GE13: Can we make history?

We must now make a historic choice of a lifetime as we are standing on the threshold of a new beginning.
COMMENT

It looks quite certain that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak will be calling for the 13th general election (GE13) without the voter rolls being cleaned up.

And what can we as the citizens do about it? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Zilch. Nil. Zero. Except to come out in full force and vote and make a big hue and cry if our name is not on the voter rolls on polling day.

Even the Election Commission (EC) is now openly siding with Barisan Nasional when the top two officials ought to resign with immediate effect. The EC has lost its credibility and integrity because it is no longer seen to be neutral and impartial.

In the meantime, why is there still no word from the EC in regard to the cleaning up of the dirty voter rolls? Why is the EC still silent on this matter? And, more importantly, why is Najib also keeping quiet on this issue?

Instead, the focus on Bersih 3.0′s demands had been shifted to the so-called rioting caused by its participants on April 28.

The prime minister no doubt now has only one thing on his mind and that is the date of the forthcoming national polls. He is mulling over when to call for the polls and he is pre-occupied with this day and night.

…more
GE13: Can we make history?
Selena Tay
May 16, 2012 – FMT

Bring on the general ejection

After decades of robbing Malaysians of everything from their rightful share of the nation’s riches to their democratic rights and civil liberties, the kleptocrats and kleptocronies of the BN regime are hell-bent on stealing yet another five years in office.

But they know they haven’t a prayer of achieving this without playing as dirty as ever; hence their hate campaign against the organisers and supporters of Bersih for demanding a clean and fair electoral system.

Most Malaysians are so sick of BN and cynical about its propaganda, however, that the old dirty tricks are no longer working. In fact they’re positively counter-productive, and have been back-firing against the government to a deliciously destructive degree.

So that the claim by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad that the Bersih 3.0 rally was a covert attempt to overthrow the government was greeted not, as intended, as a wise observation by a senior statesman, but as a ridiculous Mahathir-style fabrication.

A fabrication nevertheless enthusiastically adopted and echoed by current Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and three former police chiefs, one of whom went further to implicate communists in the plot.

Then the government made a further laughing stock of itself by appointing the red-suspecting former inspector-general of police Hanif Omar, as head of an ‘independent’ inquiry into the rally.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein also attracted his share of public scorn with his claim that “some parties” wanted injuries and deaths to occur at the rally, and deputy IGP Khalid Abu Bakar further stated that he had seen video evidence of the fact that there were “elements who wanted to cause deaths”.

Meanwhile, in case all these outlandish claims of coups and killings hadn’t sufficiently diverted Malaysians’ attention from Bersih’s call for clean and fair elections, Election Commission (EC) deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar stated that the EC would no longer deal with Bersih, as its co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan is a “destroyer of democracy”.

Also joining in an evidently concerted attempt to smear and harass Ambiga were a group of “petty traders” who rallied outside Pertama Complex and later at her house to cook burgers, while all the usual suspects including Perkasa and so-called ‘NGOs’ variously burned her in effigy and demanded that her citizenship be revoked.

And not to be out-done in the regime’s attempts to further disgrace itself and alienate the populace, the National Fatwa Council threw its support behind BN in condemning the Bersih 3.0 rally as haram.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak himself, in concert with his craven ‘mainstream media’, has been waging a campaign of all his usual lies and disinformation, as if in a desperate attempt to demonstrate his regime’s utter lack of credibility.

Any remaining shred of clout that the regime’s media still enjoy with most Malaysians was lost through such post-Bersih 3.0 atrocities as Astro’s censoring of BBC and Al Jazeera reports on the rallies, and the criminal defamation of Australian Senator Nick Xenopophon by the New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia.

…more
Bring on the general ejection
Dean Johns
May 16, 2012

Zahid’s reluctance to cooperate raises questions

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s declaration that the French courts cannot summon him for the ongoing inquiry into Malaysia’s purchase of French submarines only shows how ‘fearful’ he is.

It also raises concerns about Zahid’s and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s involvement in the matter, PKR-linked NGO Jingga 13 said today.

