Melayu Bersatu

Kebelakangan ini, timbul kesedaran ramai pengguna bloggosfera untuk memaparkan isu kepentingan bagi Bangsa Melayu dan menafikan, serta membetulkan perspesi dan fakta yang timbul akibat fenomena memutar belitkan (spin) sehingga berlaku kekeliruan, kebencian dan kemarahan kepada orang Melayu.

Sebuah blog Melayu Bersatu, diujudkan untuk memberikan pengguna bloggosfera kesedaran mengenai Melayu, terutama dari pengamatan sejarah.

Satu lagi blog The Unspinners diujudkan pula untuk menentang dakyah yang sentiasa memutar belitkan fakta dan sejarah dan merugikan Bangsa Melayu.

Pada hakikatnya, Melayu wajar sedar bahawa walaupun mereka anak pribumi tanahair ini, hari ini keadaan berbeza apabila orang Bukan Melayu diterima dan diberikan hak sama rata. Ini termasuk peranan mereka dalam pembangunan tanahair ini, walaupun orang Bukan Melayu sentiasa mengatakan mereka di’anak tiri’kan dan tidak diberikan peluang sewajarnya, apabila mereka terlibat dalam pentadbiran Kerajaan. Orang Melayu sering disifatkan sebagai rasis dan tiada fakta jelas menunjukan keadaan sebenar.

Hakikatnya tidak sedemikian.  Blogger Apanama menyenaraikan kesemua orang Bukan Melayu yang diberikan peluang untuk menjawat Panglima, dalam kesemua cawangan ATM.

Apakah sekiranya keadaan sebaliknya, apabila orang Bukan Melayu diberikan kuasa, maka peluang akan diberikan kepada orang Melayu? Singapura ialah contoh yang baik kerana setelah 44 tahun menubuhkan angkatan tentera, baru baru ini sahaja pegawai Melayu dinaikan pangkat ke jawatan Brigadier General.

Contoh kerajaan etnik Cina yang berkuasa diMalaysia pula ialah Pulau Pinang, yang dikuasai DAP, anak didik dan ‘terbitan’ PAP Singapura. Yang nyatanya, tiada seorang pun orang Melayu yang dinamakan DAP sebagai perlantikan politik dalam Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang.

Orang Melayu wajar bersatu, untuk memartabatkan Bangsa Melayu dan menjaga kepentingan sendiri, bukan bersatu untuk menafikan hak orang lain. Kesan pentingya penyatuan ini pernah berlaku tidak lama dahulu, apabila kesungguhan dan iltizam UMNO menyatu padukan orang orang Melayu pasca Perang Dunia II sehingga berjaya mengagalkan Malayan Union, melahirkan Perjanjian Persekutuan Tanah Melayu dan akhirnya, menerajui Kemerdekaan dan mengembalikan kedaulatan Raja Raja, melalui sistem demokrasi Raja Berperlembagaan.

Cogankata Persekutuan Tanah Melayu, yang kemudian menjadi Malaysia ialah “Bersekutu, Bertambah Mutu”. Pesan nenda kita dahulu yang masih lagi relevan, “Bersatu teguh, bercerai roboh”.

Is the merit-based scholarship Constitutional?

A Government scholarship scheme will be made available to all, based on merits without taking gender, ethnicity or faith into consideration. The Public Services Department (JPA) would be introducing this scholarship scheme as Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak announced this on Saturday. It will be known as ‘Biasiswa Nasional’ (National Scholarship).

The Star has the story:

Sunday June 28, 2009

Najib: Government to introduce new category of scholarships

By DHARMENDER SINGH

PUTRAJAYA: A new category of Public Service Department (PSD) scholarships will be introduced next year based purely on merit, regardless of race.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said he was sure that such a category would be welcomed by all communities, including the Chinese.

“We are restudying the distribution of scholarships under the Public Service Department scheme to introduce a new category.

“We will announce it next year and with the plan to limit the Sijil Pelajaran Malay-sia to 10 subjects, we expect to see a more level playing field,” he said in his speech at a dinner organised by the MCA and the Associated Chinese Chamber of Com-merce and Industry Malaysia here yesterday.

Najib said this would allow Malay-sia’s best students to receive aid to pursue higher studies.

“So the best of the best and the creme de la creme will get aid for higher studies.

“I believe this will be accepted well and it will allow each individual a fair chance to realise his full potential,” he said, adding, however, that he was not “letting the cat out of the bag” just yet about the scheme.

“Like all Malaysians, they also want to see their children have a good education and become successful. All this involves costs,” he said, adding that every race had its needs and if the Government could bring policies that were fair, the Chinese would continue to support the Barisan Nasional.

Najib said the Chinese were not against Malays succeeding or were opposed to efforts to help the bumiputras, but that they wanted policies which looked at the needs of all Malaysians fairly.

“And that’s why I included it in the 1Malaysia concept,” he said, adding that he would also look into MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat’s request for more government land to build Chinese vernacular schools.

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This announcement was made in conjunction with the Chinese Chambers of Commerce dinner. Of late, PM Najib seemed to be introducing a lot of new ‘goodies’, as a political effort to entice the Non Malays, especially the Chinese back towards supporting Government and Barisan Nasional. First it was the dissolution of Ministry of Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development (MECD), deemed as a ‘specific’ ministry to look into the Bumiputra development affairs. Then the liberalization of 27 sectors from equity quota. More liberalization is expected. Of course not with standing, the real game plan behind “1 Malaysia” has not been spelt out yet and everyone is playing the guessing game to inteprete this. Unprecedently during the opening of the Johor State Assembly HRH Sultan Johor reacted adversely on PM Najib’s proposal to look into the development of  the third bridge linking into Singapore, on the east coast of Johor.

