An academic says the ruling coalition is still lagging in the perception war.

Athi Shankar, FMT

Barisan Nasional needs to beef up its cyber team to beat Pakatan Rakyat in the game of shaping public opinion, a political analyst has suggested.

Sivamurugan Pandian, an associate professor at Universiti Sains Malaysia, said social media proved to be the decisive battleground in the campaign for the 13th general election, adding that Pakatan had the upper hand.

“BN surely lagged behind in social media like portal mails, tweets, Facebook, blogs and YouTube,” he said.

He cautioned BN against overdependence on the conventional mainstream media and warned that it would face big problems in the next election if it failed to improve on its social media networking and strategies.

“It’s time for BN to learn to battle out in social media,” he said.

He acknowledged that BN had improved in its cyber strategies since the 2008 election, but not well enough to beat Pakatan in the game.

“BN needs to be more on the offensive,” he said.

To illustrate the skill of Pakatan cyber troopers, he cited their treatment of the controversy surrounding Perkasa vice-president Zulkifli Noordin, who was BN’s defeated candidate for the Shah Alam parliamentary seat.

He said those troopers effectively played up an old video recording of Zulkifli insulting Indians and Hindus in a religious discourse.

He noted that the video was already online when Zulkifli was still a PKR member but the troopers had skilfully used it to create the impression that BN was in the habit on nurturing racism.

Consequently, he added, the Zulkifli factor was a major cause of BN’s loss of Indian votes in Selangor and other urban areas.

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“Well definitely he is seeking re-election this year and that will be reflected in his Umno Cabinet line-up. You can see him strategising for re-election but how is he to do that leaves a question mark because most of them are just old-timers,” he said, adding that the names announced have been in government for a very long time, even if not at Putrajaya’s highest decision-making level."

By Amin Iskandar, Debra Chong and Syed Jaymal Zahiid, TMI

Umno’s domination of the 2013 Cabinet shows Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s desire to shore up his personal support ahead of party polls but at the expense of the prime minister’s national reform measures, several observers say.

While the pundits hold grave reservations over the large number of veterans in the 32-man Cabinet, they said Najib deserves a chance to prove he can deliver on his promised government and economic transformation agenda once he has secured his party presidency.

The Umno president had cast 17 of his party colleagues in ministerial positions when naming members of his Cabinet yesterday. Of the line-up, most were old government hands being switched around or promoted with the exception of new faces Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) secretary Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Universiti Putra Malaysia political scientist Prof Jayum A. Jawan was sceptical about the changes that Najib could make with what the don branded a “conservative” Cabinet.

“I don’t see a real power-sharing here. The positions of power are all held by Umno like Finance, Home Affairs and Defence,” he said.

“Well definitely he is seeking re-election this year and that will be reflected in his Umno Cabinet line-up. You can see him strategising for re-election but how is he to do that leaves a question mark because most of them are just old-timers,” he said, adding that the names announced have been in government for a very long time, even if not at Putrajaya’s highest decision-making level."

Like the other pundits, Jayum viewed Khairy’s inclusion as a positive step towards getting youth support, but noted the move was unlikely to be sufficient to parry a possible challenge in the party polls.

“Some people in Umno are already saying that Najib would not see a smooth re-election and that there are some people that will likely challenge him,” he said.

But such an Umno-studded cast was “clever”, according to William Case, a professor in Asian and International Studies at the University of Hong Kong.

“My take is that while many critics are dismissing the Cabinet as made up most of old hacks, I see it as more mixed, possibly in clever ways, as it includes Najib’s personal supporters, reformers, and nativists,” he told The Malaysian Insider in an emailed response yesterday.

There has been speculation that Najib, 59, is likely to face a challenge to his presidency from within Umno in the party ballot due this year for failing to return BN’s two-thirds supermajority in the May 5 general election despite improving the Malay party’s number of federal seats to 88.

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The Sabah Kadazandusun Murut Welfare and Education Association however described "as historic" the appointment of three full ministers from the community. 

(FMT) - KUCHING: The much anticipated “stronger” representations by Sarawak’s loyal Dayak community in the new federal cabinet turned out to be a major disappointment.

In fact local Dayak majority parties Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Democratic Party (SPDP) have questioned the rationale behind Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s decision to handover a large chunk of cabinet positions to Chief Minister Taib Mahmud’s Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB).

A SPDP insider in a text message even went so far as to ask if Najib had hoped to mask the fact that he had fewer peninsular-based Umno members on his cabinet compared to before.

