Suaris Interview:  The Future of Malays Part 4

by Bakri Musa

It is said that Malays are at a crossroad. This is particularly so with the upcoming General Election 13 where the choice is between feudalism and liberalism. To what extent do you agree with that viewpoint?

[The original in Malay appeared in suaris.wordpress.com on February 6, 2013.]

MBM:  I agree that we Malays are at a critical juncture. Our choice is between continuing on the present path that has led us to where we are today, with our minds still trapped, or make a sharp turn towards liberating them. Remember that the path to the dumpsite is the one well-trodden.

            I do not agree that the forthcoming election (GE 13) will be a choice between liberalism and feudalism, as I understand both terms. Instead it will be between a party that has grown old, tired, and bankrupt of ideas versus another that is young, vigorous, and full of fresh talent.

            As an aside, “liberalism” to me means a system that treats every human as having certain inalienable rights or freedoms granted unto him (or her) by Almighty Allah, among them, the freedom of thought, to choose our leaders, own properties, and pursue happiness. Feudalism on the other hand was the social system prevailing in Medieval Europe where humans were either lords or peasants. Land, property and peasants belonged to the lords. Your fate and place in society was determined at birth and remained fixed throughout life. Meaning, born a peasant, and you would remain one until death.

            Clearly from the perspective of respect for human lives and values, liberalism is closer to Islam than is feudalism.

            True, Malay society today still retains many feudal elements. Nonetheless we are free to choose our leaders. Even though we could not choose our sultans, we do not consider ourselves slaves to them. Yes, we use the term “patek” in referring to ourselves when addressing a member of the royalty. That is merely a habit. A sultan can no longer grab a village maiden for his palace collection. We hitherto peasants could now (if we wish to and can afford it) own a house more palatial than the istana and drive a car that could overtake the sultan’s in speed, price and glamour.

            Returning to GE13, before we make a decision as to which party to vote for, it is prudent to do a downstream analysis. There can only be three possible outcomes. First, Barisan be returned to power; second, Pakatan to prevail; and third, neither winning a decisive victory. By decisive I mean where the buying of a handful of victorious candidates would not alter the balance of power a la Perak 2008.

            If Barisan were to win, that would mean voters approve of the current pervasive corruption and abuse of power. We would have gone further, essentially rewarding those who have destroyed MAS, Perwaja, Bank Bumiputra, and others. Expect the greed of ministers and their families to grow unabated. Our rotten system of education would continue its decline. Our professors and academic leaders would continue to be chosen based not on their scholarly contributions but their ability to suck up to the politically powerful. Najib would continue to lead as he has for the last four years – delivering an alphabet soup of acronyms, endless exhortations, and a surfeit of sloganeering, much like the character in Shannon Ahmad’s short story Uggapan (Slogans).

            Najib promised to, borrowing his latest buzzword, “transform” his administration. How could he possibly do that when all his ministers would again stand for election? If they win, they would surely again be ministers. What transformation did he have in mind? Hishammudin becoming Women’s Minister?

            Barisan leaders are scaring citizens into believing that our stability depends on their winning the election. On the contrary, if Barisan fails to secure a greater victory than in 2008, (no one is predicting it will win a supra majority), there will be an ugly power struggle at the top. The Najib/Muhyyuddin rivalry would eclipse the earlier Abdullah/Najib power struggle in its messiness. It would be even uglier than the Mahathir/Ku Li confrontation a generation earlier. The permanent establishment would be paralyzed, not knowing which faction to support. Mahathir has already sharpened the knife that he used with devastating effectiveness on Abdullah. This time the victim would be Najib.

            In defeat, there would be much soul searching in Pakatan. Perhaps their leaders would now resolve to focus on the things that they could agree on that would benefit the nation and citizens, as with eradicating corruption and abuse of power, ensuring justice, improving the education system, while distancing themselves from such meaningless symbolic items as with an Islamic state and who could use the word “Allah.” Those obsessions do not contribute to the well being of citizens, on the contrary, they divide us.

            The second possible outcome would be a Pakatan victory. That would not mean that all our problems would magically disappear. Far from it! First, Pakatan leaders are only human; there would be a great temptation to regard their victory as a bountiful harvest. There are many more family disputes during such times! Expect a not-so-pretty grab for positions, and contentious issues like who would be Deputy Prime Minister and whether he (unlikely a she) would be a Malay or non-Malay. There would also be the jostling for key portfolios as with education, finance, and internal affairs. Those are to be expected.

            The pettiness would challenge the wisdom and patience of Pakatan leaders. If they were to behave like kids at Hari Raya or Chinese New Year greedily grabbing duit rayas and ang pows, then their future and also that of the nation would indeed be gloomy. However, if they were to consider their victory not as Hari Raya but the beginning of Ramadan, meaning, a time to be tested, patient, and diligent, then their and our future would be bright.

            More interesting is to imagine what would happen to UMNO in defeat. Those who joined the party not for the sake of the party and country but for their greed would quickly abandon it. Their flow of opium would be cut off. Meanwhile the new 2M team of Mahathir and Muhyyuddin would be merciless on Najib. Erstwhile sleepy supporters of the equally soporific Abdullah Badawi would now be intent on exacting revenge on the two sides.

            As ugly and embarrassing as that would be to Malays, it would bring only good to UMNO. The party would begin its slow and long overdue rehabilitation, back to it glorious past. Its members would now be limited only to those who truly love and are passionate about the organization and of Malays. The party might once again be the pride and love of our people and not as at present, an enabler for the corrupt and criminal.

            There are two other much more meaningful consequences to an UMNO defeat. Consider that the corruption of Khir Toyo, former Chief Minister of Selangor, was only exposed with Pakatan winning the state. Had UMNO won in 2008, that slimy character would now still be its chief executive, with his greed and corrupt ways unabated. Because Pakatan won, he is now awaiting jail, pending appeal, for his corruption conviction. There are many Khir Toyos at the federal level; they could only be exposed with a Pakatan victory.

            The second important consequence would be on members of the permanent establishment, from senior civil servants and heads of GLCs to sultans and professors. They would now realize that their careers are no longer dependent on their skills at sucking up to Barisan. They would be forced to examine themselves carefully and not be so politically partisan. The future of their careers would now depend on their dedication, diligence and professionalism, not their political skills and leanings. That could only be good for the country generally and its administration specifically.

            Many, especially in UMNO, predict a vicious racial riot a la May 1969 with the party’s defeat. I totally disagree. First, in 1969 the power shifted from Malays (UMNO) to Chinese (DAP). If UMNO were to lose in the coming election, power would still be in Malay hands except that those Malays would not be from UMNO. Second, our society is much more wise and mature now. The Chinese for example need not have to parade with their dragons to show off their might. A look around KL and Penang would be enough to reassure them and others. And if Malays were to run amok on the streets, those luxury bungalows and BMWs they would burn down might just belong to the likes of Khir Toyo and Abdullah Badawi!

            In 1969 UMNO was still Malay, and Malays, UMNO. Today conditions have changed radically, as evidenced by the recent massive KL112 rally.

            Extremists like Ibrahim the Frog could easily be taken care of. An offer of a directorship or two and trips to Macao would silence them. Alternatively, do not impede the anti-corruption agency. I am simply amused that Malay leaders from Mahathir to the academic Ramlah Adam would pin the hopes of our race to characters like Ibrahim the Frog.

            For Malaysians, the greatest consequence to a Barisan defeat would be that we actually get to experience and benefit the meaning of free elections. That is, by merely putting an “X” in the appropriate box on the ballot paper, we could change our government. There is no need to riot or demonstrate on the streets. A Barisan defeat would effectively demonstrate the true meaning of checks and balances in a democracy.

            The third and worst possible consequence would be if neither party were to win convincingly. We had a glimpse of that ugliness in Perak following the 2008 election. All, politicians from Barisan to Pakatan and members of the establishment from civil servants to the sultan, did not shine. Their behavior brought shame to the nation. They however, were oblivious of that.

            Expect that, only worse, in Putrajaya. The behavior of these politicians would be more flagrant than those of the ladies of the evening. As odious as that would be, there would be some redeeming values. We would finally see those politicians for what they really are, worse than those prostitutes at Chow Kit Road. At least those ladies had the morality not to sell themselves so openly and in broad daylight.

            The odiousness would so enrage many that able and honest citizens would now be encouraged if not compelled to offer themselves as candidates in the future. That can only be good! We would finally get to appreciate the awesome power of the ballot booth and that elections have consequences, prompting us to be more prudent the next time we vote. That is one invaluable lesson.

            In short, the best outcome for Malaysia in GE 13 would be for Pakatan to win convincingly. Next would be for neither side to do so. The worst outcome would be for Barisan to be returned to power. Stated differently, a hung parliament would be a not-so-pretty Pakatan victory.

Next:  Suaris Interview. The Future of Malays #5:  You appear cynical towards things labeled “Islam.” Many view you as not being enamored with “conservative Islam” as currently practiced by most Muslims and not with Islam itself. What’s your comment?

                This entry was posted on Monday, 18 February 2013, 7:59 am and is filed under
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51-Day Countdown to 13GE: Najib’s final admission of desperation in reaching for the “513 card” by screening the dishonest and  unbalanced May 13 film exclusively to Felda settlers after asking journalists to leave

The exclusive screening of the dishonest and unbalanced May 13 film, Tanda Putera, to Felda settlers  at the Putra World Trade Centre yesterday after asking journalists to leave is a final admission by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak that he is in desperate straits in facing the unavoidable 13th General Elections and the failures of all his efforts so far to win back support from Malaysian voters – including the spectacularly disastrous initiative spending RM3.5 million to invite Korean K-Pop superstar Psy to the Penang Barisan Nasional Chinese New Yew Open House leaving behind the unforgettable “3 Yes for Psy, 3 Noes for BN” episode.

I am shocked that a Prime Minister who has made “1Malaysia” his signature policy has  now repudiated his National Transformation Programme and discredited all his preaching of moderation and ethics at national and international forums by giving official blessings to a film which mischievously and maliciously tried to portray me as responsible for the May 13 riots in 1969.

I have not been given an opportunity to see the film but the history of its publicity  is on public record.

Since July last year, I had categorically denied the preposterous claim which had appeared on the official Facebook page of the May 13 movie, Tanda Putra, that I had urinated on the flagpole in front of the then Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence provoking the May 13 riots in 1969.

