Najib must honour his solemn undertaking to TBH family on 28.7.09 that “no stone will be left unturned” to find out the causes and circumstances of TBH’s death

Yesterday, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he left the decision of penalising the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) trio named in the James Foong Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Teoh Beng Hock’s (TBH) death to the MACC, the police and the Attorney-General.

This is the supreme “passing-the-buck” by the Prime Minister which is as good as saying that no one would be held responsible for Beng Hock’s death.

In the first place, the TBH RCI did not just name three names but quite a list of MACC officers who not only committed a host of crimes, including perjuries at the Royal Commission of Inquiry and the TBH inquest but must be held responsible for Beng Hock’s death.

However, even for the three MACC officers concerned who have been suspended from investigations duties but not as MACC officers, namely Hishammuddin Hashim (Negri Sembilan MACC director who was at the relevant time Deputy Director Selangor MACC and “mastermind” of the massive operation based “on a mere belief and without supporting facts” from a telephone call resulting in Beng Hock’s death); Anuar Ismail the “IO” of the operation and Ashraf Mohd Yunus (described by RCI as “Ashraf the abuser” – “who was Machiavellian in his method to secure evidence”), nothing serious is expected apart from “slap on the wrist”!

There is “golden silence” from the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail on whether criminal charges would be preferred against the trio and other MACC officers, although he would have more than a month to study the TBH RCI report which was submitted to the authorities on June 22, 2011.

The Selangor Police Chief Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah had said that the police  had decided not to investigate the RCI’s findings as “nothing was said about them breaking the law”.

The MACC director of investigations Mustafar Ali said there will be no further suspension of others besides the three officers, and no time frame has been fixed for the internal probe which will be focussed on administrative and procedural issues while criminal investigations will be left to the police.

With the police saying that there would be no further criminal investigations into Beng Hock’s death arising from the RCI report, this would mean that the three would not have to face any criminal proceedings but would get at worst “a slap on the wrist” on “administration and procedural” grounds.

No wonder Teoh Beng Hock’s family and all right-thinking Malaysians feel cheated as  having been taken for a ride by the entire government mishandling of the tragic death of Teoh  Beng Hock.

This is just not good enough and tantamounts to Najib  reneging on his solemn undertaking to Teoh Beng Hock’s family when he met them on 28th July 2009 that “no stone will be left unturned” to find out the causes and circumstances of Beng Hock’s death.

Why is the Prime Minister “washing his hands” of Teoh Beng Hock’s mysterious death while in the custody, care and control of the MACC and at MACC headquarters in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009 after giving the Teoh Beng Hock family the solemn undertaking that he would leave no stone unturned to find out the causes and circumstances of Beng Hock’s death?

Najib’s turning his back on his solemn undertaking to the TBH family that “no stone would be left unturned” is most shocking, irresponsible and deplorable.

The full frightening story of the causes and circumstances for Beng Hock’s tragic death at MACC Headquarters has still to be told and full justice given to Beng Hock and family.

The RCI came out with a finding overturning the verdict of the TBH Inquest ruling out suicide – concluding that  Beng Hock was  “driven to commit suicide by the aggressive, relentless, oppressive and unscrupulous interrogation”.

This is most unacceptable as it was a finding not based on any evidence but completely a leap in speculation by the RCI.

The Coroner Muntapha Abas in the TBH inquest had ruled out suicide but had returned an open verdict as there was insufficient evidence to prove that his death was a homicide.

Although no sufficient evidence was adduced at the RCI to establish Beng Hock’s killers, it was clearly established at the RCI that there was a conspiracy of “blue wall of silence” among the MACC officers to “cover up” what actually transpired at the MACC resulting in Beng Hock’s death, with the RCI publicly condemning the MACC Selangor officers except for two “brave” witnesses as a pack of liars who blatantly told lies and perjured at the RCI.

This means that all the previous accounts, including the statements given by the MACC officers in the initial police investigations into Beng Hock’s death, were just a pack of lies, justifying the police re-opening investigation to seek evidence of whether Beng Hock’s death was one of homicide, murder or manslaughter not amounting to murder, at the MACC heaquarters in Shah Alam on July 16, 2009.

Najib should honour his “no stone will be left unturned” undertaking to the Teoh Beng Hock’s family and ensure that the police re-open investigations to bring to book the killers of Beng Hock, as the initial police investigations had been undermined by the conspiracy of “blue wall of silence” of MACC officers to thwart police investigations from establishing the truth and to pervert the course of justice.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 4:18 pm and is filed under
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RCI + inquest = ‘big, big mess’

By
Teoh El Sen
 | July 28, 2011

Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: The Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into Teoh Beng Hock’s death, which released its findings in a report last Thursday, has created a “big legal mess” by generating more questions than answers, said prominent human rights lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

Malik, who represented the Selangor government during the inquest and RCI, said rather than serving its original function to bring a closure to the issue, there are now different conclusions by the RCI and inquest.

“What has resulted is a big, big, mess. We have now a coroner’s decision and a RCI’s, which are saying different things. In law, the coroner’s findings is the determinative one,” the National Human Rights Society president told FMT.

Malik said the three Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers – Negri Sembilan MACC director (then Selangor MACC deputy director) Hishamuddin Hashim and two enforcement officers Mohd Anuar Ismail (then the investigating officer) and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus, who are being internally investigated for allegedly driving Teoh to suicide – would most probably make the same argument (that the RCI finding is inferior to a court finding) if they were brought to court.

“Both findings (RCI and inquest) are inconsistent. The inquest ruled out a suicide and said there were insufficient evidence to come to a finding of homicide. It also accepted that there were pre-fall injuries on Teoh, but the RCI totally ignored all that,” said Malik.

Malik said before the Selangor government and lawyers of Teoh’s family decided to pull out of the RCI, they suggested and raised concerns over the “dual” findings that would eventually emerge but their arguments fell on deaf ears.

“The RCI then should have stood down until the outcome of the revision (on the inquest) had been done away with. Or, the Attorney-General should have withdrawn his application to revise the inquest decision to push for a suicide finding and all parties to start off on a clean slate. But that was never decided on,” he said.

“At the end of the day, the A-G, who recommended for both a revision and most probably also advised the government to hold the RCI, was asking for two different sides,” he said.

“Also, the RCI decided to ignore all the evidence in the inquest and reboot the whole case… and it seems that somehow everyone got a second chance to restate their case. They (the commissioners) should not have done that; (RCI chairman) James ( Foong) could have found a way to include the coroner’s findings,” he added.

‘There’s no certainty’

Malik expressed his disappointment that the RCI now gave rise to more uncertainty than definitive answers.

“Where do things stand right now? There’s no certainty. What we have now is a whole mess of uncertainty,” he said.

“Has the RCI served its function? From the very beginning, the decision not to hold a RCI before an inquest was ill-conceived, and having a RCI as a knee-jerk reaction to public anger was also not well-thought out,” he said, adding that the original intention of having a RCI was because of public anger and lack of confidence in the inquest’s findings.

“The RCI was more of a political resolution rather than a legal one,” he said.

Meanwhile, Malik also said that a judicial review being planned by DAP veteran lawyer Karpal Singh for the Teoh family would not likely result in the Federal Court overturning the decision of suicide.

“Usually judicial reviews are not so concerned over the correctness of the result, but the process taken to achieve it. It won’t say the RCI is wrong. It may say the RCI did not take certain facts as factors and came to an unreasonable conclusion; or that the RCI was biased and was in contrast with natural justice… But no judicial review would substitute the decision,” he said.

He cited an example in Australia where a parliamentary commission decision was challenged in court and relief was granted only because the reputation of persons mentioned was damaged.

Asked what would happen if the government failed to implement the recommendations of the RCI, Malik said the government was not legally bound to do so but would suffer political implications if it did not.

On whether a RCI result should be questioned, Malik said if it impacts a person then there should be a judicial process to address it.

‘Making a mockery’

However, Umno legal adviser Mohd Hafarizam Harun told FMT that pursuing a judicial review would be “making a mockery of its (RCI) inception since it is commissioned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong himself”.

He said that questioning the RCI would be defeating the whole purpose of having a finality to the issue, adding that the RCI was different from the court process of going as far as the Court of Appeal and having exceptional cause to reach the Federal Court.

“What’s appalling to me is the consistently inconsistent position taken by certain quarters when all that has been done is what they initially wanted. I see it as none other than politically motivated,” he said.

“We must have faith in our system, be it whether it’s the best system we have (or not) and if we are not happy, we deliberate for the betterment. There must be acceptance in order for us to move on,” he added.

Harafizam said that “no one wants that dreadful incident to happen; it could happen to us, but it has happened and there is nothing much we can do to undo it’.

His view was echoed by former Bar Council president K Ragunath, who said that it was fine to question the findings, but a RCI’s stand should not be reviewed again by the courts.

“These are merely recommendations and not a decision and it should not be reviewed. Let’s say the report says ABC is guilty of murder; it does not mean the person can be prosecuted immediately, the police still have to investigate, A-G still has to order prosecution and we go to court,” he said.

No faith in judicial system

However, Associate Prof Azmi Sharom said at the end of the day, even if a review is granted, the problem is that the general population’s faith in the judicial system is at a “low ebb”

“Since 1988, there’s been very little faith in the system; (I am not) saying all judges are biased. This government has systematically destroyed the public system and the RCI has shown that the people have already decided that they will not trust the court’s findings.

“But it would take years to revamp and rebuild the institutions to make sure that there is impartiality,” said the Universiti Malaya law lecturer.

Former DAP political aide Teoh, 30, was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth floor of the then Selangor MACC office in Shah Alam, after undergoing an overnight interrogation as a witness in the case of alleged abuse of state funds by his boss Selangor exco Ean Yong Hian Wah.

