The farewell tour of MIC and MCA

The farewell tour of MIC and MCA



PAS Youth’s recent opposition to pop concerts is bizarre, coming after Billie Eilish had performed in KL. The pop megastar is as inoffensive as it comes. She doesn’t dress provocatively (not that it should matter, but it would to PAS Youth) and her lyrics don’t reference Islam or religion of any kind.

But yet, as we’ve come to expect, we get another ice cold take from PAS. Perhaps my rudimentary agama classes didn’t cover the part about Islam’s total opposition to rock music (which Billie Eilish is not, for all the boomers in the back).

It’s a bit of rhetoric that has been mocked roundly on social media and by opposition MPs. The criticisms largely centred on (as usual) the PAS attempts to police people’s liberties.

There were even suggestions that Jakim be involved in the organisation of concerts (if so, expect Fyre Fest with halal food).

But perhaps it isn’t PAS we should all be most disappointed about. After all, their role in politics has long been to peddle extreme Islamic policies, so this is par for the course. Instead, I’m most saddened by those who have failed to stand up for non-Malays and non-Muslims despite that being their only reason for existing.

I’m talking about MCA and MIC, once formidable forces that are now little more than bit-players on the political stage.

While the pair had always taken a back seat to Umno within Barisan Nasional, at least there was a time when they had some influence within the coalition. They were supposed to be the counterbalancing voice for Malaysia’s minorities in a bloc dominated by Umno, and for a time they did.



It should be them speaking up on behalf of the non-Malays, whose rights to live a life free of Islamic influence are being disrespected by PAS.

But now, with just three MPs between the two parties, BN could eject them from government and not lose power. The two parties know this, and as a result have shirked their responsibility to defend the views and needs of non-Malays.

If it’s ‘unIslamic’ to go to concerts, then surely Chinese and Indian-Malaysians should not be affected, with any (frankly needless) bans only applying to Malays.

When BN needed MCA and MIC decades ago to lend them multiracial credibility, the pair had leverage to speak out on issues and provide a non-Malay perspective on issues.

Now, however, the pair can’t afford to rock the boat, as they’ve lost their utility to Umno and are the most expendable parties in the current government setup. As much as Umno has bristled with its own allies, losing Bersatu or PAS would make a far bigger dent than losing either MCA or MIC.

And here’s where a cycle begins to emerge, one that the two parties will struggle to escape: they are too small to have leverage, and thus must try to toe the party line as much as possible and not bother the Malay majority.

But by not being vocal representatives of their constituents, the parties then alienate the very people who put them in power, thus providing voters the motivation to choose another party that represents their race and making these two parties even less relevant.

It’s hard to blame them: politics is a game of expediency anyway.

Staying in power or climbing the ladder of influence is nearly everyone’s top priority, even if most would vehemently deny that. So while their parties are withering, as long as those like Wee Ka Siong and M Saravanan are able to keep their ministerial positions, don’t expect either to have much to say.

I don’t know a single non-Malay who still believes in MCA and MIC.

Maybe my circle is too young; I’m sure if I polled the clubhouse at the Royal Selangor Club on a Sunday afternoon I might be able to find some holdouts. But by and large the two parties are spiralling towards irrelevancy. It won’t be long until Malaysia’s young voters forget about them completely.

Even now, ask any millenial or Gen-Z’er who the party is for non-Malays, and the answer will invariably be DAP. They’re the ones who are calling out PAS’ absurd and oppressive rhetoric. They’re the ones doing the job MCA and MIC always claimed to be responsible for: providing the Malay dominated government with balance and a different perspective.

It’s a long way back for MCA and MIC now. Becoming more credible champions of non-Malay issues risks upsetting the very Malay parties whose coat-tails they need to ride. Stay silent, and they slide further out of the spotlight.

Either way, it appears as though the entire premise for their existence – multiracial representation – will never truly be achieved, not as long as BN and the government is set up as currently constructed.

Or maybe I’ve got it all wrong and MCA and MIC just aren’t Billie Eilish fans? We’ll see if they’re willing to chime in when PAS invariably kicks up a fuss when they find out Black Pink are coming to town. I have my doubts.

Come organise concerts in Sabah, says CM’s aide

Come organise concerts in Sabah, says CM’s aide

Sabah chief minister’s political secretary, Ceasar Mandela Malakun, says concerts featuring international artistes are not a threat to the country.


PETALING JAYA: The Sabah chief minister’s political secretary, Ceasar Mandela Malakun, has urged concert organisers to choose the state as the venue to hold their events, saying that Sabah is “a land of music and songs”.

“Sabah welcomes concerts, including those that feature international artistes. We have hosted such events before and there has never been a problem,” said Mandela.


He rejected the notion that concerts featuring international artistes were a threat to the country.

“Threats are ideologies that can divide and destroy our long-standing racial and religious harmony,” he said in a statement.

Mandela said Sabahans were not likely to protest just because someone told them to do so, adding that they were peace-loving people.

“Besides, Sabahans are moderate people who live by common sense. We have been living in harmony despite being of different ethnicities and religions, and we have mutual respect,” he said.

He was responding to a warning by PAS Youth that there would be nationwide protests unless such scheduled events were cancelled.

Mandela said what Sabahans must continue to reject were ideologies that could destroy the unity in diversity that had been the state’s proud identity.


He said music and songs had universal power to unite people of all races and religions, as well as ethnic communities.

“Sabahans appreciate the value of music and songs because these are a part of every ethnic community and we pass them down from generation to generation.

“And what unites us is that songs and music from one ethnic community are appreciated and enjoyed by others. This is one of the trademarks of Sabahans,” he said.

PAS Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari recently called on the government to cancel scheduled concerts featuring international artists and warned that unless this was done, there would be nationwide protests.

He said these concerts encouraged hedonism and were incompatible with the norms and values of Muslim life in Malaysia.

PH against working with you, not just me, Rafizi tells Muhyiddin

PH against working with you, not just me, Rafizi tells Muhyiddin

Rafizi Ramli (left) says Muhyiddin Yassin has no qualms about accepting Umno MPs in Bersatu.


PETALING JAYA: PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has hit back at Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairman Muhyiddin Yassin for claiming that his resistance to working with PN was “just his personal opinion”.

“I’m the PKR deputy president and I’m the one sitting in the PH (Pakatan Harapan) presidential council, but he (Muhyiddin) is the one who knows what PH’s decisions are?” said Rafizi in a statement.


