Digest on Malaysian News

The ongoing crisis of leadership for Parti Rakyat Sarawak (a component party of Barisan Nasional) is creating a scene at Sarawak politic. So while the Prime Minister is sleepless at Putra Jaya worrying about the gloomy political scene at Semanjung, it won't be long that he will be having nightmare when more problem (now from Sarawak) started to pile up.

Back to PRS, Datuk Dr James Masing has reiterated that he is THE president of the party. Larry Sng on the other hand still claimed that he is the new president of PRS. Both gentlemen have refused to give up their presidency claim.

While the letter from ROS only confirmed that PRS will not be registered, the crisis of presidency of the PRS remained unsolved.

The current crisis of PRS is just to the liking to Taib Mahmud who like to divide and conquer. When no REAL president of PRS to speak of, PRS will remain useless, go for nothing except to make up the quota.

Without any firmed authority, no camps from PRS is able to make any decision or plan for the future. Both opposing camps, have separate planning and decision making process. So how can PRS be effective to the rakyat and to their members.

Both Masing and Sng are in a deadlock. None of them is willing to surrender. The best possible outcome and resolution to this crisis is to have one of them "killed". Taib Mahmud will not give the order. The best man for the job to solve the PRS crisis would be Badawi.

The PRS mess is partly caused by Larry Sng father and Larry should be scarified and let Masing be the de facto leader of PRS. If it sound unfair, then both camps should have a combined election to vote for the new president.

Thus, if neither Masing or Larry will to die for the party, it's best that both of them agreed to have a party election and elect for the new leaders. If party election is not forthcoming, it will just prove that both Masing and Larry have the crab mentality. A crab mentality a person running sideway from the real problem instead of assaulting the problem directly and solve it once and for all.

Updated posts:
* May 21, 2008: No end in sight for Larry Sng and James Masing
* Apr 04, 2008: Parti Rakyat Sarawak throwing out excess baggages ?

Parti Rakyat Sarawak leadership has been in crisis since over a year ago. Finally, the Registrar of Societies make a decision.

The good news: Registrar of Societies decides not to deregister PRS
The bad news: PRS remains split among two camps lead by Sng and Masing

The decision of ROS to maintain the registration of PRS could be influenced by the Prime Minister since PRS won all her parliamentary seats in the recent Malaysia General Election and maintain PRS is his way of reward.

However, the PM and the BN State Chairman (Taib Mahmud) remains mum on who should be the rightful leader of PRS. The current two camps within PRS is just fine by Taib, who is known for his divide and rule strategy.

Nor ROS, Sarawak BN or the PM had offered no solution to resolve the leadership feud between Sng and Dr Masing. This leadership crisis for PRS is likely to go on forever as none of the camp leader is willing to step down or back down and hand over the leadership to the other person.

Badawi being the Prime Minister and supremo of Barisan Nasional should have fixed this petty issue and abolish the two camps for the sake of PRS unity. Apparently Badawi is not doing his job as he is busy with attacks from the opposition parties in West Malaysia.

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Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/2/nation/20080402151937&sec=nation (Apr 02, 2008)

Registrar of Societies decides not to deregister PRS

By JACK WONG

KUCHING: The Registrar of Societies (ROS) has decided not to revoke the registration of Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS).

The decision, which came more than 18 months after it asked the party to show why it should not be dereigstered, was conveyed in a letter to the party's secretary-general Sidi Munan on Wednesday.

The letter dated April 1 and signed by Registrar Datuk Md Alias Kalil, was hand-delivered to Sidi by ROS enforcement division officials at the PRS registered headquarters at Green Heights Commercial Centre here at about 11am.

Larry Sng Wei Shien, who leads one of the PRS factions, said the ROS, in conveying its decision not to deregister the PRS, reminded the party not to breach its constitution again by sacking any members without first issuing them a notice to defend themselves.

The ROS had in its show-cause letter in September 2006 ruled that party president Datuk Dr James Masing had violated Article VIII Clause 15(b) of the party constitution when he fired six key office bearers on May 25, 2006 without giving them a chance to defend themselves.