The facebook had carried a photo portraying me being manhandled, with the caption:

“Lim Kit Siang telah kencing di bawah tiang bendera Selangor yang terpacak di rumah menteri besar Selangor ketika itu, Harun Idris, (Lim Kit Siang had urinated at the foot of the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag at the then Selangor MB’s Harun Idris’ house)”

The photo was posted in the album in the Facebook titled ‘Peristiwa-peristiwa yang dimuatkan di dalam filem ini’ (Events depicted in this movie).

Although the photo and caption have since been removed from the movie’s official page, I have a screenshot of the earlier posting.

A fortnight later, Aida Fitra Buyong, the executive producer of the movie, Tanda Putera, added insult to injury when she alleged that I was being “defensive” over the publication of my photograph on the May 13 film’s official Facebook page perpetrating the lie that I had urinated at the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag at the then Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence, provoking May 13, 1969 riots.

I found this bare-faced and irresponsible attitude by the creators of the May 13 film, unrepentant in their defence of lies and falsehoods and utterly contemptuous of the truth, in particular about the total fiction about the urination at the then Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence provoking May 13, 1969 riots when I was never in Kuala Lumpur on May 11, 12 and 13, 1969, doubly scandalous, outrageous and offensive.

It completely debunked the claim by Tanda Putera’s director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba that the May 13 riot scene, which lasts about 10 minutes of the 115-minute film, was historically accurate.

According to yesterday’s Malaysiakini report, ‘PM wants May 13 film shown to Felda settlers’,  those who watched the film said there was “No Kit Siang urination” although  “the controversial scene of urination  on the flag pole bearing the Selangor flag outside the then Mentri Besar Harun Idris’ residence was in the film but it was done by a group of Chinese youths”.

I find this completely unsatisfactory as the 10,000 UMNO/Barisan Nasional cybertroopers had been flooding the social media since last year with downright lies and dangerous falsehoods that I had caused the May 13 riots in 1969 shouting the most racist slogans and urinating on the flagpole outside the Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence although I had said both in and out of Parliament that I was not in Kuala Lumpur on May 11, 12 and 13, 1969.

Furthermore, isn’t the scene of “a group of Chinese youths” allegedly urinating on the flag pole outside the Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence not only fictitious and a total figment of the imagination, but dangerously racist and criminally incendiary and seditious?

How can a Prime Minister who proclaims an inclusive 1Malaysia policy give his blessing to such a falsehood, which is seditious and  criminally incendiary and inflammatory to  sow racial hatred and distrust at a very sensitive moment in the nation’s history facing the 13GE?

Najib owes the Malaysian nation a full explanation as to why he has given his official blessing to the May 13 film which portrays such downright lies and dangerous falsehoods as the portrayal of a “group of  Chinese youths” urinating on the flagpole outside the Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence?

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/19/pengiraan-detik-51-hari-ke-pru13-pengakuan-terdesak-terakhir-najib-dalam-memainkan-kad-513-dengan-menayangkan-filem-13-mei-yang-tidak-jujur-dan-berat-sebelah-kepada-peneroka-felda-s/

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 9:10 am and is filed under
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BN terpaksa membuat ribuan pembohongan untuk menutup penipuan asal berkenaan kemelut “yee sang” Najib di Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina BN Pulau Pinang yang menampilkan Psy

Walaupun Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi menunjukkan SMS daripada pengurus bintang K-Pop Korea Selatan Psy kepada pihak polis berkenaan ancaman bunuh terhadap bintang itu, beliau masih lagi tidak memperjelaskan kemelut “yee sang” Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib di Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Barisan Nasional Pulau Pinang pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina lapan hari lalu.

Semalam, Rahim menunjukkan kepada wartawan SMS yang dihantar oleh pengurus Psy kepada polis pada Feb 10 pada 8.30PM yang menyebut: “Kami menerima ancaman bunuh yang serius yang mengatakan mereka akan menghentikan Psy apa cara sekalipun di lapangan terbang dan hotel di Pulau Pinang.”

Ketua Polis Pulau Pinang berkata polis telah mengetatkan kawalan keselamatan dengan menghantar 11 orang pegawai untuk memastikan bintang Korea itu selamat sewaktu ketibaannya pada pagi 11 Febuari.

Bagaimanapun, mengapa Perdana Menteri, mantan Perdana Menteri Tun Abdullah dan Menteri Kabinet perlu melalui kejadian memalukan dan penghinaan kerana perlu menunggu di atas pentas selama lima minit untuk Psy menyertai mereka di dalam upcara “menggaul yee sang”, kemudiannya terpaksa malu-malu turun daripada pentas apabila upacara “menggaul yee sang” tidak disempurnakan – yang dianggap petanda buruk bagi ramai orang?

Ancaman bunuh itu, jika benar, ditujukan kepada Psy di lapangan terbang dan hotel, bukan di tapak Sekolah Han Chiang – dan sebenarnya tiada apa yang berlaku di lapangan terbang dan hotel menimbulkan pertanyaan sama ada “ancaman bunuh” terhadap Psy itu benar-benar boleh dipercayai atau sekadar lawak kebudak-budakan. Apakah polis telah menyiasat kewibawaan ancaman bunuh terhadap Psy di Pulau Pinang itu?

Walau bagaimanapun, keadaan Perdana Menteri, mantan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kabinet meninggalkan pentas tanpa menyempurnakan “upacara yee sang” dengan kesemuanya kelihatan malu-malu kerana sia-sia menunggu Psy menyertai mereka selama lima minit, berbanding wajah panik kerana polis telah memberikan amaran ancaman “bunuh” atau “keselamatan” cuma menjadikan peristiwa itu jenaka orang ramai, kerana semuanya terakam dan dimuatnaik ke YouTube.

Pada asalnya, kemelut “yee sang” Najib dijelas oleh penganjur BN Pulau Pinang disebabkan oleh Menteri Pelancongan MCA Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen yang merosakkan aturcara dan menjadi punca pemimpin BN “merah muka” apabila beliau membuat keputusan sendiri memberitahu pengacara secara mengejut menjemput Psy menyertai upcara “yee sang” walaupun tidak terdapat di dalam program.

Kemudian terdapat versi kedua yang bercanggah dengan versi pertama, mendakwa kemelut “yee sang” Najib berpunca daripada ancaman terhadap nyawa Psy dan Perdana Menteri.

Rahim berkata semalam tiada ancaman bunuh kepada Perdana Menteri. Tiada juga bukti terdapatnya “ancaman bunuh” terhadap Psy di Han Chiang.

Mengapa penganjur BN tergesa-gesa membawa Najib dan VIP lain turun pentas sebelum disempurnakan upacara “yee sang”?

Penganjur BN Pulau Pinang hanya membuktikan kebenaran ungkapan bahawa anda perlu lakukan ribuan penipuan untuk menutup satu penipuan.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/19/bn-will-have-to-tell-a-thousand-lies-to-cover-up-the-one-lie-about-najibs-yee-san-fiasco-at-the-penang-bn-cny-open-house-featuring-psy/

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 5:49 pm and is filed under
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BN will have to tell a thousand lies to cover up the one lie about Najib’s  “yee san” fiasco at the Penang BN CNY Open House featuring Psy

Although the Penang police chief, Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi produced the SMS to the police on the death threat to  South Korean K-Pop superstar Psy by his manager, he really did not explain the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib’s “yee san” fiasco at the Penang Barisan Nasional Chinese New Year Open House on the second day of the CNY eight days ago.

Yesterday, Rahim showed reporters the SMS which Psy’s manager sent to the police on Feb 10 at 8.30 pm which said: “We have received some serious death threats that have said they will stop PSY at all costs in airport and hotel in Penang.”

The Penang police chief said the police tightened security by assigning 11 officers to ensure the Korean superstar’s safety on his arrival the next morning on Feb. 11.

However, why had the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah and Cabinet Ministers have to undergo the public embarrassment  and indignity of having to wait forlornly at the stage for over five minutes for Psy to join them in the “toss yee san” ceremony, only to sheepishly leave the stage when the “toss yee san” ceremony had not been completed – which is regarded as a bad omen by many?

The death threat, if genuine, were directed at Psy at the airport and hotel, but not at the Han Chiang school grounds – and the fact that nothing had happened at both the airport and hotel raises the question whether the “death threat” to Psy was credible, genuine or just a crank or prank joke. Did the police ever investigate the credibility of the death threat to Psy in Penang?

However, the manner the Prime Minister, former Prime Minister and Cabinet Minister left the stage without the completion of the “yee san ceremony” with all of them looking more shame-faced for having to wait publicly in vain for Psy for five minutes to join them, rather than in panic mode because of police alert of any “death” or “security” threat has only turned the episode into a public joke, as they are all caught on video uploaded on YouTube.

Originally,  Najib’s “yee san” fiasco was explained by the Penang BN organisers as having been caused by  the MCA Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Ng Yen Yen who messed up the arrangement and caused the BN leaders to be “red-faced” because she unilaterally told the emcee “ad hoc “ to invite Psy to join the “yee san” ceremony although it was not in the programme.

Then there was a second version contradicting the first version,  alleging that Najib’s “yee san” fiasco was because there were attempts on the lives  of Psy and the Prime Minister.

Rahim said yesterday that there was no death threat to the Prime Minister. There was also no evidence of “death threat” to Psy at Han Chiang.

Why then did the BN organisers hurriedly ushered Najib and other VIPs off the stage even before the completion of the “yee san” ceremony?

The Penang BN organisers are only proving the veracity of the saying that you have to tell a thousand lies to cover up one lie.

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/19/bn-terpaksa-membuat-ribuan-pembohongan-untuk-menutup-penipuan-asal-berkenaan-kemelut-yee-sang-najib-di-rumah-terbuka-tahun-baru-cina-bn-pulau-pinang-yang-menampilkan-psy/

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 4:01 pm and is filed under
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Full weight of law must fall on Lahad Datu intruders

by Mat Zain Ibrahim

Malaysiakini

Feb 18, 2013

COMMENT

‘The Sulu Sultanate invasion of Lahad Datu.’ This is the term I consider most appropriate to define the standoff between some 100 heavily armed intruders from the now defunct Sultanate of Sulu and the Malaysian security forces in Kampung Tanduo in Lahad Datu.

The intruders have made clear that they are there to stay for as long as necessary and more of their kind will be joining them to claim a piece of Sabah that they perceive to belong to their ancestors.

They have also made it clear they are not going to budge, even when threatened with deportation.

If the first batch of 100 or more can infiltrate into our territories without being detected by our security forces, then their back-up forces can row their boats across easily, without any resistance as well.

There was, without any doubt, a security lapse in Sabah waters.

There wouldn’t have been an intrusion of such magnitude otherwise.

If we are expecting the Philippines Armed Forces to assist us in preventing them from coming here, we might as well forget it.

