Tun Dr M Blames DS Najib For Bersih 4.0

Tun Dr M at a function in Pasir Gudang, Johor on the afternoon of Saturday, 29 August 2015, as the Bersih 4.0 gathering gains momentum at and around Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Square, lays the blame squarely on the shoulders of DS Najib Tun Razak for the most recent Bersih demonstration. In his keynote speech, he laments that he does not usually agree with street demonstrations as there are more proper channels to resolve issues. However, in the case of Bersih 4.0, it has arisen and gained support as all channels to resolve issues have been blocked!

In Malay, Tun declares,"You report to the police to have crimes investigated, suddenly the one reporting is investigated!" Continuing in this vein, Tun Dr M decries the recent moves by DS Najib to shore up his political position, including the sacking of the AG TS Abdul Gani Patail and forced holidays, movements and retirements of members of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission and the Police Special Branch to curtail efforts to prosecute the Prime Minister for financial crimes, linked to the 1MDB scandal.

Explaining the anger resulting in such strong support for the Bersih 4.0 rally, he encapsulates the anger and shame brought upon the nation by DS Najib's confession of receiving RM2.6B into his private accounts as a 'political donation', a claim thoroughly disbelieved by a majority of Malaysians. Reflecting on the suspicions in the minds of most Malaysians, he says,"Never before has a Prime Minister stolen any money... oh no, not steal, 'donation'." This anger towards blatant corruption at the highest levels of government Tun Dr M fears will lead to BN losing the next General Elections (PRU14).

Tun Dr M clearly zooms into the need to remove from office the person at the centre of the country's political and currency crisis, referring to DS Najib's use of the vulgar Malay word Bangsat recent,"Yang nak membangsatkan bukan UMNO, tetapi orang ini! ... Anda pergi, maka selesai segala-galanya..." In line with this, replying to a question by a retrenched MAS stewardess on whether she should continue to vote BN at the next elections, Tun Dr M replies,"Kita nak BN menang, tapi kita nak Najib kalah", laying the responsibility of rejecting DS Najib on his constituencies in Pekan, Pahang to 'save the country' from the sitting Prime Minister.

As DS Najib frets about Bersih 4.0, it is the gathering in Johor that will likely snowball towards his eventual removal from office, as UMNO's stalwarts plan to gather in KL, in growing wrath, for its General Assembly in the hundreds of thousands later in the year...

Making Matters Worse After The Death Of 1Malaysia

Winston Churchill once said that a week is a long time in politics. And so with this in mind, and following a need to rest and re-focus after 10+ days of campaigning (I took a break in middle of first week after nomination day), I left it till today to put down my commentary. Ironically, as I lay these words down, matters, at least at the face of it seems to have gotten worse for DS Najib Tun Razak since the night 1Malaysia 'died'.

Observe the photo below:

This is an image taken from 'election night', when a rather sombre DS Najib thanked all those who have voted such as to allow BN to continue to govern another term. DS Najib appeared exhausted and his face at the beginning reflected much disappointment. Only on his second round at the mike on the podium did he have a more jubilant smile. I doubt he would smile as wide if he realised be hind him stood 2 individuals initimately linked to his 'loss'.

No one can deny that BN won, albeit by a majority smaller that in 2008. BN won, but DS Najib's mood reflected clearly that he felt he had personally lost! He pretty much admitted to this when in his initial speech that night, I could not recall him saying '1Malaysia', though my mother said he did mention it once, and instead, he very clearly admitted that in large part, the Chinese voters had rejected BN.

In hindsight, this is to me, no surprise. It is no surprise that the Chinese rejected BN and embraced Pakatan Rakyat. Why? It is because:

BN Promised 1Malaysia - which the Chinese Community DID NOT NEED!

Pakatan Rakyat Promised the end of Corruption and Crime - which the Chinese Community has repeatedly demanded!

I choose to judge here at face value and purposely discard all notions of conspiracy which is no less racist than some of the racism exhibited by Chinese politicians during the elections. In the end, even if there were racist leaders driving the Chinese votes in a certain direction, they had to be driven by good intentions, and Corruption and Crime remain as issues still unaddressed by DS Najib's government.

The Chinese Don't Need 1Malaysia

Don't get me wrong, the rhetoric around 1Malaysia is beautiful! Unity, delivery of what the people need by a high performing government, everyone judged by needs and means, not race, religions, creed, all very nice stuff. The problem is that since the arrival of '1Malaysia' products, 1Malaysia has transformed from being the values espoused to material things of value given out to people, be it BR1M, KR1M, the 1Malaysia Clinics, meals, vouchers, etc, etc!

Unfortunately, whilst some Chinese may have bought into 1Malaysia in spirit and indeed DS Najib has grown in popularity as a person and an individual leader to the community, the problem is, teh Chinese for the most part do not need 1Malaysia products! What they have been asking for is an end in high level corruption and a reduction in crime SINCE BEFORE PRU12!

The Chinese Want To See An End To Major Corruption!