“Look at the (cabinet) list, PBB/Sabah ‘Malays’ all over place,” read the message.

Sarawak Barisan Nasional pact comprising PBB, PRS, SPDP and Chinese-majority Sarawak United Peoples Party (SUPP) delivered 25 of 31 parliamentary seats to Najib’s push for a new term in office in the 13th general election.

Sabah BN comprising Umno, MCA, Gerakan, LDP, Upko, PBS and PBRS gave federal BN 22 seats.

But yesterday’s announcement of cabinet positions showed he had little regard especially for his Dayak-majority party partners – PRS and SPDP, who fought hard battles and delivered 100%.

Collectively PRS and SPDP delivered to Najib 10 parliamentary seats. Of the 11 Sarawak ministers appointed, seven were from PBB.

Among them were four full ministers – Douglas Uggah Embas, Fadillah Yusof, Rohani Abdul Karim, Nancy Shukri, and three deputies, Dr James Dawos Mamit, Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, and Alexander Nanta Linggi.

Said a deeply disappointed PRS president James Masing last night: “Something is wrong somewhere.

“Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu was given four ministers (57%), PRS one minister (33%), SUPP (100%), while SPDP has zero%.

“Where is the fairness?”

Salang declines, Entulu reluctant

Masing said Najib’s cabinet had not rewarded winners and loyalists as could be seen in PRS’s and SPDP’s allocations.

“Politics normally is not kind to the losers, but (Najib must) reward those who win, ” he added.

He said PRS’s ministerial appointments did not commensurate with the party’s contribution to BN’s win.

PRS, which won all the six seats it contested, had expected to be rewarded with one full minister and two deputy ministers and so did SPDP which delivered all four parlaimentary constituencies.

But instead Najib promoted the PRS’ former rural and regional development deputy minister Joseph Entulu to a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and retained Julau MP Joseph Salang Gandum as the deputy minister of tourism.

But Salang, who had served nine years as a deputy minister, has declined the cabinet post.

According to sources close to Salang, putting him in the tourism ministry would not help empower the rural Dayak community.

Previously Salang was the deputy minister of information and communications and culture, and during his tenure had worked hard to ensure better internet accessibility in rural Sarawak.

Entulu on his part is a “reluctant” minister.

According to Masing, he had to persuade Entulu to accept the position, adding that he had failed in his bid to get Salang to stay.

Said Masing: “The allocations doen’t make sense. Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) won one seat, yet it is given one full minister. I can’t understand the promotion of Richard Riot. The party won one out of seven seats it contested.

“That is 100% accommodation to a party which performed badly in the recently concluded general election. Why?

“While Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) has 100% delivery yet it got zero appointment, ” he said.

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It has been with us a long while and we should admit that it is a potent factor in Malaysian politics, says Chandra Muzzafar.

Lisa J. Ariffin, FMT

Political analysts are not surprised with the country’s distinct racial polarisation following the results of the recent 13th general election (GE13).

Political scientist Chandra Muzzafar said that there has always been “a certain degree of polarisation” throughout history, however, in Malaysa, this was made more distinct in GE13.

“Ethnic consciousness has always been strong in society so it should not surprise us. People sometimes attribute to political parties based on ethnicity,” he said.

“It has been with us a long while and we should admit that it is a potent factor in Malaysian politics,” he added.

Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) associate professor James Gomez said the re-emergence of racial polarisation “shows that Malaysia is unable to evolve politics into a more policy-centered approach”.

“There was a positive indication in the run up to the election where different parties put out their manifestos which were very much policy-centered,” he said.

“But soon it degenerated from a policy-centered approach and now after all the race-based talks, we have lost the plot. It has just gotten worse,” he added.

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas) associate professor Andrew Aeria agreed that racial polarisation “certainly exists within Malaysian society”.

He accused ruling Barisan Nasion of making it worse by “not making much effort in closing the ethnic and religious divides”.

“Fanning ethnic supremacist positions has only made ethnic/religious relations worse,” he said. “In contrast, Pakatan Rakyat has achieved much more in closing this ethnic and religious divide.”

Aeria further described Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak as a “lame-duck, wishy-washy PM” who “continues to pander and appease the racist fringes of Umno and BN”.

“The racism that has emerged post-GE13 is reprehensible,” he said.

Anwar has been giving false hopes

Chandra believed “false perceptions” that the Chinese were “marginalised” by Umno-BN played a key factor in determining the Chinese vote.

