Pesan Gus Dur, “Berbuat Baik Apa Pun Suku dan Agamamu”

Laporan wartawan KOMPAS.com Inggried Dwi Wedhaswary

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Hermawi Taslim, salah satu orang terdekat presiden Republik Indonesia keempat, almarhum KH Abdurrahman Wahid (Gus Dur), tak menyangka bisa mendampingi dan turut dalam berbagai kegiatan Gus Dur dalam 10 tahun terakhir. Sebagai seorang non-muslim, ia tak menyangka bahwa seorang tokoh Nahdlatul Ulama membuka lebar pintu bagi dirinya.

Hermawi mengungkapkan, perkenalannya dengan Gus Dur pertama kali di NTT. “Saat itu, Gus Dur ke NTT untuk urusan PKB. Saya bertemu ketika transit. Beliau tanya, ‘Kamu orang apa?’ Saya jawab saya dari Nias. Beliau mengajak saya bergabung dan mengatakan, ‘Tidak penting apa pun agama atau sukumu. Kalau kamu bisa melakukan sesuatu yang baik untuk semua orang, orang tidak pernah tanya apa agamamu’,” kata Hermawi berbagi kisah tentang pesan yang diingatnya dari seorang Gus Dur kepada Kompas.com.

Apa yang diutarakan Gus Dur menjadi pegangannya dalam berkomunikasi dengan siapa pun dalam 10 tahun terakhir. “Saya sangat terkesan dengan keterbukaan beliau yang tidak pernah membeda-bedakan,” ujar Hermawi, yang pernah menjabat ketua DPP PKB ini.

Terakhir kali, Hermawi bertemu Gus Dur pada Minggu (27/12/2009) di Gedung PB Nahdlatul Ulama, Jakarta Pusat. Biasanya, setiap akhir pekan, ada pertemuan rutin di PBNU untuk mendiskusikan berbagai perkembangan di Tanah Air. “Setelah itu, saya pamit kepada Gus Dur untuk berlibur bersama keluarga dan baru kembali hari ini. Saya menyesal tidak bersama beliau di saat terakhirnya,” kata Hermawi dengan terisak.

Al Fatihah: Gus Dur, 69 kembali ke Rahmatullah

JAKARTA – FORMER Indonesian president Abdurrahman Wahid died in hospital on Wednesday aged 69, after a long battle with illness, a party official said.

Wahid, popularly known as Gus Dur, was practically blind, diabetic and had suffered strokes.

‘Gus Dur just passed away,’ said Lukman Edy from Wahid’s National Awakening Party. — AFP

What happened to this police report?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

There appears to be a lot of noise in the mainstream media lately about whether I am still in Malaysia, if not then how did I get out and if I got out then where can I be, which passport did I use to get out of Malaysia and which passport did I use to get into the other country if I really did get out of Malaysia, and so on.

I think the above is just too complicating for the Malaysian police to solve. Solving the above would involve using your brain and this is certainly beyond the capabilities of the Malaysian police. As part of my community service to the Malaysian police, I am going to offer them a simpler problem to solve.

The police report below was made by Americk Sidhu, PI Bala’s lawyer, on 8 July 2008. That was about one-and-a-half years ago. I think one-and-a-half years is enough time even for the most stupid police force in the world and the Malaysian police force is certainly far from being the most stupid.

So, instead of trying to solve the problem of RPK, why not the Malaysian police and the IGP please tell us what happened to the investigation on the police report Americk made way back in July 2008.

Or did they just ignore Americk’s police report and threw it into the dustbin? The normal procedure would be they would call you to take your statement after you make a police report but Americk was never summoned in all that time. This gives an impression they are not pursuing the matter.

So what is all this talk about the MACC wanting to interview Bala but that he must first send them an official letter? Americk’s police report is more than just an official letter. It is stronger than an official letter.

Aiyah, MACC and PDRM very hau siau one lah! Full of bullshit! No need to worry about RPK. He is safe and happy. Get cracking on the very old police report below. We will give you 14 days to come out with your statement on what happened.

AMERICK SINGH SIDHU’S POLICE REPORT OF 8 JULY 2008

I, AMERICK SINGH SIDHU NRIC NO  561129-71-5251  hereby lodge the following complaint :

(1) I am practising as an Advocate and Solicitor in Malaysia.

(2) I was instructed by one Mr Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal (NRIC NO 600928-08-6235) in respect of documenting the facts and circumstances involving him in the Altantunya matter.

(3) This led to the affirmation of a Statutory Declaration by Mr. Balasubramaniam on 01.07.2008 . The affirmation of the said Statutory Declaration was done in my presence and I have personal knowledge of the facts and circumstances leading to the production and affirmation of the said Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008.

(4) Mr Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal held a Press Conference on the 04.07.2008. I am informed by media reports that another Statutory Declaration affirmed by Mr. Balasubramaniam and dated 04.07.2008 was made public on that day. The contents of the said 04.07.2008 Statutory Declaration suggests that the earlier Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008 was made ‘ under duress ‘.

(5) I acted in good faith in documenting the facts that led to the production and affirmation of the Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008 and I am satisfied it was made voluntarily and without any duress whatsoever.

(6) By reason of the matters stated above, I have reasonable grounds to believe that the second Statutory Declaration dated 04.07.2008 is suspicious on the face of it. The said document’s contents amount to criminal defamation of my character both personal and professional. I strongly believe person and/or persons have induced, threatened and caused the production of the 04.07.2008 Statutory Declaration by unlawful conduct.

(7) I request that an investigation be carried out to ascertain the person and or persons who unlawfully caused the said Mr Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal to state that the earlier Statutory Declaration dated 01.07.2008, which was made in my presence, was made under duress. I believe the offence of criminal conspiracy to cause criminal defamation would have been committed by this and/or these persons.

Dated this 8th day of July 2008

Americk Sidhu

berita hairan pandai-pandai buat cerita dongeng: Nik Aziz nafi Husam letak jawatan dan dua pegawainya dipecat

Mamakutty kicked up a fuss: A gripping account of the Mamakutty years

Barry Wain’s treatise on the Mahathir years is a gripping account of the 22-year long era that spanned the 1981-2003 years, a period characterised by unprecedented economic and physical development and rapid urbanisation and social change.

It is overall, a fair and independent account with meticulous cross referencing and footnotes albeit much information attributed to oral interviews to a handful of persons and perhaps lacking in corroboration. Many snippets are attributed to Abdullah Ahmad but many who know Dollah Kok Lanas might prefer to take his assertions with some pinches of salt.

It is nevertheless, essential reading for anyone interested in an authoritative précis of the Mahathir years and a well-documented one at that.

Even to seasoned observers of Malaysian politics, this book is a very timely refresher. I noted some assertions that were news to me such as Anwar Ibrahim having graduated in Malay Studies with honours. I remember it often repeated that Anwar spent five years on a three-year degree and eventually earned a general pass degree (or was this political propaganda that I took for fact?).

Or that Zaid Ibrahim was a former member of Aliran? The now-transformed Zaid was seen as a rather conservative fellow in his younger days and was founder president of the Malaysian Muslim Lawyers’ Association which took rather hardline positions under him in the 1980s so this is also a surprising revelation, if true.

Wain’s account of the 1985 Memali event when 14 members of an armed Muslim group were killed in a confrontation with police omits the fact that Musa Hitam was in charge as acting prime minister.

Indeed, many observed that not a few hard situations were handled by Musa when Mahathir, by accident or design, was away overseas; a notable one being the Sabah constitutional crisis of 1985 when Harris Salleh and Mustapha Harun attempted to seize power to subvert Joseph Pairin Kitingan’s electoral success.

Mahathir appeared to some as being incapable of taking hard decisions where it might affect his standing as prime minister and these two events are often quoted as events that might have taken different turns had Mahathir called the shots.

Of course, we know now that Mahathir sanctioned the assault on civil society activists attending the November 1996 Apcet II conference in Kuala Lumpur that resulted in the conference being forcibly stopped by Barisan Nasional rioters (with the cooperation of the police) and most of the participants carted to jail.

Mahathir kicked up a fuss

Another interesting reminder was Mahathir characterising China as a threat to Southeast Asia in his early years, this position was later to change to one where he asserted that China had never been a threat to others throughout its history as a nation.

There was considerable discussion of Mahathir’s early animosity towards the British but a very significant incident was missed. In 1981, Mahathir kicked up a fuss and caused the repatriation of a British envoy who had the ‘audacity’ of asserting publicly, (quite factually, to many observers) that British ‘blood, sweat and tears’ contributed much to Malaysia’s development as a nation.

There is also a repetition of the commonly-held view that the ruling coalition first lost its two-thirds majority in the March 2008 general election. In fact, the combined opposition first accomplished this in May 1969, which was, in many ways, a mirror image of the 2008 result.

Anwar’s trial was also described as the longest in Malaysian history. In fact, in recent courts history, this dubious distinction belongs to the Irene Fernandez trial.

In discussing Malaysia’s first large financial scandal – the BMF (Bank Bumiputra Malaysia) case, it would have been interesting if the dismissal of Bank Negara’s second governor, Aziz Taha in 1985 was researched as Aziz was reputed to be a ‘no-nonsense’ official of the Ismail Mohamed Ali genre and the circumstances of his dismissal at the height of the BMF scandal were never explained.

Many felt he was sacked for refusing to do something unconscionable. He was in turn succeeded by the late Jaffar Hussein, who was hand-picked by Mahathir from relative obscurity as a public accountant to head Malayan Banking, Malaysia’s largest bank. Jaffar of course was seen tainted by the currency speculation fiasco and resigned in disgrace from Bank Negara together with Nor Mohamed Yakcop as documented in the book.

Overall, ‘Malaysian Maverick’ is a very well-researched book that is difficult to put down once one started reading it. Highly recommended!

