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
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
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
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
Monday, September 29, 2008
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
"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
Sunday, September 28, 2008
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
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
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Breaking News - Abdullah To Go For Broke!! all here.
UMNO information Chief, and Ahmad Ismail of Penang have teamed up and are encouraging Abdullah to go for broke and seek re-election at the next UMNO general Assembly.
The campaign will begin with a salvo an attack on Rafidah and a new candidate for the wanita chief's position. Sharizat will be dumped after the next assembly, Abdullah is annoyed with ther support for Rafidah who is seen clearly as a person who wants Abdullah out.
UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib who has a strong following of the grassroots is being lined up at this stage as Abdullah's running mate.
Together with Muhammad's support base Abdullah is seen as a clear favorite, they believe with that move Najib will be knocked out of his position and Muhammad is to provide Abdullah his wish to continue being PM, as it is abundantly Abdullah is not keen to be seen as a stop gap.
In return Muhammad is to be appointed Deputy PM and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Khairy will be appointed to the Education portfolio, and Abdullahs old friend whom disposed of after the last elections Radzi is to return to head the Home Office, with Zahid make a return to Parliament as de facto law Minister. Rais will continue to head Foreign. All this is provided Abdullah wins.
The strategic plan will have Khairy canvassing the support of the Negri UMNO Divisions, although he may not be too popular there it is no secret that Najib is disliked by most UMNO divisions in Negeri Sembilan.
Abdullah is expected to have a mixed following in Johore and Pahang and Trengganu, coupled with Muhammad Taib's grassroot connections they will provide a formidable force.
The news on the street is that Abdullah is gong for broke, he is pitting his everything against Najib's ambitions and Najib's shadow cabinet.
The campaign will begin with a salvo an attack on Rafidah and a new candidate for the wanita chief's position. Sharizat will be dumped after the next assembly, Abdullah is annoyed with ther support for Rafidah who is seen clearly as a person who wants Abdullah out.
UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhd Taib who has a strong following of the grassroots is being lined up at this stage as Abdullah's running mate.
Together with Muhammad's support base Abdullah is seen as a clear favorite, they believe with that move Najib will be knocked out of his position and Muhammad is to provide Abdullah his wish to continue being PM, as it is abundantly Abdullah is not keen to be seen as a stop gap.
In return Muhammad is to be appointed Deputy PM and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Khairy will be appointed to the Education portfolio, and Abdullahs old friend whom disposed of after the last elections Radzi is to return to head the Home Office, with Zahid make a return to Parliament as de facto law Minister. Rais will continue to head Foreign. All this is provided Abdullah wins.
The strategic plan will have Khairy canvassing the support of the Negri UMNO Divisions, although he may not be too popular there it is no secret that Najib is disliked by most UMNO divisions in Negeri Sembilan.
Abdullah is expected to have a mixed following in Johore and Pahang and Trengganu, coupled with Muhammad Taib's grassroot connections they will provide a formidable force.
The news on the street is that Abdullah is gong for broke, he is pitting his everything against Najib's ambitions and Najib's shadow cabinet.
Syed Lies about RPK
It is the month of Ramadan and Syed Hamid has chosen this month to lie against another Muslim, heaven forgive him and his band of confounded liars.
If indeed Raja Petra Kamaruddin has written articles which according to reports tarnished the leadership of the country and insulted the sanctity of Islam let us have the proof.
I have no doubts that when reporters expose our Ministers for their deeds it does tarnish their reputation, you can't blame the reporters for that, the ministers themselves are responsible and that can't be a threat to national security.
A threat to National security is when you film a Minister in a hotel room with another lady, that is indeed a threat to National security, think of the implications if the Minister filmed was the defense minister and if it were used to blackmail him into giving away defense secrets. If they could do it to the Health Minsiter they can do it to others, or have they?
Why did the police not investigate Chua Soi Lek's case? That indeed was a case of National Security breach. Could it be because it was the work of some people in government itself?
The Sisters in Islam on 12th September 2008 released this statement.
