Assembly: Support leadership of Selangor Menteri Besar and State Government

Malaysians who are concerned at how UMNO/BN is manipulating the issue of the unwanted appointment of Khusrin as the State Secretary and pitting PR against the Selangor Royalty are urged to attend an assembly to demonstrate support for the Menteri Besar and the Selangor government. Announcement (in English and Bahasa Malaysia and location map below:

Assembly to support the leadership of Selangor Chief Minister and Selangor Government

Issue: Appointment of the SS (State Secretary)
Date: Wednesday 12 January 2011
Time: 3pm
Venue: Dataran Shah Alam (beside Wisma Majlis Bandaran Shah Alam)
Sponsor: Kelab Penyokong Menteri Besar / Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Selangor
Please mobilize to get people to attend as soon as possible.

Perhimpunan Menyokong Kepimpinaan YAB Dato’ Menteri Besar dan Kerajaan Negeri Selangor berhubung Isu Perlantikan SUK (Setiausaha Kerajaan)

Tarikh : Rabu 12 Januari 2011
Tempat : Dataran Shah Alam (Sebelah Wisma MBSA)
Waktu : 3 Petang
Anjoran : Kelab Penyokong Menteri Besar / Pakatan Rakyat Negeri Selangor
Harap 'mobilise' kehadiran seramai mungkin.

Location map: Dataran Shah Alam

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Education Department Civil Servant caught blatantly campaigning for UMNO/BN

UMNO/BN is shameless and will use whatever unethical method to help keep itself in power. Najib Razak was caught on video blatantly offering a bribe (money for flood prevention) to Sibu folks to vote for the BN candidate and here is another one – Johore Education Department Director Markom Giran urging teachers to help campaign for UMNO/BN which is even if not against election rules (they claimed not yet nomination day therefore not within campaigning period) is absolutely unethical.

Perkasa using unethical recruitment (and who is providing financial support?

Perkasa has hit upon an unethical method of recruiting members from among the youth and they seem to have the both the support of the authorities as well as finance.

At their so called “Malaysian Woodstock”, visitors are encouraged to apply for membership of MUSC Motorsports, but what the applicants are unaware of is that that includes an automatic application for membership of Perkasa.

Further, the cost for organizing the event is said to be substantial. So who is financing them?

Is outgoing Selangor State Secretary a liar?

In the controversies over the appointment of Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the Selangor State Secretary which no one wants, the outgoing State Secretary Ramli Mahmud has come out to claim that the Selangor Menteri Besar had been informed which the MB and his aid Faekah denied.

Apparently Ramli had keep quiet about Khusrin even though he had attended 5 meetings - two state exco meetings, two state economic action council meetings and a function held to fete his retirement in March this year.

As UMNO/BN struggle to remain in power, Malaysia inch towards a police state

Police state: A state in which the government exercises rigid and repressive controls over the social, economic, and political life of the people, especially by means of a secret police force.

UMNO/BN knows it has lost favor among a very significant portion of the Malaysian population because of past and present legal and illegal corruption, failed projects at hugely inflated costs, power abuses, corruption and destruction of institutions, etc. etc. but does it reform to regain favor?

Abdul Sulaiman (PUTRA) solution to the Malay Problem

AB Sulaiman deemed a liberal Malay says the Malay problem is the Malaysia Problem. To solve Malaysia's problems, the Malay problem had to be solved. And what is his prescription for the Malay problem?

1. Secularization of the Malay mind
2. Restoration of basic human rights to the peoples of Malaysia

Will that ever happen? Religion is not subject to rational thinking and it is mostly take it or leave it. The current ruling regime will never restore basic human rights willingly. Will it happen in Malaysia. Let's hope that at least a significant portion of the Malay population will give what AB Sulaiman some serious thoughts.

Article below courtesy of Malaysiakini: Malay problem root of nation's problem:

Malay problem root of nation's problemAB Sulaiman

COMMENT About a year and a bit ago, the Old Boys' Association of the Royal Military College otherwise known as 'Old Putras' organised an evening of discourse.
The forum noted that the Malaysian people were fragmented, the economy at a virtual standstill, and democracy eroded by dictatorship, returning feudalism, and theocracy. Those present wanted to analyse the degeneration and like good citizens we were to come up with some solutions.

It was then that one speaker, Mohd Dahan if I remember correctly, who stood up to say, “Solve the Malay problem, and you solve the country's problem.” Now we are in the first month of the second decade of the 21st century, the ring of truth in his statement still prevails.

But at this time, 53 years after independence and 10 years to becoming a high-income country, it appears we are still embedded deep in a long list of unsolved national problems, with many getting worse than before.

Here are but some of them: A restive and fragmented population, high migration rate, poor rate of growth, broken public institutions like education and the judiciary, high crime rate, degenerating personal and public morality, price increases, inflation, and a generally authoritative, intimidating and arrogant government. Our comparative indices with other countries like in areas of transparency, human rights, education, are all on the downward swing.

And corruption, the perennial social cancer, taking place at the highest possible level, involving amounts that would make Carlos Slim (currently the richest man in the world according to Forbes) and Bill Gates almost poor by comparison.

Hope lies eternal, so let's see whether we can try to solve at least some of the national problems, by first solving some Malay problems, for this coming year.

But first, what exactly is the 'Malay problem'?

Unable to break the inertia

My observation of this matter stemmed from the collective Malay lack of knowledge and of modern technical skills and thereby negatively reflected in the country's wealth distribution scenario.

In 1957 the record books indicated that Malay economic involvement was no more than at a paltry 2 percent. This is not good at all as viewed and agreed on by the founding fathers and every meaningful citizen of whatever ethnic background.

Since then the Malays have been given all opportunities to be more fruitfully involved in the country's economic activities. In 1970, a name was given to this ground-breaking exercise known as social engineering under the New Economic Policy.

Lavishly-funded government policies and programmes were introduced to even the playing field for Malay incursion into the national economy.

But try as they might, the Malays could not manage to break the inertia and achieve any planning targets. (Please spare me the need to repeat even some of the details for they have been pretty well and regularly documented by proponents, supporters and critics alike.)

This was to me the first time the Malay problem surfaced. It's that the perception that Malay economic backwardness (and 'problem') is solely economic in its cause and could largely be solved under the NEP.

In fact its architect, Abdul Razak Hussein (right), asked for 20 years for the project implementation; surely thinking that this period was enough to see the Malay through.

Sadly, history has indicated there has been a fundamental flaw in this presumption. In reality, his economic ineptitude being one, but far more is his psychological or mental deficiency.

Psychological or mental? Yes. He has this innate inability to realise that upon independence the country was morphing progressively into a new era: From old to new, rural to urban, agrarian to manufacturing, ancient to modern. From a life aligned with nature and the natural featured by myth, magic, miracle and mystery, to one surrounded and led by technical principles and science. It was an era of change.

Change requires a few mental subtleties. First there must be awareness or consciousness of the advent of change, and second, it requires a willingness to adapt to it. Without these two, any change is but a natural progression. The mind must therefore be equipped to be conscious and be aware of change. This is what the Malay did not have.

Ketuanan Melayu

History tells us that the Malay has not been able to produce the thinking faculty to recognise the coming of change to begin with. Hardly surprising therefore for him to show an inability to adapt at the appropriate time. He has no ability to accept and adapt to change.

So this is to me the root of the 'Malay problem'.

This inability to change again to me reflects the inner features and characteristics of Malay thinking:

i) It is ethnocentric: it believes in the superiority of its own type over all other types.

ii) It is non-scientific: it believes in not yet ascertained truth and in non-provable ones.

iii) It is quick in denial.

iv) It is not aware of its mistakes.

They would produce the following end-product or behaviour patterns:

v) The Malay is a superior race.

vi) Islam is the one and only religion that gets approval from God Almighty.

vii) These are irrefutable truths.

viii) Anyone denying the above is a traitor to the race and an apostate to religion.

Items (i) to (iv) indicate that the Malay is racially conscious and highly religion bound. Items (v) to (viii) reveal his racism and religious tendencies. They in turn at least partially explain the favourite Malay ideology 'untuk agama, bangsa dan negara'.

They have also been personified by the ketuanan Melayu entity, and giving rise to the Perkasa movement.

Doubters to this contention might wish to counter check: Are ketuanan Melayu and Perkasa not ethnocentric? They are for championing 'Malay rights' when the constitution says it's only Malay 'special privileges'.

They are also non-scientific for championing Islam, or at least the government-approved version of Islam: Sunni sect, Imam Shafie line, and until recently, Islam Hadhari variety.