RICHARD YW YEOH is collaborations and governance director of the Research for Social Advancement (REFSA), an independent advocacy and publishing house. ‘Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times’ is published globally by Palgrave Macmillan./Mkini

On Video Nizar Jamaluddin: Whither The Constitution? An Untold story

mediarakyat

Pemimpin Sunnah Wal Jamaah Tegas Anwar Tak Bersalah

greenboc

Anwar Ibrahim: The ISA Must Be Abolished

YB Law Choo Kiang turut bersama dalam program Maal Hijrah di Dewan Chung Kuang, Sg Bakap

26hb Dis 09, AJK Surau Tmn Murai Jaya, Simpang Ampat, SPS, & JKKK Simpang Ampat, SPS dengan kerjasama MMK Pembangunan Luar Bandar & Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang telah menganjurkan Program Maal Hijrah dengan jayanya di Dewan Chung Kuang semalam. Kira-kira 1500 penonton membanjiri dewan tersebut untuk mendengar ceramah daripada ahli-ahli panel forum perdana yang terkemuka seperi Ust Badrul Amin, Ust Dr Jamnul Azhar & Ust Mahuzam bin Mohd Lazim.

YB Law Choo Kiang, ADUN kawasan Bkt Tambun merangkap Exco kerajaan negeri Pulau Pinang turut hadir bersama-sama dengan muslimin & muslimat untuk menjayakan program sempena Maal Hijrah yang bertajuk HIJRAH MEMBENTUK PERIBADI UMMAH. Beliau turut menyumbang RM 5000 untuk program ini.

Hadir bersama YB Law adalah En Khor Kok Chin, pengerusi JKKK Simpang Ampat berserta isteri beliau.

Dalam forum tersebut, Ustaz Badrul Amin berpesan agar peristiwa Hijrah ini bukan hanya untuk mendengar satu cerita tetapi yang lebih penting pengajaran dari peristiwa Hijrah. Mengapa Allah tidak permudahkan sahaja Nabi berhijrah dari Mekah ke Madinah dengan menghantar borak seperti peristiwa Israq dan Mikraj?

Di antara pengajarannya adalah :-
1) Dalam perjuangan strategi perlu ada memerlukan pengorbanan.
2) Dalam perjuangan orang muda amat diperlukan seperti Saidina Ali yang baru berusia 12 tahun sanggup menggantikan tempat tidur nabi diketika Nabi mahu dibunuh.
3) Dalam perjuangan orang bukan Islam juga diperlukan seperti Abdullah Uraiqit yang menjadi penunjuk jalan kepada Nabi dari Mekah ke Madinah.
4) Dalam perjuangan wanita juga diperlukan seperti Asma’ Abu Bakar yang sanggup menyedia dan menghantar makanan ketika nabi di gua Thur selama 3 hari.

Sewajarnya umat Islam di semua peringkat pada hari ini menyedari bahawa jatuh bangun agama, tamadun serta identiti umat banyak bergantung kepada potensi anak muda.

Dengan sokongan dan pengorbanan mereka, banyak berlaku peristiwa-peristiwa yang telah mengubah perjalanan masa depan dunia dan tamadun kemanusiaan. Itulah hasilnya jika anak muda dididik dengan akidah dan akhlak yang mantap bukan dengan hiburan yang terlampau.

Dewan Chung Kuang di Sg Bakap, Seberang Prai (Selatan)

Muslimat yang terdiri daripada sebahagian dari 1500 peserta yang hadir di Forum Maal Hijrah

Ahli-ahli panel berserta pengerusi forum

YB Law Choo Kiang (4 dari kanan gambar) selaku Adun Bukit Tambun merangkap Exco Kerajaan Negeri turut hadir dari awal hingga akhir. Inilah bezanya YB Pakatan Rakyat berketurunan Cina dengan YB BN.

Isteri En Khor, Pengerusi JKKK Simpang Ampat

Amizudin Ahmat (kiri) bersama Ust Badrul & YB Law

Oleh Amizudin Ahmat/Ong Eu Leong. Gambar ehsan Amizudin Ahmat

Rakaman ceramah Anwar di Klang & Perlancaran akhbar Gong Cheng Pao

mediarakyat

Anwar vs Dr m libel suit: Was outcome fixed? Did Lingam write judgment?

Did former Chief Justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim play a role in deciding the outcome of Anwar Ibrahim’s defamation suit against former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the High Court two years ago?

This question was mooted following allegations in an anonymous letter that High Court judicial commissioner Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat had struck out Anwar’s libel suit after meeting Ahmad Fairuz several times before delivering her verdict.

Judges are bound by a strict code of ethics and must be absolutely impartial in their judgments, and not be swayed by pressure from the executive, legislature or by senior members of the judiciary.

If there is even a grain of truth to the allegation, the Malaysian judiciary will be shamed yet again.

Malaysiakini learnt a complaint was made to the Anti-Corruption Agency (now Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) in 2007 soon after Tengku Maimun delivered her verdict on Anwar’s suit against Mahathir.

The letter containing the allegations was sent to ACA and also to the judiciary and the authorities. It claimed that Tengku Maimun had on several occasions discussed the matter with Ahmad Fairuz before she delivered her judgment.

It also alleged that Ahmad Fairuz had told Tengku Maimun “how to decide” in the case.

Anwar filed a libel suit against Mahathir following his stinging comments at a Suhakam press conference over the opposition leader’s alleged sexual conduct.

Tengku Maimun, in striking out Anwar’s suit, ruled that Mahathir’s defence was likely to succeed and there was no need for the matter to be heard in a full trial.

VK Lingam, who was implicated in the infamous video-tape, judge-fixing scandal, was Mahathir’s counsel in the case.

Two weeks ago, the Court of Appeal had dismissed Anwar’s appeal application on a technicality – that Anwar did not file it in Bahasa Malaysia.

Lingam applied to strike out the appeal application before justice Abdul Malik Ishak, who was heading a three-member panel.

Did Lingam write judgment?

Reporters who covered the decision on Anwar’s suit were offered copies of Tengku Maimun’s written judgments by Lingam immediately after the verdict was read out.

This raises the question as to whether the lawyer had played a role in writing the judgment, possibly on behalf of Tengku Maimun.

There was a previously such allegation that Lingam had played a role in writing a judge’s judgment, as was revealed by his former secretary GN Jayanthi at an inquiry into the videotape scandal.

Testifying at the royal commission of inquiry, Jayanthi  said she stayed up until 3am in Lingam’s office to draft a judgment which was to eventually become a landmark decision.

The decision was read out by High Court judge Mokhtar Sidin in Vincent Tan’s libel suit against MGG Pillai.

Jayanthi had said this happened sometime between November and early December 1994, where Lingam was representing Tan, the tycoon of the Berjaya Group.

“I later discovered the judgment written by Lingam was fully incorporated as the official judgment by the said judge,” the former secretary had told in her testimony.

As many may recall, Lingam was alleged to have spoken to Ahmad Fairuz on the other end of the phone in the videotape when the latter was the Chief Judge of Malaya.

Ahmad Fairuz, when testifying at the royal commission, said Lingam’s alleged conversation with him was slanderous and a fabrication.

Former UN rapporteur’s report

Former UN special rapporteur on the independence of the judiciary Param Cumaraswamy, following the anonymous letter, wrote to the ACA in September 2007 to lodge a complaint on the possibility of such improper practises.

Param had his letter also questioned Tengku Maimun’s confirmation as a full fledged judge a month after delivering the judgment.

A copy of Param’s letter and the anonymous letter, which contained several other allegations of impropriety in the judiciary, were made available to Malaysiakini.

Attempts to contact Tengku Maimun, Ahmad Fairuz and the MACC were unsuccessful.

Malaysiakini team

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!

Malaysia IS Zimbabwe, says Zaid: “the rotten state of the rule of law and democracy”

PKR politician Zaid Ibrahim has applauded constitutional law expert Abdul Aziz Bari for speaking out “about the rotten state of the rule of law and democracy” in Malaysia.

In a reply by text-message, he described Abdul Aziz as “a well respected academic and a courageous one”.

Zaid, a former Umno strongman who crossed to PKR, expressed hope that many will come forward and be unafraid to speak out for the sake of the country.

“Nothing will change unless those who know rise up to expose the vermin (that are) eating and destroying our national institutions and democratic values,” said Zaid , once the de facto law minister.

Last Sunday, Malaysiakini reported Abdul Aziz’s comments that likened the current state of ‘lawlessness’ in Malaysia to that in Zimbabwe.

When contacted, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng echoed many of the concerns expressed by Abdul Aziz.

In particular, he said Umno should not regard governance of the country as its birth-right, but realise that it is the people who have given it the mandate to lead.

“The government is like the board of directors (of a company). The public are the shareholders who can kick out the directors or sack them at will,” said Khoo.

Cautioning BN not to use public funds “as if this belongs to them”, he urged the ruling coalition to hold dialogues with the people before initiating gigantic projects such as Port Klang Free Zone.

Commenting on the way funds are disbursed to states held by the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, Khoo said it is “not healthy for the federal government to act on its own whims and fancies”.

For instance, it is “totally crazy and against the law” for BN to withhold oil royalty from Kelantan.

The money has been converted to a ‘compassionate fund’ disbursed through the Federal Development Department, which channels the money to federal agencies in the states affected.

Institutionalised bullying

Khoo also alluded to imbalances in governance, with the executive able to strong-arm the judiciary and legislature with impunity.

He expressed no surprise over the claim that the BN violates the constitution, noting that there have been many instances where the federal government has bypassed the supreme law in making decisions.

Khoo also said the government has back-tracked on its pledges, citing how it has reneged on the 1989 peace agreement with the Communist Party of Malaya.

Universiti Malaya social sciences lecturer Noor Sulastry Ahmad acknowledged the situation.

“This is political hegemony. Most politicians, especially from the ruling coalition manipulate and use (various) institutions to ensure the status quo and to maintain their grip on power,” she said.

As a case in point, she referred to the sacking of Salleh Abas as Lord President in 1988, which effectively brought judicial independence to an end.

Hazlan Zakaria & Yip Ai Tsin/Mkini

Bik Mama oh Bik Mama!!, takut kerana benar isu Bala: Rosmah talk rubbish a lot but halted PC abruptly just because of Bala & RM600,000 issue

An attempt by Malaysiakini to quiz the prime minister’s wife on allegations against her brought Rosmah Mansor’s press conference to an abrupt halt.

The very mention of the word ‘allegation’ saw her dismissing the question with a wave, leaving the journalist in mid-sentence.

Responding in a stern tone, she said: “I said only relevant questions (about this function). I don’t entertain gossip. I don’t entertain lies. I don’t entertain… This is why… please, this is why I said earlier that we must concentrate on bigger issues.

