Should Najib resign?

Hafidz Baharom

The Malaysian Insider

11 July 2015

Personally, yes. He has tarnished the office of prime minister with his continued failure in doing the one thing he had to do: lead.

And quite frankly, I would rather he do so before succumbing to his “media triggered” depression, letting this country fall further into economic ruin and then promoting a “Twinkie defence”. Or, before he calls for martial law.

So respectfully, it is time to clock out, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

And I’ll tell you why? In fact, I’ll write it out.

The recent exposé by The Wall Street Journal has eroded whatever little confidence I have in the prime minister’s government, but I doubt his die-hard fans are quite in that position yet.

These are probably the same people who think the Titanic was an unsinkable ship that did not sink. Or to use Monty Python, still believe the parrot isn’t dead and is just “pining for the fjords”.

Malaysians are a sarcastic and humorous people who have recently been able to channel this – directly or indirectly – through social media.

And with the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) public relations quagmire and the currently happening probe into how the prime minister had millions (or billions) placed into his accounts, the authorities have taken measures to try and keep this “parrot” alive through any means necessary.

Let us look at what is being suggested by these – for a lack of a better word – morons.

First we have the conspiracy theorists, which include the prime minister himself. Initially, he had accused former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of conspiring against him with the foreign press. When this was too ridiculous for the press to buy, or even the general public, he moved on to saying that the Dow Jones was conspiring to topple his government.

While there is a task force which is investigating these allegations, our attorney general found it necessary to task the police to look for who leaked the documents, even without first confirming that these documents were real or faked.

You read right. Insofar as the scandal has surfaced, the documents have been branded as “tampered documents” without any proof or revelation of the authentic ones from the parties involved. Why?

Is it because the documents are classified under the Official Secrets Act, perhaps?

And yet, a task force was established to investigate these allegations by an American newspaper based on these documents, and the prime minister is mulling action against the paper.

Personally, I would like to see this in court simply to see our prime minister take the stand and have the government prove that the documents released were real, untampered and true. It would allow the Sarawak Report, The Edge and The Malaysian Insider to then sue the Malaysian government for defamation and be vindicated.

Also, since the Journal is not published in Malaysia, it is outside the jurisdiction of the Royal Malaysian Police. In fact, can the police actually take action against the Journal in any way or form since it is published and read online?

I sincerely doubt it. I’m guessing it is the same reason both Raja Petra Kamaruddin’s Malaysia Today and Clare Rewcastle Brown’s Sarawak Report are based beyond our borders. Perhaps our internet regulator will consider adding both websites in their Green Wall list – a list of websites inaccessible to the Malaysian public.

Speaking of which, we had a regulator weigh in saying that spreading false news on 1MDB was punishable by law. The Malaysian Commission for Multimedia and Communication (MCMC) found it necessary to even post this on Facebook.

Pro-government supporters are even considering the shutdown of the social network for nothing more than allowing Malaysians their right in expressing their views in the most hilarious and sarcastic ways possible – something that was guaranteed when we were granted Multimedia Supper-corridor (MSC) status.

Even going so far as to say it would make Malaysians more “productive”. Perhaps they would be so kind to practice what they preach and do so themselves, to set examples for the rest of us.

Of course, the typical Umno leaders have also weighed in by saying that this is a foreign, Jewish conspiracy, but that is so overplayed by this government and its supporters that it rings on deaf ears.

And then we have a leader of a bank who insisted on voicing his dissatisfaction and questioning the authenticity of the documents on social media, being shared by pro-government factions and being proven wrong. Sadly, his recant was not shared with the same enthusiasm as his calling the Journal stupid.

And he’s now being investigated by his employers, a move that I also do not support.

We must not stifle anyone’s ability to express their thoughts on social media, and we should know where to draw the line between our individual and our jobs in the realm of social networks. For many reasons, this has been blurred drastically in the last decade when employers, the authorities and even insurance companies decided it a valid source of information.

Even journalism has taken entries on Facebook as a source of news, as experienced by a fellow The Malaysian Insider columnist.

But all this makes it necessary for us to question a few things.

Primarily, our government has embarrassed itself through its inability to follow up on former prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s promise for reform towards transparency, especially in the case of 1MDB.

Instead of allowing Malaysians and its stakeholders to openly view the wheeling and dealings of this company under the Ministry of Finance, the company chose to shun the press to the point of refusing to even allow reporters covering them from viewing their pitch at property events.

Even the prime minister himself destroyed his credibility in the court of public opinion. From being too fast on the draw during Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s guilty verdict, his “golf diplomacy” trip to Hawaii during the worst flood since 1971, the insistence on flying to the Middle East during earthquakes in Sabah, yet the quick draw ability to comment on “gay parades” and 24-hour eateries callously shows his failure in setting priorities for a country.

Adding on to this was his no-show from the ironically named “Nothing2Hide” closed door forum, his insistence on continued sniping instead of a face to face session with Mahathir, the Mara scandal and even the continued hiring of people to help his faltering public image.

All I can say is, this government was led by an ineffectual leader and an even worse cabinet that has led to the exhaustion of their political capital built up in the past 60 years, all spent up in the last decade.

But don’t take my word for it. Let us wait for Merdeka Center to conduct their poll.

Better yet, take a look at the Edelman Trust Barometer. In 2012, the Malaysian government scored 52%. In 2015, that number went down to 45%.

Erosion of trust, inability to defend the nation, an ineffective cabinet of dunces, a public persona of ridicule and allegations of underhanded dealings and nepotism, and more importantly, bankrupting the ruling party’s political capital, all of which have been highlighted by both government and alternative media.  – July 11, 2015.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 12 July 2015, 5:57 am and is filed under
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Sudah sampai masanya orang kampung diberitahu perkara sebenar

Amin Iskandar

The Malaysian Insider

12 July 2015

Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor mengatakan semalam “orang kampung” jangan menyangka kehidupan di kota besar Kuala Lumpur lebih baik berbanding di luar bandar.

Menurut menteri Wilayah Persekutuan itu, ini kerana kos kehidupan di kota besar jauh lebih tinggi dan menyebabkan sesetengah penduduk luar bandar yang mempunyai cita-cita untuk hidup mewah akhirnya menjadi gelandangan.

Benar apa yang dikatakan setiausaha agung Umno itu. Di luar bandar jika kita diwariskan tanah keluarga, sekurang-kurangnya kita ada tempat tinggal.

Barangkali sudah sampai masanya Tengku Adnan yang dikenali sebagai Ku Nan dan Umno memberitahu penduduk luar bandar perkara sebenar tentang Malaysia.

Selama ini, penduduk luar bandar hanya diberitahu “cerita-cerita yang indah” saja tentang Malaysia sehingga ramai tertipu dan berhijrah ke kota besar di Kuala Lumpur dan akhirnya merempat.

Oleh kerana kebanyakan penduduk luar bandar selama ini hanya mendapat berita daripada Utusan Malaysia, RTM dan TV3, mereka mungkin tidak berapa tahu tentang Malaysia yang sebenar.

Dengan kekuatan sokongan Umno di kalangan penduduk luar bandar, mungkin Ku Nan selaku setiausaha agung perlu mula beritahu mereka perkara sebenar.

Penduduk luar bandar perlu diberitahu hari ini, Malaysia terkenal di peringkat antarabangsa kerana syarikat sarat hutang 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Hari ini, nama Malaysia semakin “harum” di peringkat antarabangsa selepas akhbar The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) mendedahkan RM2.67 bilion wang 1MDB dipindahkan ke akaun peribadi Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Perdana menteri menafikan pendedahan itu dan pasukan petugas khas ditubuhkan Putrajaya bagi menyiasat perkara itu.

Kalau di negara maju lain, sudah tentu perdana menteri bercuti sementara menunggu siasatan selesai, tetapi “hebatnya” di Malaysia, Najib masih boleh ke hulu ke hilir seperti tiada apa-apa yang berlaku.

Orang kampung juga perlu tahu kehebatan Malaysia apabila membeli hartanah di peringkat antarabangsa. Antara kehebatan Malaysia ialah “mampu membayar dengan harga mahal” berbanding pihak lain.

Baru-baru ini akhbar The Age di Australia mendedahkan, “sekumpulan pegawai Malaysia yang sangat kaya” membayar lebihan A$4.75 juta (RM13.8 juta) bagi membeli sebuah pangsapuri di Melbourne pada 2013.

Orang kampung juga perlu tahu, pegawai-pegawai Malaysia yang dimaksudkan merupakan pegawai Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara).

Orang kampung juga perlu diberitahu hari ini nilai ringgit jatuh ke tahap terendah sejak 1998.

Bagi yang tinggal berhampiran dengan sempadan Thailand sudah tentu lebih tahu hari ini, Baht jauh lebih mahal berbanding ringgit.

Ketika pemimpin membelanjakan berbilion ringgit wang negara dengan sesuka hati, anak-anak kepada ibu dan ayah di kampung dikejar seperti “penjenayah” oleh Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional (PTPTN).

Hanya kerana tidak mampu membayar hutang pinjaman, nama mereka disenaraihitamkan di bawah Sistem Maklumat Rujukan Kredit Pusat (CCRIS) sejak awal 2015.

Selepas disenaraihitamkan CCRIS, mereka tidak dapat lagi membuat pinjaman lain dan tidak hairanlah jika mereka terpaksa hidup merempat pada hari ini pada ketika ramai “peniaga mesra kerajaan” terlepas daripada membayar hutang berbilion ringgit.

Apabila wang Malaysia semakin kurang, akhirnya penduduk luar bandar turut “dikerjakan” dengan pelaksanaan Cukai Barangan dan Perkhidmatan (GST) yang menyebabkan kebanyakan harga barang keperluan asas naik melambung tinggi.

Datuk Ahmad Maslan mungkin tidak begitu terasa kesan kenaikan harga barang selepas GST kerana beliau adalah timbalan menteri.

