Mr. DPM Najib, That's Rubbish. Its Called High-Handed Racial Scare Tactics by the Government

" MALAYSIA'S DEPUTY PM SAYS CRACKDOWN AVERTED RACIAL VIOLENCE"
From Agence France-Presse (AFP) Newswire:

Malaysian Unplug says:

"It is utterly irresponsible of someone with the highly influential and respected position of a Deputy Prime Minister to keep on harping and raising the specter of the 1969 racial clash.

By doing so, DPM Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak is encouraging others to rehash the findings of Dr. Kua Kia Soong's book, "May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots 1969" that it was UMNO that triggered the racial bloodbath and NOT the non-Malays (Read HERE for more and HERE and HERE and HERE ).

It is becoming too obvious that with the general election looming, DPM Najib, who himself has a baggage of poor judgement on making dangerous racial comments in the past, notably during an UMNO rally with images of him and non-Malay blood on the keris, is again creating a climate of racial fear of the 1970s and 1980s.

The truth of the matter is that the Hindraf protesters were fighting for rights of the Malaysian Indians marginalised by the Government in the last 30 odd years. It is the Government-of-the-day which had exploited it as a RACE issue.

And now, we have a Deputy Prime Minister on a scare-tactic binge by bringing in the dark days of Malaysia in 1969 into the whole equation again in 2008.

Coming from a leader of the country, it cannot get any more dangerous than now, with the current increasing simmering of racial and religious tensions pervading in the country, caused primarily by the racially biased politics and policies of this Government led by UMNO.

Najib must now behave and act like a statesman, more like a Deputy Prime Minister, and NOT like an UMNO underling, harping on issues with racial undertones and engaging in the politics of racial fears.

Malaysians today are no more hamstrung by the biased reporting of the Government-controlled mainstream media (the likes of NST, Star and the vernacular papers) as they had been in the 1960s and 1970s or 1980s. They are no more led by the nose on everything (real and unreal) dished out by the Government and/or UMNO. The internet paid put to that.

It is time for Najib to get out of his stereotypic mindset and be a Prime Minister-in-the-making instead of embarking on a new round of creating racial fears among Malays and non-Malays.

We say, Mr. Deputy Prime Minister Najib, get over it and move on ! "

Excerpts: Read here for more on AFP


(Image courtesy of "Malaysian Cartoons" Blog)

"...Malaysia on Monday defended its crackdown on dissent, including the arrest of ethnic Indian activists and suppression of street protests, saying it had averted a serious risk of racial violence.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak raised the spectre of the country's worst race riots, when almost 200 people were killed in clashes between ethnic Chinese and Muslim Malays in May 1969.

Najib said in an interview with AFP:

"If the Malays of Kampung Baru (the Malay enclave was one of the flashpoints of the 1969 riots) come out then we have the spectre of a serious possibility of a racial clash in this country.

There were signs that they were preparing to come out so we had to tell them, 'look, don't make the situation any worse',".

Najib -- who as deputy premier is expected to be Malaysia's next leader after Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi -- defended the use of the much-criticised Internal Security Act (ISA) on the Hindraf leaders.

Najib indicated the National Front coalition government could lose ground in general elections expected to be held in March, which follow a torrid few months that have included the protests as well as food shortages and a ministerial sex scandal.

After a resounding victory in 2004, which reversed losses in 1999, commentators say the pendulum is likely to swing AGAINST the government again.

The ruling United Malays National Organisation has led the National Front coalition in government for half a century.

COMMENTARY

From "Straight Talk" Blog: Read here for more

"... The deputy premier suggestion is totally irrational.

I am surprised he tried to link the Hindraf's protest to the Malay community.

I have argued earlier that UMNO is NOT synonymous with the Malay community.

A large number of Malays - at least 40 percent - are NOT UMNO members or supporters.

Hindraf leaders, although I may not necessarily agree with its leaders' statements or the method used, have specifically said that the protest was against UMNO and NOT the Malay community.

The DPM is doing an injustice by trying to draw the Malay community into what was presumably a protest against his party.

His justification of using the ISA is unacceptable to a country where there is a rule of law. Citizens, including politicians, must abide by the law.

I have a few questions for the DPM and it is important that he ponders hard on them:

1) Is he using the Malays in Kampung Baru as a threat to all Malaysians who wanted to exercise their constitutional rights to assemble, speak and association?

2) What will the government do if the Malays in Kampung Baru turned violent? Will the ISA be used against them as well?

3) From his statement, it is obvious that the government has established communications with the Malays in Kampung Baru. Why didn't the government take preemptive action against the leaders of Malays in Kampung Baru for displaying violent tendency? Is the government practising double standards?

4) Is Najib's statement seditious?

I would like to register my protest against a leader who has called for no racial sensationalising in the forthcoming general elections just weeks ago.

I am surprised he is now trying to involve the Malay community in the Hindraf issue. It will inevitably pit the Malays against the Indians - whom majority are sympathetic to the cause of Hindraf.

Najib, a touted successor of Abdullah Badawi, should behave and speak like a national leader worthy of helming the country in the near future.

The Mother of All Denials

From Malaysiakini: Read here for more

VK Lingam, the lawyer at the centre of the grainy video clip on judicial fixing, took the stand at 12.30pm today as the 13th witness at the Royal Commission.

Lawyer Lingam told the Royal Commission :

" I DON'T KNOW WHO I WAS SPEAKING TO. "

(Listen to this:
Lingam Does NOT Know Who He was Speaking To !!! )

"But certainly I wasn’t speaking to Ahmad Fairuz because I never had his mobile number and he didn’t have mine either."

" No matter what people said, my answer is still the same -

IT LOOKS LIKE ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE ME..."
-Dato VK Lingam

Related Article:

Evidence by Loh Gwo Burne, who shot the infamous video clip at Lingam's House

The Royal Commission of Inquiry Into the Video Clip – Day 6 Session 1:

Excerpts: Read here for more article by Brendan Navin Siva

Loh Gwo Burne, the son of Loh Mui Fah, was called to give evidence. Loh Mui Fah is the businessman who was constantly harassed and intimidated by the gangster-style of ACA officers.

To questions by Dato’ Nordin:

Loh Gwo Burne confirmed that Loh Mui Fah is his father.

He confirmed that he knew Dato’ V.K. Lingam. He said he cannot recall the exact date but he remembers visiting Dato’ Lingam’s house in late December and the purpose of the visit was for dinner and to discuss legal matters.

He confirmed that he did take a camera to Dato’ Lingam’s house. He said he brought the camera along because it was a new camera and he brought it around everywhere to use it.

It was a Sony 707. He said Dato’ Lingam knew he had a camera and during the course of the night he did take photographs at the house.

When shown the photo (below) of Dato’ Lingam, Manjit Singh and Loh Mui Fah, Gwo Burne confirmed it was taken by him after dinner at about 10 pm.

Dato’ Lingam, Manjit Singh and Loh Mui Fah
Gwo Burne also confirmed that his camera did have a video recording function.

He confirmed he did record Dato’ Lingam speaking on the phone and he did record Dato’ Lingam speaking to his father after the phone call.

The video clip was played for Gwo Burne. Gwo Burne confirmed the contents were the same as what he recorded.

When asked by Dato’ Nordin why he recorded the video clip, he said,

“I was trying to take a picture of the vase and halfway through I discovered it was on video recording mode. I let the recording continue because I was bored and frankly I was fed up with Dato’ Lingam always on the phone”.