Who then are ketuanan Melayu members? To me, the ketuanan Melayu entity comprises those who generally harbour the eight features just mentioned above. As individuals they are:

i) The ruling party members, especially Umno leaders;

ii) The civil servants running the government machinery;

iii) The officers and personnel running government agencies like the police, military, customs, immigration, etc.;

iv) The ulama whose job is to protect and propagate Islam;

v) Political chiefs aspiring to get to the top of the party ladder.

It's eerie to think the obvious - that this list would net almost the entire educated, urban, middle class, Malay population. And they are the embodiment of the Malay problem!

In other words, the root, core, essence of the Malay problem is the Malay collective culture!

Shameful performance

How has this collective culture been performing as the top leaders and managers of the country? Well, unless I am grossly wrong, you can't create something good out of something rotten. Ketuanan Melayu (i.e. racism and religious fundamentalism) to me is something definitely rotten. So Malay supremacy has been able to create in the last decade or so the following:

a) Bending the laws to suit Malay interests. In this case the constitution has been amended a record 40 times (with 650 individual amendments) since 1957. Compare this with the US that has amended its constitution about 27 times since its founding. Or, Singapore, four times. Racism is institutionalised in this country!

b) Breaking the thin line between Syariah and civil laws. The supremacy of the constitution has been eroded.

c. Breaking down of institutions like the check and balance features of democratic governance. Democracy is all but dead. Have the periodic general elections, and that's it, democracy is observed. Whatever happens in between is another matter altogether.

d) The flagrant use of lies, deceit, hooliganism on the part of the ruling elite against its own people. There is this massive breaking down of individual and public morality.

There are countless thousands of others.

We come back to Dahan's wisdom. Now that we have re-acquainted ourselves with the Malay problem, how do we go about solving it?

This is no easy task for the obstacles are enormous. On the one side we have a people under the ketuanan Melayu ambit digging deep into the fortress of race and religion and not at all ashamed to use the political power available at its disposal. To the Malay, the saying that the ends justify the means is enshrined in gold.

The government and ketuanan Melayu are not about to let go easily. They are deep in the quagmire of lies, deceit, corruption, even sin and criminality. Only by them staying in power will they be able to prevent the law from taking its course.

On the other side we have the 21st century world demanding a 21st century open and flexible mind. Some of them are: Technical ability, professionalism, openness, honesty, fairness, justice, morality, transparency, responsibility, accountability and integrity.

Solutions

Whatever programme we have to solve the Malay problem, two elements must be present: The secularisation of the Malay mind and the restoration of basic human rights to the peoples of Malaysia.

It has to be repeated that it won't be easy.

But hope against hope, the government must restore power to the people; the ulama must come to terms with universal realities. Civil servants too should reorient their thinking to serve the people rather than the politicians.

And the people, the average Malay down the road, must come to realise that the world is not an oyster, that individualism is the key to any personal or national development.

How can all these be achieved? Thinking influences behaviour - the ketuanan Melayu Malay mind must change from its ethnocentricity and non-scientific features to one of openness, fairness, rationality and respect for other men.

Develop the sense of the individual in him. Secularise Malay thinking. Open his closed mind. Go for secular education. Teach philosophy in schools. Do not teach children about religion until they are able to think for themselves.

Do anything to make the Malay more receptive for change. Then perhaps we can begin to solve the Malay problem, in 2011 and onwards.

AB SULAIMAN is an observer of human traits and foibles, especially within the context of religion and culture. As a liberal, he marvels at the way orthodoxy fights to maintain its credibility in a devilishly fast-changing world. He hopes to provide some understanding to the issues at hand and wherever possible, suggest some solutions. He holds a Bachelor in Social Sciences (Leicester, UK) and a Diploma in Public Administration, Universiti Malaya.

Ramon Navaratnam reputation took a hit re: Abdul Ghani MAS issue

The reputation of Ramon Navaratnam has suddenly took a dive when for unknown reasons he was so quick to absolve Abdul Ghani the Attoney Genreral any wrongdoing over his recent Haj trip and made a sweeping statement that the whole MACC panel concurred that Abdul Ghani had done no wrong. 2 members of the panel has come out to refute that Ramon's opinion is shared by them. Read the article below which is courtesy of Malaysiakini: Ramon roasted over AG Haj trip issue:

Ramon roasted over AG Haj trip issueHafiz Yatim

Some anti-graft body members are cheesed off with Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail being absolved of any wrongdoing during his haj trip.

The target of their umbrage is Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's corruption prevention committee chairperson Ramon Navaratnam for having said that the whole panel was satisified that the AG was innocent when it was just his personal opinion.

Although they admitted that Abdul Gani seemed truthful and produced receipts and invoices acquired during his haj trip it was not Ramon's (left) role to clear him.

This view was shared by fellow panel members Robert Phang Miow Sin and Prof Dr Ishak Tambi Kechik.

Ishak said it was improper for Ramon to reveal to the press, what he considers as the former's personal opinion, as what had actually transpired at the meeting.
"Ramon was quoted to have said that the MACC panel members were satisfied with Abdul Gani's explanation as there was no evidence to link him with the accusations. This is his personal view as the matter was not discussed at the panel meeting held after the Abdul Gani briefing," he said.

He added that he will raise the issue at the at the next Corruption Prevention Committee meeting.

"I also have my own views. But, I cannot divulge what they are."

Ishak said as the briefing with AG was a closed door affair, he cannot divulge details of what had transpired and was surprised that Ramon disclosed some of them.

Phang, who has been one of the most vocal about the allegations against Abdul Gani concurred that Ramon had misrepresented the panel.

"He should not play the role of a judge in determining a person's innocence. This is improper and to say that this represented the views of the panel was certainly misrepresentation," he said.

It is learnt that Abdul Gani nearly broke down when he tried to clear himself of the allegations.

He had presented vouchers and reciepts to prove that he had made the payments.

Apparently, Abdul Gani, his wife and son had paid for the trip which amounted to over RM60,000 each through his and his wife's savings.

However, the reciept and vouchers were only shown to MACC's chief commissioner Abu Kassim Mohammed and his deputy Shukri Abdull.

Phang: AG should step forward

Phang, (right) said he respected Abdul Gani's frankness in organising the meeting with the MACC.

"I respect him for clearing the air by showing the reciepts and etc. Coming out with his own money to pay for the trip to fulfil the religious obligation is commendable" he said.

"However, I feel Abdul Gani should clear the air in the public rather than briefing us only. The allegations were made in the public domain.

"That is why I have asked him to personally rebut the allegations circulating in the public domain. It is only proper the attorney general clear this in public."

There is no other solution, he said but for Abdul Gani to go public.

"I hope the attorney-general will hold a press conference to clear this as it is not right for a public prosecutor to remain mum on the issue," he said.

Phang also revealed that Abdul Gani had described Shahidan Shafie just a friend.

Shahidan, is alleged to be Tajudin's proxy and the allegations which surfaced over the Internet especially on the Malaysia Today website, claimed that the former had played a role resulting in the former MAS chairperson not being charged.

It was alleged that Shahidan had possibly paid Abdul Gani and his family's haj trip last year.

Malaysiakini had then contacted Abdul Gani and Shahidan regarding the allegations but both refused to comment.

Phang said Abdul Gani had also briefly touched on the MAS Kargo issue but there was nothing much into it.

Turning back to Ramon, Phang has taken as a direct attack on himself on the former absolving Abdul Gani.

"I had called on Abdul Gani (left) to clear the air over public allegations of his relationship with Shahidan and the Haj pilgrimage. I was concerned that his silence would lead to deepening suspicions and confusion.

"Ramon can speak for himself but he has no mandate from me or the other panel members to make that statement on our behalf.

"That was not how I perceived the meeting. What was certain was that my esteemed colleagues who attended the meeting did not want to humiliate Abdul Gani any further. It was not our intention to humble the Top Lawyer of the country," he said.

Reasons why Teoh Beng Hock Inquest open verdict not acceptable

Teoh Beng Hock's family has rejected the open verdict for the late Teoh's inquest by the coroner.
1. Neck injuries which he didn't have prior to going into MACC office confirmed
2. First post mortem not even a squeak about neck injuries thus imputing suspicions on the integrities of the doctors who performed the first post mortem and their findings
3. MACC denied violence was pepetrated upon Teoh Beng Hock thus 1. impute MACC integrity questionable
4. Extend of injuries preclude Teoh Beng Hock could have exited the window on his own
5. Pathologist Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar concluded likely suicide but how can it be suicide when there are proof of of pre-fall injuries to extent of ruling out falling out of window by Teoh Beng Hock himself thus again raising suspicion on integrities of pathologists

Article below courtesy of Malaysiakini: Coroner: Force was used on Teoh

Coroner: Force was used on TeohAidila Razak
Jan 5, 11

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) should not breathe a sigh of relief over the open verdict delivered today in the inquest into the death of political aide Teoh Beng Hock, even though homicide was ruled out.