“I know you want to sell your papers but let’s concentrate on bigger, relevant issues that can benefit everybody and all Malaysians.”

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil then ended the press conference.

Rosmah was the chief guest at an event organised by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry.

Earlier, Sharizat tried to limit questions strictly to the event, where Rosmah witnessed the handing over of RM1.784 million to 10 womens NGOs.

RM600,000 ‘illegally’ transferred

Last week, PKR leader Tian Chua added another allegation to the controversies surrounding the premier’s wife.

He claimed to have documentary proof that RM600,000 was sent to Rosmah through a moneychanger while she was in Dubai last year, presumably “for shopping”.

Prior to this, Rosmah was implicated in the revelations by private investigator P Balasubramniam, who linked her to a Kuala Lumpur-based carpet merchant named Deepak Jaikishen.

Deepak was said to have been instrumental in arranging Balasubramaniam’s exit from the country in the wake of the controversy surrounding the latter’s statutory declaration regarding the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu.

When quizzed on the issue in Singapore last week, Rosmah had dismissed the matter as “wild allegations“.

Similarly, Najib had brushed off Balasubramaniam’s allegations as “frivolous statements“.

Attempts to contact Deepak had also been futile.

Andrew Ong & Jimadie Shah Othman/Mkini

Ucapan Penutup Tuan Guru Nik Aziz konvensyen PR.

tvpas09

Dr Mamakutty threatens to sue Mkini, Kit Siang, Wain over claimed that Mamakutty squandered up to RM100 billion in his years as PM.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said he “reserved the right” to sue author Barry Wain, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang and online news daily Malaysiakini for defamation.

In the latest posting in his Chedet blog, Mahathir said he welcomed the suggestion by Lim who yesterday called for the government to set up a royal commission to probe whether the former strongman had ‘burned’ RM100 billion on corruption and grandiose projects during his 22-year reign.

“Depending upon the result of the commission, I reserve the right to sue Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and Malaysiakini.com for libel for a sum to be disclosed later,” he said.

However, Mahathir was quick to add that the royal commission should not be confined to his term as premier but also include his successor-turned-nemesis, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

“It should include how RM270 billion of Petronas money paid during Abdullah’s five-year term was spent, what projects were financed by this huge fund and the cost of all these projects,” he said.

“It should include how much money was lost due to the cancellation of the crooked bridge (to Singapore) and the Johor Bahru to Padang Besar (double-track) railway.”

In addition, he suggested the royal commission include the cost over-run in the construction of the multi-billion-ringgit Bakun hydroelectric dam project and to investigate the procedure how the contract for the second Penang Bridge was given out.

“Such a commission should not be made up of government nominees but should have as members impeccable people including foreigners and members of Transparency International,” he said, apparently with his usual dose of sarcasm.

“I will cooperate fully with the commission,” vowed Mahathir.

Release all gov’t documents

Wain, who is the former managing editor of Asian Wall Street Journal, has estimated in his recently released book ‘Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times‘ that Mahathir had squandered up to RM100 billion in his years as PM.

In his blog posting, Mahathir said Wain should provide “documentary proof” for his allegation.

At the same time, he suggested that the government reveal all the relevant documents.

“In order for the inquiry by the commission to be successful, the government must give the undertaking to give full access to the commission to all the documents and accounts of the government over the period 1981-2009,” he said.

“There should be no cover-up of any kind.”

Mahathir also called for Wain’s book, said to be held up in Port Klang by the Customs Department, to be released.

“I am not in need of government protection,” he stressed.

Chedet.com has expired

In ‘Malaysian Maverick‘, Wain wrote that most of the scams, which included a government attempt to manipulate the international tin price and gambling by Bank Negara on global currency markets, occurred in the go-go years of the 1980s.

According to him, direct financial losses amounted to about RM50 billion. This doubled once the invisible costs, such as unrecorded write-offs, were taken into account.

However, some analysts have put the figure even higher.

Time magazine quoted Daniel Lian, a Southeast Asian economist at Morgan Stanley in Singapore, as saying that Malaysia might have lost “as much as US$100 billion” (RM340 billion) during the Mahathir years.

Meanwhile, Mahathir’s blog could not be accessed later this afternoon.

Those who visit his blog are brought to a free domain name website CC.CO displaying the message that “www.chedet.co.cc has expired”.

Apparently, the registration of the domain name of chedet.co.cc was not renewed since Dec 12.

However, Mahathir can easily renew the domain name of his blog for free by logging into CC.CO and clicking the renew button.

Round one: the truth surfaces – Let’s have the head rolled, start with the igp

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Rosli Dahlan’s trial kicked off in the Criminal Sessions Court 10 in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, with the cross-examination of the Prosecution’s first witness, MACC officer Azmi Ismail, by Dato’ Kumaraendran.

Azmi testified that Rosli was served a notice to declare his assets although he was not the subject of any investigation. The subject of the investigation was the ex-CCID Director, Ramli Yusuff.

Azmi further testified that Ramli was under investigation because of a report (Report Number 098/2007), which he (Azmi) made against him (Ramli). The basis of the report was information he (Azmi) received through another report that Ramli was involved in corruption.

Azmi admitted that he has no knowledge whatsoever whether Ramli had committed any crime. Nevertheless, he still made the report against Ramli and launched the investigation under instructions from higher up resulting from another report (Report Number O75/2007) made by another officer, Saiful Ezral.

In fact, Saiful’s report (the first report) made no mention of Ramli’s name. Azmi, however, mentioned Ramli in his report (the second report) even though his report was based on another report that made no mention of Ramli.

In Ramli’s trial that was held simultaneously in the Criminal Sessions Court 2, Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, Dato’ Shafie Abdullah, Ramli’s lawyer, cross-examined DPP Kevin Morais who admitted that Report Number 075/2007 lodged by Saiful Ezral was based on a complaint made by an underworld operator named Moo Sai Chin.

It was further revealed that:

1) On 9 September 2006, Musa Hassan became the IGP.

2) On 9 October 2007, Moo was detained under the Emergency Ordinance.

3) On 9 December 2007, Moo’s detention under the Emergency Ordinance was converted to Restricted Residence under RR0 and he was restricted to Tampin, Negeri Sembilan, for one year until December 2007.

4) On 23 January 2007, Moo was released.

Apparently, to secure his release, Moo had cut a deal with the IGP to implicate Ramli in this fabricated charge.

5) On 7 March 2007, the police brought Moo to the ACA office where he gave a statement implicating Ramli. Moo’s statement said that he paid several police officers a bribe to cover up two murder cases.

6) Kevin admitted that Moo’s statement was not sufficient to implicate Ramli because the murders occurred in 2002 whereas since November 2001 Ramli was already posted to Sabah as the Police Commissioner.

7) Kevin further admitted that Moo’s statement implicating Ramli only related to protection money allegedly given in 1999. However, Moo’s allegation was made eight years later on 7 March 2007 — that means only after the IGP had released him from Restricted Residence on 23 January 2007.

This contradicts the whole thing because the notice to Ramli was to declare his assets from 2000-2007 and not for the alleged corruption in 1999.

Kevin actually issued the notice on 17 July 2007. Just a few days later, on 27 July 2007, the New Straits Times ran a ‘leaked’ story about a senior police officer being investigated for not declaring RM27 million in assets. Everything seems to point to Kevin as the source of this leaked story.

Under cross-examination, Kevin admitted that there was bad blood between Ramli and the IGP. The IGP had blocked Ramli’s Pingat Polis award on grounds that he is under investigation, thus unqualified to be the Deputy IGP — and therefore also not suitable to succeed as IGP. Kevin’s testimony seems to point to the real issue — to block Ramli from becoming the next IGP.

Let us see what more gets revealed as the trial continues later today. Thus far, however, what Malaysia Today has said is beginning to unfold. Now do you know why the IGP is looking for me all over the world? He is worried that Malaysia Today will reveal what a slime-ball and scum-bag he really is. Malaysia Today

Program bersama rakyat di Pulau Pinang: Dr Mansor bersama penduduk di Sg Lembu & Program Masyarakat JKKK di Taman Merak

Dr Mansor beramah mesra dengan penduduk Sg Lembu

Program JKKK Taman Merak Bt Kawan

Anwar won Democracy Award for 2008 by IAPC: Anwar inveighs against mob rule

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said democracy must never translate into tyrannical rule by the majority, the “despotism of the majority” that even famous defenders of this form of government had feared it could become.

Speaking at a ceremony in Shah Alam today where he was invested with the Democracy Award for 2008 by the International Association of Political Consultants (IAPC), Anwar said despotism of the majority occurred when governments abuse power and develop dictatorial tendencies on account of numerical strength in legislatures.

In other words, the PKR de facto leader was recommending that voters should not give a two-thirds parliamentary majority to any coalition or party.

“This concentration of power inevitably leads to the abuse of legislative powers,” he theorised.

Past recipients of this IAPC award were Zimbabwe’s fighter for democratic rights Morgan Tsvangerai and Martin Lee of Hong Kong.

IAPC is based in Washington and has over 100 members from North and Latin America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

In inveighing against the despotism that blinkered rule by the majority could lead to, Anwar  clearly had the Umno-dominated Barisan Nasional in his crosshairs.

“The Umno-led ruling coalition, having since the nation’s independence controlled the Federal Parliament with a two-thirds majority, remains unrepentant in their arrogant display of power,” he said.

“Intolerant of criticism, dissent or anything seen as a stumbling block to their vested interests, they ride rough shod over the aspirations of the people by bull-dozing through oppressive laws and the Federal budget,” enumerated Anwar.

Manners and morals

Citing Thomas Jefferson’s warning that democracy was “mob rule” when 51 percent of people take away the rights of 49 percent of an electorate, Anwar said this would not happen if people understood democracy as a concept that influenced the manners and morals of citizens.

He said this happened whenever “men and women who for truth and honor’s sake stand fast and suffer long,” quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson on what made a people great.

Anwar said for democracy to flourish, institutions that guarded its integrity like an independent judiciary, a professional police force and graft-combating agency, and an opposition that holds the powers that be to account, were vital as props.

He said in contrast to the BN government, the Pakatan Rakyat governments in four states have shown that they are willing and able to adhere to democratic norms.

