Right Said, Zaid - Just Do It!

=======================
"It is as sudden as death.
The only thing different is that you do not have to walk into a funeral home,
peek into the box and say, 'Well, he was a nice guy'.
It is like the phases of death.
You have loss, anger, sadness, and then you come to accept it."
- a defeated Liberal politician.
=================================
***************************************************
Law Minister threatens to quit over ISA
Beh Lih Yi | September 14, 2908

De facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim today threatened to resign if the government continued to use the Internal Security Act, which he described as ‘unjust’.

MCPX

The outspoken Barisan Nasional politician also called for the immediate release of DAP MP Teresa Kok and controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin who were held under the security law which provides for detention without trial.

“We have a government that commits to laws and reforms, we can’t be using old-style politics or resort to creating fear. We have laws and they (the detainees) can be charged in court.

“I am trying to meet with Prime Minister (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) this week to convey to him my position. If (he considers) my position untenable, I will leave,” he told Malaysiakini in a telephone interview from Kota Baru, Kelantan.

The minister, who is a lawyer by training, held a press conference in Kota Baru earlier, where he also spoke on the same matter.

Use ISA to fight terror

Zaid, who is the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing legal matters, said his position on the ISA is that the law should only be used to curb terrorism, the reason why it was enacted.

“The problem with the ISA now is that it is used against certain people, it is a very unjust law,” he added.

The ISA is a relic from the British which used the law to battle the communist insurgency. The Act earned notoriety after it was invoked by the government to stifle dissent, leading many to call for its abolition.

However, the government has continued to defend the relevance of the law on the grounds of national security.

Commenting further, Zaid said: “I am very sad that people like Teresa (right), who I know personally, can be seen as a threat. I can’t see how a journalist doing her duty or even Raja Petra can be seen as a national threat.

“If their statements upset certain people, let the police investigate,” the minister said, adding that he did not see the need for the government to use such a “strong-arm tactic.”Zaid, who is the former Kota Baru MP, was made a senator and named as minister in charge of legal affairs during the cabinet reshuffle by premier Abdullah in March.

His appointment was lauded by many quarters, especially within the legal fraternity, as it was seen as a gesture by the prime minister to honour his pledge for judiciary reforms.

‘A setback to judiciary reforms’

However, Zaid lamented that the latest ISA arrests dealt a blow to his six-month-long task of trying to regenerate the judiciary.

In relation to the concept of collective responsibility, the minister acknowledged that his views on certain matters do not go down well with his cabinet colleagues.

“I don’t want to make it difficult for him (Abdullah). If my views are inconsistent or unsuitable (to that of the cabinet’s), I can leave the government.

“It is a setback (on my work). The government wanted to change certain things otherwise they don’t need me (to be in the cabinet),” he said.

Friday’s ISA crackdown began with Raja Petra, who has targeted government figures on his website Malaysia Today. He was detained at 1.10pm.

Tan Hoon Cheng, a journalist for the Chinese language Sin Chew Daily, was later arrested at about 8.30pm.

She was detained in connection with her report regarding the derogatory remarks made by an Umno leader against the Chinese community which led to a national uproar.

Close to midnight, DAP MP and Selangor senior state exco Teresa Kok was detained outside her condominium.

The arrests elicited a round of strong protests from all quarters, including those within the BN component parties.

Journalist Tan was released yesterday after being held for less than 24 hours and Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar explained that her detention was “to ensure her safety.”

www.malaysiakini.com

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Note: The following related posts are to be read
within the context of relevance/reference.

The Spirit of Merdeka - The Hartal.
The nationwide hartal of 1947
Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger - Ep. III

Crouching Tigers and Crazy Monkeys.

RPK's Interview with BBC prior to arrest

DinMerican says:
I have been told by qualified sources that I me be included in the next round of ISA arrests. I am not afraid of what this government might do to stifle dissent and squash the hopes of people for change.......

When I joined this movement I knew that this day would certainly come. When I learned how to blog at the ripe age of 68, I felt I was born again - and I had a chance to say many things which I had kept inside for my entire life. I have been honest and forthcoming with you, my readers.

God willing this will just be a minor detour on our march to Putrajaya.

