Archive A BLOGGER's ORDEAL in MALAYSIA

NOTICE !

2010-03-09T11:13:00.000-08:00

WE HAVE MOVED !

The Bala Interviews 3 Parts

2009-11-24T23:14:00.000-08:00

View the interviews on this youtube vid channel.

From behind the walls of the A-G Chambers

2009-11-22T22:56:00.000-08:00

When one senior prosecutor refused to fix up RPK’s sedition trial by falsifying the evidence he was removed from the case and within 24 hours transferred to a court that hears cases involving unpaid credit cards and car installments. That is what the A-G Chambers has been reduced to; a tool to fix up cases of those opposed to those who walk in the corridors of power. It is time, however, that those of us inside the A-G Chambers speak out and reveal the truth. And today we are going to do just that.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

From Inside the A-G Chambers

Malaysians must be reminded that Gani Patail and Musa Hassan are today Malaysia's A-G and IGP respectively as a reward for fixing up Anwar Ibrahim in the Sodomy I trial in 1998-1999. They remain as the IGP and A-G under Najib's rule as a further reward for burying the Altantuya murder case for which Razak Baginda got away scot-free while RPK got charged for sedition and criminal defamation based on trumped-up charges and fabricated evidence.

To their mind, it should not be too difficult to get RPK convicted and stopped from being a nuisance to their plans. All they need is a police department, A-G Chambers and Judiciary working in tandem and in compliance to those who walk in the corridors of power in Putrajaya.

The modus operandi of fabricating evidence and amending the charges several times in the midst of a trial -- as what happened to Anwar -- have since become the SOP (standard operating procedure) in all cases where A-G Gani and IGP Musa are involved. That happens because: i) they fix up cases; ii) because of sheer incompetence, they don't know how to fix the cases properly; iii) they know the courts will still help them to fix these cases even if they botched up badly.

An Exposé - part 2

2009-11-20T01:50:00.000-08:00

Life on the run is not as rosy as most imagine when one’s family has to suffer. Bala finds that the money means very little when family life and the children’s education are sacrificed. He decides to change all that and to regain his normal life but his ‘handlers’ have other ideas. He realises, therefore, he has to break away from them if he really wants to be free.

Part 4: Bala finds his life turned upside down

Bala reveals that to date he was paid RM750,000 but the harassment continues and he feels more like a prisoner. He says he has come out of the closet so that the harassment can end and he can lead a normal life again. He just wants his life back.

Part 5: I just want the harassment to end

An Exposé

2009-11-17T18:26:00.000-08:00

What really happened in the 48 hours after PI Bala unveiled his first SD on 3 July 2008? Why did he sign a second SD that contradicted his first SD barely a few hours later? And where did he disappear to for more than a year just hours after signing his second SD? And which SD was signed under duress, the first or second? Today, Malaysia Today will answer all those questions that have been on the minds of Malaysians since July last year.

Part 1: The mystery unveiled

Bala is made to sign the 2nd SD and is bundled out of the country. From thereon they keep him on a tight leash and he no longer has control over what he can say or do. He discovers he has just entered a life of imprisonment; although without the normal bars and padlocks but still a prison nevertheless.

Part 2: Bala’s prison without bars

The Malaysian police catch up with Bala in Bangkok and ask to meet him. However, they are only interested in talking about the first SD and there is no discussion whatsoever about the second SD. The Malaysian police, therefore, know the truth but chose to bury it rather than take action.

Part 3: The Malaysian police catch up with Bala

NOTICE! Please go to the new site

2009-11-09T22:22:00.000-08:00

Saturday, 07 November 2009 16:07

We have just launched our new site. Please go to http://malaysia-today.net/

This site, mt.m2day.org , will continue to exist for your reference but it will no longer be updated.

You may find that the comments your posted the last 16 hours do not show in this new site. This is because it took us some time to migrate to the new site and the cut off time as midnight last night.

You may not post your comments in this new site. Your log in is the same as for the old site.

In violation of the Federation Agreement

2009-11-09T22:18:00.000-08:00

Malaysians must understand that it is a legal duty of the federal government to pay the states the money due to them as laid down in the Acts of Parliament and the various agreements signed since 1957. What the federal government is doing is unconstitutional and a violation of all these agreements.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

LAWS OF MALAYSIA

ACT 144

PETROLEUM DEVELOPMENT ACT 1974

Incorporating latest amendment - Act A842/1993

Date of Royal Assent: 30th July 1974

Date of publication in the Gazette: 22nd August 1974

Date of coming into operation: 1st October 1974, [P.U. (B) 501/74]

Long Title & Preamble

An Act to provide for exploration and exploitation of petroleum whether onshore or offshore by a Corporation in which will be vested the entire ownership in and the exclusive rights, powers, liberties and privileges in respect of the said petroleum, and to control the carrying on of downstream activities and development relating to petroleum and its products; to provide for the establishment of a Corporation under the Companies Act 1965 or under the law relating to the incorporation of companies and for the powers of that Corporation; and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

Section 4. Cash payment by the Corporation

In return for the ownership and the rights, powers, liberties and privileges vested in it by virtue of this Act, the Corporation shall make to the Government of the Federation and the Government of any relevant State such cash payment as may be agreed between the parties concerned.

Does the picture now become clearer?

2009-11-09T21:31:00.000-08:00

Monday, 02 November 2009 22:51

So Musa Hassan put into place a plan to get rid of Ramli Yusuff. And he fabricated charges against Ramli Yusuff so that his successor could be removed. And this would also mean Musa Hassan does not need to retire but can stay on as IGP.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

“After Tan Sri Rahim (Noor) entered the lockup area, he stopped somewhere near the wooden door. He then lifted his fingers to his lips and raised both his hands to his eyes signalling to the person in front of him.”

“There were police officers standing at the counter. They were ASP Rodwan (Mohd Yusof) and Dato' Ramli (Yusuff). I cannot remember the others. I cannot remember whether there was any response to Tan Sri Rahim’s signal from the officers in front of him.”

Why the Pakatan Rakyat government was brought down in Perak.

2009-10-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Nazrin’s succession to the Perak throne depends on the goodwill of the federal government. But only if the state government is a Barisan Nasional government will there be this goodwill. If Pakatan Rakyat remains the state government, then expect Nazrin to pay the price when his time comes to succeed his father.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

We all know what happened in Perak. What many do not know is why it happened.

What was it that the Sultan and his family wanted which Pakatan Rakyat said no to and which Barisan Nasional has now said yes? Yes, let us see how in just a few months the Sultan and his family has suddenly become one of the richest royal families in Malaysia, of course, at the expense of Pakatan Rakyat.

1. Umno gave the Sultan a piece of state land known as lot 183578. The land is approximately 600 acres in size and is at Tanjong Tualang in the district of Kinta. This land has been parked under the name of the Sultan’s proxy, Mohamed Khaair Johari Hj Osman.

2. Umno gave the Sultan a 1,000-acre timber concession along the 11km Gerik-Kupang highway in Ulu Kenderong, Gerik, Hulu Perak. This concession was originally given to Universiti Utara Malaysia. However, it was later revoked and given to Pusat Kreatif Kanak-Kanak whose Chairman is Raja Datuk Seri Ashman Shah Ibni Sultan Azlan Shah.

3. Umno gave the Sultan seven timber concessions at compartments 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 49 in the Kenderong Forest Reserve in Hulu Perak. The seven lots, which come to approximately 600 acres, were parked under two proxy companies of the Sultan -- Syarikat Zotonjaya Sdn Bhd and Kibaran Wang Sdn Bhd.

4. Umno is about to approve a proposal for reforestation involving 10,781 hectares. 5,781 hectares is at the Gunung Besout Forest Reserve in Southern Perak while 5,000 hectares is at Pondok Tanjung in the Larut Matang district. The company that will get this huge project is Permatang Utama Sdn Bhd (company registration number 513583-D) whose Executive Chairman is Datuk Seri Ismail Farouk Abdullah, the Sultan’s son-in-law.

5. Further to that, Datuk Seri Ismail Farouk Abdullah was allowed to take over the state-owned Casuarina Hotel in Ipoh for a negotiated cut throat price of only RM43 million whereas it can fetch a far higher price on the open market. The hotel is located in one of the most prime land in Ipoh and just the empty land alone is worth a huge amount of money. more>>

The children of Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah, the Sultan of Perak

From left: Tunku Datuk Seri Kamil Tunku Rijaldin and his wife Raja Datuk Seri Yong Sofia, Datuk Seri Mohd Salleh Ismail and his wife Raja Datuk Seri Azureen, Raja Muda Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah and his wife Tuanku Zara Salim, Raja Kechil Tengah Perak Raja Datuk Seri Ashman Shah and his wife Datin Seri Noraini Jane, Raja Datuk Seri Eleena and her husband Datuk Seri Ismail Farouk Abdullah.

RPK Speaks His Mind - ISA and Solitary Confinement

2009-09-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

MACC and gang sued for RM50 million

2009-09-22T07:39:00.000-07:00

Lawyer Rosli Dahlan has sued 17 parties -- which include the Malaysian government, Utusan Malaysia, MACC and the A-G Chambers -- for alleged defamation, assault and false imprisonment. Let this 20-page document filed in court today tell the story of what Rosli was subjected to at the hands of the government and its officers. Whether he wins his case or not and whether he is awarded the RM50 million damages he is seeking is not crucial. What is would be that Rosli is able to tell his story and expose the MACC/AG and their lackeys for what they really are. And Rosli's story makes most interesting reading indeed. It is almost like a script from a Hollywood movie, except in this case it is real and not make-belief.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin MORE >>

RPK Speaks His Mind - Insulting Islam? Please!

2009-09-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

Your SAY : leaked PKFZ Papers

2009-09-19T22:12:00.000-07:00

Leaked papers: Cabinet should resign

'I think what is at risk is the position of the many incompetent personalities involved who have grossly failed in their pledge to serve the rakyat.' more>>

RPK Speaks His Mind - Altantuya Statutory Declaration

2009-09-11T20:40:00.000-07:00

You can’t fry the egg unless you first break the shell

2009-09-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Those who believe in the religion of Abraham will testify that the Holy Books tell us that even God Himself destroyed many times so that mankind would have a better future. Even God was not against destroying to rebuild.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Husni says tactics of political opposition can destroy the country

IPOH, Sept 5 — Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said the various tactics and political gimmicks used by the opposition to attack the Barisan Nasional (BN) can jeopardise efforts in developing the country's economy.

He said the actions by the opposition parties could destroy the country if the people were taken in by the opposition's gimmicks.

"They (the opposition) try to confuse the people by making various excuses to erode public confidence in the monarchy, judiciary, police force, military and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.”

"While the government is working very hard to boost the national economy and compete with the big powers, there are politicians and individuals who are still trying to influence the people to disagree with the government," he told reporters after a ceremony to hand over house keys and offer letters for a community housing programme, here today. He said the people must be more firm so that they would not be fooled by those who were attempting to find ways to reject the existing government.”

Ahmad Husni said this when commenting on the action of the opposition members of the Perak State Assembly in holding a 'State Assembly sitting' at a hotel, here on Wednesday. — Bernama

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Ahmad Husni is a product of Umno. So of course he speaks like that -- with warped logic. To Umno, any Malay who opposes Umno is a traitor to the Malay race. This was how rulers of the old days used to think as well. To oppose the king means you are opposing God because the king is appointed by God. So, since Umno means Malay, then opposing Umno tantamount to opposing the Malay race. And Malays who oppose the Malay race are therefore traitors to their race.

And that is why we need PAS in spite of the idiosyncrasies they sometimes display. Umno has only one platform, Malay supremacy or Ketuanan Melayu. PAS can offer the Malays a second platform, Islam. And PAS can make the Malays understand that racism is forbidden in Islam.

Nevertheless, we have to make PAS understand that they need to live up to their slogan, Islam Untuk Semua (Islam For All). And that means, while they want to make Muslims better Muslims, in the same process they should not impose on others or deny others their rights to their religion as well.

What is happening in Shah Alam with regards to the Hindu temple, in a way, serves this objective. It is Umno that is so opposed to the relocation of the temple while the PKR and PAS people are trying very hard to bend over backwards to accommodate the Hindus. The PAS Member of Parliament for Shah Alam, Khalid Samad, even said he is prepared to lose the next election if it means he loses because he does the right thing in the interest of being fair. That displays a huge contrast between Umno and PAS.

Of course, many would rather overlook this important point and instead focus on the stupid statements that PAS makes like banning rock concerts and the like. But if you were to notice the ‘Take Beeer’ banner that the cow head protesters carried it is very clear the demonstration was as much anti-Pakatan Rakyat as it was anti-Hindu temples. And it was an Umno man who stepped on the cow head, not a PAS man.

And if this course of history involves chaos and turmoil and a collapsed economy so be it. This is because I believe that, the way Barisan Nasional is mismanaging our economy, the economy is headed for doom anyway. It is merely a matter of time. If we wait for the eventual collapse then there will be nothing left to salvage. This way, if it collapses now, at least there would still be something left to save.

So Ahmad Husni’s threat does not frighten me. We must first destroy to be able to build. Before we can plant we must first cut down the forest and burn the trees. Only then can we plant the food that will save mankind. Those who believe in the religion of Abraham will testify that the Holy Books tell us that even God Himself destroyed many times so that mankind would have a better future. Even God was not against destroying to rebuild.

And if it is good enough for God then it is good enough for me. As the Black Power movement would say: burn, baby, burn.

How Samy and son made millions from the Indians

2009-09-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Khir Toyo, one time Menteri Besar of Selangor, said that it was Samy Vellu who ordered the destruction of the Hindu temple in Shah Alam. "Barat" Maniam said that Samy Vellu siphoned out Telekom shares worth more than RM100 million that belonged to the MIC. P. Chitrakala Vasu said that Samy Vellu siphoned out millions in cash from various charity funds. On Monday we will reveal documents of some of Samy Vellu’s criminal acts.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Datuk Seri Samy Vellu Sangalimuthu is the longest serving President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a component party of Barisan Nasional. He has held this post for 11 consecutive terms since 1979 and is the longest serving minister in Malaysia’s Cabinet until his defeat in the 12th General Election in March 2008.

Samy Vellu is the founder and Chairman of the Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), a non-profit charity organisation that provides educational loans and scholarships to deserving Indian-Malaysian students.

Ms P. Chitrakala Vasu, a former senior officer of MIED, alleges that Samy Vellu had siphoned out RM2 million in government funds that had been allocated to a MIC welfare foundation. She also made two reports in Shah Alam urging the police to probe the whereabouts of the MIED files and also RM2 million in donations collected in 2004 for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka.

She claimed Samy Vellu had asked her to place RM2 million in a fixed deposit in the account of YPS, a party foundation controlled by MIC. Chitrakala has further lodged two police reports in Subang Jaya blaming Samy Vellu for a variety of ills faced by the MIC and the Indian community. She claims that the money was intended for the pockets of MIC branch chairmen and supporters of the incumbent leadership.

It is alleged that Samy Vellu has hijacked 9 million Telekom shares from the original 10 million shares allocated to MAIKA. It seems he used three companies -- Clearway Sdn. Bhd., S.B. Management Services, and Advance Personal Computers Bhd. -- linked to himself, his son S. Vell Paari, and brother-in-law. These companies were used as conduits to swindle these shares. When the scandal first broke in mid-1992, the shares were valued at RM120 million.

In 1994, the then Chairman of the MIC Public Claims Committee, V Subramaniam (a.k.a. "Barat" Maniam), alleged that the accounts have been fabricated to make it appear that the profits from the sale of the Telekom shares were channelled to MIED. "Samy Vellu is a thief,” said Maniam. “He has stolen (Telekom) shares from the Indian community."

On Monday, Malaysia Today will reveal certain documents that will show how Samy Vellu and his son siphoned out millions of the party’s money.

The Inconvenient Truth About Why Chua Soi Lek Was Sacked

2009-09-03T17:20:00.000-07:00

By I Love Malaysia

Those who believe Chua Soi Lek was expelled due to the sex DVD scandal also believe that Elvis is still alive and living out the remaining years of his life in Pangkor Laut Resort. No one, not even Ong Tee Kiat's inner circle, buy the idea. How could they? The sex scandal was just an inconvenient excuse Ong Tee Kiat had to fall back on to give his deputy the boot.

"Inconvenient" because OTK knew the sex scandal was not something the public would easily buy. Not the post-March 8 voters, who's emboldened by the tsunami in the last election, buoyed even further by the LDP's heavy losses in Japan. Voters have wisened up from Umno's excesses and now have low tolerance to even the mildest whiff of leaders trying to subvert democratic processes to prolong their own political lives. But not many people know that OTK had to bite the bullet, so to speak, because he knew real, live ones could end up in him.

It's no exaggeration - in fact, it's even an open secret - that the underworld has already put a price on Ong Tee Kiat's head. Bukit Aman knew this long ago and has dispatched another bodyguard to keep Ong out of harm's way. So, he has 2 persons guarding him now, which is unheard of for a Minister. And it's not any ordinary bodyguard. The Malay chap is from UTK - an elite squad that offers protection to the King, PM and the DPM. It is something Umno's mouthpiece, the NST has also reported in its September 3 issue (http://www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/articles/17slin/Article/index_html).

To understand why CSL was sacked, let's go back to Oct 20, 2008, two days after the MCA election. The meeting took place in a hotel in Putrajaya. The former Health Minister wasted no time on niceties and went straight to the point: Make me a Minister.

He looked at his boss OTK in the eye, waiting for a response, but the newly-elected maverick president knew better. After all, the issue of vacancy did not arise as Najib had not taken over as PM yet and the issue of filling up a post did not arise. It was months later that OTK found out that CSL had worn a wire and secretly recorded the conversation that night in the hope of trapping the newly-minted president. (CSL had gotten quite close to Edward Chong, an expert on such matters from Puchong, after his tryst in Hotel Katerina was beamed to computers worldwide.)

Feeling somewhat let down with OTK's cold treatment, CSL hatched a sinister plan: call an EGM. That's the only way for him to kill off the president politically. He knew that at 62, time was not on his side, especially since the party's election, due in 2011, could be postponed in view of the 13th general election. And he knew OTK well enough to know that the strong-headed leader would ostracise him. Yes, CSL was planning an EGM when the Ong-Chua team was barely one week into their office.

Drawing from the 1980s Neo Yee Pan-Tan Koon Swan experience, he plotted an ambitious comeback - more ambitious than his election as deputy president following his fall from grace after being caught with his pants down literally. Hence, a covert operation has begun to harvest as many signatures as possible for the EGM to be called.

But CSL knew he could only "harvest" what he "sowed". That's when he went back to the only basics he knew: throw money - not just money, but lots of them - so much that you'd think he prints them behind his mansion at the super-elite Persiaran Mempari in Sierramas, Sg Buloh. The modus operandi worked well during the October 2008 party election. He upset the favourite, Ong Ka Chuan, who had the full backing of the then president Ka Ting, by 114 votes.

If it worked well then (to win the election), it should work well now (to get rid of OTK). The going rate was low at first (RM3,500 per signature). But as pressure built up, he hiked the rate to RM15,000 per signature. Can you imagine just signing a piece of stupid paper and being paid what to many delegates was probably three times their monthly income?

But therein lies a problem for CSL: his cash reserve amassed during his heydays in the Ministry of Health was drying up faster than he could get his thing up with the magical blue pill. This was in late March when it dawned on him that there was another person who hated OTK as much as he did. And that person is Kuala Dimensi's Tiong King Sing, who's made so much cash from PKFZ that he could hire Daim Zainuddin to be his gardener if he wanted to.

According to Special Branch intelligence, it took just three meetings, arranged by one "Umno Lim" in 1½ months and the deal was struck. Two meetings took place in Eastin Hotel, PJ and one in Corus Hotel (owned by CSL's close friend Tan Sri Khoo Kay Peng). Tiong agreed to bankroll CSL to topple OTK. In return, CSL would cease all action against Kuala Dimensi when he becomes the MCA president. In no time, RM100 million was raised.

But OTK painted an inaccurate picture about the RM100 million to his party members during their closed-door briefings. It's not like TKS had given the money to CSL in cold hard cash. Unless you live in Fort Knox, nobody would want to keep that much cash at home. The money was to be given to CSL in phases to avoid easy detection. The one entrusted to handle the cash is Tee Siew Keong, his former political secretary in the Ministry of Health whose hands are soaked in blood because he ALWAYS dragged his feet whenever approached for help, especially cases involving aged parents of MCA grassroots who needed help to get into places like IJN.

The stage is set, the war chest replenished and CSL is ready for his Armageddon. But he hit a snag: delegates are shying away from signing his EGM requisition, no thanks to the sudden surge in OTK's popularity after he came out with guns blazing at "evil contractors" who milked PKFZ like a bottomless goldmine. By then, Tiong was angry he had not been able to "reap", what he had "sowed".

Besides, there was a tacit understanding that CSL would be able to get rid of OTK before the Minister of Transport made public the Pricewater House report, which opened the Pandora Box on Tiong like how the "correct, correct, correct... " video hit VK Lingam. That was the start of Tiong's nightmare, which could only end, possibly after 15 years in Sungai Buloh.

This was when Tiong decided to take matters into his own hands. He made use of his triads link. Everyone in Bintulu knew Tiong as the Godfather of the Hua Kiew Road Gang. Despite opposition from his party SPDP boss William Mawan, Tiong decided unilaterally to expand the party to the Peninsula. He needed a base for his machai to operate from to finish off OTK, and subsequently cover their tracks. Who would believe that a Sarawak-based party could ever find support in Peninsula, which is already saturated with BN component parties?

Tee Keat found out about Tiong's grand design and was not taking chances. One of Tee Keat's informers is his own deputy minister, Robert Lau who is from SUPP, which has always viewed SPDP with suspicion. When OTK shared this with his inner circle, they raised one concern which totally slipped the MCA president's mind: if one day he ended up like JFK, Chua Soi Lek will automatically be the president.

That's when MCA will be under the thumb of Umno, just as MCA was trying to break free from it after the March 8 election. The man, tainted by sex videos would be too indebted to speak up in BN meetings. Besides, several police reports had already been lodged over his oral sex crime and it would be something hanging over him each time he spoke up about getting rid of the 30 per cent quota or ask for more Chinese schools to be built. And if CSL attends international conferences as a Minister, he would be subject to cheeky giggles behind his back by the international community, who has seen him having sex - probably the only minister in the world.

No, Ong Tee Keat was not going to let that happen. He had worked too hard and risked too much to see his efforts, like in PKFZ, being unravelled. The party may not have fully recovered the support from the Chinese community but it's already heading in the right direction. MCA could not go back to the subservient days of Ling Liong Sik and Ong Kah Ting. He knew MCA would go down the treacherous route of self-destruction if the party's Father of Money Politics were to take over.

After several rounds of discussions with his inner circle, OTK made the painful decision: CSL had to be sacked. For the sake of MCA, he had no choice. For the sake of the Chinese community, he had no choice for Gerakan has already gone down the road of oblivion. OTK would not allow MCA to go down the same route - not even over his own dead body.

Did Najib really read The Medina Charter?

2009-09-02T14:34:00.000-07:00

Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak says that his 1Malaysia concept is comparable to The Medina Charter, the first written constitution ever created and mooted by Prophet Muhammad. I suggest not only Najib but all Muslims should read and understand what The Charter was all about and see whether what they are doing today meets the aspirations of the Prophet of Islam.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

PM akins 1Malaysia to Medina charter

Malaysian Mirror, 2 September 2009

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said the 1Malaysia concept has characteristics of the Charter of Medina, the first Islamic constitution introduced by Prophet Muhammad to unite various tribes and ethnic groups as a single ummah.

Najib said the 1Malaysia concept was, therefore, Islamic, especially in its content and objectives.

When put into practice, 1Malaysia would make the country more peaceful and its society more harmonious, he told a ‘breaking of fast’ gathering organised by Selangor Umno at Kampung Setia, here on Tuesday night.

He said the Charter of Medina prioritised and protected Islam and gave justice to all communities. It protected minority groups and allowed religious freedom.

All these are principles contained in 1Malaysia, the prime minister said, adding: "Therefore, we must do what is best for the Muslim community and be fair to the non-Muslims.

“Hopefully, in this way, we will be devout Muslims. This is also part of 1Malaysia.”

On fasting, Najib said this third of the five tenets of Islam was a challenge for Muslims, including the leaders, as they would feel what the destitute and poor go through. This should make them want to help the less fortunate.

"This is what we should strive for as leaders. We must be prepared to continuously serve the people, especially the poor and needy,” he said.

Najib, the Umno president, and his wife Rosmah Mansor performed the maghrib, isyak and tarawih prayers with the guests.

Charter of Medina in brief

The Charter, or Constitution, of Medina constituted a formal agreement between Prophet Muhammad and all the significant tribes and families of Medina (then known as Yathrib), including Muslims, Jews and pagans.

The document was drawn up to bring to an end the bitter inter tribal fighting in Medina and, to this effect, it instituted a number of rights and responsibilities for each group and brought them within the fold of one ummah.

The Charter established, among others, the security of the community, religious freedom, the role of Medina as a ‘haram’ place (barring all violence and weapons), the security of women and stable tribal relations.

It also provides a tax system for supporting the community in time of conflict, parameters for political alliances, a system for granting protection of individuals and a judicial system for resolving disputes.

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A SHORT NOTE ON THE MEDINA CHARTER

By Kassim Ahmad

The Medina Charter, written and promulgated by Prophet Muhammad for the multi-religious ten thousand-strong citizens of the city-state of Medina in 622 A.D is truly a remarkable political-constitutional document. The claim made by Professor M. Hamidullah that it was the first written constitution (FN1) in the world is not without basis. Aristotle's Constitution of Athens (FN2), written on papyrus, discovered by an American missionary in Egypt in 1890 and published in 1891, was not a constitution. It was an account of the constitution of the city-state of Athens. Other legal writings on the conduct of ancient societies have been found, but none can be described as a constitution. The Medina Charter is the first, and in this it preceded the American Constitution of 1787, considered by Western authorities as "a landmark document of the Western world … the oldest written national constitution in operation" (FN3) by more than a thousand years! It also preceded the English feudal bill of rights, the Magna Carter of 1215, by almost six centuries!

Not only is the Medina Charter important in the sense that it is the first written constitution; it is also modern in the sense that it was promulgated for a plural society, giving equal rights to every citizen as well as giving them a say in governmental matters, as we shall see.

Considering all these, it is amazing that those Muslim leaders and writers who talk and write about the Islamic state seldom refer to this important seminal political document of Islam.

It is to be remembered that Muhammad had become a prophet, reciting God's revelations to his fellow-Meccans, for twelve years before he and his followers migrated to Yathrib, two hundred and ten miles to the north of Mecca. There was going to be another ten years to his mission before he completed the delivery of the Divine message to the Arabs and to mankind in God's final scripture, the Quran. So this Medina Charter was provisional in the sense that it could not contain all the provisions of statecraft contained in the Quran. Yathrib was later to known as "The City of the Prophet " or simply Medina. The reason for the migration was the growing opposition of the Quraisy aristocracy to his teachings and the receptive attitude shown by some Yathrib pilgrims to Mecca at this time.

The whole text of the Charter has been reproduced, word for word, by Ibn Ishaq and Abu Ubaid in their respective books from the original preserved by Ibn Abi Khithamah. (FN4)

The Charter consists of 47 clauses, but due to different numbering, Prof. Hamidullah counts it to be 52 (FN5). Clauses 1, 2 and 39 state the formation of a sovereign nation-state with a common citizenship, consisting of various communities, principally Muslim Arabs from Mecca (the Muhajirin or Immigrants), Muslim Arabs from Yathrib (the Ansar or Helpers), other monotheists form Yathrib (i.e. the Jews) and others who must be at that time still pagans. These constitute a unified citizenry (Arabic term, ummah), having equal rights and responsibilities, as distinct from other peoples.

It should not escape anyone's notice that these two clauses established the first modern nation-state in the world. Although Medina was just a city, its Charter was to last until the beginning of the Umayyad Dynasty in 1661. Western historians cite the Treaties of Westphalia in 1648 as the beginning of the modern nation-state era. (FN6)

The Charter provided a federal structure with a centralized authority, with the various tribes in various districts constituting a unit and enjoying autonomy in certain matters of a social, cultural and religious character. Provision for this district autonomy is repeated for each district. (Clauses 3 through to 11 and 26 through to 35) In fact, many matters were left in the hands of the autonomous units, except state security and national defense. (Clauses 17, 36 (a) and 47) Provisions for these centralized subjects are made in Clauses 13, 15, 17 and 44. Only in cases of disputes the units could not resolve, recourse for their decisions had to be made to the Prophet, whose decision was final. (Clauses 23 and 41)

As Prof. Hamidullah rightly stated, " … this new constitution … brought with it very important, and -- to Arabia at least -- very revolutionary change and improvement, by providing the people with a central public institution for seeking justice, in place of everyone seeking it with the power of his own hand or, at best, that of his family. This epoch-making innovation … brought an end for all times to the chaos of tribalism and which laid the basis for a wider institution, viz a State." (FN7)

It should be noted that this loyalty to the State by its plural citizenry constituted a nationalism, or more exactly a patriotism, that is approved by Islam, contrary to what some modern Muslim ideologues assert. It is in line with the teaching in the Quranic verse, "O people, We created you from the same male and female and rendered you into distinct peoples and tribes that you may recognize one another. The best of you in the sight of God is the most righteous." (FN8)

There were twenty districts each with a chief (naqib) and deputy chiefs (`arif) and its meeting place (saqifah). The city at this time had a population of about ten thousand. Of these, the Muslims made up only a few hundred; half of it were monotheist Jews, the rest being polytheists. (FN9)

It is noteworthy that the Charter ordained equality to its members and protected them against oppression. (Clause 16). The State proclaimed the brotherhood of believers and gave each one a right and support to give protection to any individual, excepting an enemy. (Clause 15). It also extended help to its members in debt or in financial difficulties in regard to payment of ransom or blood-money. (Clause 12). It prohibited help or refuge to be given to a murderer. (Clause 22).

