Posted by:Uncle Sam
More underage girls are having sex to get back at their parents for neglecting them. This startling information was revealed by police who said that the girls had initially claimed they were raped but later admitted to have consented to sex with their boyfriends.
Statistics compiled since 2005 showed that the number of girls below 16 years old who are sexually active has been increasing every year. The study also revealed that an alarming 60 per cent of girls between the ages of 13 and 15 had sex because they ‘wanted revenge’ on their parents. Sex with a girl aged under 16 is classified as statutory rape under the Penal Code.
The girls, largely from urban areas, confessed that they had befriended men as they were angry with their parents for subjecting them to emotional and physical ‘abuse’. While some had sex with men just to get back at their parents, others were coerced into it by the very men they had turned to for solace, said Asst Comm Suguram Bibi Munshi Deen, head of the Sexual Abuse and Children’s Division at Bukit Aman.
Noting that teen rape had risen since 2005, she said that the victims – mostly from cities and major towns in Selangor, Johor and Kedah – usually ended up pregnant.
‘We are not pointing a finger or exposing the private lives of families but the public must realise what is happening,’ said ACP Suguram Bibi. ‘Children, teenagers and youths are our future leaders and we as adults, parents or guardians must guide and instil in them right and proper values.’
Statistics from 2005 to 2008 showed 75% of the rape victims were below 18 years old and at least 60% of the girls were below 16. Boys below 18 made up between 8.4% and 13.6% of the ‘rapists’. The study also showed that teenagers got bored easily, craved attention or wanted the freedom to express themselves.
ACP Suguram Bibi said parents should educate sons to respect the opposite sex and not take advantage of them. ‘We also found that some boys were challenged by their peers and forced to commit sex acts to prove that he was one of the gang and to stop being ridiculed.’
She advised parents to understand the law better and welcomed inquiries from anyone on investigation procedures in sexual assault cases.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
S’wak gov’t defeated in landmark NCR ruling
The Federal Court has upheld the concept of native customary rights (NCR) to land as including not only one class of such land called (cultivated land), but also pulau (communal forest) and pemakai menua (territorial domain).
The apex court delivered its ruling today in Kuching, in an application by the Sarawak government in a case initiated by local Malay Madehi Salleh to claim NCR rights over former Shell concession land in Miri.
Lawyers dealing in NCR cases were quick to point out the implications of the decision for some 200 land cases filed to date against the state government and companies that have obtained leases mainly for plantation and logging activities.
So long as NCR claimants can provide sufficient evidence to support their claims, logging and plantation companies may now find themselves in a quandary unless they are prepared to negotiate.
Madehi had taken the state government to court in 2007 over his rights to 6.6 acres of land and won the case.
However, the state government successfully appealed the decision in the Court of Appeal, following which Madehi turned to the Federal Court and won his case in October 2007.
The court recognised the pre-existence of NCR before the coming into force of any statue or legislation, in particular the Rajah Order of 1921. It said the reservation of the land under the Rajah’s Order for Sarawak Oilfields Ltd (SOL) did not have the effect of extinguishing NCR to the land.
There was no provision whatsoever in the Rajah’s Order that extinguished Madeli’s NCR to his tract of land, the judges said, noting that all it did was to reserve the land for SOL.
Furthermore, the Federal Court said native rights to occupy untitled land in accordance with customary laws subsisted in an area reserved for operation of SOL. Individual rights of natives were the same as communal rights, it added.
Application dismissed
The Sarawak government, unhappy with the decision, then applied to the Federal Court to review its own decision.
Today, however, the court disagreed that the applicants had met the threshold requirement and dismissed the review application with costs.
The Federal Court’s quorum comprised the Chief Justice of Sarawak and Sabah Richard Malanjun, Hashim Yusuf and Zulkifli Ahmad Makinudin.
Appearing for the applicants (Sarawak government) were State Legal Counsel JC Fong and his assistant Safri Ali. Miri-based lawyer Mekanda Singh Sandhu and his son Sathinda represented Madehi.
Sathinda told Malaysiakini later that the judgment can now be applied to all NCR land cases after this.
Millions of hectares of land have been leased out over the past 20 years to many companies and state agencies.
The Federal Court ruling re-affirmed a similar landmark finding in the Nor Nyawai & Others v Borneo Pulp and Plantation case in Bintulu in 2001.
The apex court delivered its ruling today in Kuching, in an application by the Sarawak government in a case initiated by local Malay Madehi Salleh to claim NCR rights over former Shell concession land in Miri.
Lawyers dealing in NCR cases were quick to point out the implications of the decision for some 200 land cases filed to date against the state government and companies that have obtained leases mainly for plantation and logging activities.
So long as NCR claimants can provide sufficient evidence to support their claims, logging and plantation companies may now find themselves in a quandary unless they are prepared to negotiate.
Madehi had taken the state government to court in 2007 over his rights to 6.6 acres of land and won the case.
However, the state government successfully appealed the decision in the Court of Appeal, following which Madehi turned to the Federal Court and won his case in October 2007.
The court recognised the pre-existence of NCR before the coming into force of any statue or legislation, in particular the Rajah Order of 1921. It said the reservation of the land under the Rajah’s Order for Sarawak Oilfields Ltd (SOL) did not have the effect of extinguishing NCR to the land.
There was no provision whatsoever in the Rajah’s Order that extinguished Madeli’s NCR to his tract of land, the judges said, noting that all it did was to reserve the land for SOL.
Furthermore, the Federal Court said native rights to occupy untitled land in accordance with customary laws subsisted in an area reserved for operation of SOL. Individual rights of natives were the same as communal rights, it added.
Application dismissed
The Sarawak government, unhappy with the decision, then applied to the Federal Court to review its own decision.
Today, however, the court disagreed that the applicants had met the threshold requirement and dismissed the review application with costs.
