Zahar Hashim - whistleblower or sour grape or frog?

Malaysiakini reported in Eurocopter whistleblower joins PAS that Zahar Hashim, the man who had publicly reported the alleged discrepancies in the (now cancelled) RM1.6 billion Eurocopter deal, has changed his political allegiance.

Bloke has left UMNO to join PAS. He was the former division leader of Umno Petaling Jaya Selatan.

Would he be considered as a frog? kaytee opines a definite 'no' as Zahar doesn't hold any parliamentary or DUN seat.

One would only be considered a frog if one deceives the voters into voting for one's candidature as that from Party A, but subsequently absconding with that mandate to party B. Slimy deceitful a$$h()le.

Well, Zahar doesn't fit into this category. In fact he has done the correct thing to change political party now (for whatever reasons, which are for him and only him to decide) when he is neither a MP or ADUN.

PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa has been rapt with Zahar's enlightened jump. Nasharuddin said: "He is with us now to defend the race, religion and nation."

Alhamdulillah, bangsa, agama dan negara sekarang tambah selamat kukuh.

And it's noteworthy that of UMNO's (hitherto monopolised) 3 cornerstones, PAS has adopted the first one, bangsa over the agama and the negara.

Indeed, Alhamdulillah! Praise be to the Almighty that once again, PAS has shown to us its true Islamic ethnic colours.

At least with UMNO, WYSIWYG warts and all, but with PAS, now you see it (the supranationalistic supra-ethnic Islamic principles), now you don't - wakakaka.

I had also blogged on Zahar’s attack against the Eurocopter deal some two months ago in Eurocopter Cougar deal - Malaysiakini's pre-emptive 'clawing'?

I had then written:

This evening Malaysiakini publishes Letter questions 'shady' chopper deal, with PKR and pro PKR bloggers happily swarming the blogosphere with accusations that Najib had signed a shady deal ... again?

Needless to say, G.A.N would be ecstatic!

And the chief accuser of the alleged 'shady' deal has been Capt (rtd) Zahar Hashim, chairperson of Mentari Services Sdn Bhd, the company which didn’t succeed in its bid to supply TUDM with the replacement aircraft for the Nuris.

Needless to say, as the loser in the bid, he has cause plus the legitimate reason to challenge the Defence Ministry’s decision to opt for the Eurocopter’s Cougar. In the USA and Europe, aircraft companies which lost aircraft bids would raise Cain because the loss would be quantified in terms of billions of dollars. […]

I believe that Malaysiakini has been too quick to describe the purchase of the Eurocopter Cougar with words and phrases like ‘shady’ and ‘another scandal appears to be hovering over the Defence Ministry’, based on just the complaints of the chairperson of the losing company.

No doubt Mentari Services Sdn Bhd has a legitimate business reason to voice its grouses, but nonetheless they have been the complaints of an unsuccessful bidder to supply the TUDM with the Kazan 172, a Russian designed helicopter.

But in Malaysiakini's most recent report on a man who complained about the Eurocopter saga I did wonder about the online news' use of the term ‘whistleblower’.

According to the dictionary, a whistleblower is (usually though not necessary) an employee who brings wrongdoing by an employer or other employees to the attention of a government or law enforcement agency …

But should Zahar Hashim as a (undoubtedly disgruntled) loser in a competition to sell military helicopters to the Malaysian military be termed a whistleblower?

It undeservedly provides him with a righteous crusading sheen which I feel is yet to be proven, and thus yet to be earned.

And who’s to say that there was anything wrong in the selection of Eurocopter over the Russian designed Kazan 172?

As I had blogged in Eurocopter Cougar deal - Malaysiakini's pre-emptive 'clawing'?: "I believe that Malaysiakini has been too quick to describe the purchase of the Eurocopter Cougar with words and phrases like ‘shady’ and ‘another scandal appears to be hovering over the Defence Ministry’, based on just the complaints of the chairperson of the losing company."

Unfortunately the term ‘whistleblower’ prematurely implies there was.

Sure, Zahar as a business competitor has every right to complained as I wrote in my post. But I believe the more appropriate term, if at all Malaysiakini needs a catchy term to describe him in a news headline, would be ‘sour grapes’.

And in the world of military purchases, which may run into billions, (if I may be allowed to paraphrase William Congreve in his play 'The Mourning Bride'), hell hath no fury like a sour grape loser in a tender.

Of course there’s nothing wrong in being a sour grape loser and to whinge and whine over the competition but we need to recognize that probability, thus I would say Zahar has yet to merit the title of whistleblower.

I trust the journalists at Malaysiakini can see the difference, and avoid repeating their preemptive attack on the choice of the Eurocopter, this time through the inappropriate employment of the term ‘whistleblower’.

And congratulations to PAS on their prize catch - mudah-mudahan, inshaallah, Zahar Hashim will play a sterling perwira-ish role in defending PAS' ideology of (yang diutamakan) race, and then religion and nation.

Don’t be a sour grape, Muhyiddin; Anwar walks into Putrajaya via the front door

Don’t be a sour grape, Muhyiddin; Anwar walks into Putrajaya via the front door




PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who reigned as Malaysia’s premier with the second shortest stint at 17 months – only to be beaten by caretaker prime minister (PM) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s 14 – is seemingly reluctant to concede his defeat in the race to be Malaysia’s 10th PM.


As Indonesian President Joko Widodo became the first head of state to congratulate Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who ended his 24-year wait to helm Putrajaya, the Bersatu president stands tall as one of the few political leaders who is still questioning the validity of Anwar’s appointment.

Already outright derhaka (treacherous) for his action defies the order of Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah and the Council of Rulers for their selection of Anwar as the best man for the job, imagine the further disrespect demonstrated by the incumbent Pagoh MP by staging a media briefing which coincided with the swearing in ceremony at 5pm yesterday (Nov 24) to denounce Anwar’s validity as PM.




Even PN’s dominant partner, PAS – though short of congratulating Anwar for his premiership appointment – has endeavoured to move on by accepting that “whatever has happened, has happened and there must be a wisdom attached to it”.

“The important thing is that we be honest with the people, be patient, and remain steadfast (in our struggle),” penned PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang in his latest Facebook post. “We have tried our best. The onus is now on the PM to prove the actual support that he received.”

Even if PN is not part of Anwar’s unity government which features PH, Barisan Nasional (BN) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS), the very least Muhyiddin-led PN can do is to provide the check and balance machinery as a forceful opposition in the Dewan Rakyat when Parliament convenes on Dec 19.

Although he is still revered by Pagoh folks – very much the way Pekan’s born and bred towards incarcerated former PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak – Muhyiddin must realise that Malaysians tend to associate him as one of the masterminds/key defectors of the infamous Sheraton Move which toppled the 22-month-old PH Government in February 2020.

This has led to the stigma of “traitor” and “backdoor government” which is very difficult to be erased from the minds of Malaysians towards the 75-year-old eighth Malaysian PM.

If this is not bad enough, his flawed COVID-19 management has resulted in countless fatalities among Malaysians, many of whom could still be alive today.

“Malaysia (at the height of the COVID-19 health crisis) had the worst Health Minister in the world and Malaysia plunged from a country with a good record to a country with one of the worst records in the world in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” lambasted retired DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang who faulted Muhyiddin for the poor handling of the pandemic

Recall that the declaration of emergency during Muhyiddin’s administration on Jan 11, 2021 had not only failed to stem the spread of the pandemic in Malaysia but the number of cases actually spiked to 17,150 with daily COVID-19 deaths soared to 160 on Aug 1 that year being the last day of the COVID-19 emergency.

This is a stark contrast from the 2,232 new COVID-19 cases and four deaths on the day the emergency was declared.

