NAJIB AND ZAMBRY NOT ELECTED BY RAKYAT

Najib in The Malaysian Insider 'Najib: Please judge me by my actions':
"Give me a chance. Judge me by my actions. Don't judge me on rumours and baseless allegations. I will reform and I will make changes."

Zambry in interview with Malaysiakini 'Q&A: Give me a chance to prove myself':
"This is what we want for the state. I want to plead to all the people, give us - give me and my team, the opportunity to prove to the people what we can do."

There is only one conclusion that can be drawn from the similar statement of 'Give me a chance':
NAJIB'S AND ZAMBRY'S CONFESSION IS A MANIFESTATION OF A DEEP-SEATED GUILT THAT THEY ARE IN THE SEAT OF POWER NOT BY THE ELECTION OF RAKYAT BUT THE APPOINTMENT OF UMNO.

ALTANTUYA: Funeral procession from Rembau to Penanti!

A PKR leader has challenged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to sue all the international media groups that linked him to the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu or face a mammoth nationwide mock funeral procession for the slain Mongolian national.

MCPX

In issuing the ultimatum at a public forum in Penang last night, PKR supreme council member Badrul Hisham set nomination day for the Penanti by-election (May 23) as the dateline for Najib to file his suits against the media groups across the globe.

"If he has nothing to do with the murder, Najib should immediately sue those international newspapers, some 19 of them, that linked him to the gruesome killing," he said.

Badrul, the PKR Rembau division chief, told this to some 1,000 people in a hard-hitting speech during the forum held at a municipal wet market complex in Bayan Baru.
If Najib failed to meet the dateline, Badrul, commonly known as "Chegu Bard", warned that he will lead a mammoth convoy of cars and trucks carrying a coffin of Altantuya's effigy from Rembau to Penanti during the by-election campaign.
(Source: Malaysiakini - Support Malaysiakini! Subscribe to Malaysiakini!)

NOBODY IS A 2ND-CLASS CITIZEN. I AM NOBODY

Nobody is a 2nd-class citizen: Najib

Nik Aziz says 'bumiputera' term is racist.

Nobody should consider himself a second-class citizen nor feel sidelined or left behind in the nation’s progress but the fact is nobody is a second-class citizen. Nobody does not feel sidelined or left behind. The fact is nobody is sidelined and left behind.

SWINE FLU - from wikipedia to news results, blog posts, updates and even fun facts!

swine flu - Google Search and you will find at least 150,000,000 results as I write this post.

You can find everything about 'swine flu' from Wikipedia to news results, blog posts, updates and well, even fun facts! Hmm...I wonder what is so fun about swine flu.

WHO raises pandemic alert level to 4 for the first time. What does it mean? Basically, 'level 4' indicates the infection could spread between humans to cause “community-level outbreaks”.

Best we can do now is to stay away from 'high-risk' countries. The Star Online reported 'Swine flu: Health Ministry advises against travel to Canada, Mexico and US states (Update 4)'.

Pity Obama. As if the economic turmoil wasn't enough, he now has to address this pandemic issue.

MOTHERS HAVE THE RIGHT OVER THE CHILDREN, NOT ONLY FATHERS - www.malaysiakini.TV

The three parties in the Pakatan Rakyat coalition have arrived at an initial stance on the cabinet decision that bars parents from secretly converting their children to another faith.

As each of the parties - PKR, DAP and PAS - hold a different and contradicting view on the matter, their leaders have agreed that priority should be given to resolving custody issues before taking up matters relating to religion.

PKR deputy president Syed Husin Ali said when contacted that issues linked to conversion need to be further studied.

Explaining that Pakatan does not necessarily have to adopt a common position on every matter, he said “we need only a minimum (stance) to hold us together”.

PAS is taking a stronger line on the issue claiming that fathers have the right over children.

PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, said that the cabinet's recent directive stating that children should be raised in the religion at the time of marriage should one of the parents convert to another religion, smacks of appeasement to the non-Muslim population. He calls it an evil political agenda after BN's loss in the two recent by-elections, which they attributed to non-Malays abandoning the Barisan Nasional coalition.

(Source: Malaysiakini)

I am sure all the men in PAS know very well that one man and one woman make one child. Simple biology equation. A woman has to carry the child for nine months. What does the man do? Nothing. If PAS calls it an evil political agenda of BN, please do something good to overcome this evil. Is it fair for a Hindu woman to lose her right over her children? Where is justice?

Nizar vs Zambry: NO FAST-TRACK HEARING, NO MAY 7?

Back to High Court for MB vs MB
The Federal Court today sent back the MB versus MB case to the Kuala Lumpur High Court after dismissing Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir’s application for a fast-track hearing.

MCPX

The apex court allowed the preliminary objection raised by ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin's counsel Sulaiman Abdullah.

Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff agreed that disputed facts exist between the affidavits filed by Mohd Nizar and the state legal advisor, who is representing Zambry.

The judge said this has to be determined by the High court. Zambry's application was dismissed based on the preliminary objection but not on merits.

With this development, Mohammad Nizar has asked the state assembly sitting - slated to convene on May 7 - to be adjourned to another date.

He said that there were so many uncertainties to be determined by the High Court which will hear the original matter on May 4.

The sitting of the assembly on May 7 was sought by Zambry and granted by the Sultan of Perak.

Thank God I'm much better now

Yesterday morning, I went to see the doc. My neck and shoulder were 'stiff'. I must have sprained them while I was sleeping.

I could only turn less than 45% to the left. Decided to go to see the doc. Told him my problem. After pressing my spine from my neck up and measuring my blood pressure, he went back to his seat and said, 'Don't go for massage, take a lot of rest.' Then I asked him the obvious, 'Could you give me one-day medical leave.' He smiled and said, 'I could give you more than that.' I was surprised to hear that but forgot all about it as soon as I stepped out of the consultancy room.