The Federal Court’s quorum comprised the Chief Justice of Sarawak and Sabah Richard Malanjun, Hashim Yusuf and Zulkifli Ahmad Makinudin.
Appearing for the applicants (Sarawak government) were State Legal Counsel JC Fong and his assistant Safri Ali. Miri-based lawyer Mekanda Singh Sandhu and his son Sathinda represented Madehi.
Sathinda told Malaysiakini later that the judgment can now be applied to all NCR land cases after this.
Millions of hectares of land have been leased out over the past 20 years to many companies and state agencies.
The Federal Court ruling re-affirmed a similar landmark finding in the Nor Nyawai & Others v Borneo Pulp and Plantation case in Bintulu in 2001.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Anwar strengthens grip in PKR reshuffle
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim made sweeping changes to PKR today, as he appeared to take firm control of his troubled party, and indicated Datin Seri Wan Azizah Ismail, his wife and party president, would play a more prominent leadership role.
Azmin Ali, a protégé of Anwar, and Tian Chua, the often-controversial information director, also appear to have been sidelined in the changes announced by the de facto party leader.
Azmin will no longer be elections campaign director. He will be replaced by Saiffudin Nasution. Azmin will now head a task force to strengthen party leadership at the state and division levels.
Tian Chua has been re-designated to strategic director while his place has been taken over by Latheefa Koya.
“Wan Azizah will give statements on emerging issues and her presence should be further highlighted,” Anwar wrote on his blog today.
Wan Azizah is seen as someone that Anwar can trust and as a leader, she is someone who is relatively immune from negative attacks from the Barisan Nasional.
The de factor PKR leader also said that deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali will focus on policy and Malay and Bumiputra issues.
Vice presidents Dr Lee Boon Chye, Sivarasa, Mustafa Kamil Ayob and Dr Jeffrey Kitingan together with Youth Chief Shamsul Iskandar and Women’s chief Zuraidah Kamaruddin will be part of Azmin’s task force.
Other changes announced by Anwar today:
Training committee chairman: Fauziah Saleh.
New membership committee chairman: Johari Abdul.
International relations committee chairman: Mustafa Kamil Ayob.
Deputy chairman: Dr Tan Kee Kwong.
Communication chief: Johnson Chong.
Discipline committee chairman: Datuk Yeop Adlan Che Rose.
Deputy secretary generals: Abdul Halim Yusof, Paul Kadang, Raveentharan and Sharifah Shahidah
Azmin Ali, a protégé of Anwar, and Tian Chua, the often-controversial information director, also appear to have been sidelined in the changes announced by the de facto party leader.
Azmin will no longer be elections campaign director. He will be replaced by Saiffudin Nasution. Azmin will now head a task force to strengthen party leadership at the state and division levels.
Tian Chua has been re-designated to strategic director while his place has been taken over by Latheefa Koya.
“Wan Azizah will give statements on emerging issues and her presence should be further highlighted,” Anwar wrote on his blog today.
Wan Azizah is seen as someone that Anwar can trust and as a leader, she is someone who is relatively immune from negative attacks from the Barisan Nasional.
The de factor PKR leader also said that deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali will focus on policy and Malay and Bumiputra issues.
Vice presidents Dr Lee Boon Chye, Sivarasa, Mustafa Kamil Ayob and Dr Jeffrey Kitingan together with Youth Chief Shamsul Iskandar and Women’s chief Zuraidah Kamaruddin will be part of Azmin’s task force.
Other changes announced by Anwar today:
Training committee chairman: Fauziah Saleh.
New membership committee chairman: Johari Abdul.
International relations committee chairman: Mustafa Kamil Ayob.
Deputy chairman: Dr Tan Kee Kwong.
Communication chief: Johnson Chong.
Discipline committee chairman: Datuk Yeop Adlan Che Rose.
Deputy secretary generals: Abdul Halim Yusof, Paul Kadang, Raveentharan and Sharifah Shahidah
Monday, April 27, 2009
Bloggers
Someone mentioned blogging is not only hobby but therapy…I could not agree more with this observation……….but some bloggers think otherwise. They thinks so highly of their hobby that they want to change the people, the rules& regulations, the system, the government, the world…ect. etc.ohhooooho..what a tall order. Being a fisherman naturally fishing is my number one hobby while yours is blogging …so what????
The words blogs, blogging, bloggered, bloggers or blogotician are all “computer rejected” words, hence conspicuously missing from some records & they are no where to be found in any dictionaries. Not even in Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary that began in 1898 which were known to offer a good deal of historical information about words. As there is no one acceptable meanings, interpretation or definition of the words, Bloggers came out with their own version henceforth causing some confusion.
In the words of NST Official, he sees Blogging as a mere hobby and to some it can be a form of therapy. Uchu Keling once said he decided to continue blogging as it was (and still is) his number one hobby, a very fair and sensible comment indeed.
So if blogging is hobby or leisure activities why do some bloggers made a big fuss out of it? Why complaining that the authorities, Ministers & government are too restrictive? Who are you to enforce your line of thinking upon others?
When bloggers think too highly of themselves they tend to go overboard with their net writing. They refused to draw the line and more often step over the boundary of their intended hobby. Bear in mind bloggers has no locus standi or business to enforce their views/opinion onto others let alone the democratic elected government.
I am no fan of Jabu but come to think of it he is not far from being correct when he said some bloggers are “specialist instigator”.
A particular Blogger wrote in his blog that through blogging he hopes to make the world a better place for his kids& grandsons to live.
A young lady blogger who claimed to be residing in Australia says, “I'm an angel, but I've lost my way back to heaven”. Until someone shows me the map, I've taken it upon myself to rescue the oppressed Sarawakians from the dictatorship of Taib Mahmud and his cronies while trying to halt the ever expanding empire of the Taib Mahmud dynasty. This is nothing but an outright blasphemy. Besides, what on earth is she doing in Australia if she cares to rescue the oppressed Sarawakians. Perhaps she is too scared to face Taib and chose to escape from the state and that is an act of being coward.