Well, whether ‘caretaker’ Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Azhar Azizan Harun is right to describe Muhyiddn as an “overlooked reformist” is as good as anybody’s guess. – Nov 25, 2022

“Sour grape” Tajuddin

Focus Malaysia:

“Sour grape” Tajuddin should focus on the bigger picture!

You would think that by now Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman would have learned to let sleeping dogs lie, especially when it comes to the two-train collision incident and his embarrassing gaffe that had let to his sacking as the chairperson of Prasarana Malaysia Bhd.

Alas, no. The drama continues, with Tajuddin recently dropping the ‘bombshell’ that he is planning to take legal action against those who have ‘tarnished his reputation’ in the aftermath of the incident.

He bemoaned that he had been humiliated all over Malaysia as an unqualified, insensitive, racist figure who does not follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), and that everything was a hit against him to the point that some were willing to petition for his resignation.

But someone needs to get his priorities in order.

Instead of going on and on about his damaged reputation and threatening legal recourse against the people who had, well, ruined him, Tajuddin should remember that he is still an MP and that he represents the voice of the rakyat, who had voted him into that position.

Shouldn’t more effort be put into helping the people in his constituency to manoeuvre their ways through the pandemic? There are more things to worry about than his bruised ego, that’s for sure!

There have been plenty of news lately about MPs who have gone into the field and taken the hands-on approach to help their people.

They have partaken in initiatives to hand out cash aids, food baskets, groceries, and even laptops to the B40 group of people, and maybe it’s time that Tajuddin takes a leaf out of their book and focus more on the people’s welfare.

After all, he really has got nobody to blame but himself for his fall from grace, and the sooner he comes to that conclusion, the better. – June 23, 2021

Mahathir’s Sour Grapes over Anwar’s ASEAN Triumph

OPINION | Mahathir’s Sour Grapes over Anwar’s ASEAN Triumph


11 Nov 2025 • 1:30 PM MYT


TheRealNehruism
An award-winning Newswav creator, Bebas News columnist & ex-FMT columnist

Image credit: Harakah Daily


If you’ve been wondering whether Dr Mahathir Mohamad feels a tinge of envy watching Anwar Ibrahim take the international stage at the recent ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, you might not have to wonder too long. Some of the things Mahathir has been saying about ASEAN since that event seem to say it all.


To be blunt, Mahathir really has no reason to be talking about ASEAN anymore. At a time when even his views on Malaysia barely register where decisions are made, his sudden interest in regional affairs feels almost like someone who, after being refused a RM10 loan, decides to ask for RM100 instead.


So why this sudden fixation on ASEAN?


The answer may be simpler — and more human — than we think. Watching Anwar, his old adversary, chair ASEAN for two years and close it with a highly successful, well-received summit — not in the Putrajaya that Mahathir built, but in Kuala Lumpur under Anwar’s name — must sting.


Like the fox in the old fable, who dismissed the grapes it couldn’t reach as sour, Mahathir too seems to be doing some sour-grape philosophising of his own. Unable to bask in relevance, he’s reaching for the next best thing: trying to sound like the elder statesman that the world still listens to.


And so, out came his latest idea — that ASEAN should adopt a “common defence and security policy” to stand up to major powers like the US and China.


Unfortunately for him, experts wasted no time calling out the absurdity of that notion. According to a report by Free Malaysia Today, international relations and defence analysts described the proposal as “impossible” and “unrealistic.”



Dr Phar Kim Beng of IIUM noted that ASEAN’s member states are far too different in their political systems and priorities to ever form a NATO-style military pact. He pointed out that Mahathir was confusing the idea of strength in numbers with an actual defence alliance, and that the bloc’s diversity made such cooperation structurally unworkable.


Lam Choong Wah, a defence analyst from Universiti Malaya, went even further, saying ASEAN couldn’t even pretend to be neutral anymore. Some countries, he said, are clearly pro-US — like Singapore and the Philippines — while others, such as Cambodia, lean heavily toward China. In such a divided environment, talk of a “common defence policy” is little more than daydreaming.


Both experts agreed that ASEAN should instead focus on building internal trust and economic resilience, rather than chasing unrealistic military unity.



So what prompted Mahathir to suddenly play the regional defence philosopher?


Maybe his comments weren’t really about ASEAN at all. Maybe they were about Anwar.


Just a few days earlier, Mahathir had taken to Facebook to accuse the government of “handing over Malaysia’s independence” to the United States in exchange for trade benefits. He wrote that Malaysia was now “subjected to the dictates of the US,” claiming that the country had “surrendered its sovereignty” for “crumbs” in the form of tariff reliefs.


On the surface, it sounded patriotic — even righteous. But when viewed in the broader political context, it looked more like another attempt to paint Anwar’s government as weak, subservient, and unprincipled, while he, Mahathir, remained the unbowed nationalist of yesteryear.


The irony, of course, is that the man lecturing others about foreign control once courted Japanese investors, wooed foreign automakers, and thrived on global admiration during his own premiership. The problem isn’t that Mahathir has suddenly become anti-globalisation — it’s that the world has stopped listening, and that’s what hurts most.



His talk about ASEAN unity and national sovereignty is less a policy proposal than a form of political therapy — an aging titan trying to remind himself, and everyone else, that he still matters.


But history moves on.


While Anwar sits at the ASEAN table as a respected regional leader, Mahathir is left on the sidelines, delivering Facebook sermons that even his former admirers read out of nostalgia rather than conviction.


In the end, Mahathir’s problem isn’t with ASEAN, or even with Anwar’s policies. His real frustration is with time itself — a force no leader, no matter how long his shadow once was, can ever outmanoeuvre.

***

Mahathir a Nationalist???

Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister Mahathir Mohamad has called for “foreign interference” to help oust his corrupt­ion-tainted former protege, Najib Razak, and questioned Canberra’s silence over the multi-billion-dollar 1MDB scandal that has drawn in one of Australia’s biggest banks. The comments mark an extra­ordinary about-face for the famously nationalistic 91-year-old, memorably branded a “recal­citrant” by former prime minister Paul Keating for boycotting the inaugural 1993 APEC summit because he favoured an Asian caucus that excluded foreign (caucasian) nations.

Wakakaka

Podah Mamak

BN government vindictive towards Penangites?

OK, late last night Malaysiakini gave us some PORRah* news – looks like it’s PORRah* to two major projects for my dear Island.

* Tamil for f*-off

In its article Penang's Porr and monorail projects shelved, Malaysiakini said that the federal government has chopped these two major projects off from the original 9th Malaysia Plan.

Many Penangites believe that it’s part of the UMNO-led government's punitive action against them for voting in the DAP and allies. Recall, the UMNO Penang branch had immediately after the March election, in sour grape fashion, called on the federal government to do precisely this.

Thus, can you blame Penangites for perceiving the cancellation of these projects as the federal government's act of vindictiveness.

Naturally the government has denied such a motive.

However, kaytee believes the two projects of PORR, a 17-kilometre expressway that stretches from Tanjung Tokong to Gelugor in the island, and the monorail system shouldn’t be lumbered together in the same basket in our considerations.

Let’s consider first the PORR or Penang Outer Ring Road project which has been very unpopular with Penangites. Please read my previous posts:

(1) Koh Tsu Koon should go (2)
(2) Who benefits directly from PORR?

So on two counts, namely, (a) Penangites don’t want PORR in the first place, and (b) it’s hardly a public transport system but meant more for private cars (or commercial limousines) zooming from the airport to the resort hotels in the north coast, why lament its cancellation?

We can’t have double standards, cursing PORR when we were in opposition but cursing the federal government for abandoning it when we are in the State government.

Besides, as was alleged by RPK, the party who would allegedly benefit most from the PORR project is now the one dropping it from the 9th Malaysia Plan, so I would say it’s not a vindictive move, unless it has been a case of slashing one’s nose to spite one’s face.

