Here's the Proof: Why UMNO as a Ruling Party is THE PROBLEM

From Malaysia-Today: Read here full article by Raja Petra Kamarudin


SENATOR Haji Dr.Mohd Puad bin Zakarshi
Ketua UMNO, Bahagian Batu Pahat, Johore

Translated:

The letter, on UMNO letter-head, dated 14th March 2007, was from Senator Dr. Haji Mohd Puad bin Zakarshi, Head of UMNO Division, Batu Pahat, Johore to the District Engineer, District Dept. of Public Works (JKR), Batu Pahat.

The letter was copied to Dato Abdul Ghani Othman, Chief Minister of Johore.

The letter entitled " Registration of Works Contractor, Class F", reads :

" The above topic is referred. Attached herewith list of the contractors' names which we have compiled who should be blacklisted because they are supporters/ sympathisers of the Opposition party.

Thanking you in advance for your cooperation and action."

Signed: Senator Dr. Haji Mohd Puad bin Zakashi, Ketua UMNO, Batu Pahat Division

THE OUTRIGHT LIE TO THE PUBLIC

In December 2006, Senator Dr. Mohd Puad bin Zakarshi said:

"Kontraktor bagi projek-projek yang tersenarai di daerah Batu Pahat akan dibuat secara UNDI. Kita berpendapat ini lebih adil dan berkesan bagi mengelak sebarang pilih kasih ."
- SENATOR Dr. Mohd Puad bin Zakarshi
(19th December 2006)

Ketua Umno Bahagian Kota Raja, Selangor, Umar Amzah said:

“BUKAN UMNO yang menentukan siapa yang dapat projek, bidangkuasa kami hanya menyenaraikan kontraktor yang layak tetapi kuasa pemutus di tangan pejabat daerah.”
-Umar Amzah, Ketua Bahagian, Kota Raja
(19th December 2006)

Can you see that Malaysia is already divided?

And it is NOT ‘irresponsible people’ who are dividing Malaysians. It is Umno itself.

And Umno is dividing Malaysians into:

1. Umno Malays,
   
   
2. MCA Chinese,
   
   
3. MIC Indians, and
   
   
4. Barisan Nasional supporters.

Yes, these are the four categories of ‘acceptable’ Malaysians, in that order of priority.

And all others who are NOT in these categories or who are opposed to any of these categories are BLACKLISTED . This is NOT what we say to instigate Malaysians.

This is what the Umno letter says. And would Umno LIE?

So forget about the NEP.

The NEP is NOT aimed at helping POOR Malays.

(The NEP) is a means to justify dishing out goodies to loyal supporters of the ruling party.

WITHOUT the NEP, it would be called CORRUPTION.

UNDER the NEP, it would be called ‘social re-engineering’.

And Opposition supporters are not covered by the NEP, in particular if you are Malay (they are not so harsh on Chinese and Indian opposition supporters because Umno does not directly suffer, only the non-Malay parties do). Read here for more


Related articles on UMNO and Senator Dr. Mohd Puad Zakarshi:

Read here for more article dated 19th December 2006

"...Ketua Umno bahagian Batu Pahat, Senator Dr Puad Zakarshi pula berkata, pemilihan kontraktor bagi projek-projek yang tersenarai di daerah Batu Pahat akan dibuat secara UNDI.

“Ketua empat bahagian Umno di daerah Batu Pahat telah mencapai kata sepakat bahawa pemilihan kontraktor bagi semua projek yang ada di daerah ini dibuat secara undian. Kita berpendapat ini lebih adil dan berkesan bagi mengelak sebarang pilih kasih .

“Saya beri jaminan, kira-kira 60 kontraktor kelas F di bahagian saya akan mendapat projek,” katanya ketika dihubungi.

Katanya, ketua bahagian Umno Batu Pahat, Parit Sulung, Air Itam dan Sri Gading akan hanya bertanggungjawab menyenaraikan senarai kontraktor kepada pejabat daerah, manakala pemilihan seterusnya akan dikendalikan oleh pejabat berkenaan.

Beliau juga berkata, tujuan kerajaan menyalurkan dana RM600 juta ini adalah untuk menjana ekonomi kerana sebelum ini terdapat banyak rugutan tidak ada projek untuk para kontraktor berkenaan.

Ketua Umno Bahagian Kota Raja, Selangor, Umar Amzah berkata, “BUKAN Umno yang menentukan siapa yang dapat projek, bidangkuasa kami hanya menyenaraikan kontraktor yang layak tetapi kuasa pemutus di tangan pejabat daerah,” katanya.

From "Jebat" Blog: Read here by Tun Telanai article "APA KHABAR HISHAMUDDIN DAN KJ: PERWAKILAN PEMUDA GERAKAN TELAH MENGHUNUS KERIS

"... Tahun lepas dalam perhimpunan agung UMNO, dengan megah, sombong dan anggkoh Ketua Pemuda UMNO Hishamuddin Tun Hussein dan naibnya Khairy Jamaluddin menjulang keris mengancam sesiapa yang berani mencabar hak keistemewaan orang Melayu khususnya hak UMNO untuk meneruskan dasar ekonomi baru dalam bentuk baru yang dikenali sebagai Dasar Pembangunan Nasional [DPN].

Banyak orang Melayu dari luar kelongsong UMNO tidak bersetuju dengan cadangan tersebut.

UMNO yang menyebabkan DEB gagal.

Setelah lebih daripada tiga dekad DEB dilaksanakan, pencapaiannya hanyalah sekitar 19% sahaja. Kegagalan ini amat memalukan.

Perlaksanaannya tidak tulus dan banyak penyelewengan yang berlaku.
Tidak semua orang Melayu yang mendapat faedah dasar DEB, hanya segelintir dikalangan kaum bumiputra orang Melayu daripada golongan UMNOPUTRA sahaja yang menerima faedahnya. Sebahagian besar orang Melayu dan lain-lain bumputra terpinggir.

Tindakan Lian Teck Lai merupakan satu tindakan yang bijak.

Kata-katanya banyak mengandungi perkataan yang menyindir dan memerli dua orang tokoh Pemuda UMNO itu...."

From Sean-The-Man Blog: Read here for more

"...a large part of this wealth redistribution program (ie the NEP) is the granting of govt contracts to 'bumiputra' or Class F / Kelas F companies in order to 'encourage' Malays to involve themselves in the business world. For info on what the requirements are to be a Kelas F contractor, CLICK here.

And one of the main factors that the govt has always stressed to cast an ILLUSIONS ofLEGITIMACY on the NEP is that these Kelas F contracts are distributed fairly to DESERVING bumi contractors, so that Malays are incentivised and given ample opportunity to be successful businesspeople.

But many people have said otherwise... that the benefits of the NEP do NOT go to the intended beneficiaries (ie. the average Malay).

Instead, the benefits are strongly RUMOURED to benefit ONLY the politically connected Malays, who also happen to be the rich ones ie. the ones who deserve the NEP the least.

Well... it's a rumour NO MORE.

Let's do a little logical thinking.

The exclusion and blacklisting of Malay contractors who 'support and sympathise' with the Opposition from obtaining means that only those Malay contractors who 'support and sympathise' with the ruling party (ie. UMNO) will be eligible for govt contracts.

Question: Is the NEP a tool for uplifting the poor Malays?

Or is it (NEP) a plot to channel the country's coffers into the pockets of those who "support and sympathise" with UMNO?

If ...you're non-Malay, then your suspicions of the NEP's role in destroying this country is confirmed.

If you're a Malay reader, then you've just found out who YOUR TRUE NEMESIS really is.., who from the very beginning, has been trying their best to derail the upliftment of the overall Malay community in order to enrich themselves and their cronies..."