He said that Dato’ Lingam was supposed to be discussing legal matters with his father and him but Dato’ Lingam was always constantly on the phone and dealing with other matters.

Gwo Burne confirmed it was Dato’ Lingam in the video clip speaking on the phone.

He said he did not believe that Dato’ Lingam was aware he was recording the video. He said he had heard what Dato’ Lingam say when he was on the phone. He confirmed that it was his father sitting on the sofa.

He said he did not tell his father he was recording the video. He said that he did hear the conversation between his father and Dato’ Lingam.

When asked why the photograph after dinner shows the man’s shirt was tucked in but it was not so in the video clip, Gwo Burne said that the video clip was taken BEFORE dinner and DURING dinner, Dato’ Lingam spilled some curry on his shirt and went to change. Presumably he tucked in his shirt after that.

Gwo Burne testified that he went home and on the same night he downloaded the contents of the memory card of the camera into his computer.

A month later, he burned it into a CD. When asked the whereabouts of the CD, he said it has been a long time and he did not know where the CD was.

He said that before he left for China, he downloaded the entire contents of his computer into various mediums, e.g. dvd, hard drive and into his laptop.

He said in 2002 he burnt an extra CD for Manjit Singh. He said his original computer is not around anymore and the downloaded contents are in various places in China.

When asked how the video clip came to be released to the public, Gwo Burne said,

“Initially, I thought it was Manjit but then I found out he died, so I have
no idea”.

To questions by his counsel, Alex de Silva:

Gwo Burne said that he arrived at the house at around 6 pm and shortly after his arrival he asked Dato’ Lingam if he could take some photos and recordings and Dato’ Lingam said ok. He said Dato’ Lingam thereafter went out to buy some wine and came back after 30 minutes.

He said Dato’ Lingam’s sister was there for about 30 – 45 minutes and that dinner was served at about 8.30pm.

He said the video clip was taken after Dato’ Lingam’s sister had left but before dinner.

He said that he did not follow exactly the contents of the phone conversation and that he did not tell his father about the video recording.

He said he gave the video recording to Manjit Singh around 2002 and that he did so because they both had complaints about Dato’ Lingam. Manjit’s complaint was that he had not been paid.

Gwo Burne testified that Manjit said Dato’ Lingam was always “politics, politics, politics”. Gwo Burne asked Manjit to check out the video clip and he burnt a CD for him. He did not tell his father he gave the CD to Manjit.

Gwo Burne confirmed that in transferring the data from his camera to his computer, he did not interfere, tamper or edit the video clip.

He confirmed that what had been played in the courtroom was the recording he had taken.

When asked what was his impression that evening and whether Dato’ Lingam was drunk or intoxicated, Gwo Burne said:

“It was just early in the evening. We had not even had dinner yet. Throughout the night they didn’t drink that much anyway. I don’t think even by the end of the night he was drunk”.

When asked whether it was his impression that Dato’ Lingam was play acting or staging, Gwo Burne said

“No. Sometimes I could hear a male voice on the other side of the line”.

Then R Thayalan, counsel for Dato’ Lingam, posed questions.

Gwo Burne confirmed that the photos and video were on the same memory card.

He said he had deleted the photos and videos stored in the memory card. Counsel asked whether Gwo Burne agreed that the recordings taken of the house were not part of the video clip and that part of the video recording had been deleted from the video clip.

When Gwo Burne did not understand, Tan Sri Haidar explained the question and Gwo Burne said that the video recording of the house was BEFORE the video clip shown in the courtroom. To a question by Datuk Shankar, Gwo Burne agreed that the memory card has other material apart from what has been seen here.

When asked by Thayalan whether he agreed that without the original memory card, the Commission could not compare the video clip with other materials in the memory card, Gwo Burne said that the materials are still available and whether or not he recorded the house is not relevant to the video clip recording.

He did not agree that without the original memory card, it was not possible to compare. He said that the video clip was a separate file from other recordings in the memory card and it was not a continuous recording.

When asked “Without the memory card, can we conclusively say that the video clip is only recordings in that file?”, Gwo Burne said yes.

Datuk Shankar said “What you are saying is that this segment is complete in itself from start to finish and this is one complete segment?” Gwo Burne agreed.

When asked whether it is possible to have edited the video clip, Gwo Burne said it is not entirely impossible.

Upon clarification from Tan Sri Haidar, Gwo Burne agreed that the video clip he saw today was the same as what he recorded.

Gwo Burne said that the camera was not hidden and was visible to Dato’ Lingam. He said it was either hanging from his neck by a strap or on his lap and was visible at all times.

Questions were then posed by counsel for Tun Ahmad Fairuz.

Gwo Burne refused to agree that the video clip could not be verified without the original memory card. He said that when he downloaded a file to another medium, it is still identical.

Gwo Burne said the memory card could hold 60 to 90 minutes of recording. He said he bought the camera 2 weeks before the visit.

To a question by Thayalan as to how Gwo Burne could tell it was a male voice on the other side of the line, Gwo Burne said “I think through experience I can tell”.

Gwo Burne agreed that he did not know as a fact who Dato’ Lingam was talking to.

When questioned by counsel for Tun Ahmad Fairuz as to how far away Dato’ Lingam was from Gwo Burne, he said he was moving around, sometimes he was near him and sometimes he was far away.

When asked whether his father was in a better position than he was to hear, Gwo Burne said he might have better hearing than his father.

That brought to an end the evidence of Gwo Burne.

Thaipusam Public Holiday Annoucement: Say Thanks to HINDRAF Leaders and Protesters

Read 15th January 2008 commentary by Bernard Khoo on Zorro-Unmasked Blog

Quote:

The GOOD NEWS.....Hindraf has subtly hinted to Hantu that THAIPUSAM WILL BE DECLARED A NATIONAL HOLIDAY before 23rd January.
-Bernard Khoo/Zorro on 15th January 2008

From Screenshots: Read here for more

"...Thaipusam will be a public holiday extended to Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya from now on, PM Abdullah Badawi announced today.

Have community issues surfaced by Hindraf Rally been solved, and resolved, once and for all? Has the community been fighting only to have an extra day off, by the way?

Or is this another episode of 'Ee chiak lu, lu pun um chai' to hoodwink people? I hope my Indian-Malaysian brethren can enlighten us what this is all about.

The MIC-UMNO Spin

"...Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced this yesterday to cheers and thunderous applause from thousands of Indians and Barisan Nasional supporters.

He said the decision was made AFTER several calls were made by the MIC to have Thaipusam declared a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur.

"Yes, (Datuk Seri S.) Samy Vellu kept asking for Thaipusam to be made a public holiday, especially in Kuala Lumpur. Moreover, every year during Thaipusam, the roads in Kuala Lumpur become very congested," he said.

However, after the holiday, the people must continue to work hard, Abdullah said at a MIC-organised gathering yesterday..... Read here for more

Malaysian Unplug says:

Samy Vellu has been the President of MIC for 28 years, for goodness sake !!.

It takes more than a quarter of a century for MIC, as a Component Party in Barisan Nasional, and for Samy Vellu as President of MIC, to ACTUALLY convince the UMNO-led Government to finally agree for Thaipusam to be a public holiday in Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

Note the coincidence that the HINDRAF demonstration was held in the Federal Territory only late last year."