“These are all false perceptions that have become widespread. It was effectively built up, especially after the 2008 general election when DAP did well,” he said.

Chandra pointed out that the Chinese dominated the upper strata of the Malaysian economy and those at the bottom were mostly of other races.

He added that in terms of politics, “Chinese participation is quite remarkable”.

READ MORE HERE

It does not hinge on Pakatan Rakyat's support, says ABU's Haris Ibrahim.

Alyaa Azhar, FMT

Anything But Umno (ABU) spokesperson Haris Ibrahim said that a street rally against the Barisan Nasional federal government will go on with or without Pakatan Rakyat’s support.

When asked if he will call off the rally following Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s objection to it, he said: “This is not Pakatan Rakyat’s initiative, rather, it is the rakyat’s initiative.”

“The rally is not hinged on Pakatan’s support. The latest announcement by Anwar yesterday that Pakatan does not condone streets rallis has no bearing on our initiative,” he said.

Haris, however, said that no date has been set for the street rally.

Social activist Hishamuddin Rais echoed Haris’ view by saying that the decision to go on with the street rally will be taken by the rakyat and not Pakatan Rakyat.

Haris told a forum on Monday that pro-Pakatan NGOs would topple the BN federal government through massive street rallies in protest of irregularities during the 13th general election.

“We will take to the streets and take over Putrajaya. If we really want to overthrow them, there is no other way. Democracy does not work.

“The people cannot wait anymore. We don’t want to wait another five years. We will take the streets,” he said.

Police to take preventive steps

Pakatan, however, said that it does not condone overthrowing Barisan Nasional through mass street demonstrations.

“The proposal has never been submitted to us, it has never been discussed by Pakatan. Those are the views of some NGOs,” said Anwar yesterday.

DAP chairman Karpal Singh said his party too, rejected the call for street protests to overthrow the BN government.

While he commended Haris for opposing violent demonstrations, Karpal warned that a street protest may cause unrest if it was not handled properly.

Police on the other hand, have warned against holding a street rally and said they will take preventive measures ahead of the event.

Outgoing Inspector-General of Police Ismail Omar said the statements by the organisers on the rallies were dangerous and provocative.

“Nobody should try to change the government through undemocratic means.

“It must be done only through democratic means. Let the people make their choice through the voting system,” he said.

(Malaysian Digest) - The 'Red Bean Army', a group of cybertroopers believed to be funded by DAP has been hard at work spreading rumors on the internet alleging the government has increased the prices of basic goods like petrol, cooking oil, cooking gas, sugar and flour in a bid to further fuel the public's anger towards the ruling government.

According to a few online blogs, the rumors were spread mainly on social networking sites, namely Facebook and Twitter and has made many internet users angry at Barisan Nasional (BN) making them believe the Opposition coalition (Pakatan Rakyat) would have been a better option in ruling the federal government.

Malay daily, Utusan Malaysia, today reported that blog owner tunfaisal revealed several blatant lies spread by the Opposition; the first one regarding the increase of sugar price.

However some shops supporting Pakatan may have taken to increasing prices on their own.

Two other lies according to him, which was also made by PAS deputy Secretary-General, Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi is the claim that cooking gas is now up RM2 to RM30, and that the price of Gardenia breads has also gone up.

Syed Azman was found to have spread the rumor on cooking gas price increase via his Twitter account which was later retweeted by Opposition leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"Gullible members of the public will believe all this and be manipulated in the process."

"That is why we should not support liars, because when they lie and we share, like and retweet their lies, we are merely helping them to spread the rumors and indirectly we too become responsible in duping the public," the blog owner said via http://tunfaisal.blogspot.com last Saturday.

This picture showing a price hike of the White Gardenia bread is untrue; according to Gardenia the tag on the left is from a different Gardenia product, sliced Sandwich Bun (Burger bun). Pic: Gardenia's Blog

Meanwhile, another blog, The Flying Kick, claims that several shops have taken to increasing prices after the recent 13th general election (GE13) in an attempt to sabotage the ruling government.

"Malaysia is now faced with a wave of rumors and untruths. It is believed that Anwar is behind this. DAP is helping him from behind by providing the means to do so," the blog mentioned.

Because of these rumors, Gardenia Bakeries (KL) Sdn Bhd has had to issue a statement refuting the price increase.

This act by the Opposition is seen as their means of strengthening their earlier claims that the government will begin increasing the prices of basic goods after GE13.