From Bernama dated July 23, 2007

Senator Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi called for stern action against bloggers who he described as "arrogant and bold" when making disparaging remarks against leaders.
"The lack of a specific act to supervise BLOGGERS gave them the space to SPREAD LIES which touch the sensitivity of the community. It can become a threat to peace," said Senator Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi when debating the Electronic Government Activities Bill 2007 in the Dewan Negara.

Dr Puad said the government should not compromise with the bloggers and use existing laws like the Penal Code, Sedition Act 1948 and the Internal Security Act (ISA) against them.

From NST dated 24th July 2007

.... Not only that, the Dewan Negara, which was in session last week, couldn’t help but take a dig at the whole issue.

Senator Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi, for instance, even went to the extent of mocking FAM’s top leadership, suggesting very cynically that perhaps these officials should play a friendly football match with the national women’s football team.

If they lose, he said, all of them should resign. "The rakyat is disappointed with the national football team and is sick of the excuses given by FAM each time the team loses."

From Malaysia Today, Sept. 25, 2006

JOHOR Umno information chief Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the fact that many Singaporean Malays chose to reside in Johor Baru despite working in the Republic showed that the Malays were marginalised in the country.

He said these Singaporean Malays were willing to weather daily hardships to commute from Johor Baru to their workplaces in Singapore.

This showed that they were dissatisfied with what was happening in Singapore, he said.

He told Bernama yesterday that the Singaporean Malays knew the Republic's administration had marginalised them.

Dr Puad, who is also Batu Pahat Umno division chief, said Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew's recent remarks about the Chinese in Malaysia could cause instability among the various communities in the country, and that it was contrary to the spirit of neighbourliness of Asean.

The government should take firm action against Singapore and not give in to pressure from the Republic, particularly in relation to efforts to develop the South Johor Economic Region, expand the Port of Tanjung Pelepas and make Senai Airport a regional cargo hub, he said.

From Utusan Malaysia dated March 19, 2007

Ketua Penerangan UMNO Johor, Senator Dr. Mohd. Puad Zarkashi memberitahu, ruang saluran berita secara Internet itu juga mesti sentiasa segar, diperbaharui dan mengandungi maklumat-maklumat terkini.

Beliau berkata, langkah itu penting kerana golongan tersebut kini cenderung mencari pelbagai maklumat termasuk isu-isu politik dan semasa melalui Internet.

"Saya bimbang golongan ini tidak berminat melayari laman-laman web dan blog milik kerajaan dan parti pemerintah hanya kerana persembahannya kurang menarik walaupun mengandungi maklumat tepat dan benar,” katanya kepada pemberita di sini malam tadi.

Menurut Mohd. Puad, beliau mengakui kebanyakan golongan muda kini lebih menggemari laman-laman web bebas dan juga milik parti pembangkang kerana pendekatan digunakan adalah lebih berbentuk sensasi.

Beliau berkata, orang ramai termasuk golongan ini lebih suka melayari laman web sedemikian walaupun ia mengandungi maklumat tidak tepat dan lebih buruk lagi turut mengandungi unsur-unsur fitnah.

Katanya, unsur-unsur negatif begini memang seronok dibaca dan lama-kelamaan akan mempengaruhi fikiran dan tindakan orang yang sering melayarinya.

"Perkara ini jika diteruskan akan merugikan pihak kerajaan kerana usaha menyampaikan maklumat mengenai dasar-dasar dan polisi kerajaan tidak akan sampai kepada kumpulan sasar,” katanya.

From the Hansard, Parliament, Dewan Negara (The Senate) July 19, 2006

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi minta Menteri Sumber Manusia menyatakan apakah tindakan yang telah diambil terhadap syarikat swasta yang mensyaratkan Bahasa Mandarin untuk permohonan kerja. Apakah pihak kerajaan tidak bercadang untuk mewujudkan kembali Akta Penyelarasan Industri (ICA) untuk mengatasi masalah pengambilan orang Melayu bekerja di sektor swasta bukan milik Bumiputera.

Dr. Haji Mohd. Puad bin Zarkashi: Tuan Yang di-Pertua. Soalan tambahan saya ialah daripada keseluruhan projek terbengkalai ini berapa yang dapat melalui tender dan berapa yang dapat melalui direct-nego? Dan apakah kerajaan akan memastikan mereka ini tidak akan dapat projek daripada 880 projek yang melibatkan 15 bilion yang diumumkan oleh kerajaan semalam? Terima kasih.

One Too Many: Another Divisive Race-Based Party Formed to Fish Indian Votes

Read here on Malaysiakini

Excerpts: Read here for more and here

Another race-based political party called Malaysian Indian United Party (MIUP) was formed by S. Nallakarupan, after quiting Parti KeAdilan Rakyat (PKR).

Nallakarupan said that the party would cater for the Indian community in the country. He said the primary aim of the party will be to 'bring up' the Indian community which is lagging in economic, political and social development.

Nallakarupan quit PKR in May following his realization that the party has marginalized the Indian community. He said:

"I had high hopes and enormous ambitions of being able to do my part to uplift the Indian community through PKR. However, after some time I realized that PKR was not the right platform.

In the past three to four months, after doing much thinking and getting feedbacks from my family, friends and supporters, I have formed this party."

He said MIUP is presently an independent party, but left the option to either join the Barisan Nasional or the opposition front open.

Queried on the need for another Indian party, Nallakarupan said: "We can have 10 Indian political parties. But I have formed this party to do my part for the community.

S Nallakarupan was Anwar Ibrahim's former tennis partner.

Commentary

From S Arutchelvan, pro-tem secretary-general of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)

"...I feel that a party representing only a particular race is not good for racial integration.

I don’t see how the formation of MIUP would help integrate races in a country where racial polarisation is pervasive. We also questioned how the Registrar Of Societies had legitimised the formation of MIUP so quickly when our party has been denied legal recognition even after nine years of persistence.

I feel that the legitimisation of MIUP is politically motivated...."

From Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, supreme council member of PKR

"...If you look at the masses, they want a multi-racial party where all races are included in the decision-making process.

The formation of MUIP does not bode well for racial unity and we can see this reflected in other race-based Indian parties like MIC and so on.

Having a race-based party will not benefit, instead it will divide society further. We should fight as Malaysians and not as a particular race..."

From Caravanserai Blog: Read here for more

"... I don' t know what he is trying to tell the Indians.

They are the minority group; the least powerful in the country. Currently MIC and IPF handled the affairs of the Indians. PPP too chips in though the party claimed it is multi-racial party so is Gerakan.

With this new party, the Indians will split into scare crows. So what advantages will this new party to the Indians? PKR too helping the Indians. I am afraid the Indians will face a dilemma amongst themselves.

The cake is already too small to share yet the Indian leaders never see beyond the needs of the Indians; they only think of themselves.

Sad."

Lingam Tape Scandal: UMNO and the Government Under Siege and Very Fearful

Read here and here for more in Malaysiakini

Update

Lawyer Datuk V.K. Lingam has given a statement to the Anti-Corruption Agency on the video clip allegedly showing him discussing judicial appointments with a judge.

The statement was given upon his return from overseas early this week, according to sources.

It is not known whether Lingam went to the ACA office or its officers went to his office or home to record the statement.

The sources said that ACA officers could meet with Lingam again if the need arose.

Lingam could not be reached either at his office here or through his mobile phone. Read here for more

Press Statements:

From Former Transparency-International Malaysia presidents, Tunku Abdul Aziz and Param Cumaraswamy

".. We are baffled that the ACA has served a S29(c) notice on the two persons to reveal the source of the video clip. We only hope that this is not the procedure prompted by the powerless Haidar panel.