The six included Sidi, Larry Sng (deputy secretary-general) and lawyer Ernest Chua (deputy information chief).

Sng said the ROS' letter on Wednesday cleared one of the uncertainties on the fate of the party as there was speculation that it would be deregistered.

However, he said the ROS had offered no solution to resolve the leadership feud between him and Dr Masing.

Sng and Dr Masing have been elected party president by their respective camps and they now run party affairs in different offices.

It's a case of soft police brutality. Imagine a Chief Minister (Lim Guan Eng) being call up by the police over his remark on Malaysia New Economic Policy. What's the big deal anyway ? Is the police also looking for cheap publicity ?

If indeed the police going to call up Lim Guan Eng, he would created a new record in Malaysia for being the first Chief Minister to be questioned by police on government policy. Another comedic scene from the Boleh Land.

Don't the police have better things to do like catching criminals and solving recent spate of abducting cases and robberies.


Police stupidity ?

Statement by state police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid to call up Lim, if necessary is already sound like a threat. Is this their tactic to silent those who criticize the federal government 's ways of governing the nation ?

Related post:
* Badawi like to see Lim Guan Eng back to jail


Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/2/nation/20080402164616&sec=nation (Apr 02, 2008)

Police may call up Guan Eng

PENANG: The police may call up Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng over a statement he made on the New Economic Policy.

Acting state police chief Senior Asst Comm (I) Datuk Salleh Mat Rasid said Lim would be called up if necessary.

“Lim should not be disturbed by the recording of statements from the China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau reporters on Tuesday as that was only a procedure.

“We only want to know what was actually said during the press conference held shortly after new state government took over,” he said after a blood donation drive in conjunction with the 201st Police Day.

At a press conference after the state Exco meeting Wednesday, Lim said he was ready for all possibilities in the event the police called him up to record his statement.

"I have a good working relationship with the chief police officer.

"Everyone is equal and not above the law. I just hope the investigations would be carried out fairly if the police feel there is a case,'' he said.

Lim added in the past, there were cases of police reports lodged against state and federal leaders but the matters were not pursued.

"This is probably the first time a Chief Minister has to go through such a process,'' he said.

He hoped the police would not treat the case any differently.

It's too late for Samy Vellu to help Hindraf. In fact, he has been branded as double-face by supporters of Hindraf and Indian community. Only when Samy Vellu lost his parliamentary seat and ministership that he tried to help Hindraf.

Where was he before the general election when an Indian temple was demolished, when Hindraf supporters was abused by the police, when Hindraf leaders was arrested and placed under Internal Security Act detention ?


Temple demolition: No sound from Samy


Police brutality against Hindraf supporters: No sound from Samy


Hindraf leaders under ISA detention : Samy kept quiet

Would the Prime Minister still listen to Samy Vellu (as the president of MIC) since lost his power during the last Malaysia General Election ? Who is Samy Vellu to the PM now ? To the public, it look like Samy Vellu is harping on Hindraf issue to regain support from the Indian community. He should have fight for Hindraf when the issue cropped up late last year. Now, his action is merely a publicity stunt.

The Indian community have lost trust and confidence on Samy Vellu as their leader. He is not even worth any semi-value to them now.

Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/2/nation/20080402101102&sec=nation (Apr 02, 2008)

Hindraf man raps Samy Vellu

By WANI MUTHIAH

KLANG: Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) chairman Waythamoorthy has slammed MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu for saying that he would urge Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release the five Hindraf leaders who were currently detained under the ISA.

Samy Vellu was part of the system that had incarcerated the five, Waythamoorthy said in a statement issued from London.

He said should also apologise to the families of the detainees -- P. Uthayakumar, V. Ganabatirau, M. Manoharan, T. Vasantha Kumar and R. Kengadharan -- for, amongst other reasons, failing to oppose the arrests openly when they occurred last December.

Badawi like to see Lim Guan Eng back to jail because Badawi the PM thinks he is right. This is regarding the introduction of the open tender system in state of Penang by the ruling DAP party.