A very important human right is given in Clause 25 where freedom was guaranteed for each community to practice its own religion. The implication of this clause is that each individual was also free to choose his or her religion, in line with the clear teachings of the Quran. (FN10)

Another important principle of statecraft is consultation with the people in all matters. This is stated in Clause 37(a). Unlike in modern democratic polity, the voice of the people, vox populi, regardless of whether that voice represents right and truth or not, is given the highest value. This is a basic flaw in Western democracy. Another important principle of just governance is that no quarter is given to an injustice or wrong-doing. In the Charter, this is stated in Clause 47.

As I stated above, this constitution is Muhammad's ijtihad at formulating a constitution when he was confronted with the task of administrating the city-state of Medina. At this time, he had not yet received the full Quran. He had therefore to fall back on customs and precedents, and he did. In any case, all constitutions are provisional in the sense that it must be adapted to changing times.

A trace of Arab tribalism can be detected in two clauses where a member together with his family were to be punished because of a crime he committed. (Clauses 25 and 36(b)) This clearly contradicts another clause which states that no evil-doer is punished except for the crime he commits. (Clause 46)

Perhaps, in the light of present Muslim interest in an "Islamic state", we should point out that this important constitutional document of Islam does not anywhere use the term "Islamic state" of "Islamic society". The major principles governing an Islamic society are, of course, present -- principles like justice, brotherhood and unity of believers, unity and cooperation among zitizens of the state, freedom of religion, strict adherence to pacts entered into between parties, cooperation to do good and to prevent evil, encouragement for high moral conduct, consultation as a method of government. It is also interesting to note that what has been called "Hudud laws", being part of Islamic Law, is also nowhere mentioned in the document.

It should be noted that the Charter, this first Islamic political-constitutional document, was given to the people of Medina in the name of Muhammad the Prophet (Clause 1) and also in the name of God as well as Prophet Muhammad. (Clause 47) Why two different ways of phrasing the ultimate source of power? It is to be remembered that during the Western Middle Ages, the Church ruled supreme in the name of God, and God's name was, of course, much misused by hypocrites and opportunists. The modern Western practice of replacing God with the people has, of course, not helped matters very much. In the name of the people, oppression, wars, colonialism and aggressions have been launched.

Thus, even in this modern age of science and technology, mankind cannot ignore a power that is greater than itself. Mankind has an autonomous right to live, and to live happily, but he must do that in a lawfully created Universe. It is in this sense that the Charter was given in the name of Muhammad the Prophet, who represented the principle of the good and of right reason, which is higher than the individual man. Likewise, in Clause 47 God's name was put first, as God represents the highest Good and the highest principle of right reason. This is necessary to conduct Man to higher and ever higher achievements.

APPENDIX THE MEDINA CHARTER (FN11)

In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful.

(1) This is a document from Muhammad the prophet (governing the relations) between the believers and Muslims of Quraysh and Yathrib, and those who followed them and joined them and labored with them.

(2) They are one community (umma) to the exclusion of all men.

(3) The Quraysh emigrants according to their present custom shall pay the bloodwit within their number and shall redeem their prisoners with the kindness and justice common among believers.

(4-8) The B. ‘Auf according to their present custom shall pay the bloodwit they paid in heatheism; every section shall redeem its prisoners with the kindness and justice common among believers. The B. Sa ida, the B. ‘l-Harith, and the B. Jusham, and the B. al-Najjar likewise.

(9-11) The B. ‘Amr b. ‘Auf, the B. al-Nabit and the B. al-‘Aus likewise.

(12)(a) Believers shall not leave anyone destitute among them by not paying his redemption money or bloodwit in kindness.

(12)(b) A believer shall not take as an ally the freedman of another Muslim against him.

(13) The God-fearing believers shall be against the rebellious or him who seeks to spread injustice, or sin or animosity, or corruption between believers; the hand of every man shall be against him even if he be a son of one of them.

(14) A believer shall not slay a believer for the sake of an unbeliever, nor shall he aid an unbeliever against a believer.

(15) God’s protection is one, the least of them may give protection to a stranger on their behalf. Believers are friends one to the other to the exclusion of outsiders.

(16) To the Jew who follows us belong help and equality. He shall not be wronged nor shall his enemies be aided.

(17) The peace of the believers is indivisible. No separate peace shall be made when believers are fighting in the way of God. Conditions must be fair and equitable to all.

(18) In every foray a rider must take another behind him.

(19) The believers must avenge the blood of one another shed in the way of God.

(20)(a) The God-fearing believers enjoy the best and most upright guidance.

(20)(b) No polytheist shall take the property of person of Quraysh under his protection nor shall he intervene against a believer.

(21) Whoever is convicted of killing a believer without good reason shall be subject to retaliation unless the next of kin is satisfied (with blood-money), and the believers shall be against him as one man, and they are bound to take action against him.

(22) It shall not be lawful to a believer who holds by what is in this document and believes in God and the last day to help an evil-doer or to shelter him. The curse of God and His anger on the day of resurrection will be upon him if he does, and neither repentance nor ransom will be received from him.

(23) Whenever you differ about a matter it must be referred to God and to Muhammad.

(24) The Jews shall contribute to the cost of war so long as they are fighting alongside the believers.

(25) The Jews of the B. ‘Auf are one community with the believers (the Jews have their religion and the Muslims have theirs), their freedmen and their persons except those who behave unjustly and sinfully, for they hurt but themselves and their families.

(26-35) The same applies to the Jews of the B. al-Najjar, B. al-Harith, B. Sai ida, B. Jusham, B. al-Aus, B. Tha'laba, and the Jafna, a clan of the Tha‘laba and the B. al-Shutayba. Loyalty is a protection against treachery. The freedmen of Tha ‘laba are as themselves. The close friends of the Jews are as themselves.

(36) None of them shall go out to war save the permission of Muhammad, but he shall not be prevented from taking revenge for a wound. He who slays a man without warning slays himself and his household, unless it be one who has wronged him, for God will accept that.

(37) The Jews must bear their expenses and the Muslims their expenses. Each must help the other against anyone who attacks the people of this document. They must seek mutual advice and consultation, and loyalty is a protection against treachery. A man is not liable for his ally’s misdeeds. The wronged must be helped.

(38) The Jews must pay with the believers so long as war lasts.

(39) Yathrib shall be a sanctuary for the people of this document.

(40) A stranger under protection shall be as his host doing no harm and committing no crime.

(41) A woman shall only be given protection with the consent of her family.

(42) If any dispute or controversy likely to cause trouble should arise it must be referred to God and to Muhammad the apostle of God. God accepts what is nearest to piety and goodness in this document.

(43) Quraysh and their helpers shall not be given protection.

(44) The contracting parties are bound to help one another against any attack on Yathrib.

(45)(a) If they are called to make peace and maintain it they must do so; and if they make a similar demand on the Muslims it must be carried out except in the case of a holy war.

(45)(b) Every one shall have his portion from the side to which he belongs.

(46) The Jews of al-Aus, their freedmen and themselves have the same standing with the people of this document in purely loyalty from the people of this document. Loyalty is a protection against treachery. He who acquires ought acquires it for himself. God approves of this document.

(47) This deed will not protect the unjust and the sinner. The man who goes forth to fight and the man who stays at home in the city is safe unless he has been unjust and sinned. God is the protector of the good and God-fearing man and Muhammad is the apostle of God.

FOOTNOTES:

(1) The First Written Constitution in the World, Sh. Muhammad Ashraf, Lahore, 1968. First published in England, 1941.
(2) Translated by Frederic G. Kenyon, Internet. !996 The Avalon Project.
(3) The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th Edition, 1991.
(4) The First Written Constitution in the World, p. 9. The translation of the whole text for A. Guillaume's Life of Muhammad is appended at the end.
(5) Ibid., pp. 19-20.
(6) The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, 15th Edition, 1991.
(7) The First Written Constitution, p. 18.
(8) Quran, 49:13.
(9) Ibid., pp. 12-13.
(10) "There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinguished from the wrong way." (2:256) Note that this statement of complete religious freedom comes immediately after the grandest statement of God's power to be found in any scripture. It is indeed significant!
(11) This text is taken from A. Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad -- A Translation of Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah, Oxford University Press, Karachi, 1955; pp. 231-233. Numbering added.

What game was the AG playing?

2009-09-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

In 2007, the Commercial Crime Division of Bukit Aman detained a few Chinese underworld bosses said to be linked to Malaysia’s IGP. One of those bosses, Goh Cheng Poh, filed a Writ against the government. The AG, however, refused to prepare an Affidavit in Reply -- meaning that the government would certainly lose its case and Goh Peng Poh would be allowed to walk free. What game was the AG playing? Was he shooting the ball into his own goal to assist the release of a Chinese underworld boss? See the unprecedented AG Chamber's letter to the Deputy Home Minister below.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Bye-bye, IGP, happy retirement

2009-08-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

he IGP actually retired way back in September 2007. The Abdullah Badawi government, however, extended his service on contract basis for another two years. Those two years will expire in two weeks time on 14 September 2009. We hear the government wants to extend his contract, yet again. This means the Chinese underworld will continue to run the police force and decide on who gets transferred, promoted, demoted, and thrown into jail. Yes, they even throw police officers that do not 'cooperate' into jail. And, today, we offer the evidence of that.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Some of the names on these documents have been blacked out, for obvious reasons. Rest assured we have the un-blacked out version in our safekeeping, which can be revealed if the government challenges these documents as fakes, ‘poison pen’ letters, or lies. And if the IGP gets an extension on his contract, then the un-blacked out version will surely surface to ensure that we embarrass the Malaysian government to the maximum. The world will be told that the Chinese mafia runs the Malaysian Police Force.

Now, let's get to the jugular

2009-08-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

The MACC said it tak layan (will not entertain) 'poison pen' letters. It will only investigate signed letters. Well, below is a signed letter plus a detail report implicating the IGP and AG in a crime. They helped a Chinese underworld syndicate boss escape the long arm of the law. Even the Deputy Home Minister said the IGP and AG are involved in this conspiracy. And this is the Deputy Minister's letter to the Prime Minister. Is this enough for you to now launch an investigation, MACC?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

P.S. TOMORROW, WE ARE GOING TO GIVE YOU THE MOTHER OF ALL EXPOSES ON THE IGP'S LINKS WITH THE CHINESE UNDERWORLD. THIS IS GOING TO BE THE NAIL IN THE IGP'S COFFIN WHEN WE REVEAL THAT THE CHINESE UNDERWORLD IS RUNNING THE PDRM. [ MORE ]

Okay, MACC, is this official enough for you?

2009-08-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

The MACC says it will not investigate 'poison pen' letters. It will 'tak layan' anything that is sent on an anonymous basis. Well, the following is not anonymous. It is not a 'poison pen' letter. It is a police report about what the MACC did to a lawyer. The only thing is this lawyer is fortunate enough to have not ended up dead on the ground floor like Teoh Beng Hock. Is this official enough for you, MACC?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

[ more ]

Statutory Declaration of Chong Tzeng Hang @ Ah Han (830210-01-5407)

2009-06-17T20:00:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 17 June 2009 | THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | MalaysiaToday - Raja Petra Kamarudin

In 2007, six (6) police officers and two (2) underworld figures signed Statutory Declarations alleging that senior police officers right up to the IGP have links with the Chinese drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling and loan-shark syndicate based in Johor and which was expanding its operation throughout Malaysia. Another police officer made a police report alleging that his family was kidnapped by the ACA to force him to change his statement while the head of the CCD and his lawyer were arrested and charged for alleged criminal offenses as punishment for detaining underworld bosses under the Emergency Ordinance.

AKUAN BERKANUN

Saya, CHONG TZENG HANG @ AH HAN (No K/P: 830210-01-5407) berumur 24 tahun dan beralamat di No. 38, Taman Bunga Ros, Kangkar Tebrau, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor dengan ini sesungguhnya dan seikhlasnya berikrar dan menyatakan seperti berikut:-

1. Saya dilahirkan dan dibesarkan di Bandar Johor Bahru, Johor. Saya mendapat pendidikan sehingga tingkatan 3 di Sek. Men. Taman Daya, Johor Bahru, Johor. Saya tidak melanjutkan persekolahan selepas itu kerana tidak lagi berminat dalam pelajaran. Selapas berhenti sekolah, saya telah melakukan pelbagai pekerjaan. Saya membantu bapa saya bekerja sebagai penjual kereta di U Want Used Cars, Jalan Kebun Teh, Johor Bahru, Johor. Di samping itu, saya juga mempunyai sedikit saham dalam perniagaan pub dan aktiviti placuran di Marcopolo Lounge, Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru, Johor. Dalam sebulan saya boleh berpendapatan anggaran RM5,000.00. Saya mempunyai adik-beradik seramai 4 orang termasuk saya. Saya merupakan anak kedua dalam keluarga saya. Saya sudah berumahtangga dan mempunyai dua orang anak perempuan.

2. Saya tidak pernah melibatkan diri dalam kegiatan kongsi gelap ataupun kumpulan thug.

3. Saya tidak pernah melibatkan diri dalam kegiatan kongsi gelap ataupun mengedar dadah.

4. Pada bulan Januari tahun 2006, saya mula mengenali seorang lelaki Cina nama Johnny, pemilik sebuah pub Marcopolo, Taman Sentosa, Johor Bahru. Selain menjalankan aktiviti pub an lounge, premis ini juga digunakan untuk menganjurkan aktiviti pelacuran. Perniagaan ini terdiri dari dua orang partner iaitu Johnny sendiri dan Chan Boon Chai (Ah Hwa). Johnny kemudian meminta saya untuk bertindak sebagai PR bagi aktivitinya agar saya dapat menjalin hubungan dengan PT D7, DSP Hedzir. Johnny tidak rapat dengan DSP Hedzir dan pada masa yang sama saya sentiasa berhubungan dengan DSP Hedzir sehinggalah kami menjadi rapat.

5. Semasa menjalankan PR bagi Johnny, saya membayar sebanyak RM12,000/- sebulan kepada DSP Hedzir dan kami sering berjumpa di Hotel New York, Johor Bahru, Johor. Pada 25/05/2006, Johnny telah keluar dari perniagaan Maropolo dan menyerahkan kepada saya disamping Ah Hwa kerana dia tidak mampu lagi untuk menanggung semua hutang termasuk hutang saya lebih kurang RM170,000/-. Saya bersetuju dan trus mengambil alih perniagaan itu dan meneruskan perniagaan itu bersama Ah Hwa. Pada bulan Jun 2006, DSP Hedzir sudah mula buka mulut untuk meminta sponsor dan katanya sponsor itu untuk No. 1 (Tan Sri Musa Bin Hassan, Ketua Polis Negara). Dalam bulan Jun 2006 sahaja saya telah beri sebanyak 2 kali sponsor kepada DSP Hedzir iaitu sebanyak RM80,000/- untuk No. 1 dan RM15,000/- untuk dia sendiri. Pada bulan Julai 2006, saya telah beri sponsor sebanyak 2 kali lagi iaitu RM45,000/- untuk DSP Hedzir dan RM60,000/- untuk No. 1. Kemudian dalam bulan Ogos 2006, saya telah beri kepada DSP Hedzir sebanyak RM80,000/- untuk sponsor kepada No.1 dan sekali lagi sebanyak RM60,000/- juga untuk diberi kepada No. 1. Dalam bulan September 2006, saya sekali lagi memberikan wang sebanyak RM80,000/- kepada DSP Hedzir untuk diberikan kepada No. 1. Akhir sekali dalam bulan Oktober 2006, DSP Hedzir meminta saya lagi wang sebanyak RM60,000/- juga untuk diberikan kepada No. 1. Kesemua wang tersebut saya sendiri telah beri terus kepada DSP Hedzir tanpa melalui sesiapa. Selain itu ada beberapa kali lagi saya beri wang sebagai sponsor yang diminta oleh DSP Hedzir tetapi saya tidak ingat berapa jumlah sebenar. Sejak dari mula saya beri wang kepadanya, saya anggarkan hampir mencecah RM1 juga. Segala wang yang diberikan adalah secara tunai.

6. Pada bulan November 2006, DSP Hedzir masih meminta wang lagi dari saya tetapi saya tidak mahu bagi lagi sebab selalu dia cakap nak bagi pada No.1. Saya berasa curiga sebab DSP Hedzir sering menggunakan nama No 1 dan saya minta untuk berjumpa sendiri dengan No. 1. Kemudian DSP Hedzir menghubungi No. 1 untuk bertanya adakan No. 1 bersedia berjumpa dengan saya. Pada tarikh tidak ingat penghujung bulan November 2006, DSP Hedzir memberitahu saya yang saya boleh berjumpa dengan No.1. Pada keesokkan harinya. Saya terus pergi ke 5 buah money changer untuk menukarkan wang kepada S$30,000/- dalam note S$1,000/- (30 keping) dan memasukkan kedalam satu sampul surat. Pada pagi keesokkan harinya saya seorang diri pergi ke Melaka untuk berjumpa DSP Hedzir dan No. 1. Sampai di Melaka saya telah diminta untuk menunggu dalam kereta ditepi jalan dan DSP Hedzir datang memandu sebuah kereta jenis Proton Perdana V6 warna hitam nombor pendaftaran saya tidak ingat DSP Hedzir kemudian bawa kereta pergi mengambil No. 1 dan datang semula terus berhenti di hadapan kereta saya. Saya diminta oleh DSP Hedzir untuk keluar dari kereta saya dan masuk kedalam kereta Perdana V6. Saya duduk dibahagian belakang dan saya nampak DSP Hedzir duduk dibahagian pemandu No. 1 dan No. 1 duduk dibahagian penumpang hadapan sebelah kiri. Saya menelek sedikit untuk mendapatkan kepastian samada dia adalah No. 1 dan saya pasti orang itu adalah No. 1 iaitu Tan Sri Musa Hassan, Ketua Polis Negara. DSP Hedzir menyuruh saya jangan memandang kepada No. 1 dengan memberi isyarat tangan. Saya menurut perintahnya dan kami mula berbincang.

7. Saya terus tanya kepada No. 1 “Dato’, saya dengar saya punya kes fail sudah dibuka, macam mana sekarang Dato’?. Kemudian No. 1 beritahu kepada saya “you jangan dengar orang cakap, saya janji sama you, you punya kes fail takkan jadi”. Kemudian saya tanya lagi “saya punya bisnes macam mana? Boleh jalan lagi tak?”. No. 1 kata “you tunggu saya beri green light sama tuan Hedzir, you boleh buka bisnes cara terbuka”. No. 1 beritahu lagi selepas ni mana-mana orang sindiket ekor yang sudar keluar order, boleh beri maklumat padanya. Saya jawab pada No. 1, “saya minta maaf, saya tidak tahu”. Kemudian akhir sekali saya minta dari No. 1 dengan berkata “Dato’, itu bisnes kita letak tepi dulu, tapi saya minta jangan buka kes fail atas saya”. Lepas saya tanya, No. 1 jawab “itu no problem”. No. 1 kata lagi pada saya “Ah Han, saya pun tak boleh lama, saya nak balik”. Semasa saya hendak turun dari kereta saya terus mengeluar sampul surat berisi S$30,000/- dan beri kepada No.1 sambil berkata “ini hadiah pada dato”. No. 1 menyuruh saya meletakkan sampul surat itu ditempat handbrek berdekatan dengan begnya.

8. Pada 28/12/2006, saya telah diberitahu oleh seorang pegawai D7, IPK Johor yang order 3(1) telah keluar. Lepas saya tahu saya terus telefon DSP Hedzir dan bertanya kepadanya bagaimana dengan janjinya tempoh hari berkaitan kes fail saya, kenapa masih keluar order 3(1). DSP Hedzir beritahu saya supaya sabar dan meminta wang lagi dari saya sebanyak RM20,000/- sebagai sponsor. Saya tidak beri dan sejak dari DSP Hedzir tidak menghubungi saya lagi sehinggalah saya ditangkap 3(1) pada 21/02/2007. Segala pembayaran kepada DSP Hedzir adalah wang dari hasil perniagaan saya di Marcopolo.

9. Saya merasa telah ditipu dan dianiaya kerana wang telah pun dibayar tetapi janji tidak ditunai.

Dan saya membuat pengakuan ini dengan sesungguhnya mempercayai bahawa yang sama adalah benar dan mengikut peruntukan Akta Akuan Berkanun, 1960.

DITANDATANGANI DAN DIIKRAR )
SESUNGGUHNYA oleh CHONG TZENG HANG @ )
AH HAN (No K/P: 830210-01-5407) tersebut di atas )
di Kuala Lumpur pada haribulan 2007 )

Di hadapan saya,

Pesuruhjaya Sumpah

Statutory Declaration of Chai Boon Chai @ Ah Wah (No K/P: 730702-04-5356)

Statutory Declaration of Sarjan Major Manimaran a/l Palaniappan (D/94894)

Statutory Declaration of ASP Mior Fahim Bin Ahmad (G/13237)

2009-06-16T23:45:00.000-07:00

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin

AKUAN BERKANUN

Saya, MIOR FAHIM BIN AHMAD (K/P Polis No: G/13237) yang beralamat di Ibu Pejabat Kontinjen (IPK), Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah, Johor dengan ini sesungguhnya dan seikhlasnya berikrar dan menyatakan seperti berikut:- 1. Saya bekerja sebagai seorang pegawai polis berpangkat Assisten Superintendan (ASP) di Cawangan D7 di Ibu Pejabat Kontinjen (IPK), JSJ, Johor. Saya membuat Akuan ini demi menjaga keselamatan peribadi dan integriti saya sebagai seorang pegawai polis berhubung tugasan dan siasatan yang saya lakukan dan arahan yang saya terima. [more]

Exclusive: A new, more powerful Malaysia Today to come

2009-06-16T09:10:00.000-07:00

Riau, 16th June 2009: A new Malaysia Today is being planned by Raja Petra Kamarudin or RPK as he is popularly known and this is great news for the Internet media related to Malaysia with a more newsworthy site, World Future Online is able to reveal today.

After the announcement that Raja Petra was not anymore the 'owner' of Malaysia Today, Wfol.tv inquired on the future plans of the 'enfant terrible' of the Malaysian Royalty.[more]

The PAS-Umno unity talks: Memali forgotten

2009-06-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 | NO HOLDS BARRED | Raja Petra Kamarudin

PAS wants to enter into unity talks with Umno. Have the PAS leaders forgotten what happened in Memali? In case some of you have forgotten, or are not aware of what happened back in 1985, take a look at the videos below.

See the videos here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOaGU_AsZmc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccrikEyozhE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omIyd4G54J0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmbIz4rpPQo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f8kxiAKvuo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvJLJJzMULQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcD0551Nr2k

C4 Production House - will it be in trouble?

2009-06-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

09 June 2009 - Video pendedahan ekslusif penggunaan ilmu hitam, gangster, serta pembunuhan altantuya.....

[ VIDEO INSIDE ]

Statutory Declaration of ASP Hong Kin Hock (G/10990)

2009-06-08T10:21:00.000-07:00

In 2007, six (6) police officers and two (2) underworld figures signed Statutory Declarations alleging that senior police officers right up to the IGP have links with the Chinese drugs, prostitution, illegal gambling and loan-shark syndicate based in Johor and which was expanding its operation throughout Malaysia. Another police officer made a police report alleging that his family was kidnapped by the ACA to force him to change his statement while the head of the CCD and his lawyer were arrested and charged for alleged criminal offenses for detaining underworld bosses under the Emergency Ordinance.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin | Tuesday, 09 June 2009 | MalaysiaToday

AKUAN BERKANUN

Saya, Hong Kin Hock (G/10990) yang beralamat ……………………………………………………………………….. dengan ini sesungguhnya dan seikhlasnya berikrar dan menyatakan seperti berikut:-

1. Saya bekerja sebagai seorang pegawai polis berpangkat Assisten Superintenden Polis (ASP) di Cawangan Operasi/Bantuan Teknik Jabatan Siasatan Jenayah Komersial (JSJK), Kompleks Kerajaan, Bukit Perdana, Jalan Dato’ Onn 50502 Kuala Lumpur. Sebagai pegawai JSJK, saya menerima arahan dari pegawai atasan di JSJK. Saya membuat Akuan ini demi menjaga keselamatan peribadi dan integriti saya sebagai seorang pegawai polis berhubung tugasan dan siasatan yang saya lakukan dan arahan yang saya terima.

2. Pada 20/06/2006, saya menerima arahan daripada YDH Dato’ Pengarah JSJK melalui ACP Hamzah Md Som, KPP Operasi untuk mengumpul maklumat-maklumat mengenai kegiatan ceti haram di kawasan Johor dan Melaka, terutamanya yang melibatkan Sindiket Along “Tangkak Kia” yang dikatakan sangat aktif and mempunyai rangkaian di seluruh Malaysia. Saya telah menghantar 5 anggota detektif untuk membuat siasatan dan pengumpulan maklumat di Johor dan Melaka.

3. Pada 24/10/2006, susulan dari siasatan ini saya telah berjumpa dengan “Sumber“ yang mendedahkan beberapa maklumat mengenai kegiatan ceti haram di Tangkak, oleh penama yang dikenali sebagai Ah Kooi, Ah Seng, Ah Hang dan Tengku. Sumber dedahkan bahawa disamping terlibat kegiatan ceti haram, mereka juga terlibat dalam kegiatan haram lain seperti ekor haram, bookie bola dan bookie lumba kuda. Sindiket ini dikatakan sering menggunakan nama YDH Tan Sri KPN untuk melindungi aktiviti mereka tetapi tiada bukti jelas menunjukkan terdapatnya hubungan sedemikian.

4. Pada 20/01/2007, Sumber memberitahu saya bahawa seorang kawannya yang dikenali sebagai Richard adalah sangat rapat dengan YDH Tan Sri KPN dan banyak membantu kawan-kawan dalam pasukan polis untuk dinaikkan pangkat. Sumber meminta saya untuk memberi butir-butir peribada saya kepada Richard untuk disampaikan kepad YDH Tan Sri KPN. Saya tidak membantah dan memberi nombor polis, nama dan tempat tugas saya yang terkini.

5. Pada 24/03/2007 jam 1500 – 1600, dalam perjumpaan ini beliau memberitahu saya bahawa Ah Kooi dan Ah Sang (Melaka) telah bergaduh kerana masalah kewangan. Orang yang menjadi batu api adalah Tengku (Johor). Hal ini telah saya maklumkan kepada ACP Hamzah bin Md Som dan juga YDH Dato’ PJSJK. Pada masa yang sama Sumber juga memberitahu bahawa Richard memaklumkan bahawa nama saya telah diberikan kepada YDH Tan Sri KPN dan kemungkinan bila-bila masa Tan Sri akan memanggil saya.

6. Pada 23/04/2007 jam 2030 – 2100, saya diberitahu oleh Sumber bahawa pihak sindiket Tengku mengetahui Orang Tahanan (OT) Ong Yong Hoe telah disoal siasat oleh pegawai JSJK Bukit Aman dan mereka sedang menyiasat siapa pegawai tersebut dan tujuan soal siasat dijalankan. Saya tidak menafikan bahawa saya telah membuat soal siasat tersebut atas arahan YDH Dato’ PJSJK untuk mendapatkan maklumat-maklumat ceti haram. Sumber juga meminta saya supaya berhati-berhati kerana kemungkinan pihak Tengku akan menggunakan pengaruh mereka terhadap saya jika apa-apa berlaku.

7. Pada 22/05/2007 jam 1530, ketika sedang menjalankan serbuan bersabit “Ops. Tiong“ dikawasan Kondominium Heritage, Setapak, saya telah menerima panggilan telefon daripada Sumber bahawa Richard telah mengaturkan perjumpaan saya dengan YDH Tan Sri KPN pada jam 1700 bertempat dirumah Tan Sri, dan Sumber bersetuju untuk pergi bersama-sama saya dengan menaiki kereta saya.

8. Pada 22/05/2007 jam 1630–1730, semasa dalam perjalanan ke rumah Tan Sri di Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya, saya telah bertanya kepada Sumber tujuan Tan Sri hendak berjumpa dengan saya. Sumber beritahu bahaw Richard telah berikan butir-butir peribadi saya dan kemungkinan Tan Sri hendak berjumpa untuk “temuduga“. Bila ditanya apakah perlu saya beritahu jika Tan Sri bertanya mengenai hal di Skudai yang mungkin dalam pengetahuannya. Sumber cadang agar saya beritahu hal sebenar iaitu saya hanya menjalankan tugas atas arahan Pengarah JSJK dan tidak tahu hal-hal lain.

9. Pada 22/05/2007 jam 1915–1930, perjumpaan telah dibuat dengan Tan Sri KPN dengan kehadiran bersama Sumber. Antara perkara-perkara yang berbangkit adalah seperti berikut:-

Sebaik sahaja masuk ke rumah, Tan Sri KPN telah mempersilakan kami untuk duduk dan terus bertanya siapa saya dan tujuan saya berjumpa dengan beliau. Saya diam seketika dan terus melihat “Sumber“ dengan harapan beliau dapat menjelaskan tujuan sebenar perjumpaan ini. Sumber terus beritahu Tan Sri tentang nama Richard. Tanpa berfikir panjang, saya terus beritahu Tan Sri bahawa pada 17/04/2007 saya telah diarahkan oleh YDH Dato’ PJSJK untuk membuat satu rakaman percakapan risikan ke atas seorang lelaki Cina di IPD Skudai yang merupakan tahanan Emergency Ordinan (“EO“) oleh JSJ. Apabila ditanya, saya dedahkan nama OT tersebut adalah Ong Yang Hoe. Saya juga diberitahu bahawa selepas selesai rakaman percakapan ini, saya mendapat berita bahawa ada siasatan sedang dibuat oleh pihak tertentu ke atas saya atas sebab-sebab yang tidak saya ketahui. Kemudian YDH Tan Sri telah bertanyakan beberapa soalan seperti berikut:-

(a) Saya memberitahu bahawa pada 16/04/2007 selepas menerima arahan ini, saya telah maklumkan kepada DSP Mohd Salleh, PP Operasi tentang tujuan dan arahan Dato PJSJK. DSP Mohd Salleh, telah mengatur untuk saya berjumpa dengan Insp. D7 (nama tak ingat) di IPD Skudai. Saya tiba di IPD Skudai pada 17/04/2007 dan dengan kerjasama seorang anggota D7 IPD Skudai (nama tak ingat) saya telah berjaya berjumpa dengan OT Ong dan rakaman dijalankan di Bilik Mesyuarat IPD Skudai.