Surely the starting point in the investigation into the authenticity of the video would be simply to inquire from VK Lingam to confirm or deny that it was him in the video. If there is no response from him, then he should be the one served with the notice to extract the information.

In the absence of whistleblowers protection and/or witness protection legislation, targeting whistleblowers and putting their lives in jeopardy is just not the way.

The ACA and other agencies involved, including the Haidar panel, should not be seen as assisting and/or protecting VK Lingam and the personalities named in the clip..."

From Bar Council secretary, Lim Chee Wee

".. I disagree with the ACA’s approach in giving an ultimatum to Sivarasa and Sim. They should be investigating into the truth of the statements made in the video.

The source is not prepared to come forward without witness protection, this is why the panel is not the suitable avenue to deal with this matter because they lack the powers that a royal commission of inquiry has, for example, in providing protection for witnesses.

The ACA has gone the wrong way in doing this. They should be promising whistleblowers protection from any reprisals first, then only talk to Sivarasa and Sim because by then they would be ready to give more information..."

From President of KeAdilan, Dr, Wan Azizah.

".. Set up a royal commission of inquiry, then we’ll give you the VK Lingam tape whistleblowers. The ACA should be after the offenders in the videotape, and not the messengers or the whistleblowers. Unfortunately, this latest action allows the ACA to be perceived as yet another tool of the government, protecting those who are corrupt instead of victims of corruption.

We will stand by these two men and the source of the videotape, and my party will never compromise any source with information on corruption to the authorities, until immunity is guaranteed for the whistleblowers.

In this case of the 'Lingam tape', the source will only surface at a royal commission of inquiry.

We have been talking about having a Whistleblowers Act for many years now, but this has been cast aside by the government who claims whistleblowers will be protected.

It is clear that this is not true, and the time has come for us to begin work on this crucial piece of legislation."

COMMENTARY

From Present Point Power Blog: Read here for more

"..The behind the scene moves are clearer now with the Legal Affairs Department orchestrating and directing the Probe Panel. The Panel seems to be at a loss over its "terms of reference" so much so that the Datuk Shankar had to distribute to Pressman a copy in Bahasa Malaysia and had a copy translated of their appointment letter.

When he called for witnesses to come forward; he was shot down by DPM Najib that "they were not supposed to call witnesses" and use Government agencies help to determine the authenticity.

After the probe panel first meeting, they have gone into a two week recess waiting for others to do the job. And the bombshell came from ACA when they threatened the two PKR whistler blowers to reveal their source(s) or face a two-year jail term.

It looks like the Panel is just a camouflage for a Government damage control initiative to get at the source. Statements have been recorded from the lawyer in the Video Clip, the prominent business man and s from Anwar Ibrahim from his house.

The 3-member Independent Panel is a Powerless 3-member Stooges Panel making its decision basing on the investigations of the ACA and perhaps the Police."

From Malay Women in Malaysia Blog: Read here for more

"..If the Lingam Tape video is a hoax and phony, VK Lingam would have appeared long time ago in some press conference denying his involvement in the phony video and vehemently pledge his innocence to the whole wide world.

At least, that is what an ordinary man would do to clear his name. He would also have filed a police report claiming that some irresponsible parties were attempting to frame him for something that he did not commit long time ago. He would probably submit a few names to the authorities that he suspected of being the perpetrators of that phony video too.

If you are in his shoes and you are innocent, what would you do then?

I’m sure that you would do all those things that I had said earlier, isn’t it?

The perplexing problem right now is that VK Lingam has not said anything about this case yet. To the best of my knowledge, we have not heard any denials from him so far. Not a single word! Correct me if I’m wrong and I will stand corrected.

Nobody knows for sure where and where VK Lingam is today. Very elusive, very much like a rat, pardon me for saying that. According to one report published by MalaysiaKini on the 2nd of October 2007, VK Lingam is believed to be in town. Come out; come out wherever you are VK Lingam. We are all too eager to see and hear what you have to say about this case.

Okay now, let us presume that the Lingam Tape video is authentic and darn right genuine. Of course, some folks would not like people like us to make such presumptions at this particular stage but this is only for the sake of discussion. It is good for the nation. Don’t expect us Malaysians to be dumb and stupid.

If the Lingam Tape video is authentic and VK Lingam is guilty as alleged, definitely VK Lingam would be able to guess who the whistleblowers were in the first place unless of course VK Lingam has problems with his memory. I don’t think so; you cannot be a good lawyer if you have short memories.

If he can guess who the whistleblowers were, does this mean that their cover has been blown?

Maybe and maybe not... Right now, we could only guess because we didn’t really know who the whistleblowers were. One thing that we have to consider is that those whistleblowers don’t have to be VK Lingam’s guests or any other people that was there inside his living room when that disturbing phone call was recorded.

What if those whistleblowers were people who had gained possession of that Lingam Tape video after receiving copies from third parties?

There are so many ifs at the moment, isn’t it?

Let us not spend too much time thinking about those whistleblowers here. They are not the ones in question. I do agree that the authenticity of that video must be ascertained first beforehand. The authentication and any other following cases must be investigated by a full fledged Royal Commission. Not by some toothless Independent Panel, that is something pretty clear at the moment.

Like what I had said in my past postings, I do believe in two things.

One, I tend to believe that the Lingam Tape video is authentic.

Second, the Lingam Tape saga has now turned into a delicate and deadly cat and mouse game. It is no longer about who is right and who is wrong. It is about who will outsmart who in the end. One thing for sure, whoever make the very first wrong move would be barbequed!

I would like to believe that Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim and his PKR are in the side of righteousness. At the same time, I am worried for their safety. They are protecting the whistleblowers but nobody is protecting Anwar Ibrahim and his PKR. Yes, it is a struggle and we must believe that justice would soon prevail and the light of truth will soon outshine darkness..."

UMNO Politicians' Respect for the Power of the Opposition Parties

Read here full article by Dr. Azmi Sharom

Quote:

".. This allegation (by UMNO politicians) that the Opposition are behind EVERYTHING is an INSULT to PEOPLE of Malaysia.

Do politicians actually believe that Malaysians can’t think for themselves?

Furthermore, this attitude doesn't reflect a mature view of politics.

“If you are not with us, you must be in the enemy’s camp. I don’t like you. I won’t friend you”. It’s all terribly primary school.
-Azmi Sharom

by

Dr. Azmi Sharom
(Dr Azmi Sharom is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law of University of Malaya)

Excerpts: Read here for more

In the past few weeks, I’ve noticed a trend among some politicians. When faced with any sort of difference of opinion by civil society, they blame the opposition parties.

It would appear that the Opposition parties are the masterminds behind disagreements with the powers that be.

And all groups that disagree with the Government are Tools of the Opposition.

1. The Trade Unions: tools.
   
   
2. University students not of the Aspirasi group: tools.
   
   
3. The Bar Council: tools.

Wow! I did not realise that the Opposition were such a powerful lot.

They (the Opposition) have done so much to disguise their power. Really, they are like the ninjas of the political world. You think they are not there, but they are.

And they have all these amazing magical skills to make intelligent men and women pawns – or, to use the right terminology: tools.

The Opposition have a total of only 20 seats in Parliament, out of 219. Not only that, but considering how powerful and influential they are, they have had to sweat to get those measly 20 seats.

Taking the total number of votes cast and the total number of seats available, on average,

- BN needed 16,000 votes to win a seat.

- DAP needed 50,000;

- PAS had to get 150,000 and

- Keadilan needed a whopping 500,000 for their solitary seat.

This allegation that the Opposition are behind everything not only gives too much credit to them, but is also an insult to the people of Malaysia.

Do politicians actually believe that Malaysians can’t think for themselves?

Furthermore, this attitude doesn't reflect a mature view of politics. “If you are not with us, you must be in the enemy’s camp. I don’t like you. I won’t friend you”. It’s all terribly primary school.