I am happy to see PORR in its original dodgy contractual arrangements go - at least Penang still gets to keep its limited land assets which would have been lost for nothing in the questionable way they were (nearly) virtually given away by the previous State government.

But the monorail system, on the other hand, is a different kettle of fish, which has been why I stated that we shouldn’t bundle these two projects into the same basket.

The government’s claim of cancelling the project, according to Malaysiakini, has been due to its forced ‘reallocation’ (and not ‘relocation’ as the Malaysiakini reporter had put it) of finite resources to cushion the impact of the unprecedented hike in global oil prices.

This is bullshit because the monorail was proposed two years ago to help overcome worsening traffic jams in Penang's congested roads. In other words, it is supposed to be a public transport system to serve those who may not wish to use their own private vehicles, and more importantly, to encourage people to switch over to the cleaner and (nationally more) more economical public transport system.

As Malaysiakini reported, the postponing has been against the government promise to invest more on public transportation in the wake of increased (and likely further increases in) petrol prices.

The system is now more required than ever, especially when the public can be more easily motivated by their pockets to abandon the unaffordable (and from a fuel consideration, nationally costly and wasteful) luxury of moving around in private motor vehicles.

Thus I can see a case for the alleged vindictiveness by the UMNO-led federal government towards projects in DAP-held Penang.

If anything has to go, it should be the RM2 billion designated for the previously postponed double-tracking project from Ipoh to Rawang. Make do with an already existing single track for a while, and re-allocate the money to the monorail system for Penang. The rakyat needs such a public system real pronto.

Latest - Malaysiakini has just informed us this evening in EPU: Penang monorail, Porr shelved that while AAB in his mid term review of the 9th Malaysia Plan this morning did not specifically mention the shelving of the Penang monorail and PORR projects, he also didn’t mention any allocation set aside for them.

But Malaysiakini said that according to Bernama news agency, the powerful Economic Planning Unit in the PM's Department said that Penang Monorail and PORR have both been PORRrah-ed.

It averred that projects that are not 'people centred' under the original 9th Malaysia Plan will be put on hold or deferred.

So, in the face of the current (and unending) fuel price hike and the government’s own promise for improved public transport infrastructure, the monorail has been deemed as not 'people centred'?

Is it because it's in Penang? Has there been any alternative public system offered to Penangites?

If this is not puerile partisan political vindictiveness, what is?

Rafizi Ramli: A singles player in a team sport — Terence Fernandez

Hailed as a reformist when he entered government, Rafizi Ramli now finds his credibility in question as critics say his tenure as Economy Minister was marked more by missed opportunities than meaningful delivery. - Scoop file pic, October 3, 2025
OPINION/ANALYSIS


Rafizi Ramli: A singles player in a team sport — Terence Fernandez


He commanded the imagination of millions but the former Economy Minister self destructed in a sea of disgruntlement and confusion



Terence Fernandez
Updated 14 hours ago
3 October, 2025
8:00 AM MYT

DATUK Seri Rafizi Ramli entered the Unity Government in 2022 with high expectations and a reputation as a policy master armed with data-driven approaches and a reformist zeal.

Positioned as Economy Minister, he was seen as a crucial player in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s administration, particularly in areas of subsidy reform, cost of living and economic restructuring.

But two years later, the results — or lack thereof — tell a different story.

One of Rafizi’s most talked-about responsibilities was the subsidisation plan, particularly fuel subsidies.

Whilst politically sensitive but economically it is a necessary reform. Despite months of discussion, white papers, and public engagements, the plan never materialised under his leadership.

Of course, the Cabinet takes collective responsibility, but this was his KPI.

In the end, the Ministry of Finance had to eventually take over the rollout, implying that the Economy Ministry under Rafizi could not get it off the ground.

If Rafizi had the vision, where was the implementation? Did he lack the political will, the administrative machinery, or simply the execution strategy?

Several academics and observers chimed in when asked about this by Scoop. Their take was not surprising.

Schemes like SARA, BUDI95, and others were meant to help the lower-income groups navigate inflation and targeted subsidy transitions. These programs, led or co-announced by other ministries such as Finance and Domestic Trade, lacked the visible coordination or backing of the Economy Ministry during Rafizi’s time.

Rafizi’s absence in explaining these initiatives to the public led to confusion and further fueled public distrust.

Ironically, he is now criticising these very programmes after he resigned following his loss in the PKR Deputy Presidency race.

Rafizi’s recent criticisms of government decisions — particularly on subsidy mechanisms and economic aid — ring hollow when juxtaposed against his own underwhelming track record as a minister.

The embarrassment that is the RM85 million Central Database Hub (PADU) and the Inisiatif Pendapatan Rakyat (IPR), which came with a RM250 million allocation in Budget 2025, begs scrutiny.

No one questions Rafizi’s intelligence, his grasp of numbers, or his command of policy language. But with that brilliance comes responsibility.

When a former key minister becomes his own government’s most vocal critic, investors pay attention. And not in a good way.

Question to Rafizi: Where were you and what were you doing for the last two years?

If he had genuine disagreements with Cabinet direction, why not voice them then? Why only now? And risk being labelled a sour grape.

Rafizi had the rare combination of public trust, technical credibility, and a reformist brand. But as a minister, he was largely invisible during key economic moments.

In contrast, Anwar, who is also Finance Minister and others such as Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, took the lead on critical matters such as fiscal reforms, inflation control, and rakyat-focused aid programmes.

Rafizi’s lack of presence during floods, price hikes, and subsidy confusion periods left many wondering: Was he too focused on theory and not grounded in pragmatism?

Now, out of government and out of PKR’s upper leadership, Rafizi seems more interested in throwing potshots at former colleagues than reflecting on his own shortcomings. The bitterness of his tone reflects more of a wounded politician than a constructive voice for reform.

And in the end, his legacy as Economy Minister may be defined more by what wasn’t done than by what was. — October 3, 2025

Terence Fernandez is Editor in Chief of Big Boom Media, which publishes Scoop. He believes Rafizi has the goods to be an effective Minister and leader, but needs to grow up.

“Muhyiddin is part of the problem, not the solution”

Focus Malaysia:


“Muhyiddin is part of the problem, not the solution”

By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy


I DON’T expect Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to say anything worthwhile or good about the few-months-old unity government helmed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.


He said recently that the unity government is hopeless, lacks direction and mostly importantly has no answer of the decline of the value of the ringgit, the state of the economy and the sad plight of the B40 community.

Muhyiddin also claimed that it was Anwar’s inability to address these – and other issues – that had given rise to instability in the country.


I don’t think that Anwar has downplayed the economic and financial problems of the country. He might be in power for a for few months, but he is certainly not resting on his laurels.

There is constant and relentless search for enduring political, economic and political stability.

Muhyiddin might criticise the Anwar administration but he must also realise at the same time that his PN coalition is the major source of instability in the present government.

Muhyiddin must also realise that he cannot hide his hands behind his back after throwing the stones at the unity government.

The infamous Sheraton Move not only dethroned the legitimate Pakatan Harapan government but provided propitious circumstances for the PN government to amass wealth under the cruel conditions the COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, this illegal generation of wealth is presently subject to investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

The PN government under Muhyiddin could not last for more than two years.

The subsequent government under Barisan Nasional (BN) merely compounded the economic and social problems of the country.

The problems faced by the unity government is not the doing of Anwar’s leadership; rather, it was the spillover from the previous PN and BN governments.

What Anwar is trying to do is to address the myriad economic and social problems left behind by the present “heroes” in the PN coalition headed by none other than Muhyiddin.

Anwar is not pretending that he has all the answers, but solutions have to be sought in the political process that is unfolding under difficult circumstances.

PN is certainly is not providing the stable circumstances for Anwar to address the economic and social woes of the country.

It was certainly not Anwar or the unity government that was responsible for the creation of the country’s whopping RM1.5 trillion debt.

