WHITHER UMNO?

UMNO'S POPULAR SUPPORT AND BACKBONE -- 1957



---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



UMNO'S POPULAR SUPPORT AND BACKBONE -- 2011

THE END FOR POWER CRAZY TYRANTS IS VERY NEAR.

MACC's Attempt To Boost Its Image Doomed To Fail

There is an interesting report in today's NST that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's 13-member Anti-Corruption Advisory Board has made two recommendations to turn it into a more credible institution.

One is that the Federal Constitution be amended to pave the way for the creation of an Anti-Corruption Service Commission for the appointment, confirmation and promotion of members of the anti-graft body.

The other is for the top graftbuster to be accorded a position equivalent to the inspector-general of police.

But these are merely cosmetic changes that benefit the MACC staff and will in no way lead to improvement in their dismal service. What does it matter if the head of the MACC is accorded a higher rank? Will it make him less subservient to the Umno leadership? Or will he suddenly develop larger testes to take on government-sponsored corruption? It is a fallacy that creating an Anti-Corruption Service Commission which will result in a better deal for MACC staff will in itself cause the officers there to suddenly become more efficient. On the contrary a sudden infusion of 'goodies' will have the undesirable effect of making the already pliant MACC thugs more beholden to Najib and gang.

The NST further reported that the board, chaired by former chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad, said despite a credible performance last year, the MACC’s biggest challenge was to rectify the negative perception the public had against it.

"The long-term goal should be to make the MACC one of the leading anti-corruption bodies in the world and for Malaysia to be seen as a corruption-free country," it said.

As everyone knows, former chief justice Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad is himself a disgraced and discredited figure having bent over backwards to help former PM Dr Mahathir oust the then Lord President in a government backed coup d'état against the judiciary. This man should first be removed as chairman of the board.

The only recourse for the MACC to become more credible and help repair their battered public image is:

1) Be made answerable only to Parliament. This will at least limit the level of executive interference somewhat.

2) Remove as many of the deadwood from the highest ranks to the lowest officers as possible and recruit a more ethnically balanced force.

3) Stop sourcing completely from the morally and ethically challenged Royal Malaysia Police.

4) Endeavor to employ highly qualifed and experienced foreigners such as those from the Independent Commission Against Corruption Hong Kong who won't be easily susceptible to licking the rears of government leaders.

Of course none of this is going to happen until Umno is blown away in the next G.E. Hopefully the Pakatan federal government which will take over can preside over the creation of a genuine anti-corruption force we can be proud of.

Former Crime Chief Dato Ramli Yusuff Acquitted Of Corruption Charges. Syabas Judge Gunalan

From TheStar online.

Suspended Commercial Crimes Investigation Department director Comm Datuk Ramli Yusoff has been acquitted of corruption charges by Sessions Court here.

Judge M Gunalan ruled Friday that the prosecution had failed to prove a prima facie case against Comm Ramli, who was charged with failing to declare ownership of 20,000 Telekom Malaysia Berhad shares, 154,000 Permaju Industries Berhad shares and interest in two office properties worth RM1,032,840.

Ramli, 56, was alleged to have committed the offences at the office of the then Anti-Corruption Agency's deputy public prosecutor in Putrajaya on Sept 17, 2007.

***** Judge M Gunalan must be congratulated for sticking up for justice unlike his seniors in the higher courts including and especially the Appeals and Federal Court who have shown time and again that they have no brains or balls. Even in this case which will definitely be appealed by the government let us see what the superior courts decide. No prize for guessing which way those judgments will go.

Another PKR Turncoat, Bagan Serai MP Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri Defects

Bagan Serai member of parliament Mohsin Fadzli Samsuri today became the third legislator to quit Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

The 65-year-old said he had been 'disappointed' with recent events in the party. (No means to cari makan?)

Among the reasons he cited were party infighting and the party's stance on the usage of the "Allah" term by non-Muslims. “In the name of Allah, I would like to announce my resignation from PKR. I hereby quit PKR and resign from all posts to become an independent member of parliament," said Mohsin.

Mohsin didn't take any questions from reporters but asked PKR's former secretary-general Datuk Salehuddin Hashim to answer questions on his behalf.

