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.

Nizar-Zambry Trial. Did You Expect An Impartial Verdict From This Federal Court?

The long awaited judgement of the Federal Court on the rightful Mentri Besar of Perak — Umno’s Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir or PAS’s Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin is in.

The five 'learned' judges, Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, Chief Judge of Malaya Tan Sri Arifin Zakaria, Justices Datuk Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin, Datuk Mohd Ghazali Mohd Yusoff, and Datuk Abdul Hamid Embong have given their unanimous verdict that the Court of Appeal was justified to reverse the High Court decision declaring Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin the rightful mentri besar of Perak.

But who dictated this 'verdict' which Arifin Zakaria read at the 'Palace of Justice'? Why is it that the same judges are being allotted all the important cases involving the Umno led government? Is the Chief Justice afraid that allowing a truly well read and impartial judge like Datuk Seri Gopal Sri Ram to be included in the panel of judges in this and other 'crucial' cases would skew well laid plans which have their inspiration elsewhere in Putrajaya? Is it for this same reason that the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Richard Malanjum has been sidelined too by avoiding the constituting of a full bench?

How do these judges live with themselves after such a patently unfair decision? How do they face their colleagues, families and close friends? How does it feel to have cheated not only oneself but the citizens of this country by such egregious judicial behaviour which is unparalleled in the justice system of real democratic nations by making such duplicitous and fraudulent interpretations of our constitution?

The legal experts will no doubt, over the next few days dissect and tear apart the dubious premise of this 'unanimous' decision. Not one of the five judges had the guts to rule against the Umno nominee Zambry. But then again aren't these very judges Umno nominees themselves? Shame on these cowards inhabiting the Federal Court who seem to have placed their future well-being and the welfare of their families over that of the nation.

"Succeed On Your Own Steam," PM Urges Malays. Fine, But Will You Let Them?

The Malays must cultivate the strongest will to succeed and achieve anything they want without having to rely on help or subsidies, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.

Abdullah said although Malays as a whole have improved their lot, there were still a lot more that needed to be done.

“We must value-add as I have said time and again. But there must be that something in us that will enable us to achieve that,” he said in his speech at the Gabungan Pelajar Malaysia Semenanjung's (GPMS') 60th anniversary dinner last night.

Abdullah said such an initiative was a challenge to the Government but said it was also up to the people to want it and do their part.

“We must, in the end, be able to walk unaided. That is the final goal. We must be able to move forward and develop without subsidies. Even if the goal is to reach the highest peak, we must believe we can do so on our own strength,” he said.

Emphasising that the world was changing quickly, Abdullah said the Malays also have to be quick to arm themselves with the latest knowledge to improve themselves.

On another note, Abdullah, who was a former president of the GPMS (1962-64), said the organisation had never been extremist.

“GPMS as it is, is the place to start to get involved in nationalism. But as far as I remember, then and now, we have never been extremist.”

Abdullah said the organisation was moderate in its approach in advocating the improvement of Malay education and culture.

“We have never held demonstrations to demand what we wanted and had instead lobbied those with influence in order to do so.” (The Star Online)

***** Pak Lah has clearly said what he expects and wants the Malays to do. But the tongkat-loving Malay students of UiTM have other ideas as this report tells us. Pathetic sods.
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Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association: No Need To Open Up UiTM To Other Races

From The Star Online

Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) is the last bastion for Malay and bumiputra students to further their studies and there is no need to open it up to other races, the Malaysian Muslim Consumers Association (PPIM) said.

In a response to the proposal by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim for UiTM to open up 10% of its intake to other races, PPIM said the move would be seen as challenging the special rights of the Malays.

PPIM project director Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin said the government and its leaders had to be tougher in defending such issues because although the country was multiracial, there was "no need to sideline Malay special rights. If something like this is allowed to happen, then there will be a worrying situation where many Malay institutions will crumble and be 'Malaysia-nised'.

"It is hoped that the exclusiveness of UiTM is not undermined by anyone and it be allowed to continue as an institution that will strengthen the Malays," he said in a statement.

Noor Nirwandy said that UiTM has not only produced many excellent scholars but has also had many graduates who were able to compete with other races in the job market.

He added that the reason given by Khalid, which was to create more competition amongst students, was unnecessary because university students already competed amongst each other.

***** What this and other pathetic Malay groups are basically saying is, "just leave us alone and let us wallow in our own mediocrity."

In a roundabout way they are doing you non-Malays a big favour. Frankly do you guys want to go head-to-head and compete all year round with millions of Bumis who are exceptionally good? Luckily for you, the policies of this government and the attitude of those pro-Malay 'nationalists' have rendered the major race hamstrung and decrepit after fifty years of spoonfeeding. Mass lethargy has set in and these are not optimum conditions for the strive for excellence.

Given the current state of our race politics and the expressed desire by many Malays to continue to safely and securely reside, without hassle and competition, in government-sponsored tempurung till the day they croak, it would not be unreasonable to opine that most of these people are never going to be able to match up to you guys, not even in a hundred years. Many progressive Malays have voiced similar opinion to mine but alas their arguments have till now fallen on deaf ears.

So let them keep their UiTM and the other so-called 'last bastions' which perforce ensure that they remain firmly in last place. You are the real fortunate ones who should work that much harder and smarter and become truly world-beaters in this nation which through the accident of history is still being administered by tempurung vendors.