It was not just Muhyiddin, but leaders in the past, among them Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob who are responsible for the country’s present debt.

Muhyiddin himself knows that the present instability – real or imagined – is caused by self-seeking politicians like himself.

If he can join hands with Mahathir to destabilise Anwar, then the public should know the kind of desperate leader he is.

The present unity government was not forged under ideal political climate but it was formed to ensure political stability and mostly importantly to thwart the grand designs of the PN coalition to constitute a government under dubious sworn affidavits.

In the final analysis, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong had the final say as who will form the government after the last general elections.

Muhyiddin should not be the proverbial “sour grape” simply because the government had slipped away from PN’s grasps.

If there is instability in the country today, perhaps Muhyiddin can do his part and restrain the PN coalition from going berserk over race and religion.

Is he prepared to do this? PN is part of the problem and not the solution. – June 29, 2023



Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the DAP state assemblyman for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.

UMNO sore losers, PKR new warriors

Malaysian Insider published an article 0-3 but Najib is hopeful, which gave us a glimpse of what we already know, the reason for UMNO money politics and why those who lost in party elections for important party positions would be the ones most likely to defect ...

... as in the case of Bota assemblyperson Nasarudin Hashim a member of Perak Umno who defected to PKR, as reported by Malaysiakini on Sunday.

The Malaysian Insider had written:

Every Umno president has been forced to “respect’’ the wishes of the 2,000 Umno delegates and reward successful candidates at party elections with Cabinet positions.

So it did not matter if you were corrupt, incompetent, average or a chauvinist. If you snared a senior party position, you were a shoo-in for a Cabinet seat.

Shaken by the results of Election 2008, Abdullah flirted with the idea of loading his Cabinet with at least four or five top Malay professionals.

He finally buckled to pressure from the party and only selected Amirsham A. Aziz and Zaid Ibrahim. He loaded the Cabinet with politicians, considered heavyweights in Umno but average by the rest of the country.

Najib has drawn up a list of credible individuals who have the brainpower and stature to be ministers but is already being told that he should not be too adventurous.

In short, stick to the old formula of promoting Umno politicians who bag the most number of votes at the party elections.

Tarnation, there's gold in them darn divisions' votes!

UMNO has become a monster that is eating itself up ... but unlike the story of Cronus eating up his children, UMNO is the story of its 'children' eating up the parent Party.

Malaysiakini reported that “...There had been talk that Nasaruddin might quit Umno after he lost in the contest for the division head post of Parit Umno, two months ago.”

But of course Anwar Ibrahim pretended it’s otherwise and claimed the Nasaruddin’s defection “... reflected the sentiments of his voters, namely the Malays in his constituency ... as the beginning of a new wave.”

One thing about Anwar, you can alway rely on him to make a grandoise case out of nothing more than a man who was a sore loser and who knows it would be most unlikely for him to be re-nominated as UMNO candidate for the Bota State seat in the next State elections because he didn't succeed in becoming Parit UMNO Div head.

Nasaruddin’s froggie stunt is no difference from that by another former UMNO man Zahar Hashim, who lost the bid in the now abandoned military helicopter deal. See my post Zahar Hashim - whistleblower or sour grape or frog?

In the post I wrote: Bloke has left UMNO to join PAS. He was the former division leader of Umno Petaling Jaya Selatan.

Would he be considered as a frog? kaytee opines a definite 'no' as Zahar doesn't hold any parliamentary or DUN seat.

One would only be considered a frog if one deceives the voters into voting for one's candidature as that from Party A, but subsequently absconding with that mandate to party B. Slimy deceitful a$$h()le.

So while Zahar wasn’t a frog, Nasarudin Hashim definitely is, because having won the Bota State seat under the UMNO banner he has taken the ADUN position over to another party.

But of course - as I believe, recalling only from memory thus apologies in case my memory has failed me - Haris Ibrahim wrote (words to the effect), just what sort of people do we think are frogs (quick, wash your hands) and may kaytee add, just what sort of party accepts such frogs - wakakaka!

UMNO accepts frogs, so does a splinter party of UMNO, namely PKR. The acorn sure as hell didn’t fall far from the oak tree.

But Anwar Ibrahim is jubilant, as he sees resurrected possibilities of his half-past-six 916.

In Malaysiakini report Don't be too sure, Perak MB tells Najib Perak MB Nizar Jamaluddin warned DPM Najib that there may be other BN state representative hopping across to Pakatan Rakyat.

Nizar virtually confirmed what I have written, that defectors haven’t been the noblest of pollies, as they looked after their own interests while hypocritically claiming they did it for their constituencies.

Nizar said there could be 3 more UMNO ADUNs, adding that the trio were disappointed with UMNO, stating:

"But it is only one of the reasons, as they were supposed to contest for the divisional chief posts (in the Umno divisional elections last October) but were ordered not to, while some lost in the elections. It was Umno's internal problem. Nasaruddin said his joining (PKR) was due to disappointment, internally."

;-) ain’t it always that way, all about the interests of numero uno.

Melaka Umno crisis stretches back to 2018, says insider

theVibes.com:

Melaka Umno crisis stretches back to 2018, says insider

Datuk Seri Idris Haron reportedly discontented by more than one decision by state leadership since GE14

Recently sacked by Umno for his role in the collapse of the Melaka government, Datuk Seri Idris Haron (pic) is said to be frustrated that he has been overlooked for several key appointments in the state, says party veteran Datuk Seri Kamal Amir Kamal Hijaz. – Bernama pic, October 9, 2021

KUALA LUMPUR – It appears the crisis within the Melaka Umno ranks, which led to the recent collapse of the state government, can be traced back to 2018 when the party held its polls, according to an insider.

Party veteran Datuk Seri Kamal Amir Kamal Hijaz said Datuk Seri Idris Haron, who was sacked by Umno earlier this week for his role in the crisis, was discontented by a number of decisions made by the leadership since the election.

Chiefly, Idris was supposedly frustrated that he was overlooked for a couple of key appointments in the state.

Kamal Amir said the first incident occurred in July 2018, when Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi – then freshly elected – appointed Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh to head Melaka Umno, replacing Idris.

“Idris wanted to keep his position as state liaison chief, so he was not satisfied when he wasn’t given the role,” he said today.

“But it has been Umno’s convention to appoint the state chairman from among division leaders. Idris, unfortunately, failed to defend his Tangga Batu division chief post.”

Idris’ defeat was among the biggest shocks during the Umno polls in June 2018, although he did successfully defend his Sg Udang seat during the general election a month earlier.

There have been speculations that money politics were involved to ensure Umno delegates did not vote for Idris for the Tangga Batu division chief position, with a rumour of a falling-out between him and Zahid swirling back then.

The transition of the Melaka government in March last year following the infamous Sheraton Move, which also saw a change in federal administration, further aggravated the tussle.

Kamal Amir said then, Idris, a former Melaka chief minister himself, was again left frustrated after the responsibility of leading the state was given to Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali.

Rauf, while he is the state Umno chairman and Tangga Batu division chief, is not an assemblyman, so he can’t be the chief minister. So, the position was instead given to Sulaiman, who is the secretary in Rauf’s Tangga Batu division. That didn’t please Idris one bit, and this led to the crisis we are seeing today. But in terms of party hierarchy, Sulaiman deserves the chief ministership more because at least he holds the position of division secretary.”

The Melaka Legislative Assembly was dissolved effective Monday after Idris led three other assemblymen to withdraw their support for Sulaiman, citing a loss of confidence over his handling of the government.

Idris and another Umno lawmaker – Datuk Nor Azman Hassan – were swiftly sacked by the party for their actions.

Rauf should take responsibility, too

However, Kamal Amir believes the two former Melaka reps should not be the only ones receiving their marching orders from the party, and that Rauf should similarly take the blame.