The Government should seriously relook into this proposal. This is because, provision for scholarships has been enshrined in the Federal Constitution solely for the Bumiputras only. When scholarships are being dished out based on merit, that means Malay privileges as provided in the Federal Constitution inadvertently has been withdrawn.

The Federal Constitution states clearly that Malay privileges and quota are protected by the HRH Rulers. Any attempt to change, amend or implement it otherwise must be with the consent of HRH Rulers. It seems that PM Najib had acted ultra vires to the Federal Constitution by unilaterally announcing this scholarship scheme based purely on merit.

Excerpts of the Article 153 of the Federal Constitution:

Article 153

1. It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.
2. Notwithstanding anything in this Constitution, but subject to the provisions of Article 40 and of this Article, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall exercise his functions under this Constitution and federal law in such manner as may be necessary to safeguard the special provision of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and to ensure the reservation for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of such proportion as he may deem reasonable of positions in the public service (other than the public service of a State) and of scholarships, exhibitions and other similar educational or training privileges or special facilities given or accorded by the Federal Government and, when any permit or licence for the operation of any trade or business is required by federal law, then, subject to the provisions of that law and this Article, of such permits and licences.
3. The Yang di-Pertuan Agong may, in order to ensure in accordance with Clause (2) the reservation to Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak of positions in the public service and of scholarships, exhibitions and other educational or training privileges or special facilities, give such general directions as may be required for that purpose to any Commission to which Part X applies or to any authority charged with responsibility for the grant of such scholarships, exhibitions or other educational or training privileges or special facilities; and the Commission or authority shall duly comply with the directions.
4. In exercising his functions under this Constitution and federal law in accordance with Clauses (1) to (3) the Yang di-Pertuan Agong shall not deprive any person of any public office held by him or of the continuance of any scholarship, exhibition or other educational or training privileges or special facilities enjoyed by him.

On the other hand, even if PM Najib wants to create another scholarship on top of the existing one, a totally merit-based scholarship will directly in effect challenge the scholarship which is affirmative action-based. In addition, a precedent is set in which Government scholarship can now ignore the Malay/Bumiputra privileges as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

The fact is that, PM Najib has not sought the view and sentiment of the Malays, even through UMNO channel before prematurely annoucing this initiative. Whether or not the Malays perceive this initiative as ‘violating their privilege, as fundamental component of the Federal Constitution’ is not known yet. Many already talking about PM Najib is compromising more than previous Leaderships, for support which has yet forth coming. Now, the compromise  is about something which is explicitly provided within the Federal Constitution. Having said all that, BN should not wait until the next General Elections to painfully find out the throughly ‘true’  feelings of the rakyat again, especially the Malays and Bumiputras, which comprises more than 65% of the population. Let the 8 March 2008  12 GE be a lesson learnt, where the Malays themselves turn their back against UMNO and BN.

ls this new initiative meet the objective to entice the Non Malays’ support?

Or has PM Najib exhausted all practical ideas to revive the economy, the real factor that should entice the Non Malays’ support, especially the Chinese, who are known to be materialistically centric?

PM Najib has the fondness to equate nostalgically what he is doing now to his late father, Second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein. The visit to China last month and to the Kayan village earlier this month have been highlighted through the media. So was when he attended the FELDA dinner early this month. The ‘Thirteen Million Ringgit’ question is that would Tun Razak compromise so much of the majority’s support and gamble on winning over the minority?

Our bet is, the ‘father of unity and development’ would have done it the other way around. He would even strengthened the interests of the majority via the Federal Constitution. Malay agenda was a very important mission for Tun Razak. As he did for MARA in 1966, under the MARA Act which was enacted in Parliament. Lately, even HRH Rulers are very concerned about the development of the Malays.

Regardless, don’t let the situation escalate till a point-of-no-return, where the Government wholesomely loses the support of all. The Malays would be slighted because they felt their privileges taken away from them and the Government no longer value their support, which had been the mainstay of Perikatan/Barisan Nasional power base since 1955. On the other hand, the Non Malays would still not be satisfied (as they had been despite so many concessions made available to them – like the Chinese schools, which clearly contravene the Education Act 1996 and yet they  feel being treated as ‘2^nd class citizens’), regardless what the Government do and have done  for them. As the Malays say it, “Yang dikejar tak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran”.

Tun Dr. Mahathir: Kuatkan Kepimpinan, pulihkan semangat juang UMNO dan perangi rasuah

“Kepimpinan memainkan peranan amat penting untuk membangunkan sesebuah organsiasi”,  pesan Presiden UMNO V Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. “Kepimpinan akan menentukan nasib pengikut (rakyat) mereka. Contoh yang baik ialah Maharaja Meiji, yang berjaya meletakan asas agar negara dan bangsa Jepun untuk menjadi maju”.

“Pulihkan semangat juang UMNO”, mengulas bagaimana akar umbi UMNO sendiri tiris semangat dan kurang yakin keatas Kepimpinan, antara tahun 2004 hingga 2008 dan akibatnya, UMNO dan BN mengalami kekalahan teruk dalam Pilihanraya Umum ke XII (PRU 12) 8 Mac 2008 yang tidak pernah dilihat sebelum itu. Pemimpin UMNO peringkat akar umbi bersedia dan sanggup memberikan sokongan ‘palsu’ kepada pemimpin peringkat Bahagian dan seterusnya proses ini dipanjatkan ke peringkat Kepimpinan, tanpa menyelami aspirasi sebenar akar umbi UMNO dan rakyat.

Mesej jelas ini diamanahkan kepada akar umbi UMNO Bahagian Pandan di Institut Latihan Memperkasakan UMNO (ILMU), Janda Baik, Pahang. Ini merupakan ucapan beliau pertama secara rasmi atas platform UMNO, semenjak kembali menyertai setelah ‘keluar bersyarat’ parti nasionalis April lepas.

