In Malaysiakini news article Syed Husin: We can't trust the police, we are informed that Anwar Ibrahim has refused a request to give a DNA sample. He fears the police could fiddle around with the sample to incriminate him.
The government is less sympathetic, accusing him of not cooperating. PM AAB said the police needed a fresh DNA sample for their investigation because the one taken in 1998 was too old.
The PM said: "If he is not guilty, why worry about giving a new DNA sample. If he is indeed innocent, there is nothing for him to fear."
The government even offered him his own choice of a foreign forensic expert but his lawyer R. Sivarasa said Anwar Ibrahim will not agree to that proposal, as the question of police fiddling remains a possibility.
In another Malaysiakini article Dr M: Sodomy again? Gov't not so stupid, Dr Mahathir reminded us that Anwar had also refused to swear on the Quran in front of religious authorities, unlike his alleged victim, Saiful Bukhari Azlan.
We recall that Anwar had instead resorted to the syariah court, complaining that he was defamed by Saiful in a qazaf case which will require Saiful to produce at least four male witnesses to the sodomy allegation, or Saiful will be in deep trouble.
In Parliament a couple of days ago, Mukhriz Mahathir had “… slammed Pakatan Rakyat MPs for insisting on more stringent standards of evidence as contained in Islamic laws for accusations of sexual violations”, alluding to the impossibility of having four male witnesses to the alleged sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim, and that a DNA sampling should be more preferable and fair to all parties.
Mukhriz said: “There are leaders over there who are demanding for four witnesses (to the alleged act of sodomy). How can there be four witnesses? They would have sinned if they saw the commission of the act but did not do anything to stop it!”
That earned him an outraged rebuke from Charles Santiago who demanded of him: “Are you challenging Islam?”
Dr M argued that if the AAB government (whom he actually doesn’t like) wanted to ‘fix’ Anwar up, it wouldn’t be that idiotic as to use sodomy as a cause. He believed that the sodomy allegations came about because it has been true.
He revealed that “the last time” there were at least two people (at least?) who went to see him claiming they were sodomised by Anwar.
He averred: "But they were unwilling to make a report or be witnesses in court. One of them, however, did see the imam of Masjid Negara (Taib Azimuddin, now a PAS MP) to seek advice on the religious angle."
Maybe the good Haji could either refute or confirm what Dr Mahathir has revealed? And where necessary, the Quran could be the silent arbitrator.
Dr Mahathir twisted the knife deeper by sneering: "There are certain habits which are not easy to be rid off. Habitual smokers will tell you that. So will drug addicts."
Then Mahathir explained why his enemy, the AAB government will face international opposition to the police case against Anwar.
He said Anwar can be convincing in his arguments especially with those who want to believe in him.
"The Western press has already concluded that this accusation against Anwar is the same old political plot to prevent him from becoming the prime minister.”
"The last time it was I who was the prime mover. (Prime Minister) Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi) has denied he is involved this time, but the Western press and the American friends of Anwar will not be convinced and will not let him get off the hook."
A couple of days ago I so happened to read a letter to an Aussie newspaper asking the Australian government to sanction Malaysia because the Malaysian authorities were resorting to the same sodomy bullsh*t to deny Anwar Ibrahim the democratic rights to legally take over as the Prime Minister.
The Aussie letter writer was certainly a step ahead of Dr Syed Husin who had only claimed the same conspiracy but conceded that Anwar ‘will’ soon take over the government, whereas the Australian letter writer sincerely believed Anwar’s party had already won the last general election, and AAB was denying him the rightful and legal political claim to government.
Hmmm, maybe Dr Mahathir has a point in that “those who want to believe in him” will do so.
I wonder whether that letter writer is also a ‘fellow enthusiast’ of Shakespeare as Anwar had (last year) informed Aussies he was.
To DNA, or not to DNA, that is the Question:
Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer
The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune,
Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles
Friday, July 18, 2008
Racism well & truly alive in Parliament
Note the wordings in the headlines of Malaysiakini news article Another shouting match over racism in the House!
Yes, that’s right, it says “Another …….. over racism in … House” ;-)
No worries, racism is still well and truly alive, as a matter of fact, kicking quite vigorously too.
What happened started with Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the PM's Department, announcing that non-bumiputeras are entitled to JPA (Public Service Department) scholarships.
Knowing that the word ‘entitled’ doesn’t mean much unless it’s spelt out in fine print, my heroine, sweetie Fong Po Kuan, asked precisely for that – namely, what’s the quota of the JPA scholarships for each ethnic group.
‘Quotas’ are very important as we all know – we are still trying to achieve 30% economic equity for bumiputeras.
Two years ago it went up to 45% and then, subjected to strong gravitational 'forces', plummeted down to 19%; in fact the figure porpoised for a fair while - see Bumi Equity - a Never Ending Story - with various figures in between including a 2002 university study by Dr M Fazilah, in which she pronounced:
“Nevertheless, the percentage of corporate equity owned by bumiputeras fluctuated between 16 percent in 1999 to 22 percent in 1995 and reached the NEP target only in 1997.”
That’s right, Dr Fazilah said: Bumi equity surpassed 30% TEN YEARS ago
Anyway, back to Parliament, otherwise known as the Monkey House.
At this stage (when Fong asked for more details about the ethnic share of the JPA scholarships) Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Umno-Pasir Salak) stood up and shouted: "The constitution is clear on bumiputera rights and we can't compromise that. No more compromises!"
Huh? I didn't realize the Constitution mentions JPA scholarships?
After the furore died down with the session over, a Tajuddin outside the House (no, he didn’t silat Kulasegaran), defended his verbal assaults on Kulasegaran. He said: "I'm not racist.”
Yes, that’s right, it says “Another …….. over racism in … House” ;-)
No worries, racism is still well and truly alive, as a matter of fact, kicking quite vigorously too.
What happened started with Nazri Abdul Aziz, the Minister in the PM's Department, announcing that non-bumiputeras are entitled to JPA (Public Service Department) scholarships.
Knowing that the word ‘entitled’ doesn’t mean much unless it’s spelt out in fine print, my heroine, sweetie Fong Po Kuan, asked precisely for that – namely, what’s the quota of the JPA scholarships for each ethnic group.
‘Quotas’ are very important as we all know – we are still trying to achieve 30% economic equity for bumiputeras.
Two years ago it went up to 45% and then, subjected to strong gravitational 'forces', plummeted down to 19%; in fact the figure porpoised for a fair while - see Bumi Equity - a Never Ending Story - with various figures in between including a 2002 university study by Dr M Fazilah, in which she pronounced:
“Nevertheless, the percentage of corporate equity owned by bumiputeras fluctuated between 16 percent in 1999 to 22 percent in 1995 and reached the NEP target only in 1997.”
That’s right, Dr Fazilah said: Bumi equity surpassed 30% TEN YEARS ago
Anyway, back to Parliament, otherwise known as the Monkey House.
At this stage (when Fong asked for more details about the ethnic share of the JPA scholarships) Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Umno-Pasir Salak) stood up and shouted: "The constitution is clear on bumiputera rights and we can't compromise that. No more compromises!"
Huh? I didn't realize the Constitution mentions JPA scholarships?
So all hell broke loose with the inevitable shouts of racism ringing loud across the so-called august House wakakaka.
Tajuddin then condemned the government’s new policy on the JPA scholarships as a ‘populist’ decision but obviously to him, not a ‘popular’ one.
Despite several DAP MPs protesting, Tajuddin was unrepentant, shouting: "This is Malay rights. I have met several cabinet ministers and they agreed me with me that scholarships should only be reserved for Malays. There should be no compromises!”
Tajuddin then condemned the government’s new policy on the JPA scholarships as a ‘populist’ decision but obviously to him, not a ‘popular’ one.
Despite several DAP MPs protesting, Tajuddin was unrepentant, shouting: "This is Malay rights. I have met several cabinet ministers and they agreed me with me that scholarships should only be reserved for Malays. There should be no compromises!”
Hmmm, no longer bumiputera rights? Only Malay rights?
Kulasegaran interjected: “This is racist!”
Tajuddin retorted: "You shut up! You shut up! I have children studying in England, Ireland and Australia and they have no scholarships. But I want rural Malays and lower income groups - even in Sabah and Sarawak - to get scholarships, like what is said in the constitution!”
Tajuddin retorted: "You shut up! You shut up! I have children studying in England, Ireland and Australia and they have no scholarships. But I want rural Malays and lower income groups - even in Sabah and Sarawak - to get scholarships, like what is said in the constitution!”
He sounded like some comments on my blog, I mean the 'shut up' bit ;-)
Kulasegaran: “In Pasir Salak, are there no Chinese and Indians?”
… perhaps implying that in the next election, the Chinese and Indians should not vote for Tajuddin.
Maybe Tajuddin panicked leow and resorted to hitting below the belt by labelling Kulasegaran a Hindraf supporter.
He shouted: “You think you are so smart? Penyokong Hindraf! Penyokong Hindraf! (Hindraf supporter! Hindraf supporter!) Anti-Malaysia.”
Then the man who thinks 50-year old women are no longer good enough for men to have ‘fun’ with, dear Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) said: “I support the Chinese and Indian communities. For them, set up foundations. But what’s written in the constitution is that the right to scholarships are only for Malays and bumiputera.”
;-) this bloke sure wants his cake and eat it as well. But we notice that apart from intimate knowledge on the age of women to have fun with, he's also another constitutional expert.
… by which time it was obvious House deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee had lost control of the Monkey House (hmmm, I wonder whether he was engrossed in playing sudoka under the speaker's desk?), because anak jantan Tajuddin challenged Kulasegaran to settle the issue outside the hall.
Kulasegaran: “In Pasir Salak, are there no Chinese and Indians?”
… perhaps implying that in the next election, the Chinese and Indians should not vote for Tajuddin.
Maybe Tajuddin panicked leow and resorted to hitting below the belt by labelling Kulasegaran a Hindraf supporter.
He shouted: “You think you are so smart? Penyokong Hindraf! Penyokong Hindraf! (Hindraf supporter! Hindraf supporter!) Anti-Malaysia.”
Then the man who thinks 50-year old women are no longer good enough for men to have ‘fun’ with, dear Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) said: “I support the Chinese and Indian communities. For them, set up foundations. But what’s written in the constitution is that the right to scholarships are only for Malays and bumiputera.”
;-) this bloke sure wants his cake and eat it as well. But we notice that apart from intimate knowledge on the age of women to have fun with, he's also another constitutional expert.
… by which time it was obvious House deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee had lost control of the Monkey House (hmmm, I wonder whether he was engrossed in playing sudoka under the speaker's desk?), because anak jantan Tajuddin challenged Kulasegaran to settle the issue outside the hall.
After the furore died down with the session over, a Tajuddin outside the House (no, he didn’t silat Kulasegaran), defended his verbal assaults on Kulasegaran. He said: "I'm not racist.”
Now, who would have thought he was - wakakaka
Continuing: “I've stated it before, if you want to help the non-Malay students, especially those who are doing well in their studies, by all means do it. But why not do it in such a way that is not at the expense of bumiputera students because if we do that, we will fail in our national integration and unity."
Continuing: “I've stated it before, if you want to help the non-Malay students, especially those who are doing well in their studies, by all means do it. But why not do it in such a way that is not at the expense of bumiputera students because if we do that, we will fail in our national integration and unity."
'National integration and unity' by marginalising non-Malay ethnic groups, especially the much marginalized Indians?
But my Penang larng Chong Eng opined: "Pasir Salak is racist. He is defending a racist policy. On the other hand, we are opposing a racist policy and yet we are called racists."
And cutie Fong said that racist remarks in the House have gotten worse in recent times, saying: “He (Tajuddin) speaks as though his constituency is 100 percent Malay. He speaks as though non-Malays are non-existent in this country. When you get elected, you should speak for everyone.”
Aiyah, I have arrived at the end of my post and forgotten to include a certain someone ;-)
See photo below for the true Maha-Dewa (he's walking last, in the place of honour!) wakakaka
And cutie Fong said that racist remarks in the House have gotten worse in recent times, saying: “He (Tajuddin) speaks as though his constituency is 100 percent Malay. He speaks as though non-Malays are non-existent in this country. When you get elected, you should speak for everyone.”
Aiyah, I have arrived at the end of my post and forgotten to include a certain someone ;-)
See photo below for the true Maha-Dewa (he's walking last, in the place of honour!) wakakaka
source unknown - from an email circulating now
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Anwar Ibrahim & the police - from black eye to bad back!
One of my saddest experiences on the web was when my good matey Chris lambasted me for being allegedly happy with the police arrest of Anwar Ibrahim in my post Arresting Anwar Ibrahim - Game of brinksmanship?
Even he, with whom I had shared a few many jokes against SIL in happier years, condemned me for going too far in my ‘hatred’ for Anwar.
I just wonder for the life of me how that post could be read to convey my alleged ‘hatred’? If I may remind readers I had also predicted:
"No charge has yet been laid against him and it may well be that the police will be forced to release him after 24 hours – unless of course …….. something develops."
Well, hasn’t my prediction been true as proven by Malaysiakini news Anwar freed on police bail?
Unsurprisingly, the police had f* up somewhat – two things sprang to mind:
(1) They kept Anwar overnight – was that necessary?
This gives credence to Anwar’s claim that it was a vindictive action against him because he had lodged a police report against the AG and the IGP over his treatment during his original trial – see Malaysiakini news article Overnight detention a case of 'vendetta'!
Anwar enlarged his claim to embrace a host of police actions against him, as if there was no sodomy allegation lodged by Saiful Azlan against him.
He averred: "It appears that the events of the last few days, the nature of my unwarranted arrest, my overnight incarceration which was actually absolutely unnecessary, were an act of personal vengeance against me. They should not use this as a personal vendetta against me."
If you had read the pro Anwar supporters, even that of my good matey Chris, you would be able to tell, that to them, as far as the person of Anwar was/is concerned, Anwar can do no wrong, somewhat similar to the UMNO ‘close-one-eye’ case – so really, what's the difference?
… hmmm, theirs have been a behaviour succinctly explained in an article by Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) titled The cult called PKR, where he wrote:
"That is the trouble with PKR. They dabble in cult personalities. When you are the current hot favourite, the flavour of the day, even your fart smells sweet ... "
"The PKR crowd is one emotional group of people. I suspect that if Anwar was to order them to commit mass suicide they might just do so."
How true!