The reluctance of Najib and Zahid to attend the inquiry raises awkward questions among the people, as though they were attempting to hide something, Jingga 13 chief coordinator Fariz Musa said in a statement.

“Jingga 13 urges (Najib and Zahid) not to fear attending the inquiry if they are not guilty and are not involved in the scandal,” Fariz (right) said, describing the issue as important and requiring the commitment of the two ministers.

“What is being hidden by them?” he asked.

The statement comes in response to Zahid’s insistence yesterday that the French courts have no jurisdiction to summon Malaysians for the inquiry, as Malaysians are not subject to French laws.

However, lawyer Joseph Brehem, who is assisting in the inquiry in Paris, today rebutted Zahid’s claim and said French courts have jurisdiction over any person involved in a matter being investigated by the court, French or not.

Zahid is named in the list of seven witnesses proposed by human rights NGO Suaram for the French inquiry into kickbacks paid for the purchase of the Scorpene submarines – which are illegal in France – and which was accepted by French investigating judge Roger Le Loire.

…more
Zahid’s reluctance to cooperate raises questions
May 16, 2012

Mega oil project: Taiwan reject but praised by the Mahathirs and BN

Whenever pro-BUMNO bloggers and children associated with a certain Maha Firaun wax lyrical about $62 billion Oil&Gas projects rising up to a stupendous $170 billion in investments and 40,000 local jobs, you always get a creepy feeling. The blood chills and the atmosphere gets very cloudy. You know there’s got to be a catch somewhere.

CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE for the sugar-coated version of, if the converted are to be believed, this unfolding project which will propel us into the first world, just, just a few years from now…..when….(if) it happens.

But to get an independent view and a broader picture of what has happened so far, we need to go elsewhere, to the real world, where “clean” projects like Lynas are stripped bare to their naked essentials so we can make a proper and fair judgement.

CLICK HERE for SinChew’s Lim Sue Goan’s write up for the “unimportant bits and pieces” left out by Sydetious Ali.

LSG’s main concerns are:

1. This was a project originally REJECTED by the Government of Taiwan because it failed the Environment Impact Assessment (EIS) test in 2008! In 2011, President MaYing-jeou of Taiwan withdrew his support for the project. So, why is our Government rushing in where angels fear to tread?

2. The project was rejected in Taiwan because it would have consumed 400,000 tons of water per day, thus affecting wetlands, land and waters earmarked for food production.

3. To quote LSG, “In addition, it was estimated that 339 to 565 people would die of cardiovascular diseases and lung cancer, while patients of respiratory diseases would also increase due to the PM2.5 pollutants released into the air.”

4. 20,000 jobs would have been created in Taiwan, but the social costs would have escalated to NT100 billion EVERY YEAR in Taiwan!!!!!!!

Expert and public opinion were consulted, and research conducted for 6 years before the Taiwan Government decided to say no.

Now, let’s fast forward to the truly Asia fascia world of Malaysia, where transparency and accountability are often, er, temporarily suspended, of course, in the genuine interest of our fellow citizens, for the sake of expediency.

…more
Mega oil project: Taiwan reject but praised to the skies by the Mahathirs and BN
Written by donplaypuks
15 May 2012 – Malaysia Chronicle

Felda Listing Game Explained!

After spending the last couple of days pouring over the FELDA IPO listing document, we can finally piece together this entire deal and reveal the true secrets that are being with held from the public.

Ok, there is a lot to cover, so lets get right to it

What Actually is Happening

Let’s start with this story about a company called Felda Global Ventures Sdn Bhd (FGVH). We shall call it Najib’s Felda from now on. Technically, this company is owned by the taxpayers through the Government of Malaysia, in reality its owned by Najib, Rosmah and “other Super Puteras.”

This company was initially acting as the ownership vehicle of the Government’s 49% stake in Felda Holdings, where the remaining 51% of the stake was owned by the settlers through Koperasi Permodalan Felda.

We shall call this “Ma’ Felda” because that is the Felda we all know.

So Najib Felda – BAD, Ma Felda, owned by the setllers, GOOD.

Ok got it?

