PH sends ship to Sabah – But Sulu sultan says followers staying put
By Nikko Dizon, TJ Burgonio
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Originally posted: 9:23 pm | Sunday, February 24th, 2013
The followers of the sultan of Sulu holed up in a village in Sabah, eastern Malaysia, could be flushed out Monday after the expiration on Sunday of a 48-hour extension of the Malaysian deadline for them to leave and the failure of Malacañang’s back-channel efforts to solve the standoff peacefully.
The Philippine government sent a humanitarian ship to Sabah Sunday night to bring home the women and children among the sultan’s armed followers holed up in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town and encircled by Malaysian security forces, but the sultanate said no one would go with the mercy mission.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement that the ship would sail from Bongao, Tawi-Tawi, before midnight and stand by off Lahad Datu as Malaysian authorities talked with the sultan’ followers.
The DFA said it informed the Malaysian Embassy last Saturday that the Philippine government was sending a ship to Sabah. Malaysian foreign minister Anifah Aman told AFP, however, that he had “yet to be informed on this matter.” Ministry officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
The vessel will sail for 11 to 12 hours and is expected to arrive in Lahud Datu at noon Monday. Aboard the mercy ship were Filipino Muslim leaders, social workers and medical personnel, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario said, stressing that the government “was deeply concerned” about the presence of women among the group.
Del Rosario called on “the entire group to go back to their homes and families, even at the same time, we are addressing the core issues they have raised.”
“Please do so for your own safety,” he added.
An Inquirer source said Philippine officials hoped the Malaysians would hold their fire as the mercy mission was going on “for the sake of innocent lives.” Read the rest of this entry »
Lahad Datu standoff: Give us the facts
The Sun Daily
R. Nadeswaran
Posted on 24 February 2013 – 08:55pm
AS THIS column is being written, there are scores of intruders in this country. No one knows the exact number in Tanduo in Lahad Datu town in Sabah, but it varies depending on where it is coming from. But our inspector general of police says the public should not be influenced by online reports on the standoff, which he said were being spread through social media networks.
From what has been reported, they are subjects of the Sulu sultan and the latest is that he has asked the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR) to help his followers who are running out of provisions.
According to The Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sultan Jamalul Kiram III wrote to the UNCHR in Manila on Feb 20, asking for protection for 250 members of the “Royal Security Forces of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo” whose lives, he said, were threatened by a food blockade thrown by Malaysia.
Jamalul has also written to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei asking for help in resolving the standoff in Tanduao peacefully. The UNCHR was furnished with a copy of Jamalul’s letter to the sultan of Brunei, also dated Feb 20.
In the absence of official bulletins or announcements from the police, what choices have the people got? Even the exact numbers are hazy and on the Net, it varies from 100 to 400.
Since our authorities have no control over the press in the Philippines, it has gone to town with its stories and commentaries. The Philippine Daily Inquirer also says Malaysia is in a no-win situation as a result of the standoff in Sabah. Read the rest of this entry »
45-Day Countdown to 13GE – Proposal for a 10-point addendum to TI’s Election Integrity Pledge to ensure signatories are signing a meaningful document to usher in a new era of integrity
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Najib Razak on Monday, 25 February 2013, 2:59 am
It is quite entertaining to see UMNO/Barisan Nasional leaders trying to create a song and dance on statements by Pakatan Rakyat leaders voicing reservations about the authority, credibility and legitimacy of Transparency International’s (TI) Election Integrity Pledge after the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, had signed the pledge.
This is because Najib must bear full responsibility for Malaysia plunging to the lowest rankings of the annual TI Corruption Perception Index (CPI) in the past 18 years.
Swiftly after Najib’s statement in Kuching on Friday that Pakatan Rakyat leaders should sign the TI Election Integrity Pledge if they are committed in fighting corruption and abuse of power, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz quickly followed suit, dramatically declaring yesterday that “When the time comes, I will sign to affirm that I am not involved in corruption, crime and have no debt with the government”.
Many thanks to Nazri, for he had reminded every Malaysian that Najib had failed to make such an affirmation when signing the TI Election Integrity Pledge on Wednesday that he is not involved in corruption, crime and have no debt with the government!
Is Najib going to have a re-signing ceremony for the TI Election Integrity Pledge so that he could categorically and unequivocally make such a declaration, or is it because to use Nazri’s words, he is “scared and have something to hide”? Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 45 Hari ke-PRU13 – Cadangan untuk tambahan 10 poin kepada Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya TI bagi memastikan mereka yang menurunkan tandatangan menandatangani dokumen yang bermakna dalam mewujudkan era baru integriti
Posted by Kit in Corruption, Elections, Najib Razak on Monday, 25 February 2013, 12:58 pm
Agak menghiburkan melihat pemimpin UMNO/Barisan Nasional cuba membesar-besarkan kenyataan oleh pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat yang menyuarakan keraguan terhadap autoriti, kewibawaan dan keabsahan Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya Transparency International (TI) selepas Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, telah menandatangani ikar itu.