Jangan sedih jika Aidilfitri tahun ini tidak seindah tahun-tahun sebelumnya. Inilah realiti yang berlaku di Malaysia pada hari ini.

Inilah “keadilan ala Malaysia” yang perlu diketahui masyarakat luar bandar. Malaysia tidaklah seindah lagi seperti digambarkan Utusan Malaysia, RTM dan TV3. – 12 Julai, 2015.

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 12 July 2015, 7:49 am and is filed under
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Why is Najib allowed to be the one and only person responsible for the metamorphosis from three-agency government probe to four “Tan Sri” special task force on WSJ report and now wide-ranging powers to investigate all allegations about 1MDB scandal when he is the “accused” in the investigation?

Yesterday, the Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has joined the chorus of support for Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak expressing confidence that the special task force set up to investigate all insinuations and allegations hurled against 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) recently will conduct its investigations in a transparent and fair manner.

He said all parties should have confidence in the special task force set up to find whether the allegations were true or otherwise, stressing that “the task force was established not to find faults, but to investigate comprehensively all allegations made”.

Muhyiddin’s support for the special task force, although calling for the investigation to be “transparent and according to the law, without fear or favour” should ignite more concerns about the purpose, scope, credibility and even composition of the special task force investigation by the four Tan Sris, namely Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

I am very concerned by Muhyiddin’s statement for it bears the strongest proof that the government keeps changing its goal post about investigations into Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on July 3 that Malaysian government investigators have found some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) deposited into Najib’s personal accounts at AmBank in March 2013, shortly before the dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013 in the run-up to the 13th General Election.

At first, the government through the Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail conceded the existence of documents on the deposit of RM2.6 billion into Najib’s personal bank accounts in AmBank in March 2013.

In a statement a day after the WSJ report, Gani said a task force investigating state fund 1MDB had passed several documents to him, including ones connected to allegations that money was transferred into the account of prime minister Najib Razak.

He said the documents were given to him by the task force made up of members of the country’s anti-corruption commission, police and central bank.

Gani said: “This team has several documents that were passed for me to check. I have verified that I have received these documents on 1MDB including documents connected to allegations that money was transferred into the account of the prime minister.”

He said he had given guidance to the task force to take further action, but did not specify what action would be initiated.

But this mysterious tripartite task force comprising members of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Police and Bank Negara was mysteriously transformed into a “special task force” on the WSJ report and allegation comprising the quartet of four “Tan Sri” heads of Bank Negara, MACC, RMP and AG’s Chambers.

I don’t think even Ministers can tell when this transformation from a three-agency task for into four “Tan Sris” “special task force” took place and at whose command and authority?

Who is the head of the four “Tan Sris” special task force? Is it Tan Sri Gani, Tan Sri Khalid, Tan Sri Zeti or Tan Sri Abu Kassim? Or or it headless or do we have a hydra-headed “special task force”? I don’t think apart from Najib, any one in Cabinet or government can give an answer.

What are the terms of reference of this “4 Tan Sris” “special task force”?

The Prime Minister said on Wednesday that the scope of the special task force investigating WSJ’s claims against him was whether he used 1MDB funds for his personal interest.

Najib said in his blog: “The investigation by the special task force is to determine whether WSJ allegation that I took 1MDB funds for my personal interest has basis or not.

“The investigation must consider the veracity of the documents published by the newspaper to support their actions.”

This a very restricted and undesirable scope for the special task force, for even more pertinent questions which the special task force should be probing are:

1. Whether Najib has three personal bank accounts in AmBank;

2. Whether some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) of funds were deposited into his personal accounts in 2013 just before the dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013 in the run-up to the 13th General Election;

3. If so, where the RM2.6 billion came from; and

4.*Where these RM2.6 billion have gone to.

The public do not know whether the “special task force” is looking for answers to these four questions, as all that has been revealed is the vow by the Attorney General that the “special task force” will hunt down the culprits behind the leak to the WSJ – as if this is the most important issue at the moment!

Now we are told by Muhyiddin that the special task force was established to investigate “comprehensively” all the allegations made about 1MDB.

When was the latest transformation of the scope of the “special task force” made?

Does Muyiddin knows what he is talking about? Are the Cabinet Ministers briefed and taken into confidence every time the goal posts of the task force inquiry is changed?

Clearly, only one person is in the know about all these transformations which show the unhealthy and undemocratic concentration of powers in Malaysia in one person, the Prime Minister, which goes against the very concept and principles of Cabinet Government and Parliamentary Democracy in Malaysia.

The question 30 million Malaysians want to know is: Why is Najib the one and only person responsible for the metamorphosis from the three-agency government probe to four “Tan Sris” special task force on WSJ report and now wide-ranging powers to investigate all allegations about 1MDB scandal when he is the “accused” in the investigation?

Furthermore, what is the purpose of the investigation whether by the Auditor-General or the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee, or are we having a situation where everyone under the Prime Minister is investigting the 1MDB scandal, and nobody expect the Prime Minister himself, would know what is happening to these investigations?

The rigmarole about the “headless” or hydra-headed four-Tan Sris “special task force” subservient and subordinate to the Prime Minister should be disbanded and replaced by a high-powered Royal Commission of Inquiry to inquire all aspects of the 1MDB scandal, including the WSJ report and allegation of RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts in March 2013.

This is a decision the Cabinet should take at its meeting on Wednesday or all the Cabinet Ministers should collectively resign for failing the Malaysian people and nation in ensuring that the Malaysian government complies with the highest standards of accountability, transparency, integrity and good governance in getting to the bottom of the 1MDB scandal.

（Media Conference Statement in Batu Pahat on Sunday, 12th July 2015 at 3 pm）

                This entry was posted on Sunday, 12 July 2015, 3:10 pm and is filed under
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A Leader’s Massive Ego in Attempting to Change A Culture

M. Bakri Musa

www.bakrimusa,com

Terrible things are done in many cultures in the name of honor. To some, the natural reaction would be either smug dismissal (those barbarians!) or comforting acceptance (all cultures have their warts!). That would also provide a ready excuse for continuing on business as usual.

        Or we could have wannabe heroes or even real ones with a messianic mission to change that culture. Many have tried, and equally many have failed. For Malays, there was Mahathir, and before him, Datuk Onn. Undoubtedly there will be many more.

       This wanting-to-change-our-people (or culture) zeal is a particular delusion of leaders with massive egos. Our only solace is that Onn and Mahathir did not do more damage. The Chinese under Mao were not so lucky. Millions perished under his Cultural Revolution and other dubious endeavors aimed at “changing” his people.

       This preamble is merely to put forth three main points. The first is that the values of any culture are internally consistent; culture is essentially the keeper of society’s values. Customs, rituals and other accouterments of culture must be assumed to be positive; there is no such thing as a “bad” culture, as it would have been eliminated a long time ago. Each culture should thus be examined on its own terms and not by comparison to others.  This truism makes such calls as “Be more like the Chinese!” or “Muslims need our own Martin Luther!” be so much wasted breaths.

       The American anthropologist Franz Boas was the first to put forth this proposition. This cultural relativism does not mean that there are no absolutes or universalities in human values. Killing and inflicting harm on your fellow humans are evil deeds in all cultures. On the other hand, “honor” is also another cultural absolute and universal value. In this way killing becomes justified in the name of honor. Patriotism is another variation of honor; we kill “them” so as to protect the honor of “our” country, or variations thereof.

       The second point is that meaningful differences in the various cultures would be manifested only when they intersect. That seems obvious. When the early Chinese came to Malaysia in the 15th Century, they did so with no intention to dominate. They had no colonial aspirations. Consequently, the two cultures melded freely, with the Sultan of Melaka marrying a Chinese and those immigrants learning Malay and adopting the trappings of Malay culture, as with their songs and daily attire.

       As no one was concerned with dominating or demonstrating self-proclaimed superiority over the other, there was no corresponding obsession with maintaining one’s racial or cultural purity.

       Likewise when the South Indians landed in the northwestern part of the peninsula, they mixed and intermarried freely with Malays. A generation later their descendents became ministers, governors and even a prime minister. If they were Ketuanan Melayu champions at the time, no one batted an eyelid.

       This natural tendency for cultural osmosis and mutual adaptation would vanish if one culture’s avowed purpose was to dominate, as with the arrival of colonial powers. The dynamics of the interaction would then change dramatically.

       When the Europeans landed on the Malay world, they were motivated initially by their capitalistic instinct to monopolize the lucrative spice trade. It did not take long for that to degenerate into total domination in all spheres, especially political. Thus colonialism was born, and with it, the ranking of native cultures vis a vis colonial ones.

       The colonials believed that it was their burden, imposed no less by their God, to “elevate” those natives. To reinforce that collective mindset, they had to create certain myths, like that of the “noble savage” (to grant those natives a modicum of respect; they are savages nonetheless and thus needed to be “tamed”) and the “lazy native.”

       The reaction of the natives too was governed by their cultural values. The Indians, accustomed to their rigid caste system, readily accepted the superior role of the colonials. Those white men and women became the new “super upper” caste, towering over the native maharajahs and Brahmins. That was the only conceivable explanation to account for the ease with which the British with only a few thousand colonial civil servants could rule hundreds of millions of Indians spread over an entire continent.

       The Malay reaction to colonialism was very different, again governed by our culture. Ingrained in our culture never to challenge a ruler, we did not directly do so with the colonialists, except for a few brave souls. They were readily and brutally disposed of, their corpses desecrated as a grim reminder to those who would be similarly tempted. Just to be sure, the British co-opted our sultans so that any revolt would be not just against the British but also our sultans, Allah’s representative on earth.

       The only avenue left for Malays who still had streaks of independence was to undertake what psychologists refer to as passive-aggressive resistance, utilizing the technique of quiet non-cooperation. That is the only weapon of the weak, to borrow James C. Scott’s phrase, and that was how we chose to oppose the British.

