Prelude of Operasi Lallang II

Satu Malaysia! .............. Nah! My foot!

Home ministry and the prime minister allowed the demonstration.
They encouraged the demonstration.
They backed the demonstration.
They sponsored the demonstration.

Now, fannetics offshoot to bombing and torching churches in the capital cities is undoubtedly threatening the national security of the country. This is terrorism.

And who is allowing, encouraging, and sponsoring terrorism?

And who must take full responsibility for church attacks?

Could this be the ulterior motive of the government to introduce "Operasi Lallang II?"

Against those who oppose the government, of course!



Following article adopted from Harakah Daily, picture is credit of TheMalaysianInsider:

Mahfuz bimbang pengeboman gereja adalah isyarat Operasi Lalang ke-2

Dzulfikar Mashoor

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Jan: Naib Presiden PAS Datuk Mahfuz Omar petang tadi melahirkan rasa bimbang sekiranya pengeboman Gereja Metro Tabelnacle serta tiga yang lain malam tadi merupakan isyarat awal pada berlakunya ‘Operasi Lalang’ yang kedua.

“Operasi Lalang suatu ketika dulu menyaksikan sentimen Melayu begitu kuat sehingga ada pihak menyeru supaya orang-orang Melayu bersenjata ke Kuala Lumpur untuk membunuh orang-orang Cina,” jelasnya ketika dihubungi Harakahdaily.

“Perhimpunan tersebut akhirnya tidak berlaku, tetapi beberapa pemimpin pembangkang pula ada (yang) ditangkap (oleh Kerajaan) atas nama menjaga keselamatan negara.

“(sedangkan) pemimpin- pemimpin tertentu dalam Umno (dan) BN yang menjadi punca tercetusnya (Operasi Lalang) itu selamat (tidak ditangkap) dan lari (keluar negara)...sebab itu saya bimbang kalau-kalau ini isyarat berlaku (Operasi Lalang) yang kedua,” terang Mahfuz.

Menganggap Operasi Lalang sengaja dicetuskan oleh pihak tertentu pada 1987 yang lalu, beliau juga tidak menolak kemungkinan bahawa ada ‘tangan ghaib’ yang sengaja mengobom Geraja Metro Tabelnacle, Kuala Lumpur 12 jam yang lalu demi mencetuskan suasana tidak tenteram.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Pokok Sena turut menyeru umat Islam supaya lebih berhati-hati dengan provokasi ‘tangan ghaib’ tersebut.

“Kita (PAS) tidak menuduh mana-mana pihak, tetapi saya menyeru seluruh rakyat Malaysia tidak kira orang Islam atau bukan (Islam) (supaya) lebih berhati-hati kalau ada ‘tangan-tangan ghaib’ yang sengaja mencetuskan provokasi (berkaitan) isu ini untuk kepentingan politik mereka,” katanya.

Dalam perkembangan yang sama, beliau turut meragui keikhlasan Kementerian Dalam Negeri (KDN) membiarkan media massa arus perdana mendidik emosi rakyat secara tidak sihat.

“Saya begitu meragui apabilan KDN tidakpun mengenakan tindakan yang tegas ke atas beberapa media arus perdana yang saya lihat seolah-olah mereka ini melaporkan isu ini (guna nama Allah) dalam rupa yang cukup negatif sehingga membawa suatu suasana saling membenci dan berprasangka antara satu sama lain,” jelasnya.

Sebelum ini, beliau turut menyalahkan kerajaan dan mahkamah kerana tidak mempercepat perbicaraan kes tersebut.

Dalam perkembangan berkaitan, Naib Presiden Salahuddin Ayub turut mengutuk tindakan mengebom geraja tersebut kerana tidak menepati syariat Islam.

Bagi beliau, ‘Wacana Ilmiah’ sebagaimana yang ditunjukkan oleh para Anbiya’, Sahabat kepada Rasulullah s.a.w serta cendekiawan Islam terdahulu merupakan pendekatan sewajarnya untuk mendepani budaya orang bukan Islam berminat menggunakan Allah dalam keagamaan mereka.

Kepercayaan Kepada ... siapa?

