When Pariahs Interlok ....

If a book - by our National Laureate, no less - had to be amended
before it could be made mandatory reading in our school,
why the hell did we decide to use that book in the first place?
- Art Harun, ARTiculations.
========================

Precisely- if it had to be amended, then it doesn't qualify to be made a text book!!
It is simply unfit. Let it be because the Tamilian/Indian community isn't matured enough .... all the more reason!
So why then the love story of Muhyidin with Interlok?
Why is he so adamant? Now I'm beginning to get suspicious, and intend to scrutinise the book myself ..... maybe I'll try to buy the original version online.
Is there some agenda behind this?
Some subtle indoctrination perhaps?

Yes- there is nothing wrong with the book per se, since "it is only a Malay literary classic" littered with cultural, historical and geographical errors..... after all, the readers will know what a crappy piece of work it is when they do some Indian geography/history/culture studies (if they had a chance).

Of course- the book burning by the Indian/Tamilian NGOs was totally uncalled for- book burning is so passe & fascist.
However- as much as I may agree with your opinion on Interlok, and the hypersensitivity of many Tamilians over the word pariah for its negative connotations- in a way, I empathise with them.

Since Mahathir, they are the new underclass. They have been trampled on economically & socially during the Sami Value era- and are generally regarded as the underclass who are struggling to live with pride. For a very long time , they lived in their own world (so to speak)- everything was about being "Tamil". Tamil was Indian, and Indian was Tamil - despite not knowing
Many are regarded as social misfits who wouldn't stand for being laughed at. The incidence of school droputs, drug addiction, alcoholism, violence, crime, suicides, extra-judicial deaths and discrimination speak volumes towards confirming this.

Hindraf was an awakening- an "epiphany" of sorts ... towards achieving their aspirations as citizens with equal rights. It was an admission of their failures as citizens of Malaysia under the leadership of BN's MIC. In fact they are today regarded as the only failures among the Indian diaspora!!
Today, they therefore tend to see discrimination, insults and threats all around them- even where there are none.
Therefore- to them, that the word "pariah" in the book was contexual, is irrelevant. They do not complain that it won an award for the writer despite the writer's "brutal"/limited vocabulary for a "classic", ignorance of Indian geography or the readers thought it was a great book. (It beats me how they could consider a book littered with factual inaccuracies as a literary classic).

They cannot accept that the Ministry or Muhyidin is in love with the book, and forces it upon them- especially after all the derogatory comments passed against them children by the teachers. They do not trust a system which discriminates them. They do not trust the Education Ministry which hesitates to punished racists among the teachers.
So why should they accept a book (even if it is literature) which makes derogatory references to their ancestry? What guarantee is there that these racist teachers wouldn't use it to highlight the ancestry of the students today in a derogatory way?
What has the Ministry done to convince them that they're capable of using such a book to teach positive values? Nothing!
In fact, the Ministry has done plenty to prove otherwise!!

Use the book to teach children that the word "Pariah" is unacceptable?
You must be dreaming ...
There are teacher calling the students "monkey/dogs/pariah"- and the goverment supports them (even if they are given a slap on the wrist publicly). In fact, some are very subtly "rewarded" with transfers they'd be happy with!!
You wanna trust these people to teach virtues?
Did someone say, "critical thinking"?

With the current breed of unthinking pariahs among the teachers, liars among education directors , bigots/racists among policy makers and certified morons coming out of our univerities- I don't think so, mate ....

Who said there are no miracles?

The following report was found in an obscure (yet sworn to be reliable by the FARK/Taliban/CIA/MI6/IRA) online newspaper somewhere on the net yesterday unknown to Bolehsia's PDRM. Sources have been very secretive of the website URL. Apparently they didn't want The much dreaded unHoly Quartet Autarities' (Mr. Guni al-Patail, Mr. Krismudin, Mr. Taximan & Mr. Rice Al-Yatim) to bring it under a redefined PPPA:

Batican City, January 29- The Holy Bee has called an emergency conference for the Cardinals to discuss the amazing and miraculous events taking place in Bolehsia. The beatificaation of a few Saints have been put on hold pending review of these amazing events which many faithful have claimed to be miracles. According to sources strong lobby group from Mongolia has vouched for the miracles. Out of humility & due to a conflict of interest, the Archbishop of Bolehsia has stayed out of the events that transpire.

The first event to be discussed at this emergency session would be the spontaneous combustion of a Mongolian lady by the name of Sister Altantuya Shaaribu who piously worshipped the US Dollar and was blown to bits. All it took was a Quran swearing - and it has convinced all and sundry, that the Prime Minister (or his fat lady) was not involved in the explosive event. Claims by some quarters that C4 explosives were used have been proven false by the unHoly Quartet of Bolehsia.
In another Quranic swearing event, a "nice looking boy" called Psyfool, swore (they call it "sumpah laknat") swore that he was buggered forcefully, after he willingly showered and "cleaned" himself for the frail assailant to sodomize him. Miraculously, despite having only one assailant, investigators found no signs of forceful buggery in or around Psyfool's holy anus- but found traces three different DNAs in the holy anus. As a result, Fox Moulder is apparently trying to wangle his way into Psyfool's anus to investigate this phenomenon. Geneticists are also reportedly excited about this "Bolehsia Boleh" ejaculate, and have urged the Autarities to speed up investigations.
According to "inside information", after deep meditation & contemplation, the Pope himself declared that it was a miracle of titanic proportions, worthy of a sainthood ....

In a move that surprised even the Pope, the Bolehsian Autarities declared that another miracle of titanic proportions had taken place. A young man by the name of Kugan was apparent found dead at a police station. It was first thought that he died because he drank (water) and aspirated to death, since water was found in the lung. Later it was confirmed that he had developed multiple lacerations/abrasions/bruises as though he was whacked & bitch-slapped to death.

A recent development (click here for Cop cleared of hurting Kugan) the accused assailant, presumably set up- was released. Therefore, it would be safe to declare that there were no assailants in the incident.

The Holy Dee has launched a high-powered team to investigate if in repentence, Kugan had suffered as Jesus Christ did prior to his death- or if was just a Toyol which beat him to death. The Toyol investigation has been sub-contracted to Fox Moulder & Dana Scully of FBI's "X-files" team.

Prior to that, an erudite lawyer had claimed that remorseful Bolehsians can even strangle themselves in remorse- failing which they can fling themselves off the fourteenth floor & plunge to their death!!

Numerous other miracles have been taking place in Bolehsia- like the incorruptable face of its FLOB (fat lady of Bolehsia) akin to St. Bernadette's, the virginity of some people akin to the holy mother, the numerous miraculous parangs found in cars of child gangsters (who drive like Karamjit Singh), people dying due to drinking holy PDRM water, bullets from cowering policemen entering heads of rampaging bandits from above & exits lower etc etc etc.