A coroner’s court held an inquest to investigate the cause of Teoh’s death but delivered an open verdict, ruling out both suicide and homicide.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 12:18 pm and is filed under
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RCI report: Gobind throws Gani a challenge

By
G Vinod
 | July 27, 2011

Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP national legal bureau chairman Gobind Singh Deo wants Attorney- General Abdul Gani Patail to explain why the three MACC officers found responsible for the death of Teoh Beng Hock cannot be charged under the Penal Code.

“If you can’t find anything under the Penal Code to charge them with, come debate with me and I will tell you how,” said Gobind.

Gobind said under the Federal Constitution, only the Attorney-General’s office has the power to prosecute anyone in a court for a criminal offence.

He was speaking at a forum attended by about 500 people at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall here yesterday.

Also present were Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, its Youth chief Anthony Loke, PAS central working committee member Husam Musa and Teoh’s sister, Teoh Lee Lan.

Last week, Gani said that MACC should take disciplinary action against the three officers found to have driven Teoh to commit suicide by interrogating him aggressively in violation of the anti-graft agency’s regulations.

“If it refers to the standard operating procedure of the MACC, it becomes a matter of discipline and the three are to be dealt with by the disciplinary body of the Public Service Department.

“Interrogations with intent to derive information and in the process driving someone to commit suicide is different from doing so with the intent to make him commit suicide,” said Gani.

Gobind, who is also Puchong MP, said Teoh’s family and the public did not wait for two years just for the government to take disciplinary action against those responsible for Teoh’s death.

“Gani must inspire public confidence by acting on the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report and taking action against the three. If he fails, then he must resign,” said Gobind.

“Is this justice for Teoh?” asked Gobind, who received a resounding “no” from the audience.

‘BN leaders forgotten Islam’

He told the crowd that his team is now working on getting a judicial review on the report and would not back down till they get justice for Teoh’s family.

Husam told the crowd that he could not accept the RCI’s findings and it was everyone’s responsibility to see that justice is done for Teoh’s family.

“In Islam, it is said that when a man is killed, the whole of mankind is killed. Unfortunately, our Barisan Nasional leaders have forgotten this part of Islam,” he said.

Teoh, a political aide to Ean Yong, was found dead on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam in July 2009, after he was questioned overnight by MACC officers at their-then Selangor office on the 14th floor.

A coroner’s inquest in January this year delivered an open verdict to his death, ruling out both suicide and homicide 18 months after Teoh’s untimely demise.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 1:19 pm and is filed under
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Resign Or Snap Election For Najib, Here’re The Reasons

By
Finance twitter

As much as I would like to stop writing about PM Najib administration, the plot just got interesting and I think he may just hit the bull’s eye as far as my prediction that his downfall may be faster than his predecessor, Abdullah Badawi, is concerned. Compared with Najib, Badawi now seems like a cute adorable little kitten, who merely likes to sleep (on the job). Malaysians tend to be more forgiving on lazy prime minister but not a prime minister who lies, cheats, brutal, dirty (allegation on Mongolian Altantuya’s murder), hypocrite but above all stupid yet arrogant.

One cannot help but fell off the chair laughing after read that Najib said he cancels a family vacation because he wants to spend more time with Malaysians. This was perhaps the best joke ever by premier Najib since he took over from Abdullah Badawi. This joke actually worth a thousand “Like” on his facebook page. Forget about Bersih 2.0 because this guy may quit under pressure – not from opposition parties or Bersih 2.0 but from his internal UMNO party. Boy, if it was true that the US$24 million controversial diamond ring indeed belongs to his wife Rosmah Mansor, that ring is cursed.

Anyone notice the deadly silence from Mahathir after the Bersih 2.0 rally that instantly flush Najib’s popularity into the toilet bowl? I’ve wrote earlier that Najib administration’s extreme stupidity in tackling the simple issue of Bersih 2.0 made the whole episode smells rat. Najib can’t be that foolish (or was he?) and even if he was indeed stupid, his wife would have save the day, unless of course the plan to unseat him has been brought forward by his own circles. Mahathir doesn’t like Najib for two main reasons – his wife and his close connection with Singapore Government.

It seems Najib may have to quit soon, probably before his term expires in 2013. And if Najib plans to stay until next year to enjoy more free overseas holidays using taxpayers money under his capacity as the prime minister, his dream is now short-lived based on his emergency return to take control of Putrajaya. How on earth could everything turns upside-down before his “shopping” trip to United Kingdom and Italy ends? It appears he has no other option but to call an early election, possibly before 11-11-2011 in order to neutralize his enemy from within UMNO, if he’s able to do that.

1) Perkasa Ibrahim Ali

Ibrahim Ali, the guy whom you love and hate has successfully performed his duty, if indeed it was true that he was actually a mole, regardless whether he was planted by Anwar or Mahathir. His job was to create chaos and racial disharmony. Both Anwar or Mahathir knew the Malay votes and to a certain extent the Indian votes have return to UMNO under Najib’s leadership. If the Chinese voters were to go back in droves to UMNO- led National Front coalition, then the opposition is toast and Najib would become very powerful, so much so that he can ask Mahathir to fly kite.

One has to remember Mahathir is a master in the game of divide-and-rule. As long as Ibrahim Ali can continuously feed the racial hatred cookies to both ethnic-Malay and ethnic-Chinese, Najib’s strength is being checked. And wasn’t Ibrahim Ali a director in Vincent Tan’s Berjaya Group, one of the closest cronies during Mahathir administration? Well, if Najib truly believed that Ibrahim Ali was God-sent Angel to help fish runaway Malay votes for his administration, then he deserves what he’s getting now.

2) Deputy PM Muhyiddin

One needs to see the bigger picture on how the deputy PM seems to be pouring kerosene everytime his boss, PM Najib Razak, starts a new project in his bid to gain voters’ support. When Najib was shouting till foam at mouth his 1Malaysia concept, Muhyiddin declared he was Malay first and Malaysian second. And of course Mahathir almost swear he doesn’t actually understand the concept of 1Malaysia. Muhyiddin is indeed a strong deputy as he was one of the warlords who enjoys ground support.

Najib doesn’t like a strong deputy because it would make him looks weak, which is true because his political rising star was purely based on his father’s name, the second prime minister Tun Razak. In short, Najib was born with silver platter hence he has never been known to be a risk-taker. The fact that Muhyiddin together with Mahathir were extremely quiet post-Bersih 2.0 rally speak volume about how both were equally pleased with the public and international criticism on Najib administration in handling the peaceful demonstration. Muhyiddin can almost smell the aroma of the premiership.

3) Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein

Given the option, Muhyiddin would like to become the Prime Minister yesterday but there’s another opportunist who like to climb the ladder and he’s none other than Najib’s own cousin – Hishammuddin Hussein. In Malaysia, it seems only the elite groups have the priviledge to become the prime minister. Just like how Najib leveraged on his daddy’s priviledge name, Hishammuddin was drooling about becoming the next prime minister since his father was the country’s third prime minister.

Needless to say, Mahathir was also architecting the plan to build his own dynasty. Time is the luxury Mahathir doesn’t have considering his current age. Going by his plan, he would like to see his own son takes over the throne while he’s still alive – after Muhyiddin warmed the seat. But with Hishammuddin controlling the police force, this little obstacle needs to be neutralized and what better way than to promise a deputy prime minister-ship to Hishammuddin after Mahathir’s son gets to sit on the throne? Hishammudin must be a fool to believe such a promise but then he is not a very clever fellow nonetheless.

He’s an opportunist who would not think twice about jumping ships, cousin or not. Judging by how he declared the Bersih 2.0 an illegal organization, made wild but laughable allegations that PSM-6 were waging war against the King and linked them to communism but later accused them of being involved as “movers and activists” to Berish 2.0, arresting people for wearing yellow T-shirts and whatnot goes to show how he tried to make Najib administration looks very foolish. As fast as he plucked accusations on PSM-6 from the sky, he disappeared with equal speed after Bersih 2.0; leaving the police to take care of their own mess. Has Najib ever wonder that his own cousin has jumped ship to Mahathir-Muhyiddin tag-team?

4) Bersih 2.0 and Marina Mahathir

Many people praise Mahathir’s daughter, Marina, for taking part in the Bersih 2.0 although strangely she didn’t participate in Bersih 1.0 (or did she?). Of course that was after she blogged about it and fortunately she didn’t get tear-gassed by the police. Silly me, of course she didn’t get to taste the water cannon or tear-gas because she didn’t lead the marchers. It would be fun to see if the police would still spray her knowing she’s the daughter of former powerful dictator Mahathir Mohamad.

Coincidently Mahathir was deadly silent while the daughter suddenly become super vocal in condemning Najib administration. She can’t possibly speak on her daddy’s behalf in pouring fuel into the fire in the plan to unseat Najib, can she? But how could anyone suspect Marina’s noble intention in supporting the Bersih 2.0. For goodness sake, she won’t kill an ant so how can she has ill-intention towards Bersih 2.0. Compared to her monster daddy, Marina is such a charming angel so let’s give her the benefit of the doubt.

At most, Marina may have “consulted” his daddy and his daddy “encouraged” her to “speak as she sees fit” (*grin*). Maybe Marina should speak about the brutality in Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad Sarbani or Kugan’s death in the hand of MACC and police as well, no?

5) Utusan Malaysia

The only role of Utusan, the newspaper owned by UMNO, was to publish racial articles – the more the merrier. The justification of doing so was to drum the support of Malay voters. The rural illiterate Malay voters will always support UMNO while the urban educated Malay voters are with the opposition parties. The fence-sitters will swing to whichever side depending on the respective party’s campaign. But assuming the Utusan is still under Najib’s control, won’t it be over-kill to not only fans the racial hatred, Christianity would take over from Islam as the country’s official religion and opposition trying to revive communism but also in taking the slingshot at Jews?