Some don’t even bother to read what I had actually written in my posts before they came out swinging to get me, as an example, like Mr Phua Kai Lit ;-)
Now, did the police have a right to arrest him the way they did?
Anwar's supporters stated that the police, in arresting Anwar at 1 pm, had acted in bad faith by not giving the man a reasonable chance of a whole hour before the deadline of 2 pm.
They argued that there was nothing to say he should have gone straight from the ACA office to the police station. His return from Putrajaya to Bukit Segambut didn’t mean he couldn’t get back to the police station in Putrajaya by 2 pm. There was plenty of time for him to do just that.
In fact the Star reported Anwar saying the same thing:
He also took to task Federal CID director commissioner Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin for telling Malaysians a "blatant lie" by saying that they had the reason to believe that Anwar was not going to show up at the police headquarters at 2pm on Wednesday as promised.
"I gave my commitment that I would come. My lawyer had just spoken to DSP Jude Pereira at 12.45pm and assured him that I would show up on time," he said, adding that he was ambushed 5 minutes after that call.
Anwar said he was going home for a quick lunch after which he planned to proceed to the police headquarters.
But of course neither he nor his supporters mention the fact that he failed to turn up on Monday as he had promised earlier. This fact was not considered by his supporters.
In my post Arresting Anwar Ibrahim - Game of brinksmanship? I had blogged:
"He merajuk by claiming that the police had acted unprofessionally in 'intimidating and harassing' his staff and family while attempting to serve an order under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Sunday."
"I didn't buy his bullsh*t because the police had to do so, ie. serve that order ....."
In blatantly refusing to turn up at the police station on Monday as he promised, he had (either unwittingly or deliberately) transmitted to the police the message of “C’mon, lai lah, ayo mari lah, come catch me if you dare!”
Many had viewed that defiance as a game of brinksmanship.
Yes, I know our police are nasty bastards but in this case it was not the police who had first acted in bad faith. It was Anwar Ibrahim who made them lose faith in his ‘promise to turn up’!
No doubt police hormones were flying - anak jantan, anak jati and anak jambalaya, I think they were out to get him, to show him that he had to front up, no matter who he is.
In a way Anwar had been right that there was police vindictiveness, but I suspect it had more to do with his defiant recalcitrancy rather than his police report against the AG and IGP.
(2) And the dumbos in blue had been stupid enough to make him sleep on the concrete floor. They just had to martyr-ize him. Was that necessary, considering he's hardly a young buck!
His bad back, which I thought had already been cured by that very special operation only capable of being done in Germany, has ‘returned’ not just to give him a bad back but a bad name to the Police.
Once it was a black eye, now it’s a bad back!
But the fact that the cops dare not take his DNA without his expressed permission has been clearly indicated in Malaysiakini news article Police mull court action to get DNA, a sign they have been careful in dealing with this high profile person. Even Deputy IGP Ismail Omar confessed that the police will be exploring legal avenues to acquire a sample of Anwar Ibrahim’s DNA.
But this wariness should have been exercised in every dealings with Anwar, and not just in obtaining his DNA.
Anyway too late leow, for undoubtedly Anwar Ibrahim has reaped enough public sympathy to get him going for a while.
His target date of 16 September 2008 is just a mere two months away, and his party deputy president has already boldly claimed, as reported in The Star, that his arrest has been a move to thwart the Opposition’s takeover of the country – wow!
Even he, with whom I had shared a few many jokes against SIL in happier years, condemned me for going too far in my ‘hatred’ for Anwar.
I just wonder for the life of me how that post could be read to convey my alleged ‘hatred’? If I may remind readers I had also predicted:
"No charge has yet been laid against him and it may well be that the police will be forced to release him after 24 hours – unless of course …….. something develops."
Well, hasn’t my prediction been true as proven by Malaysiakini news Anwar freed on police bail?
Unsurprisingly, the police had f* up somewhat – two things sprang to mind:
(1) They kept Anwar overnight – was that necessary?
This gives credence to Anwar’s claim that it was a vindictive action against him because he had lodged a police report against the AG and the IGP over his treatment during his original trial – see Malaysiakini news article Overnight detention a case of 'vendetta'!
Anwar enlarged his claim to embrace a host of police actions against him, as if there was no sodomy allegation lodged by Saiful Azlan against him.
He averred: "It appears that the events of the last few days, the nature of my unwarranted arrest, my overnight incarceration which was actually absolutely unnecessary, were an act of personal vengeance against me. They should not use this as a personal vendetta against me."
If you had read the pro Anwar supporters, even that of my good matey Chris, you would be able to tell, that to them, as far as the person of Anwar was/is concerned, Anwar can do no wrong, somewhat similar to the UMNO ‘close-one-eye’ case – so really, what's the difference?
… hmmm, theirs have been a behaviour succinctly explained in an article by Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) titled The cult called PKR, where he wrote:
"That is the trouble with PKR. They dabble in cult personalities. When you are the current hot favourite, the flavour of the day, even your fart smells sweet ... "
"The PKR crowd is one emotional group of people. I suspect that if Anwar was to order them to commit mass suicide they might just do so."
How true!
Some don’t even bother to read what I had actually written in my posts before they came out swinging to get me, as an example, like Mr Phua Kai Lit ;-)
Now, did the police have a right to arrest him the way they did?
Anwar's supporters stated that the police, in arresting Anwar at 1 pm, had acted in bad faith by not giving the man a reasonable chance of a whole hour before the deadline of 2 pm.
They argued that there was nothing to say he should have gone straight from the ACA office to the police station. His return from Putrajaya to Bukit Segambut didn’t mean he couldn’t get back to the police station in Putrajaya by 2 pm. There was plenty of time for him to do just that.
In fact the Star reported Anwar saying the same thing:
He also took to task Federal CID director commissioner Datuk Mohd Bakri Zinin for telling Malaysians a "blatant lie" by saying that they had the reason to believe that Anwar was not going to show up at the police headquarters at 2pm on Wednesday as promised.
"I gave my commitment that I would come. My lawyer had just spoken to DSP Jude Pereira at 12.45pm and assured him that I would show up on time," he said, adding that he was ambushed 5 minutes after that call.
Anwar said he was going home for a quick lunch after which he planned to proceed to the police headquarters.
But of course neither he nor his supporters mention the fact that he failed to turn up on Monday as he had promised earlier. This fact was not considered by his supporters.
In my post Arresting Anwar Ibrahim - Game of brinksmanship? I had blogged:
"He merajuk by claiming that the police had acted unprofessionally in 'intimidating and harassing' his staff and family while attempting to serve an order under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Sunday."
"I didn't buy his bullsh*t because the police had to do so, ie. serve that order ....."
In blatantly refusing to turn up at the police station on Monday as he promised, he had (either unwittingly or deliberately) transmitted to the police the message of “C’mon, lai lah, ayo mari lah, come catch me if you dare!”
Many had viewed that defiance as a game of brinksmanship.
Yes, I know our police are nasty bastards but in this case it was not the police who had first acted in bad faith. It was Anwar Ibrahim who made them lose faith in his ‘promise to turn up’!
No doubt police hormones were flying - anak jantan, anak jati and anak jambalaya, I think they were out to get him, to show him that he had to front up, no matter who he is.
In a way Anwar had been right that there was police vindictiveness, but I suspect it had more to do with his defiant recalcitrancy rather than his police report against the AG and IGP.
(2) And the dumbos in blue had been stupid enough to make him sleep on the concrete floor. They just had to martyr-ize him. Was that necessary, considering he's hardly a young buck!
His bad back, which I thought had already been cured by that very special operation only capable of being done in Germany, has ‘returned’ not just to give him a bad back but a bad name to the Police.
Once it was a black eye, now it’s a bad back!
But the fact that the cops dare not take his DNA without his expressed permission has been clearly indicated in Malaysiakini news article Police mull court action to get DNA, a sign they have been careful in dealing with this high profile person. Even Deputy IGP Ismail Omar confessed that the police will be exploring legal avenues to acquire a sample of Anwar Ibrahim’s DNA.
But this wariness should have been exercised in every dealings with Anwar, and not just in obtaining his DNA.
Anyway too late leow, for undoubtedly Anwar Ibrahim has reaped enough public sympathy to get him going for a while.
His target date of 16 September 2008 is just a mere two months away, and his party deputy president has already boldly claimed, as reported in The Star, that his arrest has been a move to thwart the Opposition’s takeover of the country – wow!
The Magic of Anwar Ibrahim?
Much as I have been abused and reviled for allegedly ‘hating’ Anwar Ibrahim, and most certainly for criticizing him ;-) I have never denied that he has been the glue that kept the diverse component parties in the loose coalition of Pakatan Rakyat together – see my post Can we trust Anwar Ibrahim? where I wrote “No doubt Anwar had done his part to keep the Pakatan in a cohesive form during the election campaign (and no one can take that away from him) …..”
Recently, in my post Anwar Ibrahim's worst nightmare emerges I discussed the dissatisfaction by Pak Haji Hadi Awang* of PAS who voiced his preference to deal with UMNO rather than the Pakatan with a secular DAP as an undesirable ally, where he stated:
* as different from Pak Haji Nik Aziz who is very suspicious of UMNO
“If others can meet Umno (leaders), why can’t PAS meet Umno? (Such comments) show a lack of understanding. On the basis of Islam, we have the right (to do so). PAS can negotiate with any party.”
Pak Haji also took pot shots at Anwar Ibrahim for being the de facto leader of the Pakatan, stating in no uncertain terms:
“No one is the sole leader of Pakatan Rakyat. (Its) leadership is collective, and we have mutually agreed that the respective party leaders can seek to influence our friends in BN to join us. Because of this, the issue of why PAS is meeting Umno should not arise.”
“After the victory, the role of PAS people needs to be taken into account. PAS people are not stupid. Do not sideline their contributions after the win.”
But if Pak Haji Hadi had read Malaysiakini news article Pakatan suspects Khairy has access to police report he may well change his mind about the DAP, because Malaysiakini reported that when Mukhriz Mahathir “… slammed Pakatan Rakyat MPs for insisting on more stringent standards of evidence as contained in Islamic laws for accusations of sexual violations”, alluding to the impossibility of having four male witnesses to the alleged sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim, and that a DNA sampling should be more preferable and fair to all parties.
Mukhriz said: “There are leaders over there who are demanding for four witnesses (to the alleged act of sodomy). How can there be four witnesses? They would have sinned if they saw the commission of the act but did not do anything to stop it!”
Pak Haji would be (spiritually) heartened to note that many Pakatan MPs, both Muslim and non-Muslims, stood up to protest against Mukhriz’ alleged “… disparaging' of Islam.”
Now, get this Pak Haji, a member of those 'quasi-satanic' DAP MPs, Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) also jumped up to defend Islam, demanding of Mukhriz: “Are you challenging Islam?”
Alhamdulillah and a secular 'wow'!
And of course apart from Charles Santiago defending Islam on behalf of PAS, in that Malaysiakini article, we also see ‘enemies’ like Mukhriz Mahathir and Khairy Jamaluddin joining forces to demand that Anwar Ibrahim provides the DNA sample.
The Anwar magic of cozy cohesive compulsion on others, even across the political divide into UMNO, is just amazing, and even when he was not present!
Appendix:
Oh, that anwarista word ‘hate’ which I have been accused of demonstrating against Anwar Ibrahim can be explained by an article by Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) titled The cult called PKR.
RPK wrote that piece criticizing Ezam Mohd Nor but his observations are equally applicable to all anwaristas. He remarked (relevant extract):
… The problem at that time, though, was that Ezam was PKR’s blue-eyed boy, the darling of the party, and any negative comments about Ezam, or Azmin Ali for that matter, was considered a treacherous act. You are a traitor to the cause, a traitor to PKR, a traitor to the opposition, a traitor to the Malay race, and a traitor to the entire nation -- all in one -- if you badmouth one of the PKR darlings.
That is the trouble with PKR. They dabble in cult personalities. When you are the current hot favourite, the flavour of the day, even your fart smells sweet. But once you fall out of favour then they even curse your poor innocent mother who has nothing to do with your political business and does not even know what is going on.
The PKR crowd is one emotional group of people. I suspect that if Anwar was to order them to commit mass suicide they might just do so. And that is dangerous, as time and time again history has proven. If Anwar could get a religious scholar somewhere in the world to come out with a fatwah (religious decree) that if you die for PKR you will go straight to heaven where 70 virgins are waiting for you, I bet we will not be short of candidates who will volunteer to undertake suicide missions.
Whether it is Anwar, Dr Wan Azizah, Nurul Izzah, Azmin, or Ezam, they all have their cult followers. The PKR people revere their idols and appear to lose their senses when in the presence of these demigods. So how to tell these PKR herds that Ezam is not what he appears to be and that he is a plant, a Trojan Horse, a termite meant to weaken the ranks of PKR? Try doing that and you will get a beer bottle broken on your head. So it was best to just keep quiet and watch. Time would reveal the truth. And, true enough, the truth has now been revealed.
I remember when I was once the sub-editor of the party newspaper, Suara Keadilan, and I published a letter from a reader that criticised PKR’s Youth Movement. The letter was about the high-handed manner the Youth Movement ‘security squad’ handled the crowd. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when he was still Prime Minister, was not that well-guarded and his security team did not push and shove the crowd the way the PKR Youth boys did.
It was not my comment. It was a letter from a reader and I allowed it to get published. Wow, you should have seen the SMSess I received. The PKR Youth boys cursed me and one of Ezam’s ‘groupies’, Jo, even challenged me to a boxing match. I was having dinner with Johari Abdul and Dato’ Kamarul at that time and I showed them the SMS.
Another aspect of Anwar Ibrahim's magic!
Amin! - oh, this one is meant for the attention of Pak Haji Hadi Awang ;-)
Recently, in my post Anwar Ibrahim's worst nightmare emerges I discussed the dissatisfaction by Pak Haji Hadi Awang* of PAS who voiced his preference to deal with UMNO rather than the Pakatan with a secular DAP as an undesirable ally, where he stated:
* as different from Pak Haji Nik Aziz who is very suspicious of UMNO
“If others can meet Umno (leaders), why can’t PAS meet Umno? (Such comments) show a lack of understanding. On the basis of Islam, we have the right (to do so). PAS can negotiate with any party.”
Pak Haji also took pot shots at Anwar Ibrahim for being the de facto leader of the Pakatan, stating in no uncertain terms:
“No one is the sole leader of Pakatan Rakyat. (Its) leadership is collective, and we have mutually agreed that the respective party leaders can seek to influence our friends in BN to join us. Because of this, the issue of why PAS is meeting Umno should not arise.”