"Sisters in Islam (SIS) calls upon the Malaysian government for the immediate release of Raja Petra Kamaruddin, MP Teresa Kok and Ms Tan Hoon Cheng who are currently detained under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA)"
I visited Chandra Muzaffar's JUST site, he talks about Guantanomo detainees, he talks about the Iraqi problem, all very legitimate problems, but one wonders why he is silent about Raja Petra Kamaruddin, why he is silent about detentions under the ISA, when he himself was detained under this same Act during the operations lallang under Mahathir Mohammed.
The JUST WEBSITE REMAINED JUST BLANK.
No Islamic Organsiation of repute has come out to rebuke RPK, if indeed he had insulted Islam, a fatwa against him would have been decreed by now, by Islamic bodies in the world, it is absent, indicating that Syed Hamid and the Police are lying, that he has insulted the sanctity of Islam, and therefor we we have to consider who in this case is is insulting the sanctity of Islam.
Raja Petra as we all know has been followed by Al Jazeera, BCC and CNN if indeed he had uttered anything that insulted the sanctity of Islam they woudl have got it and it would have made very interesting reporting to them, and we'd have seen the forces of the Muslim world bearing in on RPK,. Why is is this not the case?
If indeed Raja Petra Kamaruddin has written articles which according to reports tarnished the leadership of the country and insulted the sanctity of Islam let us have the proof.
I have no doubts that when reporters expose our Ministers for their deeds it does tarnish their reputation, you can't blame the reporters for that, the ministers themselves are responsible and that can't be a threat to national security.
A threat to National security is when you film a Minister in a hotel room with another lady, that is indeed a threat to National security, think of the implications if the Minister filmed was the defense minister and if it were used to blackmail him into giving away defense secrets. If they could do it to the Health Minsiter they can do it to others, or have they?
Why did the police not investigate Chua Soi Lek's case? That indeed was a case of National Security breach. Could it be because it was the work of some people in government itself?
The Sisters in Islam on 12th September 2008 released this statement.
"Sisters in Islam (SIS) calls upon the Malaysian government for the immediate release of Raja Petra Kamaruddin, MP Teresa Kok and Ms Tan Hoon Cheng who are currently detained under the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA)"
I visited Chandra Muzaffar's JUST site, he talks about Guantanomo detainees, he talks about the Iraqi problem, all very legitimate problems, but one wonders why he is silent about Raja Petra Kamaruddin, why he is silent about detentions under the ISA, when he himself was detained under this same Act during the operations lallang under Mahathir Mohammed.
The JUST WEBSITE REMAINED JUST BLANK.
No Islamic Organsiation of repute has come out to rebuke RPK, if indeed he had insulted Islam, a fatwa against him would have been decreed by now, by Islamic bodies in the world, it is absent, indicating that Syed Hamid and the Police are lying, that he has insulted the sanctity of Islam, and therefor we we have to consider who in this case is is insulting the sanctity of Islam.
Raja Petra as we all know has been followed by Al Jazeera, BCC and CNN if indeed he had uttered anything that insulted the sanctity of Islam they woudl have got it and it would have made very interesting reporting to them, and we'd have seen the forces of the Muslim world bearing in on RPK,. Why is is this not the case?
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Is it a farewell to the Prime Minsiter
Najib may land up with the presidency of UMNO tomorrow or have a defiant Abdullah slug it out with him to the last.
Abdullah is not the type of person to let go easily, he does not speak too much because the little that he says seems to be of little intellectual value, Abdullah if he wants to retain his stand of staying at the helm till 2010 has to be prepared for a fight tomorrow.
He has the aces on his side, head of the Ministry of defense, the Prime Minister, the current President of UMNO but what he lacks is the crookish character of a Mahathir. He has to take a leaf of what Mahathir would have done.
The Mahathir principle would be sack or force out his deputy, and threaten all the rest that, that would be their fate if they dared oppose him.
I however doubt Abdullah is made of such stern stuff, he will not be able to withstand the onslaught, unless prior to tomorrow's meeting he whispers a few things in Najib's ear, the same way Razak Baginda's father whispered a few words in Razak's ear. If he does that,that may get Najib backing Abdullah with all his might.