If we played them out at the last minute in handing over Manuel Amalilio (left), the most wanted conman who has allegedly cheated some 15,000 Filipinos of almost RM1 billion, then we cannot expect sincere cooperation from them.

While it is not wrong for some BN MPs to question Senator Nick Xenophon’s role in visiting Malaysia, it is also not wrong for Malaysians to demand that both the defence minister and the home affairs minister explain the security lapse in Sabah waters that resulted in the Kampung Tandou standoff.

We have lost Pulau Batu Putih (Pedra Branca) to Singapore due to the carelessness and lapse of alertness by some civil servants.

We cannot afford to lose any more of our lands, surrender our sovereignty to criminals or show our weaknesses.

Not so different from Sauk incident

There’s not much difference between the standoff in Kampung Tandou, Lahad Datu, and the one that took place in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk, Perak, in July 2000.

The only difference is in the numbers. There were less than 30 in the Sauk incident while there are now at least 100 in Kampung Tandou and more are expected to join them.

If the Sauk case was classified as “waging or attempting to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, a Ruler or Yang Dipertua Negeri”, which is an offence against the state, then the citizens can demand the same law be applied to the Sulu invaders.

If our own citizens involved in the Sauk incident can be forcibly disarmed and even killed by the security forces and later charged in the court of law and a few eventually hanged, then the rakyat has the right to voice their outrage should the prime minister, who was the defence minister during the Sauk incident, treat the Sulu invaders with kid gloves.

Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, who hails from Lahad Datu, Sabah, and who had about two weeks ago promised to take action on the illegal immigrants in Sabah since that is his state, would be failing in his duty should he not advise the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the prime minister that there are provisions in the Penal Code to deal with those armed criminals from Sulu holed up in Kampung Tandou.

After all Gani, as one of the lead prosecutors in the Sauk incident, will surely remember the ingredients needed to prove this case.

However, should there be any intention or attempt to exploit and use the Lahad Datu incident to spin Najib’s profile politically before the impending general election, then they are bound to fail miserably.

Should the actions taken against those armed intruders in Kampung Tanduo be less severe than those imposed against our own citizens in the Sauk incident, then the actions shall be deemed to be a disgraceful, treacherous and cowardly act by the prime minister.

——————————————————————————–

MAT ZAIN IBRAHIM is former chief of the Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 12:31 pm and is filed under
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Journalism for the people

Eric Loo

Malaysiakini

Feb 15, 2013

It’s been years since I last bought and read the mainstream papers. I thought I’d give it a go during my week’s stay in Penang for Chinese New Year.

Besides the usual sycophantic reporting of ludicrous comments by BN politicians, the mainstream papers have, again, failed in fairly representing the public sentiment.

NONEFor instance, the prime minister’s eager attempt to engage with the Penang crowd at BN’s Chinese New Year open day at Han Chiang College on Feb 11.

‘Najib wins over crowd in Penang,’ says the NST headline. ‘A tight slap in Najib’s face,’ says Malaysiakini. Same event, different takes.

You have to be in Penang to know which take is closer to actuality, although journalists’ perceptions are not immune to ideological sway, thus the selective coverage.

What I heard and saw was not what I read in the mainstream papers.

Waxing nostalgic with relatives and friends, we bantered on how many more seats BN would lose this time round, the Penangites’ angst for BN, the public relations disaster for Najib and the ‘million dollars’ wasted on a four-minute pointless act by a one-hit wonder to woo the Chinese votes.

Shortly after Psy’s prancing with his all white-clad Gangnam troupe, I received an email alert to a YouTube clip of Najib’s attempt to muster the youngish crowd.

Felled, buried, in cyberspace

The ‘Are you ready for Psy/BN’ clip had recorded more than 95,000 views as of Feb 13.

Not one mention of Najib’s gaffe in the mainstream papers, although the NST published a letter from Penang BN’s chairperson Teng Chang Yeow (Feb 13) that sections of the crowd did yell ‘Yes’.

Indeed, there were ‘Yeses’ and ‘Noes’ depending on where you stood in the crowd. The fact is the ‘Noes’ were louder and the ‘Boos’ clearer.

‘Aiyah, why you still buy the government papers?’ a friend asked.

NONE‘Boycott them. Go-lah online,’ another chipped in as I flicked through the papers looking for editorials and commentaries that would pass muster for reflective analyses, or at least, inspire the average reader to ponder what we, the people, should do to hold politicians accountable and cause fundamental changes in the system for the benefit of all.

Here, I seek some inspiration from journalism practised in places where, in spite of death threats, the journalists will stay on course to expose corrupt and philandering politicians.

I copy below an excerpt from an interview I did late last year for a book on journalism training in Asia with, Yvonne Chua, one of the founders of VERA Files, a non-profit news outlet in Manila.

Yvonne has trained journalists from Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal and Mongolia.

Vital ingredients in shaping journalists

I asked her what she saw are the critical training needs of journalists from developing countries.

She said in part: “Training programmes should, beyond imparting skills, untiringly emphasise the role of journalism in a free society – which nearly all countries claim to have – so journalists can live up to this role and assert their rights, including pushing the limits of press freedom.

“I know the media landscape across the globe is highly uneven, brought about by the diverse political, social and economic milieus that we work in.

“But the right to freedom of expression – and of the press – is fundamental.”

There appears to be a low awareness among many journalists themselves even of the international guarantees of free expression (Article 19 in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights) and what it truly means to them.

It also saddens me when it is unclear or unknown to journalists that they owe their allegiance to the public and not government. It is ironic that while many journalists defend the rights of other people, they themselves don’t know their own rights and thus cannot defend these.”

Critical thinking, of utmost importance

“In training journalists, especially on investigative reporting, I always feel the urgency of developing critical thinking skills among them, so they would ‘challenge’ information, particularly spins, from sources. More so with journalists in emerging or new democracies.”

“Helping journalists acquire what we call the ‘documents state of mind’ continues to be a challenge I face as a trainer.

parliament journalists press room 3Usage of documents is minimal, even nil, for some journalists for various reasons such as the lack of appreciation for document analysis, dearth of training on this, or a question of access.”

“Because investigative reporting turns up voluminous reams of information, many journalists I’ve come across have problems organising and analysing the data, and then transforming this into powerful, compelling stories.

“Many journalists are weak when it comes to long-form journalism, regardless of the medium, so the wealth of data they have amassed is, alas, lost in the poor storytelling.

“Many also have difficulties visualising data, which is much needed in this day and age of data journalism.”

Journalism in the Philippines was shaped by the nation’s struggle against imperialism, colonial rule, inequality and injustice.

Return to past, inject live in present

Journalism in the 50s in Malaya was likewise shaped by quite similar struggles to break free from British colonial rule.

Today’s brand of journalism should return to the questioning and challenging form of the early post-colonial era, investigating the human condition, exposing the corrupt and asking why the poor, exploited and oppressed were exploited and oppressed, and what we, the people, can practically do to address the situation.

It is the duty of journalists to represent the common people, and give voice to issues that afflict the human condition rather than the fluff and spin that consumerism and political patronage prefer.

ERIC LOO left Malaysia for Australia in 1986 to work as a journalist. He currently lectures at University of Wollongong, Australia, and serves on the advisory committee of UPI Next (http://next.upi.com), a journalism education and training platform run by United Press International. He edits a refereed journal Asia Pacific Media Educator and conducts journalism training workshops in Asia. Email:
[email protected]

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 6:10 am and is filed under
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Lahad Datu 400 stay put

The Sun Daily

Posted on 18 February 2013 – 09:08pm

MANILA (Feb 18, 2013): Followers of a Philippine sultan who crossed to Sabah this month will not leave and are reclaiming the area as their ancestral territory amid a tense standoff, the sultan said.

Sultan Jamalul Kiram said his followers – some 400 people including 20 gunmen – were resolute in staying despite being cornered by security forces, with the Malaysian government insisting the group return to the Philippines.

“Why should we leave our own home? In fact, they (the Malaysians) are paying rent (to us),” he told reporters in Manila.

“Our followers will stay in (the Sabah town of) Lahad Datu. Nobody will be sent to the Philippines. Sabah is our home,” he said.

The sultan did not directly threaten violence but said, “there will be no turning back for us”.

Malaysian officials have said many of the group have weapons, but Kiram insisted his followers made the trip unarmed.

The sultanate’s spokesman, Abraham Idjirani, later said the sultan’s brother Raja Muda Abimuddin Kiram, who led the group to Sabah, had told him via telephone that the party was preparing to stay.

“The objective is to reside now in that place permanently, considering the sultanate owns Sabah by rights of sovereignty,” he said.

Idjirani said there were about 400 followers of the sultanate in the area, including about 20 who were armed.

He said the group would not instigate violence but would resist if provoked.

“We recognise the capability of Malaysia. We don’t have the arms and capacity but we have the historical truth,” he said, adding that the group’s “fate is to see the recognition they are entitled to … or they die defending their ancestral rights”.

Idjirani said President Benigno Aquino’s senior aides had been in contact with the sultan and were willing to deliver a letter to the Malaysian government on his behalf for negotiations. –AFP

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 6:36 am and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 51 Hari ke PRU13: Pengakuan terdesak terakhir Najib dalam memainkan “kad 513” dengan menayangkan filem 13 Mei yang tidak jujur dan berat sebelah kepada peneroka Felda selepas meminta wartawan pergi

Tayangan eksklusif filem berat sebelah dan tidaj jujur berkenaan 13 Mei, Tanda Putra, kepada peneroka Felda di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra semalam selepas Najib meminta wartawan meninggalkan tempat itu merupakan pengakuan terakhir Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak bahawa beliau dalam keadaan terdesak berdepan dengan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 yang tidak dapat dielakkan lagi dan kegagalan semua usahanya setakat ini untuk memenangi semula sokongan pengundi Malaysia – termasuklah kemusnahan besar inisiatif membelanjakan RM3.5 juta untuk menjemput bintang K-Pop Korea Psy ke Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Barisan Nasional Pulau Pinang  yang meninggalkan kenangan peristiwa “3 Ya untuk Psy, 3 Tidak untik BN”.

Saya terkejut apabila seorang Perdana Menteri yang telah mewujudkan “1Malaysia” sebagai dasar pengenalannya kini mengingkari Program Transformasi Nasionalnya dan mencemarkan semua anjurannya terhadap kesederhanaan dan etika sewaktu forum dalam dan luar negara dengan merestui secara rasmi kepada sebuah filem yang berniat jahat memaparkan saya sebagai orang yang bertanggungjawab terhadap rusuhan 13 Mei 1969.