This is because despite MACC insistence that no force was used on the deceased, coroner Azmil Muntapha Abas (right) found that Teoh had sustained bruises to his neck prior to the fall which ultimately killed him.

The 30-year-old aide to Selangor DAP exco member Ean Yong Hian Wah was concluded to have died between 11.15am and 1.15pm on July 16, 2009.

He was found dead on the fifth floor landing of Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam between 1 to 1.30pm, after an interrogation the night before at the MACC's office on the 14th floor on the same building.

“Evidence showed that Teoh did not have these injuries when he went into the MACC office, and you and I know he never left the MACC office.

“So how did he come by these injuries and who is responsible? These questions are of grave significance…do we just sit by and let it be?” asked the Teoh family's lawyer Gobind Singh Deo.
Reduced oxygen to the brain

In his verdict today, Azmil said that pathologists Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand and Dr Shahidan Md Noor both found evidence of bruising to the deceased's neck.

Both found that the neck injury could have caused a reduction of oxygen to the brain leading to “celebral edema, mild or moderate hypoxia, confusion, fainting and decreased motor control”.

The edema could not be confirmed in the second post mortem because the neck tissue area had been dissected.

“(Dr Shahidan) submitted that the consequences of such an injury raise serious doubts as to the capability of the deceased exiting the window unassisted, both physically and mentally,” said the coroner.

However, he ruled out homicide as there was no conclusive evidence that the neck injuries had led to the fall which ultimately killed Teoh.
Injury found in second post-mortem

Interestingly, the evidence of the neck injury only came forth after the second post-mortem which was conducted after Pornthip (right) requested for an exhumation of the body.

“It is only because of the exhumation do we know of the bruises and injury, which MACC has maintained were not inflicted by its officers.

“(Pathologist Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar) testified that he ruled out an accident (and said) it was likely to be suicide as there was no evidence of a struggle. But what is an injury to the neck if not evidence of struggle or force?

“You rule out accident and suicide then what else is left? The family cannot have closure,” he told reporters after the verdict was read out.

Can't say it's a suicide note

The coroner in his verdict said that he ruled out suicide because there were “some unsettled issues which are still questionable and to fulfill this verdict of suicide would entail some form of guesswork.”

He said that MACC had relied heavily on the note found in Teoh's bag two months after his death as evidence of suicide and tried to adduce that he was feeling guilty over the alleged abuse of funds for which he was called in by the commission.

“It was assumed that Teoh felt so guilty and was afraid to leave the MACC office because he was ashamed to face society, especially his boss.

“I regret to observe that no forensic psychiatrist did a report on Teoh's state of mind or the impugned note... I don't think as a coroner I am qualified to make my own assessment purely from assumption,” he said.

“At best I can only assume that the note was authored by Teoh but I am not qualified to say it is a suicide note,” he said.

The family is seeking a review of the verdict at the High Court, and is pushing Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to open a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

Najib People First PM will he keep promise?

Soon after Teoh's death, Najib had promised the family that he would direct that a royal commission be formed if the family finds the inquest ruling unsatisfactory.

Now that the Teoh family had expressed that they found the inquest ruling unsatisfactory, will Najib keep his promise to order a Royal Commission and be a People First Performance now PM?

How about becoming a fortune teller today. Foretell that Najib will hee and haw and forget his promise or at the most (unlikely) order a Royal Commision with extreemly limited ToR (Term of Reference) only to investigate MACC questioning procedures as he had earlier intimidated.

Breaking news - new newspaper birthed: Umnosan

Dean Johns is gifted at coining new terms and in his latest opinion piece in Malaysiakini he has named the racial and religious hatred spewing wastepaper (that is what all the Malaysian main stream media newspaper had been reduced to) Utusan Malaysia which earned its latest nickname by continuing to be a tool and mouthpiece of the double dealing UMNO which head scream 1 Malaysia while his party wastepaper continue to promote religious and racial strife.

Dean Johns also trained his gun at an unnamed currently serving Minister (some blogs has named that Minister as Rais Yatim of the @yorias fame who so far has not confirm nor denied the claims leading people to suspect guilt.

His opinion piece below courtesy of Malaysiakini: Rapining Reality

Raping reality

Dean Johns

Poetic justice, if not the real thing, appears to have caught up with one of the members of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's cabinet.

While the country's mainstream media fails to inform the Malaysian people about BN's culture of criminality in favour of communicating its litany of lies, this minister has become the latest casualty of the world's free media.

Not that I'm suggesting he's guilty of the rape of which he was allegedly accused back in 2007. Like every other citizen, he's entitled to the presumption of innocence and his day in court.

Both of which he's been denied so far, as the case was reportedly hushed up by the Abdullah Ahmad Badawi administration, when he was also a minister.

But I'm good and sure of one thing: he's as guilty of figuratively raping reality and robbing the rakyat of their rights and ringgit as the rest of the BN gang and their accomplices and accessories are.

And the revelation of his alleged rape could well bring the BN regime a step nearer to the end of their rope.

Not that you'd know it by listening to the Malaysia's chief ravisher of reality, Najib. Not a word from him so far on the serious allegations about one of his senior ministers.

Just a New Year message crammed with all his customary claptrap, as faithfully reported by his pathetically compliant 'news' agency, Bernama.

Urging all Malaysians "to fulfil their responsibility in building a better future for the coming generations and place the country in its rightful position," Najib apparently omitted to specify what this rightful position might be.
What mistakes did Najib learn from?

But he was certain of the apparently contradictory facts that "the power to build lies in the hands of the people" and that "the government always adopts full responsibility in the management of the country, particularly the economy."

"Learning from mistakes," he went on, "throughout 2010, we built a strong foundation to ensure that the nation's potentials and resources can be stimulated and mobilised towards achieving the national vision."

At this point I confess my attention wandered a little, what with wondering what mistakes Najib was claiming to have learned from.

The still-unresolved PKFZ scandal? The Bakun Dam fiasco? The mysterious disappearance of Felda's cash reserves? The obscene wealth of BN members and cronies like billionaire Sarawk Chief Minister Taib Mahmud? Or what?

Not daunted by such trifles, however, he then proceeded to declare that "this is not the time to experiment, but a time to renew and strengthen the trust in what has been proven to be effective", before proceeding to attack the opposition and finally urging the people "regardless of race and religion to heed the call to strive for the pinnacle of success".

This was a veritable pinnacle of excess in light of all the financial and political scandals over which Najib has presided, let alone other suspicions surrounding him and his underlings, from the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder to the current allegations of rape against his cabinet colleague.

And as his phrase "regardless of race or religion" only served to remind the reader of the scandalous demand for the removal of Christian symbols before his Christmas visit to the Catholic archbishop's residence, and the latest religio-racial atrocity by Umno 'newspaper' Utusan Malaysia.

A rabble-rousing rag

While this rabble-rousing rag has no more seen fit to mention the rape allegations than the other so-called mainstream media or Najib himself have, it has had the temerity to attack Serdang MP Teo Nie Ching for "causing problems again" by wearing "tight clothes" during an aerobic exercise event outside a Selangor mosque.

Citing information provided by an anonymous blogger, Utusan ignored the fact that Teo was, like the rest of those visible in photographs of the aerobics group, dressed modestly in a t-shirt and long, loose sweat pants.

This was Utusan's second attempted rape of Teo Nie Ching's reputation, following criticism of her attendance at a Maal Hijrah breaking-of-fast celebration at a mosque in Kajang.

Highlighting the hypocrisy of the Utusan campaigns against her, Teo reminded Najib Razak of a recent speech in which he called for news organisations to be the "promoter of moderation".

And as if that wasn't enough hypocrisy to be going on with, former Prime Minister Abdullah, the man running the country at the time of rape allegations against the minister, commented on the Utusan report by urging people to "please be mindful of sensitive matters and not create problems. Be mindful of your actions".

But Utusan Malaysia, or, as it should rightly be called, Umnosan Malaysia, was unrepentant. Indeed it proved as rabid as ever in the face of criticism by National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president Hata Wahari, who is also a senior journalist with Utusan.

