Any competent cabinet minister around?

I get increasingly impatience when reading this piece, and wanted to yell at Jacqueline -- "Come on, Jac! Anyone with a primary education and a simple mind would have known this fact. It's UMNO's tradition and budaya. Would anything changed on your complaint?"

The question should be that how many of our ministers are actually competent?

...and KPI? Ha ha... Isn't that chief of the zoos scored more than 100% in his KPI even though approval rating among conscientious Malaysians failed miserably?

The fact is that, the country is ran by a bunch of corrupt, unqualified, unprofessional jokers.

Nonetheless, I salute Jac's courage in shouting out loud her mind in this publication...and admire her more than ever.

Great job! Conscientious Malaysians are behind you.


Following article adopted from TheNutGraph.

Hishammuddin’s incompetence
20 Nov 09 : 8.00AM

By Jacqueline Ann Surin
jacquelinesurin@thenutgraph.com

HERE'S what I want to know: why was Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein appointed to the cabinet, and why is he still a minister despite an appalling track record of saying and doing the wrong things?

Hishammuddin's statements as Home Minister since he was sworn into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's administration in April 2009, betray either how clueless or disrespectful he is about human rights, democratic principles and gender equality.

Examples abound. Most notably:

• Hishammuddin famously said he was "thankful" that no "serious incidents" occurred in Perak on 7 May 2009 despite police action in arresting scores of people, including elected representatives, and the unlawful imprisonment of Perak Speaker V Sivakumar.
• He also famously declared that lawyers were not above the law in justifying the arrest of five legal aid lawyers who were trying to represent their clients who had been arrested at the Brickfields police station on the night of 7 May 2009. It wasn't just the Bar Council who was outraged, even the MCA was appalled at the arrest of lawyers who were merely doing their job. But Hishammuddin still found it fit to defend such police action.
• Of course, the starkest example of the kind of minister Hishammuddin is was demonstrated when he not only welcomed the Shah Alam cow-head protestors, he also defended them. With Hishammuddin's powerful and public legitimisation of bigotry and the threat of violence against Hindus in Malaysia, I reckon that Hishammuddin's behaviour was far more shameful than the protestors'. After all, his is a public office paid for by all tax-paying Malaysians to protect the nation's, and not some thugs', interest.
• Hishammuddin also became the butt of ridicule when on 12 Nov 2009 he defended the police yet again despite the country's high crime rate.
• And most recently, Hishammuddin demonstrated a total lack of gender awareness when he declared that Section 498 of the Penal Code was here to stay. His statement in Parliament also reminds us that actually, Hishammuddin, a lawyer by training, has no understanding of Malaysia's commitments under international law. In this case, it would be the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women or Cedaw, which Malaysia signed in 1995.

Incompetent

What do these gaffes by Hishammuddin tell us? Clearly, he's an incompetent minister who seems intent on defending the police force for their disregard of human rights and for their inefficiencies.

After all, the Home Ministry's mission statement, according to its website, is the "administration of internal security matters in ensuring peace and wellbeing of the people". How can a minister entrusted with this defend police incompetence and the threat of violence by non-state actors such as the cow-head protestors?

Also, what is Hishammuddin doing about the sheer incompetence of the Sarawak police force? Why has no action been taken against the police in Sarawak for its sloppy investigations into the rape of Penan girls and women despite a government task force report finding evidence of the rapes? Already, the Sarawak Women for Women Society (SWWS) has reported yet another rape in a primary school in the interiors of Sarawak where a teacher is a suspect.

As SWWS points out: "... the lesson for society to learn is that rape happens in the interior and will continue to happen until people who commit this crime know they are going to be found out and held to account for their actions."

But with Hishammuddin so busy defending the police force for its incompetence and lack of respect for human rights and democratic principles, will those who threaten the "peace and wellbeing of the people" ever be taken to task?

I'd be curious to know what Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) will eventually be put in place for the Home Ministry. And if these KPIs are drawn up intelligently and fairly, I'll be willing to wager that Hishammuddin is more likely to fail in meeting his KPIs than succeed.

Cabinet appointments

Even so, will Hishammuddin be retained? That would really be a measure of whether Najib is serious about meeting his own KPIs as the nation's chief executive officer.

See, the problem with Hishammuddin being a minister isn't who he is per se. The problem with Hishammuddin is that the selection process of cabinet ministers is governed by political patronage.

On 13 Nov 2009, theSun ran a translation of the Chinese language press reports that quoted Najib as squashing rumours about an impending cabinet reshuffle involving MCA leaders. The Chinese press had speculated that MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat would ask for vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai to be removed as Health Minister because of the fighting between both men.

We all know that such a scenario is entirely possible. After all, by convention, the leaders of the main Barisan Nasional component parties have always been given cabinet positions.
In Hishammuddin's case, it would not be surprising if he was appointed to a powerful cabinet portfolio because he is Umno vice-president. Not only that, he is also Najib's cousin and the son of a former prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn.

This begs the question: who merits being appointed to cabinet positions in this country? Surely, if we are to achieve all the development goals that our prime ministers have been so fond of announcing, what we need are appointments based on meritocracy. Not political patronage nor family ties nor positions within a party.

For all intents and purposes, Hishammuddin should step down for his dismal and embarrassing performance as minister. And if he doesn't have the integrity to do so, he should be sacked. Neither is likely to happen, of course. But I would be happy to be proven wrong.

________________________________________________________________
Jacqueline Ann Surin can't believe how little shame, intelligence and integrity some cabinet ministers in Malaysia have.

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah advocating PR's causes

This indeed a great news, seeing that Tengku is willing to move a step closer towards the justice for people. Wish to have more actions demonstrated and people of conscience would be supporting.