I didn't take a look at my medical certificate until just now. Indeed, I have been given 2-day rest.

Regret. Should have taken advantage of today, supposedly a day of rest.
8|

Penanti: EC WILL NOT GO EASY ON OFFENDERS

The Penanti by-election will enable the Election Commission (EC) to apply the litmus test in strictly enforcing election laws and other curbs on both nomination and polling day.

MCPX

Political parties and their supporters will, for example, be prevented from canvassing for votes and campaigning from midnight to 5pm on polling day - May 31 - to allow a cooling-off period for voters to make their choice.

“We have allowed a campaign period from May 23 (nomination day) until midnight on May 30 and you can campaign all you want within that. On polling day, stop it...I don’t want a mockery of the law,” warned EC head Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof at a press conference this morning.

He also did not rule out the possibility that the number of supporters accompanying candidates on nomination day would be limited to a “sensible” number, so that the police strength can also be reduced.

“There are no provisions in the law to limit the number of supporters. But from our observation, the numbers are getting bigger just to escort their candidate to the nomination centre. Anything could happen if this gets out of control,” said Abdul Aziz.

Nizar vs Zambry: Interview with Malaysiakini

Below are some excerpts extracted from excerpts published in 'Q&A: It's like a children's story'

But you still haven't answered our initial question, what’s going to happen on May 7?

Well, number one, the sitting is very important. Because it is very important to have the sitting. What happens next, you will just have to wait and see lah. I don't want to speculate or anticipate anything but I pray that everybody will keep a certain composure. That is very important.

Will there be a vote of confidence in you as MB?

Well that is not the question of a vote of confidence unless they table the vote of no confidence. Then only you have it...

So there will not be a vote of confidence?

I don't think so because it is not in the agenda in the first place.

There is a speculation, you can deny it, but it says you will go in the May 7 assembly sitting as MB with the numbers on your side, you might seek to suspend the speaker and then you have already got one independent who used to be the deputy speaker and put her in place, then things will be easier for BN. Do you see that happening?

That is a hypothetical idea. (Laughs). It’s not speculation but I put it as hypothetical.

But in any way, you still have to remove the speaker, right?

Well, wait and see then (laughs). We want to make it in a cordial way...After all we still have to go through the process of democracy, that’s what this is about.

We should respect the voice of the majority also.

We are going back to the question of the process of democracy, ultimately the voters should decide on that, it should not be decided by three people who had defected.

No, who are the voters that you are talking about?

The people of Perak.

There you have it! Someone has forgotten the people of Perak. Nizar, the MB of Perak, requested for a dissolution of the assembly and said that if Pakatan Rakyat was to lose in a fresh election, then Pakatan Rakyat would accept the people's decision. Obviously, Nizar's stand is contrary to Zambry. The former is for the rakyat, the latter...well, he just conveniently forgets the people of Perak.

Penanti: Will BN play to the tune of the opposition?

Umno will be deciding soon if it wants to contest in the Penanti state seat by-election which will be held on May 31. The nomination day for the polling is on May 23.

The decision will be made by the party's political bureau which will meet soon, said Prime Minister and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak today.

"Wait. We will meet soon," he said when asked to comment on the Election Commission announcement today of the nomination and polling dates.

Previously Najib, who is also the BN chairperson, had suggested that the coalition skipped the by-election as it was a waste of public funds.

He had also said that BN did not want to play to the tune of the opposition.

(Source: Malaysiakini)

GO or NO, 1Malaysia PM will bear the consequences. GO means he has to eat his words. NO means he KIASU.

Penanti poll is ON! May 23 nominations. May 31 election.

The by-election for the Penanti state seat in Penang will be held on May 31.

The Election Commission, announcing the date this morning, has fixed May 23 for nominations.

The seat was vacated by PKR's Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, in the wake of corruption allegations linked to quarrying operations.

However, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has since cleared him of any wrongdoing.

PKR is expected to announce a candidate, but Barisan Nasional has yet to decide on contesting the by-election.

This will be the sixth by-election since the 12th general election last year, which saw the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance take control of Penang and four other states.

However, Perak has since fallen to the BN, with three representatives leaving the coalition - two from PKR and one from DAP.

P Uthayakumar: SAD STORY OF INJUSTICE

Today April 26, 2009, marks my 500th day under Umno’s captivity without being charged, tried or found guilty in a court of law. I suppose this is ‘justice’ for me, an Indian ethnic minority and human rights lawyer of 18 years.

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s continued unilateral decree is that I be made to serve a jail sentence of two years and indefinitely thereafter under his regime. There are prisoners here at Kemta Kamunting, Taiping, serving their eighth year of their ISA sentences.

But I have no regrets. I know in my heart that every day of my imprisonment will liberate and open up a thousand new minds against Umno’s atrocities and injustices in their marginalisation, discrimination, suppression, oppression and the exclusion of Indians from the mainstream of national development in Malaysia. 

Today, I have grown 500 days older. Today, I have lost 500 days of my precious freedom. Today, it is 500 days since I shaved my beard or combed my hair to protest my ISA detention. Today, it is 500 days since I have been made to wear the very same two pairs of dark blue baggy pants and white restaurant waiter-like prison uniform.

MANOHARA SELAMAT

'BREAKING NEWS' from zorro-unmasked.

ERIK, THE BIGGEST LOSER! - www.nbc.com

Just finished watching 'The Biggest Loser Finale', a reality show on NBC.com.

My wife and I enjoyed watching this show. It was pretty inspiring to see 50 contestants from across America starting out to fight against obesity.