Ini kerana Najib perlu memikul tanggungjawab penuh terhadap menjunamnnya Malaysia ke kedudukan paling rendah Indeks Persepsi Rasuah tahunan TI sejak 18 tahun lalu.
Sejurus selepas kenyataan Najib di Kuching pada Jumaat bahawa pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat sepatutnya mendatangani Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya TI sekiranya mereka beriltizam dalam memerangi rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa, Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz segera mengikuti, secara dramatiknya menyatakan semalam bahawa “Apabila tiba masanya, saya akan tandatangan untuk menegaskan bahawa saya tidak terlibat di dalam rasuah, jenayah dan tiada berhutang dengan kerajaan”.
Terima kasih banyak-banyak kepada Nazri, dia telah mengingatkan rakyat Malaysia bahawa Najib telah gagal untuk membuat penegasan sedemikian apabila menandatangi Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya TI pada Rabu bahawa beliau tidak terlibat di dalam rasuah, jenayah dan tidak sebarang hutang dengan kerajaan!
Adakah Najib akan mengadakan majlis menandatangan semula Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya TI supaya beliau boleh secara tegas membuat pengisytiharan seperti itu, atau ia disebabkan seperti yang disebut Nazri, beliau “takut dan menyembunyikan sesuatu”? Read the rest of this entry »
Room for competent Bumiputera companies: How to become competitive
— Koon Yew Yin
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 24, 2013
FEB 24 — After reading the article “Room for Competitive Bumiputera Companies’ in The Edge this morning, I am encouraged to write this piece to support Petronas Chairman Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas.
He said that in 2010 and 2011 alone Petronas awarded about Rm 74 billion worth of contracts to Bumiputera controlled companies, a sum cannot be described as anything but huge.
Despite this Petronas has become a punching bag for Malay right wing and business groups in recent months. The Malay Economic Action Council (MTEM)- an umbrella of more than 60 business group blamed Petronas for sidelineling Bumiputera companies and favouring more competitive foreign companies.
The MTEM has called for Tan Sri Shamsul and the Menbers of the Board of Petronas to resign. This is outrageous. The Malays cannot continue to expect hand outs and juicy contracts.
It is time they must realise that they have to become more efficient and competitive to face the real business world. Read the rest of this entry »
Najib practices a two faced NEP cum NEM economic policy
Posted by Kit in Dr. Chen Man Hin, Economics, Housing, Najib Razak, NEM, NEP on Sunday, 24 February 2013, 8:35 pm
By Dr Chen Man Hin, DAP Life advisor
23 Feb 2013
Events have shown that the NEP is still enforced in the economic development of the economy – two faced NEP and NEM economic policy.
Soon after being Prime Minister, Najib launched his New Economic Model to stimulate development with the aim of achieving a high economy like that of the Asian Tigers of Singapore, S Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan
To do this he had to get rid of the economic handicaps wrought by the New Economic Policy. It is on record that Najib announced on May 2nd 2009 that he would replace NEP with his New Economic Model (NEM).
It is now 2013, and the signs of a high economy are not encouraging. For Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) of 2012 Malaysia scored 9 billion US dollars compared to Indonesia’s US$19 billion and Singapore US$130 billion. (World Bank figures)
Per capita income for Malaysia in 2012 was US$9500 million, compared to Hong Kong US$30 million, Singapore US$50 million and South Korea US$25 million. Can Malaysia reach a high income status of US$20million by 2020.
Read the rest of this entry »
Najib has violated the TI Election Integrity Pledge at least five times during the Chinese New Year
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Corruption, Najib Razak on Sunday, 24 February 2013, 3:47 pm
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak came to Kuching on Friday and boasted about the Transparency International (TI) Election Integrity Pledge which he signed on Wednesdy and declared that Pakatan Rakyat leaders too should sign the pledge if they are committed in fighting corruption and abuse of power.
He said: “They have been accusing Barisan Nasional of all kinds of things, yet we are willing to sign the pledge, so if they are truly committed they should also sign it.”
Najib has in fact beautifully given the reason why I, for instance, has reservations about signing TI’s Election Integrity Pledge after Najib had signed it!
There is no question about my commitment in fighting corruption and abuse of power for which I have dedicated nearly half a century of my life in Malaysian politics, but the question is whether my commitment to fighting corruption and abuse of power would become a joke and a mockery if I sign the Election Integrity Pledge after Najib had signed it!
Firstly, is Najib sincere and serious in signing the Election Integrity Pledge, which stipulates four principles for all signatories to observe when contesting in the 13th general elections, viz:
• Truth, integrity, ethical conduct and accountability, including not accepting or giving bribes or being involved in corrupt practices in any way;
• Upholding and giving priority to the interests of the rakyat as a whole;
• Good governance and transparency; and
• Compliance with all the applicable laws and regulations of Malaysia.