Utusan’s latest loose cannon was aiming at Jews by alleging that the Bersih 2.0 rally could open the door to Jews and Israel to infiltrate Malaysia. B’nai B’rith International, a Jewish humanitarian organisation, called the allegation “preposterous” and “offensive” and which only serves to perpetuate an anti-Semitic attitude. Heck, if there’s one thing you do not wish to disturb, it’s in toying with anti-Semitic game. Mahathir had learnt his painful lesson in sticking the nest of anti-Semitic and certainly the coward Najib won’t dare to even think about such idea.

The fact that Utusan was happily sowing anti-Semitic hatred while Najib administration was busy doing damage-control by explaining to the international media and foreign government about police repression and intimidation on peaceful protestors goes to show that Najib was not in control of Utusan. If Utusan was not within Najib’s control, then Utusan is reporting to someone much more powerful than the prime minister.

6) Matthias Chiang

Mahathir’s die-hard fan and adviser, Matthias Chiang had slammed Najib administration about its handling of the country economy and practically didn’t put any hope that Najib could overcome the global financial crisis. To be fair, Matthias Chiang was also super critical about Abdullah Badawi and his son-in-law administration. Heck, this guy would even criticise Abraham Lincoln and Queen Elizabeth because his only idol was his former boss, Mahathir Mohamad, simply because Mahathir can do no worng as the former premier was the only visionary ever born in this world, literally.

Before the Bersih 2.0 rally, Matthias wrote that Najib should just let the rally proceed and not make a big fuss out of it, something which I wrote earlier as well. But knowing Najib’s arrogance, such advise would not reach his ears. Maybe Matthias was giving Najib last opportunity, after consultation from Mahathir, to stop, think and act rationally rather than emotionally (or rather stupidly). The water is under the bridge now and Najib has to face the consequences of his stubbornness and arrogance.

7) Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah)

Don’t you smell rats (what’s wrong with my nose?) that UMNO veteran Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah chose to launch his new group, Angkatan Amanah Rakyat (Amanah), at this hour? Suddenly this Kelantan prince called on the silent majority to voice their discontent against “rife corruption, cronyism and racial crisis” despite his many decades serving UMNO as if he has just awaken from hibernation. The fact that he’s still not willing to quit UMNO and focus in this so-called third force raised many questions and doubts.

It’s not difficult to conclude that his new Amanah is more of a political movement set up to take advantage of the current chaos within UMNO and the huge support Bersih 2.0 is enjoying. The fact that the group consists of political veterans (or rather rejected) such as former tourism minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir, former Sabah Chief Osu Sukam, former MCA president Ong Tee Keat and others triggered suspicious about its real intention. If you believe these people have Bersih (Clean) themselves, then you also believe Paris Hilton is still a virgin.

Wasn’t Kadir Sheikh Fadzir the person who tried to parachute a proton car into South Pole to impress his boss Mahathir only to find out the oil used couldn’t handle the low temperature? And wasn’t Osu Sukam the guy whom gambling debts snowballed to RM7.1 million that two foreign casinos, London-based Ritz Hotel Casino Ltd and RHC Ltd, had to seek High Court help to recover the debts, despite the fact that as a Muslim Osu Sukam should not had gambled? Sure, they have repented and become the good guys and are now on a mission to save the world (*grin*).

Anyway, is Razaleigh trying to hijack the situation in an attempt to lock-in discontent votes especially from Bersih 2.0′s 709 Facebook revolution and UMNO rejected warlords or little Napoleans who are about to be dumped by Najib in the next general election? As much as Razaleigh tries to lead the third force, he couldn’t even explain the real role of his new pet project, let alone in assuring people that his movement is indeed neutral and not another power broker opportunist. Maybe Razaleigh sensed this will be the golden opportunity for him to become the next prime minister after all.

In a scenario where opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim is sent to prison and both opposition and Najib coalition locked in a stalemate in the next general election, PM-wannabe Razaleigh would play the role of the kingmaker, if his Amanah managed to capture some strategic seats. Hey, he didn’t say his Amanah group is purely a NGO and not a potential political party, did he? Mahathir is more than willing to offer the prime ministership to Razaleigh than to lose it to opposition while the opposition would see Razaleigh as a good fit in case of a vacuum left by Anwar Ibrahim.

Razaleigh is old – the most he can walk the corridors of powers is one-term so it seems everybody would favours him, in case of a stalemate. Whether Amanah is the brainchild of Razaleigh or was indirectly sponsored by Mahathir is immaterial. The objective was to unseat Najib Razak as he carries too much baggage so much so that he may bring UMNO down to a level which is beyond repair. When that happens all the corrupt UMNO warlords would need to take the first flight out of the country so you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to decide whether it’s worthwhile to keep Najib Razak. Gosh, the plot thickens and become super interesting.

8 ) Bourdon-French-Scorpene Connection

French human rights lawyer William Bourdon was already in the country since earlier this week and the government had full knowledge about the purpose of his trip and yet the Immigration Department did not refuse him entry into Malaysia, until PM Najib Razak rushed back from his unfinished shopping trip. Surely it can’t be that the Immigration Department was sleeping on the job. Obviously some very senior and influential leaders (more powerful than PM Najib) were pulling the string in allowing the French lawyers into the country to do maximum damage by embarrasing Najib Razak.

The moment Najib rushed home, the French lawyer was deported. Bourdon was arrested after Immigration officials boarded his plane which landed in KLIA from Penang. As expected, the excuse given for the deportation was that the French lawyer violated the conditions of his visit to Malaysia. But if even my cat can tell that it was the government’s RM7.3 billion purchase of submarines from French shipbuilder DCNS that got Bourdon deported, who is Najib administration to bluff?

9) Mahathir Mohamad

There’re two main things that Mahathir doesn’t like about Najib administration – his wife and his close relationship with Singapore, not to mention the dictator just realized Najib is another Abdullah Badawi clone – slogan king without substance. It’s perfectly alright to corrupt but the country’s economy gravy train has to continuously churning out moolah. The pace of corruption and economic progress have to work hand in glove. If you wish to take 100 bucks you have to make sure the economic train can generate at least 200 bucks. But the way the country’s economic is moving, it seems it was in reverse order – too many hands in the cookie jar.

During Mahathir’s era, the corruption was done in a systematic way, you let the goose lay its golden egg before you take it and not the current way of slaughtering the goose hoping to get all the golden eggs. When there’re not enough eggs to be distributed, chaos erupts as everyone would get anxious, panic and greedy thus triggering the process of massive corruption. This is bad for next UMNO leaders (such as Mahathir’s own son or dynasty) as there would be nothing more left. Suddenly it appears bringing Najib down is much more easier than Abdullah Badawi.

However, there’s a risk that Mahathir’s plan may backfire if the opposition manage to capture Putrajaya in the next general election. And that was why Razaleigh’s Amanah is in the picture now. Razaleigh’s Amanah would be able to split the votes which would otherwise ended up in the opposition’s bag as well as to act as bargaining chip should Najib needs them to stay in power. Razaleigh is noble enough to act as the airbag to absord impact in case of a sudden car crash. Razaleigh doesn’t play dirty politics as he put priority on his dignity as a Kelantan prince. Time will tell if he’s still a fool to be played out, again, by Mahathir. But after more than 20-years since his defeat, maybe Razaleigh is mature and smart enough this time aorund and may spring some surprises for Mahathir.

Now, Najib’s choices reduced to two – to resign honourably, which is highly unlikely, or to call a snap election this year, earlier than his favourite lucky number 11-11-2011. PM Najib actually doesn’t have much choice and he has only himself to blame. If only he would listen to the voice of bloggers, the Bersih 2.0 rally would proceed and the whole problem would be non-existent. Negotiate and comply with probably half of the Bersih 2.0′s demands and he can still win handsomely as Sabah and Sarawak are still the fixed deposit. Ambiga is not a politician and surely she would be more than happy if Najib can promise half the demands, buy some time until the next delineation exercise takes effect (another round of gerrymandering) and Najib can still remains as the prime minister.

Of course, he can still gamble his last chip by calling a snap election this year, before Mahathir pull his string from behind getting UMNO Supreme Council warlords demanding Najib’s resignation. Either way, it’s quite difficult for Najib to win two-third majority when his own people are sharpening knifes for his head. It’s game over for Najib Razak. He already made his moolah and can retire young retire rich, at Port Dickson. And Abdullah Badawi may call him from his iPhone poking joke why Najib resigns sooner than his (Badawi) term.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 5:10 pm and is filed under
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Rollbacks are threatening reform agenda, say economists

By
Yow Hong Chieh

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 28, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 28 – The Najib administration’s reform agenda is in danger of being derailed through decisions to appease the “Bumiputera agenda” and pressure from Malay rights groups intent on preserving the status quo, economists have said.

RAM Holdings Bhd chief economist Dr Yeah Kim Leng said the government must recognise that Malaysia is underperforming economically because the “unfounded fears” of such groups were hindering reforms.

“Their (Malay rights groups) narrow interest may undermine the country’s progress into a high-income nation,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

Dr Yeah said the easing of tender conditions by Syarikat Prasarana Negara Bhd (SPNB) in May and government interference in UDA Holding Bhd’s sale of prime land to Nadayu Properties Bhd would create concern among investors about the prime minister’s willingness to undertake hard reforms.

He said partial rollbacks in public sector projects could be seen as trade-offs to get buy-in from Malay rights groups but warned that the government should not allow such sentiment to “snowball” and impede more critical private sector projects.

Bank of America Merrill Lynch emerging Asia economist Chua Hak Bin said the Najib administration’s failure to stick to its stated reform agenda only served to raise questions marks about the prime minister’s political will.

“It’s a pity. I think the ideas are sound, the concepts are fine. But I think again there are increasing worries about the execution,” he said.