Badawi's fate is on the line tomorrow, and it is in his hands, he is the only one who can make the difference it tomorrow's outcome, the agenda is of course to get him out, but whether he stays or goes depends solely on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Frankly Xroy
Abdullah is not the type of person to let go easily, he does not speak too much because the little that he says seems to be of little intellectual value, Abdullah if he wants to retain his stand of staying at the helm till 2010 has to be prepared for a fight tomorrow.
He has the aces on his side, head of the Ministry of defense, the Prime Minister, the current President of UMNO but what he lacks is the crookish character of a Mahathir. He has to take a leaf of what Mahathir would have done.
The Mahathir principle would be sack or force out his deputy, and threaten all the rest that, that would be their fate if they dared oppose him.
I however doubt Abdullah is made of such stern stuff, he will not be able to withstand the onslaught, unless prior to tomorrow's meeting he whispers a few things in Najib's ear, the same way Razak Baginda's father whispered a few words in Razak's ear. If he does that,that may get Najib backing Abdullah with all his might.
Badawi's fate is on the line tomorrow, and it is in his hands, he is the only one who can make the difference it tomorrow's outcome, the agenda is of course to get him out, but whether he stays or goes depends solely on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Frankly Xroy
Will it be Najib or Khairy
"Hell's hottest spots are reserved for those who in the face of crisis declare neutrality".........uknown
This is exactly the case of the UMNO members who are now fence sitters and belong to no camp, they intend to play it safe, they will only follow the winner,and yet they do not have the slightest inkling of who the winner will be.
Najib Tun Razak has been playing this game once too often, in the period when Ku Li took on Mahathir, he played a "keep quiet" game, at the time when Anwar spoke out about cronies, he played a "talk no evil"game, now when the rest of UMNO are demanding that Abdullah relinquish his post and hand it over to him he has "blown hot , then blown cold" all of a sudden, and this is the key to the fact that some of "Hells hottest spots" are being reserved for him.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, maybe the countries fifth best Prime Minister, in fact that should not be a maybe, it is something everyone knows, that he is the fifth best, but he is no fool. He has an adviser who was educated in Oxford, and he is no fool too, ambitious maybe, but no fool, and talk has it that Najib and he do not see eye to eye.
After coming out and publicly declaring that he would not contest Abdullah and that there would be a transition in 2010, Najib changed his stance and said he would leave it to the membership, then at the recent UMNO supreme council meeting he had to step in to cool the fury of some members who attacked Abdullah, and even brought his son and even son in law in to the fray, and it is reported that Abdullah looked visibly angry, but Najib stepped in to cool the situation.
After that meeting Abdullah visited Penang where the branches who defied him on the Ahmad Ismail case fully backed him to remain as PM till 2010 and maybe even further. Now does that explain his handling of the Ahmad Ismail case, and Ahmad Ismail is now looked upon as a hero amongst extreme right in UMNO, and this has got Najib back peddling and "che det" so mad he is on overdrive in his bullshit campaign against Abdullah.
Abdullah has the reins on Najib, Abdullah has taken over the defense portfolio not for nothing, both him and Najib no nothing about Finance, its the second Finance Minsiter who handles finance, and the only reason I can see why he does not hold the post totally is because of his Indian heritage, Mahathir could hide it, he can't it's all over him, he looks and is so Indian, and his classmates will tell he he used to speak Tamil to his mother so him holding such a position would be untenable in UMNO, that already has had enough with one Mahathir.
The key to the whole issue is still the submarines scandal, Abdullah will use it and all other matters relating to it if he needs to and when he needs to, so Najib has to play the follower, Abdullah's taking over the defense was to ensure that Najib would not do to him what his father did to the Tengku and to ensure that he holdss the Ace.
The only question is will Najib ever live to see the role of Prime Minister handed to him, or will Khairy eventually take over that role?
Frankly Xroy
PS. It could be Tenku Razaleigh as the next PM, that could change the whole equation, but Abdullah is not worried about that, what he does not want is to be seen to be kicked out by Che Det and his ever faithful band of cronies.