“After the victory, the role of PAS people needs to be taken into account. PAS people are not stupid. Do not sideline their contributions after the win.”
But if Pak Haji Hadi had read Malaysiakini news article Pakatan suspects Khairy has access to police report he may well change his mind about the DAP, because Malaysiakini reported that when Mukhriz Mahathir “… slammed Pakatan Rakyat MPs for insisting on more stringent standards of evidence as contained in Islamic laws for accusations of sexual violations”, alluding to the impossibility of having four male witnesses to the alleged sodomy case against Anwar Ibrahim, and that a DNA sampling should be more preferable and fair to all parties.
Mukhriz said: “There are leaders over there who are demanding for four witnesses (to the alleged act of sodomy). How can there be four witnesses? They would have sinned if they saw the commission of the act but did not do anything to stop it!”
Pak Haji would be (spiritually) heartened to note that many Pakatan MPs, both Muslim and non-Muslims, stood up to protest against Mukhriz’ alleged “… disparaging' of Islam.”
Now, get this Pak Haji, a member of those 'quasi-satanic' DAP MPs, Charles Santiago (DAP-Klang) also jumped up to defend Islam, demanding of Mukhriz: “Are you challenging Islam?”
Alhamdulillah and a secular 'wow'!
And of course apart from Charles Santiago defending Islam on behalf of PAS, in that Malaysiakini article, we also see ‘enemies’ like Mukhriz Mahathir and Khairy Jamaluddin joining forces to demand that Anwar Ibrahim provides the DNA sample.
The Anwar magic of cozy cohesive compulsion on others, even across the political divide into UMNO, is just amazing, and even when he was not present!
Appendix:
Oh, that anwarista word ‘hate’ which I have been accused of demonstrating against Anwar Ibrahim can be explained by an article by Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) titled The cult called PKR.
RPK wrote that piece criticizing Ezam Mohd Nor but his observations are equally applicable to all anwaristas. He remarked (relevant extract):
… The problem at that time, though, was that Ezam was PKR’s blue-eyed boy, the darling of the party, and any negative comments about Ezam, or Azmin Ali for that matter, was considered a treacherous act. You are a traitor to the cause, a traitor to PKR, a traitor to the opposition, a traitor to the Malay race, and a traitor to the entire nation -- all in one -- if you badmouth one of the PKR darlings.
That is the trouble with PKR. They dabble in cult personalities. When you are the current hot favourite, the flavour of the day, even your fart smells sweet. But once you fall out of favour then they even curse your poor innocent mother who has nothing to do with your political business and does not even know what is going on.
The PKR crowd is one emotional group of people. I suspect that if Anwar was to order them to commit mass suicide they might just do so. And that is dangerous, as time and time again history has proven. If Anwar could get a religious scholar somewhere in the world to come out with a fatwah (religious decree) that if you die for PKR you will go straight to heaven where 70 virgins are waiting for you, I bet we will not be short of candidates who will volunteer to undertake suicide missions.
Whether it is Anwar, Dr Wan Azizah, Nurul Izzah, Azmin, or Ezam, they all have their cult followers. The PKR people revere their idols and appear to lose their senses when in the presence of these demigods. So how to tell these PKR herds that Ezam is not what he appears to be and that he is a plant, a Trojan Horse, a termite meant to weaken the ranks of PKR? Try doing that and you will get a beer bottle broken on your head. So it was best to just keep quiet and watch. Time would reveal the truth. And, true enough, the truth has now been revealed.
I remember when I was once the sub-editor of the party newspaper, Suara Keadilan, and I published a letter from a reader that criticised PKR’s Youth Movement. The letter was about the high-handed manner the Youth Movement ‘security squad’ handled the crowd. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, when he was still Prime Minister, was not that well-guarded and his security team did not push and shove the crowd the way the PKR Youth boys did.
It was not my comment. It was a letter from a reader and I allowed it to get published. Wow, you should have seen the SMSess I received. The PKR Youth boys cursed me and one of Ezam’s ‘groupies’, Jo, even challenged me to a boxing match. I was having dinner with Johari Abdul and Dato’ Kamarul at that time and I showed them the SMS.
Another aspect of Anwar Ibrahim's magic!
Amin! - oh, this one is meant for the attention of Pak Haji Hadi Awang ;-)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Arresting Anwar Ibrahim - Game of brinksmanship?
When I read Malaysiakini news announcement Anwar arrested outside his house I thought to myself, this is one bizarre country when just last night, the bloke was debating against the Minister of Info on the issue of petrol prices, an event which was broadcast around the globe (well, at least for those who wants to see it).
When I saw that debate - yes, I saw in on Global media Channel down here in Australia (on my laptop at a drinking party) as recommended by Malaysiakini – I thought to myself Malaysia has come a long way to even allow an opposition person to appear in such prominence.
Today I was contemplating discussing the debate despite people having already made up their minds last night as to who was the better debater even before the debate started ;-) but alas, the arrest took me by surprise.
In another Malaysiakini report CID chief reveals why Anwar was arrested, the police claimed they were worried (or pissed off) that Anwar had no intention of fronting up at the police station to be interviewed by police, hence they arrested him to ensure they could interview him.
Malaysiakini quoted Bakri Zinin, the Federal CID director, saying that Anwar was supposed to have gone directly to the police headquarters immediately after giving his statement to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in Putrajaya.
"However, we were informed that after he left the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya, he had changed his route and was heading back to his house in (Bukit) Segambut.
"He was arrested as we had reason to believe he was not going to show up. We wish to point out that Anwar had initially agreed to meet us on Monday but failed to keep his appointment."
No charge has yet been laid against him and it may well be that the police will be forced to release him after 24 hours – unless of course …….. something develops.
Anwar was deliberately absent from his appointment with the police on Monday. He merajuk by claiming that the police had acted unprofessionally in 'intimidating and harassing' his staff and family while attempting to serve an order under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Sunday.
I didn't buy his bullsh*t because the police had to do so, ie. serve that order, thus I wasn't entirely surprised by his not turning up at the police station as he had originally agreed to.
I am not sure whether that had been part of his plan to defy authorities, and to push his defiance to the edge of the envelope, essentially a game of brinksmanship or even to create a scene worthy of international attention or domestic upheaval?
If it has been, then the authorities have played into his hands. On the other hand, if the authorities have (as feared) acted heavy-handedly, I reckon Anwar will emerge even more victorious.
With a person like Anwar, the authorities would have been better off just ignoring him – he thrives on media attention. Admittedly it wouldn't have been easy, what with Statutory Declarations ;-) flying high and low to taunt the UMNO leadership and to regale us with salacious gossips.
Of course Anwar's game of brinksmanship may possibly backfire against him if he believes that the authorities have been afraid to 'touch' him since global eyes are watching.
Today Malaysia is quite different from 1998 without a hostile-to-US-&-the-West Dr M. Instead it has as its PM an AAB who has been developing cozy relationship with the Yanks and Europe - told you this bloke is one sly, shrewd and cunning fellow.
Poor Anwar could conceivably end up for a long long time behind bars, with the US/West just making the occasional obligatory perfunctory mumblings.
When I saw that debate - yes, I saw in on Global media Channel down here in Australia (on my laptop at a drinking party) as recommended by Malaysiakini – I thought to myself Malaysia has come a long way to even allow an opposition person to appear in such prominence.
Today I was contemplating discussing the debate despite people having already made up their minds last night as to who was the better debater even before the debate started ;-) but alas, the arrest took me by surprise.
In another Malaysiakini report CID chief reveals why Anwar was arrested, the police claimed they were worried (or pissed off) that Anwar had no intention of fronting up at the police station to be interviewed by police, hence they arrested him to ensure they could interview him.
Malaysiakini quoted Bakri Zinin, the Federal CID director, saying that Anwar was supposed to have gone directly to the police headquarters immediately after giving his statement to the Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) in Putrajaya.
"However, we were informed that after he left the ACA headquarters in Putrajaya, he had changed his route and was heading back to his house in (Bukit) Segambut.
"He was arrested as we had reason to believe he was not going to show up. We wish to point out that Anwar had initially agreed to meet us on Monday but failed to keep his appointment."
No charge has yet been laid against him and it may well be that the police will be forced to release him after 24 hours – unless of course …….. something develops.
Anwar was deliberately absent from his appointment with the police on Monday. He merajuk by claiming that the police had acted unprofessionally in 'intimidating and harassing' his staff and family while attempting to serve an order under Section 111 of the Criminal Procedure Code on Sunday.
I didn't buy his bullsh*t because the police had to do so, ie. serve that order, thus I wasn't entirely surprised by his not turning up at the police station as he had originally agreed to.
I am not sure whether that had been part of his plan to defy authorities, and to push his defiance to the edge of the envelope, essentially a game of brinksmanship or even to create a scene worthy of international attention or domestic upheaval?
If it has been, then the authorities have played into his hands. On the other hand, if the authorities have (as feared) acted heavy-handedly, I reckon Anwar will emerge even more victorious.
With a person like Anwar, the authorities would have been better off just ignoring him – he thrives on media attention. Admittedly it wouldn't have been easy, what with Statutory Declarations ;-) flying high and low to taunt the UMNO leadership and to regale us with salacious gossips.
Of course Anwar's game of brinksmanship may possibly backfire against him if he believes that the authorities have been afraid to 'touch' him since global eyes are watching.
Today Malaysia is quite different from 1998 without a hostile-to-US-&-the-West Dr M. Instead it has as its PM an AAB who has been developing cozy relationship with the Yanks and Europe - told you this bloke is one sly, shrewd and cunning fellow.
Poor Anwar could conceivably end up for a long long time behind bars, with the US/West just making the occasional obligatory perfunctory mumblings.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Anwar Ibrahim's worst nightmare emerges
Yesterday when I posted The Achilles heel of Anwar Ibrahim to discuss his trademark impatience, I also mentioned that there were other factors that had lent force to his sense of urgency in wanting to either get back into UMNO or, as a second best option, seize power through massive BN party defections to PKR.
Today when I read Malaysiakini news article which said PAS Youth defends overtures to Umno I knew Anwar Ibrahim would now begin to realize his worst nightmare.
And what would that be, or why should it be so?
When I posted Can we trust Anwar Ibrahim? I wrote:
I recall that a year ago I read an Aliran article (sorry, couldn’t find it and can’t recall who wrote it) which succinctly analyzed the general election …
… [stating] that Anwar’s (and PKR's) support would have to come mainly from the non-Malays (I assume it must have meant the Chinese). This prediction or political analysis seems to be spot on for the following reasons:
We know in the recent election, the Malay voters swing was only 5% - as evidenced by UMNO as the BN component hanging on best after the people's verdict.
The Chinese swing was 30% … The Hindraf galvanized awakening of the Indians … – the voters swing was 35%.
Thus my take on the so-called 'new' Anwar is as follows:
I may not like him but that doesn’t mean he was/is stupid – in fact he’s what Ong and Oon [both columnists for Malaysiakini] said of him, shrewd and cunning.
He knew which side of his political bread was going to be buttered. The trick was to tread carefully between showing the ‘nons’ of his ‘born-again’ credentials and showing the Malays he’s still their ethnic warrior. A new version of the NEP was promoted but without dismissing Article 153 – in other words, have his cake as well as eat it. This is just a quick example.
Now I come to the part which has relevance with today’s article in Malaysiakini:
Anwar is not comfy with the Pakatan. All the boasts about frogs belie his fears of a Pakatan disagreement over his shameless undemocratic taunting of how he intends to win rule through promoting party hopping, a tactic he mastered when he was in UMNO. You can take the bloke out of UMNO but you can’t take UMNO out of the bloke. […]
He wants UMNO to ask him ‘to come home’. Then he won’t need to depend on the DAP or PAS, but especially the DAP.
Look, his man Khalid Ibrahim had felt bloody awkward forming up the Selangor exco, ..... It’s bad enough having the DAP full of ‘nons’ but the ethnic situation has been compounded by the PKR ‘nons’. Quite unlike an UMNO-MCA-MIC situation. […]
It’s not an image Anwar wants the heartland to see, and real power can only come from the support of the heartland.
No doubt Anwar had done his part to keep the Pakatan in a cohesive form during the election campaign (and no one can take that away from him) but it wasn’t just for altruistic reasons. His strategy was to reduce the BN-UMNO majority to less than 2/3, and then voila, to present his inner coterie as the component available (after an invitation) to restore UMNO’s 2/3, but AAB wasn’t biting for various reasons.
Hence he is piling the pressure on AAB daily with his froggie forecast. The subtext? Anwar wants back into UMNO ... or else!
Alas, as I mentioned in The Achilles heel of Anwar Ibrahim neither AAB nor the UMNO senior leadership are biting, and UMNO has instead played footsies with a delighted PAS (well, at least the Hadi Awang faction)
Another worry for him which is also slowly sinking in for his supporters is that PKR was borne along in the election mainly by Chinese and Indian votes. Push comes to shove, should the DAP and PKR come to a head on, except for a minority among the younger more idealistic set, most Chinese and Indian voters would opt for the DAP, or worse, even return to the BN.
Anwar won’t have a dream of ever weaning away the PAS and UMNO hardcore supporters into his camp. It’ll be a far tougher fight in the next election. And just don't forget, his PKR's 31 seats aren't pure PKR, not with Dr Jeya and Wee ... This may explain his continuous and frantic claims of frogs.
So to summarize, Anwar is acutely aware of several factors, namely that:
(a) the recent tsunamic swing over to the Pakatan Rakyat is probably a one-off. Yes, there may be future swings but certainly not of this magnitude,
(b) the swing has been mainly non-Malay voters,
(c) even if the Pakatan Rakyat wins federal rule in the next general election, and he becomes PM, PKR will be only a junior partner in the loose coalition,
(d) PKR is very dependent on non-Malay voters (a race-conscious but realistic statement),
(e) PAS and DAPmay will demand quid pro quo claims (for supporting Anwar as PM) on cabinet positions,
(f) He may end up being a figurehead - something a man like him, whom I suspect of being captive to his own delusions of overblown importance and grandeur, could never ever tolerate.
Today in the mentioned Malaysiakini news article of PAS Youth defends overtures to Umno, PAS flexes its political muscles, with its Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub saying rather condescendingly that, in meeting with UMNO recently, PAS wasn’t intimidating PKR - wakakaka!