Najib telah melanggar Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya sekurang-kurangnya lima kali ketika Tahun Baru Cina
Posted by Kit in 1Malaysia, Corruption, Najib Razak on Monday, 25 February 2013, 11:18 am
Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak datang ke Kuching pada hari Jumaat dan berlagak dengan Ikrar Ingeriti Pilihan Raya Transparency International (TI) yang beliau tandatangani pada hari Rabu dan mengatakan bahawa pemimpin Pakatan Raktat patut menandatangani ikrar itu jika mereka beriltizam dalam memerangi rasuah dan salahguna kuasa.
Beliau berkata: “Mereka selalu menuduh Barisan Nasional dengan bermacam perkara, tetapi kita sanggup menandatangani ikrar, jadi kalau mereka betul-betul komited mereka juga patut menandatangan.”
Najib sebenarnya telah memberikan dengan baik sebab mengapa saya, contohnya, berasa ragu-ragu terhadap menandatangani Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya TI selepas Najib menandatanganinya!
Tidak dipersoalkan lagi iltizam saya dalam memerangi rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa setelah saya mendedikasikan hampir setengah abad hidup saya dalam politik Malaysia, akan tetapi persoalannya sama ada iltizam saya memerangi rasuah dan penyalahgunaan kuasa akan menjadi jenaka dan penghinaan sekiranya saya menandatangani Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya selepas Najib menandatanganinya!
Pertama, adakah Najib ikhlas dan serius dalam menandatanangi Ikrar Integriti Pilihan Raya, yang menetapkan empat prinsip untuk penandatangan perhatikan ketika bertanding dalam pilihan raya umum ke-13, yakni:
- Kebenaran, integriti, tatalaku beretika dan akauntabiliti, termasuk tidak menerima atau memberi rasuah atau terlibat dengan amalan rasuah dalam apa jua cara;
- Mendukung dan memberi keutamaan kepada kepentingan rakyat secara keseluruhan;
- Tadbir urus yang baik serta ketelusan; dan
- Mematuhi semua undang-undang dan peraturan yang berkaitan Malaysia.
46-Day Countdown to 13GE – Call on Pakatan Rakyat not to be lulled into complacency as it is still on the cards that Najib could dissolve Parliament in next 12 days before the fifth anniversary of 308
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak on Sunday, 24 February 2013, 7:36 am
I call on all DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders, members and supporters not to lulled into complacency into believing that the 13th general elections have been pushed to April and after, as it is still on the cards that the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak could dissolve Parliament in the next 12 days before the fifth anniversary of the March 8 “political tsunami” in 2008.
On January 9, I was first informed by “reliable sources” that Parliament would be dissolved on February 22, with the nomination and polling dates fixed for March 16 and March 30 respectively, following a high-level meeting of Najib’s political strategists in Putrajaya that day.
February 22 has come and gone without any dissolution, and although other February dates had also been speculated as likely dates for Parliament’s dissolution, it is now generally believed that there has been a further 13GE delay to dissolution in the middle of March and polling in second week of April, so that outstation voters would not return home to vote so soon after the annual Qing Ming festival or All Souls’ Day in early April.
Although the initial plans by Najib’s political strategists for the dissolution of Parliament on February 22 and in the last week of February had been scuttled, because of one political blunder after another by the Prime Minister during the Chinese New Year – most infamously the multiple political and public relations disaster in the multi-million ringgit invitation to the Korean K-Pop superstar Psy and Gangnam Style to Penang on the second day of the CNY – it is still on the cards that Najib could dissolve Parliament in the next 12 days before the fifth anniversary of the 308 political tsunami of the 2008 general elections. Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 46 Hari ke PRU13 – Seruan kepada Pakatan Rakyat supaya tidak lalai dengan rasa puas hati memandangkan Najib boleh membubarkan Parlimen dalam tempoh 12 hari sebelum ulangtahun kelima 308
Posted by Kit in Elections, Najib Razak on Monday, 25 February 2013, 10:57 am
Saya menyeru pemimpin, ahli dan penyokong DAP dan Pakatan Rakyat tidak lalai dengan rasa puas hati mempercayai bahawa pilihan raya umum ke-13 telah ditundakan ke April, memandangkan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Razak boleh membubarkan Parlimen sepanjang 12 hari sebelum ulangtahun kelima pada “tsunami politik” 8 Mac pada 2008.
Pada 9 Januar, saya diberitahu satu “sumber yang dipercayai” bahawa Parlimen akan dibubarkan pada 22 Febuari, tarikh pencalonan dan pembuangan undi pula ditetapkan pada 16 Mac dan 30 Mac, selepas mesyuarat peringkat tertinggi strategis politik Najib di Putrajaya pada hari itu.
22 Febuari telah berlalu pergi tanpa sebarang pembubaran, dan walaupun tarikh lain bulan Febuari juga telah dispekulasikan sebagai tarikh berkemungkinan untuk pembubaran Parlimen, secara umumnya kini dipercayai bahawa terdapat penundaan lagi bagi PRU13 yang mana pembubaran pada pertengahan Mac dan tarikh pembuangan undi pada minggu kedua April.