However, the BN campaign, full of fluff and feelgood factor and riding on the popularity of 1Malaysia and DS Najib personally never really got serious about addressing corruption in particular. Many Chinese are angry still of specific cases, such as the PKFZ scandal, which saw a raft of Chinese leaders including the former MCA President brought to court BUT NOT A SINGLE MALAY ACCOMPLICE CHARGED! So much for 1Malaysia!

Then, as if it was bad enough that only the Chinese get punished for big scandals like PKFZ supposedly, the Chinese and Malaysian Hero that caused the PKFZ scandal to be brought to trial, Datuk Ong Tee Keat, another former MCA President, was dropped from his winnable Parliamentarian seat of Pandan! Pakatan Rakyat was smart enough then to offer the voters of Pandan another anti-corruption hero to vote in as their MP, Rafizi Ramli of NFC fame!

As the problem of Corruption is seen by the Chinese nationwide, then of course, the Chinese chose to vote against Corruption, against BN, NATIONWIDE! Observe how DW Ali Rustam, so called hero and moderniser of the state of Melaka was defeated by a strong swing of votes against him especially by the Chinese in Bukit Katil. This was because his being an Icon of Corruption, by allowing his state agencies to part fund his child's wedding was corrupt!

How DS Najib Could Make Things Worse?

There are 2 creatures on stage during the BN Victory 'celebration', very visible behind DS Najib - they are seen clearly in the photo above. The 2 creatures are the Icons of Corruption, Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ) and DS Shahrizat Jalil of NFC infamy. DS Shahrizat has no Parliamentary seat and I believe can no longer be a Senator, so best that she retire. The real problem is with KJ, who's lust for power sees him lobbying for a cabinet post in the press - TAK MALU BETUI!

The Chinese rejection of BN was able to mask also the rejection of BN by the young urban youth, in particular young urban Malay youths. They hate BN as the face of BN Youth is KJ. Whilst some may admire him at the outset of knowing him, many are then corrected by their elders by the retelling of KJ's corruption, such was his negative influence on Pak Lah's administration. DS Najib risks losing the support of ALL Malaysians by PRU14 if he chooses KJ!

Instead, DS Najib should give a clear signal to all by NOT selecting KJ. Give the signal such that UMNO picks up on this signal and also rejects KJ and the like. Let DS Najib's non-selection of KJ be the beginning of the re-birth of BN and UMNO! In PRU14, DS Anwar Ibrahim should no longer be a factor, but lets not have KJ as the new spectre to haunt UMNO and BN, driving it to oblivion.

And maybe hence when we are really cleaner for Corruption, we can begin to really cleanse the country of Crime, and the Chinese will return their votes to BN without need of any new rhetoric such as 1Malaysia...

Will The 'BN Is Bad' And 'UMNO Is Corrupt' Messages Work Again?

I have always maintained the view that Barisan Nasional especially UMNO as the leading component party has only had itself to blame for the loses of PRU12 and the political set-backs of the last decade or so since Tun Dr M 'retired'. The 'Shamsidar' rally some months ago demonstrated the sum strength of a DS Anwar Ibrahim led Pakatan Rakyat... it was pathetic as a supposed 'challenger' to BN.

Nevertheless, the fear of losing the election had persisted across the last 2 years in particular, when it should not have, with BN regaining its confidence at by-elections and Pakatan's failings becoming more apperent. One cannot recall a single substantial period of sustained strengthening of BN's position, with too much reliance of the PM's own industry and apparent sheer force of will, assisted only by his loyal Deputy and sightings of his mentor, Tun Dr M.

In hindsight, that DS Najib chose to wait till the end of the term to call PRU13 was strategically the right decision as an earlier election would certainly have provided Pakatan with too delicious a choice of postponing the elections for the State Assemblies they control. Nonetheless, the popular belief as to why the delay occured was BN's fear of losing linked to a variety of so called 'incidents'.

With the significant dates of PRU13 now announced, a similar pattern will emerge as it did some 5 years ago. Pakatan Rakyat, with its continued lack of credibility beyond a scattering of local successes in Penang and Selangor, will return to its tried and tested weapon of discreditting BN with accusations of 'corruption'. The question now is, will BN fall into the trap of making it too easy for this message to be taken as the principle issue by the electorate?

This blogger's father-in-law in fact made a pointed argument just yesterday when he asked,"Is Corruption Enough?" He asked this question referring to this continued focus by Pakatan Rakyat on the matter. And as we mulled over it, certainly it would be enough if BN makes the mistake of presenting 'Icons of Corruption', be they local or national, as candidates for this election. Whilst putting forward 'winnable candidates' in a local context, DS Najib and his team must take not to encorse 'Icons of Corruption' at the national level.

In one case at least, an Icon of Corruption has taken herself out of contention, but then makes herself more dangerous to BN! The self-withdrawal of DS Shahrizat Jalil from being a candidate is certainly welcome news, tempered by the knowldege that she didn't have a seat to contest anyway (with DS Raja Nong Chik taking over the candidacy of Pantai Dalam and her not having any other option). However, her idea of then spending the time campaigining around the country could spell disaster for BN!