When pressed for comments, His Boldiness Pope Bunedict XXVI joyously declared that it was a manifestation of the various prophecies- that the end of times are here, and God had probably selected Bolehsia to be initiators of the events due to the holiness shown by the dUMNO Government there. He even said that he would not rule out the possibility of the "rapture" taking place in Bolehsia very soon, considering the "rapture-readiness" of dUMNO leaders with the RM888 billion disappearing from the Bolehsian coffers.

His Boldiness advised all Bolehsians to pray to God for a piece of the pie .....

In another online daily ......

The international news network cited a secret investigation which was sparked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who had complained that the Saudis appeared to be funding Anwar in upcoming elections.

CNN claimed that Malaysian authorities suspected two senior Saudi princes of involvement in funding Anwar, and this led to a secret investigation by Riyadh.

A secret report seen by CNN concludes: "There is no evidence any Saudi official ever supported Anwar Ibrahim" and "claims of support from the Saudi royals named in the initial report [names redacted] were found to be without basis."

In other words- the person who alleged these things, is a big fat liar!!

Phang Resigns, and Gani Patail Lies for PPPA?

"Abdul Gani told reporters at the Jalan Duta Court Complex
the A-G’s Chambers has also engaged the Bar Council
and stakeholders on the proposed changes to the laws. "

Bar Council refutes A-G’s claim over publishing law

By Debra Chong

January 27, 2011

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 — The Bar Council said today it has not been consulted on Putrajaya’s plan to change a publishing law widely believed will restrict media freedom, contrary to the Attorney-General’s statement yesterday, adding to the controversy.

“No, we were not consulted on that. We were only consulted on preventive laws, laws that allow for detention without trial, like the ISA (Internal Security Act) and the Emergency Ordinance (EO),” the law society’s chief, Ragunath Kesavan (picture), told The Malaysian Insider today.

A public furore broke out after a Home Ministry official disclosed two days ago that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 will be amended to expand its scope to cover online “publications” and plug loopholes created by advances in technology.

National news agency Bernama reported Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam as saying the ministry was working with the Attorney-General’s Chambers to study the proposed amendments.

“We hope the amendments will be tabled in Parliament by March this year because we need to overcome weaknesses, especially those involving multimedia content,” Mahmood was quoted as saying.

Yesterday, A-G Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail confirmed his department has drawn up drafts to amend several laws.

He named the PPPA, the Sedition Act 1948 and ISA among them.

Abdul Gani told reporters at the Jalan Duta Court Complex the A-G’s Chambers has also engaged the Bar Council and stakeholders on the proposed changes to the laws.

He refused to comment when pressed further on who the stakeholders were, or the scope of the amendments, or even if the drafts were final.

Instead, Abdul Gani redirected the questions back to the Home Ministry.

“If he said that, it must be true. They are my clients,” he said, referring to the Home Ministry secretary-general’s statements.

“I’m not they policymaker. I don’t make the law,” he replied when asked to confirm if the laws were to be amended to cover online news.

However, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein appeared to backpedal on the issue in a news conference held later the same day.

The minister said the proposed amendments were still in the early stages and had not been finalised.

Robert Phang Quits in DISGUST!!

MY RESIGNATION TO PRESERVE MY INTEGRITY AND THE MACC

PRESS STATEMENT BY: TAN SRI DATUK ROBERT PHANG MIOW SIN. Justice of Peace, Chairman – Social Care Foundation

1. Recently, I came under personal attacks from various anonymous blogs after I raised concerns about public perceptions on a host of issues namely about the lack of action in the MAS Scandal; AG Gani Patail’s Haj Trip under suspicious circumstances; AG Gani Patail’s relationship with the former Chairman of MAS, Tajudin Ramli’s proxy, one En Shahidan Shafie; whether AG Gani Patail was compromised in his decision to not act on the recommendation of Dato’ Ramli Yusuff to institute prosecution against Tajudin and several others; about perceived selective prosecution; and also the attempt to clear AG Gani Patail of these allegations of wrongdoing without any investigation.

2. For merely asking AG Gani Patail to be accountable for all these controversies that were already in the public domain, I suddenly became the subject of these venomous attacks. On January 19, the anonymous blog also accused me of trying to bribe a Secretary-General of a Ministry. I was subsequently told that that the Attorney-General had directed an investigation paper to be opened against me. On January 21, I met the Chief Commissioner, Datuk Seri Abu Kassim Mohamed to confirm that information. He told me that was not true.

3. Despite what Datuk Abu Kassim had told me, the Malay Mail subsequently reported that the Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Liew Vui Keong, had urged the MACC to initiate an investigation against me. The Malay Mail also quoted that the MACC Anti-Corruption Advisory Board member, Tan Sri Megat Najmuddin Megat Khas, had said that the MACC cannot allow its credibility to be undermined by an advisory panel member.

4. On January 22, the NST carried a news report that the Malay rightist movement, Perkasa, had lodged a report against me and that the MACC will be investigating me. Then on 22nd January 2011, I received a telephone call from Tuan Haji Mustafar Ali that he wished to record my statement. I was surprised as that was inconsistent with what Datuk Abu Kassim had told me earlier.

5. All these seem to be a concerted attack against me. The attacks against me centered on my past business activities in Sabah and most of it were fictitious. It is a fact that AG Gani is from Sabah. It is also a fact that Datuk VK Liew is from Sabah. Datuk VK Liew is Deputy to Dato Seri Nazri Aziz, our de facto Minister of Law. To me, fanning these issues publicly is a calculated and orchestrated effort to discredit me. It is to put me on trial by media in a most unfair manner.

6. On January 24, I asked the Chief Commissioner for confirmation on the following :-

(a) Whether the identity of the blogger has been identified. If so, that I be provided with their full particulars;

(b) Whether the blogger has lodged a report against me. If so, that I be provided with a copy so that I may ascertain the exact nature of the complaint;

(c) Who is the Secretary General referred to by the blogger;

(d) Whether an investigation paper has been opened, and if so, when and at whose initiation.

7. I have lived long enough to know that this is an attempt to intimidate me for speaking out. The trial of Dato’ Ramli Yusuff has shown how cover reports after cover reports were filed to conceal the fact that there never was a real complainant and that there was never a predicated offence to prosecute him. The same is about to be done to me now. The speed at which an investigation has commenced against me is also amazing considering the inaction over the public disclosure of AG Gani Patail’s association with En Shahidan Shafee. I consider all these wholly unsatisfactory and smacks of double standards.