This is exactly the case of the UMNO members who are now fence sitters and belong to no camp, they intend to play it safe, they will only follow the winner,and yet they do not have the slightest inkling of who the winner will be.
Najib Tun Razak has been playing this game once too often, in the period when Ku Li took on Mahathir, he played a "keep quiet" game, at the time when Anwar spoke out about cronies, he played a "talk no evil"game, now when the rest of UMNO are demanding that Abdullah relinquish his post and hand it over to him he has "blown hot , then blown cold" all of a sudden, and this is the key to the fact that some of "Hells hottest spots" are being reserved for him.
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, maybe the countries fifth best Prime Minister, in fact that should not be a maybe, it is something everyone knows, that he is the fifth best, but he is no fool. He has an adviser who was educated in Oxford, and he is no fool too, ambitious maybe, but no fool, and talk has it that Najib and he do not see eye to eye.
After coming out and publicly declaring that he would not contest Abdullah and that there would be a transition in 2010, Najib changed his stance and said he would leave it to the membership, then at the recent UMNO supreme council meeting he had to step in to cool the fury of some members who attacked Abdullah, and even brought his son and even son in law in to the fray, and it is reported that Abdullah looked visibly angry, but Najib stepped in to cool the situation.
After that meeting Abdullah visited Penang where the branches who defied him on the Ahmad Ismail case fully backed him to remain as PM till 2010 and maybe even further. Now does that explain his handling of the Ahmad Ismail case, and Ahmad Ismail is now looked upon as a hero amongst extreme right in UMNO, and this has got Najib back peddling and "che det" so mad he is on overdrive in his bullshit campaign against Abdullah.
Abdullah has the reins on Najib, Abdullah has taken over the defense portfolio not for nothing, both him and Najib no nothing about Finance, its the second Finance Minsiter who handles finance, and the only reason I can see why he does not hold the post totally is because of his Indian heritage, Mahathir could hide it, he can't it's all over him, he looks and is so Indian, and his classmates will tell he he used to speak Tamil to his mother so him holding such a position would be untenable in UMNO, that already has had enough with one Mahathir.
The key to the whole issue is still the submarines scandal, Abdullah will use it and all other matters relating to it if he needs to and when he needs to, so Najib has to play the follower, Abdullah's taking over the defense was to ensure that Najib would not do to him what his father did to the Tengku and to ensure that he holdss the Ace.
The only question is will Najib ever live to see the role of Prime Minister handed to him, or will Khairy eventually take over that role?
Frankly Xroy
PS. It could be Tenku Razaleigh as the next PM, that could change the whole equation, but Abdullah is not worried about that, what he does not want is to be seen to be kicked out by Che Det and his ever faithful band of cronies.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Najib to skip his Maiden speech at the UN General Assembly
Huh! the statement of the finance ministry giving reasons for Najib skipping his Maiden speech at the assembly, is worse than the type of excuses given by Syed Hamid for all his deeds.
Truly “ornithological specimens of identical plumage congregating in close proximity” so much so the level of intelligence seems to be contagious amongst the species.
This is a clear example of what happens when people of a certain level of knowledge, refuse to mix around with people of yet another level, there is no interactive learning and the result is they remain in that closed domain of intelligence and its limitations will show sooner rather than later.
This is why it is important that Universities be centers of universal learning, not confined to just one race, any way that is not the topic of discussion here.
A statement issued by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister which added that the cancellation was approved by Abdullah says;
"The decision is due to the current global economic situation which requires the deputy prime minister’s attention to ensure the country’s economy stays strong. In addition to that, he was just appointed as the finance minister on Sept 17. He will need more time to attend to briefings on the current economic situation by various agencies and departments under the finance ministry."
What lame excuses, we are used to this type of talk from the Ministers of Abdullah’s cabinet, that we realize that all we’ll get are stupid excuses.