National Issues Viewed As Partisan Politics

In between elections, issues will arise which need not be motivated by partisan politics.

The minimum wage is not about partisan politics. Neither is the demand for free and fair elections on campus or the calls for a clean judiciary.

I'm sure even the BN and their supporters believe in these values of fair treatment and justice.

To condemn the Opposition for a trait which is the life-blood of all politicians is a serious case of pots calling kettles black.

Immaturity of Malaysian Politics

At the end of the day, what concerns me is the level of public debate in this country.

We always moan and groan that the people of Malaysia are politically immature. There is more than a kernel of truth in that.

However, if politicians are unable to debate issues and instead choose to go for the cheap shot of using the Opposition as if they were the source of all problems, that is disingenuous.

How on earth are we going to develop a thinking Malaysian society when some politicians in the country can’t seem to be able to do just that?

Khairy Jamaludin and UMNO Youth: SHAMELESS OPPORTUNISTS-CUM-PARASITES

From Suara Rakyat Blog. Read here for more article by Rustam Sani

Excerpts: Read here for more

"..Khairy Jamaluddin, the infamous son-in-law of the PM, seems to have perfected the art of hijacking highly visible political events for which he has no moral right to claim credits.

Take, for example, the highly hyped 50th Merdeka celebration at the end of last August. After making some historically false claims of Umno being the sole “winner”of this nation’s independence (“Where were the opposition when we won the independence?”), Khairy and his father-in-law actually enacted the roles of the independence heroes during the ceremonies.

On two occasions, Khairy did the honour of unfurling the Malaysian flag and of leading the procession of youths to present a capsule – to be opened 50 years later – to the PM. The latter even shouted “Merdeka!” seven times, exactly as the Tunku did fifty years ago.

Last Monday (October 1, 2007), Khairy once again demonstrated his extraordinary talent in “political hijack”. This time the occasion was a demonstration – in support of the “saffron revolution” that is going on in Burma – which was supposedly organised by 14 youth NGOs and political parties.

The main organisers from among the NGOs, however, at the crucial moment of the demonstration abdicated to Khairy the honour of reading and presenting the protest note at the Burmese embassy – the duty that was initially to have been assigned to Stephen Doss, the leader of two of the NGOs – also head of research and development at Khairy’s wife’s (Nori) organisation, PENYAYANG.

Considering that the notorious Stephen Doss was involved, I would not even be surprised if the turn of events had been conspiratorially pre-arranged by him and Khairy.

After all, Stephen is famous for his talent of aligning himself or betraying his sponsors from all sides of the political divide.

I can claim to know Stephen quite well – not only for his attempts to align to me during the early days of reformasi (perhaps because he thought I was an ambitious politician with money to throw) but also because he was my student in the graduate program on Civilizational Dialogue at Universiti Malaya.

Eli Wong, in her blog, asked the pertinent question of why Khairy and Pemuda Umno, for the resources and the cash that they control, must hijack other people’s show and not organise one for themselves.

To which, I think, the answer is quite obvious: If Khairy can have the services of the best organiser, or organisers, that money can buy, then would it not be better for him to use the services rather than organise the event himself?

Had Khairy and Pemuda Umno initiate the event from the start, then the whole thing would have appeared hollow and hypocritical.

After all, is Pemuda Umno not aligned to a government whose hands are stained with the blood of the people of Burma through its support for the oppressive military junta?

Moreover, who would take seriously a Pemuda Umno’s initiative in defending the people’s right to freedom and protest, when it is part of a government that uses police brutality (even live bullets in the case of Batu Buruk) to suppress its own people who hold peaceful demonstrations?

Isn’t hijacking an event that have already been initiated by someone else at the appropriate juncture a better alternative for the resource-rich and cash-strapped Pemuda Umno?

Lingam Tape Scandal: Govt's 3-Member Panel is a National Joke

From Malaysiakini: Read here full article

Quote:

"We have NO power !"
- Haidar Mohd Noor
Head, 3-Member Panel

Excerpts: Read here for more

The three-member panel probing the authenticity of the 'VK Lingam' video admitted that it is powerless, including in compelling witnesses to come forward or to extend protection for them.

“We have no power,” was the blunt remark from panel head Haidar Mohd Noor,the former Chief Judge of Malaya.

Haidar was repeatedly asked why witnesses would want to testify before the panel if they cannot be accorded any form of protection.

Haidar also said that it does NOT plan to call senior lawyer VK Lingam to appear before the panel because it is “not our role” to do so.

On the criticisms regarding the panel’s limited terms of reference, Haidar said: “(We have to go) step by step and then leave it to the government to decide.”

Haidar also did not reveal in detail as to how the panel was going to technically verify the authenticity of the clip.

The panel has 30 working days from Sept 27 - the day they were appointed by Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak - to complete its task. The time frame could be extended if need be.

One senior lawyer had commented that the three personalities to the composition of the panel are NOT acceptable.

- Haidar Mohd Noor was involved in the 1988 Judicial Crisis

- Lee Lam Thye has no legal training.

- Mahadev Shankar served under Tun Eusoff Chin, and also in the Royal Commission of Inquiry on the black-eye incident involving the former Deputy Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim which only implicated the then Inspector General of Police, but took no action against police officers who were present at the time the former IGP Ramli assaulted Anwar.


Commentary

From Amer Hamzah Arshad: Read here for more

"...Say NO to the appointment of the panel of inquiry by the Deputy Prime Minister (‘the Executive Appointed Panel’) which is supposed to look into the authenticity of the scandalous ‘VK Lingam tape’.

The reason for my strong objection to this executive appointed panel is one of logic and common sense.

One does not need to be a legal scholar to see that the formation of such a panel is dubious or questionable at best and that there are flaws inherent in such an appointment.

The Executive Appointed Panel was not set up pursuant to any Act of Parliament -unlike a Royal Commission which derives its jurisdiction and powers from the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 (the Act),

The setting up of the panel and the appointment of its members are highly suspect as they are operating in a vacuum.

Thw panel is devoid of any legal powers like that of a Royal Commission.

It has no power to, inter alia,
- summon witnesses,
- procure evidence,
- issue a warrant of arrest or even protect witnesses.

The panel is nothing more than another executive committee set up under the auspices of the Deputy Prime Minister.

There are many concerns and questions that have been raised by the public which should be addressed in a transparent and open forum whereby anyone who is implicated or concerned in the matter is able to engage a counsel to represent his interest in the inquiry as provided in the Act.

Lest we forget, it is the semblance of impartiality that is important.

And this is what the present panel is lacking by virtue of its questionable formation...."

From MP Lim Kit Siang Read here for more

"... Two questions uppermost in the minds of Malaysians who want to be able to be proud again about the Malaysian judiciary:

1. Will the Haidar inquiry drag its feet until after next month when the Chief Justice Tan Sri Ahmad Fairuz Sheikh Abdul Halim would have retired from the highest judicial office of the land, justifying the stance that the whole issue had become quite academic.
   
   
2. Will the Haidar Inquiry end up as the biggest sham of all inquiries in five decades of Malaysian nation-building, furnishing excuse for inaction by Cabinet because there is no concrete proof either way of its being authentic or otherwise?
   
   The Haidar Inquiry, with its ridiculously narrow term of reference, restricted investigatory powers and the unsuitability of Tan Sri Haidar Mohd Noor as its chairman is a farce and should be disbanded without wasting any more time or public funds.
   
   Instead a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Lingam Tape and rot in the system of justice concerning the ravages and destruction of the independence, impartiality and integrity of the judiciary in the past 19 years must forthwith be established without any delay. ..."