Imagine what would happen if DS Shahrizat campaigns for at least every Wanita candidate. Wherever she makes an appearance, she would remind voters of the NFC scandal. No matter whether there is guilt on her part or her husband, in the court of public opinion, DS Shahrizat is an Icon of Corruption. So, when she stands with the BN candidate in front of voters, will voters be impressed or put-off from voting the Wanita BN candidate who is apparently supported by Shahrizat the Icon of Corruption?

And so in this manner, BN finds its so called 'leaders' simply helping Pakatan Rakyat spread its message of fear and loathing towards BN's apparent corruption! Such a scene would be reminiscent of KJ's convoy of Black Harriers in PRU12 that wreaked such havoc across the BN lines. I recall one BN candidate in Kelantan saying he was actually swinging the votes towards him until KJ's convoy arroved and KJ declared his 'interest' in the candidate winning! The candidate never recovered from KJ's 'contribution' then...

A few days ago, I saw the news that even KJ, THE Icon of Corruption, is planning not to contest. The cynics among us of course believe this is just him 'playing politics' as there is a likelihood he is to be dropped from the list due to his 'Iconic' status. However, even then, I had my concerns over whether he would cause more damage if he did not contest... the way he did before, and the way DS Shahrizat will likely do if she hits the campaign trail.

Pakatan's campaign will focus on FEAR. Fear of Corruption encroaching further into Malaysia's government and its works, damaging our future prospects and turning us into a society that dispises itself. Fear is infectious and deadly, and this weapon could well turn deadly for BN in PRU13 if it allows its corrupt leaders to spread it. Interestingly, the best counter to Fear among the young is Hope. Hope gives courage to young to counter fear.

It is leaders that can carry that message of Hope that BN needs, both as its candidates and among its campaigners as champions against the Fear-mongering of Pakatan Rakyat this PRU13. Certainly the Icons of Corruption in BN are the WRONG people to talk of BN's manifesto of Hope! If the BN leadership allow these characters to do so, it would be tantamount to helping Pakatan Rakyat again, with the lessons of PRU12 remaining unlearned.

How Experienced Competent Winnable Candidates (Minister!) Can Lose BN PRU13

Social media is now rampant again with shocking words of a Minister pooh-poohing the implication of actions involving their family. Whilst the matter was not nearly as grave as the Mega Wedding some weeks ago, it is the response of the respective ministers to public outcry over both that is hurting BN.

In the case of DS Nazri TS Aziz, dissociating himself from his son's apparent closeness to a tycoon may be professional and very much reflecting the truth, however, it does not address the perception. It would be wiser perhaps for him to take a more conciliatory tone, or best still, give his son a good talking to.

Following the poor reaction by DS Ali Rustam last week that even excused himself of blame for his subordinates alleged wrong-doing, this flippant attitude towards public reaction will hurt BN in marginal seats across the country come PRU13. Ironically, both these ministers remain winnable candidates, with DS Ali's performance likely to carry the entire state of Melaka for BN, but 1 seat or 1 state alone cannot decide PRU13's outcome.

Across the country, the accumulation of such responses and behaviors are being conveniently collated by various parties as evidence of the arrogance and unelectability of BN as a party as a whole. And it isn't the first time such claims of arrogance and impropriety of behavior has been levelled against BN leaders. It is precisely such behaviors that DS Najib needs to address before declaring PRU13.

First Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.9

The False Redemption Of Shahrizat Jalil

The NFC Saga continues its damage of UMNO and BN's chances of securing a convincing win in the coming General Election despite the departure of DS Shahrizat Jalil from her cabinet post. Even Rafizi Ramli, the unlikely whistleblower of the scandal, acknowledges this through his gleeful tweets over the course of the weekend - if Shahrizat's departure was to bring the NFC scandal to a close, Rafizi's behavior would have been more subdued.

Some weeks ago this blogger blogged on how the NFC, and substantially the complicity of Shahrizat as a Cabinet member and UMNO Wanita Chief in the wrong-doings, would have an effect on the General Election. One may imagine that with Shahrizat no longer being in the cabinet that the matter is resolved, but truly it is not. As the issue of credibility remains a stain unerased, just as Shahrizat is not really out of the corridors of power.

The salient point that needs to be discussed first is, does Shahrizat remaining as Wanita Chief affect its capability to deliver votes in the coming PRU13? Answers this blogger gained from 2 separate government agencies is that it has a very negative impact on Wanita's effectiveness as a critical component of BN's election machinery. As with its leader seen as being so morally bankrupt, Wanita losses its credibility.

In fact, Wanita risks not just losing its credibility, but also its unity, as pro and anti-Shahrizat factions jostle around the future of their disgraced Chief. And with loss of unity, Wanita will surely disintegrate into parts of which the sum of cannot compare to the sheer effectiveness of a one united party wing. Indeed, Wanita UMNO may even struggle with the question of relevance of Shahrizat's continued leadership is allowed to further stain its reputation.

The reality is that Shahrizat may have been spared any suspicion even if her husband was not simply accused but was then successfully prosecuted for Criminal Breach of Trust in the handling of the NFC initiative. Many, even world leaders, have suffered errant husbands in the past. Even when it is revealed she did not block the involvement of her children as paid managers of NFC, Shahrizat could still have been painted with a shade innocence.