1. In "Rukun Negara", it says "Kepercayaan kepada Tuhan."

2. So, this Rukun Negara is for Non-Muslim only... or Muslim included but with a footnote...

3. May be it should be a separate version for Muslim - "Kepercayaan kepada Allah."

4. Oh, "Kepercayaan kepada UMNO."

5. These UMNO fannatics are stirring up issues for political gains, fanning hatred, being seditious, and be all they can be... a clear threat to national unity/security, with strong backing from the federal government.

6. What should you be thinking now?

Only Malaysian Chinese get marginalised?

While feeling sympathised with the writer and understand the situation, I shouted out loud within me, that "Hey! This not only happening to the Chinese, it too happens to our Malaysian Indians and other minority brothers and sisters..." (if you would like me to differentiate the people by race, and true enough, the country's government IS basing everything on race quotas and give preferential treatment to 'bumiputra' of Malayu, not the real bumiputra)

We have to also understand that many educated moderate Malays are feeling bad about how the country's management and choose not to return to Malaysia upon completion of their studies.

How do you feel?


Following article adopted from limkitsiangblog:

A Letter to Lim Kit Siang

Dear Mr. Lim Kit Siang,

I have utmost respect and admiration for your tenacity in remaining in Malaysia to champion the cause of justice and equality and fight for a Bangsa Malaysia.

My heart broke when I read about your article regarding the honest cyber cafe operator especially when he wondered if he ‘had chosen the wrong country’ to start and operate his business.

I see my situation summed up in that phrase. You have said before that the best and brightest are leaving this country. Well, I am making every preparation to leave. I have consistently scored straight As in every public exam and placed among the top 3 of my form. In university, I studied medicine and am among the top scorers. I have just graduated and scored near perfect results in a medical licensing examination that will enable me to work abroad and further my studies.

I was born a Malaysian yet I cannot see myself as a Malaysian. As a Chinese, I feel that I am being discriminated against. I feel that the government is trying its hardest to sideline me just because of my race. I look around and see this discrimination manifested in various forms. From the issue regarding religious conversion to the allocation of places in local universities, the stench of discrimination is sickening.

It was horrifying to note in my batch of medical students, there were a substantial number of malay students who actually did not apply for medicine but were sent to study it. It is disgusting to think that many STPM straight A scorers are deprived of a chance to study medicine while the government gives the places to people who are not even sure that they want to study medicine.

I have seen how racial politics sully the environment in the university and how unqualified people are in high posts at the expense of far more intelligent and qualified individuals just because they are Malay. I have heard the terrible statements made by delegates at the recent UMNO General Assembly about revoking my citizenship rights should I question their special rights.

I have seen the videos on YouTube where UMNO MPs have the audacity to ask us to ‘keluar’ of the country if we don’t like what they are doing to it. And I see the pathetic attempt by the PM to ‘discipline’ these racists. I hate the fact that Gerakan and MCA have done NOTHING to fight for my rights instead of just kow-towing to UMNO for their own gains.

Patriotism isn’t about singing the national anthem or raising the flag. It isn’t about accepting at face value everything the government says. It isn’t about attending merdeka celebrations. It is about feeling accepted as part of your nation. It is about knowing that your nation accepts you as a son or daughter. It is about realizing that being a part of a nation entails certain responsibilities. That is my definition of patriotism.

And right now, as a Malaysian, I am feeling anything BUT patriotic. 50 years of independence? So what? What has it done for me? Whoopee. I have a chance to change my life. I will change my destiny. I could not choose the country where I was born but I can very well choose the country that I will swear my allegiance to. I want a country that will recognize me as a citizen and grant me rights equal to that of all other citizens. I want a country that has the wisdom to recognize my potential and talents and reward me accordingly. I want a country where the government fears its people and conducts itself in a manner worthy of respect and honor.

This is not my nation. I am leaving. Mr. Lim, I salute you and all those like you who can find the strength and energy to fight for an ungrateful bunch of people. How many actually held mass protests, hunger strikes or rose up to defend you and your family when you or your son was imprisoned for fighting for us? How many did more than just shake their heads and move on with their petty little lives? None that I know of. Yet you continue to defend their rights.

You are an amazing man, Mr. Lim and I truly admire you for that. Unfortunately, I have a bright future ahead and I will not waste it in this country. It is not my nation.

Thank you for fighting the good fight.

(Author’s name withheld for privacy)


Also refers to article in MalaysiaToday:
A Letter to Lim Kit Siang

Inciting Hatred Allowed?

Goodness! Look at how this incompetent minister handles the issue.