Nazri Should be Asked to Resign, or Be Sacked by the Prime Minister

From Malaysiakini: Read here

by

Mohd Kamal Abdullah


With the current judicial issue that has been blown out of cover, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Nazri Abdul Aziz should admit that he has been feeding the rakyat with false information regarding the incidents that affect his ministry since taking office such as the Lingam tape.

Nazri should gracefully resign from his position to take responsibility for his failure to tackle the problem.

Or the Cabinet should immediately sack him for covering up these incidents which has tarnish the reputation of the government and the rakyat in Malaysia.

It’s time for Nazri to accept the rakyat's decision since he had been given a government-aided education in the legal field in the United Kingdom and which he should have used with pride and wisdom.

It is the responsibility of the government to conduct an investigation on the incidents reported and punish all those involved, irrespective of their standing.

An independent body comprising of the ordinary rakyat should be established to avoid further confusion on the neutrality and independence of the panel decision.

Anyone who had fouled the law should be reprimanded and punished, and only with this act will the confidence of the rakyat be restored.
-Mohd Kamal Abdullah

Commentary

From Hizami Iskandar: Read here in "Locus Standi" for more

"...Pada hari Selasa, Nazri Aziz mengecam Majlis Peguam Negara dengan berkata bahawa mereka tidak patut 'berperangai seperti pembangkang' dengan berarak ke Jabatan Perdana Menteri untuk menyerahkan memorandum mereka menyeru penubuhan Suruhanjaya Diraja menyiasat video konspirasi perlantikan hakim mutakhir ini.

Seperti biasa, pihak pembangkang dianggap sampah masyarakat, daki yang tidak sepatutnya diikut teladannya.

Kerajaan Barisan Nasional kita ini sememangnya sudah lama terlupa akan perlunya pembangkang - pada hemat mereka, kerajaan mampu memerintah adil saksama tanpa sebarang halangan - pembangkang, media, kehakiman, semuanya seolah-olah tiada maknanya, mampu diabai dibuang sekadar begitu sahaja.

Tetapi mereka yang berkuasa sendiri terlupa - tiada manusia yang bebas daripada kesilapan, lebih-lebih lagi pemimpin pemegang kuasa.

Kuasa dalam demokrasi sekali-kali bukan kuasa mutlak - kuasa semestinya digunakan untuk memanfaatkan rakyat, dan kekangan kepada kuasa kerajaan wujud demi memastikan aspirasi ini tercapai.

Tugas pembangkang bukan sahaja sekadar menawarkan pilihan kepada para pengundi, supaya rakyat bebas memilih kerajaan yang dapat merealisasikan kehendak dan kemahuan mereka, tetapi juga untuk menghalang kerajaan yang berkuasa itu daripada lupa diri dalam kekuasaan mereka.

Pemimpin yang paling berwibawa sekalipun memerlukan teguran dan bangkangan demi memastikan tindakannya betul - sebab itulah Saidina Umar r.a. meminta rakyatnya menegurnya sekiranya ia berbuat salah.

Mana-mana kerajaan seharusnya faham bahawa pembangkang itu wujud untuk membantu mereka berkhidmat kepada rakyat dengan lebih baik. Sememangnya pembangkang sendiri inginkan kuasa pemerintahan, dan tiada kerajaan yang akan suka kehilangan kuasa, tetapi inilah hakikat demokrasi.

Pemimpin dalam demokrasi hanya boleh cuba meyakinkan rakyat - jika rakyat sudah hilang kepercayaan, maka sudah tiba masanya kerajaan menjadi pembangkang, dan cuba pula mengambil kembali kuasa dalam pilihanraya seterusnya. Inilah yang boleh dipanggil adat demokrasi.

Tanpa pembangkang yang kuat, tiada siapa yang dapat memberitahu kerajaan apabila ia membuat langkah yang salah; tiada siapa yang dapat mendedahkan kepincangan mereka, dan akhirnya rakyat merana, kerana undian tanpa pilihan itu langsung tiada maknanya.

Inilah yang diperkatakan Nik Nazmi dalam rencana terbarunya - yang paling penting adalah untuk rakyat berasa bahawa undian mereka itu ada maknanya; supaya janji ahli politik tidak lagi sekadar kata-kata manis semata-mata.

Ada yang berkata, sekiranya semua orang baik-baik masuk ke dalam satu parti, sudah tentu parti itu akan dapat memerintah dengan baik. Buat apa kita ada pembangkang?

Ingatlah, orang yang paling baik sekalipun boleh dirosakkan oleh kuasa. Orang yang paling senang terpedaya dengan pembohongan kita ialah diri kita sendiri. Manusia perlukan teguran dari luar untuk sentiasa pada jalan yang betul - tanpa teguran tersebut, senang sekali kita terpesong.

Ada pula yang berkata, tidak apa kalau nak membangkang, tapi buatlah elok-elok.

Hantarlah memorandum, tulis surat, buat temu janji - gunakanlah sistem yang ada dengan sepenuhnya, buat apa turun padang berarak bising? Mereka ini sentiasa mengutamakan 'saluran yang betul' - sebab itulah mereka marah apabila video VK Lingam diberi kepada media juga, bukannya hanya sekadar pejabat polis dan BPR semata-mata.

Tetapi ingat - salah satu sebab rakyat TIDAK menggunakan 'saluran yang betul' adalah apabila saluran tersebut seolah-olah langsung TIDAK BERKESAN.

Saya pun, pada suatu masa dahulu, berfikiran begitu juga.

Itulah yang saya kata - kuasa, walaupun sekadar tahap Majlis Perwakilan Pelajar sekalipun, masih mampu mengecilkan pandangan kita. Saya sendiri 'terbeli' hujah sebegini, sehinggakan cuba mengekang bangkangan yang sebenarnya wajar dan sepatutnya dihormati dan didengari.

Jika ada di kalangan pembaca yang mengenali penulis 'Soft Porn', yang telah terpapar di papan kenyataan kolej kita pada tengah tahun 2005, tolonglah sampaikan maaf saya yang ikhlas kepadanya. Saya telah memilih untuk mengecamnya, dan menyuruhnya mengikut 'saluran yang betul', bukannya sekadar menulis 'surat layang' semata-mata.

Saya terlupa bahawa sebagai seorang pelajar KYUEM, beliau berhak mengkritik pemimpinnya dengan apa jua cara yang aman, termasuklah surat layang sekalipun. Inilah 'harga' yang perlu dibayar sebagai pemimpin. Kerana saya dibutakan pemikiran saya sendiri, serta tersinggung dengan nada dan kata-kata yang digunakannya, saya telah gagal dalam tugas saya mendengar keluhan semua pelajar. Ini satu kesilapan besar.

Kita harus sedar bahawa nada dan kata-kata itu semestinya bertepatan dengan kemarahan yang dirasai. Jika sekadar hendak meminta paip lama diganti, memanglah tidak pelik pergi ke pejabat daerah dan berbincang semata-mata.

Tetapi apabila hakim tertinggi negara sedang dipersoalkan integritinya, sementara institusi kehakiman terus hilang kepercayaan rakyat, dan kerajaan sendiri bukan sahaja terlibat malah juga seolah-olah enggan bertindak, hairankah jika rakyat, termasuklah peguam-peguam sekalipun, marah meluap-luap panasnya?

Hairankah jika mereka tidak puas hati dengan temujanji semata-mata, tetapi ingin menyuarakan kemarahan mereka sekuat mungkin, iaitu melalui perarakan yang tidak pernah ternampak sejak pemecatan Tun Salleh Abbas pada tahun 1988?

Kerajaan seharusnya menampakkan kematangan dan kewibawaan sebagai pemimpin negara dengan menerima bahawa bangkangan yang bising ini bukanlah sesuatu yang patut dikecam, tetapi sepatutnya diterima dan dihormati.