Out of 50, only 14 were chosen. These 14 were divided into 2 teams competing against each other. In every round, each team had to vote out its own team member leaving only 4 contestants to enter the finale.

Tonight, the finale was shown LIVE on Hallmark Channel of Astro.

Erik, the biggest loser, lost 214 pounds, at least 52% weight loss from the first time he had his weight taken in the show. Watch his weight loss here.

Dinner @ New Paris Restaurant, SS2, PJ

Six adults and one child. All of us had a good dinner. Dishes were 'foo yoong tan', 'lala', 'tow foo', 'foo yee yow mak' and 'sweet and sour pork'. Portion and price of food - reasonable. Who said there was an economic downturn? The restaurant was almost full last night.

9-MEMBER FEDERAL COURT PANEL FOR NIZAR?

Source: Malaysiakini
Ousted Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has applied to the Federal Court to have an unprecedented nine-member panel, when it decides to hear Zambry Abdul Kadir's application to interpret constitutional matters on Tuesday.

MCPX

Mohd Nizar filed the application through his lawyer Leong Cheok Keng on Wednesday.

If the application is allowed, this would be the highest number of Federal Court judges to hear an application. Normally, a panel of five judges would hear a matter if it concerns constitutional matters.

At present, there are 12 Federal Court judges since the recent elevation of Justice Gopal Sri Ram, James Foong and Mohd Ghazali Mohd Yusoff to the apex court.

The other judges are Chief Justice Zaki Azmi, President of the Court of Appeal Justice Alauddin Mohd Sheriff, Chief Judge of Malaya Justice Arifin Zakaria and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Justice Richard Malanjum, Justices Nik Hashim Nik Ab Rahman, S Augustine Paul, Abdul Aziz Mohamad, Hashim Yusoff and Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin.

When contacted, Leong confirmed that the application had been filed.

He cited two main reasons namely that the case is of public interest and that Mohd Nizar has questioned the legitimacy of the apex court in hearing the application as it involves the interpretation of a state constitution and not the Federal constitution.

On April 22, it was reported that Zambry is seeking a quicker resolution of the present political crisis by filing an application to bring the matter directly to the apex court to declare him the rightful Perak menteri besar.

ZAMBRY NOT THE RIGHTFUL MB YET

Zambry seeks quicker end to MB issue
It seems Zambry Abdul Kadir wants a quicker way to the resolution of the present political crisis in Perak. He has filed an application to bring the matter directly to the apex court for it to declare him to be the rightful Perak menteri besar.

MCPX

Zambry filed a notice of motion to the federal court yesterday to seek several matters of interpretation. It is learnt the matter has been fixed before the apex court on Tuesday.

He filed the application through the law firm of Zul Rafique and Partners.

He named ousted menteri besar, Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin in his application and wants the Federal Court's intervention to interpret:

(a) Whether Sultan Azlan Shah has the right not to accede to Mohd Nizar's request for the dissolution of the Perak assembly, when he (Mohd Nizar) ceased to command the confidence of the majority of the assembly;

(b) When the sultan declines to accede to Mohd Nizar's request, whether it constitute to his (Mohd Nizar) resignation and that of his state exco members; and

(c) Whether when Mohd Nizar refused to tender his resignation, his majesty had the right to appoint Zambry pursuant to Article 16(2) of the Perak constitution after the sultan is satisfied that he (Zambry) commands the confidence of the assembly.

Galatians 6:7-10

Galatians 6:7-10 (New King James Version)

⁷ Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. ⁸ For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. ⁹ And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. ¹⁰ Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Happy birthday to you

Janson loves the 'Happy Birthday' song.
Mommy called Janson 'Joshua' at 1:01 of this video.

THE RETURN OF THE LOST SHEEP TO BN!

Long time MIC supremo, S Samy Vellu, claims a preliminary survey by the party has revealed that many Indians, including youths wanted to join and support the party and Barisan Nasional, after seeing positive changes taking place under Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

MCPX

Samy Vellu said the random survey conducted through direct contacts with Indian NGOs, support and civil groups and individuals throughout the country revealed that many of the requests made by the MIC for the community had been delivered by the Prime Minister.

He said some of the requests included the RM130 million allocation for Tamil schools and the 15 percent quota of the recent sale of 3.33 billion units of Amanah Saham Malaysia shares.

He also commended Najib's deputy Muhyiddin Yassin’s “lightning speed” action in settling the Bukit Jalil Tamil school land problem with an allocation of RM2 million.

"This has also brought ‘a new paradigm shift’ in the thinking of the Indian community towards the BN."

1Malaysia PM can certainly take care of all Malaysians regardless of race. So, MIC and MCA, you better be grateful to Umno! Oh, pity you two little boys. You owe a lot to your big bro!

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.

One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

Baa, baa, black sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes sir, yes sir,
Three bags full.

One for my master,
One for my dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.

THE RM4 BILLION QUESTION FOR NAJIB - nizar, elizabeth wong

Published: Saturday April 25, 2009 MYT 7:05:00 PM

Najib wants immediate attention to ease city congestion (Update2)

KUALA LUMPUR: Three weeks after Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak went down to the ground to visit three localities in the heart of the city, the prime minister Saturday sprung another surprise when he went on a walkabout at the bustling Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman (Jalan TAR) and Puduraya here.

However, he was not happy with the traffic congestion and the inefficiency of the public facilities during his one-hour inspection, according to Federal Territory Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin.

Source: The Star Online

Flashback:
On June 16, 2008, I blogged 'NATO=Najib Always Talks Only'.

On March 11, 2006 14:03 PM Najib said:

Savings from cut backs on fuel subsidies amounting to about RM4 billion this year will not be used to bail out Malaysia Airlines (MAS) but instead will be spent to improve the public transport system, including in rural areas.

