Its going to be all out war in UMNO........ Najib's running halter skelter.

The Prime Minister is responsible for coaxing Ahmad Zahid Hamidi into the fray of the Deputy President's role.The move is to ensure that Muhyiddin does not have an easy passage into the role of Deputy President. It is expected that the PM himself, will announce that he will contest the post of President, and that will force Najib to announce his candidacy as well, or will he?

This is the ace that Abdullah holds, he needs the time to decide if he is going to go for broke, and in all probability he will. Khairy is sure he will says one of Khairy's confidants. And when he does announce that he will contest and allow the membership to decide, Najib will have to make up his mind. My bet is Najib will then contest the position of Deputy.

As much as he would like to, Najib he will not stand against Abdullah for the Presidency following reasons.

The reopening of the Altantuya case, and Najib's involvement, and even if he is not involved, the questions that will hover over him regarding this case will make all believe he is. Why, even now most Malaysians believe he is involved and is part of the whole conspiracy that killed Altantuya, this is the real reason why Syed Hamid has decided to detain Raja Petra Kamaruddin. Syed Hamid is one of Najib's closest lackeys.

Another reason why he can't take on Abdullah is because at the onset there was an agreement between him and Abdullah in which he said he will not contest Abdullah and that he was satisfied to allow Abdullah to finish his job prior to handing over the reins to him come 2010. Now to stand against Abdullah after saying that will not go down well with the conservative Malays in UMNO.

The typical Najib reneged on this deal and twisted the whole agreement when he said he would wait till 2010 provided, the majority of the members wished it that way. Now Abdullah has decided to take that to the test by contesting and in doing so has given the mandate to the members, he's telling Najib in no uncertain terms lets see what they (the membership of UMNO) want.

Najib's deceit has given Abdullah the right to seek his own solution to the problem, he will stand, and promise to hand over "when the time comes," and he has every right to now determine when that time will come if he is given the mandate of the members. To whom `he hands over now is the big question.

Najib has dug his own grave, if he stayed by his word and not got seduced by the likes of Muhyiddin he would have been on a safer wicket.

Now does this explain why Abdullah decided to take over the Ministry of Defence? Everyone knows what Najib's father did to the Tengku in 1969, Abdullah will have none of it so he is safeguarding his turf.

The way things are going Najib will have to defend his position as the deputy, and that may not work in his favour unless the other candidates decide to withdraw, which is very unlikely given that Mahathir (The Mamak) will by then be hopping mad over all this scheming for which he was not consulted or even given a role.

With Najib on the brink of having the Prime Ministership grabbed from right under his nose, one wonders if he may try to go for broke too and take on Abdullah, whilst Mahathir got Anwar (framed)for sodomy Dollah is likely to go for even more serious play he has the Altantuya card close to his chest.

If the events unfold the way it is predicted, with Najib, Rustam, and Zahid in the fray, there is another wild card to consider and that is Rais Yatim for the DPM. Rais has excellent credentials for the position and will make an ideal running mate for either Razaleigh or even Abdullah, and if this happens then both Najib and Muhyiddin will be in for a tough fight.

Abdullah is not going to give up without a fight and and that is certain, Khairy will not allow him to.

There is talk on the deals that are being negotiated behind closed doors Najib,Muhyiddin and even Rafidah followed by the rest in the supreme council have assured Abdullah that they would throw their weight behind Khairy for the Youth post if Abdullah steps down. If Abdullah accepts this deal (which Khairy is not in favour of), this bargain will infuriate not only the Mamak whose son is also in the running but will get the Javanese "run away" Khir Toyo singing the blues as well.

Khairy does not trust the Supreme Council members - Najib especially and does not want such a deal in place, he has told his father-in -law that if he assumes the post that way it will only be a stop gap measure, Abdullah is the type of person who listens but does not remark,that is because he does not understand most of the things said, he is not a real politician, he does talk to Khairy over dinner he has been listening intently to all Khairy has told him, and he will make a decision, and like he said "the decision will be mine" and when the decision comes we'll see if Khairy has ever had an influence over the old man.