He hailed the PR convention last Saturday and its Common Policy Framework as “unrivalled in its articulation of the coalition’s commitment to constitutional provisions and a reform agenda.”

Terence Netto/Mkini

Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat: Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad , Salahuddin Ayub, Loke Siew Fook

Rakaman Video di Konvensyen pertama Paktan Rakyat: Ustaz Hadi, Lim Guan Eng & penggulungan Anwar Ibrahim

mediarakyat

Rakaman ucapan Zaid & Anwar di Konvensyen Pakatan Rakyat: The era of Pakatan Rakyat – no doubt that Putrajaya was indeed within reach

(Speech by Zaid Ibrahim at Pakatan Rakyat’s inaugural convention)

Ladies and Gentleman,

The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Before today, our three parties took several steps — some steady, some faltering – towards the goal of our collective journey.

Skeptics could never believe that we could attempt the journey at all. They felt we could never be fellow travelers because of our different compasses and differing destinations.

This journey is our long march towards the liberation of our country from the consequences of 52 years of Barisan Nasional’s deviations. Their impact has caused our country to spiral downward in every sector of national life. Everywhere one looks you see the foundational structure and content of our country eaten away by the termites of the BN. Their rule has become a pestilence.

There’s no telling the depths to which this spiral will take us. But there is every reason today to believe that the people are no longer content to be spectators at this chronicle of national decline and ruin. Enough of them have rallied to support our three parties in the effort of national liberation. And today we give them cause to hope that salvation is on hand.

Today we take one decisive, deliberate and historic step to free our country from the consequences of BN misrule. This step is our joint agreement to a Common Policy Framework. This is our compass. This is our guiding light. This is what distinguishes us from our opponents. We must steer by this compass to arrive at our destination – which is no less and no more than the liberation of Malaysia.

We can already hear what our critics say about us. They say we are a one-election wonder, that we are a sand castle that will topple when the next wave of public opinion hits the beach.

The Common Policy Framework is our first response to our critics. Our second response would be when this Common Policy Framework is matched by the deeds of PR governments in states we control. This should see the Pakatan better prepared for not only the 13th general election, but also the one after that and all elections hereinafter.

The Common Policy Framework is our path to the hearts and minds of Malaysians. We want them to back us so that we can check the downward spiral of this nation. We have not only to check, we have to reverse the slide and restore this nation to the fullness of its promises at its founding in 1957 and at its enlargement in 1963.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is of course another version of the narrative of the decline of our nation. This other narrative is the narrative of the BN. This is that they are the only people who can govern this nation. They are the chosen ones. All the rest are pretenders who think they can govern and soon discover that they can’t. Only the BN has the right formula for effective governance. In recent years, perhaps, they have been a little groggy about this formula. That was why they fared badly in the last general election. Now all BN has to do is to clean up their act, change the captain, rebrand their efforts, like trumpeting their 1Malaysia concept, and the coalition will be back to its strength of old.

They think the success of Pakatan Rakyat is temporary. They think this opposition coalition is the handiwork of a single leader, whose devious charm and charisma can hoodwink the Malaysian people for perhaps one or two elections. So if they can tie him up in knots with all sorts of legal suits, or better still, send him away to jail for a long time, then everything will go back to the way it was.

This is the BN narrative. This is their version of reality. It is a classic case of self-delusion. Why so?

This is simply because the BN cannot change. True, it has changed its captain. He is like a magician come to do conjuring tricks at a children’s party. But the biggest trick that he must do is that of his own disappearance. That he has to do but he cannot do. And that is the reason why the BN cannot change.

It has a skipper that must bring about his own disappearance for change to have any meaning. There’s one thing the BN has deeply entrenched in its culture: the art of self-preservation. That culture reigns supreme in the BN. Once a BN leader gains the seat of paramount authority, it will take a political tsunami to dislodge him which was what occurred to Abdullah Badawi.

Therefore, I say, there’s no way BN can change because the person who must initiate change exempts himself from the logic of this change. Hence whatever change he brings will be cosmetic, not substantive. But aided and abetted by a servile mainstream media, a compliant judiciary, and subservient law enforcement agencies, the headman can continue to rule. He can continue to beguile the people that he brings change, that he can cause change to happen.

The whole exercise mistakes the activity for change for the essence of change. They are two different things. If they were the same, the blogger Raja Petra and the private investigator P. Balasubramaniam would not have to seek refuge abroad. If they were the same, Teoh Beng Hock would not have died and Nizar Jamaluddin would still be Menteri Besar of Perak. If they were the same, Kelantan would not have to consider suing the federal government for payment of oil royalties legitimately due to them.

The BN cannot change because change would bring about its destruction. But we must not depend on the expected failure to change of the BN to convince the people that they must put us in power in Putrajaya.

Daily the news about the plunder and waste of this country’s resources gets more and more depressing. The latest revelations put losses suffered by the country under the rule of Dr Mahathir Mohamed at a staggering RM100 billion. Those losses relate to the tangibles. What about the intangible losses such as the deformation of the judiciary, and the erosion of professionalism in the police force and civil service. Daily the consequences of these intangible losses become evident for the people to see. These consequences will arrive at a cumulative point that will see the people say, “Enough is enough. Let’s be rid of this plague.”

Ladies and Gentleman,

This is a game for us to lose. It is only if we lose our nerve, and drop the ball that we will fail. Nothing that our opponents can do to us can make that happen, unless we let them make it happen. So as long as we close our ranks, work together, find middle ground, and communicate with one another, and stay resolute about breaking the spell cast by a half century of BN’s rule, the prize of leadership at the national and state level will be ours for the taking. We do not have to agree on everything and on every subject, but we must learn the rules by which to disagree.

There is another thing that the BN has not woken up to either because they are obstinate to the reality on the ground, or they are so full of arrogance and taksub, not to want to understand it. This is that Malaysia has changed. Our founding fathers struggled to conceive the birth of a new nation, whose communities knew little of each other and could not trust each other. There was a fear that the only way to allow this nation a chance at success was to have a joint venture of communities as the basis of leadership. And it was this that made the Alliance and then Barisan Nasional a success in the past.

That reality no longer holds. Society has become much more complex and has matured through the rakyat’s sharing of common experiences over the last half century. Malaysia has changed. And we know it. No longer do race-based politics built on patronage command support from the people. Such politics only helps to foster hate, selfishness, corruption and greed. All of this was perpetuated in the name of protecting the interests of the many, but in reality was manipulated to feather the nests of a few.

Today, Malaysians continue to respect the fact that we remain a nation of specific communities with a rich diversity of faiths, cultures, languages and traditions. We do not fear this diversity. Indeed we celebrate it. And although we accept that solutions must be found to ensure that disparities between communities must be addressed so that they do not grow to dangerous levels, the constitutional provisions on the special position of Bumiputras, and those relating to language, religion and culture must be protected.

Malaysians now recognize that the type of politics that is needed to lead our country is one that is built on universal values and ideals, premised on the commitment to our faith and spirituality, and not instead on what our identity papers say is our race.

Look at us. Look at your fellow delegates from the other parties. And you will see that it is Pakatan Rakyat and its parties that have a common ideology built on universal values and ideals, built on our faith and spirituality, that has a commitment to protect the Constitution, and all Malaysians so as to lead Malaysia the way Malaysians want to be led.

It is Pas, DAP and PKR who today collectively represent the will and desire of Malaysians. We are different from them. The Malays in Pakatan are not racists, the Chinese in Pakatan are not the taukays of MCA, the Indians in Pakatan are not the gullible Indians of MIC or Makkal Sakkthi. The Dayaks and Kadazans are not the ones that belong to the BN.

We are differerent. In short, if we in Pakatan Rakyat fail, Malaysia will fail. Because we have what it takes to deliver what a changed Malaysia wants and needs. Today marks another step in our journey to make sure that this will be so.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Do not be overly concerned with our frailties and some inconsistencies among us. For those frailties and inconsistencies reflect the true frailties and inconsistencies of Malaysia and its communities. Our society must find its way to manage them, we must be there, at the head of that journey, pointing out the right way, leading by example and showing how it is to be done.

To succeed we will need to accommodate. We will need to help each other and ourselves find the middle ground. We must be willing to be open to new ideas, we must be willing to trust one another, we must be pragmatic, and we must be willing to share. No different than what this country needs to do to succeed.

I am proud to have contributed to the convention and to be standing here today. I want to thank Dato Seri Anwar for giving me the chance to initiate the first draft of the Common Policy Framework. It was the creation of a common policy framework that was the contribution that I had committed to make when I became your colleague. But this success is not mine. It is your success, and those of your leaders and your component parties who worked to make this a reality.

Let’s build on this. Let’s not be distracted. Our journey of many miles begins with this auspicious consensus. Let’s be guided by commonly shared values and ideals premised on the values of the ordinary people of this country so that we can rescue Malaysia from the sorry state it is in today and will continue to be if we do nothing.

We have resolved to do something. The Common Policy Framework is the compass by which we will journey to liberate the country we all love.

Hidup Rakyat! Hidup Pakatan! Hidup Malaysia!

Dr Jomo: ‘Vision 2020 likely to be put back by 10 years’ but S’gor in better position than other states

Malaysia’s vision of becoming a developed nation by the year 2020 will be delayed by 10 years, said the country’s best known economist, Dr KS Jomo.

According to Jomo, who is a senior United Nations official, the average GDP (gross domestic product) growth of 9 percent before the 1997/1998 financial crisis have been slashed to only around 5 percent.

He said private investments in Malaysian has significantly reduced and public spending is now becoming more prominent as the engine of growth.

Jomo, who was a professor of economics in Universiti Malaya before joining the UN in 2005, met with senior Selangor government leaders yesterday to give a private briefing on the global economic crisis and its impact on Malaysia’s most industralised state.

“Also attended the lecture at the State Secretariat building in Shah Alam were Selangor Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, Selangor economic adviser Anwar Ibrahim, members of the state executive council including Teresa Kok and Dr Hasan Ali,” said a statement issued by the MB’s office.

S’gor in better position than other states

Jomo argued that Selangor has an advantage over other states because of its location, existing infrastructure and the fact that it is already the preferred investment destination for many industry players.