8. On January 25 when my Panel convened a meeting, I have informed the Chief Commissioner and all my Panel members that if they consider that I have caused disrepute to the MACC, I would resign. They have advised me not to do so.

9. I am not unmindful of the argument that unlike the position of the Attorney-General who controls criminal prosecutions, in my position as a non-executive Panel member I cannot interfere with the process of investigation or any decision for prosecution. That seems a compelling reason for me to remain on the Panel.

10. However, I feel very aggrieved at this orchestrated attempt to discredit me by rogues from within and outside the government. What has happened to me in this case can happen to any of the MACC Panel members and also to any innocent citizens of this beloved country. It is a sad day when a person should face action merely for speaking out the truth and for seeking accountability by those who wield power.

11. I have considered this matter and I will walk the talk. I think tendering my resignation is only the right thing for me to do to sincerely help facilitate investigations. Thus, in order to protect my integrity and that of the MACC, I hereby announce my resignation. I give my assurance that I will give my fullest co-operation to the MACC’s investigators.

12. I remain committed in the fight against graft. I will keep my pledge to continue speaking out against injustice and abuses until all these rogues within and outside of government are weeded out. That is a pledge that I will keep.

“HUMBLENESS IS GOOD VIRTUE, ARROGANCE SHALL FALL, THE MEEK WILL RULE THE WORLD”.

Tan Sri Datuk Robert Phang Miow Sin

Justice of Peace

Google and blogger sued by curry fish head restaurant

Google and blogger sued by curry fish head restaurant

Thursday January 27, 2011
By MUGUNTAN VANAR
vmugu@thestar.com.my

KOTA KINABALU: The director of a fish head curry restaurant which is recommended by Lonely Planet is suing a blogger and Google for defamation.

Jothys Sdn Bhd director Tharumaraj Sivaperumal filed a RM6mil civil suit at the Kota Kinabalu High Court, naming blogger Poh Huai Bin as the first defendant and California-based Google Inc as the second defendant.

The suit filed on Monday is over allegedly defamatory statements made about Jothys Fish Head Curry Restaurant here which was posted in May last year by Poh, who is originally from Sibu, Sarawak and now resides in Kuala Lumpur.

The company, which is represented by counsel Marcel Jude Joseph, is seeking exemplary or punitive damages and an order to restrain Poh from defaming the restaurant on the Internet.

Lonely place: Tharumaraj says business at his restaurant in Kota Kinabalu has been affected by the blogger’s negative postings.

The company is also seeking an order from the court to remove the offending articles from Google and other popular search engines used on the Internet.

The company claimed that the alleged defamatory statements published by both defendants would be injurious to its business.

Tharumaraj said he felt very let down when the blogger demeaned his fish head curry and banana leaf restaurant and urged the people to “avoid it like a bad case of herpes”.

“There were many people who posted positive things about my restaurant in his blog but it was removed and only the negative chats were kept,’’ he said, adding that he did not know the blogger.

On why he decided to sue Google, he said if one used Yahoo or other search engines, the offending blog does not appear immediately but in Google, it would show up first.

As a result of the defendants’ action, Tharumaraj claimed he suffered losses and damages and his restaurant’s reputation had been affected, both locally and internationally.

The plaintiff claimed that the restaurant, which opened in 1987, was known globally and had been reported as a well-known destination in Sabah in a global TV and book series known as Lonely Planet, which was an authority for tourists throughout the world.

The company also claimed that Google conducts business within the jurisdiction of Malaysian courts by reason of the fact that its search engine is used regularly by Internet users in the country.

When contacted, a Google official in Kuala Lumpur said the company could not comment on cases that were in litigation.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

NOTE:-
I believe it is silly for this guy to sue a blogger for a personal opinion he published. That was his taste, for gottsakes!!
For all you know, there might have been some conflict between the two parties - maybe the defendant was "taken for granted", and treated like an ignorant tourist, when knew knew Indian food very well.
Just because Lonely Planet mentions them (for which he might have paid), or tourist ignorant about really good Indian food know his outlet - doesn't mean they are good!!
This smug-looking Tharumaraj fella would do better by improving his food/ services, instead of making things worse for himself with added negative publicity for the restaurant- now everybody knows such an article was written, and would intead of avoiding it like herpes- would instead avoid it like the plague!!
Personally- Based on my experience in KK around last June, I'd concur with the opinion of Mr Poh Huai Bin- and my better half would vouch for it. Another (unair-conditioned) restaurant futher down the street served better South Indian food- although still far from the quality of the food served in the average Banana Leaf shop in Semenanjung/KL .......

A killer blow to online media - Malaysiakini

COMMENT Many had expected Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to be more stringent in enforcing controls a la Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the media. Few expected that he would be worse than Mahathir.

Yesterday, the Home Ministry announced that the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) - the mother of all censorship laws - would be amended to cover online content. Its secretary-general Mahmood Adam said the changes will plug loopholes in the law.

There is no doubt that Malaysiakini and other online media have gained from the 'loophole', derived from Mahathir's pledge not to censor the Internet in 1995 as he kick-started the Multimedia Super Corridor project.

Since his retirement in 2004, Mahathir has himself turned blogger.

Free of censorship, the online media went on to lay the foundations for the 'political tsunami' in 2008, resulting in then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi conceding that the government had “lost the Internet war”.

While the traditional media and online media are both kept in check by some 35 laws which restrict freedom of expression in Malaysia, there is one crucial difference between the two.

The online media, unlike its print and broadcast cousins, does not need government approval to put out the news or to go back to the Home Ministry each year to renew the publishing and printing permits. It is this which keeps editors and journalists in the traditional media on a short leash.

It is likely that, should the proposed amendments become law, the online media too will be required to apply for a licence.

This will be the final nail in the coffin for press freedom. The little freedom of expression that Malaysians have enjoyed online over the past 16 years will end.

The licensing regime will enable the government to apply political pressure to the online media, and worse, allow the all-powerful home minister to declare news websites illegal. Don't forget that, under the PPPA, the minister's decision cannot be challenged in court.

This is why Najib is worse than Mahathir when it comes to media operations.

Instead of freeing up the traditional media by doing away with the licensing regime under the PPPA, Najib and his cousin, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein, are taking the regressive step of controlling the online media.

Singapore-style Internet censorship

The timing and the speed of the amendment - it is expected to be tabled in Parliament by March - shows that the government has the upcoming general election in mind.

This proposal comes hot on the heels of similar curbs imposed by Singapore on its fledgling online media.

Only two weeks ago, the Singapore government announced a litany of restrictions on political website The Online Citizen, often dubbed as the island-state's version of Malaysiakini.