Frankly Xroy

The Home Minister is creating trouble again

Mahathir Mohammed has openly said that Samy Veloo has never addressed the plight of the Indians, Samy Veloo represents the MIC in Government, Samy Veloo himself prior to the elections, after an election rally said that he had no power in asking the Government to set free those detained for HINDRAF activities, and this Minister of Home Affairs, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar is reported in the New Straits Times this morning as saying "HINDRAF supporters should have emulated MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Veloo who met him several times to seek the release of HINDRAF leaders." He is quoted as having said, "he asked me on several occasions if there was any way to speed up their release." A clear indication that Samy Veloo can do nothing about it.

The Prime Minister's message was one of forgiveness, the HINDRAF have openly stated that their attendance was not to cause any disturbance but to join in the celebrations and they took the opportunity to make a plea for the release of their five leaders detained under the ISA, and according to R.S. Thanenthairan they....."visited the Raya open house in the spirit of forgiving and forgetting in wishing our Prime Minister Selamat Hari Raya." Is making representations to the Prime Minister wrong?

The Minsiter has also said that there "are other avenues," to address such issues, and other ways to send their message. I hope he is not referring to Samy Velu, because it is not only the Indian community who have given up on Samy Velu, almost the whole of Malaysia have given up on him, with all the things said about him by Mahathir Mohammed and Khir Toyo, both Barisan leaders what can one expect from his leadership?

I would like to ask Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar if that action by the group constituted and insult to Islam as he is quoted as having said.

The group decided to come to the open house after the the Prime Minister's principal private secretary had invited the 5 year old daughter of HINDRAF leader in exile P. Waythamoorthy to the open house.

Thanenthiran said, "Datuk Ahmad Yaacob received Vwaishnnavi's request letter and invited her to the open house" I only hope the the home minister was not under the impression that she was there so that the Prime Minister could take the place of her father, I know for sure that even the Prime Minister did not accept to look at it that way.

What is most disturbing is the way the Home Minister seems to have interpreted the whole issue and claimed as reported in the NST that the "Group's boldness at the function also constituted and insult to Islam."

This seems to be his usual line these days, it was used for RPK first and now for this HINDRAF group who went to the Prime Minister's house in the spirit of "forgiving and forgetting" which also echoed the prime Minister's Hari Raya message of forgiveness.

Instead of having used the occasion to build bridges here, there seems to be a deliberate negative reaction from the Minister to create a divide, something this brand of UMNO policitcians have excelled in especially towards the UMNO general Assembly.

The Home Minister had better look into a little of history and ask all local groups not to refer to his late father who was a simple medicine man from Celebes, as "The Lion of UMNO" for referring to a man as a beast is indeed very un-Islamic to say the least.

I can understand that he is proud of that title given to his father, but then when he lends such absurd and narrow minded interpretations one would think that is the way he should respond. What is even more perplexing is that he is a qualified lawyer and this seems to be coming from him.

If Only Abdullah Walked the Talk

Selamat Hari Raya Idil Fitri Maaf Zahir dan Batin from the blog.

It is indeed a time for rejoicing for our Islamic Brothers and sisters who have fasted for the last 30 days or so in an act of renewal.

I read the Prime Minister's message in the Star, I expected some act of forgiveness, he talked about it but he was unable to walk the talk. What happened to Raja Petra Kamaruddin who has been detained under the ISA for speaking his mind, he talks about openness, it is not the Malaysians who are not prepared for it as he puts it, it is the UMNO leadership in their narrow mindedness who are ill prepared for this, not really ill prepared, but who go all out in the crudest of manners to exploit it, make sentimental issues out of it, and stir the emotions of their followers for their own political ends.