“The decision to put a full stop to any talk of collaboration with PN is one taken by the PH presidential council.

“PH has decided it will strengthen the coalition and enter GE15 (alone). Full stop.”

He said that while there may be discussions behind the scenes, any personal views of leaders from PH component parties would not affect the PH presidential council’s stance.

Muhyiddin yesterday played down Rafizi’s opposition to collaborate with PN at the next general election (GE15), stating that it was a proposal the opposition needed to consider.

At the PN convention on Saturday, Muhyiddin called for opposition parties to unite ahead of GE15 as he said it would be difficult to defeat “the main enemy”, Barisan Nasional, in multi-cornered contests.

Today, Rafizi said that while Muhyiddin had claimed that opposition parties needed to bring down BN, who Muhyiddin has accused of being corrupt, he had no qualms about accepting Umno MPs in Bersatu.


“It is better for Muhyiddin to openly state that PN wants to work with PH for personal interests and power, not for national interests,” he said.

“We may be young, but we are not stupid.”

PKR demands police investigate minister Dr Abdul Latiff over LCS scandal after Rafizi’s exposé

PKR demands police investigate minister Dr Abdul Latiff over LCS scandal after Rafizi’s exposé

Johor Baru MP Akmal Nasrullah Nasir speaks to reporters in front of the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur August 2, 2021. — Picture by Yusof Mat Isa

Tuesday, 30 Aug 2022 10:03 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — PKR has filed a police complaint demanding an investigation into minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad for purported involvement in the dubious procurement of six littoral combat ships (LCS) for the navy.

The party’s chief strategist Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir said it filed the complaint to initiate police investigation under the Penal Code for possible offences like abuse of power, criminal breach of trust, and bribery, Sinar Harian reported today.


“PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli has brought this to light and revealed all, along with the forensic audit report which named Abdul Latiff in the scandal.

“The minister's denial of his involvement as of today is only on Facebook, and comes without any solid proof of his non-involvement in the scandal,” Akmal was quoted as saying.


The report was filed at the Dang Wangi police headquarters yesterday.


The Johor Bahru MP said he hoped police would look into the money trail and suggested Dr Abdul Latiff declare his assets to aid in investigations.

Akmal added that a complaint will be filed with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission in Putrajaya this Thursday.

Dr Abdul Latiff, currently minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of special functions, was previously deputy defence minister from 2008 to 2013.

Rafizi, a former Pandan MP, claimed Dr Abdul Latiff to have married a woman named Zainab Mohd Salleh with vested interests in the LCS procurement deal.

He claimed Zainab was the owner of Alizes Marine Ltd and that the company was also named in the Panama Papers as well as the Paradise Papers, two controversial lists that were supposedly leaked and detailed how offshore companies were hiding money gained from illicit activities around the world.

The Bersatu politician has denied that the Zainab reported in the media as linked to the LCS scandal is his second wife, and challenged Rafizi to provide evidence that the woman in question was one of his wives.

PM Ismail Sabri denies pressure and sack threat from party top leadership at Umno’s weekend meet

PM Ismail Sabri denies pressure and sack threat from party top leadership at Umno’s weekend meet

Ismail Sabri maintained that there were no internal problems in Umno and played down differences of opinion as 'normal' and to be 'celebrated'. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Tuesday, 30 Aug 2022 12:28 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today denied that he had been threatened with expulsion from Umno if he refused to bow to demands from its supreme council to call for general election this year.

The Umno vice-president described the atmosphere at the Umno supreme council meeting last Saturday evening as mesra — Malay for friendly — even though he had been the target of jibes and jeers from Umno grassroots leaders who attended a special briefing with party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi earlier in the afternoon.


“No such thing,” he replied to reporters who asked him for comment that Umno had been pressuring him and that he would be sacked as vice-president and even expelled from the party if he did not comply with the top leadership’s wishes.

“Our discussion in the supreme council meeting was friendly. No issue. Sometimes, outsiders see differently,” he added after addressing civil servants at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre here.


He maintained that there were no internal problems in Umno and played down differences of opinion as “normal” and to be “celebrated”.


MORE TO COME

The ass-avarice of Ass-binte

theVibes.com:

Azmin opposed PH formation, insisted on being PM candidate, Nik Nazmi says in new book

Then Selangor menteri besar ‘very worried about losing PAS’, says PKR veep

In his latest book, Malaysian Son: a progressive’s political journey in the heart of Southeast Asia, a mid-career memoir published by Penguin Books, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad writes that those within PKR who opposed the formation of Pakatan Harapan believed that retaining Selangor in the opposition’s hands could only happen by maintaining political cooperation in PAS. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, August 30, 2022


KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Azmin Ali had outright opposed the formation of Pakatan Harapan, three years before the coalition led its historic election win in 2018, Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has revealed in his new book.


Nik Nazmi, who is now PKR vice-president, said in September 2015, the party’s then-president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had steered a discussion between opposition parties and civil society to form PH, but some quarters felt that winning federal power was so remote that focus should be on retaining Selangor, which was then led by Azmin, who was then the state’s menteri besar.

Nik Nazmi said that those within PKR who opposed the formation of PH believed that retaining Selangor in the opposition’s hands could only happen by maintaining political cooperation in PAS.

However, Nik Nazmi said his faction had felt that the opposition was not at risk of losing Selangor to BN, and that it could focus on taking Putrajaya.

“Within PKR, debate over the direction we should take heated up.

“Two weeks after the launch of PH, almost half of the PKR Central Leadership Council that were aligned to deputy president Azmin Ali called for a meeting to review the formation of PH,” Nik Nazmi said.


“They argued that the president was only mandated to discuss, but not launch a new coalition.”

The 40-year-old Nik Nazmi said this in his latest book, Malaysian Son: a progressive’s political journey in the heart of Southeast Asia, a mid-career memoir published by Penguin Books.

The book, which was released on August 19, is available in selected bookstores such as Kinokuniya and e-commerce sites, including Amazon.

Speaking to The Vibes about the contents of his new book, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic) said Datuk Seri Azmin Ali was among a large group of people who did not believe Pakatan Harapan could win the 14th general election. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, August 30, 2022


In the book, Nik Nazmi said Dr Wan Azizah had ended the meeting asking for the council to give her the mandate to form an alliance with other opposition parties.

“(Dr) Wan Azizah showed her steel and resolve that people often underestimated,” Nik Nazmi, who was formerly an exco when Azmin led Selangor, said.