In fact Hadi Awang declared that PAS leaders have just the same rights as, if not more than PKR to hold discussions with UMNO on issues of mutual interest – in other words, PAS is saying to PKR: “F* off mate, you don’t have a monopoly on negotiations with UMNO on Malay or Islamic affairs. Who the hell are you to tell us who we may or may not talk to.”
And indeed Hadi Awang chided PKR by saying precisely that: “If others can meet Umno (leaders), why can’t PAS meet Umno? (Such comments) show a lack of understanding. On the basis of Islam, we have the right (to do so). PAS can negotiate with any party.”
Then he rubbed salt into the PKR’s wound of reality, by asserting PAS’ political independence, and in the process smashing what I believe to be Anwar Ibrahim’s delusion of his Olympus status, (acting) as if he was the only leader of PR. Hadi removed the gloves and said assertively:
“No one is the sole leader of Pakatan Rakyat. (Its) leadership is collective, and we have mutually agreed that the respective party leaders can seek to influence our friends in BN to join us. Because of this, the issue of why PAS is meeting Umno should not arise.”
Then good olde Pak Haji Hadi went from qualitative to quantitive pronoucements on PAS pre-eminence, reminding PKR leadership of PAS’ ‘predominance’ in Pakatan after the March 8 general election.
He reminded PKR that it holds 83 to PKR’s 40 ADUNs (DAP has 73 but is not participating in the Melayu-Islamic affairs round-robin footsie game).
Obviously chaffing at the rein because (probably to him) PAS had graciously taken a back seat for far too long in allowing Anwar Ibrahim to dominate the public limelight, Hadi warned ominously: “After the victory, the role of PAS people needs to be taken into account. PAS people are not stupid. Do not sideline their contributions after the win.”
Amin, Pak Haji.
Adios, Datuk Seri Anwar!
Today when I read Malaysiakini news article which said PAS Youth defends overtures to Umno I knew Anwar Ibrahim would now begin to realize his worst nightmare.
And what would that be, or why should it be so?
When I posted Can we trust Anwar Ibrahim? I wrote:
I recall that a year ago I read an Aliran article (sorry, couldn’t find it and can’t recall who wrote it) which succinctly analyzed the general election …
… [stating] that Anwar’s (and PKR's) support would have to come mainly from the non-Malays (I assume it must have meant the Chinese). This prediction or political analysis seems to be spot on for the following reasons:
We know in the recent election, the Malay voters swing was only 5% - as evidenced by UMNO as the BN component hanging on best after the people's verdict.
The Chinese swing was 30% … The Hindraf galvanized awakening of the Indians … – the voters swing was 35%.
Thus my take on the so-called 'new' Anwar is as follows:
I may not like him but that doesn’t mean he was/is stupid – in fact he’s what Ong and Oon [both columnists for Malaysiakini] said of him, shrewd and cunning.
He knew which side of his political bread was going to be buttered. The trick was to tread carefully between showing the ‘nons’ of his ‘born-again’ credentials and showing the Malays he’s still their ethnic warrior. A new version of the NEP was promoted but without dismissing Article 153 – in other words, have his cake as well as eat it. This is just a quick example.
Now I come to the part which has relevance with today’s article in Malaysiakini:
Anwar is not comfy with the Pakatan. All the boasts about frogs belie his fears of a Pakatan disagreement over his shameless undemocratic taunting of how he intends to win rule through promoting party hopping, a tactic he mastered when he was in UMNO. You can take the bloke out of UMNO but you can’t take UMNO out of the bloke. […]
He wants UMNO to ask him ‘to come home’. Then he won’t need to depend on the DAP or PAS, but especially the DAP.
Look, his man Khalid Ibrahim had felt bloody awkward forming up the Selangor exco, ..... It’s bad enough having the DAP full of ‘nons’ but the ethnic situation has been compounded by the PKR ‘nons’. Quite unlike an UMNO-MCA-MIC situation. […]
It’s not an image Anwar wants the heartland to see, and real power can only come from the support of the heartland.
No doubt Anwar had done his part to keep the Pakatan in a cohesive form during the election campaign (and no one can take that away from him) but it wasn’t just for altruistic reasons. His strategy was to reduce the BN-UMNO majority to less than 2/3, and then voila, to present his inner coterie as the component available (after an invitation) to restore UMNO’s 2/3, but AAB wasn’t biting for various reasons.
Hence he is piling the pressure on AAB daily with his froggie forecast. The subtext? Anwar wants back into UMNO ... or else!
Alas, as I mentioned in The Achilles heel of Anwar Ibrahim neither AAB nor the UMNO senior leadership are biting, and UMNO has instead played footsies with a delighted PAS (well, at least the Hadi Awang faction)
Another worry for him which is also slowly sinking in for his supporters is that PKR was borne along in the election mainly by Chinese and Indian votes. Push comes to shove, should the DAP and PKR come to a head on, except for a minority among the younger more idealistic set, most Chinese and Indian voters would opt for the DAP, or worse, even return to the BN.
Anwar won’t have a dream of ever weaning away the PAS and UMNO hardcore supporters into his camp. It’ll be a far tougher fight in the next election. And just don't forget, his PKR's 31 seats aren't pure PKR, not with Dr Jeya and Wee ... This may explain his continuous and frantic claims of frogs.
So to summarize, Anwar is acutely aware of several factors, namely that:
(a) the recent tsunamic swing over to the Pakatan Rakyat is probably a one-off. Yes, there may be future swings but certainly not of this magnitude,
(b) the swing has been mainly non-Malay voters,
(c) even if the Pakatan Rakyat wins federal rule in the next general election, and he becomes PM, PKR will be only a junior partner in the loose coalition,
(d) PKR is very dependent on non-Malay voters (a race-conscious but realistic statement),
(e) PAS and DAP
(f) He may end up being a figurehead - something a man like him, whom I suspect of being captive to his own delusions of overblown importance and grandeur, could never ever tolerate.
Today in the mentioned Malaysiakini news article of PAS Youth defends overtures to Umno, PAS flexes its political muscles, with its Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub saying rather condescendingly that, in meeting with UMNO recently, PAS wasn’t intimidating PKR - wakakaka!
In fact Hadi Awang declared that PAS leaders have just the same rights as, if not more than PKR to hold discussions with UMNO on issues of mutual interest – in other words, PAS is saying to PKR: “F* off mate, you don’t have a monopoly on negotiations with UMNO on Malay or Islamic affairs. Who the hell are you to tell us who we may or may not talk to.”
And indeed Hadi Awang chided PKR by saying precisely that: “If others can meet Umno (leaders), why can’t PAS meet Umno? (Such comments) show a lack of understanding. On the basis of Islam, we have the right (to do so). PAS can negotiate with any party.”
Then he rubbed salt into the PKR’s wound of reality, by asserting PAS’ political independence, and in the process smashing what I believe to be Anwar Ibrahim’s delusion of his Olympus status, (acting) as if he was the only leader of PR. Hadi removed the gloves and said assertively:
“No one is the sole leader of Pakatan Rakyat. (Its) leadership is collective, and we have mutually agreed that the respective party leaders can seek to influence our friends in BN to join us. Because of this, the issue of why PAS is meeting Umno should not arise.”
Then good olde Pak Haji Hadi went from qualitative to quantitive pronoucements on PAS pre-eminence, reminding PKR leadership of PAS’ ‘predominance’ in Pakatan after the March 8 general election.
He reminded PKR that it holds 83 to PKR’s 40 ADUNs (DAP has 73 but is not participating in the Melayu-Islamic affairs round-robin footsie game).
Obviously chaffing at the rein because (probably to him) PAS had graciously taken a back seat for far too long in allowing Anwar Ibrahim to dominate the public limelight, Hadi warned ominously: “After the victory, the role of PAS people needs to be taken into account. PAS people are not stupid. Do not sideline their contributions after the win.”
Amin, Pak Haji.
Adios, Datuk Seri Anwar!
'Xcuse, we're DAP, we don't plot coup d'état!
Yesterday when I posted The Achilles heel of Anwar Ibrahim I quoted a Malaysiakini report 'Opposition had planned demo today' which had Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid claiming his ministry has received information that the opposition would be staging numerous demonstrations with the sole purpose of toppling the government.
I was alarmed by the term 'opposition' because that would include the DAP, which I doubt would be involved in the sort of street agitation that a particular group (not DAP) is particularly fond of and already notorious for.
Thus I added a comment that Syed Hamid had probably meant the PKR ;-)
“…numerous demonstrations were to be staged by the opposition with the sole purpose of toppling the government.”
The above statement by Syed Hamid of alleged 'opposition' intent reminded me of my post Anwar Ibrahim sings Canto-pop songs? one year ago where I commented on an article by one of Malaysiakini columnists, Manjit Bhatia, who lambasted the Malaysian non-Malays (mainly Chinese and Indians) for paying only lip service to their support for the opposition.
As an example of their alleged 'apathetic' political commitment, he singled out the general lack of non-Malay participation in the Anwar Ibrahim inspired street protest, the so-called reformasi revolution, that was launched after the former DPM was sacked from UMNO.
In that post I attached my letter to Malaysiakini rebutting Manjit Bhatia’s criticisms of the Chinese and Indians. I wrote (extract):
“…the Chinese wouldn't want to take sides in what was basically a tussle between two Umno factions - Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s and Anwar Ibrahim's ...”
“That one side lost was inevitable and certainly not the concern of either the Chinese or Indians. That the loser suffered all the subsequent nastiness is regrettable but hardly made that bloke a political reformist. Yes, Bhatia may not even be aware that Chinese Malaysians looked upon, and still do, Anwar Ibrahim and his so-called reformasi with cynicism, distrust and indeed disdain.”
“… most non-Malays didn't view the so-called reformasi street protests as a clarion call for Malaysians to join in to protest against a repressive state. They didn't associate their own repression with Anwar falling on his Umno keris.”
“To them, Anwar was not the solution but rather part of the problem. Anwar had played for high stakes in a game that determined his personal ascendancy to the top of Umno, and which didn't include non-Malay Malaysians.”
“So when he faltered in his ambitious endeavour, don't blame the non-Malays for not buying his spin that it was about political reforms. That's about as plausible as the Bush administration's fabrication on the Saddam Hussein-Osama Laden link.”
Well, my faith in the DAP as not the rebel rousing rabble was justified in a news report by Malaysia titled DAP trio: Meeting ... what meeting? where Lim Snr and Jnr, and Tan Seng Giaw demanded a retraction from Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who was quoted in the Star as saying that the DAP leaders had attended the meeting in PKR headquarters.
Lim Jnr said: “On July 9, none of the DAP leaders were in the PKR headquarters (in Petaling Jaya, for the alleged meeting). (Syed Hamid) said that if his intelligence is not true, he is willing to withdraw his statement. We are demanding that he withdraws his statement because it is false, it is untrue, complete fabrication, complete lie.”
“In fact we have not stepped into the new PKR headquarters. It shows that the intelligence department is not reliable. They can give false information, so perhaps they can be charged under the Printing Presses and Publications Act for spreading false news.”
All had alibis to discredit Syed Hamid's accusation. The Minister then attempted to tap dance away by blaming the (unintelligent) intelligence report he received. He tried to salvage some ‘face’ by merajuk-ingly saying:
“If they seek an apology properly, then I will apologise properly. If they shout and call names, then it is a bit difficult.”
Lim GE, take it from me, Syed Hamid has virtually said “sollee leow” – You know how it is with UMNO people, or those who were formerly from UMNO - to paraphrase Erich Segal, "UMNO means never having to say you're sollee" - wakakaka!
I was alarmed by the term 'opposition' because that would include the DAP, which I doubt would be involved in the sort of street agitation that a particular group (not DAP) is particularly fond of and already notorious for.
Thus I added a comment that Syed Hamid had probably meant the PKR ;-)
“…numerous demonstrations were to be staged by the opposition with the sole purpose of toppling the government.”
The above statement by Syed Hamid of alleged 'opposition' intent reminded me of my post Anwar Ibrahim sings Canto-pop songs? one year ago where I commented on an article by one of Malaysiakini columnists, Manjit Bhatia, who lambasted the Malaysian non-Malays (mainly Chinese and Indians) for paying only lip service to their support for the opposition.
As an example of their alleged 'apathetic' political commitment, he singled out the general lack of non-Malay participation in the Anwar Ibrahim inspired street protest, the so-called reformasi revolution, that was launched after the former DPM was sacked from UMNO.
In that post I attached my letter to Malaysiakini rebutting Manjit Bhatia’s criticisms of the Chinese and Indians. I wrote (extract):
“…the Chinese wouldn't want to take sides in what was basically a tussle between two Umno factions - Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s and Anwar Ibrahim's ...”
“That one side lost was inevitable and certainly not the concern of either the Chinese or Indians. That the loser suffered all the subsequent nastiness is regrettable but hardly made that bloke a political reformist. Yes, Bhatia may not even be aware that Chinese Malaysians looked upon, and still do, Anwar Ibrahim and his so-called reformasi with cynicism, distrust and indeed disdain.”
“… most non-Malays didn't view the so-called reformasi street protests as a clarion call for Malaysians to join in to protest against a repressive state. They didn't associate their own repression with Anwar falling on his Umno keris.”
“To them, Anwar was not the solution but rather part of the problem. Anwar had played for high stakes in a game that determined his personal ascendancy to the top of Umno, and which didn't include non-Malay Malaysians.”
“So when he faltered in his ambitious endeavour, don't blame the non-Malays for not buying his spin that it was about political reforms. That's about as plausible as the Bush administration's fabrication on the Saddam Hussein-Osama Laden link.”
Well, my faith in the DAP as not the rebel rousing rabble was justified in a news report by Malaysia titled DAP trio: Meeting ... what meeting? where Lim Snr and Jnr, and Tan Seng Giaw demanded a retraction from Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar, who was quoted in the Star as saying that the DAP leaders had attended the meeting in PKR headquarters.
Lim Jnr said: “On July 9, none of the DAP leaders were in the PKR headquarters (in Petaling Jaya, for the alleged meeting). (Syed Hamid) said that if his intelligence is not true, he is willing to withdraw his statement. We are demanding that he withdraws his statement because it is false, it is untrue, complete fabrication, complete lie.”
“In fact we have not stepped into the new PKR headquarters. It shows that the intelligence department is not reliable. They can give false information, so perhaps they can be charged under the Printing Presses and Publications Act for spreading false news.”