An Umno Mamak's View On PSD Scholarship Quota

The Peninsula Malay Students Federation (GPMS) has urged the government to review its decision to raise the Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship quota for non-bumiputra students up to 45 per cent.

Its President, Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican, said the association, without any intention to be racist, wanted the government to review the decision.

GPMS has been receiving many calls from members from all over the country who wanted an explanation on the matter, he said in a statement Sunday.

"GPMS believes in and upholds the meritocracy principle and hopes that the scholarship scheme will be implemented in the right spirit and mechanism.

"The awarding of scholarships should be based not only on the performance merit but also the socio-economic merit of the people so that the opportunity for higher education focuses on the right target groups of Malaysian society," he said.

***** Note this mamak's doublespeak, who "without any intention to be racist, wanted the government to review the decision." Another gem was this line - "GPMS believes in and upholds the meritocracy principle," BUT .......

What a bunch of shameless beggars.

PSD Scholarships - An Umnoputera's Racist Math

Increasing the quota for non-bumiputras for Public Services Department (PSD) scholarships without increasing the actual number of scholarships has drastically affected the bumiputras, the Umno Youth Education Bureau said.

Its chairman Ahmad Ikmal Ismail said while the bureau agreed with the Government to give more scholarships to non-bumiputras, it did not agree with the way it was done.

“The quota for non-bumiputras has increased from 10% to 45% but the number of total scholarships has remained at 2,000.”

Ahmad Ikmal said this meant that scholarships were being taken from the bumiputras to be given to the non-bumiputras.

“We object to this move because it now means 700 scholarships for bumiputra students are gone,” he said.

Ahmad Ikmal said a better way would be to use the New Economic Policy concept to increase the number of total scholarships so that the bumiputras were not affected and the non-bumiputras got even more opportunities.

“For example, if the 'cake' was increased to 3,000 scholarships, using a ratio of 70:30, then bumiputras would get 2,100 places while non-bumiputras would get 900 places,” he said.

Ahmad Ikmal said although it would require more money to implement, education was an investment that was needed to develop society and the country.

He added that there were also instances of well-performing bumiputra students who failed to obtain scholarships from the PSD. (The Star)

***** Some things and some people will never change. So we have to change them.
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Non-Malays Need Not Fear Congress, Says Muhyiddin

Non-Malays need not feel their rights are being infringed by the recent resolution adopted during a congress consisting of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) calling for Malay privileges to be upheld.

Umno vice-president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said Kongres Permuafakatan Melayu, which concluded in Johor Baru over the weekend, was an expression of the perception held by the NGOs that their rights had been eroded.

He added that the Government and Umno needed to take note of the situation and not take things lightly.

“They feel that their rights are being less fought for by the Government and they want attention to be given.

“But non-Malays should not feel threatened. There is no taking away the rights of any race,” he told reporters yesterday.

“Maybe, they feel the current Umno leadership is not being seen as giving the due attention. We accept their resolution with an open heart,” he added.

On Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah going on a nationwide road show to garner support from Umno’s 3.4 million members in his bid for the presidency, Muhyiddin said it was the Gua Musang MP’s right to do so.

“It is up to him to contest for the party president because it does not go against the party constitution,” he added. (The Star)

***** To the non-Malays please do not worry. These Malay NGOs are merely concerned we are not doing enough for them despite the fact that the very existence of our party, Umno, is hinged upon pleasing these begging bowl carrying, greedy group of vultures found all over the country. But basically, they're a harmless lot. All that these dimwits want are a few more freebies, that's all. At least you guys know what it means to work hard and earn a living. These poor chaps are in a way terribly handicapped and have survived on handouts for decades. So you have to pity them.

Non-Malays please bear with us if you feel that we've not done enough for you people. Blame the MCA, MIC, Gerakan and the others for that. It's not an easy task to please everyone, but look at the bright side. At least we gave you citizenship fifty years ago. That must count for something, right?

So once in a while we brandish a keris or two, scream 'ketuanan Melayu' loudly and make veiled threats of a bloodbath. But hey we don't mean it. Just part and parcel of our sandiwara-style politics, you see. Please continue to place your faith in us and more importantly do not ever, ever trust Pakatan Rakyat. We in Umno don't trust them and nor should you.

Penang Umno To Go All Out To Bring Development To Penang! Have They Been Sleeping In The Past?

Penang Umno will strengthen and streamline further the state's Bumiputera Participation Steering Committee to enhance development in Penang.

Penang Umno liaision committee deputy chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Rashid Abdullah said they would also rope in the Penang Regional Development Authority (Perda) and other bumiputera organisations in the effort.

He told this to reporters after some 650 Umno leaders from Penang held a closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Penang Umno president and Penang Umno chief, at the Putra World Trade Centre here Saturday.

It was the first of a series of meetings Abdullah plans to have with leaders of Umno divisions and branches from throughout the country.

Also present at today's meeting, were Information Miniser Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Mansor and Umno information chief, Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib.

Touching on the meeting, Abdul Rashid it was done in an open and frank manner with Abdullah responding positively to the feedback given following the poor performance by Umno and the Barisan Nasional in the March 8 election.

All the leaders also voiced their undivided support for the leadership of Abdullah and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (Deputy Prime Minister and Umno deputy president), he said. (Bernama)

***** Now that these crooks have lost the state to Pakatan Rakyat, suddenly they have developed the desire to 'develop' Penang! However I'm sure that the average Penangite would say "thanks, but no thanks, we're in good hands now."

