic slate for change.

9. Backfire from attack on Anwar Ibrahim

If there was one serious miscalculation that took place during the campaign, it was the attack on Anwar Ibrahim. Personal in nature, it was seen as unfair, especially in the Malay community.

No question, there are real concerns among many Malaysians about Anwar Ibrahim's tenure in government - from issues of education to Islamic governance. He will have to continue to build confidence in the Malaysian electorate to those who have reservations about this leadership in the opposition.

Yet, the attack on Anwar provoked a reaction, particularly among Malays. It reignited the 1999 reformasi spirit, and only served to add credibility to his influence nationally. Here, the BN served to alienate many Malays through negative campaigning, rather than convince the electorate to support its message of development.

10. Sophistication of Malaysian electorate

Finally, and it is finally (with apologies for the length of this article), the 2008 election illustrated the strengthening of Malaysian identity and growing sophistication of the electorate.

Gone are the days when resources and promises alone can woo support - except perhaps in East Malaysia. Malaysians want more responsiveness and voices, and they used this campaign to stand in the majority for change. They no longer can be talked down to, but need to be listened and heard, not just during the election.

The leadership in both the opposition and the BN will have to keep this in mind, as the terrain has fundamentally changed.

- DR BRIDGET WELSH is assistant professor in Southeast Asian studies at John Hopkins University-SAIS, Washington DC. Over the past two weeks, she has followed the campaign trail in a number of states. She can be contacted at bbwelsh@jhu.edu.

--MALAYSIAKINI--

TOP LEADERS RETURN TO PKR's FOLD

Soon Li Tsin | Mar 12, 08 3:35pm

A former Klang PKR division chief who left the opposition party to help set up an Indian-based, BN supporting party has now returned to his former party.

P Krishnasamy, who was influenced by de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim’s former tennis partner KS Nallakaruppan to set up the Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP), regretted leaving the party now.

“I was unhappy with the comments Nallakaruppan made against Anwar during the elections and I believe I made a big mistake by joining him and I did not like the Barisan Nasional culture,” he said.

Nallakaruppan had joined PKR in 2006 and was the party’s Kepong division head before falling out with Anwar over Indian representation issues.

The businessperson then started MIUP after a slew of criticisms against Anwar. During that period, he claimed there were 25,000 members in his party.

He later announced his party’s support for BN and later lashed out at the former deputy prime minister, stating that he only cares for himself and not the Indian community.

Krishnasamy said he had met Anwar on Sunday at his residence in Bukit Segambut and was urged to rejoin the party as a permanent member.

“I was humbled by (Anwar’s) words and I thank the party from the bottom of my heart,” he said before adding there are others who were leaving MIUP for PKR.

Nalla bulldozed his way

Krishnasamy was the one behind the setting up of the Klang PKR division and was its chief for the past nine years. He was also the party’s deputy Selangor chief before his defection to MIUP.

However, he left in May last year after Nallakaruppan sought his assistance for form a party for the Indian community.

“I thought this would benefit the Indians as I would rather join the opposition than the BN. When he said MIUP was joining BN, I could not take it.

“But I was patient and waited to see what will happen next. I felt very sad when Nalla attacked Anwar. We told him to stop but he did not listen to any of us. He just bulldozed his way,” he related.

Dummy leader

Another MIUP leader, G Kannan, the party’s Negeri Sembilan chief, also joined Krishnasamy in rejoining PKR.

“He’s not a good politician, only a good businessman. That is all that I want to comment,” he said to cheers from 20 supporters present.

Also quitting MIUP was its Federal Territories chief B Rajan (photo), who was previously active in the Gombak division in PKR befor leaving the party.

“I really regretted leaving PKR after listening to Nalla. He came out of PKR over certain issues.

“Even though I was given a very good post in MIUP but I can’t be sitting there as a dummy,” he said.

All three proceeded to submit their membership forms to PKR vice president and newly-elected Subang parliamentarian R Sivarasa and Port Dickson assemblyperson M Ravi.

--MALAYSIAKINI--

ROAD TO PRU 12

2008-03-07T04:29:00.000-08:00

MINGGU SUDAH LAIN, MINGGU NI JADI LAIN....
Dalam 3 hari berturut-turut, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim dibelasah hebat oleh 'lidah-lidah hitam' rasmi BN bagi menunjukan kepada rakyat bahawa Anwar merbahaya.Dan dijangka malam ini yang digelar sebagai 'KILLER DAY' bakal meneruskan siri serangan ini.Serangan yang dimulakan oleh Imam Hadhari yang beberapa minggu lalu menyatakan bahawa dia tidak lagi ingat pada anwar ("saya dah lupa anwar") dan disusuli dengan ekor-ekornya.TV3 sebagai stesen swasta bakal tunduk pada malam pengiraan undi setelah diumumkan kemenangan kepada BA begitu juga dengan stesen-stesen lain.Itu pun jika mereka berani berpencak secara jujur dan telus.

Sila lihat koleksi gambar-gambar menarik yang membuktikan bahawa Pak Lah yang pada awalnya diangkat sebagai pembawa reformasi UMNO untuk keamanan, tetapi kini seakan menuju ke era Diktator Mustapha Kamal Attarturk (TURKEY).
Salah satu yang terawal selain konsep Islam Hadhari, ialah larangan BACAAN DOA pada perhimpunan disekolah-sekolah seluruh Malaysia.Tidak mustahil pada masa depan, mereka berani 'mensimplekan' proses keagamaan lain seperti khutbah Jumaat.

Jangan kita jadi rakyat yang tidak bermaruah yang mudah dibeli jiwa serta akalnya semata-mata untuk pelepasan duniawi sedang mereka SEDAP melantak harta negara tanpa rasa malu lagi.

Apa yang boleh dibanggakan oleh BN hari ini?
Koridor?....Mahathir suruh tanya, MANA DUITNYA?
TUNJUKAN DULU!!!

Kesimpulan mudah, KITA AKAN TERUS HANCUR SAMADA SECARA TERANG-TERANGAN ATAU SECARA SENYAP JIKA TERUS MENGANGKAT BARISAN DUNIAWI YANG TIDAK KENAL ERTI DOSA MALAH SEAKAN LUPA AKAN KEWUJUDAN NERAKA DAN HARI PEMBALASAN KELAK.
KEPADA RAKYAT YANG MENGANGKAT MEREKA INI, ANDA JUGA TIDAK AKAN TERLEPAS DARI DISOAL DI MAHKAMAH 'PALING TELITI', PADANG ARAFAH NANTI.
TIADA LAGI VK LINGGAM, VINCENT TAN, AHMAD FAIRUZ, SURUHANJAYA HAIDAR DAN TIADA JUGA ISLAM HADHARI YANG BOLEH MEMBANTU MELEPASKAN KITA DISANA KELAK.

KEPADA PENCINTA SEJATI 'ALIF TENDANG MIM' UMNO, ANDA SEDANG DIPERGUNAKAN OLEH SATU KUASA BARU YANG SEDANG DIADUN DIREMBAU DAN DITINGKAT 4 PUTRAJAYA.
JIKA BN TERUS MENANG, MAKA KITA AKAN LIHAT SINDROM GILA KUASA SEMAKIN MENJADI-JADI PADA PEMILIHAN TAHUNAN DALAM MESYUARAT AGONG UMNO NANTI.SAYA YAKIN BUDAK MENTAH KHAIRY, SUDAH MENCONGAKNYA BERSANDARKAN DENGAN CALON-CALON BN YANG BERTANDING ESOK.MEREKA YANG DIGUGURKAN ADALAH ANTI KHAIRY DAN MUKA-MUKA BARU ADALAH PRO KHAIRY, TERMASUK 'MAMAK BENDAHARA' DIBALING DAN TASEK GELUGOR.
PADA PEMILIHAN ITU NTI, KJ INI DIJANGKA AKAN MENCABAR HISHAMUDIN DAN BAKAL MENANG MUDAH DENGAN UNDI MEREKA-MEREKA YANG PRO-KJ.ATAU MUNGKIN KJ MAHU TERUS MEMANJAT UNTUK BERSEBELAHAN DENGAN PAK MERTUANYA DALAM UMNO KELAK.DALAM POLITICUS MEREKA HARI NIE, LAW OF THE JUNGGLE ADALAH MAIN RULES.SEGALANYA TIDAK MUSTAHIL.JADI....