Isu Kepimpinan ini dikupas lebih dalam melalui  isu Jambatan-Mengantikan-Tambak-Johor kerana terdapat pemimpin UMNO yang terus memberikan sokongan kepada Kepimpinan, sehingga sanggup membelakangkan aspirasi sebenar akar umbi dan maruah negara dan bangsa dan memberikan kelebihan kepada Singapura. Pemimpin menengah menjadi golongan yang mengharapkan Kepimpinan menjaga kepentingan mereka ini sebenarnya membudayakan ‘sokong Boss’ dan memberikan gambaran palsu aspirasi akar umbi UMNO dan  rakyat. Akibatnya, penyokong akar umbi UMNO Johor yang merasakan kecewa kerana Kepimpinan yang menbadik dada dan memberikan ‘gambaran’ bahawa parti amat kuat dan mendapat sokongan padu, memilih untuk meluahkan ‘perasaan’ dan ‘menyuarakan’ melalui kertas undi semasa pilihanraya. Akibatnya, UMNO dan BN  gagal mendapat undi sebagai pilihanraya yang lepas dan kecundang di enam buah negeri dan gagal mempertahankan 2/3 majoriti dalam PRU 12.

Hari ini, akar umbi UMNO mengharapkan Kepimpinan Presiden UMNO VII Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak untuk ‘membersihkan’ parti, agar proses pembangunan negara dapat diteruskan. Ini merupakan pengharapan yang besar. Perdana Menteri Malaysia VI itu mengingatkan bahawa gejala rasuah akan lebih memburukan keadaan dan rakyat akan menolak parti, yang pada masa lepas banyak berjasa kepada Bangsa Melayu dan negara. Oleh itu, usaha ‘pembersihan’ ini perlu dilakukan segara. Namun begitu, persepsi masyarakat ialah UMNO memilih pemimpin yang boleh dan terkenal dengan rasuah, walaupun parti melalui proses pemilihan Mac lepas.

“UMNO kini berada dalam keadaan cemas!” dan memberikan contoh terdapat pemimpin yang baru dipilih melalui proses demokrasi parti baru baru, dianggap sebagai terlibat dengan rasuah sehingga dihalang untuk turun berkempen (dalam pilihanraya kecil) kerana dikhuatiri akan menjejaskan persepsi rakyat dan seterusnya undi. Ini menunjukan bahawa UMNO kini berada dalam keadaan getir dan tidak lagi diterima rakyat kerana menaikan pemimpin yang dianggap ‘rasuah’ dan kontroversi.

“Kita harus memerangi rasuah!”, tegas Tun Dr. Mahathir “Tolak segala bentuk rasuah walaupun  ramai yang akan memberikan alasan “Tak palah, kita ambik duit itu tapi kita tak undi dia, kita undi orang lain”. Percayalah, orang yang mengambil duit itu akan sedikit sebanyak terasa ‘terhutang budi’ “. Beliau menyifatkan orang yang terlibat dengan rasuah ini sebagai ‘Pengkhianat’ dan ‘Menjual Bangsa’, “Apabila orang (rakyat) tidak yakin keatas pemimpin mereka (yang dianggap mengunakan rasuah untuk menentukan kedudukan mereka dalam parti), akhirnya akan timbul kebencian”.

“Diharapkan pembaharuan yang akan diperkenalkan kepada UMNO akan menerima keyakinan akar umbi dan rakyat”, beliau mengulas mengenai pembaharuan dalam UMNO yang akan diperkenalkan dan anggap sebagai ‘ lebih mendemokrasikan’, “Yang akan menghalang dari gejala rasuah ialah pegangan kita kepada Perjuangan UMNO”.

Negarawan berumur 84 tahun itu lagi mengingatkan hadirin kepentingan untuk mengenali sejarah, agar benar benar menghayati sebenar apa yang berlaku masa lepas. “Tanah air ini dikenali sebagai Semenanjung Tanah Melayu. Ini diiktriraf masyarakat antarabangsa, termasuk Barat. Maknanya, pada asal ini bumi untuk orang Melayu” dan terus mengupas bagaimana kealpaan dan perbuatan berpecah belah dan mementingkan diri sendiri mengakibatkan Raja Raja Melayu sedia mengadaikan tanahair dijajah dan kemudian penjajah membanjiri dengan immigran, untuk memenuhi keperluan pembangunan ekonomi mereka. Kebanjiran immigran ini kemudian menimbulkan ketidak sama rataan pembangunan antara etnik yang masih lagi cuba diperbaiki sehingga hari ini.

Beliau juga mengupas bagaimana orang Melayu bersatu dan mendapat kekuatan politik yang jitu apabila UMNO ditubuhkan sehinggakan Malayan Union berjaya digagalkan dan menerajui proses Kemerdekaan. “Tunku (Abdul Rahman Putra) mendapat sokongan kuat rakyat sehingga sedia memberikan satu juta orang keturunan Cina dan India kerakyatan (sebagai syarat Britain untuk memberikan Kemerdekaan)”, sambil mengupas bahawa mandat besar yang diperolehi Perikatan yang diterajui UMNO pada pilihanraya 1955, datang dari kekuatan sokongan padu orang Melayu, yang merupakan 85% pengundi berdaftar dan layak mengundi.

“Orang Melayu berkebolehan”, amanah Tun Dr. Mahathir “Orang Melayu perlu berusaha keras untuk membuktikan kebolehan yang ada. Ini tanggung jawab UMNO untuk membangunkan kebolehan orang Melayu, agar menjadi bangsa yang berjaya”.