I suppose at the ripe old age of 65 years there is not much time or avenue to make a tidy fortune. What better way than to throw morals and principles to the ground and stomach a few months of shame and ignominy? It's worth it. After all Najib's millions will more than compensate for the 'hardship'. But using the name of Allah to justify his greed and betrayal is the height of hypocrisy and should be condemned. It is also pretty obvious that Salehuddin Hashim is the bapa ayam for all these political whores.

I wonder how the fence sitters among the public feel about Umno now? Do they truly approve this 'purchasing' strategy? Will they vote for such dishonest politicians again? Only time will tell.

This Is Umno's Malaysia

With the way that Umno is misusing the police, MACC, the Attorney General's chambers, the judiciary and other government institutions on a daily basis, the above cartoon may well describe the situation in Malaysia today. Very sad.

Perak Imbroglio: Zambry Granted Stay Of Execution

“The momentous High Court decision, declaring that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful Menteri Besar of Perak, is a victory for the people of Perak, democracy and justice.” -- DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

It is also in a way a partial victory for the judiciary where there seem to be still at least a few men of conviction willing to place their honor and oath of office above the selfish expectation of great reward.

That personal view was somewhat marred by the latest news that the Appeals Court has just granted a stay of execution of the KL High Court ruling that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the righful mentri besar of Perak. Thus the musical chairs charade continues with Dr Zambry as mentri besar until his appeal is heard.

Looks like Umno has much more influence than anyone else in the higher courts and not to forget in the palace too. However try as they will, in the end in the court of public opinion, all of them, the fawning members of the judiciary and the increasingly out of touch royal family must all answer for the mess this has turned out to be. Time will come for that. Of that we can be sure.
Image - Source

Perak State Assembly Chaos: Najib's Reputation, Credibility & 1Malaysia Flushed Down The Toilet

It didn't take long for the vicious beast to reveal its true colours. A leopard, they say, does not change his spots. Neither will a dictator very easily change his evil ways. What better illustration of that theory than the disgraceful goings on over the past few days, culminating in the numerous arrests and disproportionate show of force by the totally discredited Umno-owned 'Loyal' Malaysia Police, in the run up to the controversial Perak State Assembly proceedings.

This whole episode leading to the fall of the legally elected state government was masterminded from day one by the present PM. A few days prior to the palace assisted coup, Najib took over the position of Perak Umno state chairman from Tajol Rosli. The only reason for such a maneuver was that Tajol was too small a guy to discuss and clinch a quid pro quo deal with the Perak palace. Najib on the other hand had the requisite political stature to negotiate a 'mutually satisfying and rewarding' arrangement with the sultan. The consequence of that royal kau tim was a succession of unconstitutional and blatantly illegal steps taken by Najib and his minions in government, judiciary, police and others.

A majority of the nation is still shell-shocked over all that has occurred. The ease with which the state and federal Constitutions have been defiled, national institutions laid waste by the wayside and lofty principles, plain morality and decency trampled upon by ruling party savages, has left the populace stunned and distressed. And history will blame one man for all that has happened and is happening - Umno president Najib Razak. All the other characters in this sordid drama - the palace, Zambry, the defecting assemblymen, the genuflecting senior and junior judges, the servile police and kowtowing civil servants are but minor players in a political chess game set up by the PM.

Najib is the puppet master who behind the scenes is actively directing the continued assault on the democratic fabric of the nation or what little is left of it after fifty years of wear and tear. He should certainly make Dr Mahathir proud. But alas the end of this story may not be to Najib's liking. Yes he could get away with grabbing Perak with a veneer of legality by way of the current state assembly proceedings and resolutions. However the people are watching with understandable awe, fear and more importantly, anger. And most of them are not fools or blind to the Machiavellian machinations being inspired from Putrajaya and its head honcho.

Among the biggest losers in the current debacle is the reputation, credibility and the nonsensically opportunistic 1Malaysia policy of Najib. The above are rapidly heading their way to Indah Water's sewers where they rightfully belong.

Bukit Antarabangsa Residents Slam Shabery Cheek's Insensitive Attempt To Spread The Blame

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek should be more sensitive towards the feelings of the residents who have suffered so much as result of the Bukit Antarabangsa landslide tragedy last Saturday.

Residents action committee chairman Datuk N. Muneandy said his statement Tuesday was uncalled for in light of the recent tragedy and only served to add fuel to the frustration and dismay already felt by the victims.