Speaking to The Vibes about the contents of the book, Nik Nazmi said Azmin was among a large group of people who did not believe PH could win the 14th general election.

“We had Pakatan Rakyat before (PH), which was PAS, DAP and PKR.

“When Pakatan Rakyat collapsed, the (Selangor) government was still able to continue (as an administration), as long as the three parties agreed to work together...but Azmin was very worried about losing PAS,” Nik Nazmi said of the leader, who played a pivotal role in the infamous Sheraton Move leading to the fall of the PH government in 2020.

“For Azmin, he did not think that we would win Putrajaya, and the only way he can remain as Selangor MB is through an understanding with PAS.”

‘Azmin wanted to be PM’

In the book, Nik Nazmi recounted PH holding its convention in January 2018, where it was announced that 92-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the coalition’s candidate to become the seventh PM of Malaysia, while Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was in prison at the time, was Dr Mahathir’s successor.

He said the convention saw PH’s leaders pledging for the release of Anwar and playing an active role in government before replacing Dr Mahathir, if the coalition won the polls.

The convention also agreed that Dr Wan Azizah would be deputy prime minister, and that Bersatu, the coalition’s newest partner, would get the lion’s share of seats contested.

“But the convention faced various dramas, the main one being a group of PKR delegates loyal to Azmin Ali walking out of the convention upon the announcement that (Dr) Mahathir would be our PM candidate,” Nik Nazmi said.

“They demanded that Azmin should be PH’s candidate for either the PM or the DPM role.”

In his book, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (pic) recounted Pakatan Harapan holding its convention in January 2018, where it was announced that 92-year-old Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the coalition’s candidate to become the seventh prime minister of Malaysia, while Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was in prison at the time, was Dr Mahathir’s successor. – SAIRIEN NAFIS/The Vibes pic, August 30, 2022


Nik Nazmi, who was PKR’s youth chief at the time, had chaired a meeting with the wing not long before the convention, where a straw poll that was conducted saw Dr Mahathir come first, while Azmin trailed far behind.

“However, members of the Azmin faction who were there took a photo of the poll to claim that (Dr) Mahathir and Azmin were the PH Youth’s top two candidates for PM.”

Asked whether he believed Azmin was “entitled” to demand a top government post as he was PKR’s number two leader, Nik Nazmi replied in the negative.


“No one should be entitled to posts in that sense, but the other problem with Azmin was that he wasn’t even a believer in the Pakatan Harapan cause in the first place,” Nik Nazmi said.

“So you can’t turn around and say, ‘Now I want to be prime minister or deputy prime minister in PH’.

“He was putting all sorts of blocks in place, and there’s nothing wrong in revealing this, because I’ve mentioned this before and recorded it in the book…The convention was organised in a hall owned by the state’s government-linked company, but he made it so difficult for us to organise the convention.”

“I think there was no confidence of trust with Azmin, not only from the non-Azmin faction in PKR but also with the PH partners that he would honour, being such a sceptic of PH.

“So to put him either as number one or number two candidate for the country coming from PH, I think it would have been unworkable.” – The Vibes, August 30, 2022

Judge says won’t be dictated to on which cases to prioritise after Zahid’s defence raises prosecution letter in court

Judge says won’t be dictated to on which cases to prioritise after Zahid’s defence raises prosecution letter in court

Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is pictured at the Kuala Lumpur High Court August 30, 2022. — Picture by Hari Anggara

Tuesday, 30 Aug 2022 11:10 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Trial judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah emphatically said that he will not be dictated to on what cases to prioritise after a letter from the prosecution in connection with Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial was shared on the internet.

At the start of hearing this morning, lead defence lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told Sequerah that the prosecution office had sent a letter dated August 29 to the High Court judge seeking priority for Zahid’s case.


But immediately, deputy public prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob said his team had been “instructed to retract the letter we sent yesterday, so there's no such application anymore” and apologised.

Hisyam interjected, saying the letter could be interpreted as pressuring the judge “to finish the case as fast as possible”.


After listening to both sides, Sequerah indicated that Zahid’s trial should continue.


“In any way, the court will proceed on dates already fixed, and I don't think the court can be dictated as to what case to hear, what case not to hear, which case to give priority, which case not to prioritise.

“It’s the prerogative of the court, so the court will proceed with the dates fixed,” the judge said.

Defence lawyer Hamidi Mohd Noh then stepped up to re-examine Ahmad Zahid.

Today marks the 17th day that Ahmad Zahid is testifying as the first defence witness.

Ahmad Zahid ― who is also a former home minister and Umno president ― is facing 47 charges, namely 12 counts of criminal breach of trust in relation to RM31 million charitable foundation Yayasan Akalbudi’s funds, 27 counts of money-laundering, and eight counts of bribery charges over RM21.25 million of alleged bribes.

MORE TO COME

NEW SCANDAL??? Zahid's case prioritised? Umno man wants AG to answer

Zahid's case prioritised? Umno man wants AG to answer


Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii has urged the attorney-general to explain a letter purportedly asking for Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s corruption trial to be given priority.

He questioned why the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) was in a hurry to dispose of the case.

“What hidden motive is the AGC trying to bring into fruition? Why doesn’t this happen to other cases like the one against (DAP chairperson) Lim Guan Eng and others?

“I urge the attorney-general himself to answer this to all Malaysians,” Razlan (above) said in a statement last night.

He was referring to a letter dated yesterday that was circulating online.

It was purportedly addressed to the trial judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah and was signed by the case’s prosecutor Abdul Malik Ayob on the attorney-general’s behalf.

In the letter, Abdul Malik purportedly wrote that he was instructed to request that the court prioritise Zahid’s case over the 1MDB trial against former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Sequerah is the Kuala Lumpur High Court judge presiding over both cases.

“This application is made to allow the case’s hearing, which is now in the defence stage, to be concluded as soon as possible,” the letter reads.

Malaysiakini is unable to verify the authenticity of the purported letter independently but has contacted Attorney-General Idrus Harun for comment.

The incident comes as the judiciary and the AGC came under severe criticism from Umno over the past few weeks, over what it sees as unfairness in a number of high-profile cases involving its leaders and associates.

In addition, there have been two instances where court documents in these cases have made their way into the public.

The first was the draft judgment for Najib’s appeal in the SRC International case, which the court said was a “modified” draft.