“Anything that could protect the constitutional rights of the people, in particular of the states ... I will definitely not let any side down so I will try to play my part if I can in order to resolve this problem, if it is considered a problem at all,” said Ku Li.

Following article adopted from TheMalaysianInsider.

Pakatan wants Ku Li to head caucus on oil dispute

By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 18 – Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders today met Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah (pic) to discuss the possibility of the former finance minister chairing a proposed caucus on the Kelantan oil royalty dispute.

The offer came about when the veteran Umno leader met with Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Machang PKR MP Saifuddin Nasution, Kubang Kerian PAS MP Salahuddin Ayub, Batu MP Tian Chua at the MP's lounge in parliament.

After discussing for nearly 30 minutes, the Gua Musang MP told reporters that he would consider the offer but did not give a timeframe for an answer.

“They have proposed to form a caucus on oil because oil is a very hot subject being debated between the government and particularly the state representatives. They think that through the caucus there could be some kind of logical reasoning in order to arrive at an amicable solution to the problem," said the Kelantan prince.

“So they have decided to approach me to head the caucus. I have not given an answer. I will still consider and think about this,” said Razaleigh, popularly known as Ku Li.

Razaleigh said that he would consider the request as he was “involved in the oil business” since the formation of national oil company Petronas and the drafting of the Petroleum Development Bill. He was Petronas’s first chairman when it was formed in 1974.

“Anything that could protect the constitutional rights of the people, in particular of the states ... I will definitely not let any side down so I will try to play my part if I can in order to resolve this problem, if it is considered a problem at all,” said Ku Li.

“I think it was indeed in the vesting deed agreement that was signed between the states and Petronas that the states where oil is found on shore or off shore will benefit from such fund.

“They (Kelantan) should be given ... according to the agreement, they should get the oil money,” he added.

Razaleigh reiterated his stand that “there is no such thing as wang ehsan” or goodwill payment.

“Oil is the right of the people and it is not for the federal government to distribute as a largess. The government can distribute from the revenue collected from taxes in such line and that is the prerogative of the federal government but when it comes to this, it’s the right of the people.

“That is why I feel inclined to say my piece because I was involved from the beginning and I know the intention why we had the agreement,” he said.

When asked if prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was wrong in calling the oil royalty a “goodwill” payment, he replied that “it is left to your interpretation.”

Najib sparked an uproar when he announced that the Barisan National (BN) federal government woukd pay Kelantan “goodwill payment” for oil extracted in its waters instead of oil royalty.

PAS lawmakers are disputing the “goodwill payment”, saying that it is akin to receiving alms instead of rightful oil royalty.

Najib told Parliament that Kelantan has no right to claim for royalties from Petronas since oil was extracted beyond the state’s waters, similar to the situation in Terengganu.

Shame - Malaysia is certified a corrupt country

Article adopted from TheMalaysianInsider.

Malaysia seen as more corrupt than ever

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 17 - Malaysia is now seen to be more corrupt than ever, anti-graft watchdog Transparency International said in its global corruption perception index 2009 launched today.

Malaysia now ranks 56 out of 180 countries in the world with a corruption index score of 4.5 out of 10, with 10 being the least corrupt, said the world corruption watchdog. Last year, it placed 47 with a CPI score of 5.1.

The three least corrupt countries in the world are, in order, New Zealand, Denmark and Singapore.


p/s: also refer to LimKitSiang blog of Major blow for Najib premiership – Malaysia’s worst ranking and score in 15 years in Transparency International Corruption Perception Index 2009

Students brainwashed by BTN of PM

Article adopted from TheMalaysianInsider.

Young Pakatan lawmakers slam BTN ‘brainwashing’
By Neville Spykerman

SHAH ALAM, Nov 18 — A group of young Pakatan Pakyat (PR) elected representatives urged the Selangor government today to stop allowing students to be sent for what they called “brainwashing propaganda” programmes conducted by Biro Tata Negara (BTN) under the Prime Minister’s Department.

According to the group of seven PR lawmakers, BTN courses — compulsory for local university students and civil servants — taught students to hate and was contrary to its original purpose as well as the Constitution.

Speaking from his own experience as a student made to attend BTN, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said they were taught that PKR members were Jewish agents, that DAP was a Singaporean Party, while PAS was labelled a deviant movement.

“There is no room for debate, and there were Chinese students in attendance during one of the programmes and I can only imagine the fear they would have felt,” said the Seri Setia assemblyman.

Teratai lawmaker Jenice Lee questioned why BTN programmes are being held in secrecy and called for the “brainwashing” to stop.

“If they have nothing to hide they should open up the programmes so the public can see for themselves.”

PKR’s Amirudin Shari said they were aware that BTN courses taught those who attended that PR were enemies of the state or foreign agents.

“From the feedback we received from those who attended BTN, a big part of the programme has nothing to do with nation building or education but is an Umno and BN race-based programme,” said the Batu Caves lawmaker.

“Participants are indoctrinated with propaganda about ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ and outside threats. There is no room to challenge what’s being said.”

He said they will urge the state government to stop sending students from Selangor-owned institutions of higher learning, including Universiti Industri Selangor (Unisel), Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor and Inpens Selangor, from attending BTN.

Kota Siputeh BN Assemblyman is OUT

Article adopted from TheNutGraph.

Court declares Kota Siputeh seat vacant, orders fresh election
16 Nov 09 : 8.35PM
Updated at 8:35pm, 16 Nov 2009

KUALA LUMPUR, 16 Nov 2009: A fresh election will be held for the Kota Siputeh state seat in Kedah after the High Court here today declared it vacant.