Dear Din,
It breaks my heart to see such tyranny and cruelty unleashed upon the people by tyrants.
We all know who the next ones will be, should there be a “follow-up” …. we also know who the real target is.

God Bless you and all those who fight for the people, truth, justice and harmony.
Be strong, Din - The people pray for you
….. and the truth shall prevail!

Hidup Barisan Rakyat!
Daulat Tuanku!
===========================

From MT:
P.Waytha Moorthy writes:
All methods and acts against human right and civil liberty issues by installing fear and intimidation can only lead to the maestro,

Dr Mahathir and his warlords. ………………… repressive actions against utterance of truth in a purported democracy is being engineered and navigated by the non other than the infamous Dr Mahathir and his “warlords” within UMNO and their allies.
This is a typical coup d’état whereby, Mahathir’s warlords have slowly usurped and having consolidated their position to create the bureaucratic elite that would make sure that UMNO and it’s allies stays in power and continue the regime that started fifty one years ago.

written by FTFoong, September 13, 2008 09:13:03
They will probably go after DSAI, Guan Eng, Karpal, Kit Siang, Musa Huram, Siravasa and even the Bar chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Miss Teresa Kok and Miss Tan have been hauled up as well.
It appears that efforts are being made to paint a picture that Islam & the Malay Race is under seige, and RPK is a "threat to national security".
Just as MM2007 (the blogger) was arrested along with RPK for "insulting Islam", this time it is Miss Tan & Miss Kok - only this time "Race" is added as a factor - to what one acquantance of mine (he was a Malay, mind you) percieves as attempts towards "incitement", by the "you-know-who" parties.

All these happens when the perpetrators of conflict, are actually running around justifying their actions - and mocking the people and their sense of justice.

There is a very real reason for this schizophrenia, this pathology ... the "return of the stalwart", is just one factor in the big picture - he is simply the most convenient instrument (and the only one with some grey matter - although in its final days).
(Anyway, there isn't much he can do - at the most, he'll last one year. How long can he do "damage control". I wouldn't be surprised should he drop dead anytime soon. The numerous bypasses have already long passed their expiry date anyways ...)

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

In the coming days, I'll be putting up a few articles that were posted some time back.
It starts with the "purely academic" abstracts of papers which were first posted here on 06042008 - as a prelude to the assessment of the state of affairs, a month after the "tsunami" (post 0803 Tsunami scenario). It was also meant to try to understand the psyche of the many political warlords who tasted the "sweetness of defeat" at the elections then.

It comes in three parts, and this are the first and second- my apologies, should you find it "boring".

It is entitled:
Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt. I

=======================
"It is as sudden as death. The only thing different is that you do not have to walk into a funeral home, peek into the box and say, 'Well, he was a nice guy'.
It is like the phases of death.
You have loss, anger, sadness, and then you come to accept it."
- a defeated Liberal politician.
==========================

Brownlee, Jason. "Ruling Parties and Regime Persistence: Durable Electoral Authoritarianism in Egypt and Malaysia" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 27, 2003

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: This paper demonstrates why electoral authoritarian systems benefit from party institutions that prevent leadership rifts by accommodating dissent and managing elite interests. I present Egypt and Malaysia’s experiences with ruling parties and regime persistence, the contrast outcome to incumbent defeat. By regulating leadership politics, the NDP in Egypt and UMNO in Malaysia have held together a dominant cadre and repeatedly blocked opposition forces from winning control of government.

Barclay, Pascael. "Do Authoritarian Elections Matter? Political Business Cycles in Electoral Authoritarian Regimes" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the ISA's 49th ANNUAL CONVENTION, BRIDGING MULTIPLE DIVIDES, Mar 26, 2008

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Do elections in authoritarian regimes matter? It is often assumed that they are mere window dressing. Yet it is also possible that these elections have independent effects, which make authoritarian leaders care about the elections, despite their ability to manipulate the results through fraud and repression. One way to discover whether authoritarian elections matter is to examine political business cycles (PBCs) in electoral authoritarian (EA) regimes. This study shows that PBCs occur cross-nationally in authoritarian regimes that hold regular elections, but only when the incumbent faces a challenger. In fact, government consumption increases by .43% in election years in competitive elections. Although this number is small, elections have the largest impact on government spending of the variables included in the model. Also, evidence from case studies portray PBCs in authoritarian regimes as targeted and informal. Therefore, in the case of informal spending, much pre-electoral spending may not be captured by overall government consumption or, in the case of targeted spending, the magnitude of the increase for certain groups will similarly not be captured by this aggregate variable. From the evidence presented in this study, we can conclude that PBCs occur in competitive authoritarian settings, indicating that dictators care about electoral returns.