(Source: ~ MDTCA Special Web Page ~ BERNAMA)

MR. PM, PLEASE TELL THE RAKYAT HOW THE RM4 BILLION HAS BEEN SPENT TO IMPROVE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM?

Conclusion: Don't place too much hope on Najib

Source: Malaysiakini
Meanwhile, DAP vice-president Tunku Abdul Aziz said Najib had never been a reformer.

According to the former Transparency International-Malaysia president, Najib is surrounded by 'recycled politicians', many of whom seek to uphold race-based politics.

"As the president of Umno, he has to persuade his colleagues that the answer to Malaysia's future sustainability and competitiveness can only be achieved if the whole race-based structure is abolished.

"This will not happen," he said.

Tunku Aziz (far left in photo) also questioned Najib's 'One Malaysia' concept and pointed out that the proposal was not something new as DAP had long touted for a "Malaysian's Malaysia".

He said for the 'One Malaysia' concept to be successful, race-based policies must be terminated.

"But some of these policies, if abandoned, will bring about the end of their power."

He believed that race-based politics have lost its place in post-2008 Malaysia and race-based parties should be dismantled.

"These parties are really political dinosaurs; they have no business in the 21st century. My conclusion is - don't place too much hope on Najib."

No British monarch has rejected an application to dissolve its parliament

No British monarch has rejected an application to dissolve its parliament, and similarly in Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah should have dissolved the state legislative assembly when ousted menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin made an application.

Constitutional lawyer, Tommy Thomas said throughout British history there was never any attempts made by the monarchy to reject a prime minister's application to dissolve the parliament.

He said this at a forum held at the Bar Council titled: "Perak Crisis: Constitutional, Legal or Political".

Thomas noted that throughout Commonwealth history there was only one instance when the Canadian governor, Lord Julian Byng, did not accede to the request of its Prime Minister Arthur Meigen to dissolve parliament following an impending vote of no-confidence.

"It resulted in somewhat undesirable effect akin to what we see in Perak. To avert a crisis, it is wise for the rulers to accede to a request to a dissolution like in the Perak matter," Thomas noted.

Immigration Dept, police and Rela involved in human trafficking???

There is mounting pressure for newly-minted Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to take action in the wake of a damning United States Senate report on human trafficking in Malaysia.
New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on Najib “to protect the rights of refugees and victims of human trafficking.”
Meanwhile, veteran parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang urged the government to respond to allegations that Malaysian officials are complicit in the human trafficking of refugees.
“This is not only most damaging to Malaysia’s international image but raises also grave questions about Malaysia’s human rights commitment in Asean,” said Lim.
...

In addition, the report cited troubling allegations of Malaysian officials - including Immigration Department officials, police and Ikatan Relawan Rakyat (Rela) officials - colluding with human traffickers for personal gain. (Source: Malaysiakini)

www.exabytes.com.my - the better email hosting provider

The company that I worked for switched to exabytes for email hosting sometime middle of this month after getting service that sucked from emerge since April 1.

One of the main reasons for the switch was the fact that our helpdesk was heavily dependant on email as a communication channel. Thus, we could not afford any frequent intermittent downtime. My colleague who had to follow up with emerge on the problem got pretty frustrated.

There were some minor but bearable hiccups here and there after the switch to exabytes. One day, the service was down, I contacted exabytes helpline. Unlike emerge, exabytes support staff was pretty efficient. I was told that they were aware of the problem and it was on the board - meaning they were checking on it. Aaron, one of the staff, got my mobile number and said he would call me as soon as the service was up. Later in the day, the service was up again. As promised, Aaron called to inform me. Now, that is what I call service!

KUGAN: POLICE SELECTIVE ACTION? WHY SO SLOW?

It has been four months since 23-year-old youth Kugan Ananthan was found dead in a police station, but no one has since been charged for his murder.

MCPX

Hindu Right Action Force chairperson P Waythamoorthy has described the apparently lack of action by the Attorney-General’s Chambers as a “travesty of justice”.

“How difficult is it to ascertain this murder unless it is again a protracted attempt by the police department, in cohort with the AG’s office, to suppress justice for an Indian Malaysian,” he said.

“Hindraf understands and acknowledges the shortcoming in the current administration, but what we observe in Kugan’s case is beyond comprehension in present day and time in a so-called democratically-elected government.”

Kugan, who was detained on Jan 15 at the Taipan police station in Subang for suspicion of being involved in luxury cars theft, died five days later while in custody.

The cause of death was initially classified as sudden death caused by fluid accumulation in his lung.

However, relatives who were called in to identify his body at the Serdang Hospital mortuary on the night of his death, alleged they found lacerations and bruises all over his body.

Backed by video evidence, Kugan's family subsequently demanded that his body be sent for a second post-mortem at the Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC).

The new post-mortem revealed that the cause of death was due to, among others, brutal force on

EVERYONE IS BORN EQUAL, ROYALTY OR NOT

Report lodged against website's commentators
Two NGOs lodged a police report this afternoon against three commentators in Raja Petra Kamarudin's Malaysia Today website for malicious remarks against the Perak sultan.

MCPX

The comments were made in response to a Bernama news report titled, 'Raja Nazrin Defends Monarchy against Ridicule' posted on April 19 by a Malaysia Today administrator.

The report was lodged by Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah (Pewaris) and Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM) at the Sentul district police headquarters.

Today’s action followed a similar report lodged by Gagasan Melayu Perak (GMP) on Wednesday at Sungai Senam police station near Ipoh, Perak.

In that report, GMP has mistakenly named another website, Malaysiakini, and has since apologise to the online news daily for the error.

According to the NGOs, the disparaging remarks made by the commentators were aimed at tarnishing the dignity of the Malay race and the royal institution.