Ahmad Shabery reportedly told residents not to point fingers solely at the Government as both developers and housebuyers who chose to live in highland areas were equally to be blamed and should accept responsibility for what happened.

“Are you saying we should blame the mother for giving birth to the thief?” he told reporters Wednesday, adding that residents had invested millions of ringgit to purchase homes there.

Muneandy said there had been many signals over the years to indicate that the soil structure was unstable but complaints to the local authorities had fallen on deaf ears.

He said the complaints for the past five to 10 years have touched on various issues including cracks in drains and falling rubble and trees at the current landslide site.

“We want the authorities to do something to safeguard the future safety of residents there. The buck must stop here,” he said.

Muneandy said the committee would be bringing in their own geo-technical and legal experts to look into the soil structure at the landslide area which killed four people and resulted in nearly 3,000 being temporarily evacuated from their homes.

“We will collect evidence on what exactly happened and who is responsible. Then, we will consider whether to sue those responsible,” he said.

The committee, which represents the residents of four streets in Taman Wangsa, Wangsa Heights and Antanium, also told the Government to provide more information to the residents’ committee, claiming they were being kept in the dark over plans to alleviate problems caused by the landslide.

“We have not been told about what is happening. We are left wondering what to expect next,” he said.

Read the whole story HERE

***** Did we really expect any thing different from a government minister? If Shabery had his way he'll totally absolve the kerajaan and place the blame solely on the residents and the developers. MBs, Exco members and Majlis officials will be exonerated and described as completely honest and dedicated public servants. Malaysia Boleh!!

No More Permits For Hillside Projects Says Najib. How Many Times Have We Heard This Same Bullshit?

The Government will not be issuing any more permits for hillside developments following the landslide tragedy at Bukit Antarabangsa early Saturday morning.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this on Saturday at a press conference after visiting the tragedy site.

He also told developers not to lobby or pressure the Government for any building permits for hillside development projects.

He said preventive measures must be taken to avoid hillside tragedies.

At about 4am Saturday, a landslide occurred at Taman Bukit Mewah in Bukit Antarabangsa that buried at least 14 houses.

***** As a people, Malaysians must be sick and tired of the government's assurances every time such a tragedy occurs. After a short period of mourning it is back to business as usual - The MBs keep enriching themselves by influencing the doling out of permits and the local authority bigwigs keep filling their private coffers by allowing development wherever the developer wants, as long as they pay the considerable bribes. One feels such a sense of helplessness amidst all the corruption and unwillingness of the government to at least do something about it. Terrible.

Among the many earlier posts:
1) DBKL - Another Greedy Bungler.
2) Bungalow Development At Bukit Gasing - Can We Believe DBKL?

Thai Court Dissolves Ruling Party, Bans PM From Politics For 5 Years

Thai judges ordered Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's ruling People Power Party (PPP) disbanded on Tuesday after it was found guilty of vote fraud.

The Constitutional Court also barred the party's top leaders, including Somchai, from politics for five years, raising the risk of clashes between his supporters and anti-government protesters who are blockading the capital's two airports.

The yellow-shirted People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) demonstrators at the airports have been seeking to topple Somchai, whom they accuse of being a pawn for his brother-in-law, former premier Thaksin Shinawatra.

Thaksin was ousted in a 2006 coup and is now in exile.

A grenade was fired from a flyover near the domestic airport hours before the court hearing, killing one anti-government protester and wounding 22 people.

The electoral fraud case was scheduled to be heard at the Constitutional Courthouse in Bangkok on Tuesday, but authorities moved it after hundreds of red-shirted government supporters surrounded the building.

The ruling on allegations of vote fraud in the December 2007 election will not necessarily mean a snap election as many PPP MPs will simply switch to a new "shell" party already set up.

Fears of violent clashes, or worse, are growing.

"It now seems that violence cannot be avoided. Some even predict what has been unthinkable for 700 years: a civil war," the Bangkok Post said in an editorial.

It also asked: "Does Thailand have a functioning government?"

That question could be even more pertinent after the court ruling forcing the PPP to disband.

Several thousand PAD supporters have occupied the prime minister's offices since August but the PAD has said it would hand the compound back to the authorities on Tuesday.