I would suspect that the truth of the matter is, that Najib is afraid to address the assembly, he is afraid that his speech may be boycotted, on the other hand I think he’d welcome such a move, he is afraid that he will be called into account for the violations of Human Rights here in Malaysia, the arrest under the ISA of Malaysians, the arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the arrest of the HINDRAF 5, the case against Anwar, all this have indeed been well rehearsed by representatives of free countries and are to be directed to Najib, and now he is scared, he is frightened, in fact he is so terrified, that he has chosen Rais Yatim to do his job of addressing the assembly, and just imagine this was supposed to be his maiden address to this the United Nations General Assembly.
Rais though a cabinet member has publicly denounced the actions of this government under the ISA, Najib feels that with that credential Rais can go ahead and deliver his speech.
This seems a well rehearsed act, Rais was in the US before Najib’s cancellation, Rais denounced the arrests before Najib’s cancellation of his trip, and now that Rais has done all that - Najib delegates the job to Rais, how easy, this man, our Deputy Prime Minister seems afraid to face the truth.
I suspect Rais will receive sufficient brickbats, as foreign Minister he has to know what is happening, I hope he does not reply in the same fashion as our Home Minister, Rais is one of these Ministers in the cabinet who is noted for his fluency in English and his ability to delver answers that makes sense, lets hope Rais does not disappoint not only those who will call on him to account but the general Malaysian Public, who would want to see answers befitting his position, he always has delivered in this area, I just hope he does not have a script prepared by Najib, Syed Hamid, Nazri our new Law Minister or even the PM.
Frankly Xroy
Truly “ornithological specimens of identical plumage congregating in close proximity” so much so the level of intelligence seems to be contagious amongst the species.
This is a clear example of what happens when people of a certain level of knowledge, refuse to mix around with people of yet another level, there is no interactive learning and the result is they remain in that closed domain of intelligence and its limitations will show sooner rather than later.
This is why it is important that Universities be centers of universal learning, not confined to just one race, any way that is not the topic of discussion here.
A statement issued by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister which added that the cancellation was approved by Abdullah says;
"The decision is due to the current global economic situation which requires the deputy prime minister’s attention to ensure the country’s economy stays strong. In addition to that, he was just appointed as the finance minister on Sept 17. He will need more time to attend to briefings on the current economic situation by various agencies and departments under the finance ministry."
What lame excuses, we are used to this type of talk from the Ministers of Abdullah’s cabinet, that we realize that all we’ll get are stupid excuses.
I would suspect that the truth of the matter is, that Najib is afraid to address the assembly, he is afraid that his speech may be boycotted, on the other hand I think he’d welcome such a move, he is afraid that he will be called into account for the violations of Human Rights here in Malaysia, the arrest under the ISA of Malaysians, the arrest of blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the arrest of the HINDRAF 5, the case against Anwar, all this have indeed been well rehearsed by representatives of free countries and are to be directed to Najib, and now he is scared, he is frightened, in fact he is so terrified, that he has chosen Rais Yatim to do his job of addressing the assembly, and just imagine this was supposed to be his maiden address to this the United Nations General Assembly.
Rais though a cabinet member has publicly denounced the actions of this government under the ISA, Najib feels that with that credential Rais can go ahead and deliver his speech.
This seems a well rehearsed act, Rais was in the US before Najib’s cancellation, Rais denounced the arrests before Najib’s cancellation of his trip, and now that Rais has done all that - Najib delegates the job to Rais, how easy, this man, our Deputy Prime Minister seems afraid to face the truth.
I suspect Rais will receive sufficient brickbats, as foreign Minister he has to know what is happening, I hope he does not reply in the same fashion as our Home Minister, Rais is one of these Ministers in the cabinet who is noted for his fluency in English and his ability to delver answers that makes sense, lets hope Rais does not disappoint not only those who will call on him to account but the general Malaysian Public, who would want to see answers befitting his position, he always has delivered in this area, I just hope he does not have a script prepared by Najib, Syed Hamid, Nazri our new Law Minister or even the PM.
Frankly Xroy
One gone in, how many more to go?
Yes the Government has used the tactics of a brute to jail Raja Petra Kamarudddin for what it claims were statements he made against Islam.
If indeed he did make such statements he should rightfully be jailed, but only after it has been proven in court that he indeed did make derogatory statements against the religion and not on mere allegations, as that is what it is as he has been deprived a hearing.