The other was alleged to be the draft judgment for Rosmah Mansor’s corruption trial, but according to the police, the court said the document was merely a reference document for the judge that will be amended as the trial goes on.

BN win less likely the longer GE15 delayed, says analyst

BN win less likely the longer GE15 delayed, says analyst

Najib Razak’s imprisonment, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s criminal trials and the troubled RM9 billion LCS project are seen as stumbling blocks for Barisan Nasional. (Bernama pic)


PETALING JAYA: Barisan Nasional’s chances at the 15th general election will not be affected even if Pakatan Harapan and Perikatan Nasional fail to forge an alliance, an analyst said.

Rather, the coalition was less likely to win if the nationwide polls were delayed, Azmil Tayeb of Universiti Sains Malaysia said.


He said the slim chance of PH and PN cooperating had no bearing on BN’s electoral prospects given that Najib Razak’s incarceration, BN chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s ongoing court case and the troubled RM9 billion littoral combat ship (LCS) project presented a bigger stumbling block for the coalition.

“BN is quickly losing its advantage and momentum gained from recent state elections,” he told FMT.


“Najib’s imprisonment, Zahid’s court cases and the LCS scandal are weakening the coalition’s support.”

Azmil was commenting on whether PH and PN’s failure to cooperate would give BN an advantage in GE15.

Yesterday, PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said PH would not cooperate with PN in GE15.

PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin had said during the coalition’s convention on Saturday that it was open to the idea of teaming up with other parties to face BN in GE15 as it would be difficult to defeat “the main enemy” in multi-cornered fights.


Azmil said PN was likely to lose out more than PH if the two coalitions failed to cooperate, as PH had a solid base of supporters in urban and semi-urban areas while PN, namely Bersatu and PAS, had to face multi-cornered contests in Malay-majority areas against Umno.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) associate professor Anantha Raman Govindasamy said BN continued to have a slight edge over its rivals as seen in the recent state elections.

“PN and PH failed to galvanise the support of semi-rural and rural Malays, whose votes are crucial,” he said. “While PH can win in urban seats, it will face a difficult time competing against Umno in semi rural and rural areas.”

Anantha added that BN, PH and PN all had their loyal supporters whose votes could be counted on, whether the election was held this year or next year. How each coalition sought to garner the support of new voters and fence sitters would ultimately decide the winners, he said.

“While BN has a slight advantage now, things can change very quickly in an election.”

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who is an Umno vice-president, has remained evasive on whether GE15 will be brought forward.

The election date had been widely speculated to be as early as November, fuelled by the government’s announcement that the 2023 budget would be tabled on Oct 7, three weeks earlier than previously scheduled.

Parliament’s term ends next July and the general election must be held by Sept 16 next year, but some Umno leaders have pressed for it to be called this year following convincing BN victories in recent state elections.

Toppling BN is against PAS’ Malay-Muslim spirit, says Khairuddin

Toppling BN is against PAS’ Malay-Muslim spirit, says Khairuddin

Khairuddin Aman Razali says if PAS chooses to make Umno its enemy, the two largest Malay-Muslim parties in the country will continue to clash ‘for the next few decades’.


PETALING JAYA: Bersatu’s intention to work with other parties to ensure Umno and Barisan Nasional are defeated in the next general election (GE15) is not in line with PAS’ spirit of Malay-Muslim cooperation, says a former leader in the Islamic party.

Kuala Nerus MP Khairuddin Aman Razali pointed out that the PAS Syura Council previously decided that the party’s direction was to ensure Pakatan Harapan was defeated at the polls.


If this goal has shifted towards defeating BN by cooperating with PH, he told FMT, this was an about-turn from the council’s decision.

“It’s up to PAS if that has become its new direction, but that’s not in the spirit of the Malay-Muslim cooperation that the majority of the Muslims in this country want,” he said.

Khairuddin, who is a former secretary of the syura council, also reminded PAS leaders that the spirit of its pact with Umno under Muafakat Nasional (MN) was to topple PH, which he said failed to govern well in its 22 months in power.

He said that if PAS chooses to make Umno its enemy, the two largest Malay-Muslim parties in the country will continue to clash for the next few decades.

During Perikatan Nasional’s national convention on Saturday, PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin said it was open to teaming up with other parties in GE15 as it would be difficult to defeat BN, which he dubbed “the main enemy”.

While PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli maintained that PH will not cooperate with PN in GE15, Muhyiddin dismissed this as the former Pandan MP’s personal opinion.

PN comprises Bersatu, PAS, Gerakan, Parti Solidariti Tanah Airku (STAR) and the Sabah Progressive Party. Except for Bersatu and PAS, the other three parties represent non-Muslims.

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kt comments:

If Malaysia's electoral process is diminished into a competition between "Malays versus the Nons" it'll be a sad day for our nation, thus such declarations by Khairuddin is just the same as the evil wicked bigoted utterance of Mahathir in his address to the Malay Dignity Congress, rousing hatred and disdain for the Malaysian citizens Mamak described as "orang asing" but who are true blue citizens, as much as, if not more than, mamak migrants from Kerala.

I like to re-produce an old post (17 Oct 2021) below for your perusal:

“Unremorseful Dr M continues with his Malays vs non-Malays poppycock”

By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy

In a recent interview, two-times former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the preferential treatment for the Bumiputera community must continue because they are not competitive as opposed to the Chinese.

According to him, the Chinese, given their long civilisational strength, can compete and prosper under most extreme conditions. However, the Malays are unable to compete with the more robust Chinese.

Given this, it was necessary to continue the preferential treatment for the Malays until such time that they will be on par with the Chinese.

Looking back to history, this was the same argument used decades ago to defend the introduction of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and Mahathir is just parroting the same statement.

all billionaires - they should teach Malays their business skills

He also dismissed the idea of a need-based policy that would address poverty across the country’s population’ whether Malays, Chinese or Indians.

And his justification against a need-based policy makes no sense at all. In fact, one could not be faulted if they come to a conclusion that Mahathir still thinks the Chinese and Indians are foreigners.

It is clear that Mahathir’s justification for a need-based policy is premised on racial ground; that the Malays being the indigenous people, conveniently forgetting the Orang Asli community, need special attention.

Dr Mahathir Mohamad's remarks on how the Malays were forced to accept orang asing (foreigners) during British rule in exchange for independence is downright insulting and unbecoming of a prime minister who represents all Malaysians, said DAP lawmaker Ramkarpal Singh.