A Reuters reporter said only a handful of PAD activists remained at Government House early on Tuesday. There were no police present, but cranes had arrived to remove the shells of six buses used to barricade surrounding roads.

The PAD leadership apparently intends to move more supporters to the international airport, which has been blockaded for a week, adding to the pain of a tourist- and export-dependent economy already suffering from the global financial crisis.

Thousands of foreign tourists have been stranded and the air cargo industry has ground to a halt.

Finance Minister Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech told Reuters on Monday the economy might be flat next year, or grow by just 1-2 percent, after earlier growth forecasts of between 4-5 percent.

The chaos has worried Thailand's neighbors, due to meet in the country in two weeks for a regional summit. The Thai cabinet is expected to approve a delay to March when it meets in Chiang Mai on Tuesday. (Reuters)

***** Any chance of our own supreme court doing the same thing to Umno?

Anwar Ibrahim Sets New December Deadline To Seize Power. End Of Umno?

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has said that the country's beleaguered Barisan Nasional government could fall by December, a newspaper reported on Saturday.

Anwar has insisted he had won over enough defectors from the government to form a new administration. But an earlier self-imposed deadline of September 16 passed and his calls to recall parliament for a confidence vote were denied.

The former deputy premier's move to set a new deadline by the Eid al-Adha festival, which falls on December 8, comes after Prime Minister Ahmad Abdullah Badawi announced this week he will not stand in a party election next year, effectively handing over to his deputy Najib Razak.

"We have built our base to go forward, if it (taking power) does not happen this week or next week, it can possibly happen before Eid al-Adha festival," Anwar said late on Friday in comments reported by the mass-selling Berita Harian newspaper

"On the way it will be done, I can't say. We will choose the peaceful way," Anwar, who was touring the northeastern state of Kelantan, said.

Eid al-Adha is Islam's most important feast at the end of the annual Haj pilgrimage. In mainly-Muslim Malaysia, the holiday coincides with the last few days parliament will be in session for the year.

Anwar has to get 30 government MPs to walk over in order to have a majority in the 222-seat parliament. At present the opposition coalition, made of Anwar's Keadilan party, the Parti Islam Se-Malaysia and the Democratic Action party, has 82 seats.

"A momentum for a no-confidence vote could build up when parliament starts next week and this may happen during the debating of the budget or any bill for that matter," said Ginie Lim, spokesperson for Keadilan party.

One of Malaysia's best-known political figures, Anwar made world headlines when he was dismissed in the late 1990s by then premier Mahathir Mohamad and later imprisoned on what he says were trumped up sodomy and corruption charges.

He was in court again this week on new sodomy charges which he says is another ploy to stymie his challenge against the government that has ruled the Southeast Asian nation for more than 50 years. (Reuters)

***** Better late than never.

UMNO's New Clothes

Malaysia's ruling party, UMNO, made a bid to reinvent itself this week, as Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi announced his intention to resign in March. Party leaders apparently hope that removing their unpopular leader -- who led UMNO to a dismal election performance earlier this year -- will boost popularity and help unify the party.

UMNO's problems are greater than Mr. Abdullah, however. After being in power for more than 50 years, the party hasn't been able to deliver the reform voters want. Efforts to tackle corruption and reform the judiciary have stalled. The party too often relies on racial preferences and fear to maintain its grip on power.

Mr. Abdullah promised Wednesday that before he leaves office he will pass an anticorruption bill and establish an independent Judicial Appointments Commission. There's a lot more he could do, starting with repeal of the Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detentions without trial. A prominent anti-government blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, was recently arrested under the ISA; he remains in jail.

But the biggest service Mr. Abdullah could perform for his country is to ensure that the democratic process works. On Monday, Parliament will reconvene for the first time since opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim was elected as an MP. Mr. Anwar has said he will use his seat to unseat UMNO and push broad-based reform. UMNO needs to show that it welcomes this challenge and take the opportunity to engage the opposition in policy debate. What happens next week will say a lot about how much UMNO is really willing to change. (Wall Street Journal)

***** I doubt if many in Malaysia realistically expect any meaningful change to come from these very same discredited polticians who have all these years actively contributed to the overt racism and corruption which has taken our country to the precipice. Wolves in sheep's clothing comes to mind.
Image - Source

Umno Handover Will Do Nothing To Reform An Administration Mired In Corruption, Says Anwar

A looming leadership transition in Malaysia's ruling coalition will do nothing to reform an administration mired in corruption, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who led the coalition to its worst ever performance in elections this year, is expected to announce shortly whether he will stand aside next March in favour of his deputy Najib Razak.