The first commentator, 'Pasok', condemned Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah, while a second commentator, 'Sandokan', hurled a swear word at the ruler.

A third commentator, 'agadam magadam', suggested that a former prime minister be brought back so that he could bring the royalty under control.

The Bernama article highlighted Perak crown prince Raja Nazrin Shah's statements that the royal institution plays an integral role in uniting the people and developing the Malay civilisation.

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra has since declared that he would go into 'self-exile' after failing to attend court to face a sedition charge yesterday.

The prominent government critic said that he did not believe he would receive a fair trial.

Isn't everyone born equal though one may be born with a silver spoon in the mouth or with no spoon in the mouth? No one, royalty or not, deserves to be ridiculed. Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity - royalty or not. Everyone, royalty or not, will return to dust one day!

PENANTI: THE REAL TRUTH - NAJIB AFRAID! ;-)

This must indeed be another sign of the kind of new politics that has arrived in Malaysia.

Before 2008, whenever a by-election is pending anywhere in Malaysia, the punters would have put their money on Barisan Nasional. They were those sad times that even if you put the BN symbol on a cow, I would still expect the poor animal to win the by-election hands down!

After the March 8 general election however, the BN traditional formulae of racial posturing, media manipulation, development Maggie Mee, and downright vote buying seem to have lost their magic, as they lost four by-elections in a row within one year in West Malaysia.

The forthcoming Penanti by-election looks like another losing battle for the BN. This kind of anticipation in favour of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat before a by-election was unheard of just a few years ago.

It is also unprecedented that the BN chairperson and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has floated his idea that BN should stay out of the Penanti by-election.

This is a good sign. It means that the Election Commission will not rule the PKR state assemblyperson for Penanti Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin's resignation letter as invalid. One can never be sure about such thing in Malaysia.

Najib's reticence about BN participation in the Penanti by-election, at least in his public statements, seems to have arisen from his feeling that the Malaysian public are by-election fatigued.

By-elections are expensive, as the mainstream media are quick to echo. The BN government has to concentrate on managing the nation's economy within the frosty winter of an economic meltdown. The by-election is unnecessary, and so on.

The chief Chinese representatives in the BN cabinet, Ong Tee Kiat of the MCA and Koh Tsu Koon of Gerakan, immediately purred in concurrence. I will be surprised if they do anything otherwise.

The real truth behind Najib's unwillingness to engage BN in another electoral tussle with the Pakatan coalition is simply that he is afraid to lose another by-election to the opposition, thereby giving steam to the opposition machinery in a long-running precarious war for the hearts and minds of Malaysians.

Having been nurtured in a political greenhouse, perhaps the second generation of any political family dynasty can never display the kind of iron in the soul as shown by the first generation of political leaders. That kind of fighting spirit cannot be transmitted through the biological genes.

(Source: Malaysiakini)

CHINESE MAN BROUGHT SHAME TO HIS OWN

A local MCA leader has apologised to the principal of SMK Pekan Nanas for his son's behaviour which nearly resulted in a racial riot in the Johor town.

MCPX

According to Sin Chew Daily, the former councillor identified in his Chinese name as Guo Yun Ji met principal Zainab Johari at her office yesterday. His son Guo Pei En was however not present.

The report stated that Guo admitted that his son should have resolved the matter amicably instead of resorting to violence. He also added that his son was short tempered.

"After learning that my son had assaulted a teacher who is highly regarded in the Malay society, I would like to apologise for my son's action. The teacher was only trying to mediate," he said.

Yun Ji then shook hands with Zainab. Several state education department officers were also at the meeting.

The problem started when the teacher's son, a Form Five student at SMK Pekan Nanas, had slapped Pei En's son, who is in Form One, after an accidental brushing of shoulders on April 20.

Following this, Pei En brought three friends to the school in order to settle the dispute but was stopped by the teacher.

Apparently a fight broke out between the two, and the teacher lodged a police report later claiming that he sustained injuries to his face, chest and back.

Source: MCA leader: Sorry for my son's behaviour

Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau: Kenapa BN kalah? Kerana gambar besar Zambry!

Politicians and their supporters are fond of stringing up gigantic photos of leaders, with the belief that it will help boost their popularity.

MCPX

Apart from being an eyesore and waste of funds, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned that it could actually have the opposite effect.

The 83-year-old statesman considered this as one of the contributing factors to the defeat of Barisan Nasional in the April 7 Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang by-elections.

The ruling coalition lost to Pakatan Rakyat, which chalked up bigger margins, despite Mahathir hitting the campaign trail as well.

Conceding that his presence did little to alter the fortunes of BN, he said: "I went to Bukit Gantang and Bukit Selambau to campaign. We lost in both places, lost with bigger margins.

"The papers reported that an independent post-mortem will be conducted. I hope the people doing this will question me also," he said in his blog.

In Bukit Gantang, Mahathir said there were lots of banners and posters.

"A lot of them showed the portraits of the candidate. But quite a lot showed the picture of the menteri besar (Zambry Abd Kadir)."

According to the former Umno president of two decades, there a certain quarters in the party who belief that if pictures of politicians are displayed everywhere, people are going to like and support them.

"So, huge billboards have been put up with huge portraits of the ministers and menteri besar. To show that the ministers are close to the prime minister, portraits of the PM are shown close to the minister concerned," he said.

This week thus far...

This week has really been a hectic week but thank God I have survived!

Thank God for giving me wisdom @ work.

Thank God for giving me strength.

Thank God for patience.

Endurance.

Grace.

Love.

Nizar = AGS 10 = Menteri Besar Perak! Hidup Demokrasi!

Ousted Perak Menteri Besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin has no plans to buy the official menteri besar car despite offers from the current Barisan Nasional state government.