(b) Saya memberitahu bahwa saya tidak tahu dan saya telah diarahkan oleh Dato’ PJSJK untuk membuat rakaman risikan ke atas OT ini dengan tujuan mendapatkan maklumat mengenai ceti haram terutama yang melibatkan sindiket di Johor dan Melaka;

(c) Saya diberitahu bahawa saya telah bertanyakan OT Ong tentang penglibatannya dalam kegiatan ceti haram, tetapi OT Ong menafikan penglibatannya dalam kegiatan ceti haram kecuali penglibatan dalam ekor haram yang mana telah beliau berhenti sejak 2006. OT Ong juga berasa hairan kenapa kini beliau boleh ditangkap dan dituduh atas kesalahan EO. Pada masa yang sama OT Ong ada beritahu bahaw dia tahu ada kumpulan ceti haram dikenali sebagai “Tangkak Kia“ yang sangat aktif di Johor dan sangat ganas tetapi tiada maklumat-maklumat mengenai mereka;

(d) Saya memberitahu bahawa saya terpaksa merakam segala pendedahan haram yang dibuat oleh OT Ong memandangkan saya telah berada di Skudai dan “statement“ ini perlu disiapkan kerana ia menjadi tanggungjawab saya mendapatkan semua pendedahan yang hendak dibuat oleh OT Ong untuk dimajukan kepada YDH Dato’ PJSJK. Saya terus mencatatkan segala yang OT Ong hendak dedahkan kepada pihak polis. Seperti biasa saya ada menganjurkan beberapa soalan seperti siapa ketua sindiket ekor haram. OT Ong ada dedahkan bahawa dia bekerja dengan Heng Kiah (juga dikenali dengan panggilan Allen oleh orang lain). OT Ong juga ada dedahkan boss Heng Kiah adalah Tengku yang beliau tahu berasal dari Tangkak, tetapi tidak tahu samaada Tengku ada terlibat dalam kegiatan ceti haram.

(e) Pada masa ini saya dapati YDH Tan Sri berasa hairan dan beritahu bahawa semasa JSJ buat rakaman tidak pula OT Ong mendedahkan nama Tengku dan kini bila JSJK rakam OT Ong dedahkan pula nama Tengku. Tan Sri kemudian didapati membuat panggilan kepada seseorang dengan beliau panggil sebagai “Dato Khalid” dan bertanyakan mengenai pengetahuannya tentang pengawai JSJK yang telah diarahkan oleh Pengarah JSJK untuk membuat rakaman ke atas tahanan EO di Skudai yang bernama Ong Yong Hoe. Dalam nada yang tegasTan Sri juga telah mengarahkan “Dato’ Khalid” untuk menyiasat mengapa pegawai JSJK boleh membuat rakaman percakapan tahanan EO tanpa pengetahuan pihak JSJ. Selepas berbual, Tan Sri beritahu saya bahawa tindakan telah dibuat dimana kes fail OT Ong telah pun dihantar kepada KKDN untuk tindakan.

(f) Saya maklumkan bahawa selepas kembali di pejabat, oleh kerana arahan ini disampaikan terus daripada YDH Dato’ PJSJK, saya telah menghantar laporan ini terus kepada YDH Dato PJSJK disamping memberi taklimat ringkas. Tan Sri kemudian mahu saya laporkan perkara ini kepada Bahagian Tatatertib kerana merasa sesuatu tidak kena kerana saya dari JSJK telah diarah membaut rakaman seorang OT yang sedang di siasat JSJ tanpa terlebih dahulu mendapat kebenaran JSJ ataupun tanpa pengetahuan pihak JSJ. Saya dapati Tan Sri terus menghubungi seorang pegawai Tatatertib dan meminta nombor telefon saya untuk diberikan kepada pegawai tersebut. Kemudian, Tan Sri memberitahu saya bahawa pegawai Tatatertib bernama Supt Nava akan hubungi saya dan meminta saya berjumpa dengan beliau esok unuk laporkan bagaimana saya boleh mendapat arahan PJSJK untuk menyiasat seorang OT dari JSJ tanpa mendapat kebenaran JSJ terlebih dahulu. Saya terpaksa mematuhi arahan Tan Sri dengan memberikan nombor telefon saya. Selepas lebih kurang lima minit, Supt Nava telah hubungi saya dan mahu saya berjumpa beliau esok pada jam 0900. Saya menjawab “ya”.

10. Pada 22/05/2007 jam 2030, selepas perjumpaan ini, saya merasa sesuatu tidak kena kerana hajat perjumpaan saya adalah seperti yang telah saya jelas seperti di atas. Saya kemudian terus menghantar SMS kepada ACP Hamzah Md Som maklumkan bahawa Bahagian Tatatertib ingin temuduga saya bersabit kes soal siasat di Skudai tempoh hari. Saya kemudian mendapat SMS kembali daripada ACP Hamzah untuk berjumpa dengan YDH Dato’ PJSJK pada keesokkan hari.

11. Pada 23/05/2007 jam 0915, saya menerima panggilan daripada Supt. Navamaney untuk berjumpa di pejabatnya di Tingkat 13, Bukit Aman. Tetapi saya beritahu bahawa saya terpaksa mendapat kebenaran daripada Pengarah JSJK terlebih dahulu sebelum boleh berjumpa beliau. In sepatutnya di fahami oleh Supt. Nava kerana saya adalah seorang pegawai JSJK dan tidak boleh melanggar arahan pegawai atasan saya di JSJK.

12. Pada 23/05/2007 jam 0950, saya telah berjumpa dengan YDH Dato’ Pengarah JSJK dan memberitahu tentang perjumpaan saya dengan YDH Tan Sri pada petang 22/05/2007 dan arahan untuk saya berjumpa dengan Supt. Navamaney, Bahagian Tatatertib. YDH Dato’ Pengarah memberi arahan supaya saya tidak berjumpa dengan Supt. Nava sehingga Dato’ Pengarah JSJK memberi kebenaran.

13. Pada 23/05/2007 jam 1030, saya menerima panggilan telefon dari Supt Navamany samada boleh berjumpa beliau sekarang. Saya maklumkan bahawa saya masih belum menerima arahan/kebenaran daripada YDH Dato’ Pengarah JSJK.

14. Pada 23/05/2007 jam 1530, sekali lagi saya menerima panggilan telefon dari Supt Navamaney, dan saya maklumkan bahawa kebenaran/arahan masih belum diperolehi daripada YDH Dato’ PJSJK. Saya juga beritahu Supt. Navamaney bahawa saya akan hubungi beliau sebaik sahaja mendapat kebenaran daripada YDH Dato’ PJSJK.

15. Pada 28/05/2007 jam 1030, ketika berada di Pulau Pinang, saya telah menerima SMS Supt. Nava bertanyakan bila boleh berjumpa dengan beliau. Saya membuat panggilan kembali memberitahu bahawa saya masih belum mandapat kebenaran/arahan daripada YDH Dato’ Pengarah JSJK, dan pada masa ini saya sedang menjalankan siasatan rasmi di Pulau Pinang.

16. Adalah saya mengatakan bahawa sebagai seorang pegawai polis, saya merasa amat tertekan bahawa tindakan saya mematuhi arahan pegawai atasan saya di JSJK dalam menjalankan risikan terhadap kegiatan ceti haram dan membuat rakaman risikan ke atas OT Ong yang membabitkan nama Tengku dan untuk memperolehi maklumat mengenai ceti haram, terutama yang melibatkan sindiket di Johor dan Melaka, boleh menyebabkan saya dikenakan siasatan oleh Bahagian Tatatertib.

Dan saya membuat pengakuan ini dengan sesungguhnya mempercayai bahawa yang sama adalah benar dan mengikut peruntukan Akta Akuan Berkanun, 1960.

DITANDATANGANI DAN DIIKRAR )
SESUNGGUHNYA oleh ASP Hong Kin Hock )
(G/10990) tersebut di atas di Kuala Lumpur )
pada haribulan 2007 )

Di hadapan saya,

Pesuruhjaya Sumpah

(The original copy of the above was signed and personally delivered to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad by Raja Petra Bin Raja Kamarudin).

NST Editorial: Feast of lies

2009-06-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

This is the mentality of the Old Malay. But the Old Malay is finding out that the New Malay does not think like this at all. The New Malay has different values from the Old Malay. And the Old Malays are getting lesser while there are more New Malays emerging.

Monday, 01 June 2009 | NO HOLDS BARRED | Raja Petra Kamarudin

Something old, something new
Something borrowed, something blue
And a silver sixpence in her shoe

This is an old English wedding tradition that goes back to the Roman days. It is supposed to be a sort of good luck for the bride. ‘Old’ represents traditions. ‘New’ represents optimism of a good future ahead of you. ‘Borrowed’ means you can depend on your old friends and family. In ancient Rome, brides wore blue to symbolise love, modesty, and fidelity. And a sixpence in her shoe dates back to a Scottish custom of the groom putting a silver coin under his foot for good luck

Today, let us look at something old (the older Umno generation) and something new (what the young minds think). You will find that the rationale of the Melayu Lama and Melayu Baru are a world apart.

The Old Malays still talk about ‘orang Melayu and the support they give Umno’. The argument for Barisan Nasional (meaning an Umno candidate) to contest in yesterday’s by-election in Penanti is so that the Malays would have a party to vote for. If Umno did not contest the seat then the Malays would not be able to vote.

And many Malays did not vote yesterday. The voter turnout was about 25-30% less than what it should have been. Only 7,000 or so voted. 3,000-3,500 stayed home or went for the free tour to Thailand that Umno sponsored on Polling Day.

Assuming these 3,000-3,500 came out to vote and they had all voted for Umno, then the Pakatan Rakyat candidate would have won with a majority of just 2,000-2,500 as what Malaysia Today had predicted even before the names of the candidates were revealed and when it was not known yet that Umno would boycott the by-election.

If you look at the arguments from people like Kadir Jasin, whom can be classified as Old Malay, you can see that his reasoning as to why Umno should contest is so that the Malays can vote. If Umno does not contest then the Malays would not be able to vote. They equate Malays with Umno, and vice-versa, and not contesting the Penanti by-election would mean you are denying the Malays the chance to vote.

It never occurred to the Old Malays that there is still life after Umno and if Umno does not contest this would not mean the end of the world. Why do the Malays need Umno? Simple, because it is a Malay party and a party that safeguards Malay interests. That and only that is the reason.

But the Malays of today, the Melayu Baru, look beyond Malay interests. This, however, must not be interpreted as treacherous or pendeharka Malays who sell out their fellow Malays -- as what some Umno people would say. It is just that they see life as more than just communal interests. There is more to life than just worrying about Malay interests. We also need to consider what these Malays in power can do for the nation at large.

This may be difficult for the Old Malays to understand. What can be more important than Malay interest? Surely Malay interest is the one and only consideration. Well, maybe so to the Old Malays. But to the New Malays there are also things like transparency and good governance, an end to abuse of power and corruption, an independent judiciary and better laws, freedom of association and expression, and those other things that Umno would label as ‘Western values’.

The Old Malays like Kadir Jasin are not stupid. In fact, if you know him personally, you will know that he is one smart cookie. So why does he still talk like he is a country bumpkin? Does he not realise that there is more to life than just communal interests?

Of course he does. As I said, he is not stupid. But Kadir Jasin, the Old Malay, believes that Malay interests override all other considerations. The ends justify the means. Okay, maybe we have rampant corruption plus all the other ills you can think of in a failed state or banana republic. But these are necessary evils. This is collateral damage. This is what we must endure to ensure that Malay interests are protected.

This is the mentality of the Old Malay. But the Old Malay is finding out that the New Malay does not think like this at all. The New Malay has different values from the Old Malay. And the Old Malays are getting lesser while there are more New Malays emerging.

In time, there will be more New Malays than Old Malays at the ballot box. If we can convince the five million Malaysians eligible to vote, but not registered as voters yet, to come out and get registered, and if we can convince them to actually come out to vote come the next general election, then we will find that the Old Malays will be reduced to a minority in a sea of black T-shirts, metaphorically speaking of course.

Can we embark on a voter-get-voter campaign? For every one of you who is already a registered voter, convince someone you know who is not yet a registered voter to go register as a voter. Then, in time, people like Kadir Jasin will be a thing of the past while people like Anak Muda Melayu will rule the day.

Voting should no longer be seen as a right. It should be regarded as a responsibility. Young people should be told it is their duty to vote. And to able to vote they must first register as a voter.

About half the registered voters came out to vote yesterday in Penanti. That works out to about one-third the eligible voters. That is not good enough. We need more than double that to really see change. Even if half the registered voters vote for the opposition, Barisan Nasional will still form the government. That is the reality of the Gerrymandering system that Malaysia practices. Short of 60% votes for the opposition, Barisan Nasional can never be kicked out. So we need more voters and we need more of these voters to think like the Melayu Baru, not like the Melayu Lama.

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Tidak Wajar Boikot Pilihan Raya Kecil
A Kadir Jasin, 20 April 2009

WALAUPUN Perdana Menteri, Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, “tidak ketepikan apa juga kemungkinan,” termasuk memulaukan pilihan raya kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri Penanti, Pulau Pinang, saya rasa adalah amat merugikan jika Barisan Nasional mengaku kalah sebelum bertarung.

Sekiranya BN memulaukan PRK itu atas apa jua alasan, ia adalah tindakan yang tidak demokratik, cetek fikiran dan merugikan pengundi.

Sebagai sebuah pertubuhan yang mendakwa sedang melakukan penambahbaikan dan restorasi, Umno wajib meyakinkan parti-parti komponen BN yang lain bahawa BN wajib bertanding di DUN Penanti.

Sikap menyerah kalah atau defeatist akan menyebabkan lebih ramai pengundi hilang keyakinan BN dan parti-parti komponennya. Umno dan BN perlu mempamerkan tahap keyakinan dan semangat juang yang tinggi.

BN mungkin tidak berjaya merampas semula kerusi itu daripada Parti Keadilan Rakyat tetapi ia masih mempunyai penyokong yang ramai yang pasti kecewa jika ia tidak bertanding.

Pada pilihan raya umum 2008, Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin (PKR) mendapat 7,346 undi manakala Abdul Jalil Abdul Majid (BN) memperoleh 5,127 undi memberikan kelebihan 2,219 undi kepada Mohammad Fairus.

Lagipun, kalau betul analisis yang mengatakan semakin ramai pengundi Melayu di Bukit Gantang dan Bukit Selambau kembali menyokong BN pada PRK baru-baru ini, adalah sangat tidak bijak bagi BN memulaukan PRK Penanti.

Orang Melayu yang ingin kembali menyokong Umno dan BN kerana bertambah yakin dengan kepemimpinan Umno dan negara sekarang akan kecewa dan hilang semangat.

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CHE DET TAK FAHAM ORANG MUDA
Anak Muda Melayu

Dalam blog CheDet (http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/2009/04/the-generation-gap.html#more), Tun Mahathir kata generasi muda tidak memahami erti kemerdekaan, diperintah oleh Orang Kita dan bukan Orang Asing. Beliau menyalahkan pendidikan sejarah di sekolah yang gagal memberikan kesedaran kepada generasi muda.

Oleh kerana aku lahir pasca 1957, aku ni generasi muda walaupun umur dah hampir separuh abad. Memangnya aku tidak pernah berada di bawah pemerintahan Inggeris, dan tidak berada di zaman perang. Tetapi aku masih ingat kacaubilau tahun 69. Aku ingat zaman Tun Razak yang menyemarakkan perpaduan. Masa tu juga banyak bentuk kemakmuran melalui bantuan pertanian, dan biasiswa pun dah mula diberikan kepada rakyat. Zaman tu juga banyak sekolah-sekolah asrama penuh yang melahirkan ramai cerdik pandai terutamanya di kalangan orang melayu. Kemudahan-kemudahan prasarana pun ditingkatkan. Jadi, sejarah yang aku lalui tidak perlu pergi jauh sebaliknya zaman pembangunan dan pemulihan ekonomi.

Bermula era Mahathir, pada mulanya terasa gah kerana Dasar Pandang Ke Timur, Bersih Cekap dan Amanah dan kemudiannya timbullah penswastaan. Pembangunan pun memang hebat tetapi masa tu dah banyak berlaku percakaran politik. Di pihak UMNO, Mahathir dengan Ku Li kemudian Mahathir dan Musa Hitam. Kemudian berlaku pula pembunuhan Memali dan seterusnya Pemilihan UMNO 1987 yang menyebabkan perpecahan dalam UMNO, maka timbul pula Semangat 46.

Apabila Tun Salleh Abbas di pecat, sekali lagi berlaku tragedi dalam pentadbiran negara kerana Cabang Kehahiman telah di kembirikan. Masa itu, aku yang masih di awal dua puluhan dah mula rasa seperti dijajah, bukan oleh orang asing tetapi oleh UMNO. Sungguh pun ada keistimewaan, kerana boleh bekerja dan ekonomi yang baik tetapi merasa diri ini dijajah. Minda dibodohkan dengan media, dan orang-orang UMNO berlagak macam Malaysia ni dia orang punya. Rakyat biasa hanya menerima apa yang ada, digula-gulakan dengan kehidupan biasa, dan kononnya negara ini aman.

Bagi orang yang pernah berada di England, Amerika, Australia tentulah tidak boleh dibodohkan dengan propaganda UMNO, kerana telah melihat erti kebebasan bersuara di negara-negara itu. Tetapi bila balik di Malaysia media dikudakan. Segala media kerajaan di Malaysia boleh bercakap tentang keamanan, kestabilan ekonomi, dan pembangunan tetapi Minda diikat. Untuk bercakap songsang daripada pemimpin BN bererti menentang. Tambahan pula bila kita lihat mahkamah-mahkamah dan Polis digunakan untuk menjaga kepentingan UMNO dan Barisan Nasional. Generasi muda kecewa, fasal kebebasan yang diinginkan seperti yang dilalui di negara maju tidak boleh dicapai. Dengan adanya ISA, AUKU, Akta Rahsia Rasmi, dan pelbagai lagi Akta yang menggerunkan terasa bahawa Malaysia ni macam negara ketiga di Afrika. Baru-baru ini Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya pula bercakap seperti pihak UMNO dan BN. Sebagai rakyat, perasaan benci meluap dan lama-kelamaan akan diterjemahkan sebagai undi untuk memilih pembangkang.

Selain daripada undang-undang itu, banyak bentuk penyalahgunaan kuasa dan pembaziran wang negara berlaku. Aku tak boleh tahu apa yang betul atau salah. Tetapi bila di sebut skandal BMF, bail out untuk MISC, PERWAJA, MAS, dan banyak lagi mula timbul tandatanya -- apa sebenar yang berlaku. Jawapan samar-samar dan mengelirukan. Bila timbul pula kes pembunuhan Mustakizah, apa sebenarnya berlaku? Bila banyak sangat timbul tentang Altantuya, kami ingin cari kebenaran. Semua ini menjurus kepada kekeliruan dan keraguan. Kredibiliti pemimpin masa itu dipersoalkan.

Seterusnya kuasa raja-raja pun dikurangkan. Masa tu, sebagai rakyat memanglah seronok sebab kita rasakan kuasa dikembalikan kepada rakyat tetapi lama kelamaan baru menyedari bahawa kuasa itu sebenarnya adalah untuk PM dan pemimpin-pemimpin UMNO.

Apa yang berlaku? Sungguh pun bukan semua dalam Internet betul, tetapi penulisan daripada Raja Petra (sebagai contoh) boleh diterima. Banyak bukti dan kenyataan beliau ada asas. Kami generasi pasca 1957 yang bukannya ahli totok UMNO akan terus mencari kebenaran dan biasanya boleh diperolehi daripada Internet. Kami tahu apa yang karut, dan apa yang betul. Dalam Internet tak ada penapisan jadi sebagai manusia yang diberikan fikiran kami buat penilaian dan tahu mana baik dan buruknya.

Kemuncak rasa tidak puas hati apabila Anwar Ibrahim diperlakukan dengan cara zalim. Sungguh pun aku tak pernah kenal Anwar dengan rapat dan dia pun tak peduli sapa aku, tetapi sebagai manusia berhati perut aku rasa perlakuan Mahathir kepada bekas Timbalan Perdana Menteri melampaui batasan kemanusiaan. Masa itu bukan soal kredibiliti tetapi kebencian yang amat sangat kepada Tun Mahathir. Dia mungkin hebat satu masa dulu, tetapi segalanya musnah kerana melampau dalam tindakannya.

Apabila Che Det bercakap tentang sejarah dan bebas daripada penjajahan, aku tidak terima hujah tu. Generasi aku inginkan kebebasan sebagai rakyat, untuk bersuara dan memilih pemimpin kami. Selagi pemimpin itu memahami aspirasi rakyat, bertindak adil dan segala institusi kerajaan tidak dipergunakan, kami boleh terima mereka. Pada kami, Malaysia telah bebas daripada penjajahan dan kami mahu terus bebas. daripada pemimpin yang korup.

What AI says about RPK.

2009-05-29T14:28:00.000-07:00

Freedom of expression: Authorities suspended or threatened to cancel publishing permits under the PPPA, and arrested bloggers under the Sedition Act.

In May, blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin was charged under the Sedition Act for an article in which he allegedly implied the involvement of the Deputy Prime Minister in the murder of a Mongolian woman. In September, he was arbitrarily arrested and detained under the ISA. Six days before his arrest, the Home Minister was quoted as saying that he could be arrested under the ISA for insulting Muslims and degrading Islam in articles that appeared on his website. The Home Minister issued a two-year detention order, which is renewable indefinitely. In November, after much public discussion, the High Court ruled that he be released.[more]

Shafee Abdullah: caught with his pants down

2009-05-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

On 6 August 2008, I wrote an article called ‘Shafee Abdullah: sodomologist extraordinaire’. Shafee has since sued me for this article and in his summons-in-chamber he says that my allegation does not contain any particulars. Well, today, I will certainly give him those particulars that he seeks.

Friday, 29 May 2009 | THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin

It was a few days before that article that I received the phone call from Tamrin Ghafar. Tamrin said someone wants to meet me and it was very urgent and extremely important that I meet this person. It was agreed that we meet for tea at the Havana Club in the One World Hotel in Damansara Utama.

My wife and I arrived there early but did not have to wait too long. Within minutes Tamrin walked in with Datuk Kamal Amir and Datuk Kadar Shah. It was actually Datuk Kadar who wanted to see me although Tamrin did not mention that earlier when he phoned me -- and I knew better than to ask over the phone considering the police were monitoring my phone calls.

Datuk Kadar related how he had gone to lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s office a few days earlier to discuss Jamaluddin Jarjis’s bottom pinching case in the Havana Club at KL Sentral. I think Datuk Kadar was involved because he had an interest in the establishment. Anyway, I was told Shafee wanted JJ to pay RM1 million as ‘settlement’ or else his scandal was going to explode.

And this was when Datuk Kadar saw that whiteboard with Anwar Ibrahim’s and my name on it and the police officers who were in the office discussing the Anwar Ibrahim Sodomy II case. And a few days later the whole sodomy thing exploded with Saiful’s ‘revelation’ that he had been sodomised, the PUSRAWI doctor’s examination that showed Saiful was still a virgin, and Najib’s denial and later his admission that he had met Saiful prior to the sodomy allegation.

The rest I had already written about in August 2008, which you can read below in case you have not read it yet. I have since been sued and the case is still pending. And Datuk Kadar said he will come forward to testify if need be that he did see what he told me he saw in Shafee’s office that day, and which I wrote about on 6 August 2008. Shafee, of course, denies this and that is why he sued me.

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Very troubling reports have been published, which reveal the existence of a medical report of an examination done by a doctor on Mohd Saiful Bukhari bin Azlan a few hours before Saiful lodged a police report that he had been sodomised. The medical report apparently shows that there is no evidence that he had been sodomised by anyone.

Such reports raise some very serious questions that require immediate answers:

(1) Are the police in possession of such a medical report?

(2) Was the doctor concerned interviewed by the police and was he detained for any length of time?

(3) Is the doctor concerned facing any form of intimidation and, if so, by whom?

(4) Is there a medical report by another doctor that either confirms or contradicts the first medical report?

(5) If it is true that the medical report exists showing a lack of prima facie evidence, what then could have been the justification for the vigorous actions taken against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as well as the public call by the authorities for his DNA sample?

The answers to these questions are of paramount importance, as they bring into focus the integrity of our law enforcement system.

These latest disclosures regarding the investigations into the sodomy allegations are not the only ones to raise questions that need answering. There is, for example, also the issue of P. Balasubramaniam's abrupt "disappearance" that has yet to be satisfactorily explained. No one can deny that the circumstances of his first and second statutory declarations are highly unusual. All these show a pattern of events that cause much disquiet to right-thinking members of the public.

The Malaysian people are deeply troubled. A country that truly believes in the rule of law should not be faced with so many disturbing developments and unanswered questions.

The credibility of the Malaysian justice system as a whole is therefore at stake. The integrity of professionals, be they doctors or lawyers, must never be interfered with. The public must be left in no doubt that the criminal justice system in this country will not be misused or abused. There must be nothing less than an open and thorough investigation into these cases. This calls for the courage and professionalism of all those involved to do the right thing no matter the consequences. And those who have shown such courage and integrity must know that they live in a country where it is safe to do so.

Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan
President
Malaysian Bar

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What Ambiga said in her press statement above is certainly true and she has cause for concern. But she would be even more concerned if she knows what we know about this whole matter.

A special police operations centre was set up some time ago to coordinate all activities related to the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy crisis. No, the special police operations centre was not set up AFTER the alleged sodomy act took place on 26 June 2008. It was set up way before 26 June 2008.

Why the need to set up a special police operations centre BEFORE the date of the alleged sodomy act? Are they clairvoyant and did they peep into their crystal ball and ‘see’ the crime happen before it actually happened? Was the special police operations centre set up so that they could solve the crime? Or was the special police operations centre set up BEFORE the date of the ‘crime’ so that they could invent the so-called crime?

Yes, questions and yet more questions. But this is not yet the icing on the cake. The icing on the cake is that this special police operations centre is not located in the police headquarters. It is located in the meeting room of the office of prominent Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah who possesses a notorious reputation for fixing cases such as those involving the people implicated in murdering Altantuya Shaariibuu or those alleged to have pinched the bottoms of cigar girls in the Havana Club in Kuala Lumpur.

Name me any questionable case and you will find the hand of Shafee Abdullah behind that case. And this same person is coordinating the Anwar Ibrahim sodomy allegation from the meeting room of his law office in Kenny Hills.

There are four police officers headed by an officer name Aziz who are based in this special police operations centre in the meeting room of Shafee Abdullah’s law firm. But why are they based in an Umno lawyer’s office instead of in the police headquarters? Is this an official police operation or is this a rogue operation? Yes, we have watched many Hollywood movies about the CIA’s Dirty Tricks Department. Have Shafee Abdullah and the Royal Malaysian Police also seen the same movie? It appears so because the special police operations centre in Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s law firm looks like a plot out of these movies.

In this special police operations centre in Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s law firm is a whiteboard and on this whiteboard are two names: Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin. Below these two names are all sorts of notes, scribblings and etchings. There are also charts and strategies on how both Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin can be implicated in various crimes and incarcerated until their teeth fall out of their gums.

Yes, the police report to Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah. And Shafee Abdullah coordinates this special police operation with the IGP and AG. And the purpose of this special police operations centre in the meeting room of Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s law firm is to explore how to incarcerate Anwar Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin. And the special police operations centre has to be in Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s office and not in the police headquarters because, officially, the IGP and AG are not involved in the Anwar sodomy case, as announced by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Shafee Abdullah is no ordinary man. In fact, he is not even a man; he is a devil. But he is Malaysia’s first and foremost sodomologist, a specialist in crimes of sodomy. And that is why the Pusrawi doctor’s report was rejected. He is just a normal doctor, a GP, argued the government. The prognosis of a normal doctor can’t be accepted as evidence in a sodomy case, never mind if he has been practicing medicine for two decades or more. They need the prognosis of a sodomy specialist, a sodomologist, and Shafee Abdullah is Malaysia’s first and foremost sodomologist.

That is why Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) II Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof did not meet Saiful in the police station or at the police headquarters. The special police operations centre is not in the police station or at the police headquarters. It is in the meeting room of Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s law firm. So it would be dangerous to meet Saiful in this law firm lest someone finds out. That is why Rodwan met Saiful in room 619 of the Concorde Hotel.

Okay, so Rodwan met Saiful one day before the alleged crime took place. But then maybe Rodwan is clairvoyant or he has a crystal ball and he ‘saw’ that a crime of sodomy was going to take place the following day. Some people do have this gift of ‘foresight’. Nevertheless, whether the timeline appears a bit out of sync or not, they still have the ‘evidence’ to work on to ‘prove’ that Anwar did sodomise Saiful the day AFTER Saiful met Rodwan in room 619 of the Concorde Hotel.