All had alibis to discredit Syed Hamid's accusation. The Minister then attempted to tap dance away by blaming the (unintelligent) intelligence report he received. He tried to salvage some ‘face’ by merajuk-ingly saying:
“If they seek an apology properly, then I will apologise properly. If they shout and call names, then it is a bit difficult.”
Lim GE, take it from me, Syed Hamid has virtually said “sollee leow” – You know how it is with UMNO people, or those who were formerly from UMNO - to paraphrase Erich Segal, "UMNO means never having to say you're sollee" - wakakaka!
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Achilles heel of Anwar Ibrahim
When you read Malaysiakini Roadblocks cause gridlock in KL where you are told that at least 600 police personnel manned roadblocks along major roads leading to Parliament … yadda yadda … in anticipation of protests ahead of a possible PKR initiated debate of no confidence in PM AAB, and the recent Protes rally, etc, you would not be blamed for believing the general election must be just a few weeks away, when it had been over since 09 march 2008.
When you read Malaysiakini Parliament turns into a 'war zone' where the police had obtained a court order barring Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters from coming within 5 km of Parliament House, you would also be forgiven for not realising that the BN headed by PM AAB had won 140 parliamentary seats in the recent election in March 2008, while Pakatan Rakyat headed supposedly by Anwar Ibrahim, and claimed by his supporters as being on the ‘cusp’ of becoming the new PM, had won only 82.
It’s almost 1998 all over again or the aggravation of the Ijok by-election magnified to national scale - what's just missing would be the water bottle battle! See my Ijok - glimpses of Vision 2020.
Behind the unusual (or is it?) turmoil after a very recent general election, where the margin of the majority for the ruling party is a respectable and comfortable 58 seats, must be an explanation for the continuous agitated political instability – an instability that has unmistakably at its core the central figure of Anwar Ibrahim, a man whom I suspect is extremely dissatisfied with his personal* lack of political progress.
* by contrast the Pakatan Rakyat (exclusive of the person of Anwar Ibrahim) did very well to wrestle 5 States away from the BN and to deny the BN a 2/3 majority in Parliament, in any language two very commendable achievements.
In Greek mythology Achilles was the greatest warrior on the Greek side in the Trojan War. When he was still a baby, his mother Thetis, a sea nymph (an immortal) wanted to make him immortal as well by bathing him in the Styx, a magical river which formed the boundary between Earth and Hades, the mythological underworld.
But because she held him by one of his heel as she dipped him into the Styx, that heel was not bathed with the magic waters of the river and remained mortal and vulnerable.
During the Trojan War, he was basically (almost) invincible until he was fatally wounded in the same (unbathed) heel by an arrow shot by Paris, son of King Priam of Troy.
Thus an Achilles’ heel is a fatal weakness (metaphorically not physical only) in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to downfall.
Anwar Ibrahim has an Achilles heel, and on this I don’t want to hear any of those salacious comments pertaining to recent events.
In my opinion, Anwar’s Achilles heel has been and still is his impatience.
Coupled with his excessive political ambitions, his Achilles heel had been and will be his downfall.
I will use the starting point of this discussion to refer to Chinese daily Guang Ming's interview of Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) of the influential blog Malaysia Today (note blog’s new URL) sub-titled ‘Anwar Should Not Have Challenged Tun Ghafar Baba’.
RPK wrote (relevant extract):
Anwar's power within Umno was strengthened after he became the Umno Youth Chief. But he was too ambitious and wanted to challenge Tun Ghafar Baba for the position of Deputy Umno President.
Raja Petra and many of Anwar’s friends did not agree with Anwar challenging Ghafar as they felt he should wait until the Deputy President retires.
“We all knew that Ghafar would not become the Prime Minister. He was nine months older than Dr Mahathir and his education background was only standard six. But Malays respected him, as he was one of the fighters for the independence of Malaya.”
“Malays have deep respect for Ghafar. You don't just overthrow him like that. Anwar should have given Ghafar more time to resign on his own. Therefore, I didn't agree with the young Anwar challenging Ghafar. I think he was showing no respect to an elder.”
Thus, Raja Petra and Anwar parted ways. He and his friends no longer wanted to help Anwar in his campaign for Deputy President.
“However, Anwar had strong support from Umno Sabah. At that time there was a bonus system in which a candidate would automatically receive 10 bonus votes for every nomination. The situation was very unfavourable to Ghafar so he stepped down to allow Anwar to take over.”
Here was Anwar’s impatience showing through where he humiliated one of the UMNO ‘Angkatan 46’ mercilessly into political oblivion.
It was said that during the triumphant celebration in UMNO headquarters where every UMNO personality rushed towards surrounding the new Crown Prince, poor discarded Ghafar Baba, the ‘deposed’ No 2 UMNO man was seen shuffling on the sideline by himself in an abject state of humiliated daze and shamed confusion, clutching in his arms a plastic shopping bag like a vagabond, yes, a political vagabond.
While the Bodek-ites did their sycophantic acts, they did not fail to see the self esteem of Ghafar Baba, or whatever was left of it, smashed to smithereens, with the senior party man sadly and totally humiliated by an ambitious and very impatient young rising star, who spared no mercy for one of the UMNO ‘pioneers’.
Anwar couldn’t even wait for (then) 70 year old Ghafar Baba to leave in more dignified manner. But undoubtedly, as RPK said, the Malays saw with grave trepidation an 'ugly' ambitious Anwar without any respect for his elders.
I won’t go into his tenure as the Education Minister where many non-Malays still remember what he had done to us.
Then in 1998, Anwar's close associate, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (the Pemuda UMNO Chief), gave notice that the Youth Wing would initiate a debate on ‘cronyism and nepotism’, obviously a move by the Anwar faction to nudge Dr Mahathir out a.s.a.p.
It's Anwar's impatience again, wanting to assume the No 1 political position without any delay. So the plan was to push Dr M out of office through the embarrassment of exposed ‘cronyism and nepotism’.
It’s amazingly silly considering that Dr M had felt comfy giving rein of the nation to Anwar just a year back and was actually on the verge of retiring.
Yes of course the storyline after Anwar's sacking portrayed Dr M as being fearful of his own position, etc, but I am inclined to believe the aggravation between the two had been due to Anwar's noted impatience and the impossible-to-notice lack of respect for his mentor-father figure.
Well, as they say, there’s many a slip ‘twixt cup and lips, which Anwar Ibrahim was to realized painfully; and I suspect, he must have since bitterly borne that ‘slip’ in great agony, a terrible cancer of woeful regret consuming him more and more each day as he realized that through his impatience to get rid of Mahathir to ascend to the No 1 position, he missed just by a hair's breath of becoming PM of Malaysia.
Oh, sedikit saja lah, sangat sayang leow, woe had been him! But alas, a miss is as good as a mile!
He had moved too swiftly and precipitously, because Dr M, on seeing the same disrespect to elders that Anwar had amply demonstrated in 1993 against Ghafar Baba, mounted a blitzkrieg counter-attack against his anointed heir. As Wikipedia states:
The response was swift, as Mahathir issued lists of cronies who had benefited from government share allocations and privatizations. To the chagrin of Anwar and his allies, several of them were on the list, including Anwar and Zahid.
Well, well, well …
As RPK had told Guang Ming:
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim changed after he became the Deputy Prime Minister cum Finance Minister. Umno changed him, said Raja Petra Kamarudin. He became just another “Umno man”.
“He wore RM3,000 suits, unlike the time when we wore traditional Malay costumes. Before he joined the party he said he wanted to change Umno but instead he was the one who was changed by Umno,” Raja Petra said.
Thereafter, Raja Petra did not get involved with Anwar any longer but instead became active in Pas.
He wrote for the English Section of Pas' Harakah and in some of his pieces he even criticised Anwar. Anwar was really angry at that time. When Anwar was sacked in 1998, he told Anwar that: “You deserve it! You can challenge Ghafar Baba, but not Mahathir.”
Raja Petra said that Anwar thought after easily overthrowing Tun Ghafar Baba he could easily depose Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well. Eventually, he failed and Dr Mahathir did him in instead.
Anwar brought the whole Humpty Dumpty wall down on his head because he couldn’t just wait for a few more months for Dr Mahathir to retire. He thought he had everything in UMNO sown up.
Due to his impatience and his miscalculations, and not forgetting his disrespect for his elders, he fell on his own UMNO keris.
Of course when he was expelled he metamorphosed OVERNIGHT into a political reformer wakakaka … how can he expect people, even if they hadn't already experienced his (Education) ministerial tenure and policies, to believe him?
As I have often blogged, he wants to return to UMNO, which has been why he was coy with AAB after his release from prison. He must have thought he would be doing AAB a favour by targeting Najib, or maybe he saw the UMNO No 2 position as a convenient political resurrection point for himself, provided of course he can get rid of Najib.
But AAB and many others who know of him don’t want him. If he could do what he had done to Ghafar Baba and even his godfather Dr M, God knows what he could do to them. His impatience has become legendary (or notorious).
Then perhaps he thought if the BN lost its 2/3 majority and his PKR inner group has enough seats to restore that 2/3 he could still pry his way back in. But AAB wasn’t about to play ball - better to be without the 2/3 than with Anwar in UMNO.
Anwar's Achilles heel is showing through again, refusing to wait for the next general election – of course there are other factors as well which I will blog on tomorrow. Hence the PKR's almost daily broadcast about pending party defections … perhaps to pressure other UMNO stalwarts if not AAB, but wakakaka, they sneakily (and more wisely) turn towards PAS instead of Anwar.
Expect him to continue and even escalate his campaign of political destabilization, as he becomes more frantic with the approaching September 16 in just 2 months time.
And Malaysiakini has just published 'Opposition had planned demo today' where it reported Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid claiming that, this month alone, his ministry has received information that numerous demonstrations were to be staged by the opposition (he probably meant PKR) with the sole purpose of toppling the government.
Aiyoyo, Anwar, where's your man man lai? Just like your reformasi?
When you read Malaysiakini Parliament turns into a 'war zone' where the police had obtained a court order barring Anwar Ibrahim and his supporters from coming within 5 km of Parliament House, you would also be forgiven for not realising that the BN headed by PM AAB had won 140 parliamentary seats in the recent election in March 2008, while Pakatan Rakyat headed supposedly by Anwar Ibrahim, and claimed by his supporters as being on the ‘cusp’ of becoming the new PM, had won only 82.
It’s almost 1998 all over again or the aggravation of the Ijok by-election magnified to national scale - what's just missing would be the water bottle battle! See my Ijok - glimpses of Vision 2020.
Behind the unusual (or is it?) turmoil after a very recent general election, where the margin of the majority for the ruling party is a respectable and comfortable 58 seats, must be an explanation for the continuous agitated political instability – an instability that has unmistakably at its core the central figure of Anwar Ibrahim, a man whom I suspect is extremely dissatisfied with his personal* lack of political progress.
* by contrast the Pakatan Rakyat (exclusive of the person of Anwar Ibrahim) did very well to wrestle 5 States away from the BN and to deny the BN a 2/3 majority in Parliament, in any language two very commendable achievements.
In Greek mythology Achilles was the greatest warrior on the Greek side in the Trojan War. When he was still a baby, his mother Thetis, a sea nymph (an immortal) wanted to make him immortal as well by bathing him in the Styx, a magical river which formed the boundary between Earth and Hades, the mythological underworld.
But because she held him by one of his heel as she dipped him into the Styx, that heel was not bathed with the magic waters of the river and remained mortal and vulnerable.
During the Trojan War, he was basically (almost) invincible until he was fatally wounded in the same (unbathed) heel by an arrow shot by Paris, son of King Priam of Troy.
Thus an Achilles’ heel is a fatal weakness (metaphorically not physical only) in spite of overall strength, actually or potentially leading to downfall.
Anwar Ibrahim has an Achilles heel, and on this I don’t want to hear any of those salacious comments pertaining to recent events.
In my opinion, Anwar’s Achilles heel has been and still is his impatience.
Coupled with his excessive political ambitions, his Achilles heel had been and will be his downfall.
I will use the starting point of this discussion to refer to Chinese daily Guang Ming's interview of Raja Petra Kamarudin (RPK) of the influential blog Malaysia Today (note blog’s new URL) sub-titled ‘Anwar Should Not Have Challenged Tun Ghafar Baba’.
RPK wrote (relevant extract):
Anwar's power within Umno was strengthened after he became the Umno Youth Chief. But he was too ambitious and wanted to challenge Tun Ghafar Baba for the position of Deputy Umno President.
Raja Petra and many of Anwar’s friends did not agree with Anwar challenging Ghafar as they felt he should wait until the Deputy President retires.
“We all knew that Ghafar would not become the Prime Minister. He was nine months older than Dr Mahathir and his education background was only standard six. But Malays respected him, as he was one of the fighters for the independence of Malaya.”
“Malays have deep respect for Ghafar. You don't just overthrow him like that. Anwar should have given Ghafar more time to resign on his own. Therefore, I didn't agree with the young Anwar challenging Ghafar. I think he was showing no respect to an elder.”
Thus, Raja Petra and Anwar parted ways. He and his friends no longer wanted to help Anwar in his campaign for Deputy President.
“However, Anwar had strong support from Umno Sabah. At that time there was a bonus system in which a candidate would automatically receive 10 bonus votes for every nomination. The situation was very unfavourable to Ghafar so he stepped down to allow Anwar to take over.”
Here was Anwar’s impatience showing through where he humiliated one of the UMNO ‘Angkatan 46’ mercilessly into political oblivion.
It was said that during the triumphant celebration in UMNO headquarters where every UMNO personality rushed towards surrounding the new Crown Prince, poor discarded Ghafar Baba, the ‘deposed’ No 2 UMNO man was seen shuffling on the sideline by himself in an abject state of humiliated daze and shamed confusion, clutching in his arms a plastic shopping bag like a vagabond, yes, a political vagabond.
While the Bodek-ites did their sycophantic acts, they did not fail to see the self esteem of Ghafar Baba, or whatever was left of it, smashed to smithereens, with the senior party man sadly and totally humiliated by an ambitious and very impatient young rising star, who spared no mercy for one of the UMNO ‘pioneers’.
Anwar couldn’t even wait for (then) 70 year old Ghafar Baba to leave in more dignified manner. But undoubtedly, as RPK said, the Malays saw with grave trepidation an 'ugly' ambitious Anwar without any respect for his elders.
I won’t go into his tenure as the Education Minister where many non-Malays still remember what he had done to us.