SIAPA DIA KHAIRY NIE?

DIA NI MAHU JADI 'THE NEXT MALAYSIAN PM'....
APA AKAN JADI JIKA ORANG SEPERTI INI JADI PM MALAYSIA?
TEPUK DADA, TANYA DAN RASA SENDIRI IMAN KITA.

SELAMAT MENGUNDI....SEMOGA ISLAM AKAN TERUS DIANGKAT.

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SENARAI VIDEO DARI TOKOH-TOKOH PEMIMPIN MALAYSIA.
NIK AZIZ, HADI AWANG, ANWAR IBRAHIM, TUN DR. MAHATHIR, RAJA PETRA DAN RAMAI LAGI.
BERI SEDIKIT PELUANG PADA MASA, JARI, MATA, TELINGA, AKAL SERTA HATI ANDA.DENGAR DAN NILAIKAN.INSYALLAH, ANDA DAPAT MENAKUL DENGAN BAIK.

ISU ORANG UTAN - KENYATAAN SEBENAR NIK AZIZ

MORE TOK GURU NIK AZIZ VIDEO - CLICK

RAJA PETRA IN KG.LIMAU (INI DIANTARA UCAPAN YANG MENARIK)

MORE RAJA PETRA VIDEO - CLICK

DATO SERI TN GURU HJ. ABD HADI AWANG - TABUNG MANGSA KEZALIMAN UMNO

DATO SERI TN GURU HJ. ABD HADI AWANG - ISU DUN TERENGGANU

TOK GURU NIK AZIZ NIK MAT - CERAMAH

ANWAR IBRAHIM - WEE CHOO KEONG (28 FEB 2008)

MORE DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM VIDEO - CLICK

MALAYSIA TODAY WITH TUN DR MAHATHIR
AT CENTURY PARADISE CLUB, TAMAN MELAWATI, JUNE 24 2006

MORE TUN DR. MAHATHIR VIDEO - CLICK

DATO HUSAM MUSA - HARGA PETROL AKAN NAIK SELEPAS PRU

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WHAT'S ANWAR DREAMING OF?
Anwar, on the campaign trail, talks like a statesman
who wants to reach out to all races

WITH his fiery oratorical style and battle scars, he has become the Voice of Malaysia's Opposition.

In an exclusive interview with The New Paper on Sunday, he declared that he is the glue binding the three main opposition parties - known as the Barisan Alternatif.

Political and social injustice is one of his favourite themes.

So, is he an idealist or a master tactician eyeing the role of shadow prime minister for now and perhaps the hot seat at Perdana Putra (the PM's office) in years to come?

On the campaign trail, the 60-year-old former deputy prime minister sounds, at times, more like a statesman than a political in-fighter.

'I will continue to speak out against what is wrong,' he said.

Mr Anwar said he has received moral support from all over the world, including former Philippines president Joseph Estrada and former US vice-president Al Gore.

'They have called to find out how things are going.'

His rallies have attracted large crowds, which he describes as 'amazing'.

'In 1999, we were able to garner interest and enthusiasm among the Malays. But now you see many different races,' he said.

'It augurs well for politics in Malaysia. But the question is whether this support will translate into the votes we need.'

University of Malaya Professor Khoo Kay Kim, however, disagrees that Mr Anwar has become the unofficial leader of the opposition.

'Look at the opposition parties. There is no doubt that the Democratic Action Party (DAP) is still strong among the non-Malays, while the Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) is strong among the Malays,' he argued.

TEST THE WATERS

'This election will allow him to test the waters. He has never really been that active in national elections as a member of the opposition.'

More specifically, the question is whether the opposition will get sufficient Malay votes - the key to political power in Malaysia.

This point is endorsed by Mr Ooi Kee Beng, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, writing for The Straits Times.

'It is the non-Malays who wish to register their protest now, not Malays, as was the case in 1999. That makes all the difference. The BN cannot be threatened when Malay support for the coalition is not falling dramatically...

'The reality is that it is only when non-Malay discontentment coincides with Malay discontentment, and both are directed against the government, that we will finally be able to say: Yes, change has indeed come to Malaysia.'

To critics who say he is using the multi-ethnic tack to garner the votes from disenchanted Chinese and Indian voters, Mr Anwar countered that he is a committed and practising Muslim.

'I emphasise religious values and the relevance of Islam when I talk to the Malays,' he said.

'After 50 years of independence, it is time for them to feel more confident and allow the other races to feel that they are part of this country.'

Though Mr Anwar is a month short of being qualified to stand for office himself, he has an elections schedule that could make a triathlete cringe.

Starting at 8.30am, he put himself through a punishing routine of 12rallies across Penang yesterday, ending only at midnight.

Ask him why and the answer is simple: 'The country needs change.'

Averaging five rallies on weekdays - where he can only 'catch' people at night - Mr Anwar has already covered Kedah, Terengganu, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Pahang, with Perak, Johor and Malacca to come.

He admits that it has been 'exhausting' but says that he takes vitamin supplements.

But it is clear that even if the body protests, the spirit alone can drive this man on a mission.

His wife, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, is standing as a candidate for the Permatang Pauh parliamentary seat in Penang.

But aside from taking potshots at the government, what can Mr Anwar realistically achieve?

Perhaps little more than a place in Parliament, if he contests a by-election after he becomes eligible.

But he disagrees. He maintains the opposition coalition will achieve its original aim - to deny the ruling party the power to amend the Constitution.

This, he says, he has done by helping to broker a deal where PAS, DAP and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) will avoid three-cornered fights in almost all the seats.

He said the parties are cooperating based on a reformed agenda along the lines of an independent judiciary, a new economic agenda and freedom of expression.

WELL-COORDINATED FIGHTS

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia political science head Dr Ahmad Nidzammudin Sulaiman said: 'Their fight is very well-coordinated this time, and there are mostly one-to-one fights.

'Anwar is the bridge between PAS and DAP. Without them, they cannot talk.'

Prof Khoo said Mr Anwar's rallying cries are very different from what he used to say as a Malay and Islamic student leader.

'He is more willing to talk about Malaysia as a whole now. When in university, his focus was on nationalism and Islam.

'He has expanded his horizons because he needs a lot of support from all around.'

Mr Anwar recently forced the government to conduct a probe into allegations of impropriety after he released a video clip last September which allegedly shows a prominent lawyer brokering judicial appointments.

The former finance and education minister also wants people to know the truth about Malaysia's economic performance.

'In my speeches, I compare the country's performance with Singapore and Vietnam so that people can relate easier,' he said.

He added that education standards have fallen while there has been little improvement in medical services.

'Instead of dealing with the basic problems facing our communities, the Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) has a penchant for massive corridors, north, south, east and west,' he said, taking a jibe at the four economic corridors that have been unveiled by the ruling congress, with a fifth in the pipeline.

Dr Ahmad believes that Mr Anwar's focus on civil society issues appeal to the educated middle-class as well as to the youth and cuts 'across ethnic lines'.