Chua, however, contended that the glass should be seen as “half empty, half full” as “bit and pieces” of reforms were coming through in the form of higher investment numbers, some subsidy cuts and greater privatisation and divestment of state-owned companies.

But he expressed concern that investment recovery was not being pushed through hard enough, noting that most investment was coming from government-linked companies (GLCs) and not the private sector.

“Most expected implementation to be slow but it’s important not to fall behind,” he said.

Jupiter Securities research head Pong Teng Siew said the “backtracking” by government will only place considerable constraints on what can and cannot be done to boost the country’s growth amid a global slowdown.

He pointed out that the prime minister already had a difficult enough task pushing through reforms without having to “design around” demands from rights groups that claim to represent the sentiment on the ground.

“It’s a suboptimal path that they’ve chosen,” he said.

Pong said the Najib administration had to put across more forcefully the need for economic reforms to Malay rights groups who may not see the long-term cost of their demands on the nation and will likely “ratchet up” pressure over time.

“Perhaps the prime minister hasn’t sent the message across forcefully enough that it’s either that or we languish in slow growth, very slow growth,” he said.

The cost of such flip-flops will likely not be known until much later when it will be too late to start anew, Pong said, adding that once the economic pie stopped growing the government will be forced to “rob Peter to pay Paul”.

“The longer term impact will only be seen in the longer term. We don’t know at this point. There’ll probably be a price to pay along the way,” he said.

“Then we’re back to square one.”

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 6:44 pm and is filed under
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Talking a good game with our PM

–
Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

July 28, 2011

JULY 28 – Football is the people’s game. It’s simple, engaging and enjoyed by both players and supporters.

But Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s football analogy this morning urging Malaysians to move from tolerance to acceptance was none of the above.

He called our diversity the “strength of our nation. As in a football match, people from our various communities help one another for the success of our team.

“If one of us score an own goal, we will lose. This (solidarity) value is important to us all, no matter the colour of our skin or how we look,” said the prime minister.

It remains unclear which team exactly he wants us to play for or support. On the one hand, there is 1Malaysia. There is also the power-sharing model under Barisan Nasional (BN) which isn’t all that bad an idea.

On the other, are the likes of Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Perkasa. Both are allowed to do or say as they please, like monsters that have grown too big for their master to control. Nothing seems to escape their fury – Chinese, Christians, Hindus, Jews and even Muslims who support PAS.

And we’re not done there.

It’s difficult to imagine that our prime minister has forgotten that even the use of the word Allah or Malay-language bibles by Christians is not tolerated. After all, he just met the Pope, didn’t he?

Meanwhile, Indians had to tolerate being called pariahs in schools as part of the Malay literature syllabus.

Our prime minister cannot have forgotten that he brooked no dissent from Bersih, demanding the electoral reforms group step off the streets and into a stadium, and then telling the movement to gather outside of Kuala Lumpur at the eleventh hour.

When they ignored him, police dispersed tens of thousands with tear gas and water cannon and arrested nearly 1,700 demonstrators, leaving scores injured and an ex-soldier dead.

Malaysians though, are asked to tolerate, no, accept that t-shirts of Chin Peng are a threat to national security, that nothing can be done about inflation and subsidy cuts and that big money deals fall under the Bumiputera agenda.

Just to top up the list, Najib’s administration also does not tolerate alleged Wahhabism or the colour yellow.

I have a football analogy too. Teams wear different colours on the pitch. The point is to ensure there is no mixup and everyone knows who and where their teammates are.

Najib’s mixed signals are leaving the public confused as to whether it’s Team Umno, Team Barisan Nasional, Team Malaysia, or even Team Najib that we’re rooting for.

Maybe if he made a clear stand on all the above instead of washing his hands of the actions of the civil service, police and party machinery, we’d finally be able to figure out who “our team” really is.

Najib is a Manchester United fan. But surely he must know that the Red Devils have not gotten to where they are simply by talking about not scoring own goals.

They get down on the pitch and score a few goals at the other end too.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 9:35 pm and is filed under
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Teoh’s death: ‘Four new leads for police’

By
Teoh El Sen
 | July 27, 2011

Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang yesterday urged police to re-open investigations into the death of former political aide Teoh Beng Hock based on four new “leads” that the recently released Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) report revealed.

Lim, the Ipoh Timor MP, said police should be investigating Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers for perjury based on the report’s finding that named most of the

MACC officers as “liars”.

“Apart from two brave and truthful souls from Selangor MACC – Azeem Hafeez Jamaluddin and Azian Umar – the report virtually dismissed the rest as a pack of liars led by (then Selangor MACC deputy director) Hishamuddin Hashim, the “mastermind” of the massive and unjustified operation which resulted in Teoh’s death,” he said.

(Azian and Azeem were lauded as brave in the report as their testimony had supported the finding that MACC officers had been instructed to lie by their superiors.)

Lim said the report’s “most scathing… indictment of the character and testimony” of the officers is “fertile source for the formulation of multiple perjury charges against Hishamuddin and other MACC officers in giving false testimony at the RCI”. Under Section 193 of the Penal Code, this provides for a maximum sentence of seven years jail and fine on conviction.

Lim, speaking at the “Teoh Beng Hock Royal Commission Inquiry Report – Where is the promised truth?” forum last night, challenged Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail to arrest and charge Hishamuddin based on the following paragraph in the report:

“The evidence adduced showed that the MACC officers were prepared to go to great lengths to lie. One glaring example is that of Hishamuddin, a very senior officer, who was overall in charge of

operations on that fateful 15th evening and spilling over into the early hours of the morning of the16th. In testimony before us, he was adamant in his stand that he had no knowledge whatsoever that complaints of assault and use of force had been lodged against the officers under his charge with the police. However, his lie was exposed with startling clarity when DSP Kamaruddin Ismail from the Selangor police produced a letter written by Hishamuddin himself in 2008 responding to police inquiries in relation to the complaints of assault and related abuses of power that had been lodged against MACC officers under his command.”

Lim said that based on this paragraph alone, a charge could be framed against Hishamuddin.

‘A pack of liars

He added that the RCI could not have been more condemnatory of Mohd Anuar Ismail, who was appointed investigating officer of the operation by Hishamuddin.

Lim quoted another paragraph from the report, which said:“Anuar lied about the role he played in order to cover up for HH. And on top of these factors, he was a trusted senior officer of Hishamuddin who was prepared to sacrifice himself for Hishamuddin…”

Calling MACC Selangor officers “a pack of liars” (apart from Azeem and Azian), Lim said the RCI report findings meant that “they had lied all the way from the initial police investigations into Teoh’s death to the inquest and the RCI about what happened to Teoh on the fateful days of July 15 and 16, 2009″.

“This means their earlier statements given were untrue, worthless and must be rejected – justifying a re-opening of police investigations into Teoh’s death,” said Lim.

He added that the “second lead” he had for the police was the revelation of a new “fourth interrogation” that the RCI postulated had happened to Teoh between 3.30am and 7am that day and which had “propelled Teoh to commit suicide”.

“Police investigations into Teoh’s death never knew about this ‘fourth interrogation’… in fact, police should also investigate whether there was a ‘fifth’ interrogation between 7am and 11 am,” Lim said.

He also said that the report had fingered Hishamuddin as the “mastermind” in the “host of criminalities and breaches of the law in the massive operation resulting in Teoh’s death”.

“Hishamuddin blatantly abused his powers when he launched the massive 33-officer operation which resulted in Teoh’s death ‘solely on a mere belief and without supporting facts’ and based on a ‘mere’ telephone call,” Lim said.

‘Black blog’

He quoted another paragraph in the report, which read: “We found him (Hishamuddin) to be arrogant, given to falsehoods, untruthful and uncompromising in his stand. His falsehoods, particularly of his non-active involvement in the entire operation at the material time, were exposed from the contradictory statements he made before us…”

Lim said based on this third lead, the police should find out who gave Hishamuddin such a sense of immunity and impunity.

Meanwhile, he also urged the police to investigate a blog which surfaced after Teoh’s death, blaming DAP for his death.

Calling it the “black blog”, he said that the website was most probably the work of the people “responsible of killing him”.

Lim said the blog had the “finger prints of MACC” as it contained documents related to Teoh investigations, which are only in the possession of MACC.

“Police investigation into who was behind the ‘black blog’ would probably have found Teoh’s killers as well.”

Teoh, 30, was found dead on July 16, 2009, on the fifth floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after being questioned overnight by MACC officers at their then-Selangor headquarters on the 14th floor.

Teoh was a witness in the MACC’s investigations into alleged misuse of state funds by his former boss, Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah. MACC had later cleared Ean Yong of any offences, citing insufficient evidence.

An inquest was called but it returned an open verdict. Subsequently, the RCI was formed, which recently released its report. The RCI had unanimously found that Teoh was driven to suicide after

coming under aggressive and continuous questioning from MACC officers.

Three MACC officers in charge of interrogating Teoh – Hishamuddin, Anuar, and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus – are under investigation and have been suspended. However, the MACC said yesterday that other officers would not be penalised.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 1:26 pm and is filed under
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The chameleon PM

By
Othman Wahab
 | July 27, 2011

The Malaysian Insider

JULY 27 — Okay, now it is official. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has run out of ideas. After looking terribly unconvincing when handling the Bersih 2.0 rally, he is clutching at anything just to seem to have things under control.

But the sad fact is that his every act and every word uttered just shows him to be desperate ala a tikam-tikam politician, not the son of Malaysia’s second PM who showed some promise in the early days.

In the past few weeks, he has obliterated the image he was carving out as a moderate leader. He has played the religious card, calling Ambiga Sreenevasan an enemy of Islam for doing her legal duty of representing a client.

He has flip-flopped like an Olympic gymnast on the offer of a stadium to the Bersih 2.0 organisers.