One such crucial evidence was supposed to be the doctor from Pusrawi’s medical examination of Saiful at 2.00pm on Saturday, 28 June 2008. But then the doctor said that he had examined Saiful and found no evidence of sodomy. This report has since surfaced and the doctor has gone missing so, now, there is no way they can use this evidence.

The next evidence was supposed to be the second medical examination done at the Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) at 4.00pm on Saturday, 28 June 2008. But then the outpatient department of the HKL was closed at 4.00pm on Saturday, 28 June 2008. So how could a second medical examination have been done? Yes, that’s right. No second medical examination was done and the doctors at the HKL refuse to doctor a medical report to say that the second medical examination had been done, when none had been done, or to say that they did find evidence of sodomy, when they did not.

Since none of the doctors at Pusrawi or HKL are cooperating with the police, the last piece of ‘evidence’ will have to be Saiful’s underwear. Okay, Saiful’s underwear does not really have Anwar’s semen stains on it. But this is a small matter. As long as someone from the Chemistry Department is prepared to testify that they did examine Saiful’s underwear and they did find Anwar’s semen stains on it, then that would be good enough. They will be able to build their case against Anwar and charge him for sodomy based on this ‘evidence’ from the Chemistry Department.

No, the Chemistry Department has NOT come out with their report yet. There is no report from the Chemistry Department that says they found Anwar’s semen stains on Saiful’s underwear. This is because they first of all need Anwar’s specimen so that they can plant it on the underwear and so that the Chemistry Department can then ‘discover’ it.

But Anwar is being bloody silly. He is being extremely pigheaded and stubborn. He refuses to hand over his specimen. How can they plant Anwar’s semen on Saiful’s underwear when Anwar refuses to let them take his specimen? The Chemistry Department can’t prepare its report saying that it found Anwar’s semen on Saiful’s underwear until the police are able to plant it there. But Anwar does not want to voluntarily hand over his specimen so this plan is being upset a bit.

But never mind. As soon as Parliament convenes later this month they will rush through a new law that will make it mandatory for you to hand over your specimen if the police demands that you do so. Refusing to hand over your specimen when the police demand that you do so will soon become a crime and you can be sent to jail. They will try to pass this law before Merdeka Day of 31 August 2008 and they will try to backdate the law and make it retrospective so that any ‘crime’ committed before the passing of this law will also be covered.

Soon they will get Anwar once the DNA Act becomes law and Anwar can no longer refuse to hand over his specimen. Then, once they have obtained Anwar’s specimen, the Chemistry Department will be able to ‘discover’ it on Saiful’s underwear. Then they will be able to arrest and charge Anwar. And, who knows, they might even be able to convict him as well.

Yes, this Shafee Abdullah the sodomologist is good. He has names, charts, notes, scribbling and etchings all over his whiteboard in the meeting room of his law firm. This meeting room has been the special police operations centre for quite a while now. It was set up long before the alleged sodomy crime took place on 26 June 2008. It was set up not to solve the sodomy crime. It was set up to create the crime.

But, thus far, they lack one very crucial piece of evidence. They lack Anwar’s specimen that they need to plant on Saiful’s underwear. But they will get it as soon as the new DNA Act becomes law and they can use this law to force Anwar to hand over his specimen. Then Anwar is finished and they can close down the special police operations centre in the meeting room of Umno lawyer Shafee Abdullah’s law firm and once again use this meeting room for fixing legal cases.

*************************************************

Lawyer: Abdul Razak Baginda 'is completely unimplicated'

Abdul Razak Baginda, a prominent political analyst, knew the murdered Mongolian model. His lawyer, Shafee Abdullah, said he wouldn't "go so far to say" that Abdul Razak had a relationship with Altantuya Shaariibuu, but would say that "he knows the lady."

He said he met his client Wednesday morning and heard his side of the story. "I am extremely relieved from my conversation ... I am totally convinced of his innocence .. he is completely unimplicated." [Associated Press via International Herald Tribune]

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Anwar verdict puts Malaysia's justice system on trial
Report by Tim Lester
ABC Online; 14 April 1999

MAXINE MCKEW: Well, to our own region now and the most publicised trial in Malaysia's history ended today, with Anwar Ibrahim — the man once groomed to lead the nation — jailed for six years, after a judge found him guilty on four counts of corruption.

Asian leaders have joined human rights groups in denouncing the severity of the sentence. In Malaysia, there have been clashes between police and protesters in the wake of the judgment, suggesting widespread scepticism with the verdict. So, did the system succeed in catching a wayward politician, or did it dance to the tune of an opportunistic leader who wants a political enemy behind bars?

TIM LESTER: Conviction day for Anwar Ibrahim.

As his supporters took to the streets around Kuala Lumpur's High Court, few doubted the outcome of the marathon corruption trial. For seven months now, they've watched Anwar battle to keep alive his shot at the country's top job.

They've heard him say repeatedly the system was being used against him. Many Malaysians, perhaps most, believe it. They believe Anwar Ibrahim's conviction was orchestrated to suit the PM and several of his close colleagues.

BRUCE GALE: There is a feeling among a large number of Malaysians that the trial wasn't fair.

TIM LESTER: Singapore analyst Bruce Gale sees this perception — whether right or wrong — as a problem for the Mahathir Government.

BRUCE GALE: If you have large sections of the population believing that somehow the judiciary is not fair or impartial, then this is a very serious situation. It's an undermining of a major national institution.

GURBACHAN SINGH: We could have easily shown by irrefutable evidence the involvement of several top politicians to bring Anwar Ibrahim down politically.

TIM LESTER: Among Anwar's nine defence lawyers, there is deep frustration that many witnesses, documents, even tapes they had ready didn't make it to evidence, because the judge wouldn't allow them.

GURBACHAN SINGH: There was evidence of the involvement of the PM, as well, that he knew this process of political conspiracy was going on — he did nothing to stop it.

MAHATHIR MOHAMAD: I wish he hadn't done this and he should have succeeded me and everything would be fine.

TIM LESTER: Political conspiracy — it was Anwar's claim the moment Dr Mahathir dumped him as Deputy PM and his lawyers say it was vital to their defence of the four corruption charges. But Judge Augustine Paul ruled as irrelevant the suggestion that government ministers and officials cooked up the sex claims to ruin Anwar.

GURBACHAN SINGH: Most of the rulings where the judge could exercise discretion, went against us.

MUHAMMAD SHAFEE ABDULLAH: When the trial first started, I think at least for the first two months or three, there were often times, I thought, where the judge was giving a lot of leeway to the defence.

TIM LESTER: Former prosecutor Shafee Abdullah praises Judge Paul for refusing to hear Anwar's conspiracy argument in relation to the four corruption charges.

MUHAMMAD SHAFEE ABDULLAH: Whether or not he committed those sexual offences have got nothing to do with the present charges.

TIM LESTER: So was Anwar's trial fair?

Yes, says Shafee Abdullah. But even he admits Malaysians don't see it that way.

MUHAMMAD SHAFEE ABDULLAH: There are a lot of individuals out there who feel that the whole trial has gone completely bonkers. Many individuals think that Anwar did not receive a fair trial.

TIM LESTER: The damage from the trial goes beyond perceptions about Government influence over the judiciary to the police force.

MUHAMED AZMIN ALI: They hit me physically and they stripped me naked and asked me to dance in the room, with my hand handcuffed.

TIM LESTER: Anwar Ibrahim's private secretary of 11 years was among hundreds arrested at the height of anti-government protests last year. He's now making a disturbingly common claim in Kuala Lumpur — that police used brutality and humiliation in the hope of recruiting him as a witness against Anwar.

MUHAMED AZMIN ALI: Oh, yeah, they asked me to admit that I was sodomised by Anwar.

TIM LESTER: Three of five people cited in sex charges pending against Anwar have now withdrawn their claims and turned on police.

GURBACHAN SINGH: And they were picked up and forced — tortured by the police — to make allegations against Anwar, to admit to sodomy, which they repeatedly said never happened. And they've gone on affidavits, they've gone on statutory declarations to that effect.

TIM LESTER: Add in Anwar's black eye — Malaysia's highest-ranking officer at the time hit him while he was blindfolded and handcuffed. In the process of convicting Anwar, Malaysia's police have earned themselves an image crisis.

Among other claims that didn't make it to court — the Washington limousine driver who says a Malaysian embassy official asked him to accuse Anwar of sexual misconduct while visiting the US.

JAMAL AMRO: Then he asked me — he said "Relax". Then he told me, "Anwar — did you ever bring girls for him, or boys or anything like that?"

I said, "No".

He said "C'mon, if you say 'Yes', we can make some money".

TIM LESTER: Jamal says he was told he could make more than $250,000 by going along with the sex claims against the then Deputy PM. Public anger over Anwar's treatment has helped his wife, Wan Azizah, win backing for a new political party and an opposition alliance to fight Dr Mahathir at the next election.

MUHAMED AZMIN ALI: The hatred against the present leadership is swelling because they can not believe the manner they handled this issue against Anwar.

TIM LESTER: This trial and the events around it have thrown up challenges the Mahathir Government didn't anticipate. Now, there's the possibility of a united opposition at the next national election due within 12 months.

A powerful threat for Dr Mahathir, but it's still not likely. The groups Anwar's supporters need to bring together would make unusual partners.

BRUCE GALE: It seems extremely difficult for me to believe that post-election, that this alliance could hold. The policies of these parties are so diametrically opposed to one another. Islamic fundamentalists want an Islamic State. To the Chinese, this is an anathema — something they would never accept.

TIM LESTER: Many Malaysians don't like the way their government and judicial system dealt with Anwar Ibrahim. Today's verdict will only fuel their suspicions.

But Dr Mahathir is still in the middle ground of Malaysian politics. His enemies have a giant task — trying to bring together opposition parties into an alliance needed to capitalise on anti-government sentiment.

A prelude to Anwar Ibrahim’s ‘Sodomy II’ trial

2009-05-28T23:27:00.000-07:00

Now, the day after Saiful met Najib, he met Rodwan in room 619 of the Kuala Lumpur Concorde. Najib did not know this of course. Prior to that meeting, Rodwan and Saiful spoke over the phone at least eight times.

Thursday, 28 May 2009 | THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin

On 11 August 2008, in an article called ‘The real dalang behind the Anwar sodomy allegation’, Malaysia Today wrote: Shafee was supposed to have led the prosecution against Anwar. A provision in the law called FIAT allows the Attorney-General to appoint an outsider to conduct the prosecution. If Shafee does well then he would most likely be appointed the next Attorney-General.

Since the publishing of article almost a year ago, Shafee has sued me and in his summons in chambers he applied to strike off my defence on grounds that my allegation did not have any particulars. Well, if it’s particulars he wants then it is particulars he shall get.

In the meantime, read what Malaysia Today wrote on 11 August 2008:
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Sodomy II: Who stands to gain the most?

In the court of the rakyat, Anwar Ibrahim is not guilty of Sodomy II, and neither was he guilty of Sodomy I. He was initially found guilty of Sodomy I (that ‘judgment’ later reversed) in the most convoluted and illogical judicial process facilitated and engineered by top policemen, prosecutors and judges who were anything but the respected and responsible public servants for law and order and justice in a democratic country.

Today, we are on the verge of witnessing a repeat of that most shameful process in Malaysia's history. The question is why would anyone want to do this? Surely, Saiful (aged 13 during Sodomy I) knows the gravity, implications and consequences of his allegations against Anwar.

Assuming that Saiful has actually been sodomised, what does he gain by lodging a report? He says that he been sodomised eight times by Anwar, in which case he should have lodged a police report immediately after the first incident if he were the innocent law-abiding citizen that he (or rather various powerful interested parties are trying to portray on his behalf) is trying to portray.

On the basis of his own report and confession, Saiful now faces the possibility of being jailed for willingly engaging in sodomy (as Anwar's adopted brother was found guilty of and jailed for six months in Sodomy I) if his allegations against Anwar are ‘proven’. Furthermore, Saiful will now be the target of ridicule and harassment about his manhood and sexual preference. No young man will be able to live normally with such shame and accompanying torment and ridicule.

In fact, it is a well-known fact that genuine rape victims in general do not report the crime, and male victims in particular are more inclined not to report sodomy because of the greater shame and implications regarding their manhood. Furthermore, Saiful's allegations against Anwar are so flimsy that unless the Sodomy I process is repeated, Anwar will not be found guilty.

Given these facts, Saiful could be getting a huge reward for alleging that Anwar had sodomised him, a reward which adequately compensates for the stigma and guilt associated with being a partner willing or unwilling in several acts of sodomy The question is who is offering such a handsome reward? Who is so rich and powerful to be able to make an offer which Saiful cannot refuse? Or, more correctly, who stands to gain most from Sodomy II?

The popular arguments on the Net and in the coffee-shops point to Najib. Najib met Saiful on the day after the alleged sodomy. Saiful has access to Najib's aide. The allegation against Anwar has diverted the attention of the public from the revelations made by Private Investigator P Balasubramaniam about Najib in his first statutory declaration. Saiful's allegation has also put Anwar on the defensive and thwarted his plans to challenge the BN government for power by September.

All these suggest that Najib has much to gain from Sodomy II. The reality is that Najib is also a victim of Sodomy II. In the eyes of the public, Najib is not only involved in the Altanuya case but is also masterminding a conspiracy against Anwar. These perceptions will have serious consequences and will most surely weaken Najib's case to be the next PM. The way that Najib has responded to the sodomy allegation against Anwar suggests an individual who is blundering - not a mastermind who has crafted the whole thing, from positioning Saiful in PKR to getting him to accuse Anwar of sodomy. In conclusion, Najib does not stand to gain from Sodomy II.

As for Abdullah Ahamd Badawi, the people punished him on March 8 for his poor performance as PM. His popularity is at an all time low - the high petrol/diesel prices, high food prices, inflation, crime, etc. Sodomy II has added a major political crisis which Abdullah is ill-equipped to handle, even if he is inclined to do so at this time. Either way he will be a loser.

If Anwar is found ‘guilty’ of Sodomy II, the people will hold Abdullah responsible for victimising Anwar, and Abdullah may have to exit well before the declared 2010 deadline. If Anwar were found innocent, that would strengthen Anwar, enabling him to challenge BN and hasten Abdullah's exit. If Sodomy II drags on, there will be serious public unrest and this would also pose a major challenge for Abdullah. Thus, Abdullah is also a victim of Sodomy II.

It looks like that Anwar, Najib and Abdullah are all victims of Sodomy II in one way or another. So who is behind Sodomy II? Who will benefit from Sodomy II? Someone who will lose most if Anwar comes into power. Someone who will go to any extent to prevent Anwar's rise. Someone who no longer accepts Najib as a potential PM. Someone who wants instability in Malaysia. Someone who wants to topple Abdullah.

Someone who cannot accept the rise of the opposition. Someone who does not agree with the new direction that Malaysia is taking in matters such as the judiciary and law and order. Someone whose buddies (cronies) are badly affected by government actions such as termination of mega-projects. Someone who wants to prevent probe and investigation into government misdeeds and mal-practices of the past. Someone who wants to continue the legacy of the past.

Someone who is fully schooled in sodomy matters from Sodomy I. Someone who has strong allies in the government, especially the home ministry, police and AG chambers. Someone who is unscrupulous. Someone who will go any extent to get what he wants. Someone who is extremely rich and powerful. Someone who has finally readied an heir. So, who is behind Sodomy II? A Machiavellian par excellence.

Who is it?

Ken, Malaysiakini
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That was what Ken wrote in Malaysiakini on 22 July 2008. I do not, however, agree with his prognosis. Without a doubt he is exonerating Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi from the crime of trying to frame Anwar Ibrahim and has painted them, plus Anwar, as the three victims in this attempted frame-up. And in that same breath Ken is insinuating that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the real dalang behind the whole thing.

I do not quite agree with this assumption. Yes, Mahathir has no love for Anwar, and vice versa, but the Grand Old Man of Malaysian politics is not behind this latest move to frame Anwar on sodomy charges. And I say this because the behind-the-scenes goings-on prior to the sodomy issue exploding onto the Malaysian scene seem to point to Abdullah’s office, or at least to those within his inner circle.

Firstly, Saiful met Najib before the so-called sodomy took place. No doubt, at first, Najib denied meeting him and then later admitted meeting him but explained that it was for purposes of career guidance and to help the young man obtain a scholarship. Later on, Najib confessed he met Saiful to discuss the sodomy allegation against Anwar. This flip-flopping and inconsistency -- denial and then confessing only when it appeared like he could no longer deny it -- makes Najib appear like he is lying and therefore is trying to cover up an evil deed.

Najib’s responses certainly make him look like a liar and therefore he must have something to hide if he is lying. A lying man is certainly the mark of a guilty man, which makes it look like he is behind the conspiracy, or at least involved in the conspiracy to frame Anwar. But this is what they are trying to make us believe. Why this effort to make it appear like Najib is the culprit if not to deflect all attention from whoever is the real culprit?

Now, the day after Saiful met Najib, he met Rodwan in room 619 of the Kuala Lumpur Concorde. Najib did not know this of course. Prior to that meeting, Rodwan and Saiful spoke over the phone at least eight times. We can only assume that part of this conversation involved asking Saiful to go meet Najib and to make sure that everyone knows about it so that the conspiracy points to Najib. The fact that Saiful brought a friend along only reinforces this assumption, especialy when this friend is aligned to Anwar Ibrahim.

The man who is the real mastermind behind this latest conspiracy to frame Anwar is Shafee Abdullah. Just days before the sodomy allegation exploded, and even before Saiful’s meeting with Rodwan on 25 June 2008, Shafee was in Najib’s house to attend a gathering. And in front of scores of witnesses he asked to be excused early because he ‘had a very big fish to catch’. Shafee conveniently made it known that he is behind the move to catch the ‘big fish’ and he wanted all those in Najib’s house to be aware that Najib was in the know. Actually, Najib did not know what he was talking about and assumed that the ‘big fish’ meant Raja Petra Kamarudin and was with regards to the Statutory Declaration that he had signed just days earlier on 18 June 2008.

Shafee was supposed to have led the prosecution against Anwar. A provision in the law called FIAT allows the Attorney-General to appoint an outsider to conduct the prosecution. If Shafee does well then he would most likely be appointed the next Attorney-General. When word got out that he is heading the special police operations centre, which was located in his office, they had to abandon the whole idea.

Shafee’s hands are behind the whole thing. And this can only happen with Abdullah’s blessing. No, it is not Mahathir who is behind this. And it is not Abdullah, Najib and Anwar who are the three victims. The victims are Mahathir, Najib and Anwar. Abdullah is the hidden hand and Shafee is the henchman who was tasked with the job of implementing the evil deed. Politics is not what it always appears to be in Malaysia. That is how Malay politics is played out.

Rodwan met Saiful three days earlier

2009-05-27T23:48:00.000-07:00

Who is Rodwan, other than the fact that he works for the IGP and is known as the police chief’s bagman and go-between with the organised crime syndicate that controls all the drugs, prostitution, loan-sharking and gambling rackets?

Wednesday, 27 May 2009 | THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin

At 2.30pm on Wednesday, 25 June 2008, Senior Assistant Commissioner (SAC) II Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof met Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in room 619 of the Concorde Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Prior to this secret meeting, Rodwan and Saiful spoke on the phone at least eight (8) times.

Three days later, at 2.00pm on 28 June 2008, Saiful went to see Dr Mohamed Osman Abdul Hamid of the Hospital Pusrawi to ‘complain’ that he had been sodomised by ‘a very important person’ and that he wished to lodge a police report. The doctor, however, found no traces or evidence that he had been sodomised and suggested, for purposes of the police report, that Saiful go to a government hospital.

Who is Rodwan, other than the fact that he works for the IGP and is known as the police chief’s bagman and go-between with the organised crime syndicate that controls all the drugs, prostitution, loan-sharking and gambling rackets? Well, read the following archived reports to get a better understanding of this scumbag and slime-ball named Rodwan. Maybe then you can understand why he met Saiful in a hotel room three days before the sodomy allegation against Anwar Ibrahim exploded.
*************************************************

Berita Harian
Rabu, 30 Disember 1998

Seorang pakar forensik Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) memberitahu Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini bahawa contoh darah Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim tidak boleh digunakan untuk ujian DNA kerana ia diambil dan disediakan bagi ujian HIV, Hepatitis B dan VD (penyakit kelamin).

Dr Zahari Noor berkata, oleh kerana itu beliau menolak permintaan polis sebanyak dua kali supaya contoh darah itu digunakan untuk ujian DNA. Menurutnya, ketika di Ibu Pejabat Polis Bukit Aman pada 28 September lalu bagi mengambil darah Anwar, beliau ditanya oleh Asisten Mohd Rodwan Mohd Yusof sama ada ujian DNA boleh dilakukan terhadap Anwar. Katanya, beliau menasihatkan polis supaya tidak mengambil darah Anwar untuk ujian DNA kerana Anwar hanya memberi persetujuan supaya darahnya digunakan bagi ujian HIV, Hepatitis B dan VD.

"Pada 15 Oktober lalu, Mohd Rodwan dan SAC I (Senior Asisten Komisioner) Musa Hassan datang ke HKL dan bertanya sama ada mereka boleh mengambil contoh darah Anwar untuk analisis DNA," katanya.

Dr Zahari: Kami memberikan empat sebab kepada polis mengapa ujian DNA tidak boleh dilakukan terhadap darah Anwar:

* contoh itu tidak disediakan untuk analisis DNA,

* ia tidak sesuai untuk ujian DNA,

* pendapat kami ialah keputusan ujian DNA itu tidak boleh dipercayai.

* ia boleh membawa keputusan yang mengelirukan kerana kami menyimpan contoh darah itu di dalam bekas biasa tanpa pengawet atau EDTA.

Katanya, mereka kemudian mencadangkan kepada polis bahawa mereka bersedia pada bila-bila masa untuk mengambil contoh darah Anwar di penjara Sungai Buloh untuk ujian DNA jika tertuduh membenarkannya.

************************************************

"In 1998-1999 trials, Anwar experienced the phenomenon of fabrication of DNA evidence. We had SAC Rodwan illegally removing DNA samples from forensic custody. In cross-examination of the prosecution's witnesses it was exposed that DNA taken from blood samples was planted on the infamous mattress," said Sivarasa.

"When confronted with this fact the prosecution amended its charge and persuaded the judge, Augustine Paul, to expunge the entire DNA evidence from the record, preventing Anwar's lawyers from responding."

*************************************************

Police have never dilly-dallied in investigating the alleged sodomy against Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim since the case was reported to police on June 28, said Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar. He said the police, instead, had been relentlessly seeking relevant and the latest information, besides giving the case priority, as it was a high-profile case.

"We want to solve this case as soon as possible. The investigating officer is constantly looking for new leads. We are doing our best and we need the cooperation of all quarters concerned," he told Bernama when contacted here Tuesday.

Ismail was asked to comment on Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar's statement on Monday, asking for police to speed up the investigations into the sodomy allegation against the Parti Keadilan Rakyat advisor.

He said since the police investigations began, some quarters had been making speculations and statements that could interfere with the investigations.

"I wish to warn everyone, including bloggers, not to disturb police investigations by disseminating material or information that is inaccurate or false.

"Action will be taken against those who deliberately try to interfere with the investigations. Let the police do a meticulous job," he added.

*************************************************

Sources told The Malaysian Insider that investigators are "crossing the t's and dotting the i's" and will be relying on Anwar's DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) samples from 1998 when he faced similar charges which cost him the chance to be prime minister.

"Nobody wants a repeat of 1998 when the prosecution had to amend the charges. Anwar has alleged that he had an alibi for the 24 hours on the day the offence took place. So the authorities have to check everything out," said an official who is familiar with the investigations.

"We understand that there is an attempt to quash credibility of the case even before the matter goes to court. The police cannot say too much because then they will be accused of trial by media and ministers cannot say much because they will be accused to interference.

"This case is built on strong scientific evidence," the official added.

*************************************************

This was posted on Susan Loone’s blog:

Susan,

I would like to write the following statement in the name of GOD whom I believe.

I am a government doctor in the rank of consultant working in Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL). I know personally the doctors who examined Saiful on that day - 28 June 2008.

The so-called medical report mentioned in the NST is a fabrication or imagination by the UMNO paper. There is no such medical report submitted to the polis yet.

When examining Saiful, the specialist could not find any signs of Saiful being sodomised. Saiful was very cheerful, unlike real sodomised patients who will usually be very sad and disturbed.

Saiful was subsequently admitted to the ward and observed for a day. He was completely well in the ward and not emotionally disturbed.

Please let RPK know of this.

Thanks.

This article was first published in Malaysia Today on 30 July 2008

Police to ask Interpol to look out for Raja Petra

2009-05-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

By LOURDES CHARLES and M. MAGESWARI | staronline

KUALA LUMPUR: Police will ask Interpol to look out for Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin who has a warrant of arrest against him for failing to turn up at court for trial.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan said Tuesday he would liaise with his counterparts especially his Australian counterpart as Raja Petra is believed to be there.

“We will inform our friends through proper channel as there is a warrant out for him,” he said.

On Tuesday morning, Raja Petra was slapped with another warrant of arrest after he failed to turn up for his criminal defamation trial at a Sessions Court here.

Sessions Court judge Mohamad Sekeri Mamat issued the arrest warrant after DPP Anselm Charles Fernandis applied for the order.

The judge also issued a show-cause notice to the former Internal Security Act detainee’s wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, as his bailor, for not being at court to explain his absence.

An arrest warrant was also issued by the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court on April 23 against Raja Petra after he failed to turn up for his sedition trial. He had claimed trial on May 6 last year to publishing a seditious article on April 25 via his news portal.

When asked about the presence of prosecution witnesses in court Tuesday, DPP Anselm told reporters that 12 policemen and two civilians had been subpoenaed for the trial.

Raja Petra, 59, had on July 17 last year claimed trial to three counts of criminal defamation over his statutory declaration on the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The father of three boys and two girls is alleged to have defamed the then Deputy Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, by making a libellous statement in the declaration which he affirmed on June 18 when he knew that it would tarnish her good name.

The grandfather of four also faces two similar charges against Leftenan Kolonel Norhayati Hassan and her husband Leftenan Kolonel Abdul Aziz Buyong.

Raja Petra is said to have committed the offences at High Court (Civil 5) at the Jalan Duta court complex at 10:25am on June 18, last year.

At the outset of court proceedings, DPP Anselm applied for the arrest warrant against the editor and the notice for his wife saying that both were aware that the criminal defamation trial was set for three days from Tuesday.

Raja Petra’s lawyer, Amarjit Singh Sidhu, told the judge that the defence team was waiting to get a trial date at the Court of Appeal for their appeal on the transfer order involving the same case.

“We have now received the appeal records. It is on the transfer of this case from the Magistrates Court to the Sessions Court,” he added.

Upon hearing this, DPP Anselm told the judge that it was a separate matter.

The judge agreed that it was a different issue and immediately issued the order.

He set July 2 for mention of the arrest warrant and show-cause notice.

Raja Petra had failed in his bid on Feb 13 to get his case transferred back to the magistrate’s court for trial.

He had on Nov 25 applied to the High Court to have his case heard by the Magistrates Court.

However, High Court Judicial Commissioner Zainal Azman Ab Aziz ruled that the decision by magistrate Nazran Mohd Sham on Aug 15 last year to transfer the case to the Sessions Court upon application by the Public Prosecutor under Section 177 of the Criminal Procedure Code was valid and in order.

Raja Petra claims to be in a self-exile from Selangor because of a dispute with the state’s Palace.

He claimed in a Malaysia Today article that he would not be attending the hearings not only because of his brush with the Palace but also due to his fear of another Internal Security Act arrest.

He also said that he did not want to face possible treason charges.

According to the press report, the police believes that the editor is now in Brisbane.

Cops: RPK now staying in Brisbane

2009-05-23T23:36:00.000-07:00

Star Online |Sunday May 24, 2009 | By ANDREW SAGAYAM and ROYCE CHEAH

PETALING JAYA: Police have confirmed that online news portal Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin is in Brisbane.

A police source said the former Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee had contacts in Australia who had arranged accommodation for him and his wife Marina Lee Abdullah.

Raja Petra was not present on Friday to face his sedition trial at the Sessions Court here. The court had issued a warrant of arrest against him after he first failed to turn up in court on April 23 for the trial.

On his news portal that same day, Raja Petra had posted his reasons for his non-attendance, saying he was in self-exile from Selangor because of a dispute with the state’s royalty.

The arrest warrant and a show-cause notice for Marina — who is his bailor — summoning her to explain her husband’s absence at court had not been executed.

The court set July 17 for mention of the case, saying that the next course of action would be decided by judge Rozina Ayob.

Raja Petra has, however, been actively blogging on the news portal with a recent post issuing an apology to the nation for the actions of his son, Raja Azman, who recently pleaded guilty to four separate counts of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

He said he and his wife knew that their son was picked up by the police after running into some trouble.

I rest my case

2009-05-23T22:58:00.000-07:00

From time to time we hear stories about the Malaysian judiciary that make the prostitutes operating in Jalan Alor look like Mother Teresa by comparison. (I mean I heard lah people say that they operate in Jalan Alor).

Saturday, 23 May 2009 | NO HOLDS BARRED | Raja Petra Kamarudin

However, I'm rather interested in asking him to reply me. If the trial is held in KL, would he appear, since it's not part of Selangor?

But of course not, there's the ISA threat there.

So you know what I'm going to do for you, RPK?

I'll write to the Home Minister to address that fear. Perhaps a guarantee from him and the IGP should be well enough for you to show up?

And since we want to see justice served, perhaps the Bar Council should step up as well, be proactive for once.

Also, why not ask the prosecutor to transfer the case to KL anyways, since you're apparently "self exiled" from the state of Selangor.

With these conditions met, how now, RPK?