Added Prof Khoo: 'Malaysians are difficult to read sometimes. I myself am curious to see the outcome.'

A DAY IN HIS SHOES

YESTERDAY, Tan May Ping and Jonathan Choo tracked Mr Anwar Ibrahim as he travelled to the first three of 12 rallies in Penang.

9am: Mr Anwar's wife, Dr Wan Azizah Ismail, attends a rally at Penanti, Permatang Pauh. She picks out The New Paper on Sunday team in a sea of Malay attendees, and says hello.

9.10am: Dr Wan Azizah speaks to the 300-odd people at the An-Nahdhoh Complex, an Islamic teaching centre. The men and women are seated on the floor in separate areas, divided by a barrier.

10.15am: Heads turn and people sit up as MrAnwar arrives for his first rally of the day.

In measured tones, he talks about the government's massive projects and how the poor is being overlooked.

10.55am: A reporter and cameraman from Bernama news agency hound Mr Anwar for some quotes. He appears riled.

11am: He is told about the presence of The New Paper on Sunday team and invites them in for a chat while having a drink. He says the local press does not give him fair coverage.

11.30am: Mr Anwar arrives at Bukit Tambun, Batu Kawan, to cheers from the largely Indian crowd braving the blistering heat.

In more forceful tones, he questions why the government compares fuel prices to those in non-oil-producing countries like Singapore.

12.30pm: Mr Anwar arrives for his third rally of the day at Bukit Tengah, Batu Kawan, where the crowd is mostly Chinese.

'I've gone up and I've gone down. I'm not afraid,' Mr Anwar tells them.

1pm: Mr Anwar goes on to the next rally. His schedule ends at midnight.

--ELECTRIC NEW PAPER, SINGAPORE--

EYES ON ISLAMIC HARDLINE IN POLL

March 07, 2008

KOTA BAHRU, Malaysia: The tightest race in Malaysia's elections tomorrow will be in the northern state of Kelantan, where a long-ruling Islamic party faces a strong challenge from the secular National Front coalition of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Promising billions of dollars in development funds, the National Front has staged an aggressive campaign to win back Kelantan, the only state in the country not under its control. A National Front victory would indicate eroding support for those who want Malaysia, which is 60 per cent Muslim, to be governed as a theocracy.

Kelantan, an impoverished rural region that is 90 per cent Muslim, has been governed by the fundamentalist Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, or PAS, for 18 years.

"I am of two minds," said Ruzana Mat Husin, a 23-year-old saleswoman. "I like PAS for their spiritual strength, but the National Front has the financial muscle, and Kelantan can do with more economic progress."

Kelantan is the only real battleground in the elections. At the national level, the National Front has won every parliamentary election since independence in 1957, and is expected to do so again tomorrow, although with a reduced majority.

Millions of Malaysians are predicted to stay away from the polls, out of an apathy that observers credit to a feeling of alienation from the ruling coalition. About 10 million of Malaysia's 26 million population are registered to vote but former deputy premier Musa Hitam estimated about five million people would not vote, in a trend he said threatened "the very fabric of the democratic process".

The electoral odds are less stacked in Kelantan - one of 12 Malaysian states to hold local assembly elections along with parliamentary polls.

"It's a 50-50 fight," said Ibrahim Suffian of the Merdeka Centre, an independent think tank..

At its peak in 1999, PAS won 27 seats in the 193-member national parliament and took control of Terengganu state, which borders Kelantan. But in 2004, when it pushed its agenda for an Islamic state more aggressively, the party won only six parliamentary seats.

Now, PAS has dropped its pledge to create a theocratic state. Its former hardline stance alienated not only minority ethnic Chinese and Indian voters but also a growing, liberal Muslim middle class.

"PAS realises it has overplayed its Islamic card and is moving to meet the basic needs of voters, " Mr Ibrahim said. "On the other hand, UMNO is strengthening its Islamic agenda to keep Malays happy," he said, referring to the United Malays National Organisation, a moderate party that dominates the National Front coalition.

UMNO has promised to build or repair hundreds of mosques in Kelantan, boost Islamic education and raise the salary of clerics. The National Front is promising an annual development grant of 1 billion ringgit ($334 million), a new state mosque, sports stadium and hydro-electric project.

"We want to do in the next five years more than what PAS has done in the past 18 years," said Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek, who would head the state government if the National Front wins.

Under PAS, Kelantan has implemented strict Islamic rules. Gambling, nightclubs and rock concerts are banned, alcohol sales are limited and men and women must be segregated in public.

--THE AUSTRALIAN--

RAJA PETRA KAMARUDIN VIDEO

2008-03-07T03:51:00.000-08:00

RAJA PETRA - HINDRAF, MALAY AND CHINESE

RAJA PETRA - WITH DAP IN PRAI

RAJA PETRA - SUPPORT FOR NURUL IZAH

RAJA PETRA - MUST SEE

RAJA PETRA AT TTDI

RAJA PETRA AT BUTTERWORTH, PENANG

LATEST DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM VIDEO

2008-03-07T03:40:00.000-08:00

ANWAR IBRAHIM - KG. LIMAU (6 MAC 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM - KEMPEN AT BT. BERENDAM MELAKA (5 MAC 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM - PENANG (23 FEB 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM - MEH AKU NAK AJAQ (5 FEB 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT JOHOR BAHRU (14 JAN 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM AT DUNGUN (1 JAN 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM - VK LINGAM VIDEO TAPE ISSUE

UNEDITED VK LINGAM VIDEO TAPE

ANWAR IBRAHIM - SAMY VELLU TAK BELI KASUT (17 FEB 2008)

ANWAR IBRAHIM - VK LINGAM VIDEO TAPE ISSUE

ANWAR IBRAHIM - ABC DOCUMENTARY

ANWAR IBRAHIM - EKONOMI BELON

ANWAR IBRAHIM - NAJIB TAKBUR

ANWAR IBRAHIM - SALAH LAKU PEMIMPIN UMNO

ANWAR IBRAHIM - TAK AKAN MASUK UMNO

ANWAR IBRAHIM - CUKUPLAH

ANWAR IBRAHIM - YANG ZALIM MELAHIRKAN YANG KORUP

ANWAR IBRAHIM - JAMBATAN BENGKOK

ANWAR IBRAHIM - KOMISEN KAPAL, 1 BILLION

ANWAR IBRAHIM - UPAH EJEN RM540 JUTA

BN ON THE OFFENSIVE AGAINST ANWAR

Mar 6, 08 7:23pm

The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition has launched a stinging attack against opposition figurehead Anwar Ibrahim, in what analysts said was a sign of the threat he poses in weekend polls.

Government-linked newspapers have splashed interviews with former "friends" condemning the former deputy prime minister and painting an extremely negative picture of his character.

Anwar was sacked in 1998 and convicted of corruption, making him ineligible to stand for office until April this year, but he is nevertheless campaigning heavily for his wife's opposition party PKR.

She has said she will stand aside for him after Saturday's general elections, to enable him to enter parliament after a by-election.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reportedly said Anwar had wanted to return to Umno, which leads the BN coalition but that he was not welcome.

"He is not important to me, he is not important to Umno and we don't want him," Abdullah told a crowd of thousands of supporters in his home state of Penang yesterday.

Other senior government figures accused Anwar of being biased against the nation's ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities.

"Voters should remember the kind of chameleon he is. He says something to a Malay audience and then something completely different to the Chinese and Indians," said former Gerakan leader Lim Keng Yaik.

Malay daily Utusan Malaysia ran the banner 'Anwar is desperate' in bold print on its front page.