        My third point is that since culture is the aggregate behaviors and attitudes of its members, it is the height of arrogance for anyone to even attempt to change a culture. Any change must by definition come from the ground and not be imposed from above. If only Onn and Mahathir, or Mao, had known this, they would have been spared much grief. For Mao, he would have spared millions of his people even greater misery.

        This does not mean that culture cannot be changed; indeed change is a constant with any culture, only that the adaptation must originate with the masses. Often these changes are slow and subtle, their cumulative effects not evident till generations later. Others may be more rapid or even dramatic as when triggered by major social or physical upheaval imposed on that society.

       Such tumultuous physical or social stresses would not automatically bring about changes in the culture, only that such events would provide the opportunities for that. This is the only time when leadership could prove decisive. Without such a leadership, that society and culture would quickly degenerate, becoming dysfunctional and unable to survive. Absent those tumultuous changes, the role of leaders would be minimal; change could only come from below and within.

This essay is based on the author’s latest book, Liberating The Malay Mind, ZI Publications Sdn Bhd, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia , 2013.

Next:  The True Measure of A Culture

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 July 2015, 5:48 am and is filed under
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Call on Police to uphold law and order and on all Malaysians regardless of race and religion to be calm and unite against corruption and abuses of power

The Low Yat rampage in Kuala Lumpur is a stain on Malaysia’s reputation.

The Police have established that it was a simple case of theft.

This is clearly reported by the media, for example the New Straits Times, “Low Yat theft case solved, says police”, which stated:

“Police have solved a theft case at Low Yat Plaza in Bukit Bintang, here, which sparked a riot incident on Saturday.

“Police sources said the case was a clear-cut theft involving a 22-year-old suspect, who took away a cellular phone from a shop there without paying.

“’Investigation revealed that the man had stolen a phone, which led to him being arrested by public members.

“’Police have also acquired CCTV recordings, which showed him discussing with a sales representative, before he took the phone and walked away when the trader was looking the other way.’

“Sources said the sales representative, who was shocked upon noticing that his product was stolen, then shouted for help.

“This had prompted the suspect to start running down an escalator, before he stumbled and fell.

“The suspect was arrested by a group of men at the scene, before he was handed over to the plaza’s security personnel.

“The suspect’s arrest had upset his friends, who went to the plaza about 7.50pm Saturday to retaliate.

“The group of seven ran amok there – where they beaten up several workers of a cellular phone outlet and damaged its products and equipment.”

It is most unfortunate that the events in Low Yat were allowed to get out of hand in the ensuing hours, resulting in a major  stain on Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia’s reputation.

I call on the Police to uphold law and order and on all Malaysians regardless of race and religion to be calm and unite against corruption and abuses of power.

There must be no distraction from the great scandals bedeviling the country, like the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal or the economic crisis and  hardships caused by the unjust implementation of the Goods and Services Tax as well as the plunge in the value of the Malaysian ringgit.

This is the time when ordinary Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, should realise that they have more common ground to unite to ensure that the government must serve the larger interests of all Malaysian citizens and not to  allow themselves to be used as pawns to be divided whether along race or religious lines to serve the interests of a few in the country.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 July 2015, 1:28 pm and is filed under
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PAS Syura Council decision a non-event as it is completely overshadowed by latest developments in PAS where the two  top PAS leaders have become Najib’s strongest defenders

The decision   of the PAS Syura Council endorsing the PAS Muktamar resolution last month for PAS to sever ties with DAP is a non-event, as almost all Malaysians know that Pakatan Rakyat had been killed by the new PAS leadership at the PAS Muktamar more than a month ago on June 3.

I had said at the time that with Pakatan Rakyat dead after the PAS Muktamar resolution,  what was left to be done were the funeral rites for Pakatan Rakyat.

I  must admit that I had not expected that it would take more than a month for the final funeral rites for Pakatan Rakyat to be completed.

The PAS Syura Council decision is a non-event as it has been   completely overshadowed by the latest  developments under the new PAS leadership, with the two top PAS leaders emerging as the strongest defenders of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak at a time when Najib’s leadership is being increasingly questioned and challenged even in internal Umno circles because of the Prime Minister’s inability to establish his innocence and  integrity in the face of unprecedented scandals like the 1MDB scandal.

Recently, the new top PAS leaders have become the “darlings” of the UMNO media, with the infamous Utusan Malaysia becoming spokesmen on their behalf.

Today’s Mingguan Malaysia, for instance, came out with the far-fetched theory of a conspiracy to topple the Barisan Nasional government by the opposition and the foreign media, and attributing to this conspiracy theory the reason why Hadi’s PAS had declared it is unable to work with DAP.

Claiming that “Hadi divorced DAP to save Najib”, the UMNO mouthpiece praised Hadi for defending Najib as the Prime Minister was “a victim of conspiracy”.

It is for Hadi to comment on the latest developments in PAS and UMNO’s defence of his leadership.

There is no doubt however that Pakatan Rakyat would not have died if former  PAS spiritual leader, Datuk Nik Abdul  Aziz Nik Mat  have not passed away as he was the bulkwark against the “unity government” machinations of the UMNO plotters and conspirators.

Although Pakatan Rakyat is no more after seven years inspiring and rallying  the hopes and aspirations of Malaysians for political change, these hopes and aspirations for an united, better and new Malaysia must not be allowed to die, but must continue to be centrepiece of the political struggle of Malaysians in the run-up to the next 14th General Election probably in the next 24 months.

Although the new PAS leadership under Hadi have reneged on the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) Common Policy Framework (CPF), DAP will continue to work with  like-minded political parties and political forces in the country to achieve the hopes and aspirations espoused by the PR CPF.

Pakatan Rakyat may be dead, but the hopes and aspirations inspired by Pakatan Rakyat must live on and must be the challenge of all patriotic Malaysians to see their achievement in the 14th General Election.

(Speech to Johore DAP State leaders on the post-PR scenario and the future of Malaysia  in Batu Pahat on Sunday, 12th July 2015 at 5pm)

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 July 2015, 6:54 am and is filed under
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Replace the “special task force” of four Tan Sris with a Royal Commission of Inquiry of three Tuns – Mahathir, Abdullah and Musa – to get to the bottom of the WSJ allegations

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) is to be commended for its swift and prompt denial at allegations that its officials were behind the leak of information concerning the 1Malaysia Development Berhad’s (1MDB) funds.

Denying the allegations, the bank said it had lodged a police report concerning the

Malaysia Today blog on Saturday naming three central bank officials who it said leaked information on the money trail.

In a statement yesterday, the central bank said such allegations were without basis.

It said “Bank Negara Malaysia remains steadfast in our quest to uncovering the truth in a fair and just manner,” and that  it will investigate any potential breaches to the laws it administers.

“In discharging its accountability, the bank is not aligned to any faction and will not betray the trust of the public.”

I believe the overwhelming majority of Malaysians appreciate this statement by Bank Negara and are asking why the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak cannot emulate the example of Bank Negara and make swift and prompt denial if an allegation is untrue.

It is now more than ten days since the Wall Street Journal report on 2nd July that Malaysian government investigators have found some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) deposited into Najib’s personal accounts at AmBank in March 2013, shortly before the dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013 in the run-up to the 13th General Election.

Up to now, Najib dare not deny,  categorically and unequivocally,  in the way that Bank Negara Malaysia has done,  anyone of the four suppositions below:

1.	that Najib had three personal bank accounts in AmBank;

2.	Some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) of funds were deposited into his personal accounts in 2013 just before the dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013 in the run-up to the 13th General Election;

3.	Where the RM2.6 billion came from; and

4.	Where and to who  these RM2.6 billion have gone to.

As after more 10 days, the Prime Minister had not denied anyone of the four suppositions, can anyone to be blamed for assuming all the four to be true?

A NGO today says that millions of ringgit in Najib’s Ambank private accounts were channelled to Barisan Nasional component parties in the run up to the 13th general election two years ago.

This NGO,  the Citizens For Accountable Governance Malaysia (CAGM), blamed former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir for what it termed as the “system of greasing” the ruling coalition partners and election machineries.

It said: “CAGM can confirm, based on court documents in our hands, that millions from Najib’s Ambank accounts were actually used to ‘back up’ Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties in the run-up to the 2013 general elections,” as “system of greasing” the ruling coalition partners and election machineries.

CAGM chairman Md Zainal Abidin said:

“This system of ‘greasing’ the component parties and election machineries (in some cases, mercenaries) were actually put in place by Dr Mahathir and that has allowed BN to remain in power until now.

“So, in essence, Najib was ‘paying’ to a system that was put in motion by Mahathir to ensure the results are in favour of BN.

“The harder a victory in the elections appear to be, the more money it requires to secure a win and the 2013 general election was a very high-risk affair for BN after all.”

Besides the 13 BN component parties which Md Zainal  claimed were allocated an average of RM30 million to RM50 million each, he said funds were channelled to more than a dozen BN-friendly parties and NGOs, which received between RM1 million and RM8 million each.

There is considerable credibility in this statement from the CAGM, which seems to have a very strange relationship with the powers-that-be, and I believe CAGM is either UMNO-supported or even UMNO-sponsored.

However, even if what CAGM said was true, there is still a vast sum of the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal accounts which have not been accounted for.

Will the “special task force” headed by the four Tan Sris –  Attorney-General Tan Sri Gani Patail, Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu  Bakar and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Chief Commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamad be allowed to investigate where the RM2.6 billion came from and to whom, in detail,  the RM2.6 billion had been paid out to?

Would the “special task force” of four Tan Sris be empowered to publish a report as to who were the receipients of the monies from Najib’s Ambank accounts, the sums paid to each Barisan Nasional party, Cabinet Minister and BN/UMNO candidate, and what has happened to the bulk of the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal accounts in March 2013?

Nobody  believes that the “special task force” of four Tan Sris would have such powers, which is why the “special task force” should be scrapped immediately and be replaced by a Royal Commission of Inquiry of three Tuns, chaired by Tun Mahathir with Tun Abdullah and Tun Musa Hitam as the deputy chair-persons with commissioners on independent and credible Malaysians  including DAP MP for PJ Utara Tony Pua and PKR MP for Pandan Rafizi Ramli.