Thompson, Mark. and Kuntz, Philipp. "To Steal or not to Steal: Authoritarian Regime Behavior after Electoral Defeat" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Hilton Chicago and the Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, IL, Sep 02, 2004

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The terrain that authoritarian regimes enter after electoral defeats has been roughly surveyed but not yet well mapped. We show that there are other outcomes than the two options of stealing an election and retaining office or accepting defeat and surrendering power. There is also the possibility of regimes stealing elections but losing power after failing to effectively repress popular protest. In other cases, non-democratic rulers have accepted defeat but still maintained ultimate political power. We then offer a few explanations for these different paths. We coin the term “electoral sultanism” to stress the importance of personalistic interests in explaining electoral theft. Parallel to this was the argument that regimes with stronger institutional interests are more likely to concede that the opposition has won because regime members are better able to defend vital interests outside of power. Whether regimes hold onto power after accepting defeat depends basically upon the scope of the election. Conceding defeat in polls that are constitutionally limited because they are local, or only referenda, or constrained in their impact due to “dual power” in the state does not lead to the loss of power and can even contribute to authoritarian consolidation. Only conceding defeat in national elections for the highest office makes a withdrawal from power inevitable. Limited polls have been stolen nonetheless because autocrats estimated the costs in acknowledging defeat - a loss of reputation or the creation of “oppositional islands” - as too high.

Crouching monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt. II

Political life is also exhilarating.

Immersed within its subculture, politicians readily believe that they are affecting change in a needed direction. As they are socialized into this subculture, they become convinced that they are becoming better at doing what they are supposed to do.
Initial feelings of uncertainty and confusion are replaced by confidence and determination. In the process, their status as politician becomes their master status, overtaking the various other statuses they occupy. However, while self-assured at this point, they are particularly vulnerable. It is within this context that political defeat at the polls is experienced as death.

The imagery of death rings true for yet another reason. The defeat generates a series of sympathetic telephone calls and visits from family members, friends and constituents offering words of solace and comfort.
As incapacitating as defeat may be, the defeated member must make sense of it. Expressions of mourning and grief are not experienced to the exclusion of other lines of thought, notably those helping to make the loss more understandable and palatable. In time, and with the assistance of others, a series of explanations for the loss -- rationalizations -- are embraced which serve to reduce the individual's culpability.

We now turn to the types of accounts employed by the defeated politicians to assuage their bruised egos. In short, they rely upon a variety of rationalizations which, whether recognized or not, serve to deflect responsibility for the outcome. These are presented as justifications for their defeat and situate the outcome of the election as being outside of the politician's control.

The Party and the Leader

In terms of party dynamics, ex-politicians may also blame their loss on their leader, the organization of the party, unpopular political decisions, or the calling of an election at an inopportune time. In this way, when the entire party is "swept" during an election, it supports the sentiment that the defeat was the result of the party platform or leadership issues rather than anything the politician could control or be responsible for.

In the process, ex-politicians distance themselves from responsibility for the loss and attempt to shield themselves from the negative repercussions accompanying the political defeat. In looking at party dynamics to explain their defeat, some politicians argue that the party did not have a sufficiently sound infrastructure in place to support its members. For instance, some maintain that proper educational mechanisms were unavailable.

In comparing their party to other parties during the election campaign, the competition, in their view, was better organized, thereby disadvantaging them in their quest for victory. Tied to the issue of party organization is a belief that the party leader can either make or break one's own political campaign.
Therefore, in an attempt to distance oneself from the defeat, ex-politicians also look to place some of the blame on the leader of their party.
Once again, cues from the public often supply the ex-politician with the ammunition necessary to re-direct the blame for the loss. While believing ahead of time that a loss was imminent may bring some consolation by providing the politician some time to plan and prepare for the defeat, there are still accompanying feelings of anger and possibly sorrow and guilt that need to be dealt with. However, if these emotions can be displaced onto something external to the politician, it helps to dampen the assault on one's ego.