(NST) - MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek yesterday thanked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak for respecting the party's wish not to be included in the new cabinet line-up following its dismal performance in the recent polls.

Dr Chua had conveyed the message in a Twitter posting after Najib announced the new cabinet.

(Malaysian Digest) - A former aide to PKR women's wing chief Zuraida Kamaruddin, Mohd Fareez Kamal Intidzam, has urged Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail not to defend the party presidency and make way for deputy president Azmin Ali.

"The PKR machinery in Selangor headed by Azmin has managed to retain the state with a bigger majority in this general election. Following Azmin's strong showing, Dr Wan Azizah should not seek re-election in the coming party polls," he said in a statement yesterday.

Fareez also called on Dr Wan Azizah to openly admit her "failures" and to acknowledge Azmin's great leadership as the Selangor PKR chairman.

"Even though Azmin is only the deputy president, he managed to win both the parliamentary and state seats he contested in the recent polls. Also, he was able to lead the PKR machinery in Selangor to win a two-thirds majority in the state assembly," he said.

Fareez said on the other hand, Dr Wan Azizah proved to be a failure as PKR president after announcing that she would not contest in the general election.

"She is a liability to PKR and she should stop humiliating the party. It is shameful for any political organisation in the world if its president does not hold a parliamentary or state seat."

Fareez added that Dr Wan Azizah was no longer relevant in the current political scenario as she could not win the hearts and minds of the youth who supported PKR.

Fareez said instead, PKR needed a "complete leader" like Azmin to become the next president who could map out a new direction for the party.

"The perception that the party is led by a dynasty should be quashed once and for all. Failing which, PKR will be frowned upon by other countries as it will be regarded as a party that is nepotistic in nature."

He, therefore, urged every PKR member, including the party's top echelon, to give their full support to Azmin to become the new party president in the coming elections.

(TMI) - Pakatan Rakyat (PR) will continue to pressure the government for the Election Commission (EC) to be completely reformed if Malaysia wants to see a clean election the next time around, said PKR director of strategy Rafizi Ramli.

Speaking at a forum on the facts behind PR’s win in popular votes for Election 2013 here last night, Rafizi (picture) said the only way was to continuously fight and apply pressure so that the EC will be completely overhauled and replaced with people who are fair and who believe in clean elections.

“We need the whole EC to be completely reformed, where the chairman down to all its officers are replaced by new officers that are approved by PR and the public to ensure their impartiality,” he said.

He said it was only after the EC was fully reformed that re-elections be held for seats that are proven to have irregularities and fraud, especially the 30 marginal seats.

He told the audience of several hundreds at Komtar that PKR has already assembled a team to probe electoral fraud into several parliamentary and state seats and once enough evidence was gathered, election petitions would be filed.

“We have been told that to file a petition, it would cost up to RM50,000 for each petition per seat and that means the 27 seats we are currently investigating could cost us close to RM1.5 million if we were to file petitions,” he said.

He said this was why the party has to conduct thorough investigations and scrutinise all irregularities on top of gathering enough resources to file the petitions.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/rafizi-says-pakatan-to-press-for-ec-reform-in-court-in-the-streets-in-parliament/ 

KLSCAH and Dong Zong say the more crucial question is whether the party can reinvent itself.

(FMT) - The exclusion of MCA representatives from the federal cabinet may not be permanent, but the issue is secondary to the question of whether the party can reinvent itself to stay relevant to contemporary politics, according to two NGO leaders.

The exclusion of MCA representatives from the federal cabinet may not be permanent, but the issue is secondary to the question of whether the party can reinvent itself to stay relevant to contemporary politics, according to two NGO leaders.

Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) chief executive officer Tang Ah Chai and Dong Zong deputy president Chow Siew Hon told FMT the second largest BN component party might make its way back to the government soon, although it has been excluded from the new cabinet unveiled on Wednesday.

Tang said MCA’s return to the cabinet might happen as soon as it completes party elections slated for the end of the year.

He said the new leadership could opt to revoke the pledge made by current president Dr Chua Soi Lek on not accepting any government position.

“But the biggest challenge that lies with MCA is they that are without a clear direction,” he added.

“They hold in hand plenty of resources, for example huge party assets, millions of party members and solid grassroots organisations. But after being hit with the political tsunami in 2008, they appear to have no idea what to do.”

Chow also said the Chinese might support MCA’s return to the cabinet if it could show them that it could reinvent itself.