“First of all, I think the decision to announce the dissolution of the state assembly was done too hastily. Rauf, as Umno liaison chief, should be responsible.”

“He also overstepped his boundaries when he announced the dissolution. This should only be made by the chief minister or the governor.

“Finally, Rauf had been meeting Melaka DAP lawmakers to get their support when the crisis was first brewing in the state. So, I feel he deserves disciplinary action, too.”

Regardless, Kamal Amir said Idris’ decision to pull out his support for the state government could have been avoided had he sought the advice of Umno’s top leadership.

When pointed out that Idris had claimed that all channels within Umno had been blocked for him, Kamal Amir said he could still have aired his grievances through the media.

“Don’t be a sour grape. Whatever he said, his action (of withdrawing support for the chief minister) can be considered as a betrayal to the party, and so were Rauf’s actions.” – The Vibes, October 9, 2021

“Malaysia: Truly Asia” turns into Malaysia’s truly Michelle’s feud

“Malaysia: Truly Asia” turns into Malaysia’s truly Michelle’s feud

By Francis Yip





LATELY, I couldn’t help myself but to laugh at the feud between a journalist and an advertising man over Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh’s Oscar win. It is like watching a brawl between two little kids.

A celebrated Malaysian icon, Yeoh has been dragged into the quagmire of the famous “Malaysia: Truly Asia” advertising campaign. For those who are unaware, the advertising leader let his gloves off at the uncalled remarks of a journalist (-cum-actor) about Yeoh.

But in-between the bitter war of words, the ad man claimed the “Malaysia: Truly Asia” tagline was started by his agency. Of course, this didn’t bode well with the original creator of “Malaysia: Truly Asia” campaign, ISC International. Eventually, the agency released a media statement regarding this issue.

So, what’s next? Allow me to give my two cents of advice to all. Put the drama aside. Let us focus on the positive instead of nit-picking on Yeoh’s support to ex-premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak in the past. That is her right and choice – the same way you and I choose our support to party leaders whom we deem as worthy.

Michelle Yeoh in ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ which won her an Oscar (Pic credit: Everett)


Why let this became the spotlight? We should instead look at all the positive vibes Yeoh brought to us.

For instance, right after her Oscar win, the New York Times ran a letter written by Yeoh herself on the plight of war and earthquake victims? Yeoh is the United Nations (UN) Goodwill Ambassador and committed to helping the UN Development Programme to fight global poverty and inequality between men and women.

She didn’t forget her Malaysian roots and the country, Hong Kong, which gave her a leg up in her career. In fact, she constantly made donation to the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, amfAR, and even raised over US$2.75 mil for amfAR’s life-saving AIDS research programmes.

Her filial piety to her mother is undisputable and could be seen in her Oscar acceptance speech. If this is not enough to give her credits to who she is today, look at how many ribs and bones she needs to break before she broke the highest ceiling as the first Asian woman to win the Best Actress Oscar.

Forty years of sacrifice to the craft and her brilliant body of work is often praised by the best in show business.

So don’t be like a sour grape or that Ustaz who made a snide remark on Yeoh’s win, saying her win didn’t benefit Islam. Do we need such remark? Let us celebrate her Oscar win as an inspiration to us and as a Malaysian. If we have nothing good to say about her, say nothing at all. Peace to all.



Francis Yip is a fashionista and an award-winning writer and HRDF (Human Resource Development Fund)-accredited trainer. He is also the CEO of Franciswriter Dot Com and guest lecturer in The One Academy.

Is Lim Guan Eng 'communist-minded'?

Industry, thrift and self-control are not sought because they create wealth, but because they create character - Calvin Coolidge

The story of PKR is a sad one. Eons ago we were already aware it would turn out to be the weakest link in Pakatan Rakyat. Now, almost everyone, save the hard core members and the true believers, has acknowledged this truth. Anwar Ibrahim himself has also admitted to this some weeks ago.

The current crisis in Pakatan is that the implosion of PKR has led to significant collateral damage to the other component parties, both PAS and DAP. We have recently witnessed PKR’s Kulim Wonder savaging Khalid Samad and inexplicably, as if he was an UMNO member, reporting the latter to the police. Then we have PKR sour-grape Zahrain Hashim bad mouthing Lim Guan Eng, way over the top by grubbily labelling Lim as ‘communist-minded’.

The problem within PKR started with the expulsion of Anwar Ibrahim from UMNO. His followers left UMNO as well; some were true believers whilst others were just opportunists in his faction but were placed in untenable position with Anwar’s exit from the party. The more enterprising ‘survivors’ of this pack have managed to worm their way back into UMNO again, and one even managed to become a Minister in the inner cabinet wakakaka.

Nonetheless the core of PKR has been and is essentially made up of former UMNO members (note I didn’t use the term ‘ex UMNO’ wakakaka), people who had been indoctrinated with the UMNO-ish attitude and ‘expectation’.

Relax Kulim Wonder, I believe you’re from PAS so this doesn’t apply to you wakakaka.

I am not insulting all UMNO members but let’s be frank, many (though not all) UMNO members join the party to benefit from it – business opportunities, government contracts, official appointments, positions, etc.

This is what I mean by the ‘expectation’ of (most) UMNO members.

Many of those PKR members who were formerly from UMNO carried this ‘expectation’ across with them into KeADILan (predecessor to PKR). They had expected Anwar Ibrahim to be swiftly reinstated back into his rightful position as No 1 in UMNO.

Alas, their dream, hopes and indeed ‘expectation’ were well and truly screwed by Dr Mahathir and of course the other anti-Anwar factions in UMNO who successfully blocked out Anwar. I understand there were many in UMNO who were terrified of Anwar’s fierce and feral faction, so it won’t be surprising if they were the true architect behind Anwar’s downfall.

Anyway, KeADILan-PKR (excluding those well-meaning people from originally PRM who joined PKR) had only a single objective, to get Anwar back into power, preferably via UMNO or if necessary by their new party, of course in order for them to realize their ‘expectation’.

And that has been why many termed KeADILan as a single-issue party, namely, to get Anwar Ibrahim back into power. Gerakan Anti Najib (G.A.N) had been part and parcel of their manoeuvre, for between Anwar and the No 1 position (initially just No 2) in UMNO stood Najib Razak.

Then surprisingly, 08 March 08 happened - shock initially but followed swiftly by ecstatic jubilation. Even though it wasn't yet in full control of the federal government, a State here and there (and there were 3, Selangor, Perak and Penang – sorry, can’t touch those held by PAS) could partially, nay, actually substantially fulfill many of their (UMNO-ish) ‘expectation’.

This time it’s not Dr Mahathir who blocked their aspirations but blokes like Lim GE, Nizar and Khalid Ibrahim wakakaka!

Of course the cake goes to tight-assed Lim GE who won’t even countenance giving away State honours of datukship wakakaka, so how could he ever play footsies by rewarding Pakatan-PKR leaders with ‘guaranteed’ contracts.

Lim is like a Himalayan sadhu (ascetic) who has reincarnated into a Spartan-like accountant wakakaka, with a pedantic penchant for tightfisted proper accountability and transparency. He has a thrifty lifestyle like … well … almost like Mother Teresa and detests corruption, profligacy and wasteful spending and is so proper with his State ledger book that sometimes his staff scream … silently, wakakaka.

And on those rare occasions when he treated his staff out to dinner (with his personal allowance), he was said to go into a post-dinner traumatic shock for several days ;-).

If his frugal habits are deemed as communist-minded, wakakaka, then I have to concede maybe Lim is ;-)

Frugality may be termed the daughter of Prudence, the sister of Temperance, and the parent of Liberty - Samuel Johnson

It’s nothing personal, says Boo on call for Guan Eng to quit

It’s nothing personal, says Boo on call for Guan Eng to quit

Dr Boo Cheng Hau said he has been an ardent supporter of Lim Guan Eng for decades. (Facebook pic)


PETALING JAYA: Former Johor DAP chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau has reiterated his call for Lim Guan Eng to quit as party chairman pending disposal of his corruption cases in court, saying it is nothing personal.