No one except the umnoputeras themselves will believe this Penang Umno bullshit.

25 Malay NGOs Form Group To 'Unite' Malays. An Exercise in Futility?

A group of 25 Malay non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Thursday set up a Malay unity action body to help unite Malays regardless of political ideology to safeguard their interests and the sanctity of Islam, the panel's protem chairman, Osman A. Bakar, said tonight.

He said it was important to make the Malays realise that unity among them was eroding, as was evident from the outcome of the March 8 general election.

"The disunity is also causing government policies meant to safeguard the interests of Malays, such as the New Economic Policy (NEP), to be questioned," he told Bernama.

It was important to make the Malays realise what would happen to them if this disunity was not addressed immediately, he said.

Osman said all Malay and Muslim leaders regardless of political ideology would be invited to attend a gathering in Kuala Lumpur or Putrajaya soon to discuss how to remain united and cooperate for the interests of the community, religion and country. He said the action body would also set up a network of Malay unity action groups towards fostering Malay unity nationwide as an ongoing process.

Asked what approach the action body would use, Osman said it was not a pressure group but more of a body to coax the people to be aware of the current political developments for the survival of the community in Malaysia.

Osman said the body would also encourage dialogue between the Malays and other communities in the country.

"This is in accordance with the plan of the body to enhance national unity and goodwill among the communities," he said, adding that this would be done through dialogues with the various NGOs and religious groups in the country. (Bernama)

***** I don't know who the other jokers behind this 'Malay unity' Utopia are, but to me it smells like rank opportunism, an attempt to ingratiate themselves into the good books of either or both the opposing factions, obtain some free, favourable publicity and hopefully capitalise on any positive 'returns' that may come their way.

These guys are still stuck in the old-mode unity drivel emphasising religion and the NEP. They are putting their hopes on 'uniting' the Malays by dividing the country. The same old bangsa, agama dan negara cliché which the majority have clearly rejected. Matters have gone beyond that and the legitimate leaders of the Malay community are now confronting issues of national unity and stability, plundering of the economy and widespread corruption practised in the name of maintaining Malay supremacy.

People are fed up with the worn-out and meaningless platitudes used in the past to deceive them and are aware that the time is now for genuine quality change. There won't be many takers for another 'Malay unity' sandiwara.
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Privileged Status at Risk, Malays Protest After Election Losses

Chanting “Long live the Malays!” several hundred members of Malaysia’s largest ethnic group gathered Friday on this largely ethnic Chinese island, defying a police ban on protests and raising tensions after sharp electoral losses by the country’s Malay-dominated governing coalition.

Newly elected state governments have moved rapidly to abolish some of the long-held privileges of ethnic Malays. Those efforts have challenged the core of Malaysia’s ethnically based political system and inflamed Malays’ sensibilities. Before elections last Saturday, Malays dominated politics through the country’s largest party, the United Malays National Organization, known as U.M.N.O.

The opposition parties that beat the governing party and its partners in five states say the nation’s affirmative action program for Malays should be based on need rather than ethnicity. But the opposition, too, is struggling to contain fissures along ethnic lines as a Chinese opposition party competes with its Malay counterpart.

The affirmative action program, more than 35 years old, gives Malays benefits like discounts on new houses and 30 percent quotas in companies’ initial public offerings.

“I don’t think many people have bothered to investigate the details of the policy itself,” said Tricia Yeoh of the Center for Public Policy Studies, an independent research center in Kuala Lumpur, the capital. “But it’s an affirmation of their identity in the country, of their significance and their worth.”

Demonstrators here on Friday chanted “Allahu akbar!” — “God is great!” in Arabic — and vowed to return for more protests. They were dispersed by riot police officers. Nasarudin bin Mat Nor, 70, a retired teacher who took part in the protest, said, “If there is no help for the Malays, they will get poorer.”

Malaysians are split as much along religious lines as ethnic, with Muslim Malays governed by a separate legal system. The protest Friday immediately followed Friday Prayer at a mosque. But the election showed that the Malays are also divided between educated, wealthy and often urban Malays and poorer families in the countryside.

“U.M.N.O. is going to go through some sort of consolidation,” said Ibrahim Suffian of the Merdeka Center, an independent polling agency. “A lot of people are looking for someone to take the fall for the results.”

For the first time since independence from Britain in 1957, the governing coalition has lost control of Malaysia’s largest and wealthiest states, including Penang, Selangor and Perak.

The governing coalition, the National Front, won slightly more than 60 percent of the seats in the federal Parliament, down from 90 percent of the seats in the 2004 elections.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has vowed to stay, but is under pressure to quit. Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who is from the same party, called Friday for Mr. Abdullah to step down.

Mr. Abdullah came to power in 2003 promising to end corruption and make government more accountable. But scandals, rising prices and protests by ethnic Indians over religious freedom and income inequality caused his popularity to fall. (The New York Times)

***** Firstly a 35-year-old policy should not still persist with the word 'new'. It is basically a bloody OLD policy which has been diverted from its its initial goal and now serves as a convenient conduit for amassing wealth for ruling party cronies.