However, any illusion of innocence was completely shattered when she used her highest party platform, the 2011 Annual General Assembly of Wanita UMNO, to defend her husband and children and their suspected corruption of the NFC. It was said that her defence was so emotional, that she could not finish more than half of the prepared text, or more importantly, failed to convey the priorities of Wanita UMNO coming into a likely election year.

So Shahrizat over the course of one UMNO AGM speech, personified all that is wrong about the party today. She showcased how the power and position afforded to her by the party could and was willingly used to defend and perhaps indeed enhance private interests. And in her selfishness which is more reflective of a lioness protecting her cubs than a leader staying above the fray, she pushed Wanita to the edge of a precipice, where it remains.

So many lauded Shahrizat's announcement that she was 'withdrawing' from her Cabinet post some weeks ago. This was of course Shahrizat at her politically most cunning, where she pre-empts being naturally 'dropped' from her post when her Senate tenure was up, allowing her then to attempt to selfishly cling to the more important Wanita UMNO Chief post. And so she clings on with claws that tear fresh wounds into Wanita.

However, it is not the population of pre-independence Malaya that Shahrizat is trying to convince that she is redeemed with her fake 'withdrawal'. Almost every educated person this blogger met following the news expressed disgust at how Shahrizat's 'withdrawal' was lauded by even the TPM as a 'sacrifice' - it was probably one of the worst pieces of media-spinning since the Pulau Batu Putih win-win nonsense! All EXPECTED Shahrizat to be dropped anyway.

That DS Najib as Prime Minister was compelled to take on the Women Affairs Family and Community Development Ministry rather than appoint another Wanita leader to the post is testament to how dire things look for Wanita UMNO now. Battle lines are clearly drawn with unity being threatened, with Shahrizat accusing those who simply want her to do the right thing; i.e. resign. But Shahrizat doesn't dare to resign, as in the end, she's no leader.

If Shahrizat was a true leader, she would do the right thing without the asking. She would have resigned the moment she saw that, as evident to everyone else, something was wrong with the way the NFC was run. In fact, if she was a leader she may even have asked her husband to stay away from the NFC. Certainly as a leader and a responsible mother, she should have kept her children well away from the NFC, which is NOT a family concern!

Well, as it should be abundantly clear to Wanita that it doesn't really have a Leader as its current Chief, rather than suffer further and longer to the point of obliteration due to 'Shahrizat's False Redemption', its true leaders should step up and shove Shahrizat out! The Wanita exco can certainly call for a no-confidence vote, and should do so before someone in the Supreme Council musters the guts to do so. It is the right thing to do.

For in the absence of a true Leader as its Chief, Wanita has to move quickly to redeem itself among its stakeholders, especially all the women that are its constituents in the electorate. It is the right thing to do. And that is what Leaders are chosen to do, to DO THE RIGHT THING.

Apabila Keikhlasan Perjuangan Orang Muda Disambut Kezaliman Yang Berkuasa

Pada waktu Maghrib, hari Jumaat, 23 September 2011, berlaku peristiwa hitam dalam sejarah pergerakkan belia dan hubungannya dengan pihak berkuasa. Seramai 20 ke 30 orang anggota polis telah menyerbu ke pejabat MAYC Kebangsaan di Wisma Belia untuk menangkap Setiausaha Agung MAYC, Ahmad Ansor Rivai Batubara kerana kononnya ceroboh berdasarkan kehadiran beliau di pejabat pada luar waktu pejabat.

Lebih mengecewakan lagi, tak puas mungkin kerana begitu ramai dikerah untuk menangkap seorang sahaja pemimpin belia, pihak polis juga mengambil keputusan untuk membawa juga ke balai, 3 orang pemimpin MAYC Wilayah Persekutuan yang kebetulan singgah sebentar ke pejabat untuk mengirimkan makanan untuk saudara Ansor, sekaligus menemani beliau makan. Alang-alang makan pun pemimpin belia boleh dicekup polis! HEBAT!

Tidak logik bila difikirkan bagaimana begitu ramai anggota polis, ada yang lengkap bersenjata api, boleh dihantar semata-mata untuk menangkap 4 pemimpin belia yang hanya sibuk makan di pejabat sendiri. Lebih hairan, anggota polis dipimpin oleh seorang pegawai yang begitu tinggi pangkatnya, ACP Wan Abdul Bari Wan Abdul Khalid, Ketua Polis DAERAH Brickfields! Malah pihak polis juga agak kabur tentang jenayah yang ditangani.

4 orang pemimpin belia ini, terdiri dari 3 orang lelaki dan seorang wanita, 3 Melayu dan seorang India, dibawa ke... bukan IPD, dibawa ke Balai Polis Brickfields saja untuk di 'soal-siasat'. Memandangkan 'Belia 4' ini tidak melakukan apa-apa kesalahan, difikirkan proses soal-siasat akan selesai sekelip mata, tetapi tidak! 3 orang Belia yang ditahan sementara makan, termasuklah yang wanita, dilepaskan hanya selepas 5-6 jam di balai!