Another blogger claimed that he is gathering intelligence information to track down Osama Bin Laden.
There is one, who is able to accurately foretell/predict the world future through a mere microscope. One local blogger said he would try his level best as a net writer to give the NCR taken illegally by the authorities back to the landowners.
Yet there is this new kid in town (new web site) who declared “fishing in the moon” is his occupation.
These soft of characters suggest that some (not all) bloggers are day dreamers or jokers of highest level and also a great pretender. Why I said great pretender? I ve not heard any blogger/s who dared to sacrifice their life for just cause. If from dust till dawn you are harping on ways to help others but when people looked around and found out that you cannot even helped yourselves, how would others believed in you? Besides, with these weird characters in the blogsphere, turning the blogs into a serious business or discussion is an impossible task. Just gorgeous, they are competing for an ambitious plan, interesting and catchy phrase in display.
So Bloggers, who & what do you think you are? Are you sure you chose the right hobby? Do you think readers, authorities and our society at large would agree with you or listen to you all the times? If you think so you are bound to be frustrated & disappointed.
Bloggers may not like it but to me they are bunch of “emotional wishful thinkers”. Using remote control, PC/laptop, keyboard, SMSees, e-mail addresses and other IT apparatus they hope to create impact or shape public opinion. The intention I must say is a noble one but the problem is if people won’t listen or agree they start the cursing games. They started spitting, screaming, shouting, and put the blame on their PC. That’s okay, coz in a worst case scenario they may just get a new PC or get the damaged one fixed/repaired.
More often that not, these bloggers started writing defamatory remarks/article, instigate or incite hatred and that where it becomes problematic.
There are bloggers who wish to see things happened rather than waiting for the things to happen. That’s well and fine. There are others who wish things to happen their way, not too bad. If however bloggers gatecrash or forced their way through then they are inviting trouble and become a menace to the society. Yet believed me they are those serve-centered who refused to accept the choice of majority and instead chose to use rhetoric rather than facts.
My advice to bloggers is, if you are not prepared for disappointment or frustration; why not take the cue from me. Try taking fishing as a number one hobby. All we need is a fishing rod and some baits. There is no limitation to the number of fish one care to catch. There is no restriction as rivers are long and the seas wide. If I don’t catch anything I only blamed myself and not others. Besides all catches are tax exempted. If the fish “refused to be caught” or eat the baits I just stop by at the fish market for a kilo or two.
When I am not fishing I can also discuss about promoting 1Malaysia concept after all the subject is not only confined to bloggers.
NB: The above article is not meant to be commented on, it’s just my personal views.
The words blogs, blogging, bloggered, bloggers or blogotician are all “computer rejected” words, hence conspicuously missing from some records & they are no where to be found in any dictionaries. Not even in Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary that began in 1898 which were known to offer a good deal of historical information about words. As there is no one acceptable meanings, interpretation or definition of the words, Bloggers came out with their own version henceforth causing some confusion.
In the words of NST Official, he sees Blogging as a mere hobby and to some it can be a form of therapy. Uchu Keling once said he decided to continue blogging as it was (and still is) his number one hobby, a very fair and sensible comment indeed.
So if blogging is hobby or leisure activities why do some bloggers made a big fuss out of it? Why complaining that the authorities, Ministers & government are too restrictive? Who are you to enforce your line of thinking upon others?
When bloggers think too highly of themselves they tend to go overboard with their net writing. They refused to draw the line and more often step over the boundary of their intended hobby. Bear in mind bloggers has no locus standi or business to enforce their views/opinion onto others let alone the democratic elected government.
I am no fan of Jabu but come to think of it he is not far from being correct when he said some bloggers are “specialist instigator”.
A particular Blogger wrote in his blog that through blogging he hopes to make the world a better place for his kids& grandsons to live.
A young lady blogger who claimed to be residing in Australia says, “I'm an angel, but I've lost my way back to heaven”. Until someone shows me the map, I've taken it upon myself to rescue the oppressed Sarawakians from the dictatorship of Taib Mahmud and his cronies while trying to halt the ever expanding empire of the Taib Mahmud dynasty. This is nothing but an outright blasphemy. Besides, what on earth is she doing in Australia if she cares to rescue the oppressed Sarawakians. Perhaps she is too scared to face Taib and chose to escape from the state and that is an act of being coward.
Another blogger claimed that he is gathering intelligence information to track down Osama Bin Laden.
There is one, who is able to accurately foretell/predict the world future through a mere microscope. One local blogger said he would try his level best as a net writer to give the NCR taken illegally by the authorities back to the landowners.
Yet there is this new kid in town (new web site) who declared “fishing in the moon” is his occupation.
These soft of characters suggest that some (not all) bloggers are day dreamers or jokers of highest level and also a great pretender. Why I said great pretender? I ve not heard any blogger/s who dared to sacrifice their life for just cause. If from dust till dawn you are harping on ways to help others but when people looked around and found out that you cannot even helped yourselves, how would others believed in you? Besides, with these weird characters in the blogsphere, turning the blogs into a serious business or discussion is an impossible task. Just gorgeous, they are competing for an ambitious plan, interesting and catchy phrase in display.
So Bloggers, who & what do you think you are? Are you sure you chose the right hobby? Do you think readers, authorities and our society at large would agree with you or listen to you all the times? If you think so you are bound to be frustrated & disappointed.
Bloggers may not like it but to me they are bunch of “emotional wishful thinkers”. Using remote control, PC/laptop, keyboard, SMSees, e-mail addresses and other IT apparatus they hope to create impact or shape public opinion. The intention I must say is a noble one but the problem is if people won’t listen or agree they start the cursing games. They started spitting, screaming, shouting, and put the blame on their PC. That’s okay, coz in a worst case scenario they may just get a new PC or get the damaged one fixed/repaired.