Saya tidak pernah diberi peluang menonton filem itu tetapi apa yang pernah dilakukan bagi publisiti filem itu sudah pun diketahui umum.

Sejak Julai tahun lalu, saya telah menafikan dakwaan karit yang muncul di dalam Facebook rasmi filem 13 Mei itu, Tanda Putera, bahasa saya telah kencing pada tiang bendera di hadapan rumah Menteri Besar Selangor ketika itu lalu sehingga menimbulkan rusuhan 13 Mei 1969.

Halaman Facebook itu telah menayangkan gambar saya ditahan, dengan kapsyen:

 “Lim Kit Siang telah kencing di bawah tiang bendera Selangor yang terpacak di rumah menteri besar Selangor ketika itu, Harun Idris”

Gambar tersebut diletakkan di dalam album Facebook bertajuk ‘Peristiwa-peristiwa yang dimuatkan di dalam filem ini’.

Walaupun gambar dan kapsyen itu telah dibuang daripada halaman rasmi filem itu, saya mempunyai screenshot kepada pos tersebut.

Dua minggu kemudian, Aida Fitra Buyong, produser eksekutif filem Tanda Putera memburukkan lagi keadaan apabila dia mendakwa saya terlalu bersikap “defensive” terhadap penerbitan gambar saya di halaman Facebook filem 13 Mei itu yang berbohong mengatakan bahawa saya telah kencing pada tiang bendera yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di rumah Menteri Besar Selangor ketika itu, menimbulkan rusuhan 13 Mei, 1969.

Saya mendapati ini merupakan sikap tidak bertanggungjawab pencipta filem 13 Mei itu, tidak insaf terhadap perbuatan mereka mempertahankan pembohongan dan penipuan serta benar-benar benci kepada kebenaran, terutamanya berkenaan kisah tidak benar perbuatan kencing di rumah Menteri Besar Selangor ketika itu menimbulkan rusuhan 13 Mei, 1969 sedangkan saya tidak berada di Kuala Lumpur pada 11, 12 dan 13 Mei, 1969,  benar-benar melampau, keterlaluan dan menyinggung perasaan.

Ia sepenuhnya membongkar kepalsuan dakwaan pengarah Tanda Putera Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba bahawa adegan rusuhan 13 Mei, yang hanya 10 minit daripada keseluruhan 115 minit filem berkenaan, tepat sejarahnya.

Menurut laporan Malaysiakini semalam, ‘
PM wants May 13 film shown to Felda settlers
‘ (PM mahu menayangkan filem 13 Mei kepada peneroka Felda), mereka yang menonton filem itu berkata “Tiada adegan Kit Siang kencing” walaupun “adegan kontroversi di tiang bendera yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di luar rumah Menteri Besar Harun Idris di dalam filem tetapi dilakukan oleh sekumpulan belia Cina”.

Saya mendapati ini sangat tidak memuaskan hati memandangkan 10,000 cybertrooper UMNO/Barisan Nasional telah melambakkan penipuan dan pembohongan di laman media sosial sejak tahun lepas bahawa saya telah menyebabkan rusuhan 13 Mei pada 1969 dengan melaungkan slogan bersifat amat perkauman dan kencing di tiang bendera di luar rumah Menteri Besar Selangor walaupun saya telah katakan di dalam dan di luar Parlimen bahawa saya tidak berada di Kuala Lumpur pada 11, 12 dan 13 Mei, 1969.

Kencing pada tiang bendera di luar rumah Menteri Besar Selangor bukan sahaja rekaan dan sepenuhnya khayalan, tetapi juga perkauman dan mengapi-apikan serta bersifat hasutan?

Bagaimana Perdana Menteri yang mengisytiharkan satu dasar inklusif 1Malaysia memberikan restu kepada kepalsuan sedemikian, yang bersifat menghasut dan mengapi-apikan kebencian kaum dan sikap saling meragui pada saat paling sensitive di dalam sejarah negara berdepan dengan PRU13?

Najib perlu memberikan rakyat Malaysia penjelasan penuh mengapa beliau memberikan restu secara rasmi kepada filem 13 Mei yang memamarkan penipuan dan pembohongan berbahaya seperti gambaran “sekumpulan belia Cina” kencing di tiang bendera di luar rumah Menteri Besar Selangor?

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/19/51-day-countdown-to-13ge-najibs-final-admission-of-desperation-in-reaching-for-the-513-card-by-screening-the-dishonest-and-unbalanced-may-13-film-exclusively-to-felda-sett/

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 12:01 pm and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 52 Hari ke PRU13: PRU13 bukan saja pungutan suara terhadap empat tahun “tanpa transformasi” Najib tetapi juga 22 tahun dasar korup Mahathir

Adakah parlimen akan dibubarkan bulan untuk untuk membolehkan Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 diadakan bulan depan?

Dijamin jawapannya tentu positif, bersiap untuk pembubaran parlimen paling lama ditangguhkan  di dalam sejarah negara daripada seorang Perdana Menteri tidak diundi paling lama dan berkemungkinan menjadi pilihan raya umum paling kotor dan mahal Malaysia!

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, sedang pusing satu negara berkempen untuk jangka hayat politiknya, tetapi terdapat seorang insan di dalam UMNO/Barisan Nasional yang sedang mengatasi kempen Najib – dan beliau adalah mantan serta Perdana Menteri paling lama berkhidmat, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 amat penting dan kritikal buat Najib – tetapi lebih penting dan kritikal lagi buat Mahathir, memandangkan ia bukan saja pungutan suara terhadap empat tahun “tanpa transformasi” Najib tetapi juga 22 tahun dasar authoritarian dan korup Mahathir.

Sebenarnya, untuk Mahathir, masa depannya turut dipertaruhkan dalam PRU13  – memandangkan  PRU13 akan menentukan sama ada beliau dapat terus menjadi  dalang politik untuk politik UMNO/BN, yang kini secara sendirian membuat keputusan dalam UMNO/BN selepas beliau Berjaya memaksa perletakan jawatan Tun Abdullah sebagai Perdana Menteri sesudah “tsunami politik” pilihan raya umum 2008.

Kuasa dan pengaruh Mahathir kini lebih besar daripada Najib yang merupakan Perdana Menteri.

Malaysia mempunyai enam Perdana Menteri sepanjang tempoh 56 tahun tetapi tidak ada sesiapa di dalam UMNO/BN berani untuk beritahu mana-mana Perdana Menteri supaya meletakkan jawatan sekiranya gagal memperoleh mandat yang lebih besar berbanding pilihan raya sebelumnya – seperti yang dilakukan secara terbuka oleh Mahathir di Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference ke-15 pada 31 Januari yang mana beliau mengatakan Najib sepatutnya memberi laluan kepada Timbalan Presiden UMNO Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin sekiranya BN hanya memperoleh kemenangan tipis di dalam pilihan raya.

Najib di bawah pemerhatian dan “guru besar” yang akan menentukan masa depan Najib adalah Mahathir – seperti mana Mahathir menamatkan penggal pemerintahan Perdana Menteri sebelumnya, Tun Abdullah, yang gagal mencapai jangkaan Mahathir!

Hampir setiap hari, Mahathir bukan sahaja mengatasi kempen Najib tetapi turut menetapkan dasar-dasar untuk Najib dan pemimpin serta Menteri UMNO/BN seperti yang dapat dilihat di dalam contoh berikut sejak sepuluh hari lalu:

Dr M: Peneroka jangan ‘gigit tangan’ kerajaan (Mkini) – 18.2.13

Dr M: Tidak perlu mengendahkan celaan Canberra atas pengusiran Xenophon (TMI) – 18.2.13

Dr M: Kebebasan tidak terkawal media alternatif berbahaya (Bernama) – 18.2.13

Dr M: Hanya beberapa pelampau Cina menyokong perubahan Kerajaan (China Press) – 15.2.13

Dr Mahathir: Hutang negara masih pada tahap baik (Bernama) – 15.2.13

Tingkat imej Proton, idea teras pelan pemulihan: Dr M (Bernama) – 15.2.13

Jangan terlalu taksub tukar kerajaan, kata Mahathir (Bernama) – 13.2.13

Dr M: Pinda perlembagaan untuk melucutkan kewarganegaraan Ambiga (Mkini) – 9.2.13

Mahathir juga cuba untuk menyelamatkan Najib daripada kemusnahan “Tiga Ya untuk Psy, Tiga Tidak untuk BN” ketika lawatan Perdana Menteri di Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Pulau Pinang selepas membelanjakan RM3.5 juta untuk mengimport bintang K-Pop Korea Psy dan “Gangnam Style”, mendakwa itu semua daripada “video yang diubahsuai” di YouTube.

Mahathir berkata:

Baru-baru ini sebuah klip video pendek menunjukkan PM bertanya kepada hadirin di Pulau Pinang sama ada mereka bersedia untuk BN. Terdapat teriakan kuat “No” datang dari orang ramai.

Kini didapati bahawa semua ini dirancang dengan membawa sebuah kumpulan menyertai hadirin, dilengkapi kamera video dan mikrofon. Apabila PM bertanya “are you ready for BN” kumpulan ini menjerit “No” sebagai balasan. Kelihatan seperti seluruh hadirin menjerit “No”. Sebenarnya hanya kumpulan tertentu itu saja menjerit “No” ke dalam mikrofon mereka. Jeritan “Yes” dari hadirin yang lebih besar tidak dirakam dan tidak kedengaran di dalam video di You Tube.

Dengan segera rakaman itu diletakkan ke dalam You Tube dan menjadi viral walaupun rakaman video dari orang lain menunjukkan orang ramai mengangkat tangan mereka menjeritkan “Yes” kemudiannya diletakkan ke dalam You Tube, ramai tidak peduli untuk menontonnya. Mereka terus percaya kepada klip video palsu.

Mahathir mungkin menyangka rakyat Malaysia generasi 2013 mudah tertipu seperti rakyat Malaysia ketika 22 tahun beliau menjadi Perdana Menteri dari 1981 hingga 2003 sayangnya beliau silap.

Rakyat Malaysia perlu berterima kasih pada Najib kerana menjemput Psy dan Gangnam Style ke Pulau Pinang, kerana itu telah mampu membuatkan rakyat Malaysia fokus kepada satu soalan – mengapa Korea Selatan telah membangun begitu hebat berbanding Malaysia sedangkan 56 tahun lalu, Malaysia dua kali lebih kaya dan membangun berbanding Korea Selatan akan tetapi hari ini Korea Selatan dua hingga tiga kali ganda lebih kaya dan maju berbanding Malaysia dan mengatasi Malaysia dalam semua bidang usaha?