Claiming that circulation falls prove that people are "disgusted" with the mainstream media, Hata called, on behalf of the NUJ, for "true media freedom" in the new year.

"The union is asking all mainstream journalists, especially of Utusan Malaysia, New Straits Times, Berita Harian and the Star to return to their true function as deliverers of objective information to the public, and not as tools of propaganda for the government of any political party or individual, for their personal gain," he continued.

Hata then turned his attention specifically to the paper for which he works, saying that "the chief editor and journalists of Utusan Malaysia have no principles, pride or dignity.

"They just want to retain their lucrative positions earning tens of thousands of ringgit. That's why they bow to their political masters, who cling onto power by using Utusan Malaysia as their propaganda tool."

Of course the management of Utusan isn't taking such a shafting lying down, and has summoned Hata to a hearing for "insulting the company's management and tarnishing the company's image".

The fact that the company's management well deserves insulting, and that the company's image could hardly be more tarnished than it already is, will almost certainly not save Hata from being well and truly screwed. But it's great to see a rare mainstream journalist stand up to the rapists of the rakyat's reality.

And the more colleagues who find the courage to join him, the sooner the senior members of the BN regime will find themselves on trial as suspects or accessories on professionally-investigated rape, robbery and murder raps.

DEAN JOHNS, after many years in Asia, currently lives with his Malaysian-born wife and daughter in Sydney, where he mentors creative writing groups. Already published in Kuala Lumpur is a third book of his columns for Malaysiakini, following earlier collections 'Mad about Malaysia' and 'Even Madder about Malaysia'

Murder, rape, corruption and Malay values

Murder, rape, corruption and Malay values
Translated from DARI JELEBU: Bunuh, Rogol, Rasuah dan Nilai Melayu

From agricultural people who are honest and well mannered man, nowadays Malay will be fixated on the profit and loss account before making any decision. They are no longer the one true judge of things which are illegal or halal. In the end, 3 million people who are members of UMNO (United Malays Malays National Organisations) not only consider Najib as pure and clean but even name and appointed Najib Razak to become their leader.

DARI JELEBU FROM Jelebu

Hishamuddin Rais Hishamuddin Rais

The Malay world has changed. (Ini bukan sekali air bah sekali emak meninggalkan abah) This is not at all once the flood father left my mother. The change is not the mother and father. It is the change in the value of the Malay people. This is a very big change. Within just one generation that there has seen a change in the Malay culture is very clear. One shift or more accurately a surge in value has occurred.

The surge of the Malay people are not brought by Tok Lebai or by the State Literary Figure Mrs Teacher (Chegu) or Miss Teacher (Chegu). This value is not arising from the cottage school or primary school. The thing that is responsible for bringing new value is economic structure.

This economic structure has been introduced to the Malay people of UMNO (United Malays National Organisation). From almost thirty years ago - Mahathir Mohammad through the New Economic Policy has introduced new cultural values spirit of the Malay people.

Thirty years before this day - the Malay people were agricultural people. The Malay economy value is the agricultural economy the Malay man was described as polite, friendly as a peaceful farming community.

When the NEP (New Economic Policy) was introduced - this policy is pushed the Malay people and the natural world into a new world, the world of trading and business. In the 70's the Malay people were encouraged to come to migrate to towns and cities. From the picturesque village, the Malay people came into towns and cities with its very different cultural tradition.

The changes brought by the NEP is not a gradual change - not evolution. The NEP dragged and forced people to accept new Malay cultural values. Thus in the 90's and the years before, the spirit of the Malay people has been popularized as the New Malay spirit. This is the line of separation between agriculture Malay and the Malay businessmen.

Economic system that the NEP birthed is essentially a capitalist economic system. But UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) has modified the capitalist system. System of capitalism is no longer free competition but a business crony capitalism. This type of capitalism has chosen its children, wife and friends to become a partner to receive the funds and contracts from the government. It is this crony capitalism that has been responsible for producing a new value to the Malay people.

The new values are the values promoted by UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) to rise in ranks, stature, property and wealth. Greed and greed is considered good value in the business culture.

Today the Malay identity - its faith and its religion - everything is defined by UMNO (United Malay National Organisation). Semua pengtakrifan baik dan buruk sedang dimonopoli oleh United Malays National Organisation. All definitions of good and bad are monopolized by the United Malays National Organisation.

Narrative that is different from what is taught by UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) will be considered wrong or is a cult. Islamic teachings are also defined by UMNO (United Malays National Organistation). Halal (Permissible) or Haram (Forbidden), good or evil are no longer dictated by the sacred scriptures but through promoters and religious spokesmen appointed by UMNO (United Malays National Organistaion).

Whatever is allowed or forbidden if different from what is mouthed by supporters of UMNO (United Malays National Organistion) is not allowed. Truth is now being monopolized by UMNO (United Malays National Organistion).

Corruption which once didn't exist in the agricultural community has become Malay culture. Corruption is now seen as the cultural characteristics to carry out any form of business. Even those investors and business people today have adopted the culture of corruption. Whe calculating a transaction, they have prepared a special budget to bribe those who should be bribed - from office boy to the CEO.

These New Malay values do not stop at just the level of corruption. A classic example: more than a decade ago there was one case where an underaged school going child had been impregnated by a Chief Minister. The case is outrageous. But with the values of the New Malay rape of a minor is not a crime (does not harm the rapist).

The Malay people professing the value of this new state has no shame, dislike or feel guilty when underaged school children have been raped by a Chief Minister.The new values are internalized by the Malay people to become more concerned with contracts and tenders rather than the interest of the life of a child who had been raped.

When this paper was written another rape was have excited people and is subject of lively discussion in the Internet. The talk is that a senior minister in Abdullah Badawi's administration was previously said to be involved raping a maid from Indonesia.

Whether it is truth or not of this case is not the question. What does matter is how the New Malay people have become numb. They are no longer surprised when reading this news. they are not surprised that this 2 year old news has surfaced.

Corruption, rape and deceit that has become a commonplace. Because it often occurs or is done by those who have power and sitting on top of the general public, the public has started to accept this the Malay value and culture.

Let's look at another classic case where it has proved that there had been a surge in changes of the Malay people. The case referred to is the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Sharribuu. From what the public see, hear and read - when the case was tried (in the court) - the general publlic was aware that a good friend of the Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was involved in this murder.

In fact, from what the public was told, according to court reports Najib Razak is not only a friend of the accused. From the mouths of witnesses in the public hearing had told that the murdered model had met with Najib Razak in Paris. In fact a statutory declarations have also been made which told that Najib Razak was the former lover of slain model.

The question that arises here is not who is killed. Or who gave the instructions for the murder of this model. This not want discussed. What we wish to raise is how the 3 million people who are members of UMNO (United Malays Malays National Organisation) has become numb and deaf when faced with the murder of this Mongolian model.

These hearing loss and numbed feelings 3 million members of the party UMNO (United Malays National Organisation) happened because they have accepted and appreciate the new value and the new culture. Three million people are Malays now can only see contracts and tenders. Their eyes and their souls can no longer escape from the power, status and wealth.

Thes new values have no right or wrong. In fact right and wrong are being defined by promoters and spokepeople of UMNO (United Malays National Organisation). When the promoters and spokepeople says Najib Razak is pure and clean, the 3 million Malay people will also nod accept that as a revelation.

This new value system becomes very dangerous for those who live these values no longer any ability to judge what is right and wrong. Because many are willing to accept and share these values, they feel safe and correct. Large numbers and figures make them feel invincible.

The values of the Malay people have become inverted. From people of agriculture who are honest and courteous these Malays access profit and loss before making any decision. They are no longer the true judge of true or falss, permitted or forbidden. In the end, 3 million people who are members of UMNO (United Malays Malays National Organisations) not only consider the figure of Najib as pure and clean but even Najib Razak has been appointed and was named to become their leader.
This is the crisis being faced by the Malay people - the crisis of values. So it is up to the other Malay people - not including the 3 million - if they still have the value of right and wrong to get up and speak up.

This crisis of the Malays will be prolonged do extreme harm on our nation. Harm will befall our nation if many Malays who are well mannered and honest does not do anything.

Dari manusia pertanian yang jujur dan bersopan santun kini manusia Melayu akan berkira-kira tentang untung rugi sebelum membuat apa-apa keputusan. Mereka tidak lagi menilai sesuatu dengan salah benar atau halal haram. Akhirnya, 3 juta manusia Melayu yang menjadi ahli United Malays National Organisations bukan hanya menganggap sosok Najib ini suci dan bersih malah Najib Razak ini telah diangkat dan dinobatkan untuk menjadi ketua mereka.