By developing a rationalization which situates blame on a variety of seemingly external factors, the ex-politician if offered a more convincing justification as to why he or she was unsuccessful. At the same time, it allows the ex-politician to save face and deal with negative feelings experienced as the result of the defeat.
Having people encourage the belief that the loss had to do with the government as a whole and not the individual, allows the ex-politician to accept this rationalization. In the next example, we see that having friends indicate that the defeat was the result of her party affiliation rather than anything which she could have controlled, helps the individual come to terms with the defeat.



** IMPORTANT NOTE:
Please refer to earlier post Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt I.
The above are comments from the article "Trauma of political defeat." It was written in 2002.
For those who wish to give Political Defeat Gifts to Grieving Parties please click here.
"Crouching Monkey, Wounded Tiger Pt III" will be coming to this blog soon .....

Raja Petra’s Last Article before ISA

UPDATE:
Sin Chew Daily journalist Tan Hoon Cheng has been arrested today at 8.30pm at her home at 8.30pm in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

The Following was taken from Din Merican
It was really sad reading this ......
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Raja Petra’s Last Article before ISA

16 September 2008. That is Malaysia Day. That is also the day Anwar Ibrahim is supposed to take over the government. Today, some well-known personalities are joining Parti Keadilan Rakyat. From thereon, more are expected to follow, culminating in the final exodus of Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament.
Stay tuned for the announcements to follow.

Many just can’t believe that Anwar will really take over on 16 September 2008. Some just wish it were true. Some say it’s too good to be true. Others say Anwar is just playing poker. The sceptics say Anwar is laying the ground for a self-fulfilling prophecy. What is foremost in everyone’s mind is: is Anwar playing a high-stakes poker game or will this be a gunfight at the OK Corral?

At this point of time, Anwar can no longer just play poker. No one asked him to take over the government. No one set 16 September 2008 as the deadline. This was entirely Anwar’s own choice with no pressure or cohesion whatsoever on anyone’s part. It was Anwar who ‘volunteered’ the entire exercise. No one forced him into the situation.

Taking all this into consideration, there is no way Anwar can renege on his ‘promise’. To do so would result in a serious erosion of credibility. If Anwar fails to deliver his 16 September 2008 promise, he might as well disappear from the scene. If 16 September 2008 comes and goes as a non-event, Anwar too will become a non-event and will have to throw in the towel and call it quits.

Anwar is no novice. He is not an amateur politician. He is as seasoned as they come. And no seasoned politician like Anwar will commit Hara Kiri. And Hara Kiri it will be if Anwar turns around on 16 September 2008 and say, “I was just joking lah.”

So my money is on 16 September 2008 happening. Not happening would mean the death knell of Anwar Ibrahim. And Anwar is not ready to die just yet. If Anwar fails to deliver, that would trigger the beginning of the end for Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

Parti Gerakan Rakyat is on the verge of leaving the ruling coalition. No, it is not going to join Pakatan Rakyat. It is going to remain as an ‘independent’ party. And from there it is going to re-build its lost fortunes and revert to what it used to be when it was first launched 40 years ago in 1968.

Gerakan is going to be a most attractive party once it leaves Barisan Nasional and it launches its ‘remaking’ exercise. Hell, even I might get attracted to it once it transforms into what it started out in 1968. Gerakan will of course need to attract not only many professionals but from amongst all the races as well. And if Anwar falls short on 16 September 2008, Gerakan will be there with open arms to receive all the disappointed ex-Anwaristas who no longer have any confidence that Anwar is true to his word.

So, the stakes are too high not to succeed. This is not a game. It is not even a high-stakes poker game. It is a fight to the finish. It is a winner-takes-all situation. It is a last-man-standing duel. It is a gunfight at the OK Corral. And only one walks away from such a fight. And that one will be Anwar. My money is on that happening. Hell, my freedom is on that as well.

Today, I received many phone calls from concerned friends who told me that the government is considering detaining me under the Internal Security Act ‘very soon’. If that does happen, then this could probably be the last article I write, at least until 16 September 2008. So I too need Anwar to succeed. If not I will be in Kamunting for quite some time to come and you will not hear from me over the next couple of years.