More often that not, these bloggers started writing defamatory remarks/article, instigate or incite hatred and that where it becomes problematic.
There are bloggers who wish to see things happened rather than waiting for the things to happen. That’s well and fine. There are others who wish things to happen their way, not too bad. If however bloggers gatecrash or forced their way through then they are inviting trouble and become a menace to the society. Yet believed me they are those serve-centered who refused to accept the choice of majority and instead chose to use rhetoric rather than facts.
My advice to bloggers is, if you are not prepared for disappointment or frustration; why not take the cue from me. Try taking fishing as a number one hobby. All we need is a fishing rod and some baits. There is no limitation to the number of fish one care to catch. There is no restriction as rivers are long and the seas wide. If I don’t catch anything I only blamed myself and not others. Besides all catches are tax exempted. If the fish “refused to be caught” or eat the baits I just stop by at the fish market for a kilo or two.
When I am not fishing I can also discuss about promoting 1Malaysia concept after all the subject is not only confined to bloggers.
NB: The above article is not meant to be commented on, it’s just my personal views.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Taib in quandary over Larry S'ng's cabinet position
Taib in a quandary over Sng's cabinet position
With Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s cabinet reshuffle imminent, focus is on Larry Sng, an assistant minister in the Chief Minister’s Department and assistant minister of industrial development, who has been ‘party-less’ since April last year.
Is Taib going to retain or drop him? That is the question many people, especially members of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), are pondering.
Sng was expelled from PRS after a leadership crisis which began in May 2006 and which led to the election of two presidents in the party with two sets of supreme councils and two headquarters.
While Sng was ‘elected’ to be president of one faction, James Masing, on the other hand, was ‘elected’ to head the other faction by his own supporters.
Sng (pic above) had a promising career with PRS, holding a senior post in the party when it was formed following the de-registration of the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in 2004.
Elected at the Iban-majority Pelagus constituency on a PBDS ticket on his first electoral outing in 2002, Sng was then appointed assistant minister two years later at the tender age of 25 in a cabinet reshuffle.
It is known that he was strongly recommended to the chief minister by Masing in order to show his (Masing’s) gratitude to Larry’s father Sng Chee Hua, who together with Masing successfully de-registered PBDS to form PRS.
Sng’s appointment as assistant minister by-passed some of the most senior state assembly persons in the party.
Will Taib entertain Masing’s request?
But the fall-out began when the young and ambitious Sng challenged Masing for the top post of the Dayak-based PRS, a move considered by observers to be Sng’s biggest mistake.
Sensing a threat to his leadership, Masing then expelled Sng’s men from the party in order to curtail his influence.
The expulsion of party secretary-general Sidi Munan, deputy publicity chief Earnest Chua and supreme council member Sng Chee Beng, plus the ‘reassignment’ of Sng himself from deputy secretary-general to publicity chief triggered the protracted leadership crisis in the party.
One effect of the expulsions was that the party split down the middle with each faction ‘electing’ their own presidents both with their own supreme councils and party headquarters. The two protagonists proceeded to accuse each other of conducting party affairs illegally.
The problem was more or less solved when the Registrar of Societies on April 1 last year recognised Masing’s power under the party’s constitution to hire and fire officials and office -bearers. Sng and members of his faction were then expelled.
In the latest development, Masing (pic below) yesterday wrote to the chief minister to officially inform him that Sng was no longer a PRS member and that he should be replaced by another state assemblyperson from the party in the cabinet.
Masing’s request has placed Taib in a quandary although it is the chief minister’s prerogative to select any one to be in his cabinet.
Will Taib entertain Masing’s request? To not do so would mean that Taib does not regard PRS as an important partner in the state BN coalition and already there are grumbles in PRS that Taib is ‘bullying’ the party.
Drop Sng, and Taib will have to incur the wrath of Sng’s rich and famous father-in-law, Ting Phek Khiing, who is also Taib’s close ally.
Keeping a low profile
But nobody knows what game is Taib is playing. Seemingly, Masing has an advantage as he has seven state assembly persons and six parliamentarians with him.
Looking at the matter from this perspective explains why the promised cabinet reshuffle has been delayed a number of times, generating more interest along the way not only in PRS, but also among the Dayak community as they speculate on Taib’s next move.
Many think that Taib may not carry out the reshuffle although there are a number of vacancies which have yet to be filled especially after Sarawak United People’s Party’s (Supp) two assistant ministers were defeated in the 2006 state election.
The best solution for Taib, observers say, would be to carry on as usual until the next state election due in mid- 2011 or earlier. This way, he neither pleases nor incurs the wrath of anyone.
Sng, meanwhile, is keeping a low profile and concentrating on discharging his duties. He refuses to comment on rumours that he may join Supp soon.
On his political future, he will leave it to the chief minister. “I am not a fortune-teller so I don’t think I have business telling the future,” he said.
“There are a lot of things to do and serving the people is my priority now. I intend to continue serving the people until the people think that there are better people to serve them and their interests.”
With Sarawak Chief Minister Abdul Taib Mahmud’s cabinet reshuffle imminent, focus is on Larry Sng, an assistant minister in the Chief Minister’s Department and assistant minister of industrial development, who has been ‘party-less’ since April last year.
Is Taib going to retain or drop him? That is the question many people, especially members of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS), are pondering.
Sng was expelled from PRS after a leadership crisis which began in May 2006 and which led to the election of two presidents in the party with two sets of supreme councils and two headquarters.
While Sng was ‘elected’ to be president of one faction, James Masing, on the other hand, was ‘elected’ to head the other faction by his own supporters.
Sng (pic above) had a promising career with PRS, holding a senior post in the party when it was formed following the de-registration of the Parti Bansa Dayak Sarawak (PBDS) in 2004.