The DAP Response

"... In the past decades, both inside and outside Parliament, DAP has been calling for Thaipusam to be declared a public holiday and not just a state holiday in Penang, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Johor.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement yesterday of Thaipusam as a public holiday is seen as highly opportunistic and self-serving to salvage Samy Vellu’s political life and Barisan Nasional’s political fortunes in the coming polls than the start of a serious and genuine national commitment to end the long-standing Marginalization of Malaysian Indians as the new underclass in the country.

No wonder one widespread comment and reaction to Abdullah’s announcement is that the Hindraf had been achieve in one rally on Nov. 25 what Samy Vellu had failed to do in more than 28 years as MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister...." Read here and here for more

DAP and Tony Pua: Showing Symptoms of Being Out-dated and Politically Sterile

Article by Dennis Madden: Read here

Excerpts: Read here for more

DAP and the Fuel Subsidy


"... DAP have come up with some wonderfully imaginative scheme to dump the mega projects and use the money to subsidise the cost of fuel.

Buying votes in the manner of BN is what I called that.

Can't you get it into your heads that the the subsidies are paid for by the people... so you have a situation where the rubber tapper in his kampong riding his small motorbike is subsidising the fat cat in his fuel guzzling Mercedes as he sits in the traffic jam of KL with his aircon going full blast.

The fact that most progressive governments have dumped the idea of subsidies should be a hint as to where you should be heading.

Basically you are playing the BN game under rules dictated by them.


Tony Pua's Whining on Islamisation of Malaysia

Then today I got a circular in the mail from Tony Pua bemoaning the Islamisation of Malaysia.

Once again you are playing BN's game.... this time its the game of divide and conquer.

Do you really think that you will sway any Malay voters away from BN using those sorts of tactics?

Anyway religion has no place in the governance any country and you would be doing Malaysia a great service by staying well away from that topic.

To put it mildly YOU are showing the SAME LACK of forward thinking, LACK of imagination and LACK of motivation that is the hallmark of the present government. ..."

Related Commentary

From Malaysian Unplug (Jan 17, 2008) : Read here for more

"...DAP is still perceived as a Chinese-based party and it is still harping on communal (read Chinese) issues. It has not been able to re-invent itself to be amenable to Malay voters. The core of its base is too Chinese to be attractive to the majority of liberal Malays and Indians.

DAP is strong in rhetoric, both in and out of Parliament; it is smart in organising seminars and workshops on national issues, but weak in effective delivery that bring benefits to its constituency of voters from its rhetorics.

Its refusal in the past to compromise and to work with other Malay-based opposition parties make itself a party that can NEVER be in Government, let alone a party that CAN win government. By default, DAP is essentially a party that REFUSE to be part of Government. A party that prefers to be in the Opposition, one that is remarkably good at making the right loud noises in Parliament and in the streets.

DAP politicians are engaged in feel-good therapy by harping on faults and weaknesses of Govt in Parliament, knowing full well that UMNO/BN politicians are too arrogant and too self-assured to bother about the criticisms and condemnation made by DAP in Parliament or in the streets.

Lim Kit Siang is seen by many voters as being fatigued and tired. There is no more "oomph" left in him compared to his early days.

And DAP's recent surge to bring in intellectuals and well-known personalities who appeal to a bigger spectrum of voters is yet to show any significant impact.

Amnesiac Malaysia: Malaysia Boleh ! Transformed to Malaysia Lupa !

Read here for more on LimKitSiang Blog and on Rocky's Bru

Read here for more on the Royal Commission of Inquiry's proceedings and Tun Eusoff Chin's submissions

Comedy Corner: View Below Spoof on YouTube on the Scandal:

"Correct Correct Correct" set to Music

Pazuzugate: In Defense of Lingam

Excerpts: Read here for more

1. Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir
   
   ".. the longest-serving Prime Minister for 22 years, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and former Chief justice, Tun Eusoff Chin (were) competing with each other in selective amnesia at the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Tape.
   
   Mahathir said “I cannot remember” or its equivalent 14 times during his 90-minute testimony before the Royal Commission on Wednesday
   
   Mahathir has become so forgetful that he had to invoke the “I cannot remember” mantra 14 times in his short testimony especially as Mahathir is still famed for his poem, Melayu Muda Lupa.
   
   
   (Photo courtesy of The Star)
   Is Mahathir proving himself right with his sudden forgetfulness?
   
   The public perception (is) that Mahathir has an elephant memory (that an elephant never forgets), especially as Mahathir has a reputation for remembering details others could scantly recall as illustrated by his mastery to recall effortlessly details of Rafidah Aziz’s excesses in the AP scandal WITHOUT any prodding.
   
   How could his many lapses in memory in his appearance before the Royal Commission of Inquiry be credible and convincing (when) Mahathir is still very active in public life, who continues to speak on domestic and international circuits and highly respected for his analytical skills,
   
   Furthermore, Tun M is reputedly writing his memoirs presently which may take volumes. This is no task for a man with an amnesiac memory.
   
   
2. Former Chief Justice of Malaya, Tun Eusoff Chin
   
   Malaysians were presented with another spectacle of a “pillar” of Malaysian society (with) protracted bouts of memory loss, out-forgetting Mahathir.
   
   Apart from his very questionable memory lapses, some of the things that he (Eusoff Chin) said raises question whether he should have been appointed the highest judicial officer of the country in the previous decade.
   
   Eusuff Chin said “I cannot remember” or its equivalent 18 times in his half-testimony yesterday – with the former Chief Justice testimony adjourned to next week to allow him to seek legal representation and engage legal counsel!
   
   It must be a one-in-a-billion case of coincidence for Eusoff Chin when he was Chief Justice and senior lawyer V.K. Lingam and their families to get into the same flight from Singapore to Auckland, and then from Auckland to Christchurch, and to visit the same places in Auckland and Christchurch as well as return on the same flight.
   
   

COMMENTARY

From a Reader on "Rocky's Bru" Blog: Read here for more

"...Sad indeed. Memory failure is not new-lah.

They FORGOT many years ago that:

a. A Hindu - Parameswara founded Malacca. What is there in that state to remember him? Nowadays people want to refer to him by his 'converted' name. (The first Malaysian who reached Mount Everest, now dead, will also go down in the official history books by the name after his conversion?

b. The Bujang Valley in Kedah had evidence of rich Hindu civilization. Is it now very accessible and a tourist attraction?

c. There were many Hindu temples in the estates which the government was trying to take over into its fold (through government controlled companies). Did they later acknowledge the contributions of these places of worship to keep the Hindus united and focused on not being a social problem in the urban areas? Sorry-lah, they were slowly demolished - citing reasons that they were not built according to plans/approvals - that came very much later that the period the temples were built.

d. Munshi Abdullah was also an expert in many languages, including Tamil. That example was ignored when national schools slowly sprung every where. Focus was mainly on one language. More than one generation of Malaysians lost their opportunity to master many languages and become confident in the international arena.

e. United Asian Bank was there - functioning in Malaysia. They did all their best to swallow this financial institution so that there would not be any such bank which the Indians in Malaysia could relate to. (No need to ask anyway why other foreign banks faced same threats and yet now they are allowed to thrive - Citibank, Stanchart, Hong Kong Bank)

Now recently, they forgot:

a. The numerous police reports about mismanagement in Maika Holdings

b. The various donations collections by MIC leaders that was not accounted for properly and against which police reports were done. But they can act fast on alleged mismanagement of funds collecetd by Hindraf.

c. The numerous police reports on the death of Sujatha, the TV actress who died under suspicious circumstances.

d. The numerous police reports on Malaysian Indians who died under mysterious circumstances in police lock ups.

e. The way Indian nationals who came to Malaysia to lend their expertise in the upgrade of our IT capabilities were treated by law enforcement personnel in Brickfields.