He said it was imperative for Selangor to attract high value-added industries and create jobs with decent salary scale.

“He proposed for Selangor to focus on the developing strategies to attract these industries without using too much of the government’s resources,” said the statement.

During the briefing, which involved showing a number of slides, Jomo provided an example of the public-private partnership (PPP) model that benefits both the government and the private investors as one of the way to propel the state forward.

But he cautioned the state against embarking the old PPP model which promotes corruption.

The assistant secretary-general for economic development in United Nations’ Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who is in Malaysia for a visit, also gave a lecture on global economics to a packed hall two weeks ago. /Mkini

Pakatan policy paper outlines economic overhaul

Pakatan Rakyat has pledged to bring sweeping economic reforms to the country by decentralising economic management of the country’s 13 states.

This was among one of the key points to be presented in the Pakatan Rakyat common policy platform which will be unveiled at the coalition’s inaugural annual national convention on Saturday.

Offering a peep into the document, which has been kept tightly under wraps, drafting committee coordinator Saifuddin Nasution said the coalition aims to empower the states to handle their own economy.

” The current framework provides for everything to be planned by the federal government and imposed on the state. We prefer to engage the states,” said Saifuddin when contacted.

This policy is likely to appeal to resource-rich but economically backward states, who can reap greater benefits of having more autonomy.

Spirit of federalism

Saifuddin points out that currently, the federal government does not extend full cooperation with four Pakatan-controlled states.

“We can feel that the spirit of federalism is not being honoured. The very reason why we included it as one of the points in the common policy platform,” he added.

At a macro level, the Penang and Selangor governments have both complained that the Budget 2010 allocations saw the two states being allocated only a tiny fraction of tax revenues collected in the states.

The impoverished Kelantan is still trying to compel the federal government into honouring a 1974 agreement to pay oil royalties to the state government.

At the lower level, some Umno Cabinet ministers have also urged government agencies not to attend state-government functions, activities or meetings as in the case of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Mohd Noh Omar.

Three equal partners?

Meanwhile, Saifuddin said the common policy platform would state the coalition’s position on upholding democracy, spurring the economy, social justice, human justice, needs-based affirmative action and foreign policy.

He said the Pakatan supreme council had endorsed the common policy platform yesterday and promised that the document would be a highly comprehensive alternative to current government policies.

“I’m just doing some a bit of final editing and we will be sending it to the printers today,” he said.

The document will be distributed to 1,500 delegates – 500 from each of the three parties – during the convention that will take place at the Shah Alam City Council auditorium.

Unlike other political parties which revolve around one central figure, all top leaders from the three component parties would be addressing the gathering.

PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is scheduled to deliver the first speech, followed by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang respectively.

The order of speakers also reflects the descending order of seats held by the three parties.

A total of 15 delegates – five from each party – are scheduled to debate the common policy platform before the winding up speeches by the three leaders.

Andrew Ong/Mkini

No stranger to controversies: RM600k ‘wired illegally’ to Rosmah in Dubai

An unidentified individual had allegedly sent RM600,000 through an errant money changer to Rosmah Mansor when the prime minister’s wife was in Dubai in August last year.

According to PKR MP Tian Chua, he has the documents to prove the illegal transaction.

Uncertain what the money was used for, the opposition politician however quipped, “Most probably it was for shopping since she is famous for that.”

Speaking at a press conference in Petaling Jaya this morning, Tian Chua also accused two corporate figures of a similar offence.

He claimed that tycoon Abu Sahid Mohamed sent RM22.2 million to United Kingdom between June and August 2008, through money changer Salamath Ali. This was purportedly for the purchase of properties.

Tian also alleged that businessman Syed Mohammed Syed Nursin had wired RM1.19 million to UK via Salamath Ali also for the purpose of buying properties.

Syed Mohammed is the younger brother of new sugar tycoon, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary.

Tian said he has copies of the show-cause letters sent to the money changers by Bank Negara, asking them to explain the illegal remittance.

Chua: Why no action against VIPs?

Speaking to reporters in Parliament later, Tian Chua reiterated he was disappointed that Bank Negara was only taking action against the money changers and not against individuals who use the illegal channel to transfer funds.

“I am not satisfied… even if they get blacklisted, they can use another name, so that won’t solve the problem. I want to know why no actions were taken against the individuals who have broken the law,” he said.

Last month, Tian Chua had revealed that Negri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohd Hasan could have broken the country’s banking laws by allegedly transferring funds amounting to RM10 million in 2008 through Salamath Ali – one of the errant money changers named today.

Last week, Bank Negara said it had revoked the licences of 41 money changers under the Money-Changing Act 1998. No reasons were given for the decision.

Under section 30 (1)(b) of the Money-Changing Act 1998, any remittance or transfer of funds outside Malaysia through money changes is deemed illegal.

The Act stipulated that money-changers are only allowed to conduct the business of exchanging foreign currencies against ringgit or against other foreign currencies within Malaysia.

Malaysians who want to transfer money abroad must use the services offered by commercial banking institutions or the 45 non-bank remittance service providers approved by Bank Negara.

No stranger to controversies

Both Rosmah and her husband, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, have been dogged by the on-going controversy involving the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu three years ago.

More recently, both were accused of using a family member to intimate private investigator P Balasubramaniam to alter his statutory declaration which alleged that Najib had close ties with the murdered woman.

Both husband and wife have brushed aside the allegations that Najib’s younger brother Mohamed Nazim had coerced Balasubramaniam to hush up.

Last month, Rosmah received a RM7 million ‘reward’ from a Saudi prince after she found a precious box belonging to him in a cruise boat carrying Najib and his family while on holiday in the south of France in August.

According to Rosmah, RM3.5 million of the “reward” would be handed over to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia to carry out the Permata Smart School programme, while RM2.98 million would be kept in a Bakti special fund to help finance medical treatment for needy women and children with chronic diseases.

Lee Weng Keat/Mkini

Umno the People’s Champion?

Speaking at the third Umno Veteran Council general assembly, Muhyiddin Yassin has announced the impending launch of an ‘Umno the People’s Champion’ campaign “for Umno to get closer to the people”. A proposition that has me wondering how much more up close and personal the people can bear to let Umno get.

After all, this is the party that had its hands in the people’s pockets, its police at the people’s throats and its media pulling the wool over the people’s eyes for two generations or more. So I fancy that most Malaysians with half a brain would prefer Umno to get lost rather than creep even closer to them.

Umno the People’s Champion?

Certainly Umno’s the champ at treating the people like chumps. As we’ve been reminded recently, the Umno/BN regime has cheated the rakyat to the tune of somewhere between RM100 billion and US$100 billion over the past 20 years, depending whether you accept the arithmetic of former Asian Wall Street Journal editor Barry Wain or Morgan Stanley economist Daniel Lian.

And if you’re unwilling to take either foreigners’ word on Umno’s record of robbery and jobbery, read the recent speech to the Young Corporate Malaysians Summit in which party veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah rightly said that Malaysia’s oil wealth, instead of being invested in taking the country to “a more diverse economy based on high income jobs” has been “squandered by the government”.

Besides greasing its palms with the nation’s oil revenue, the Umno-led BN government has also championed a champagne lifestyle for the chosen few by taking the people for chumps in every other sector of the economy.

The list of financial scams and scandals by Umno ministers, members, cronies and supporters is far too long, and my memory far too imperfect, to try and recall them all here. In fact, as I and many others have said before, it’s high time a public-spirited individual or organisation compiled them all in a website for the people to visit and see what “champions” Umno really are.

Meanwhile, Umno’s reigning champion of champions, Prime Minister Najib Razak is champing at the bit to woo supporters back to the party and investors back to Malaysia, and in the process once more proving that he’s the champion of the unconscious faux pas.

According to a Reuters report by Razak Ahmad and David Chance, Najib recently floated the possibility of opening membership of BN parties to people of all races, adding that “I think anything is possible because I don’t think anything is a sacred cow within Barisan Nasional”.

A comment that inevitably evokes memories of the notorious ‘cow’s head’ protest against an Indian temple in Shah Alam that was permitted by the police and excused at the time by Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Which bring us to the fact that, unrivalled champion as it is in stealing and squandering the people’s prosperity, Umno’s even more of a champ at cheating the chumps of their constitutional and legal rights.

As you’ll no doubt recall, Hishammuddin excused the cow’s head protestors with the statement that “In this day and age, protests should be accepted in this world as people want their voices to be heard. If we don’t give them room to voice their opinions, they have no choice but to protest”.

On the same day, however, he sanctioned the arrest of a group of Hindraf supporters who held a peaceful candlelight protest, and declared that he would “not hesitate to fill the Kamunting Detention Centre to the brim if there are people out there who are a threat to national security”.

Umno the People’s Champion?

Champion at threatening people with arrest and detention without trial under the Internal Security Act, no doubt. And champion at hiding its crimes from the people by indiscriminate and indefensible use of the Official Secrets Act.

Champion too, and still more disgracefully, at corrupting and subborning the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the judiciary to ensure that crimes committed by Umno/BN members, cronies and the “law-enforcement” agencies themselves go uninvestigated, untried and therefore unpunished.

And perhaps most damaging of all, champs at treating the people like the ultimate chumps by ensuring that the media on which they rely for their news report only what Umno dictates.

What economic and political reforms?

Yet, to hark back to the Reuters report in which he was quoted as making his ridiculous “sacred cow” remark, Najib Razak keeps promising to “accelerate economic and political reforms”.

What economic and political reforms is he talking about? The token reduction in bumiputera equity required for projects by foreign companies? The selective prosecution of a few suspects in the Port Klang Free Zone scandal? The charge of one single, solitary constable for “causing hurt” in just one of countless cases of suspicious death in police custody?

What happened to allegations of corruption against former trade minister and ‘AP Queen’, Rafidah Aziz? When is S Samy Vellu going to be called to account for the Maika Holdings and Telekom shares affairs? How long do the people have to wait for Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and dozens, if not hundreds, of others with assets far beyond their legitimate incomes to be audited, investigated and charged with corruption?

When are the police, MACC and judiciary going to be brought to book for their crimes and derelictions of duty and forced to revert to serving the people?

Umno the People’s Champion?