Then in 1998, Anwar's close associate, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (the Pemuda UMNO Chief), gave notice that the Youth Wing would initiate a debate on ‘cronyism and nepotism’, obviously a move by the Anwar faction to nudge Dr Mahathir out a.s.a.p.
It's Anwar's impatience again, wanting to assume the No 1 political position without any delay. So the plan was to push Dr M out of office through the embarrassment of exposed ‘cronyism and nepotism’.
It’s amazingly silly considering that Dr M had felt comfy giving rein of the nation to Anwar just a year back and was actually on the verge of retiring.
Yes of course the storyline after Anwar's sacking portrayed Dr M as being fearful of his own position, etc, but I am inclined to believe the aggravation between the two had been due to Anwar's noted impatience and the impossible-to-notice lack of respect for his mentor-father figure.
Well, as they say, there’s many a slip ‘twixt cup and lips, which Anwar Ibrahim was to realized painfully; and I suspect, he must have since bitterly borne that ‘slip’ in great agony, a terrible cancer of woeful regret consuming him more and more each day as he realized that through his impatience to get rid of Mahathir to ascend to the No 1 position, he missed just by a hair's breath of becoming PM of Malaysia.
Oh, sedikit saja lah, sangat sayang leow, woe had been him! But alas, a miss is as good as a mile!
He had moved too swiftly and precipitously, because Dr M, on seeing the same disrespect to elders that Anwar had amply demonstrated in 1993 against Ghafar Baba, mounted a blitzkrieg counter-attack against his anointed heir. As Wikipedia states:
The response was swift, as Mahathir issued lists of cronies who had benefited from government share allocations and privatizations. To the chagrin of Anwar and his allies, several of them were on the list, including Anwar and Zahid.
Well, well, well …
As RPK had told Guang Ming:
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim changed after he became the Deputy Prime Minister cum Finance Minister. Umno changed him, said Raja Petra Kamarudin. He became just another “Umno man”.
“He wore RM3,000 suits, unlike the time when we wore traditional Malay costumes. Before he joined the party he said he wanted to change Umno but instead he was the one who was changed by Umno,” Raja Petra said.
Thereafter, Raja Petra did not get involved with Anwar any longer but instead became active in Pas.
He wrote for the English Section of Pas' Harakah and in some of his pieces he even criticised Anwar. Anwar was really angry at that time. When Anwar was sacked in 1998, he told Anwar that: “You deserve it! You can challenge Ghafar Baba, but not Mahathir.”
Raja Petra said that Anwar thought after easily overthrowing Tun Ghafar Baba he could easily depose Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as well. Eventually, he failed and Dr Mahathir did him in instead.
Anwar brought the whole Humpty Dumpty wall down on his head because he couldn’t just wait for a few more months for Dr Mahathir to retire. He thought he had everything in UMNO sown up.
Due to his impatience and his miscalculations, and not forgetting his disrespect for his elders, he fell on his own UMNO keris.
Of course when he was expelled he metamorphosed OVERNIGHT into a political reformer wakakaka … how can he expect people, even if they hadn't already experienced his (Education) ministerial tenure and policies, to believe him?
As I have often blogged, he wants to return to UMNO, which has been why he was coy with AAB after his release from prison. He must have thought he would be doing AAB a favour by targeting Najib, or maybe he saw the UMNO No 2 position as a convenient political resurrection point for himself, provided of course he can get rid of Najib.
But AAB and many others who know of him don’t want him. If he could do what he had done to Ghafar Baba and even his godfather Dr M, God knows what he could do to them. His impatience has become legendary (or notorious).
Then perhaps he thought if the BN lost its 2/3 majority and his PKR inner group has enough seats to restore that 2/3 he could still pry his way back in. But AAB wasn’t about to play ball - better to be without the 2/3 than with Anwar in UMNO.
Anwar's Achilles heel is showing through again, refusing to wait for the next general election – of course there are other factors as well which I will blog on tomorrow. Hence the PKR's almost daily broadcast about pending party defections … perhaps to pressure other UMNO stalwarts if not AAB, but wakakaka, they sneakily (and more wisely) turn towards PAS instead of Anwar.
Expect him to continue and even escalate his campaign of political destabilization, as he becomes more frantic with the approaching September 16 in just 2 months time.
And Malaysiakini has just published 'Opposition had planned demo today' where it reported Home Affairs Minister Syed Hamid claiming that, this month alone, his ministry has received information that numerous demonstrations were to be staged by the opposition (he probably meant PKR) with the sole purpose of toppling the government.
Aiyoyo, Anwar, where's your man man lai? Just like your reformasi?
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Super Pariahs, Super Pious & Super Poked!
OK, anwaristas, take a (temporary) break to lower your blood pressure ;-)
The readers write-in comments in Malaysiakini Vox Populi columns such as 'Repent, you shameful man' and 'Suspend Kinabatangan MP' said it all about their disgust for the Member of Parliament (yes a MP, can you bloody believe this!) for Kinabatangan, Bung Mokhtar Radin.
Bloke did a hands gesture known to Penangites as ‘kapuk’.
The dictionary tells us that one meaning of the act of ‘kapuk-ing’ or ‘berkapuk’ would be ‘to embrace from behind’ as in the example of a bad rider doing so to a horse’s neck.
The dictionary obviously refuses to continue from there, which young Penangites in my days could, by including, to that action of clinging from behind, a humping action as well.
Malaysiakini reader Sabahan said: "This clown is an insult not only to all parliamentarians, but to all Malaysians and especially Sabahans."
* yes, Bung Mokhtar Radin is from the land beneath the winds, which would have blown right straight through his skull
"He thinks that the Parliament is a coffee shop where he can use vulgar language and gestures and crack vulgar jokes to amuse his like-minded fellow parliamentarians from the Barisan Nasional."
Another Vox Populi reader compared his behaviour to that of a trishaw puller, except of course a trishaw puller is not a member of parliament.
This Bung Mokhtar Radin bloke has a notorious history of unsavoury thuggish behaviour in Parliament, with complete disrespect for ladies. He was one of the disgusting Bocor-ites.
Then there was that tebuan keeper, Badruddin Amiruldin.
Last year at the UMNO general assembly, Wanita Umno Kubang Kerian chief Zaleha Hussin must have felt she too needed to make some kind of impact at the gathering as we all know it’s a competitive world in UMNO as the party’s pyramidal structure gets narrower and narrower as one strives to the top
Though there were plenty of important pressing material for discussions at such forum, what with the nation still reeling from corruption, crimes and cronyism (all three ‘c’ could well be inter-related), and prices inflating like chapattis heated on pans, and young little girls murdered before they reached 10, Zaleha decided …….. get this …….. to attack the uniform of AirAsia air stewardesses.
Malaysiakini reported that at the UMNO annual assembly Wanita delegate sees red over AirAsia uniform. The women delegates to the annual general assembly of mighty political juggernaut UMNO discussed in depth, and with strong words, the AirAsia uniform for female cabin crew as ‘embarrassing’ to women.
She gasped: “Legs, knees and thighs are exposed for all to see. This is an embarrassment to women. Something must be done.”
She raised the matter during the debate on a motion on social issues and religion. And guess who was the Chairperson of the debate?
Yes, Badruddin Amiruldin. The exchange between these two midgets went as follows:
Zaleha: The provocative uniform must be changed to something reflective of Eastern values and which complies with the values of Islam.
Badruddin: I think their skirts are too short.
Zaleha: Cloth can be bought.
Badruddin: I think they don’t have enough cloth.
I suppose one could admit the debate was 'profound' ........ well, in UMNO's mentality.
Zaleha: She [referring to her ‘embarrassed’ friend] said a flight attendant sat in front of her and she could see her legs, thighs and knees. She was so embarrassed!
Badruddin: Did she see the tunnel?
And the UMNO crowd roared with laughter and approval at that salacious remark by the Chairperson of an UMNO forum on social issues and religion.
I blogged on this momentous UMNO event in No light at end of UMNO 'Tunnel'.
Then there was a former minister who made blatant racist comments against Malaysian Sheela Moorthy that her darker skin would probably mean that she came from a lower caste.
And when a so-called blogger-leader claimed he apologised (which no one had received nor heard), the blogger pronounced (in my opinion, rather too hastily) that the matter was closed. He added that the minister “did right to apologize, in my opinion. It is a quality missing in many politicians.”
I posted in The invisible 'apology':
Hang on a ding dong sec ….. First of all, apologising was the only acceptable and expected thing for the minister to do, but let’s not get carried away and phrase it as if he is to be commended.
Indeed I put the affair into its correct perspective by reminding everyone there’s nothing to commend that minister, just because he apologized for his racist remarks which he should not and never should have made in the first place.
The apology has to be the only expected outcome of such a stupid remark but did not in any way erase the insult already flung at Sheela in mind-boggling reckless fashion.
We were subsequently informed by Sheela's sister that she heard of no apology. She blasted:
The readers write-in comments in Malaysiakini Vox Populi columns such as 'Repent, you shameful man' and 'Suspend Kinabatangan MP' said it all about their disgust for the Member of Parliament (yes a MP, can you bloody believe this!) for Kinabatangan, Bung Mokhtar Radin.
Bloke did a hands gesture known to Penangites as ‘kapuk’.
The dictionary tells us that one meaning of the act of ‘kapuk-ing’ or ‘berkapuk’ would be ‘to embrace from behind’ as in the example of a bad rider doing so to a horse’s neck.
The dictionary obviously refuses to continue from there, which young Penangites in my days could, by including, to that action of clinging from behind, a humping action as well.
Malaysiakini reader Sabahan said: "This clown is an insult not only to all parliamentarians, but to all Malaysians and especially Sabahans."
* yes, Bung Mokhtar Radin is from the land beneath the winds, which would have blown right straight through his skull
"He thinks that the Parliament is a coffee shop where he can use vulgar language and gestures and crack vulgar jokes to amuse his like-minded fellow parliamentarians from the Barisan Nasional."
Another Vox Populi reader compared his behaviour to that of a trishaw puller, except of course a trishaw puller is not a member of parliament.
This Bung Mokhtar Radin bloke has a notorious history of unsavoury thuggish behaviour in Parliament, with complete disrespect for ladies. He was one of the disgusting Bocor-ites.
Then there was that tebuan keeper, Badruddin Amiruldin.
Last year at the UMNO general assembly, Wanita Umno Kubang Kerian chief Zaleha Hussin must have felt she too needed to make some kind of impact at the gathering as we all know it’s a competitive world in UMNO as the party’s pyramidal structure gets narrower and narrower as one strives to the top
Though there were plenty of important pressing material for discussions at such forum, what with the nation still reeling from corruption, crimes and cronyism (all three ‘c’ could well be inter-related), and prices inflating like chapattis heated on pans, and young little girls murdered before they reached 10, Zaleha decided …….. get this …….. to attack the uniform of AirAsia air stewardesses.
Malaysiakini reported that at the UMNO annual assembly Wanita delegate sees red over AirAsia uniform. The women delegates to the annual general assembly of mighty political juggernaut UMNO discussed in depth, and with strong words, the AirAsia uniform for female cabin crew as ‘embarrassing’ to women.
She gasped: “Legs, knees and thighs are exposed for all to see. This is an embarrassment to women. Something must be done.”
She raised the matter during the debate on a motion on social issues and religion. And guess who was the Chairperson of the debate?
Yes, Badruddin Amiruldin. The exchange between these two midgets went as follows:
Zaleha: The provocative uniform must be changed to something reflective of Eastern values and which complies with the values of Islam.
Badruddin: I think their skirts are too short.
Zaleha: Cloth can be bought.
Badruddin: I think they don’t have enough cloth.
I suppose one could admit the debate was 'profound' ........ well, in UMNO's mentality.
Zaleha: She [referring to her ‘embarrassed’ friend] said a flight attendant sat in front of her and she could see her legs, thighs and knees. She was so embarrassed!
Badruddin: Did she see the tunnel?
And the UMNO crowd roared with laughter and approval at that salacious remark by the Chairperson of an UMNO forum on social issues and religion.
I blogged on this momentous UMNO event in No light at end of UMNO 'Tunnel'.
Then there was a former minister who made blatant racist comments against Malaysian Sheela Moorthy that her darker skin would probably mean that she came from a lower caste.
And when a so-called blogger-leader claimed he apologised (which no one had received nor heard), the blogger pronounced (in my opinion, rather too hastily) that the matter was closed. He added that the minister “did right to apologize, in my opinion. It is a quality missing in many politicians.”
I posted in The invisible 'apology':
Hang on a ding dong sec ….. First of all, apologising was the only acceptable and expected thing for the minister to do, but let’s not get carried away and phrase it as if he is to be commended.
Indeed I put the affair into its correct perspective by reminding everyone there’s nothing to commend that minister, just because he apologized for his racist remarks which he should not and never should have made in the first place.
The apology has to be the only expected outcome of such a stupid remark but did not in any way erase the insult already flung at Sheela in mind-boggling reckless fashion.
We were subsequently informed by Sheela's sister that she heard of no apology. She blasted:
“It is rumoured that he apologised. Really? How come I am the last to know? And it was through an aide? And to the ‘student in LA’? How come nothing in the media? Pressure not to publicise the issue I was told.”
“Despite the many interviews we have had with reporters (who approached us by the way) from Bernama, The News Straits Times and The Star, not one word of it was published. It is a sorry and scary state of affairs. If he did apologise, why was there nothing in the media? All I know is what I gather from reading the blogs. So much for World Press Freedom Day.”
Next, a former (but still at heart) UMNO bloke from Pasir Mas Kelantan, which I discussed in Ibrahim Ali said 50-year old women no longer fun - OK, I won’t say anymore.
How about pious PAS?
Two years ago I posted Gatal versus Miang where I related the case of Abdul Fatah Harun, the honourable PAS member for Rautau Panjang.
As reported in Malaysiakini, he told parliament “If we see women who don’t have husbands and are divorced not because their husbands are dead, (it must be because) they are ‘gatal sikit’”
When a swarm of protestors bollocked him, he qualified himself unrepentantly with “I said most women. I didn’t say all women. Most of the women who have divorced are gatal.”
Well, that explains! It’s only most women, not all women. Alhamdulillah (praise be to God)!
While there were protestations and angry response from many MPs, the most outstanding one came from Tan Lian Hoe (BN-Bukit Gantang) who yelled at him:
“You said women are gatal. Why don’t you say men who have divorced are also gatal? Why don’t you said they are miang? (euphemism for lustful male) If you are a gentleman, you have to withdraw that remark which is humiliating to women.”