Kerajaan harus peka kepada sentimen rakyat, dan protes sebegini merupakan tanda jelas kepada mereka bahawa rakyat inginkan perubahan, dan tindakan yang berkesan. Pemimpin harus mengelakkan daripada tersinggung oleh nada atau kata-kata yang kurang menyenangkan, dan sedar bahawa kemarahan yang meluap-luap di belakangnya wajar diberikan perhatian penuh.

Jika rakyat berarak di jalanan, mesti ada sebabnya mereka marah. Sebab inilah yang perlu ditangani dengan ikhlas dan bertanggungjawab, bukannya berselindung di belakang kecaman dan saranan 'saluran yang betul'. Lagi bising dan terbuka protes yang dibuat, maknanya lagi pentinglah isu yang sedang diketengahkan.

Sekali lagi, saya akui bahawa saya sendiri pernah bersalah, pernah masuk ke dalam perangkap kuasa ini. Dan sekali lagi, maaf ikhlas saya meminta.

Saya berjanji tidak akan mengulangi kesilapan itu, dan saya benar-benar berharap bahawa pemimpin yang sepatutnya lebih matang dan berpengalaman daripada diri saya sendiri akan turut meminta maaf atas kesilapan mereka selama ini, dan juga mengelakkan daripada mengulanginya.

Namun demikian, kita semua sedia maklum kerajaan kita ini sememangnya tidak berapa peka akan kehendak sebegini.

Justeru itu, marilah kita mengingatkan mereka bahawa jika pemimpin enggan berubah, rakyat memang mampu MEMAKSA perubahan.

Biarlah pemimpin kita, walau dari mana-mana parti sekalipun, sedar bahawa rakyat tidak lagi sanggup melihat suara amarah mereka didiamkan.

Biarlah semua kerajaan daripada sekarang mula menghormati bangkangan dan protes, bukan sahaja terpegun dengan keindahan memorandum dan keselesaan temujanji.

Undilah untuk perubahan..."

From KJ John: Read here for more

".... Does the de facto law minister, a so-called lawyer himself, understand Federal Constitution 101?

He does NOT see a crisis when practising lawyers see one! I believe there may have been some former judges in the ‘walk for justice’ because they are lawyers first, and uphold the constitution too.

Look at the comedy of errors.

First, the chief justice issued a statement that he had no comment on the inference that he was the other party in the telephone conversation recorded on the ‘Lingam tape’.

Next, the de facto law minister (technically, only a minister without portfolio in PM’s Department) issues a statement that the chief justice had contacted him to deny involvement in the phone conversation.

Asked by what authority he did that, he said it was because he is the “CJ’s minister”.

Really?

Since when did the minister in the PM’s Department have jurisdiction over the chief justice?

Which constitution is the minister reading - the Umno Baru one? This was more than a Freudian slip. It was said with intention to deceive and mislead.

My Islamic philosopher friend, Prof SH Nasr, often cites the saying, ‘A veil reveals as much as it hides’.

When government controlling officers take orders from their Umno Baru minister and ignore the Parliament in terms of budget allocation and expenditure, I believe that the political and financial rot is complete.

When senior government officers go to the press to defend Umno Baru’s privatisation programmes which did not have cabinet approval, the arrogance of the public service delivery system is also complete. It has become a mere extension of the political party in authority - Umno Baru.

The Auditor-General recently highlighted cases respectively involving the secretary-general of sports and culture, and the deputy director-general of the Road Transport Department.

The real question that the Public Accounts Committee and Auditor-General should ask is: Where did these two public servants get the authority to implement their programmes, if not from Parliament or the cabinet? Umno Baru?

What has happened to the government’s Treasury Instructions and the Financial Procedures Act? Who has final authority to spend monies or privatise government assets?

In earlier days, the relevant civil servants would have be charged and punished by the department or treasury head.

Why is this not being done today? Have our laws changed?

Or is the de facto law minister also responsible for the ‘close one eye’ culture on matters of law?

It is said that, in the country of the blind, the one-eyed is king. How true, but before our so-called law minister believes this to be so, let him be forewarned that more than 2,000 lawyers have already marched to say that they can see with both eyes and that they are not color-blind when it comes of issues of justice.

Sorry Mr Prime Minister, but you have a real crisis in your hands!

Please do not listen to your so-called law minister or in any Umno Baru logic.

As you promised your late mother and the nation, you are sworn to stand for integrity as the cornerstone of your agenda. That should not be an Umno Baru agenda.

I believe that the King and the Council of Rulers have enough constitutional authority to dismiss the current government and request that a general election be called to test BN popularity on the basis of integrity alone. That is well within the monarch’s authority based on the Federal Constitution.

I would like to urge Malaysians who feel that enough is enough to sign the petition being promoted by the People’s Parliament. It is addressed to the King and states that the people have had enough of governmental arrogance and insensitivity to their own issues by their own espoused theory of integrity. ..."

From Gerard Lourdesamy: Read here for more

".... Let me just comment on a few remarks made by Mohamad Nazri Aziz, the de facto minister for the chief justice and other judges of repute, on the lawyers' ‘Walk for Justice’:

1. ‘The lawyers who took part have a brain like the opposition’ - yes, it may be true, but at least we have a brain unlike the minister, who has long since been ‘brain dead’;
   
   
2. 'The Bar Council should register as an opposition party, then I will know how to treat them’ - I think we already have too many redundant political parties like the BN;
   
   
3. ‘I will treat them like an NGO, I don't bother about them’ - spoken like a true democrat;
   
   
4. ‘There is no crisis in the judiciary, everything is fine’ - yes, that's true because the judiciary is now beyond redemption and is already in the pit of infamy and ignominy;
   
   
5. ‘No need for a judicial appointments commission, the government is happy with the present constitutional arrangement’ - I suppose that is true if you are happy with inept, incompetent and corrupt judges; and
   
   
6. ‘There can be no executive interference in the affairs of the judiciary’ - ahem, is that why you have become the minister for the judges?
   
   The rest is as we lawyers say: res ipsa loquitur.

A Nation Adrift with Scandals, Lies and Corruption

Read here article by Mohamed Sani Seman in Malaysia-Today

Quote:

Malaysians were fooled by the spin-doctors from Level 4, led by son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, into thinking that they had finally got a man (Abdullah Badawi) with enough integrity to at least begin reforming some of the more corrupt practices inherited from decades of BN misrule.

Malaysians swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker and like lemmings followed their leader to doom while his coterie of Oxbridge advisors stuffed their pockets with the national wealth, robbed left, right and centre through the wide open channels of the GLCs.

Najib Tun Razak has NO right to talk about integrity. At best, he is a racist bigot who rose to power by inheritance and by never making any decisions at all important junctures in Malaysian politics, and at worst a hen-pecked accessory to murder.

Najib’s integrity is as intact as the virginity of the single cow in a pen of fifty bulls.
-Mohamed Sani Seman

Excerpts: Read here for more article by Mohamed Sani Seman

Last week Anwar Ibrahim managed to do something which he never accomplished in the six years he was in prison… he brought a demonstration to Putrajaya.

The lawyers were merely a conduit -- the nation was fed-up, and the march of Blacks and Whites was the perfect opportunity to give an upwards middle finger sign to the Prime Minister and his ‘First Family’.

It was simply a sign that there is a limit to the patience of Malaysians.

Admittedly, only the lawyers (well-educated, cultured and financially-affected as they are) formed the bulk of the marchers, but as a group they represent the conscience of a people perhaps finally tired of Old Sleepy Head being at the helm of the country.

Malaysians were fooled by the spin-doctors from Level 4, led by son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, into thinking that they had finally got a man with enough integrity to at least begin reforming some of the more corrupt practices inherited from decades of BN misrule.