The UMNO leadership has dwindled to nothing but a bunch of leaders with a mindset of street gangsters.

This was seen in one of the videos displayed on the YOUTUBE where Nazri a supreme council member seems to be yelling at another member of Parliament and telling him to shut up, calling him a racialist, and using other language that does not befit a member Parliament.

This was seen in the behavior of Ahmad Isamil, this was seen in the unsubstantiated allegations made about Theresa Kok by a former Menteri Besar of Selangor and an UMNO supreme council member as well.

It was seen in the language of UMNO members of Parliament using degrading names to reefer to "Indians" and terms that were an insult to the ladies of Malaysia.

What is paramount here here is the failure of the President of UMNO, and the Barisan Nasional, and the Prime Minister to have personally come out and directly have taken these people to task to stop it at the onset.

Abdullah Ahmad Badawi could have stopped all thsi had he been firm right at the onset, which he chose not to do, in a deliberate attempt to win favour with the extreme right in UMNO in order to safeguard his position.

Sadly it did not work, it only portrayed him as a weakling, unable to make firm decisions, and a person over whom every, Nazri, Najib and Khairy could walk over.

Today in the Hari Raya message he calls for understanding.

Abdullah also asked for forgiveness for any wrong he might have done, Mr. prime Minsiter you can't keep people jailed as prisoners of conscience as you yourself knwo it is wrong and ask for forgiveness, who are we to forgive you for the sins you commit against others.

Zaid Ibrahim - open letter to PM Sep 30, 08

In our proclamation of independence, our first prime minister gave voice to the lofty aspirations and dreams of the people of Malaya: that Malaya was founded on the principles of liberty and justice, and the promise that collectively we would always strive to improve the welfare and happiness of its people.


MCPX
Many years have passed since that momentous occasion and those aspirations and dreams remain true and are as relevant to us today as they were then. This was made possible by a strong grasp of fundamentals in the early period of this nation.

The federal constitution and the laws made pursuant to it were well founded; they embodied the key elements of a democracy built on the rule of law. The Malaysian judiciary once commanded great respect from Malaysians and was hailed as a beacon for other nations.

Our earlier prime ministers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn were truly leaders of integrity, patriots in their own right and most importantly, men of humility. They believed in and built this nation on the principles and values enunciated in our constitution.

Even when they had to enact the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960, they were very cautious and apologetic about it. Tunku stated clearly that the Act was passed to deal with the communist threat.

“My cabinet colleagues and I gave a solemn promise to Parliament and the nation that the immense powers given to the government under the ISA would never be used to stifle legitimate opposition and silent lawful dissent”, was what the Tunku said.
Our third prime minister, Tun Hussein Onn, reinforced this position by saying that the ISA was not intended to repress lawful political opposition and democratic activity on the part of the citizenry.

Gov’t has failed the people

The events of the last three weeks have compelled me to review the way in which the ISA has been used. This exercise has sadly led me to the conclusion that the government has time and time again failed the people of this country in repeatedly reneging on that solemn promise made by Tunku Abdul Rahman.

This has been made possible because the government and the law have mistakenly allowed the minister of home affairs to detain anyone for whatever reason he thinks fit. This subjective discretion has been abused to further certain political interests.

History is the great teacher and speaks volumes in this regard. Even a cursory examination of the manner in which the ISA has been used almost from its inception would reveal the extent to which its intended purpose has been subjugated to the politics of the day.

Regrettably, Tunku Abdul Rahman himself reneged on his promise. In 1965, his administration detained Burhanuddin Helmi, the truly towering Malay intellectual, a nationalist who happened to be a PAS leader. He was kept in detention until his death in 1969. Helmi was a political opponent and could by no stretch of the imagination be considered to have been involved in the armed rebellion or communism that the ISA was designed to deal with.

This detention was an aberration, a regrettable moment where politics had been permitted to trump the rule of law. It unfortunately appears to have set a precedent and many detentions of persons viewed as having been threatening to the incumbent administration followed through the years.