Walaupun rancangan asal strategis politik Najib untuk pembubaran ialah pada 22 Febuari dan minggu terakhir Febuari telah hancur, disebabkan satu demi satu kesilapan politik daripada Perdana Menteri ketika Tahun Baru Cina – yang paling terkenal ialah pelbagai bencana politik dan perhubungan awam di dalam jemputan berjuta-juta ringgit bintang K-Pop Korea Psy dan Gangnam Style ke Pulau Pinang pada hari kedua Tahun Baru Cina – Najib msih boleh membubarkan Parlimen 12 hari lagi sebelum ulangtahun kelima tsunami politik 308 pada pilihan Raya umum 2008. Read the rest of this entry »
FELDA screening of ‘Tanda Putera’ proves movie racist, Ambiga says
Posted by Kit in Bersih, Elections, nation building on Saturday, 23 February 2013, 7:50 pm
By Syed Jaymal Zahiid
The Malaysian Insider
Feb 23, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 – Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan questioned today the motive behind the recent private screening of “Tanda Putera” to Malay FELDA settlers here, saying this meant the movie was likely racist portrayal of the bloody May 1969 riots.
On February 18, over 3,000 settlers from the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) programme were shown a surprise preview of the controversial film in what the opposition has alleged was an attempt to “brainwash” them against voting for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) in Election 2013.
“My issue with Tanda Putera is why did they want to show it only to FELDA settlers.
“Show it to all of us. Let us all judge and believe me we will judge it… why only let a select few of people watch it? That shows what the issue is about,” the former Bar Council president said at a forum on racism held at the Civil Servants Golf Club here. Read the rest of this entry »
Lahad Datu stand-off with some 150 Sulu intruders getting curioser and curioser – why is Hishammuddin passing the buck to Wisma Putra and not to the Defence Ministry?
Posted by Kit in Defence, Hishammuddin, Najib Razak, Police, Sabah on Saturday, 23 February 2013, 7:16 pm
The Lahad Datu government stand-off with some 150 Sulu intruders is getting curioser and curioser.
Today, the Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein said that the Home Ministry has left it to Wisma Putra to decide on the Philippine government’s request of an extension on the deportation of a group of intruders in Lahad Datuk but such an extension “should not be too long, as the ministry will not compromise on matters which could potentially threaten the sovereignty of the nation”.
Clearly, the Home Minister is not on the same wavelength as the overwhelming majority of Sabahans and Malaysians who are one in feeling that the sovereignty and security of the nation had been compromised right from the beginning of the intrusion of and standoff with the 150 Sulu militias into Sabah territory at Kampong Tanduo in Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu since February 9.
Just on the issue whether the nation’s sovereignty and security had been threatened by the intrusion and standoff with the so-called Royal Sulu Sultanate Army, the overwhelming majority of Malaysians have proven that they are more patriotic and nationalistic than the Home Minister himself.
In fact, the question more and more Malaysians are asking is why Hishammuddin is passing the buck to Wisma Putra instead of to the Defence Ministry? Read the rest of this entry »
Situasi di Lahad Datu dengan 150 orang penceroboh Sulu menimbulkan semakin banyak tanda tanya – mengapa Hishammuddin menyerahkan kepada Wisma Putra dan bukannya Menteri Pertahanan?
Posted by Kit in Hussein Hamid, Najib Razak, Police, Sabah on Monday, 25 February 2013, 11:06 am
Situasi buntu di Lahad Datu dengan 150 orang penceroboh Sulu menimbulkan banyak tanda tanya.
Hari ini, Menteri Dalam Negeri Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein berkata bahawa Kementerian Dalam Negeri menyerahkan kepada Wisma Putra untuk membuat keputusan berhubung permohonan kerajaan Filipina meminta lanjutan masa bagi pengusiran kumpulan penceroboh di Lahad Datu akan tetapi lanjutan sedemikian “tidak boleh terlalu panjang, memandangkan kementerian tidak akan berkompromi dengan perkara yang mampu mengancam kedaulatan negara”.
Jelas, Menteri Dalam Negeri tidak senada dengan majoriti rakyat Sabah dan Malaysia yang sama-sama merasakan bahawa kedaulatan dan keselamatan negara telah dikompromi pada permulaan pencerobohan itu lagi dan situasi buntu dengan 150 militia Sulu dalam kawasan Sabah di Kampong Tanduo dalam Felda Sahabat, Lahad Datu sejak 9 Febuari.
Berkenaan isu sama ada kedaulatan dan keselamatan negara telah diancam oleh pencerobohan yang kononnya tentera Kesulatanan Sulu, kebanyakkan rakyat Malaysia terbukti lebih patriotik berbanding Menteri Dalam Negeri sendiri dalam hal ini.