This being a case that involves religion and more so Islam the official religion of the country, the Government has an obligation to bring him to court and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, not just make an allegation, for which no one seems to know how or when he published what, or anything that was derogatory to the religion.
The Director of Internal Security (normally the Police Chief ) has the authority to detain a person under the ISA, is this person in the first place competent to make an interpretation in law against a person who has neither possessed a lethal weapon nor in any manner threatened the internal Security with the exception of perhaps having published something in writing that would have had hundreds of thousands of people agitating on the streets. In fact after the way he has been responding to questions the competency of the Home Minister himself to interpret the law seems questionable.
If indeed this were published, I am wondering why we did not get a response here in Malaysia and in other Islamic countries like the response Sulaiman Rushdie got and Roger Koppel the man who reprinted the cartoons insulting the religion?
RPK is followed even by Al Jazeera, and other international News media and if there was anything derogatory I am sure the press would have picked it up and published it for others to respond as that is what they have been doing all the while.
His arrest has been widely published by the International media, but nothing about the content of the derogatory statements or articles against Islam were mentioned except that the Government is alleging he did so, the International media on the other hand have made reference to most of the allegations he has made against senior Ministers and their wives.
It is sad, that Raja Petra Kamaruddin should be jailed in such fashion for such an allegation without being given the opportunity to be heard, during this, the most venerated month of Ramadan to the Muslims. I shall not go into what is right and wrong, it is not for me to tell a Muslim that, he should be able to examine his own conscience in accordance with the tenets of his own religion, after all it was Syed Hamid Albar who signed the document and another Muslim Zaid Ibrahim the de facto law Minister who resigned over the arrests as he wanted no part in it.
There are ample avenues in the legal system of Malaysia to bring Raja Petra Kmaruddin to account if indeed he did make such remarks in his blog, and in fact there is an outstanding case against him, but what is most unfortunate is the personalities whom he has attacked remain quiet, and refuse to take him to task, and in doing so lend credit to what Raja Petra has been claiming all the time.
It is in view of these types of negative responses by the Government that Raja Petra has gained our support, and is given credibility and that this Government has lost its credibility and the confidence of the people.
Raja Petra might be bottled up but the spirit he has unleashed will continue in the other blogs, and more to come.
Let us hope that come Hari Raya we as Malaysians may really enjoy Hari Raya meaningfully together.
Frankly Xroy
If indeed he did make such statements he should rightfully be jailed, but only after it has been proven in court that he indeed did make derogatory statements against the religion and not on mere allegations, as that is what it is as he has been deprived a hearing.
This being a case that involves religion and more so Islam the official religion of the country, the Government has an obligation to bring him to court and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law, not just make an allegation, for which no one seems to know how or when he published what, or anything that was derogatory to the religion.
The Director of Internal Security (normally the Police Chief ) has the authority to detain a person under the ISA, is this person in the first place competent to make an interpretation in law against a person who has neither possessed a lethal weapon nor in any manner threatened the internal Security with the exception of perhaps having published something in writing that would have had hundreds of thousands of people agitating on the streets. In fact after the way he has been responding to questions the competency of the Home Minister himself to interpret the law seems questionable.
If indeed this were published, I am wondering why we did not get a response here in Malaysia and in other Islamic countries like the response Sulaiman Rushdie got and Roger Koppel the man who reprinted the cartoons insulting the religion?
RPK is followed even by Al Jazeera, and other international News media and if there was anything derogatory I am sure the press would have picked it up and published it for others to respond as that is what they have been doing all the while.
His arrest has been widely published by the International media, but nothing about the content of the derogatory statements or articles against Islam were mentioned except that the Government is alleging he did so, the International media on the other hand have made reference to most of the allegations he has made against senior Ministers and their wives.
It is sad, that Raja Petra Kamaruddin should be jailed in such fashion for such an allegation without being given the opportunity to be heard, during this, the most venerated month of Ramadan to the Muslims. I shall not go into what is right and wrong, it is not for me to tell a Muslim that, he should be able to examine his own conscience in accordance with the tenets of his own religion, after all it was Syed Hamid Albar who signed the document and another Muslim Zaid Ibrahim the de facto law Minister who resigned over the arrests as he wanted no part in it.