                This entry was posted on Monday, 13 July 2015, 4:32 pm and is filed under
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1MDB scandal won’t end Najib’s career, regional analysts say

Malay Mail Online

Monday July 13, 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Although the allegations of corruption and impropriety against Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his brainchild 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) have been relentless, several regional observers believe the prime minister will likely weather the storm and continue to remain in office as prime minister.

Speaking to American news channel CNBC, the pundits said despite even the latest exposé by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that saw a direct link drawn between Najib and 1MDB’s billions, the embattled prime minister still enjoys immense support and does not face much competition to his position from those in Umno.

“As I see now, the way the investigation has been playing out, it’s playing to form. I think Najib has control over the investigative process,” said William Case, a professor at the Southeast Asia Research Center of the City University of Hong Kong.

“He will remain in office. The investigation panel will report directly to him. In consequence, he will probably be able to survive this,” Case said in CNBC’s talk show Squawk Box.

Case also added that Najib had previously survived many other scandals, although the 1MDB scandal seemed to be “more serious than most”.

The academic’s remark echoed that made by some of Najib’s critics such as DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang who had cast doubt on the impartiality of the special task force currently probing WSJ’s report, noting that its members are civil servants who not only report to the Cabinet but also directly to the prime minister himself – the subject of the investigation.

Case also refuted the claim that Umno is now fractured despite former president Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s insistence for Najib to step down as prime minister, saying the latter still has “rock solid support” from party members.

“If no real linkages are found to the prime minister during investigations, Najib can muddle through but it’s really distracting the country from bigger issues like its economic slowdown,” added Murray Hiebert, a senior fellow at American think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreeing with Case.

Case also pointed out that Najib will likely stay as prime minister due to the lack of obvious candidates to replace him from within Umno, as Najib has proved himself “sophisticated” in his handling of domestic and foreign affairs.

“Politically, his image is of course greatly affected but he will be able to survive because either the opposition or those in the party against him don’t have enough members of parliament to topple him,” said Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University.

“If the allegations turn out to be true, Najib will have to clarify for what purpose. If they are not true, he will definitely be taking legal action against the WSJ. But he does need to do something more decisive than just denying the allegations for now,” added Oh, who is also a former political secretary to Najib between 2009 and 2011.

In a report last month, US-based daily WSJ, citing documents from Malaysian investigators currently scrutinising the troubled 1MDB’s financials, claimed that a money trail showed that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) were moved among government agencies, banks and companies before it ended up in Najib’s accounts.

Najib has repeatedly denied taking funds from 1MDB or any other public entity for “personal gain” and his lawyers have since asked the WSJ to state if it is accusing the prime minister of misappropriating funds.

The special task force leading a separate probe on 1MDB said last week that two bank accounts held by Najib in AmBank were already closed long before an investigation was launched against the misappropriation.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, 2:36 am and is filed under
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DAP welcomes  like-minded Malays and Muslims to join the  DAP in furtherance of  the nationalist and  patriotic cause to save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, injustices and collapse of good governance

DAP welcomes  like-minded Malays and Muslims to join the party in pursuit of the nationalist and patriotic cause to save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, injustices and collapse of good governance.

DAP is not a non-Malay or non-Muslim political party and we must not allow ourselves to be locked into non-Malay and non-Muslim areas and spheres of activities in the country, as the DAP had right from the beginning of our formation some five decades ago in 1966  espoused the Malaysian Dream to advocate justice, freedom and human dignity for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.

This is why the DAP had always presented a multi-racial slate of candidates for parliamentary and state assembly constituencies in general elections  from the very first general election contested by the DAP in 1969.

In Perak, DAP had elected five Malay state assemblymen into the Perak State Assembly from the 1969 to 1990 general elections – Ibrahim Singgeh (Tapah Road – 1969) followed by Daing Ibrahim bin Othman (Pasir Puteh – 1974), Salleh Nakhoda Hitam, (Guntong – 1974 & 1978), Fadzlan Yahya (Pasir  Bedamar 1982 & 1986)  and Asri Othman (Dermawan – 1990).

In the  General Election for Perak State in 1974, DAP fielded 11 Malay out of 33 State Assembly candidates and in 1978, DAP fielded 25 Malay out of 38 State Assembly  candidates.

In the past few polls, Perak DAP had  strayed from this multi-racial objective of ensuring that we not only presented multi-racial slate of candidates but elected  a multi-racial slate of State Assemblymen in the Perak state legislature, which is a serious political error which is  a challenge to Perak DAP to strive to correct and overcome in the shortest possible time as  DAP must never lose sight of our larger multi-racial objective.

DAP must always be loyal to our founding objective to be a Malaysian party not a Chinese, Indian or Malay party, and we must ensure that our door is always open to like-minded Malaysians regardless of race or religion.

DAP has more Indian Members of Parliament and State Assembly representatives than MIC – today as well as in the 1969 general election but the DAP is not an Indian political party.

In the 13th General Election, with 30 Chinese MPs and 101 Chinese State Assembly representatives all over the country, DAP had more Chinese MPs and SAs  than MCA which was reduced to a 7/11 political party with seven MPs and 11 State Assembly members or the Gerakan’s 2/3 political score with two MPs and three State Assembly members. But  DAP is not a Chinese political party.

Whatever the trials and tribulations, including the lies and slanders hurled at DAP leaders down the decades  for being anti-Malay and anti-Islam, DAP leaders  had never allowed these lies and falsehoods to swerve us  from our fundamental commitment to be a Malaysian party for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.

DAP has elected a Kadazan State Assemblyman in Sabah and we look forward to the election of the first Dayak State Assemblyman in Sarawak in the forthcoming Sarawak state general elections, as well as Kadazan and Dayak MPs in the 14th GE.

Whatever our ups and downs in the political waters of Malaysia, the DAP leadership, membership and supporters must always  remain true and loyal to our national objective to be a Malaysian party for all Malaysians.

This is why the DAP, particularly in Perak, must redouble our efforts to welcome into our ranks like-minded Malays and Muslims in pursuit of the cause of an united, harmonious, inclusive, progressive, just and prosperous Malaysia.

While we welcome like-minded Malays and Muslims to join the DAP to strengthen our political struggle, we will also co-operate with like-minded political parties and political forces to Save Malaysia from becoming a failed state.

This is because we recognize the Malaysian political reality that no single political party can rule Malaysia and that if there is to be political change in Putrajaya in the next general election, it must be through a new political coalition as the Federal government in Putrajaya, whether as Pakatan Rakyat 2.0 or in some other name and form.

We want a Malaysia where Malaysians regard themselves first and last as  Malaysians, where good governance is the top priority concern of all citizens to promote democracy, the rule of law and a corruption-free government  with high moral purpose and standards,  a sound economy, good jobs, good schools and universities, quality but affordable housing, health  and transportation system,  and   a  crime-free environment to bring up the  new generation of Malaysians.

After more than half a century of nation-building, Malaysians should be moving towards these goals and objectives but the reverse seems to be the case.

If proof is needed, the Low Yat Mob Incident in Kuala Lumpur last night is salutary reminder that race relations in general and national unity in particular  have never been so   brittle and fragile as recent times  because of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia empty sloganeering but unchecked racial and religious polarization and incitement in the past few years.

Everyone must learn from the lessons of the Low Yat Mob Incident, if Malaysia is to be saved from becoming a “failed state”, with a breakdown of law and order, failure of good and effective governance  as well as the collapse of inter-racial and inter-religious understanding, harmony and goodwill in the country.

There are at least three  lessons that can be drawn from the Low Yat Mob Incident.

Firstly, government agencies responsible for  ensuring law and order must be pro-active, effective and professional, able to nip in the bud irresponsible, racist and anti-national elements out to create mischief in our plural society. In other words, there is an urgent need for all national institutions, whether the Police or the various enforcement agencies to raise their standards of service and performance.

Secondly, the Prime Minister should institute an inquiry as to why his 1Malaysia signature policy is such a dismal failure, including why government agencies like Biro Tatanegara had contributing to greater national divisions instead of promoting national unity.

Thirdly, all organizations, whether government, political parties or  NGOs should always set examples  of  being inclusive and Malaysian-centric, and not petty, narrow-minded or  sectarian just to serve the interests of any one race, religion or group of the people.

For the DAP, it is  a reminder that the  DAP must redouble our energies and efforts to ensure  that more Malays and Muslims join our ranks so that together with non-Malay and non-Muslim Malaysians, DAP becomes  more effective and  representative vehicle together with like-minded political parties and political forces  to save Malaysia from becoming a “failed state” because of rampant corruption, injustices, racist extremism, religious intolerance and the collapse of good governance.

[Speech (2) to Perak  DAP State and branch leaders at a meeting on the post-PR scenario and the future of Malaysia at Perak DAP State hqrs  in Ipoh  on Monday, 13th  July 2015 at 9pm]

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, 1:27 pm and is filed under
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Harapan kepada ustaz muda progresif

A Shukur Harun

The Malaysian Insider

14 July 2015

Bagi umat Islam di Malaysia yang mengikuti perkembangan gerakan Islam atau politik Islam yang kini menghadapi pelbagai masalah, menyebabkan pelbagai persoalan dan tanda tanya berlegar di sekitar mereka – apakah sebenarnya yang terjadi.

Apakah tidak ada penyelesaian, atau menempuh jalan mati? Sedangkan mereka mendakwa berpandukan ajaran Al-Quran dan Sunnah sejak berabad-abad lamanya.

Persoalan yang menimbulkan perbalahan ini antaranya disebabkan perbezaan pandangan antara mereka yang sempit dan keras (shadid) dalam memahami Islam dengan pandangan mereka terbuka dan lunak didukung dengan kebijaksanaan – sesuai dengan watak Islam itu sendiri yang unggul, anjal, diterima di sepanjang aman dan keadaan, mampu menangani perubahan dan segalanya.