Even our literary giant, ‘sasterawan negara’ the late Tan Sri A Samad Ismail was subjected to the ISA in 1976. How could he have been a threat to national security?

I need not remind you of the terrible impact of the 1987 Operasi Lalang. Its spectre haunts the government as much as it does the peace-loving people of this nation, casting a gloom over all of us. There were and still are many unanswered questions about those dark hours when more than a hundred persons were detained for purportedly being threats to national security. Why they were detained has never been made clear to Malaysians.

Similarly, no explanation has been forthcoming as to why they were never charged in court. Those detainees included amongst their numbers senior opposition members of parliament who are still active in Parliament today.

The only thing that is certain about that period was that Umno was facing a leadership crisis. Isn’t it coincidental that the recent spate of ISA arrests has occurred when Umno is again having a leadership crisis?

‘Militant’ Ezam back in Umno

In 2001, Keadilan ‘reformasi’ activists were detained in an exercise that the Federal Court declared was in bad faith and unlawful. The continued detention of those that were not released earlier in the Kamunting detention facility was made possible only by the fact that the ISA had been questionably amended in 1988 to preclude judicial review of the minister’s order to detain.

Malaysians were told that these detainees had been attempting to overthrow the government via militant means and violent demonstrations. Seven years have gone and yet no evidence in support of this assertion has been presented. Compounding the confusion even further, one of these so-called militants, Ezam Mohamad Noor, recently rejoined Umno to great fanfare, as a prized catch it would seem.

At around the same time, members of PAS were also detained for purportedly being militant and allegedly having links to international terrorist networks. Those detained included Nik Adli, the son of Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, the menteri besar of Kelantan. Malaysians were made a promise by the government that evidence of the alleged terrorist activities and links of these detainees would be disclosed. To date no such evidence has been produced.

The same formula was used in late 2007 when the Hindraf 5 were detained. Malaysians were told once again that these individuals were involved in efforts to overthrow the government and had links with the militant Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam of Sri Lanka. To date no concrete evidence have been presented to support this assertion.

It would seem therefore that the five were detained for their involvement in efforts that led to a mobilisation of Indian Malaysians to express, through peaceful means; their frustration against the way in which their community had been allowed to be marginalised. This cause has since been recognised as a legitimate one. The Hindraf demonstration is nothing extraordinary as such assemblies are universally recognised as being a legitimate means of expression.

In the same vein, the grounds advanced in support of the most recent detentions of Tan Hoon Cheng, Teresa Kok and Raja Petra Kamarudin leave much to be desired. The explanation that Tan Hoon Cheng was detained for her own safety was farcical. The suggestion that Teresa Kok had been inciting religious sentiments was unfounded as was evinced by her subsequent release.

As for Raja Petra Kamarudin, the prominent critic of the government, a perusal of his writings would show that he might have been insulting of the government and certain individuals within it.

However, being critical and insulting could not in any way amount to a threat to national security. If his writings are viewed as being insulting of Islam, Muslims or the Holy Prophet (pbuh), he should instead be charged under the Penal Code and not under the ISA.

In any event, he had already been charged for sedition and criminal defamation in respect of some of his statements. He had claimed trial, indicating as such his readiness and ability to defend himself. Justice would best be served by allowing him his day in court more so where, in the minds of the public, the government is in a position of conflict for having been the target of his strident criticism.

Law used against dissidents

The instances cited above strongly suggest that the government is undemocratic. It is this perspective that has over the last 25 plus years led to the government seemingly arbitrarily detaining political opponents, civil society and consumer advocates, writers, businessmen, students, journalists whose crime, if it could be called that, was to have been critical of the government.

How it is these individuals can be perceived as being threats to national security is beyond my comprehension. The self-evident reality is that legitimate dissent was and is quashed through the heavy-handed use of the ISA.