Najib has played the reverse religious card: first going to the Vatican as a public relations exercise to try and win Christian support and then returning home to warn the Christians to support the Islamic leadership of the country. (This, to show his Umno cohorts what a brave and unbending Muslim leader he is).

In between all that, his administration has talked about a Christian plot; Communist plot; an Arab-style uprising; and locked up six individuals on trumped up charges.

If this was not bad enough, he sought some plaudits for cancelling a family holiday.

And today, he played the old Mahathir favourite: colonisation. Malaysians, he said, should fly the flag for six weeks to show foreigners that we are united and that we will not brook any interference.

Aiseh, Mr PM. We are united, Bersih 2.0 showed us that. This us versus them tactic was used by Dr M in the old days when there was no Internet and he could shape opinion. No more lah.

It is really sad that it has come down to this. In the short span of a few weeks, Najib has become a dictator, intolerant, chauvinistic, opportunistic and now an anti-colonialist.

I suppose you only know a person’s true colours when he is tested in a trying situation.

*
Othman Wahab reads The Malaysian Insider.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 11:41 am and is filed under
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We’ll derail BN, railwaymen warn Najib

By
Patrick Lee
 | July 28, 2011

Free Malaysia Today

PETALING JAYA: In a letter to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, the Railwaymen Union of Malaya (RUM) warned him of protest votes against the Barisan Nasional in the next polls.

The letter penned by union secretary-general Jaafar Alias in his capacity as the Tampin Umno information chief also panned the Najib admnistration’s tagline.

“They (KTMB staff) said the slogan of ‘people first, performance now’ does not seem to be relevant… where the views of union members and KTMB employees have been ignored,” he said.

Jaafar also reminded Najib that there were nearly 2,000 KTMB employees in the Lembah Pantai Parliamentary constituency, where PKR’s Nurul Izzah Anwar reigned.

“There are many voters working for KTMB all over the country,” he added in the July 22 letter.

The letter complained about the inaction against Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) president Aminuddin Adnan, whom RUM blamed for massive financial losses.

According to the union, nearly RM200 million in cash reserves and a RM100 million overdraft belonging to the national train company have disappeared.

“Not one achievement can be seen through Aminuddin’s leadership and the RM200 million cash reserves and RM100 million overdraft have been spent in less than than two years,” read the letter.

Jaafar was referring to Aminuddin’s tenure as KTMB president, which the latter had assumed since Aug 1, 2009.

He also said that the company had nothing new to show for, adding that KTMB’s performance suffered during Aminuddin’s reign.

This detail is one amongst many reasons why the union, fed up with Aminuddin, would hold a picket against him tomorrow at the KTMB’s headquarters at 6pm.

The union men were also sore that the train boss’ contract would be extended for another two years; to July 31, 2013.

‘Whose interests?’

Bringing this to bear, RUM questioned the interests behind the decision.

“KTMB’s board of directors, including senior officials from the Finance Ministry and the Transport Ministry said they are not happy with Aminuddin’s performance,” Jaafar wrote further.

He was also convinced that there were “orders from the top” making sure that Aminuddin stayed where he was.

(KTMB is overseen by the Finance Ministry, which Najib leads as minister.)

Jaafar then alleged that the KTMB president was connected to the RM1.8 billion contract involving China-made Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) trains.

Malaysia was due to receive the first of these EMUs this September, with another six on the way in December and the rest by June 2012.

FMT previously reported that the Transport Ministry awarded the EMU contract to a Chinese company, known as CSR Zhuzhuo Electric Locomotive Co Ltd last May.

The deal was alleged to be RM500 million more expensive than intended, prompting a report to be lodged with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

This did not stop the government from going ahead with the deal. The MACC refused to divulge any information over the case.

Jaafar also wrote that RUM had met with Najib on July 14 last year in protest over Aminuddin’s position.

“We explained our problems in length… and you (Najib) seemed to understand, while asking us to be patient and give Aminuddin a chance because of his newness (in KTMB),” he said.

But the meeting was to no avail.

RUM said that the event created a bigger divide between Aminuddin and the union, causing the former to view the latter as “enemies”.

Jaafar also alleged that senior KTMB officials friendly to the union were also treated with animosity by the company president.

Because of this, Jaafar alleged that there was a “culture of fear” within KTMB’s higher levels.

                This entry was posted on Thursday, 28 July 2011, 1:34 pm and is filed under
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Axe AG, Mat Zain tells Najib

By
Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 29, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Datuk Mat Zain Ibrahim has called on Datuk Seri Najib Razak to sack Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail for repeatedly failing to initiate charges in high-profile cases such as the death of Teoh Beng Hock.

The former city criminal investigation chief said that the Attorney General would “try his best to trick his way to avoid prosecuting those who have clearly given false testimony” in the recent royal commission of inquiry (RCI) into how the former DAP aide fell to his death in a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) office.

“For the sake of national interest and holding to the Rule of Law, we hope that the prime minister seriously considers using powers that only he possesses under Article 125 (3) and Article 145 (6) of the Federal Constitution to solve this long-standing crisis,” he wrote in an open letter to the Inspector-General of Police.

The two clauses in the constitution allows for the prime minister to appoint a tribunal to consider the dismissal of federal court judges and the Attorney General.

Mat Zain, who headed the 1998 police probe into former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s black-eye case, has repeatedly accused Abdul Gani of deceiving the federal government.

He recently called for a royal commission of inquiry to investigate Abdul Gani’s role in destroying public confidence in the police.

In an earlier letter to IGP Tan Sri Ismail Omar, he had called on police to begin investigations into five MACC officers that the Teoh RCI found to have lied to the commission, three of whom he said should also be charged for abetment of suicide pursuant to the findings of the royal panel.

Mat Zain said that then deputy director for Selangor MACC Hishammuddin Hashim together with officers Arman Alies and Mohd Ashraf Mohd Yunus were culpable in the interrogation of Teoh as the RCI found that the three men had left the former DAP aide “almost a mental and physical wreck.”

In today’s letter, he cited the Commissions Act, which specifically allows for witnesses to be charged for bearing false testimony in the proceedings of an RCI.

Although the Act also states that no testimony in such a proceeding may be used as evidence for other charges, he said police should investigate the three anti-graft officers based on the RCI’s findings to establish if they should be charged for abetting in Teoh’s suicide.

The RCI unanimously ruled that Teoh, a former aide of Selangor executive councillor Ean Yong Hian Wah, committed suicide as a result of pressure from aggressive and continuous questioning by anti-graft officers.

The five-man panel wrapped up its report on June 15 after having heard testimony from 70 witnesses in its bid to unravel the mysterious circumstances behind Teoh’s death.

The 30-year-old DAP political aide was found dead on July 16, 2009 on the fifth-floor corridor of Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam after he was questioned overnight by MACC officers at their then-Selangor headquarters on the 14th floor.

The coroner’s inquest had in January returned an “open verdict” ruling out both suicide and homicide some 18 months after Teoh’s death.

The government was then forced to establish the RCI, which first met in February, with two terms of reference: to probe how Teoh plunged to his death and to look into MACC’s investigative methods.

But Teoh’s family has rejected the commission’s verdict and are currently mulling a judicial review of its findings.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 12:31 pm and is filed under
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Engaging with Bersih, an ‘illegal’ association

—
Tommy Thomas

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 29, 2011

JULY 29 — An often-heard message from the government in the run-up to the July 9 rally was that Bersih is an illegal organisation, and therefore the government cannot deal with it or its leaders. Bersih is not an illegal organisation merely because it is not registered with a regulatory authority like a company, society, trade union or co-operative society. Malaysian law recognises associations which are not registered or incorporated, that is, the “unincorporated association”. It must be noted that one of the fundamental liberties enjoyed by Malaysians is the freedom of association under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution.

However, let us assume for the purposes of discussion, that Bersih is indeed an illegal organisation. Does it follow that government leaders cannot engage with it? The answer is absolutely no. One example in history is relevant, that is, how the government dealt with the Malayan Communist Party (MCP).
 One of Tunku Abdul Rahman’s first decisions after becoming chief minister in 1955 was to arrange a meeting with Chin Peng, the leader of the MCP. This was at the height of the Emergency when the MCP was outlawed as illegal, and described as violent and murderous. Chin Peng was the most wanted man in the country, with a massive bounty for his capture. Despite British reservations, Tunku met Chin Peng in the now famous Baling Talks in December 1955. Tunku, as the duly elected leader of Umno and Alliance, had no qualms meeting with a leader whom the British and Malayan governments perceived as having “blood on his hands”, and led an illegal armed struggle to overthrow the status quo.

It must be remembered that the British imperial power, grateful for the MCP’s armed struggle against Japanese invasion, had recognised the MCP as a legitimate political party in 1946.  Only in July 1948, after the Proclamation of Emergency, did the British government declare the MCP to be an illegal party under the laws of Malaya. That illegal status remains in force until today.

Despite its illegal status, the Malaysian government during Prime Minister Mahathir’s administration had five rounds of tripartite peace talks in Phuket in 1989 with the MCP, under the auspices of the Thai government, which acted as the honest broker. Rahim Noor led the Malaysian delegation in all five rounds; a prominent member was Norian Mai, both of whom ended their careers as Inspector-General of Police.

On December 2, 1989 in Haadyai, the Government of Malaya signed the historic agreement with the MCP to terminate hostilities, witnessed by representatives of the Government of Thailand. Signing for the Malaysian government were Datuk Wan Sidek Wan Rahman, the secretary-general of the Ministry of Home Affairs, General Tan Sri Hashim Ali, Chief of Defence Forces, and Tan Sri Haniff Omar, the IGP. Chin Peng, Abdullah C.D. and Rashid Maidin signed for the MCP.