Bagi golongan jalur keras, Islam itu lebih banyak dilihat daripada aspek hukum daripada aspek yang lain.

Demikian rigidnya pandangan ini menyebabkan dalam banyak perbincangan mengenai Islam, kelihatan seperti tidak ada ruang untuk berbicara mengenai aspek lain, umpamanya aspek keadilan, keamanan, demokrasi dan sebagainya.

Oleh itu, mereka yang bercakap mengenai demokrasi, suara atau kuasa rakyat, kebebasan bersuara dan hak asasi manusia dianggap sebagai sesuatu yang menyimpang jauh daripada Islam.

Sebab itu masyarakat sivil dan generasi muda terpelajar yang bersikap lebih terbuka ketika cuba mengikuti perbincangan mengenai Islam ini mendapati bahawa golongan ekstrem ini, seperti tidak berminat membincangkan isu seperti keadilan, keamanan, demokrasi dan sebagainya itu.

Lebih-lebih lagi apabila golongan yang bersikap terbuka ini menyebut ‘kuasa rakyat’, ‘kehendak demokrasi’, ‘hak-hak asasi manusia’ dan sebagainya. Maka kata-kata itu dilihat bertentangan dengan Islam dan tabu. Lalu ia menjadi peluru hidup untuk menyerang apa saja yang dianggap sebagai pemikiran yang tidak Islamik, atau menyeleweng daripada Islam.

Bagaimanapun dalam situasi yang berat ini saya sangat terharu apabila mendengar pandangan 2 agamawan muda – Ustaz Zolkharnain Abidin bekas pelajar pengajian pondok di Kedah, kini menetap di Perlis dan pernah menjadi Adun Perlis 1999-2004. Seorang lagi ialah rakannya, Ustaz Ridzwan Abu Bakar, yang juga bekas pelajar pondok di utara. Kedua-duanya membincangkan buku berjudul ‘Kuasa Rakyat’ karangan ulama tersohor, Timbalan Ketua Kesatuan Ulama Sedunia Sheikh Dr Ahmed al-Raissouni. Buku ini diterjemahkan Ustaz Zolkharnain dengan pandang sisi oleh Ustaz Ridzwan.

Buku ini yang didiskusikan pada suatu majlis di Subang Jaya baru-baru ini menanggapi isu demokrasi, kebebasan bersuara dan kesenian dalam pandangan Islam dengan judul ‘Kuasa Rakyat’ dihuraikan dengan sangat terbuka, seimbang dan kelihatannya tidak bersifat menghukum. Tetapi ia lebih kepada huraian mengenai makna ‘kuasa rakyat’ menurut perspektif Islam.

Buku yang menarik ini cuba memahami kembali arahan syarak dalam Al-Quran dan hadis mengenai urusan kenegaraan dan kemasyarakatan sebagai arahan yang ditunjukkan kepada ummah atau rakyat bukan kepada daulah dan pemimpin secara khusus.

Ia menelusuri pelbagai isu kritikal negara dan masyarakat seperti aspek demokrasi, kebebasan bersuara dan kesenian dari sudut pandang maqasid syariah.

Buku ini juga membangkitkan kesedaran terhadap keperluan menggerakkan massa untuk mengambil kembali kuasa rakyat yang dibolot dan dimonopoli penguasa bobrok.

Ia juga berusaha mengikis kerisauan sebahagian aktivis gerakan Islam terhadap isu utama amalan demokrasi dan kebebasan bersuara disifatkan sebagai produk Barat yang mengancam pegangan agama umat Islam.

Di samping itu buku ini juga melihat kesesuaian pelaksanaan hukum Islam khususnya mengenai hudud dalam konteks politik dan negara pada hari ini.

Buku ini juga mengupas aspek kegiatan kesenian dari sudut pandang tahsinniyyat dan wahana berbanding sudut pandang biasa, iaitu hitam putih atau halal haram.

Seperti saya katakan, buku ini sangat menarik, diterjemahkan ustaz muda yang berfikiran terbuka. Iaitu dalam usaha pencerahan mengenai tanggapan dan pemahaman mengenai Islam sebagai Rahmatan Lil-Alamin.

Menurut pendapat saya, usaha ustaz muda ini sewajarnya diberikan sokongan penuh dalam pelbagai bentuk dan sangatlah elok jika kedua-dua ustaz ini dan rakan mereka yang sealiran melanjutkan lagi usaha pencerahan dalam memahami Islam ini dengan menulis pula buku selanjutnya, huraian daripada perspektif Islam mengenai pelbagai isu yang timbul di kalangan umat Islam kini.

Buku Sheikh Dr Ahmed al-Raissouni saya fikir, boleh dijadikan asas kepada huraian yang lebih lanjut mengenai pelbagai isu yang timbul bukan saja kepada umat Islam umumnya, tetapi juga khususnya kepada pendukung gerakan Islam atau politik Islam.

Saya yakin tentu ramai lagi ustaz muda berfikiran terbuka seperti Ustaz Zolkharnain dan Ustaz Ridzwan ini di mana mereka boleh menyatukan tenaga menulis lagi buku seumpama ini dengan menghuraikan lebih lanjut persoalan yang timbul ini.

Ini kerana mereka berpengalaman luas dan memahami gejolak politik masyarakat majmuk di negara ini. Oleh itu, seperti yang saya katakana tadi, buku Sheikh Dr Ahmed al-Raissouni ini dan mungkin banyak lagi buku seumpama itu boleh dijadikan asas dan rujukan dalam menghuraikan masalah ini lebih lanjut .

Saya yakin, umat Islam di negara ini sangat memerlukan huraian seperti ini dan secara kebetulan kini sebuah parti politik baru bernuansa Islam sedang dirancang penubuhannya di negara ini oleh golongan progresif dan sederhana, maka tentunya pandangan dinamik para ustaz muda seperti ini sangat membantu memberikan kefahaman kepada ramai orang akan kesyumulan dan keanjalan Islam seperti diperjuangkan parti Gerakan Harapan Baharu yang sedang dirancang ini. .

Sebuah cita-cita dan harapan menyerlah. Semoga umat Islam berpeluang melihat Islam dalam orbitnya yang lebih luas, keluar daripada kejumudan dan ketaksuban kepada panorama Islam yang indah dan hebat.

Seperti kata Dr Mujahid Yusof Rawa Islam itu amat luas, mengajar umatnya mengekalkan keamanan, dan bukannya memaksakan pelaksanaan undang-undang semata-mata.

Kumpulan progresif menuju ke arah cita-cita parti baharu ini dengan jelas akan menentukan asas dan dasar Islamnya. Mereka juga akan menghormati Perlembagaan Persekutuan, identiti kaum dan pelbagai budaya serta kepentingan bersama rakyat.

Beliau berkata, walaupun parti itu akan menggunakan Islam sebagai panduan ke arah pembangunan negara, ia akan menjadi lebih inklusif, seperti ditetapkan Islam.

Saya yakin akan ramai ustaz muda yang progresif akan menyahut aspirasi ini. – 14 Julai, 2015.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, 9:30 am and is filed under
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If Husni is so sure that the AG’s interim report on 1MDB clears PM’s of the WSJ allegation, will he ask the Cabinet tomorrow  to release the report to MPs and the public so that Malaysians can heave a big sigh of relief that Najib has got one allegation less?

The second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Husni Hanadzlah is being totally dishonest and dishonourable to claim innocence for the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak to Wall Street Journal (WSJ) charges from the Auditor-General’s (AG) interim report on 1MDB when the  AG’s  report is under lock and key and not released to MPs and the public.

In a statement today, Husni said as the preliminary report by the  Auditor-General has found no evidence of wrongdoing, the “reckless allegations by some parties, including the disappearance of RM42 billion and transfer of US$700 million to a certain individual, do not arise”.

He said: “It is my hope that all baseless allegations will be put to rest.  We have to remain patient and look forward to the final report by the A-G and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).”

If Husni is so sure that the Auditor-General’s preliminary report cleared Najib of the WSJ allegation about the US$700 million or RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts in AmBank, he should ask the Cabinet tomorrow to release the AG’s preliminary report to the public.

At least the 30 million Malaysians can heave a big sigh of relief that the Prime Minister is free from the WSJ allegation, at least one allegation less from the mountain  of allegations of Prime Ministerial misconduct and impropriety dogging Najib’s every step.

It must however be news to everyone that the Auditor-General’s terms of reference include probing into the WSJ report and allegation that that Malaysian government investigators have found some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) deposited into Najib’s personal accounts at AmBank in March 2013, shortly before the dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013 in the run-up to the 13th General Election.

But this cannot be true, as the WSJ report and allegation came out on July 2, after the Auditor-General had completed the preliminary report on 1MDB at the end of June for submission to the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee.

It would appear that the  Auditor-General must also  be a mind-reader to be able to surmise how his  investigative terms of reference into 1MDB could expand or even shrink depending on the latest twists and turns of the 1MDB scandal – without receiving anything in black and white from his superiors!

But I am completely confounded that Huzni, known as a conscientious and industrious Minister, could have missed the Auditor-General, Tan Sri Ambrin Buang’s comments to  reporters after  last Thursday’s briefing in Parliament with PAC members on 1MDB.

Ambrin made it clear that the National Audit Department will not be investigating allegations that 1MDB funds had been channeled to the Prime Minister, as the special task force of the Four Tan Sris was   better equipped for the task, including the power to look into people’s bank accounts.

He explained that if the National Audit Department were to require banking information, it would have to obtain it through other agencies such as Bank Negara. Since Bank Negara is already a part of the task force, it is best to leave it to its investigations.

Can Husni explain firstly, how the Auditor General’s interim  report could clear Najib of the WSJ allegations when firstly, the allegations were made after completion of the AG’s 1MDB preliminary report; and secondly, when the AG never investigated into this subject?

This is not the only  mystery of this mystery-laden 1MDB scandal, with the Prime Minister  presiding over the pile of investigators although he is in the capacity of  the “accused” – with everybody under him investigating everybody so much so that nobody really knows who is investigating what!