As part of the new requirements, The Online Citizen must declare itself a political organisation. This will bar its team of volunteers from writing, reporting, analysing or commenting about the elections expected to be called as early as March.

It is clear that the Malaysian government is taking a leaf from Singapore's Internet censorship playbook.

The move to amend the PPPA to include the online media must be defeated. Otherwise, Malaysia will return to the bad old days when the government had complete monopoly on truth.

STEVEN GAN is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Malaysiakini, an online media organisation launched in 1999.

Facebook PIs "find" abuser & form Community ....

"Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor marketing and communications manager Jacinta Johnson-Chan said a total of 657 cruelty cases were reported last year with 90% of it involving dogs but none were prosecuted.
The rare abuse cases that went to court resulted in
the owners getting off with just a paltry fine."
-Animal Cruelty Laws Need More Bite

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

FB Group:-

Get Dog Abuser Doreen Loo & Allan Tan into JAIL

Profile picture:

Bad parents, we blame you - The Malaysian Insider

Bad parents, we blame you

January 26, 2011

JAN 26 — Thanks to an outbreak of bad parenting, I automatically cringe when I see children at shopping malls.

Invariably, they tend to be little snots. The parents just watch idly as their charges shriek, scream, run, fall and occasionally accost a random passerby.

These aren’t urchins from Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist. They’re not street children without parents to keep them from running wild. The children have parents and their parents are obviously not doing a good job.

It’s hilarious how I end up exchanging stories with other adults who tell me their own parents would not stand for the behaviour kids get away with today.

All my father had to do was give us a look and we would quieten down. Not so now. I see parents pleading, cajoling and begging their children to behave.

The worst are the ones who act as though their children are doing nothing wrong. God forbid anyone try to set their precious darlings right.

I don’t think corporal punishment is always the best recourse but children need to understand that actions have consequences.

If children are allowed to behave like untamed beasts without check, they will grow up believing that they have carte blanche to behave in whichever way they want.

Why even take children to malls in the first place? Malls are horrible places to take children. They’re crowded, stuffy and, in some cases, even dangerous. Parents these days are far too lazy to think of alternative ways to keep their children productively entertained.

Read to them. Actually play with them. Sing with them, make crafts with them, cook with them or maybe just talk with them. Organise playdates with other parents and maybe take turns to look out for the children while they play.

Please, parents. Stop torturing other people with the antics of your ill-brought up children because they reflect badly on you. You’ll likely be regarded a bad parent and guess what? You probably are.

~Bad parents, we blame you - The Malaysian Insider

* Erna Mahyuni blogs at ernamahyuni.com when not writing for a living or dabbling in the performing arts.

Currently plays too much Dragon Age.

What are the "values" of a PHILANDERER?

"So what is so great about that?
That is your religious value which I don't know.
How am I to know about the religious values when I'm not practising that religion?”
"I have the right to say that it's basic manners to shake hands with people.
That's my values. Understand?
You also must value my value, which is good manners,
which includes shaking hands,"
- Mr. Chua "values" Soi Lek
**************************

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

'What's so great' about knowing Muslim values? – Chua

Harakahdaily

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25: MCA president Chua Soi Lek (right) appears to be on a warpath, defending his criticism of Muslim women who chose not to shake hands with the opposite sex for religious reasons. In an angry reaction to questions from reporters, Chua insisted that the norm practised by many Muslim women to avoid skin contact with the opposite sex during handshake was contrary to "basic culture and manners to shake hands". “I have been in the public life for many years. It's part of the basic culture and manners to shake hands," said Chua, who also scolded a reporter from online portal Malaysiakini, which first broke news of Chua's attack on PAS candidate Normala Sudirman. Chua had poked fun over Normala's preference not to shake hands with the opposite sex, and compared it to a similar practice by PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. "She will not come here (a Chinese temple), she doesn't even shake hands with the people. I have received complaints about this. “She is like Anwar Ibrahim's wife. She wears gloves when she shakes hands. If you can accept this kind of Islamic values, go ahead and vote for PAS," he said. This was followed by deputy Domestic Trade Cooperative and Consumer Affair minister Tan Lian Hoe of Gerakan lashing out at Normala and saying her practise was proof of PAS's goal to establish "an extremist Islamic state". “This is the most basic thing... Not only men, but when she shakes hands with women, she also needs to wear glove," alleged Tan in the presence of her minister Ismail Sabri. "This is not friendly. It's as if she thinks our hands are dirty... I hope the Chinese voters are careful (with Islamic state). We are very worried about the Islamic state. They want to implement an extremist Islamic state," she added. Chua's comments drew strong reactions from Muslims from both sides of the divide, with many recalling his sex video which exposed his adulterous affair in a hotel room in 2008. Even UMNO deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin chided him for raising religious issues in MCA's bid to convince Chinese voters that PAS would trample on non-Muslim rights. Chua however dismissed Muhyiddin's reminder. "There is no need for the DPM or the media to communicate this to us," an irate Chua was quoted by Malaysiakini as saying. 'What's so great?' Despite the storm, Chua stood his ground, saying there was nothing great about knowing the Islamic religious values. "So what is so great about that? That is your religious value which I don't know. How am I to know about the religious values when I'm not practising that religion?” "I have the right to say that it's basic manners to shake hands with people. That's my values. Understand? You also must value my value, which is good manners, which includes shaking hands," he went on, as quoted by Malaysiakini. Meanwhile, condemnations continue to pour in over Chua's comments, with Selangor speaker Teng Chang Khim saying Chua's ignorance reflected the failure of racial integration as claimed by Barisan Nasional. “CSL says it's not fair for non-Muslim to understand Islamic values. No wonder BN's national integration policy has failed. "CSL now blames the media for the hand shake issue. He never blames his narrow-mindedness and sheer ignorance,” added Teng on Twitter. Perak mufti Harussani Zakaria has also broken his silence, and demanded Chua to issue an apology. “He has to know... he must respect religious practices of others, but if he doesn’t know, that is ignorance. If he knows, but pretend not to, that is insulting Islam," said Harussani, but quickly added he was not supporting the PAS candidate. ============================================ PS Dear Mr. Ah Chua, Please make an effort to learn about the norms/cultures/values of the people you lead. It is quite understanble that a person with your background might have an obsession for "skin". But in your free time, instead of whoring/bonking/shagging or"shaking" other women- just do some reading okay. It is truly shameful that you cou could actually take pride in your ignorance and in offending Muslims, while you claim to lead as a politician ..... but then again, you never knew shame- so maybe you can add one more "value" to yourself through some reading. Then maybe ... just maybe- you may be able to salvage some dignity for the MCA community you helm. PPS Hello Dato Ti Lian Ker - Can you give him some pointers ah? A friendly advice, though, bro- just make sure you're well protected if you do so, okay ... Cheers!