The only two Chinese appointed to the new cabinet are Transparency-International Malaysia chief Paul Low, who is now a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, and Parti Bersatu Sabah’s Mary Yap, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Learning.

Tang said Malaysian Chinese seemed to have accepted the reality that they lack representation in the cabinet.

“Contrasting with the situation after the 1969 election, when there was a sense of anxiety over the non-appointment of Chinese representative in the cabinet, this time the Chinese community seems okay with it,” he said.

“That is because the younger generations are embracing diversity and multiracial politics. They are looking out for the authorities to avoid using skin colour as the benchmark for policies.

“Besides, there is a perception that MCA failed to perform to a satisfactory level even when they had 10 ministers and deputy ministers before.

“They more or less did Umno’s bidding. So it makes no difference whether this time they are there or not.”

Read more at: https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2013/05/17/mca-may-return-to-cabinet-say-ngos/ 

The PKR leader was charged at the Sessions Court under the Peaceful Assembly Act for failing to give sufficient notice before holding a rally. 

G Vinod and K Pragalath,FMT

PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad was charged at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court today, under Section 9 (1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2011 (PAA), for failing to give the police sufficient notice before holding the rally at the Kelana Jaya Stadium last week.

Nik Nazmi is the first person to be charged in relation to the rally as the police are in the midst of questioning others, including speakers at the rally which was called to highlight the alleged electoral fraud.

The case was heard before judge Rohana Ayub while the prosecution was done by Deputy Public Prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah.

Nik Nazmi, who is also Seri Setia state assemblyman, was charged under the PAA for failing to give the police a minimum 10 days notice before holding the rally at the Kelana Jaya Stadium on May 8.

If convicted, Nik Nazmi could be fined up to RM10,000, which could disqualify him from public office.

Speaking at a press conference later, the PKR leader said that many other leaders who participated in the rally last week may also be charged soon in an attempt to silence the opposition.

“In the summonses provided to me last night, there was a sheet that included the names of other Pakatan leaders who gave speeches on the day.

“I’m not sure whether they will be charged but that is the signal I’m getting from the statements made by the Selangor police chief (Tun Hisan Tun Hamzah),” he said.

Calling it a harassment against Pakatan leaders, Nik Nazmi said that charge was unconstitutional as the Federal Constitution allows Malaysians to assemble peacefully.

“All the rallies held by Pakatan were peaceful and patriotic. It shows that we have done no wrong,” he said.

‘Bad start for IGP, Home Minister’

On related matter, Nik Nazmi’s defence counsel, Eric Paulsen, said that he would challenge the constitutionality of the PAA in High Court soon.

He also alleged that the charge against Nik Nazmi was done in bad faith and was against public policy.

“Although the charge only involves a fine but I can see the authorities are trying to turn this into a sort of a traffic offence.

“So everytime you don’t give proper notice, the person gets fined. I’m sure many other Barisan Nasional supporters hold rallies without giving proper notice but we don’t see them getting charged,” said Paulsen.

READ MORE HERE

(TMI) - Malaysians are among the least racially-tolerant people in the world, according to a survey by Swedish economists, who also revealed those from India, Bangladesh and Hong Kong as the most racist.

Researchers for the World Values Survey had aimed to determine whether racial tolerance was linked to free-market economics.

To gauge a respondent’s level of racial tolerance, they posed a simple question. Respondents in more than 80 countries were told to identify whom they would not want as neighbours.

One possible answer was “people of a different race”. The proportion of people picking this answer from any given country was then used to show the relative tolerance of that society.

Up to 29.9 per cent of Malaysians said they would not like living next to a person of a different race, which was approximately the same per centage in Thailand and the Philippines, Turkey, Algeria, Morocco, Mali and Zambia.

In contrast, only 9.9 per cent of Singaporeans were considered racially intolerant, marking out the republic as among the most open country in the world.

The data from the survey by Niclas Berggren and Therese Nilsson was recently mapped by the Washington Post to produce an “atlas of global tolerance”.

“If we treat this data as indicative of racial tolerance, then we might conclude that people in the bluer countries are the least likely to express racist attitudes, while the people in red countries are the most likely,” the Washington Post reported.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/malaysians-among-worlds-most-bigoted-survey-shows/ 

Companies that invest in the Sarawak dams are still exposed to the risk of becoming embroiled in corruption scandals, human rights violations, and conflict. Unfortunately, for some investors, this is not a deterrent.  