Terdapat satu lagi soalan yang rakyat Malaysia perlu tanya – siapakah yang sepatutnya bertanggungjawab menyebabkan Malaysia tewas begitu teruk kepada Korea Selatan di dalam reputasi daya saing antarabangsa  meliputi segala macam pencapaian sama ada perkembangan ekonomi, kemajuan pendidikan, pembangunan sumber manusia, kehebatan teknologi, seni dan sukan?

Pada tahun 1980, setahun sebelum Mahathir mula menjadi Perdana Menteri selama 22 tahun, Malaysia dengan US$1,769 masih jauh mendahului Korea Selatan dengan KDNK (nominal) per kapita US$1,689 dalam Dolar AS.

Akan tetapi bermula 1981, sewaktu Mahathir mengambil alih sebagai Perdana Menteri keempat, Malaysia jatuh dengan begitu teruk tahun demi tahun di belakang Korea Selatan, sehingga KDNK per kapita Malaysia hanya satu pertiga daripada Korea Selatan apabila Mahathir meletakkan jawatab sebagai Perdana Menteri 22 tahun kemudian pada tahun 2003!

Jadual di bawah menunjukkan data perbandingan KDNK per kapita untuk kedua-dua negara sepanjang 22 tahun Mahathir menjadi Perdana Menteri:

KDNK (nominal)  Per Kapita (dalam dolar AS)

Tahun

Malaysia

South Korea

1980

1,769

1,689

1981

1,763

1,870

1982

1,842

1,971

1983

2,012

2,154

1984

2,221

2,350

1985

1,978

2,414

1986

1,711

2,760

1987

1,901

3,445

1988

2,033

4,571

1989

2,186

5,565

1990

2,374

6,308

1991

2,649

7,289

1992

3,102

7,730

1993

3,413

8,422

1994

3,698

9,757

1995

4,295

11,779

1996

4,752

12,587

1997

4,601

11,587

1998

3,232

7,724

1999

3,455

9,906

2000

3,992

11,347

2001

3,846

10,655

2002

4,078

12,094

2003

4,352

13,451

Biar Mahathir, seseorang yang perlu memikul tanggungjawab besar kerana mengakibatkan Malaysia kalah teruk dengan Korea Selatan, menjelaskan mengapa sepanjang 22 tahun sebagai Perdana Menteri beliau membolehkan Korea Selatan bukan sahaja memintas Malaysia  dalam reputasi daya saing antarabangsa tetapi membiarkan Malaysia sangat jauh ketinggalan.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/18/52-day-countdown-to-13ge-the-13-ge-is-not-only-referendum-on-najibs-four-year-non-transformation-but-also-on-mahathirs-22-year-authoritarian-and-corrupt-policies/

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 11:39 am and is filed under
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Selective facts in the media

 — Aziff Azuddin

The Malaysian Insider

Feb 18, 2013

FEB 18 — It’s hard to know what’s the truth and what’s not these days. To say newspapers report far from the truth would be an exaggeration. What they report is the truth, if only a specific part of it. But then, that’s what newspapers are meant to do. They’re meant to cater to a specific audience that accepts and reads this sort of news, nodding their heads in agreement. Even in the United States, such media slanting exists; New York Times reports analytical news leaning towards the Democrats while Fox News is endlessly seen leaning away. Much can be said for the audience it caters to.

Malaysia’s media industry, however, has turned into a mess. It’s no secret that the mainstream media is owned largely by the establishment’s strings as try as they may, reports anti-sentiment or intended to shed a negative light are quickly quelled and do not see the light of day. The only final bastion of freedom the citizens of Malaysia has is the limitless fringes of the Internet and social media; and even that laws like section 114A are creeping to tighten its noose on the only freedom we have left.

The Malaysian establishment, it seems of late, has been rather fond of making a fool of itself on the public front. Psy’s RM2 million concert in Penang was no less controversial before the South Korean pop star’s performance and even during the event itself; the “Psy, Yes! BN, No!” debacle and Psy’s public refusal to toss yee sang went viral on the Internet. While the Internet community was abuzz with the news, what went reported on the mainstream media? Nothing. Only of how successful the concert was and how it was another establishment achievement in fulfilling their promise to the people.

More recently, however, is the extremely controversial detention and deportation of the Australian Senator Nick Xenophon. The senator’s purpose in Malaysia was to discuss transparency issues with regards to the upcoming general election (anyone here knows the dates yet?); pretty harmless right? The best excuse for the establishment’s reasoning behind this act was how it was a “security issue”. In what way, if one may ask? Mind you, all this news was gleaned from social media and international news reports but none on the local front.

In fact, our local front has been keeping quiet for a very long time now. Granted, things have loosened up ever since PM Pak Lah got into power and certain points of leniency were allowed during PM Najib’s current tenureship. But is the mainstream media performing its duty to the establishment or the people? This is the vital question.

Now I’ll be honest. On the political landscape, I side neither the establishment nor the opposition. Neither has brought about any substantial change to the people. The establishment has been ruling for far too long and has gone complacent and is clinging on to a power it is afraid of losing. The opposition’s direct reason for existence is to prove the establishment wrong, while unable to hold together their own internal party politics. The people are sick of this six decade-long tenureship and they’re turning to the only other option they have left: the wildcard opposition.

I’m disappointed. The media, at least to an extent, is supposed to be the voice of the people. But where has that social responsibility gone? Do we fear reporting all sides of the issue because we’re afraid of losing our job in this unstable economy? Are we afraid of standing up to the truth and telling them (establishment or opposition) that they’ve done wrong? We fear the consequence of a just action. We fear for our own safety nets being cut off when we stand up for the greater good. And that’s perhaps why the mainstream media is doomed to fail.

Let’s throw in some perspective on why this is a nationwide problem. Only a handful in the nation have the privilege to access social media. Even less of this handful have the ability to comprehend, balance out and analyse all sides of the facts given to them. The problem with democracy is how it’s a nationwide involvement. The majority of the country are uninformed and their only form of information is via the mainstream media who only seek to report a selected version of the truth. And these uninformed are the very same people who are going to go into the voting booths and mark the ballots based on what they know, which is unfortunate to say, not much of the true situation in this country.

This is where the vicious cycle will continue. This is why we’ll never see change come to fruition. When we’re only fed one side of the story and cling on to it, we grow up with the rest of our lives moulding our beliefs and lives around it — unaware that another paradigm of the truth exists. How long is the mainstream media going to lie to themselves, lie to us? Every day, international reports are continuously reporting what is starkly different than what local headlines are portraying.

As a Malaysian, I feel ashamed. Don’t you?

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 5:49 am and is filed under
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Stand up and be counted, Malaysians

 — Lucius Goon

The Malaysian Insider

Feb 18, 2013

FEB 18 — Forget about Nick Xenophon, or any support from the United States, Australia, Human Rights Watch. Our neighbours and those that pretend to be in our neighbourhood (Australia) have their own calculations on who they would like to see govern Malaysia.

The needs or wants of Malaysians don’t factor in their calculations.

After all, wasn’t it Rudd the Dud who praised Malaysia as a robust democracy some time ago and now some columnist in the Australian calls Malaysia one of the top democracies in the region. (Aussies must be breathing some strange air.)

This election is about you and me. What aspirations do we have for Malaysia, the country where we and our children were born? It is about going to vote in numbers so that any attempt to subvert the electoral process will be defeated.

Too many Malaysians are expecting someone else to bear the hardship and fight their battles. That is why many of us donate money to politicians, hoping that they will get their hands dirty and fight for causes we believe in.

I am sorry but staying on the sidelines is not an option this time.

This is a fight we have to get involved in personally. Why do I say so?

Because at stake is not just some election but the future of Malaysia. Is it going to be a country where the likes of Ibrahim Ali and the narrow-minded racists and chauvinists hold sway or where the moderation espoused by Tunku Abdul Rahman once again is championed?

Are we going to have to put up with Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his dysfunctional and corrupted ideals on race, the economy, religion, the media?

Is this country forever going to be defined by what separates us instead of our shared destiny as nation?

Are we going to carry on tolerating corruption and cronyism and allowing family members of the rich and famous to plunder and rob this country or are we going to demand accountability and stop the thievery?

Actually you and I know the issues. We talk about it at breakfast and any other occasion but always think that our duty ends after we return to our desks in the office or to our homes. It does not. We have a duty to vote and to make sure that our friends and family members also vote.

Going by the supportive statements by the Election Commission for the deportation of Xenophon who was championing clean elections, the evidence of cheating uncovered at the Sabah RCI and unexplained spike in voters across the country, it is incumbent upon Malaysians (I am talking about those born and bred here and not those who just got their ICs last week) to ensure a large voter turnout to prevent any fraud.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 5:39 am and is filed under
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The two faces of Malaysia

by Mariam Mokhtar

Malaysiakini

Feb 18, 2013

Like a coin, Malaysia has two sides; the tourist experiences a tropical idyll, a shopping paradise and gastronomic delights, but the man in the street sees the obverse.

azlanIn the markets, housewives moan about the increasing prices of everyday food items, but at any Malaysian Airlines check-in counter in London, New York, Dubai or Sydney, one can see Malaysian officials and their spouses deposit box after box of shopping. It is alleged that they seldom pay excess baggage charges.

To say that Malaysia is a nation in chaos is an understatement. Minister after minister shows levels of incompetency that any half-decent company would never permit. Who runs the country? Who is in charge? Is Malaysia like an air plane cruising on auto-pilot until it crashes when it runs out of fuel?

While ministers are busy playing politics, the country is going to ruin. In Sabah, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s ‘Project M’, made illegal immigrants instant citizens of Malaysia. Last week, more than 100 armed foreigners breezed in and occupied a village, without any resistance.

Elsewhere in Malaysia, people of distinction, whose only weapons are truth and the tenets of justice and democracy, are harassed and discouraged from entering Malaysia, or are deported. These people include a French lawyer acting on behalf of Suaram, a British lawyer acting on behalf of Hindraf, Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand and Australian Senator Nick Xenophon.

Armed forces caught unawares

The Malaysian navy boasts an impressive and expensive array of weaponry, including submarines and fast naval boats. Despite this, our armed forces were caught unawares by the militants. The Star reported that in a press conference, Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said, “These men are not terrorists.” Most Malaysians think that when 100 armed rebels invade, they are terrorists, not friendly visitors.