Elected at the Iban-majority Pelagus constituency on a PBDS ticket on his first electoral outing in 2002, Sng was then appointed assistant minister two years later at the tender age of 25 in a cabinet reshuffle.
It is known that he was strongly recommended to the chief minister by Masing in order to show his (Masing’s) gratitude to Larry’s father Sng Chee Hua, who together with Masing successfully de-registered PBDS to form PRS.
Sng’s appointment as assistant minister by-passed some of the most senior state assembly persons in the party.
Will Taib entertain Masing’s request?
But the fall-out began when the young and ambitious Sng challenged Masing for the top post of the Dayak-based PRS, a move considered by observers to be Sng’s biggest mistake.
Sensing a threat to his leadership, Masing then expelled Sng’s men from the party in order to curtail his influence.
The expulsion of party secretary-general Sidi Munan, deputy publicity chief Earnest Chua and supreme council member Sng Chee Beng, plus the ‘reassignment’ of Sng himself from deputy secretary-general to publicity chief triggered the protracted leadership crisis in the party.
One effect of the expulsions was that the party split down the middle with each faction ‘electing’ their own presidents both with their own supreme councils and party headquarters. The two protagonists proceeded to accuse each other of conducting party affairs illegally.
The problem was more or less solved when the Registrar of Societies on April 1 last year recognised Masing’s power under the party’s constitution to hire and fire officials and office -bearers. Sng and members of his faction were then expelled.
In the latest development, Masing (pic below) yesterday wrote to the chief minister to officially inform him that Sng was no longer a PRS member and that he should be replaced by another state assemblyperson from the party in the cabinet.
Masing’s request has placed Taib in a quandary although it is the chief minister’s prerogative to select any one to be in his cabinet.
Will Taib entertain Masing’s request? To not do so would mean that Taib does not regard PRS as an important partner in the state BN coalition and already there are grumbles in PRS that Taib is ‘bullying’ the party.
Drop Sng, and Taib will have to incur the wrath of Sng’s rich and famous father-in-law, Ting Phek Khiing, who is also Taib’s close ally.
Keeping a low profile
But nobody knows what game is Taib is playing. Seemingly, Masing has an advantage as he has seven state assembly persons and six parliamentarians with him.
Looking at the matter from this perspective explains why the promised cabinet reshuffle has been delayed a number of times, generating more interest along the way not only in PRS, but also among the Dayak community as they speculate on Taib’s next move.
Many think that Taib may not carry out the reshuffle although there are a number of vacancies which have yet to be filled especially after Sarawak United People’s Party’s (Supp) two assistant ministers were defeated in the 2006 state election.
The best solution for Taib, observers say, would be to carry on as usual until the next state election due in mid- 2011 or earlier. This way, he neither pleases nor incurs the wrath of anyone.
Sng, meanwhile, is keeping a low profile and concentrating on discharging his duties. He refuses to comment on rumours that he may join Supp soon.
On his political future, he will leave it to the chief minister. “I am not a fortune-teller so I don’t think I have business telling the future,” he said.
“There are a lot of things to do and serving the people is my priority now. I intend to continue serving the people until the people think that there are better people to serve them and their interests.”
Mindraf: Does Malaysia need another sectarian political party?
As if the political landscape of Malaysia wasn’t overcrowded already, there has come into the fray yet another sectarian community-based party, Mindraf (Malaysian Indian Democratic Action Front). Ostensibly set up by “good samaritans” concerned about the plight of their community, Mindraf has announced its political ambitions with the aim of representing Malaysian citizens of South Asian origin.
Now allow me to be blunt here: Malaysia does not need another communitarian party that caters to the primary concerns of a particular ethnic or religious community.
We are already forced to work on a contested landscape where there are too many parties that are based on ethnic and religious loyalties, and yet another sectarian party will hardly bring us any closer to realising the notion of a Malaysia where identity is based on universal citizenship and equal rights.
If anything, the tendency of such sectarian parties is to further add to the process of divide and rule and to further entrench sedimented notions of ethnic-racial differences.
This comes at a time when a younger generation of Malaysians have demonstrated their ability to transcend the ethnic divisions that once haunted the generation of their parents. So while we hope and pray for a better, more united and colour-blind Malaysia, whose idea was it to create another ethnic-based party?
The momentum for Mindraf was quite probably generated by the Hindraf movement, which had managed to challenge the hegemony of the MIC over the Malaysian Indian community for decades. But even then, Hindraf’s appeal — as suggested by its name — was limited to Malaysians of the Hindu faith primarily.
But some of us have maintained all along that the issues related to the Malaysian Indian community were issues that also affected Malaysians in general as well. The destruction of Hindu temples during the Badawi period was a loss for all Malaysians, and not Hindus only.
Over the past four years, we have see how some parties have gone out of their way to accommodate the concerns and needs of others: PAS, for instance, has stood up for the rights of non-Muslims to build temples and churches and has defended the right for non-Muslims to practice their faith.
It is clear that for some leaders of PAS like Nik Aziz, it is better for PAS to be allied to PKR, PSM and DAP rather than Umno. So how much more accommodation does it take before the communitarians in our midst realise that we have to build a new non-racist Malaysia on the common platform of a universal citizenship?
The other worry is that Mindraf may yet drain support and members from the other parties of the Pakatan, notably PKR and DAP. At a time when we need to create an alternative mode of Malaysian politics that transcends the narrow, parochial and primordial sentiments of racial and religious solidarity, a party like Mindraf merely goes against the grain — and in fact confirms and further sediments the hegemony of divisive communitarian politics in Malaysia.
It is also during times like this that I feel that all our efforts (not mine alone) to promote a new de-racialised non-communitarian politics in Malaysia have achieved so little, despite the energy and time invested.