Kirk Herbertson, Southeast Asia Policy Coordinator, International Rivers 

The Malaysian state of Sarawak is the new star of the global hydropower industry. Located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia, Sarawak is largely unknown around the world. Five years ago, Sarawak’s ruler Mr. Abdul Taib Mahmud announced that he will “transform Sarawak into a developed state” by building 12 large dams in the state’s remote, tropical forests. He argues that the dams will produce an abundance of cheap electricity, which will attract heavy industry and create jobs. Reuters has called Taib’s scheme “staggeringly ambitious,” especially since the dams will produce 450% more electricity than Sarawak currently needs.

Mr. Taib’s scheme has caught the attention of the world’s leading hydropower companies. Next week, on May 20-25, Sarawak will host the industry’s world congress, which is organized every few years by the International Hydropower Association (IHA). The IHA’s mission is to demonstrate that large dams—which are often a source of controversy—can be built in an environmentally and socially responsible way. The IHA is now promoting Sarawak as an example of responsible dam-building that brings profit as well as local development.

Sarawak has a dark history of dam building, having completed the disastrous Bakun Dam in 2011 after five decades of delays. The project is widely criticized for displacing 10,000 indigenous people and leaving them in impoverished conditions, while much of its electricity remains unused. However, Mr. Taib says his government has learned lessons from the Bakun Dam and is committed to do a better job on the next 12 dams. IHA is advising the Sarawak government and will showcase its efforts at next week’s congress. The Sarawak government will also use the opportunity to reach out to potential investors.

Doing business in Sarawak requires buying the favor of Mr. Taib, who has ruled Sarawak since 1981. Corruption is well documented. The government carefully controls the information that reaches the public, and journalists are forbidden from scrutinizing Mr. Taib. This creates serious risks for investors who want to steer clear of corruption and human rights abuses. 

The IHA has helped the Sarawak government to make modest improvements in its dams. Yet this has not been enough. To date, IHA’s efforts have been largely cosmetic and do not address the real challenges of investing in Mr. Taib’s dams.

Read more at: http://www.internationalrivers.org/blogs/267/malaysia-authoritarian-leader-lures-investors-with-promise-of-%E2%80%9Cresponsible%E2%80%9D-dams 

M Ravi claims that Kamarul won the Teluk Kemang seat because of the excellent service rendered by three assemblymen.

Zefry Dahalan, FMT

Port Dickson state assemblyman M Ravi has urged Telok Kemang MP Kamarul Baharin Abbas to step down as Negeri Sembilan PKR chairman.

He claimed that Kamarul is to be blamed for PKR’s defeat in several Negeri Sembilan seats in the just concluded 13th general election.

“Kamarul used his power to field candidates as per his wish without consulting with division and grassroots leaders. This is the reason we (PKR) lost many seats, which we should have won.

“He must be responsible and must step down as state PKR chairman voluntarily. If he loves the party, it’s better to do it now before the ‘disease’ becomes worse. He should step down from the state chairman post and concentrate on his job as MP for Telok Kemang,” he added.

Ravi said that Kamarul should make way for young leaders to spearhead the party in Negeri Sembilan.

According to Ravi, PKR could have won the state seats of Ampangan, Pilah and Linggi if the party had fielded candidates who worked through various activities including charities and assistance to poor at the respective constituency for the past four years.

“These candidates are PKR supreme council member and Seremban PKR deputy chief, Dr Mohamad Rafie Abdul Malek in Ampangan; PKR Kuala Pilah treasurer Kamarul Allaymmy Abdul Kadir in Pilah and Telok Kemang PKR deputy chief Rusli Abdullah in Linggi.

“However, Kamarul decided to field ‘parachute’ candidates including himself in Ampangan, Mohamad Nazaruddin Sabtu in Pilah and Rosman Jonet in Linggi,” he added.

Kamarul’s track record poor

Ravi said these three candidates went down to the ground only after the nomination day, and 15 days is not enough for parachute candidates to familiarise themselves with the ground.

READ MORE HERE

Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei has also been implicated in the sand mining corruption scandal

(Bernama) - The sedition charge against Sri Muda state assemblyman Mat Shuhaimi Shafiei over alleged blog postings stands.

This follows a decision of the Court of Appeal here today to dismiss his appeal to have his sedition charge struck out.

Mat Shuhaimi wanted his sedition charge be struck out as he disputed the constitutionality of Section 4(1)© of the Sedition Act 1948, the provision in which he was being charged.