Setidak-tidaknya, pemimpin MAYC Wilayah bertiga tersebut hanya berada di bilik temuramah selama sejam lebih seorang. Saudara Ansor pula, setelah masuk, tak keluar selain perlu dan kekal ditemuramah selama 6-7 jam tanpa henti! Ini bukan penyiasatan yang berhemah tetapi seakan-akan mendera. Sementara pemimpin belia wanita tersebut sesekali menalipon ke rumah menanyakan anak, apakah yang dicari-cari oleh polis yang menyiasat?

Rahsia di sebalik kejadian malam tersebut terbongkar apabila saudara Ansor dimaklumkan bahawa tekanan sedang diberikan kepada pegawai polis dari 'orang atas' untuk menahan beliau dan teman-teman. 'Orang atas' ini pula dibilang dari golongan pemimpin politik! Apabila ditanyakan siapa, ditunjukkan kepada Ansor yang Tuan Syed Rahman Tuan Kuning dan Zainal Fathodin, dua orang kuncu TS Syed Hamid Albar sedang cuba mengarah polis!

Sejak bilakah PDRM harus akur dengan arahan pemimpin politik, walau mantan menteri, apatah lagi kuncu-kuncunya, dalam menjalankan tugas? Tindakan polis menangkap serta melayan para pemimpin belia tersebut sebegitu rupa mungkin terlihat zalim, tetapi kezaliman tersebut menjadi-jadi bila kita difahamkan polis hanyalah senjata kekerasan yang digunakan untuk mengugut dan menakutkan pemimpin belia!

Pada hari Rabu lepas, 21 September 2011, kepimpinan MAYC yang diwakili saudara Ahmad Ansor Rivai Batubara telah memasuki pejabat MAYC Kebangsaan dengan niat menghidupkan kembali jentera yang seolah sudah reput sementara status MAYC Kebangsaan dalam pertikaian. Sdr Ansor berhak membuat demikian atas jawatan Setiausaha Agung MAYC Perak selain kedudukan beliau sebagai Setiausaha Agung Kebangsaan di bawah jurublog.

Usaha saudara Ansor telah disokong oleh para pemimpin Kelab Veteran MAYC Malaysia dan diransangkan lagi oleh nasihat seorang bekas Presiden MBM yang menegur dahulu yang organisasi belia adalah satu Pergerakkan. Oleh itu, syarat ia hidup adalah ia bergerak, bukan berpaut kepada undang-undang ataupun syarat. Kiranya belia BERGERAK maka ia hidup, tak kiralah pendapat mana-mana pihak berkuasa sekalipun.

Maka saudara Ansor BERGERAK untuk menghidupkan kembali pejabat MAYC Kebangsaan. Malangnya, sejurus beliau masuk pejabat, timbul penghalang berbentuk saudara Mustafa Mat Arof yang rupa-rupanya menghuni pejabat Presiden MAYC Kebangsaan pada masa itu. Mustafa tercabar apabila Ansor mengatakan beliau masuk pejabat untuk menghidupkannya, sekaligus menunjukkan betapa MAYC pejabat tersebut lesu walau Mustafa penghuninya.

Lebih buruk lagi, pihak polis telah dipanggil buat kali pertama pada siang itu juga! ACP Wan Bari pun hadir juga pada masa itu dan memutuskan kejadian yang dilaporkan bukanlah hasil jenayah, tetapi timbul kerana krisis dalaman. Namun, polis dipanggil lagi buat kali kedua pada siang 23 September 2011, sejurus sebelum sidang akhbar di mana saya menjelaskan niat kami mengambil alih Wisma Belia. Pada masa itu juga, tiada tindakan diambil.

Maka kenapakah perbezaan berlaku dengan kes malam 23 September 2011? Bagaimanakah ACP Wan Bari yang sebelum malam itu sudah pun memutuskan isu MAYC bukan isu jenayah tetapi krisis dalamam, boleh berubah fikiran sebegitu? Sahlah yang ada pengaruh politik yang memainkan peranan. Maka jenayah ada berlaku pada malam tersebut, tetapi jenayah tersebut bukanlah apa-apa yang dilakukan oleh 'Belia 4' yang ditangkap polis.

JENAYAH YANG BERLAKU ADALAH KEZALIMAN SALAH GUNA KUASA DAN PENGARUH OLEH SEORANG PEMIMPIN POLITIK MENGGUNAKAN KUASA POLIS UNTUK MENGUGUT SEKUMPULAN RAKYAT YANG TIDAK BERSALAH SELAIN MERUNSINGKAN RENCANANYA. JENAYAH ZALIM INI DILAKUKAN OLEH TAN SRI SYED HAMID SYED JAAFAR ALBAR PADA MALAM TERSEBUT KE ATAS 4 ORANG BELIA, TERMASUK SEORANG WANITA.

JENAYAH INI ADALAH YANG SAMA MENYEBABKAN DS ANWAR IBRAHIM DIPENJARAKAN SELAMA 6 TAHUN KERANA MENGUGUT UMMI HAFILDA, AZIZAN, DSB MENGGUNAKAN ANGGOTA POLIS. MAKA TAN SRI SYED HAMID ALBAR SEHARUSNYA DISIASAT DEMI DIHUKUM DEMIKIAN SEKIRANYA BERSALAH. INI ADALAH KEZALIMAN YANG TIDAK BOLEH DIBIARKAN MENULAR...