“Jangan kerana kemewahan yang dirasai (sekarang, terutama setelah segala program pembangunan yang diusahakan UMNO berjaya membangunkan bangsa setelah Merdeka), orang Melayu menjadi leka”, beliau mengesa hadirin berfikir mengenai nasib bangsa dan berusaha keras untuk menentukan kejayaan Bangsa Melayu. “Kikis sikap yang akan merugikan kita dan jangan bergantung kepada orang lain (untuk memainkan peranan yang sepatutnya orang Melayu buat sendiri)”.

Mengulas mengenai cadangan ‘perpaduan’ dengan PAS untuk mengukuhkan orang Melayu, “Apakah PAS bersedia untuk membelakangkan kepentingan (parti) mereka demi menentukan kepentingan Melayu diutamakan?”.

Kesungguhan pemimpin unggul Bangsa Melayu ini agar UMNO dipulihkan dan kekuatan Melayu dipadukan, agar orang Melayu dapat dimajukan amat jelas apabila diakhir ucapan, beliau mengungkap “Saya tidak akan pejam mata dengan tenang selagi semua ini tidak dibetulkan”.

* Dikemas kini 230pm

Apabila ditanya dalam sidang media, Tun Dr. Mahathir mengatakan beliau lebih berminat untuk bertemu akar umbi UMNO seperti program ini dan mengukuhkan UMNO dari berkempen dalam pilihanraya kecil Manek Urai awal Julai ini.

Setuju dengan cadangan mendemokrasikan UMNO dengan membenarkan 60,000 pemimpin peringkat Cawangan mengundi memilih Kepimpinan berbanding sistem sekarang, beliau mengulangi lagi bahawa termasuk cadangan pembaharuan ini, UMNO telah melalui tiga kali pindaan perlembagaan bagi menentukan proses memilih Kepimpinan menepati aspirasi akar umbi dan gejala rasuah politik dapat dikurangkan. “Yang penting bukan pembaharuan, tetapi sikap ahli UMNO. Sekiranya mereka menghayati Perjuangan asal, maka gejala rasuah ini tidak akan berlaku”.

Petronas is the best example of Malay corporate success

Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) announced its 2008 annual results, with year ending (YE) 31 March 2009 with RM 264 Billion turnover and RM 89.4 Billion EBITDA. This is a really large contribution to the nation’s coffer, as RM 74 Billion was made as payout to Federal and relevant State Governments, in terms of income tax, dividends and royalties. Undoubtably, this is a very impressive performance considering the world market oil price is no longer hovering at USD 130 per barrel.

Bernama.com has the story:

June 25, 2009 15:07 PM

Petronas’ Revenue Up 18.4 Percent To RM264.2 Billion

KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) — Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) recorded another year of satisfactory performance for its financial year ended March 31, 2009, with an 18.4 percent increase in revenue to an all-time high of RM264.2 billion.

However, the group’s pre-tax profit fell 6.7 percent to RM89.1 billion while net profit declined 13.9 percent to RM52.5 billion.

At a press conference to announce the results, Petronas president and chief executive officer Tan Sri Hassan Marican said the stronger revenue was driven by higher sales volume and liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices.

The lower pre-tax profit, according to him, resulted from higher production and operating costs.

However, he said the drop was well within the decline recorded by major oil and gas companies which ranged between 6.4 and 25.7 percent.

Notwithstanding the lower profit, the group declared a total dividend of RM30 billion, which was 25 percent higher than the previous year.

Its total asset increased by 14.4 percent to RM388.1 billion from RM339.3 billion previously while shareholders’ funds rose by 15.1 percent to RM232.1 billion.

Despite the lower profit, Hassan said that Petronas continued to make higher payments to federal and state governments.

During the financial year, the group paid RM74.0 billion to governments, bringing the total payment to RM471.3 billion since its incorporation in 1974.

Of the RM74.0 billion payment for the year, RM67.8 billion went to the federal government, comprising RM30.0 billion of dividend, RM20.3 billion of petroleum income tax, RM9.1 billion of corporate income tax, RM2.2 billion of export duties and RM6.2 billion of royalty payment.

Another RM6.2 billion was paid in royalty payments to the state governments, with RM3.0 billion for Terengganu, RM2.3 billion for Sarawak and RM0.9 billion for Sabah.

The RM74.0 billion total payment to the governments represented 71.4 percent of Petronas’ pre-tax profit, royalty and export duty, with the group retaining only 21.1 percent of its profit during the year for reinvestment and the balance of 7.5 percent for foreign taxes and minority interests.

During the financial year, Petronas increased its capital expenditure to RM44.0 billion from RM37.6 billion previously.

As at Jan 1, 2009, Malaysia’s total hydrocarbon reserves rose to 20.18 billion barrels of oil equivalent (boe) from 20.13 billion boe last year as a result of ongoing exploration efforts and field growth activities.

International reserves increased by 9.6 percent to 6.84 billion boe, following a number of significant gas discoveries in Turkmenistan and Mozambique.

— BERNAMA

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The fact is that since its inception 35 years ago, Petronas has dished out more than RM 471 Billion, in the form of income tax, petroleum tax, dividends and royalties to the Federal and relevant State Governments. Of which RM 263 Billion was within the last six years. For YE 2008, RM 29.4 Billion was paid as income tax to the Federal Government, which is effectively 30% of RM 88.5 Billion 2009 expected collection by the Inland Revenue Board. Petronas global turnover of RM 264.2 Billion is actually 28% more than the Federal Government 2009  expected income. Accumulated asset of Petronas amounting to RM388 Billion, if which is taken at par value is inadvertently comparable to 38% of the market capitalisation of Bursa Malaysia. If in 2007 PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi claimed that the Malaysian economy is calculated at RM 1 Trillion, then last year’s Petronas’s results meant that 26% of the nation’s GNP comprises from one corporation’s contribution.