There are ample avenues in the legal system of Malaysia to bring Raja Petra Kmaruddin to account if indeed he did make such remarks in his blog, and in fact there is an outstanding case against him, but what is most unfortunate is the personalities whom he has attacked remain quiet, and refuse to take him to task, and in doing so lend credit to what Raja Petra has been claiming all the time.
It is in view of these types of negative responses by the Government that Raja Petra has gained our support, and is given credibility and that this Government has lost its credibility and the confidence of the people.
Raja Petra might be bottled up but the spirit he has unleashed will continue in the other blogs, and more to come.
Let us hope that come Hari Raya we as Malaysians may really enjoy Hari Raya meaningfully together.
Frankly Xroy
Sunday, September 21, 2008
So where exactly are we going to go Nuclear
Now that that Energy, Water and Communications Minister Shaziman Mansor has announced that we shall be going Nuclear, the question that goes a begging is where exactly is this Nuclear Power plant to be located?
Sarawakians and Sabahans are not too anxious to have it in their states for sure, in fact they are not anxious at all, they are only anxious to know where?
Will it be in Pekan or Kapala Batas, will it be Kelantan or Selangor, where oh where has that question been answered.
Why Nuclear, why not hydro, we have an abundance of rivers and hydro would be the better way to go, but to go hydro we have to stop the rape of our forests,we should stop this indiscriminate methods of felling our trees, and any felling that is to be done should be in the areas of they hydro dam, and the proceeds must be ploughed back to pay for the dam.
It is sad to see a Nation that has an abundance of natural resources let all its resources go to waste.
Going Nuclear is alright, where is the Technology to come from, are the tenders going to be open, are we going to vet the whole exercise will Malaysians be given transparency in this exercise so that we make the right choice, not as in the case of submarines.
Will those hired to head such an exercise be selected on merit rather than party affiliations, will the employees of such a project be selected on merit too, it is a very economic source of power, but it is also the most dangerous and that is why the question goes a begging where will such a station be sited.
Frankly Xroy
Sarawakians and Sabahans are not too anxious to have it in their states for sure, in fact they are not anxious at all, they are only anxious to know where?
Will it be in Pekan or Kapala Batas, will it be Kelantan or Selangor, where oh where has that question been answered.
Why Nuclear, why not hydro, we have an abundance of rivers and hydro would be the better way to go, but to go hydro we have to stop the rape of our forests,we should stop this indiscriminate methods of felling our trees, and any felling that is to be done should be in the areas of they hydro dam, and the proceeds must be ploughed back to pay for the dam.
It is sad to see a Nation that has an abundance of natural resources let all its resources go to waste.
Going Nuclear is alright, where is the Technology to come from, are the tenders going to be open, are we going to vet the whole exercise will Malaysians be given transparency in this exercise so that we make the right choice, not as in the case of submarines.
Will those hired to head such an exercise be selected on merit rather than party affiliations, will the employees of such a project be selected on merit too, it is a very economic source of power, but it is also the most dangerous and that is why the question goes a begging where will such a station be sited.
Frankly Xroy
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
The Longest Day - Malaysia
The Longest Day
Victory does not come easy, real victory takes a bit longer and there are heartaches, there is pain, there is anguish, there is fear, there is anxiety, but what keeps everything going, is the faith in the people we trust and hope.
Yes hope.
Are we in for a change of Government?
I believe we are, why only this morning in a discussion with my colleagues I told them it had to take some time because a smooth transition is a must.
If you are dealing with a Government that is known to shred documents, burn files etc. one has to be cautious, so there must be dialogue and understanding before one surrenders and the other accepts victory.
Anwar Ibrahim has the majority he requires, we would not want this desperate Government to go about locking up innocent Members of Parliament under the ISA, or perhaps, send them to space this time on a 'space exploration mission' - now don't laugh, this government is capable doing anything and of telling any kind of lie.
They lied to us about a simple thing as the date that Parliament would be dissolved prior to the last elections.