Mat Sabu: Icon Of Corruption, Pakatan Rakyat Government Style...

There has been much talk of Mohamad 'Mat' Sabu's poor behaviour of late. As a person who has known of Mat Sabu's various inconsistencies over the years, I am actually a little surprised that there has been such shock regarding this behaviour. Perhaps it is time to scrutinise this 'new' icon of Pakatan rakyat politics... and this is where long time PAS members may feel uncomfortable, as to me, the present Mat Sabu is a creature born of Pakatan, not PAS ideals...

Let us do a broad sweep of Mat Sabu's various inconsistencies...

1. Mat Sabu the leader of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (Sunnah) is a fan of the Syiah revolutionary politics of the Ayatollahs


2. Mat Sabu, the first national political leader of any party to imply DS Anwar Ibrahim had bisexual tendencies by calling him Anwar 'Al-Juburi' or Anwar 'of the arse' has since declared his devotion to Anwar as 'his' leader and 'friend' from since the 1970's.


3. Mat Sabu, the famous PAS leader was acquitted from the religious crime of being in 'close proximity' (khalwat) by the Kelantan Syariah court but later married the woman he was caught and accused committing khalwat with when she was soon divorced by her husband after the incident.


4. Mat Sabu, once so called champion of the people in the Kuala Kedah constituency when he was MP for the 1999-2004 term of Parliament, is now happily acting as Lim Guan Eng's agent to stop any attempt by Kedah state to apply water tariffs to its supply to Penang as an appointed member of the Penang Water Board.


5. Mat Sabu happily condemns the PAS government of Kedah and Kelantan of various misconduct but is silent of the management of DAP's Penang and PKR's selangor led governments but forgets that people know he is a beneficiary of salaries from both Penang and Selangor state agencies... all to do with Water.

Effectively, Mat Sabu is a new kind of Icon of Corruption that is being born by the Pakatan government. A creature that is salaried by PAS' coalition partners to keep PAS in line or rather in 'harmony' with the principles of its partners. Mat Sabu only ever became a contender to PAS Deputy Presidency in the Pakatan environment. PAS would have preferred a more learned man before, but PAS in Pakatan knows to win, they must have a Pakatan man for a leader.

In this regard, Mat Sabu is an ideal Pakatan man. He can be bought with salaried positions in Penang or Selangor state agencies. He is not a good Muslim, though is such a fiery speaker that PAS can't bear to part with him. His principles appear to be for sale, and if he is willing to embrace Iranian Shiite Revolutionary success due to its success, little wonder then that he could forgive Anwar 'Al-Juburi' for his preference if it will gain him power!

Little wonder then also that Mat Sabu would forget he was supposed to be not just a Muslim, but a Muslim leader, when he declared communist murderers to be fathers of our Merdeka.

The problem for PAS now is that, it is clearly now no longer a party of Islamic ideals, as its members appear willing to favour an inconsistent leader that is in the pocket of its coalition partners, just so they can please some coalition partners in pursuit of power. Mat Sabu hence now stands tall in the age of new PAS, a PAS led by Pakatan leaders, leaders of compromise for the sake of power, Mat Sabu... Icon of Corruption... Pakatn style...

DS Najib Diancam Kredibiliti Kerajaannya Walau 'Mudah' Penyelesaiannya

Saya kehairanan apabila membaca serangan jurublog ke atas Datuk Mohd Bakke Salleh apabila perlantikannya sebagai CEO baru Sime Darby diumumkan. Pelbagai sebab diberi dan aneka alasan dipakai untuk membuktikan beliau tidak sesuai. Namun, apabila ditanya kawan-kenalan tua-muda dari sektor korporat serta kepimpinan politik, amnya Datuk Bakke digambarkan sebagai seorang yang berwibawa dan dihormati baik kerana pencapaiannya mahupun keperibadiannya!

Jadi apakah mungkin di sebalik bantahan ke atas Datuk Bakke? Mungkin masalahnya bukan Datuk Bakke sendiri, tetapi persepsi buruk jurublog, mahupun rakyat amnya, terhadap kerajaan DS Najib kini, khususnya apabila memilih para pemimpin untuk mengurus-tadbir badan-badan korprat serta ekonomi berkaitan dengan kerajaan, seperti 'GLC'.

Dari mana datangnya persepsi buruk ini? Pada hemah jurublog, imej pentadbiran ini terjejas kerana kegagalan kerajaan menghukum atau menangani dengan telus salah-laku, penyelewengan serta, lebih buruk lagi, prestasi lembap yang dipaparkan oleh lantikan-lantikan kerajaan ke kepimpinan GLC. Malah, ada pula pemimpin GLC yang dibiar berleluasa sesudah mengaut untung peribadi dan lari pada zaman Pak Lah dahulu.

Pasti akan ada yang terus menyatakan, bagaimana dengan pemecatan DS Ahmad Zubir Murshid dari Sime Darby tempohari? Tak teluskah? Jurublog berpendapat bahawa, bukan sahaja pemecatan beliau terlalu lewat, tambah pula tak cukup sekadar beliau sahaja dihukum! Lembaga Pengarah Sime Darby, termasuklah Pengerusinya, Tun Musa Hitam, semua patut menangguh padah sama kerana membenarkan keadaan melarat begitu lama di bawah DS Zubir!