Justice Datuk Alizatul Khair Osman Khairuddin ruled that the seat was vacant after incumbent assemblyperson Datuk Abu Hassan Sarif absented from two state assembly meetings this year.

Following the High Court decision, Abu Hassan will be barred from attending the state legislative assembly sitting tomorrow.

In her decision, Justice Alizatul held that the Election Commission (EC) had acted irrationally. Its decision that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyperson for Kota Siputeh and that the state seat was not vacant ought to be quashed, she said.

"While I agree that the EC has the power to determine the casual vacancy, I do not think the EC can override the power of the speaker under Article 51 of the Kedah Constitution," she said in her decision delivered at 5:30pm.

"In my view, Article 51 sets out the conditions which render the seat to be vacant, and the first respondent (Abu Hassan) had satisfied the conditions," said Justice Alizatul in allowing the judicial review filed by Kedah Speaker Datuk Dr Abdul Isa Ismail.

Abdul Isa, represented by leading counsel Sulaiman Abdullah, filed the judicial review on 1 Oct after the EC decided that there was no vacancy of the Kota Siputeh seat and that Abu Hassan was still the assemblyperson.

Abdul Isa wanted the court to declare that Abu Hassan was no longer the assemblyperson following his failure to attend two consecutive sittings of the state assembly on 19 April and 9 Aug this year, and that the seat was vacant.

In his application, Abdul Isa also sought an order for the EC to call for a by-election.

Article 51 of the Kedah State Constitution provides that if any member of the state legislative assembly is absent from the assembly without leave of the speaker for two consecutive meetings, his [or her] seat shall become vacant.

In her decision today, Justice Alizatul said it was not disputed that Abu Hassan did not obtain leave from the speaker to absent himself from two consecutive meetings, and had only issued his medical certificate to the speaker on 10 Aug 2009.

"The speaker has the power under Article 51 of the Kedah Constitution to grant leave, and he did not act unreasonably in rejecting the medical certificate dated 10 Aug 2009 after knowing that the assembly[person] had also attended a function on the same day," she said.

Justice Alizatul held that the EC had acted illegally in accepting the medical certificate issued by Abu Hassan as being the reason for his absence.

The EC had also made an irrational decision in deciding that Article 51 could only be invoked after the speaker referred the matter to the Rights and Privileges Committee, she added.

"There is no mandatory provision imposed on the speaker to do so because the decision to refer the matter to the committee or not is his discretion since leave matter is not a privilege conferred on an assembly[person]," she reasoned. — Bernama

Honouring an Agreement - A government's scam

What do you say about those who do not honour their words?
Is your government acting honourably by example to all of you as citizens?

This case apparently demonstrated clearly how the concerned parties are slapping their own faces hard, in regreting the agreement they inked some years ago.

As an individuals who represented the government in the deal, it is shameful!
As a government, it is very much a despicable act no diffenrent than a con artist!

How would you expect the people believe in their government, that they will not be CONNED the same way?

You should be ashame as Malaysians. Shame on all of them in declining the rights to whose who deserved, especially upon an AGREEMENT.


Followng is an article taken from The Malaysian Insider dated 4th Oct, 2009:

The tale of two former IGPs
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 4 – One is the longest-serving top police officer Malaysia has ever known, someone who left the force with his reputation and image intact. The other is a former top cop who left the force in disgrace after an assault on former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

One is a former top cop who reached the peak of the corporate world here, and who looks the part in society pages and roundtable discussions on law and order. The other is a former top cop who shuns publicity like the plague and is shunned by the movers and shakers in government.

The contrast between Tun Hanif Omar and Tan Sri Rahim Noor is not only skin-deep. Both were signatories to two historic agreements between the Government of Malaysia and the Communist Party of Malaya in 1989, watershed agreements that ended the armed conflict between the communists and the government.

But today they occupy opposing sides of the spectrum on public opinion over Chin Peng and the Communist Party of Malaya.

Haniff is part of the strong anti-CPM lobby, the body of Malaysians who do not want Chin Peng to be allowed to step on Malaysian soil.

They argue that the communists inflicted death and suffering on many Malaysians, especially security personnel, and have right to return home.

Rahim is among a group of Malaysians who are guided by the principle that once an agreement has been inked, a line has to be drawn in the sand and the government has a duty and a legal obligation to adhere to the terms of the agreement.

No ifs and buts. No re-opening old wounds.

Hanif made clear his views recently after the High Court ruled that comments made by a former deputy minister against Chin Peng and the CPM were not defamatory.

He pointed out that the former secretary-general of the outlawed Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) had no legal standing.

“It is an illegal operation as it was not registered under the law,” said Hanif.

He said that Chin Peng was in charge of a notorious party which killed thousands of people in the most cruel way, and that a non-registered party had no right making any demands.

This response from Hanif is puzzling, to say the least. If he believed that Chin Peng and others in the CPM were evil and members of an illegal organization, why did he agree to sign the “Agreement Between The Government Of Malaysia and the Communist Party of Malaya.

The agreement reads: The Government of Malaysia and the Communist Party of Malaya, consistent with the common objective for peace, hereby agree to the following:-

Article 1 – Upon the signing of this Agreement, the Government of Malaysia and the CPM shall cease all armed activities forthwith.

Article 2 – The CPM shall disband all its armed units, destroy its arms, ammunition, explosives and booby-traps in Malaysia and Thailand.

Article 3 – Members of the CPM and members of its uits who are of Malaysian origin and who wish to settle down in Malaysia shall be allowed to do so in accordance with the laws of Malaysia.