Secondly it was a mistake for Lim Guan Eng to have mentioned about the NEP so early into his term. Perhaps he should have exercised some patience and restraint and not given space for sore losers to capitalise on this emotive issue.

Thirdly I don't believe that the so-called gathering was a spontaneous reaction to his statement, but the dirty work of the cunning dalang2 in Putrajaya, ably assisted by some lowlife in Penang Umno.
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Penang Mamak Fights For NEP, Lodges Police Report Against Guan Eng

A lawyer lodged a police report against Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over his statement that he would run the state administration free of the New Economic Policy (NEP).

Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan, 40, lodged the report at the Jalan Patani police station.

He told reporters that in his statement he had asked the police to investigate Lim under the Sedition Act and to take action against Lim if he continued to make seditious and racist statements.

“I believe that the statement is seditious, racist, irresponsible and may endanger public peace and national security,” he said. (The Star)

***** First of all how does the NEP affect this person with an obviously Mamak name? Either he has been masquerading as a Malay and enjoying privileges under the NEP that he is not entitled to, wants to show that he is more Malay than 'real' Malays for future personal gains or he is a proxy for more sinister forces. Or perhaps he's a lawyer with a conscience!
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Sex, Murder And Corruption: Malaysia's Ruling Coalition Dodges Scandals In Election Campaign

A close associate of the deputy prime minister allegedly orders the murder of a beautiful foreigner. The health minister is filmed having extramarital sex. A politically connected lawyer is accused of brokering top judicial appointments.

A string of scandals features heavily in the opposition's campaign for Malaysia's parliamentary election on March 8.

"It's not that we want to capitalize unnecessarily on these issues, but it's our moral duty to bring them out in our campaign to show that the government is rotten," said Hatta Ramli, an official in the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party.

The ruling National Front coalition is widely expected to win, but with a smaller majority than its landslide victory in 2004. The scandals are not the main factor, but they may be adding to voter discontent with the status quo.

"I think everything that has been made public is only the tip of the iceberg," said Voon Chin Joo, a 28-year-old information technology consultant. "My vote will be for the opposition because I want to see all the other scandals exposed."

But, analysts say, most voters are more focused on issues that affect their lives, such as inflation, crime and rising racial and religious tensions.

"Malaysians have a short memory," said Tricia Yeoh, a senior researcher at the Center for Public Policy Studies, a Malaysian think tank. "These scandals may contribute to some people's perception that Malaysia is in a mess, but they wouldn't drastically change voting patterns."

The government's first headache emerged with the slaying of Altantuya Shaariibuu in late 2006. Abdul Razak Baginda, a close associate of Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak, was charged with abetting the murder of the Mongolian interpreter, with whom he had had an affair.

Opposition parties worked feverishly to link Najib to the killing, in which two policemen allegedly used explosives to destroy Shaariibuu's remains in a jungle clearing in October 2006. But the opposition failed to come up with evidence to substantiate its claim that Najib had a hand in the killing.

The government has moved quickly to deal with the unusual spate of pre-election scandals.

Last August, opposition leaders criticized the government for providing a low-interest loan to rescue Malaysia's main port authority from debts of US$1 billion (€700 million). Officials deflected the criticism by saying the loan was not a bailout, because it would be repaid.

In October, authorities swiftly arrested eight junior officials on corruption charges after the auditor general revealed that ministries bought defective boats and helicopters and paid grossly inflated prices for screwdrivers and flower pots.

"There has been no attempt to hide things under the carpet, so there shouldn't be a negative impact for us in the polls," Shahrir Samad, a ruling coalition lawmaker, told The Associated Press.

"The public is confident that all these issues have been well tackled," Shahrir said. "Openness, transparency and accountability have been obvious in the government. We have not been riding roughshod over anyone or trying to ignore the public's concerns."

The nation's attention shifted in recent weeks to two video scandals.

In January, Health Minister Chua Soi Lek, married with three children, resigned amid intense public pressure after DVDs — allegedly made by his political rivals — began circulating in his hometown showing him having sex with his lover in a hotel room.

No sooner had that scandal faded, when newspaper front pages turned to a government inquiry into another video, which showed a well-known lawyer apparently talking on the phone to Malaysia's former top judge about using their government connections to influence judicial appointments.

The inquiry heard testimony in open court from prominent figures including former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. A decision is expected next month — but not until after the election. (IHT)

***** There is some trepidation that after the elections many of these scandals will be firmly swept under the carpet, those guilty 'rehabilitated' and semuanya will be OK!
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Malaysian Newspaper Forced to Shut Up

A tycoon snaps up Malaysia’s last independent daily newspaper
By Jed Yoong
With national elections nearing, independent daily newspapering in Malaysia appears to be an endangered species with the recent purchase of the only unfettered English-language daily, The Sun, by tycoon Vincent Tan, who reportedly has already begun to make distressing changes. Outspoken political editor Zainon Ahmad has been relegated to “consultant editor” and a new editor-in-chief, Chong Cheng Hai, replaced the respected Ho Kay Tat.

As an indication of how endangered the press is in Malaysia, the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance issued a statement on February 21 noting that two newspapers regarded as more critical than other mainstream media have not yet had their annual licenses renewed approved. Citing local sources, SEAPA said the two “have had to show a different slant after Parliament was dissolved on 13 February to make way for a general election on 8 March.”