This country is indeed heading towards 'Memory failure' syndrome......

And we should feel comforted that people who held high positions in this Bolehland are leading the way...."

From Captain Ahmad Yusof: Read here for more on "Ancient Mariner" Blog

"...His 'mad' or 'drunk' lawyer (Lingam) had access to state secrets and when asked about events which took place only a few years ago, our former PM chose to do a Ronald Reagan: I don't remember.

How bloody convenient.

And when asked about his holiday in New Zealand with the same lawyer he has identified only as an 'acquaintance', a former Chief Justice also had the same stock answer: I don't remember.

One gets to wonder whether this selective amnesia business is set to become a NATIONAL AFFLICTION. ..."

UMNO-led Government: TOO Long of ABSOLUTE POWER Breeding Absolute UNaccountability and Absolute Arrogance

Quotes:

"I don’t remember the reasons. I have MY own reasons. The prerogative is with me.

I have to make sure the candidate that I decide on is the right candidate IN MY OPINION. I DON'T have to explain why.

I DON'T explain to ANYBODY. I don’t have to tell ANYONE as to WHY I made those decisions ..."
-Tun Dr. Mahathir, former Prime Minister of Malaysia

"...While the prerogative of the Prime Minister under the Constitution to decide on who should be recommended for appointment to the various high judicial offices is NOT challenged or doubted, it is WRONG to equate (the) prerogative of a Prime Minister ... with the ROYAL prerogative of divine rule.

The prerogative of a Prime Minister in an elected system of government does NOT give the Prime Minister the immunity to DISREGARD accountability, transparency and integrity in the exercise of the prerogative.

Mahathir was downright wrong and irresponsible.

He was evasive, uncharacteristically forgetful as to be prone to sudden bouts of amnesia on certain crucial events which Mahathir had NEVER been known to suffer from. (He) broke his word that he would respond to all questions to the best of his ability.” Read here for more
-Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang

Note: Since 1957, when the Alliance (and later called the Barisan Nasional) wins Federal government at each election, by agreement among the political parties (ie MCA, MIC, UMNO and others) in the coalition, the President of UMNO, and ONLY from UMNO, is automatically made the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The Federal Constitution on the Appointment of Judges

"Article 122b:

(1) The Lord President of the Supreme Court, and chief justices of the High Courts and (subject to Article 122C) the other judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Court shall be appointed by the Yang di- Pertuan Agong, acting on the ADVICE of the Prime Minister, AFTER consulting the Conference of Rulers.

(2) Before tendering his advice as to the appointment under Clause (1) of a judge other than the Lord President of the Supreme Court, the Prime Minister shall CONSULT the Lord President.

(3) Before tendering his advice as to the appointment under Clause (1) of the Chief Justice of a High Court, the Prime Minister shall CONSULT the Chief Justice of each of the High Courts and, if the appointment is to the High Court in Borneo, the Chief Minister of each of the States of Sabah and Sarawak.

(4) Before tendering his advice as to the appointment under Clause (1) of a judge other than the Lord President or a Chief Justice, the Prime Minister shall CONSULT, if the appointment is to the Supreme Court, the Chief Justice of each of the High Courts and, if the appointment is to one of the High Courts, the Chief Justice of that court.

(5) This Article shall apply to the designation of a person to sit as judge of a High Court under Article 122A (2) as it applies to the appointment of a judge of the court other than the Chief Justice.

(6) Notwithstanding the dates of their respective appointments as judges of the Supreme Courts or of the High Courts, the Yang di- Pertuan Agong, acting on the ADVICE of the Prime Minister given AFTER CONSULTING the Lord President, may determine the order of precedence of the judges among themselves..."

Excerpts of article by Fauwaz Abdul Aziz in Malaysiakini: Read here for more :

Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad began his witness testimony at the Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the VK Lingam tape.

This is the FIRST time that Mahathir was made to account under oath for his actions while in power.

Read here for more on the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the Lingam Tape Scandal, and here and here .

Read here on the FULL transcript of the Lingam Video Clip

Mahathir’s lawyer Tunku Sofea Jewa said that his client (Mahathir) will answer all questions to the best of his ability, even though they are not relevant or within the terms of reference of the commission.

Mahathir appeared evasive in answering the questions asked.

Throughout his testimony, Mahathir’s response to several questions was that he could not remember or recall enough to answer them.

Mahathir spoke only vaguely of gathering views and opinions from several quarters when responding to a question whether he was influenced by any party in the appointment of Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim as chief justice of Malaya.

“I don’t have to tell anyone as to why I made those decisions,” he said.

Mahathir, who appeared calm and smiled at times, said the reasons for his decision was “something I don't tell people”.

Nordin:
Can you clarify the reasons you did not agree to their (Chew and Zainuddin) appointments?

Mahathir:
I don’t remember the reasons.

Nordin:
Is it true, according to the transcript (of the Lingam tape), that the nomination of Zainudin was rejected because he condemned the appointment of Fairuz and Mohtar?

Mahathir:
I am not aware.

Wong:
Before Tun Ahmad Fairuz was recommended to be the chief judge of Malaya, Tun Dzaiddin recommended (in a letter) Malek Ahmad. Do you recall that?

Mahathir:
I cannot remember precisely, but there was a lot of talk. I listen to a lot of people.
Wong:
You cannot remember that Dzaiddin had recommended Malek Ahmad to be chief judge of Malaya before Tun Ahmad Fairuz?

Mahathir:
I did hear talk of the possibility that Malek had been recommended.

Wong:
Do you remember that Dzaiddin had recommended Malek?

Mahathir:
I cannot remember him recommending him (Malek) to me... I don’t remember whether I agreed or not. I have read the letter from Dzaiddin, but I don’t remember whether I agreed or didn’t agree on the appointment of Malek.

Taking up the same line of defence when questioned by Bar Council observer Christopher Leong, Mahathir however adopted a more belligerent stance.

Mahathir backtracked on his earlier declaration to 'answer all' and said he did not have to explain to anyone regarding his decisions on judicial appointments.

“I have my own reasons. After hearing what people say, I form my own conclusions. The prerogative is with me. I don’t have to explain why,” said Mahathir.

“Usually, I ask officers... what they say about these things, I take into consideration and rely on their proposals... I cannot remember precisely what was being talked about. I take these things into consideration, (including) the views of the then chief justice, and I make my decisions,” he added.

When asked for more details about the sources of his information that formed the basis for his decisions, Mahathir said they ranged from ACA, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, civil servants and police personnel.

“I have to make sure the candidate that I DECIDE on is the right candidate in my opinion,” he said.

The clincher came when commission panel member Mahadev Shankar asked Mahathir if he had discussed the appointments with Mohamed Dzaiddin before finalising them.

Mahadev:
Were your reasons for rejecting Malek discussed with Dzaiddin?

Mahathir:
I normally don’t explain the reasons why I make (the) decisions. I listen to a lot of people (but) I make my (own) assessments and decisions. I don’t explain to ANYBODY.

Mahadev:
Not even to the Chief Justice who made the recommendations to you?

Mahathir:
No !