Posted by: Hafidz Baharom http://blog.thestar.com.my/permalink.asp?id=23679

*************************************************

Last year, in a press conference in the lobby of the courts in Jalan Duta, Kuala Lumpur, lawyer Muhammad Shafee Bin Abdullah (in English that translates to ‘Praiseworthy Broker the Son of the Servant of Allah’ -- but don’t for one minute you believe that utter bullshit) told about 20 or 30 journalists that he wants to meet me in court. To make sure I agree to go to court, he said he would allow me to choose the judge I would like. And if I do not have money to pay the legal fees he would be very happy to help cover the cost on my behalf.

Shafee Abdullah (left) and his client Razak Baginda

Anyone who did not know Shafee better would probably think he was just bragging even though he does have a name Praiseworthy Broker. Note that, according to his name, he is not the servant of Allah but the son of the servant of Allah. He, personally, is the Praiseworthy Broker and any praiseworthy broker worth his brokerage fees must certainly be able to indulge in the widely rumoured and long-standing problem of judge fixing in the Malaysian courts.

VK Linggam and Chief Justice Eusoff Chin on an overseas holiday together

If I remember right, the Linggamtape scandal was also about judge fixing. However, they first had to fix who gets elevated and promoted before they can get these judges to fix cases. It is said by those who walk in the corridors of the palace of injustice, if you want to fix a civil case then go to Linggam and if it is a criminal case you go to Shafee. But be prepared to pay through your backside because that would probably be what you will need to sell to afford the exorbitant fees.

Back in 1998 or thereabouts, a ‘poison pen letter’ -- purportedly written by a judge named Syed Aidid -- made its rounds in Malaysia. In this very lengthy letter, the author identified all those judges who were on the take and what their fetishes were. Power, money and sex, but not necessarily in that order, were of course the common denominator for all. Syed Aidid’s letter would have been shorter, maybe half a page or so instead of the 40 pages, if he had listed down all those judges who were clean and pure.

From time to time we hear stories about the Malaysian judiciary that make the prostitutes operating in Jalan Alor look like Mother Teresa by comparison. (I mean I heard lah people say that they operate in Jalan Alor). Sometimes we really just can’t believe that all this could be true and that they must be exaggerating a wee bit -- that is, until you end up in court and discover not only is it true but actually worse than what they say.

Hafidz Baharom who has offered to help fix my judges

And read what Hafidz Baharom said in his Blog posting above. Yes, that’s right, he can help arrange to transfer my many cases to the court of my choice. Hey, who the hell is he? I mean, if it were Slime-ball Number One, Praiseworthy Broker the Son of the Servant of Allah, I would quite understand. After all they don’t call him Slime-ball Number One for nothing and his father did name him Praiseworthy Broker. But for a so unimportant and extremely insignificant fellow like Hafidz, who is way low down the food chain, to be able to offer to fix the judges on my behalf, it appears like this problem is even worse than we initially thought.

I rest my case. And if you still have doubts about the sorry state of the Malaysian judiciary then maybe I can interest you in some swampland that you should invest all your life savings in without further delay.

The Malaysia-Singapore ‘cold war’

2009-05-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Surely Dr Mahathir can’t agree to Najib giving in to Singapore’s demands like what is currently happening. Are we going to see Dr Mahathir going berserk like back in 2006 with all these concessions Najib is granting Singapore?

Saturday, 23 May 2009 - THE CORRIDORS OF POWER - Raja Petra Kamarudin

An old acquaintance of mine who was once quite senior in the Fisheries Department related this story, which he said stunned everybody in the room. The occasion was a briefing session and the man who was the target of the briefing was Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the then Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.

This government officer who was conducting the briefing tried to impress Dr Mahathir on what they were doing. He went into great detail talking about their plans and strategies and how things are going to improve once these plans and strategies are in place. And he concluded by assuring Dr Mahathir that it will work because this is exactly what Singapore is doing.

Dr Mahathir gave the briefing officer a long and hard stare and said, “Please never mention Singapore in front of me again. Don’t you know we are at war with Singapore?”

From that day on, word spread like wildfire that you must never, at all costs, mention Singapore in front of Dr Mahathir, unless it is in a negative light that is. To say that Malaysia too is doing such and such because Singapore is doing the same is to invite disaster and a dead-end career in the government.

We both had a good laugh and I never thought about this incident again until 2006, something like 30 years after I was first told the story about the briefing session. And 2006 was when I started my association with Dr Mahathir soon after the dialogue session that Malaysia Today organised at the Kelab Century Paradise in Taman Melawati in Kuala Lumpur.

“Singapore is just a little red dot,” Dr Mahathir would tell all and sundry, sometimes to a crowd of 1,000 or more.

Why is Dr Mahathir so upset with Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi? Because Pak Lah tunduk (kow tow) to Singapore.

Why is Dr Mahathir so upset that his Crooked Bridge has been aborted, and at a price that is more costly than if they went ahead and built it on top of that? Because Singapore does not want it -- so, by aborting it, Malaysia is bowing to Singapore’s demands.

Why is Dr Mahathir so angry with Kalimullah (whom he calls Hindu God and Muslim Priest)? Because Kalimullah is a Singapore agent.

Why is Dr Mahathir so angry with Khairy Jamaluddin? Because Khairy works for Singapore and is being funded by that ‘little red dot’.

Anything and everything even remotely associated with Singapore is a no-no in Dr Mahathir’s books.

“Of course I can’t get along with Singapore,” laments Dr Mahathir. “I can’t go to Singapore and play golf with Singapore’s leaders and pat each other on the back like those in Pak Lah’s government.”

“Who cares if Singapore wants a new straight bridge to replace the Causeway or not. They can keep their half of the Causeway. We will demolish our half and build half a bridge. And if half a bridge is too short then we shall make it longer by building a crooked bridge.”

“Lee Kuan Yew told me that Goh Chok Tong is too sentimental. That’s why he does not want to see the Causeway demolished. So we will have to wait until Chok Tong retires and then, after he retires, we shall demolish the whole Causeway.”

“Malaysia fought hard to gain independence from Britain. We opposed the British and the British plan for a Malayan Union. However, after 50 years of Merdeka, we are still not independent. We still can’t decide what to do in our own country. Singapore tells us what we can do in our own country. So we are not really that independent after all.”

And it goes on and on -- Singapore this and Singapore that. It is all about Singapore. And all of Dr Mahathir’s unhappiness is because Singapore is the cause of everything that is wrong with this country and all his plans are being torpedoed because of Singapore.

There are those in Umno who say that in 2006 I abandoned Anwar Ibrahim and then jumped into Dr Mahathir’s camp. Then I left Dr Mahathir and swung over to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s camp. And after that I left Tengku Razaleigh to return to Anwar. Why I ‘left’ Dr Mahathir is not clear because there was no quarrel or bad blood between Dr Mahathir and me. I sort of just moved on without any reason offered.

That is what the Umno chaps say and they say this openly enough in their Blogs.

True, I did ‘swing over’ to Dr Mahathir back in 2006. But come 2008, I was involved in the general elections and after that the Pematang Pauh by-election followed by the Kuala Terengganu by-election. In between that I was arrested for sedition and then for criminal defamation after which I was detained a couple of months under the Internal Security Act. So that sort of kept me busy for the last year or so, in between going to the police station numerous times and the many court appearances.

Nevertheless, while I may have been too busy to personally go meet Dr Mahathir in his house and office like I used to from 2006 to early 2008, I still kept in touch by phone and by passing messages through a mutual friend. I also met Matthias many times for lunch, tea or dinner to spend hours discussing matters of mutual interest. And most times the messages would be passed to and from Dr Mahathir through these people.

Dr Mahathir understood that our association was only because we both wanted the same thing -- we both wanted to see Pak Lah ousted from office. That was the one thing that united us. However, after Pak Lah leaves, who should be the man to replace him?

Dr Mahathir knew that my choice of successor was Tengku Razaleigh. In fact, I had personally gone to meet Dr Mahathir in his house during Hari Raya of 2007 to inform him about this. Furthermore, we had a series of meetings with Tengku Razaleigh together with Mukhriz’s boys to discuss how Tengku Razaleigh could make a bid for the Umno Presidency.

I was not naïve in thinking that Anwar would be the next prime minister. This was before the 8 March 2008 general election and we were not sure yet at that time whether there was even going to be a Pakatan Rakyat (or maybe there would be three- or four-corner fights with PKR, PAS and DAP all contesting the same seat against Barisan Nasional). So the man who becomes prime minister has to be someone from Umno and that would have to be Tengku Razaleigh.

But we were not really sure whether Dr Mahathir would endorse Tengku Razaleigh in spite of Mukhriz’s boys appearing to be backing him. When we asked Dr Mahathir to his face whether he preferred Najib over Tengku Razaleigh, he did not give the impression he preferred Najib.

We never thought Dr Mahathir would want Najib because of the ‘Singapore connection’. He is angry with Pak Lah, Kalimullah and Khairy because they are said to be tools or agents of Singapore. But then would this not also be so for Najib?

Tun Daim Zainuddin has personally told Dr Mahathir that Singapore possesses all the evidence that Najib, Razak Baginda and Altantuya met at the Oriental Hotel in Marina Square one year before she died. This means, with the evidence that Singapore possesses, they would be able to blackmail Najib. Surely Dr Mahathir would not want someone who can be blackmailed into doing Singapore’s bidding become the next prime minister knowing how he feels about Singapore and those perceived as under Singapore’s control?

Najib has just made a trip to Singapore and while in Singapore he announced that Malaysia agrees to build a third bridge linking Malaysia and Singapore. Third bridge? If there is going to be a third bridge then there would certainly be a second bridge. And we are no longer talking about crooked bridges as what Dr Mahathir wants. We are talking about straight bridges as what Singapore wants. And Najib also announced that the New Economic Policy would most likely be abolished as what Singapore would like to see.

Hmmm…this is interesting. Does Dr Mahathir know what Najib is doing? Surely Dr Mahathir can’t agree to Najib giving in to Singapore’s demands like what is currently happening. Are we going to see Dr Mahathir going berserk like back in 2006 with all these concessions Najib is granting Singapore?

Well, Dr Mahathir knows I support him in his move to oust Pak Lah. But I just can’t support him on the move to replace Pak Lah with Najib. My choice of successor was Tengku Razaleigh and I never hid that fact from Dr Mahathir. Probably the whole of Umno knows this as well. Anwar Ibrahim and the PKR people certainly do.

Of course, if Pakatan Rakyat forms the government, and Anwar Ibrahim becomes prime minister instead, that is also okay with me. But back in 2006 no one imagined that Pakatan Rakyat would ever be formed, let alone win five states and deny Barisan Nasional its two-thirds majority in parliament.

So the choice was either Tengku Razaleigh or Najib and I never dreamt that Dr Mahathir would choose Najib considering he is so pantang about Singapore and would never accept as prime minister someone whom Singapore can squeeze by the balls -- especially when this someone can be blackmailed about a very secret and sensitive meeting with a woman in the Oriental Hotel in Marina Square who is later found murdered.

Sigh… Hafidz Baharom does not respect me

2009-05-22T10:40:00.000-07:00

But they refuse to allow it to end there. They refuse to acknowledge that they can’t get me in spite of bending the rules and moving the goalposts so many times halfway through the trial. This is no longer even a kangaroo court. They have set new standards for what a kangaroo court should look like.

NO HOLDS BARRED | Raja Petra Kamarudin

Today, Hafidz Baharom’s piece ‘Why I don't respect RPK’ was published in The Star. Once upon a time, The Star used to be known as ‘Suara Tunku Abdul Rahman’ -- when it was then merely a regional newspaper for Penang folks. Now, of course, it is better known as Suara MCA and has since been transformed into a national newspaper.

Back in the early 1990s, I too used to write for The Star. At that time I was just a freelance columnist writing for the Cycling, and later, Motorcycling columns in The Weekender. The Weekender’s editor then was Sharifah Intan. I think she is the Tunku’s granddaughter but I never did ask her.

Hafidz echoes what many Umno types have repeatedly said: berani kerana benar. What he means is: I have lied. So I should be man enough to face the music and walk into jail with my head held up high. First of all, they assume I have lied. Secondly, since I have lied, then I should suffer a sham trial and accept the verdict of a kangaroo court and go quietly to jail.

Okay, let us focus on that one issue for the meantime. We can always talk about the other issues later.

The issue they raise is: I have lied. Since the court has not ruled either way just yet, let us assume, therefore, that I have. And we will give them the benefit of the doubt and agree that I have lied. I shall not dispute that. And this means I need to go to court so that the court can rule whether I did or did not lie.

I have no problems with that. In fact, in the beginning, that was what my sedition trial was all about. Superintendent Gan made a police report against me alleging that I had lied. And I was arrested and charged for sedition because it is said I had lied. And I faced trial and defended myself against the allegation that I had lied.

Then Gan was called to testify. He was not my witness but the prosecution’s witness. And he went into great detail relating how he arrived at the conclusion that I had lied -- and which was why he made that police report against me.

It was an open and shut case. Raja Petra Bin Raja Kamarudin lied in that article he wrote. So Gan was forced to make a police report against me. He was the investigating officer in the Altantuya murder. He knows the full details of the murder investigation. And he therefore knows very well that what I wrote are total lies.

Then it came to our turn to cross-examin him. He had already testified for the prosecution. Now it was our turn to cross-examin him on his testimony he gave the prosecution.

And that was when he changed his story.

No, he did not investigate the Altantuya murder after all. Another person did. So he is not that knowledgeable about the details of the murder investigation. He just knows small patches of the investigation.

Okay, but he said I had lied. Which parts of that article were the lies? My lawyer went through the article and identified four (4) paragraphs where, according to Gan’s police report, I was supposed to have lied. Okay, now let us look at the charge. The charge says seven (7) paragraphs contain lies. But only three (3) of the seven (7) tally with the three (3) of the four (4) that Gan had identified. This means there is one paragraph that does not tally. So, Gan has four, the charge says seven, and there is one where Gan and the prosecutor can’t agree whether is a lie or not.

The next step is to try to establish the truth. Only by establishing the truth can the lies be established. Since I was alleged to have lied, let us then seek the truth and only when we know the truth can it be proven whether I had lied or not.

But when Gan was asked about the truth he refused to reply to YB Gobind’s questions. He would just not reveal what was the truth. Each time he was asked a question he replied he does not know or does not know how to answer or does not know what to say.

How then does he know I had lied when he does not know what is the truth? Well, he came to the conclusion that I had lied because he had never stumbled across what I had written before. This means, if I were to write that female mosquitoes bite humans while male mosquitoes feed on fruits and not on blood, since he had never stumbled across this fact before, this means I must be lying. There are no two ways about it.

YB Gobind then goes through the article, paragraph by paragraph. He reads each paragraph and asks Gan where in that paragraph are the lies. Then it is discovered that Gan was not able to tell the court where the lies were. In short, what he initially thought to be lies were in fact not.

How did Gan then come to the conclusion they were lies when he made that police report, but when testifying on the stand he can’t stand by his allegation that I had lied? And remember, his police report said I had lied and that I had committed sedition because I had lied.

At this point, when it became clear that the prosecution’s case against me on the basis that I had committed a crime of sedition because I had lied appeared to be falling apart, the prosecutor stood up and told the court that the truth of the matter, or otherwise, is not important. Sedition has nothing to do with true or false. It would be seditious and therefore a crime even if I had told the truth.

But Gan’s police report and testimony were very clear. It was based on the fact that I was supposed to have lied. Now that the lie allegation can no longer stand, they want the court to forget about the lying part and focus on whether I did write what I was alleged to have written even if it is true. And even if it is true they still want the court to send me to jail.

To add insult to injury, the prosecution wants the court to ignore the four or seven paragraphs and whether one paragraph does not tally between the police report and the charge. The article, the court was told, has to be looked at in its entirety, not based on four paragraphs or seven paragraphs.

But the police report clearly marked four paragraphs. And it was these four paragraphs that constituted my so-called crime. The charge, on the other hand, marked seven paragraphs. And this was why I was on trial. Now they want the court to agree that all these paragraphs are no longer relevant and instead the article must be seen as a whole, minus the marked paragraphs.

Okay, the court was told, forget about whether I had lied or in fact had told the truth. Forget the police report. Forget even the charge. Let us just look at the article. Did I or did I not write that article? That is all that matters. And if I did then I must be sent to jail.

Fine, let us do just that. Let us forget about whether I had lied or in fact had told the truth. Let us forget the police report. Let us even forget the charge. Let us instead just look at the article. Did I or did I not write that article? That will be the focus.

The prosecution then adduced the article. This, according to the prosecution, was the article I was alleged to have written. And this article was downloaded from the website called Malaysia Today.

Then it was discovered that the article was NOT downloaded from Malaysia Today. It was in fact typed out. This means this was not the original evidence. It was created or fabricated and NOT downloaded from Malaysia Today. For all intents and purposes, I did not write that article. They, the prosecution, wrote that article. It is a copy. It is not an original article download from Malaysia Today.

When they realised that it was game over, they asked for a postponement so that they could amend the charge. The new charge, this time around, will have the real article downloaded from Malaysia Today.

Then they read out the new charge. But the new charge also had a fabricated article. It DID NOT have the original article downloaded from Malaysia Today. So, again, they were stuck. And at this point the court should have just acquitted me without the necessity of my defence having to be called because the charge was clearly defective and the evidence had been fabricated.

But they refused to give up. Instead, again, they applied for a postponement so that they can do a SECOND examination of the computer. They already did one examination but could not find any copy of that article. The article just did not exist. That is why they had to fabricate the evidence -- because they could not find the evidence.

And why did they need to do a SECOND examination of my computer? So that they could prove that I had used the computer to update the website. This would be the evidence to prove I had published the article.

At this point they were asked how, in the first place, did they even know that the computer belongs to me? Well, because it was confiscated from my house. Am I living in that house alone? No! When they raided my house there were other people there as well. Then how do they know that I own that computer? They don’t, they just assume.

In fact, they confiscated TWO computers and one of them actually belongs to someone else and the files in it prove this. But when they confiscated the two computers they never asked me whether I owned those computers and I never said that I did. So who owns those two computers? The police do not know.

They then summoned an IT expert to testify. They wanted the IT expert to testify that the computers the police had confiscated were used to update Malaysia Today on the day the article was published. The IT expert, however, testified that the computers never accessed Malaysia Today on the day in question. In fact, many days before the alleged crime was committed, the computers they confiscated never accessed the Internet at all, let alone Malaysia Today.

So there goes their case against me. They confiscated two computers that they can’t prove belong to me. Even if the computers do belong to me, they were never used to publish the offending article. In fact, there is no copy of that article in the two computers so there is no evidence I had even written it in the first place. They can’t prove that I lied. They are no longer interested whether I lied or not because they can’t prove that I lied. So where do they go from there? And why are they still pursuing their case against me when they no longer have a case?

Not willing to admit that they no longer have a case, the prosecution told the court they still have many witnesses to call. Okay, they are supposed to tell the court before the trial starts who they are calling as witnesses. How many NEW witnesses are they calling and who are they? They don’t know yet. They are still figuring it out and will inform the court later once they have decided.

Yes, berani kerana benar, all these people say. If I am benar, then I must be berani to face the court. Hey, I did. I did just that; I faced the court. And I allowed them to build their case against me. I allowed them to get to the truth so that they can establish that I had committed the crime of lying and therefore I am seditious. But they failed to do so, each step of the way. And each time they failed they asked for a postponement so that they could go back to the drawing board and come out with new charges, new witnesses, new testimony, new evidence, new rules of the game, and whatnot. And, still, they failed to nail me.

But they refuse to allow it to end there. They refuse to acknowledge that they can’t get me in spite of bending the rules and moving the goalposts so many times halfway through the trial. This is no longer even a kangaroo court. They have set new standards for what a kangaroo court should look like.

Yes, berani kerana benar. I berani walk away from this sham trial and tell them to go to hell kerana benar. And I berani face the warrant of arrest they have issued for not turning up in court kerana benar. And I berani say to their faces: no more bullshit. And I berani tell them I refuse to allow them to detain me, yet again, under the Internal Security Act. And I berani do all this kerana I benar. And I will not lose any sleep over the matter just because Hafidz Baharom does not respect me and challenges me with berani kerana benar.

Najib’s latest strategy: perception war

2009-05-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

Friday, 22 May 2009 | Raja Petra Kamarudin

if they can’t get a three-zero verdict, then it must at least be a two-one verdict with Zainun ruling in favour of the opposition. Then the government would be seen as doing the ‘right’ and ‘fair’ thing and the opposition would no longer have any grounds to complain.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is an expert at this game. That is why he is called the Grand Old Man of Malaysian politics. Politics is a game of perception. It does not matter what you really are. It is what people perceive you to be that matters. And no one can play this game better than the Tun. Does this sound like I am singing his praises? You can bet your sweet ninny I am. And I make no apologies for that. After all, credit should be given where credit is due.

In the early days of his premiership, Mahathir engaged the services of Saatchi & Saatchi. Those who had to pass Wisma Damansara every day to go to work probably noticed their office at that building on the hill. Their biggest client in Malaysia was Umno and the fees that Umno had to pay meant the firm could afford such affluence and opulence in a prime location in Kuala Lumpur. After all, it was not really Umno that was paying. The money came from the government coffer, which means the taxpayers were footing the bill. (Go here to read more about the company http://www.saatchi.com/worldwide/index.asp).

When it eventually leaked that Umno had engaged the services of Saatchi & Saatchi, and word had it that this was a Jewish-owned company, Umno had to disengage itself from this company and the new assignments were entrusted to Lim Kok Wing, the Malaysian genius of advertising and PR who, amongst others, conjured the Rakan Muda and many other programmes aimed at creating an impression the government was on the ball.

When Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as Prime Minister, he set up his own unit, infamously known as the Tingkat Empat or Fourth Floor team. They are supposed to have been the brains behind Pak Lah’s administration that would help guide him on what to do. But the problem was, the Fourth Floor bit off more than it could chew and it forgot the golden rule of Malaysian politics -- which is one just does not cross swords with the Grand Old Man of Malaysian politics and hopes to get away with it.

Soon, Tingkat Empat became a four-letter word and Pak Lah was forced to downplay its role when members of his own Cabinet began to hit out at them. Pak Lah tried to defend them as best as he could but it was futile. Mahathir had already decided that they should be buried and buried they would be. Eventually, Pak Lah had to distance himself from his own advisers from the Fourth Floor and that meant he had to fly blind without the advantage of guidance from his team of advisors.

Najib realises the value of a good team of public relations wizards. So he too has his own ‘Fourth Floor’. But he is not using a bunch of young wet-behind-the-ears Oxbridge graduates the way Pak Lah did. Najib knows that Mahathir would never accept this, as his suspicion for such young punks has not diminished. Najib, just like Mahathir before that, has outsourced the services of a team of experts. And they have come up with a great plan on how to ensure that Umno not only wins the next general election, but wins back all the states it has lost plus its two-thirds majority in parliament as well.

Najib’s plan is multi-prong. First he has to give the impression that he is bringing reforms to Malaysia. The New Economic Policy will be reviewed. Some liberalisation and relaxation of the rules will be introduced. Even the FIC may be closed down to give more confidence to investors and the Chinese business population that the government is really serious about abolishing the many rules and regulations that favour the Bumiputeras.

There will be a lot of window-dressing and some will be made to appear as more than just window-dressing. But what is going to be the thrust of the strategy will be the battle on the political front.

Pakatan Rakyat is seen to have made great inroads in the recent general election on 8 March 2008. Since then it has displayed impressive wins in four out of five by-elections, outdoing even how they performed on 8 March 2008. Najib cannot afford to allow Pakatan Rakyat to be seen as still on a winning streak. And Anwar Ibrahim, in particular, must be made to appear like he has lost the wind in his sails.

To steal Anwar’s thunder, Najib decided to refrain from contesting the Penanti by-election. It appears like Najib made this decision against the wishes of Mahathir. It would be good if people are thinking that because then it would also appear like Najib is in total control and no one is dictating what he should do, in particular Mahathir.

If they were to contest Penanti they would lose anyway, and lose worse than on 8 March 2008. But now, since Umno is not contesting that by-election, Umno will not have to lose. And if Umno did not lose then Anwar’s party did not win as well. This would be the first step -- deny Anwar the pleasure of victory. Who, after all, is going to be impressed with a walkover or menang tanpa tanding. Call Umno chicken or whatever. The bottom line is it did not lose Penanti and therefore Anwar’s party did not win as well.

The next issue would be Perak. They know Perak is a no-go. Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional are equally matched. Then we have the three so-called independents who vote with Barisan Nasional. But two of the three have corruption charges hanging over their heads. And if they are convicted, then there would be two by-elections, which Pakatan Rakyat will easily win -- and this would mean the opposition would now have a one-seat majority over Barisan Nasional in the Perak state government.

The alternative would be to drop the corruption charges against these two ‘independent’ state assemblymen. But that has already been predicted and would come as no surprise. Umno would be expected to do just that. So how would they explain that it was all done above board and that there is no manipulation?

Say what you like, if the charges are dropped, public perception would still be that they are guilty as hell and the only reason the charges were dropped is because Umno wants to avoid two by-elections, which they are going to lose badly. Anyway, even Mahathir is against Umno taking these two. So they will have to remain as independents without being allowed into Umno until the day they lose their case and get sent to jail.

The only viable option open to Najib is to dissolve the Perak state assembly and hold new state elections. But that must not be on the opposition’s terms. That must be on Umno’s terms. Zambry has to be declared the legitimate Menteri Besar of Perak and then he shall seek permission from the Sultan for the dissolution of the state assembly. They can’t afford for Nizar to be the one who requests the dissolution of the state assembly. That would hurt Najib’s and Umno’s image real bad.

At 3.00pm today, the Appeal Court will be delivering its decision as to who is the legitimate Menteri Besar of Perak. The Chief Justice, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Zaki Azmi, has been told to make sure the verdict is in favour of Umno.

Zaki, in turn, has instructed the President of the Court of Appeal, Tan Sri Dato' Seri Alauddin Dato' Mohd. Sheriff, to tell the three judges -- Justices Abdul Raus Sharif, Datuk Zainun Ali and Ahmad Maarop -- to deliver the ‘right’ verdict. If they can’t get a three-zero verdict, then it must at least be a two-one verdict with Zainun ruling in favour of the opposition. Then the government would be seen as doing the ‘right’ and ‘fair’ thing and the opposition would no longer have any grounds to complain.

After that, Zambry can go meet the Sultan and request the dissolution of the Perak State Assembly. But it will be Umno that does this, not Nizar or the opposition. And Umno does it although it can continue ruling Perak without dissolving the state assembly and calling for fresh state elections. How can you now say that Najib is not fair or is power crazy?

And this will prove that Najib is a rakyat’s Prime Minister and someone who knows how to do the right thing when required. Anwar and Pakatan Rakyat will lose the right to claim that it called for new state elections. The court, in fact, ruled that Barisan Nasional is the legitimate government. Barisan Nasional could have continued running the state until the next general elections. But instead it chose to dissolve the state assembly as the people wanted them to.

Sure, it will be very difficult for Barisan Nasional to win if new state elections are held. But what difference does it make anyway? They are still in a deadlock as it is. This way it would be seen like Barisan Nasional is not illegally holding on to power but is ‘gentleman’ enough to listen to the people even though the court has delivered its verdict that they are the legitimate government of Perak.

That, according to Najib’s team of PR consultants, is how they will take the wind out of Anwar’s sails and steal the thunder from him. As it is, Anwar and Pakatan Rakyat are losing momentum. And the only way to make them lose even more momentum would be to deny them those little battles that they could win easily enough. And if battles are unavoidable, then make sure it is on your terms and not on Anwar’s terms.

Perception is a very powerful tool. Mahathir knew this. Najib knows this as well. And he is fast learning how to become an expert at this game of perception just like his mentor before this was.

Raja Petra does not turn up in court, again

2009-05-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarauddin failed again to appear for his sedition trial at the Sessions Court here on Friday.

DPP Shah Rizal Abdul Manan told judge Aslam Zainuddin that the arrest warrant issued on April 23, when he first did not turn up in court, had yet to be executed on him.

He also said a notice for the editor’s wife Marina Lee Abdullah to summon her to explain Raja Petra’s absence at the sedition trial was also not executed.

Raja Petra’s lead counsel J. Chandra applied to the court to adjourn sine die (indefinitely) the case until the police succeeded in arresting his client.

However, the judge set July 17 for mention saying it would be decided by the trial judge Rozina Ayob.

On April 23, the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court had issued a warrant of arrest against Raja Petra Kamarudin after he failed to turn up for his sedition trial.

Judge Rozina Ayob issued the order after lead prosecutor DPP Shahidani Abd Aziz applied for the arrest warrant against the news portal editor for his absence.

DPP Shahidani had said the prosecution had no choice but to get the order to proceed with the trial.

Rozina also issued a show cause notice for Marina Lee, as his bailor for failing to inform the court about Raja Petra’s non-attendance.

Raja Petra's lawyer J. Chandra informed judge Rozina Ayob that his client did not turn up in court on the grounds he was on a self-imposed exile from the state for “reasons that are well known.”

Chandra then went out to explain that for over a month now, Raja Petra, 58, has posted articles or comments on issues in relation to the Selangor royal house that had angered some members of his own family who demanded an apology.

Raja Petra explained why he did not turn up at the court in Malaysia Today, “my family then gave me an ultimatum. I was to either make that public apology or else my family would insert an advertisement in the mainstream newspapers practically distancing itself from me, which could be interpreted as disowning me ....

“I went into exile outside Selangor ... . It has to be noted that this has always been the punishment for any member of the Selangor Royal Family who is considered durhaka (traitorous) since the beginning of the Selangor Sultanate more than 250 years ago.”

He also wrote that another reason why he did not attend court was the he did not expect to get a fair trial.

In court on April 23, his lawyer Chandra added, “You have to bear in mind that he is a member of royalty and this self-imposed exile is a punishment he has handed out to himself.”