NONEForeign Minister Anifah Aman, who bungled the recent controversial trip to Gaza by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, has maintained a low profile. With armed foreigners on their doorsteps, Malaysians, especially Sabahans, might be reassured by an official statement from Wisma Putra regarding this impasse.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said we should leave the security forces to deal with the situation, “Let the authorities with the expertise and responsibility resolve it without bloodshed. If anyone is killed, then the government and authorities will stand accused.”

Hishammuddin’s words sound hollow. If only he applied the same standards to his own police force when they attacked Bersih demonstrators, caused hundreds of deaths in police custody, indiscriminately shoot at people, including teenagers and women, or allegedly beat security guard C Sugumar to death.

NONEAmong Najib’s list of skills is his prowess as a drummer in the Chinese lion dance. More notable is his economy with words, especially in critical situations. Has he become a Benedictine monk and taken a vow of silence? It is most alarming that he has said nothing about the rebel threat.

Is he still licking his wounds, after the humiliations that he suffered in Penang at the Psy concert?

In Sabah last November, two men – the manager of an oil palm estate and his assistant – were kidnapped by armed men and taken to southern Philippines. As a result of this, marine patrols were increased, especially as there were rumours that armed militia from the Philippines were preparing to land in Lahad Datu.

Days after this abduction, men armed with M16 rifles raided a fishing platform off Tawau and took away a 40kg bag of ikan bilis worth an estimated RM350. Were these men testing the capability of our security defences in the area? They were not challenged, so it is possible that several more men have slipped into the country between November 2012 and February 2013.

Could there be another more simple explanation for the Sabah incursion?

Sabah intrusion not seen as a threat

The armed forces and police see no threat in the 100 armed rebels and yet an Australian senator is perceived to be an “enemy of the state”. A casual, almost complacent, “tidak apa” attitude has been adopted by our leaders.

NONEWe are aware that BN is trying to divert our attention from the damaging revelations that have been unearthed by the Sabah Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI). It is generally true that reports from our intelligence services are good. How is it that they were caught unprepared in Sabah?

Could the real reason be another distraction? It is without doubt that BN will do its utmost to cheat in the coming general election.

The lackadaisical attitude of our ministers and authorities suggests that BN is trying to portray Najib as the “hero” who saves the nation from an armed invasion. Is it an attempt to make Sabahans beholden to BN and so vote them in?

Perhaps, Najib is going to use the armed rebels as an excuse to station several army units in Sabah and then cheat using the army votes and postal votes.

In a worst case scenario, will Najib use the rebels as a ploy to declare emergency rule to delay the election and instil fear in Malaysians?

Najib appears clueless and is silent about the invasion. This might be a plot to embarrass him and show him as an inept leader, hatched by none other than Mahathir and those who are plotting to overthrow Najib.

Do we really want to be ruled by a party that expends its energy on internecine wars rather than governing the country? We must vote for a party that will lead us, the country and all Malaysians, to peace and prosperity, and expel our enemies but not our friends.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a non-conformist traditionalist from Perak, a bucket chemist and an armchair eco-warrior. In ‘real-speak’, this translates into that she comes from Ipoh, values change but respects culture, is a petroleum chemist and also an environmental pollution-control scientist.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 19 February 2013, 6:00 am and is filed under
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50-Day Countdown to 13GE – Challenge to Najib to produce the historical evidence of the incendiary and seditious figment of the imagination in the May 13 film about a group of Chinese youths urinating on the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag of the then Selangor Menteri Besar’s residence provoking the May 13 riots of 1969

I challenge the Prime Minister,  Datuk Seri Najib Razak to produce the historical evidence of the incendiary and seditious figment of the imagination in the May 13 film Tanda Putera about a group of Chinese youths urinating on the flagpole  bearing the Selangor flag of the then Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence provoking the May 13 riots of 1969.

The Prime Minister must assume full responsibility for this most racist and unhistorical slur in the May 13 film, as it was Najib, according to the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Ahmad Maslan, who instructed that the May 13 film be exclusively  screened to some 3,000 Felda settlers meeting at the Putra World Trade Centre on Monday.

Only the Felda settlers were allowed to watch the film, which was screened after the journalists present in the hall were asked to leave.

The spokepersons of the movie had claimed that the film was based on a lot of research, such as studying documented materials and photographs, to make sure the scenes were backed by historical facts.

Where are the documented materials and photographs of such an urination incident on the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag outside the then Selangor Mentri Besar’s residence provoking the May 13 riots of 1969?

I was at first defamed by the film’s publicists and UMNO cybertroopers as the person urinating on the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag outside the then Selangor MB’s residence, which is a dastardly and contemptible lie  as no sane, rational or responsible person  would have committed such an irresponsible and unthinkable deed. In actual fact, I was not even in Kuala Lumpur during the period from May 11 to 13, 1969, as early on May 13, 1969, I had taken a flight to Kota Kinabalu to help in the election campaigning of the then Sabah slate of independent candidates.

I first came to Kuala Lumpur after the May 10, 1969 general elections on May 18, 1969, as an Internal Security Act detainee, after I was arrested at the

Subang International Airport.

Malaysiakini reported that the May 13 film screened exclusively to Felda settlers on Monday had the controversial scene of urination on the flagpole bearing the Selangor flag outside the then Selangor MB’s residence, but it was done by a group of Chinese youths.

Where is the historical evidence of such a scene or is it just pure figment of imagination of the film producers?

Since the Tanda Putera official Facebook entry about the Urine-Gate, I had asked around whether anyone had ever heard of any “urination” incident at the flagpole of the Selangor MB’s residence provoking the May 13, 1969 riots, but nobody has ever heard of it before.

Neither the White Paper issued by the National Operations Council on 9th October 1969 entitled “The May 13 Tragedy” nor Tunku Abdul Rahman’s book “May 13 – Before and After” made any reference to any such urination incident at the Selangor MB’s residence.

It is only fair that Malaysians give the Prime Minister 48 hours to produce historical proof of the urination incident as depicted by the May 13 film, before drawing any conclusions.

Artikel ini juga boleh didapati dalam Bahasa Malaysia di:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/20/pengiraan-detik-50-hari-ke-pru13-cabaran-untuk-najib-menunjukkan-bukti-sejarah-khayalan-yang-menghasut-dan-mengapi-apikan-dalam-filem-13-mei-tanda-putera-berkenaan-sekumpulan-belia-cina-kenc/

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 February 2013, 9:29 am and is filed under
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Pengiraan Detik 50 Hari ke PRU13 – Cabaran untuk Najib menunjukkan bukti sejarah khayalan yang menghasut dan mengapi-apikan dalam filem 13 Mei Tanda Putera berkenaan sekumpulan belia Cina kencing pada tiang benda yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di rumah Menteri Besar Selangor ketika itu sehingga mencetuskan rusuhan 13 Mei 1969

Saya mencabar Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak menunjukkan bukti sejarah khayalan yang menghasut dan mengapi-apikan dalam filem 13 Mei Tanda Putera berkenaan sekumpulan belia Cina kencing pada tiang benda yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di rumah Menteri Besar Selangor ketika itu sehingga mencetuskan rusuhan 13 Mei 1969.

Perdana Menteri perlu bertanggungjawab sepenuhnya terhadap penghinaan yang amat bersifat perkauman dan tidak mengikut sejarah di dalam filem 13 Mei kerana menurut Timbalan Menyeri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Ahmad Maslan, Najib yang mengarahkan filem itu ditayangkan secara eksklusif kepada 3,000 peneroka Felda yang bertemu di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra pada Isnin lalu.

Hanya peneroka Felda yang dibenarkan menonton filem itu, yang ditayangkan selepas wartawan yang hadir diminta meninggalkan dewan.

Jurucakap filem berkenaan mendakwa filem itu dibuat berdasarkan banyak kajian, seperti mengkaji bahan-bahan yang didokumenkan dan gambar-gambar, bagi memastikan adegan-adegannya disokong oleh fakta sejarah.

Di manakah bahan dokumen dan gambar kepada insiden kencing pada tiang bendera yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di luar rumah Menteri Besar Selangor ketika itu yang mencetuskan rusuhan 13 Mei 1969?

Saya pada awalnya difitnah apabila pihak publisiti filem dan cybertrooper UMNO sebagai orang yang kencing pada tiang bendera yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di luar rumah MB Selangor, yang merupakan penipuan sangat hina dan pengecut kerana tiada orang yang waras, rasional dan bertanggungjawab akan melakukan perbuatan tidak bertanggungjawab seperti itu. Sebenarnya, saya tidak berada di Kuala Lumpur dari 11 hingga 13 Mei, 1969, kerana pada awal pagi 13 Mei, 1969, saya telah menaiki kapal terbang ke Kota Kinabalu untuk membantu kempen pilihan raya calon bebas di Sabah ketika itu.

Selepas pilihan raya umum 10 Mei, 1969 saya hanya kembali ke Kuala Lumpur pada 18 Mei, 1969 sebagai tahanan Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA), selepas saya ditangkap di Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Subang.

Malaysiakini melaporkan bahawa filem 13 Mei yang ditayangkan secara eksklusif kepada peneroka Felda pada hari Isnin mempunyai adegan kontroversi kencing pada tiang bendera yang mengibarkan bendera Selangor di luar rumah MB Selangor ketika itu, tetapi hanya dilakukan oleh sekumpulan belia Cina.

Di manakah bukti sejarah kepada adegan itu atau ia semata-mata khayalan pembuat filem tersebut?

Sejak diposkan entri berkenaan skandal kencing itu di Facebook rasmi Tanda Putera, saya telah bertanya ramai orang sama ada mana-mana orang pernah mendengar tentang insiden kencing pada tiang bendera di rumah MB Selangor sehingga tercetusnya rusuhan 13 Mei, 1969, tetapi tiada siapa pernah mendengar tentangnya sebelum ini.

Tidak ada di dalam Kertas Putih yang dikeluarkan Majlis Gerakan Negara (MAGERAN) pada 9 Oktober 1969 bertajuk “Tragedi 13 Mei” atau di dalam buku Tunku Abdul Rahman  ” 13 Mei – Sebelum dan Selepas” merujuk kepada sebarang insiden kencing pada tiang bendera di rumah MB Selangor.

Adalah adil rakyat Malaysia memberikan Perdana Menteri 48 jam untuk menunjukkan bukti sejarah insiden itu sepertimana yang dipaparkan filem 13 Mei sebelum membuat sebarang kesimpulan.

This article is also available in English at:
https://blog.limkitsiang.com/2013/02/20/50-day-countdown-to-13ge-challenge-to-najib-to-produce-the-historical-evidence-of-the-incendiary-and-seditious-figment-of-the-imagination-in-the-may-13-film-about-a-group-of-chinese-youths-urinating/

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 February 2013, 10:37 am and is filed under
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The Chinese Owe BN Nothing

By
Kee Thuan Chye

Malaysiakini

Najib the vendor of half-baked spin was at it again a few days ago when he said the Chinese owed their success to Barisan Nasional (BN).