Article 4 – Malaysian authorities shall assist members of the CPM and members of its disbanded armed units to help them to start their peaceful life afresh.

When Hanif signed the agreement witnessed by among others General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh of the Government of Thailand, did he believe that the Malaysian Government was not interested in honoring its obligations?

Rahim has so far not spoken publicly. He was lined up as a witness for Chin Peng but did not get the opportunity to testify for the 85-year-old because the High Court struck out the former CPM leader’s suit.

Still, Rahim’s friends said that he feels strongly about the sanctity of an agreement. In addition, he feels that he is duty-bound to tell the truth given that he is a signatory to one of the two agreements, and was one of the key players in getting the CPM to come to the negotiating table.

He knows that no amount of reparation or words of comfort can bring back the police and military personnel who lost their lives in the fight against the CPM.

As a former director of the Special Branch, he knows of the countless men and women who went in harm’s way to break the will of the communist movement.

Some of his men and women never returned home to their families.

There is no love lost between Rahim Noor and the CPM. But he was a signatory to the “Administrative Arrangement Between The Government of Malaysia and The Communist Party Of Malaya Pursuant To The Agreement To Terminate Hostilities’’ and believes in the sanctity of the agreement.

One is a former top police officer who seems to have forgotten that he was a signatory to a groundbreaking agreement, a rare occasion where communists laid down their arms.

The other is a former top police officer who still believes that what happened on Dec 2, 1989 in Haadyai has to be respected.

In love with a fair-skin?

Dark skin or fair skin, people must be accorded the same treatment.

A social responsible organisation must not provoke but promote social harmonies, and find ways to mitigate the stigmas already impacting the unfortunates.

Read more here:
Skin whiteners labeled racist

Wearing pants is indecent

This is absurd! Women arrested for wearing pants in violation of religion decency rules, and supposedly be WHIPPED.

United Nation and world organizations must work harder in protecting the rights and plights of Muslim women, whom often been abused to the fancies of male-dominant societies and in the name of their religion.

Read more here:

Punished for wearing pants

BN government should be sacked

The entire BN government should have been sacked long ago to avoid continued damages done to the country and its people. As many of these politicians are decendents of some of those ex-leaders who laid a foundation of corrupt ideology.

That's the general view of all consciencious people in this country as the country continues to be in a dire situation made worst with the recent unscrupulous petrol price increase though a "cheating" strategy that conned the nation to pay the same (or more) but receive lower quality product. And they still trying to justify and convince the people thinking that people of easily misled.

Refer to news report from The Malaysian Insider below:
Pakatan wants Hishammuddin sacked

A different set of rules, indeed

UMNO never failed to disappoint people. Being corrupt from top to bottom, it again doing its best to justify why its corrupt candidate in a by-election is a hero, instead, than anything else. Most certain, that corruption and greed are not only exercised within the party but flexed through all government agencies, such as EC, MACC, PDRM, AG, and judges; a clear example from finger tips would be the Illegitimate Perak coup d'etat orchestrated by the chief - a blatant disregard of all civilised rules and constitutions.

Read the article by Tengku Razaleigh:

a different set of rules
I don’t know En. Rohaizat. He may be a fine upstanding citizen. However, his public record of dishonesty would long ago have disqualified him from being a candidate for public office in any normal political party.

Is Umno so short of people that we have to find a lawyer disbarred for financial dishonesty to stand? Has financial misconduct become so common among us that we no longer see it as a factor in a candidate’s suitability? The party leaders who select and screen candidates must have known of this impediment but considered financial misconduct a trivial matter.

Honesty is a minimal condition for public office. Whatever the other virtues of the candidate, he should not be considered if he fails this test. The candidates we field for election must have a clean record because we are asking the public to place their confidence in him as their leader, and democratic government breaks down without public confidence. We are also saying this candidate represents us. I’m sad to have to say such obvious things.

By fielding a disbarred lawyer, today’s Umno is projecting the image that it lives by a different moral code from the rest of Malaysia. One set of rules for Umno, and another for everyone else. Either that, or this is the best we can do.

Ketua Pembangkang terjadi Pengkhianat

"Di negara-negara yang lebih faham tentang selok-belok demokrasi, yang tahu tata susila politik moden, yang tahu erti peranan yang berbeza di antara kerajaan dan pembangkang, Ketua Pembangkang amat dihormati. Malah Perdana Menteri di negara-negara yang matang demokrasi sentiasa menjemput Ketua Pembangkang untuk membincangkan hal-hal negara demi kepentingan umum. Mereka ketepikan politik kepartian demi rakyat dan negara. Ketua Pembangkang tidak dianggap sebagai musuh yang mesti dimaki dan cerca setiap masa. Cuma di Malaysia dan Myanmar, pemerintah ghairah nak tangkap pemimpin pembangkang."

Untuk bacaan artikel seterusnya, sila melayar laman Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

H1N1 - Situation Deteriorated on Incompetent Leadership

It has never been such a prominent failure demonstrated by leadership and management in the Health Ministry of Malaysia. Actions, directions, and enforcement came very late while public education and prevention were not in priority. Situation worsen... after more than 2400 confirmed infection and 40+ death cases... the threat continues to haunt the general public. And the ministry is yet to formally declared all-out-effort to demonstrate their commitment to combat the epidemic.

Firstly, the Health Minister Liow Tiong Lai was not from a medical backround and can be ignorant, but having a team of well paid medical experts on the payroll who can form an advisory board, it is blatantly incompetent and irresponsible for a leader to betray the trust of citizen. May be, a politician who has no technical background ought not helm such a critical position. As the worst Health Minister in Malaysian history, he should be accountable to resign in shame or be fired.