Videos from PAWS Animal Welfare Society, Petaling Jaya: Help Find This Sicko!

(screencapture)

In the space of twenty minutes today, I received this heart breaking video from four very concerned people - Jasmine Lai, Edward Lim, Jeffrey Koh, and Gigi Koe,
asking me to do something about it. Thank you guys, not only for your concern but for not keeping quiet and taking affirmative action.

The truth is, I am as helpless as you are. I was sick to my stomach to watch this and had to stop after awhile as I couldn’t bear to carry on watching.

http://www.facebook.com/video/?upload&canceled&oid=116885061686644#!/video/video.php?v=10150182537064569&oid=116885061686644&comments

The only hope we have of saving this poor little puppy is to use the power of the internet and help to spread this video to everyone in our contact list. Someone out there knows who this sicko is. If you do, please send us his details. You don’t have to identify yourself if you choose not to. We just need this sicko’s identity to save the puppy.

Please, everyone – I’m pleading for you to help viral this video for that little helpless puppy’s sake before its too late.


Dave Avran
PAWS



Videos from PAWS Animal Welfare Society, Petaling Jaya:
Help Find This Sicko!
(please click on Link)

K-point: Palace’s Codswallop, Sycophants Currying Favour And Bob’s Your Uncle

So that we know that as a result of royal patronage, Khusrin becomes the Selangor State Secretary and Bob’s your uncle. And the Palace is talking codswallop. What was said by the Palace that the appointment of Khusrin was in accordance with the Constitution and conventions of the State is unbelievable.

By NH Chan

Pretender Khusrin? @ selangorkini

Why is the Palace talking codswallop, and who is Bob and the sycophants in the K-point affair?

Sycophants currying favour

Fauvel was the French name for the "centaur" (half-man, half-horse) and to keep on the right side of him sycophants would spend time grooming Fauvel. The art of grooming a horse is called "currying". Therefore those seeking to keep in the centaur’s good books were once called "currying Fauvel". Overtime Fauvel became "favour".

On 7 January 2011, Star reported this at page 2 regarding the appointment of the purported Selangor State Secretary:

"I am saddened and regret that many of my statements have been manipulated by irresponsible quarters which had caused confusion among the people," said Sultan Sharafuddin.

The Sultan congratulated Mohd Khusrin on his appointment.

"I would like to stress that the appointment is in accordance with the regulations and procedures of the Selangor and Federal constitutions".

But the real truth is that the supposed appointment of Mohd Khusrin as the State Secretary of Selangor is not "in accordance with the regulations and procedures of the Selangor and Federal constitutions" as claimed by the Sultan. Just because these good Samaritans have criticised the appointment of this person on sound constitutional grounds they have been branded as "irresponsible quarters which had caused confusion among the people". In case you do not already know, most of these good people are practising and accomplished lawyers. Amidst the confusion of differing views about the constitutional legality of the appointment of Khusrin, these dedicated and generous lawyers took on the onerous duty of giving gratuitous service to society so as to apprise the lay public on the correct law applicable to the appointment of the State Secretary of Selangor. Because they are not sycophants currying favour they should not deserve such a vile rebuke from the Ruler. You can read their well considered articles at LoyarBurok.

Bob’s your uncle

This phrase means something that is resolved in your favour without much effort as in, "just send the form in and Bob’s your uncle". Its real origin comes from the promotion in 1886 of Arthur James Balfour to Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. When it became known he was the nephew of Prime Minister Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, the joke circulated that if Robert was your uncle, the deed or deal is as good as done.

On 5 January 2011, theSun in its front-page report carried this:

Royal consent given

PETALING JAYA: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah consented to the appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as Selangor state secretary as it was in accordance with the constitution and conventions of the state.

So that we know that as a result of royal patronage, Khusrin becomes the Selangor State Secretary and Bob’s your uncle. And the Palace is talking codswallop. What was said by the Palace that the appointment of Khusrin was in accordance with the Constitution and conventions of the State is unbelievable.

Brass tacks

Getting down to brass tacks means that we can now get to the heart of the matter. The term is cockney rhyming slang, in which "facts" are dubbed as "brass tacks".

When it comes to getting down to brass tacks the facts are staring us in the face. We need go no further than Articles 52 and 97 of the Selangor Constitution.

52(1) There shall be constituted the offices of the State Secretary … and the appointments thereto shall be made by the appropriate Service Commission from amongst members of any of the relevant public services.

It is as clear as daylight that the appointment of the State Secretary "shall be made by the appropriate Service Commission" from members of any of the relevant public services. What is meant by the term "appropriate Service Commission"? For that we have to look at Article 97 of the Selangor Constitution which says:

97(1) There shall be established a State Service Commission whose jurisdiction shall … extend to all persons who are members of the public service of the State.

Article 97(1) confirms that there is in the State of Selangor a State Service Commission which has jurisdiction over all members of the public services of the State. So that "the appropriate Service Commission" in Article 52(1) is the "State Service Commission" referred to in Article 97(1).

Therefore, by virtue of these two provisions of the Selangor Constitution the State Secretary of Selangor is to be appointed by the State Service Commission of Selangor. The Federal Public Services Commission is not the appointing body for the post of the Selangor State Secretary.

So that for anyone to say otherwise is codswallop - the word means "nonsense". It is evident nonsense for anyone to say that the Federal Public Services Commission is the appointing body for the post of the State Secretary of Selangor.

Read more at: http://www.loyarburok.com/the-system/bolehland/k-point-palaces-codswallop-sycophants-currying-favour-and-bobs-your-uncle/

The UMNO (O&G) colonies of Sabah and Sarawak ......

"Whereas one of the Nine Cardinal Principles of the Rule of the English Rajahs
was that goal of self government shall always be kept in mind
and that the people of Sarawak shall be entrusted in due course with the
Governance of themselves:
And Whereas this principle accords with the policy which
Her Majesty’s Government of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland
have always pursued in the Governance of those territories
of the Commonwealth for whose affairs
Her Majesty’s Government have been responsible: ...."
~Stephen Kalong Ningkan, Malaysia Day Proclamation Speech ,16th September, 1963

"Thus the Ibans forfeited a commanding position in negotiations on who should form the government. On the other hand, with a Chief Minister who had ethnic, political, and religious empathy with the Malaysian Alliance leaders and the party representing the majority of the Chinese safely in the state coalition government, Sarawak politics had finally been molded in the UMNO-led Peninsular Malaysia Alliance image. And a family dynasty of state chief ministers that would last beyond the turn of the century had been established."
~The Malayanisation Of Sarawak-A Malayan Wayang Kulit

What is the real meaning of Merdeka. Sabah and Sarawak are supposed to be Merdeka but are they or did they actually exchange one colonial master of white skins for anther colonial master of brown skins?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

How appropriate for RPK to say that Sarawak & Sabah are Colonies in the true sense of the word. I for one am in total agreement. They are treated as "anak tiri" by our BN warlords who control the states. They seek to impose upon them a system/culture which foreign to them through their "social engineering" tactics.

