WHITHER UMNO?

UMNO'S POPULAR SUPPORT AND BACKBONE -- 1957



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UMNO'S POPULAR SUPPORT AND BACKBONE -- 2011

THE END FOR POWER CRAZY TYRANTS IS VERY NEAR.

Whose Citizenship Will Be Revoked If Syed Ali Alhabshee Was In Power?

DOES THIS MONKEY LOOK LIKE A MALAY?

From today's TheStar:

The Government should revoke the citizenship of Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Cheras Umno division chairman Datuk Syed Ali Alhabshee said. His activities could affect peace in Malaysia. Citizens who are not patriotic should not be given a place here.

Thus spoke one of the most brilliant criminals among the dozens who are currently infesting the Umno sewers. You can count on this Ethiopian-Arab slave descendant who morphed into an UMNO-MALAY to be in the thick of any issue involving the racist party. After all he knows which side his bread is buttered on. It is significant that the Ministry of Finance extended for two years the contract of this a**hole to continue his tenure as The Chairman of Composites Technology Research Malaysia Sdn Bhd effective from 1st June 2008. So the chairmanship is up for renewal in two days time and this dog is barking at his loudest to be heard by Najib. Renewing his contract means another couple of hundred thousands in his bank account. He is also Chairman of Columbia Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation which too is controlled by the Ministry of Finance and is the Independent Non-Executive Chairman of Tanjung Offshore Berhad (Tanjung). He also holds directorships in IIUM Holdings Sdn Bhd and C.I. Holdings Berhad.

Can you imagine the chaos which would ensue if this brainsick maniac pulled the levers of power in Malaysia? There would be literally hundreds of Malaysians who would lose their citizenship, mostly for being against Umno's corrupt and racist rule, for being fair and trustworthy, for being courageous in defending human rights and for being overachieving, successful non-Malays.

Apart from the usual 'unpatriotic' opposition leaders like Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang, Tok Guru and Zaid Ibrahim the list will also include flavor of the month pro-government supporters like Samy Vellu and his son.

Among the first to go will be that 'traitor to the Malay race', High Court (Appellate and Special Powers Division) judge Datuk Abdul Aziz Abd Rahim who ruled that Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

High Court judge Datuk Lau Bee Lan’s controversial ‘Allah’ ruling will guarantee her a place in the top ten hate list.

Another Malay 'traitor' is National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC) Chairman Senator Tan Sri Amirsham Abdul Aziz for espousing the New Economic Model (NEM), betraying the 'social contract' and having 'forgotten' his roots.

Squash player Nicol David may be stripped of her citizenship for not knowing her place as a woman. Going around the world and winning titles while wearing revealing skirts may be a little too much for the likes of Alhabshee. A woman's place is at home!

Malaysian Idol Jaclyn Victor is another candidate who our lunkhead has never forgiven especially since she bested a genuine Malay darling - Faradina Mohd. Nadzir (Dina)- in the Idol finals.

However Alex Yoong, race car driver would narrowly escape the net because of his less than spectacular F1 performance. If only he had climbed up the podium even once he would have lost his citizenship.

Marina Mahathir would be right on the top of his list but the very thought of the Tun's ire will send shivers up and down his spine and he'll quickly bury the thought, lest any rash act buries him.

Lee Chong Wei would be booted out. How dare he 'deprive' a Malay juara of his rightful place as champion and agree to a datukship as well!

Jimmy Choo and Michelle Yeoh will be on the hit list for spending too much time overseas (and for being highly successful).

Of course this list can run into thousands of pages. If you'd like to suggest some names, please do in the comments section.

Samy Vellu, Malaysia's Mr Invincible

It is incredible that a person who had lost his parliamentary seat in the last general election, actively sidelined by the government and not given a senatorship or cabinet post can still rule the roost in everyday politics. Samy Vellu has been leading MIC for 31 years (since 1979)! The veteran politician recently announced that he would vacate the party top post "eight or nine months" before his current term expires in May 2012.

Despite being overtly vilified by detractors within his own party, the online and print media, fellow leaders in the ruling coalition, opposition parties and Malaysians in general, he has still managed to regularly cock a snook at all and sundry.

Although his personal political fortune is at its nadir, Samy Vellu even to this day remains as arrogant and recalcitrant as ever. Only yesterday he without consultation or justification sacked the MIC Youth deputy chief V. Mugilan who had demanded Samy Vellu's resignation. A few days ago he had similarly expelled MIC division chief V. Subramaniam for telling the MIC president that the party did not belong to him or his family. His haughty reply to those who oppose him is that he would "destroy" those who destroy the party before he steps down as party president next year.

No one, not even Najib can get away with such a unilateral display of arrogant power without paying a heavy price politically. There is a limit to dictatorial hubris and most politicians tend to steer clear from the type of controversial conduct that Samy Vellu revels in.

But the most annoying thing about this whole situation is that Samy Vellu is getting away scot free without any obvious political damage. It is as though he is being judged by a different set of standards which even the PM is not entitled to!