Malaysian Opposition Parties: Ineffective Self-Centred and Egoistic Leaders

On 15th January, Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz, otherwise known as blogger Sheih of Kickdefella posted an article called "Viagra for the Opposition", a heartfelt and frank critique of the state of leadership in the Opposition Parties, namely, PKR, DAP and PAS.

By the next day, the article was taken out from his blog, with a comment:

"...if you are within the certain circle, it is almost impossible to be honest about your feeling on that certain matter without it being perceive as somebody’s else view or without hurting others .....With this posting, you will find that the previous posting, 'Viagra for Opposition' has been removed...."

There is much truth in what Shieh said about the current leaders in PKR, DAP and PAS. He speaks with inside knowledge of UMNO having been a figure in UMNO at branch level in Kuala Lumpur and now he is back in his home-state Kelantan working for the PAS leadership.

One can speculate the reasons for Shieh's withdrawal of his article:

Shieh was seen too close to Husam Musa;

the PAS leadership did not like the views criticising the PAS leadership;

others in DAP and PKR could have pressured PAS to ask Shieh to remove his article as being divisive for the Opposition; or

Shieh took upon himself to remove his article after realising what he wrote might hurt Husam Musa more within PAS than helping him.

It is our view that Shieh's article rightly highlights the disarray in the politics of the Opposition parties.

The mood among voters today is one of anti-BN and anti UMNO. Malaysians had enough of UMNO's 50 year rule which had led to the country being racially more divisive today than ever before and with public institutions catering to high-level cronyism, nepotism,corruption and protecting BN politicans than looking after the interests of ordinary citizens. There is a desire for a strong opposition to the BN.

As such, it is our view that it is still worth the while for Malaysian voters to read what Shieh had written. Malaysians Unplug Uncensored re-posts the full article by Sheih because it is time PKR, DAP and PAS leaders take a hard look at themselves before they promote their party to voters and at themselves as worthy politicians to represent the interest of Malaysian voters.

Malaysian Unplug says:

With the current attitude and mentality of the current personalities in PKR, DAP and PAS, we agree with Shieh that there is little hope of the Opposition Parties coming together to take on the BN monolith led by UMNO to win the government.The politically-minded Malaysians have been concerned about the character of the leadership in PKR, DAP and PAS for sometime now.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)

PKR is still finding its centre of gravity to be a party of choice of Malays and non Malays. Wan Azizah of PKR does not have the required leadership credentials to take on UMNO.

PKR is becoming more like the Malay version of Parti Gerakan, appealing to Malay and non Malay intellectuals, mostly English-speaking. PKR is seen as the party for voters who don't want to vote for PAS and UMNO, and for those who don't want to vote MCA and DAP. These form only a small percentage of voters.

PKR can only remain relevant to Malaysian politics if it is willing to compromise and work harmoniously with PAS and DAP.

It cannot win seats on its own, not even with selling Anwar Ibrahim as PKR's poster-boy. Anwar Ibrahim is perceived as still having a chip on his shoulder. Questions are raised as to whether his rhetorics are in fact looking after the genuine interests of Malaysian voters or simply out of self-interest because Anwar's politics is read by some as a politics of revenge.

Anwar would have been more effective as a "king-maker" rather than trying to play the "king" in oppposition party politics.

Democratic Action Party (DAP)

DAP is still perceived as a Chinese-based party and it is still harping on communal (read Chinese) issues. It has not been able to re-invent itself to be amenable to Malay voters. The core of its base is too Chinese to be attractive to the majority of liberal Malays and Indians.

DAP is strong in rhetoric, both in and out of Parliament; it is smart in organising seminars and workshops on national issues, but weak in effective delivery that bring benefits to its constituency of voters from its rhetorics.

Its refusal in the past to compromise and to work with other Malay-based opposition parties make itself a party that can NEVER be in Government, let alone a party that CAN win government. By default, DAP is essentially a party that REFUSE to be part of Government. A party that prefers to be in the Opposition, one that is remarkably good at making the right loud noises in Parliament and in the streets.

DAP politicians are engaged in feel-good therapy by harping on faults and weaknesses of Govt in Parliament, knowing full well that UMNO/BN politicians are too arrogant and too self-assured to bother about the criticisms and condemnation made by DAP in Parliament or in the streets.

Lim Kit Siang is seen by many voters as being fatigued and tired. There is no more "oomph" left in him compared to his early days.

And DAP's recent surge to bring in intellectuals and well-known personalities who appeal to a bigger spectrum of voters is yet to show any significant impact.

Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS)

PAS suffers from its relevance to 21st century Malaysia and post-911 global politics. It does not know HOW to win (federal) Government. The turban-wearing PAS leaders are perceived as trying to make Malaysia into an Asian version of Saudi Arabia. That may work to some extent in Kelantan and Trengganu,but that is no-brainer to win government at the Federal level.

The current crop of turban-wearing leaders are too hung-up on Islamisation of Malaysia than about healing the wounds of the nation caused by the racially and religiously divisive politics of UMNO.

PAS leaders are still locked into their little world view that only Islam can solve Malaysia's social, political and economic problems.

The current PAS top leaders cannot think outside their little box.

The old school turban-wearing leaders of PAS are not willing to pass the baton to the younger PAS leaders who have the appeal to non Malays, non Muslims and to liberal Malays around the country. PAS leaders like Husam Musa are more likeable than the likes of Haji Hadi Awang.

With the election looming, PAS is still living in the twilight zone.

Yet PAS is the ONLY credible Malay-based party that can take on UMNO and to wrest Government from UMNO.

PAS is the only party that can lead the Opposition front, if only it can find its feet to move around comfortably with non-Muslims and have guts to cut through its religious parochialism to appeal to non Muslim and non Malay voters.

PAS should have shed its narrow religious politics and the turban-headed and robe-wearing outlook to be relevant in Malaysia's 21st century politics.

Until then, it will be basically a kampung-political party at best.
-Malaysian Unplug

Viagra for The Oppositions

15th January 2008: Posted on Kickdefella Blog and read here

No. This is not about bashing the opposition round two.

This is about whipping them on the backside, before we kick them out there to represent our fading hope.

It must be a stupid joke to admit that the oppositions can take care of our fading hope when they themselves cannot even afford to take care of their own hope.

So, what hope left for us?

No hope. Out of hope and a world without hope.

Let us try to think like those silent majority who never interested in joining any political party, never venture into any cyber political forum and who think Malaysia Today is a name of a newspaper published in 1963.

Who do this group of people voted for if ever they go out for voting in those previous general elections. Some claimed that this group totalled up to about 40% of registered voters. If this is the scenario, then the balance 60% were divided into, let just say 30% pro BN and 30% pro oppositions. This 30% pro oppositions then were divided into two groups for peninsular Malaysia.

The first group is the anti Malays-anti Islam-DAP supporters who will not vote for any Malay and Muslim candidates.

The second group is the anti DAP-ultra Malay-Islam extremist group which will never vote for DAP.

Please take note that the percentage above is not accurate but is enough to give us the inside of how the cake is divided.

Although most of the time, the number of pro BN supporters are about the same as the numbers of all the pro oppositions supporters but still the pro oppositions supporters are not as solid as pro BN supporters because they themselves are not solid.

The oppositions need a strong leadership and they do NOT have any among the heads of all the opposition parties.