Yes, I too have placed, not only my money, but also my freedom on Anwar. And if Anwar fails to deliver his promise on 16 September 2008, not only he but I as well am headed for a fall. But I have confidence he will do it. And I have confidence that my stay in Kamunting will not be for two years but for a mere two weeks.

But if I am wrong…..well, then see you maybe in six or seven years time, because for sure Najib Tun Razak will not release me in 2010 when he becomes Prime Minister. What he would do, instead, would be to rollover my two-year detention another two years, and another two years, and another two years, until I am too old to think and write anymore.

Till we meet again, if we do meet again, take care and keep the flame burning. There is still a long fight ahead of us in bringing reforms to this beloved country of ours.

RPK arrested under ISA !!

RPK arrested under ISA!!!!!
Star Online
Friday September 12, 2008 MYT 2:05:37 PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin was arrested Friday afternoon under the Internal Security Act.

Three Malaysian newspapers - Sin Chew Daily, The Sun , and Suara Keadilan - were also issued show cause letters by the Home Ministry.

Raja Petra’s arrest comes a day after the Cabinet ordered the Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC) to re­instate access to all blocked websites, including the controversial Malaysia Today.

Energy, Water and Com­mu­nications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said on Thursday the order was made because there were other “harsher” laws in the country, under which authorities could take action against the owners of blogs and websites, instead of blocking it.

“The Cabinet has asked the ministry to direct MCMC to reinstate access to any blocked website with immediate effect.

“At the same time, it is asking MCMC to closely cooperate with the police, the Attorney-General’s Office and the Home Minister to monitor any website or blog to ensure that this does not contain seditious, racist or religiously insensitive remarks.

“Instead of blocking access to offensive websites, the Cabinet wants authorities to investigate and act quickly against the owners of these sites,” he said in Putrajaya.
=============================================

NOTE:
Sad attempt at "using our existing laws to bring about Justice"
- ISA was the best that could be done?
Maybe they'll think up something to actually bring up a real charge .....

Hate Mongers in Action!

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Official truths are often powerful illusions.
- John Pilger

The majority of the Malay professionals and young Malays have hardened their stand on the position of their race since the disaster of 2008. They are incensed especially by the arrogance of the Bar Council. They now question the social contract and reject the need to adhere to it. This sounds almost like the Chinese stand. But the difference is startling and disturbing.
- Mahathir, CheDet.com
======================================

Like I said in my comments in an earlier post, the man to watch now is SuperDet himself. Umno is on it's knees begging for anything to perpetuate their hegemony.
Pirates will be pirates.
You're thinking of having "unity govt" with these guys?
They only understand the language of threats and blackmail.
They don't understand the language of ethics, decency, conscience and "values" - what matters to them is that they can blackmail people to work for them, so as to give value to the monies they enjoy.
They wish to deal in money, but refuse to abandon "the gun".
This is modern day slavery under Pirates - the money is just a front.

These pirates encourage what a reader called the "Dilbert Sydrome", wherein the mediocre are given "opportunities" to strangle the life out of the industrious, thus promoting the pirate's philosophy. These ignoramuses would of course be eternally grateful to the "masters" for their "progress in life" and would do their master's bidding without a thought, in the interest of self-preservation.
Pirates in high places revel in the ignorance and mediocrity of the common man, as it allows them to convince the ignorant they they'd lose out bigtime should they compete according to the law. They make it a point to drum it into their subjects that they are incapable and weak, and as such, need the law to legitimize the plunder advocated by the pirates.
They come up with a political spin called 'social contract" as an excuse to legitimize "legalized robbery".
Is it any wonder that many a turd-world nation in South America and Africa (like Zimbabwe) and the "Islamic world" are in the same predicament?

This what the BN "social contract' is all about.
To them, the real social contract of the Federal Constitution is nothing but toilet paper - just a front to grant them legitimacy on the world stage.
It is what Mahathir preaches with all his sloganeering and "Malay" Chauvinism, despite being a first generation Malaysian himself
- Bondage & enslavement of the Malay mind in its seige mentality.
He preaches the primitive response of "Flight or Fight" - reason has no role to play with such as these.
Just look at Umno Baru with the litter of imbeciles he has left behind for AAB to deal with, and you'll know what I mean. In his myopic "vision", Malaysia has to become a bigger Umno Baru, devoid of accountability, justice, conscience, philosophy and intellect.