At the helm of this success story is Tan Sri Hassan Merican. A chartered accountant by profession and former partner of a ‘big five’ firm, Hanafiah Raslan Mohamad, Hassan was brought in as a finance man and took over the CEOship from Tan Sri Azizan Zainal Abidin fourteen years ago. His stewardship provided clear strategic plans and initiatives, that moved  Petronas to be a global oil and gas company. Partnership and strategic alliance were formed and now, Petronas is able to compete with some its original ‘production sharing partners’, in very competitive international markets. Presently, with offices and operations in more than 64 countries, Petronas is the most respected and profitable state owned oil corporation. Not only ranked as the 95th largest corporation in the world in the renowned Fortune 500 list, Petronas is now regarded as one of the ‘New Seven Sisters’.

Petronas Dagangan Berhad, its downstream creature is now listed at Bursa Malaysia. Proud of posting over RM 800 million in profits, it has the largest network of petrol and diesel retail in Malaysia. The ‘Mesra’ convenient stores have now earned its place amongst Malaysian hearts.

Petronas not only successfully played the role as the nation’s largest ‘bread winner’. It also played role to propel the needs of the nation, which include ‘psychological bastion’ like being the highly respected super developer of KLCC and master developer of Putrajaya. Being the proud owner of the much sought after address in the KLCC complex, Petronas now calls the most prestigous and world renowned twin towers as its home. Petronas also successfully put Malaysia into the limelight of Formula 1 motorsport when it became a partner of world class racing team Sauber. Today, Petronas is a major sponsor for the BMW-Sauber team and Malay engineers have mastered some skill sets of the highly technical sporting event. Petronas acquired national shipping line MISC t synergise the logistic management of the produce and made a lot of money from operations. On top of that, Petronas also own, fund and run a highly respected private technical university, Universiti Teknologi Petronas.

KLCC was officially dedicated on National Day, 1999. After 42 years of independence, the world’s tallest office complex is now home for the largest and most profitable Malaysian company, which is actually a Malay-run-state-owned corporation. In the dedication speech, Fourth Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad quipped, “Malaysians need to stand tall as other races of the world. KLCC is the ‘box’ that will help Malaysians stand the same level as others”. It was a demonstration of nation’s Vision 2020 policy to be a developed nation’s status by year 2020, is being geared up on the way. KLCC is Petronas’s way to announcing to the world, “We have arrived. We are here to stay, for a long time”. Its now a world renowned national icon.

Petronas success is not only a Malaysian success. It is a Malay corporate success. All of its board of directors and almost all of its executives and professionals are Malays. They do the strategic thinking, planning, negotiating and execution. The strategic partnerships forged, especially with bigger players were proven to be the key to all these success stories. These are those who originated from humble beginnings and most of them actually benefitted from the New Economic Policy (NEP), especially from the provisions of education and human capital development, which was implemented since 1971. Like the NEP, Petronas was formed during Tun Abdul Razak Hussein’s premiership (1970-1976).

Petronas’s role in making the NEP a success is best illustrated from the Vendor Development Program (VDP), which successfully nurtured many Malay companies to be suppliers, service providers and fabricators of the high technology induced and very competitive industry. Developed under the auspicious and close monitor of Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, many former oil and gas Malay professionals found opportunities to nurture their entrepreneurism from Petronas’s VDP and now able to compete at regional and international markets. The recent concluded and highly successful Oil and Gas Asia 2009 showcased hundreds of such local talents. Some of these Malay owned and managed corporations even got listed.

Petronas grew termendously in size, quantity and quality of productivity under the premiership of Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. It is by far the national pride and treasure.

It is imperative that Petronas continues to be managed by professionals and independent from the clutches of personalities, who have ulterior motives. This include politicians and political appointments into the BOD and top executive positions.

The Royal Malay Regiment should be the national icon

When citizens of the world, want to know what represents Malaysia, the obvious choice of Malaysians portraying the icon of this tanahair goes to either the Petronas KLCC Twin Towers or the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.  It is not wrong to do that. However, as Malaysians, it is the right time we should portray the icon of Malaysia at the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR).

The Royal Malay Regiment has been around, defending this great nation since 77 years ago. The men fought galantly during World War II, with uncommon valour displayed at the defence of Pasir Panjang and Bukit Chandu Ridge in Sinagapore, hours before Commonwealth forces commander Lt. Gen. Arthur E. Percival surrendered to the invading Japanese army on 15 Feb 1942. Names like Lt. Adnan Saidi (later acknowldged as “Panglima”, for uncommon heroism and leadership) brought fame and pride to the unit, serving under British Forces in South East Asia under Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten. They also fought galantly against the Communist Terrorists during the Emergency (till the Malayan People’s Liberation Army lay down arms in the Hadyaii Accord December 1989) and of course, during the Confrontation with Indonesia.

Panglima Lt. Adnan Saidi, butchered after the fall of Bukit Chandu 14 Feb 1942

In its 77 years of illustrious history, the Royal Malay Regiment served this tanahair very well, in defending ibu pertiwi, which include missions abroad. The first mission abroad was in Belgian Congo in 1960, under the United Nation’s colours. Then it served UN further in border of Iran-Iraq, Cambodia, Somalia and of course, Bosnia Herzegovina. The Malbatt (Malaysian Battalion) in the UN sponsored mission at Battambang, Cambodia was shelled by Khmer Rouge forces. In Somalia, the Royal Malay troopers heroically cut through Somali war lord militia lines and rescued crew of a downed UH 60 Blackhawk helicopter and trapped US Army Rangers, under intense hostile fire. A trooper, Pte. Mat Aznan was killed in action and four APCs were destroyed. The Malaysian commander in Somalia, Lt. Jen. Aboo Samah Aboo Bakar was honoured to command the ‘blue berrets’ and received international recognition, where else the Royal Malay Regiment was validated as a world class fighting unit. The last UN peacekeeping mission the RMR participated was in South Lebanon in 2006, after Israeli forces attacked and killed innocent civilians that summer.