Of all this gruesome regime’s outrageous perjuries, this has to be the most pathetic I’ve ever heard. I can’t for the life of me imagine why they’ll think Malaysians will buy it. Unless they’ve been such champs at cheating Malaysia for so long that they’ve come to see the people as not just a bunch of compliant chumps, but their personal performing chimps.

Dean Johns/Mkini

Unpopular GST bill tabled for first reading -Apa kata jika cukai & pinjaman kereta dikurangkan setengah? Itu sepatutnya dilakukan!!

The heavily criticised Goods and Services Tax Bill 2009 was tabled today for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat.

The second and third reading will be done when Parliament convenes for its new session, scheduled to begin in March next year.

The government intends to implement the GST in the middle of 2011, giving ample time for all parties to prepare for its implementation.

Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Mohamed Hanadzlah said last month that the GST has been set at 4 percent - lower than the current sales tax and services tax (SST) rates.

Under the proposal, certain essential goods will be exempted from GST in order to avoid burdening the people, especially those who are poor and in the lower-income group.

The items include agricultural products (padi, vegetables), basic food (rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil), and fish, meat and chicken.

However, the opposition has criticised the GST as ‘punishing the poor’ as everyone will have to pay an additional tax on all goods and services. There is also the fear that the tax will be increased in the coming years.

At a press conference in the Parliament lobby, Ahmad Husni dismissed the suggestion that the government’s move will lead to inflation as the government has carried out a “very comprehensive study” from various aspects.

“We looked at the tax burden, which is 4 percent under the GST… at the same time, we did a study based on the position in terms of region, where we found it is much lower compared to (previous) SST and (we did) a study based on the household expenditure.

“We found that there will be lots of savings as GST will be lower than the system of SST…The overall savings will range between RM14.52 to RM346.92 per year.”

Savings in other sectors

There will also be savings for those in the commercial and export sectors, as well, while tourism will get a boost, said Ahmad Husni.

The business sector can expect RM4 billion in savings because it will no longer have to pay tax on some professional services. Exporters, meanwhile, will save RM1.4 billion.

“We will benefit more from the GST, which is a modern tax system (that is) more efficient, more transparent,” said Ahmad Husni.

He reiterated that its implementation will work out to be a win-win situation for both consumers and the business sector.

Despite the savings for both consumers and businesses, the government expects an additional RM1 billion revenue annually after the first year of its introduction.

The current sales tax is projected to raise RM7.8 billion in 2010 out of a total RM148 billion in revenues, according to government data.

The tax is aimed at reducing the government’s dependence on revenues from state oil giant Petronas which accounts for over 40 percent of revenue.

The country’s budget deficit will hit 7.4 percent of gross domestic product this year, with the government also pledging to bring down the deficit to 5.6 percent of GDP in 2010 by reducing subsidy bills for fuel and goods.

Malaysia currently has just 2.3 million people and companies paying income tax out of a population of 28 million.

Rahmah Ghazali/Mkini

Tok Guru Nik Aziz tokoh berpotensi jadi PM: Mind games by an old master

At 78 and now suffering heart problems, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is the subject of widespread speculation as to when he will step down as menteri besar, as well as the identity of his successor.

While he has remained vague over both, his son Nik Abdul broached one subject in a blog-entry, in which he urged certain quarters not to stop his father from leaving office.

Interviewed recently at his office in Kota Bharu, Nik Aziz said he is still capable of fulfilling his duties and that there is no need as yet for him to name a successor.

“(My health) is all right. If I stand for too long, I get tired. Doctors have told me not to (go on the ground) if I am tired. I’m old, and the ‘battery’ in my heart is weakening.

“Other than taking medicine, I pray (for good health). Even the Chinese are praying for me. When they see me, they tell me Jangan mati lagi, (don’t die yet), Tok Guru,” he said with a laugh.

“Even the Chinese are forbidding me from dying. They are more willing to listen to me than to the people from Umno.”

Asked how his successor will be chosen, he said that one of the three deputy PAS state commissioners are likely to succeed him based on the hierarchy in the state and the party.

“It is ‘automatic’ according to party methodology. It is a form of preparation. We must have an umbrella ready before it rains,” said Nik Aziz, who has headed the Kelantan administration since 1990.

Pressed further, he revealed that state executive councillor Ahmad Yakob is the front runner, by virtue of being the most senior of the trio.

“Ahmad is the first layer. Whether or not he is accepted by the people, that is up to God. But he is deputy menteri besar. A lot of my duties have been delegated to him.”

The other two are Nik Amar Abdullah and Husam Musa. The latter is widely deemed to be Nik Aziz’s protégé, although he has not received such endorsement.

Little is known about Ahmad, who like many Kelantan assemblypersons, shies away from the national political limelight. A religious scholar and long-serving state lawmaker, he is the Pekan Pasir state assemblyperson.

However, Nik Amar has publicly endorsed Ahmad, as he wants Nik Aziz to name a successor quickly to prevent the likelihood of a power struggle in PAS.

Willingness to lead Pakatan

Whatever the murmurings among the grassroots, the question as to whether Nik Aziz should stay or go may be overtaken by another development.

PKR politician Zaid Ibrahim, who is spearheading a move to register Pakatan Rakyat as a coalition, has suggested that it be chaired by Nik Aziz.

Nik Aziz said he is open to the idea, when asked if he would accept such an appointment.

“I am the spiritual leader elected by the PAS central committee. What is wrong with being the spiritual leader of Pakatan? If you want to listen to me, thank you. If not, then I’m sorry.

“It is not a burden. It will increase my following. I would be happier leading open-minded Chinese than narrow-minded Malays,” he said with a smile.

However, he instantly brushed aside any idea that PAS would compromise on its goals, such as the implementation of hudud law and establishing an Islamic state.

These policies have been formulated on PAS’ religious obligations, he said, and therefore cannot be compromised.

He also insisted that these policies have been generally misunderstood, and invited his Pakatan colleagues to clarify the matter with PAS.

“There is no need (to quarrel). Say what you want, but listen to our reply. Don’t make accusations and (then) when I reply, you don’t listen. Tak boleh! (This won’t do). Islam means you should ask questions. If you don’t understand (our policies), ask,” he added.

Pakatan will hold its first national convention this weekend in Shah Alam, where thorny issues such as PAS’ goal of a theocratic state are expected to be thrashed out.

Andrew Ong & Jimadie Othman/Mkini

Forum Perdana Maal Hijrah bersama Ustaz Ismail Kamus & Badrul Amin

Tempat: Dewan Chung Kuang, Sungai Bakap, Seberang Prai (Selatan) – berhadapan Masjid Baru Sg Bakap
Masa: 9.00 Malam

Tarikh: 25 Dis 2009

Ahli Panel:
1. Ustaz Ismail bin Kamus
2. Ustaz Dr Badrul Amin bin Baharom
3. Ustaz Mahizam bin Md Lazim
Pengerusi Forum: Ustaz Anuar bin Hussain

HIJRAH MEMBENTUK PERIBADI UMMAH

Anjuran:
Surau Tmn Murai Jaya, Simpang Ampat, SPS
JKKK Simpang Ampat, SPS
dengan kerjasama:
MMK Pembangunan Luar Bandar
Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang

Semua Muslimin & Muslimat Di Jemput Hadir

Malaysiakini on the carpet merchant’s trail: The shameless face of deepak’s secretary, miss wong & his mother

Muka sial miss wong yang bawa keluarga Bala ke Pusat immigesen Damansara & emak deepak dalam video:

Flashback to the 2nd day of interview with Bala:

Q 37. What did you do once you had been dropped off at the Hilton Hotel? (Apakah yang kamu buat sesampai di Hotel Hilton?)

A. I went back to the room and knocked on the door. Deepak and ASP Suresh were there. I waited in the room while Deepak was making phone calls to a Ms. Wong who I think was his secretary. She was apparently with my wife and children at the Pusat Damansara immigration centre helping my wife with the passport applications and renewal. During this period Deepak gave me RM20,000.00 in Hong Kong dollars for my expenditure. He told me he had arranged a tourist van to drive me and my family to Singapore where we were to catch a flight to Bangkok. (Saya kembali ke bilik hotel & mengetuk pintu. Deepak & ASP Suresh telah berada di sana. Saya menunggu dalam bilik sementara Deepak memanggil Ms Wong, saya fikir adalah setiausaha beliau. Dia sebenarnya telah bersama isteri & anak saya di immigesen untuk memohon & memperbaharui paspot mereka. Pada masa itu, Deepak memberi saya RM20,000 dalam wang Hong Kong dollar untuk perbelanjaan saya. Dia memberitahu saya dia akan mengatur van pelancong untuk membawa saya & keluarga ke Singapora di mana kami akan terbang ke Bangkok)

Q 38. What time did you leave the Hilton Hotel? (Pukul berapakah kamu meninggalkan Hotel Hilton?)

A. At about 1.00 pm Deepak received a phone call from Ms. Wong informing him the passports had all been done and so I left the Hilton Hotel in the van with an Indian driver. This van then drove me to the Pusat Damansara immigration centre. The driver was talking to Ms. Wong during the journey and was receiving instructions where to meet my wife and children. When we arrived at the Pusat Damansara immigration centre, I met my wife and children and we loaded all the luggage into the van and proceeded on our journey to Singapore. (Kira-kira jam 1.00 tengahari Deepak menerima panggilan dari Ms Wong memberitahu beliau passpot kami telah siap & kemudian saya beredar dari Hotel Hilton menaiki sebuah van yang dipandu oleh pemandu Indian. Van ini kemudiannya membawa saya ke Pusat immigesen Damansara. Pemandu itu berbual dengan Ms Wong & menerima arahan dari Ms Wong untuk ke lokasi di mana keluarga saya berada. Sesampai di Pusat immigesen Damansara, saya berjumpa dengan isteri & anak-anak saya & memunggah bagasi ke dalam van & terus bertolak ke Singapora )

On Video Berlusconi bloodied by hit to face: PM Italy kena serang hingga muka berdarah, PM Msia baru kena Bala, dah kecut telur

PM Msia baru kena Bala sudah kecut telur:

Emel & telepon pun sudah, ke mana hilangnya telur2 nazim, najib Altantuya, deepak & macc?: Tawaran dari peguam Bala kepada macc, Bala sedia bantu dalam siasatan

Berlusconi bloodied by hit to face

MILAN, Dec 14 — Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi was taken to hospital with blood smeared over his face after a man hurled a small model of Milan cathedral at him at a political rally, police said today.