There are those who support and advocate this carte-blanche reading of the ISA. They will seek to persuade you that the interests of the country demand that such power be retained, that Malaysians owe their peace and stability to laws such as the ISA. This overlooks the simple truth that Malaysians of all races cherish peace. We lived together harmoniously for the last 400 years, not because of these laws but in spite of them.

I believe the people of this country are mature and intelligent enough to distinguish actions that constitute a ‘real’ threat to the country from those that threaten political interests. Malaysians have come know that the ISA is used against political opponents and, it would seem, when the leadership is under challenge either from within the ruling party or from external elements.

Malaysians today want to see a government that is committed to the court process to determine guilt or innocence even for alleged acts of incitement of racial or religious sentiment. They are less willing to believe, as they once did, that a single individual, namely the minister of home affairs; knows best about matters of national security.

They value freedom and the protection of civil liberties and this is true of people of other nations too.

I attempted to push for reform

Mr Prime Minister, the results of the last general election are clear indication that the people of Malaysia are demanding a reinstatement of the rule of law. I was appointed as your, albeit short-lived, minister in charge of legal affairs and judicial reform.

In that capacity, I came to understand more keenly how many of us want reform, not for the sake of it, but for the extent to which our institutions have been undermined by events and the impact this has had on society.

With your blessing, I attempted to push for reform. High on my list of priorities was a reinstatement of the inherent right of judicial review that could be enabled through a reversion of the key constitutional provision to its form prior to the controversial amendment in 1988.

I need not remind you that that constitutional amendment was prompted by the same series of events that led not only to Operasi Lalang but the sacking of the then Lord President and two supreme court justices.

Chief amongst my concerns was the way in which the jurisdiction and the power of the courts to grant remedy against unconstitutional and arbitrary action of the executive had been removed by Parliament and the extent to which this had permitted an erosion of the civil liberties of Malaysians.

It was this constitutional amendment that paved the way for the ouster provision in the ISA that virtually immunises the minister from judicial review, a provision which exemplifies the injustice the constitutional amendment of 1988 has lent itself.

I also sought to introduce means by which steps could be taken to assist the judiciary to regain the reputation for independence and competence it once had. Unfortunately, this was viewed as undesirable by some since an independent judiciary would mean that the executive would be less ‘influential’.

I attempted to do these things and more because of the realisation that Malaysia’s democratic traditions and the rule of law are under siege. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with giving everyone an independent judiciary and the opportunity to a fair trial.

This is consistent with the universal norms of human rights as it is with the tenets of Islam, the religion of the federation. Unchecked power to detain at the whim of one man is oppressiveness at its highest. Even in Israel, a nation that is perpetually at war the power to detain is not vested in one man and detention orders require endorsement from a judge.

If there are national security considerations, then these can be approached without jettisoning the safeguards intended to protect individual citizens from being penalised wrongfully. In other jurisdictions involved in armed conflicts, trials are held in camera to allow for judicial scrutiny of evidence considered too sensitive for public disclosure so as to satisfy the ends of justice.

If this can be done in these jurisdictions, why not here where the last armed struggle we saw, the very one that precipitated the need for the ISA, came to an end in the 1980s?

ISA was never intended to be permanent

Any doubts as to the continued relevance of the ISA in its present form should have been put to rest by the recommendation by the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) that the ISA be repealed and an anti-terror legislation suited to the times enacted in its place. Containing as it did a sunset clause in its original times, the ISA was never intended to be a permanent feature on the Malaysian legal landscape.

Through its continued use in the manner described above and in the face of public sentiment, it is only natural that the ISA has become in the mind of the people an instrument of oppression and the government is one that lends itself to oppressiveness.

Its continued use does not bode well for a society that is struggling to find its place in the global arena. It does not bode well for the democracy that is so vital for us to develop sustainably.