The 1989 Agreement was hailed as a great victory for peace, and has often been cited by independent scholars as one of the few examples of a peaceful settlement between an elected government and a communist party in the 20th century.

During the entire negotiations and when the agreement was signed, the MCP remained illegal under the laws of Malaysia. That fact however did not deter the Malaysian government from dealing with it.

Accordingly, it is hypocrisy of the highest order for the current government to say that it will not deal with Bersih because it is illegal, and will not meet with its leader Ambiga Sreenevasan because she leads an unlawful society.

What about the MCP and Chin Peng then?

* Tommy Thomas is a senior lawyer in the Malaysian Bar.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 12:07 pm and is filed under
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MMA: Don’t force-feed Jeyakumar

K Pragalath | July 29, 2011

Free Malaysia Today

The authorities must respect Jeyakumar’s right to go on hunger strike as a non-violent form of protest, says Malaysian Medical Association.

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) today urged the police not to force-feed Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael D Jeyakumar who is being detained under the Emergency Ordinance.

“While we are concerned about the possible detrimental effects of this hunger strike on Jeyakumar’s health – more so as he has been brought to the hospital for heart problems twice since his initial arrest almost a month ago – we must also respect Jeyakumar’s right to this non-violent form of protest.

“In this regard, the MMA calls upon the authorities to respect international human rights law and not to resort to force-feeding as a means of ending Jeyakumar’s protest,” MMA president Mary Suma Cardosa said.

“The World Medical Association (WMA) – the body that establishes ethical guidance for doctors around the world – states that force-feeding by any means is considered as unethical and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment,” she said.

Jeyakumar started his hunger strike yesterday morning as a protest for his release along with five other PSM activists who have been detained under EO since July 2 for allegedly being prime movers of Bersih 2.0.

The five others are PSM deputy president M Sarasvathy, central committee members Choo Chon Kai and M Sukumaran, Youth chief R Saratbabu and Sungai Siput branch secretary A Letchumanan.

Cardosa also urged all doctors to respect Jeyakumar’s decision to use hunger strike as a form of protest based on WMA’s Tokyo Declaration signed in 1985 and the Malta Declaration on Hunger Strikers (1991).

The WMA Tokyo Declaration (1985) states that a prisoner capable of forming unimpaired and rational judgment on the consequences of voluntary refusal of food must not be forced-fed. The prisoner’s capacity should be confirmed by at least one independent physician who will also explain the consequences.

The WMA Malta Declaration calls for doctors to prevent coercion or maltreatment of detainees, respect detainees’ choice to go on hunger strike and to ensure their medical assessments are influenced by third parties for non-medical purposes.

In line with the Malta Declaration, MMA also urged the authorities to appoint a physician from  MMA to manage Jeyakumar ‘s fasting.

She said MMA’s involvement is vital because “we can be assured of his health and welfare and can communicate this with his family and friends on a regular basis, and can intervene medically if and when appropriate, while respecting Jeyakumar’s autonomy and right to carry out this form of non-violent protest”.

‘Lies from the police’

Meanwhile, Tanjong MP, Chow Kon Yeow, questioned Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar’s statement that “all six PSM activists are well taken care of” as reported in the mainstream media.

“This is another lie by the authorities. I urge that the six be released immediately and unconditionally,” Chow said in a press statement today.

On charges against the six that ranged from waging war against the King to spreading communism and being a prime mover of the Bersih 2.0 rally, Chow said the detention is political in nature without factual basis.

“The police should stop imagining things and must accept that the outpouring of public support indicates that people no longer find their actions credible.

“The detention is a cruel act… Where is Ismail’s conscience?”

Chow also took a swipe at the police who detained Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hooi Cheng in 2008 on the pretext of protection.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if he (Ismail) further claims that the EO detention is an act of kindness. After all, didn’t the police once justified the ISA detention of Tan by saying that locking her up was to protect her?

“Denying the PSM detainees their freedoms and subjecting them to questionable practices, including supposed polygraph tests, are not acts of kindness. Forcing detainees to sign statements they don’t understand is not kind.

“There is no kindness in going back on promises for family visitations. Severely limiting access to legal counsel is not an act of kindness,”said Chow.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 5:31 pm and is filed under
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Najib: Release of PSM 6 according to rule of law

By
Shannon Teoh

The Malaysian Insider

Jul 29, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak has insisted that the release of six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members from their Emergency Ordinance (EO) detention was done according to the due process of the law.

The prime minister told reporters today that the decision to release Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Devaraj Jeyakumar and five others at 5.30pm was made by the police based on “their observations.”

“We welcome it. It is up to the Attorney General to decide on further action. As a country, we hold to the rule of law,” the Umno president said after chairing an Umno supreme council meeting.

However, The Malaysian Insider understands that several younger leaders at the meeting that began at about 4pm had asked Najib to “rethink Jeyakumar’s detention.”

The six were initially held on June 25 with 24 others in the run-up to the July 9 Bersih rally for allegedly attempting to revive communism and waging war against the Agong.

Dr Jeyakumar began a hunger strike yesterday to protest the detention without trial under the EO, his wife Mohanarani Rasiah had said.

Nearly 2,000 others, who were arrested in the days leading up to and during the outlawed July 9 rally for free and fair elections, have been released.

But the continued detention of the six had garnered widespread criticism from opposition figures and human rights activists with regular candlelight vigils being held nationwide calling for their release.

The Najib administration has already suffered international criticism over its handling of the Bersih rally, with influential media such as the Guardian, Wall Street Journal and al-Jazeera taking stinging tones towards the government crackdown.

Police had dispersed tens of thousands of demonstrators calling for electoral reform on July 9 with tear gas and water cannons and arrested nearly 1,700 on the day itself, leaving scores injured and the husband of a PKR division leader dead.

The released detainees, popularly known as the EO6, are scheduled to speak to the press at 7.30pm tonight.

PSM 6 released

UPDATED @ 07:36:03 29-07-2011

By Shannon Teoh

Jul 29, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, July 29 — Six Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) members, including Sungai Siput MP Dr Michael Devaraj Jeyakumar, were released at 5.30pm this evening from their detention under the Emergency Ordinance (EO).

The MP’s brother-in-law, Selangor state executive councillor Xavier Jeyakumar, confirmed the news when contacted by The Malaysian Insider.

“Yes, his wife has spoken to him. We are trying to confirm the details now,” the PKR leader said.

PKR vice president N. Surendran also said related paperwork was being processed at the Jinjang police station.

According to The Star, the Attorney-General will decide on the next course of action for the six who were initially held on June 25 with 24 others in the run-up to the July 9 Bersih rally for allegedly attempting to revive communism and waging war against the Agong.

Dr Jeyakumar began a hunger strike yesterday to protest the detention without trial under the EO, his wife Mohanarani Rasiah had said.

Nearly 2,000 others, who were arrested in the days leading up to and during the outlawed July 9 rally for free and fair elections, have been released.

But the continued detention of the six had garnered widespread criticism from opposition figures and human rights activists with regular candlelight vigils being held nationwide calling for their release.

The Malaysian Insider also understands that an Umno supreme council meeting that began at 4pm today saw several young leaders ask Datuk Seri Najib Razak to “rethink Jeyakumar’s detention.”

The Najib administration has already suffered international criticism over its handling of the Bersih rally, with influential media such as the Guardian, Wall Street Journal and al-Jazeera taking stinging tones towards the government crackdown.

Police had dispersed tens of thousands of demonstrators calling for electoral reform on July 9 with tear gas and water cannons and arrested nearly 1,700 on the day itself, leaving scores injured and the husband of a PKR division leader dead.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 7:57 pm and is filed under
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Najib – release PSM6 immediately and unconditionally or face the wrath of the people in next general elections

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak should release the PSM6 led by Sungei Siput MP Dr. Michael Jeyakumar who have been detained under the Emergency Ordinance (EO) on the most spurious and ridiculous grounds or face the wrath of the people in the next general elections.

Jeyakumar started a hunger strike yesterday in sheer frustration over his prolonged detention under EO.

It is most deplorable that  high-handed and arbitrary police and government  actions still persist some three weeks after the 709 peaceful Bersih 2.0 rally – worst examples being the unjust, unjustified and unwarranted detention of the PSM6.

Jeyakumar and five others have been detained under the Emergency Ordinance since July 2 after initially being arrested on June 25 with two dozen other PSM members under Section 122 of the Penal Code for allegedly “waging war against the Agong” and trying to revive communism.

Section 122 of the Penal Code states: “Whoever collects or attempts to collect men, arms or ammunition, or otherwise prepares to wage war with the intention of either waging or being prepared to wage war against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong or any of the Rulers or the Yang di-Pertua Negeri or abets the waging or the preparation of such war, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or imprisonment for a term not exceeding twenty years, and shall also be liable to fine.”

This is a heinous offence – waging war against the Yang di Pertuan Agong, liable on conviction to life imprisonment.

But who would believe that Jeyakumar and the other 29 PSM activists originally arrested on June 25 had been guilty of the heinous crime of “waging war against the Agong”?

The answer is none at all – not even the police and the home ministry which is why after the seven-day remand of the 30 PSM activists, no one whether from the Police or the Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein breathed a word about the heinous crime of “waging war against the Agong” and “reviving communism” as the charges are so ridiculous and unbelievable as the raise serious questions about the right and sanity of a government capable of such fantasies to rule the country.

Malaysians are entitled to ask who are the officers or politicians who had been so “creative” as to concoct the heinous charge of Section 122 of Penal Code of “waging war against the Agong” against the PSM activists in the first instance. These persons responsible for such ridiculous charges should be publicly exposed and punished for a most gross abuses of power.

I will ask in next Parliament who are the police officers who concocted such charges and who are their police superiors who gave the approval, and whether the advice of the Attorney-General or his officers had been sought.