Donald Stephen (later Tun Fuad Stephen), Tun Datu Mustapha, Tun Abdul Razak

Right from Day-1, the agenda of the BN Govt was plunder .... and Oil (through Petronas) money was the subject.
Wikipedia has this to say about Petronas:-
"Petronas, short for Petroliam Nasional Berhad,^[1] is a Malaysian-owned oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. ....
Several factors converged in the early 1970s to prompt the Malaysian government into setting up a state oil and gas company, as first proposed in its Five Year Plan published in 1971. Former Chief Minister of Sarawak, Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub was one of the people who proposed the idea of Malaysia setting up their own oil company.
After negotiations lasting from 1977 to 1982, Petronas had concluded contracts with Tokyo Electric Power and Tokyo Gas for the sale and delivery of LNG through to the year 2003. Malaysia LNG was to send almost the entire output of its Bintulu gas fields to Japan, under these contracts and another one, signed in 1990, to supply Saibu Gas of Fukuoka, in southwestern Japan, for 20 years from 1993.
Since inception in 1974, Petronas have paid the government RM 403.3 billion, with RM 67.6 billion in 2008. The payment represents 44% of the 2008 federal government revenue."

After "independence", the Оrang Вajau Ubian -Kagayan and Orang Suluk/ Tausug origin, Mustapha Harun, indulged in the social engineering required to keep himself in power. As in the case of all Sabah CMs- his lifestyle and wealth was legendary. Tun Datu Mustapha was famous for his mass-conversion ceremonies- wherein the docile & friendly natives were rounded up like cattle or bribed to come for events they knew nothing of- and made to sign documents which the state used to declare them Muslims.

Apparently that was how the Kadazan community got split- rendering the Muslims into "Dusuns" (I'm not so sure about this- so correct me if I'm wrong here). Since those days, many a white-elephant Mosques were built to give Sabah that "Islamic" image- a practise which goes on till today .... but today, after all their tinkering, I think the muslims (thanks to the instant Malaysians from across the borders) have become the majority.

This is what Wiki has on Mustapha - "As reported in local news such as Daily Express (2nd page, 11 Nov 2009), the Malaysian home ministry informed in parliament that a biography of Tun Mustapha's political opponent who died in the double tenth plane crash, Datuk Peter Mojuntin, is banned. The reason was that the book "allegedly" recorded that Datuk Peter exposed Tun Mustapha's attempt to destroy Christianity in Sabah by deporting and arresting foreign missionary priest who were serving their local parishes in the State."

Now, with the founding of Petronas in '74, all the dynamics changed- henceforth, it was going to be the "black gold & gas" - oil money - which determined Sabah's (& Sarawak's) leadership ....
Despite all his Islamization drives and import of Filipinos for his phantom votes for USNO (with Alliance/BN backing), Mustapha lost out when his demand for Oil royalties of 30% was rejected by BN. Sabah went to Berjaya's Harris Salleh who we could presume, agreed to the measly 5%. [Anyway- after the political "expiry" of Mustapha, Donald Stephens (aka Fuad Stephens) also disappeared soon after (after 44 days in office) in a plane crash in '76]. After 10 yrs of Haris Salleh- the then Pairin got hold of Sabah for the next 10 yrs.
Needing the revenue from Sabah to get Malaysia of the recession, Mahathir with the help of Anwar Ibrahim got the two pirates - Harris & Mustapha- to unite to form the Sabah chapter of UMNO, in order to oust Pairin's PBS, and bleed Sabah of its natural resources (oil & gas).

With the entry of UMNO into Sabah- it heralded a "new" era reminiscent of the good ol' Mustapha days- the only difference was, this time around, it was "on steroids". Everyone knows Anwar's role in getting Umno into Sabah & the power struggle with Pairin - then came the "Project M" which has in effect reduced the political power of the indigenous peoples of Sabah, and the rise of the pirates who usurped the privileges due to the natives.

The ripping of the social fabric through the various "Islamization on steroid" projects these days, need no introduction- now they have even got a detention centre in Kinarut ready for those who don't give a fig about religion, let alone practice the Islam they apparent converted to for a few screws or maybe promotion/loans/cash/licences.
Now children can be legally abducted from families, and marriages can be annulled with full support from the Government run by UMNO. Children brought up as Christians can now have the state legally impose Islam upon them- and sent to welfare/orphanages/foster families .....

The granting of citizenship & "bumiputra" status to not just Malays from Semenanjung, but also foreigners from neighbouring Philipines and Indonesia. It is common knowledge also that many foreigners from even Bangladesh & Pakistan have managed to acquire their citizenships.bumiptra status through the same "social engineering"/Project M/NRD syndicates orchestrated by Umno.

Moving on to Sarawak ...

Sarawak's Honest Stephen Kalong Ningkan...first Chief Minister in Sarawakian history since 1963.

Sarawak was ruled by Brooke family or White Rajah of Sarawak from 1841 until 1946. Under James Brooke the dayak or the natives were treated fairly and the most importantly our most value asset, our NCR lands were recognised and respected by the White Rajah.

First Iban and Sarawak CM was forced to step down on 24 September 1966 when his fellow Iban politicians, led by the illiterate Tun Jugah who defected to ally himself with Federal government.

"Pek Moh" Taib doesn't give a damn about anything other than the wealth he can generate for himself. He doesn't care if the mob runs the show in the state, or if the natives' rights and land are taken away. It doesn't matter if the people are condemned to a life of poverty and capitalist slavery to the pirates, gangsters & colonisers - what matters is that Taib gets his share of the pie, while the rest can go to hell with Umno.
However- with the waning of Taibs power in Sarawak, Umno is itching to set foot in Sarawak .... and if that happens, you can bet your last sen that the same things that happened in Sabah will repeat itself in Sabah (if the Foochows there cannot help it). Not that it hasn't been happening (you can read about all the "crocodiles bin abdullah" in the earlier post)- but just isn't "on steroids".

Here is something I got from Bukit Tungal:

The chief minister ought to be a Dayak.