DARI JELEBU

Hishamuddin Rais

Dunia Melayu kini telah berubah. Ini bukan sekali air bah sekali emak meninggalkan abah. Yang berubah ini bukan emak dan abah. Yang berubah ialah nilai manusia Melayu. Ini satu perubahan yang amat besar. Dalam masa hanya satu generasi telah dilihat satu perubahan budaya nilai Melayu yang amat jelas. Satu anjakan atau lebih tepat lagi satu lonjakan nilai telah berlaku.

Lonjakan nilai manusia Melayu ini bukan dibawa oleh Tok Lebai atau oleh Sasterawan Negara atau Cik Gu dan Cik Gi sekolah. Nilai ini bukan datangnya dari sekolah pondok atau sekolah kebangsaan. Yang bertanggung jawab membawa nilai baru ini ialah struktur ekonomi.

Struktur ekonomi ini telah diperkenalkan kepada manusia Melayu oleh United Malays National Organisation. Selama hampir tiga puluh tahun dahulu – Mahathir Muhamad melalui Dasar Ekonomi Baru telah memasukkan satu nilai dan budaya baru ini ke dalam roh manusia Melayu.

Tiga puluh tahun sebelum hari ini – manusia Melayu adalah manusia pertanian. Ekonomi Melayu adalah ekonomi pertanian justeru nilai yang dilahirkan oleh manusia Melayu ketika itu menggambarkan sopan santun dan damai mesra masyarakat pertanian.

Apabila DEB diperkenalkan - dasar ini menolak manusia Melayu ke satu dunia dan alam yang baru – alam jual beli atau alam perniagaan. Pada tahun tahun 70’an manusia Melayu telah digalakkan datang berhijrah ke bandar dan kota. Dari kampong yang permai manusia Melayu telah mula memasuki pekan dan bandar yang adat budayanya amat berbeza.

Perubahan yang di bawa oleh DEB ini bukan satu perubahan yang perlahan lahan – bukan evolusi. DEB ini telah mengheret dan memaksa manusia Melayu untuk menerima satu nilai dan budaya yang baru. Justeru roh manusia Melayu ini pada tahun-tahun 90’an dahulu telah dipopularkan sebagai roh Melayu Baru. Ini adalah garis pisah antara Melayu pertanian dengan Melayu peniagaan.

Sistem ekonomi yang dimunculkan oleh DEB pada asasnya ialah ekonomi sistem kapitalis. Tetapi dengan United Malays National Organisation sistem kapitalis ini telah diubah suai. Sistem kapitalisma ini tidak lagi menjadi satu perniagaan bebas tetapi kapitalisma kroni. Kapitalisma jenis ini telah memilih anak bini kawan dan sahabat menjadi rakan niaga untuk menerima dana dan kontrek dari kerjaaan. Kapitalisma kroni inilah yang selama ini bertanggung jawab melahirkan satu nilai baru kepada manusia Melayu.

Asas nilai baru yang sedang dianjurkan oleh United Malays National Organisation ialah mengumpul pangkat, derajat, harta dan kekayaan. Tamak dan haloba dianggap nilai yang baik dalam budaya niaga.

Hari ini jati diri Melayu - siapa Melayu, apa kepercayaan manusia Melayu, apa agama manusia Melayu – semuanya telah didifinasikan oleh United Malay National Organisation. Semua pengtakrifan baik dan buruk sedang dimonopoli oleh United Malays National Organisation.

Naratif yang berbeza dari apa yang diajar oleh United Malays National Organisation akan di anggap salah atau akan termasuk ke dalam bab ajaran sesat. Ajaran agama Islam juga telah didifinasi oleh United Malays National Organistation. Halal haram baik dan buruk bukan lagi dirujuk melalui kitab kitab suci tetapi melalui juruheboh dan jurucakap agama yang dilantik oleh United Malays National Organistaion.

Tidak dibenarkan malah dilarang dan di haramkan apa sahaja naratif yang berlainan dari cerita yang di mulutkan oleh penyokong United Malays National Organistion. Kebenaran kini, telah dan sedang dimonopoli oleh United Malays National Organistion.

Rasuah yang pada satu ketika dahulu tidak ditemui atau berani menyerang masyarakat pertanian kini telah menjadi satu jalur budaya Melayu. Rasuah kini dilihat sebagai ciri budaya untuk menjalankan apa sahaja bentuk perniagaan. Malah kaum pemodal dan orang berniaga kini telah menerima pakai budaya rasuah. Dalam perhitungan jual beli, mereka telah menyediakan belanjawan khusus untuk merasuah sesiapa yang patut dirasuah – dari budak pejabat hingga ke CEO.

Nilai Melayu Baru ini tidak berhenti di tahap rasuah sahaja. Satu contoh klasik: lebih dari satu dekad dahulu ada satu kes dimana seorang anak sekolah dibawah umur telah dihamilkan oleh seorang Ketua Menteri. Kes ini menjadi heboh. Tetapi dengan nilai Melayu Baru kes ‘rogol bawah umur’ ini tidak mendatangkan mudarat kepada si perogol.

Manusia Melayu yang menganuti nilai baru ini telah tidak menyatakan rasa mual, benci atau merasa bersalah kerana anak dibawah umur telah di rogol oleh seorang Ketua Menteri. Nilai baru yang dihayati oleh manusia Melayu ini lebih mementingkan kontrek dan tender yang akan diperolehi dari mementingkan salah benar seorang budak di bawah umur yang telah di rogol.

Ketika tulisan ini ditulis satu lagi kes rogol sedang heboh dan rancak dibincangkan dalam alam sesawang. Telah di perkatakan bahawa seorang menteri kanan dalam pentabiran Abdullah Badawi dahulu telah dikatakan terlibat merogol seorang pembantu rumah dari Indonesia.

Sama ada kes ini saheh atau tidak bukan persoalannya. Apa yang menjadi persoalan ialah bagaimana manusia Melayu Baru ini telah menjadi lali. Mereka tidak lagi teperanjat apabila membaca berita ini. Malah mereka tidak hairan yang berita ini telah tenggelam timbul selama 2 tahun.

Rasuah, rogol dan tipu ini telah menjadi satu yang lumrah. Kerana ianya sering berlaku atau dilakukan oleh mereka yng memiliki kuasa dan duduk di puncak kuasa maka orang awam kini telah mula menerima ini sebagai jalur nilai dan budaya Melayu.

Mari kita lihat satu lagi kes klasik dimana ianya telah membuktikan lonjakan perubahan nilai manusia Melayu ini. Kes yang dimaksudkan ini ialah kes pembunuhan model dari Mongolia. Dari apa yang umum baca, dengar dan lihat - ketika kes ini dibicarakan - umum telah tahu tentang kawan baik kepada Najib Razak Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika itu telah terlibat dalam pembunuhan ini.

Malah dari apa yang umum diberitahu, mengikut laporan mahkamah Najib Razak bukan hanya kawan kepada orang yang tertuduh. Dari mulut saksi perbicaraan umum telah diberitahu bahawa model yang dibunuh ini telah bertemu dengan Najib Razak di Paris. Malah melalui satu akuan bersumpah umum juga telah diberitahu yang Najib Razak ini adalah bekas kekasih model yang terbunuh.

Persoalan yang timbul disini bukan siapa yang membunuh. Atau siapa yang memberi arahan agar model ini di bunuh. Bukan ini yang ingin di bincangkan. Apa yang ingin ditimbulkan ialah bagaimana 3 juta manusia Melayu yang menjadi ahli United Malays National Organisation telah menjadi lali dan tuli bila berhadapam dengan kes pembunuhan model dari Mongolia ini.

Ketulian telinga dan kelalian perasaan 3 juta ahli parti United Malays National Organisation ini terjadi kerana mereka telah menerima dan menghayati nilai dan budaya baru. Tiga juta manusia Melayu ini kini hanya boleh melihat melihat kontrek dan tender. Mata dan jiwa mereka tidak berupaya lagi melarikan diri dari kuasa, pangkat dan harta benda.

Jalur nilai baru ini tidak memiliki nilai salah dan benar. Malah salah dan benar telah pun ditakrif oleh juruheboh dan juruagama United Malays National Organisation. Apabila juruheboh dan juruagama mengatakan Najib Razak ini suci dan bersih maka 3 juta manusia Melayu ini juga akan mengangguk menerima ini sebagai wahyu.