Just what is enabling him to cling on to power so long after the use by date? After all, he has his share of scandals and accusations of graft. Perhaps not as much as the multi-billion ringgit corruption charges involving Umno and the MCA, but still quite significant. The average Indian has only contempt for him and he has also completely lost the respect and support of the ruling coalition. Any other leader in this uncomfortable position would have been hounded into oblivion. Yet there he is, still flaunting his apparent invulnerability. Why? Does he hold secrets which the ruling elite in BN wouldn't want to be made public? Anyone out there who wants to hazard a guess?

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.

IJN Collected RM3 Million In 2008 From Private Donors. How Much Has Sime Darby Given?

The National Heart Institute (IJN) Foundation has collected RM3 million this year from charitable organisations, private companies and the society to help fund heart treatment for the poor.

IJN Foundation manager Alawiyah Yussof said six private companies had been making regular contributions annually while organisations and individuals contributed from time to time.

Contributors to the IJN foundation include Pfizer Malaysia, AirAsia and the Tenaga Nasional Foundation.

"The contributions were not only in monetary form but also as partners in our programmes," Alawiyah told Bernama recently.

Formed in 1995, the IJN Foundation collects funds to treat poor heart patients and to fund IJN's research programmes.

She said the foundation was never short on funds when called upon to help and last year funded 85 patients costing over RM2 million.

"Sometimes, we also help to buy additional equipments for patients."

IJN treats three categories of patients namely government staff or retirees, patients who could afford to pay and those who could not afford like farmers and fishermen.

She the foundation did not receive any complaints on lack of equipments or poor service from patients or their family members.

On the deferred plan to privatise IJN, Alawiyah said the privatisation of IJN would drive away donors.

"This is because the society regards private companies as profit-driven and wholly dependent on capital expenditure," she added.

Sime Darby Bhd was recently reported as planning to buy a 51 percent stake in IJN Holdings Sdn Bhd, the operator of IJN.

IJN, the leading medical heart centre in the region is 99.99 percent owned by the Ministry of Finance.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on Dec 19 the privatisation of IJN had been postponed pending an indepth review by the relevant ministries. (Bernama)

***** If the greed merchants in Sime Darby genuinely have the best interests of IJN and its patients at heart (pun intended), then instead of trying to 'help' by taking over the heart institute, they should donate generously as other private groups have done. Najib too should lean on the Sime Darby corporate vultures to part with more cash for the needy instead of attempting to assist his brother Nazir Razak and reward cronies by engineering a backdoor economic coup.

IJN Doctors Prefer Status Quo. So Why Are Najib And Sime Darby Lying?

National Heart Institute (IJN) doctors are happy to serve the institute in its present form and do not want to be made a scapegoat in the proposed privatisation of the institute.

In a statement signed by 33 of the 35 medical consultants working for IJN, they stressed that the proposed privatisation was not a response towards their demands for better pay.

“We would like to reiterate our commitment to serve IJN in its current form and want to stress that the move must not be seen as a response to our demands for better pay,” it said.

The doctors added that the medical personnel were not at all involved in the negotiations for the proposed takeover. (The Star Online)

***** Yesterday Najib said that the proposal would have some advantages for IJN as funding would not be a problem for Sime Darby and doctors would also receive better remuneration and that Sime Darby must pledge its commitment that the poor would not be marginalised if IJN is to be transferred to it. That statement was meant to allay fears about the poor being ignored while throwing a sop to the doctors there.

It is abundantly clear that the IJN doctors themselves smell a huge rat in the whole deal which in reality is meant to enrich a few Umno cronies as is customary in this once fair land of ours.

With Najib holding the finance portfolio and his impending rise to the PM's post, this particular episode does not boost our confidence in him. On the contrary, with all the political baggage and scandals he has already amassed, this highly suspicious proposal merely adds to our worry about the slippery slope this country will be on under his leadership.

Let us not forget that it was this same Najib in cahoots with former sports minister Azalina who was hell-bent on splurging hundreds of millions of taxpayer money under the pretext of building a sports center in the UK despite near unanimous public objections. That crooked scheme fortunately came to a screeching halt when the local authority there gave Najib and Azalina the 'up yours'.

Makes one almost regret why we allowed Pak Lah to be hounded out of office.

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?

BN Leaders Agree With PM Umno Not A Bully

Leaders of Barisan Nasional (BN) component parties today agreed with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi that Umno was not a bully.

MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Umno as the mainstay of the BN had never bullied other component parties and in fact, listened to their views before making any decision.

"This culture does not exist in the BN. If it had, the coalition would have fallen apart a long time ago," he told reporters after attending MCA's 55th annual general assembly here.

PPP president Datuk M. Kayveas said it was not true that BN component parties were bullied by Umno but people's perception that this was happening should be corrected.

Gerakan president Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon said this perception was being exploited by the opposition for political mileage.

"When(BN) leaders make negative statements, it will be exploited by the opposition and cause people to believe that there is a bullying culture," he said.