The reality is quite a different thing. The first Sarawak CM Stephen Kalong Ningkan (1920-1997) was indeed an Iban. But he was forcibly removed in 1996 by a federally initiated Declaration of Emergency and a constitutional amendment. Since 1970, the two Sarawak CMs have been Melanau Muslims.

Since then, the Dayak communities have been mired in political marginalisation and socio-economic backwardness that can hardly be imagined by people living in affluent states of Peninsular Malaysia........
Living mostly in the vast rural areas of Sarawak, many still live without basic amenities such as roads, jetties, clinics, treated drinking water, and electricity. Time for them has stood still since independence in 1963.
It would be tempting to blame the socio-economic marginalisation of the Dayaks entirely on racial discrimination, but that would be too simplistic.Although many Malay/Muslim politicians and technocrats have amassed fabulous wealth under the patronage of CM Taib Mahmud, the Malay/Melanau people too live in the same kind of socio-economic quagmire that impedes progress in their community.
Since the political demise of Stephen Kalong Ningkan, the failure of the Dayak nationalist impulse in Sarawak in presenting a more inclusive Sarawakian narrative is one of the reasons for its failure.

Anyway- Many conveniently speak of the Sarawak's 18-point Agreement on forming the federation of Malaysia. However most (if not all) don't seem to know what the contents are ... (beyond the usual, "It's just the same as the Sabah on lah ..").
It has been more than 2 yrs since I first starting looking & asking around for the 18-point Agreement which was signed by Sarawak when it had agreed to form Malaysia along with Peninsular, Sabah & Singapore.
I have asked many- some Sarawakians claimed to have it (or know the contents at least) as well .... but so far, I have NOTHING!!! (I tried requesting informally from someone in the National Archives- the only response I got was an elegant silence- now I'll have to try again personally).
After all these days- the only thing I got in response from those claimed to know the contents was the Sabah's 20-point Agreement with a footnote saying "It's almost the same lah ....".
Why then is it so difficult to find?
Sure- I can accept that, but why then is it called "18-point"?
Why isn't it "20-point" as in the case with Sabah?

So if any of you, have access to it or know the contents of it verbatim- please enlighten us (me, at least).
Thanks.

"Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban"

PS

For the list of the CMs of Sabah/Sarawak, click HERE.

More Crocodile bin Abdullahs…. Exclusive! | Sarawak Report

Friday, January 21st, 2011 GMT

Crocodile Minister - YB James Dawos, representative for Mambong

Sarawak Report can reveal there are a number more converted YBs in Taib Mahmud’s BN State Government, who are seeking to conceal the fact from their Dayak constituents. The shy YBs include the Minister James Dawos, who is the representative of Mambong as well as Johnical Rayong who is the representative for Engkilili for SUPP.

Both men are married to Muslim women and under current Malaysian law this obliges them to become Muslims. However, neither have publicised their conversion nor are their new names used in their official dealings with their constituents. Critics today have been saying that public figures should come clean about their religion and that it should not be a matter of secrecy.

Why be ashamed?

PKR spokesman Abang Zul, himself a Muslim, today commented that:

”We should not be ashamed of our own religion. You have to reveal your chosen faith to the people. You don’t have to worry because the people understand there is a freedom of religion”

The issue raises a number of concerns about why so many BN YBs are converting to become Muslim and also why they would be hiding this from their constituents? There is a view that ambitious politicians are converting in order to better their chances for promotion and other favours from the Chief Minister, who is criticised for discrimination against non-Muslims. On the other hand, existing laws forcing any non-Muslim to convert if they marry a Muslim are also a form of practical discrimination against other religions, which are effectively being treated as the lesser faith under Malaysian law.

Certainly, in the case of both Dawos and Rayong it would appear that the conversion first took place in the bedroom and then proceeded to a quiet ceremony at the Religious Council. Dawos, who already had a wife and three children, married a young Muslim singer from the raunchy all girl pop group Elite some four years ago. However, he has yet to make public either the marriage or the conversion.

Please can you put on a show for my constituents?

Johnical Rayong - Frog or Crocodile?

In the case of Johnical Rayong we have learnt from an angry male friend of the YB’s first wife that the Engkilili representative has been trying to persuade her to return with him to the constituency for the election campaign to put on a show for the voters!

This is the not the first time he has been accused of trying to mislead his constituents. At the last election in 2006 he won the seat on behalf of the opposition party SNAP and vigorously attacked the BN coalition during the election campaign. However, less than a month after the election he swapped sides and joined SUPP! Sarawak Report wonders therefore whether he is more a frog than a crocodile?

The circumstances of his second marriage and conversion are unlikely to please voters, especially the Christian majority in his constituency, which is probably why he is trying to suppress the facts. However, Sarawak Report believes that people have a right to know about the characters of the public figures who represent them.

~Click here for More Crocodile bin Abdullahs…. Exclusive! | Sarawak Report

GET RID OF LITTLE NAPOLEONS!

(NOTE: Watch out, MPSJ/MBPJ/MBSA/MPS etc, etc, etc- you're next!!)

Little Napoleons in the Selangor state civil service

January 20, 2011

Ah Seong ( at the kaunter pertanyaan at a Majlis Perbandaran in Selangor : Encik, saya nak check saya punya lesen niaga pasar malam sudah lulus, kah?

Little Napoleon attending at the counter : Nombor rujukan?

Ah Seong hands over the acknowledgment of receipt given to him when he handed in his application some three months ago.

Little Napoleon : Tunggu sekejap, saya check.

Little Napoleon disappears, leaving Ah Seong waiting at the counter, and returns about 15 minutes later.

Little Napoleon : Belum lagi. YB masih sedang check you punya permohonan.

Ah Seong : Ah, belum lagi? Check apa lagi? Dulu satu bulan sudah ok.

Little Napoleon : Dulu kerajaan lain, sekarang kerajaan lain, mah

Ah Seong : Dulu kerajaan lain, sekarang kerajaan lain, tapi lesen sama saja, mah. Apa susah mau kasi lesen?

Little Napoleon : Dulu punya kerajaan, kautim RM50 you punya lesen sudah lama keluar. Sekarang punya kerajaan, semua YB mahu check. Ini mahu check, itu mahu check. It hari you pilih ini kerajaan, bukan? Ah, sekarang you jangan komplen, lah!

Ah Seong : Tiu, dua-dua pun sama, tak boleh pakai

_______________________________________

This has been going on for some time now in Selangor.

Trouble is, no one in government saw it fit to report this to us.

Policy decisions with a view to improving the delivery system to the public are being frustrated by civil servant front liners who deal with the public.

These civil servants have, along the way, forgotten that they are to serve the rakyat, and not their political masters, UMNO.