Nilai baru ini menjadi amat merbahaya kerana sesiapa yang menghayati nilai ini tidak lagi ada keupayaan untuk menilai mana yang salah dan mana yang betul. Kerana ramai yang sanggup menerima dan berkongsi dengan nilai ini maka mereka merasa selamat dan betul. Angka dan jumlah yang banyak menjadikan mereka merasa kebal.

Anjakan nilai manusia Melayu ini telah menjadi bagitu songsang. Dari manusia pertanian yang jujur dan bersopan santun kini manusia Melayu akan berkira-kira tentang untung rugi sebelum membuat apa-apa keputusan. Mereka tidak lagi menilai sesuatu dengan salah benar atau halal haram. Akhirnya, 3 juta manusia Melayu yang menjadi ahli United Malays National Organisations bukan hanya menganggap sosok Najib ini suci dan bersih malah Najib Razak ini telah diangkat dan dinobatkan untuk menjadi ketua mereka.

Inilah krisis yang sedang dihadapi oleh manusia Melayu – krisis nilai. Maka terpulang kepada manusia Melayu lain – yang bukan termasuk dalam 3 juta ini - jika mereka masih memiliki nilai salah benar untuk bangun dan bersuara. Krisis nilai orang Melayu ini akan berpanjangan dam membawa mudarat yang amat sangat keatas negara bangsa. Mudarat akan sampai jika ramai orang Melayu yang bersopan santun dan jujur tidak melakukan sesuatu.

The real traitors by Hazlan Zakaria

When the current MB (Menteri Besar or Chief Minister) of Selangor Khalid Ibrahim reject UMNO/BN's plant Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the State Chief Secretary using the Selangor Sultan, you can expect those dunce from Perkasa and UMNO to scream derhaka (traitor). But who are the real traitors? Who dragged the royalties through the mud then amended the Constitution to remove their immunity and reduce their power other than UMNO and their underlings. Read what Hazlan Zakaria a scion of the Malay warriors of the Sultan of the past had to say about the real traitors:

In the name of the sultan
Hazlan Zakaria

If family legend is to be believed, I am descended on my father's side, from the great Malay warrior Panglima Nayan himself. My lineage is supposedly traceable to the warrior-general who once served the court of the Kedah sultans.

Though in the chequered past that colours all legends, family history also point to an early life of piracy, or more palatably referred to as the very honourable practice of 'privateering'.

Panglima Nayan apparently warred upon the 'enemies' of the state on the high seas, in order to prove his 'kahar', the Malay word for 'mettle' in the northern Kedah dialect, to the eyes of the sultan and his military advisers.

In the tradition of my great ancestor, my lineage on my father's side pride ourselves collectively as those who fulfilled the two criteria of the warrior-caste: Tillers of the land and military service.

My uncles, grand uncles and distant relations have had their names listed in the ranks of the police, special constables and military regiments.

My late father broke slightly from that tradition as he served not in the martial service but as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) in the federal government, but still in that tradition of honoured service.

Most retired to the livelihood of agriculture and husbandry, in the traditions of warriors stretching from the legionnaires of ancient Rome to the Malay warriors of our beloved land.

My late father himself, after retiring from government service, bought two small fruit orchards that we would go over to as a family to tend on the weekends. One son in particular (hint, hint) had to pull barbed wire and hammer in wooden posts to build fencing.

It is only fitting that those who shed their life's blood defending the land would stand to benefit from the fruits of the earth.

'The right to question'

But other than the gifts of land, there is another right that all those who shed blood in service of the state and the sultans deserve.

The right to receive loyalty in return from those that they so loyally serve and the right to question unjust rule.

This is enshrined all the way to the early annals of Malay history in the part-historical part-mythical texts of Hikayat Sejarah Melayu, in particular the tales of the first Malay king Sang Sapurba and his prime minister Demang Lebar Daun.

There is a compact between the people and the King, a social contract. The king promises to look after the rights and well-being of the people as they surrender their loyalty and right of rule to the king. In addition the king also promises to listen to any legitimate grouses.

The agreement was compiled into the 'Persetiaan Demang Lebar Daun', our very own Magna Carta. But as opposed to a compact between a king and his nobles it is between the king and the people.

It is only in Tun Sri Lanang's Hikayat Hang Tuah that loyalty is considered blind, such that the great Malay admiral Tun Tuah saw no wrong in enticing and kidnapping foreign princesses, give up his love and kill his blood brother unquestionably in the name of his loyalty, if the tales are to be believed, to a very emotional and petulant sultan.

But Tun Sri Lanang probably balanced that with the addition of the character of Hang Jebat who personified the royally trod-upon justice for the rakyat.

Some say Tun Sri Lanang was commissioned by the British to write the tale as it is, to make the Malay people obey their sultans blindly, and by proxy become unquestioning servants of the British Queen and Empire, since the sultans themselves were coerced into 'listening' to the advice of the colonial office residents.

Some of these speculations, on the residents' part at least, is easily verifiable historical fact.

'Loyalty not one-sided'

But to return to Hikayat Sejarah Melayu, of particular import is the fact that the histories and myths took particular pains to mention that the loyalty prescribed is not one sided.

As related in the tale of the king's string of consorts and the 'disease' that they develop once consummating their marriage to the king.

It is only after the king promised to honour his obligations to the people in return for their loyalty that he was 'cured' of his lamentable fate, with the Demang himself surrendering his daughter to be the king's consort and surviving their first night without any afflictions, protected as it were by the compact between king and rakyat.

While some might contest my arguments as being based on myths and legends, it would do us all well to think that if the 'Hikayat Sejarah Melayu that our Malay rulers draw their legitimacy from is to be dismissed as myth and legends and figments of some writer's imagination... well need I say more?

As such, if there is anyone right now who reserves the right to comment on the royals and to defend or vilify them at all, and to receive the same loyalty in return for the rakyat's money poured into maintaining their royal lifestyles, if no longer life's blood, I claim that right as befits my blood, inheritance and monthly PCB tax payments deducted from my salary.

Members of a certain Malay-based party (UMNO) who grew fat on public-funded projects and helped a former premier, who is a Malay of Indian descent (Dr Mahathir), bind and gag the rulers from their rightful place in our constitutional monarchy, probably should not have that right.

On that same vein, the deputy premier (Anwar Ibrahim) who sat on that particular premier's right hand during his royal putsch, but now leads the opposition, probably should not have that right either.

A such it distresses me to hear NGOs sponsored by a particular Malay party lodging police reports saying that they are defending the honour of the royalty, despite being once a party to the dismantling of royal power.

It distresses me to see Malay rulers being dragged hand and foot into plots and means by which the ruling regime plots and schemes to rid opposition-led states of their rightfully-elected governments.

'The real enemy'

I am not sure if the royals do so willingly or are being strong-armed by the government's ability to call a royal before the courts, another of their 'innovative' and sneaky constitutional amendments, or sugared up by contracts of railway double trackings or water transfer tunnels.

But I do hope that the royals will remember not only their rakyat-granted privileges, but their responsibilities as well. If not to the amended constitution that a certain premier shredded, then to the spirit of the social accord of 'Persetiaan Demang Lebar Daun'.

Family legends teems with tales of our heritage, one of the more famous one is about the ancestral keris, or Malay dagger once belonging to Panglima Nayan.

It is said that the blade was bound to a spirit of the land whose mandate was to preserve the sovereignty of our soil.

The traditional weapon had to be tied to the central beam of the family home as Japanese troops or members of the local Kempeitai passed by, shaking in its sheath for the blood of the enemies of the land.

While the sacred weapon was long lost to the depths of an abandoned well after the Japanese came searching for weapons in local households, I somehow think that if it were present now, it would be shaking with fury at the real enemy that is seeking to use if not go against the Malay rulers.

This time not foreign but perhaps... domestic.

“Ampun tuanku! Patik rakyat mohon sembah bicara.”

HAZLAN ZAKARIA is a member of the Malaysiakini team.

Article courtesy of Malaysiakini: In the name of the Sultan

One more reason to vote UMNO/BN out

Listen to the anquished cry of rape victims as revealed by Irene Fernandez who not only did not get justice for the crime committed against them but also suffered being ostracized by their home community for something which is not their fault. Witness the claim that a Malaysian Minister (some had mentioned the name Rais Yatim who till now had not confirm nor denied it) and the authorities non-action over the claims:

Change system of governance to arrest rape
Irene Fernandez

COMMENT Fifteen years ago when I was arrested and charged with publishing false news for a memorandum send to the government on the abuse, torture and dehumanised treatment of migrant workers in immigration detention centres, one of the charges I faced was the issue of rape of women in the detention centres.