Honestly, we are not going to have a new Malaysian politics unless and until we think, live and behave like Malaysian-minded Malaysians. And that day has yet to come, my friends. Sadly. — Aliran
Now allow me to be blunt here: Malaysia does not need another communitarian party that caters to the primary concerns of a particular ethnic or religious community.
We are already forced to work on a contested landscape where there are too many parties that are based on ethnic and religious loyalties, and yet another sectarian party will hardly bring us any closer to realising the notion of a Malaysia where identity is based on universal citizenship and equal rights.
If anything, the tendency of such sectarian parties is to further add to the process of divide and rule and to further entrench sedimented notions of ethnic-racial differences.
This comes at a time when a younger generation of Malaysians have demonstrated their ability to transcend the ethnic divisions that once haunted the generation of their parents. So while we hope and pray for a better, more united and colour-blind Malaysia, whose idea was it to create another ethnic-based party?
The momentum for Mindraf was quite probably generated by the Hindraf movement, which had managed to challenge the hegemony of the MIC over the Malaysian Indian community for decades. But even then, Hindraf’s appeal — as suggested by its name — was limited to Malaysians of the Hindu faith primarily.
But some of us have maintained all along that the issues related to the Malaysian Indian community were issues that also affected Malaysians in general as well. The destruction of Hindu temples during the Badawi period was a loss for all Malaysians, and not Hindus only.
Over the past four years, we have see how some parties have gone out of their way to accommodate the concerns and needs of others: PAS, for instance, has stood up for the rights of non-Muslims to build temples and churches and has defended the right for non-Muslims to practice their faith.
It is clear that for some leaders of PAS like Nik Aziz, it is better for PAS to be allied to PKR, PSM and DAP rather than Umno. So how much more accommodation does it take before the communitarians in our midst realise that we have to build a new non-racist Malaysia on the common platform of a universal citizenship?
The other worry is that Mindraf may yet drain support and members from the other parties of the Pakatan, notably PKR and DAP. At a time when we need to create an alternative mode of Malaysian politics that transcends the narrow, parochial and primordial sentiments of racial and religious solidarity, a party like Mindraf merely goes against the grain — and in fact confirms and further sediments the hegemony of divisive communitarian politics in Malaysia.
It is also during times like this that I feel that all our efforts (not mine alone) to promote a new de-racialised non-communitarian politics in Malaysia have achieved so little, despite the energy and time invested.
Honestly, we are not going to have a new Malaysian politics unless and until we think, live and behave like Malaysian-minded Malaysians. And that day has yet to come, my friends. Sadly. — Aliran
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Too good to be true
I know that I am not the only one receiving email like this one.
Almost everyday when I open my email, there will always be messages that promises fat returns should I agreed to dance to their music. Notification of me being a lottery winner with millions prizes also filled up spaces in my email accounts.sweetgirl4love@libero.it show details 11:55 PM (7 hours ago) ReplyMy name is Miss Gloria Toure I am a 21 years old Liberian refugee living in Ghana. I lost my parents 4 years ago during the war in my country.
I want u to help me claim USD $15,000,000 my late father deposited with a SECURITY COMPANY. I will give u half of d money if u help me get this money from d bank. This is 100% risk free and I have all the documents. If u are interested, reply to my alternative email: sweetgloria4love1@ymail.com so that I can send u my pictures. or call me on my mobile: +233-27-157-5529
Almost everyday when I open my email, there will always be messages that promises fat returns should I agreed to dance to their music. Notification of me being a lottery winner with millions prizes also filled up spaces in my email accounts.sweetgirl4love@libero.it show details 11:55 PM (7 hours ago) ReplyMy name is Miss Gloria Toure I am a 21 years old Liberian refugee living in Ghana. I lost my parents 4 years ago during the war in my country.
I want u to help me claim USD $15,000,000 my late father deposited with a SECURITY COMPANY. I will give u half of d money if u help me get this money from d bank. This is 100% risk free and I have all the documents. If u are interested, reply to my alternative email: sweetgloria4love1@ymail.com so that I can send u my pictures. or call me on my mobile: +233-27-157-5529
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
I DREAMED A DREAM
I DREAMED A DREAM
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft And their words inviting There was a time when love was blind And the world was a song And the song was exciting There was a time Then it all went wrong I dreamed a dream in time gone by When hope was high And life worth living I dreamed that love would never die I dreamed that God would be forgiving Then I was young and unafraid And dreams were made and used and wasted There was no ransom to be paid No song unsung, no wine untasted But the tigers come at night With their voices soft as thunder As they tear your hope apart And they turn your dream to shame He slept a summer by my side He filled my days with endless wonder He took my childhood in his stride But he was gone when autumn came And still I dream he'll come to me That we will live the years together But there are dreams that cannot be And there are storms we cannot weather I had a dream my life would be So different from this hell I'm living So different now from what it seemed Now life has killed the dream I dreamed
There was a time when men were kind
When their voices were soft And their words inviting There was a time when love was blind And the world was a song And the song was exciting There was a time Then it all went wrong I dreamed a dream in time gone by When hope was high And life worth living I dreamed that love would never die I dreamed that God would be forgiving Then I was young and unafraid And dreams were made and used and wasted There was no ransom to be paid No song unsung, no wine untasted But the tigers come at night With their voices soft as thunder As they tear your hope apart And they turn your dream to shame He slept a summer by my side He filled my days with endless wonder He took my childhood in his stride But he was gone when autumn came And still I dream he'll come to me That we will live the years together But there are dreams that cannot be And there are storms we cannot weather I had a dream my life would be So different from this hell I'm living So different now from what it seemed Now life has killed the dream I dreamed
Batang Ai by-election
BOOKIES & PKR SUPPORTERS BADLY BURNT IN BATANG AI.Barisan Nasional’s big win in the Batang Ai by-election burned huge holes in the pockets of bookies in the state.Many of the bookies had accepted bets on the prediction of a narrow margin of victory of between 300 and 500 votes.Some even predicted a narrow win in favour of the opposition.When the margin turned out to be 1,854 votes for the Barisan, the bookies had to pay huge amounts, sources said.A businessman here said he heard that the biggest bet placed was RM50,000 by someone in Kuching, who predicted that the Barisan would win by more than 1,000 votes.Barisan’s Malcolm Mussen Lamoh garnered 3,907 votes against PKR’s Jawah’s 2,053.The bets were taken by bookies operating from urban centres.Their modus operandi is similar to the 4D syndicates who take bets online and via SMS and telephone calls. Payments are usually made via telegraphic transfers.There were also those who placed small sums for the fun of it, including many workers in the plantations in Batang Ai.Very few people had predicted that the Barisan would beat the PKR by such a big margin. In the past two state elections, the Barisan won by less than 900 votes in Batang Ai.