Outgoing MCA deputy president Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said BN leaders should take the responsibility to correct the perception situation to preserve BN harmony.

Abdullah in his speech when opening the assembly had said Umno had never resorted to bullying its partners in the coalition and allegations that it did were the creation of the opposition in trying to erode the people's support for it. (Bernama)

***** Even after getting the short end of the stick for so long, the slaves of the BN component parties still cannot bring themselves to admit the fact that they have been relegated to second class status. With such a state of denial existing can we honestly expect them to fight for the rights of the average non-umnoputera? Not in a zillion years. Boot them all out at the earliest. They are merely opportunistic, self-serving politicians who don't have the interests of the common man at heart. How disappointing.

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.

Next Malaysia PM Seen Trapped By Race, Economy

Malaysia's prime minister is likely to announce on Wednesday that he will step aside for his deputy, but the man picked as the new leader is unlikely to be able stop either the political or economic rot.

Najib Razak, 55, has deep roots in the main ruling party. He joined in 1978, is the son of one prime minister and the nephew of another and is a staunch defender of ethnic Malay rights and an affirmative action programme that critics say has failed.

He has held the post of deputy to Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi since 2004, but will not take power until March 2009 when leadership elections for the main ruling party are held.

That will create a power vacuum at a time when racial tensions in this country of 27 million people are on the rise, the ruling coalition is fracturing under pressure from the opposition and economic growth is set to slow sharply.

Malaysia's export-oriented economy will be hard hit by the coming global economic slowdown caused by the financial crisis that originated in the U.S. mortgage market.

Leading domestic investment bank CIMB on Wednesday cut its 2009 growth forecast for Malaysia to 3.0 percent from 5.0 percent due to an expected slowdown in demand for its exports.

"He (Najib) is seen as a hardliner and Malay chauvinist. His base is from a political party that is in crisis and seriously discredited," said Bridget Welsh, a Malaysia expert at Johns Hopkins University.

PARTY IN CRISIS

The United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) that Najib will head has dominated politics for the 51 years since independence from Britain, but it has been in crisis since the opposition recorded its best ever result in elections in March.

It represents the near 60 percent of the population that is ethnic Malay and is backed in a 13-party coalition called Barisan Nasional by a host of ethnic parties representing the Chinese, Indian and indigenous population.

Those smaller parties were hammered in elections in March and need to reinvent themselves. Their voters feel they have been betrayed by leaders who have chosen power over their interests.

"This is what I called the Najib's dilemma. He has to democratise, open up, but if he does that he's going to allow for the opening of the Pandora's box," said Terence Gomez, professor at the University of Malaya.

Ethnic Malay voters, who are among the poorest Malaysians, have been hit hard by rising food and fuel prices that have pushed inflation to a near-27 year high. They have also watched well-connected Malays get richer, while they have seen few gains.

Abdullah's promises to end rampant corruption have not been borne out and Malaysia has sunk in Transparency International rankings to 43rd place from 37th when he took power.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, a former deputy PM who was imprisoned on corruption and sodomy charges, has tapped into that discontent and says he has won over enough government legislators to win power, although he hasn't named names.

His predicted Sept. 16 date for winning power has gone -- along with some of his credibility, analysts say -- and short of an outright surrender by the prime minister, he has few levers to open the path to government.

There has also been renewed squabbling in the leadership of Anwar's Islamist allies, some of whom feel they would be better served by joining the government rather staying in the opposition "rainbow" coalition which includes reformers and ethnic Chinese.

STALWART OF HIS RACE

Even though Najib is seen as a stalwart of his race -- who warned in November 2007 that Malay patience "has limits" after criticism of their rights and has called for an extension of Malay ownership of companies -- he does not score significantly better than Abdullah among core voters.

According to the Merdeka poll, he was just one percentage point more popular than the incumbent among ethnic Malays.

Among other races Najib is even less popular, scoring three points less than Abdullah among ethnic Chinese voters and 20 percentage points less among Indian voters.

As UMNO cannot govern alone, he needs to rebuild the shattered allied parties and the credibility of their leaders.

Najib has been tainted by allegations he has denied that he was involved in the death of a Mongolian model in a case that has scandalised the nation. He was also investigated and cleared in an investigation into corruption in a submarine purchase in 2003.

With leadership beckoning, discontent over the handling of the economy has emerged as the top concern of voters and Najib, who was recently appointed finance minister, is tarred with the same brush of failing to grasp economic opportunities as Abdullah.

"The economy proved to be Abdullah's ultimate weakness, and it will likely be Najib's as well," Welsh said. (Reuters)

***** "He (Najib) is seen as a hardliner and Malay chauvinist. His base is from a political party that is in crisis and seriously discredited." How true. Najib is really bad news for the nation's future. Can't we have a better alternative instead of the same old warlords like Najib and that other discredited fellow Muhyiddin? Is a party infested with vermin like Khir Toyol the answer to the problems that ail our country?

What about changing direction with Anwar Ibrahim at the helm?

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.

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.