Only today, the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar reiterated his priority  “to shoot the messenger”, when he declared that “all parties” will be investigated over the allegation of leakage of information and documents about the RM2.6 billion deposit into Najib’s personal bank accounts in March 2013, including the  allegation that three Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) senior officers had leaked “sensitive documents” to WSJ.

The obsession to ferret out those responsible for leaking the documents and “shoot the messenger” is sending out the message that  documents which prove  the veracity of the WSJ report and allegations exist!

The Minister for Tourism and Culture, Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said yesterday that the RM2 million reported to be deposited into Rosmah Mansor’s bank account was legal.

Does this mean that the RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal accounts (which have never been denied) is not “legal”?

It is almost two weeks since the WSJ allegation about RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal accounts  and what really stands out is the Prime Minister’s inability to come out with an outright denial of the allegation, which naturally leads to the question where the RM2.6 billion  came from and where they had gone to.

Najib cannot continue to run and feint, but must take a stand to clear his name by opening his books to investigators – not to the ridiculous “special task force” of four Tan Sri subordinates, which has no credibility whatsoever,  but to a Royal Commission of Inquiry of three Tuns – Mahathir, Abdullah and Musa Hitam – who are not beholden to him at all.

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, 4:37 pm and is filed under
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Why is Hadi parroting the line of   UMNO propagandists and cybertroopers accusing the DAP of being “chauvinist” in  wanting to have local government elections?

PAS President Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang is quoted as calling the DAP “chauvinist” for trying to restore local council elections in his press conference inBatu Pahat on Sunday.

I am amazed as to why the head of a political party which rivals UMNO is parroting the line of UMNO propagandists and cybertroopers who had been accusing the DAP of being “chauvinistic” in wanting to have local government elections, as one would expect more originality and even creativity from Hadi!

I am particularly surprised by Hadi’s charge of “chauvinism”, after he and PAS leaders had asked for DAP agreement after the 13th General Election  that Hadi should be seated at the second Opposition seat next to the Parliamentary Opposition Leader, although PAS parliamentary representation was the smallest with 21 MPs as compared to DAP’s 38 and PKR’s 30.

However, without hesitation, I consented to the arrangement for Hadi to be seated in the second Parliamentary seat for Pakatan Rakyat benches, which would not be the case if DAP is “chauvinistic” as Hadi is now charging, as we would then be subjecting all considerations to the question of racial interest.

However, I had no qualms in immediately agreeing to the PAS request for Hadi to be seated in the second Opposition front-bench seat in Parliament although PAS had the least number of MPs among the three Pakatan Rakyat parties, for we in the DAP are always prepared to rise above self and party interests if this would serve the larger purpose of promoting the Pakatan Rakyat cause of bringing about political change in Malaysia towards restoring freedom, justice, human rights and dignity and save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, injustices and collapse of good governance.

It is  to say the least, an “unkind cut” that after securing the second seating in Parliament by pleading the cause of ‘face” for  the Malay ground and among PAS members, for Hadi  to turn around and accuse me and DAP of being “chauvinist”.

In the first place, does Hadi know the meaning of “chauvinist”?

He accused DAP of being “chauvinist” of wanting restoration of local government elections.

By the same logic, are Malaysians like former Deputy Education Minister, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah and former Bersih co-chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenivasan also “chauvinists” because they also want the restoration of local government elections?

Let me give four reasons to debunk Hadi’s puerile and baseless allegation, which cannot be allowed to go unchallenged.

Firstly,
 it is a blatant lie to insinuate that DAP wants to seek full control of the country through the restoration of the third vote, suggesting that it was a post-13GE grab for political power by the Chinese at the expense of the Malays on the ground that 60 per cent of the state assembly seats in the country are already under the DAP control.

Such lies are  most preposterous and utter nonsense for three reasons:

(i) DAP does not control 60% of the state assembly seats, as all the three Pakatan Rakyat parties of DAP, PKR and PAS (until PR was killed at the PAS Muktamar on June 3) did not even win 50% of the total state assembly seats in the 13th General Election. The total number and percentage of state assembly seats won by the three PR parties in the 13GE are 229 seats or 45% of the total of 505 state assembly seats in the country.

(ii) The DAP had never been a party for the Chinese or any one race or religion, as right from our establishment 49 years ago, DAP had been committed to the goal of being a party for Malaysians of all races and religions. In fact, DAP is the first Pan-Malaysian political party in Malaysia, with branches in all the states in the country.

(iii) Restoration of local government had been the objective of DAP ever since our formation in 1966. I made at least two major speeches in Parliament on the restoration of local government during the three-year resumption of Parliament from 1971-1974 – my first term as an elected MP.

Secondly,
 it is utterly misleading and irresponsible to suggest that restoration of local council elections would benefit the Chinese at the expense of the Malays. This is  ignoring the local government restructuring and the process of Malay urbanization in the past five decades, resulting in Malaysia having 148 local authorities, about 90% of which have Malay majorities of over 50% of the population, while only two per cent or three of the 148 local authorities have Chinese majorities, leaving a balance of 13 with plurality of races, seven of which are Chinese-dominant and six Malay-dominant.

Thirdly,
  let me address the accusation  DAP is  “communist” and “chauvinist” in wanting local government elections. Local government elections are also held in Indonesia, Turkey and Iran. Is Hadi  suggesting that Presidents Jokowi and Erdogan and former Iranian President Ahmadnejad or Indonesia, Turkey and Iran are “communist” and “chauvinist”?

Fourthly,
  the allegation  DAP had unilaterally and arbitrarily sought the restoration of the third vote in violation of Pakatan Rakyat Common Policy Framework. In actual fact, the restoration of local government elections was in both the Pakatan Rakyat national manifesto and the Selangor PR state manifesto for the 13th General Elections.

In March 2010, the Selangor Mentri Besar and the Penang Chief Minister wrote separate letters in the name of the respective PR state governments to the Election Commission asking it to conduct local government elections in their respective states, which was opposed by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

PAS and DAP have parted ways in Pakatan Rakyat because of the repeated violation of the Pakatan Rakyat Common Policy Framework and Hadi’s contempt for the PR consensus operational principle, wanting to exercise a veto power over decisions adopted unanimously by the PR Leadership although PAS was attended by the then Deputy President, Mohamad Sabu.

However, this cannot justify Hadi resorting to the politics of dishonesty and falsehood, which are  the basis of his allegation that DAP is “chauvinist” in wanting restoration of local government elections.

I am sure Malaysians await Hadi response to my expose.

(Speech to Perak  DAP State and branch leaders on the post-PR scenario and the future of Malaysia at Perak DAP State hqrs  in Ipoh  on Monday, 13th  July 2015 at 9pm)

                This entry was posted on Tuesday, 14 July 2015, 10:48 am and is filed under
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Call for Royal Commission of Truth and Reconciliation on Low Yat Mob Incident headed by Rafidah Aziz to ensure that there will be no recurrence of race riots because of petty crimes

This is the fourth day of the Low Yat Mob Incident on Sunday, July 12, 2015 and situation is returning to normal.

The term of “Low Yat Incident” which is the official terminology for the rioting on Sunday,  reminds me of May 13 Incident, the race riots which took place in Kuala Lumpur after the 1969 general election where official figures put the casualties as  less than 200 although different unofficial figures were much higher, even as high as suggesting four-figure numbers.

In my first speech in Parliament in February 1971 when Parliament reconvened after a 20-month suspension, I had called for a Commission of Inquiry into the causes of the May 13 racial riots and to propose a blueprint to reconcile the different races and build a united Malaysian nation.

But this proposal was rejected and up to today, there had been conflicting, divergent and even fictitious accounts about the causes of the May 13 riots 46 years ago.

This “sweeping under the carpet” mentality is still at work, for after the refusal to have a Commission of Inquiry into the May 13, 1969 race riots,  there was also  no inquiry into  the causes and the events of the race riots in  Taman Medan 14 years ago in 2001.

This is most unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

I call for a Royal Commission of Truth and Reconciliation into the Low Yat Mob Incident on Sunday, on how a petty crime of theft of a mobile phone could balloon into a race riot involving hundreds of people and to prevent any such recurrence.

We must take the Low Yat Mob Incident seriously, with the emphasis on finding its causes, especially the macro ones,  to prevent a recurrence of any racial riot in Kuala Lumpur or any part of Malaysia as we must prevent any recurrence of a petty crime transforming into a race riot in our multi-racial nation as it will have far-reaching and adverse impact on our investment and socio-economic climate  for the future.

Surely, we are not waiting for hundreds or thousands to die because we admit there there is a racial riot!

I fully agree with former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir who  said that the rioting at Low Yat Plaza on Sunday should not have happened, more so during Ramadan when Muslims must refrain from hunger, thirst, anger and hatred.

He said: “This should not have happened despite the different faiths. The solution to anger is not by rioting as it will make the country unsafe and unattractive for anyone.”

Former Cabinet Minister who was Minister for International Trade and Industry for two decades, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz warned that  Malaysia has everything to lose if it ever sees a repeat of the deadly May 13 race riots.

Urging the younger generation to resist dismantling the efforts to heal the nation following the 1969 riots, the former minister said all Malaysians must learn from the “dark period” of the country’s history and free their minds of prejudice, bias, and parochial tendencies.

Expressing sadness over the “mob violence” in Low Yat Plaza that left five people injured and three more arrested, Rafidah also questioned the need to make race the focus of an issue that began over an alleged shoplifting incident.

She said: “I have gone through that sad dark period in our nation’s socio-economic history… triggered by the May 13 1969 riots… it is NOT something to be proud of… it is something from which we need to learn valuable lessons.

“My generation of Malaysian leaders, and Malaysians, have put in much effort to heal the pain of the May 13, 1969 tragedy… to narrow the chasms that had been created, and to rebuild a strong and resilient Malaysia, forged upon the strength of unity in diversity.