Malangnya untuk pentadbiran DS Najib, Tun Musa Hitam diberi peluang untuk mengumumkan perlantikan Datuk Bakke! Pengumuman dilakukan sewaktu kewibawaan Tun Musa dalam memimpin Lembaga Pengarah Sime Darby masih dipersoalkan, sekaligus mencemarkan keputusan untuk melantik Datuk Bakke! Malah, kerajaan DS Najib akan mendapat lebih kredibiliti dengan mengumumkan perletakan jawatan Tun Musa dari Lembaga Pengarah Sime Darby pada masa itu!

Salah langkah seperti ini melaratkan suasana, tetapi punca hilangnya kepercayaan rakyat terhadap keputusan korprat kerajaan adalah dari salah-laku yang lepas, baik di arena pentadbiran amnya, tetapi berhubung-kait dengan pengurusan GLC. Skandal BII-Maybank di mana Khazanah 'tertipu' sehingga merugikan negara sambil memperkayakan Temasek serta individu tertentu di negara-negara jiran hanya satu contoh di mana salah-laku tak terhukum.

Lebih buruk lagi, rakyat yang juga merangkumi ahli dan prefesional di sektor korprat semakin mual melihat mereka-mereka yang terlibat menjahanamkan kewangan GLC, yakni kekayaan negara-bangsa, masih lagi berkedudukan, malah diberi ganjaran lagi!

Ramai yang tidak hairan apabila TS Amirsham Aziz gagal memimpin pasukannya di NEAC untuk menggubal Model Ekonomi Baru yang boleh diterima-pakai oleh Rakyat. Malah ramai juga yang bertanya kenapa TS Amirsham diberi kepercayaan besar seperti itu memandangkan beliaulah 'kuda korprat' yang ditunggang arkitek skandal BII-Maybank dari Khazanah! Mungkinkah itu ganjaran dari beliau dijadikan 'kuda korprat'. Tetapi beliau dilantik oleh pentadbiran DS Najib...

Tak cukup sudah desakan hukuman dijalankan ke atas ikon-ikon korupsi untuk memulihkan kepercayaan rakyat kepada BN. Tak kiralah bertapa salahnya laku kerajaan Pakatan, tak pedulilah yang mungkin kes Datuk Norza Zakaria tak patut dibawa ke pengadilan sekalipun, kini Rakyat sudah mula menolak keputusan BAIK kerajaan, seperti perlantikan Datuk Bakke, kerana kewibawaan kerajaan BN semakin punah!

Mungkin inilah masanya DS Najib menunjukkan kepimpinannya bukan sahaja sebagai penyatu-padu antara rakyat berbilang kaum, tetapi juga keberanian beliau mencantas lalang-lalang dan kulat yang kian mereputkan kewibawaan kerajaan beliau... sebelum terlambat...

Lim Kit Siang Agrees With Perkasa?!

Actually, the title of this piece could also be Perkasa agrees with Lim Kit Siang, but maybe I'll use that for the Malay version of this post. The question arising from the above question should not be 'WHAT?' but should be 'On What?'. Well, rather obviously, on the forming of a Royal Commission to investigate the 'Brunei Limbang-Scandal'. The what? Well, no official name yet for the scandal, so that's what I'm calling Pak Lah giving away our soverign rights over Blocks L & M.

Pak Lah's blunder here has achieved one thing, it has achieved unity of purpose between 2 'extremists' usually at odds with each other; i.e. Lim Kit Siang (an 'institution' of extremist anti-Malay in his own right) and Perkasa! With such sworn enemies agreeing that a Royal Commission is needed to investigate the Brunei-Limbang Scandal, what reason do we who stand in between both extremes have to disagree!

Hopefully, DS Najib will move quickly to form the Royal Commission to commence investigations, and also urge the MACC and Police to do the same anyway to complement the Royal Commission's efforts. The last thing we want is for people to accuse DS Najib and his cabinet members of complicity in the deal... oh wait, Pak Lah has already accused his former cabinet of agreeing to the deal... majority of whom are part of Najib's cabinet still!! I think DS Najib needs to hurry...

... and not be distracted by the nonsense some bloggers supportive of a close relative of Pak Lah, who suspiciously seem to be collaborating with spinners friendly close to foreign power, are trying to dish around ... their propaganda is a little amateruish anyway... and one even had dreams of being a Corporate Comm chief of our uber-GLC!!! Hahahaha!

Focus... Focus... Royal Commission! Royal Commission!

Questions Post Revelations Of Pak Lah Giving Away Nation's Wealth To Brunei...

In case some readers of this blog has not been aware of yet another Pak Lah 'legacy' that revealed itself recently, please refer to the following post from Tun Dr Mahathir who raised the initial questions, a report from the Oil & Gas Journal,Pak Lah's response as reported in the Malaysian MSM and a Bloomberg based report on Petronas being invited to develop the site.