He decried baseless attacks over his call, especially by party leaders, saying some were accusing him of being a sour grape over his loss at the recent party polls.

He said despite losing in the recent party polls, he would stick with DAP, just as he did in 2018 when he fell out of favour with DAP leaders after calling for those who had pending criminal charges not to contest in elections.

“This accusation (of not accepting the loss at the recent party polls) is absolutely absurd and baseless. Its purpose is to confuse the public and party members from the substance of the issues that I raised,” Boo said in a statement today.

He added that he had been an ardent supporter of Lim for decades, and even protested against his imprisonment for speaking up for the victim in a statutory rape case in the 1990s.

“Even though I had just joined DAP then, I stood up for him by organising many events, including ceramahs where police had a strong presence.”

Boo said, however, that the circumstances of the charge against Lim then was different to the graft charges he was facing now.

“As the most prominent leader in DAP, his corruption charges have adversely impacted DAP. That is why we have to face the public with honesty and rationality.

“Hence, I still insist that Lim should resign as chairman and free DAP from any adversity arising from his corruption charges,” he said.

Boo said it was the right thing to do for a leader charged with corruption to relinquish all posts until he cleared his reputation in court.

“This is in line with the party mentor’s (Lim Kit Siang) wish to achieve a world-class democracy,” he said.

Boo then challenged his critics and party leaders Teresa Kok, Lim Lip Eng and Howard Lee to refer him to the disciplinary committee if his statement had affected party interests and principles.

Likud & Hamas - an illict relationship

The Palestinians are about to have a monumental split, just what the Israeli doctor has ordered for the health of the Jewish nation.

While the legally elected government of Hamas has refused to recognise Israel, which I have gathered from several news sources, as a tactic to get the Israelis to move back to the 1967 borders, President Mahmoud Abbas (belonging to the rival opposition party Fatah) has ignored the constitutionally elected government by calling for a referendum on July 26. He wants the Palestinian people to vote on the question of recognition of Israel.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismael Haniyeh has warned the President that the referendum would cause a deep division among the Palestinian people that will take decades to overcome. Hamas MP Mushir Masri has dismissed the move as a sour grape coup attempt by Abbas and his Fatah faction.

"It is an attempt to create an uprising in the Palestinian lands and to move against what's legal. Moreover it's the announcement of a historic division and break amongst the Palestinian people and an escape from the reality of dialogue.”

"We are astonished at the attempt to recognise Israel and push people towards giving up their principles and rights."

But Abbas has been under enormous pressure from the Bush Administration to comply, that is, to force a de jure recognition of Israel over Hamas objection. Hamas is concerned that recognition of Israel at this stage will see the aggressive Israeli government refusing to move back to the 1967 borders as it had already indicated through its avowal to retain large Israeli settlements on Palestinian land in the West Bank, which unfortunately though not surprisingly has been approved by a biased President Bush.

The Israelis and their American sponsor, supporter and servant (all rolled into one) assessed that with a financially deprived Palestinian Authority, they would now find it easy to twist Abbas’ elbow into acceding to their bully boy tactics.

To be fair, Abbas is reasonably level headed and practical, but unfortunately he is not completely devoid of a conflict of interest because he is head of the Fatah party which lost the last election to Hamas. Obviously Abbas also wants to revive his party’s fortune, which had been viewed by Palestinians as corrupt and ineffective when compared to the clean and more caring Hamas.

And Americans and Israelis, particularly the former, just love to deal with corrupt Arab authorities. Money speaks, and the USA has money to shell out to brutal dictators like Saddam Hussein and a host of others stretching from South America across to Eastren Europe and the Middle East and right through to Asia.

When the US and Israelis intermittently released Palestinian tax revenue (collected by Israel at border points) and international funds to the Palestinian Authority they made much ado about such releases being made personally to President Abbas, to raise his stock among the Palestinian people.

Israel has also arranged for the supply of light weapons and ammunition to Abbas in order for him to cope with Hamas. It is only one of several surprise moves by both Israel and Abbas to isolate the ruling Hamas party. Amos Gilad, a senior Israeli defense official told Israel Radio:

"The arms supply will bolster Abbas in carrying out his brave decision to confront Hamas"

Not many people realise this, that it was Israel itself (or to be more precise, the Likud Party) which funded Hamas directly and indirectly over a period of years since the late 1970s. Several current and former US intelligence officials have confirmed this.

Tony Cordesman, one of the most experienced and reputable Middle East analysts for the Center for Strategic Studies said the Israelis had intended to use Hamas as a counterbalance to the PLO, Yasser Arafat’s Palestinian Liberation Organization.

A former senior CIA official said that Israel's support for Hamas was a direct attempt to divide and dilute support for a strong, secular PLO by using a competing religious alternative, just as Israel is doing the exact opposite today.

The Israel-based Institute for Counter Terrorism showed that Hamas was legally registered in Israel in 1978 by Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, the movement's spiritual leader, as an Islamic Association by the name Al-Mujamma al Islami.

Paul Joseph Watson of Prisonplanet.com said the “objectives of Hamas dovetail with those of the Likud, no settlement at all costs. Whenever the prospect of a workable peace settlement between the Israelis and Palestinians arises, Hamas or one of their offshoots blows a bus, restaurant or a hotel to pieces. This gives Israel the justification needed to scupper any agreement and further entrench their occupation of disputed lands."

"All the outsider sees is carnage, death and a mainstream media that spins the issue so that these atrocities somehow represent the wishes of the Palestinian people.”

Read Watson’s article here about the link between Likud Party and Hamas, and the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, the man who would have brought peace to the Israeli-Palestine conflict, and who could have been responsible for his murder.

Years later, after the Iranian revolution when Islamic movements drew strength from the example of their Iranian (albeit Shiite) brethren, and when the Shiite Hezbollah demonstrated that they were able to resist effectively against Israel, the Israeli saw their sponsored and supported creation, Hamas, growing into a more frightening opposition than Fatah. Last year Israel murdered Hamas spiritual leader, the quadriplegic Sheik by missile attacks.

If now, more Israelis suffer because of Hamas abandoning the ceasefire that it had voluntarily observed for a year, because of the unmitigated slaughter of innocent Paletsinians by Israeli artillery, they would only be reaping the evil of the satanic seed sown by their Likud Party.

Likud of course still hasn’t learnt because it has now switched its support to Fatah. But the Palestinians are equally stupid to allow themselves to be manipulated by the Israelis, though can you blame them when even the most powerful nation in the world obeys a tiny little country like Israel.

BN retained Sarawak, but DAP shines

Despite the Election Commission’s (EC) verdict (but % not revealed) of a disappointing turnout in the Sarawak State election, the opposition did as reasonably well as could be expected in an adverse environment of little (or even pro-BN) press publicity and limited resources.

Assuming what the EC said has been correct, poor turnout would usually spell disaster for opposition parties, while high voters’ participation in generally means the people has something to say about a ruling party. There have of course been exceptions to this rule. This must be one of them.

Anyway, as predicted the BN returns to power in Sarawak but with an opposition making a watershed breakthrough. Not surprising, the Chinese populace had something to say, at the expense of the SUPP and to the delight of the DAP.

Malaysiakini journalist Francis Paul commented that it has shaken the Sarawak political world for SUPP to lose four of its seats in Kuching to political novices from the DAP. The disastrous loss included the seats of two (former, if KTemoc may just add) assistant ministers and a mayor. Overall, the SUPP lost 8 of its 19 seats, almost a 50% collapse of its support.