"I'm driving it, I'm not buying it," an annoyed-looking Nizar told reporters last night at a public forum in Kuala Lumpur.

"We will wait for the court decision. There must be a (court order) to take it back," said Nizar, adding that as of now, the vehicle was still the "rakyat's car".

Yesterday, several newspapers reported that BN's Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir would give priority to Nizar during the auction of 16 Toyota Camry's used as official vehicles the latter's administration.

Nizar is the sole Pakatan Rakyat state representative that has refused to surrender the Camry official car over to the new state government because the Kuala Lumpur High Court has yet to decide on a suit on the legitimate menteri besar.

The matter has been fast-tracked to the Federal Court on Zambry's request and will be heard next Tuesday.

Nizar's administration had bought the 16 Camry vehicles on grounds that the imported cars cost less to maintain than the old fleet of Proton V6 Perdana.

Nizar's Camry still bears the Perak menteri besar plate, AGS 10, and was used to ferry him from Ipoh to the public forum in the Selangor Chinese Assembly hall last night.

(Source: Malaysiakini)

Perception: First alleged murder. Now alleged abduction - Altantuya Manohara

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak dodged questions about the alleged abduction of a young model by a Malaysian royalty as he met Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in Jakarta today.

MCPX

Reporters covering the press conference after the leaders met at the presidential palace were refused permission to ask about the case of 17-year-old French Indonesian model Manohara Odelia Pinot.

As they fielded approved questions about closer bilateral relations and economic cooperation, Manohara's mother held an emotional press conference of her own to plead with Najib for help in finding her socialite daughter.

Manohara married last year to a 32-year-old member of Kelantan royal family.

Her mother, Daisy Fajarina, said her daughter had suffered "emotional and physical abuse" at the hands of her husband, who was holding her against her will in Malaysia.

"As the new prime minister of Malaysia, I urge Najib to investigate to defend our rights and the truth," Fajarina told reporters at the offices of the national human rights commission.

"I just want my daughter to be set free... As a mother, I have a right to see my daughter."

She said she had been refused entry to Malaysia to see her daughter, who was crying and distraught when Manohara (right) last spoke to her Indonesian family by phone from Malaysia on March 21.

"I was already in the airport but immigration officials told me that I was strictly forbidden to enter Malaysian territory," she said, referring to an incident on March 19.

WANTED: RPK

Sedition trial: Arrest warrant for RPK
The Petaling Jaya Sessions Court has this morning issued an arrest warrant for Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamarudin for failing to appear for his sedition trial.

MCPX

Raja Petra, 59, is facing trial for the alleged seditious article entitled 'Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell' which was posted on the Malaysia Today website.

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.

Before the trial was adjourned in February, defence lawyer Gobind Singh Deo has raised the issue of an apparent photograph of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak seated at the table with murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu during her birthday party in the Mandarin Hotel in Singapore.

Raja Petra is facing another charge for criminal defamation in Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court for allegingly implicating Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, and two army officers in the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

The popular blogger's problem does not end there.

Last year, the Alor Star High Court has ordered him and editors of an opposition newspaper to pay damages over libel claims by a university head.

University Utara Malaysia and its vice-chancellor Nordin Kardi filed a lawsuit against Raja Petra over an item that alleged Nordin had plagiarised an article.

The High Court made the decision after Raja Petra and the opposition party PKR's newspaper, which also published the story, failed to file a defence.

It ordered Raja Petra to pay RM4 million to Nordin and the university, while two editors of Suara Keadilan had to pay RM3 million.

Raja Petra said the offending item was merely a letter written to him by a former student representative and that he would not pay the compensation.

Why I was not in court today


After two rounds of detention under the Internal Security Act, controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin said he does not wish for a third.

In a posting on his Malaysia Today website, the popular 59-year-old cigar-smoking writer of aristocratic lineage explains why he skipped today's sedition trial hearing.
"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," he said.
Raja Petra is facing trial for the alleged seditious article entitled 'Let's send the Altantuya murderers to hell' which was posted on the Malaysia Today website.

There are also rumours that the blogger, who has been one of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's staunchest critics, might have left the country with his wife. However, this could not be confirmed.
Over the years, Raja Petra's 'no holds barred' style of writing has earned him both admiration and condemnation.

Royal conflict
At the same time, the blogger said that his absence from court was also related to his recent dispute with the Selangor palace.
"This dispute was due to my open letter to the (ousted) Perak menteri besar Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin, which I wrote on March 2 in response to the ongoing Perak constitutional crisis.

"My family (his royal cousins) said I had acted in a treasonous manner and they wanted me to issue a public apology to the Sultan of Perak," he added.
However, Raja Petra refused to do so.

"The Sultan of Selangor was very angry and that triggered a conflict between our two families. My family told me I had brought shame to the family name and they demanded that I attend a family meeting to discuss the matter. However, I did not attend and this aggravated the situation.

"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," he penned.
According to Raja Petra, he has opted to go into a self-imposed exiled outside the state of Selangor - a "punishment befitting a member of the Selangor royal family who has courted the displeasure of the palace".

He said his grandfather Sultan Musa had suffered the same fate, and that was why the controversial blogger could not be in Petaling Jaya court today.

Altantuya: GO GOBIND GO! Don't let the murderer go scot-free!

Suspended Puchong member of parliament Gobind Singh will be filing a suit tomorrow against Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia over his 12-month suspension.

The suit will be filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court, said Gobind's father Karpal Singh.

The legal action follows a decision last week by the Federal Court in allowing a challenge by BN's Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir and his exco members against their suspension from the Perak assembly by assembly speaker.