Not in Hadi, not in Uncle Kit and not in Wan Azizah. With this, it means that they have to rely on someone whom may not even have the chance to stand for the election and even if he has the chance, he may not win the election. That person is Anwar Ibrahim and I repeat what I have said in previous posting, this fella is so yesterday.

Anwar Ibrahim is not as influential as he was in the late 90’s. His problem was with Mahathir not with Abdullah Haji Ahmad. His agenda was about kicking Mahathir so he can be the numero uno. Mahathir was the yesterday story.

Now the opposition were hoping for Mahathir to support them. But will Anwar tolerate that? Will Anwar willing to forget all what has happen? Will he swallow his pride?

Nope! One of a reason that the opposition front is so fragile is because Anwar will want to dictate the terms and another one is because of Uncle Kit’s dinosaur’s instinct.

By right, the party that should lead the way is PAS. This is because; PAS is the party that is going to face the giant of BN, which is UMNO. BN will only lose if PAS managed to inject enough venom on UMNO. BN will only return but without 2/3 majority also rely on how much damaged could PAS inflict UMNO.

But PAS has a monumental problem. Its leader, Haji Hadi do not appeal to the masses. Although he is not, but undeniably, in the masses eyes, Haji Hadi is so much aligned and synonymous to the word extremism, fanaticism and militarism.

Even post 9/11, we yet to see PAS managed pull Hadi out of that image, I know they did. I know they have tried very hard. Nevertheless, Hadi is so much the kind of leader pre 9/11 and PAS needs a new brand to survive post 9/11.

Too much extremism is connected to Hadi for him to be accepted as the leader of Malaysia. A lot of non-Muslim are saying, we are willing to vote for PAS if only Husam is the man who lead PAS.

Non-Muslim are not worried about Islam. What they worried is the man behind it. While our brother in PAS is not worried about not getting the non-Muslim votes, but what they are worried is the man leading them is not fashionably Islam.

As a Malaysian, I believe PAS should lead the opposition front but this maybe only happen during PRU 13. I have witnessed myself, a Chinese man stood up and yell to YB Anuar Tan, “YB, I support you” and this is done in front of the Chairman of MCA Kota Bharu. I have seen about 1,000 Chinese from Kota Bharu gave a thunderous applause to Che Gu Rahim, during the same function.

I can never forget, the Chinese of Kota Bharu almost jump of their seats in supporting Husam, when he said “If I became the federal Minister…” they wanted Husam to become the minister immediately.

Yes, PAS in Kota Bharu has proven that they do not need Kit Siang Dinosaur instinct to win the heart of the Chinese.

But as for now, minus the quality of leadership in the opposition boat, it shall easily canon into pieces by the BN battleship.

I have realised it long ago, corruption is not a good issue to play with the silent majority. Sexual misconduct and moral values also is so nice to hear but not tempting enough to sway the decisive votes. While the issues like ECM-LIBRA etc is too boring for them.

During Mahathir’s time, so much effort are put to expose what are being claim as the sickening degree of corruptions. But the majority do not care. What is more important to them is the economy is okay and they have enough money in their pocket. The leader are working so hard, so what is wrong for them to cut certain commission here and there and give some to their friends and relatives too. That is the way the middleclass majority justify the corruption.

The middleclass urban also do not care much about what the opposition perceived as the degrading moral value. In fact they are enjoying as to a certain degree.

The silent majority preferred unity and good economy. For as long as they make enough money for their family, they will choose to vote for status quo.

If we talk about unity, their only hope is the BN. No matter how racist UMNO can be, UMNO is strong enough to dictate terms that can keep other component parties to stick together on issues pertaining to BN.

The opposition is not. Only small issue and just a little spin will tear them to pieces. DAP is very good at taking a jab towards PAS and PAS will not wait a second later to retaliate.

The only thing that the opposition can use as the weapon to sway the silent majority is by playing the more household issues which is domestic problem that cause by the increase in the prices of goods and the shortage of cooking oil and other household goods. This is the sign of how the government are losing its control.

The next issue will be the sky rocketing crime rate. The inability of the police force to protect the citizen allowing the space for some unimaginable crime to take place. Malaysia is not as safe as we used to live in.

Corruption to the majority is okay, provided they are enjoying a good economic growth and benefited from it by having some extras too. Immoral behaviour by the people in office is not an issue to change them as long as they performed well and keeping us proud and feeling safe all the time.

How are the oppositions going to capitalise on these issues? The oppositions can talk and talk about it, and it shall be nice for the people to hear but at the end of the day, before they cast their votes, one fundamental question will arise. If I vote for change, how can I be sure that the new regime in power will be better than the previous? What is their track record?

PAS has a good track record in Kelantan but they failed miserably in Terengganu. No matter what their argument is, logic is they failed. And the one who led the failure in Terengganu is the one who is leading the party today.

While those who are leading the success story in Kelantan, will remain in Kelantan and not going to stand in Parliament because we need them to defend the UMNO onslaught.

It is correct that the oppositions have such a huge ego. Their supporters even larger. The opposition is trying to push down our throat what they think better for us but do they actually know what we want?

Accusation upon accusation were thrown at me, some even claimed that I have been bought by Annuar Musa while others claimed that I am trying to sell Husam Musa over to UMNO.

Local PAS supporters said I am thorn among the roses, or gunting dalam lipatan, I shall not defend myself neither will I go on defensive mode. When I started this blog, I always reminded my reader to read between the lines.

In order to have the correct angle of attack, we might need to manoeuvre to the left before we turn right.

With that, I rest my case.

Malaysia's Tax Payer-funded ACA Acting Like a Gangster Outfit Hounding and Threatening Innocent Citizens

Read here for more on Malaysiakini

Excerpts: Read here for more in Malaysiakini

Businessman Loh Mui Fah, 58, today claimed that he was worried for his personal safety over his role in the Lingam tape scandal.

In an exclusive interview with Malaysiakini today, Loh admitted that his son, Jwo Burne, had recorded lawyer VK Lingam’s telephone conversation with former chief justice Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim on the night of Dec 20, 2001.

Explaining further the harassments he had faced since the grainy 14-minute video clip was made public by opposition party PKR last year, Loh said that officers from the Anti-Corruption Agency had been tailing him day and night.

ACA officers had once intercepted him while he was on his way to Singapore, and also visited his office and home simultaneously where they threatened to ‘take away’ Loh’s youngest son.

Last month, the ACA ‘harassment’ and threatening phone calls became so unbearable and that Loh said he lodged at least one police report.

“They hunted me day and night. They came in cars, waited for me with engines running, waiting until midnight. The security guards at my apartment can vouch for this,” he said.

“Once the ACA visited my house and my office at the same time. When they found that I wasn’t there, they harassed my youngest son and threatened to take him away,” he said.

Loh said that once while he was travelling by car to Singapore, he was intercepted in Malacca by two ACA officers.

“They wanted me to immediately return with them to their headquarters in Putrajaya to take a statement from me. I told them I will not follow them and got them to let me talk to their superior,” he said.

“I told them I can cooperate but it must be properly done, and that I am given proper notice,” he added.

According to Loh, he did not know how the ACA knew that he was involved in the matter.

“Maybe Lingam had told them that I and my son were at his house on that day,” he speculated.

Loh suggested that the agency was perhaps badgering him to give a statement as they wanted to catch him unprepared instead of having him come with a prepared statement.

The businessman said that he feared for his life. “That is why I am going public now,” he said.