The PSM six headed by Jeyakumar have been detained under the EO for 22 days after the end of their seven-day remand on July 2 on the ridiculous charge of “waging war against the Agong”.

The 42-year EO is an obsolete law which violates democratic norms and fundamental human rights and should have been repealed five years ago if the Barisan Nasional Government had accepted the recommendations of the Dzaiddin-Hanif Police Royal Commission Report to create an efficient, incorruptible, professional world-class police service.

The Dzaiddin-Hanif Royal Commission chaired by former Chief Justice Tun Dzaiddin with former Inspector-General of Police Tun Haniff as deputy chairman made 125 recommendations with the specific mission change for the Royal Malaysian Police to focus on three core functions – to reduce crime, eradicate corruption and uphold human rights.

It recommended that by May 2006, the Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969 (the law under which PSM6 are detained) should be repealed “because it has outlived its purpose and in some instances facilitated the abuse of some fundamental liberties”.

The detention of PSM6 under EO (i.e. EPOPCO) is the latest illustration of what the Dzaiddin-Haniff Royal Commission had warned six years ago that EO would “facilitate the abuse of some fundamental liberties”.

It is clear from the initial arrests of PSM30 on the ludicrous charge of “waging war against the Agong” (Sec 122 of Penal Code”) to the subsequent detention of the PSM6 under EO, the Malaysian Police were guilty of practicing the deplorable tactics of “Arrest first, find the charges later”.

This is totally against the spirit of the rule of law, as the Police is betraying its role as the upholder of the rule of law by abusing its powers to “arrest first, find the charges later”.

The PSM6 were accused of being “prime movers” of 709 Bersih 2.0 rally, which have been proved totally false.

Without the PSM6, the 709 Bersih 2.0 rally had been such a great success that it has become a historic watershed in the awakening of Malaysians that regardless of race, religion, region, class, gender and age, they are truly one Malaysian people with the united bond of love for country and common aspiration for fair and free elections and a Clean Malaysia – more meaningful than Najib’s 1Malaysia slogan which is nothing more than 1Malaysia T-shirt, Malaysia Tupperware, 1Malaysia mineral water, 1Malaysia burger in the 1Malaysia circus.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 12:38 pm and is filed under
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Rakyat the ‘Third Force’ or ‘The Main Force’

By
Richard Loh

Today I am taking a challenge to write against the tide.

In physics, a force is any influence that causes a free body to undergo a change in speed, a change in direction, or a change in shape. Force can also be described by intuitive concepts such as a push or pull that can cause an object with mass to change its velocity (which includes to begin moving from a state of rest), i.e., to accelerate, or which can cause a flexible object to deform.
 Wikipedia

If I am not wrong, the third force was not heard before except the term ‘fence sitter’ which described those indecisive voters pre-308. Even post 308 for over a year and a half there is no one bringing up the third force subject. What the general public saw was an opportunity for a two party system and that is when Pakatan Rakyat was created or formed.

The talk of the third force begins to appear in some blogs initiated from a movement group, sometime in late 2009 or early 2010 without mentioning that the rakyat was going to be the third force. Why suddenly the call for the third force when everything was pointing towards a two party system.

This movement group had played a large roll through their blogs, social and new media and even gave ceramahs in person to help the opposition triumph in the 12th GE. If I am not wrong, they to, see a possibility of a two party system after the 308 tsunami. What makes them came out with the idea of having a third force.

Many were scratching their heads and questioning what is the third force. Reading the comments on those blogs that wrote about the third force will give you an idea that a majority do not agree. It does not matter to the movement that started this third force and they kept explaining to the people from England to downtown KL. Sometime between then and now this third force movement begins to claim that the rakyat is the third force.

This is getting interesting, the question in my mind is why should the rakyat be the third force? Are we talking about politics here, I guess we are.

Now, if rakyat is the third force, who then are the first and second forces? Umno/BN the first force and Pakatan the second force but both without rakyat, since rakyat is the third force, how can that be?

Let us take a look at how the third force came into the picture. Many are saying that the 308 tsunami is not the love for the opposition but rather the hatred for Umno/BN. Question is are the voters that voted for the opposition out of hatred going back to Umno/BN in the coming 13th GE? Did Umno/BN transformed themselves after 308 that the voters are flocking back to them as some ministers and media are proclaiming?

The reasons for having the third force were that Pakatan did not keep their election promises, they are no different from Umno/BN, many elected representatives, especially PKR, did the frog dance and jump over to Umno/BN and that PR is not listening to the ‘rakyat’ or is it ‘them’!. So, it is better to go for the devil we know rather than the devil we do not know?

Are these reasons, in a true sense valid to call for a third force when originally this third force from the movement were fighting against Umno/BN? The original thoughts of many were to bring about a change, what happen to that, just because Pakatan is as bad?

This movement third force are planning their own team of candidates (supposedly to be of the best integrity) and offer to political parties that are willing to accept their manifesto, something of that sort, especially to Pakatan. If their candidates are not accepted they are willing to go alone even if there are three corner fights.

To me the third force is not the rakyat but another political entity. They wanted to assist in bringing a better Malaysia for the rakyat and we welcome them with open arms. But when they claimed that others are bad and do not keep their election promises and elected representatives like to do the frog dance, what do we see here?

Firstly, should they go it alone and won a few seats, what can they do unless the election results gave them the opportunity to be king maker, which I do not foresee that happening in this coming 13 GE.

Secondly, everyone is human, what guarantees (other then their words) can they give us that they are different from other political parties which they claimed are bad, can they keep their election promises or turn froggy? No one can really see through the future of another human being, once elected, a person can still change for many a reason.

Thirdly, we all know very well that any three or above corner fights will give the trophy to Umno/BN on a silver platter.

Other then the movement third force, there are other new political parties, such as KITA, Parti Cinta Malaysia, most likely Amanah and others. I would call these parties as splinter groups. They formed these parties out of frustration and disagreement with their former party umno, PKR, Gerakan or MIC.

These splinter groups are no difference from all other political parties, one way or another they are coaxing the rakyat to trust them, believe that they are the one which can make the change that the rakyat are seeking. Are they serious? Can they win enough seats to govern?

So, can we say that the rakyat is the third force? It would be more proper to say that the rakyat is the main force, because they are the deciding force to elect a government that they want and surely they know that by voting the splinter groups ain’t gonna help them. The choice is between Pakatan Rakyat and Umno/BN.

The main objective is to bring about a real change, preferable in the federal government and return the rights and freedom back to the rakyat which the present government is not willing to.

We now have the opportunity for change by staying with Pakatan Rakyat. Yes, I agree Pakatan has its weaknesses but it is a much better choice then Umno/BN. Pakatan may not have complied with all their election promises but we can see that they are performing other better things which they did not promise at all.

Maybe what the movement meant when it says that rakyat is the third force are the ‘fence sitters’ which make up about 30 or so per cent of voters. But still they need a political party as a vehicle to undergo a change.

In conclusion, my hope is that the movement third force can work with Pakatan and don’t act as spoiler. The other splinter groups will be putting up candidates to split the votes and we know why and whom they are helping. The 13th GE is the only opportunity for Pakatan to take over PutraJaya and realizing a two party system. Let us start a two party system first, weigh Pakatan performances then the movement third force can do whatever they like.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 4:39 pm and is filed under
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RCI is utterly wrong to label TBH death as suicide

By Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP life advisor

The decision of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of Teoh Beng Hock to declare it a suicide is unconscionable and unacceptable to the people who want justice for Teoh Beng Hock and his family.

An incredulous roar of disapproval erupted throughout the country, when the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the death of Teoh Beng Hock announced their verdict that his death was due to suicide.

‘IMPOSSIBLE’ the people said. There was no earthly reason for TBH to commit suicide. He had everything going for him. He was getting married the next day to a wonderful girl and he was going tob e a father, he was holding a good job and faces a bright future. Yes, he was due for questioning by MACC today, but only as a witness and not as a suspect, and only for a few hours. He was the most unlikely candidate to be suicidal.

Unfortunately, TBH after a day of questioning by MACC officers on day 15th, he was found dead the next day 16th on the premises of MACC. There was a coroner’s inquest which returned an open verdict.

To appease the public, PM Najib announced the formation of a Royal Commission of Inquiry to find out the cause or causes of the death of TBH. Was the RCI helpful?

Unfortunately no. A few days ago, the RCI had the temerity to declare that excessive interrogation and abuse has induced TBH to commit suicide.

In its explanation, RCI has dismissed the injuries found on post mortem, because these were due to the fall from the 14th floor down to 5th floor landing. There was derision for the opinions of world famous forensic pathologist Prof Pornthip of Thailand who said the death was 80% homicide and 20% suicide. So RCI know more about post mortems than a learned forensic pathologist?

RCI was less than thorough in their investigations. They carried out three interrogations and found that the MACC officers had psychotic personalities who relish in bullying and punishing TBH. It appeared that the 3rd interrogation ended at 3.30 am on 16th July. TBH was alive and well then but after 3.30 am it was not clear as to what happened. Was there a 4th interrogation? What was going on until 11am, the time that TBH died? There must be witnesses.

RCI should have investigated this period. Clearly this was the time when the injuries found on post mortem, were inflicted by unknown psychopathic MACC officers.

RCI should not wash their hands at this stage, and put the blame purely on TBH recourse to suicide. This is most unfair of RCI.

RCI abdication of its duty to find out the person or persons who were responsible for the death of TBH is most unconscionable. RCI inaptitude and neglect to pursue the matter until the culprits are found is most deplorable and shameful.

RCI must not be allowed to shirk its responsibility. RCI must find out the truth. Investigate and interrogate all officers in MACC who were connected with TBH. Get written and sworn statements on their movements. Subject them to a lie detection test. Get to the truth. If necessary bring in the psychologists who could use truth drugs to elicit information from the officers. Do whatever is necessary to find the truth.