Ramkarpal was referring to the prime minister's speech at the Malay Dignity Congress, where Mahathir said:

“... Orang asing berasa selesa dengan negara kita dan mereka ingin tinggal di sini. Nak tak nak pun, kita terpaksa terima, kalau tidak kita tidak akan mencapai kemerdekaan.”

(Translation of above: The foreigners felt comfortable in this country and wanted to stay. Like it or not, we were forced to accept or we would not have achieved independence)

Mahathir's "orang asing" or "foreigners" refer to non-Malay Malaysian citizens (to wit, Chinese and Indian Malaysians)

But my question is very simple, which had also been asked many times by others without getting proper answer: Why after so many decades of preferential treatment in place, with different prime ministers, the Government had yet to make NEP a success among the Malays?

Back to Mahathir, the nonagenarian conveniently forgot to mention that the NEP has been hijacked by the politically connected elites; pushing the poor Malays further into doldrums.

Mahathir cannot deny the fact that politicians associated with UMNO, a party he led once for 22 years, had reaped immense material benefits using the NEP, including his own family members.

Besides, it is not that his children and their families are paupers, who are badly in need of a preferential treatment. It is not the families and children of the politicians succeeded through hard work and in competition with the Chinese or others.

And to hide the exploitation of NEP by the elites, the latter added a racial and supremacist ideology to the “superstructure”, to maintain a facade of Chinese exploitation of the Malays.

The elites keep ordinary Malays poor

In actual fact, the Malay elites were the ones exploiting ordinary Malays; keeping the latter as a “buffer” against any attempt to dismantle the corrupt status-quo.

But the sad truth was not able to sink in among the masses due to lack of alternative ideas on political mobilisation.

The racial ideology of UMNO and its enablers were too strong to be diluted and defeated. The greedy enrichment process of the Malay elites was a continuous one. This is the reason why NEP was never given an expiry date!

The tenacity of the racial ideology and why it was maintained at the cost of deep divisions in the society was related to the non-stop “leeching” process by the elites.

When such a process was impeded by some external events, new measures will be introduced to ensure the exclusive extraction process is not interrupted. The attempt to increase the Bumiputera equity to 51% in the freight forwarding businesses is one example.

As for Mahathir, he is no innocent bystander in the scheme of things. In fact, he was one of the chief perpetrators of the system that gave preferential treatment to the political elite in the name of addressing the special needs of the poor Malays.

He also diverted the Malay minds into thinking that the Chinese ad Indians were their enemies, which is not only wrong but dangerous to our multicultural society.

But Mahathir is unrepented despite being in his late 90s. He continued with his lies and unfortunately, there are some segment in the society who still believes him.

Mahathir continues to sing the old song. There might be some who are foolishly willing to listen. Nevertheless, it is tragic that his bigoted and outdated views are still being recycled by the press now and then. – Oct 17, 2021



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

Najib’s SRC lawyer Hisyam says Malaysian Bar president’s remarks ‘highly defamatory’, hints he may sue

Najib’s SRC lawyer Hisyam says Malaysian Bar president’s remarks ‘highly defamatory’, hints he may sue

Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik speaks to the media at the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya on August 23, 2022. — Picture by Shafwan Zaidon

Tuesday, 30 Aug 2022 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 30 — Lawyer Datuk Hisyam Teh Poh Teik today indicated he might file a defamation lawsuit against Malaysian Bar president Karen Cheah Yee Lynn over her remarks about him in relation to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC International appeal.

In a statement provided to Malay Mail, Teh said Cheah “will be hearing from me as well”.


“Her press release of August 19, 2022 has attacked me and my legal team in the strongest of terms, a stance that is both mischievous and highly defamatory.

“She will have to justify her condemnation in a court of law,” Teh said in the statement.


Teh’s statement comes just a day after it was reported that Najib’s former legal team for the SRC case had sent a legal letter to demand for an apology from Cheah.


Previously, lawyer Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah and his law firm Shafee & Co had represented Najib since July 2018 when he was charged over the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds and had also been his lawyer throughout his trial at the High Court and at his appeal at the Court of Appeal.

Shafee’s law firm initially prepared for Najib’s final appeal for the SRC case at the Federal Court, but he had on July 25 discharged Shafee and his law firm.

Najib instead on July 26 officially hired former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim’s law firm Zaid Ibrahim Suflan TH Liew & Partners (ZIST) as his lawyers for the SRC case.

The lawyers officially on record for Najib’s legal team in the final SRC appeal then became ZIST’s Liew Teck Huat and Rueben Mathiavaranam as the solicitors and Hisyam, who is from his own law firm Hisyam Teh.

The new team of lawyers wanted the Federal Court to postpone the SRC appeal hearing due to the change of the entire legal team and as they wanted more time to prepare for the case.

But after the Federal Court on August 16 refused to allow Najib’s legal team’s request to postpone the hearing of the final SRC appeal which had already been scheduled four months ago, Najib on August 19 abruptly discharged ZIST from acting as his solicitors.

On August 18, the Federal Court had also decided against allowing Hisyam to discharge himself as Najib’s counsel and he remained on record as the lawyer for Najib in the final SRC appeal.

After hearing the prosecution’s oral submissions and with Hisyam choosing to rely on Shafee’s written submissions at the Court of Appeal stage without adding on further submissions, the Federal Court on August 23 upheld Najib’s conviction and jail sentence and RM210 million fine in the SRC case.

On August 19, Cheah had on behalf of the Malaysian Bar issued a press statement, which touched on Najib’s final SRC appeal hearing and had suggested that his lawyers had allegedly conducted themselves unprofessionally in handling the case and suggested they may have to face disciplinary action.

Among other things, Cheah had highlighted that the Legal Profession (Practice and Etiquette) Rules 1978 requires new lawyers who take over a case to only accept the case if they are reasonably certain of being able to appear on the hearing dates fixed by the court and to make all efforts to be ready for trial on the day fixed.

Yesterday, it was reported that ZIST had on August 26 issued a letter of demand to Cheah.

In the letter issued on behalf of Zaid, Liew and Rueben, the law firm had referred to Cheah’s August 19 statement and said the statements were defamatory against the three lawyers — who were formerly acting for Najib in the SRC case.

The legal letter had also demanded that Cheah publish a full and unequivocal retraction and apology, and that she give an undertaking to not to repeat the same or similar words, and to pay compensation to them.