If you ask me, the Malays have to think of their children's future. They have to make a choice between succumbing to threats & fear mongering, and stand up for truth and justice - so that the truth can set them free. They are today in Bondage.
If in the process of the struggle, truth and justice loses - so be it.
Malaysia is doomed to the cesspit of chaotic failed states ruled by pirates - and the slide downhill would be irreversible.
Should that be the case, in due time, Mahathir can have his vision for a truly homogenous Malay Muslim state at odds with itself, while his decendants happily become the new "penjajah".
The Malay children of tomorrow can thump their chests and their empty bellies, and shout out the hate politics/chauvinism of "Ketuanan Melayu" with no more scapegoats left, except their their own kind.

This disgusting old goat wishes to run down Tunku's vision of Nationhood.
Mahathir wishes to stoke the fires of racism through Racial-hate politics.
He now claims that all Malays reject the idea that non-Malays are equal before the law, oblivious to the facts seen on March 8th and Permatang Pauh. Even if it weren't the case he wishes to get the Malays to think so - and mind you, he has a strong following among the mindless imbeciles (you only need to look at the comments in his blog to see what I mean), for whom he does what they call "thinking".

He wishes to enslave the Malays to Umno, through hate mongering and "Malay" hegemony. He seems to be rooting for inter-racial confrontational politics. He wants the NEP - a Malaysian "Cold War".
He wishes to subvert the Federal Constitution and render it into toilet paper. He wishes to discredit the Bar Council, the Judiciary and the concept of "Rule of Law".
He wishes to render the Constitution invalid. He wishes for nothing less than Racial conflict by harping on the BN "social contract".
He cannot accept the fact that the political and economic landscape has changes. What is being threatened now is the very legitimacy of the Constitution, and the contribution of all citizens towards the making of Malaysia.

He wishes to blackmail all right thinking Malaysians into submission to his demonic ideas. He advocates a dictatorship of the elite "Malays" who are made of decendants of immigrants themselves.
He wishes that Malaysia be ruled by pirates perpetually
- Dulu, Kini dan Selamanya.
The bottomline here is the will of the majority, the real Malay electorate - do they allow the people a chance to consider God-ordained, rational and just options, or do they wish to be enslaved under the shell of the "BN Social Contract with towkays" in bondage to their Pirate master.

Let's see how he faces-off with DS Anwar Ibrahim .....

======================================

Related:
Reply to TDM's Criticism on CheDet.com
The Racist's "Reasonings".
Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?
NEP : Trading Rights for "Peace and Prosperity"
"Merdeka" & The Haunting Spectre of May 13.
A "State of Abduction and Ransom"?

"Hearing" Postponed!

The hearing of the "case" against DSAI has been postponed to 24/9/08.

Malaysiakini reports ->, "Justice Komathy fixed Sept 24 for the parties to argue on the validity of an order signed by Attorney-General Abdul Gani to transfer the case to the high court".

It appears that what is said in the post
AG- The Institution over the Individual? Here?, is true after all
- Nazri was wrong or ignorant to say that the AG wouldn't be involved in the case!
The Individual is somehow not under the Institution after all - and I'm not the least bit surprised.

It's either somebody lied in public, or is plain ignorant of the "system" works - maybe it was just a spin to last out till the dust settle, and then it would be business as usual?

Anyway, the man to watch right now isn't Nazri, Hamid Albar, Ahmad Ismail or Zulkifli Nordin .....
The man to watch now is none other than Mr.SuperDet himself, who has come back to give "Ketuanan Melayu" and mediocrity, new "Voice" ......

Did I hear someone speak of of shotgun diplomacy in "keeping the peace or we'll run amuck against the 'nons'"?
Did I hear someone speaking of 5.13?
So this is what the spin about the BN's unconstitutional "social contract" is all about, is it? The grubby hands on the shrinking pie ....

No wonder the mad cow from Penang got some tacit support from somebody who made a U-turn within 24hrs .....
===========================================

Fearing the 'Trojans' of 916?