Well, I hope Tan didn't hold her breath for misogynistic PAS?
Hmmm, what about prim, proper, prudish DAP then?
Well, I was shocked to say the least when I saw a post titled ‘Superpoked’. It referred to the case of Saiful Bukhari Azlan, asking for the outcome of the police medical examination of the alleged sodomy victim.
Dos one refer to an alleged sodomy victim or a case of alleged sodomy as ‘superpoked’?
It’s distasteful, insensitive and outrageous, and I think that the only reason the BN people failed to pounce on that was they have been so used to making such offensive statements themselves that they didn't recognize its unacceptability.
That blogger must grow up and remember he’s no longer a Gerakan Party blogger but a DAP blogger, and not only that but a DAP Member of Parliament as well.
My dear friend, don’t fall into the same gutter that Bung Mokhtar Radin, Member of Parliament for Kinabatangan, had dug for himself!
Members of Parliament must lift their bloody game.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Ezam threatens Anwar with shameful revelations
"Does not Dionysius seem to have made it sufficiently clear that there can be nothing happy for the person over whom some fear always looms?"
Anwar O Anwar, lu ch’am leow lah (you’re in dire straits) were my thoughts when I read Malaysiakini news article Ezam warns Anwar: I will reveal your secrets.
Anwar's former blue-eyed boy Ezam Mohd Nor warned Anwar: “If you link me to a political conspiracy over the sodomy report, I will divulge your secrets. If Anwar or Wan Azizah say that I am part of a conspiracy [of a sodomy report alleging Anwar had sodomised a former aide], I will in 24 hours swear as a Muslim that I will fight him."
And how does Ezam propose to ‘fight’ him?
According to Malaysiakini, who got it from Bernama, “Ezam said he would divulge all he knew about the PKR de facto leader although it would bring disgrace to his children and family.”
This is the part that I am confused. was Ezam referring to his own children and family that he is prepared to shame? Or was he referring to Anwar’s children and family?
Now, regardless of which family, just what would be the revelations that could bring shame, yet is currently being held back by Ezam … though now threatened as a sword of Damocles over Anwar Ibrahim’s head.
I am intrigued, and so would be millions of other Malaysians.
Ezam then went on to advice Anwar to concentrate on the sodomy police report made by his Saiful Bukhari Azlan, and not talk about a political conspiracy.
He warned Anwar not to creatively expand his problem (the sodomy allegations) to implicate Najib with Altantuya Shariibuu, as was alluded to in Balasubramaniam’s (now withdrawn) Statutory Declaration.
Anwar Ibrahim had presided in the press conference where the Stat Dec was first announced, thus in many ways tainting the Stat Dec as being politically motivated by those out to get Najib.
Incidentally I wonder whether Anwar has since spared a thought for ‘used-tissue’ Bala?
But aiyoyo, what could be the shameful revelations lah?
- Cicero, Tusculan Disputations 5.1
Anwar O Anwar, lu ch’am leow lah (you’re in dire straits) were my thoughts when I read Malaysiakini news article Ezam warns Anwar: I will reveal your secrets.
Anwar's former blue-eyed boy Ezam Mohd Nor warned Anwar: “If you link me to a political conspiracy over the sodomy report, I will divulge your secrets. If Anwar or Wan Azizah say that I am part of a conspiracy [of a sodomy report alleging Anwar had sodomised a former aide], I will in 24 hours swear as a Muslim that I will fight him."
And how does Ezam propose to ‘fight’ him?
According to Malaysiakini, who got it from Bernama, “Ezam said he would divulge all he knew about the PKR de facto leader although it would bring disgrace to his children and family.”
This is the part that I am confused. was Ezam referring to his own children and family that he is prepared to shame? Or was he referring to Anwar’s children and family?
Now, regardless of which family, just what would be the revelations that could bring shame, yet is currently being held back by Ezam … though now threatened as a sword of Damocles over Anwar Ibrahim’s head.
I am intrigued, and so would be millions of other Malaysians.
Ezam then went on to advice Anwar to concentrate on the sodomy police report made by his Saiful Bukhari Azlan, and not talk about a political conspiracy.
He warned Anwar not to creatively expand his problem (the sodomy allegations) to implicate Najib with Altantuya Shariibuu, as was alluded to in Balasubramaniam’s (now withdrawn) Statutory Declaration.
Anwar Ibrahim had presided in the press conference where the Stat Dec was first announced, thus in many ways tainting the Stat Dec as being politically motivated by those out to get Najib.
Incidentally I wonder whether Anwar has since spared a thought for ‘used-tissue’ Bala?
But aiyoyo, what could be the shameful revelations lah?
MCA at a crossroad
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards
Relax, you anwaristas – today is UMNO + MCA bashing day ;-) but this evening or tomorrow ........? ;-)
Josh Hong, a damn fine man and one of my favourite columnists at Malaysiakini [though I don’t always agree with him ;-) ] wrote Wither MCA in Umno's clasp, a most timely piece after the recent tsunamic general election, essentially asking the MCA that eternal question “Quo vadis” (whither goest thou?).
Hong wrote: “Despite its symbiotic relationship with the ‘mainstream’ Chinese media and the abundant supply of spin doctors, MCA failed miserably to establish itself as the party of the Chinese in the general election last March. Since then, there have been calls for it to quit the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).”
Hong went on to demonstrate that the seemingly momentous leadership happenings in the MCA, such as Ling Liong Sik’s resignation or Ong Ka Ting’s declination of a place in the new cabinet, had not caused even a stir in UMNO, indicating the MCA's insignificance and lack of influence or impact in the BN.
“Ong KT ta’mahu jadi menteri? Yawwnnn, ho hum, bagi MCA quota yang biasa, 4 kerusi lah. Siapa MCA nak pilih menjadi menteri, terserah kepada mereka; WTF cares.”
Basically Hong was showing that to the UMNO of today, the role of MCA in the government was mere window dressing. Gone were the days when a MCA man, Tan Siew Sin was the nation’s Finance Minister.
My uncle told me that when Tun Razak was PM, he gave a special instruction to the military to salute Tan Siew Sin, even though only the PM and Defence Minister were entitled to such military salutation.
It was an indication of the respect that the PM had for Tan Siew Sin and perhaps even the feelings of the Chinese community, to show that the MCA was considered as a peer in the Perikatan (Alliance, the Barisan Nasional predecessor).
Compared that with the case of Ong Tee Keat (then Deputy Higher Education) who was castigated by the cabinet because he raised a case of corruption where officials misused funds meant for Chinese schools. The allegation of corruption was subsequently verified as true by then Works minister Samy Vellu.
But the shocking outcome was DPM Najib [aiyah, maybe I shouldn’t have posted this until I receive payment for the several invoices I had billed him wakakaka ;-)] was his bullsh*t that the cabinet chewing of Ong was on 'principles', what I termed as form rather than substance.
He said the cabinet’s reprimand of Ong for alleging officials' misuse of funds meant for Chinese schools' refurbishment was a matter of ‘principle’ and that the ‘facts’ of Ong’s allegation was entirely a different matter.
Form was for his cousin’s face [Education Minister Hishamuddin) whilst substance was the fact of corruption by government officials.
… which meant that he didn't want to 'touch' the issue of corruption with a 10-foot pole.
… and what about the real ‘principle’?
Well, it’s the cabinet 'principle' of ensuring an UMNO leader must never be embarrassed by a non-UMNO leader, especailly a MCA bloke.
I had blogged previously:
In Boleh Land, a person who raised issues of corruption or passed on embarrassing but factual messages to the powers-that-be gets shot. The emperors (and we have many big and little ones all around) don't like to be told the stark truth about their stark nakedness, and that's a stark fact of life here.
That’s why Ong was reprimanded for (justifiably) criticising the Education Ministry (and by default Minister Hishamuddin) over pathetic management of funds for the repair work, while OTOH, the infamous Cyclops, who had brazenly asked Customs to close one eye to his ‘irregularity’, is still around in the Monkey House, called the Malaysian Parliament, to roam freely around to pass uncouthly remarks at lady MPs.
For more, read my previous posts:
(1) Corruption 'Fact' for DPM Najib & Hishamuddin
(2) What the cabinet reprimanded Ong Tee Keat for!
(3) Najib riled with Ong Tee Keat's last laugh!
(4) "No sorry please, we're UMNO Youth leaders"
(5) Apathetic Chinese marginalising themselves?
Hong gave another UMNO-MCA master-serf contrasting behaviour. He related the case of former DPM Musa Hitam chiding the MCA when the Chinese-based party was split down the middle in 1984, to best stay outside the BN until it could resolve its issues. Hong said it was ‘a piece of ‘advice’ that sent chills through MCA leadership.’
Chills only? What about red faces at being insulted with Musa Hitam's pordah?
But when UMNO was in strife in 1987, with the Malay party in turmoil in its most intensive power struggle in history, the MCA could have similarly told UMNO off, for the party to temporarily leave the coalition in the interest of the government and the country?
Of course the MCA kept its mouth shut, as would a junior nothing-ness party. By the examples above, Hong was proving that equal partnership did not nor does not exist in the BN.
Readers, please distinguish between ‘equal partnership’ and the concept of ‘primus inter pares’ or ‘first among equals’. There is no doubt the UMNO is first among equals, except that in the BN there is no ‘equal’.
Hong was very blunt, saying the absence of the MCA from the government wouldn’t bother the Chinese community so long as the government (minus the MCA) ensures the economic cake is sufficient for the people.
Hong asserted that “All the MCA power struggles in the past were driven by selfish interests, bereft of vision and ideology. Still reeling from the historic shock losses, this is perhaps an opportune time for the MCA leadership to open up a genuine and far-reaching debate on the party’s future.”
OTOH, my family believes that the MCA had done good in the past, but apart from the social welfare work of people like Michael Chong, that was eons ago, just prior to 1957 when it fought for citizenship rights for Chinese Malaysians. OK, it has also contributed well for Chinese education and institutions like TAR university.
But other than these, the MCA vis-à-vis UMNO has been generally in 'hidup segan, mati ta'mahu' mode, akin at times to a mute being stung by hornets!
A month or so, after the last general election I posted Quo Vadis MCA?
In 1969 it was confronted with a major crossroad; today in 2008 it has arrived at another, where its decision will be scrutinised by a more discerning community.
So … Mah Hua, arn chnua ah?
- John 13:36
Relax, you anwaristas – today is UMNO + MCA bashing day ;-) but this evening or tomorrow ........? ;-)
Josh Hong, a damn fine man and one of my favourite columnists at Malaysiakini [though I don’t always agree with him ;-) ] wrote Wither MCA in Umno's clasp, a most timely piece after the recent tsunamic general election, essentially asking the MCA that eternal question “Quo vadis” (whither goest thou?).
Hong wrote: “Despite its symbiotic relationship with the ‘mainstream’ Chinese media and the abundant supply of spin doctors, MCA failed miserably to establish itself as the party of the Chinese in the general election last March. Since then, there have been calls for it to quit the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).”
Hong went on to demonstrate that the seemingly momentous leadership happenings in the MCA, such as Ling Liong Sik’s resignation or Ong Ka Ting’s declination of a place in the new cabinet, had not caused even a stir in UMNO, indicating the MCA's insignificance and lack of influence or impact in the BN.
“Ong KT ta’mahu jadi menteri? Yawwnnn, ho hum, bagi MCA quota yang biasa, 4 kerusi lah. Siapa MCA nak pilih menjadi menteri, terserah kepada mereka; WTF cares.”
Basically Hong was showing that to the UMNO of today, the role of MCA in the government was mere window dressing. Gone were the days when a MCA man, Tan Siew Sin was the nation’s Finance Minister.
My uncle told me that when Tun Razak was PM, he gave a special instruction to the military to salute Tan Siew Sin, even though only the PM and Defence Minister were entitled to such military salutation.
It was an indication of the respect that the PM had for Tan Siew Sin and perhaps even the feelings of the Chinese community, to show that the MCA was considered as a peer in the Perikatan (Alliance, the Barisan Nasional predecessor).
Compared that with the case of Ong Tee Keat (then Deputy Higher Education) who was castigated by the cabinet because he raised a case of corruption where officials misused funds meant for Chinese schools. The allegation of corruption was subsequently verified as true by then Works minister Samy Vellu.
But the shocking outcome was DPM Najib [aiyah, maybe I shouldn’t have posted this until I receive payment for the several invoices I had billed him wakakaka ;-)] was his bullsh*t that the cabinet chewing of Ong was on 'principles', what I termed as form rather than substance.
He said the cabinet’s reprimand of Ong for alleging officials' misuse of funds meant for Chinese schools' refurbishment was a matter of ‘principle’ and that the ‘facts’ of Ong’s allegation was entirely a different matter.
Form was for his cousin’s face [Education Minister Hishamuddin) whilst substance was the fact of corruption by government officials.
… which meant that he didn't want to 'touch' the issue of corruption with a 10-foot pole.
… and what about the real ‘principle’?
Well, it’s the cabinet 'principle' of ensuring an UMNO leader must never be embarrassed by a non-UMNO leader, especailly a MCA bloke.
I had blogged previously:
In Boleh Land, a person who raised issues of corruption or passed on embarrassing but factual messages to the powers-that-be gets shot. The emperors (and we have many big and little ones all around) don't like to be told the stark truth about their stark nakedness, and that's a stark fact of life here.
That’s why Ong was reprimanded for (justifiably) criticising the Education Ministry (and by default Minister Hishamuddin) over pathetic management of funds for the repair work, while OTOH, the infamous Cyclops, who had brazenly asked Customs to close one eye to his ‘irregularity’, is still around in the Monkey House, called the Malaysian Parliament, to roam freely around to pass uncouthly remarks at lady MPs.
For more, read my previous posts:
(1) Corruption 'Fact' for DPM Najib & Hishamuddin
(2) What the cabinet reprimanded Ong Tee Keat for!
(3) Najib riled with Ong Tee Keat's last laugh!
(4) "No sorry please, we're UMNO Youth leaders"
(5) Apathetic Chinese marginalising themselves?
Hong gave another UMNO-MCA master-serf contrasting behaviour. He related the case of former DPM Musa Hitam chiding the MCA when the Chinese-based party was split down the middle in 1984, to best stay outside the BN until it could resolve its issues. Hong said it was ‘a piece of ‘advice’ that sent chills through MCA leadership.’
Chills only? What about red faces at being insulted with Musa Hitam's pordah?