It is undoubtedly the backbone of Malaysian Army infantry. It is the symbol of military colours that represent His Majesty Seri Paduka Yang DiPertuan Agong. It is also the symbol of military colours of the other HRH Sultans. Whenever HM SPB YDP Agong or any HRH Sultans need to inspects a military guard of honour, the Royal Malay Regiment would assume that ceremonial role. The Royal Malay Regiment is the first Malaysian armed forces unit to be accorded with the Royal Colours which carry the title ‘Royal’.

Many officers of the Royal Malay Regiment rose to become the Chief of Defense Forces (Panglima Angkatan Tentera – PAT) of the Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia). With the exception of Jen. Tan Sri Borhan (who was from Grup Gerak Khas – he started as a RMR officer) and Adm. Tan Sri Anwar Mohd. Nor, the others were from Royal Malay Regiment.

The Royal Malay Regiment was given the honour to ‘guard HM Queen Elizabeth II’ in 2008. For 8 weeks, the 1st Royal Malay Regiment was given the task to perfom the prestigious “London Public Duties”. It was the fourth Commonwealth unit, after Canada, Australia and Jamaica to be given the honour, ahead of larger army units from countries such as India, Pakistan and even New Zealand (which fought for the United Kingdom since World War I).

The Federal Government should seriously consider promoting the Royal Malay Regiment as the icon of the tanahair. The unmistakeable men in dashing white baju Melayu uniform with golden songket samping and black songkok should represent pride of Malaysia. Just like the Queen’s Guard is the national icon of United Kingdom. The Royal Malay Regiment represent the Malaysian identity, which encompasses the Monarch (being the symbol of unity and custodian of the Federal Constitution), might (the will and resolve of the Malaysian people to remain in liberty as an independent race of the world), discipline (the concept of Rukun Negara), trustworthy (dependable in any circumstances, even during crisis), Islam (the religion of the Federation of Malaysia). soul (the determination of the Malaysian people to have an unmistakeable identity and onwership) and tradition (a nation rich with history, heritage and culture).

This call to make and always remember the Royal Malay Regiment, “Liberator of the Federation”, as the true national hero is timely. Especially in the wake of certain near-bankrupt-political-stunts to use “Butcher of Malaya”, in a three-ring-political-circus. The Royal Malay Regiment is the mark of the pride of Malaysia. The motto “Ta’at Setia” says it all.

Tun Dr. Mahathir: If it is not just, then it is not Islamic

“If  it is not just, then it is not Islamic”.

That was Fourth Prime Minsiter Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s brief explanation on the true philosophy and perspective on how God’s law should be administered to mankind. “It was mentioned 43 times in the Al Quran about ‘Just’. So to be ‘just’ in our judgment, is submitting to Allah s.w.t.”.

This was the strong message delivered in the launching of blogger Syed Akhbar Ali’s third book, “Things In Common”.  The book dedication was done at a Malay cuisine restaurant in Sooka, KL Sentral, “Kelantan Delights” . Syed discussed at great length the similarities and resemblance between Islam and other ‘Abrahamic’ religion; Christianity and Judaism. The commonalities between the three groups of faith should be a drive and factor of co-existence and moving forward, instead of division. Tun Dr. Mahathir commended Syed for his ‘bravery’ to discuss very delicate and sometime sensitive issues, despite not agreeing entirely on how the arguments been raised and discussed. However, as Malaysia’s most prolific blogger, he was throwing support to another blogger.

As someone who had lived for 84 years, he reminded the book launch guests that sometime, some narrow minded Muslim clerics make unreasonable fatwas. Example was not too long ago, Tun Dr. mahathir recalled that some Muslim clerics disallowed electricity inside mosques. This is because electricity was popularised by Christians. Some also disallowed Muslims corpse be carried on motorised hearse and instead, insist on carried by pall-bearers all the way to the cemetry.

He went on articulating further how some Muslim’s ways to interpret God’s law within the ambit of very narrow perspective that people in some Muslim societies seeking justice end up being victimised in the process. The example he put forth was a woman, who indentified her rapist, but was unable to furnish four credible witness for the crime. The case end up with the perpertaror went scot free and the woman is damned for making fitnah (false acusation) and punished instead.

“If two persons, one a Muslim and one a non Muslim commit a theft together. The Muslim is found guilty under Hudud Law and his hand chopped off but the non Muslim is not tried under Hudud and was only imprisoned for two months. Is that just?”, insinuating PAS’s political proposal of enforcing their version of Hudud Law only to Muslims sometime ten years ago.

Many Muslims nowadays selectively use (in many cases, misuse) and hide behind the cover of Islam for their own advantage. Tun Dr. Mahathir also quipped that certain individual was acused for a sexual crime but wanted it to be tried under the Syariah Criminal Court, because the acused says he has the right to be tried as a Muslim. This individual wanted to use the ‘window’ that four credible witnesses will not be furnished to support the acusation and thus go scot free. However, Tun Dr. Mahathir also reminded that as a Muslim, this acused man vehemently refused to swear in the name of Allah s.w.t. holding the holy book Al Quran in his hand infront of an Imam, in a mosque to clear his name. Of course, the refusal was not without lame excuses.

It is so obvious he was referring to Anwar “Second-time-sodomist” Ibrahim upcoming case. The victim, Saiful Bukhari Azlan went infront of the Kuala Lumpur Mosque Imam to swear in the name of Allah. s.w.t. holding an Al Quran last August.

Tun Dr. Mahathir also admitted that he learned and deepened his knowledge of the Al Quran from interpretations in Malay and English. However, many orthodox scholars’ opined that Al Quran should be taken in the original Arabic scriptures. His argument is that, if these scholars could articulate the contents of Al Quran in Malay, then there is no reason to understand the holy book in other languages besides Arabic. He also said that if he finds the interpretations is consistent in at least three forms, he will take the intepretations as genuine and substantial.