'I don't believe that Najib will be able to garner support or credibility, or manage the economy and rid the country of corruption,' Mr Anwar told reporters.

'The leaders must be credible and we are talking about a system tainted with corruption, condoning criminality, and therefore it is important we continue to call for reform and changes.'

Mr Anwar, who has said he has the support of enough lawmakers to topple the government, is also battling a sodomy charge which he says is politically motivated and aimed at preventing him from seizing power.

He has been accused of sodomising a 23-year-old former aide - the same charge that saw him jailed a decade ago after he was sacked as deputy prime minister.

Mr Anwar had a small victory in court Tuesday when a judge fended off a government attempt to move the case to the High Court.

Mr Anwar, who has said he fears the government could fix the trial if it is heard in the High Court, questioned the motivation of Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, who he is suing in connection with his earlier conviction.

'I am concerned only about the issue of fair trial. I am finding it difficult to understand why the attorney-general is so desperate, fighting tooth and nail to get the case out of this court,' he said.

The Sessions Court will hear arguments from both sides over the transfer of the case until Wednesday. (Straits Times, Singapore)

***** Chances are that under Najib things will go from very bad to very, very bad. Anwar is the only hope for millions of Malaysians to deliver them from the racist and corrupt regime that Umno has become.

BN Must Reform Says Najib. The Reality Is Najib & Umno Should Drastically Change

From The Star

Barisan Nasional has to change to meet the aspirations of the people or be prepared for the people to change the coalition, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.

The March general election showed that the coalition must make reforms and implement policies to meet the expectations of the people, he said.

“It is a clear message that Barisan needs to be proactive to meet the people’s needs and reforms are already taking place as announced by the Prime Minister,” Najib told a Sabah Barisan Hari Raya gathering last night.

“We will continue to be sensitive and open to the needs of the people,” he said, adding that Barisan was still relevant and could deliver the change the people expected.

“If we don’t have the courage to change then people will change us,” he said.

Najib said that among steps needed to be taken were to ensure that the country’s wealth was distributed fairly to all regions and people and to plant seeds of a value system whereby all communities irrespective of religion would work together.

Taking Sabah as an example, he said that despite its multi-ethnic and multi-religious society, the people were relaxed and open to each other’s cultures.

“I feel that we will not have a problem and the proposed Race Relations Act is not necessary. What is needed is a value system and not a legal system,” he said.

***** It's easy for Najib to speak without showing any proof or intention of changing. He is an umnoputera first, second and last. The truth of the matter is that it's only Umno which has to make the biggest reforms as they have been the biggest culprit in ruining a peaceful country with their racist policies. The other component parties are merely appendages who've had absolutely no clout in the past. Their main fault and weakness was to kowtow to Umno day in and day out, a task which they did to perfection.

It is however the average Malaysian who has forced people like Najib to at least talk about 'reform,' knowing full well that this time around there will be no easy path to victory for Umno if they plan to cling on to that catchphrase of the past, 'demi bangsa,agama dan negara'.

Not many would be convinced by Najib that Umno is capable of reform. It would be better if they just disappear from the scene once and for all. Then we can get down to governing our country properly and peacefully.

Singapore Still Least Corrupt Country In Asia. Malaysia Mediocre As Usual

Just like last year, Singapore has been ranked the fourth least corrupt country in a global corruption survey.

It also retains its status as Asia's least corrupt country on the Corruption Perceptions Index, released yesterday by Transparency International (TI).

Conducted annually by the Berlin-based non-governmental corruption watchdog, the index studies the level of public sector corruption in 180 countries and ranks them according to scores. A score of 10 indicates highly clean and 0 means highly corrupt.

It defines corruption as the abuse of public office for private gain and measures the degree to which corruption is perceived to exist among public officials and politicians.

In this year's index, Singapore scores 9.2, behind joint-leaders Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand, all of which obtained a 9.3 score. At the other end are Somalia (1.0), Iraq and Myanmar (1.3) and Haiti (1.4).