Apai Salai
Apai Salai on April 21st, 2009 2:18 am
Dear Mr Bullshit Anthony Brian,
Ask urself the following question and answer.
1. Who makan PKR punya money during the Batang Ai by election?
2. Who bought for his PHD for RM20,000?
3. Who has a fraudulent PHD degree?
U came to Batang Ai bullshiting in the coffeeshops. U did not campaign for your candidate. U minum beer all the time in Lubok Antu. That is why PKR lost in Batang Ai.
Also who jump party to party?? Who stood against his own cousin?? Who con people left and right?? Who only criticises others but doing nothing positive or good for the Dayak??
Mr. John Anthony Brian, we Dayak know u too well. Many people in Bintulu suffered because of u. Many lost because of u. Ask anybody at Rumah Gelam at Sebauh about u.
Stop bullshiting. Stop bluffing. Stop making a fool of urself. U are nothing but a no gooder. A big bullshiter. Dont use ur blog to condemn others or spread hatred. U are in fact condemning urself having a shady background that u have.
We have enough of ur lies and propaganda. We cannot tolerate ur bullshit anymore. U are a scum from Sebauh, Bintulu and scum u will always be.
Dear Mr Bullshit Anthony Brian,
Ask urself the following question and answer.
1. Who makan PKR punya money during the Batang Ai by election?
2. Who bought for his PHD for RM20,000?
3. Who has a fraudulent PHD degree?
U came to Batang Ai bullshiting in the coffeeshops. U did not campaign for your candidate. U minum beer all the time in Lubok Antu. That is why PKR lost in Batang Ai.
Also who jump party to party?? Who stood against his own cousin?? Who con people left and right?? Who only criticises others but doing nothing positive or good for the Dayak??
Mr. John Anthony Brian, we Dayak know u too well. Many people in Bintulu suffered because of u. Many lost because of u. Ask anybody at Rumah Gelam at Sebauh about u.
Stop bullshiting. Stop bluffing. Stop making a fool of urself. U are nothing but a no gooder. A big bullshiter. Dont use ur blog to condemn others or spread hatred. U are in fact condemning urself having a shady background that u have.
We have enough of ur lies and propaganda. We cannot tolerate ur bullshit anymore. U are a scum from Sebauh, Bintulu and scum u will always be.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Speaker claims defamation over notice of Perak assembly sitting
– Perak State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar today claimed he was subjected to defamation over the instruction to issue a notice for the state assembly to sit on May 7.
He said he was shocked over a report in The New Straits Times (NST) newspaper yesterday that he had been informed of the assembly sitting before the notice was issued.
Sivakumar had said earlier that the notice was issued without his knowledge and approval.
“I will not allow this. It is another attempt to undermine my image and credibility.
“If the allegation is true, why are the people who issued the statement not bold enough to identify themselves in the daily? Why just say it (the source of the news) is someone associated with the office of the menteri besar?” he said in a statement here.
Sivakumar reiterated that he was not informed before the notice on the assembly sitting was issued by assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri last Friday.
He said his meeting with Abdullah, as reported in the newspaper, was held after the issuing of the notice by Abdullah without any consultation earlier with him (Sivakumar).
“I was told that a notice had been sent to my office at about 10am. A similar notice had been sent by the assembly secretary to all state assemblymen. I saw the notice at about 1pm.
“I only met Abdullah at about 3pm, after he had returned from Friday prayers,” he said.
The NST reported yesterday that “Sivakumar had full knowledge of the issuance of the notice for the May 7 sitting of the assembly” before the notice was issued to all the 59 state assemblymen.– Bernama
He said he was shocked over a report in The New Straits Times (NST) newspaper yesterday that he had been informed of the assembly sitting before the notice was issued.
Sivakumar had said earlier that the notice was issued without his knowledge and approval.
“I will not allow this. It is another attempt to undermine my image and credibility.
“If the allegation is true, why are the people who issued the statement not bold enough to identify themselves in the daily? Why just say it (the source of the news) is someone associated with the office of the menteri besar?” he said in a statement here.
Sivakumar reiterated that he was not informed before the notice on the assembly sitting was issued by assembly secretary Abdullah Antong Sabri last Friday.
He said his meeting with Abdullah, as reported in the newspaper, was held after the issuing of the notice by Abdullah without any consultation earlier with him (Sivakumar).
“I was told that a notice had been sent to my office at about 10am. A similar notice had been sent by the assembly secretary to all state assemblymen. I saw the notice at about 1pm.
“I only met Abdullah at about 3pm, after he had returned from Friday prayers,” he said.
The NST reported yesterday that “Sivakumar had full knowledge of the issuance of the notice for the May 7 sitting of the assembly” before the notice was issued to all the 59 state assemblymen.– Bernama
Mukhriz- Fines MPs & assemblyman who resign without valid reason.
The Election Commission (EC) should fine state assemblymen or Member of Parliament (MP) who resign without just cause or a valid reason.