At a 1Malaysia open house, he said BN formulated good policies and ensured there was harmony in the country and an environment that “allowed the Chinese to make a good living”.

Najib had the cheek to say this.

He of course wants the Chinese to be thankful to BN and therefore vote for the coalition at the upcoming general election. But his half-baked spin completely ignores the other side of the story.

For instance, the Chinese also owe it to BN that they became second-class citizens in their own country because of BN’s discriminatory policies – and, let’s not forget, practices.

As a result, the Chinese have to work harder to succeed. To get places in Malaysian public universities. To have their children score the highest number of As and still not get accepted to do, say, Medicine in these institutions. And therefore be forced to send them overseas, at much higher cost.

The Chinese owe it to BN that they were compelled to leave Malaysia to seek fairer opportunities overseas, some never to return, and thereby contributing to a huge brain drain for which Malaysia is now paying the price.

Many who are now settled overseas may indeed be thankful that they left, but I’m sure Najib is not looking to them for gratitude. Some of them won’t be eligible for voting, anyway, having taken citizenships in their countries of adoption.

The Chinese also owe it to BN that to take on business projects of sizable proportions, they have to pay kickbacks – some to BN bigwigs themselves, some to their cronies.

The Chinese owe it to BN that they find it virtually impossible to rise to the highest echelons of public service – in the judiciary, the military, the police, the universities, the civil service. Not because they don’t have the merit to fill these positions; in fact, they do, which therefore makes it even more unjust and painful.

Can Najib name a single Chinese vice-chancellor in a Malaysian public university? Can a Chinese person become Inspector-General of Police or Admiral of the Fleet or Chief Justice?

Najib should note that despite the barriers, the Chinese accepted their lot. And many Chinese – for whatever warped or bewildering logic – actually supported BN throughout the times they were marginalised!

In fact, Najib should watch what he says in the run-up to the general election, especially if he is hoping to win Chinese support for BN.

As it is, many analysts believe that about 70 to 8o per cent of the Chinese are not in favour of the ruling party. If he wants to win at least some over, he needs to say the right things. More than that, he needs to do the right things. Although even then, one wonders if it might not be too late.

Many Chinese still remember what he reportedly said in 1987 on the eve of Operasi Lalang at the Umno Youth rally in TPCA Stadium. As the Umno Youth chief then, he displayed ethnocentric gusto in unsheathing his keris and announcing that it would taste Chinese blood by the end of the day.

It might have been an act of foolish bravado but it still resonates among some Chinese today. Considered together with the video that is making the rounds again of his address to the Umno and Malay NGOs audience in Putra Word Trade Centre (PWTC) a few days after Bersih 2.0, in which he said, with much tribal sound and fury, “We will show them whose country this is!”, many wonder if the leopard has changed its spots.

For all his talk of 1Malaysia, Najib is still an ethnocentrist at heart.

He has said he will meet the Chinese educationist group Dong Zong to discuss the latter’s demands in regard to Chinese education. In all likelihood, he will agree to meet some if not all of them as a last-ditch measure to win Chinese votes. He might even declare the Government’s recognition – finally – of the United Examination Certificate (UEC), a dream the Chinese educationists have been pursuing for the longest time.

If this consequently prompts Dong Zong to endorse Najib and BN for the coming general election, it could sway a good number of Chinese votes in the direction of BN. Then, like they did in 1999 when they saved Mahathir Mohamad’s bacon by strongly supporting his coalition when the Malays were swinging to the Opposition, they could hand BN a victory … and, who knows?, maybe even a two-thirds majority, which is what Najib desperately covets.

However, this is going to be a crucial general election. It is the one time when real change for the country can come about with a change of government.

The Chinese need to consider carefully about giving their vote to BN. They need to consider the long-term effects of another BN victory. They need to weigh the possibility of real reform in the event of BN being booted out and a new coalition taking over that could bring positive change.

They need to be wary of Najib’s sweet talk and his gifts. If he gives them Government recognition of the UEC, more independent Chinese schools, whatever, they might want to just accept these politely, say thank you and think of voting according to what they think is right.

Dong Zong on its part should remain neutral and not take a stand by endorsing BN. For if it does and Pakatan wins the general election, it would find itself in an awkward position.

The Chinese have a big role to play now in this coming general election. Najib can say anything till he is blue in the face, but they have to weigh the truth or lack of it in what he says. Besides, ensuring harmony and a conducive environment for work and living in the country is, after all, the responsibility – indeed, duty – of any government for which no gratitude from the citizens is necessary. So the Chinese don’t owe BN anything.

Above all, the Chinese must not forget about the corruption that has been rampant under BN rule for decades. And the rent-seeking. And the slow growth of our GDP since 1980 in comparison to South Korea , Taiwan , Singapore , etc. These affect the whole country, not just the Chinese, and are therefore all the more important.

So, when it comes to the crunch, the Chinese must vote for only one thing – a better Malaysia .

* Kee Thuan Chye is the author of the bestselling book No More Bullshit, Please, We’re All Malaysians, and the latest volume, Ask for No Bullshit, Get Some More!

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 February 2013, 5:41 pm and is filed under
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Tweets from the government’s standoff with 150 Sulu intruders in Lahad Datu

Tweets from
@limkitsiang

On fact-finding mission on 12day standoff w some 100 intruders claiming 2b Royal Sulu Army w JimmyWong Edwin HiewKC FredFung ChanHK Wu etc

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 12:43

Not only Sabahans Msians v concerned abt standoff in Kg Tanduo (13km away but sealed off by police) LahatDatu n Bandar Cenderawasih ppl too

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 12:57

This is bcos nation’s sovereignty n security undermined by intrusion/standoff – not what Hishammuddin said yesterday, yet 2b threatened!

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 13:16

Y has Najib not visited LahadDatu 2highlight Fed govt’s seriousness 2resolve issue speedily? Shd even convene emergency Parliament on issue!

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 13:20

Also convene urgent Sabah State Assembly. Najib shd direct Home/Defence Ministers 2give regular briefings 2update MPs/Sabah SAs on updates

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 14:25

Intrusion/standoff poor reflection on security capabilities when every year MPs approved tens of billions of RM 4 Home/Defence ministries

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 14:32

How did the ragtag Suluk militants get past Msian marines, Navy Army n Police? What for 2 multi billion-RM Scorpene Submarines in Sepanggar?

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 14:38

Back 2Lahat Datu – 6hrs on road 2day n another 2hrs back 2Tawau. Then flight 2KL. LahadDatu/Sabah right 2demand Najib give top attn 2them

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 15:01

Bcos of info blackout on standoff, all sorts of rumours in Sabah incl baseless 1am riot 2day in KK LahadD n Keningau reported by BorneoPost

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 15:21

1Q – Govt acted immediately 2deport Aussie senator Xenophon as enemy of state yet helpless w 150 Sulu intruders who r x friends of state. Y?

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 15:43

With intrusion/12day standoff another reason why Msia has become int laughing stock, can Hisham continue 2 claim Msia safest country in SEA?

Wednesday, 20 February, 2013 15:59

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 February 2013, 5:27 pm and is filed under
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What happens when you put yourself under BN’s roof

by Martin Jalleh

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 20 February 2013, 5:09 pm and is filed under
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49-Day Countdown to 13GE: Najib has presented me with a dilemma – is the Election Integrity Pledge worth signing when the Prime Minister can sign it with such aplomb, contempt and cynicism?

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, has presented me with a dilemma – is the Election Integrity Pledge proposed by Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) worth signing when Najib could sign it  with such aplomb, contempt and cynicism after his four-year premiership witnessed corruption in Malaysia plunging to its worst depths in the nation’s 56-year history.

In Najib’s four years as Prime Minister, Malaysia’s Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) plunged to its  lowest rankings in the past 18 years, i.e. No. 56 in 2009 and 2010, No. 60 in 2011 and No. 54 in 2012, as compared to Malaysia’s No. 23rd ranking in the first TI CPI in 1995,  No. 37th placing  in 2003 when Tun Dr. Mahathir stepped down as Prime Minister after 22 years of authoritarian and corrupt rule and  No. 47 ranking in 2008 after five years of  Tun Abdullah’s “Mr. Clean” premiership.

It is incontrovertible and undeniable that corruption under Najib’s four-year premiership is the worst under any Prime Minister in the nation’s 56-year history, as apart from being worse than the Mahathir and Abdullah eras, no one has ever suggested that corruption under the first three Prime Ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein were  ever more serious than under their successors.

What makes a meaningful signing of the TI-M’s Election Integrity Pledge even more questionable is the presence of the Sarawak Chief Minister, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who had put Malaysia on the international radar of anti-corruption campaigns after the allegations in the ground-breaking and explosive report by the Swiss-based NGO Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) last September which estimated the assets of Taib Mahmud’s family at US$21 billion (RM64 billion), with the wealth of Taib himself put at a whopping US$15 billion (RM46 billion) making him Malaysia’s richest man outstripping tycoon Robert Kuok who has US$12.5 billion.

Najib not only failed to show any seriousness or commitment in the battle against corruption by setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the BMF report to clear Taib’s name but even more important to vindicate Malaysia’s reputation, he as good as directed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to leave the BMF report alone by publicly dismissing its allegations of grand corruption against the Sarawak Chief Minister.

If the Sarawak Chief Minister was present at Najib’s Election Integrity Pledge signing ceremony yesterday, why was the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman, another Barisan Nasional leader who has put Malaysia on the world  radar in international anti-corruption campaigns, absent?

In my speech in Parliament on the 2013 Budget last October,  I had spoken about the “test of the trio” as to whether there is real political will in the Najib premiership to combat “Grand Corruption” by VVIPs, and I had named Taib, Musa and the Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail.

But there is only complete silence from Najib on the “test of the trio” in the battle against “grand corruption” in Malaysia.

What credibility and legitimacy could Najib’s signing of the Election Integrity Pledge inspire and generate when the 66th UMNO General Assembly last December was such a dismal failure as far as fighting corruption and ensuring election integrity in the 13th General Elections are concerned?

A month before the 66th UMNO General Assembly, China’s outgoing President and General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Hu Jintao warned at the 18th CCP Congress that corruption could trigger the collapse of the Party and the fall of the State – a theme which was taken up in the first speech of the new Chinese Communist Party leader, Xi Jinping, who denounced the prevalence of corruption and said officials needed to guard against its spread or it would “doom the party and the state”.