The truth, it is what the people want.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 4:30 pm and is filed under
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Reason for Zunar’s head on chopping block

By
Steve Oh

CPI

While the history of political cartooning makes for a good read on a lazy afternoon over the weekend, it is easy to understand why books like ‘Cartoon-o-phobia’ and other books of political caricature by Malaysia’s contemporary Malaysiakini cartoonist, Zunar – full name, Zulkiflee Anwar Hague – are banned.

One man’s humour may be another politician’s downfall.

Until I did some research for an article on William M Tweed, the 19th century corrupt New York politician whose bête noire, Thomas Hast and his political cartoons ridiculing the political boss of New York, I had not realized the enormous power of caricature.

Most Malaysians like me would have thought that political cartoons merely painted their subjects in an embarrassing or negative light or funny way and provided light relief to those who can’t stand serious text or are illiterate. Who but the most erudite would have known that there is a more serious and potent effect of political cartoons than make us snigger at the exaggerated drawings of the subjects?

The truth is political cartoons can turn the tide of public opinion against public figures.

William ‘Boss’ Tweed was caricatured in a negative light by Thomas Hast whose remarkable drawings were sometimes let down by a less ingenious theme. Nevertheless they were effective in the eventual political demise of one of America’s most corrupted public figures, among other factors including a crusade against political corruption by newspapers of social conscience then like Harper’s Weekly and the New York Times.

Is this why Zunar’s political satire has been guillotined before they can do the real damage?

How cartoons hit home

Political cartooning of a more editorial nature took off during the Protestant reformation. From A Brief History of Cartoons, “While caricature originated around the Mediterranean, cartoons of a more editorial nature developed in a chillier climate.

“The Protestant Reformation began in Germany, and made extensive use of visual propaganda; the success of both Martin Luther’s socio-religious reforms and the discipline of political cartooning depended on a level of civilization neither too primitive nor too advanced.”

 In Luther’s time, both woodcutting and metal engraving had become established trades, with many artists and draughtsmen sympathetic to the cause of his socio-religious reforms. A high illiteracy rate probably influenced the rise of cartoons.

“Luther recognized that the support of an increasingly more powerful middle class was crucial to the success of his reforms, but in order to lead a truly popular movement he would need the sheer weight of the peasantry’s numbers. The distribution of simple broadsheet posters or illustrated pamphlets throughout population centres proved to be an effective strategy because the images would reach a large amount of people and enjoy the greatest possible amount of comprehension,” according to A Brief History of Cartoons.

I suppose there is a parallel in Malaysia if you are trying to reach the rural heartland and win over the hearts and minds of the masses there. So it makes for strategic political sense for the authorities to clamp down on Zunar.

But is the ban on Zunar moral and fair and in the longer term national interest? What does it say about the intellectual development of the nation and the ability to learn from self-criticism and not to take oneself too seriously?

Transcending language differences

In a country of language diversity and cultural differences I recall how the cartoons of Lat in an earlier generation were able to capture the imagination of the nation in his clever cartoons.

Lat’s ability to communicate the nuances and idiosyncrasies of the people through their physical gestures in his drawings was a stroke of genius. He could typecast people without being offensive. Lat was mischievous but not menacing.

Zunar is not Lat and while his caricatures appear more serious it is because political satire is deadly serious in a time of high political stakes. It is why the authorities take a more serious approach to political cartoons that may appear light-hearted reading but carry a similar sombre political message not unlike Hast’s 19th century visual invectives against Tweed and his ring of corrupt cronies.

Political cartoons are able to reach the masses across the language and cultural barriers because of the medium of visual art. A picture paints a thousand words and a clever caricature may well carry more than a thousand votes.

 Benjamin Franklin drew the first American political cartoon above in his political cause.

That is why the enemies of Zunar’s cartoons are scared.

They threaten to charge him with sedition.

But that gives us all the more reason to ‘read’ Zunar’s cartoons in between the drawings. Banned books often gain unexpected publicity and that was how I got to know about Zunar. And after seeing some of his cartoons, I realise it is his talent at art combined with a political insight that makes those who become his subjects take him seriously.

So now we know that the pen is mightier than the sword and more so when it is used in sketching political cartoons in a place like Malaysia. Elsewhere in civilised places where political humour is not taboo, they even give the best political cartoonist a Pulitzer Prize and put the winner on a pedestal.

In Malaysia they want to put his head on a chopping block for indulging in dangerous humour. I wonder if Zunar can do a cartoon of that.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 11:14 am and is filed under
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Seat negotiations will test Pakatan unity

Joseph Sipalan and Lee Way Loon | Jul 29, 11

Malaysiakini

INTERVIEW It appears that Malaysia’s opposition is looking at covering all its bases in anticipation of a snap general election that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak may call at any time.

With speculation that snap polls could be called as early as November, Pakatan Rakyat has already gone into discussions to determine its candidates for each of the 222 parliamentary seats up for grabs.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang (left) said the plan is for Pakatan leaders at state level to finalise their seat negotiations by Sunday (July 31), though he did not discount the possibility that the negotiations may require more time.

What is more significant, however, is how the three Pakatan member parties – PKR, DAP and PAS – iron out their differences and accommodate one another’s needs for growth, both within the confines of the coalition and in the broader scope of Malaysian politics.

Lim pointed out that “it is time” for DAP to expand its support base beyond that of majority Chinese areas and urban centres and “reach out” to all Malaysians regardless of race and locality, in line with the party’s founding vision.

“That would also be good for Pakatan as a whole, that the DAP will become a more multi-racial party and not just confined to urban areas, so that we are able to reach out to the Malays, Kadazans and Ibans… these are things that we need to work out,” he told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview.

Lim acknowledged that such a pronouncement may, at the very least, irk DAP’s Pakatan colleagues, but he avoided delving too deeply into the issue, say the seat negotiations were still being worked out at the state level.

He said Pakatan leaders in the various states would be the best people to decide on seat distribution among the three parties, as they would be in a “better place to know” the demands and challenges in their respective areas.

“These are things that need to be thrashed out. It’s too early at the national level to talk about it, (as) it is still being dealt with at the state level,” the MP for Ipoh Timor added.

The Pakatan leadership, he said, had asked its state leaders to address the problems first, to resolve them at state level and if they are not able to do so, the issues would have to be resolved at the national level.

However, he stressed that the preference was for the issues to be resolvedm as far as possible, at the state level.

PR first before individual parties

Pressed on how far the DAP’s plans to contest in mixed, and possibly even Malay-majority seats, would impact its relationship with PKR and PAS, Lim played the question down, though he did admit that it could lead to some “tough discussions”.

“But the important thing is we must have a PR mindset. After three years, I think there is greater awareness that there must be a PR thinking, mindset, not just that of individual parties; bearing in mind that there was no Pakatan Rakyat in the 2008 general election.

“(This is) the first time Pakatan is going into a general election as a coalition, as a grouping… at least, after three years, there is a general feeling (that) there is a need for a greater PR mindset, thinking, on the best interests of Pakatan.

 “I think (for) seat negotiations and discussions, that element will come in. It wasn’t there in 2008 because it was (a case of) individual parties discussing and trying to get the seats they felt they could win. Now, I think, there is (this) extra element that should be seriously considered, which is what is good for Pakatan Rakyat.”

As to how the relationship among the three Pakatan parties has developed over the past three years, Lim – who is not known for indulging in small talk – did not deny when it was put to him that PKR’s strength had deteriorated since 2008 from defections, internal squabbles and the relentless character attacks on PKR de facto chief Anwar Ibrahim.

However, he deftly sidestepped the question at the same time, implying that all three Pakatan partners were still having teething issues that they had to deal with.

“All parties have their own problems. You cannot run away from this. Each party will grow in Pakatan, and contribute to the overall Pakatan Rakyat strength,” he said.

Lim pointed out that it had never crossed the minds of Pakatan’s top leaders that a ‘Plan B’ had to be set up should Anwar be incarcerated again over his alleged second sodomy scandal, stressing that the repercussions would be worse for the BN.

“It will create a new political scenario, and people will be more worked up and it will hasten the downfall of Najib and the BN… I won’t say it’s good for Pakatan, but it may have that effect,” he said.

DAP, PAS closer than ever

On the rocky relationship between DAP and PAS, Lim said the formation of Pakatan Rakyat has helped bring the two parties closer as all Pakatan members have realised the potential the young coalition had in bringing real change to the country.

He acknowledged that again, there were still some issues that needed to be ironed out, particularly at the ground-level implementation of common policies set by the Pakatan leadership, but he remains optimistic that all in, the coalition is able to see the bigger picture.

Lim also denied that he and DAP chairperson Karpal Singh play ‘good cop, bad cop’ when stating their party’s position on issues, saying that it is merely a matter of media perception on their respective choice of words.

Taking the example of the PAS-led Kedah government’s initial plan to ratify enactments banning entertainment centres from operating during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, Lim stated that Karpal had never issued an ultimatum on the issue.

“I was there at the press conference, Karpal never issued an ultimatum to PAS. But of course when it comes out as an ultimatum, it makes things difficult all round… certain BN mainstream media have a political agenda, and they want to create this situation. We are mindful of it.”

Lim said each of the three Pakatan parties is bound to have its own opinion on certain issues, but has faith that their shared commitment in the coalition will help drive them forward.

“I think there’s a greater level of understanding for all parties concerned. We have a common interest to make Pakatan work and succeed, that together we can bring about great changes in the country which was unthinkable in the past and I think we don’t want to allow this opportunity to be missed.

“Individual parties may have differences on certain questions, but in the larger interest of Pakatan we have to ensure that this does not become an obstacle for Pakatan moving forward or to be exploited,” he said.

                This entry was posted on Friday, 29 July 2011, 4:43 pm and is filed under
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