Rozina said Raja Petra had never produced a written order over the matter.

To this, Chandra said his client would appear in court “when the times permitted and the matter resolved”.

DPP Shahidani Aziz then asked for a warrant of arrest to be issued against Raja Petra and a showcause notice for his wife and bailor Marina.

The judge granted both and set May 22 for mention.

Speaking to reporters later on April 23, his lawyer Gobind Singh Deo had said the defence had been unable to contact Raja Petra for some time and his last conversation with him was during a habeas corpus appeal against the editor at the Federal Court.

Raja Petra, a former Internal Security Act detainee, had on May 6 2008 claimed trial to publishing a seditious article on his Malaysia Today news portal on April 25 of that same year.

He is accused of publishing the article Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell on the website www.malaysia-today.net. The charge under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' jail or both upon conviction.

My most sincere apology to the nation

2009-05-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

Thursday, 21 May 2009 | Raja Petra Kamarudin

I made it very clear there would be no negotiations. How can I agree to bribing police officers to get my son off the hook after speaking out against crime, corruption, abuse of power and cover-ups of criminal acts by those who walk in the corridors of power?

NO HOLDS BARRED

I offer no excuses. My wife, Marina, and I have five children, all now grown up. Four have made a life for themselves -- two are now married and have blessed us with four grandchildren. One, Raja Azman, left home when he was still in lower secondary school and chose to end all ties with the family. That was about 18 years ago or so.

Since he left home, he has been in and out of trouble, the result of living on the streets and sleeping in the back alleys of Kuala Lumpur. Invariably, life on the streets like an urchin turned him into what he is today.

Muslims believe that heaven lies beneath the feet of one’s mother. It is therefore seldom a Muslim mother would bring herself to curse her offspring. Doing so would condemn that child for eternity. That is what Muslims believe.

My wife made it very clear to our prodigal son that he turns his back on the family and resorts to a life of crime at his own peril. It does not matter the severity of the crime. Crime is crime whatever it may be, big or small. And is it not the tendency that petty criminals eventually migrate to hardcore crimes? He therefore invites his mother’s curse if he brings shame to the family. That was my wife’s final word on the matter.

Our son was warned that if he ever got into trouble he was entirely on his own. He can’t expect the family that he has disowned to rally to his side. He has made his bed so he must now lie in it. That was our irrevocable and uncompromising stand and this was delivered in no uncertainty to our son. He would have to make the decision as to what it was going to be.

Marina and I received a phone call a couple of months ago that our son, yet again, was in trouble. It was a call from a police officer. The phone was passed to our son so that we could be assured he was in the hands of the police. Although it was a huge disappointment to both of us, it was no shock, neither a surprise. This was yet another brush with the law that our son has got himself into over more than a decade.

The purpose for the phone call became clearer after our son handed the phone back to the police officer. They wanted to negotiate a settlement. The problem is small, we were told. This can be settled easily enough. They know we would rather bury this problem than let it become public knowledge. We are, after all, high profile. And bad publicity such as this would not help our image.

I made it very clear there would be no negotiations. How can I agree to bribing police officers to get my son off the hook after speaking out against crime, corruption, abuse of power and cover-ups of criminal acts by those who walk in the corridors of power? Sure, maybe no one would know about it. Once I pay up, the matter will be buried so deep no one would be the wiser. But I would know. My wife would know. My family would know. And the police officers who I had bribed would know.

How can I continue speaking out against what ails this country when I am not able to walk the talk? It is so easy to talk when you have nothing to lose, except maybe your freedom. But when it comes to a member of your family, you compromise your principles and violate the very thing that you speak out against.

When I hung up the phone, I could see the pain in my wife’s heart. After all, are not the eyes the window to the heart? Which mother can abandon a child, never mind how evil that child may be. It takes a very determined woman to put principles before the welfare of the family.

We knew it was with dire consequences that we had turned down the offer to settle the matter. We would be made to pay dearly for our stubbornness. They would make sure that we would suffer shame never before suffered by our family.

My children are devastated. The thought of our son having to spend a good part of his life in prison is only part of it. The fact that he carries the family name and that this would be held against the family was their main concern. They knew we would be made to suffer for what Raja Azman had done.

This was a predicament we would never be able to avoid. It would have been so simple to just agree to meet the police officers and pay them the money they wanted and all would have been settled. But it would have been settled only for that short moment in time. I would have to carry the knowledge that I sold out my principles and was not able to walk the talk for the rest of my life.

How can I continue doing what I am doing knowing that I am not able to practice what I preach? I would lose the moral high ground and would no longer be qualified to talk about change and about a better Malaysia. I am, after all, as corrupted as those people who walk in the corridors of power. My son may walk free. But I shall be taking his place in prison -- not a physical prison, but a prisoner of my own nagging conscience, which will haunt me till my last day on earth.

As a father, it was a most difficult choice I had to make. It was more difficult for Marina, the mother who gave birth to that son. We held each other’s hands and looked each other in the eye without speaking. Words were unnecessary. In that silence our hearts did all the talking. We knew we had to bite the bullet and face whatever lies ahead of us without wavering.

Marina and I apologise to the nation for what our son has done. As parents, Marina and I accept that responsibility.

The name don’t maketh the man

2009-05-19T06:59:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, 19 May 2009 | Raja Petra Kamarudin

The Muslim sense of values is totally warped. If you eat pork or drink liquor or gamble, at least you are doing it with your own money. But corruption and fraud involves other people’s money, in most cases the taxpayers’ money. So this makes it an even bigger sin.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Civil Defence director charged with falsifying documents
By EMBUN MAJID, The Star

ALOR SETAR: Kedah Civil Defence Department director pleaded not guilty to two counts of falsifying documents at a Sessions Court here. Mohamad Abdullah, 49, was charged with falsifying two documents on Jun 26 and July 28, both in 2005 at his office at Wisma Persekutuan building here.

In the first charge, Mohamad was alleged to have falsified a document by endorsing that Mohd Roshid Hussain had supplied food for a group of 70 people for the Civil Defence Training Programme at Unit Giat Mara Sungai Tiang on March 17, 18, 19 and 20, 2005 although there was no such supply during the said period.

In the second charge, Mohamad was alleged to have falsified a document on July 28, 2005, by endorsing that Mohd Roshid had supplied food for a group of 80 people for the department Intensive Training Programme at Unit Giat Mara Sungai on May 19, 20 and 21, 2005, although there was no such supply during the three days.

The charge sheet, however, did not state the amount of money involved.

Mohamad faced both charges under Section 11(c) of the Anti Corruption Act 1997 that carries a maximum imprisonment for a term of not less than six months and not more than twenty years; and a fine of not less than five times the sum or value of the gratification which is the subject matter of the offence where such gratification is capable of being valued or is of a pecuniary nature, or ten thousand ringgit, whichever is the higher.

In the same court, Mohd Roshid, 32, claimed trial with abetting Mohamad to falsify the two documents. He was also charged under Section 11(c) of the same Act.

Judge Norsharidah Awang set bail RM10,000 in one surety for each offences to Mohamad and Mohd Roshid and fixed July 8 for hearing.

Deputy Public Prosecutor Fieza Fazlin Fandi prosecuted the case while counsel Shariff Matt represented the two accused.

*************************************************

Would you name your son Jesus the servant of God? And if you would, would you expect him to grow up into a righteous and god-fearing man rather than a corrupted scoundrel? I suppose parents who name their son Mohamad the servant of God would expect no less from their son, as would parents who name their son Jesus the servant of God. But this did not quite work out for the parents of Mohamad Abdullah who now faces two charges of swindling. Yes, in case you have not figured it out by now, Abdullah translates to the servant of Allah (some would say the slave of Allah). So Mohamad Abdullah, which is also the name of the Prophet of Islam, translates to Mohamad the servant of Allah.

And how would one who is named after Islam’s Prophet, with the servant of Allah added to his name, be expected to conduct himself? Considering Mohamad is a public servant, in China he would be put to death with a bullet in the head. And, to add insult to injury, the cost of the bullet would be charged to the family. But sadly, this is not the case in Malaysia. In fact, he would not even lose his limb, as the proponents of the Islamic law of Hudud would like to see. Instead, he would probably beat the rap because the normally smart lawyer would in most cases run rings around the nincompoop prosecutor and the irritated judge would find the accused not guilty out of sheer disgust for the incompetence of the prosecutor.

Yes, names do not maketh the man. How many with names like Isa (Jesus), Musa (Moses), Yusof (Joseph), Sulaiman (Solomon), Ibrahim (Abraham), etc., have been dragged to court for criminal breach of trust, corruption, fraud and whatnot? Some of the worst scams to appear before us have been perpetuated by those who carry the names of the revered Prophets of Islam. Maybe it is time the government banned the usage of names from the Quran. It just makes a mockery of those noble names when people who carry those names act less than noble.

At least people like Mahathir, Najib, Muhyiddin, Khairy, Hishammuddin, Khir, and so on can be excused. Their names are not names of the Prophets of Islam. But when you have people with two Muhammad’s in their name or people with names like Mohamad the servant of Allah, then the expectations would be very high indeed. We do not expect them to be cheats and swindlers.

Why is it that people who carry the names of the revered Prophets would shun pork and steer clear of liquor and despise gambling but would never hesitate to fill their stomachs with money earned the not kosher way? Is money earned through corruption and fraud any less haram than pork, liquor or gambling? It is like saying that raping a girl is okay as long as you don’t rape a boy. Same gender sex is haram. So raping a boy is a huge no-no. But raping a girl is tolerable.

Rape is rape whether you raped your pet dog or the neighbour’s donkey. Haram is definitely haram and there are no two ways about it. And it does not matter whether it is pork, liquor, gambling or money you obtained through corrupt and fraudulent ways. One is not less haram than the other.

The Muslim sense of values is totally warped. If you eat pork or drink liquor or gamble, at least you are doing it with your own money. But corruption and fraud involves other people’s money, in most cases the taxpayers’ money. So this makes it an even bigger sin. Why can’t Muslims see that a person who eats pork or drinks liquor or gambles is not harming anyone other than himself -- okay, maybe his family as well if he does all this in excess and it affects the family (for that matter, even excess ice cream or an overdose of multivitamins are bad for you). But when you cheat the taxpayers you are hurting 27 million Malaysians who that money belongs to.

My Tok Guru told me, when you sin against God, then it is up to God to forgive you. But when you sin against humankind, then God can’t forgive you. You must first beg for forgiveness from all those you have sinned against and only when they have all forgiven you will God forgive you.

Well, this is what my Tok Guru told me. But can you imagine seeking out 27 million Malaysians, one by one, and personally begging for their forgiveness? How would this be possible? I mean, how long will it take you to personally meet 27 million people, one by one?

In short, you are doomed. There is no way this can be done, or done in the time frame you would like to see it done. Give me a pork-eating, liquor-drinking, gambling man one who has not sinned against fellowman any time. That man has a better chance of being forgiven for his sins than a corrupted swindler of taxpayers’ money.

And don’t try to impress me with the names of the revered Prophets because the name does not maketh the man. Some of the worst scoundrels walking the face of this earth are named after the revered Prophets of Islam.

Serious case of foot in mouth disease

2009-05-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

Sunday, 17 May 2009 | Raja Petra Kamarudin

The US made it clear it viewed the latest sodomy charge against Anwar as a sham charge similar to the first one back in 1998. And you respond by grumbling about people linking Najib to the Altantuya murder and about how you turned down a bribe?

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

On Thursday (May 14), at a joint press conference after meeting with United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington DC, Anifah was asked about the fresh sodomy charge against Anwar, which State Department had earlier said was politically motivated.

“He said that he will form the government on September 16 and he had changed the dates many times. And he was trying to entice members of parliament (to defect),” said Anifah, who is the brother of Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

“And I was personally offered to jump into the opposition and offered a very lucrative position – it’s like a deputy prime minister (in the Pakatan government). And this is not known to the world at large.”

Anifah defends Najib on Altantuya

At the press conference, Anifah also defended his boss, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, who was accused of being linked to the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibauu.

“And insofar as Anwar Ibrahim is concerned – we know him very, very well. Most of the things (allegations) are untrue; for example, like the involvement of our honourable prime minister and the murder of a Mongolian citizen. And he has repeatedly said before the elections that he will provide evidence and yet, until today, he has not given anything.”

Expressing shock over Anifah’s allegations, Anwar chided the minister for faring poorly in his international debut as foreign minister, which he said reflected his inexperience and immaturity.

“I have spoken to Anifah only once on the phone and that’s it…,” said Anwar after a meet-the-people session in his Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

“I never offered the DPM post to him for him to defect. The issue indeed was never raised. He was never qualified for such a position anyway. Perhaps it was his dream to become deputy prime minister.”

He suggested that the minister was perhaps overawed and overwhelmed by the occasion. “After all, being a new minister before an international audience for the first time, he was probably prompted to impress his new political master,” chided Anwar, confirming that he would soon be filing a civil suit against Anifah for defamation.

“As the matter would be in court, I prefer not to comment further on the issue,” he said, adding that Anifah was seeking to tarnish his image abroad.

Malaysiakini

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To understand the above, one must first understand Sabah and Umno politics, which is not that easy to understand when it involves Umno Sabah. Umno Sabah is not part of Umno Peninsular Malaysia in the true sense of the word. Umno Sabah considers itself a ‘separate entity’ and ‘kingmaker’, the party that more or less keeps Umno in power. And the same goes for Barisan Nasional Sarawak as well although there is no Umno in Sarawak -- at least while the Grand Old Man of Sarawak politics is still alive.

Sabah has 25 parliament seats, Sarawak another 31. Out of a total of 222 parliament seats, this gives Sabah and Sarawak about 30% of the total. In the last general election, Sabah and Sarawak lost only one seat each to the opposition. This means Sabah and Sarawak are Barisan Nasional strongholds and without these two states Umno would never be able to form the federal government.

According to the agreement, Sabah and Sarawak must comprise of not less than 25% of the total number of parliament seats. Therefore, every time they increase the number of seats in Peninsular Malaysia, they must also do so correspondingly in Sabah and Sarawak. This puts these two East Malaysian states in a very advantageous position where they can demand a lot and get away with it -- and whoever so wishes to form the federal government just can’t ignore Sabah and Sarawak.

However, Musa Aman, the Chief Minister and head of Umno Sabah, does not have the support of all the 25 Umno divisions. At best he has the support of only seven with 18 opposed to him. This is quite normal for Sabah though where infighting is always fierce considering that East Malaysian politics is politics of the warlords. And there are certainly many warlords in Sabah.

It is said the poorest Sabah warlord is worth only RM200 million. If that is all you are worth then nobody talks about you because wealth in Sabah is measures in terms of billions -- half a billion, one billion and so on. To be worth only RM200 million means you are in the small boys club and not yet worthy to sit with the real man.

Is it any wonder that when they are not visiting their constituency once or twice a year these warlords would be throwing their money away in Australian casinos plus those in other parts of the world? Of course, they make up for this by going to Mekah at least once a year so that they can cleanse their gambling sins and be ‘reborn’ to repeat the routine all over again.

Musa was at the crossroads of his political career in the run-up to the last general election. There was talk that since he could not get the support of the majority of the 25 Sabah divisions he would most likely be dropped. But the problem with this was, while he may command the support of only seven of the 25 divisions, this was also the same for the others as well. No one commanded majority support. And even though Musa may command the support of only seven divisions, neither can any of the other warlords better this.

In a nutshell, Musa may not be the best, but he is certainly not the worse. No one really commands majority support and replacing Musa would only mean you are replacing one problem for probably an even bigger problem.

But Musa was not going to take any chances. He knew he was living on borrowed time and Sabah’s performance in the 8 March 2008 general election would decide his fate. If he can keep the opposition out, then he would be guaranteed another term. But if the opposition makes inroads, then it would be good-bye Musa. His best bet then would be to keep close links with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and serve him in whatever way necessary, through the son-in-law and the Fourth Floor team of course.

However, what would happen if Abdullah Badawi gets ousted and Najib takes over? Well, then Plan B comes into play. And plan B would involve his brother Anifah. Anifah, therefore, has to stay close to Najib so that he would be the bridge Musa builds to Putrajaya in the event Abdullah Badawi is sent into retirement.

When Rosmah throws a private birthday party for Najib where only close friends are invited, Anifah is on the guest list, the only Sabah warlord to receive an invitation. Anifah’s links with Najib therefore extends beyond politics. It is on a very personal level.

But how would Musa explain to Abdullah the reason why his brother is a personal friend and buddy of Najib? Is Musa hedging his bets? If Abdullah stays on then he is okay. If Najib takes over he is still okay, through his brother. This appears like Musa is trying to get the best of both worlds.

To cover their tracks, they got to make it appear like Anifah is the prodigal member of the family. He is a loose cannon. He is what every family dreads, the black sheep of the family. In fact, Anifah is beyond control and would probably even go join the opposition if pushed too far.

This ‘may join the opposition’ story also works in Anifah’s favour. Anwar Ibrahim has said that if Pakatan Rakyat forms the federal government then there may be two or even three Deputy Prime Ministers. Maybe DPM1 would be Malay, DPM2 non-Malay rotated between the Chinese and Indians, and DPM3 would be someone from East Malaysia, rotated between Sabah and Sarawak.

Yes, that is a good plan and something the non-Malays and East Malaysians have been asking for a long time now. Ah, but that is not all. Do you know that Anwar has offered the post of DPM3 to Anifah?

Yes, that was the story relayed to Najib. Therefore, when Najib takes over, he had better offer Anifah an important Cabinet position. Not just Deputy Minister of Welfare or something totally useless. Anwar has offered him the post of DPM. Surely Najib can match that with something worthwhile, even if it is not the post of DPM?

That was the Aman family spin. So now Anifah has to announce to the world that he turned down a lucrative offer of the post of DPM for a lesser post of Foreign Minister. That was the story he told Najib to be able to get this senior cabinet position. So he has to maintain this story for the sake of consistency.

Honestly though, would Anifah really make a suitable DPM? Look at how he talks in his meeting with the United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He really put his foot in his mouth on this one. A Malaysian Foreign Minister meets the US Secretary of State and he talks about Najib and Altantuya? And he reveals to the Americans that Anwar tried to bribe him with the post of DPM? Hello, either he is more stupid than we thought or he is trying to ruin Najib in the international scene.

Those are not the things you talk about when you meet foreign governments. The US made it clear it viewed the latest sodomy charge against Anwar as a sham charge similar to the first one back in 1998. And you respond by grumbling about people linking Najib to the Altantuya murder and about how you turned down a bribe?

Sheesh, talk about a huge political blunder. The US already thinks that Najib is linked somehow to the murder. In fact, not only the US, but also all the foreign missions in Malaysia as well. Just speak to any Ambassador and they will tell you that they believe Najib’s hands are not clean and that Altantuya’s murder leads to Putrajaya.

There is nothing Anifah can say that will convince them otherwise. And the US did not ask Anifah whether it is true that Najib is guilty. They asked about what they thought was a sham sodomy charge that will soon lead to a sham sodomy trial. And Anifah responds by talking about Najib and Altantuya and the bribe he turned down instead.

A serious crisis of confidence

2009-05-13T13:00:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 | malaysiaToday | Raja Petra Kamarudin

Say what you like, Malaysia is suffering from a crisis of confidence. And the longer it takes to solve Perak, and the more Umno manipulates and abuses the system, the harder it will be and the longer it will take to build back that confidence.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Court of Appeal to hear Nizar case May 18

(The Edge) - Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin filed an application with the Court of Appeal today in response to the Court of Appeal's stay of execution order in favour of Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.

The Court of Appeal has set May 18 to hear the case. Nizar's lawyers also filed a certificate of urgency for the hearing.

*************************************************

Mida reports shows crisis is crippling Perak economy, says DAP

(Bernama) - DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to call for fresh elections in Perak, saying the political impasse has hurt the state's economy badly.

Lim, who is Penang chief minister, said that according to a report of the Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (Mida), total investment in Perak in terms of performance had dropped drastically.

The report showed that Perak had dropped from sixth position in 2008 to 10th in the first two months of 2009, he told reporters after Iran's ambassador Mahdi Khandaghabadi had called on him, here.

Lim said that based on the Mida report, Perak only recorded RM32 million in investment this year and lacked behind other states in securing investment, with Johor in first place with over RM1 billion in investments followed by Selangor with RM707 million and Penang with RM685 million.

"This also proves that the political crisis in Perak has affected the state's economic growth and I believe this can be resolved after the dissolution of the Perak state legislative assembly to pave the way for fresh elections," he said.

Lim said only a stable government would be able to ensure economic growth and development in the state.

He also said that the people in Perak had the power to elect and decide on the rightful menteri besar of Perak. "Even if we win in the courts, the DAP's position is to call for fresh elections and dissolve the assembly," he said, adding that the DAP would return power to the people to decide on the rightful menteri besar.

Yesterday, the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya allowed a stay of execution of Monday's Kuala Lumpur High Court decision declaring Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin of the DAP-PKR-PAS coalition as the rightful menteri besar of Perak.

With the suspension of the declaratory order, the post of Perak menteri besar has returned to Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir of the Barisan Nasional

(BN) pending the hearing of his appeal against the High Court decision.

*************************************************

In Malaysia, you just can’t separate politics, religion and the economy. The Barisan Rakyat Bloggers and a few of the civil society movements realised, way back in 2006, that Malaysia was heading for a political crisis -- which means an economic crisis as well. Of course, then, we did not know yet when the next general election was going to be held -- but it would have to be held by March 2009, whatever the case may be, unless martial law is declared and parliament is suspended due to civil strife the likes of ‘May 13’ or worse.

In mid-2007, we got word that the general election would be held on 15 March 2008. I must credit YB Ronnie Liu with this information though. It was Ronnie who managed to obtain this information somehow and I decided to trust his source and ran with it.

Of course, with the benefit of hindsight, the general election was instead held on 8 March. So we were off by a week. But, as they say, either you are pregnant or you are not. You can’t be a little bit pregnant.

Nevertheless, Malaysia Today is not a newspaper, as I have always said, and we can’t use mainstream newspaper standards in verifying the information before publishing anything. I trusted Ronnie and if he trusts his source beyond any shadow of doubt then I have to run with the information he gave me. Ronnie could be wrong. Or his source could be wrong. Which would mean then my 15 March 2008 ‘prediction’ would be wrong as well.

What if the general election was held in March 2009 instead, the last possible date that it must be held according to the Constitution? Well, then I would end up with egg on my face and will have to chalk this whole thing up to another insider lead that we trusted which turned out false in the end.

But what was the purpose of revealing the general election date, especially if it were true? The purpose was simply this. We felt the opposition needed a bit more time to get its act together. So, the later the general election, the better. In mid-2007, DAP, PKR and PAS were still squabbling over seats. There were many seats that ‘overlapped’ and in some cases all three parties wanted to contest the same seat. If this disagreement can’t be settled by the time the general election is called, then there would be a danger some seats might see a four-corner fight -- BN versus DAP-PKR-PAS. You do not need to be a political genius to figure out that not only will BN win that seat but some of the opposition candidates might even end up losing their deposit -- like what happened in the 2004 general election when some seats saw three-corner fights because DAP, PKR and PAS all wanted to contest the same seat.

Our purpose in revealing the 15 March 2008 date was, first of all, to frighten the three opposition parties so that they would come to the realisation that there was not much time left and they needed to get their act together, fast, and resolve the seat issue, or else they would get massacred like in 2004. Secondly, we hoped that once we reveal the date then Umno would try to prove us wrong by postponing the general election to a much later date.

I mean, why would Umno hold the general election in March 2008 and then give us credibility by proving us right? Better they delay it and prove us wrong -- in which case they can turn around and say that Malaysia Today publishes bullshit. The general election that Malaysia Today said would be called on 15 March 2008 never happened after all. That proves what they say is all crap.

We were worried they would not bite. They might just ignore what we wrote and go ahead with the 15 March 2008 revelation. And that would mean the opposition would be caught with its pants down and the many overlapping seats would remain unresolved right up to Nomination Day.

That would be disastrous. So we needed a Plan B.

And Plan B was a unity government, which Nik Aziz just said, today, is not going to happen. So, during the fasting month of 2007, we organised a dialogue session between Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and the Barisan Rakyat Bloggers, plus a few civil society movements, in the ‘White House’ at Jalan Langgak Golf.

What if during the next general election -- whether it is March 2008 or March 2009 -- we see a ‘hung parliament’ a la May 1969? What if there is no clear winner and neither Barisan Nasional nor the opposition has a clear majority -- or Barisan Nasional has a simple majority of, say, just one or two seats? Would they, again, trigger another ‘May 13’ to regain power? Or worse, what if the opposition wins, but with just a simple majority of one or two seats? Would that mean another ‘May 13’ will be inevitable and the only prospect ahead of us?

Those were the worries running through our minds. If Barisan Nasional repeats its 2004 performance, well and good. That means there would be no issues as this means the opposition had, again, been wiped out, like in 2004. But chances are we are going to see a surprise. And how to ensure that the surprise would not transform into a shock like what happened two days after the 11 May 1969 general election?

So, discussions with Umno were held. And we saw that only Tengku Razaleigh could be accepted by DAP, PKR and PAS. Any other Umno leader, other than Tengku Razaleigh, would be no go. Very few opposition leaders would be prepared to work with Umno if it was someone other than Tengku Razaleigh.

In fact, DAP was a bit worried about working with Tengku Razaleigh. If Najib becomes Prime Minister, then the Chinese -- who still remember what his father did in 1969 and what he himself did in 1988 with the ‘bathing the keris in Chinese blood’ stunt -- would swing to the opposition. But if Tengku Razaleigh ends up as Prime Minister instead, then the Chinese, in particular the business community, would swing back to Barisan Nasional.

It would not be in the interest of DAP that Tengku Razaleigh takes over. And if Tengku Razaleigh proposes a unity government, as he has, then the Chinese would not require DAP any longer. The Chinese have confidence in Tengku Razaleigh as this prince from Kelantan is perceived as the best man to manage Malaysia’s economy, which is what ultimately the Chinese want to see.

Nevertheless, DAP put the nation’s interest above its party interest. A unity government would weaken the opposition. But it would strengthen the nation’s economy because, not only would we have a man at the helm who would know what to do, but all the unnecessary politicking would come to an end and everyone could now remain focused and get down to the job of running the country and managing the economy.

Well, as they say, the rest is all water under the bridge now. Tengku Razaleigh did not make it as Umno President and Prime Minister, and the unity government never came about. Instead, we have Najib as Prime Minister and the focus of the entire government -- police, judiciary and whatnot included -- is on politics, politics, and yet more politics.

This is most unfortunate. Matthias Chang had already written, time and time again, that the world is about to face a serious financial crisis. In fact, he said we are going to see a total collapse of the entire economic system not later than 2008 or 2009. Many rubbished him and some even said he is a madman. But then they said the same thing about many other geniuses over the many hundreds of years and we now know that these geniuses were just too advanced for their time and that is why they were perceived as madmen.

I trusted Matthias. I still do. No doubt he has a ‘funny way’ of putting his message across. But then so do I. We all do. Maybe that’s why he and I can get along very well -- we are both tau fung. But what if Matthias is right? What if we are about to see the worse economic collapse since before the Second World War? And what if we don’t have a strong government to handle the crisis and are instead locked in political battles and conflicts to the extent that nobody cares about the economy any longer?

Yes, we can’t do much about an economic Tsunami, any Tsunami for that matter. But we are not only talking about an economic Tsunami here. We are also talking about a crisis of confidence. And this is not an external factor beyond our control. This is a self-inflicted wound, which could have been avoided in the first place.

What is going on in Perak is not just about politics. It is also about sending the right signals to investors, in particular foreign investors. Do you know that foreigners no longer want to sign agreements in Malaysia? They would rather sign them in Singapore, a country they trust more than Malaysia. They just don’t trust Malaysian courts.

Even if they do sign the agreements in Malaysia, they will ask for an arbitration clause to be inserted in the agreement so that, in the event a dispute arises, they can avoid Malaysian courts and instead go for international arbitration.

That is the fundamental problem with Malaysia. People just don’t trust the Malaysian courts. In fact, they don’t trust the police and everything related to Malaysia, including the political party in power. How can we ride out this rough patch when we have two battlefronts to fight?

Say what you like, Malaysia is suffering from a crisis of confidence. And the longer it takes to solve Perak, and the more Umno manipulates and abuses the system, the harder it will be and the longer it will take to build back that confidence. Umno may not openly admit it, but they know what I am talking about. Ultimately, however, it is not the superrich Umno leaders who will suffer. It is you and me, the people on the street, the working class citizens, who are going to pay the price of all this political folly.

How the screwee became the screwer

2009-05-12T16:16:00.000-07:00

Wednesday, 13 May 2009 | Raja Petra Kamarudin

know they have issued a fresh detention order and the instant I appear in court they will detain me under the Internal Security Act and send me to Kamunting. And it burns them up so much that I am so near yet so far away.

NO HOLDS BARRED

On late Monday afternoon, the court ruled that Nizar is still the Menteri Besar of Perak. On early Tuesday morning, the Appeal Court allowed a stay of execution. This means Nizar was back as Menteri Besar for a mere couple of hours yesterday and then had to hand the state back to Zambry.

What was astonishing was the speed in which the Appeal Court sat to make its decision when there are still so many older cases pending -- sometimes up to ten years while the convicted persons awaiting the outcome of their appeal languish in jail without bail during all that time. And the beauty about this is, even if they lose their appeal, their jail sentence is shorter than the time they have thus far spent in prison under remand. Some have withdrawn their appeal just so that they can go home. It is better to plead guilty or not contest the verdict since the sentence is shorter than the time they would have to spend in prison under remand.