And the Director General of the Health Ministry, Ismail Merican, equally demonstrated his incompetency. Public can only see him show face in press conference with the minister to announce the number of cases. Couldn't this be done by a press secretary? He, too, should be responsible for the failure to resign or be fired immediately.

Going for the BEST

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher sits inside his car in this Oct 11, 2006 file photo. Come Aug 23, Schumacher will step in for injured Felipe Massa at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, Spain. – Reuters pic

No better replacement. Retired Formula One racer Michael Schumacher will be jumping back in the cockpit at Ferrari in place of injured protégé Felipe Massa. — Reuters pic

How nice, if a country's administration follows the path in employing and promoting only the best of their staff through meritocracy...to attract, retain, and reward the best talents.

Outraged !

(Yet) An(other) unfortunate soul... sacrificed under oppressive, cold blooded regime.
A heroic spirit... forever clinched to hearts of the consciencious.
An unforgetable tale... served to energise millions of fare minded.
A history... to be remembered.
A learning... must not be repeated.

For a better tomorrow... regime change is inevitable.

--- Condolences to Teoh's family and friends. ---

Silent outrage at Teoh's funeral from Indrani Kopal on Vimeo.

Sad episodes happening, again, and again...

How sad, the authorities failed to carry out their duty professionally. Worse of all, failed to assume full responsibilities and be transparent after tragedies happened. Already, general public has no confidence on the law enforcement agencies to protect their safety in this crime-rampant country.

The entire episode is very strange aside for the usual selective investigations pitched at the oppositions MPs/SAs. Never seize to amaze the general public that the law enforcement agencies are hard to be distinguised from the criminals.

This is Malaysia, your beloved country, after being governed by the ill-minded for 50+ years.

References:
TMI - Ean Yong’s political secretary dead at MACC HQ
MKinin - Exco's aide falls to death from MACC HQ
razaleigh.com - death at MACC headquarters
limkitsiang - death at MACC headquarters

Who is brave? Who is coward?

Why one would try steal the thunder without showing face?

Why one would put others down with after-the-fact comments?

More importantly, why one who always (never failed to be) a big spender in showering monetary gifts and all sorts favours decided not to contest in a by-election claiming it a waste of public funds?

Think! Analyse! Read!
(...but, don't only read/listen to the one-sided news from biased MSMs)

Following is an article taken from The Malaysian Insider.

Kit Siang dares Najib to ask for confidence vote
By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s dismissal of Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) recent win in Penanti has riled the DAP.

The party’s parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang challenged Najib to prove that Barisan Nasional’s (BN) skipping of the Penanti polls was not an act of cowardice. A recent poll of 1,067 registered voters in Malaysia showed that the prime minister only has a 45per cent approval rating just two months into his administration.

“The latest opinion poll shows he is the most unpopular prime minister in the first two months of office in the nation’s history of six prime ministers. It is Najib who should feel the heat that his record is nothing to be proud of.

“Najib should seek a vote of confidence as the first item of business when Parliament reconvenes on June 15, or is he afraid that he would not get 100 per cent support from BN MPs?” the Ipoh Timur MP said.

He was referring to Najib’s comments that Dr. Mansor Othman’s 5,558-vote majority was “not exciting” nor can “a win against independent candidates be something one can be proud of”.

Lim claimed that this win was achieved despite Umno and Gerakan each sponsoring a candidate who both lost their deposits after garnering less than the required one-eighth of votes cast.

“This is really sour grapes by Najib, who should be ashamed that the Umno and BN he leads dare not contest in Penanti, for fear that it would be his third consecutive defeat in the peninsula since becoming prime minister and BN’s fifth consecutive defeat here since the March 8 political tsunami in last year’s general election,” he said.

Lim asserted that the Penanti win was achieved despite many PR supporters not turning up to vote due to the sure-win scenario but that if BN had contested, the Umno candidate “would have gotten a thrashing even worse than in last year’s general election.”

He also cited the Merdeka Center poll that found only 45 per cent of respondents were satisfied with Najib’s premiership.

As such, he called on Najib to follow in the footsteps of Tun Hussein Onn and Tun Abdullah Badawi who sought votes of confidence in their first months in office.

Questionable decisions from Courts & Judges

Excepts taken from article published in The Malaysian Insider.

"As of today it is undisputable that Datuk Seri Zambry Abdul Kadir is a confirmed unlawful mentri besar of Perak. On the other hand Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is a confirmed lawful mentri besar of Perak. That is the gist of the high court’s decision delivered by Justice Datuk Abdul Aziz on May 11, 2009."

...

"The stay order merely bars the lawful mentri besar from carrying out his lawful duties and in turn allows the unlawful mentri besar to continue performing his unlawful duties. That is the gist of the court of appeal’s decision delivered on May 12, 2009."

...

"On the contrary there were glaring absences of reason as to why the stay order was granted to Zambry thus the court of appeal has kept the people in the dark. Justice demands a reasoned judgment from the court whenever it allows or dismisses any application made by any litigants.

In all Perak suits which have landed in the highest court so far, neither the court of appeal nor the Federal court paid attention to this vital aspect of the court’s process namely the preparation of reasoned judgments."


Read more from Perplexing judiciary in Perak lawsuit by Hanipa Maidin.

Favoritism practised in Malaysian Appeal Court

Courtesy of TheMalaysianInsider: May12,2009 A visibly-downcast Nizar speaking to the media after leaving the State Secretariat building this afternoon. – Picture by Choo Choy May

Bias was clearly felt on how Court of Appeal handles application filing of "request to stay" by Zambie and the "request to put aside stay" by Nizar on high court declaration that Nizar was in all material time a rightful Menteri Besar of Perak state.