Asian economies which placed significantly are Hong Kong (12th), Japan (18th), Taiwan (39th), South Korea (40th) and Malaysia (47th).

Last year, Singapore was ranked joint-fourth with Sweden, behind Denmark, Finland and New Zealand. It came in fifth from 2003 to 2006.

Dr Johann Graf Lambsdorff of the University of Passau in Germany, who draws up the index, said Singapore's long tradition of strong oversight is an example for best practices in Asia.

Mr Liao Ran, TI's senior programme coordinator for East and South Asia, said factors contributing to Singapore's ranking included a strong commitment from political leaders; education, which has bred a culture of integrity among citizens; a sound and comprehensive legal framework; and an effective anti-corruption agency.

TI said the index continues to show there is a link between corruption and poverty. It also underlines the benefits of fighting corruption.

'Evidence suggests that an improvement in the index by one point increases capital inflows by 0.5 per cent of a country's gross domestic product and average incomes by as much as 4 per cent,' Dr Lambsdorff said.

TI also said the index shows that wealthy countries such as France and the United Kingdom, whose scores have slipped, need to step up their anti-corruption mechanisms.

Professor Neo Boon Siong, director of the Asia Competitiveness Institute of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, said Singapore's fourth position was a significant achievement.

A good ranking helps attract investments as it makes doing business here more predictable and cheaper, he said.

As to whether Singapore can reach the top of the index, he said: 'The real difference among the top leaders is not very wide. The actual ranking itself is not the main issue, because being ranked among the top few is a clear recognition the country is corruption-free.'

The index is computed with data from 13 corruption-related polls and surveys carried out this and last year by institutions like the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report. (Straits Times, Singapore)

***** Statements like 'strong commitment from political leaders, culture of integrity and an effective anti-corruption agency' are alien concepts to the ketuanan-obsessed mutton heads who rule Malaysia. No wonder the score is Singapore - 4, Malaysia - 47. Malaysia Boleh!

Umno Faces Oblivion Without Reform, Says Muhyiddin. Very True. Will He Resign & Set A Good Example?

A top Malaysian minister warned Monday that the ruling party and the coalition it has led for half a century faces oblivion at the next elections if it fails to reform.

The Barisan Nasional coalition, helmed by the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), has floundered since March elections which saw a resurgent opposition score unprecedented victories.

Trade Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, an UMNO vice president who has called for premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to stand down before his planned departure in 2010, said the party must address internal conflicts and the opposition threat.

"It is a situation which is very serious. It is of concern not only to UMNO members but to the country at large, to the Barisan Nasional and people who cares about what is happening to the government," he was quoted by AFP as telling a press conference.

"If nothing happens then I am not too sure if the lifespan of Barisan Nasional, of UMNO in particular, can sustain beyond the year 2013," he said, referring to the scheduled date of the next general elections.

Abdullah has defied calls to quit despite being confronted by rare criticism from within his cabinet, as well as a challenge from opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim who says he has enough defectors to topple the government.

Abdullah swept to power in a landslide 2003 election victory, but his popularity plummeted due to broken promises for reform, as well as rising inflation and a slowing economy.

Muhyiddin made another attack on Abdullah's plan to hand over to his deputy Najib Razak, saying UMNO members should decide on the future leadership in internal elections that begin next month.

"What has been agreed upon is only a convention. There is no such provision in the constitution," he said. "We don't elect leaders unconstitutionally, we elect leaders based on procedures."

If Abdullah steps down as premier, Najib is widely tipped to replace him, with Muhyiddin as his new deputy. (Antara News, Indonesia)

***** What is the prime motivation for Muhyiddin's determined efforts to unseat Pak Lah? Is it truly his new found zeal for 'reform' in Umno? Or is it more likely a devious attempt to shore up his own position in the party? Frankly if reform is the issue, surely Muhyiddin too is part of the problem in the first place, and should by right withdraw from active politics while urging thousands of other corrupt umnoputeras to do the same. But will that ever happen? Ha Ha Ha.

Race Relations Act Won't Solve Problems. Treating All Malaysians Equally Will: Jeffrey Kitingan

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) vice president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has urged the government to reconsider its move to draw up a Race Relations Act.

He felt that race relations should be nurtured and promoted, not forced through the use of legislation.