The second thing that has astonished most people; lawyers especially; is the one-man quorum that sat to hear Zambry’s application for a stay of execution. They would have expected a minimum quorum of three judges since this case is of great public interest. But only one man sat to hear Zambry’s application and it certainly does not give an impression that Nizar saw justice done yesterday in the Appeal Court.

That happened to me in the appeal that the government filed against my release from ISA detention in November last year. We asked for a quorum of seven judges. If we can’t get seven we would settle for five. But they refused both seven and five and agreed on only three. Why only three and whose decision was that? It was an administrative decision, meaning a court clerk somewhere decided that it should be three.

We were not told who the judges were until the morning of the hearing. And when we found out who they were we objected to one of them because I had crossed swords with him many times over the last ten years. So this judge was asked to leave the room while the other two sat to hear our objections. When it was pointed out that it is illegal and unconstitutional for only two judges to sit and that we would be appealing against this the judge said, “Do what you like.”

Then the two judges ruled that the third need not recuse and he was invited back to ‘take his rightful place on the bench’.

The court is just fucking around with me and I am expected to ‘respect the court’ and abide to its decisions without a peep or a squeak. Balls! I do not have to, and will not, take this crap. I attended the first day’s hearing, and after seeing how the court pushed us around and treated us like idiots, I refused to walk into that courtroom again for the rest of the hearings. You want to put me on trial, well and fine. I will face the court. But if you want to fuck around with me and treat me like I am one stupid country bumpkin then I do not need to take this crap.

Okay, let us now talk about my second brush with the court, the criminal defamation trial at the end of this month. When I was first charged and asked how I plead, I replied that I refuse to enter any plea. The court said it would take that as a ‘not guilty’ plea. I then raised my voice and told the judge that I did not plead ‘not guilty’. I had refused to enter any plea.

I was advised that, under the law, refusing to enter any plea would be interpreted as a ‘not guilty’ plea.

When they transferred my case to a higher court they again asked me how I plead and I again refused to enter any plea. And, again, they interpreted this as a ‘not guilty’ plea and, again, I raised my voice and said I did not enter a ‘not guilty’ plea.

Look, I did not plead ‘not guilty’. And I don’t care a damn how the court wishes to interpret that. No plea means ‘no plea’ as far as I am concerned and, at that point of time, they had a choice to pronounce me guilty and send me to jail -- which is what I wanted and I told my lawyers so. But my lawyers said that this would not happen because, since I did not enter any plea, then I shall be subjected to a trial.

That is stupid and, in spite of that being the law, a stupid law is still a stupid law. When I refused to enter a plea on both occasions I told the court my reason for doing so was because the charges are defective and mala fide. But the court ignored that. The prosecutor asked my lawyers in what way the charges are defective and mala fide but of course my lawyers would not tell him. If we did then they would amend the charges as they did in my sedition trial when they discovered they were losing their case against me.

When the police called me in for interrogation it was on the basis I had signed a false Statutory Declaration. In fact, the day after I signed it, the AG said that I am guilty of signing a false declaration. Two days later, the IGP also announced they would be taking action against me for signing a false declaration.

How did the AG know? How did the IGP know? I had signed a SD, which I then officially, through my lawyers and by way of letter, sent to the prosecutors in the Altantuya murder trial. This was a ‘for your eyes only’ document. This means, since it is a criminal investigation matter, the SD is classified information and automatically comes under the Official Secrets Act.

However, mysteriously, within 24 hours, my SD appeared on http://bigdogdotcom.wordpress.com/, a Blog run by Zakir, a man aligned to Mukhriz Mahathir. I know Zakir lives next door to a very senior Special Branch officer because he has mentioned this often enough so this is probably how he got a copy of my SD.

Why did the police leak my SD to an Umno Blogger? It was confidential and meant only for the prosecutors in the Altantuya murder trial. But almost immediately the AG plus IGP both told the whole world about it and announced publicly that I had signed a false SD and that they would be taking action against me. They had not even seen the SD yet when they made those announcements. Furthermore, no investigation was launched to determine whether my SD is in fact false or otherwise.

Yes, the decision to ‘take action’ was made way in advance of any investigation. They had put the cart before the horse. Now they had to go look for the horse since the cart had already been announced. After that they called me in for interrogation so that the AG and IGP would not look like the stupid idiots that they are for announcing something before it even happened.

Then they panicked. If they charge me for the crime of signing a false SD then they have to prove it. I need not prove anything. It is not my job to prove anything. Since they are the ones charging me then they have to prove beyond reasonable doubt that I did in fact sign a false SD. What if I manage to put on a good defence and prove that I had not signed a false SD but had in fact signed a truthful one? What if witnesses come forward to testify that what I signed was true?

That’s when they realised they had blundered. If they charge me for signing a false SD and can’t prove it, or I can in fact prove otherwise, then Najib and Rosmah are dead meat. So they changed their strategy and instead charged me for criminal defamation.

But they can’t charge me for criminal defamation. Firstly, Rosmah is not a government officer. Criminal defamation involves you defaming a government officer in the execution of his or her official duties. Rosmah is merely the wife of a politician. She is not a government officer.

The husband and wife army officers may be considered government officers but I ‘defamed’ them in what they did outside their official duties. I did not accuse them of committing a crime when they were discharging their official duties. I did so in their capacity as off-duty army officers on a frolic of their own, as the law would say. This means they were not doing things as government officers but were moonlighting.

The government is therefore not involved in what they did so I did not commit a crime of criminal defamation. Or are they saying that the husband and wife army officers were merely carrying out their official duties under orders from the top?

The government is playing games with me. From the first announcement by the AG, followed by the announcement by the IGP, followed by my interrogation for the crime of criminal defamation, then the eventual charge for a totally different crime altogether, and finally, the transfer of my case to a higher court for no apparent reason whatsoever, I can see that all the government wants to do is to screw me good and proper.

Well, why should I endorse what the government is trying to do? I already said I refuse to enter a plea. I refuse to entertain the government with a trial. If they want to charge me for the crime of signing a false SD, well and fine. Let us fight it out in court and they can try to prove I did in fact sign a false SD -- while I will try to prove otherwise. But in a charge such as criminal defamation, they need not prove the truth of the matter. They only need to prove that I signed the SD. If they can prove I signed it, which they can since I did sign it and never denied doing so, then they can send me to jail.

In short, whether what I signed is true or false does not matter. They need not go into the truth or falsity of my SD. All they need to do is focus on proving that I did sign it and that would be enough to send me to jail, even if what I signed was absolutely true.

And the same goes for my sedition charge. Initially, they made a police report against me because I was alleged to have lied. The police officer who made the police report against me is the same chap who investigated the Altantuya murder. And he knows I lied because, according to him, he investigated the murder and did not stumble across what I was alleged to have written.

In short, he investigated the murder so he knows. And he knows what I was alleged to have written is therefore not true. So, I lied.

Then, he discovered that, since he investigated the murder and therefore knows everything about the murder to the extent that he knows I lied, the court would require him to reveal the truth so that the truth can be compared to what I am alleged to have written to establish whether I had indeed lied or not.

That’s when he changed his story. He said he actually does not know that much because he did not personally investigate the murder. Some other people conducted the investigation and he was merely the coordinator. But earlier he said otherwise.

If he did not personally investigate the murder and does not really know that much about it, how did he then know that I lied? He did make the police report against me on the basis that I lied. He knows that I lied. But he does not know that much about the murder. Yet he knows that I lied because he did not stumble across what I wrote.

What total crap! And when YB Gobind Singh repeatedly asked him about certain facts of the investigation to compare these facts against what I was alleged to have written; to establish in what way I had lied; this police officer with the rank of Superintendent refused to answer the questions.

If he refuses to answer the questions how can we establish the truth and at the same time establish whether I lied? That was when the prosecution told the court that it does not matter whether what I was alleged to have written is true or false. The court only needs to focus on whether I had in fact written that article. And if it can be proven I had indeed written it then I can be sent to jail even if what I wrote was true.

But did not the police report say I had lied and was I not charged for the crime of sedition because I am alleged to have lied? Now it does not matter any longer if I lied or not? Even if I did not lie I am still guilty?

Aiyah, games, games, and even more games. They keep changing the rules and move the goalposts halfway through the game. And they are still doing this. And the Umno guys whack me and insist that I face the court and they call me a coward for refusing to ‘face the music’. I can face the music as what these Umno people insist I do. But what music are they playing? I need to know first before I am asked to face it.

What Umno can’t stand is when you refuse to play by their rules and instead make up your own rules, which they are then forced to follow. Our HINDRAF chap did this when he refused to sign the conditional release papers and insisted that he remain in Kamunting. They had to physically throw him out of Kamunting like they threw Siva out of the Perak State Assembly last week.

Yes, I am having more fun this way. I refuse to tunduk to them and it upsets them like crazy. They tried to screw me and I turn around and screw them instead. They gave me an ultimatum to issue a public apology to the Sultan of Perak or else the family is going to insert a full-page advertisement in the mainstream newspapers announcing that I have been disowned. Then I turn around and disown them instead by going into exile.

No, I am nobody’s patsy. And I will go to great lengths to defy them every step of the way. I know they have issued a fresh detention order and the instant I appear in court they will detain me under the Internal Security Act and send me to Kamunting. And it burns them up so much that I am so near yet so far away.

The rise and fall of the Bloggers Union

2009-05-11T03:00:00.000-07:00

Monday, 11 May 2009 | Raja Petra Kamarudin

I did say, many times in the past, that an enemy of my enemy could be my friend. But only as long as we still share a common enemy. Once that common enemy has been disposed off, then we would probably revert to what we used to be -- enemies again.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

REMBAU 11th April: “With friends like these, who needs enemies.” That is the general feeling of frustration with some UMNO bloggers who continue to further embitter the Malaysian cyber public, with their constant calls for violence, explicit racism and arrogance which is conveyed in their writings. This message was conveyed to me when I met senior party officials over the weekend. Amongst the worst culprits, were blogs seen to be supportive of the Mahathir faction, blogs such as Bigdogdotcom, Parpu Kari, Barking Magpie and self-styled camel seller, Husin Lempoyang.

"(These) bloggers have let down the party," my source told me. "Every time it’s attack, attack, attack. The people they sell their story to are only a small number. Our research has indicated that most people read, get angry and vow never to vote for UMNO".

Some bloggers deserve praise however. "(The) Rembau Times is example of good blog for the party. People know that there are 2 sides to the story, they want to be presented with an option and if your story is better then people will buy it." He went on to add, "The worst is still Parpu Kari. I have received a lot of reports against him, and personally I think UMNO is not well served if bloggers continue to call people of one race group "beruk", "komunis", "babi" or "juburi". This is not 1Malaysia and I have advised him to tone down. Even (Dato Seri) Zambry does not feel comfortable with him (Parpu)."

I was also asked to try and conduct a bloggers workshop to help educate some of the other UMNO bloggers on how to blog responsibly without pissing people off. I declined. Some people are just beyond salvage and should consider what should take precedence, their duty to the party they profess to support or their loyalty to their paymasters.

The above was a posting by http://wengerkhairy.blogspot.com.

And below is an e-mail that was sent to me this morning by Caleb Quay chskee@gmail.com:

Hi, I hope you will take time to read this article, I've been following some of your articles and I think many of them are good though some seem to be a little extreme or was it just metaphorically speaking? Take for example the article (It’s all about race, stupid).

That was the opening paragraph of the message. He or she then goes on and lists down his or her unhappiness with me and then it closes with:

It’s usually the children that suffer the most when there is war. As a father, I think you'll want the best for your daughter and keep her away from harm. What better way to keep a person away from harm by not creating it in the first place?

Yes, after calling me names and whatnot, they resort to posting comments such as I should be killed with a bullet in my head. Now, it has come to threatening my daughter’s life. But no, I shall not be making a police report because that is what they would do if I did the same thing. Furthermore, they never layan any of my police reports anyway. So it is a total waste of time.

Anyhow, at least Rocky confirmed my meeting with Rosmah, which I spoke about in the last posting. He even said they knew about the meeting all along but did not want to embarrass me by revealing it. He also admitted that Najib met Saiful, and since I too met Rosmah, this means there is nothing sinister about the whole thing.

Then he goes on to mention how we teamed up or combined forces to oust Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. Then, according to him, I moved on and he enquired into this and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s people told him that there was no bad blood between Tun and me but that I just sort of moved on somehow.

He of course mistook my association with the pro-Mahathir-anti-Badawi forces as me ‘crossing over’. Then I was supposed to have ‘crossed over’ to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah and then back to Anwar Ibrahim again.

Actually, what Rocky said was absolutely true and I had myself related this episode many times in the past. But probably the word ‘crossing over’ and ‘crossing back’ may not be the appropriate words to use.

I did say, many times in the past, that an enemy of my enemy could be my friend. But only as long as we still share a common enemy. Once that common enemy has been disposed off, then we would probably revert to what we used to be -- enemies again.

The example I had used was the Taliban or Afghans. For centuries the Afghans had bitterly and violently fought each other. Then, when the Russians invaded Afghanistan, they united to oppose the Russians. But as soon as the Russians went home to Moscow, the Afghans reverted to killing each other, until today.

During the BERSIH march in November 2007, many Umno people participated in it. In fact, some bigwigs in Umno even sponsored our very expensive T-shirts and caps (those with embroidered gold trimmings like the Chief of the Navy, etc., uses). Prior to the march, we held many meetings with Umno people to ensure that the mobilisation was a success and that we got the crowd we were targeting for.

I admit the BERSIH march was a huge success because it was a ‘joint-venture’ with the anti-Abdullah Umno faction.

We of course had no problems working with Tun Dr Mahathir as long as we shared a common objective. In that first dialogue we organised at Kelab Century Paradise, almost every PAS leader except for the President and Secretary-General came. Many DAP and some of the PKR leaders came as well.

PAS even invited Tun Dr Mahathir to a few functions they had lined up. However, Tun Dr Mahathir declined the invitation and said he can’t accept if it is PAS that was organising the event -- after all, he was still an Umno member then -- but if it was a NGO or the Bloggers that were the organisers then he had no problems attending.

In late 2007, before the March 2008 general election, the Bloggers arranged a meeting with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. That was during the fasting month. Bloggers and civil society movement members from both sides of the political divide turned up, about 30 or 35 in all.

The purpose of the meeting was simple. Tengku Razaleigh was going to contest the Umno Presidency. The next general election would be called the latest by March 2009. Assuming Tengku Razaleigh wins the Umno Presidency and assuming Barisan Nasional wins the general election with a simple majority but without the two-thirds majority, is there a possibility that Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat can form a unity government?

Tengku Razaleigh was open to that idea. In fact, he thought this would be the only way to end the current political crisis and allow the government to start managing the country without being distracted by excess politicking. Today, the problem with Malaysia is that no one is managing the country. Everyone is too engrossed in trying to topple each other.

There were some in DAP, PAS and PKR who accepted the idea of a unity government. But there were some who were against it. They felt that Umno cannot be trusted and even if Tengku Razaleigh heads Umno it would still be only one man. The rest of Umno would still be a problem. In that sense, Pakatan Rakyat was split on the issue and since Pakatan Rakyat works on consensus then it would be no go.

So yes, what Rocky said was true. He did not lie. But he is not senior enough in the hierarchy to be told what the game plan was. He only knows that we teamed up or combined forces in our effort to bring changes to the Umno leadership. But there was a bigger agenda than that. Sure, we wanted Tun Abdullah out of office. But it was supposed to be Tengku Razaleigh who takes over and then the possibility of a unity government would be looked into.

Tun Dr Mahathir knew this. On Hari Raya Day of 2007, I went to meet the Tun at his home to inform him that Tengku Razaleigh was ready to make his move. After that, a few more meetings were held between Tun and Tengku Razaleigh at the Mines in Sungei Besi.

Unfortunately, Tengku Razaleigh was not prepared to accept the Tun’s terms and conditions. Tun Dr Mahathir wanted to set up an Umno Presidential Council with him as the head. And this Presidential Council would ‘guide’ and ‘advice’ the new Prime Minister.

Tengku Razaleigh rejected the idea outright. He was not prepared to be reduced to a puppet Prime Minister. So Tun Dr Mahathir rejected Tengku Razaleigh in favour of Najib who agreed to the Presidential Council.

And that was when I and some other Barisan Rakyat Bloggers decided that it was a lost cause and we might as well focus on opposing Najib even before he takes over as the new Prime Minister.

And that is the part that Rocky did not or was not able to explain. He confirms my story about the meeting and the teaming up and so on. But he does not reveal the true or hidden agenda behind our alliance.

The alliance broke up, of course, when the objective changed. Our objective was a leadership change in Umno and a probable unity government after the last general election with Tengku Razaleigh as Prime Minister and head of Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat as Deputy Prime Minister. However, their objective was Najib as Prime Minister and head of Barisan Nasional and PAS and the Malays in PKR merging with Umno -- leaving DAP and the Chinese in PKR as the opposition.

That was definitely not on. So we parted company as political allies but remained friends as Bloggers -- until now, it seems. I was not alone in this of course. But I shall not mention any of the names of the other Barisan Rakyat Bloggers and civil society movement members who were also in the alliance and were aware of the game plan. If they wish to come forward and admit that they were part of the ‘conspiracy’ I would leave that to them. But I think you already know who they are and the role they played even without me telling you.

What RM25 million can buy, something that goes hee-haw

2009-05-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

Do I hear a nationwide boycott in the making? Or are the Chinese still going to continue giving money to Vincent Tan and then blame the Malays for what happened in Perak?

Friday, 08 May 2009 | NO HOLDS BARRED | Raja Petra Kamarudin

Hee: I didn't use pepper spray

Hee described the sitting as a "nightmare" and claimed that her former DAP colleagues were out to harass her.

She also complained that she was negatively portrayed by press reports.

She said that the note thrown at her was a RM1 note, not a RM50 note as reported in the media.

To set the record straight, she said her former party colleague Thomas Su (DAP-Pasir Pinji) waved a RM50 in front of her but did not hand her the note.

"If I was given RM50, I will keep it and give it to someone in need. But he is a ‘kedekut' (cheapskate). He held on to it and waved it. I know he is 'kedekut'." she said.

On whether she had used the pepper spray against Yew Tian Hoe (DAP-Aulong), Hee said that she pointed her hotel key-chain, not a pepper spray canister.

"It is just a key-chain. 'Hati mereka ada hantu' (They have a guilty conscience)," she said, adding that she is suffering body aches from the scuffles.

However, a clip taken during the assembly yesterday did show Hee pointing what appeared to be a pepper spray canister at Yew (photo above).

An extract from Malaysiakini, 8 May 2009

Hee Yit Foong holding device at Yew Tian Hoe

in the Perak State Assembly dewan

*************************************************

The Deputy Speaker of the Perak State Assembly, Hee Yit Fong, was not only the key person in allowing Barisan Nasional to grab power in Perak -- and she has been going around boasting about it; that she was the key person -- but was also the key person in getting V Sivakumar removed from the hall like a sack of potatoes. And she was paid RM25 million to cross over to Barisan Nasional.

Actually, it was DAP’s fault. For some time now she had been grumbling that she is not being properly treated and was not being given due recognition but the party leadership did not do anything about her grouses.

Some say it was an internal struggle within DAP, which is not uncommon for any political party, as many, if not most, of those in politics are in it for personal gain and not to serve the rakyat. DAP is not alien to internal squabbles. No political party is, whether it is Barisan Nasional or Pakatan Rakyat. In fact, these internal squabbles are ongoing even as you read this.

The straw that broke the camel’s back, or donkey’s back as many now call Hee, was when everyone was given a Camry except her. They argued that she is not able to drive anyway. So why does she need a car? Her reckoning is that she is a Deputy Speaker. So why can’t they also provide her a driver together with the car if she is not able to drive?

Whatever it may be, the thing that prompted her to abandon the party that no longer appreciated her services was the RM25 million that Vincent Tan of Berjaya paid her. Yes, she was paid a cool RM25 million in cash, more money than any Malaysia Today reader will see it many lifetimes.

Okay, so what are we going to do about it? We lament about her being a traitor. We label her a prostitute. We call her all sorts of names. But have we forgotten that there can only be prostitutes as long as there are clients who pay for the services of prostitutes. And in the case of Hee the client is Vincent Tan.

So punish Hee by all means. Call her all sorts of names if that makes you happy. But don’t forget to also punish the man who turned her into a prostitute, Vincent Tan.

How many of you still eat or shop or gamble at establishments owned by Vincent Tan? Is it not time we organised a nationwide boycott of anything and everything that Vincent Tan has an interest in. You know which establishments I am talking about. And aren’t Chinese the biggest gamblers and is not Vincent Tan getting rich with your hard-earned money which you are willingly and gladly handing over to him?

Stop grumbling. Start doing something. As Lee Iacocca said, “Don’t get mad, get even!” And it is time to stop getting mad and to start getting even.

Boycott, boycott, boycott! This must be the new name of the game. Vincent Tan gave RM25 million of YOUR hard-earned money to Hee. Stop giving him more money, which he will use to buy off more Pakatan Rakyat Members of Parliament and State Assemblypersons.

Perak is only the first. It is not going to be the last. Vincent Tan is talking to more Pakatan Rakyat lawmakers and enticing them with RM10 million to RM25 million each to cross over. By the time the next general election is upon us, maybe only Kelantan will remain a Pakatan Rakyat state. Kedah, Penang and Selangor would probably go the way of Perak in time to come.

That is Najib’s grand design. And Vincent Tan is bankrolling the entire operation. Stop cursing the Malays, in particular the Umno Malays. The Malays would not achieve much without Chinese money. And only the Chinese can punish Chinese such as Vincent Tan because the Chinese are bigger gamblers than the Malays and the Malays do not have that kind of money to burn like the Chinese do.

Do I hear a nationwide boycott in the making? Or are the Chinese still going to continue giving money to Vincent Tan and then blame the Malays for what happened in Perak?

**********************************

Gaming & Lottery Management
*BERJAYA LAND BERHAD
BERJAYA SPORTS TOTO BERHAD
Sports Toto Malaysia Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Sports Toto (Cayman) Limited
Berjaya Lottery Mgt (HK) Limited
International Lottery & Totalizator Sys Inc, USA
*PRIME GAMING PHILIPPINES, INC
Philippines Gaming Mgmt.Corporation
Berjaya Intl Casino Mgt (Seychelles) Limited

Financial Services
BERJAYA CAPITAL BERHAD
Prime Credit Leasing Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad (f.k.a Berjaya General Insurance Berhad)
Inter-Pacific Capital Sdn Bhd
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Consumer Marketing, Direct Selliing & Retailing
COSWAY CORPORATION BERHAD
Singer (M) Sdn Bhd
Berjaya HVN Sdn Bhd (Selling children and educational DVD & CD)
Berjaya HVN (S) Pte Ltd
Direct Vision Sdn Bhd
Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
Cosway (Thailand) Co. Ltd
eCosway.com Sdn Bhd
Cosway Value Club (Australia) Pty Ltd
Country Farms Sdn Bhd (Organic products)
Countryfarm Organics Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd

Vacation Time-share, travel, hotel, resorts
BERJAYA GROUP BERHAD
BERJAYA HILLS BERHAD (f.k.a Bukit Tinggi Resort Berhad)
*BERJAYA LAND BERHAD
Avetani Sdn Bhd
INFORMATICS EDUCATION LTD, SINGAPORE
Berjaya Vacation Club Berhad
Berjaya Vacation Club (Cayman) Limited
Berjaya Eden Park Hotel, London, United Kingdom
Berjaya Vacation Club (UK) Limited
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Berjaya Hotel Singapore
Berjaya International Casino Management (HK) Limited
Berjaya Redang Beach Resort Sdn Bhd
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Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort Sdn Bhd
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Berjaya Beau Vallon Beach Resort & Casino, Seychelles
Anse Volbert Hotel Ltd
Berjaya Praslin Beach Resort, Seychelles
Berjaya Georgetown Hotel (Penang)Sdn Bhd - Berjaya Georgetown Hotel, Penang
Dian Kristal Sdn Bhd- Berjaya Times Square Hotel and Convention Center, KL

Recreation Development & Management
BERJAYA LAND BERHAD
Amat Muhibah Sdn Bhd
Desa WaterPark, Kuala Lumpur
Berjaya Vacation Club Berhad 99.25
Berjaya Air Sdn Bhd
KDE Recreation Berhad
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Indah Corporation Berhad
Bukit Banang Golf & Country Club, Batu Pahat
Staffield Country Resort Berhad
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Bukit Kiara Resort Berhad
Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, Kuala Lumpur
Berjaya Golf Resort Berhad
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Property Investment & Development
COSWAY CORPORATION BERHAD
Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
Stephens Properties Sdn Bhd
Wisma Cosway, Kuala Lumpur
Berjaya City Sdn Bhd
Wangsa Tegap Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Central Park, KL
Bukit Pinang Leisure Sdn Bhd
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Kota Raya Development Sdn Bhd
Kota Raya Complex, K.L.
Nural Enterprise Sdn Bhd
Plaza Berjaya, K.L.
Noble Circle (M) Sdn Bhd
KL Plaza, K.L.
Menara Berjaya, KL
Berjaya Land Development Sdn Bhd
Taman UPC, Ayer Hitam, Johor
Bandar Banang Jaya, Batu Pahat, Johor
Selat Makmur Sdn Bhd
Seputeh Heights, K.L.
Subang Heights, Subang Jaya, Selangor
Indra Ehsan Sdn Bhd
Taman Cemerlang, Gombak, Selangor
Sri Panglima Sdn Bhd
Taman Kinrara IV, Puchong, K.L.
Securiservices Sdn Bhd
Petaling Indah, Condominiums, K.L.
Klasik Mewah Sdn Bhd
Sri Indah Court, Johor Bahru, Johor
Cempaka Properties Sdn Bhd
Kuantan Perdana, Kuantan, Pahang
Berjaya Megamall, Kuantan, Pahang
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Pakar Angsana Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Park, Shah Alam, Selangor
Berjaya Property Management Sdn Bhd 100
Taman Tar Development Sdn Bhd
The Peak, Taman TAR, Ampang, Selangor
B.T. Properties Sdn Bhd
Kim's Park Business Centre, Batu Pahat, Johor
Berjaya Golf Resort Berhad
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Food & Beverages
Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company (M) Sdn Bhd
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Industrial
Finewood Forest Products Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Bandartex Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Knitex Sdn Bhd
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Cosway (M) Sdn Bhd
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Kimia Suchi Marketing Sdn Bhd

Education
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Investment Holding & Others
Berjaya Engineering & Construction (HK) Limited
Berjaya Registration Services Sdn Bhd
Berjaya Group (Cayman) Limited 100
Roasters Asia Pacific (HK) Limited
Inter-Pacific Trading Sdn Bhd
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KUB-Berjaya Enviro Sdn Bhd
Successline (M) Sdn Bhd
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BERJAYA HOLDINGS (HK) LIMITED

RPK : Was Siva merely collateral damage?

2009-05-08T07:17:00.000-07:00

Friday, 08 May 2009 | malaysiatoday

I believe Pakatan Rakyat knew it could not have won a military campaign in Ipoh yesterday. It has problems even winning the legal battles in court. The only way, therefore, is to allow Barisan Nasional to do what it did and which in turn would antagonise the people.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER | Raja Petra Kamarudin

After I wrote my last article in No Holds Barred (It’s all about race, stupid!), I went to sleep -- after staying awake for almost 24 hours. I admit that my No Holds Barred article was very fiery, practically calling for blood. I make no apologies for that but I suppose sleep depravation does that to you; it makes you lash out. Nevertheless, I maintain my stand that what they did to Siva -- dragging him out of the State Assembly like a sack of potatoes and unceremoniously evicting him -- was downright uncivilised and utterly inexcusable.

After five hours of a good sleep, and with a clearer mind because of it, I have had time to reflect on what happened in Ipoh yesterday. As I said, I make no apologies for what I wrote earlier and have not changed my views. But what I have since been able to do is to analyse what the thinking of the Pakatan Rakyat leaders could have been and why they ‘abandoned’ Siva to his fate.

Could not Pakatan Rakyat have demonstrated a show of force and defend Siva to the last man standing? Are the Pakatan Rakyat leaders that gutless that they did not stand up for what is right? After all, they are constantly screaming that Siva’s eviction is unlawful and his physical removal unconstitutional. Why then not defend the law and the constitution by force if necessary?

Well, I am looking at things from the perspective of a political activist. Pakatan Rakyat could probably be looking at things from the political angle. Not being a politician I do not see things the political way but the political activist way. And this is maybe why I do not make a good politician. I just can’t see how sometimes in politics you have to allow the other side to show its true colours. In other words, you give your enemy enough rope for it to hang itself.

I have to go read Sun Tzu again and see what he said about strategy. And strategy involves many things. As Mao said, when the enemy chases, you run. When the enemy rests, you counter-attack. Mao must have read Sun Tzu as well and I am sure that was his ‘bible’ in the battle to win the hearts and minds of the Chinese people.

Something else Sun Tzu said was to not engage an enemy more powerful than you. And if it is unavoidable and you do have to engage, then make sure you engage it on your terms, not on your enemy’s terms. Choose your battlefield. Make sure it is a battlefield that you know. Never fight on a battlefield where your enemy will be stronger and better equipped than you.

The Taliban never read Sun Tzu -- or maybe they did, I don’t know. But they applied this strategy to the maximum and sent the powerful Russian military machine running back to Moscow with its tail between its legs. How to fight the Russian tanks, rockets and helicopter gun-ships when you are only armed with rifles? In an open battlefield the Russians would make mincemeat out of you.

Well, don’t engage the Russians in an open battlefield. The Russians would excel in an open battlefield. They are well equipped to fight in an open battlefield. So avoid the open battlefield and draw the Russians into the mountains. The Russian army is not trained to fight in the mountains plus their tanks would be useless in the mountains and the helicopter gun-ships would find the mountains most precarious.