Why of all the events that does not go along with UMNO directions are banned and prosecuted? But if its meeting the UMNO's unscrupulous intentions will be allowed and enforcement agencies (i.e. police) turn a blind eye on the seditious action from these "extremists".

These people are fanning hatred among Malaysians - the real national threat, and ought to be ISA'd under Sedition Act.

Instead of giving stern warning to stop provocateurs, they are encouraged further?

What is your take on this?


Following article adopted from The MalaysianInsider:

Home Ministry to allow protests against ‘Allah’ ruling

By Shazwan Mustafa Kamal

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 6- The Home Ministry will allow a public demonstration against the “Allah” ruling, planned by Muslim groups this Friday at the Kampung Baru mosque here, to proceed and will only take action if “things get out of hand.”

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein Onn (pic) told a press conference here at a post-Cabinet meeting that the developments will be monitored and that action will only be taken if the need arises.

“There is a balance that needs to be addressed. We (the Home Ministry) have faced this situation before. Right now, if you do not allow the protest, it will cause a lot of emotional reaction. But if you also allow it, it might turn into a security threat,” explained Hishammuddin.

The Home Minister asserted that the core issue was the issue of safety of the country, and that the group had already been advised against the protest.

“Everyone’s been appealing to them. No one, from the government to the opposition, wants this whole thing to get out of hand.

“As long as it does not affect national security, we will not stop it yet. We plan to get closer to the would-be demonstrators and try to talk to them first.”

When asked whether the crisis surrounding the use of the word “Allah” by the Catholic church through its Herald publication had been discussed in today’s Cabinet meeting, Hishammuddin said that it had been brought up, but the Cabinet has decided to leave the matter to the Court of Appeal.

“Right now, the stay of execution has been granted ... this is the normal process in line with the appeal we have filed. As the issue is right now being discussed in court, the Cabinet leaves it to the court to decide,” he said.

The Home Minister added that sensitive issues pertaining to race and religion needed to be handled with wisdom and intelligence, and that only leaders with no “ulterior motives” could ensure that the right decisions be made on the matter.

“Don’t play around with the issue of race and religion. These have always been sensitive issues that can threaten the harmonious balance of the country. Only an honest leadership will put the country’s interest above his own.”

The High Court on Dec 31 allowed the Catholic publication Herald to use the word “Allah” in its weekly publication.

This move has resulted in an uproar among some Muslims in the country, with some threatening to take their dissatisfaction to the streets this Friday.

The Home Ministry had filed for an appeal against the High Court’s decision on Monday, and for a stay of execution of the ruling.

Today, the High Court granted the stay.

Judge Datuk Lau Bee Lan made the decision in chambers after both lawyers for the government and the church came to a consensus to freeze the decision of the case to be settled in the Court of Appeal.


Also refer to article in MalaysiaKini:
Home minister okays protests over 'Allah'

Augustine Paul - a transgressor

This is excellent and more than fair comment. Well said, well said, but too gentle.

Article adopted from MalaysiaKini.

About my brother judge Augustine Paul
NH Chan
Jan 6, 10
12:21pm

When the infamous Judge Jeffreys died ignominiously in 1689 at the age of 41 in the Tower of London where he was imprisoned, no one in freedom loving England mourned his death. Judge Jeffreys died in obscurity as a judge. But his name will forever be remembered in infamy for his part as the judge in the Bloody Assize. Likewise, the name of judge Augustine Paul will remain in obscurity as a judge, but his name will be remembered as a bad and evil judge because of his monstrous behaviour on the bench when he tried former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim.

This obnoxious man never gave Anwar a fair trial. William Shakespeare once wrote in one of his plays, "The evil that men do lives after them": Julius Caesar, Act 3, scene 2.

There is another quotation which tells us that an unjust judge is unfit to be called a judge. The quotation fits Augustine to a T. It reads, "When the judge is unjust, he is no longer a judge but a transgressor": Giosue` Borsi in 'A Soldier's Confidence with God', The Macmillan Treasury of Relevant Quotations.

I remember that when Augustine tried Anwar in the infamous "mattress" case - up to this day, we still do not understand why the mattress was carried in and out of court daily during the long trial - the judge was surrounded by bodyguards. He must have known that he had done wrong for him to fear for his life.


Also refer to article from TheMalaysianInsider:
Judge Augustine Paul dies

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.