Like all newspapers in Malaysia, the two, the Tamil-language Makkal Osai and the Chinese Oriental Daily, risk losing their licenses if they criticize the government too strongly. "We are concerned that the requirement for a publication permit has been effective in silencing critical voices and controlling any attempt for editorial independence,” SEAPA said in its statement.

A local political blog, Screenshots, edited by Jeff Ooi, reported that at a dinner on the eve of the Lunar New Year attended by Selangor Chief Minister Khir Toyo, a representative of the new owners of the Sun told staff that all criticism of Khir and his government had to stop, including instances of poor governance in Selangor State, the territory surrounding the Kuala Lumpur federal territory, and notably the suburbs of Petaling Jaya, Ampang Jaya and Subang Jaya.

The Sun’s deputy news editor and columnist R Nadeswaran told Asia Sentinel in a telephone interview: “No one is going to boss me around,” adding that as far as he knows there has been no change in editorial policy. However, he acknowledged that in a meeting with Khir, “accusations were thrown around” but declined to elaborate. He also said he has no plans to leave the paper.

Tan, a longtime crony of former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, heads Berjaya Group, a corporate empire that includes a lottery and property development. Tan himself is at the center of Malaysia’s biggest judicial scandal since independence, in which a prominent lawyer, V K Lingam, was videotaped in conversation with the country’s third-highest ranking judge seeking to fix judicial appointees favorable to Tan. According to testimony at a Royal Commission looking into the scandal, Lingam also personally wrote a RM$10 million libel judgment in Tan’s favor and had it delivered to the judge who read it in court. The Sun has reported fully on that issue as well, a least until now

Tan bought the paper from Tong Kooi Ong, a businessman who founded and built one of the country’s most successful and innovative banks, PhileoAllied Bank. Tong retained control of The Edge, a business daily and weekly, and Ho remains editor of that publication. Tong is also regarded as a close associate of former deputy premier and finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, now the de facto leader of the country’s umbrella of opposition parties.

Since it changed hands, the tone of the paper, which has a daily circulation of about 265,000 copies, has become more mainstream. A recent front-page featured the embattled and scandal-scarred Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) leader S. Samy Vellu, who is also Public Works Minister and has been in the Malaysian cabinet for decades.

Media freedom in Malaysia has been a myth at least since former premier Mahathir Mohamed temporarily revoked the licenses of The Star and the leading Chinese daily, Sin Chew Jit Poh, in 1987. From then, the industry has toed the government line and shied away from reporting controversial issues. Publishers are caught in a tight spot because of the annual license renewal by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Printing Presses and Publications Act also has draconian regulations on sedition that can be broadly interpreted. Generally, licenses can be revoked without room for review, and have been.

All of Malaysia’s mainstream media companies are controlled by components of the Barisan Nasional, the ruling coalition of ethnic political parties, either directly or through proxies. The United Malays National Organisation, the country’s largest party, which represents ethnic Malays and leads the coalition, owns the New Straits Times Press stable of newspapers through Media Prima Bhd. This includes the English-language New Straits Times and two Malay-language papers, Berita Harian and Harian Metro, and television stations TV3 and NTV7. The Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) owns the English-language Star and the Chinese-language Sin Chew Jit Poh through its investment arm, Huaren. The Malaysian Indian Congress owns the Tamil-language Nesan.

Under such a repressive environment, it’s a feat that The Sun rocked the boat at all. Nadeswaran exposed a series of dubious transactions inside the Selangor state government and a RM4.6 billion (US$1.42 billion) Port Klang Free Zone scandal, which implicated Transport Minister and MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy as well as UMNO personalities. The paper has also given significant coverage to opposition parties, something they don’t get in the government-controlled press.

When Tan took control of the paper a few weeks ago, no one really blinked. Most expected the good times to end, especially with a general election set for March 8. The only good side is that this time the government used cash instead of harsh laws like the Internal Security Act, which allows persons deemed to be a threat to national security to be detained without trial. The act is often used to silence political dissidents. Put it this way, Nadeswaran is still a free man, although on leave till March 2.

Under Abdullah Badawi, the media has been more vocal than under Mahathir although still constrained by political masters. As a result, blogs and internet media have flourished. Online news portal Malaysiakini led the way in 1999 in the wake of the reformasi movement sparked by Anwar’s abrupt sacking and subsequent jailing on charges of sexual perversion and corruption, which were widely viewed as trumped up.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin frequently warns bloggers or attempts to discredit them. One, Nathaniel Tan, has been arrested and charged. After Tan was taken into police custody, friends and families could not contact or locate him for about seven hours. Two others are being sued for defamation by the NST and its editors. Although mostly a personal spat, some see the civil suit as intimidation aimed at silencing freedom of speech. (Asia Sentinel)

***** For every bottom licker like Vincent Tan there is a courageous fighter for freedom like R. Nadeswaran. But things could have been worse. At least Dr Mahathir is still not in power. Be thankful for small mercies.
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"Rename The National Language Bahasa Melayu," Say Overseas Umno Clubs Alumni Nitwits

The Overseas Umno Clubs Alumni will submit a resolution to the supreme council to reinstate Bahasa Melayu as the national language.

Alumni deputy chairman Datuk Rais Zainudin said that although the term for the national language now was Bahasa Malaysia, it was still the Malay language. “It is only proper to use the original term instead of renaming the language,” he said.

For example, in the United States the official language is the English language, not American language. The term “English” is retained to indicate the origin of the language.