A three-member panel led by Justice Datuk Abdul Malik Ishak in their unanimous decision ruled that Section 4(1)© was constitutionally enacted by Parliament.

“The section remains a valid enforceable law until today,” said Abdul Malik who presided on the panel with Justices Datuk Azhar Mohamed and Datuk Mohd Zawawi Salleh.

Justice Abdul Malik ordered Mat Shuhaimi, 45, to appear before the Sessions Court in Shah Alam on June 5 which was set for mention of his sedition case.

The panel, however, allowed Mat Shuhaimi’s application to stay the trial at the Sessions Court pending his appeal to the Federal Court against today’s decision.

Justice Abdul Malik had granted the stay order applied by Mat Shuhaimi through his lawyer Edmund Bon and deputy public prosecutor Awang Armadajaya Awang Mahmud did not object to the application.

Mat Shuhaimi, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat assemblyman, was charged in 2011 with posting an allegedly seditious article in his blog, srimuda.blogspot.com on the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the new Selangor State Secretary.

He was accused of committing the offence at Pusat Khidmat Rakyat, Jalan Anggerik Vanilla, Kota Kemuning, Shah Alam on Dec 30, 2010.

Mat Shuhaimi can be jailed up to three years or fined up to RM5,000 if found guilty.

On April 1, 2011, he filed a notice of motion at the High Court in Shah Alam seeking to have his sedition charge struck out on grounds that the Sedition Act was unconstitutional as it conflicted with Article 10 of the Federal Constitution which guaranteed freedom of speech.

On Aug 26, 2011, the High Court in Shah Alam dismissed Mat Shuhaimi’s application to strike out his sedition charge.

Bishop Paul Tan explains that while he abstains from partisan politics, he supports electoral watchdog Bersih in its cause for free and fair polls.

RK Anand, FMT

An outspoken Catholic cleric has cast aspersion on the 13th general election with regard to the battle for Putrajaya being clean and fair.

Bishop Paul Tan said this in reference to the report of the Institute of Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS).

“IDEAS and CPPS have done an interim report. In it, there is this conclusion: ‘GE13 was only partially free and not fair’. I find it difficult to believe that the report could conclude this…

“But when it concluded ‘only partially free’ for the three reasons given that are fraught with irregularities as reported in the said report, the people involved are not objective,” he said.

“From the multiple examples of irregularities arrived in the report, permit me to use a stronger phrase than that of IDEAS and CPPS: GE13 is anything but transparently ‘free and fair’,” he added.

Tan, who heads the Malacca and Johor diocese, conceded that he could be wrong but stressed that he was morally obliged to speak out at this time because of the immorality practiced before and during GE13.

“If I didn’t speak up, I would have to answer to my God and my Church,” he said.

Tan said while he obeyed the Catholic Church’s teaching that clerics must not take sides in partisan politics, he noted that the church also taught that clerics must speak out against immoralities and against all that go against human rights.

“As a religious person in my role as bishop, I am in a dilemma vis-a-vis to what extent should I allow a certain degree of immorality or infringement against human rights to go on unpunished before denouncing them publicly,” he added.

For a long time, Tan said, there had not been sufficient action taken against immorality in its widest sense, especially corruption.

“Some attempts have been made by related government departments to deal with the matter. In ‘grosso modo’, it has not been effective. Only a few small fish have been caught, the big fish was left untouched.

“The consequence of this ‘laissez faire’ lifestyle is that it has produced massive corruption, cheating and immoral manipulation of the people to garner votes for one’s political party.

“Unfortunately, this cuts across the boundaries of all parties. The degree lies in the extent of corruption,” he added.

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"The government intends to exit its role in business. But it can never be done in one day. There will still be businesses that the government has a role, due to the importance of it in the daily lives of Malaysians," Jala added. 

(The Star) - “I am not being racist... I am just being practical in saying such groups should go to countries where they can translate their political beliefs into reality”

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has defended his statement which called for groups which did not accept the country's political system to migrate to countries with systems that suit them.

The Umno vice-president, who has been criticised for it, clarified that his statement was taken out of context by certain irresponsible parties.

“I actually said those who are not confident of our political system to berhijrah to countries with political systems that suited them.

“I am not being racist... I am just being practical in saying such groups should go to countries where they can translate their political beliefs into reality,” he said yesterday.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said people should not read the statement out of context, urging readers to read the full Utusan Malaysia article.