"The Perak case has opened up a precedent for the matter (suspension) to be taken to the Federal Court," said Karpal, also the Bukit Gelugor member of parliament.

Gobind's action, when filed tomorrow, will be the first of its kind taken against a decision made by a Dewan Rakyat speaker.

Last month, Gobind was suspended without any allowances and benefits following his outburst in the House against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The debutant parliamentarian had allegedly linked Najib with the murder of Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu, and called him a "murderer" in the process.

The decision by the Federal Court last week was unprecedented as it allowed the judiciary to get involved in a decision-making process of the legislature.

Perak speaker V Sivakumar had suspended Zambry for 18 months and his six exco members for 12 months for causing contempt to the House by assuming the post of menteri besar and exco members.
(Source: Malaysiakini)

Between the sultan and Nizar, I respect Nizar!

In the latest twist to the political saga in Perak, state ruler Sultan Azlan Shah was accused of not citing any provisions under the state constitution when ordering Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin to resign as menteri besar.

This was revealed in an affidavit filed by the ousted menteri besar with the Kuala Lumpur High Court registry yesterday.

The Pakatan Rakyat leader gave a detailed account of what had transpired at the crucial meeting with the ruler on Feb 4 and 5.

Mohd Nizar also denied and questioned the version stated by Perak legal advisor Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid in his affidavit. According to him, Ahmad Kamal’s version did not constitute the whole truth.

In his affidavit to support the affidavit by Barisan Nasional’s newly installed menteri besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, Ahmad Kamal noted that the ruler had cited the constitution when ordering the ousted menteri besar to resign.

Mohd Nizar also revealed that during his 15-minute audience with the Sultan on Feb 5, he had warned the ruler of the possible consequences he could face in failing to dissolve the state assembly.
(Source: Malaysiakini)

Many people I know and talk to, can see the evil BN at work in Perak power grab. No need news from Malaysiakini to feed them with the 'opposition' view. Uncles sitting at the kopitiam with no access to Internet can see that Umno-led BN is wobbly and desperate to hold on to power. BN, be grateful to the rakyat! Remember who put you in power.

Isaiah 43

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,
And He who formed you, O Israel:

“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by your name;
You are Mine.
² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
³ For I am the LORD your God,
The Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I gave Egypt for your ransom,
Ethiopia and Seba in your place.
⁴ Since you were precious in My sight,
You have been honored,
And I have loved you;
Therefore I will give men for you,
And people for your life.
⁵ Fear not, for I am with you;
I will bring your descendants from the east,
And gather you from the west;
⁶ I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’
Bring My sons from afar,
And My daughters from the ends of the earth—
⁷ Everyone who is called by My name,
Whom I have created for My glory;
I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”
⁸ Bring out the blind people who have eyes,
And the deaf who have ears.
⁹ Let all the nations be gathered together,
And let the people be assembled.
Who among them can declare this,
And show us former things?
Let them bring out their witnesses, that they may be justified;
Or let them hear and say, “It is truth.”
¹⁰ “ You are My witnesses,” says the LORD,

“ And My servant whom I have chosen,
That you may know and believe Me,
And understand that I am He.
Before Me there was no God formed,
Nor shall there be after Me.
¹¹ I, even I, am the LORD,
And besides Me there is no savior.
¹² I have declared and saved,
I have proclaimed,
And there was no foreign god among you;
Therefore you are My witnesses,”
Says the LORD, “that I am God.
¹³ Indeed before the day was, I am He;
And there is no one who can deliver out of My hand;
I work, and who will reverse it?”
¹⁴ Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
The Holy One of Israel:

“ For your sake I will send to Babylon,
And bring them all down as fugitives—
The Chaldeans, who rejoice in their ships.
¹⁵ I am the LORD, your Holy One,
The Creator of Israel, your King.”
¹⁶ Thus says the LORD, who makes a way in the sea
And a path through the mighty waters,
¹⁷ Who brings forth the chariot and horse,
The army and the power
(They shall lie down together, they shall not rise;
They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):
¹⁸ “ Do not remember the former things,
Nor consider the things of old.
¹⁹ Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert.
²⁰ The beast of the field will honor Me,
The jackals and the ostriches,
Because I give waters in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert,
To give drink to My people, My chosen.
²¹ This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall declare My praise.

French Indonesian model and mother had dinner with Najib?

Model 'kidnapped and abused' by M'sian royalty
A startling allegation has surfaced in a Surabaya newspaper about a member of the Kelantan royal household, who is said to have 'abducted and abused' his 17-year-old Indonesian model wife.

MCPX

According to the Surya newspaper today, the family of Manohara Odelia Pinot are now in the dark as to her whereabouts and fear for her safety.

They also claimed that the French Indonesian model, who was named as one of the country's top models by an international magazine, was cut with a razor blade by her husband.

Her mother, Daisy Fajarina, said the royalty had forcefully taken her daughter away in a private jet from Saudi Arabia, where the family had gone to perform the umrah (minor pilgrimage) last month.

Manohara's family was invited to perform the umrah between Feb 25 and March 9 in order to reconcile with the royalty.

Daisy claimed that her daughter had fled to Indonesia after complaining of frequent abuse by her 31-year-old husband, "whom she married last August after being raped by the man" a year earlier, when she was 15.

In December 2006, Daisy and Manohara were invited to attend a dinner with Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and this was where the model had met her husband.

However, the report did not state where the dinner was held.

(Click here to read at SURYA Online in Bahasa Indonesia, of course)

Altantuya: It is NOT about NAJIB. It is about MOTIVE - JUSTICE FOR ALTANTUYA!

Excerpts from The Star Online

Sirul wants acquittal
SHAH ALAM: Unit Tindakan Khas operative Kpl Sirul Azhar Umar has asked the High Court here to acquit him of the murder of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu.