The decision of Court of Appeal to hear Zambie's appeal and grant the stay by just one single judge took less than 3 hours upon filing, while it sets a date to hear Nizar's requet 5 days later .

To avoid spinning out episodes of injustice from parties of judiciary, administrative, and royalty , it is best to return the right to choose back to the people in Perak - dissolve the state assembly for a fresh election.

So, what is your take on this?


"Zambry’s lawyers had yesterday filed his appeal together with a request to stay the High Court ruling at about 9.30am.
They succeeded in getting a hearing with Court of Appeal judge Datuk Ramly Ali just two hours later." - except from TheMalaysianInsider news article Appeal court to hear Nizar’s application only on May 18 .

"Understand Nizar's appln may be fixed Monday, 18th. Five days while Zambry can get his appln heard in less than 3 hours. "Performance Now"
Two hours, still waiting. Yesterday, Ap Ct super-fast in Zambry's appln. Why Ac Ct snail pace in Nizar's appln? Nation & world watching." - except from limkitsiang twitting live on progress

News References:

• TMI: Appeal court to hear Nizar’s application only on May 18
• Mkini: Nizar's stay application fixed for Monday
• Mkini: 'Why fear snap polls, Najib?'

Perak - role model state for Malaysia

"Court of Appeal judge Datuk Ramly Ali had yesterday granted Barisan Nasional's (BN) Datuk Seri Zambry Abd Kadir's request to suspend the declaration, effectively preventing Nizar from carrying out the duties of an MB until his appeal proper is heard." - extracted from TheMalaysianInsider article Nizar seeks to bury stay order .

Pakatan Rakyat’s Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin is the real mentri besar of Perak , the Kuala Lumpur High Court decided May 11.

High Court had declared that YAB Dato' Seri Nizar is the legitimate Menteri Besar, and that UMNO-BN was not following constitution in its takeover; therefore Zambie's appointment was not valid. Despite of the high court decision, Zambie and gang did not give up and subsequently filed an appeal to obtain a stay on the high court order.

In the interim, since we knew that Nizar had been declared a legitimate Menteri Besar at all material time, by inferrence, it is clearly logical that Zambie was at all material time an illegitimate one. Therefore, eventhough a stay of execution was granted by Appeal Court, Zambie is by no means should be looked at as a legitimate Menteri Besar. So, what is he now? Why the clown resumes and goes back to MB office? His undertaking of MB responsibilities is clearly a comtempt to the high court judgement.

Courtesy of TheMalaysianInsider: Several policemen escort Barisan Nasional’s Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir into the Perak State Secretariat this morning. — Picture by Choo Choy May

Zambie's effort in obtaining a stay is to prevent Nizar from carrying out the duties of an MB is most accurate.

Regardless of what UMNO-BN-Zambie is plotting, including calling an emergency sitting for no-confidence vote (to oust Nizar) to rectify their mistake back in Februry 5, continue justifying his illegally appointed Speaker as lawful (in the illegitimate May 7 sitting), all of his actions and decisions (past and present) are illegitimate. In summary what happened under him since February 5 (including his appoinment by the Sultan) was illegal.

The sequence of shameful acts where Perak State Assembly Speaker YB V Sivakumar being forcibly removed from his seat, dragged out of the assembly hall and quarantined for an hour by unidentified security force.

You can now best judge a political party and a self-proclaimed MB proclaiming that they are working for people? You can also best judge all those BN component parties that remained silent and consenting this utter disgraceful power grab by their master - UMNO, specifically MCA (with Mah Soon grabbing an EXCO position), Gerakan (with Chang appointed special advisor), and MIC (with Ganesan illegally appointed in a disgraceful and shameful bollywood comedy assembly sitting).

The illegal bunch all smiling after the installation of an illegal Speaker during the illegitimately called "May 7 assembly sitting."

Fear in losing big, UMNO-BN dare not support a call to dissolve the state assemble for a state-wide election and return the choice to its people. They know very well they are wrong and people are angry with them. Thieves steal in silence, but doing it in the open nationally and internationally, UMNO-BN is best described a daylight robbers or pirates.

The Perak fiasco remains a big joke for the 1Malaysia slogan by Najib who happened to be the orchestrator of the Perak coup d'etat. UMNO's political power coup for the sake of Perak people? UMNO-BN is setting Perak as a role model state for Malaysia? For more than half a century, they have not have people and democracy in their minds.

Bits and Pieces of Perak Chaos

"Constitutional monarchy: One single incident has turned one of Malaysia’s most beloved families into villains. Instead of dissolving the assembly at the urging of Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak did the unthinkable — he asked Nizar to resign and installed BN as the new state government. By doing so, he refused to recognise that it is the right of Perakians to decide who represents them. He said recently that the Malay Rulers were above politics. Sadly, many Malaysians do not view the constitutional monarchy as honest brokers today." - excerpt taken from The Malaysian Insider article Was it worth it?


The "appointment" of so called new speaker Ganesan from MIC and the passing of those motions are anything but valid. The sitting had never been started and any proposal of motion had not been accepted by the rightful Speaker V Sivakumar. Remember, the police force was preventing the elected ADUNs from attending March 3 sitting, and today is applying brute force to physically remove the rightful Speaker on UMNO's instruction. The police, together with state employees and Election Committee, are bending their bipartisan role to help UMNO complete their illegal acts in taking over the state government. They are the king makers and protect only one specific group.

While you may be following the shameful and disheartening event closely, you may want to revisit and refer. If you happened to have missed this latest barbaric and disgraceful episode of unconstitutional, unethical, and illegitimate power grab, these references can hopefully help you understand better how dark the country is today - 1BLACKMalaysia, indeed.