Fearful of Anwar's influence

Political observers said the government was rattled by Anwar, who has drawn crowds of thousands with his fiery speeches and charisma as he criss-crosses the country.

"The BN leaders felt that Anwar was a non-issue but now, in the run-up to polling day his involvement in the opposition's campaign throughout the country has been proven effective," said Khoo Kay Peng from the Sedar Institute.

Khoo said however it was "too late" for the government to launch attacks on Anwar as he is an established force in Malaysian politics.

Tricia Yeoh, director of the think-tank Centre for Public Policy Studies said the government was fearful of Anwar's influence.

"It is a sign that they see Anwar as a credible threat. If there was no fear there is really no need to go on the offensive," she said.

Meanwhile, PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said those BN top guns who are attacking Anwar themselves had a history of political flip-flopping.

"Charges that Anwar is anti or pro any particular ethnic group are also indicative of a BN that is unable to make up its mind. Umno insists that Anwar has become pro-Chinese or Indian and anti-Malay, while MCA, MIC, and Gerakan charge that he is pro-Malay and anti-Chinese or Indian.

"I have known Anwar personally since he was a student in Universiti Malaya during the period I was teaching there and can bear witness that whatever his choices throughout his political career, Anwar has consistently stood for the rights of the downtrodden and for integrity in public office," said the former sociology professor.

PKR has forged a loose alliance with two other opposition parties who have agreed to stand just one candidate against the government in each constituency, avoiding damaging three-cornered contests.

While the BN is widely expected to win, the opposition hopes that gripes over inflation, rising crime rates and mounting ethnic tensions will enable it to reduce the government's majority below two-thirds for the first time ever.

In the last elections in 2004, Abdullah led the BN to a landslide, winning 91 percent of the 219 seats in parliament. These elections will see 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats up for grabs.

--MALAYSIAKINI--

MANIFESTO OR MONEY FIESTA?

2008-02-26T18:04:00.000-08:00

DATO SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM DI PULAU PINANG - 23 FEB 2008

Rakyat Malaysia sedia maklum tentang Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang telah membuat pelbagai kenyataan tentang isu-isu serta masalah dikalangan 'orang besar kerajaan' khususnya mengenai isu rasuah serta penyalahgunaan kuasa.
Dari PM Pak Lah serta anak dan menantunya, TPM Najib Mongolia, Rafidah Aziz dan anak beranaknya, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik, Tengku Adnan Mansor dan ramai lagi.
Dari rasuah dalam pembahagiaan tender projek-projek mega, penyalahgunaan AP, merampas tanah rakyat, isu perlantikan hakim-hakim dan banyak lagi masalah yang jelas menampakan kerakusan kuasa dikalangan pemimpin BN.
Dek kerana kebencian terhadap Anwar Ibrahim kebanyakan rakyat khasnya pengampu BN, begitu marah dan menolak tanpa berfikir panjang tentang apa yang didedahkan oleh DSAI.Malah ada diantara mereka menempelak dengan membangkitkan soal ejen yahudi dan sebagainya yang sehingga kehari ini masih tidak dapat dibuktikan.

Seketika, ketepikan DSAI....Tetapi siapa pula yang mahu menjawab segala persoalan yang dikemukakan oleh bekas orang nombor 1 negara?
Sehingga kehari ini Tun Dr. Mahathir masih 'membebel panjang' tanpa ada sesiapa yang berani menjawabnya.Jika kamu(BN) berasa benar, maka silakan jawab.
Tetapi kamu(BN) yakin dan tahu akan tiap kebenaran pada setiap dakwaan tersebut, lalu memilih untuk berdiam diri serta 'mendiamkan' pembongkar ini dari media utama negara.Bahkan langkah Tun juga dipendekkan dengan pelbagai sekatan supaya beliau tidak mampu 'berleter' lagi.

Denga pelancaran manifesto baru, kerajaan BN bakal menghancurkan lagi negara ini dengan pelbagai penyalahgunaan sumber kewangan negara.
BN akan terus menjahanamkan negara sekiranya berjaya meraih mandat pada Pilihan Raya Umum Ke 12 ini.Dengan proksi Khairy yang didakwa oleh Tun sebagai "Kuda baru menang lawan kuda patah kaki", negara akan menghadapi situasi yang lebih buruk dari keadaan hari ini yang sedia buruk.
Dari nilai ekonomi, moral, jenayah serta kos sara hidup....
semua ini bakal meningkat dan membawa ancaman kepada rakyat.

Ketika ini rakyat mempunyai peluang keemasan untuk menyingkirkan penjahanam negara ini melalui 1 saluran yang di iktiraf dunia.Janganlah bimbangkan kebuasan DUNIAWI tanpa berfikir kuasa di AKHIRAT kelak.

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MALAYSIA PM COALITION MAY LOSE 2/3 MAJORITY - ANWAR

Tue Feb 26, 2008 6:18pm IST

By Liau Y-Sing

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia's ruling coalition could lose its crucial two-thirds majority for the first time in 40 years in next month's election due to eroding support, opposition figure Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday.

The last time the multiracial coalition failed to score a two-thirds majority was in 1969. A few days after the election, the country's worst race riots erupted, killing hundreds.

"We can deny Barisan Nasional a two-thirds majority," the former deputy premier told Reuters in his office in an old bungalow in a leafy suburb just outside the capital.

He said voters were set to punish Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's administration for the rising cost of living, alleged racial discrimination and claims of judicial corruption.

A two-thirds majority is needed to change Malaysia's constitution. It is also a psychological level that Barisan, which has ruled Malaysia in various forms since independence in 1957, says is needed to ensure political stability.

The 14-party Barisan is widely expected to retain power in the March 8 election, although analysts say complaints about inflation, rising crime and racial and religious discord could cost Barisan some votes.

Anwar said his Parti Keadilan Rakyat is expected to win at least 20-25 of the country's 222 parliament seats. The party held just one parliamentary seat in the last election in 2004.

"We are safe now for 20-25 seats and we are going beyond," he said. The seats would likely come from capital Kuala Lumpur, central Selangor state and the northern states of Penang and Perak and Kedah, Anwar added.

DAYDREAMER?

The 60-year old Anwar was once then prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's anointed successor before he fell out of favour in 1998.

Anwar is barred from running for public office until this April because of a conviction for corruption. He was sacked by Mahathir in 1998 and jailed on what he says were fabricated charges of corruption and sodomy.

A court quashed the sodomy charges and freed Anwar from jail in September 2004, soon after he finished serving the corruption sentence.

Mahathir has branded Anwar as a "daydreamer", telling reporters last month that his political enemy would not be a major factor in the coming election.

"If he thinks he's going to be the prime minister, it's daydreaming of the worst kind," Mahathir said.

Malaysia's main opposition parties -- Keadilan, the fundamentalist Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS) and the mainly Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP) -- have failed to form a strong alliance that can rival Barisan.

The parties have little in common, with PAS championing an Islamic state that punishes Muslims with stoning and amputation and DAP envisioning a secular state.

The DAP had 12 out of the total 219 seats in the last parliament, and PAS had six.

This time, the opposition needs to win at least 74 seats to deny Barisan the two-thirds majority. Analysts say the opposition was unlikely to reach the goal.

Keadilan, which projects itself as a multi-ethnic party, is regarded as the best bet to bring together DAP and PAS but its future is now in doubt after it fared poorly in 2004 polls.

Anwar dismissed the notion that Keadilan would eventually disappear, following in the footsteps of splinter parties such as Semangat 46, which tried to rival the main United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) in the early 1990s.

"The issue of rejoining UMNO is, to me, a non-issue. We are now in 2008, we can't continue to have racially based parties, racial equation dictating the politics of this country," Anwar said.