Jerun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said resignation of assemblymen and MPs had become a trend among the opposition, apparently to continuously hog the limelight.
Such action however, is a loss to the people and community, results in a waste of money as by-elections should be held while raising the animosity among the parties and people, due to such by-elections, he said.
“The Permatang Pauh episode is one good example whereby a by-election was called merely because former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail decided to give up the post to her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“What the fine should be will depend on the EC. We cannot see a valid reason that can be accepted for such action, including what has happened in the Penanti state assembly seat,” he said.
Mukhriz who is also Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Deputy Minister also welcomed his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestion that Barisan Nasional (BN) should contest the Penanti seat.
The Penanti seat fell vacant following the decision by former Penang deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin who won the seat under PKR, decided to resign, following allegations of corrupt charges brought up against him.
“Although there isn’t a clear indicator as to whether BN can win or not, may be we should contest after all, because we still have supporters in Penanti,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had earlier said that BN might not contest the by-election for the Penanti State seat as it must first consider whether it would benefit the people or otherwise. – Bernama
Jerun MP Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir said resignation of assemblymen and MPs had become a trend among the opposition, apparently to continuously hog the limelight.
Such action however, is a loss to the people and community, results in a waste of money as by-elections should be held while raising the animosity among the parties and people, due to such by-elections, he said.
“The Permatang Pauh episode is one good example whereby a by-election was called merely because former Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail decided to give up the post to her husband Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“What the fine should be will depend on the EC. We cannot see a valid reason that can be accepted for such action, including what has happened in the Penanti state assembly seat,” he said.
Mukhriz who is also Ministry of International Trade and Industry, Deputy Minister also welcomed his father, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s suggestion that Barisan Nasional (BN) should contest the Penanti seat.
The Penanti seat fell vacant following the decision by former Penang deputy chief minister Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin who won the seat under PKR, decided to resign, following allegations of corrupt charges brought up against him.
“Although there isn’t a clear indicator as to whether BN can win or not, may be we should contest after all, because we still have supporters in Penanti,” he said.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had earlier said that BN might not contest the by-election for the Penanti State seat as it must first consider whether it would benefit the people or otherwise. – Bernama
Nik Aziz will not run for PAS presidency
Despite support from the grassroots to run for the party presidency PAS spiritual advisor Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat will not run for the post, his senior aide said today.
“He thanked Bukit Bintang for nominating him, but he said ‘no’, partly because of his health, as the president would have to go everywhere,” said Nik Aziz’s political secretary Anual Bakri Haron.
Last weekend Bukit Bintang PAS nominated Nik Aziz for the presidency in what was seen as a rejection of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s proposal to form a unity government with Barisan Nasional, which was subsequently withdrawn.
But the nomination was also perceived by some to be an isolated case and made without understanding on the position of spiritual advisor held by Nik Aziz who chairs the party’s religious scholar’s consultative council in framing the Islamist party's policies.
The Bukit Bintang division chief Radzi Hashim however said that the nomination was the wish of the members who wanted Nik Aziz to hold an executive position in the party.
The division also nominated vice president Mohamad Sabu for the deputy presidency.
Anual told The Malaysian Insider that the Kelantan mentri besar respects the democratic right of the party divisions to nominate anyone but would not endorse any candidate in the deputy president contest.
For the post of deputy president Datuk Husam Musa has become a more popular candidate to challenge incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who is seen as Hadi’s ally and was heavily involved in the secret meetings with Umno leaders after the general election last year.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said he would wait for another week or two before deciding whether or not to run for the party’s No 2.
“Many divisions have left the nomination to the respective committees to decide, but I feel the situation is very encouraging for me,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
He refused to comment on the imminent proxy battle between Nik Aziz and Hadi in the deputy presidential race but claimed he would complement the incumbent president’s role.
“Tuan Guru Hadi is a very respectable figure among the Islamist movements, while I am a familiar face in NGOs and non-Muslims organisations so I will be able to give the party a Malaysian image in line with the party’s manifesto, PAS for all,” said Mohamad.
“He thanked Bukit Bintang for nominating him, but he said ‘no’, partly because of his health, as the president would have to go everywhere,” said Nik Aziz’s political secretary Anual Bakri Haron.
Last weekend Bukit Bintang PAS nominated Nik Aziz for the presidency in what was seen as a rejection of Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s proposal to form a unity government with Barisan Nasional, which was subsequently withdrawn.
But the nomination was also perceived by some to be an isolated case and made without understanding on the position of spiritual advisor held by Nik Aziz who chairs the party’s religious scholar’s consultative council in framing the Islamist party's policies.
The Bukit Bintang division chief Radzi Hashim however said that the nomination was the wish of the members who wanted Nik Aziz to hold an executive position in the party.
The division also nominated vice president Mohamad Sabu for the deputy presidency.
Anual told The Malaysian Insider that the Kelantan mentri besar respects the democratic right of the party divisions to nominate anyone but would not endorse any candidate in the deputy president contest.
For the post of deputy president Datuk Husam Musa has become a more popular candidate to challenge incumbent Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who is seen as Hadi’s ally and was heavily involved in the secret meetings with Umno leaders after the general election last year.
Meanwhile, Mohamad said he would wait for another week or two before deciding whether or not to run for the party’s No 2.
“Many divisions have left the nomination to the respective committees to decide, but I feel the situation is very encouraging for me,” he told The Malaysian Insider.
He refused to comment on the imminent proxy battle between Nik Aziz and Hadi in the deputy presidential race but claimed he would complement the incumbent president’s role.
“Tuan Guru Hadi is a very respectable figure among the Islamist movements, while I am a familiar face in NGOs and non-Muslims organisations so I will be able to give the party a Malaysian image in line with the party’s manifesto, PAS for all,” said Mohamad.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tun Mahathir
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.
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.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)