Malaysians swallowed the lie hook, line and sinker and like lemmings followed their leader to doom while his coterie of Oxbridge advisors stuffed their pockets with the national wealth, robbed left, right and centre through the wide open channels of the GLCs.

The Tainted Judiciary and UMNO Hegemony

The Fairuz affair is not a new occurrence in the Malaysian judiciary. ‘Fairuz the Fixer’ is a moniker quite well-suited to the man, but could equally be applied to many more of his contemporaries and peers.

ALL of Malaysia’s recent Chief Justices have been tainted by the stain of political influence, and yes, they have all, at one time or another, been bought by the bribery of money and positions offered by the Executive.

The reason why Abdullah Badawi is so ensconced in power is because he has continued to nourish a corrupt judicial system inherited from Mahathir.

One example is when Khairy Jamaluddin met with Fairuz to rearrange the judges in the Altantuya case. Remember the Indian chap? He was too independent. So they had him replaced with the servile judicial commissioner who now seems likely to pronounce that Altantuya probably died as a result of dengue fever.

All this, in order to give Khairy Jamaluddin the licence to go up to Najib Tun Razak and say, “See! I saved your neck!”

In so doing, the succession is secured and Abdullah hopes that Najib will be swiftly succeeded by Khairy and the dynasty goes on and on, ruling Malaysia till eternity.

Abdullah also fixed the judges in the Metramac case when he accepted Khairy’s advice that it was better to be on Daim’s side than against him.

Daim had offered Khairy the support he wanted in return for the peace and quiet of exemption from prosecution for all his ill-gotten gains. It was an offer that Khairy could NOT refuse and again, Mr Fix-It, Tun Ahmad Fairuz, was told the way the wind blows.

No wonder that Mahathir, the man who knows the insides of politics like the internal workings of his little colon, refused to bring his complaint over bribery in the UMNO Kubang Pasu delegates’ election vote to the courts.

Mahathir knew, as almost all lawyers in Malaysia know, that the Malaysian judiciary, like the SPR, BPR, PDRM, BTN, Rela, JPJ, down to the very lowest-level batik-wearing youth leaders, exist for one ultimate reason -- and one ultimate reason alone -- to preserve, at all costs, even by killing innocents with live bullets, the continuity of UMNO’s HEGEMONY.

The judges are not the learned legal eagles who have been imbued with a sense of justice, but instead are those who are clever enough to spout legal jargon as a method of fooling people into thinking they are getting a fair deal instead of being robbed by their leaders through the open back door of their houses.

Even if Fairuz goes, there is hardly any judge worth his salt available as a fair-minded replacement.

All who have not been corrupted (and as a result were promoted to the higher reaches of the bench) can quite easily be made tools of UMNO when the necessity arises.

If they refuse, there are many more ambitious conveyance lawyers who would love to be exalted to the role of judicial commissioner. And if anyone dissents, he may be held for contempt.

What a system! Here in this ‘Boleh’ country, only a judge can disqualify himself from hearing a case in which he himself is interested. Even then, they have a nice, polite bahasa diraja word for it -- ‘recused’!

Royal Intervention

Some had hoped that the Royals would do something.

After all, isn’t Azlan Shah of Perak one of the most respected judges ever to cross Malaysia’s courtly threshold?

But there is only so much a single man can do (while) other brother-Rulers enjoy cozying up to those judges who could easily let their children off from such nuisances as debt suits and bankruptcy orders.

For example, Fairuz himself is known to favour having conferences in a certain Malaysian state as he had received special favours from that state in return for ‘bending’ the rules on some of the individuals’ close relatives.

Umno Youth's 'Mat Rempits'

The march of the lawyers will probably be followed by an equally swift and numerous opposite reaction from the bunch of hired Mat Rempits that now seem to populate Pemuda UMNO’s programs, from celebrating the 50th anniversary of Independence to climbing Mount Everest.

Abdullah and his cronies could do no less, as they are eager to ensure that the First Family continues to reign supreme. It is a young family -- they have not had enough opportunity to squander the nation’s wealth. They need more time to rob and plunder. Another term would be nice.

Ten more years would be perfect.

The Panel on the Lingam Tape

And what of the so-called panel to investigate the Lingam tape?

Well, it’s comprised of a man who had risen to judicial high office under the leadership of a Prime Minister so contemptuous of lawyers that he would rather hang them on a noose, a man who started out as a champion of the people but changed course mid-stream to become an apologist for the regime and the Token Minority.

Surely no panel can be as a farce as this one.

Najib's Credibility GAP

The man who said that “the panel’s integrity should not be questioned” is more of a joke than the Iban fella forced to ride in a JAWI hearse for not fasting during Ramadhan.

Najib Tun Razak has no right to talk about integrity. At best, he is a racist bigot who rose to power by inheritance and by never making any decisions at all important junctures in Malaysian politics, and at worst a hen-pecked accessory to murder.

Najib’s integrity is as intact as the virginity of the single cow in a pen of fifty bulls.

And what of old Mr Sleepy Head? He’s in New York, like a modern-day messiah bringing the message of Hadhari to the world, telling everyone from Palestinians to Burmese alike to follow ‘the Malaysian way’. If ever there was an example of a man who has come to believe his own lie, this is it.

Integrity? It’s such a lonely word.

Information Minister Zainuddin Maidin's Twisted Logic

From comments coming from a Cabinet Minister in charge of Information, it appears there still exist Ministers in this UMNO-led Government who take Malaysians for stupid brainless fools.

Mr. Minister Zainuddin Maidin,

It is better to be seen as a fool by keeping your mouth shut, than be seen as a bigger fool by opening your mouth.

.

From Bernama report:

Zainuddin Maidin asked the Bar Council members to call for a commission to be set up to investigate the unprofessional conduct of their leaders.

Zainuddin Maidin said the council should act PROFESSIONALLY to be respected and should NOT allow itself to be used by certain individuals for their own political interest.

He said the Bar Council was NO longer professional by pressuring the government to set a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the unauthenticated video clip of a telephone conversation of a senior lawyer purportedly brokering the appointment of judges in 2002.

He said the Bar Council should be THANKFUL for the government's effort and should not continue to pressure for the setting up of a Royal Commission of Inquiry.

He also hit out at certain media for giving wide coverage on the video clip issue whereas they should act based on facts and professionally.

COMMENTARY:

From "Bullets of Squill and Ink" Blog

"...Behold the greatest asset in this whole wide world is INFORMATION. I should know...I studied it. I find it really amusing...really.

Now he expects that some lawyers to listen to him? After what he does as to name calling whoever that leaves a foul after taste after his dinner he should know better that what a buffoon he has made himself be with the title of Minister.

Goodness me, I wonder does he know the meaning of information?

Well let me briefly explain it here....

Information is an amount of collected data that has been correlated to bring specific meaning and use to the audience that asks and require of it. Thus this makes information not entirely useful all the time to everyone.

Now this is the term for useful information...Useful information is information that is complied, developed, packaged and delivered to the right people at the right time for it's precise purpose or function. If it does not meet this criteria then it is still information but more precisely termed as Useless Information.

Now, for Mr Minister of Information to tell the Malaysian BAR that they have acted unprofessionally by asking the set up of a Royal Commission is really useless information.

Why? Because he stated that the Malaysian BAR should act professionally to be respected but who would want to listen to his say when he himself resorted to name calling a couple of months back.

In the light of his previous action and statement, his say is totally un-authoritative because he himself sang off key and portrayed a minister that is immature and reckless...."