Najib’s Felda then was supposed to manage the overseas business, including the production of fatty acids and food oil in North America. They did this through a company called Twin Rivers Technologies, which made investments in plants and others stuff in US and Canada. Collectively, this business has lost RM 700 m pre tax since 2009. This was mentioned by Anwar Ibrahim a couple of months ago and is a fact!

…more
Felda Listing Game Explained! IPO Price May Drop!!
11 May 2012 – Pirates-of-putrajaya

Time to dismantle the regime

No political party should be allowed to rule for more than half a century. This is not about Pakatan or BN but people’s power.

COMMENT

The only constant thing in life is change…

Four years have passed since Barisan Nasional watched with disbelief as the opposition swept into power in several states and denied the ruling coalition its customary two-thirds parliamentary majority. It was a contest that shifted the electoral tectonic plates in Malaysia and resulted in what was aptly termed as a political tsunami.

From securing the biggest ever mandate to the smallest ever within a span of four years, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi allowed the impregnable fortress to crack under his watch. This earned him the scorn of Umno and BN leaders, who swept their respective shortcomings under the carpet, and pinned the blame on his fondness for the forty winks and his over ambitious son-in-law for the catastrophe. The old prime minister was then swiftly deposed and driven out of Putrajaya with his new bride.

Now, there is a new prime minister with an old bride at the helm with innovative ideas, hoping that the people would give him a strong mandate for his attempts to undo, in three years, the rot that has been festering for decades. But to his credit, he is the first prime minister to admit that all is not well in the BN front and apologised for it.

Born with a silver spoon in his aristocratic mouth, the son of the second prime minister is portrayed as a caring, pragmatic and sincere leader, sensitive to the plight of all races from all walks of life. His task, an unenviable one, is to restore BN to its former stardom.

His 1Malaysia slogan has become a catchphrase, with the government-linked media and his public relations experts ensuring that the message travels the length and breadth of the nation, even to remote places, where voters lurk in the dense tropical jungles.

Autobot or decepticon?

But behind the media blitz and glitz, is a man with enormous political baggage.

…more
Time to dismantle the regime
RK Anand
May 14, 2012 – FMT

‘Bank clerk unlawfully interrogated over NFC’

A Public Bank employee was subjected to “unlawful interrogation” by his employers after allegations that he leaked the account details of National Feedlot Corporation (NFC) directors to PKR.

Johari Mohamad, who tendered his resignation from the Jinjang branch on May 2, has claimed that he was “grilled” by Public Bank and Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) officers for more than a week before being issued a show-cause letter.

“Johari (centre in photo) was grilled in a serious manner for hours and hours…by his employers in which BNM officers were involved, (and was) deprived of assistance from his lawyer. This is entirely illegal,” his lawyer N Surendran (left in photo) said today.

Surendran, who is PKR vice-president, said this also shows that the bank had taken action weeks prior to NFC’s report to BNM against his client and Public Bank on April 30.

Asked by reporters if he is indeed the whistleblower, Johari initially said “No” and then, “No idea”, before Surendran said Johari cannot comment on this in order to avoid prejudicing his case.

Johari also claimed that he has never met NFC chairperson Mohamad Salleh Ismail.

“Whether whistleblower or not, the point is the authorities going after the person who revealed misappropriation of public funds of quarter of a million ringgit and that is wrong,” Surendran said.

“Drop the investigation against Johari immediately, because if he is the whistleblower he should be given an award. If not, it is highly improper investigation to intimidate (other) people at the bank.”

…more
‘Bank clerk unlawfully interrogated over NFC’
May 14, 2012 – Malaysiakini

Who says the EC is independent?

FRANKLY, I wasn’t surprised at all when it was reported in late April that both the Election Commission (EC) chairperson and deputy chairperson were Umno members. Even without evidence of party membership and despite the EC deputy chairperson’s subsequent U-turn and denial, it would not be a stretch to imagine both the chairperson and his deputy are Umno members.

I don’t doubt PKR’s announcement about the top EC leaders’ purported political membership was strategically timed to be released a day before the 28 April 2012 Bersih 3.0 protest. Clever strategy aside, Umno membership alone isn’t the only evidence of the EC’s lack of independence. The evidence has been mounting over the years.