"I am committed (to Keadilan) because it is a multi-racial agenda."

--REUTERS--

PKR's WATERSHED ELECTION

26-02-2008, by Azam Aris

THE 2008 polls will be Parti Keadilan Rakyat’s (PKR) watershed election. A good performance will give party leaders the encouragement needed for it to forge ahead and expand PKR as the platform of a truly multiracial party at the national level. But at the same time a sound defeat in parliament and state assemblies plus a reduction in popular votes could spell the end of the party. Many political observers feel PKR’s fate will be as simple as that.

To its opponents, a badly defeated PKR would just go the Semangat 46 way — a new party that emerged in 1989 but lasted only two elections, and was consequently dissolved in 1996. But proponents of PKR think otherwise; even if it loses badly, it is here to stay and will not fade away as the country’s race-based political landscape is beginning to change to one which is getting less race averse.

Mono-ethnic parties or coalition like Umno-led Barisan Nasional (BN) will gradually give way to multiracial parties as political awareness increases as the country develops and modernise further. Increase in household income for every community will help erode the influence of race-based issues on the voters, while the expansion of broadband infrastructure throughout the nation within the next five years will allow Opposition parties more media space to articulate their vision and aspirations.

The Internet will be the “mainstream newspapers and television channels” of tomorrow. Because of these impending developments, they believe PKR has the potential in the long term to morph into an effective national multiracial party.

Opponents, meanwhile, scorn at such idealistic dream and that the issue of a national multiracial party is as old as the nation’s independence. It will not get much support and will die a natural death. This is a country where race-based politics is well entrenched even among the educated, middle class and the politically conscious voters.

Many will not buy the idea of changing the political status quo of Malay dominance which could affect the country’s stability and power-sharing system. Why fix it, if it ain’t broke? Why then shouldn’t PKR go down the Semangat 46 way?

For one, PKR says, Semangat 46 was a different political animal created under different circumstances. Secondly, the times are changing.
Semangat 46 was born out of rivalry between the then Umno president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohmad and his challenger Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, which saw Umno split into Team A and B.

Dr Mahathir narrowly defeated Tengku Razaleigh by 43 votes in the 1987 party presidential election, but the party plunged into a crisis when 11 members who were dissatisfied with the results took the party to court. The outcome of the legal suit in 1988 saw the High Court declaring the party illegal. Dr Mahathir set up Umno Baru, but not all opted to become members.

Tengku Razaleigh then registered Parti Melayu Semangat 46 in May 1989 which saw Umno top guns from Team B like Datuk Rais Yatim, Datuk Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin, Datuk Manan Othman, Datuk Suhaimi Kamaruddin, Datuk Ibrahim Ali, Datin Paduka Rahmah Othman and Marina Yusof joining the party.

However, other key members of Team B notably Tun Musa Hitam, Datuk Shahrir Samad and current Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi decided to remain in Umno.
In essence, Semangat 46 was an Umno splinter group. It then forged an alliance with PAS and two smaller parties Hamin and Berjasa to form a loose coalition Angkatan Perpaduan Ummah (APU). APU’s onslaught in the 1990 general election saw BN defeated badly in Kelantan losing all 39 states and 13 parliamentary seats. Semangat 46 also had eight representatives in Parliament. PAS and Semangat 46 retained Kelantan in 1995 but by then there was already serious strain in their relationship.

A year later, PAS ended its seven-year relationship with Semangat 46, which had by then taken steps to renew it links with Umno under the pretext of strengthening Malay unity. Rais who famously declared that he “had burned the bridge with Umno,” went on to say that what he meant was “just a political metaphor” and that the party was more interested in constructing the “Malay unity bridge.”
Dr Mahathir and Tengku Razaleigh made their peace, and Semangat 46 in an extraordinary general meeting in May 1996 dissolved the party, paving the way for its 400,000 members to join Umno en bloc. It became the first political party in Malaysian history to be dissolved voluntarily through the process of law. For Semangat 46, joining Umno was a homecoming of sorts.

PKR was born out of political rivalry of a different kind. Dr Mahathir sacked his deputy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim from Umno and the Cabinet in September 1998 for alleged sexual misconduct. Anwar alleged it was a political conspiracy of the highest order. Arrested by the police, Anwar was put on trial, denied bail for what was a bailable offence and found guilty of corruption. Earlier while in police custody, the deputy prime minister was assaulted by the Inspector-General of Police.
Angry protesters took to the streets and Anwar’s black eye became the symbol of the reformasi movement, which led to the birth of Pergerakan Keadilan Sosial (Adil) headed by his wife Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. While sympathising with Anwar and his family, there was no exodus from Umno this time and the bulk of his supporters remained in the party. Among those small groups of supporters who quit or were sacked from Umno, some joined Adil while others opted to join PAS.

Outside the political world, Anwar’s support mostly, instantaneously, came from the apolitical masses and a motley mix of professionals, lawyers, academicians, corporate people, human rights groups, activists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). This gave Adil the multiracial face from the start. With its members comprising different segments of the society and lacking in the number of ex-Umno members, there would not likely be an en bloc homecoming ala Semangat 46.

Facing difficulties in registering Adil as a political party, the reformasi movement took over a small party Ikatan Masyarakat Islam Malaysia and launched Parti Keadilan Nasional in April 1999, just in time to face the general election. It performed creditably in its debut by winning 12% of the popular vote and garnered five parliamentary and four state seats.
And because of the swing in Malay voter sentiment against Dr Mahathir and Umno, PAS recorded their best ever performance, gaining 15% of the popular votes, winning 27 parliamentary seats, sweeping all seats in Kelantan and making big inroads in Kedah and Terengganu. At the same time, it had opened a new frontier in Selangor and Pahang — two states which it hardly had any strong presence before.

To strengthen the party and the reformasi movement further, Adil and the socialist background Parti Rakyat Malaysia merged and launched PKR in August 2003. With Dr Mahathir retiring at the end of the same year, taking most of Anwar’s reformasi sentiment with him and Abdullah promising to be the prime minister for all Malaysians, fighting corruption and bringing more openness and tolerance in his administration, PKR nearly lost the ground it gained as a political party in the 2004 election.

It still managed to get 8% of the popular vote but in the first past the post system — where a single vote majority is enough to win a seat — this does not count for much. What matters most is winning seats and the fact was that in 2004, PKR won only a single parliamentary seat in Permatang Pauh where party president Wan Azizah stood.

Another poor performance like that, opponents say, will surely sound the death knell for PKR. But can it stop the tide come March 8? Can PKR’s prominent candidates like Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim win in the Bandar Tun Razak parliamentary and Ijok state seat? How about other party stalwarts like Dr Lee Boon Chye in Gopeng, Sivarasa Rasiah (Subang), Azmin Ali (Gombak), Tian Chua (Batu) and Saifuddin Nasution (Machang)?

PKR secretary-general Khalid believes the party can perform better than 2004 especially with de facto party leader Anwar now spearheading the campaign. Freed from jailed in September 2004, after the Federal Court upheld his appeal against conviction for sodomy, Anwar is still a charismatic leader and has made PKR into a better-organised political party.

“Anwar has the respect of the DAP and PAS. He has managed to strengthen cooperation among the Opposition,” adds Khalid. Not eligible to contest before April, due to his conviction on corruption charges, is a blessing in disguise as it allows Anwar to campaign for the opposition nationwide.

Khalid said race and religious-based issues, apart from among the Indians, will be less dominant in this election.