In Indonesia, one of our partners investigated and documented five testimonies of women migrants raped at the camps. They were willing to testify.
Unfortunately and suspiciously, the office of our partner was raided and the files went missing. It was difficult to track the women and I lost my witnesses.

I did not lose hope. Together with one of my very committed lawyers, we went to Bangladesh to interview witnesses.

My partner there worked very hard to identify witnesses and even employed a full-time person to manage, counsel and sustain the witnesses as the court took a very long time to move the wheels of judicial process. Women who were raped were also identified.

The interviews conducted with the women were very painful and a stressful experience in my life. All five women whom we interviewed intensively were thrown out of their homes by their husbands and the community demanded they leave the village. The marriage future of their daughters was gone as they were seen as daughters of soiled women.

The trauma, impact and living on abject poverty by the women was for me most unbearable. It hurt too much. The look of hopelessness, fear and anxiety just pierced me over and over. In fact I fell ill on the second day of meeting with the survivors of rape and torture.

I then decided that I would rather go to jail than get the women to relive the trauma again. I will not make them witnesses for my trial. Reliving the trauma again with added publicity would be impactful and the consequences uncertain on the women and their children.

I faced an intense conflict on how do we make the rapists, the detention centre officers, the commandant, the home minister and the government of the day accountable for this form of torture on innocent women and womanhood and yet protect their dignity.

All I could do was open a window of opportunity for them to begin a new life with an income generation project and strengthen their livelihood skills combined with counselling. Today the women are able to live their lives but the stigma remains.

System fails to protect the victim

Today as news emerge of another women domestic worker raped by a senior minister, we seem to be faced with a similar conflict. How do we make this minister and all those in power and in authority accountable?

It was easy for the datin to cancel her work permit and send her home to Indonesia with a stern warning and threat that the victim remains silent about the rape. The victim, helpless and filled with fear remained silent and just move on with life.

Have there been more victims and all silenced in the same way? Since the senior minister lives in a huge mansion, there must be a number of domestic workers in the household.

And the system fails to protect the victim and all potential women. What can a foreign domestic worker do when she does not have any off-day, when she is cut off from the rest of the world as she works in an isolated, individualised workplace which is a private domain? How can she communicate with family or others if she is denied that right?

The support for her withers from Malaysians whose perception of domestic workers is negative influenced by the mainstream media. It has been reflected in the number of comments that appeared in published articles about the rape.

These perceptions and attitude do not help the victim nor our efforts to fight the heinous crime of rape against women and children.
We support a regime that has destroyed every pillar of democracy and justice where the victim cannot access due process nor even reach out for help.

The outcry over making the minister accountable cannot remain at the individual level. It demands a serious change in our rotten corrupt system of governance. Rape will continue on our women as it is being done on the Penan and other indigenous women.

Statistics reveal that every 1.7 hours someone is raped. The figure will increase when we include the thousands of women forced into prostitution and sexual exploitation in our country. Rapists will flourish in our country because we have a government that facilitates it.

The only way out is to get rid of such senior ministers together with the Umno-BN-led government as they have failed to protect, recognise and ensure women's rights to body security.

If we want to save our daughters and granddaughters, our sisters and wives, then the system must change. And we as Malaysians, as voters must ensure this change takes place for justice and security to be the norm in our society.

IRENE FERNANDEZ is executive director of migrant workers rights group Tenaganita and a human rights activist.

Article courtesy of Malaysiakini: Change system of governance to arrest rape

Najib Abdul Razak - Simpson of 1Malaysia

Read about why Mariam Mokhtar of Malaysiakini equates Najib Abdul Razak to the Simpsons of that famous TV series: Article courtesy of Malaysiakini: 'The Simpsons' in real life:

'The Simpsons' in real life
Mariam Mokhtar

If '1Malaysia' were a TV series, it would be 'The Simpsons'

Reading about Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's desire to have nuclear power plants in Malaysia is like watching a replay of 'The Simpsons', the series in real life.

In both - the country and the cartoon, government and large corporations are portrayed as callous entities that take advantage of the common worker and authority figures are seen in an unflattering light. Politicians are corrupt and the local police force is incompetent. Religion is a recurring theme and in times of crisis, the family in 'The Simpsons' turns to God, whilst in real-life Malaysia, politicians are not averse to using religion as a manipulative tool.

In Malaysia's own version of 'The Simpsons', Najib can only be Mr Burns, the evil owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant who is attended to at all times by Waylon Smithers, his obedient and sycophantic aide, confidant and secret admirer.

Smithers has homosexual tendencies and enjoys an intimacy with power that most people will never experience. As I am not privy to the Najib administration or his household, I do not know who, in real-life could assume Smithers' rôle.

Mr Burns cuts corners and endangers people's lives. Najib is about to do that with his mad scheme of wanting two nuclear power plants for Malaysia even though he is aware of Malaysia's poor track record of maintenance.

Our costly mistakes in the Defence Ministry (where a high level of technical expertise is critical) have shown that scant attention has been paid to contracts. Purchases of faulty or obsolete equipment, or non-existent items and the use of low-grade materials in construction and short-cuts in maintenance have resulted in wastage and death.

Just like Najib, Mr Burns is a stereotype of Corporate America. He has an unquenchable desire to increase his own wealth and power, coupled with a lack of concern for his workers, or for the safety and well-being of citizens of Springfield.

Springfield's richest man, built his atomic energy fortune from the ground up after inheriting his father's atom-splitting factory. Najib built his career by piggy-backing on the reputation of his father, Malaysia's second prime minister. Like Mr Burns, Najib has been able to control local elections and possess unparalleled power in the country.

Out of step with public opinion

Mr Burns' state of mind is the subject of frequent jokes on the show. At times, he appears to be completely removed from reality. Looking at the NEM and various BN policies, it is obvious that Najib is also out of step with public opinion. Burns is unaware of the townspeople's general dislike of him. Najib believes that his 69 percent popularity rating is a good sign.

Mr Burns is Springfield's richest and most powerful citizen and he uses his power and wealth to do whatever he wants, usually without regard for the consequences and without interference from the authorities. Many will argue that the similarities between Najib and Mr Burns, are uncanny. Towns which have seen by-elections, like Sibu, can testify to Najib's vote-buying.

Mr Burns spends his time in his office at the nuclear plant. Najib spends his time, when he is not on overseas trips, in Putrajaya. In Springfield, workers are monitored by closed circuit cameras. In Putrajaya, this is no different, where every corner spouts two, possibly more closed circuit cameras and is known to be Malaysia's most 'watched' place.

President Truman thought Mr Burns to be the nation's most trustworthy person and asked him to transport a specially-printed trillion-dollar bill to Europe as the USA's contribution to the reconstruction of Europe. Similarly, Malaysians thought that its prime minister was the most trusted person and could only watch in vain as Najib frittered away the nation's wealth with mega-projects, like the 100-storey Warisan Merdeka.

Burns resides in Burns Manor, a vast, ornate mansion on an immense estate. It is protected by a high wall, an electrified fence, and a pack of vicious attack dogs known as “The Hounds”. Najib lives in his official residence, the ostentatious Seri Perdana which is undergoing a RM65million refurbishment and is similarly well-protected.

Mr Burns routinely subjects Springfield and its residents to his abuse and, as a result, there is a general dislike of him throughout the town.

On paper, we will be shown to have acquired the best and most expensive nuclear know-how. But the whole-world knows we are suckers.

What if we thought we were building a nuclear power that was built to specifications but because of Malaysia's massive sub-contracting and Ali Baba schemes, we ended up with a nuclear facility that was inferior?

Shoddy quick-fix

What if the contract was not properly scrutinised and we found that we were liable for extra costs or maintenance? What if nuclear material went missing? What if terrorist organisations exploited our weakness? What if we invited the friendship of rogue nations because of their nuclear ambitions?

Those in government hardly care if the project fails or not. Those involved will have made their cut of the deal. We may think we are paying for the best when in fact, we are only paying for a shoddy quick-fix job engineered by Ali Baba companies. The disappearance of two jet engines is relatively minor when compared with a problem of nuclear proportions.

In 'The Simpsons', Mr Burns has blackmailed and bribed various officials in Springfield, including the mayor and the nuclear safety inspectors.

That is the scary bit. Will Najib or his administration also attempt to bribe the nuclear safety inspectors and thus endanger Malaysia? Sadly, we do not have a loveable bungling Homer Simpson who will always manage to save the situation with his strokes of good luck.