The two main cohorts of the PM, that is the press and the police are twisting the issues instead of letting the public know about the real issue.

Lim Guan Eng said that the main stream media like to translate or interpret the opposition press statement. In fact, the press rarely publish press statement from the opposition parties. The main stream media should publish articles to let the public aware of the current corruption practices in Malaysia instead of manipulating it as an opposition agenda.

Lim Guan Eng also said the police are investigating his articles (press statement) that appears on newspapers. The police should be busy investigating the real corruption and other crimes. Lim Guan Eng intention for the open tender system is not a crime but procedures to weed out corruption that have grown wild during the previous Barisan National rule in Penang.

Extracted from: thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/2/nation/20817835&sec=nation (Apr 02, 2008)

Lim: I’m prepared to go to jail

PENANG: Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the authorities could take action against him if he had made wrong statements about the open tender system and the New Economic Policy.

“I am prepared to face action of there is anything wrong with my statements,” he said.

Lim said his conscience was clear because the state government was only trying to implement what was outlined in the Federal Government’s financial guidelines.

“I am fully aware that even though I am a Chief Minister today, it does not mean that I will never be jailed again,” said Lim who had been jailed before under the Printing Press Act, Sedition Act and Internal Security Act.

Lim said the implementation of the open tender system for projects worth RM50,000 and above was in accordance with federal guidelines.

“If the Prime Minister thinks that it is not right, then they should amend the financial procedures at their level,” he told a press conference at his office yesterday.

“I have to be prepared to face any possibilities. But my advice (to the media) is please report what I said, which was to stop corruption and do not try to interpret them,”

he said in response to police investigations into articles that appeared in the newspapers.

He regretted that the police were recording statements from the China Press and Nanyang Siang Pau reporters.

“Everything they need to know is clearly stated in the press statements,” he said.

Lim also said that large-scale projects were previously given to one or two names and approved through direct negotiations.

“The people want open tender system. Even the Class F contractors who are all Malays also support the system. It (awarding tenders) should be based on track records and not political cables.”

Pakatan Rakyat leaders. Credit: nst.com.my

The re-branding of the opposing coalition from Barisan Rakayat (People's Front) to a formal Pakatan Rakyat (People Union) may just work if the parties involves (PAS, DAP, PKR) work on common grounds such as justice and fairness.

Should there be clashes especially on religion and racial issues, the coalition formation could disintegrated overnight. Over the past years, DAP has been struggling for Chinese rights and pretty much disagreed on Malaysia being an Islamic state (as advocated by PAS). PAS meanwhile has been mooting the idea that Malaysia should be rule according to Islamic laws.

During the last Malaysia General Election 2008, both DAP and PAS have toned down their sentiments on religion and racial issues and they managed to attract voters confidence. In fact, so long as DAP, PAS and PKR work on common ground to rid of Barisan National as the ruling government and didn't provoke voters on religion and racial issues, voters support on Pakatan Rakyat would strengthen.

However, with Pakatan Rakyat only establishing their footing on West Malaysia, Anwar need to take into consideration the other opposing parties from Sabah and Sarawak. Otherwise, Pakatan Rakyat would just be a mild threat to the Barisan Nasional. Anwar need to seriously consider the East Malaysia factor as the two states of Sabah and Sarawak has becoming a winning bastion for the federal Barisan Nasional.

Pakatan Rakyat joined press statement (not printed on main stream media):

Statement by the Leadership of KeADILan, DAP and PAS

The leaders of KeADILan, DAP and PAS met today in furtherance of the meeting held on the 18th of March 2008.

Today’s meeting was attended by, among others, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, YB Lim Kit Siang, YB Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang and YB Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

In today’s meeting, we have proposed to consolidate the cooperation between the three parties under the name “PAKATAN RAKYAT.” This name has been proposed pending confirmation by the respective parties.

Pakatan Rakyat pledges to uphold the rights and interests of all Malaysians, regardless of religion or race, as enshrined in the Constitution.