There was  more reason for Najib than Hu Jintao and Xi Jinping to give priority to the grave problem of corruption as in the last two decades, China had been making measurable progress in the battle against corruption while the reverse is the case for Malaysia.

In fact, if the trend of China’s improvement in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in the past 18  years (1995-2012) and Malaysia’s regression continues unchecked, China will be placed in a better position than Malaysia in the TI CPI in being internationally regarded as being less corrupt in less than five years.

But the 66th UMNO General Assembly only provided further evidence that although Umno and Barisan Nasional have become synonymous with corruption in Malaysia and the four-year  Najib premiership,  Najib is only good at mouthing anti-corruption slogans but totally lacking the political will and commitment to root out corruption, especially grand corruption involving political and government leaders.

This was why the 66th UMNO General Assembly presented the sad spectacle of the Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman successfully performing the “disappearance” act despite valiant efforts by the media representatives on a look-out for him to respond to demands by Sabah UMNO delegates that Musa explain the scandal of the RM40million “political donation to Sabah UMNO” which involved him and the Sabah timber trader Michael Chia.

There was also the spectable of the  the backing out and silence of the Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi coupled with the failure of Najib to respond to the serious allegations of integrity about a RM100 million defence ministry project in 2005 raised by businessman Deepak Jaikishan implicating the Prime Minister’s family and which is also related to the high-profile and long-running Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case.

It was at the 66th  UMNO General Assembly that  some Sabah UMNO delegates told online news portals that although they full support Musa Aman, they were in the dark about the RM40 million “political donation” to Sabah UMNO and they wanted Musa to personally explain the issue.

However, there were also Sabah UMNO delegates who dismissed the controversy on the ground that the RM40 million donation was pittance compared to the millions UMNO dished out during elections – with one Sabah UMNO delegate revealing that in the Putatan constituency in his home state, UMNO would have to spend up to RM6 million during the polls.

With 26 parliamentary constituencies in Sabah (and Labuan) and at the average of RM6 million per constituency, the total election expenses would exceed RM150 million at the parliamentary level – which would more than doubled when the election expenses in the state assembly constituencies are taken into account.

With UMNO/BN spending at least RM300 million in Sabah, another RM300 million in Sarawak, and similar election expenditures for the 165 Parliamentary seats and 441 State Assembly seats in the eleven states in Peninsular Malaysia, we are looking at the UMNO/BN coalition spending billions of ringgit in the 13GE to retain power and recapture two-thirds parliamentary majority at the federal level, as well as regain the four Pakatan Rakyat states of Penang, Kelantan, Selangor and Kedah and ,maintain its unconstitutional rule in Perak.

With the UMNO/BN set to spend billions of ringgit in the 13GE, what is the use of Najib signing TI-M’s  Election Integrity Pledge? I will discuss with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Datuk Seri Hadi Awang whether under these circumstances, there is any purpose in our signing the TI-M’s Election Integrity Pledge.

                                                                      Lim Kit Siang

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 February 2013, 10:08 am and is filed under
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Stand Up, Be Counted

By Allan CF Goh

Stand Up, Be Counted

When those good men fail

to stand up against foulness,

they reduce themselves,

surrender their true greatness.

Let’s stand up against

the politics of evil,

that spawn policies,

in league with the foul devil.

Make Malaysia fair!

Free it from all corruptions;

let’s have a nation,

freed from racist erruptions.

Life is real freedom,

to pursue our dreams,

in good harmony,

to make our nation the cream.

In democracy,

people’s voice is in voting

for the good people,

to helm the state by winning.

In this election,

let us stand up, be counted;

show we have a soul,

let righteousness be courted.

There can never be

excuse, justification,

for inhumanity,

and fellow man’s suppression.

Let our votes be right,

make Malaysia fair again;

right all the past wrongs,

let Malaysia rightness gain!

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 February 2013, 12:12 pm and is filed under
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Where’s the logic, Hisham?

Calvin Kabaron | February 21, 2013

Free Malaysia Today

If the current soft ‘handling’ of the incursions by armed Filipinos into Lahad Datu is any measure, then it is clear that Sabahans’ safety is inconsequential to the federal government.

COMMENT

It’s ironical how promptly Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein ordered the arrest and deportation of Australian Senator Nick Xenophon while 100 armed Filipinos in military fatigue were being handled with kid gloves by the police and Special Branch officers because they had “links” in Sabah.

Xenophon arrived solo and unarmed but was considered a security threat. But in Lahad Datu, some 100 “soldiers” from the alleged Royal Sultanate of Sulu Army who were armed with “M-14, M-16, M203 and Armalite assault rifles” were considered friendly, “not militants” and “not a threat”.

These armed Filipino bandits landed in Sabah claiming ownership of the land on behalf of their Sulu Sultan.

In any other country, the Home or Internal Security Minister would have been at the site of the incursion the moment it was known.

But not Hishammuddin.

He saw it fit to arrive in Kota Kinabalu only yesterday, seven days after the police and the “militant army” – holed up in a oil palm plantation in Lahad Datu – faced a standoff after failing to come to an agreement over their demands.

When Hishammuddin held a press conference in Kota Kinabalu, flanked by military and police top men here, he had yet to visit the incursion site.

He just rolled off what he was told. Hishammuddin said everything was under control and that the federal forces would not compromise the security of Sabahans.

“The armed group are not militants or terrorists but since they had guns, it is important our action does not lead to bloodshed,” he said in defence of the militant Muslim group from the southern Philippines.

Hishammuddin also categorically denied speculations that the intrusion had anything to do with Manila’s claims, albeit indirectly, on Sabah, and fear of repatriation of Filipinos after the federal appointed Royal Commission of Inquiry’s (RCI) devastating witness testimonies.

In the January RCI sitting, witnesses revealed details of a high level agenda to neutralise Sabah’s Christian population by offering citizenship-for-votes to arriving Muslims from the Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan and India. The ICs were issued by the National Registration Department (NRD) under instruction from top level federal Umno leaders.

“The issue is not political, not racial; [it has] no connection with the stand on sovereignty but in our context this is our land and this is something that can jeopardise the nation’s security,” Hishammuddin said.

The minister must think Sabahans and Malaysians are stupid.

‘Sabah is our home’

The Philippine media, meanwhile, has gone to town with the news that the Malaysian government may send back hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Filipino illegal immigrants, many of whom had in their possession dubiously-acquired Malaysian documents.

In Manila, the Sulu group leader SuItan Jamalul Kiram asserted that his followers – some 400 men – were resolute and would stand their ground in Lahad Datu for “however long it takes”.

“Nobody will be sent to the Philippines. Sabah is our home,” so proclaimed Jamalul, who is one of the many claimants to the elusive throne.

But unlike the other claimants, Jamalul’s position as Sultan of Sulu is recognised by Manila and President Benigno Aquino was reportedly “informed of the incursions since Day One”.

Jamalul had even proudly announced that if his army in Lahad Datu was armed, then the weapons did not come from the Philippines but were already available in Sabah.

In an interview with the Philippine media, Raja Azzimudie Kiram, the leader of the group and brother to Jamalul, said his men in Lahad Datu were equipped with “all kinds” of weapons including “M-14, M-16, M203 and Armalite assault rifles”.

This can only mean that the Sulu “army” could have been stocking arms in Sabah for quite sometime.

Now isn’t this a serious offence? In Malaysia being in possession – illegally – of a normal firearm is a fatal crime punishable by death; what more when we are talking about combat guns.

Remember the Al-Maunah group caught hauling modern guns some years back? Remember how the authorities quickly rounded them up and dealt the harshest possible blow.

The authorities said the Al-Maunah groups were waging a war against the Malaysian Yang di-Pertuan Agong and as such the offence was punishable by death.

‘Imbecile’ Hisham

So why is the federal government being tentative about this band of militants who wants to “seize” or “reclaim” Sabah?

These armed militants from the Tausug and Bajau communities from Jolo, Basilan and Tawi Tawi who have been landing in batches since Feb 9 and with the latest arrivals on Feb 16, are well into the siege.

They have been holed up near Felda Sahabat since the Malaysian security forces cordoned off the area on Feb 12.

Strangely enough, Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who was on a whirlwind visit to Beaufort, Papar and Tuaran in Sabah during the time, said nothing about the armed landings.

Yesterday, Hishammuddin called on the people not to listen to rumours or speculations and forced down his version of what was going on in Lahad Datu, which incidentally is far from the truth.

Said Hishammuddin: “There is a lot of speculations and rumours flying. I have the correct information and can confirm that most of the speculation is baseless.

“That is why I came here today to explain to the people of Sabah… because it involves the lives of those who are just doing their duty to ensure our security.

“Also we are not interested in the rumours, we are interested in the lives of our security personnel and also in saving the lives of those Filipinos who are in Lahad Datu today who have a lot of links also.

“So let me go and see for myself so that I can give explanation and so that there won’t be any quarter who will try to create chaos.”

Senior newsmen here scoffed at Hishammuddin’s remarks calling him an “idiot” and an “imbecile”.

Amalilio, a mistake?

Meanwhile, as the world awaits Hishammuddin’s briefing on how he would broker a deal to peacefully send the group of armed militants back to the Philippines, another “wayang” is taking place.

This involved Chief Minister Musa Aman’s alleged nephew – Manuel Amalilio – who is wanted by the Philippine government for running a Ponzi scheme that scammed 15,000 Filipinos of RM859 million.

Amalilio, who holds two passports – Philippine and Malaysian – was detained by the Sabah police and handed over to the Philippine authorities. But 10 minutes before he could board the flight back, he was re-arrested.

No explanations were given but he was later charged and immediately sentenced to two years in prison after a “court” hearing in a Sabah hospital ward. He was charged with having a “false” Philippine passport.

The Philippine government, however, has never stated that Amalilio’s passport is false or illegal in any way.

A Philippine minister has reportedly accused Musa of interfering in the initial deportation of Amililio but Musa has denied this.

Many of those who invested in the scheme were important people in the southern Philippines including those in the security-military establishment.

Also of concern is the fact that the Philippine military and US military “advisers” are monitoring the situation and are on alert for Abu Sayyaf movement in the region.

As such, the undetected movement of boatloads of the Jamalul’s men heading for Sabah is suspicious, to say the least.

Now after the incursion in Lahad Datu, the Malaysian government is saying Amalilio, who is also known as Muhammad Kamal Sa’aid or Mohamad Sufian Saaid, may be “extradited/deported” to the Philippines.

Talk about stupidity.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 21 February 2013, 7:47 am and is filed under
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