Mr Prime Minister, I remember very clearly what you once said; that if one has the opportunity to do what is good and right for the country, then he must take on the task. I respect you deeply for that and if I were confident that I would have been able to do some good for Malaysia, I would have remained on your team.

Sir, you are still the prime minister and you still have the opportunity to leave your footprint in Malaysian history. I urge you to do so by repealing the ISA once and for all.

Let us attempt to fulfil that solemn promise made by our beloved first prime minister to the people of this country.

Yours sincerely

Zaid Ibrahim

This Eid Set them Free

"Salam Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir Dan Batin"

"Happy Eid, Forgive my physical and emotional wrongdoings" that is what "Salam Aidilfitri Maaf Zahir Dan Batin" means.

On this auspicious day Muslims the world over celebrate the end of fasting, the night before is referred to as takbir and it is on takbir that the Prime Minister makes his Hari Raya Address.

On this very important Malaysian holiday in true Malaysian spirit the people of this cosmopolitan country visit each other and celebrate in the true Malaysian spirit. It is a popular saying in Malaysia, that your Raya is my Raya as well because we all celebrate it together with our Muslim friends.

It is traditional for our Prime Minister to hold an open house, the various leaders of the opposition parties hold open houses too on this occasion.

It is a splendid occasion for the Prime Minister in true spirit of the Raya to free all those prisoners of conscience who have been jailed under the ISA on this day,and promise the rakyat that this piece of legislation will be reviewed.

It is 'Eid mubarak "a blessed 'Eid", that is the greeting in many Islamic countries.

This is an occasion for compassion, this is an occasion for forgiveness, it is an occasion for celebration, and let him lend meaning to the words "Maaf Zahir dan Batin"

Ps. Known Prisoners of Conscience; Raja Petra Kamaruddin, The HINDRAF leaders, and more not so popular detainees, set them free, at your speech on takbir and let us celebrate a great festival in a great way.

"Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir dan Batin"

Frankly Xroy

Notwithstanding The Circus Continues

The world is in a state of shock, Wall Street, the barometer of almost all browses in the world had to be bailed out in what is seen as the worst financial crisis to ever hit the planet,and whilst all governments are working out their plans to buffer themselves from what is expected to be a global financial meltdown, the Malaysian Government led by UMNO continues with its "Three Ring Circus."

In the middle ring is the Clown extraordinaire Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, with his famed albino Gorrila Najib Tun Razak, a ferocious animal that is known to kill, and is famous for crossing into the other two rings.

Ring number two belongs to the seasoned animal trainer, a viscous Doctor, who has no mercy for his animals, was reported to the society of prevention of cruelty to humans many a time, and is notorious for his defiance to authority, uses brute force to deal with any situation regarding human beings and animals alike. A doctor in the mold of the famous François "Papa Doc" Duvalier of Haiti, the prince of Vodoo, Mahathir has indeed outdone this Haitian leader.

The third ring is filled with men from the opposition, UMNO's Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Anwar Ibrahim, PAS and DAP politicians and hordes of concerned Malaysians.

The players from the first two rings hold sway, on the one hand is the clown with the gorilla and a full compliment of monkeys and apes all of whom are more concerned about where and when to swing, they are now getting the clown to leave the ring, and this on the instructions from ring number two.

The Doc Duvalier's mirror image is directing the apes in ring one to dance to his tune to keep his ring in order. He has a ring of pedigree stuff, some who use him and others whom he uses, but for now his concern is on his pets, one of whom has crossed over to ring one and is vying a leadership role there.

There is no concern for the bigger show and that is the circus as a whole. Once reputed to be one of the leading Circus' in town it is now looks like, given the present trend it will be out performed by the Gloria Magapagal Manila Circus and the Aung Burmese traditional circus.

No one in the Malaysian circus save for a few in ring three actually see the situation, and are really worried about it, the Malaysian people on the whole are behaving like apes too and allowing these two masters of ring one and two to to take them to hell.


Frankly Xroy