What other proof do we have? And how can we be oh-so-certain that the EC is not independent even if it’s eventually demonstrated that neither Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof nor Datuk Wira Wan Ahmad Wan Omar are members of any political party?

A subservient commission

Firstly, every single member of the EC, including the chairperson and deputy chairperson, is a former civil servant. The most recent appointment, Datuk Christopher Wan Soo Kee, was formerly the former Kuala Lumpur Special Branch chief. This composition in itself sets the EC up for bias since civil servants’ professional training is to carry out the wishes of the government of the day.

This point was made by Bersih 2.0 in its recommendations to the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) on Electoral Reform in November 2011. It argued that in a country where only one coalition has formed the federal government since 1955, “inevitably, senior civil servants slowly stop making the distinction between the government and the political party”. That includes the Royal Malaysian Police Force as well, which has often demonstrated that BN events can proceed without a hitch while Pakatan Rakyat functions are often prevented from going ahead.

Bersih 2.0’s claim is supported by the testimony of EC officials themselves. In an interview by a team of researchers with the top three EC officials in the 2000s, the then chairperson, deputy chairperson and secretary said it was “normal for them to see the prime minister even before constituency reviews were begun”. The chairperson added that “as a practical matter, requests for meetings by ‘number one and number two’ could not be refused, unlike similar requests from lesser political leaders”. [1]

…more
Who says the EC is independent?
Shape of a Pocket
14 May 2012 – The Nutgraph

Bersih 3.0, What’s Next? (Video)

 

MediaRakyat “Speak Your Mind”: Bersih 3.0, What’s Next?

Host: Patrick Teoh
Guest: Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan

My country, my government

People rise up against their government because they want corrupt leaders to go.

The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government. – Patrick Henry

The prime minister has set the stage for a crackdown on freedom and truth. He has branded the mammoth Saturday rally as an insurrection to topple the government. But the tens of thousands who took to the streets on that hot sunny day are citizens who have elected the government of the day on the understanding that it would not abuse the power given to its leaders. The sacred trust was broken when the holders of high public office often strayed from the true path.

A government is a creature of the people. It belongs to the people and it will go back to the people. A government stays forever. Leaders come and go. Some will be remembered for their good deeds, some for the evil they have done, some others are best forgotten. A government is formed to take care of the people – be they Chinese, Malays, Indians, minorities. It exists to ensure people are treated fairly and equally. Every few years it must get another mandate to rule. But when leaders become corrupt after a long reign, they must step down.

Regrettably, tainted leaders will choose to stay put. They will use the full might of the government machinery to pulverise any opposition, even making laws to serve their own selfish ends. They become adamant in the pursuit of power. No reason can prevail over them to change course. Such leaders are littered the world over. The universal response to political obduracy is street protests. It is the only weapon left for the common citizens to fight discredited leaders. They make leaders and they can also dethrone them.

Malaysia is no different from all the other countries whose people have to take their grievances in the open because of leaders who have abused their trust. In the global village, Malaysia is not immune from the viral infection of popular discontent. Global citizens share the same concerns, traits and bravery. In the face of the firepower of the state, they muster willpower to overpower the power of the state. People power is not illegal but a legitimate expression of public disquiet. It is an effective counter-weight to the excesses of bad leaders. What happened on the streets of Kuala Lumpur on April 28 was an outpouring of deep resentment against a government which refused to listen to the people’s lawful demands.

The Malaysians who stood their ground – and were beaten up at the barricades of freedom square – were civilised citizens who wanted to make a statement. They were not there to overthrow the government that they themselves have elected to govern the country. They were fighting for a cause on behalf of the millions of voters who must ultimately decide the destiny of the nation. But the political masters, realising the massive support the rally had drawn, went out of the way to demonise it, even roping in a religious authority to pronounce an ominous ruling against street protests. They tried to strike the fear of God in God’s children. It may not work because divine retribution works both ways.

…more
My country, my government
May 8, 2012 – FMT