Television footage showed the premier with blood splattered over his lips, teeth and chin being bundled into a car by aides and rushed away, minutes after finishing a lively speech to thousands of flag-waving supporters in a central Milan square.

Initial X-rays showed a loss of blood and injuries to two teeth but the 73-year-old prime minister and media mogul said “I’m fine, I’m fine” when he was moved to a hospital room in the northern city, Ansa news agency said.

A 42-year-old man was detained for throwing a small model of Milan cathedral at Berlusconi from close range, police said. The man has been undergoing treatment for mental problems for the past 10 years, Ansa said.

Berlusconi’s allies were quick to say the incident was the result of a campaign of “hatred” by his leftist opponents. He has faced growing criticism in recent months amid mounting legal troubles and scandals over his private life.

“What they’ve done to Berlusconi is an act of terrorism,” Umberto Bossi, head of the far-right Northern League and a close Berlusconi ally, told Ansa.

Condemnation of the act poured in from allies and critics alike. It has been a bruising political year for Berlusconi, who launched a tirade against the left in his Milan speech, a characteristically defiant performance aimed at regaining political momentum.

After a summer battling sex scandals, Berlusconi has come under pressure from mounting legal troubles and a widening rift with his main ally Gianfranco Fini, the lower house speaker who in private remarks has accused the premier of acting like an “absolute monarch”.

Stripped of immunity from prosecution, Berlusconi faces several trials, including one on charges of bribery and corruption and another on charges of tax fraud.

An opinion poll published on Saturday showed the prime minister’s popularity had fallen four percentage points to just over 50 per cent as Italians fretted that his legal entanglements could distract him from government duties.

He denies any wrongdoing and says legal allegations against him are part of a campaign by biased courts and “communist” magistrates to bring down his government. — Reuters/MI

Emel & telepon pun sudah, ke mana hilangnya telur2 nazim, najib Altantuya, deepak & macc?: Tawaran dari peguam Bala kepada macc, Bala sedia bantu dalam siasatan

Dalam satu emel terbaru kepada macc, peguam yang sah mewakili Bala, En Americk Sidhu telah menawarkan kerjasama beliau & Bala untuk membantu macc dalam siasatan kes ugutan terhadap Bala. Peguam tersebut juga telah berhubung dengan macc melalui satu panggilan telepon pada 8hb Dis 09 & sedang menunggu maklum balas selanjutnya dari pegawai macc yang bernama  Abdul Rahman.

Pada 4 Dis 09, En Americk telah menghantar satu emel kepada Abdul Rahman menyatakan kesediaan anak guamannya untuk ditemubual oleh macc ekoran daripada laporan kepada macc yang dibuat oleh ketua AMK, En Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin.

Memandangkan isu keselamatan yang dihadapi oleh Bala, En Americk telah meminta supaya temubual itu diadakan di Singapora ataupun London pada suatu tarikh & masa yang dipersetujui bersama oleh kedua-dua pihak & akan dirakamkan oleh pihak beliau.

Sehingga ke hari ini pihak macc masih bisu seribu bahasa sungguhpun mereka telah memiliki nombor telepon bimbit En Americk. Ini berkemungkinan besar macc telah kecut telur setelah najib Altantuya, adiknya nazim serta deepak juga kecut telur apabila cuba menggelakkan diri  daripada wartawan Malaysiakini & enggan memberi sebarang ulasan lanjut tentang kes ini.

==============================

Emel yang dihantar kepada macc pada 10hb Dis 09:

Dear En. Abdul Rahman,

Further to my email of the 4 December 2009, and to the subsequent telephone conversation between us on the 8 December 2009, I would be most obliged to receive a response to my offer of assistance in arranging an interview with my client Mr.P. Balasubramaniam.

As you obviously have my mobile number, please feel free to contact me at any time to make the necessary arrangements.

Yours sincerely,

==============================

Untuk diedarkan tanpa was-was

ckchew

Rakaman video: Menteri kena tempelak kerana mempertahankan subsidi untuk IPP

Kerajaan bn memang bodoh, TNB kena beli elektrik dengan harga tinggi dari IPP tetapi terpaksa jual kepada pengguna dengan harga yang rendah. Tidakkah ini tindakan membebankan TNB & tidak masuk akal?

YTL di UK tidak dapat keuntungan sebesar di sini!!!, macamana kerajaan bn tak bodoh??? Ingat lagi bagaimana Ani Arope dipecat oleh mamak kutty akibat daripada tidak mempersetujui kontrak dengan IPP yang dipaksa oleh mamak kutty terhadap TNB. La ni mereka nak menuduh orang lain pula?

Menteri bodoh sekarang hendak menaikkan tariff elektrik. Rakyat juga yang kena menanggung beban hasil daripada tindakan bodoh menteri & kerajaan bn.

jiwokelate2009

2010 S Africa World Cup Soccer fixtures by dates

Friday, 11 June 2010

South Africa v Mexico, Gp A, 15:00

Uruguay v France, Gp A, 19:30

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Saturday, 12 June 2010

Argentina v Nigeria, Gp B, 15:00

England v USA, Gp C, 19:30

South Korea v Greece, Gp B, 12:30

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Sunday, 13 June 2010

Algeria v Slovenia, Gp C, 12:30

Germany v Australia, Gp D, 19:30

Serbia v Ghana, Gp D, 15:00

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Monday, 14 June 2010

Italy v Paraguay, Gp F, 19:30

Japan v Cameroon, Gp E, 15:00

Netherlands v Denmark, Gp E, 12:30

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Tuesday, 15 June 2010

Brazil v North Korea, Gp G, 19:30

Ivory Coast v Portugal, Gp G, 15:00

New Zealand v Slovakia, Gp F, 12:30

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Wednesday, 16 June 2010

Honduras v Chile, Gp H, 12:30

South Africa v Uruguay, Gp A, 19:30

Spain v Switzerland, Gp H, 15:00

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Thursday, 17 June 2010

Argentina v South Korea, Gp B, 12:30

France v Mexico, Gp A, 19:30

Greece v Nigeria, Gp B, 15:00

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Friday, 18 June 2010

England v Algeria, Gp C, 19:30

Germany v Serbia, Gp D, 12:30

Slovenia v USA, Gp C, 15:00

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Saturday, 19 June 2010

Cameroon v Denmark, Gp E, 19:30

Ghana v Australia, Gp D, 15:00

Netherlands v Japan, Gp E, 12:30

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Sunday, 20 June 2010

Brazil v Ivory Coast, Gp G, 19:30

Italy v New Zealand, Gp F, 15:00

Slovakia v Paraguay, Gp F, 12:30

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Monday, 21 June 2010

Chile v Switzerland, Gp H, 15:00

Portugal v North Korea, Gp G, 12:30

Spain v Honduras, Gp H, 19:30

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Tuesday, 22 June 2010

France v South Africa, Gp A, 15:00

Greece v Argentina, Gp B, 19:30

Mexico v Uruguay, Gp A, 15:00

Nigeria v South Korea, Gp B, 19:30

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Wednesday, 23 June 2010

Australia v Serbia, Gp D, 19:30

Ghana v Germany, Gp D, 19:30

Slovenia v England, Gp C, 15:00

USA v Algeria, Gp C, 15:00

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Thursday, 24 June 2010

Cameroon v Netherlands, Gp E, 19:30

Denmark v Japan, Gp E, 19:30

Paraguay v New Zealand, Gp F, 15:00

Slovakia v Italy, Gp F, 15:00

---

Friday, 25 June 2010

Chile v Spain, Gp H, 19:30

North Korea v Ivory Coast, Gp G, 15:00

Portugal v Brazil, Gp G, 15:00

Switzerland v Honduras, Gp H, 19:30

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Saturday, 26 June 2010

Winner Gp A v Runner-up Gp B, 16R, 15:00

Winner Gp C v Runner-up Gp D, 16R, 19:30

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Sunday, 27 June 2010

Winner Gp B v Runner-up Gp A, 16R, 19:30

Winner Gp D v Runner-up Gp C, 16R, 15:00

---

Monday, 28 June 2010

Winner Gp E v Runner-up Gp F, 16R, 15:00

Winner Gp G v Runner-up Gp H, 16R, 19:30

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Tuesday, 29 June 2010

Winner Gp F v Runner-up Gp E, 16R, 15:00

Winner Gp H v Runner-up Gp G, 16R, 19:30

---

Friday, 2 July 2010

Wnr Gp A/R-Up Gp B v Wnr Gp C/R-Up Gp D, QF, 19:30

Wnr Gp E/R-Up Gp F v Wnr Gp G/R-Up Gp H, QF, 15:00

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Saturday, 3 July 2010

Wnr Gp B/R-Up Gp A v Wnr Gp D/R-Up Gp C, QF, 15:00

Wnr Gp F/R-Up Gp E v Wnr Gp H/R-Up Gp G, QF, 19:30

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Tuesday, 6 July 2010

Winner Q/F 1 v Winner Q/F 3, SF, 19:30

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Wednesday, 7 July 2010

Winner Q/F 2 v Winner Q/F 4, SF, 19:30

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Saturday, 10 July 2010

Loser SF1 v Loser SF2, F, 19:30

---

Sunday, 11 July 2010

Winners SF1 v Winners SF2, F, 19:30

Nazri lashes out that Malay supremacy advocates: what say u, umno leaders & the cow head demonstrators?

Premier Najib Abdul Razak concept of 1Malaysia does not subscribe to Malay supremacy which is feudalistic in nature and not inline with uniting all the races as Malaysians.

This is the clear message from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz  to extremists who keep harping on the community’s supremacy for political mileage and self interest.

He said this when asked by Malaysiakini to comment on the current trend of some organisations and groups to play on the Malay supremacy theme, stirring up uneasiness, tension and fear among the other races.

This cry for blood intensified when DAP Ipoh Barat MP M Kulasegaran described Malay supremacy and the New Economic Policy at a recent parliamentary sitting as drawbacks that went against the concept of uniting the various races under the banner of the 1Malaysia concept.