In the media conference later, when asked about the proposed ‘third bridge’, he argued the same points we at BigDogDotCom put forth on Thursday. He also commented on the unity talks between UMNO and PAS, that the views of UMNO grassroot must be sought first and PAS must clear state their position. He also state that it is not good to have a 100% Bumiputra and Muslim Government when Malaysia is a multiracial and multifaith society.

Sultan Johor: No third bridge!

The recent proposal of the third bridge crossing the Johor Straits on the east coast of Johor linking Penggerang to Changi has been vehemently rejected by HRH Sultan Johor. HRH Tuanku Sultan Iskandar Al Haj Ibni Almarhum Sultan Ismail’s titah was delivered by HRH Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ibrahim Ismail Ibni Sultan Iskandar at the opening of the new term in Johor State Assembly, at their new ‘home’ in newly dedicated Kota Iskandar.

 NST has the story:

 2009/06/18

Johor Sultan opposes third bridge

Umar Ariff and Chuah Bee Kim

 

JOHOR BARU, THURS:

The Sultan of Johor, Sultan Iskandar has expressed his opposition to the proposed third bridge linking Johor and Singapore.

Sultan Iskandar’s message was delivered by his son, Tunku Mahkota of Johor, Tunku Ibrahim Ismail who read his speech at the opening of the State Assembly in Kota Iskandar, Nusajaya today.

“I am instructed by His Royal Highness to convey a message that he did not agree with the proposal for a third bridge,” said Tunku Ibrahim after he finished reading the prepared speech.

Tunku Ibrahim, however, did not eleborate further on the Sultan’s stand on the matter.

The proposed third bridge, linking Pengerang in Kota Tinggi and Changi, in Singapore is among the key bilateral issues discussed between Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong during Najib’s official visit to the republic last month.

It is aimed at complementing future development in the less-developed Pengerang and Desaru areas.

Sultan Iskandar had earlier arrived at Kota Iskandar to open the State Assembly.

After inspecting the guard of honor, Sultan Iskandar headed to his room at the State Assembly Hall building to rest.

Sultan Iskandar, who was scheduled to deliver the opening royal address, however left before the session started, and his speech was later read by the Tunku Mahkota.

Also present was Sultan Iskandar’s grandson, the Raja Muda of Johor, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim.

This is the first time the State Assembly is held in Kota Iskandar since the State administrative centre was moved from Bukit Timbalan in March.

In his speech, Sultan Iskandar hoped that unity among the people should be maintained to ensure they lead a joyous life.

“All of us are grateful that peace prevails in Johor. This can only continue should the rakyat held steadfast to the constitution,” he said.

Sultan Iskandar said although there were economic problems at present, the people need to be confident that the State’s economy has strong foundations.

He said the people should welcome government’s efforts in building a developed economy.

“With that, I am confident that Johor will continue to excel in all fields that benefit the rakyat.”

Meanwhile, Datuk Harun Abdullah, whose Tanjung Surat constituency is in Pengerang expressed his support for Sultan Iskandar’s objection to the third bridge plan.

He said the Sultan of Johor’s wisdom on issues affecting the State has always been for the good of Johoreans.

“I concur with Tuanku on this. I believe he has the wisdom is dealing with the issue,” he said when met after the State Assembly session which was adjourned until Monday

  

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It seems that PM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s attempt to have the third bridge proposal ready for a thorough review, announced during his recent visit to Singapore as a ‘deflection’ to unresolved issues has blown right into the face.

PM Dato’ Seri Najib should use his first opportunity in meeting Brig. Gen. (NS) Lee Hsien Loong in setting the agenda and timeline to resolve long outstanding issues such as the water agreement, Malaysian CPF, KTMB land and of course, newer ones such as the bridge-replacing-the-Johor-Causeway.

During delivering his titah at the launching of Iskandar Development Region (previously known as South Johor Economic Region) in November 2006, HRH Sultan Iskandar broke protocol to ask the Government to remove the Johor Causeway.

“Buang tambak tu. Bior air lalu. Dulu atuk aku kena tipu dengan orang putih!” (Get rid of the Causeay. Let the water flow. My late grandfather was deceived by the British), televised live on national TV. HRH Tuanku Sultan also said SJER should not be named after him but instead singled out Dato’ Rahman Andak, as the father of modern Johor and tried very hard to stop the influence of British into the prosperous state.

Present amongst others was Prime Minister ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who abruptly cancelled the Scenic Bridge project and gave the reason that the Johoreans do not want the sale of sand to Singapore. Apparently, Singapore under Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong did not object for the construction of the bridge (as of  22 April 2002 letter), hence the Gerbang Selatan project was initiated and commenced. Later, for unclear reasons, the issue about the bridge was brought into the bilateral talks and items such as the sale of sand to Singapore and the use of SAF military aircraft in Johorean airspace were unexpectedly appearing in the negotiations. These new items were vehenemently rejected by the Johoreans. As such, ill advised PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah used the excuse of Johoreans rejecting the sale of sand and SAF using Joho airspace to cancel the bridge instead of addressing all unresolved issues at hand and not agreeing into these new conditions attached to the negotiations.

The idea of the third bridge is really baffling. It served no real purpose in terms of benefits derived, especially from economic and political standpoint. In fact, it is detrimental to the South Johor economy. Port of  Johor in Pasir Gudang and newly dedicated Johor Corp developed of Port of Tanjong Pelepas are focused on oil and gas industry. With the third bridge build on the tip of the east Johor, a lot of activities within the hub of oil and gas industry are gravely impaired. Thus, it will a major loss of deeplyrooted companies like Sime Darby Engineering, MMHE, Titan and Ramunia, which fabricate and service oil and gas platforms in the region.