But when UMNO was in strife in 1987, with the Malay party in turmoil in its most intensive power struggle in history, the MCA could have similarly told UMNO off, for the party to temporarily leave the coalition in the interest of the government and the country?
Of course the MCA kept its mouth shut, as would a junior nothing-ness party. By the examples above, Hong was proving that equal partnership did not nor does not exist in the BN.
Readers, please distinguish between ‘equal partnership’ and the concept of ‘primus inter pares’ or ‘first among equals’. There is no doubt the UMNO is first among equals, except that in the BN there is no ‘equal’.
Hong was very blunt, saying the absence of the MCA from the government wouldn’t bother the Chinese community so long as the government (minus the MCA) ensures the economic cake is sufficient for the people.
Hong asserted that “All the MCA power struggles in the past were driven by selfish interests, bereft of vision and ideology. Still reeling from the historic shock losses, this is perhaps an opportune time for the MCA leadership to open up a genuine and far-reaching debate on the party’s future.”
OTOH, my family believes that the MCA had done good in the past, but apart from the social welfare work of people like Michael Chong, that was eons ago, just prior to 1957 when it fought for citizenship rights for Chinese Malaysians. OK, it has also contributed well for Chinese education and institutions like TAR university.
But other than these, the MCA vis-à-vis UMNO has been generally in 'hidup segan, mati ta'mahu' mode, akin at times to a mute being stung by hornets!
A month or so, after the last general election I posted Quo Vadis MCA?
In 1969 it was confronted with a major crossroad; today in 2008 it has arrived at another, where its decision will be scrutinised by a more discerning community.
So … Mah Hua, arn chnua ah?
Friday, July 11, 2008
A severe blow to Anwar Ibrahim
“You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.”
- Abraham Lincoln
I believe the reason for Aussie PM Kevin Rudd’s refusal to meet with Anwar Ibrahim has nothing to do with 'giving face' to AAB, as Anwar’s daughter had bravely attempted to dismiss it as such, in an interview with Malaysiakini.
Nurul Izzah said rather ungraciously: "... we do understand the intricacies of public diplomacy and that Rudd has to give face to Abdullah but it is unfortunate for all.”
"Nevertheless, come Sept 16, we will gladly accord them the proper decorum and if he wishes to pay a courtesy call to future opposition leader – Abdullah or deputy PM Najib Abdul Razak - we would be more than happy to assist", alluding of course to her father’s boast of seizing majority rule through massive defections of BN MPs to her party, PKR by 16 September 2008.
In fact Malaysiakini reported the Australian PM hails M'sia as 'vibrant democracy', where Rudd declared:
"... democracy is not just alive and well in Malaysia but flourishing."
"What has been great for us all to see in the councils of the world is the strength of Malaysia's democratic processes and the fact that these democratic processes have been tested and applied in recent elections."
I believe Rudd has been briefed by his diplomats here and back at home, where it’s quite difficult to criticise Malaysia after a general election which saw the ruling party lost its two-thirds majority in Parliament, five States to the opposition parties, and several ministers and party leaders now officially jobless.
Even silver-tongue Anwar Ibrahim would have difficulty convincing the world that the Malaysian general election in the main was not fair. In fact, the election results had caught many opposition (but now ruling parties in States) leaders by surprise, who obviously hadn't expected such 'fairness'.
This is not to say that Australian PM or ministers do not meet with opposition leaders of a foreign country because in Australian politics, the opposition is part of her Majesty’s government, known as ‘Her Majesty's loyal opposition’.
In Malaysia, alas, the opposition is always considered as ‘disloyal’ (to whom?) and to be treated as the ‘enemy’, who has been inconveniently allowed into Parliament by some stupid voters. Well, we certainly are a long way from a two-party system.
The first reason I can think of Rudd’s refusal to see Anwar is that the latter has no official status within the Malaysian parliamentary system.
But her* his wife has, as the Opposition leader. I believe Kevin Rudd would be more inclined to meet Dr Azizah in her parliamentary role. But alas (again), no one proposed that, did they?
* a 'bitch' of an error, maybe a Freudian slip ;-), thanks to my blogging mate Susan Loone for spotting it
It must always be Anwar, isn't it ... where he even claimed ‘de facto’ leadership of PKR and in that insensitive assertion, consigned his wife, the party’s de jure president, into an embarrassing subordinate or subservient role.
Secondly, the Australian diplomats don’t suffer from what some Malaysian are experiencing, a blinkered view of the political situation.
These diplomats know that with a 58 seat majority the BN is the legitimate ruling party, which is how western democracies confirm their governments.
They don’t believe in nor support emotional undemocratic bullsh*t like “We can’t wait for another five years”, where those making that impatient demand, apart from insulting the supremacy of the ballot box (hmmm, manalah ‘ketuanan rakyat’?), forget conveniently that ‘waiting for another five years’ is precisely an institutionalised democratic process where voters make their choices through the ballot box. It’s called democracy.
Now, isn't such an undemocratic behaviour typically alike UMNO's, with the same mentality that's unable to comprehend the democratic process, and categorising the return of 140 BN MPs as those "who have been inconveniently allowed into Parliament by some stupid voters"?
"We cannot wait for another 5 years!" F*-frightening lah!
The emotional outburst shows that some so-called political 'reformers'(?) would be prepared to seize power through undemocratic process, not unlike the military in Thailand or Burma. We should be grateful that they aren’t in control of the military.
Thirdly, the Aussies know that Anwar Ibrahim has been attempting to destabilise the new BN government through a continuous propaganda of pending party defections by BN MPs and ‘various’ other means - tomorrow I'll provide my take on this.
Knowing the Aussies and their disgust for party hopping, I am not surprised that the diplomats would have advised Rudd to stay clear of Anwar.
Aussies don’t like party hoppers, as seen in the example of Cheryl Kernot who was punished severely even though she didn’t take her former party seat along with her when she moved across from the Social Democrats to the Labour Party.
Then there was Brendan Nelson, the current Liberal Party leader who is still being castigated today (from time to time) for almost similar tadpole-like behaviour because he switched from Labour to the conservative Liberal Party some 15 years ago on the advice of his AMA (Aus Medical Association) President and good friend, Bruce Shepherd. Mind you, Nelson was a Labour Party member in his teens because his dad Des, a strong union man had enrolled him in Labour.
It’s a wretched blow to Anwar Ibrahim, not so much because a PM of a western country had refused to see him, but more because that PM had seen through him.
You can’t claim to promote reformasi when you keep talking about seizing power through party defections of MPs.
Burglars in Balasubramaniam's house - looking for?
In Malaysiakini Cops deny involvement in PI's disappearance the men in blue are pissed off because they have been accused of ‘making’ Balasubramanin Perumal disappear - I hope you know who Balasubramanin Perumal is; if you don’t this post won’t interest you.
Apparently, Bala and his family (but minus his 2 dogs, and you’ll know why in a jiffy) are in a neighbouring ASEAN country – Sing? Thailand? - so claimed the police, who had even interviewed him there.
Additionally Bala rang his nephew asking the latter to cease ‘making noise’ over his disappearance as it wasn’t beneficial to his safety – see Malaysiakini nes article Stop the campaign, Bala tells nephew but his nephew didn't heed Bala's instruction as he went ahead and lodged another police report to complain about the failure of the police to inform him of Bala’s whereabouts.
Meanwhile, according to yesterday’s Bernama, Bala's house in Taman Pelangi, Rawang was broken into.
Bala’s neighbour, M. Sadasivam, obviously under requests to feed Bala’s dogs (though Bernama put the canine population in the singular), noticed the break-in on the afternoon of Thursday when he went across to do his neighbourly duties.
Police said the back door and the iron grille of Bala’s house were ajar, and were still investigating if there were items missing from the house, though they asserted that only Bala would know if anything was indeed missing.
But the Star said it was Sadasivam’s (or Sadasuvam, depending on whether you wish to follow Bernama or the Star) daughter, Eswary, a Form Four student, who first noticed the open grille gate.
She said: “I went to inspect and found the gate and a door leading to the kitchen opened. There was a set of keys each hanging on the padlock gate and the door.”
So it would seem, and confirmed by the police, the ‘burglars’ had used a duplicate set of keys to gain entry. Duplicate keys mean they had access to the original set (one way or other).
Now, we know at least one thing – Bala’s two dogs don’t bite ;-)
But what were those ‘burglars’ looking for?
Packets of thousand-ringgit notes? Or, more as yet unsigned Stat Decs?
Apparently, Bala and his family (but minus his 2 dogs, and you’ll know why in a jiffy) are in a neighbouring ASEAN country – Sing? Thailand? - so claimed the police, who had even interviewed him there.
Additionally Bala rang his nephew asking the latter to cease ‘making noise’ over his disappearance as it wasn’t beneficial to his safety – see Malaysiakini nes article Stop the campaign, Bala tells nephew but his nephew didn't heed Bala's instruction as he went ahead and lodged another police report to complain about the failure of the police to inform him of Bala’s whereabouts.
Meanwhile, according to yesterday’s Bernama, Bala's house in Taman Pelangi, Rawang was broken into.
Bala’s neighbour, M. Sadasivam, obviously under requests to feed Bala’s dogs (though Bernama put the canine population in the singular), noticed the break-in on the afternoon of Thursday when he went across to do his neighbourly duties.
Police said the back door and the iron grille of Bala’s house were ajar, and were still investigating if there were items missing from the house, though they asserted that only Bala would know if anything was indeed missing.
But the Star said it was Sadasivam’s (or Sadasuvam, depending on whether you wish to follow Bernama or the Star) daughter, Eswary, a Form Four student, who first noticed the open grille gate.
She said: “I went to inspect and found the gate and a door leading to the kitchen opened. There was a set of keys each hanging on the padlock gate and the door.”
So it would seem, and confirmed by the police, the ‘burglars’ had used a duplicate set of keys to gain entry. Duplicate keys mean they had access to the original set (one way or other).
Now, we know at least one thing – Bala’s two dogs don’t bite ;-)
But what were those ‘burglars’ looking for?
Packets of thousand-ringgit notes? Or, more as yet unsigned Stat Decs?
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Anwar Ibrahim set Saiful to clean the Augean stables
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| Stables of King Augeas of Elis where 3000 oxens were kept; it was not cleaned for 30 years |
In the sorry case of Saiful Bukhari Azlan, a former personal aide to Anwar Ibrahim making an allegation of sodomy against his former boss, I think I can identify 3 incidents when Anwar Ibrahim panicked.
The first incident was when he scurried off furtively to hide in the Turkish Embassy, claiming he had received an intelligence report from a foreign intelligence agency that he was targeted for assassination.
‘… foreign intelligence agency providing information directly to him he was a target for assassination …’?
I guess even in his moments of panic he wasn’t one to let slip an opportunity for grandiose delusion of grandeur … as if he’s a Robert Kennedy, Mahatma Gandhi or Martin Luther King ;-)
Well, he sulked there shivering and trembling until the PM assures safety of both complainant & accused, as reported by Malaysiakini.
The episode actually worked out to his benefit, even enhancing his political status until some were taken into believing Anwar himself had organized the whole sodomy affair. And afterall, wasn’t Saiful a favoured aide, travelling abroad with his globe-trotting jet-setting de facto leader? See Malaysiakini article where Anwar said: Posh condo: I didn't say I never went.
Then, in the second incident of panic, laced with (at that time) a total lack of concern for Saiful, who could have been under duress to ‘lie’ about the sodomy accusation, Anwar filed a libel suit against Saiful.
I posted in Political assassination in Malaysia - the likely target the following (extract):
The Malaysiakini report of Anwar Ibrahim filing a bizarre suit against Saiful as seen in Anwar files libel suit against aide has been a regrettable hasty (and self preservation) action by Anwar, even before the facts of the circumstances have even been established, on whether Saiful has been a villain or a victim as I discussed in my earlier post Saiful Bukhari Azlan - Victim or Villain?
Then came the Quran oath taking challenge. While Saiful was keen to participate, Anwar was very circumspect, initially saying he would only if it was done in front of a respected ulamak.
When I read that unnecessary condition by Anwar (are there non-respected ulamaks?), I knew he wouldn’t, and was tap dancing away from a ‘Religious Declaration’ (as opposed to a Statutory Declaration).
Personally I don’t believe much in this swearing before God stuff, though of course some cultures are inclined towards it. My uncle told me that in British days, even the orang putih courts would accept as affirmation any Chinese willing to ‘potong ayam’ (charm peh kay) in some civil (but not criminal) cases.
Whether acting under duress or not, Saiful has now upped the ante, by posting the following message to Anwar Ibrahim on her fiancee’s blog:
“Dear Anwar the hypocrite! I challenge you to swear on the Quran. Set the place and time! I will come. The truth will prevail. Falsehood will surely be exposed. I am not afraid to die. God is mighty!”
A clear and unambiguous challenge! I was told this appeared on TV as well.
But I wasn't surprised when Anwar, contrary to his earlier (though hedged) acceptance, refused to take up the challenge to swear on the Quran that he didn't sodomised Saiful. But I reckon the pressure on Anwar to put his money where his mouth was, has panicked him for the 3rd time.
... though I must admit I was taken aback when Malaysiakini reported Sodomy: Anwar turns to Syariah Court.
Anwar claimed: “On the advice of ulama and my lawyers, I have filed a complaint with the enforcement department of the Syariah Court to have them clear me and my family’s name of the malicious allegation.”
Malaysiakini said Anwar’s lodged complaint is referred to as qazaf in Islamic law, where it makes a request to the syariah to probe into ‘false allegations’ pertaining to adultery or sexual misconduct.
Under syariah laws, Saiful will be required to produce four credible witnesses (must be all male) to back up his claims. If he fails to do so, he will declared a fasid or unreliable person. The penalty is three years imprisonment, or a fine up to RM5,000, for bearing false witness.
Now, I wonder how Saiful will be able to product 4 male witnesses, assuming there was a case of sodomy?
As a man of the world, touted as Asia's Renaissance Man etc etc, Anwar has set a redundant and impossible legal-religious task for Saiful when a civil court libel suit against Saiful already exists.
One can be forgiven for perceiving that he now attempts to hide behind the syariah court as he had in the Turkish Embassy. Panic as panic can be, I suppose?
However, more importantly, does this mean that Anwar Ibrahim is taking the Pakatan Rakyat including and especially the DAP down the path of a Malaysia soon to be legally administered by the syariah laws under Anwar's aspired premiership?
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