The legal letter by the law firm had given Cheah seven days to respond and said that it would otherwise initiate legal proceedings against her.

PKR would rather lose GE15 than work with Perikatan

PKR would rather lose GE15 than work with Perikatan




Rafizi Ramli

Written by TheMole


SEREMBAN — Aug. 29, 2022: PKR deputy president Rafizi Ramli said his party would prefer to lose in the 15th general election than cooperate with Perikatan Nasional.

“Win or lose is a different story…. we want to defend our idealism,” he remarked after a PKR event here last night.

His reasoning is that if PKR’s intention to cooperate with Perikatan is only to defeat Barisan Nasional, then it would only later on create an unstable government.

Rafizi said Pakatan Harapan had also made the same decision during the coalition’s leadership meeting last Wednesday.

Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said that his coalition would welcome cooperation with other parties, including Perikatan, to defeat Barisan.

Muhyiddin reminded that Pribumi Bersatu, which he leads, was part of the Perikatan coalition which defeated Barisan in the previous general elections in May 2018.

Pribumi Bersatu however pulled out of Pakatan 22 months later, causing the collapse of the government. Muhyiddin then set up Perikatan and became the country’s 8th prime minister.

Muhyiddin insists only PKR’s Rafizi against cooperating with Perikatan

Muhyiddin insists only PKR’s Rafizi against cooperating with Perikatan

National Recovery Council Chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin speaks to the press after chairing the National Recovery Council meeting at the Ministry of Finance in Putrajaya August 29, 2022. — Picture by Sayuti Zainudin

Monday, 29 Aug 2022 7:45 PM MYT


PUTRAJAYA, Aug 29 — Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) would work with any party except Barisan Nasional, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said today after PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli insisted Pakatan Harapan would reject such a cooperation for the 15th general election.

kt comments: Did Moox2 imply PH (DAP and Anwar) will be willing to work with PN? Are they that "tai-seow"? (blardy stupid)

Muhyiddin said Bersatu and the Perikatan Nasional coalition’s main concern was to prevent the same abuses from Barisan Nasional’s rule and ensure the country was politically stable.


The former prime minister also insisted that Rafizi’s rejection was simply the latter’s own opinion.

“This isn’t my concern, it’s the public’s concerns. So, are you thinking about your party or are you thinking about yourself,” he asked Rafizi after chairing the National Recovery Council (MPN) meeting in Putrajaya today.


“I know the citizens want us to unite, not with the Opposition, but other parties so we can offer something better to the people come the next general election. So, if he says no-go, then no-go for him; for me, I look at it from a different perspective. I don’t want the same things that destroyed our country to happen again.


“I don’t want the same rotten things to keep repeating itself like misappropriating public funds, loss of assets, abuse of power, abusing and not respecting the judiciary, challenging the prime minister, asking for the attorney general to be changed, unhappiness with judges’ decisions; I mean, what on earth is all this?

“It is important at this stage to think about the country first. If you feel this is important, we can sit down after all we can have a cup of coffee and if, in the end, we still disagree, it’s OK,” he said.

Rafizi dismissed talk of cooperation after participating in the Jelajah Trak Ayuh Malaysia programme at Tuanku Abdul Rahman Stadium, Paroi last night.

He said that PKR as the backbone of PH adhered to the principle of a coalition that involves all races in the country, and if the intention to cooperate with PN was only to defeat BN, it would create an unstable government.

PRU15 sebelum Disember, PM beri komitmen bukan tahun depan, kata Tok Mat

PRU15 sebelum Disember, PM beri komitmen bukan tahun depan, kata Tok Mat

Timbalan Presiden Umno Mohamad Hasan mendakwa RU15 akan diadakan sebelum Disember.


PETALING JAYA: Timbalan Presiden Umno Mohamad Hasan berkata pilihan raya umum ke-15 (PRU15) akan diadakan tahun ini memandangkan Perdana Menteri Ismail Sabri Yaakob sudah memberi komitmen tidak akan melaksanakannya tahun depan.

Mohamad berkata, cuma perdana menteri tidak boleh memaklumkan bila tarikh pilihan raya akan diadakan.


“Pilihan raya umum sudah tidak lama, perdana menteri sudah bagi komitmennya, tapi dia tak boleh bagi tarikh…takkan dia hendak bagi tarikh sehingga dia terpaksa kata takkan saya hendak bawa tahun depan.

“Jadi, jelas sangatlah, jelas pilihan raya tahun ini. Kalau pilihan raya umum tahun ini takkan hendak buat bulan 12, nanti orang berenang pula pergi mengundi. Bulan 12 di Pahang bukan calang-calang banjir.


“Jadi, itu jangka masa yang kita perlu perhatikan betul-betul, gerak kerja kita, kita buat sebelum bulan 12,” katanya menurut Utusan Malaysia.

Mohamad yang lebih dikenali sebagai Tok Mat berkata, Barisan Nasional (BN) perlu memastikan parti itu menang PRU15 kerana pilihan raya kali ini akan menentukan soal hidup dan mati parti tersebut.

“Di Pahang, Insya-Allah hidup, tapi kita perlu menang juga di peringkat pusat. Jangan nanti kita perlu lagi menyembah orang, lihat kerajaan pada hari ini yang mana kita terpaksa menyembah orang untuk membentuk kerajaan.

“Untuk membentuk kerajaan yang mantap dan stabil, kita mesti mampu bentuk kerajaan sendiri,” katanya.


Beliau dalam pada itu menegaskan, BN telah pun membuat keputusan parti tersebut akan bersendirian dalam menghadapi PRU15.

Menurutnya, walaupun ada pihak yang masih “bergesel-gesel” untuk bersama BN, namun parti itu diminta jangan tergoda atau termakan pujuk rayu tersebut.

“Takkan selalu kita hendak kena tipu, berapa kali kita hendak kena tipu?” soalnya.

From prison cell, ex-PM Najib says still calm and in good health

From prison cell, ex-PM Najib says still calm and in good health

Jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak waves to his supporters as he leaves the Kuala Lumpur Court Complex in Kuala Lumpur August 25, 2022. — Picture by Firdaus Latif

Monday, 29 Aug 2022 5:26 PM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 29 — After six nights in prison, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he was well in a Facebook post today.

Today is Najib’s seventh day in Kajang prison. He is the first former prime minister in Malaysia to be imprisoned.