*****************************************************************
Has anyone considered the possibility that all this Penang "race issue" is a big drama to "destabilize" create tension to scare the people?
That the BN partners may be co-starring actors in the whole "racial-conflict" drama perpetrated by this Ahmad Ismail character?
Just so that the "chinese-based" parties can attempt to show that they have some "teeth" and would "defend the Chinese Race" - who knows ..... maybe there be an "Indian-based conflict" soon, so that that "ayah" can make some noise.
It all seems so .... "artificial", in that it is set in Penang which is under PR. Gerakan "stands up to" Umno, MCA joins in the fray - makes police reports and creates so much hype ......
And just when things should be dying down, somebody ups the ante,
then the Army General has to make an "announcement",
and Mahathir should be joining Umno again and so on and so forth ...
The whole thing is just too fishy .... maybe we should just ignore the animal and his antics!

Here's a comment on MT:
written by ez24get, September 09, 2008 22:30:35
Raja Petra,
Just be careful! It may look like a mad cow disease, smell like a mad cow disease but it is not a mad cow disease! It may well be a "wayang kulit cow disease".
Although the disease is inflicted on Ahmad Ismail at the moment but the real disease, more deadly and more devastating, will actually be unleashed on Raja Petra and those people who are responsible for UMNO's slipping grip on power in Malaysia.
Don't you sense that the bravery shown by Ahmad Ismail in playing up the racial sentiments of malays, going head to head with Gerakan while ignoring the president and vice-president is very fishy?
By sacrificing Ahmad Ismail, they will turn around and say that in order to be fair and show that they don't practise double standard, all people who are considered as threat to harmony and race relation in Malaysia will be rounded up and detained under ISA. Effectively NGOs, foreigners and oppositions in Malaysia cannot now argue that only action is taken on Ahmad Ismail for uttering racial slurs but the others like Raja Petra, Bloggers and opposition parties be spared from action.
They would sacrifice only one low level UMNO politician, albeit Ahmad Ismail, but they are able to put the big fishes like Raja Petra, LKS, LGE or Anwar behind bars which would slow down or stop completely their march to Putrajaya! In the end, MCA, Gerakan and MIC will fall over themselves in praising UMNO for practising fairness and justice to the non-malays. They will be duped into staying in BN for the time being.
So watch the wayang kulit carefully. UMNO is likely to take stern action on Ahmaid Ismail tomorrow! But very soon, they will go after the real target with greater zeal!!!
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Demikianlah ketakutan mereka sehingga apabila hak mereka di buruk-burukan dan diserang, mereka tidak berani mempertahankan diri mereka.
- Mahathir, CheDet.com

"I urge the Chinese not to become like the Jewish in America, where it is not enough that they control the economy, but they also want to dominate politics,"
- Ahmad Ismail, Umno Penang.

Not only has Ismail won widespread support in Umno Penang but also elsewhere in the country, indicating that the old Umno-dominated order is not dying ....
Some Malaysians still have hope that the BN can transform itself ...
.....whether it accepts the realities of the changed political landscape and is able to shape for itself a new and meaningful role.
- A battle between the new and old political order, Malaysian Insider

However, he has also decided to support Gua Musang MP and his former nemesis Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah for the post of Umno president in the party elections in December.
- The Star, Dr Mahathir persuaded to rejoin Umno
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What we see from the quotes above, cements the fact that Umno Baru (the shell of the dead & gone real UMNO of Onn Jaafar) insists on perpetuating their bull-headed ways in dealing with the political realities that it faces.
There are among these, the pseudo-entrepreneurs/leaders, who have lost everything as a result of the absence of power/political patronage.
As a result of their intellectually challenged status, they today choose to exhibit their muscle, for fear of 916 - instead of humility, reflection, repentance & solidarity.
Some are crying out to the NGOs/Bar council/ bloggers for not codemning the "immorality" of defections".
Some of course have chosen to run to Taiwan, so as to become experts in kangkung agriculture ... but nobody seems to care anymore about these has beens (except the pirates)!