The Minister of home affairs has told us that the journalist Ms. Tan who was detained under the ISA, yes, was detained under the ISA for her own security?
Then the Actiing Chief of Police has told us that they are holding Theresa Kok and Raja Petra Kamaruddin as they have not completed their investigations?
What idiotic excuses from the Home Minister and his Police chief, do you need to detain a person under the ISA for protection?
Do you arrest and hold people after investigating the case or before you have completed your investigations, the acting police chief has now by his own admission admitted detaining people under the ISA on mere romours.
Why was Toyo not been detained? A committee member of the Damansara mosque has even lodged a Police report against him, and an official of the Puchong Mosque has denied any involvemnt of Theresa in the Mosque issue if ever there was one. Yet Toyo who began this ruckus runs free, its the way the UMNO brass in the Police force serve their masters, masters and would be masters, who have their eyes on important positions in the party. The youth wing of UMNO has always been known to be radical in its outlook and aspirants for the top posts normally go on Chinese bashing to win support, this is a historical truth and Toyo is an aspirant for that position.
This UMNO is capable of anything, they will not batter an eyelid for anything. They can do anything and blame it on others, they have, and just now too, Ahmad Ismail has become a hero and the journalist who did her job a villain, so too for Toyo and Theresa Kok becomes the victim, they can't face up to the truth hence the ISA for Raja Petra, this will never end unless this government is kicked out of office, they have lost their moral right to rule.
Even as I write I have received a sms stating that the list of the 33 defecting MPs is to be handed to the King.
So let us hope and pray, as long as there is faith there will be hope.
Long live Malaysia
FranklyXroy
Victory does not come easy, real victory takes a bit longer and there are heartaches, there is pain, there is anguish, there is fear, there is anxiety, but what keeps everything going, is the faith in the people we trust and hope.
Yes hope.
Are we in for a change of Government?
I believe we are, why only this morning in a discussion with my colleagues I told them it had to take some time because a smooth transition is a must.
If you are dealing with a Government that is known to shred documents, burn files etc. one has to be cautious, so there must be dialogue and understanding before one surrenders and the other accepts victory.
Anwar Ibrahim has the majority he requires, we would not want this desperate Government to go about locking up innocent Members of Parliament under the ISA, or perhaps, send them to space this time on a 'space exploration mission' - now don't laugh, this government is capable doing anything and of telling any kind of lie.
They lied to us about a simple thing as the date that Parliament would be dissolved prior to the last elections.
The Minister of home affairs has told us that the journalist Ms. Tan who was detained under the ISA, yes, was detained under the ISA for her own security?
Then the Actiing Chief of Police has told us that they are holding Theresa Kok and Raja Petra Kamaruddin as they have not completed their investigations?
What idiotic excuses from the Home Minister and his Police chief, do you need to detain a person under the ISA for protection?
Do you arrest and hold people after investigating the case or before you have completed your investigations, the acting police chief has now by his own admission admitted detaining people under the ISA on mere romours.
Why was Toyo not been detained? A committee member of the Damansara mosque has even lodged a Police report against him, and an official of the Puchong Mosque has denied any involvemnt of Theresa in the Mosque issue if ever there was one. Yet Toyo who began this ruckus runs free, its the way the UMNO brass in the Police force serve their masters, masters and would be masters, who have their eyes on important positions in the party. The youth wing of UMNO has always been known to be radical in its outlook and aspirants for the top posts normally go on Chinese bashing to win support, this is a historical truth and Toyo is an aspirant for that position.
This UMNO is capable of anything, they will not batter an eyelid for anything. They can do anything and blame it on others, they have, and just now too, Ahmad Ismail has become a hero and the journalist who did her job a villain, so too for Toyo and Theresa Kok becomes the victim, they can't face up to the truth hence the ISA for Raja Petra, this will never end unless this government is kicked out of office, they have lost their moral right to rule.
Even as I write I have received a sms stating that the list of the 33 defecting MPs is to be handed to the King.
So let us hope and pray, as long as there is faith there will be hope.
Long live Malaysia
FranklyXroy
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