He explained that Malaysia inherited the Commonwealth system and those who think that the system in the United States or other countries were more suitable could migrate there.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also lambasted the Opposition for disputing the general election results but recognising the results for Selangor, Penang and Kelantan, where they won.

“They are disputing the results very selectively,” he said.

(NST) - ‘MALAYSIAN SPRING’ PLANS: Former DAP senator reveals 2012 email between party HQ and its leaders

PETALING JAYA: A FORMER DAP vice-chairman yesterday revealed that the opposition had long intended to initiate a “Malaysian spring” to overthrow the government through street rallies. Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim said the opposition had planned to create chaos since last year’s Bersih rally and was now building up to nationwide protests, which were being organised to condemn a democratically elected government over so-called electoral fraud in the 13th General Election.

The former senator said he had evidence to back his claim in the form of an email which was sent out by DAP’s chief of staff Foo Yueh Chuan to all central executive council members on April 26, 2012.

In the email, Foo informed the recipients that  she was coordinating the party members and leaders to participate in Bersih's sit-in rally at Stadium Merdeka on April 28 last year.

Tunku Aziz said he replied to the email making it clear that he was "in principle opposed to street demonstrations".

However, he said, DAP founding member Dr Chen Man Hin replied the email, saying that he was in support of the idea.

"Dr Chen said he would be 'delighted to participate in the sit-in (Bersih rally)'. He wrote that 'this may be the beginning of a Malaysia spring'," Tunku Aziz said reading out Dr Chen's response at a press conference held here yesterday.

Tunku Aziz said the email response itself was proof that the opposition backed illegal street protests for an "Arab Spring" kind of uprising to take place in Malaysia.

"Pakatan has been talking about Malaysian spring, they are not talking about flowers, but what the Syrians have been doing and the Egyptians or Libyans had done.

"This is very serious. This is about toppling an elected government...this is being done even when we operate under a democratic system. If you want to bring it (the government) down, bring it down through the ballot box. But they did not succeed and now they are forced to resort to street rallies."

Tunku Aziz, who was accompanied by former Selangor DAP publicity secretary Tan Tuan Tat, added that Anwar was quite open about his plan to organise and orchestrate large-scale, nationwide protests.

"Anwar is well aware that he is playing with fire but he is determined to create a dangerous environment of unease, fear and insecurity that could easily get out of control with predictable consequences."

Tunku Aziz urged the government to put a stop the rallies, as they posed a serious threat to national security and public order.

"The government must apply the full force of the law to stop the rot from setting in.

"Anwar's selfish act bordering on the criminal, has gone far enough..

Tunku Aziz was also not convinced when asked about Anwar's statement that the opposition would steer clear of any illegal street demonstrations to topple the government.

"Of course he would say that their demonstration is going to be peaceful...we are used to his lies.

"So whatever Anwar says, it has to be taken with a pinch of salt, for example his Sept 16 notion that didn't materialise."

(TMI) - All is not well among Barisan Nasional (BN) parties over the distribution of Cabinet posts as Sarawak’s PRS has decided to reject its appointments while SPDP is also upset its four federal wins did not get the party anything.

Several senior Sabah Umno MPs are also grumbling that they were overlooked in the Cabinet appointments while other Umno lawmakers are disputing Hindraf’s P. Waythamoorthy’s selection despite him running down the government previously.

Media reports say Datuk Joseph Entulu Belaun will not take up his appointment as minister in the Prime Minister’s Department and Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum has openly rejected being a deputy minister again.

BN secretary-general Datuk Tengku Adnan Mansor told Utusan Malaysia today that the coalition has accepted Gandum's refusal of his deputy tourism minister post.

PRS president James Masing said the majority of the party’s supreme council members had agreed to reject Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s offer, saying they felt “sidelined” and “deserved to be treated better.”

PRS gained six federal seats and SPDP four to add to BN’s 133-seat haul, doing better than BN parties in Sabah, Sarawak and even the peninsula that were better rewarded.

MIC, which won four seats, got two ministerships and two deputy minister posts while SUPP and PBRS got full ministerships despite each winning only one federal seat.

“PRS and SPDP, which are rural-based parties, are not properly treated by the present government.

“The rural areas in Sarawak are Barisan Nasional ‘fixed deposit’. If you don’t take care of it, somebody will come by and withdraw it,” Masing warned in a report by Free Malaysia Today.

Read more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/discontent-in-bn-parties-over-cabinet-posts/