The call to reinstate Bahasa Melayu was among several resolutions passed during the Third Malay Agenda Seminar: Malays 2057 – 1st Series: Politics at PWTC here yesterday.

***** Clearly the young 'uns are taking after the big daddies sitting pretty in the Umno top league. With so many crucial issues facing the Malays in the next fifty years, these opportunistic nincompoops having studied or still studying overseas at our expense are instead engaging in minor rabble-rousing and typically plumping for form over substance. Not their concern to worry about what the others think. Living in their tempurung overseas where they inhabit their tiny artificial kampungs, they care two hoots about national unity or multi-racialism. Selfish bastards.
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MIC wants PPP out of Barisan. Get Samy Vellu Out Of MIC First

The MIC wants the People’s Progressive Party expelled from the Barisan Nasional for making outrageous allegations against another component party of the coalition.

The MIC central working committee (CWC) is said to be preparing a formal proposal to party president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu to bring up the matter at the next Barisan supreme council meeting.

MIC deputy president Datuk G. Palanivel confirmed that the party was unhappy with Kayveas and the manner in which the PPP leader had conducted himself, adding that the MIC’s sentiments were also shared by other Barisan component parties. He said the MIC grassroots felt that Kayveas had gone “overboard” with his statements.

Palanivel, who is Selangor MIC state liaison committee chairman, said the committee held a meeting yesterday during which all division chiefs spoke out against Kayveas and conveyed the MIC grassroots’ unhappiness. “We are asking our president to take up the matter formally with the Barisan so that the top leadership will take stern action against the PPP president,” he told The Star yesterday.

Samy Vellu, when contacted, confirmed that the CWC had unanimously called for formal action against Kayveas. “I understand their feelings. They are fed up with the disrespect shown by Kayveas against Barisan leaders, not just the MIC,” he said.

The MIC president said the Barisan supreme council, chaired by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, worked on a consensus basis. “Whatever action or decisions taken must get unanimous approval. I will need to consult the Barisan chairman and Prime Minister on this,” he added.

Kayveas, meanwhile, said he would defend the PPP if the subject was brought up at the next supreme council meeting. “If there should be any action, it should be against MIC. They started the fight. I am just reacting. They should not push me around.”

Kayveas, a lawyer, said a Tamil newspaper was used against him with the MIC urging its members not to support him in the next general election.

Recently, Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Ali Rustam asked the PPP to leave the Barisan if it continued to make aggressive demands for seat allocations in the next general election.

The party was also involved in a verbal fight with Gerakan over the Taiping parliamentary seat held by Kayveas.

Over the past weeks, the MIC and PPP have been engaged in a continuous spat, with MIC leaders asking members to boycott PPP functions. On Wednesday, MIC vice-president Datuk S. Sothinathan obtained a High Court ex-parte injunction to stop Kayveas from uttering and publishing slanderous words against him. (By A. Letchumanan, The Star)

***** Bloody hell! Only a few days ago Khir Toyo, the notorious son of Indon immigrants-turned-MB of Selangor allowed the demolition of Hindu places of worship and not one of these castrated monkeys dared to voice any objection. But they have the time now to call for a meeting of the Selangor MIC state liaison committee to moan and groan about their sentiments being hurt by Kayveas!

This looks like a classic 'divert the attention of the masses' strategy by the MIC to keep the focus away from the temple demolitions in Selangor where they could do diddly squat to prevent it and looked like the pathetic slaves that they really are.

The trouble is that Kayveas although a pain in the neck, is outspoken and straight forward. He basically tells it as it is and does not mince words or cares about adverse reactions. This directly goes against the Barisan semangat of sweeping everything under the carpet.

If these so-called leaders in the MIC genuinely care for their people, then they should call for a meeting of their top brass and demand that Samy Vellu step down. That would be more beneficial for the country than calling for one of the few fellas with balls left in the Barisan to be expelled.
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UPDATE: MIC Demands Action On Kayveas For Scathing Attacks.

Aging Sex 'Icon' Rahim Tamby Chik Gives IDR The Bangsa Twist

It is important that all races be given the opportunity to benefit from the Iskandar Development Region (IDR) to ensure stability and harmony in the country, Gagasan Badan Ekonomi Melayu (Gabem) chairman Tan Sri Rahim Tamby Chik said.

“We want to see all races benefit fairly, not just one race or side,” he told reporters after heading a delegation from Gabem to attend a briefing on investment opportunities under the IDR. Representatives from the Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI) also attended the briefing.

Rahim said as the IDR was being promoted not just nationally or regionally, but internationally, it should be used as a showpiece of Malaysian prosperity and economic development. “The IDR should reflect the national policies to distribute prosperity and opportunity in the country in a just and equitable manner,” he said.

Rahim said Gabem was satisfied with the plans laid out by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA). “But IRDA has to ensure that all parties – at the federal and state levels, and local authorities – work together. “If this vision for IDR is to be achieved, there should not be any kind of inefficiency at any level,” he said.

Rahim, however, pointed out that the signages leading to the IRDA office were either missing or misleading. “The Gabem delegation got lost on our way to the office. It took us three or four rounds to find the place, imagine how much harder it will be for foreigners,” he said.