“I wrote to the PM seeking protection but I didn’t receive any assurance from him. Do I fear for my life? I won’t take anything for granted,” he said.

“Going public is the best option that I have.”

Loh also said that he was willing to appear before the royal commission which will kick off its inquiry on Monday to probe the Lingam tape.

“I will go before them in the interest of the public, but it is up to them to find their own answer,” he added.

MUST READ ! Malaysian Lecturers on a Ph.D Gravy Train at Malaysian Tax Payers' Expense

From Malaysiakini: Read here Letter to Editor by "Malaysian Taxpayer"

Excerpts: Read here for more

"....The government in the 2008 Budget (will) DOUBLE the cost of living allowances for students in countries like the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

The Higher Education Ministry spends at least RM500,000 (half a Million Ringgit) on a lecturer to do his/her PhD overseas.

The Ministry is NOT spending taxpayers’ money wisely... by sending any Tom, Dick and Harry overseas when they do NOT have the aptitude to succeed.

The current scenario is dismal.

Substandard local universities grant DOUBLE AWARDS - by giving the PhD students a FULL salary, a FULL scholarship and then a DOUBLE bonus (eg. a three-fold increment in their salary and a PROMOTION from DS45 to DS520 WITHOUT even considering whether or not these lecturers possess that ‘mutu istimewa’ (special quality) as stipulated in the promotion circular.

It is unfair to send the academically incompetent lecturers when many young, talented and academically bright Malaysians can be groomed to be future first-class lecturers who will in turn, transform the universities in which they serve into world-class universities.

1. From past records, many lecturers who were sent overseas came home WITHOUT a PhD (even though most of them proudly came home with a MERCEDES ).
   
   

   Lecturers must prove their academic competency before they are funded by taxpayers’ money to go overseas.
   
   They must have published at least one journal article in English on their own accord and not on a ‘Ali Baba’ hitchhiking basis.
   
   Our taxpayers’ money will definitely go down the drain if these lecturers have problems in writing their theses in English and subsequently come home empty- handed (I mean, without a PhD).

2. Almost all of these lecturers find themselves a job (or even jobs) while studying despite the two-fold or even ten-fold increase in their cost of living allowance.

   I know a few lecturers who are currently working in the UK, some part-time while others even full-time.
   
   They told me that it is perfectly fine to NOT complete their studies within the stipulated three-year period as the Higher Education Ministry will surely grant them a full-salary, six-month extension and MORE subsequent extensions.
   
   Aren’t these lecturers taking advantage of taxpayers’ money?
   
   Self-funded PhD candidates will try to complete their studies within the SHORTEST time possible while government-funded (or rather, taxpayers-funded) candidates will try to complete theirs in the LONGEST possible time!
   
   If they are unable to complete their studies within the stipulated three-year period, direct them to come home and not waste any more taxpayers’ money.
   

3. The Higher Education Ministry should monitor these ‘privileged lecturers’ while they are overseas to ensure that they fully concentrate on their studies rather than working and make some money on the side (possibly to buy a Mercedes).
   
   
4. Why must the Higher Education Ministry send so many of these lecturers overseas when they can pursue similar courses at our local higher institutions at a fraction of the cost?

   Is it that our LOCAL universities have NO ‘class’ at all ?

5. Despite the ‘40-years-old ruling’, our universities are still sending their academic staff who have already passed the 40-year-old age limit to pursue their studies locally or overseas on a full-pay full-scholarship.
   
   

   It is NOT a good investment considering the huge cost and the number of years they are able to contribute upon their return from the three-year doctoral venture.

6. I have heard about lecturers who bring their family members overseas (of course, their whole family’s flight tickets are bought on taxpayers’ money) and then send their family members home SECRETLY so that they can continue to enjoy or receive the full family allowances.
   
   

   (The Government) should take disciplinary action against lecturers who claim family allowances when their families are actually residing in Malaysia.
   
   This is blatant cheating of the (Malaysian) taxpayer.
   
   The Higher Education Ministry staff are incompetent in their monitoring of such lecturers.
   
   The ACA (should) bring these lecturers to justice.

7. Stop the rhetoric of ‘internal breeding’ as an excuse to send lecturers elsewhere for a PhD.

   They can always do a PhD in their respective (local) universities under the supervision of an academically-capable supervisor.

Academically Incompetent Lecturers Got Promoted

Lecturers were promoted despite their poor academic ability and a no-substance curriculum vitae, not even publishing in any national or regional journal articles, let alone international ones.

Only substandard universities would consider promoting lecturers on the basis of one’s contribution in a MANAGERIAL position and a FEW conference proceedings (these were NOT even peer reviewed and many lecturers share conference proceedings!).

In order to be at par with world-class universities, terms for Higher Education Ministry scholarships should be as firm and stringent as other prestigious scholarships.

Then there will be no hanky-panky where a lecturer deliberately delays his/her thesis submission so as to gain extra mileage in getting full-pay full-scholarship extension.

COMMENTARY

RELATED ARTICLES : FROM EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA WEBSITE

RM1.2bil Fund for PhD Studies (July 2006): Read here for more

"... There are 3 schemes which academics can apply to for the purposes of obtaining funds to pursue their doctorates:

1. Skim Latihan Akademik Bumiputera (SLAB)

   SLAB is exclusive scheme for BUMIPUTRAS ONLY. This is the preferred choice by local universities and is commonly found advertised in local newspapers.

2. Academic Staff Higher Education Scheme (ASHES)

   ASHES is for current lecturers who have given at least 3 years (teaching) service at university.

3. Academic Staff Training Scheme (ASTS)

ASTS is open for all. Anyone with good first degree CGPA (>3.00) is eligible.

Applicants are not required to have contributed academically (e.g teaching) when applying for this scheme.

ASHES and ASTS are the routes available for a NON-bumiputera interested in securing financial assitance and joining the local university as academic staff.

It is understood that NON-bumiputeras form only approximately 10% of ASTS receipients.

What is however, damning about the system is the injustice meted out to non-bumiputera receipients of the ASTS scheme, particularly for overseas programmes.
For overseas funding:

a Bumiputera recipient under ASTS receive full financial assistance (tuition fee, living costs, housing-family-book-thesis-winter allowances).

A NON-bumiputra will receive everything EXCEPT the tuition fee (this is the recent tweak of sponsorship agreement). Non bumiputras will have to seek funding elsewhere (which do not has any bonding).

All candidates are however bonded to the relevant academic institutions for the same period of time, irrespective of the amount sponsored.

The question goes beyond just a matter of blatant racial discrimination:-

Given that these non-bumiputera candidates will have to return to their respective Malaysian universities to contribute their knowledge, wisdom and expertise to the younger local Malaysians - who will include a large majority of bumiputera students, is the policy of disadvantaging non-bumiputeras here, a clear case of cutting of ones own nose to spite ones face?

By discouraging talented non-bumiputeras from pursuing further education at reputed institutions overseas, doesn't it then result in fewer qualified lecturers for the Malaysian public universities, which will then retard the local universities' abilities to provide quality education for our local undergraduates, who are largely (more than 65%) bumiputeras anyway?

What may be regarded as a discriminatory affirmative action policy to support the "weaker" majority ethnic group in the country is paradoxically and ironically, at the end of the day, resulting in the very objectives of the policy not being met.

By denying the benefit to a few non-bumiputeras from further education, the higher education policy is in effect denying the delivery of better quality education to thousands of bumiputeras over the years. The impact cannot be insignificant...."