Issues like inflation, the impact of the shrinking purchasing power, the fight against rising crimes, corruption, urban and rural poverty, minimum wage, better education system notably in public universities, unemployment and unemployed graduates, illegal immigrants and foreign workers, improved housing and public amenities and transportation, a just government, confidence in the judiciary, protecting fundamental liberty, the right to assemble, freer press and cleaner environment — cut across racial barriers.
More votes will become discerning of these issues as urbanisation, which normally comes with higher income, better infrastructure and higher standards of living for the population, rapidly expand throughout the country. In 2000, 62% of the population lived in urban areas and this is expected to increase to 73% by 2020.

“Urbanisation and the power of the Internet will make it difficult for political parties to compartmentalise issues according to race and religion. Can the BN continue to group themselves in perfect boxes and have this mentality that certain racial issues cannot be discussed by other component parties? We think not. More and more Malaysians will see national issues beyond race,” he said.
The challenge for PKR is to make itself relevant and attractive to this group of people. In Anwar, they have a battle hardened politician, who has spent eight years of his political and activist life in incarceration. Anwar can lead PKR to be a more relevant national multiracial party but it has to organise itself better, expand its grassroots support and networks; and at the same time attract more professionals and the younger generation to believe in its cause.

Says an observer: “Political parties need to be run by career politicians and not one that is dominated by some idealistic non-governmental organisations or individuals. Their survival and relevancy very much depend on this. And PKR is no exception.”

--THE EDGE DAILY--

TIPU LAGI....

2008-02-18T21:01:00.000-08:00

Dari sumber dibawah ini, percayakah anda dengan kenyataan bahawa ulama AL-Azhar mengagumi konsep Islam Hadhari?

Benarkah pendidikan dan ekonomi kita wajar dicontohi negara Islam lain?

Malam minggu lalu TV3 melaporkan bahawa dalam tempoh 10 tahun, ringgit mencatat nilai terbaik berbanding Dolar US.Ini menunjukan ekonomi kita berkembang dengan baik, tambah TV3 lagi.

Benar, ringgit tercatat seperti yang dinyatakan itu.Perlu di ingat, bukan kerana ekonomi kita meningkat tetapi ianya disebabkan oleh kejatuhan Dolar sendiri.
Satu lagi pertambahan PENIPUAAN OLEH BN!!!

Dengan pelaburan bernilai lebih 700 BILION pada koridor-koridor yang dilancarkan, Pak Lah sudah menjangkau nilai perbelanjaan yang digunakan oleh Tun Dr Mahathir selama 22 tahun pemerintahan iaitu kurang dari 400 BILION.Sedangkan Pak Lah baru sahaja memerintah selama kurang dari 5 tahun.Dan diragui dengan jelas pada masa depan bangsa dan agama Islam ta'kala siap koridor-koridor tersebut yang semestinya bakal dipenuhi oleh bangsa bukan melayu yang sedang mendahului ekonomi.Secara rambang, kita boleh bayangkan dimana orang melayu pada ketika itu....sudah tentu menikmati kemajuan tersebut dari pinggir koridor atau dari kejauhan koridor tersebut.

Wilayah Pembangunan Iskandariah pula bakal menjadi milik rakyat Singapura yang diberi kebebasan untuk masuk dan keluar kenegara ini pada masa hadapan.Seterusnya mereka akan membida atau memaksa atau membawa WPI ke ICJ supaya dapat disahkan sebagai salah sebuah wilayah baru mereka hasil kepintaran PM Kini.Maka gugurlah 1 lagi wilayah bermakna negara ketangan negara yang PRO-ISRAEL itu.

Sementara dalam bidang pendidikan, kita sebenrnya sedang mengarut!!!
Ketika dalam proses pembelajaran di Rusia, kita Sedia maklum bahawa kedua-dua angkasawan kita terpaksa mempelajari bahasa Rusia.

Suatu ketika dulu, Para cendikiawan Eropah terpaksa mempelajari serta menafsir ilmu-ilmu dari ilmuan agong islam termasuk dalam ilmu matematik dan sains yang ketika itu dipelopori dalam bahasa ARAB.

Penjajah Jepun pula memaksa keturunan lampau kita mempelajari bahasa mereka.Malah sehingga kini bangsa jepun adalah diantara bangsa yang buta bahasa english tetapi lebih maju dari orang barat.

Seorang sahabat yang juga merupakan guru matematik dan sains telah mendedahkan bahawa konsep pengajaran matematik dan sains dalam BI adalah semata-mata untuk kepentingan anak-cucu para pemimpin serta koprat-koprat yang sememangnya tidak fasih atau tidak tahu langsung akan bahasa kebangsaan dan ibunda sendiri.

Percayakah anda dengan dua perkara ini?
Islam hadhari diterima oleh ulama luar?
TIADA ISLAM SEBAIK DAN SETANDING ISLAM YANG DIBAWA OLEH RASULULLAH S.A.W.
Fikir-Fikirkanlah.....

Delegasi Multaqa Sedunia Alumni al-Azhar saran dunia contohi konsep Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: Multaqa Sedunia Alumni al-Azhar 2008 mengakui konsep Islam Hadhari yang dipelopori Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, seharusnya dicontohi dan dilaksanakan negara Islam seluruh dunia.

Delegasi multaqa itu menerima positif konsep Islam Hadhari selepas melihat sendiri kejayaan yang dirintis Malaysia, terutama dalam sektor pendidikan dan ekonomi.

--BERITA HARIAN--

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Islam Hadhari Suitable As Foundation Of New Islamic Civilisation

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- Al-Azhar scholars who met here agreed on the Islam Hadhari (Civilisational Islam) approach as a way of solving problems that contribute to backwardness, especially of Muslim communities.

Head of the Muslim Missionary Foundation Malaysia (Yadim) Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad said in several discussions during the World Al-Azhar Alumni Multaqa here, the delegates agreed that Islam Hadhari could be the foundation for a new Islamic civilisation as it was comprehensive and encompassed knowledge of this world and the hereafter.

"All the scholars agreed that acquiring knowledge of this world is important in developing a civilisation," he told reporters after the closing of the four-day conference here today.

Mohd Nakhaie said although the Islam Hadhari approach had been disputed by some quarters in this country, viewing it as a political ploy, it was not an obstacle as Muslim intellectuals had recognised it.

"Most of the conference delegates have also accepted Malaysia as a model Islamic nation. So there should be no dissenting voices as the terminology is not important but the implementation of the (Islam Hadhari) concept is."

He said the delegates also accepted that the Islam Hadhari approach introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as a special guideline for Muslims as it could move along with the times.

"For example, Islam has never rejected scientific and technological advancement as it will benefit mankind for as long as it is not misused.

"Islam also accepts knowledge from the West provided it does not contravene the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah (practices of Prophet Muhammad," he said.

--BERNAMA--

Islam Hadhari Approach Showing Success, Says Fatwa Council Chairman

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (Bernama) -- The Islam Hadhari approach introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has started to show success though it is still at its infancy.

National Fatwa Council Chairman Prof Datuk Abdul Shukor Husin said the most significant was the success in implementing the J-QAF programme in schools and Islamic banking.

"It shows we are on the right track," he told reporters after tabling a working paper entitled "Islam Hadhari Approach: Malaysia as Example" on the third day of the Al-Azhar World Alumni Conference 2008 here today.

In his paper, Shukor who is Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia Vice-Chancellor, said the people should not belittle the Islam Hadhari approach by describing it as just a concept without a solid content.

He said Muslims in Malaysia also should discard the fear to accepting it because the approach had increasing gained recognition among Muslims internationally.

Meanwhile, Adviser to the United Arab Emirates President Prof Ali Al-Hashimi said he was amazed with the tolerance attitude of various races in Malaysia.

This, he said, came from the success of the Islam Hadhari concept which gave importance to moderation in life.