In a brief post in Malay on his Facebook page this afternoon, Najib wrote that his daughter Nooryana Najwa — whom he called “Gina” — had told him that many were asking how he was doing.

“For now, I am healthy, well, calm. Alhamdulillah,” he wrote, using the Arabic term for “Praise be to Allah”.


“I have the opportunity to meet my lawyer and family according to the permitted time,” he said, adding that he asked about the latest developments while also discussing about court matters.


Najib did not identify the lawyers or family members he was able to meet while in prison.

He added that he also spent a lot of his time writing down his views and giving them to either his lawyer or family to be shared with the public, and said there might be some delay in having his views shared out but noted that this was all he could do.

Najib has been in prison since the Federal Court’s August 23 ruling, where a panel of five judges unanimously decided to uphold his conviction, RM210 million fine and 12-year prison sentence for embezzling RM42 million belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Apart from the SRC case, Najib is also facing four other criminal trials, including two that have yet to start.

Since his imprisonment on August 23, Najib has been brought out from prison twice to attend two of his ongoing criminal trials. He was sighted wearing suit and tie on those two occasions.

Najib was brought out on August 25 for his trial involving 25 charges over the misappropriation of RM2.28 billion of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds, with those spotted in the Kuala Lumpur court complex on that day being his daughter Nooryana, his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and his son Norashman.

On that day, he managed to wave to a small group of about 15 supporters out of a car window in the prison convoy transporting him back to prison.

Najib was also brought out on August 26 to attend his power abuse trial involving his alleged instructions to make changes to the auditor-general’s audit report on 1MDB. On that day, Rosmah, Norashman, and Najib’s son Datuk Mohd Nizar Najib were also seen in court.

The next time when Najib is scheduled to be brought out to attend his criminal trial will be four days from now or on September 2, when the trial over the alleged tampering of the 1MDB audit report resumes.

PN is the logical conclusion to corruption of BN

PN is the logical conclusion to corruption of BN

S Thayaparan


"Past experience teaches us that a political culture surrounded by corrupt practices is a destructive evil.“

– Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin

COMMENT | Perikatan Nasional (PN) chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin who was a beneficiary of treachery in declaring war on Umno/BN claimed that PN and BN were “as far apart as heaven and earth", which is true in the sense that PN is the nadir of the mythical social contract that Malaysians have had to live with for decades.

BN always believed that it needed a fig leaf of non-Malay participation in government and paid lip service to the idea that Malaysia was a diverse country with equal participation for all.

PN, on the other hand, with a virulent PAS in play, is the apex of the ketuanan ideology, bankrupt of ideas, disguising its entitlement programmes as populist moves for “the people”, which really means for the Malays.

PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, when discussing the fallout from former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s incarceration, pointed to the fact that some of those cheering his jailing were as corrupt as Najib.

This, of course, points to the reality that public institutions did not bring down Najib but rather elements in the Malay political establishment led by the once Machiavellian – now merely addled – Dr Mahathir Mohamad and a grasping opposition brought down the former prime minister after, which they spectacularly blew up.

Muhyiddin likes to play the honest leader card but the reality is that he is a prime minister who declared a faux emergency just to remain in power.

Leading up to the “emergency”, the PN government attempted to soothe the frayed nerves of the public by claiming that this was not really an emergency but rather something else that was like, but not really, an emergency.

Malaysiakini columnist Syahredzan Johan astutely pointed out that even the royal institution was concerned about the possible abuse of political power in the first attempt at an emergency:

“The word membatasi was the only one to be highlighted in red in the statement. The other words were printed in black. This statement is significant as it suggests that the rulers were of the view that there could be elements of abuse of power in an emergency and that the Agong's role is to ensure that executive powers are not abused.”

Subversion, then usurpation

PAS meanwhile attempts to subvert the democratic guardrails in this country using the political chaos as a smokescreen to advance fascist policies.

I have no idea why some folks are so dismissive of PAS which is not only criminally naïve but also indicative of the kind of partisanship that will result in the death of democracy by a thousand cuts.

PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang


PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang understands that he will be vilified by non-Malays, but he also knows that when it comes to actual policymaking, his rhetoric and that of his base will have a profound impact, even though politically in terms of representation, PAS may be negligible, especially in the federal government.

Like most extremists in a democratic structure, their goal, in the beginning, is subversion and then usurpation.

In 2019, Kelantan deputy menteri besar said the state has managed to be graft-free since PAS took over its administration in 1990.

Of course, the numerous reports about corruption, especially illegal logging, land grabs and other municipal malfeasance, are ignored by the menteri besar because (in the reality created by PAS) corruption is only something others do and not the religious party (PAS) whose members believe that they are ordained by God to impose Islamic superiority in this country.

Add to this a religious bureaucracy which reinforces PAS' narratives, we are left with a large chunk of the voting public immune to rational argument.

The other chunk is blinded by partisan fervour and rational people have to choose between the two.

Keep in mind that the PAS ulama wing even went so far as to defy the Selangor sultan in the Bon Odori fiasco.

PAS ulama wing chief Ahmad Yahaya did three things when he dismissed the sultan’s claims about the festival.

First, he publicly disagreed with the head of the religion of a state thereby implying that the sultan is not fluent in religious dogma - and thereby challenging the words of the Selangor state ruler.

Second, he encourages, one could even argue, ferment rebellion by asking the religious apparatus in all states to further investigate the Bon Odori festival, thereby bypassing the words of the sultan and establishing a narrative that the final arbiter of what is Islamic in this country is not the sultan but rather the religious bureaucracy.

Third, and this is the most troubling, is that Ahmad goes a step further and encourages Muslims not to attend the festival on religious grounds, thereby going against the words of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah who, in this context, was essentially taking the middle ground.

Hence middle ground politics is more vulnerable to political extremist insurgencies, and since there are no real bulwarks, middle ground political operatives are left to fend for themselves.

Reforms of public institutions

The fact that Bersatu is successfully waging a war of attrition on Umno vote banks, and the reality that there are Umno political operatives who support Bersatu in the hopes of leveraging said support to carry out their own political agendas, demonstrates that far from being a wounded beast, the mainstream political establishment is making plays which would redefine the political and social landscape of this country.

No political operatives from either PN or BN are willing to carry out reforms of our public institutions to give back power to the people.

The opposition is foolish to use the jailing of Najib and the actions of the Federal Court as some sort of talisman to keep the darkness at bay, narcotising its base into believing that the system will ultimately prevail.