He said the more the government enacts laws to force race relations, the more sensitive and problematic it will be to promote good relations among the various races in the country.

“Enacting laws on race relations is, therefore, not the best way to solve racial sensitivities in Malaysia,” said Jeffrey when commenting on a recent statement by Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar who said the government would draft a Race Relations Act to safeguard and strengthen relations among the different races in the country.

Syed Hamid said the formulation of the proposed act has been agreed upon by the cabinet, and the task will be headed by the Home Ministry and Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry.

If the government was serious and sincere about solving racial sensitivities, Jeffrey said the best way is to promote the universal concept of social justice and respect by treating all Malaysians equally.

He said this would mean that Malaysia might have to dismantle and do away with racial-based politics and political parties.

Instead, the country would have to promote multi-racialism and the concept of a Malaysian national identity or Malaysian race, he said.

“As long as we continue to politicise race through race-based politics and political parties, no amount of legislation will solve racial problems and sensitivities,” Jeffrey cautioned. (The Borneo Post)

***** As long as Umno leads the country there will be absolutely no way of improving race relations because it is in the interest of that corrupt party to maintain hostility between the different ethnic groups.

However we can all make a genuine effort to unite the nation by joining hands and helping in booting out the racist bigots who have plagued this country for decades. We don't need a Race Relations Act. We merely need to kick out the racists from continuing in power.

Anwar Bid To Topple BN

His ancestors were feared headhunters who once dominated part of Borneo. Now James Masing is being headhunted himself.

The six federal members of parliament from his Sarawak People's Party are being stalked by Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition leader who has set tomorrow as the date Malaysia's ruling Barisan Nasional coalition of the past 55 years will fall.

To achieve that Mr Anwar needs at least 30 of the Barisan's 140 MPs to jump across and join the 82 MPs of his People's Alliance grouping of three parties, which rattled the Government with startling advances in federal and state elections in March.

The 31 MPs from Sarawak, all but one in Barisan, will be a critical block. Dr Masing says the Anwar group is trying to call him constantly. "I refuse to entertain them," he says, though he admits a sense that "Malaysia is changing".

But Mr Anwar's chief headhunter in Sarawak, Ng Kim Ho, predicts "substantial" numbers of MPs will jump. "We are anticipating even entire parties," said Mr Ng, a Kuching lawyer who became a state MP for Mr Anwar's People's Justice Party or PKR in March. "The numbers that will be coming from Sarawak will be no less than from Sabah and from West Malaysia."

After returning to parliament in a by-election on August 26, following six years of jail on contentious sodomy and corruption charges, former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim wasted no time challenging his former colleagues in Barisan. On tomorrow's anniversary of Malaysia's formation in 1963 from former British colonies in Malaya and Borneo, he would show the numbers to take power.

No Barisan MP has yet jumped ship. Parliament is not even sitting this week because of the Muslim fasting month, so much would depend on the attitude of Malaysia's king to any list of support that Mr Anwar presents. "The political situation is changing every six hours," admits the PKR's Mr Ng.

But the Barisan is showing signs of alarm and disarray.

Last week, 49 members of its "backbenchers' club" were sent on a fact-finding mission to study agriculture in Taiwan, with a reported 50,000 ringgit ($18,500) each in pocket money. On Friday, four Anwar representatives flew to Taipei to keep working on them.

The Government also showed off its most powerful weapon, the Internal Security Act, which allows detention for up to two years without trial. Late last week, police arrested a prominent political blogger, Raja Petra Kamarudin, an opposition MP, and a journalist under the act. Mr Anwar said it was to "engineer an atmosphere of fear and instability".

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's position was meanwhile undercut from within his own party. Trade and Industry Minister Muhyuddin Yassin, who is also an UMNO vice-president, said the agreed post-election succession plan, whereby Mr Abdullah would hand over to his deputy Najib Tun Razak in June 2010, was "too long".

In another threat, the former prime minister of 21 years, Mahathir Mohammad, who disavowed Mr Abdullah after the March election setback and quit UMNO in May, said he wanted to rejoin the party.