“The generations ensuing must refrain from undoing what has been tirelessly forged,” she wrote on Facebook.

There is an urgent need for a Royal Commission on Truth and Reconciliation on the Low Yat Incident whose  primary objective is to prevent any recurrence of the incident whether in Kuala Lumpur or elsewhere in multi-racial Malaysia of a petty crime ballooning into a racial riot.

Among the issues  this Royal Commission of Truth and Reconciliation on Low Yat Incident should inquire into are:

•	Whether the police could have acted pre-emptively to prevent the petty crime of mobile phone theft from being transformed into a race riot involving a few hundred people;

•	The attack on journalists;

•	The role of social media with Ministers blaming it as a main culprit of the Low Yat Incident;

•	Whether one major cause of the Low Yat riots was the incessant incitement of hatred as a result of  irresponsible politics of race and religion in recent years.

•	Whether the Low Yat Incident is proof of the failure of nation-building policies,  particularly the Prime Minister’s 1Malaysia signature policy and decades of Biro Tata Negara courses.

This Royal Commission of Truth and Reconciliation, which should reach as many of those involved in the Low Yat riots on Sunday, should present a blueprint to prevent a recurrence of the Low Yat Incident in future.

Rafidah will make an ideal chairperson for the Royal Commission on Truth and Reconciliation on Low Yat Incident, and there are many eminent and respected Malaysians who could be members of this commission, including Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, former Cabinet Minister  Tan Sri Dr. Rais Yatim, former Attorney-General Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, former top civil servant Tan Sri Ramon Navaratnam, NGO leaders Datuk Seri Ambiga Sreenivasan and  Pak Samad and many others.

(Media Conference Statement after a visit to affected traders at Low Yat Plaza with the DAP MP for Bukit Bintang Fong Kui Lun and Pak Samad on Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at 11 am)

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 1:33 pm and is filed under
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Malaysia is going through “the worst of times”. Are there enough Malaysians to make it “the best of times”?

Never before has Malaysia been in such a mess.

What is devastating is that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

Malaysia’s spirit cannot soar and reach for the skies, to seek and attain an ever-higher level of  national achievement and human excellence.

Instead, we are  daily bogged down  by the mundane and sordid details of one scandal after another, as if we need constant reminders as to how far Malaysia has fallen from grace from the era of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Razak and  Hussein Onn.

Dominating the landscape of scandals is the 1MDB “mother and mother of all financial scandals”, a hydra-headed monster capable of unending combinations and permutations to unveil the gravity of  the collapse of an ethical government and the principles of accountability, transparency and good governance in the country.

The enormity of the 1MDB scandal so dwarf other scandals that  it is capable providing relief and even  an escape route to lesser scandals – and  MARA is one such beneficiary as the MARA Inc property corruption scandal broke open by the Australian Age in its report
“Corrupt Malaysia money distorts Melbourne market”
 on June 23, 2015 was completely overshadowed by the latest expose in the 1MDB scandal wallowing in  billions and even tens of billions of ringgit compared to the comparatively puny sum of RM100 – 200 million in the MARA Inc property corruption scandal in Melbourne.

In these troubled times, Malaysians are desperately looking for leadership.

Is it to be found in the Cabinet?

It is obvious that Malaysia has a Cabinet and Cabinet Ministers who do not lead, but are prepared to be led blindly even  towards a national dead end!

For at least five  times, the Cabinet had given blank-cheque approval for the latest twist-and-turn of the 1MDB mega-scandal, viz:

•	the first time in early March when as Auditor-General was called in to verify the 1MDB accounts;

•	 the second time in end-May when the Cabinet approved the Save 1MDB Roadmap;

•	the third time when Wall Street Journal  (WSJ) on June 19  published a report that 1MDB funds were used to bankroll Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 13th General Election campaign;

•	the fourth time over the WSJ report on July 3 that RM2.6 billion had been deposited into Najib’s personal banking accounts in AmBank in March 2013 before the 13th General Election; and

•	fifthly, when the Cabinet finally learnt in early June that Najib was in law and fact, as Prime Minister, Finance Minister as well as by virtue of Clause 117 of the 1MDB Memorandum and Articles of Association (M&A) the final approving authority for 1MDB deals.

Today’s Cabinet meeting is the final one before the Hari Raya Aidilfitri festivities.

Is the Cabinet finally going to provide leadership or are there at least some Cabinet Ministers who are prepared to put their heads on the chopping block to provide leadership for the country in great distress?

The Cabinet’s decision or non-decision on the following four issues will be a barometer whether Malaysians have a Cabinet or Cabinet Ministers to be proud of:

1 1MDB scandal
 –  Will the Cabinet today

(i) repudiate and reprimand the Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah for his baseless statement yesterday that the preliminary report by the Auditor-General on 1MDB had cleared the  Prime Minister and 1MDB of any wrongdoing,

(ii) set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry into 1MDB and WSJ reports led by the three Tuns – Mahathir, Abdullah and Musa Hitam – to replace the “special task force” of four Tan Sris – Gani Patail (AGC), Zeti Akhtar Aziz (BNM), Khalid Abu Bakar (RMP) and Abu Kassim Mohamad (MACC) as the latter lack national and international credibility and legitimacy; and

(iii) resolve that the Prime Minister should publicly confirm or deny  (a) whether Najib had three personal bank accounts in AmBank; (b) whether some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) of funds were deposited into his personal accounts in 2013 just before the dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013 in the run-up to the 13th General Election; (c) Where the RM2.6 billion came from; and (d)  Where and to whom  these RM2.6 billion have gone to.

2. MARA Property Corruption Scandal in Melbourne

Will the Cabinet sack Datuk Annuar Musa as MARA Chairman, the MARA Board of Directors and MARA executives as the MARA Inc property corruption scandal is in the region of over RM100 million or more than ten times the magnitude of the scandal as initially exposed by The Age.

3. Low Yat Mob Incident

What action the Cabinet is taking to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the Low Yat Mob Incident?

I fully agree with former prime minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad that  the rioting at Low Yat Plaza on Sunday should not have happened more so during Ramadan when Muslims must refrain from hunger, thirst, anger and hatred.

Is the Cabinet capable of formulating and implementing an action plan to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the Low Yat Incident, whether in Kuala Lumpur or elsewhere in Malaysia?

4. Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2015 (SCKLM)

Will the Cabinet overrule the decision of the Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to change the date of Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2015 (SCKLM) from Oct. 4 to Oct. 10 to bolster the National Sports Day, and to maintain the original date  so as not to spoil the plans of  some 35,000 participants locally and overseas who  have registered for the marathon?

I am reminded of the opening of Charles Dickens’ historical novel “The Tale of Two Cities”, which was one of the prescribed texts for literature when I was in Form IV:

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way.”

Malaysia is going through the “worst of times”. Are there enough Malaysians to also make it “the best of times”.

Can we start with the Cabinet?  We will know in a few hours.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 8:32 am and is filed under
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Malaysian politics are dirty and  polluted enough without Mustafa having to leap into the swamp with lies and falsehoods to demonise and character-assassinate PAS progressives

(Scroll down for English text)

Politik Malaysia sudah pun kotor dan tercemar tanpa perlu Mustafa Ali melompat masuk ke dalam lubuk politik ini dengan pembohongan dan fitnah untuk memburukkan serta membunuh wibawa Progresif PAS yang masih lagi bersamanya sebagai rakan seperjuangan PAS

Dua hari lalu, saya terkejut apabila Presiden PAS, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, telah meniru suara propagandis dan tentera maya UMNO dengan menuduh DAP sebagai “cauvinis” semata-mata kerana DAP menuntut dihidupkan kembali pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan, yang sememangnya terkandung dalam Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat Nasional dan Manifesto Pakatan Rakyat Selangor dalam pilihanraya umum ke-13 yang lalu.

Hadi seolah-olah tidak tahu bahawa pilihanraya kerajaan tempatan wujud di Indonesia, Turki dan Iran. Tak kanlah Hadi nak menuduh Presiden Jokowi dari Indonesia, Presiden Erdogan (Turki) dan bekas Presiden Ahmadinejad (Iran) adalah “komunis” dan “cauvinis” kerana mereka melaksanakan pilihanraya tempatan?

Hari ini saya terkejut apabila seorang lagi pemimpin kanan PAS, bekas Setiausaha Agungnya Datuk Mustafa Ali yang turut meniru suara propagandis dan tentera maya UMNO kononnya parti baru yang akan ditubuhkan oleh kumpulan progresif PAS bakal menghadapi masalah kerana ia adalah proksi DAP, dan dengan itu, orang Melayu tidak akan percaya kepada parti itu.

Sedangkan Mustafa sendiri telah mengakui bahawa label “proksi DAP” ini telah digunakan terhadap PAS apabila PAS bekerjasama dengan DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Adakah PAS pernah menjadi proksi DAP? Adakah ia menjadi sebab mengapa PAS sukar mendapat sokongan orang Melayu?

Jangan lupa bahawa pada masa yang sama, PAS telah dituduh menjadi proksi DAP oleh UMNO di kalangan orang Melayu manakala DAP dituduh menjadi proksi PAS oleh MCA dan Gerakan di kalangan orang Cina.

Malah, tewasnya saya di kerusi Parlimen Bukit Bendera (dan juga kekalahan Karpal Singh di kerusi Parlimen Jelutong) dalam PRU 1999 adalah kerana kejayaan propaganda “hitam” MCA/Gerakan, iaitu mendakwa kononnya apabila DAP bekerjasama dengan PAS, maka ia telah menjadi ejen dan alat PAS.

Propaganda MCA/Gerakan pada masa itu untuk menakutkan pengundi Cina telah mendakwa bahawa undi untuk DAP adalah undi untuk PAS dan “Negara Islam”, iaitu tidak akan ada lagi daging babi,   tiada alkohol, tiada kuil, tiada gereja, tiada karaoke, tiada sekolah Cina, tiada gincu bibir untuk wanita, semua wanita dipaksa memakai tudung, wanita cantik tidak dibenarkan bekerja dan akan berlaku hukuman potong tangan dan kaki.