For the ardent supporters of MCA, Gerakan, and MIC, it is time to ask - why their parties can even be participating in and supporting such brutal and despicable acts?

The crisis in Perak must be resolved in a dignified and democracy method by going back to the bosses - that is the people of Perak state. So, election NOW!

As a consciencious citizen, hopefully you will recommend the readings to your friends, relatives, associates, and aquintances onshore or offshore. You can (and should) ask your folds (who traditionally support UMNO-BN) who have open minds and firm believers of true democracy to now judge the true character of UMNO-BN. Come next General Election, people of Malaysia who qualify to vote must not waste the opportunity to come together and take back the control of the country.

"Together we can bring back democracy!"


References below taken from its respective sources of The Malaysian Insider, The Nut Graph, LimKitSiang Blog, and Malaysiakini.

• TMI: Was Sivakumar’s removal lawful?
• TMI: 1 Malaysia, 2 Peraks — The Malaysian Insider
• TMI: Lawlessness and the Perak assembly — P. Ramakrishnan
• LKSblog: Flash updates from Perak
• LKSblog: Najib’s 1Malaysia shredded into smithereens - disgraceful police lockdown of Ipoh and scandalous spectacle of 2 Speakers, 2 Assemblies
• TMI: Was it worth it?
• TMI: Najib’s 1 Malaysia in smithereens, charges Kit Siang
• TNG: Live Coverage - Ganesan takes the speaker's chair
• Mkini: Live Coverage - Sivakumar dragged out, Regent delivers royal address
• Mkini: A number 1BlackMalaysia day indeed
• Mkini: 'Scandalous spectacle shreds PM's 1 M'sia'
• Mkini: One Black Malaysia in Ipoh
• Mkini: DUN Perak: Sivakumar dipaksa keluar
• Mkini: Laporan Langsung - 6 jam kecoh, DUN Perak rasmi dibuka

Perak State Assembly Live Coverage

1BLACKMalaysia is unfolding...

If you not sure where else can get the live updates for the May 7 assembly sitting, here are few links to help you get an overview of the happenings inside (and outside) of the assembly hall where the UMNO/BN is, again, trying exceptionally hard to unconstitutionally / illegally grab the Speaker's position and dominate the meeting even it has not started by Speaker Sivakumar.

• RPK on Malaysia-Today
• Cina Islam (from inside dewan - ADUN Titi Serong)
• Malaysiakini (covering in English, Malay, Chinese)
• The Nut Graph
• Anilnetto.com
• delCapo’s twitter
• LimKitSiang Blog (YB Lim had been denied entry to Assembly as guest)
• Suarakeadilan2.blogspot.com
• Zorro (Unfortunately Zorro was arrested in the morning trying to cover the event)

Independent organisations being BIAS

Election Commission (EC) is among the supposedly by-partisan independent organisations in the country (i.e. AG, Judiciary, police, MACC) appeared working so hard for UMNO. It was clearly bias in its action to over-rule the Speaker and refused to call by-elections for 3 ADUNs in the Perak fiasco. The behaviour is widely viewed as a clear attempt to help UMNO to wrest power in the state, unconstitutionally.

Of late, EC responded to the call of UMNO about "unnecessary by-election" as UMNO seems to have lost confidence after losing 5 out of 6 by-elections to its opposition, Pakatan Rakyat. This time EC is seen as favoring to help UMNO to avoid more embarassments in losing more by-elections and maintaining its rule in the country.

By delaying the decision on the date of the by-election (or may be even deciding not to call one since UMNO-BN is on a losing streak), EC is again seen by the public as waiting for a decision (or instructions) from UMNO after its Supreme Council meeting.

Do you think EC is really an organization of independence, professionalism and integrity billed to uphold the constitution and protect the rights of Malaysians?


Read more from MP of Ipoh Timur, YB Lim Kit Siang:

• Election Commission - explain strange/extraordinary behaviour, reinforcing public suspicions about its independence, professionalism and integrity

And read about news report from The Nut Graph by Gan Pei Ling :

• EC chief should quit: Bersih

Un-Separation of Powers

Man! Judicial branch is now stepping over onto the Legislative branch. The separation of powers written in constitution clearly null and void with the Federal Court decision.

What kind of judiciary system and constitution Malaysia has?

Is Malaysia located in the great continent of Africa?

The Federal Court ruling against the suspensions on 16 April is a landmark decision as there are constitutional provisions preventing decisions by the speaker of a state legislative assembly or parliament from being challenged in court.

Article 72, Clause (1) of the Federal Constitution clearly states that "the validity of any proceedings in the Legislative Assembly of any State shall not be questioned in any court."

But with the ruling, the court has set a precedent as now the speaker's decisions and actions can be subject to judicial review.


Read in full an article written by Deborah Loh from The Nut Graph here: Showdown in Perak on 7 May

Also read about an analysis by DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang on his blog here: Usurper Perak MB convening Assembly on 7th May – Federal Court decision against Perak Speaker defective, null and void

And see what Justice NH Chan says here: When the highest court in the land could bring down the Government of the day

The UNwanted and Rejected Leaders

Power can really corrupt one's thinking.

Being in a powerful position for a long time helps cultivate the largest ego, developing the desires of greed, and strengthening the determination in achieving the wants and controls.

Signs of rejection are therefore conveniently overlooked and interpreted otherwise, while struggling through all ways and means to mount a comeback.

Samy Vellu is one good example aside from Mahathir. Of course, they are not the only ones.

The following article taken from The Malaysian Insider.