Sebenarnya, soalan yang semakin ditanya-tanya rakyat Malaysia adalah mengapa Hishammuddin menyerahkan kepada Wisma Putra bukannya kepada Kementerian Pertahanan? Read the rest of this entry »
Chinese see Psy, Malays see May 13 film
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mariam Mokhtar, Najib Razak, UMNO on Saturday, 23 February 2013, 6:34 pm
By Mariam Mokhtar | February 22, 2013
Free Malaysia Today
As we approach the 13th general election (GE13), Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s interpretation of “1Malaysia” gets more bizarre.
To herald in the Year of the Snake, Najib made the surprise announcement that the Chinese would be treated to a special performance by the Korean entertainer Psy. Earlier this week, after much delay and heavy censorship, the Indians were finally allowed to view the film, “Vishwaroopam”.
The Malay masses, always on the wrong end of the stick when it comes to Umno’s largesse, were forced to view the Umno propaganda film “Tanda Putera”.
Psy’s performance allegedly cost RM3 million for a mere 12 minutes. The ban on Vishwaroopam caused promoters to suffer significant financial losses. Much of the box-office takings were diverted to pirated DVDs which were openly sold throughout Malaysia.
“Tanda Putera” cost RM4.8 million and is funded by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and the Multimedia Development Corporation (Mdec) – in other words, the taxpayer.
Read the rest of this entry »
Who’s taking responsibility for Lahad Datu standoff?
Posted by Kit in Defence, Foreign, Hishammuddin, Najib Razak, Police, Sabah on Saturday, 23 February 2013, 5:20 pm
By Mat Zain Ibrahim | 11:29AM Feb 23, 2013
Malaysiakini
COMMENT Until today, there is not one honourable person who is prepared to take the responsibility for the lapse of security that resulted in the Lahad Datu standoff. Surely there must have been someone put in charge of the area, but has neglected his responsibilities.
If Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is serious about protecting the sovereignty, security and safety of our country and the citizens, he would have caught hold of one or two of the ground commanders and relieved them of their command.
Only then will the rakyat believe that the PM is not only in control but that he is on top of the situation and has his priorities right.
Since nothing of that sort is happening, we can only expect that, eventually, the blame will go to the lowest ranking soldiers, who will be accused of sleeping on the job and for failing to wake up their superiors. And also the constables who have failed to gather the intelligence before the intrusion for actions to be taken before the invaders landed.
This was the position taken by our Najib himself, when he was interviewed at length by reporters from on July 9, 2000, after the Sauk incident.
Read the rest of this entry »
47-Day Countdown to 13GE – Royal Commission of Inquiry into the RM100 billion losses from financial scandals in the 22-year Mahathir premiership
Posted by Kit in Economics, Elections, Financial Scandals, Mahathir on Saturday, 23 February 2013, 1:12 pm
Yesterday, the three-day-old business news portal KiniBiz carried the report “Syed Mokhtar eyes Malaysia Airlines” by Jose Barrock, reporting that Syed Mokhtar Albukhary is proposing to the federal government to take over national investment arm, Khazanah Nasional Berhad’s 69.3 per cent equity interest in Malaysia Airlines which includes as part of the deal a long-term fuel subsidy by the government for as many as 60 years.
Malaysians await the full disclosure of this latest development in the byzantine government-corporate nexus, with a “source close to Syed Mokhtar” denying that there is such a proposal to take over MAS with “two separate sources” confirming that such a deal is being contemplated.
This report has, however, brought to the fore as priority issues in the impending 13th General Elections public concerns about good governance in Malaysia whether about past financial scandals arising from privatisation as a whole and specifically about the ailing national airline; Syed Mokhtar’s far-flung business empire and his mega-debts creating genuine fears whether they will require a massive bailout using taxpayers’ money and the history of corruption, cronyism and abuses of power in the long list of bailouts of Umnoputras at the public expense in the past few decades.
The 13th General Elections is the most appropriate time to revisit these issues of public concern about accountability, transparency and good governance.
Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 47 Hari ke PRU13 – Suruhanjaya Siasatan Diraja menyiasat kerugian RM100 bilion daripada skandal kewangan sepanjang 22 tahun Mahathir menjadi Perdana Menteri
Posted by Kit in Economics, Elections, Financial Scandals, Mahathir on Monday, 25 February 2013, 10:48 am
Semalam, portal berita perniagaan yang baru berusia tiga hari KiniBiz melaporkan “Syed Mokhtar eyes Malaysia Airlines” oleh Jose Barrock, laporan bahawa Syed Mokhtar Albukhary mencadangkan kerajaan persekutuan mengambil alih cabang pelaburan negara, 69.3 peratus kepentingan ekuiti Khazanah Nasional Berhad di dalam Malaysia Airlines yang termasuk sebahagian daripada subsidi minyak jangka panjang oleh kerajaan untuk 60 tahun.