Being from the industry, though strictly not this part of it, curtails me from blogging in detail, but it does allow me to ask some questions, like:

1. Pak Lah gave away major tracts of our sovereign sea-areas, affectively reducing our borders and to cap it all off, at an area where oil and gas resources appear to be abundant for development. For Petronas to then be 'allowed to develop it together' seems to be poor compensation to the loss of sovereignity, even without the direct oil and gas revenues, taxes and loss of economic activity. So, did someone else get something from this deal?


2. The initial reports were on how Murphy Oil, had lost their rights to develop the tracts with Petronas just as Malaysia has lost its sovereign right to the area. This has major ramifications for Murphy, an 'independent' American oil & gas player, but indirectly also will give pause to any oil player wishing to do deals in Malaysia. Hence, Malaysia's integrity as an oil & gas player will now be under scrutiny. Will this potentially cost Malaysia further Billions?


3. The discussions when Pak Lah gave away our 2 oil blocks went to press... sorry, when it didn't go to press, only the deal to fix the borders between Brunei and Limbang was mentioned. In fact, what was reported was a bit too much, that Brunei had let go of its claim to Limbang, a report the kingdom officially denied. However, the loss of the 2 oil blocks were not reported. Why? What else of Pak Lah's doings remain unreported?

I understand Perkasa will be demanding for a Royal Commission be formed to investigate this Brunei-Limbang Scandal. Whilst I am not too big a fan of Royal Commissions, I think this incident merits further investigation. In fact, I dare say that the MACC should be asked to investigate the matter due to the above implications highlighted in bold red.

A final question... when will we ever be free of the unending 'legacy' of blunders that was the norm of the Pak Lah regime?!!

NB: Thanks to the Star for the most excellent map above.

Malaysia The Racist-Phobic State...

I have been reading the news of the resignation of Datuk Nasir Safar with much regret at the hypocricy as well as the twisted values Malaysian leaders and opinion-makers seem to proudly hold. What do I regret? Datuk Nasir's alleged words that seemed to have offended those who attended a 1Malaysia forum? No! I can't quite regret that seeing as the words weren't mine. However, I DO REGRET DATUK NASIR SAFAR HAS RESIGNED SO SWIFTLY! Why?

1. There was much talk of his allegedly causing offence. However, nowhere was it explicitly reported what it was that he actually said. Could it be that he was foolhardy in the words used rather than going out of the way to offend? It doesn't make sense for him to say these 'alleged' things at a 1Malaysia forum, does it? Furthermore, one must know Datuk Nasir to realise this was likely an innocent gaffe... more on who he is after this...


2. If causing offence by hurting the feelings of other races should result in the loss of a government job, why are racist senior members of government still walking around the corricors of power in the Najib era? For instance, why has no action been taken on Datuk Tan Lien Hoe since she insulted Malays by calling us pendatangs? In fact, on recent news, it seems we have replaced one racist Chief Minister with another in Penang.


3. Is being an alleged racist in government worse than being corrupt? It certainly seems so when "icons of corruption", those found to be among the most corrupt but allowed to remain in the corridors of power, are seen frowning at Datuk Nasir Safar's alleged racist remarks! So, if corrupt can stick around, but if racist, have to go! Is 1Malaysia open to corruption as long as it isn't racist corruption?


4. My recent writings on the Allah issue has had me being called a racist too. However, I found a wonderful context of this being shown when chit-chatting with a bunch of friends on the fringes of a wedding. A Malaysian Chinese friend declared,"You're a racist Akhram, but I still support you! At least you're not a hypocrite!". Another then followed up with,"Besides, Malaysia is a Multi-Racist state!". We all laughed... we were not 'racist-phobic'.

Many who now declare Datuk Nasir a racist don't even know him, and have judged him from some 'alleged' remarks. I admit that I know not what words were said, but this man I certainly know of. I know of Datuk Nasir Safar, the nationalist, who rose first as a leader in a multi-racial youth organisation, MAYC, before joining politics. Datuk Nasir who was deployed repeatedly to speak to the Indian community, such as when I bumped into him at the Bukit Gantang by-election.

I know of Datuk Nasir Safar who has not the slightest smear of corruption against his name. A Najib loyalist who curtailed his rise through the ranks of UMNO Youth in Johor by being the first to suggest DS Najib be DS Anwar Ibrahim's successor to UMNO Youth leadership many years ago. Datuk Nasir, who is approachable and still carries a casual air, despite having had an office on the Fourth Floor.

This is the Datuk Nasir Safar I know. Could he have said the things being so 'alleged' against him? Perhaps. Does this make him a racist? No more than the average Malaysian I would wager. Should he have been reprimanded? Sure, why not? But resign? Sorry mate, I think that would be going too far! I'd rather have the allegedly corrupt Datuk Shafie Abdullah resign first! Unfortunately for Datuk Nasir, Malaysia seems to be racist-phobic, but not corrupt-phobic...

Final thought... knowing who Datuk Nasir is, a clean, capable and loyal aide to DS Najib, why is it then we have icons of corruption helping to push him out of the Prime Minister's Office? If DS Najib was to accept Datuk Nasir's resignation, would this be based on wisdom or populism...?