He also said that the numerous unsightly and abandoned buildings in the city might give potential foreign investors a bad first impression. “A lot of foreign investors enter Johor via Singapore and if they are greeted by ugly buildings, this may pose a problem to draw in investments. “The city need to spruce up its image to make investors more confident and comfortable. Projecting the right image is vital,” he said.

Meanwhile, SMCCI executive director Adnan Ramly said that his organisation would be waiting for further details, including facts and figures on the project, before they could make a commitment,” he added. (The Star)

***** The 'be fair to all races' bit by this one-time sex king and perennial political opportunist is merely for the benefit of those gullible Malays who still have faith in the greedy umnoputeras ruling the roost. To give it a 'berjuanging wira Melayu' flavor, he deviously adds that only if the IDR is 'fair' to all 'races' can it ensure stability and harmony in the country. What a bastard! While some bumis may naively fall for that line, to everyone else it is crystal clear that all he wants is his share of the loot when the looting starts, as it inevitably will, at the IDR and the other 'corridors'. A shameless, greedy lebai pencen he has slowly evolved into.
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Malacca State Government's Worthless Junket

Our state governments must be the most inexperienced in the world. They are led by very slow learners who have to make several trips a year to faraway, exotic locations in order to study 'close up' the different models of managing the state machinery. But despite their lack of intelligence and slow grasping power, one must appreciate their undiminished enthusiasm. You see, despite not having made any significant and meaningful change thus far to the way the kerajaan is run, they keep going again and again to more and more foreign destinations, determined to study and learn as much as they can. Such unwavering resoluteness must be applauded by all loyal citizens. So what if it costs a fortune? It is after all a sacrifice by our pemimpin for good, efficient government.

Bernama mentions one such 'working visit' by the Malacca state government bigwigs, including both the aging Governor and the wily Chief Minister whose only claim to fame thus far has been the awarding of nearly ninety datukships at one go. It is indeed a hectic trip. Ten days in Latin America followed by an arduous trans-Atlantic journey for another two more gruelling days of learning in Paris. And we had always thought that running a state government was easy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Our Malacca pemimpin for example must have spent many late hours poring over details, facts and raw data on what it takes to manage a state. OK, so some low level staff may have taken advantage and gone sightseeing, shopping, a little tequila on the side or even a spot of khalwat with a pretty señorita. Hey, after all it's kuffar country mate! (Perhaps this could be one reason why state Muftis are excluded from these 'study' trips and are sent on separate delegations to Saudi Arabia.)

You can read about the Malacca junket HERE.
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Two Banks In Malaysia Perpetuating Never Ending Policy

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From the NST: A new regulation by two major banks that requires Bumiputera legal firms’ involvement has irked the legal community. The regulation requires law firms to have a minimum of three partners of which one must be Bumiputera with a minimum 50 per cent stake in the firm before they can do any business with the banks. The letter was sent to all legal firms last month.

What can we infer from this new regulation? It will not be wrong to surmise that Bumiputera lawyers are so hopeless that they simply cannot survive without unfair racial quotas being imposed on the other ethnic groups. Only with the Ali-Baba type collaboration (which our government ostensibly denounces) can they make easy money without doing any work. By virtue of being a Bumi, 50% of the stake in a law firm is theirs, for not lifting even a pencil! What sort of perverse logic went into the conceiving and formulating of this monstrously unjust and inequitable rule beats me. Who are the banks trying to help? Is it their job in the first place to attempt to perpetuate racist policies on behalf of the government?

As it is Bumis, especially Malays are given places in our increasing number of law faculties on an 'out-of-turn' basis. Many of them in the normal course of events would have been denied admission because of insufficient academic qualifications. Yet they find themselves studying and graduating as lawyers. Ideally the preferential treatment must end there. Having made it to the field largely due to the government's charitable policies instead of their own steam and merit, shouldn't at least at this juncture Bumi lawyers be allowed to strike out on their own and find their true place and calling in the legal profession? By right they should, and any self-respecting lawyer would be ashamed to be mollycoddled in this fashion. However the Never Ending Policy (NEP) has made many of these people into shameless receivers of handouts not unlike a beggar waiting with his/her begging bowl. Now this bank regulation has introduced a new "cradle-to-grave" concept for the future protection and promotion of Bumi professionals who don't have the wherewithal to compete on merit and can't or won't see the necessity to work as hard and as cleverly as their non-Bumi counterparts.

Read the entire NST report and feel depressed:

A new regulation by two major banks that requires Bumiputera legal firms’ involvement has irked the legal community. The regulation requires law firms to have a minimum of three partners of which one must be Bumiputera with a minimum 50 per cent stake in the firm before they can do any business with the banks. The letter was sent to all legal firms last month.

The Bar Council has cried foul over the conditions set by the banks. Council chairman Ambiga Sreenevasan described the requirement as "totally discriminatory". "There is no legal basis for such a condition and it’s certainly in breach of the spirit of the Federal Constitution.

"All our lawyers should be judged on merit. That is the correct basis for selection," she told the New Straits Times. "Most of all, we are concerned that such preferences will give rise to tokenism and that it will affect the quality of the legal services provided," she added.

The Bar Council, she said, imposed no such conditions on members of the Bar. "We don’t stipulate how law firms should be run, we leave it to the lawyers themselves."

Ambiga said the Bar Council had written to the banks in the last two days expressing concern and asking them to review their policies. "We will be following up on this matter with Bank Negara Malaysia," she added.