Pending, Batu Lintang and the new seat of Kota Sentosa were supposed to be ‘safe’ (or blue-ribboned) seats for SUPP, which has been ‘untouchable’ in those constituencies for the past two decades or more. But then in the past two decades or more, the Chinese Malaysians have become more dissatisfied with their positions as citizens (they think, of sorts).

I suppose in Sarawak, with its residents' inherent ‘coolness’ towards the west, their disaffections have now manifested more quickly than would be the case with their western counterparts, into the DAP assuming a more significant presence in the State.

One of the SUPP losers has been Assistant Minister and Supp secretary general Sim Kheng Hui in Pending, the stronghold of his late uncle and former deputy chief minister Sim Kheng Hong. He lost the ‘family’s crown jewel’ to a DAP newcomer, 29-year-old Violet Yong. Hope she can become another Teresa Kok.

Another loss was in the Batu Lintang seat, virtually Chan Seng Khai’s fortress since 1991, but former Sarawak DAP strongman Sim Kwang Yang, standing this time as a SUPP candidate, was defeated there. Voon Lee Shan of the DAP did not just unseat him but pulverised him with more than a 3000-vote majority, demonstrating the feelings of that constituency.

The DAP won six seats in Kota Sentosa, Bukit Assek (whopping 4751 majority), Batu Lintang, Meradong, Pending and Kidurong. Good ole PKR got one, Padungan, of the 5 it had aimed for (better than nothing), while SNAP won in Engkilili.

Sour-grape Abdul Taib Mahmud said voters had fallen for the opposition ‘propaganda’. Well, haven't those who voted for the BN also fallen for the ruling party's more dodgy campaign tricks? But as overall winner he should still be happy while DCM George Chan, who took a potshot at Anwar Ibrahim on the oil royalty issue, must be still in shock.

Can the sweeping sea change reflected by the Sarawak voters’ disaffection with the BN see similar outcomes in the Peninsula? We need to bear in mind too that a major portion of the Chinese voters’ swing to the opposition had been due to the growing unpopularity of the CM. Then there is the Chinese Sarawakians’ unique sense of identity which certainly hasn’t’ help George Chan’s party.

Note: When I posted this in the early morning, me ole sleepy head included a number of grammatical errors, out-of-place words, and typos. Three hours later, after several black coffees, I have corrected them and also taken the opportunity to polish up some sentences including a couple of new insertions, but I have not altered the general contents. I won't correct the error in the title for now as it would affect the link in Petaling Street page.

Anwar Ibrahim Fallen?

Has Anwar Ibrahim run out of steam? Lately I notice he seems somewhat subdued and lacks his usual fiery persona.

Yes, the once-charismatic politician has been reduced to commenting on Proton’s future, and then, all he could say was some motherhood statements. Virtually everyone knows that for Proton to enhance its technological capability and marketing it needs an experienced and strong foreign partner to support it in quality control, research and development and competitiveness. One doesn’t have to be Anwar Ibrahim to know that.

And his call for an independent Commission of Inquiry on the Metramac affair has been pretty 'ordinary' and uninspiring. His bandwagon comments on contemporary issues seem to be obligatory rather than of ground breaking quality. Many have been disappointed to see him like so when they expected more from him. Perhaps their expectations have been too high?

Or is it just that they don’t find him politically that attractive anymore? His performance as one of Malaysia’s most powerful ‘persuader’ with his legendary oratorial skills had clearly made no impression on the voters of Pengkalan Pasir. In his campaign for Malaysia's Islamist Party, PAS, Anwar might have attracted the crowd there but not the votes. One gathers that the people of Pengkalan Pasir had just congregated to hear him more out of curiosity rather than political conviction.

Could it be that his clarion call for political reformation has lost its lustre because, after his release from prison and his return from medical treatment in Germany, he was perceived to be playing coy with UMNO? That would have infuriated many of his reformasi supporters [not those who left UMNO with him].

Those supporters had been dreaming of the political nirvana that would follow the reformation revival he was expected to ignite after his release from prison. In fact they had campaigned so ardently for his release. A perception that he might have wanted to return to UMNO would undoubtedly be the ultimate betrayal to the reformasi acolytes.

Could it be that his erstwhile supporters saw in his hesitation to politically commit himself as deft evasions to keep his options open? Did that perception congeal as he seemingly released his post-incarceration policies in a fashion like slow-release fertiliser pellets, as if to incrementally pressure a very silent and unresponsive UMNO into re-admitting him? Was he sending a message to his erstwhile compatriots in UMNO that they would be safer with him inside rather than outside? Perhaps even his campaigning for PAS in the recent by-election was viewed as one such tactic?

Would we be far off the mark if we speculate that all these perceptions would have greatly troubled his reformasi supporters? Could those niggling perceptions somehow remind them of his UMNO past? That, they recollected he left UMNO not willingly as a true reformer but rather as someone who fell on his political sword? That, he was one who was unwillingly and unhappily expelled? And that, in the final analysis, he is still an UMNO man at heart, wanting to return to the fold of political power? Would that have led them to review his call then for reformasi was nothing more than spiteful retaliation against his former colleagues, the expression of a sour grape? That, Hell hath no fury ........ ?

Or perhaps, his supernova popularity after his acrimonious expulsion from UMNO was in reality a pseudo-impression, a mirage of hope created by the illusory refraction from public abhorrence of Mahathir's reign? Was it then a case of rabid anti-Mahathirism rather than enthusiatic pro-Anwarism? And that, with Mahathir’s departure from the seat of power, the catalyst for favouring him has also been removed?

Or has his lack-lustre performance been due to his emotional weariness as he came to grips with realisation that his opponents have effectively shut him out from UMNO, away from meaningful political resurrection, marooned forever in a political wilderness like a Ku Li. If such has been his own realistic assessment, how could he ever realise then the expected triumphant and sweet return to the topmost echelon of power?

Anwar Ibrahim, post-incarceration, a rejected and dejected political messiah?

What a contrast between now and the scene at his house immediately after he was released from prison, where he majestically held court among fawning lieutenants, the very epicentre of power, jealously and zealously protected by his invigorated royal praetorian guards and his adoring supporters, and with none other than the Prime Minister's son-in-law, as an envoy from a subordinate State, paying him due homage [purportedly to hand-deliver a passport].

To paraphrase 2 Samuel 1:25,
"How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Anwar, thou wast [politically] slain in thine high places."

Fixed deposits? What interests?

Free Malaysia Today - Three vital states for Pakatan

Apparently, according to Chua Jui Meng and many others, the pivotal states for GE 13 are Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.

Najib Razak had previously declared the latter two, Sabah and Sarawak, as the BN's electoral 'fixed deposits', which ensure a solid bank of votes to see the UMNO-led coalition to victory in another federal election. Johor, the birth place of UMNO has hitherto been considered as also another 'fixed deposit'.

But after the March 2008 election, we saw a run on UMNO-BN's banks in these three UMNO blue ribbon strongholds, with the account holders possibly withdrawing the 'fixed deposits'. No doubt such a possibility and its likely consequences have sent UMNO into panic mode.


Before I get into the meat of this post (non-halal of course, otherwise how can I convince you to read it to the end, wakakaka), let me give you my personal take on the author of the FMT article mentioned above, CJM, wakakaka.


I can't find fault with his criticism of BN where he warned of UMNO-BN becoming even more corrupt, greedier and bolder if the 55-year old ruling coalition were to win again. Being a cultured person he of course didn't say stuff that kaytee would say, such as the BN leaders quipping "Look, those idiots are quite happy with us screwing them kau kau! Let's not disappoint them" (wakakaka).

However, I am reminded he was once in MCA, and while we shouldn't hold that against him as we shouldn't hold an UMNO past against Anwar, there are conditions for excusing his MCA background, equally as there would be for Anwar Ibrahim's UMNO lamentable track record.