Do not for one moment think that the system is holding.

The reality is that Malay uber alles political operatives have slain more Malay sacred cows in their quest for political hegemony and the fact that we do not have an opposition which is a strong secular alternative makes the situation even more precarious.

The opposition should make use of the fact that the Malay uber alles cartels have slayed all these sacred cows, instead of attempting a retreat to the status quo.

To save Malaysia, Harapan should be willing to burn corrupt, extremist bridges.

Make no mistake, the coming general elections brought upon by feuding elements in the Malay political establishment will determine if this country remains a somewhat secular democracy or whether it will slip into a theocratic failed state.

This remains the state of play.



S THAYAPARAN is Commander (Rtd) of the Royal Malaysian Navy. Fīat jūstitia ruat cælum - “Let justice be done though the heavens fall.”

Ramasamy doubts Hadi will be charged over “roots of corruption” remark

Ramasamy doubts Hadi will be charged over “roots of corruption” remark




DAP Penang deputy chairman Prof P. Ramasamy has expressed doubt that PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang will be charged over his “blatantly racist and insensitive” claim that non-Muslims and non-Bumiputeras are the “roots of corruption” in Malaysia.

However, he said he hopes he will be proven wrong.

“There is an unhealthy trend in this country: racist and religious attacks against non-Malays do not get the same level of consideration as attacks against the Malays, their ethnicity or religion,” Ramasamy said in a statement today.

The Penang deputy chief minister II added that the police investigation might just be a “public relations exercise” to show that they are investigating the case and cool down the “ethnic temperature”.

In any case, whichever way Hadi wants to “twist and turn”, his remark was “certainly a racist and extremist one” and the Marang MP must now face the music, Ramasamy said.

Prof P. Ramasamy (pic credit: MalayMail)


Last Saturday (Aug 20), Hadi said corruption must be eradicated in a holistic manner, calling it a “disease” and labelling those who commit graft as “sinners”.

“These groups who chase illicit gains are the ones who eventually control the economy,” he claimed. “They then damage our politics as they are the roots for corruption, and the majority of them are non-Muslims and non-Bumiputras.”

After much public anger and police reports being lodged against Hadi over his inflammatory and unsubstantiated remarks, Bukit Aman’s Classified Crime Investigation Department (CCID) is now probing him on the matter.

Hadi will also be summoned to Bukit Aman for questioning under Section 505 (c) of the Penal Code for issuing statements likely to incite the public and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or services.

In a statement last night (Aug 28), Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) corporate communications chief ACP A Skandaguru said 28 police reports have been made over Hadi’s remarks so far.

He urged the public to be more careful about issues that touch on religious and racial sensitivities and which can threaten social harmony, saying “strict action” will be taken against any party that affects public order and national security.

“Nobody above the law”

Despite Hadi and other “racist” politicians “thinking and acting as though they are above the law” because they hold positions in the Government, Ramasamy said nobody is above the law.

“If Hadi can get away with this racist remark, then it will merely embolden others to engage in extreme forms of ethnic and religious aspersions (as) there is nothing to stop them from doing so,” the Perai assemblyman warned, noting that the remark came from a sitting MP and party leader.

Branding the non-Malays as the “source of corruption” also goes beyond any decent political discourse that is permissible in a civilised society, he said.

“As it is, there are enough racial and religious problems,” Ramasamy added. “The country certainly does not self-serving politicians like Hadi to complicate matters.”

He also said if the police investigation against Hadi is merely going to be an “eye-wash”, then public confidence in the police to act without fear or favour will be shaken up. Therefore, they must do the right thing.

“Just as the country’s judiciary had enhanced its reputation by acting without fear or favour in endorsing the conviction of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the police must be firm in putting a stop to those who use race and religion for their narrow-minded objectives.”

Calls have also been made for Hadi to be sacked as the country’s special envoy to the Middle East, which comes with ministerial status.

The Global Human Rights Federation, which has been calling out Hadi’s remarks since day one, yesterday called for Hadi to be investigated for sedition, adding that the party should be dissolved on the basis of their “extremist ideologies”. – Aug 29, 2022

Umno Youth defends Azalina over remarks on AG

Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki says Pakatan Harapan appointed several of its people to key government positions.


PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki has defended party colleague Azalina Othman Said after she drew criticism over her veiled dig at the prime minister for retaining Idrus Harun as the attorney-general (AG).

Asyraf said Pakatan Harapan (PH) had also appointed its own attorney-general, Tommy Thomas, when it came to power in May 2018.


In a Facebook post, he said PH even appointed a former PKR leader, Latheefa Koya, to head the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Asyraf also pointed out that shortly after PH came into power, then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had reportedly “called in” the chief justice at the time, Mohamed Raus Sharif, for a meeting.


He said the head of the now-defunct Council of Eminent Persons (CEP), Daim Zainuddin, had met Raus and then Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.

Raus and Zulkefli resigned from their posts on June 7, 2018.

Asyraf said DAP had lobbied for Richard Malanjun to be appointed chief justice in 2018, which was criticised by another former CJ, Abdul Hamid Mohamad.

“(Malanjun) later retired (in April 2019) and campaigned for PH and Warisan in the Sabah state election in 2020, and had even gone on stage with Lim Guan Eng for a political ceramah,” he said.


“So, do PH and Bersih still dare to call on others to respect the attorney-general’s position and the judiciary?”

On Saturday, Azalina, a former law minister, said whoever became prime minister would usually appoint “one of their own” to become the AG, a post which came with wide-ranging powers.

Idrus was appointed AG after Muhyiddin Yassin took office as the eighth prime minister.

Bersatu vice-president Radzi Jidin said Azalina’s remarks were proof that Umno and Barisan Nasional had made civil servants follow their wishes while they were in power.

Meanwhile, Bersih chairman Thomas Fann said he was puzzled and disappointed with Azalina’s remarks yesterday about appointing an attorney-general.

Fann said Azalina had apparently changed her stance from her previous position of wishing to separate the roles of the attorney-general as legal adviser to the government and his concurrent role as the public prosecutor. She had also spoken previously about not interfering with matters of the court.

DAP’s Beruas MP Ngeh Koo Ham also expressed shock over Azalina’s comments, construing it to mean that the prime minister should appoint an AG who would act according to his wishes.

Ngeh also called for Azalina to resign as the prime minister’s special adviser for law and human rights.