It was reported that the requirements would take effect on July 1 while the deadline for existing firms was a year after the new ruling was implemented. It is learnt that at the moment there are no specific requirements for legal firms to be appointed by financial institutions.

***** Do you think that such preferential policies are going to be of much use to the Bumi lawyer in the long run? Sure, some of them will become rich much faster. But those with any conscience would know that they do not really deserve it and that too with the best (read non-Bumi) out there in the courts of law making a name for themselves and proving what it means to be a genuine lawyer and not just a highly-placed and fabulously paid leech, employed as very expensive window-dressing, nothing more.
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Tougher Action To Ensure Students Pay Up PTPTN Loans. I Don't Believe It, Do You?

Oh come off it lah!! After the earlier threats of 'severe' action, the authorities have become a laughing stock and their words of warning scare no one, least of all the greedy buggers who took the loans. In late January the PTPTN seat-warming chairman Datuk Razali Ismail warned of dire consequences and even threatened to have the names of the shameless defaulters listed on the database of Credit Tip Off Service Sdn Bhd (CTOS)! What happened? Zilch. Now Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed has taken over the role of Sheriff as you can read in this Bernama report below.

The National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) has taken several steps to ensure students pay up their loans amounting to about RM11.1 billion.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Mustapa Mohamed said the steps included tightening loan procedures and sending summonses to those who failed to pay up.

"From this month, we require the loans to be backed by guarantors. There was no need for guarantors in the past but from now onwards, parents can be the guarantors," he said to reporters after launching the Higher Education Ministry Day with the Rakyat at Kampung Bukit Bulat, Machap here, today.

Mustapa was commenting on a newspaper report today which said student had taken loans from the PTPTN, Public Service Department and Mara amounting to RM12 billion.

He said, from January next year, those who applied for loans must have savings in the Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (SSPN). The minimum savings amount should be RM500 for those with RM2,000 income a month. "We find that parents do not prepare for their children's education. If they have some savings, they will not need to obtain full loans," he said.

He said the PTPTN had annual fund of RM2 billion a year while the number borrowers totalled about 150,000 a year.

****** What a disgrace! RM12 billion of our hard earned money taken from us as income tax has ended up funding ungrateful scum who don't even have the decency to pay up what they owe. What a large bunch of lousy bastards they must be. Add to this the lackadaisical attitude of the saya yang menurut perintah pegawai2 in-charge of the PTPTN and other loan givers. Honestly should we have expected anything better or worse than this situation? And these government servants want a pay hike!

Judging from Tok Pa's statement the authorities must have more or less given up hope of collecting the overdue loans. He speaks about 'tightening' loan procedures and insisting on guarantors. This is for future borrowers. But what about the RM 12billion already disbursed? He only says that summons will be sent! And since when have written demands and summons succeeded? If there is no political will to prosecute a large number of them without worrying about losing votes in the next elections, then we can kiss our money goodbye.

Read here what the PTPTN said in January: Study Loan Defaulters To Be Blacklisted. Oh Not That Lame Threat Again!
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Update 4/9/07: Mixed Reactions To PTPTN's Proposal To Tighten Loan Procedures.

Study Loan Defaulters To Be Blacklisted. Oh Not That Lame Threat Again!

Higher education loan defaulters can forget about seeking financing for fancy cars or dream bungalows. Their names will now come under a blacklist to be supplied to banks and credit card companies.

The first batch of 1,100 defaulters, who have yet to settle their loans with the National Higher Education Loan Fund Corporation (PTPTN) over the past 10 years, will have their names listed on the database of Credit Tip Off Service Sdn Bhd (CTOS).

The remaining 37,484 errant borrowers could face the same action if they continued to ignore the letters of demand (LOD) sent by the corporation, PTPTN chairman Datuk Razali Ismail warned.

“This (blacklist) will affect one’s financial credibility and the defaulter will not be able to secure any other type of loans from local banks,” he told The Star yesterday. CTOS is a private credit reference agency that provides information to financial institutions screening their clients.

Bad loans incurred by PTPTN total more than RM800mil(?) and the corporation hoped to recover 70% through such measures, said Razali.

“These defaulters should get their priorities right. They seem to take us for granted, believing we will not initiate any punitive action.” He noted that many defaulters were already working, with some holding professional jobs. However, they still refused to settle their loans.

Razali said the corporation had been flexible and even offered to accept repayment from as low as RM50 a month but received no response when the second round of LODs were re-issued last year.

He also noted that some defaulters were willing to pay between RM500 and RM700 monthly on their car loans but were reluctant to pay a minimal amount to settle their study loans.

“They should be able to manage their finances like professionals and not test our patience,” he added. (R.S.N. Murali, TheStar)

***** How long is the PTPTN going to issue threats that have no bite? There are RM5 billion worth of loans still pending. (How the devil did the outstanding loans suddenly become reduced to RM800 million? Did PTPTN actually collect RM4.2 billion over the past few months? Come on!!) When is Razali going to get out of his cushy chair and actually DO something about it instead of fudging figures? Make an example of a few of these recalcitrant and selfish fellows and the rest will fall in line. Of course they could appeal to big brother Khairy Jamaluddin, and for all you know KJ may come out with both guns blazing in support of this greedy bunch as he did in the case of Mara loan defaulters.

God bless our country and save us from incompetents and politicians.
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