Dr M unwanted, says Zaid
By Shannon Teoh

KUALA LUMPUR, April 10 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had no effect on the April 7 by-elections and this shows that people do not want him anymore, says Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

The former law minister, who has had a running feud with the former prime minister since his move last year to compensate judges sacked by Dr Mahathir in the 1987 judicial crisis, said this in an interview on the “Fairly Current Show”, a short programme that aired on the Internet yesterday.

Zaid, who is widely expected to join Pakatan Rakyat — most likely PKR — soon, also added that his former party, Umno, was too weak to stand up to Dr Mahathir and members were afraid of being ousted like Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who stepped down as prime minister last week after years of criticism by his predecessor Dr Mahathir.

"There were thousands of people in Sungai Petani they say, but clearly there was no effect," he said of Dr Mahathir's stop in Bukit Selambau in a two-stop blitz that included Bukit Gantang on the last day of campaigning in the by-elections.
PR, in fact, increased its majority in the two seats which, Zaid said, was an indicator of Dr Mahathir's unpopularity.

"He feels that people still want him. This is the problem with strongmen who some call dictators. Sometimes, they don't know they are surrounded by people who tell them their leadership is still needed," he said.

He added that it was the same throughout history, citing Suharto, the former president of Indonesia, and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, who also "do not know when they are unwanted".

However, in a recent blog posting, Dr Mahathir continued to insist that Abdullah was still "entirely responsible for all the ills" in Barisan Nasional which led to the electoral defeats as "a leader plays a big role especially in Malaysia and the quality of his leadership affects the behaviour and performance of his subordinates."

Zaid also mocked the idea that Umno wanted its longest-serving president back.

"It is not that Umno wants to take him back but he wants to rejoin. But nobody is brave enough to stop him. This shows Umno is very weak and its leaders are not brave enough to stand up to him because they are afraid of ending up like Pak Lah," he said of Abdullah, who was handpicked by Dr Mahathir but then suffered years of harsh criticism from him.

Zaid cited, as an example, the fact that Khairy Jamaluddin, Abdullah's son-in-law, won comfortably ahead of Dr Mahathir's son Datuk Mukhriz in the Umno Youth chief contest because "he interfered. If not it would be a tougher fight".

Zaid and Dr Mahathir most recently clashed in a war of words over the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister, with Dr Mahathir calling Zaid's plea to the King not to appoint Najib "very stupid".

Change for Malaysia - Yes, you can!

Voters in the 3 by-election constituencies of P059 Bukit Gantang (Perak), N025 Bukit Selambau (Kedah), and N029 Batang Ai (Sarawak) are urged to help make the history of change in Malaysia.

If you are working away from home, please come home to vote.

If you are of the voting age but not a registered voter yet, please register today. You will make history in the next election.

* Video taken from http://teresakok.com/

Obtain your daily dose of By-Election news from the Barisan Rakyat bloggers:

• delCapo's dedicated page for Apr07 By-Elections campaign (covering all 3)

Live Updates during election day on Apr 07:

• Bukit Gantang P059 (Perak): zorro-unmasked
• Bukit Selambau N025 (Kedah): Haris' The People's Parliament
• Batang Ai N029 (Sarawak): linasoo.com

Nizar to win Bukit Gantang by-election

Absolutely the right pick!!! It is official now!

Dato' Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin has been officially announced the candidate for Bukit Gantang (P059) by-election in Perak Malaysia late evening of Mar 23.

Nizar has been the hero since the political coup orchestrated by Najib to oust his government and install a backdoor BN Chief Minister (Mentri Besar), while majority of the rakyat continue to regard Nizar as the legitimate, democratically elected MB of Perak.

Come April 7 on the polling day, PAS and its alliance DAP and PKR hope to win the seat with a very much greater majority to prove that people in Perak are disgusted with the unconstitutional and undemocratic power grab by the corrupt UMNO-BN.

At the same time, news had widely reported that UMNO-BN began to tighthen its control with highhanded tactics and clampdown on the oppositions, including suspending PAS/PKR publication licenses abruptly, force disperse the crowd with water cannon and tear gas in Bukit Selambau on Mar 23 night, and barricade to block Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim's fleet from entering to attend a gathering at Bukit Gantang on Mar 25. All these dirty tactics, add to the unfair advantages the desperate UMNO-BN enjoys, to hopefully highten BN's chances of winning in the 3 by-elections.

Pakatan Rakyat is doing all it can to campaign agressively in Bukit Ganatang. PAS, DAP, and PKR mobilise its members, walking right into the rural areas to disseminate the truth, and presenting PR's achievements in the past 11 months as Perak state government. Making it a referendum though there are risks involved.

To Dato' Seri Nizar, all the BEST!

Wishing Pakatan Rakyat an “overwhelming victory!”



News References:

Ousted Perak chief ups by-election stakes (TheMalaysianInsider)

PAS picks Nizar as candidate for Bukit Gantang (Updated) (TheNutGraph)

Nizar is PAS' Bkt Gantang candidate (MalaysiaKini)

Nizar gets Nik Aziz’s support for by-election contest (TheMalaysianInsider)

Nizar: It is a referendum, and one that we will win (The Malaysian Insider Feb 10)

Malaysia's 6th PM - Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah

The 73 year-old Kelantanese prince - Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a former Finance and Trade Minister, will be the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia. The exact date of him being installed is yet to be known.

According to reliable information from a deep throat, a plan is secretly worked among the few super high level associates from both camps of Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. A representative from Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim was said to involve. A comprehensive war plan was discussed to also include actions to be taken in responding to an expected violent reactions from Dato' Seri Najib Razak and his supporters.