Rakyat Malaysia menanti pendedahan sepenuhnya perkembangan terbaru ini dalam kerumitan hubungan korporat-kerajaan, dengan “sumber yang dekat dengan Syed Mokhtar” menafikan terdapat cadangan untuk mengambil alih MAS dengan “dua sumber berlainan” mengesahkan bahawa urusan sedemikian sedang difikirkan.
Bagaimanapun laporan ini telah mengkedepankan isu utama dalam Pilihan Raya Umum yang bakal menjelang tentang kebimbangan orang ramai terhadap tadbir urus yang baik di Malaysia sama ada melibatkan skandal kewangan lama yang muncul dari penswastaan secara menyeluruh dan khususnya tentang penerbangan milik negara yang bermasalah; empayar perniagaan Syed Mokhtar dan hutang mega beliau mewujudkan kebimbangan sama ada ianya akan diselamatkan (bail out) kerajaan menggunakan duit penbayar cukai dan sejarah korupsi, kronisme dan penyalahgunaan kuasa di dalam senarai panjang Umnoputra yang diselamatkan dengan tanggungan rakyat sejak berdekad lalu.
Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 merupakan waktu paling sesuai untuk meninjau kembali isu-isu yang membimbangkan orang ramai tentang akauntabiliti, ketelusan dan tadbir urus baik.
Read the rest of this entry »
Investigate Malaysia’s debts now
Posted by Kit in Economics, Finance, Financial Scandals, Mahathir on Saturday, 23 February 2013, 1:47 am
By Pak Sako | Thursday, 21 February 2013 11:34
CPIASIA
Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad claimed last week that Malaysia’s current debt level is “healthy” compared with Greece’s.
But the debt-to-GDP percentage Mahathir relied on tells next to nothing about the full extent of Malaysia’s debts; the nature of these debts; or what can happen next.
The real devil lies in the details, namely:
(i) the trend in the debt level.
How has it changed in the recent past? Is there momentum in a certain direction? The federal government’s debt had doubled in just four years from 2007 and 2012. Will it stop growing, or will the trend and absolute totals continue their upward rise?
In the last decade, our finance ministers have repeatedly pledged to reduce the budget deficits. This has not happened. Instead, deficits have ballooned and the federal government’s debt has mounted.
(ii) the causes of debt.
For what are the borrowings and for whom? Are these borrowings for worthwhile investments that benefit the public? Are these liabilities being used to cover government operating costs or to prop up failing crony companies or the stock market? Is the use of costly loans for projects with low or no rates of return justified?
Almost a trillion ringgit was recently whisked out of the country in the form of illegal outflows. This is capital flight. It is conclusive evidence that our economy is ‘leaking out’ wealth.
Read the rest of this entry »
Has the Defence Minister Gone AWOL?
Posted by Kit in Defence, Foreign, Hishammuddin, Najib Razak, Sabah on Friday, 22 February 2013, 6:58 pm
By Martin Jalleh
When is Najib going to put aside his daily campaigning for 13GE and pay regular visits to meet with people in Lahad Datu to ensure quick resolution of the stand-off with Sulu intruders entering its third week
Posted by Kit in Defence, Foreign, Hishammuddin, Law & Order, Najib Razak, Police on Friday, 22 February 2013, 6:55 pm
I welcome the visit of the Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and his Cabinet entourage to Felda Sahabat 16 in Lahad Datu yesterday to get first-hand view of the stand-off between the Malaysian security forces and the self-proclaimed Royal Army of Sulu.
This is one of the objectives of my visit to Felda Sahabat 16 in Lahat Datuk two days ago, together with the Sabah DAP elected representatives, including DAP Sabah State Chairman and Sabah State Assemblyman for Sri Tanjong, Jimmy Wong Sze Phing, State Vice Chairman Frederick Fung, State Secretary Dr. Edwin Bosi, State Publicity Secretary Chan Foong Hin, MP for Kota Kinabalu Hiew King Cheu, DAP National Assistant Organising Secretary, Vincent Wu.
Our visit to Lahad Datu on Feb. 20 has the following objectives:
- fact-finding mission to ascertain the actual situation on the ground with regard to the standoff;
- to understand the concerns and anxieties of the local population;
- show solidarity with the people in Lahad Datuk affected by the stand-off; and
- send clear and categorical message to the Federal and Sabah state governments, in particular the Prime Minister and the Sabah Chief Minister, to give priority to the stand-off to ensure a speedy resolution because of the manifold problems it has created for the Sabah people.
I am glad that we have achieved this objective as far as the Sabah state government is concerned, for immediately on the following day of our visit, the Sabah Chief Minister and his Cabinet entourage had visited Felda Sahabat 16 to get a briefing at the General Operations Force (GOF) security post there. Read the rest of this entry »
Bilakah Najib akan meletak ketepi dahulu kempen hariannya untuk PRU13 dan pergi melawat mereka di Lahad Datu untuk memastikan penyelesaian segera kebuntuan dengan penceroboh Sulu yang sudah masuk minggu ketiga
Posted by Kit in Defence, Foreign, Hishammuddin, Law & Order, Najib Razak, Police on Monday, 25 February 2013, 10:38 am
Saya mengalu-alukan lawatan Ketua Menteri Sabah Datuk Seri Musa Aman dan Kabinetnya ke Felda Sahabat 16 di Lahad Datu semalam bagi mendapatkan pandangan terus berkenaan kebuntuan antara pasukan keselamatan Malaysia dan yang kononnya Tentera Diraja Kesultanan Sulu.