This sparked an emotional chain-reaction among various groups and organisations that lodged several police reports against Kula for questioning the special rights of Malays (read as Malay supremacy) and some even called for the revoking of his citizenship and deporting him to India.

Responding to this, Nazri said “It is their personal right to lodge such police reports but at the end of the day, this move will only be a setback for the 1Malaysia concept.

Pulling together better than splitting apart

“Come on! we are now living in 2010 and I do not subscribe to the Malay supremacy which does not encourage unity in diversity,” he told Malaysiakini after launching a new bus service from Kuala Kangsar to Ipoh at the Kuala Kangsar Taxi stand this morning.

“It is ridiculous to harp on such a issue which is only regressive to the 1Malaysia concept. To me it is only the 1Malaysia concept that matters and nothing else,” said the Umno politician who does not mince his words when commenting on sensitive issues.

“We should not split the 1Malaysia concept with statements as either Malay supremacy or Indian supremacy or Chinese supremacy.”

Instead we should pool the positive aspects and business experiences of the Indian and Chinese communities to bring greater prosperity to the economy of our country, the Padang Rengas MP added.

The Minster in charge of Parliamentary affairs said it is common for each race in the country to fight for the rights of their individual community but at the end of the day they must unite as IMalaysia for the betterment of the nation.

On another matter, Nazri said the government’s decision on the ban of school buses over 20 years old will depend on the feedback from Puspakom on the roadworthiness of such vehicles.

“We have nothing against such vehicles as long as they are considered as road worthy by Puspakom.”

He was responding to a news report that quoted the Federation of Malaysian School Bus Operators Association president Chee Ah Tay as saying that such a ban early next year will inconvenience many school going children nationwide who commute on school buses.
Chee said the move should only be introduced in stages to reduce the hardships of bus owners as new buses cost about RM60,000.

On another matter, the call by a taxi association asking for Nazri to resign from his ministry post for stating that taxis are like toilets, Nazri said “They have shortcomings in their services which should be addressed in a positive manner instead of seeking cheap publicity through the press.”

As for the racist feud between him and former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad , he said the matter is closed now as requested by Najib.

Humayun Kabir/Mkini

MKini on a mission to track deepak, dinesh (manage to catch the mother instead) & nazim razak: I’ve nothing to say – No action will be taken against you!!! So, Fellow Malaysian, you know what to do if you happened to break the law

After a series of unsuccessful attempts to get in touch with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s brother over the allegations raised by private investigator P Balasubramaniam, Malaysiakini had a little dose of luck this afternoon.

Our journalists bumped into Nazim  at Masjid Negara in Kuala Lumpur, where he had gone to attend the Friday prayers.

The architect was visiting the grave of his father, second prime minister Abdul Razak, when approached.

Just like his elder brother who dismissed the serious allegations with two words ‘frivolous statements’, a startled-looking Nazim also offered a curt response.

When asked to comment on Balasubramaniam’s allegation that he had met the second youngest of the five Razak brothers at a shopping mall in Petaling Jaya, Nazim replied with a stern “I have nothing to say” before walking away.

Malaysiakini had two weeks ago sent a list of questions to Nazim’s office but did not receive any response. Repeated attempts to call him and visit his office also proved futile.

‘Threatened and offered RM5 million’

In video interviews that surfaced last month, the private investigator, who has since fled the country with his family, also claimed that Nazim had threatened him and then offered him RM5 million to retract his statutory declaration pertaining to slain Mongolian national Altantunya Shaariibuu.

According to Balasubramiam, the duo met on the night before the private investigator inked his second statutory declaration which cleared Najib of having close ties with the murdered woman.

He also claimed that carpet merchant Deepak Jaikishen and Nazim’s wife, a former television personality, were present during the brief meeting at The Curve in Mutiara Damasara.

In his first statutory declaration unveiled less than 24 hours earlier during a press conference with Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, Balasubramaniam sent shockwaves through the nation when he claimed that Najib had sexual liaisons with the deceased former model.

Najib has repeatedly stressed that he has no connections with Altantunya or her death.

On the carpet merchant’s trail

Yesterday, Malaysiakini went on a mission to track down the elusive Deepak, who is described as a dashing lad and said to be close to Rosmah.

During a visit to his office in Jalan Chan Sow Lin 6 in Sungai Besi, an employee who identified herself as ‘Miss Wong’ said that her boss was not in and told the journalist to leave.

The latter was then escorted out of the building.

Following this, Malaysiakini went to Deepak’s carpet shop along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman and managed to meet the businessman’s mother, who introduced herself as ‘Mrs Jai’.

After explaining to ‘Mrs Jai’ the reason behind the visit, the woman proceeded to make several telephone calls.

In a guarded tone, she then told Malaysiakini that both her sons Deepak and Dinesh, who was also implicated by Balasubramaniam, were not in the country.

She also refused to divulge her sons’ mobile phone numbers.

Apart from this, ‘Mrs Jai’ said she also does not know if Deepak or Dinesh share close ties with Rosmah.

“I have never met her,” she said when asked if the prime minister’s wife had visited their shop.

Hafiz Yatim & Salhan K Ahmad/Mkini

Let the people decide, says law academics: what had happened in Perak is a “coup d’état at both the executive and legislative branches level”.

Fresh elections should be held in Perak and the state assembly dissolved to pave way for a credible state government said law academics during a public forum entitled ‘Whither the Constitution? Lessons to be learnt from the Perak crisis’.

Renowned law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi said this would be one of the best options to resolve the political impasse in Perak.

“Let us go back and let the people decide,” said Shad.

He opined that Barisan Nasional’s capture of Perak outside the electoral process won them political gain but at a very heavy price.

That price, he said was the public’s significant loss of faith in many constitutional and legal institutions including the royalty, the courts, police and Perak civil servants.

He also said that Sultan Azlan Shah’s decision not to dissolve the state assembly was “morally questionable, politically controversial but legally it had some basis”.

“In 2008, the Pakatan government holds a 31-28 plurality but in 2009, the Sultan might have thought it was a reversal, with BN holding a 31-28 plurality. “

‘All about numbers’

Shad said that sadly politics in parliamentary democracies were not about morality but “about numbers”.

“I am sad PKR has lost the numbers to hoppers,” he noted.

Relying on Perak constitution Article 63 to 64, Shad said the sultan could have referred the following matters to the Federal Court:

• The legality of the open dated resignation letters (of the three state assemblypersons who choose to be independent),
• The conflicting views of the Speaker and,
• The function and viability of elections.

“I am sure the Federal Court would not have delayed it by weeks or months. They would have given him the decision within a few days,” he opined.

Alternatively, Shad said the sultan  could have asked the three party-hoppers to face the assembly and prove their support on the floor. This, he said, “would have saved the sultan from any suspicion of bias or partisanship”.

Not treason to challenge sultan

Shad also remarked that challenging the constitutionality of the sultan’s decision is not treason as these are matters of politics.

He said that from the start, the official actions of the Agong and sultans have been open to challenge in courts.

“There was no question of any treason,” he said.

He cited the example of Kalong Ningkan challenging the dismissal of the governor, Tay Chen Poh for protesting an emergency proclamation by the Agong.

Noted lawyer and DAP parliamentarian Karpal Singh had also at one time sued the Sultan of Kelantan in relation to a pardon case.

Concurring with Shad, lawyer and constitutional law expert Tommy Thomas described what had happened in Perak as a “coup d’état at both the executive and legislative branches level”.

“At the executive, without going through the ballot box, there was a change of government.

“As for the legislature, without complying with the terms of the Perak state constitution, the speaker was forcibly and violently removed.

“In the fifty year history of parliamentary democracy in Malaysia’s constitutional monarchy, the grab for power in Perak was of the worst kind,” he said.

He stressed that the solution would be to dissolve the assembly and allow the people of Perak to elect their own government.

“Until that happens, there is going to be bitterness within the Nizar administration and the people of Perak who have been cheated and betrayed,” he said.

Singaporean law professor Kevin Tan was present to lend support although he could not be part of the forum panel.

He was barred from speaking at the eleventh hour after the police rejected his application for a permit.

The forum was organised by Merdeka Review at the MBPJ civic centre auditorium on Wednesday night.Ousted Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin was also present.

Yip Ai Tsin/Mkini

Nizar decries delayed justice: “various inconsistencies” point to “hidden hands” influencing decisions made about his case.

Ousted Perak menteri besar Nizar Jamaluddin bemoaned the state of the judiciary after the Federal Court delayed its decision and denied him the maximum panel of judges for his lawsuit.

An upset Nizar said: “After six and a half months, a decision has yet to be made.”

He added that the “deliberate” delay of a decision of his status as the rightful menteri besar is cause for speculation.

He alleged that “various inconsistencies” point to “hidden hands” influencing decisions made about his case.

“I would like to see a rule of law being implemented in this state and in this country but I realise that it is not happening,” he said.

He also said that the courts should be “seen to be fair and just” in dispensing justice.

On the denial of his request for an enlarged panel of 11 judges, Nizar said: “If the same court could accord a panel of seven judges for a drug trafficking case, this case should be given due consideration with a much bigger number of judges.”

Nizar said that he had requested for additional judges, and not to recuse the judges already assigned to the case.

Nizar was speaking to reporters and the public at a forum entitled ‘Whither the Constitution? Lessons to be learnt from the Perak crisis’ organised by Merdeka Review at the MBPJ civic centre auditorium on Wednesday night.

Law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi, constitution law expert Tommy Thomas, Singaporean law professor Kevin Tan and Bar council representative Andrew Khoo were also present.

‘Sultan commanded me to vacate post’

He also criticised Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, who rejected his request to dissolve the state assembly and call for fresh state elections.

In a meeting, Nizar said the Perak sultan had brought about Pakatan losing the majority in the state.

Nizar said he had told the sultan “when the prime minister approaches the Agong to seek his consent for the dissolution of the parliament, the Agong would not withhold his consent.”

On that count, Nizar says that the Agong’s role is purely formal.

Not long after his discussion with the sultan, Nizar received a command from him that he vacate his post as chief minister.

“But I have this trust and responsibility to uphold the integrity and trust that was given to me and Parti Keadilan Rakyat by the people,” said Nizar.

Yip Ai Tsin/Mkini