Chua Jui Meng (CJM)

For CJM, his move to Pakatan would have been more credible (like Zaid Ibrahim's) if he had left when he was still in power, such as in a party or/and ministerial position, thus indicating his preparedness to sacrifice his power, position and privilege because of his repentance in being a part of an ineffectual MCA leadership or recognizing the BN's general poor performance in governance, transparency and accountability.

He only joined PKR after he lost his bid to be a deputy president of MCA, very much like another sour grape, Anwar Ibrahim, who crooned reformasi only after he was kicked out of UMNO but not while he was in that party for 16 years, ...

... unlike Zaid Ibrahim who voluntarily resigned from his ministerial post under the AAB government to leave UMNO so as to come over to Pakatan.

Zaid Ibrahim

Unfortunately for Zaid and us, he was manoeuvred out by a political pygmy who was terrified of his leadership potential in PKR.

OTOH, I respect Ong Tee Keat because despite losing to the Chua Soi Lek-Liow Tiong Lie team, he stayed true to the party he joined. Though I don't respect today's MCA, I still respect Ong TK, the man.

Thus I couldn't help chuckling when I read CJM's article in FMT titled Give MCA the boot wakakaka. Anyway, let's not dwell too long on CJM as we are stuck with him in Pakatan, though I would advise that he won't be MB of Johor even if Pakatan wins the state, because Salahuddin Ayub of PAS has been anointed for that post, wakakaka. 

Besides, we know HRH hasn't been too fond of CJM, wakakaka.

Salahuddin is currently MP for Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. But he has been instructed by the 2 Pak Hajis to return to his birthplace in Johor for ‘higher duties’, wakakaka. And DAP is no doubt backing PAS on this as it knows Johoreans are not ready yet, no, not even for a DAP Malay politician to politically head the state.

Salahuddin Ayub

One year ago I discussed the survey by Zentrum Future Studies think-tank which showed Chinese approval of Pakatan in Johor rose to 68% after the last election, and climbed further to 79% in 2010. These staggering stats, if they come about in GE-13, would effectively enable Pakatan to pick up 15 federal and 30 state seats in Johor, compared to 1 and 6 respectively on 08 March 2008. 

And Salahuddin Ayob will become the new Pakatan MB of Johor.

Could it be confirming the reliability of the Zentrum survey when rumours have it that our dearest Hishamuddin Hussein is likely to shift from his current seat of Sembrong to Kota Tinggi? And why should he consider such a move, assuming the rumours have been reliable?

Well, stats again, those damn stats, because 40% of the registered voters in the Sembrong federal constituency are Chinese, wakakaka.

And to make the forecast even shittier for our dearest Hisham, Professor Abu Hassan Hasbullah of Zentrum revealed that “… its end-of-year surveys [end of 2011] have seen Johor Chinese catch up with and possibly overtake their northern kin in terms of backing PR. Opposition leaders in the state estimate that they won 55 per cent of Chinese votes in the last election but ….. support from the community has surged to close to 90 per cent.”

90%! Oh, those bloody Chinese - no wonder Hisham likes to wave his keris and can you blame him, wakakaka.

Hishamuddin Hussein & his keris, Panca Warisan

The Prof described the massive political swing as a 'silent Tionghua revolution'.

The only smear on the beautiful Johor portrait for Pakatan is the innate rivalry between DAP and PKR where some sabotaging cannot be ruled out. There has been some very 'robust discussions' (wakakaka) between PKR and DAP over some seats, namely, Gelang Patah and Johor Jaya, both currently held by wakakaka, MCA. Alas, I'm not sure of the outcome of those 'robust discussions'.

Basically, PKR wants a monopoly on mixed ethnic constituencies (based on whatever nebulous basis it has claimed) while at the same has been avariciously eyeing the attractive DAP blue ribbon seats with Chinese majority. DAP which has traditionally contested in the latter type also wants a share of the far more numerous mixed constituencies, especially those which Pakatan hasn't hitherto contested.

We saw a perverted version of this in the last Sarawak state election where sore loser PKR groused about DAP staying safe in urban areas instead of venturing forth into rural constituencies, conveniently forgetting that it was PKR itself which unilaterally and preemptively grabbed 52 (subsequently 49) seats out of an available 71 in the Sarawak State election.

I wrote about the Sarawak debacle for PKR in May 2011 in a post PKR's green-eyed monster where I commented:

….. a disgraceful petulant sour grapes merajuking Baru Bian … told The Malaysian Insider PKR wants DAP and PAS to prove they’re multiracial, but obviously targeting the DAP.

He claimed that PKR “...wants its Pakatan Rakyat PR partners to contest in ‘black seats’ in the next general election and dismiss the notion that they cannot cross the racial divide.”

He also told reporters that PKR “... could not continue shouldering the burden of contesting in BN strongholds alone."

Shouldering the burden of contesting in BN strongholds alone? My bloody foot, don't make my toes laugh!

This is the state head of a party who pre-emptively grabbed 52 seats without even a thought for its coalition allies in an unrealistic expectation PKR could be the winning PR member with the majority of seats, with him as CM wakakaka.

Here’s a case of a greedy gluttonous grabbing beast which had refused to share and ate more than it could practically swallow, and now blames DAP for its tummy ache. Padan muka.

Baru Bian

Of course I would not be surprised if PKR has been singing a different tune in Johor where it sure as hell doesn't want DAP to contest in the so-called ‘black seats’, wakakaka.

Okay, let's move back to Sarawak. I wasn't surprised by CT Ali's article in FMT titled What comes first for Anwar? Besides, I can easily answer Ali's titled question, wakakaka.

Anyway Ali, pissed off with Anwar's wheeling and dealing with super-frog Lajim Ukin in Sabah, has been super pissed off with Anwar and Taib (yes, the Sarawak peh moh) 'holding each others' hands', wakakaka.

Anwar Ibrahim (l), Taib Mahmud (r)

Guess CJM has been right about Johor, Sabah and Sarawak representing the 3 vital states in GE-13 where principles, let alone the bullsh*t reforms, have been trampled upon virtually everyday.

Poor frustrated CT Ali wrote:

Saudara Anwar Ibrahim, let us recap. Pakatan’s agenda is to reform. It means to make changes in something (typically a social, political or economic institution or practice) in order to improve it. The operative words are “change” and “improve”.

I have watched with trepidation the opposition leader’s flirtation with Sabah’s veteran politician Lajim Ukin. I do not know Lajim as well as I know Anwar but yet I do know something of Lajim. [...]


And now it would seem that in Sarawak, Chief Minister Taib Mahmud and Anwar are also holding each other’s hands. Najib too is in there somewhere.

So now in Sarawak and in Sabah, everyone is holding on to each other, hanging on for their dear own political life.

They are quite understandably more preoccupied with their own comfort than the comfort and wellbeing of the people of Sabah and Sarawak. [...]


What about reforms? I do not have to pose this question to Lajim in Sabah or Taib in Sarawak because we know their political survival and personal fortunes depend on the deals they will make with the one first past the finishing line after the votes are counted in the 13th general election. They care not if it is BN or Pakatan.

Lajim and Taib have never promised us reforms. But Anwar has! He and Pakatan are where they are now because they promised us reforms.

They rode on a platform of reforms. They said they will implement reforms. Now pray tell me Anwar, how are you going to implement reforms when those that you are now building bridges with are Lajim and Taib?

If Lajim delivers Sabah’s 25 parliamentary seats and Taib delivers Sarawak 31 parliamentary seats to allow Pakatan to form federal government, what would be the quid pro quo for Lajim and Taib from Anwar?

Anwar, what comes first? The reformist agenda being touted by Pakatan or you being the prime minister courtesy of Lajim and Taib?

Interesting questions for Anwar, but would you believe that kaytee actually knows the answers? wakakaka.

But what "interests" will be for those 'fixed deposits'?