He also advised Muslims not judge other people by looking at their appearance without taking into account other factors including their contributions to society.

For example, he said, a woman who does not cover her hair does not necessarily fail to perform her other religious obligations.

--BERNAMA--

SURUHAN'BERJAYA

2008-01-30T19:51:00.000-08:00

KENAPA TAK BOLEH?

SURUHANJAYA YANG SUDAH TIDAK BERJAYA

Kita bukan rakyat yang hidup pada zaman pelancaran mahkamah pertama Malaya.
Tetapi kita adalah rakyat yang telah melangkaui pelbagai kes-kes mahkamah kususnya kes-kes yang berprofil tinggi.

Keputusan Suruhanjaya Siasatan Video VK Lingam untuk tidak memangil PEMBONGKAR UTAMA video tersebut adalah jelas sebagai tidak logik dan tidak boleh diterima akal.
Ibarat pengadu atau orang yang melaporkan pada pihak berwajib, tetapi akhirnya keterangan beliau tidak diperlukan.

Itulah yang berlaku dalam Suruhanjaya Haidar yang tidak mahu memanggil Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim memberi keteranganya yang kita yakini mampu membantu suruhanjaya mendapatkan penjelasan serta laluan lebih mudah dalam membuat pertimbangan.

Suruhanjaya sebenarnya diyakini dipengaruhi oleh pihak lebih berkuasa yang menetukan perjalanan siasatan ini.Mungkinkah suruhanjaya ini sudah menjadi SuruhanBERJAYA?
SuruhanBERJAYA yang dipengaruhi oleh pemiliknya sepertimana pengaruh pemilik tersebut yang mampu menentukan perjalanan kedudukan jawatan-jawatan dalam badan kehakiman negara.

Apa yang dibimbangi ialah, kelantangan Anwar sekiranya beliau diberikan peluang memberi keterangan kepada suruhanBERJAYA yang mampu menghangatkan lagi keadaan yang sedia hangat.

Begitu juga dengan penolakan bukti terbaru klip video ke 3 yang baru diperolehi oleh DSAI.Dengan mendakwa klip terbaru itu tidak disahihkan lagi serta batal untuk diterima pakai.
Apa punya loklak depa ni....Hang sebagai barisan penyiasat, mesti ambil serius dengan klip terbaru tuu.Pasai pa buta-buta tolak....Dok hakis kepercayaan rakyat pada suruhanjaya yang semakin jadi SuruhanBERJAYA!!!

VK LINGAM - PART III

Transcript:

Lingam: The constitution judges said the constitution said, in the opinion of the prime minister he recommend. Who the prime minister recommend? So you are Dzaiddin, you are chief justice, you recommend 10 names, I consent, I said I want these 15 names, can’t do anything. He recommend to rulers, rulers only consulted, not approve, only consult. You Know?

[Voice off-camera]: Because if it goes up to the Court of Appeal…

Lingam: Now Dzaiddin wants to come through the PM because he wants his Tun-ship. So…he doing everything to please the PM lah, but he recommended five judges, three…three approved, which is Tun Eusoff Chin’s men, two not Eusoff Chin’s men which we objected. I prepared the report and rejected… but he wants to appeal again lah.

[Voice off-camera]: Can he appeal?

Lingam: He can appeal lah, but will be rejected lah.

[Voice off-camera]: I never know appointment can be rejected you know?

Lingam: No, recommendation can be rejected. The PM shall recommend so and so, after consulting so and so. So, PM suppose to consult Loh Mui Fah before he recommends. So Loh Mui Fah recommend 10 names, he in fact can say I disagree with your 10 names, I recommend Gurm…Lingam and so and so. Nothing you can do. You are only…you are supposed to be consulted, not to be approved. You see the point or not? The constitution said consult. I suppose to consult my father before I marry, I consulted him, he disagreed but still I married!

[Voice off-camera]: Because that is not final, ah.

Lingam: Right, consult is to discuss. That’s all. But if I must get my father’s approval before married, then different. Approval different from consult.

[Voice off-camera]: So, who is the lord president now?

Lingam: Now chief justice Dzaiddin.

[Voice off-camera]: Dzaiddin…

Lingam: But between you and me. We have taken Dzaiddin for dinner three times.

[Voice off-camera]: Three times already.

Lingam: And we have given him the most expensive gift. Don’t ask about it lah. I have given him and Vincent Tan has given him. So, he also cannot attack us. Tomorrow we go say we give you this this this. He cannot go and say you are a agent. Correct or not? So, he is neither here nor there lah. That’s all.

[Voice off-camera]: But… Chief Justice..

Lingam: But in the court when I argue with him. He said, Datuk Lingam you said you will take one hour. I said, my Lord, it is only 50 minutes, I got another 10 minutes. But…I appreciate. Thank you, thank you… He is very nice with me, very polite with me. I have been sending cakes every hari raya. Vincent has been sending. He can’t go and say he is very clean, correct or not?

[Voice off-camera]: But then he is…

Lingam: But he is playing his game lah. He got the job, that’s it. Now, September he is finished that’s all. Make sure he is not extended.

[Voice off-camera]: But, he may ask for extension.

Lingam: He is hoping… he told somebody that he likes the job very much. Then he likes…Let him dream lah.

[Voice off-camera]: Above him is the Lord President?

Lingam: He is the number one man, Dzaiddin.

[Voice off-camera]: Whose the Lord President?

Lingam: He is called… those days called lord president, now called chief justice, federal court.

[Voice off-camera]: Oh… it is the same title.

Lingam: Number two President Court of Appeal, that Wan Adnan, my personal friend. He was sick. Nobody knows he is close to me. Right, in fact, he never knew his name is going up until I told him. Then number three, Ahmad Fairuz, Chief Judge Malaya. Ahmad Fairuz is going to be acting, now acting…number two. Right? So, next minute, even Raja Aziz said he is going to be the next top job. He is…definitely number one lah. So, he told me I leave it all to you and you must help me and all…I said I’ll arrange for you to meet Tengku Adnan, Vincent and meet with PM lah…But this bugger is sometimes a bit scared. Ah…I must play shadow from the behind. Nobody should know I know you. Then you can help more. But people, see you know more, like Eusoff Chin, because I met him in New Zealand, became a problem. But if I didn’t meet him in New Zealand, it’s a… no problem. Correct or not? Unfortunate.

[Voice off-camera]: Then, in your…then they said you have taken photograph with him holidaying in…huh…huh…

Lingam: But unfortunately, I didn’t know. The worst thing I didn’t know Eusoff Chin put his hand like that! Alamak…so…I also didn’t know about it. What to do?

[Voice off-camera]: Then… then…

Lingam: Do you know, today one o’clock, Eusoff Chin having lunch in his house today. Hari Raya today. He called me and my wife to come. I told him we don’t go today, we make it another day. I don’t come but my wife and children will come. You know or not?
I told my wife to call…[unclear]… [phone rings]…

Lingam: Hello…Joe Ah…!

Note: Because some parts of the recording are inaudible the transcript may not be 100% accurate.

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The Haidar Commission in ruling not to admit evidence on fixing of court decisions has severely affected public confidence that the present administration is serious in restoring the rule of law in Malaysia.

It is disappointing to note that the Haidar Commission has ruled that I need not be called to provide evidence of corruption as indicated in the synopsis of my statement to be given to the Haidar Commission. I am certain that the evidence that I can give will be of significant assistance to the Haidar Commission to get the truth behind this dark patch in Malaysian judicial history.