13th Malaysian General Election will be in first quater 2011

Prediction: The 13th Malaysian General Election will be in the first quarter of next year. What is that based on? It seemed Najib told his cousin twice removed that his wedding cannot be in the first quarter or 2011 if he wants Najib to be the guest of honor at he Kenduri! I understand Hussein Hamid who blogged this have close connections to Pekan Pahang the hometown of Najib.

Read more at Hussein Hamid: And they are Off!

DAP proved Kuala Lumpur not hardcore free

DAP led by MPs Tony Pua and Lim Lip Eng together with supporters carried out food distribution for the poor at the open car park near Sinar Kota Jalan Silang Kuala Lumpur. The event of giving out food to the poor was to draw attention to the fact that there are still thousands of hardcore poor in Kuala Lumput contrary to the claim by Raja Nong Kuala Lumpur is free of hard core poor. See Minister declares KL free of hardcore poor.

Prior to the food distribution, Tony Pua and Lim Lip Eng gave a press conference as well as video interviews with Malaysiakini. The video below is proof that Kuala Lumpur is still haunted by thousands of hard core poor:

Location Map

View Sinar Kota Kuala Lumpur in a larger map

Kuala Lumpur has been declared hardcore poverty-free.
Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the number of poor and vulnerable people in the capital had been reduced by at least 50 per cent from a year ago.

He said from next year, the government would increase aid to target groups through programmes such as home sales, education aid and funeral care scheme.

“Under the urban well-being element, we have provided small business skills training for the poor,” he told reporters after launching of the inaugural World Congress on Infrastructure Asset Management here today.

Raja Nong Chik said efforts to completely overcome poverty and the vulnerable in the urban areas would take time in view of the dynamic population.

“We will continue to help the hardcore poor. The poor may be out of the doldrums but they could fall back into the pit again due to insufficient assistance. To say that we can eradicate hardcore poverty 100 per cent is difficult,” he said. —
Bernama

New country - MalAPCO, PM Najib Abdul Razak

Breaking news!! A new country has just emerged - Malapco whose serving Prime Minister the country never elect is Najib Abdul Razak. At the risk of being unpatriotic (loyalty is not just singing praises for one's country but also exposing wrongs with objectives of reforms in mind), let me rewrite the name of the new country - MalAPCO.

Web definition of mal- a combining form meaning “bad,” “wrongful,” “ill,” occurring originally in loanwords from french ( malapert ); on this model, used in the formation of other words ( malfunction; malcontent ).

APCO Worldwide is an independent communications consultancy with more than 500 employees in 29 worldwide locations. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., APCO founded in 1984 by Margery Kraus specializing on handling sensitive political issues some say for many the world's bad repute dictators.

So who created this “bad,” “wrongful,” “ill,” country. Answer: Najib Abdul Razak who used tax payer's RM77 million a year (around RM1.5 million per week) to engage APCO massage the ruling UMNO/BN Federal government reputation. And we were told that if we don't reduce subsidies, the country will soon be bankrupt. That is hell lot of money for a country heading for bankruptcy. No wonder the "combining form" meaning bad got attached to the rest of the country name.

Actually, the term MalApco was coined by Dean Johns and you can read the rest of his article 1Malaysia or 1MalApco below with permission of Malaysiakini:

1Malaysia or 1MalApco?
Dean Johns
Dec 22, 10

It's tempting to wonder who is actually running Malaysia these days, in light of the fact that the BN regime has chosen to take the word of Apco Worldwide over that of Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Apco has denied that it recycled Najib Abdul Razak's '1Malaysia' concept from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak's old 'One Israel' campaign line.

The six-month suspension from Parliament of Anwar, for 'misleading' the House, and three other senior Pakatan Rakyat members - Karpal Singh, Azmin Ali and R Sivarasa - for contempt of the House, was in itself a total travesty.

But even more suspicious, and considerably more sinister, is the mysterious nature and purpose of the BN-Apco relationship itself.

The most burning question is still why Apco was hired in the first place; why BN, a regime so anti-Semitic that it refuses to this day to recognise the existence of Israel, would choose to retain the services of an Israeli-owned public relations and lobbying organisation.

This seems contradictory to such a bizarre degree that it's a case for the conspiracy theorists. Could it be that someone - or everyone - in BN is secretly in the pay of Mossad? Or covertly supporting the Zionist movement that Dr Mahathir Mohamad has long been convinced is plotting to take over the world?

Or could Apco be some spooky CIA-backed organisation that has been imposed on the BN regime the better to watch over US interests, or to monitor Malaysian trans-shipments of arms in breach of UN sanctions against terror-sponsoring states?

Of course, it could simply be the case that Apco was the only public relations consultancy on the planet that the lying BN regime could persuade to peddle its preposterous propaganda.

Whatever the truth of the matter, Apco's services apparently don't come cheap, at RM77 million per year, or around RM1.5 million per week, presumably including the customary BN kickback or 'commission'.

In an attempt to justify such lavish expenditure, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz a few months ago finally 'explained' to Parliament that “Apco Worldwide was hired to implement a comprehensive communications service in order to upgrade government communications capacity to be in line with best world practices”.

Expanding slightly on this vague and sketchy statement, he added that Apco also provides “support to the government in international media relations and strategic planning as well as research and analysis”, and training for government personnel in “various areas of strategic communications to upgrade their skill level”, including “basic skills like how to read and monitor media as well as how to build websites on the Internet”.

Not a word from Nazri, however, on specifically why Apco was selected, given that there are countless international consultancies capable of carrying out such tasks, and surely not all of them are owned and managed by citizens of a country of whose existence Malaysia denies, like Israel.

And of course there's no word currently on how Apco, originally hired to aid and abet the BN's miscommunications, has come to be employed as a weapon against the people's opposition in Parliament.

Performing puppets

Far be it from me to presume to recount the pernicious proceedings in which a letter from Apco was used to deny Anwar due process and the opportunity to produce documentary evidence on his behalf, as Kim Quek has covered the whole matter magnificently in his article, 'Democracy butchered in Malaysian Parliament'.

But I must say that even by BN standards, this latest effort by the government to turn Parliament into a House of ill-repute has been absolutely extraordinary.

And whether it was Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak or his confederates in Apco pulling the strings, all the usual puppets performed their appointed roles to an absolute fault.

Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia pandered as pathetically as ever to his BN proprietors, as usual denying the opposition their right to speak, and conspiring with BN members of the rights and privileges committee to deprive Anwar his legal right to submit his defence, before calling for a vote on the expulsion motion without debate.

BN's self-styled boy wonder, Umno Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin compounded this series of atrocities with the blatantly lying declaration that: “Anwar had been given a fair process to defend himself. We in the BN had been prepared to debate the motion on his suspension.”

And in his role as de facto law minister, or given his frequent difficulty with the facts, let's make that de ficto law minister, Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz embarked on a ridiculous attempt to turn the BN aggressors into aggrieved victims.

Responding to Karpal Singh's amply-justified accusation that BN had used the “brute force of the majority” in these disgraceful expulsion proceedings, he counter-accused the opposition of practising the “tyranny of the minority”.

Nazri was quoted in Malaysiakini as raving that “knowing that BN is always cautious and may be blamed for victimising them if we use our so-called majority, they will say anything in (the) House...

“They will lie and insult the speaker - this is the tyranny of the minority because they think we are scared to take action (and be perceived as a) brute majority.

“They know we are scared and they do anything (they) want. They think they are immune - that's why they are taking advantage ... they are like tyrants in there and they (think) no one is brave enough to stop them.”

I don't know about you, but my first thoughts on reading this diatribe was that I'd never heard such a load of nit-witted nonsense, even from the notorious Nazri.

But on second thoughts, some of it had the ring of truth.

That “they know we are scared” bit, for example. The BN regime certainly has the growing rage of the Malaysian people to be scared of.

But I fancy Nazri had much more in mind than that - like some secrets that the US, Israel and others are party to concerning certain dodgy arms deals and the related Altantuya Shaariibuu murder, for example.

A thought that leads inevitably to the suspicion that the 1Malaysia/ 1MalApco connection may well be part of a deal that's not so much about communicating the BN regime's message as about keeping its worst crimes quiet.


DEAN JOHNS, after many years in Asia, currently lives with his Malaysian-born wife and daughter in Sydney, where he mentors creative writing groups. Already published in Kuala Lumpur is a third book of his columns for Malaysiakini, following earlier collections 'Mad about Malaysia' and 'Even Madder about Malaysia'.