Alternatively, Kpl Sirul, 36, wants the court to declare a mistrial and order a retrial, including for political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, who had been acquitted without his defence being called of abetment in her murder.

Kpl Sirul’s counsel Kamarul Hisham Kamaruddin submitted before High Court Justice Mohd Zaki Md Yasin yesterday that his client was only a patsy (puppet) for a crime committed by others.

He said the prosecution did not provide complete evidence on Altantuya’s murder, but just wanted the court to believe that Kpl Sirul was involved in her murder and had disposed of all physical evidence later.

Kamarul, submitting that Kpl Sirul had no motive to murder Altantuya, said there should be a retrial as a material witness, DSP Musa Mohd Safri, a minister’s aide-de-camp, was not called to give evidence in the trial.

Altantuya's murder: It is death for Azilah and Sirul (Update2)

Azilah, who started his testimony on Jan 15, stated that he had no motive to kill or destroy the woman and instead he only met Altantuya to advise her politely not to harass Abdul Razak or create a ruckus outside the latter's home.

Azilah also told the court that he was ordered by a superior, DSP Musa Safri to help Abdul Razak and thus he would not have done something stupid like killing -- especially seeing he was a policeman.

Altantuya's murder: Motive remains unclear
SHAH ALAM: The suspect or suspects as well as the motive for the murder of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu remain unclear, said lawyer for the Shaariibuu family Karpal Singh.

“I think it is important to establish the motive. What motive did the two have? They didn’t even know this woman,” he told reporters Thursday after Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri, 32 and Corporal Sirul Azhar Umar, 36 were sentenced to death by the High Court.

He said the person who had the motive to kill Altantuya should be implicated and convicted with the two Special Action Force officers.

Elizabeth Wong: Mana gambar Altantuya Najib Razak Baginda?

New pictures of Eli Wong surface

PENANTI: MAHATHIR LAWAN ANWAR. SIAPA BAKAL MENANG?

Dr M wants to lead BN against Anwar in Penanti

KUALA LUMPUR, April 20 – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is prepared to lead Barisan Nasional’s (BN) machinery for the Penanti by-election as his supporters continue to pile pressure on Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak to abandon his idea of skipping the expected vote in Penang.

The former prime minister believes he can defeat PKR in the stronghold of his arch-enemy Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Penanti lies within Anwar’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

And this message has been communicated by Dr Mahathir’s supporters to various BN leaders.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir urged Najib to call off the idea of skipping the Penanti vote just a day after the new prime minister floated the idea.

Dr Mahathir argued that to concede defeat to the opposition would be a sign of weakness.

But The Malaysian Insider understands that so far, Najib and most BN leaders still think that it is counter-productive to contest the by-election in Penang.

Last week, PKR’s Fairus Khairuddin, who also resigned as Penang’s deputy chief minister amid graft allegations, resigned as Penanti assemblyman and paved the way for a by-election.

With even some in the PR camp concerned with election fatigue – Penanti will be the fifth poll since last year’s general elections – Najib began attacking the opposition for what he claimed was a waste of money in abusing the polls process for political mileage.

But PR leaders have hit back by accusing BN of cowardice.

Dr Mahathir’s remarks suggest that he fears BN and Umno may be stuck with that tag if they skipped the by-elections.

The Malaysian Insider understands that Dr Mahathir believes Anwar should not be given a free victory anywhere in the country.

The act of giving a walkover to Anwar, he feels, will have a demoralising effect on the Umno troops.

Dr Mahathir’s public remarks have, however, placed Najib in a predicament.

Accede to Dr Mahathir and he runs the risk of being labelled as being under the thumb of the former PM.

If he stands his ground, he risks getting the same kind of treatment Tun Abdullah Badawi received from Dr Mahathir, who contributed to his downfall through his unrelenting attacks on the administration.

It is understood, however, that the BN leaders are behind the Prime Minister on this issue.

Malacca CM & Terrenganu MB to step down soon?

MACC probing Malacca CM?
Despite the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) denying that Malacca Chief Minister Mohd Ali Rustam is being investigated, political sources are claiming otherwise.

MCPX

According to the sources, the veteran politician who was found guilty of money politics by the Umno disciplinary board, is being probed by the commission.

Apart from the money politics allegation, Mohd Ali has also been accused of awarding projects to his cronies.

It is learnt that opposition members from DAP and PKR have lodged reports concerning this with the MACC.

The political sources also claimed that MACC officers had recently raided the chief minister’s office and the state Public Works Department along with several state government linked corporations to gather evidence.

This morning, speculation was rife that the opposition would be mounting a protest outside the state secretariat building in conjunction with this session’s first state assembly sitting.

It was said that the protest was aimed at urging Mohd Ali, who has been chief minister since 1999, to step down.

Pressure piles on T'ganu MB to step down
Pressure is mounting against embattled Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Said to step down from the post which he assumed under controversial circumstances after the general election last year.

The number of Umno/BN state representatives who want Ahmad to step down now has increased to 18. Until last week the number of elected Umno representatives against Ahmad stood at 10.

BN/Umno has 24 seats in the 32-seat state assembly. The remaining eight are with opposition PAS.

BN Terengganu backbenchers club secretary Alias Abdullah (left) today said those opposing Ahmad included several state executive councillor members.

"However, I cannot divulge the names of these exco members, (in order) to safeguard their positions," he told Malaysiakini.

With this figure in hand, the group now has sufficient numbers in the assembly to call for a vote of no-confidence against Ahmad.

Alias, also the Alor Limbat state representative, added that he would be forwarding this latest development to the Umno top leadership to stabilise the political crisis in the east coast state.

He reiterated that the party will make "the best decision for the people's interests" now that they have stronger support on their side.