Ini merupakan salah satu objektif lawatan saya ke Felda Sabahat 16 di Lahad Datu dua hari lalum bersama-sama dengan wakil yang dilantik DAP Sabah, termasuklah Jimmy Wong Sze Phing, Naib Pengerusi Negeri Frederick Fung, Setiausaha Negeri Dr. Edwin Bosi, Setiausaha Publisiti Negeri Chan Foong Hin, Ahli Parlimen Kota Kinabalu Hiew King Cheu, DAP Penolong Setiausaha Penganjur Kebangsaan Vincent Wu.
Lawatan kami ke Lahad Datu pada 20 Feb mempunyai objective berikut:
- Misi mendapatkan fakta untuk menentukan keadaan sebenar di tempat kejadian berkenaan kebuntuan yang berlaku;
- untuk memahami kebimbangan penduduk tempatan;
- menunjukkan solidariti dengan rakyat di Lahad Datu yang terkesan dengan kejadian itu; dan
- menghantar mesej yang jelas kepada Kerajaan Persekutuan dan kerajaan negeri Sabah, khususnya Perdana Menteri dan Ketua Menteri Sabah, untuk memberi keutamaan kepada siatuasi buntuk di sana bagi memastikan penyelesaian segera kerana semakin banyak masalah timbul kepada rakyat Sabah.
Saya gembira kerana kami telah mencapai matlamat sejauh mana melibatkan kerajaan negeri Sabah, kerana sejurus selepas lawatan kami, pada hari berikutnya Ketua Menteri Sabah dan rombongan Kabinetnya telah melawat Felda Sahabat 16 untuk mendapatkan taklimat di pos keselamatan General Operations Force (GOF) di sana. Read the rest of this entry »
48-Day Countdown to 13GE: Najib is heading towards setting a third record as Malaysian Prime Minister in order to avoid a fourth record as the last UMNO/BN Prime Minister fulfilling the “RAHMAN” prophecy
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mahathir, Muhyiddin Yassin, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Friday, 22 February 2013, 4:41 pm
The 12th Parliament is supposed to be dissolved today for the 13th General Elections to be held, with nomination on March 16 and Polling on March 30.
But February 22 has come and will go without any dissolution of Parliament, with the speculation on the critical dates of dissolution shifted to between March 15 – 21 with polling in the first or second week of April (with the bets on the second week so that many out-of-state Chinese voters would not cast their votes as they are not expected to return to their hometowns after returning in the first week for the annual Qing Ming festival or All Souls’ Day which falls on April 5).
I was first informed of the February 22 dissolution of Parliament on January 9 after a high-level meeting of the Prime Minister’s political strategists in Putrajaya on the same day, and in the ensuing five weeks, it became an increasingly speculated date to become the “hottest” date for dissolution for the 13GE.
But clearly with one blunder after another, Datuk Seri Najib Razak just lack the confidence to be ready for the 13th General Elections and to be able to pass the Mahathir test formulatedf by the former Prime Minister on January 31 this year.
It was at the 15th Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference that the former and longest-serving Prime Minister who has emerged to be the real power behind the UMNO throne publicly formulated the “Mahathir test” for Najib in the 13GE – that it is not good enough for Najib just to win and that he should step down and give way to Deputy UMNO President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister if UMNO/Barisan Nasional only scores a slim majority in the 13th GE, without regaining a comfortable two-thirds parliamentary majority for Barisan Nasional.
But until the Chinese New Year on February 10, with the multi-million ringgit Psy and Gangnam Style coup for Penang BN CNY on February 11, Najib was still supremely confident that he was ready for February 22 dissolution of Parliament.
This Psy and Gangnam coup however proved to be a dud and counter-productive, as the Psy Appearance in Penang was not only a failure, its adverse repercussions were nation-wide as illustrated by the lukewarm response Najib received when he tried to make history as the first Prime Minister to attend the Dong Zong Chinese New Year Open House six days after the Psy Effect. Read the rest of this entry »
Pengiraan Detik 48 Hari ke PRU13: Najib ke arah mencipta rekodnya yang ketiga sebagai Perdana Menteri Malaysia bagi mengelakkan daripada menjadi Perdana Menteri UMNO/BN terakhir lantas memenuhi ramalan “RAHMAN”
Posted by Kit in Elections, Mahathir, Muhyiddin Yassin, Najib Razak, Pakatan Rakyat, UMNO on Monday, 25 February 2013, 9:54 am
Parlimen ke-12 sepatutnya dibubarkan hari ini bagi membolehkan berlangsungnya Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13, dengan pencalonan pada 16 Mac dan pembuangan undi pada 30 Mac.