With the results of the recent elections, the state governments of Kelantan, Kedah, Pulau Pinang, Perak and Selangor will be known as Pakatan Rakyat state governments. The policies of these governments will be conducted in accordance with the policies of Pakatan Rakyat.

To further mutual understanding regarding such policies, a convention of all Pakatan Rakyat elected representatives of Parliament and State Assemblies will be held the 27th of April, 2008.

We have developed and strengthened the structure of Pakatan Rakyat by creating under the Leadership Council, consisting of the leaders of the three parties, a Joint Secretariat consisting of three leaders each from each of the three parties. This Joint Secretariat will be tasked with building the foundation and framework of the Pakatan Rakyat for ratification by the Leadership Council.

YB Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
YB Lim Kit Siang
YB Dato’ Seri Tuan Guru Haji Abdul Hadi Awang

Jeffrey Kitingan' suggestion on demand for the restoration of Sabah's rights is justify and fare. The only thing is that, Sabah's rights has been embedded in their State Constitution. The problem is lack of implementation and practice.

Take Sabah's rights on immigration for example. Sabah has the autonomy rights on their immigration matters. This include enforcing their immigration rules on entry of illegal immigrant to the state.

Literally and practically, no one is taking the immigration problem seriously especially the Immigration Department. Illegal immigrants from the Philippines and Indonesia entered Sabah as they like. In fact, they are make good living in Sabah. Who chase those illegals ? Only the wind I guessed.

The Immigration Department, Polis, National Registrar and even with help from the Rela could have organized frequent concerted efforts to raid the illegal settlements and catch those illegal and deport them to their home country. Typical excuses normally given by the law enforcers for not conducting the raid and check operations are such as the deportation is under the Home Ministry jurisdiction, Sabah lacks holding camps for arrested illegals and the illegals are "Malaysian" holding MyKad.

Those law enforcers have became puppets and are being controlled by the Prime Minister. To the PM, those illegals are another form of "fixed deposits" for this UMNO party. Those illegals are given Malaysia MyKad and are sure to vote for UMNO to return favor to UMNO to allow them to stay in Sabah and breed more illegals children.

Related post:
* Call to revive Ministry of Special Affairs for Sabah and Sarawak


Extracted from: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=56676 (Apr 01, 2008)

Include restoration of Sabah's rights: Jeffrey

Kota Kinabalu: Parti Keadilan Rakyat Vice President Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan urged Sabah Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders to not only call for better representation in the Federal Cabinet but also demand for the restoration of Sabah's rights.

He was glad that Sabah BN leaders were now singing the same song as him with regard to the treatment of Sabah by the Federal Government all this while.

But, he said it is time that Sabah leaders create history and do it for Sabah by demanding the restoration of Sabah's State rights and a fairer share of state revenues as well as getting a fair share in nation building as a partner rather than merely as a State in the federation.

Speaking at a Press conference, Monday, Jeffrey said recent calls by Sabah leaders of unfair policies and treatment by the Federal Government and the scrapping of the JPPS was one of the verses of the song he had been singing all this while.

"But some BN leaders consider it as irrelevant and an old song which can no longer be sung.

"We are all encouraged by the recent calls and statements by the State leaders and they should continue to be brave and press for what should be due to Sabah and not just during this time when the Prime Minister is weak and vulnerable," he said.

According to him, they should also be brave and be outspoken on various issues, even in normal times, to show their commitment and consistency.

"Why should they ask only for more representation in the Cabinet? And why should they ask only now which appears to be merely a blackmail on the Prime Minister?

"Even if the Prime Minister were to grant these wishes it would not be given sincerely. And it would not show that the Federal Government respects our rights," he said.

Jeffrey said Sabahan leaders should look at the whole situation and consider the alternative.

"This is the best time for Sabah leaders to create history by being part of the winds of change and create a new Federal Government that is fair, just, transparent and most important of all a government that would respect and restore Sabah's rights," he said.