So that is what the Taliban did. They knew the mountains like the back of their hands. They could move up and down those mountains blindfolded. And when the Russians came into those mountains the Taliban kicked the shit out of them. Eventually, the Russians called it a day and went home, but not after having to send home so many of their soldiers in body-bags.

So, what happened in Ipoh yesterday? There was hardly any resistance. PAS alone could have easily mobilised 50,000 supporters. Sure, there were roadblocks and thousands of police, hundreds in the State Assembly itself. But Pakatan Rakyat could have outdone this easily. Yet it did not. Why?

Anwar was not in Ipoh. Neither was Hadi Awang. Lim Kit Siang was but was not allowed in. And when they refused to allow him in he went off. There was no attempt to force their way into the State Assembly. No storming of the Bastille as had been hoped and as many had wished for. Why?

Was it complacency? Did they think Pakatan Rakyat would win the day without putting up a fight? Are they that naïve? Did they sell us out? Yes, those were the first questions running through my mind and lack of sleep allowed me to think only of the questions but the answers were not forthcoming.

I don’t believe it is any of the above. And I don’t think it is because of lack of caring or lack of interest as well. I think Pakatan Rakyat planned every move to the last detail and knew exactly what it was doing. And I think Barisan Nasional played right into Pakatan Rakyat’s hand.

But then I have a suspicious mind, as Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is fond of saying. I am always looking for conspiracy theories. I am always thinking that there is more than meets the eye. I believe that politicians are good magicians. They distract you with their right hand while the trick is being performed with the left hand.

Is that what happened in Ipoh yesterday? Was that why it appeared like Pakatan rakyat offered only token resistance to make it look like they tried? Maybe, maybe not!

Let’s face it. Pakatan Rakyat had already lost the state. It lost the state when the Sultan sacked Nizar and replaced him with Zambry. Pakatan Rakyat now has lesser seats than Barisan Nasional in the State Assembly. What happened in Ipoh yesterday was merely to confirm what was already fact -- that Pakatan Rakyat is no longer the government in Perak.

Pakatan Rakyat could have resorted to force, bloodshed even. But would that have helped them get back the state? What it may have done is to give the police an excuse to detain everyone under the Internal Security Act and declare martial law in Perak like what they did in Kelantan more than 30 years ago -- and which I have written about before. That means democracy would be suspended and they can run Perak without the ‘burden’ of a State Assembly. Umno would be doing things without any opposition since there is no longer any State Assembly and therefore no longer any opposition in the State Assembly.

I believe Pakatan Rakyat knew it could not have won a military campaign in Ipoh yesterday. It has problems even winning the legal battles in court. The only way, therefore, is to allow Barisan Nasional to do what it did and which in turn would antagonise the people.

If blood had been spilled, the people might blame Pakatan Rakyat rather than Barisan Nasional for it. Sure, Barisan Nasional is violent. But then Pakatan Rakyat knows that Barisan Nasional is violent. Why then allow them to use violence whereby the people are exposed to risk and danger? Pakatan Rakyat should look after the people’s interest and guard their safety. Knowing that Barisan Nasional is violent and yet exposing the people to danger is downright irresponsible of Pakatan Rakyat.

This would be the reaction of the people if anything adverse happens to them. So Pakatan Rakyat very cleverly avoided violence and allowed Barisan Nasional to do what it did in Ipoh yesterday. And, today, more people have become disgusted with Barisan Nasional and will vote for Pakatan Rakyat in the next election, or by-election, just to demonstrate this disgust. They may not vote for Pakatan rakyat because they love Pakatan Rakyat. But they will certainly vote for Pakatan Rakyat because they now hate Barisan Nasional even more than before yesterday’s fiasco in Ipoh.

Was, therefore, Siva merely collateral damage? Were they expecting this and did Barisan Nasional do exactly as expected? After all, the state had been lost months ago. Winning the battle of the State Assembly, yesterday, would not have got the state back. Instead, it would have invited other problems, the people’s safety being one of them.

This is of course only my wishful thinking. I could be wrong, I don’t know. I would like to believe that what happened was part of Pakatan Rakyat’s plan and that it worked as planned. I hope and pray that Pakatan Rakyat laid a trap and that Barisan Nasional walked right into it and got snared.

As I said, I am not a politician. So I think differently from the way politicians do. But I do hope that what I am currently thinking is what they had also been thinking all along and that what happened in Ipoh may appear to have been a defeat but was actually a political victory that, in time, will reveal itself.

They say: he who has the last laugh has the best laugh. Was yesterday, in Ipoh, the last laugh? Or is the last laugh yet to be laughed? And who is going to have that last laugh? Politicians are so devious.

And am I being too idealistic here?

RPK It’s all about race, stupid!

2009-05-07T10:05:00.000-07:00

NO HOLDS BARRED Raja Petra Kamarudin

Oh, no! Not another ‘stupid’ article from RPK. Sheesh…….it’s getting to be very boring. If it’s not about Altantuya, it’s about stupid this or stupid that.

Yes, I pre-empted what you are going to say and said it first. So there!

But that is just the thing. It is about race. And if you thought it is about anything else then you are plain dumb and deserve to be called stupid.

Oh, I forgot, I am talking about what happened in Ipoh today. And what happened in Ipoh is about race. It is about ensuring that the Malays do not lose political power. And, as far as Perak is concerned, as far as Umno is concerned, Perak has fallen into the hands of the Chinese.

Did DAP not win the most number of seats in Perak? And is not DAP a Cina-Kominis party that wishes to see the end of Ketuanan Melayu and the New Economic Policy and wishes to replace it with Meritocracy and a Malaysian-Malaysia? And is this not what Lee Kuan Yew also propagates for Singapore? And is not Singapore persecuting and discriminating against Malays? Are not Malays serving in the Singapore Armed Forces not allowed to even carry guns because the Chinese do not trust them? And is not Singapore the enemy of Malaysia who is illegally occupying Malay land that the British robbed from the Johor Sultanate?

Did PKR not win the second highest number of seats in Perak? And is not PKR a non-race-based party that wishes to see the end of Ketuanan Melayu and the New Economic Policy and wishes to replace it with Meritocracy and Ketuanan Malaysia? Are not only half the PKR Wakil Rakyat Malays while the other half are Chinese and Indians?

Did PAS not win the least number of seats in Perak? And is not PAS an Islamic party that classifies Ketuanan MelayuNew Economic Policy as nationalism and discrimination and therefore haram (forbidden) -- and does it not support DAP and PKR in opposing Ketuanan Melayu and the New Economic Policy? Is not PAS the boneka (puppet) of DAP, and although the Menteri Besar is from PAS, DAP actually pulls the strings from behind the scenes?

Yes, that is what it is all about. That is why Pakatan Rakyat must be kicked out of Perak at all costs. That is why fairness, legality and the Constitution are no longer crucial. In the fight to uphold Malay Supremacy, fairness, legality and the Constitution must take a back seat. The ends justify the means. It is not how you play the game. It is winning, by hook or by crook, by fair means or foul, that counts.

If it were in Kelantan, Umno would not have dared do what it did in Perak today. If Umno tried to do the same thing in Kelantan as what it did in Perak today, blood would have flowed on the streets of Kota Bharu. By now, Kota Bharu would be under curfew. Widows would be claiming bodies at the mortuary and new orphans would be created. The plainclothes police officers in songkok would not have been able to drag the Speaker out of the State Assembly like a drunken cowboy in a Hollywood Western movie.

Did you see how the police officers dragged Siva out of the State Assembly? I did. And they were able to drag him out in such an undignified manner because he is an Indian-Hindu from Perak. If he had been a Malay-Muslim from Kelantan, they would never have done that in a million years. They do and parangs would fly. Heads of the Umno dogs would be scattered all over the roads of Kota Bharu.

Do I sound racial? Do I sound violent? Well, I hope so. Because that is exactly what it is all about. I do not mince my words. I do not hold my punches. This column is called No Holds Barred. And my article is therefore no holds barred.

I am disappointed about today. I am disappointed not because of what Umno did. I expected that from Umno. I knew that Umno would do that. What I am disappointed about is that Pakatan Rakyat did not hold their ground. Siva was dragged out of the State Assembly like a sack of potatoes. Yet no one did anything. No one jumped in and gave those goons a hard bash on the head.

I am also disappointed because the crowd was not a crowd. The people on the ground were mostly from out of Perak. Many were Bloggers and civil society movement activists. But they were not locals. They were not Perakians. Where were the local Perakians? They were not around. If they want to argue they could not get through because of the police roadblocks, then how could all those out-of-towners get through, in spite of the roadblocks?

There should have been blood spilled, today, in the Perak State Assembly. Violence must be met with violence. There is no other way. If they want to talk, then we talk. But if they want to use violence, then we match them with violence. And they violently dragged Siva out of the Perak State Assembly.

Siva should have been allowed to exit on his feet. Instead, he was dragged and thrown out like a drunken wino. Is that how a Speaker should be treated? Well, if he were Malay that would never have happened. If it were in Kelantan that would never have happened. But because he is an Indian from Perak then it can happen. And it did happen.

And you know what the icing on the cake is? Raja Nazrin graced the whole fiasco. He gave legitimacy to the entire circus in Ipoh today. His presence gave legality to what should have been illegal. Raja Nazrin’s decision to play along with Umno has hurt the Monarchy badly. It will take a long time for the Monarchy to recover from what happened in Perak today. In fact, it may never recover.

Raja Nazrin has just launched the debate on whether it is time that Malaysia abolishes the Monarchy and turns this country into a Republic. Yes, the Republic of Malaysia. I like the sound of that. I think I shall go along with that.

That is what Perak was all about, today. And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Repeat after me: It’s all about race, stupid!

MT : Live Update - Perak State Assembly

2009-05-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

Thursday, 07 May 2009 08:40

3:30pm It appears that the BN has won the day. The MT-team is signing out and leaving Perak with a heavy heart.

3:20pm The Regent is starting his speech. Sivakumar is still missing.

3:15pm The Assembly is waiting for the Regent to enter. There is no sign of Sivakumar.

3.05pm:Teja and Simpang Pulai Adun ejected by new Speaker, Ganesan, out of Dewan

3.00pm: Zambry have moved a motion to start proceedings with a doa to be followed by the opening speech by Raja Nazrin.

2.50pm: 13 out of total 64 arrested have been reported released.

2:42pm: Sivakumar has been forcibly removed from his chair and taken out from the Dewan. Ganesan is now trying to occupy the Speaker's seat but is being prevented by Pakatan Aduns.

2.25pm: It looks like there is a stalemate in the assembly with the BN ADUNs trying to physically remove Sivakumar from the Speaker's seat and the Pakatan Aduns trying to protect him. The police are in the Dewan to defuse the situation.

1.16pm: Sivakumar has refused to budge from the Speaker's seat since sitting was adjourned until now

11:18am: All reps are leaving the Dewan for a 1-hour adjournment.

11:01am: Ganesan has been sworn in as the new Speaker.

10:54am: Since Sivakumar cannot get in, the BN ADUN took the opportunity to appoint Ganesan as the new Speaker.

10:47am: The Speaker has now been denied entry back into the Assembly.

10:40am: ADUN Hee has asked the sargeant-in-arms to remove the Speaker. However the Speaker has stepped out to accompany Raja Nazrin.

10:25am:The Speaker asserted that the sitting will not continue unless the ten ADUN leave as ordered.

10:20am: Chaos in the Assembly as the BN ADUN who have been ordered to leave have refused to leave.

10:18am: Dr. Mujahid, MP for Parit Buntar has just been arrested.

10:10am: The Speaker has ordered the 10 ADUN who had proposed the speaker to be sacked to leave the assembly.

10:00am: The Speaker ordered the 3 frog ADUN to leave the assembly.

9:55am: PAS Youth chief Salehuddin Ayub was arrested.

9:50am:40 AMK members were arrested about half an hour ago.

9:40am: There is a group gathering near the Democracy Tree and they are being asked to disperse by the police. There is another lull in arrests, the 18 who have been arrested thus far are being taken to the Pusat Tahanan FRU near Stadium Perak.

9:20am: The FRU charged into the corner restaurant below the DAP office and started arresting people, people who were having their breakfasts.

9:10am: After a lull, the police went into the crowd gathering and arrested Zorro and a few others.

8:55am: The situation on the ground is very tense. The FRU is gearing up , preparing for a showdown.

8:45am: Another 6 people have been arrested, all for wearing black and within 500m of the secretariat building. The DAPSY deputy chief, Janice Lee was also arrested.

8:40 am: MP for Ampang, Zuraidah Kamaruddin and Tian Chua have just been arrested. They were in the car with one of the state assemblyman. The police are not letting up.

8:25 am: MB Nizar just arrived at the State Secretariat, followed by other PR ADUNs while the BN ADUNs are in the car queue to be let in.

8:20 am: A group of DAP members gathered in front of the police barricade in front of the state secretariat building holding up potrait of the Agong. Police immediately ordered their arrests. We witnessed five people, including an old man on his morning walk, being arrested. The four are DAP members.

The mystery of the missing confession

2009-05-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

We met early April at La Bordega in Bangsar. Bull suggested I should instead sign a Statutory Declaration, as that would be stronger. They can ignore my article but they can’t ignore a Statutory Declaration.

NO HOLDS BARRED | Raja Petra Kamarudin - Monday, 04 May 2009

From the 12th to the 22nd September 2008, I was detained at the Police Remand Centre (PRC) where most ISA detainees spend their first 60 days of detention. Suddenly, on the morning of the 22nd, I was told that my interrogation, which was held from the 17th to the 21st, is going to end and that they have to finalise their report that same day.

That was the first surprise.

I was supposed to sign my statement the following day -- on the 23rd. Instead, I was packed off to Kamunting the morning of the 23rd without being allowed to sign the statement cum confession.

That was the second surprise.

What was it that the higher-ups were so scared about that they wanted to keep my confession cum statement from those who were supposed to review it and decide whether I can be released or should be sent to Kamunting for further detention? I really don’t know because they never told me.

Anyway, here is part of my interrogation by the Special Branch -- what they asked and what I replied.

The last time you were detained for 54 days, is that correct?

Yes, it was from 11 April to 6 June 2001. I think it was about 54 days.

You were not sent to Kamunting right?

That’s correct.

That’s because you cooperated. So if this time you also cooperate then there is a good chance you will also not be sent to Kamunting. You might be allowed to go home like the last time.

(I just nod)
We find your Statutory Declaration very hard to believe.

Why do you say that?

Well, we don’t think what you said about Rosmah being at the murder scene is correct. How do you know? It is highly unlikely. Rosmah is very rich. She has plenty of money. Why would she want to take the risk of going there personally? She can pay someone to do the job. No need for her to go there herself.

Well, that’s what I was told, that she went there personally.

We don’t think so. It doesn’t make sense for her to go there herself.

Okay, if you say so, but I know what I was told.

Who told you?

Lt Kol Azmi Zainal Abidin. He is the number two in the Special Branch of the Military Intelligence.

Yes, we know who he is.

So, that means you can ask him yourself then since you know him.

But how do you know he was telling you the truth? He could be setting you up.

I admit I don't know Lt Kol Azmi that well. But he is always in Ku Li’s office. He is very close to Ku Li. And Anwar Ibrahim also knows him very well.

So you are not really that close to Lt Kol Azmi. That means you don’t know whether you can trust him. We feel he is setting you up as the fall guy.

Maybe if I had to just trust him then I wouldn't dare take that risk. I mean; I don’t know him well enough to trust him all the way. But the person who introduced us is a very old friend. I’ve known him for about 45 years, longer than I’ve known my wife. And I trust my friend. My friend gave me his personal assurance that the story is legit.

Who is that friend?

Nik Azmi Nik Daud. We call him Bull. He works for Ku Li. I also asked Din Merican to check with Anwar whether I can trust Lt Kol Azmi with my life. Those were the exact words I used.

What did Anwar say?

Anwar replied you should never trust anyone with your life. However, Lt Kol Azmi’s information is very reliable. I also asked John Pang, who also works for Ku Li, to check with Ku Li whether Lt Kol Azmi’s information is reliable. I told John what Lt Kol Azmi told us and asked him to inform Ku Li about it. John confirmed that Lt Kol Azmi told Ku Li the same thing and that the information is reliable.

So that is why you signed the Statutory Declaration?

No. Actually, initially, I wanted to just write an article, like usual. But Bull asked to meet first before I write anything. So we met early April at La Bordega in Bangsar. Bull suggested I should instead sign a Statutory Declaration, as that would be stronger. They can ignore my article but they can’t ignore a Statutory Declaration.

Then you signed it?

No. I still did not sign it yet. I was worried about the repercussions. We would be forcing the government to act and they might come down hard on me. As Bull said, they can ignore my article but they can’t ignore a Statutory Declaration. Bull called for a second meeting on the Sunday before I signed the Statutory Declaration. We met at the Selangor Club Dataran Merdeka for lunch.

And then?

I told Bull I was a bit worried about signing a Statutory Declaration because the government will surely arrest and charge me if I do. I felt an article would be safer. But Bull disagreed. He felt an article was not strong enough. Bull said if anything happens to me they would go to court to testify that what I had signed is the truth. Bull assured me they would not allow me to rot in jail. So, on the 18th June, I signed the Statutory Declaration.

Are you sure they will come forward to testify in your trial?

That’s what Bull told me and I trust him. As I said, I’ve known him for 45 years.

Okay, let’s see whether they do or not. But we think they will not. They will not come forward to testify at your trial.

Maybe. Maybe what you say is true. I don’t know. Let’s see. After all I have already been charged and my trial will soon start. Let’s see whether they keep their word and testify at my trial. But I am confident they will because they have given me their assurance.

We believe you have been set up as the fall guy. Maybe they want to get rid of you.

I don’t think so. Anyway, we will know soon enough once my trial starts. It is going to be a most interesting trial indeed once the truth surfaces. Don’t you think so?

Didn’t Najib’s people approach you to make a deal?

You mean to buy my silence? Yes, they did.

Who?

Datuk Jamaluddin Jarjis.

JJ?

Yes.

When?

It was not long after I was charged for sedition, before I signed the Statutory Declaration. JJ phoned and said he wanted to meet. I knew he was working for Najib so I agreed. We met at the car park outside Kelab Taman Perdana. My wife drove me there and waited at a distance. She was worried that it may be a trap and she wanted to be cautious in case they were setting me up, or something like that.

JJ arrived about 6pm and asked me to get into his car. He was alone. I waved to my wife and signalled her to go home and she wrote down JJ’s car number plate in case I disappeared or whatever.

We drove to a roadside stall in Jalan Ipoh and sat there and talked. JJ told me that Najib had asked him to meet me to make a deal. I asked him whether Najib really knows we are meeting and whether he had endorsed or sanctioned the meeting and JJ replied that our meeting was on Najib’s instructions.

We spent about an hour talking. The bottom line is he wanted me to stop writing about Najib and Altantuya. He also asked me whether I could delay my sedition trial until Najib becomes the Prime Minister. Once Najib is installed as Prime Minister they will drop the charges against me. I will also receive a monthly allowance of RM30,000 for my cooperation. He didn’t say for how long though.

I asked him how to delay the trial and he replied I can always get a medical certificate to confirm I am not fit enough to attend trial. I told him if I delayed the trial then the legal costs would increase and he offered to pay all the legal fees. He asked me to get my lawyers to issue an invoice and he would pay the cost, whatever it may be.

I told my lawyers about this incident so that at least some other people know about it.

So, what happened to the deal?

Soon after that I signed my Statutory Declaration. That was my way of saying no deal. After that they arrested me and charged me for criminal defamation. I suppose that was their way of replying to my reply.

Wouldn’t it have been better for you to accept the deal? After all, Najib is soon going to be the Prime Minister.

Maybe. But it’s too late now isn’t it? I have already burned my bridges behind me. The above is a small portion of my questions and answers session with the Special Branch over the five days of interrogation. This, plus a lot more, was compiled into a report, which I was supposed to sign on the morning of 23 September 2008 -- but which never materialised for some strange reason. I am probably the first ISA detainee in almost 50 years who made a statement (confession) but was never asked to sign it.

RPK : Kenapa saya tak hadir di mahkamah

2009-04-25T11:39:00.000-07:00

Burma is eight years too late; Malaysia was first

2009-04-24T11:40:00.000-07:00

Friday, 24 April 2009 Malaysiatoday | NO HOLDS BARRED - Raja Petra Kamarudin

Yes, that’s right. Ustaz Dr Badrulamin was detained without trial for two years for the ‘crime’ of praying. That’s because he made the ‘mistake’ of praying for the release of all ISA detainees.

Arrested for praying

Two members of detained pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's political party were arrested and charged with insulting religion after they prayed for the release of political prisoners, a party spokesman said on Friday.

National League for Democracy spokesman Nyan Win said authorities arrested Chit Pe, the party's deputy chairman, and party member Aung Saw Wei in Twante on Tuesday.

Both took part in a prayer service for the release of political prisoners, which was held at a pagoda in the township, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) south of Yangon.

Nyan Win said the two were charged with insulting religion, which carries a possible two-year jail sentence.

'The government is suppressing anyone who opposes or challenges them,' Nyan Win said. 'If a Buddhist is arrested and charged for praying at a pagoda, what can they do?'

Myanmar's military, which has held power since 1962, tolerates no dissent. The current junta came to power in 1988 after crushing a nationwide pro-democracy uprising and has stepped up its campaign against opposition politicians and activists ahead of elections planned for next year.

In recent months, military courts have sentenced hundreds of pro-democracy activists to prison terms of up to 104 years.

Myanmar now has more than 2,100 political prisoners, according to rights groups. The most prominent among them is Suu Kyi, who has spent more than 13 of the last 19 years under detention. She is currently under house arrest. – AP

*************************************************

The above is today’s news item from AP. What you just read really makes Burma look real bad; don’t you think so? Well, many of you may not be aware that the same thing happened in Malaysia eight years ago. And, in that incident, Ustaz Dr Badrulamin Bahron, one-time lecturer with the International Islamic University (UIA), was detained without trial under Malaysia’s draconian Internal Security Act and was sent to Kamunting for two years -- for praying.

Yes, that’s right. Ustaz Dr Badrulamin was detained without trial for two years for the ‘crime’ of praying. That’s because he made the ‘mistake’ of praying for the release of all ISA detainees. So they made sure he himself became an ISA detainee (maybe they thought the closer he is to the ISA detainees he is praying for, the better chance he has for his prayers to be heard). If he had instead prayed for the long-life, health and happiness of the Sultans, like they do during every Friday prayer in all the mosques in Malaysia, then he would not have been sent to Kamunting for two years.

It is actually quite ironical is it not? You pray to God that the ISA detainees get released, then ‘God’ grants you your wish by making you an ISA detainee. If this is not a point for atheists to use in their argument that there is no God then I really don’t know what is.

Anyway, it just goes to show that sometimes man does the work of God and you really can’t blame God for your predicament. I mean, if God is really is involved in all this, then how can God take away two years of your freedom just because you prayed to Him for the welfare of fellowmen who are victims of injustice?

To digress a bit here: do you know it is mandatory for all mosques to offer prayers to the Rulers and their crown princes during the Friday congregational prayers? I remember more than ten years ago or so when about seven or nine imams from Selangor were sacked because they were alleged to have ‘boycotted’ the part where they were supposed to offer prayers for the Sultan of Selangor.

Actually, this was not true at all. These imams were known PAS sympathisers and Umno wanted to get rid of them. So the Religious Department went to meet the Sultan and played a tape-recording of the Friday prayers to ‘prove’ that these mosques did not offer prayers to the Sultan and his son.

Of course, all they had to do was to delete that part where the prayers were held and splice the tape. Then the ‘new’ tape-recording would show that no prayers were offered. The Religious Department sought permission from the Sultan to sack these seven or nine imams and the Sultan consented.

I can’t remember all the imams or mosques involved but I do remember that the Sungai Buloh, Subang Airport, and Subang Jaya mosques were amongst those that suffered the removal of their imams for the crime of not offering prayers to the Sultan and his son. Later, other mosques in the Federal Territory -- like the Bangsar Abu Bakar Siddique and Damansara Utama Mujahidin mosques -- also came under the hammer of the religious authorities. These mosques too were headed by known PAS sympathisers.

If you can remember, during the last general election, the head of PAS Johor appointed a young Indian (Hindu girl) lawyer to contest a seat in Johor. Well, this man, Ustaz Mahfoz, was the imam of the Mujahidin mosque in Damansara Utama who was sacked. And he appointed an Indian Hindu girl (read: girl, Indian and Hindu in one breath: three so-called taboos for PAS according to those who claim that PAS is a Taliban party) as a PAS candidate. Yet he was sacked by the religious authorities for being an ‘extremist’.

Okay, enough digression. Back to the story of Ustaz Dr Badrulamin who was detained for praying, just like what they do in Burma. Ustaz Dr Badrulamin was actually detained earlier that year but was released after a few months. However, it was a conditional release. He was not to meet in a group of more than four. He must remain indoors from dusk to dawn. And he may not leave his home district.

He complied with all that. But he thought that leading a prayer (baca doa) would not be regarded as an illegal gathering -- as any gathering of more than four without a police permit would be classified. And it was not a street or outdoor gathering. It was indoors. And he was not giving a ceramah or speaking in an anti-government rally. He was leading prayers for the wellbeing of all ISA detainees.

Ustaz Dr Badrulamin was wrong. The police did consider it an illegal gathering and therefore in breach of the terms and restrictions imposed on him. They summoned him to the Rawang Police Station without telling him what it was about. And as soon as he entered the police station they served him with a detention order and sent him to Kamunting.

That was Malaysia then. That is Burma now. Burma is eight years too late. And Malaysia is still like Burma today.

Warrant of arrest for RPK

2009-04-24T07:00:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2009

RPK and Malaysian justice — The Malaysian Insider

2009-04-23T19:21:00.000-07:00

APRIL 23, 2009 — Raja Petra Kamarudin today decided to stand up for justice by running away from the law.

Irony and contradictions like these are normal in Malaysian life. More so in the life of the Malaysia Today editor who wrote a few months ago that he would end up being detained without trial under the Internal Security Act where he will fast to death.

Today, he wrote: "After two ISA detentions, I do not plan to allow them to get me so easily the third time around. I also refuse to face treason charges that will result in me being sent to the gallows. I love my life and wish to remain alive a few years longer if possible."

Treason or rather durhaka was also his reason for self-exile from Selangor where the sedition charge is being heard in the Petaling Jaya court. The minor royalty claimed to have left Selangor over family differences and reaffirmed today he would never return to the state, sticking to his principles and sense of justice.

Yet, he concluded his post today by saying: "I shall, however, attend the court hearing when the situation permits, i.e. I am no longer to be charged for treason and I get an assurance from the powers-that-be that the government’s appeal against my ISA release is withdrawn forthwith and that no new detention order has been issued."

One knows not whether Raja Petra, called Pete by family and RPK by most Malaysians, will be charged for treason in going against the Perak palace over the state's constitutional impasse.

But he has a slew of charges related to his writings about murdered Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu. He has been held under the ISA, charged with sedition and faces criminal defamation charges for the same weblog posts.

RPK too pointed out that he has been held and charged for the same offence a few times, going against the grain of justice where one cannot be charged twice for the same crime. Such is the irony of the Malaysian justice system.

And therefore, the controversial blogger prefers to be free, seen as some as his way of continuing his crusade and others as his style of running down people and continuing to be a thorn in the flesh of Datuk Seri Najib Razak, whom he has tried to link to the Altantuya murder.

As yet, there is no proof that Najib is involved but conspiracy theories abound, some which have landed RPK in court over the past two years. His brush with the law also reflects the deep divide over whether there is continued selective prosecution and persecution by the state and the state of the Malaysian judiciary.

Prosecuting RPK in the criminal justice system or holding him under ISA might shut him up but it will not lay to rest the conspiracy theories and rumours that have dogged Najib since 2006. The only way is to clear his name to the Malaysian public, which was even recommended by his patron Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Otherwise, RPK the fugitive will not rest until he sees his version of justice is done. And if RPK does not rest, neither can Najib nor the rest of Malaysia for some time to come.

RPK absconds

2009-04-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

KUALA LUMPUR, April 23,2009 — Malaysianinsider | By Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin appears to have gone on the lam after he failed to turn up in court for his sedition trial this morning because of what he says on his blog is a "self-imposed exile" from Selangor.

A warrant of arrest has been issued for the blogger-turn-fugitive and his wife who is his bailor.

In a posting on his blog this morning RPK, as he is better known, claimed that he had decided to become a fugitive to avoid being detained and because of a family feud with the Sultan of Selangor over his views on the Perak constitutional crisis.

It is not clear if RPK and his wife are still in the country. Neither have been answering the telephone in the past few days.

If RPK is overseas, he could become a thorn in the side of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.

He has used his blog to make unrelenting attacks against Najib and his wife, accusing them of involvement in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu, the Mongolian lover of the PM’s associate Abdul Razak Baginda.

RPK was supposed to go on trial today as he has been charged under section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 which carries a maximum fine of RM5,000 or three years' jail or both upon conviction.

He is accused of publishing the article “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell” on his Malaysia Today website.

This morning his lawyer J. Chandra informed Sessions Court judge Rozina Ayob that his client was on a self-imposed exile from the state for “reasons that are well known”.

“You know these ‘well known reasons,’ so please highlight them to the court,” Rozina told him.

“The accused is posting his reasons on his website this morning,” said Chandra.

“You expect the court to go through that, is it?” the judge replied.

Chandra proceeded to tell the court that RPK, who is a minor Selangor royal, had had a falling out with his family over his comments about palace involvement in the Perak constitutional crisis.

In his blog post, RPK also claimed that he was expecting to be detained again very soon by the authorities because he and his associates were being trailed by police.

He also wrote of his fear that if he was detained again he would not obtain freedom so easily.

RPK was detained under the Internal Security Act last year but a court subsequently freed him.

The influential blogger also claimed he would not get a fair trial.