Akan tetapi 22 Febuari akan datang dan berlalu tanpa sebarang pembubaran Parlimen, dengan spekulasi bahawa tarikh pembubaran dianjakkan antara 15 – 21 Mac dengan tarikh pembuangan undi pada minggu pertama atau kedua April (dijangkakan pada minggu kedua supaya ramai pengundi Cina di negeri lain tidak akan membuang undi kerana mereka dijangka tidak akan pulang ke kampong halaman sekali lagi selepas pulang ke sana minggu sebelumnya bagi menyambut perayaan Qing Ming yang akan jatuh pada 5 April).
Saya dimaklumkan pertama kali tentang pembubaran Parlimen pada 22 Febuari selepas mensyuarat peringkat tertinggi strategis politik Perdana Menteri di Putrajaya pada hari yang sama, dan lima minggu selepas itu, ia menjadi tarikh yang terus dispekulasikan sebagai tarikh paling “hangat”untuk pembubaran Parlimen PRU13.
Namun jelas dengan kesilapan demi kesilapan, Datuk Seri Najib Razak kekurangan keyakinan terhadap persediaanya untuk Pilihan Raya Umum ke-13 dan kemampuan untuk melepasi ujian Mahathir oleh mantan Perdana Menteri pada 31 Januari tahun ini.
Pada Malaysia Strategic Outlook Conference ke-15 mantan Perdana Menteri yang berkhidmat paling lama serta menjadi kuasa sebenar di belakang takhta UMNO secara terbuka merumuskan “ujian Mahathir” untuk Najib di dalam PRU13 – iaitu tidak cukup bagus untuk Najib sekadar menang dan beliau sepatutnya melepaskan jawatan dan memberikan laluan kepada Timbalan Presiden UMNO Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin sebagai Perdana Menteri jika UMNO/Barisan Nasional Cuma mendalam majority tipis di dalam PRU13, yakni tanpa memperolehi majority dua pertiga parlimen untuk Barisan Nasional.
Akan tetapi sehingga Tahun Baru Cina pada 10 Febuari, dengan Psy dan Gangnam Style yang berharga jutaan ringgit untuk Tahun Baru Cina Pulau Pinang pada 11 Febuari, Najib masih sangat yakin bahawa beliau bersedia untuk pembubaran Parlimen pada 22 Febuari.
Namun Gangnam Style dan Psy terbukti senjata makan tuan, memandangkan kemunculan Psy di Pulau Pinang bukan sahaja satu kegagalan, akibat buruknya tersebar seluruh negara sepertimana yang digambarkan oleh sambutan dingin yang diterima Najib apabila beliau cuba mencipta sejarah sebagai Perdana Menteri pertama yang menghadiri Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baru Cina Dong Zong enam hari selepas kesan Psy. Read the rest of this entry »
Come Election Day
By Allan CF Goh
Come Election Day
If this election
Sees the racists’ foul return,
Blame ourselves for that,
For the nation’s tragic turn.
Let’s walk with heads high,
Clean up the nation’s fester;
Show the whole wide world,
Malaysians can do better!
Malaysia is us: Read the rest of this entry »
Tanda Putera a double-edged sword
Posted by Kit in Elections, Media, Najib Razak, UMNO on Friday, 22 February 2013, 12:09 pm
By Carrie Rina | 12:13PM Feb 21, 2013
Malaysiakini
FILM REVIEW Despite the cabinet deciding against airing the controversial Tanda Putera film until after the next general election, the leader of the same cabinet, Najib Abdul Razak, appears keen on showing it to selected segments of the Malaysian populace.
The reason is likely that the film is a double-edged sword, serving as an effective propaganda tool for one community – but which may well offend the other communities.
While both the Malays and Chinese are depicted in the film as turning on each other during the May 13 riots, the Chinese were often characterised as the aggressors.
The film opens with a group of Chinese, who appear to be Communist sympathisers, attacking a party worker, abd calling for the 1969 general election to be boycotted.
The victim was later revealed to be an Umno member, for news flash with the headline: ‘Umno party worker killed’ is shown.
Read the rest of this entry »
After the gamble with the Chinese, Najib deals the racial card!
Posted by Kit in Martin Jalleh, Najib Razak, UMNO on Friday, 22 February 2013, 11:53 am
By Martin Jalleh
Stand Up, Be Counted
Posted by Kit in Elections, nation building on Thursday, 21 February 2013, 12:12 pm
By Allan CF Goh
Stand Up, Be Counted
When those good men fail
to stand up against foulness,
they reduce themselves,
surrender their true greatness.
Let’s stand up against
the politics of evil,
that spawn policies,
in league with the foul devil.
Make Malaysia fair!
Free it from all corruptions;
let’s have a nation,
freed from racist erruptions.
Read the rest of this entry »