He said Sabahans would not only be in a position to get better and more positions in the Federal Cabinet but also an opportunity to have a Second Deputy Prime Minister and an immediate increase in the oil royalty from five per cent to 20 per cent and more autonomy.

"There is no better time than to do it now. State leaders who are brave to take this action will be considered by Sabahans as heroes, for they are doing it for the greater good and interest of the State and not for their own selfish interest.

"If they do this, they will also create history by enabling a new government after 50 years," he said.

The topic for this post shall cover special affair on immigration especially on Sabah. Sabah like Sarawak when they help to form Malaysia, have special priviledges among it, is autonomy over immigration. It is written in Constitution of Sabah and Constitution of Sarawak.

Side notes: Sabah and Sarawak never joined Malaysia. These two states together with federation of Malaya states formed Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak was still under the British administration in 1957.

However, unlike Sarawak, Sabah have been relaxing on enforcing their immigration rules that resulted in the uncontrolled entry of illegals from the Philippines and Indonesia. In Sabah, those illegals immigrants are generally called "pilak" and those pilak has been sore issue all this while.

The invasion of pilak has became worst with the entry of UMNO into Sabah when their nominated ministers and officials closed their two eyes on issues pretaining to illegal immigrants. Their motives of doing so is of course to get votes to ensure that they win the majority to rule Sabah. Votes majority from the illegals. It's an open secret that those illegals was given Malaysia IC (now MyKad) to the illegals so that they would vote for UMNO.

During those time, the corrupted (and scared) Polis or Immigration officers dare not raid the illegal settlements if those illegals planted a pole with UMNO flag. How pathetic. UMNO flag made them immune to Malaysian law. Sabahan law enforcers forgot that UMNO is not the law and they in fact have taken oaf to serve and protect Malaysian citizen inclusive of Sabahan. As such, Sabahan should be protected against the menace of the pilak.

If the federal government does not intervene and assist Sabah to solve their illegal immigrants problem, it would just prove that the federal government (or UMNO) indeed still rely of votes from those imported immigrants who were given Malaysia MyKad indiscriminately by the corrupted immigrations officials as well as officials from the National Registrar.


Extracted from: dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=56673 (Apr 01, 2008)

Call to revive Ministry

Kota Kinabalu: The Prime Minister has been urged to consider reviving the Ministry of Special Affairs for Sabah and Sarawak.

Sepanggar MP Datuk Eric Majimbun said the Federal government should revive this portfolio which was specially created when Sabah and Sarawak joined the formation of Malaysia.

The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) Deputy President told reporters this after visiting Inanam township Monday to thank the constituents for their support in the recent general elections.

"In the past we had a Special Affairs Ministry to look after the interests of Sabah and Sarawak at federal level. But now it is put under the Rural and Regional Development Ministry," said Eric.

"Although the role of the Rural and Regional Development Ministry is to provide development for the whole country I see no concentration is given to Sabah and Sarawak," he said.

"Why don't we revive this Ministry (special affairs) because these two states are too big. Sarawak alone is bigger than the peninsula. I think they (Federal) need to view this seriously," he said.

The MP also raised concerns over immigration control in the State which he claimed are too relaxed nowadays.

"I think the State Government should tighten its control over immigration because under the Constitution Sabah has autonomy over immigration which was agreed upon we joined the Federation," he said.

He also urged the State Government to seriously look into the perennial cases of illegal immigrants obtaining the MyKad easily in Sabah which if left unchecked could pose a serious threat to security.

"I know there are lots of suspected illegal immigrants operating their businesses in the Inanam bazaar ground but we cannot do anything because they have the permits and possess genuine MyKads," he said.

"As a local I think most of us know how to distinguish between a local and a foreigner based on their culture, lifestyle and accent. I think it is high time the State Government does something to really scrutinise the suspected foreigners who have obtained genuine MyKads," Eric said.

He also urged the Federal Government to look into the predicament of Chinese vernacular and mission schools in the State saying most are suffering from lack of financial support.

"Since the Prime Minister is coming (to Sabah) I strongly feel that this is the time we have to highlight all these pertinent issues to him," he said.