Kerana propaganda ini, saya telah kalah (dan begitu juga dengan Karpal) tetapi kami tidak tunduk  kepada hujah bodoh dan pembohongan, sebagaimana kami tidak pernah berkompromi prinsip politik dan matlamat Impian Malaysia, sama ada demi habuan wang atau jawatan.

Para pemimpin DAP bukan proksi PAS sebagaimana pimpinan PAS tidak pernah menjadi proksi DAP.

Ini adalah pembohongan dan fitnah yang dihamburkan oleh ahli-ahli politik yang tidak berprinsip serta oportunis dalam UMNO, MCA dan Gerakan untuk memburukkan serta membunuh wibawa para pemimpin DAP dan PAS.

Mengapa kini Mustafa mahu menjatuhkan maruahnya ke tahap propagandis dan tentera maya UMNO untuk memburukkan serta membunuh wibawa Progresif PAS, dengan cara memindahkan label “proksi DAP” yang diberikan untuk  PAS dahulu kepada Progresif PAS, sedangkan Mustafa tahu di lubuk hatinya bahawa label-label ini tiada asasnya sama sekali, sama ada untuk pemimpin PAS atau Progresif PAS?

Politik Malaysia sudah pun kotor dan tercemar tanpa perlu Mustafa melompat masuk ke dalam lubuk politik ini dengan pembohongan dan fitnah untuk memburukkan serta membunuh wibawa Progresif PAS yang masih lagi bersamanya sebagai rakan seperjuangan PAS.

Walaupun Mustafa mungkin tidak bersetuju dengan Progresif PAS tentang soal prinsip dan politik Islam serta pendekatannya, beliau tidak sepatutnya mempertikaikan wibawa, keikhlasan dan integriti Progresif PAS.

Marilah kita amalkan politik yang bersih dan jujur walaupun kita sedar tanah air kita ini penuh dengan para pemimpin yang korup dan zalim.

(Kenyataan media di Kuala Lumpur pada Rabu, 15 Julai 2015)

————————-

(English text)

Two days ago, I was surprised that the PAS President, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang was parroting the line of UMNO propagandists and cybertroopers accusing the DAP of being “chauvinistic” in wanting to have local government elections although the restoration of local government elections was in both the Pakatan Rakyat national manifesto and the Selangor PR state manifesto in the 13th  General Elections.

Hadi also did not seem to know that local government elections are held in Indonesia, Turkey and Iran.  Surely, Hadi is not  suggesting that President Jokowi of Indonesia, President  Erdogan of Turkey and former Iranian President Ahmadnejad are “communist” and “chauvinist”?

Today, I am shocked that another top PAS leader, former PAS Secretary-General Datuk Mustafa Ali is parroting another line of UMNO propagandists and cybertroopers that the new political party to be formed by PAS progressives will have a hard time making any headway as it is a DAP proxy and will not be trusted by the Malays.

Mustafa has himself admitted that this label of a DAP proxy had been used against PAS when PAS worked with DAP in Pakatan  Rakyat.

Was PAS ever a  DAP proxy and was it the reason PAS found it hard to get support from the Malays?

Don’t forget that at the same time that PAS was accused of being DAP proxy by UMNO in the Malay ground, DAP was accused of being a PAS stooge by MCA and Gerakan in the Chinese areas.

In fact, my defeat in Bukit Bendera parliamentary seat (as well as Karpal’s defeat in the Jelutong seat)  in the 1999 general elections was because of the success of MCA/Gerakan “black” propaganda that by co-operating with PAS, we had become agents and stooges of PAS, that a vote for DAP was a vote for PAS and an Islamic state where there will be no pork, no alcohol, no temples, no churches, no karaokes, no Chinese schools, no lipsticks for women, women will have to cover their heads, beautiful women cannot find jobs and that there would be the chopping and hands and feet.

I lost (just as Karpal also lost) but we did not bow down to such sophistries and lies, as we had never compromised  our political principles and objectives of the Malaysian Dream  whether for lucre or office.

DAP leaders are not proxies of PAS, just as PAS leaders have never been proxies of DAP.

These are lies and falsehoods churned out by unprincipled and opportunistic politicians in UMNO, MCA and Gerakan to demonise and character-assassinate leaders in DAP and PAS.

Why should Mustafa now descend to the level of  UMNO propagandists and cybertroopers to demonise and character-assassinate PAS progressives, seeking to transfer the “DAP proxy” label from PAS to the PAS progressives when Mustafa knew in his heart of hearts that these labels are without basis or substance, whether for  PAS leaders or PAS progressives?

Malaysian politics are dirty and polluted enough without Mustafa having to  leap into the swamp with  lies and falsehoods to demonise and character-assassinate PAS progressives, who are still his comrade-in-arms in PAS.

Mustapha may disagree with PAS progressives about political and Islamic principles and approaches but the last thing he should do is to doubt the character, sincerity and integrity of PAS progressives.

Let us practise  clean and honest politics even in the land of the corrupt and the decadent.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 4:20 pm and is filed under
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No pride in May 13, Rafidah Aziz tells young Malaysians after Low Yat fracas

Malay Mail Online

July 14, 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, July 14 — Malaysia has everything to lose if it ever sees a repeat of the deadly May 13 race riots, Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz said following the unrest at Low Yat Plaza here on the weekend.

Urging the younger generation to resist dismantling the efforts to heal the nation following the 1969 riots, the former minister said all Malaysians must learn from the “dark period” of the country’s history and free their minds of prejudice, bias, and parochial tendencies.

Expressing sadness over the “mob violence” that left five people injured and three more arrested, Rafidah also questioned the need to make race the focus of an issue that began over an alleged shoplifting incident.

“I have gone through that sad dark period in our nation’s socio-economic history… triggered by the May 13 1969 riots… it is NOT something to be proud of… it is something from which we need to learn valuable lessons.

“My generation of Malaysian leaders, and Malaysians, have put in much effort to heal the pain of the May 13, 1969 tragedy… to narrow the chasms that had been created, and to rebuild a strong and resilient Malaysia, forged upon the strength of unity in diversity.

“The generations ensuing must refrain from undoing what has been tirelessly forged,” she wrote on Facebook.

Rafidah also urged Malaysians to be calm and rational, and not allow short tempers to reignite racial tensions in the multicultural country.

The former minister’s message is a positive departure from those by two Muslim groups who continue to blame Chinese traders for the melee and vandalism at the popular tech mall over the weekend.

The police said yesterday that eighteen people have been arrested over their involvement in the riot and alleged theft of a smartphone at Low Yat Plaza over the weekend.

They also stated that there was no truth to rumours that the incident was triggered by cheating, and stressed that the case began with the alleged shoplifting attempt.

The weekend’s riots came after a 22-year-old man was reportedly handed to the police for allegedly stealing a mobile phone Saturday, after which his accomplice contacted their friends who then assaulted workers from a mobile phone store and caused an estimated RM70,000 in damage.

Rumours had spread on social media after the alleged theft that the Chinese trader had sold the Malay man a counterfeit phone, leading to calls for boycotts of “cheating” Chinese traders and the complex itself.

Yesterday, the Inspector-General of Police said he has ordered the arrests of those who spread such rumours.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 5:08 am and is filed under
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Not telling the truth is not an option, Ku Li tells those in the know of Malaysia’s problems

The Malaysian Insider

14 July 2015

Knowing the facts and the problems but not telling the truth is not an option, Malaysia’s longest-serving lawmaker Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said in his Hari Raya Aidilfitri message tonight.

The Gua Musang MP and Barisan Nasional backbencher said those in the know about the country’s problems should stand by their principles and help in resolving them.

“We earnestly hope that there is still honour left in our beloved country and that there are honourable men who have the relevant facts to put the matter to rest,” he said, in a veiled remark aimed at authorities looking into various controversies plaguing the country including, debt laden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

“They should stand fast by their principles and take the moral high ground to assist in the resolution of the problem.

“If this was the case, surely there is no necessity for us to waste time instituting inquiries and investigations.

“Knowing the facts and the problem but not telling the truth is not an option,” he said.

The former Umno vice-president’s statement appeared to be in the same vein as that of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who earlier said that covering and hiding of evidence were also considered as crimes.

As Putrajaya hunts down those behind information leaks about an ongoing probe into 1MDB and allegations of fund transfers to the prime minister’s accounts, Dr Mahathir urged those with information but who were covering up to “make the right decision”.

“You are really between the devil and the deep sea.

“You must make the decision now or forever regret,” he wrote in his popular blog.

Tengku Razaleigh in a more subtle reminder said that telling the truth is essential to rebuild the confidence of the people that was painstakingly developed by the country’s founding fathers.

“Such an action will enable the country to restore our battered and damaged image and dignity within the world community.”

At the moment, he said that despite being bombarded with news about the sorry state of the nation’s finances, controversies and purported mega financial scandals, nothing has changed.

“In effect, currently there is much confusion in the people’s minds, which have to process statements, whose veracity is suspect and might not reflect the true situation.”

For Malaysia to reach its potential, Tengku Razaleigh said leaders must remain focused on matters of immediate concern faced by the people.

He listed economic and financial difficulties due to the shrinking ringgit, indifferent take-home salaries and wages made worse by the spiralling cost of fuel and burdensome impositions such as the goods and services tax as among some of the main worry.

“We must alleviate the hardship of the people in their trying to make ends meet. We must address how the ever increasing living cost can be mitigated and overcome.”

Another particular socio-economic issue worrying the people is the lack of a financial safety net to provide economic security for retirees and education.

As a solution, he said leaders must put a stop to the constant bickering, squabbling and politicking.

“We must close rank and come together to achieve the rich potential that has always been our feature. We should consider a total overhaul of the system.” – July 14, 2015.

                This entry was posted on Wednesday, 15 July 2015, 5:54 am and is filed under
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