Their goal : to leave the public with the impression that the present state government is wholly incompetent to manage the state and voting them in was a huge mistake.

True, I wouldn’t give the present government an ‘A’ for governance, but I would not fail them either. It hasn’t been all bad, or I would not have hosted ‘Selepas Tsunami’.

What these little Napoleons in the state civil service are trying to do is, on premises mischievously contrived by themselves, agitate disaffection against the state government.

In the language that BN is so fond of using, what they are doing is seditious.

In the days of old before the law of sedition was conjured, what these little Napoleons are plotting and carrying through would be treated as treason, and they would be beheaded.

They are betraying the very ones they are to serve.

You and I.

I don’t know about you, but I am heading out to the Kelana Jaya Stadium this Sunday to have my say.

Hooray!!! RM888 Billion- We're 5th in the world!!

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — Illicit money outflows from Malaysia tripled to US$68.2 billion (RM208.1 billion) in 2008, from US$22.2 billion in 2000, according to a report by US-based financial watchdog Global Financial integrity (GFI) released this month.

The country also had the fifth largest amount of illegal money outflows between 2000 and 2008, among developing countries. GFI defines illicit financial flows as generally involving the transfer of money earned through illegal activities such as corruption, transactions involving contraband goods, criminal activities, and efforts to shelter wealth from a country's tax authorities, said the programme’s website.

The report titled Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries: 2000-2009 said that illicit financial outflows from Malaysia totalled US$291 billion (RM888 billion) in that period.

It said that the increase was “at a scale seen in few Asian countries.”

“The volume of illegal capital flight from Malaysia has come to dwarf legitimate capital inflows into the country in recent years,” said the report.

~Malaysia is fifth in illegal money chart - The Malaysian Insider

Penang shoots to top spot for capital investment

Penang shoots to top spot for capital investment

Harakahdaily

PENANG, Jan 19: Penang has come up tops for capital investments in the manufacturing sector last year by contributing 26 per cent of the total investment in the country in 2010. According to figures released by Malaysian International Development Agency (MIDA), the Pakatan Rakyat ruled state has increased its investment by a whopping 465 percent from RM2,165 million in 2009 to RM12,238 million in 2010. “The significance of this historic achievement is highlighted by Penang's contribution of RM12,238 million to Malaysia's investment constituting 26% of Malaysia’s total investments of RM47,177 million in 2010,” said chief minister Lim Guan Eng in a statement to Harakahdaily. Lim (right) added the state had moved up to occupy the highest ranking in 2010, from its fourth place in 2009. Selangor came in second with RM10,641 million in 2010, a 50 percent increase from RM6,759 million in 2009. Other PR-led states Kedah and Kelantan also saw increase in capital investment, with Kedah registering 30 percent more investment (RM1,960 million) in 2010 and Kelantan 34 percent more (RM169 million). "Penang leads" Lim said the 465 percent increase in state investment was a reflection of investors’ confidence towards the state's human capital, as well as an affirmation towards the state government’s strategy of promoting Penang as a choice destination for investors. “Penang believes that competency, accountability and transparency (CAT) has also built confidence that a government with integrity can make things happen and both execute and deliver," he stressed, and added that Penangites could now proudly proclaim that "Penang leads". He also said the state had received praise in the recent Auditor-General's Report and from Transparency International.

Selangor Speaker declares Port Klang seat vacant

Selangor Speaker declares Port Klang seat vacant - The Malaysian Insider

By Shannon Teoh

January 19, 2011

Badrul quit PKR in 2009 to turn independent. — file pic

SHAH ALAM, Jan 19 — Selangor legislative assembly Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim has declared the Port Klang seat vacant as its representative Badrul Hisham Abdullah has been absent for six months.

He told reporters today that the assemblyman has not attended a sitting of the assembly since July 15, 2010 and, therefore, the seat has been vacant as of January 16, 2011.

Article 69 of the Selangor Constitution states that a member of the legislative assembly who is absent for a period of six months must vacate his or her seat.

Badrul quit PKR in 2009 and turned independent.

However, the Election Commission (EC) will have to determine if a by-election will be held.

Tenang by election: A snapshot of government abuse

Tenang by election: A snapshot of government abuse drrafick | January 19, 2011 at 8:48 AM | Categories: Malaysia My Home | URL: http://wp.me/p8MXu-1fX

1. As the by-election for Tenang is getting closer, the news of power abuse

   by Johor State Education Department (JSED) Director Markom Giran takes center stage. It was reported that he had called for a meeting among teachers and use them in profiling the parents via the students input into BN, non BN supporters and the fence sitters. He talks about converting the non BN supporters

   and the fence sitters in ensuring they will vote BN
   

2. It reminds me of the Nazi's in WW II where they too had gone initiated a human profiling system where they would segregate the Jews and Non Jews. The JSED had apparently issued a transfer order to the husband of Puan Normala

   after it PAS had announced that she would be contesting

   in Tenang. It was subsequently withdrawn after it became clear that it could be a political issue that PR can capitalize.
   

3. With strong and irrefutable evidence like a video on the YouTube

   , it is clear that the JSED had abused his position and power. Sadly the Ministry of Education has not even raised a whimper on the matter. This is a snapshot on government abuse of the government machinery.
   

4. People like Markom Giran cant seems to appreciate his role as a government servant in a professional manner. He is not able to differentiate the support for the policies of the government of the day and the political party that governs the government of the day. I believe there is many more Markom Giran out there. This people thrive under the protection of the political powers and survived the system and reached the top based on some ability and plenty of networking.
   

5. An election is supposed to be about fair play. In this case and also in the past election in this country, there is no fair play. The government controlled media, the use of official functions as a platform for campaigning and many other tactical measures gives the government of the day the edge that they need to ensure a greater probability of a win. It only suggest one thing i.e. there is a strong probability that BN would lose many seats in this country if they were contesting in a "truly level playing field"
   

6. Based on what is happening in Tenang, I have decided to help Normala. She needs all the help that she can get to ensure a win. Since I am not able to go down to Tenang and assist her in the election, I will do the next best thing which is to make a small token contribution to PAS. They need the money to run the campaign. I am doing it not because I support Normala or PAS but because I want a better level playing field. May I suggest the readers out there also make a small contribution to the account below.
   

   Parti Islam Se Malaysia
   

   Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd
   

   Account number: 140 2301 0000885
   

   Branch: Jalan Raja Laut, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

**PS
The emphasis above, is mine - done simply because I share similar sentiments with Raffick on the state of affairs .... (plus I'm proud to have contributed in my own small way too).
Please support PR/PAS in Tenang to get rid of the "buayas in Tenang waters"- for the sake of democracy in Malaysia.
Cheers!