A Trifecta for His Majesty: The Cry for Help to Save the Nation

Update

Malaysian NGO,Aliran, rejects the appointment of the three-man panel to probe into the authenticity of the Lingam tapes. The panel announced their terms of reference - to verify the authenticity of the video clip which first surfaced on Sept 19. Aliran says the government’s move does not go far enough or deep enough to address the serious problems plaguing the judiciary. The rot in the judiciary extends beyond the Lingam tapes. Establishing or debunking the authenticity of the tapes is not going to solve the crisis in the judiciary. It is not the be all or the end all of the matter. Read here for more

How do we move forward? We must vote for a government which put country above party and let the judicial system be, allowing our judges to do their job without fear or favour.

We must free our people from fear. Read here for more in Malaysiakini

If you are willing to challenge the status quo and assumptions supporting the existing power structure, please walk to the People’s Parliament or to Malaysia-Today . Find there two separate People’s Petitions drafted by civil rights lawyer Haris Ibrahim and Raja Petra Kamarudin to the Yang Dipertuan Agong.

Now we, all of us citizens, must keep on pressing, so the work to clean up our judiciary, to rescue it from the quagmire of mistrust, will continue until we can once more rest easy in the belief that in Malaysia, justice can and will be done. Read here for more

Malaysian Unplug says:

When citizens lose faith in the Government they have voted in, and when citizens come to realise the electoral system was manipulated to entrench power of the dominant ruling political party ie UMNO, to run this country, the sentiment in the country is one of helplessness.

This is a Government perceived by Malaysians as one holding power that is answerable only unto itself, whose actions are callous, and at best, arrogant; a Government that does not seem to be bothered to be accountable to citizens, and a Government that is out of touch with the mood of the country.

Malaysians are simply fed-up with the corruption, political patronage and the shenanigans: Enough is Enough.

It is in sheer desperation arising from fear that this UMNO-led Government is drifting the country "to the dogs", that drove Malaysians of all races to look to the Council of Malay Rulers and the Yang diPertuan Agong.

There are now at least THREE PETITIONS/LETTERS heading towards the Palace appealing for royal intervention.

1. Petition to the Agong, coordinated by Haris Ibrahim of People's Parliament. READ HERE

2. Petition to the Agong, coordinated by Raja Petra Kamarudin of Malaysia-Today. READ HERE

3. Letter to the Agong from the President of KeAdilan (Read below)

DR WAN AZIZAH WAN ISMAIL
Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat
Merangkap Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh
No 17, Jalan 16/2, Sekyen 16, Petaling Jaya 46350 Selangor.
Telefon: 03-79566444
Faks: 03-79565444
Website: www.keadilanrakyat.org
Email: wawi9@yahoo.com

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Al-Wathiqu Billah Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Seri Paduka Baginda Yang Dipertuan Agong
Istana Negara
Kuala Lumpur

28 September 2007

PENUBUHAN SURUHANJAYA DIRAJA BAGI MEMBERSIHKAN IMEJ SISTEM KEHAKIMAN

Ampun Tuanku,

Didoakan semoga DYMM Tuanku bersama DYMM Tuanku Permaisuri sentiasa di dalam lindungan dan rahmat Allah s.w.t.

Merujuk perkara diatas, sayugia dirafa’kan sembah bahawa pada minggu lepas Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim telah pun mendedahkan sebuah video rakaman perbualan telefon antara peguam VK Lingam dengan Ketua Hakim Negara Tun Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim. Video yang dirakam sekitar tahun 2002 ini mendedahkan wujud konspirasi dari pihak-pihak tertentu untuk melantik hakim-hakim yang dapat menjamin keputusan penghakiman yang selari dengan keinginan politik. Antara lain, nama-nama seperti Tan Sri Vincent Tan dan Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor disebut telah menaja usaha ini.

Maklumat ini mengesahkan kebimbangan sejak pemecatan Ketua Hakim Negara Tun Salleh Abbas pada tahun 1988 dan kenyataan bekas Ketua Hakim Negara Allahyarham Tun Mohammed Suffian pada tahun 2000 apabila beliau menyatakan bahawa beliau tidak bersedia berdepan dengan hakim sekarang apatah sekiranya beliau tidak bersalah.

Hujah ini diperkuat oleh tulisan Ke Bawah Duli Tuanku Raja Azlan Shah pada 2004 yang melahirkan kebimbangan terhadap terhakisnya keyakinan rakyat terhadap institusi kehakiman. Baginda juga menyesali bahawa mahkamah telah diperalatkan untuk memutuskan dengan sewenang-wenangnya bahawa “peranan oleh DYMM Raja-Raja Melayu” merupakan satu prosedur ringan semata-mata.

Imej institusi kehakiman negara kita yang sudah pun tercalar begitu lama sudah tentulah binasa sama sekali. Kes ini berkaitan dengan begitu banyak isu-isu membabitkan institusi kehakiman selama ini, termasuklah:

a) Insiden pemecatan Ketua Hakim Negara Tun Salleh Abas dan Hakim-Hakim Mahkamah Persekutuan Tan Sri Wan Suleman dan Datuk George Seah

b) Semua keputusan membabitkan kes Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

c) Kes Wee Chee Keong

d) Kes Lim Guan Eng

Daulat Tuanku,

Berdasarkan keterangan tersebut, patik memohon agar DYMM Tuanku memperkenan membentuk sebuah Suruhanjaya DiRaja dibawah Akta Suruhanjaya Siasatan 1950. Suruhanjaya tersebut seharusnya diberi kuasa meneliti bukan sahaja kesahihan video tersebut, tetapi juga dakwaan yang dibuat di dalam video tersebut mengenai perlantikan hakim dan amalan rasuah di dalam institusi kehakiman. Hanya sebuah Suruhanjaya DiRaja yang melapor terus ke DYMM Tuanku dan mempunyai kuasa memanggil dan melindungi saksi dapat memulihkan keyakinan rakyat Malaysia terhadap institusi kehakiman negara.

Pihak patik bersedia sekiranya DYMM Tuanku berkenan bertemu dengan pihak patik untuk membincangkan perkara ini dengan lebih mendalam. Di dalam keadaan di mana maruah institusi kehakiman dan kerajaan kini sudah berada di dalam keadaan yang amat dasyat, DYMM Tuankulah yang dapat memainkan peranan yang adil dan saksama untuk mencari penyelesaian terhadap perkara ini bagi kebaikan seluruh rakyat Malaysia. Kuasa untuk menyelamatkan maruah negara kini berada di tangan DYMM Tuanku.

Patik mohon ampun dan maaf di atas segala kekurangan, dan menjunjung kasih di atas kesudian DYMM Tuanku menerima warkah ini.

Ampun Tuanku,

t.t.

Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail
Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh
Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat

Nazri Says There is NO Crisis, NO Problems and NO Scandal

WHAT AN IDIOT !!
and a Minister, to boot

MONKEYING AROUND WITH FACTS ON THE GROUND

"No crisis, no problems. I don't see any scandal."

.
Mohd. Nazri Aziz
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department

"No Crisis, No Problems and No Scandal"

Excerpts: Read here for more on Malaysiakini and here

An Out-of-Touch Government

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz said there is NO crisis in the judiciary and neither is there any scandal involved.

And he blamed the opposition for creating the scandal in order to erode public confidence in the judiciary.

“No crisis, no problems. I don't see any scandal. These are all efforts by the opposition to create distrust and erode public confidence in the judiciary,” he added.

Lawyers said, "Yes, there is a crisis, minister” , in response to de facto law minister Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz’s statement yesterday that there is no crisis in the judiciary nor any scandal involved in the controversial VK Lingam tape.

Malaysiakini spoke to lawyers and an academician who unanimously agreed that the crisis is beyond just the video clip and the minister should not be making such statements. Read here for more

CLICK HERE FOR MORE PHOTOS OF THE "WALK FOR JUSTICE"