But this week, it's Anwar Ibrahim's political game from the outside. "It's a psychological battle, though we are now playing for real," said Sarawak campaign chief Mr Ng. "Without setting a target, that date would never come. Without also trying to get the members of parliament to jump — to persuade them, use all kinds of technique — they will continue to sit and wait." (The Age, Australia)

***** Hopefully the era of true democracy, totally devoid of the pernicious evil of Umno's institutionalised racism and uncontrolled corruption, isn't too far off.

Syed Hamid Denies Ordering ISA Detentions

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Syed Jaafar Albar denied that he ordered the arrest of a blogger, a Selangor state executive councilor and a journalist under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

Speaking at a packed press conference in Bukit Aman here today, Syed Hamid said that he was informed of the arrest by the police.

"I did not order it," said Syed Hamid.

He said that the three were detained to prevent any public order to be in jeopardy.

Yesterday Sin Chew Daily News journalist Tan Hoon Cheng, prominent blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin and Selangor state executive councilor Teresa Kok were picked up by police under the ISA. Tan was released this afternoon while the fate of the other two is still unknown.

Syed Hamid said that the three were arrested under Section 73(1) of the ISA which empowers the police to detain a person for a period of 60 days without the minister’s consent.

He clarified that the arrest was not done under Section 8 in which the minister’s consent is needed and the detention period is up to two years.

On the reason why Raja Petra was arrested, Syed Hamid said that it was linked to investigations that his writings could create tension among the Muslims and the police had given the blogger ample notice to "tone down".

He said that Tan was arrested to help police in further investigating her report on Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail’s racial remarks. The minister also said that they received information that there were threats to Tan’s security.

Ahmad had during a ceramah in the Permatang Pauh by-election said that the Chinese were squatters, a remark that whipped up protest from the MCA, Gerakan and DAP. Umno suspended Ahmad from holding any party post for three years last week.

Kok was detained in relation to the azan issue, said Syed Hamid.

Recently, Kok had been linked to a petition allegedly calling for the tone of the morning azan in her state constituency of Kinrara to be lowered. Kok has vehemently denied such allegations.

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang had said in a press conference this morning that the azan issue was raised by former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Khir Toyo and played up by the Utusan Malaysia newspaper. He said that the mosque committee and the PAS MP for the area had also denied such an issue.

To a question on why Ahmad and Khir Toyo were not detained, Syed Hamid said that the detention of the three should not be looked at from an "ethnic angle". (The Edge)

***** Having rushed headlong into rashly arresting the three, the government was not prepared for the backlash especially from the various BN component parties. By this afternoon when the rest of the BN had roundly denounced the arrests, it had become clear to all that this silly act was solely Umno's handiwork and simple calculation would have revealed that Umno had overnight lost for good whatever little non-Malay support it had. Thus the backtracking by releasing the Sin Chew reporter and Syed Hamid's pathetic denial of culpability.

Ahmad Ismail and Toyol were not arrested simply because it would have been badly received by the umnoputeras and some other Malays. And Pak Lah with his current weak standing can't afford to rile that constituency without serious repercussions.

This is purely a self-serving political arrest meant to keep the umnoputeras in good humour. Unfortunately the non-Malays here along with a considerable number of Malays and almost all East Malaysians aren't amused.
Image - Source

Najib's Laughable Defence Of MPs' Taiwan 'Study' Trip

The Barisan Nasional Backbenchers’ Club (BBC) can go on trips any time it wants as it was bearing all expenses and they were for a good cause, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said these trips were productive and it was perfectly all right to go on the trip to Taiwan.

“The trip (to Taiwan is not borne by the Government, it is by the BBC; as long as it is something productive, there is nothing wrong with having such a trip,” he told reporters after opening a conference on Islamic Smart Economy here on Tuesday.

“What is more immoral is trying to buy them over. It is subverting the principles of Parliamentary democracy,” he said, adding that the members of the BBC were elected on the Barisan ticket and they should remain Barisan supporters.

Najib however claimed he was not making a link between the threats of a takeover by PKR advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim with the BBC members’ trip to Taiwan to study agriculture techniques. (The Star Online)

***** Apart from making Malaysia the laughing stock of the world, the so-called study trip has clearly shown the desperation of the ruling party, indirectly acknowledging their deep unpopularity within the country and their propensity to go to any extent, as shameful as it may be, to cling to power.

Now Najib adds to that ignominy by pathetically trying to maintain the study trip lie. He must take all Malaysians for fools.
Image - Source