Having played to the tune of Fascistic ideas for 25yrs, Umno is so clueless, that they don't even know how to play the tune of reconciliation and solidarity - they only seem to understand the evil language of supremacy and intimidation, thus alienating themselves from their own. And they simply just don't give a chance, to those who give them the benefit of doubt!
This attitude in defending the indefensible is goaded on, by none other than our dear ex-PM, Mr. Mahathir himself who appears to have settled for a lesser bargain in the Umno Baru Kuli, lest the "chill he faces is mortal".
(Take note that being "spoilt for choice" as a result of his meticulous planning of his "vision", he has chosen "anybody", over burying his baby- Umno Baru). Of course the 513 rhetoric is being blasted all over again so as to play the "fear" card - without that, these pretenders are NOTHING.


Despite all their fears, my bet is it won't happen on 916 - I agree with RPK that 919, 920 or 922 would be more like it. Don't ask me why - I can't give you a spin on why I say so ...
That weekend will see nerves fraying and mercury rising among all parties.
Let it not be said that there is no anxiety on part of the Rakyat, come 916 - even if that day comes to pass with no change in Govt.
Let it not be said either, that the rakyat love the idea of "defectors/crossovers" - the problem remains that the people are caught between "the devil and the deep blue sea", and any right thinking person would choose the latter.

It is not that Anwar offers a hierarchy that is definite to produce impeccable results - Pakatan Rakyat is simply an electoral pact which is at its infancy and nowhere near a full-fledged coalitio. In it, there is much anxiety with regard to the "old school" politicians who don't seem to to have adapted well with the current climate which has hit them like a ton of bricks. As in all political parties, mutual (intra and inter- party) suspicions and conflicts still do exist , which are yet to be ironed out.
One one side, the Malays are anxious if the DAP plans to usurp power for the "Chinese" (which I believe is ridiculous) while diluting the beautiful Malay nature of West Malaysia with its talk of "meritocracy" and Malaysian Malaysia.
On the other side, we have amny a non-Malay nervous about trusting PAS with power, lest they resort to the "old-school" hardline Islamist/theocratic rhetoric and enforcement, thus curtailing freedom/pluralism and promoting "dhimmitude".
PKR while holding on to the "middle ground" has elements like Zulkifli who have obviously slithered past QC, to become an MP on the PKR ticket - and now creates anxiety among the people.

Yes - Many still fear the Umno Baru Trojans who slithered past QC in the new Pakatan Rakyat and the prospect of political/economic turmoil that may be imminent. But it pales in comparison the fear of a Racist & Fascist regime, perpetuated by the Pirates of the Constitution, who are intent on leeching on the industrious and living a life of decadence, while reciting scriptures for the gullible.
Despite all their teething problems, inconsistencies and the anxieties they provoke, they appear to be saints when compared to the alternative in the mindless band of pirates who now cry foul, because nobody is on their side on the issue of "defections".

It is heartening to note that Raja Petra has come out strongly, rebuking the proponents of violent assertion of "rights" (notably Khir Toyo & Ahmad Ismail) for playing up the threat of violence against the Non- Malays. He also went on to say,
"... warn the Umno Malays, in no uncertain terms, that they take to the streets at the risk of facing fellow Malays from the opposition who will defend their non-Malay brethren to the last drop of their blood. I, for one, am ready to stand by my Chinese and Indian comrades.
So let Umno be warned."

I was truly touched by the expression of solidarity, and I would be vindicated in my faith, in my good Malay Brothers & Sisters should this be the general sentiment.
Should this sentiment be proven, I'd bet my last penny that there is no reason for my Malay brothers to fear being sidelined economically (although they would still need to understand the nature of money & work for their rewards, despite the affirmative action in MEA) in time to come.
All it takes is that they rise to the occasion just once and speak the language of justice, (instead of the language of the seige mentality/fear/insecurity/inferiority complex promoted by Umno)- and they'd dispel the fears and anxieties of the minorities, to create trust like never seen before in Malaysia.
And what a beautiful scenario of hope it would provide for a dynamic Nation!


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The size of the future you actually experience will 
largely be determined by one factor: the people you 
choose to connect with. When you invite people who are 
truly committed to growth into every aspect of your life, 
your own potential for growth becomes truly unlimited.
-Dan Sullivan

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Related:
Where is the Spirit of Merdeka?
NEP : Trading Rights for "Peace and Prosperity"
"Merdeka" & The Haunting Spectre of May 13.
A "State of Abduction and Ransom"?
Reply to TDM's Criticism on CheDet.com
The Racist's "Reasonings".