The decision by the Commission to arbitrarily disallow me to testify would certainly lead one to the conclusion that some unseen hand is at work. This hand is so powerful that the Commission will stop at nothing to prevent me from giving evidence, even though the evidence concerned will definitely shed light on the testimony given so far. Instead of seizing the opportunity of the Inquiry to find the underlying cause of this scandal, the Commissioners, (in particular the Chairman Tan Sri Haidar), have chosen to fetter themselves with procedural legalities and restrictive interpretations as to what they can do and what they cannot do.

The purpose and objective of the Enquiry is to assure both the Malaysian public and foreigners that judges in Malaysia dispense justice without fear or favour. Unfortunately, instead of adopting a robust approach to surgically remove the cancer of corruption in the judiciary in all its forms, the Commissioners adopt at a restricted interpretation of its term of reference and thereby exclude investigation into the most malignant form of corruption that decisions of the Courts in Malaysia can be fixed. The crux of the matter is that the Lingam video shows that persons who are likely to be corruptible or are corrupted are appointed or promoted as judges. The Commissioners have fallen into serious error in only allowing evidence of brokering of judges’ appointments without allowing evidence of corruption to be admitted.

I had prior to the setting up of the Royal Commission warned that the terms of reference of the Enquiry must be sufficiently wide and clear to ensure that the public interests is served. This was not done. As a result of the poorly drafted and restrictive terms of reference, the Commissioners have now made a manifest error.

Obviously, in pursuing this farcical approach to justice, the Commission has not only deprived itself of the opportunity to get a better picture of the true state of affairs but is wittingly or unwittingly become complicit in the obstruction of justice. I use this term not in the restrictive legal context but in a wider ethical and moral context taking into account the legitimate expectations of the people. And it is the legitimate expectation of the people that the proceedings of the Inquiry be conducted so that justice is not only done but seen to be done.

I also call upon Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to take immediate action by providing a clarification on the terms of reference to ensure that evidence of corruption including the fixing of decisions beginning from the time of the sacking of the former Lord President, Tun Salleh Abbas be admitted in the ongoing Enquiry.

If the government is serious about combating corruption as well as restoring confidence in the judiciary, this is the opportunity for it to prove itself. Rather than just paying lip service to the principles of accountability and transparency, the Prime Minister should take decisive and firm action to bring to justice all those responsible, how high they may be, for corrupting the administration of justice in this country.

I urge Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to act immediately in order that Malaysians and the international community can be assured that his administration is serious in combating corruption and is genuine in wanting to uphold the rule of law - ANWAR IBRAHIM.

THE ROAD TO ELECTION

2008-01-22T18:28:00.000-08:00

D.S. ANWAR IBRAHIM: SIAPA SEBENARNYA VK LINGAM?

V.K LINGAM COMPLETE VERSION

POLITICS-MALAYSIA: HEARING EXPOSES MAHATHIR, HIS CORRUPT TIMES

By Baradan Kuppusamy

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 22 (IPS) - A public hearing into corruption in the higher judiciary is giving Malaysians a rare peep into the way top judges were appointed, demoted or promoted during the tenure of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.

The revelations are offering hope to lawyers, judges and civil society leaders that, for the first time in three decades, a cleanup of the judiciary is possible.

Some of the country’s most powerful and influential people, including Mahathir himself, were subpoenaed and forced to take the stand and have been answering a series of awkward questions since last week.

Others similarly shamed include chief justices, top civil servants, business tycoons and top lawyers -- people inadvertently exposed in a 14-minute video clip secretly shot by the son of a businessman in 2002.

The clip records a telephone conversation between top lawyer V. K. Lingam, who often represents Mahathir, his crony Vincent Tan, and the chief justice of Malaysia Ahmad Fairuz, who retired in a cloud last December.

During the inquiry Lingam refused to confirm that he is the person pictured in the video talking into a hand phone despite overwhelming testimonies from the witness. He also denied he had ever talked with Fairuz.

Their purported conversation involves the promotion of judges "friendly" to Mahathir and his government, and how to end the careers of other judges considered to be "unfriendly and difficult" to the interest of their cabal.

The clip was recorded "inadvertently" by the son of a businessman at Lingam’s home in December 2001, but surfaced six years later and was given to opposition icon Anwar Ibrahim who made it public on Sep. 19 and demanded a full public inquiry and a major overhaul of the judiciary.

Lawyers have long demanded an overhaul, saying the judiciary was deeply corrupt and under the thumbs of well-connected businessmen and politicians. But their efforts were fruitless until the clip turned up, giving them the hard evidence they had long sought.

"The outcome of the inquiry aside, the probe is giving Malaysians a rare glimpse into the sinister aspects of the government at the very highest levels," said human rights lawyer Sivarasah Rasiah, who was the first to view the secretly shot clip along with an aide to Anwar.

"The revelations are truly shocking and show how deeply tainted our judiciary has become," he told IPS on the sidelines of the inquiry that is being held at the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex.

"Anwar has done a superb job in forcing the government to hold the inquiry," he said. "What we are concerned now is for the inquiry to lead to a major cleanup of the judiciary."

Shocking details the public has heard since the clip surfaced include lawyers sending bags, presumably filled with cash, to judges’ homes in the dead of the night. Other presents included expensive hand phones for judges and expensive handbags for their wives.

In one case a lawyer involved in a case actually wrote the judgment for a judge, indicating how close their relationship was and the total lack of respect, judicial integrity and independence.

The inquiry also received photographs showing lawyer Lingam holidaying in New Zealand with the then chief justice of Malaysia Eusoff Chin in 1996.

The picture shows the two having their arms around each other’s shoulders and their wives standing and smiling. "I bumped into him and he decided to tag along," was the tepid answer from Chin who retired in 2001.

Like Chin, Mahathir also frequently answered "could not remember" to many question aimed at discovering the business-politician-judges nexus that lawyers say has tarnished the country’s once vaunted judiciary.

For Mahathir, who never had to face a parliamentary select committee or a public inquiry in his 22 years (1981-2003)as head of the government, last week’s questioning was a come down.

Public anger rose at Mahathir’s stock "I don’t know, I can’t remember" replies to the questions. At one point, asked why he dropped some judges recommended for promotion by the then chief justice who was highly respected by his peers, Mahathir said: "I don’t have to answer."

According to parliamentary opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, Mahathir said "I can’t remember" 14 times during 90 minutes of questioning by a five-member panel chaired by Mohamed Haidar, a former retired judge.

"He (Mahathir) was evasive and uncharacteristically forgetful," Lim said. "Most of the time Mahathir was evading questions to the best of his ability."

Like many others, Lim is unhappy that the panel allowed Mahathir to "get away" easily. "We are disappointed…he should be held accountable for the dark chapter in the nation’s judicial history," Lim said expressing disappointment over the quality of the inquiry.

"Many Malaysians get the impression that the panel members treated Mahathir with "kid's gloves" as they were in awe of and at times even fearful of the longest-serving prime minister of the country," Lim said.

Once highly regarded, the judiciary suffered as Mahathir systematically sacked independent judges and promoted a series of judges criticised for "spineless subservience" in a process that started in 1987.

Foreign investors, too, have shown little faith in the local judiciary preferring independent arbitration and legal redress in Singapore, Hong Kong and London.

"I have evidence to show that there is deceit and conspiracy involved between businessmen, lawyers and politicians," Ibrahim told Malaysiakini.com, the independent online news provider.

He has been subpoenaed by the commission and was fifth on the witness list but was passed up, allegedly because his testimony had become irrelevant after the maker of the video owned up to it.

"It is rather odd that I have not been called," Anwar said adding the situation raises doubts on the conduct and integrity of the inquiry panel. "My name is mentioned in the clip and it is important I testify."

--IPSnews, ITALY--