Ph.D Scholarships for Local Universities (July 2006): Read here for more

"... There (are) differences between SLAB, ASHES and ACTS. Here are some of my initial findings.

1. ... The SLAB scheme is ONLY open to Bumiputeras. The funding for the SLAB scheme comes from JPA (Public Service Dept) which is more readily available compared to a university's internal funding resources.
   
   What this means is that lecturers who apply for the SLAB scheme, in all likelihood, will have to wait a SHORTER period of time before being sent overseas to do their PhDs.
   
   
2. ASHES and / or ACTS or "Skim Hadiah Latihan Cuti Belajar": Funding comes from the sending university and it includes tuition fees (as well as living expenses and salary).
   
   I still have questions in regards to the distribution mechanism both between and within our local universities.
   
   How do universities decide on who gets sponsorship internally? Which departments and who within these departments should be sponsored?
   
   The local universities don't distinguish between the process to obtain US versus non-US PhDs.

PhDs in the US usually take upwards of 5 years while those in the UK and Australia take upwards of only 3 years. The reason is that coursework is a required component in the US system while this is not so in the UK and Australia (although this is beginning to change for selected courses in selected universities).

The PhD scholarships from the local universities are only for 3 years with a 6 month extension possible upon request. This makes life very difficult for those pursuing their PhDs in the US (which is why many lecturers opt to go to the UK and Australia instead) and they usually have to scrounge for alternative sources of funding for the remaining 1 1/2 to 2 years.

USM PhD scholarships (February 2007) :Read here for more

"...Universiti Sains Malaysia cordially invites suitably qualified candidates to apply for the USM Academic Staff Training Scheme (ASTS) in all areas of studies with the exception of Law.

Selected candidates will be sponsored by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia and USM to further their studies to the Master’s and PhD levels at an institution recognized by the Public Services Department, Malaysia. Upon completion of their PhD studies, they will serve as lecturers at USM.

BENEFITS

Tuition Fees, Subsistence Allowance for candidate and family (if applicable), Cost of Living Allowance (depending on the place of study), Return Airfare, Relocation Allowance, Winter Apparel Allowance (if applicable), Book Allowance, Equipment Allowance, Thesis Allowance, Final Year Allowance, Accommodation Allowance

CONDITIONS FOR APPLICATION

1. Bachelor’s Degree (with a CGPA of 3.0 and above), or a Master’s Degree;
2. Candidates in the final year of their Bachelor’s or Master’s programs may also apply;
3. The maximum age for candidates applying to pursue both their Master’s and PhD studies is 30, while that for PhD studies is 38;
4. Candidates and parents must be Malaysian citizens;
5. Candidates must bring along original and certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts when they attend the selection interview.

Please note that degrees must be conferred by an institution recognized by the Public Services Department, Malaysia.

For further details, please contact us at
Tel: + 604 653 3366 or +604 653 3295
Email: ramlis@notes.usm.my or salina@notes.usm.my
Web Site: http://enovate.usm.my/assist

Scandalous! UMNO/BN Leadership Condoned UMNO Politician's Abuse of Power for "Land Grabbing " Ventures

READ HERE FULL EXPOSE BY MALAYSIAKINI and here

His name is Mad Aris Mad Yusof.

He is the UMNO State Assemblyman for Cempaka.

(Note: The parliamentary seat covering the Cempaka state constituency area is called Pandan)

- Read HERE related article on another Scandal with UMNO Connection, the Port Klang Free Zone Scandal. and also read HERE.

- Go to Captain Ahmad Yusof's "Ancient Mariner" Blog to read on ALL the followup stories on this PKFZ multi-billion ringgit scandal that have remained unanswered till today.

Excerpts: Read here for more in Malaysiakini

Mad Aris Mad Yusof was elected as State Assemblyperson in 1990 and appointed as a MPAJ councillor in 1992. He is also a member of the Hulu Langat district land committee.

UMNO State Assemblyman Mad Aris was alleged by residents to be involved in AT LEAST EIGHT(8) land scandal cases, (mostly on PUBLIC and RESERVE lands. )

In 2003, residents wrote to UMNO/BN Leadership NOT to select him for the 2004 General Election. It fell on deaf ears. Instead, he was re-selected and got elected.

Quote:

"... He (Mad Aris) pushed the land committee to agree to the conversions. MPAJ is only in charge of administration and maintenance, whereas the conversion of land is always mooted by a politician.

There was no open tender, no proper documentation.

We don't know how much the private company is paying, and where does this money go?

They handle it like a SECRET SOCIETY.”
-M.Thomas,
Chairperson,Taman Nirwana Phase 1 and 2 Residents' Action Committee.

Residents began to grow frustrated with Mad Aris following the 1999 polls, according to M. Thomas, Chairperson of the Residents Action Committee for Taman Nirwana Phase 1 and 2.

Thomas said over the years, resident associations in that area have separately aired their grouses to the Selangor State government and the BN leadership.

Due to the inaction of the BN/UMNO leadership, residents sent a collective memorandum to the Sultan of Selangor, Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo and Abdullah Badawi prior to 2004 general elections, asking them to remove Mad Aris from the list of candidates for the 2004 General Election. The memorandum was endorsed by six resident associations and NGOs based in the Pandan constituency.

But he was STILL fielded by UMNO/BN and he got elected for a fourth term.

According to M. Thomas, Mad Aris had abused his power and with the support of the state government, managed to privatise the land for personal gain.

“He (Mad Aris) pushed the land committee to agree to the conversions. MPAJ is only in charge of administration and maintenance, whereas the conversion of land is always mooted by a politician.

There was NO open tender, NO proper documentation. We don't know how much the private company is paying, and where does this money go? They handle it like a secret society.”

The Eight Land Scandals Involving the UMNO Politican.

Mad Aris is accused of abusing his power to alienate many reserve land plots in Ampang for commercial purposes.

These include:

- green belts,

- school reserves,

- irrigation and drainage reserves,

- road reserves, buffer zones and

- empty land.

The land plots were alleged to be leased out to his cronies and the latter have in turn re-rented it out to other companies for a higher price.

M. Thomas, the Chairperson of the Residents Action Committee for Taman Nirwana Phase 1 and 2.who has been active in residents' associations for more than 14 years, said the commercialisation of reserve land started following the 1999 polls.

Malaysiakini compiled at least eight alleged land scandals based on information provided by local residents, gathered from memorandums and complaint letters,

These are:

1. The Millennium Curry House restaurant at Jalan Nirwana, Taman Nirwana.

2. The Light Industrial Zone located between the Middle Ring Road 2 (MRR2) and Kampung Pandan Dalam.

3. A furniture showroom 'Perabut Cempaka' at Jalan Cempaka 3, Taman Chempaka.

4. The Light Industrial Zone at Jalan Nirwana 10, Taman Nirwana.

5. The Pandan Puri Corporation plant nursery at Jalan 1, Taman Putra Sulaiman.

6. A demolished food court beside SMK Pandan Indah.

7. A driving range in Pandan Perdana and;

8. Three-storey houses in Taman Chempaka near the Star LRT station.

(Please go to Malaysiakini for further details on the above cases and for the followup story)

The residents have complained TO: MPAJ, Mad Aris himself, Selangor Menteri Besar Dr Mohd Khir Toyo, Abdullah and even the Anti-Corruption Agency.

But the issues remain UNRESOLVED.