If the argument of developing the socio-economy of the east of coast of Johor, then it is lame to have a third bridge for that. Not too long ago, Ranhill Bhd. was given the concession to build a dedicated highway from Senai to Desaru due to commence shortly, exactly for that purpose but for a lot less money.

Until recently, the Johor State Government was developing the local maritime industry on the east coast of Johor to Changi. Example was Sebana resort, along the estuary of the Johor river. Then the introduction of ferry services from Belungkor in Kota Tinggi to Changi Point, where cars were also transported both ways. This service could be extended to the Riau islands such as Batam. However, the Ministry of Transport gave the right to Star Cruise to operate on the same route that foused on the ‘cruise to nowhere’ services such as gambling, in international waters. This inadvertently killed the highly potential ferry service.  In this case, the weakness of intra-departmental/minsitry communications and objectives made it strategically advantagous for the Singaporeans to capitalise.

It is very apparent that Malaysia constantly being short-changed when we deal with Singapore. HRH Sultan Johor’s message is clear that Malaysia has to defend its own interests and stick to the original agenda and not deviate into the whims and fancies of these arrogant ‘bananas’ (yellow on the outside, white on the inside – reflecting their true self as agents of the West).

Tun Dr. Mahathir: The importance of proper survey to determine borders

SPEECH BY

TUN DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD

AT THE

11^TH INTERNATIONAL SURVEYORS’ CONGRESS

AT CROWNE PLAZA MUTIARA HOTEL, KUALA LUMPUR

ON 18^TH JUNE 2009

 

———————–

 

1.         I would like to thank Institution of Surveyors Malaysia for the invitation to this 11^th International Surveyors Congress.

 2.         When I was invited to speak at the 11^th International Surveyors’ Congress 2009, I was reminded that I am an Honorary member of your esteemed institution.  I was made to understand that I have to pay my dues.  Well, I will.  But as an old man and a Malay, I forget easily.  I am now about to forget to pay my dues again.

 3.         I am of course a surveyor of sorts because very often when I was the Prime Minister I thought I was the lord of all I surveyed.   But now no more.  I suspect others in power consider that they are the Lord.  They would be doing the surveying.

 4.         It is a fascinating profession, surveying.  The surveyors determine the limit of our fiefdom.  Long ago the Malay States had no surveyors, qualified ones, that is.  And so the Malay Sultans of old did not quite know the boundaries of their fiefdom.  Because they didn’t, they lost much of their land to neighbours.

 5.         We only realize this now when we find the people living across our borders are Malays who speak the Malay language with Kedah accent and practice Malay customs and traditions.   But of course it is too late to bring in professional surveyors to stake out our old borders.  We would not do that because we want to live in peace and friendship with our neighbours.  In other parts of the world endless wars are fought because of the borders not being delineated and agreed to by neighbours.

 6.         When the British acquired Penang and Province Wellesley the boundaries were not properly surveyed.  Actually, the Sultan of Kedah did not know where the boundary between Kedah and Perak was.  Since the surveyor and cartographers were in the employment of the British Colonial Government in Penang, the border between the Southern Province Wellesley was shifted with Kedah losing some land.  But that was not a big issue.  Land was cheap.  Kedah did not lose much money.  But today in Ringgit terms what was lost was quite considerable.  Even tiny rocks in the sea are valuable.

 7.         But the British did a good job of surveying the land and they employed surveyors who demarcated the boundaries between the lots granted to individuals in all the Malay states.  It is amazing how detailed and accurate were the boundary marks.  Every lot, big or small or tiny even would be drawn on land grant document in the name of the owner.  The grants are impressive.  They not only register the names of the owners but have plans which show the boundary stones clearly as well as those of the neighbour’s holdings.  The owner thus feels confident that his ownership of the land is clearly demarcated and would stand any challenge in a court of law.

 8.         I had great faith in the system and the clarity of the positions of the boundary stones and the lines connecting them.  I thought that every surveyor would draw correctly the boundaries of the survey.

 9.         But now I am not so sure.  I had decided to build a fence between my land and that of my neighbour in Titi Gajah, Alor Star.  In order that I could go outside my fence when clearing the grass and the creepers without actually encroaching on my neighbours, I decided to build the fence about 1 ½ foot inside my land.  The boundary stone were therefore outside the fence.

 10.       For some reason my land had to be resurveyed.  Instead of drawing the boundary by drawing a straight line joining the boundary stones, the surveyor took my fence as the boundary for the new drawing.

 11.       I only realized this after I received the new grant.  By then it was too late.  I had lost quite a bit of my land and the neighbour quickly planted bushes right up to my fence.

 12.       Subsequently when I was Prime Minister it was decided that we must build a fence at the border with Thailand.  There was a lot of smuggling going on and the smugglers had built huge stores to hold contraband goods on the Thai side.

 13.       The border had been demarcated and the boundary stones were in place.  But there were earth roads crossing at a number of points on the border and lorries were carrying contraband items into Malaysia and into Thailand.

 14.       There were border guards but somehow they were not able to put a stop to the smuggling.  So a high fence covered with barb wire might prevent the smugglers’ lorry from getting across.

 15.       Again I decided that the fence be built within Malaysia, about two meters from the border.  It would enable our border patrol to inspect the fence from outside and also the border stones.  If we have to arrest the smugglers it would be within our territory.  But this time I was determined that the real borders would remain and not be shifted along the lines of the fence.  I was not going to lose Malaysian land with this exercise.

 16.       Building the fence was a good investment because the Malaysian customs were able later to collect more import taxes than the cost of building the fence.  But we had to maintain border guards to patrol the road running alongside the fence on the Malaysian side.  Even the cost to this border patrol was covered by the extra income from taxing goods which otherwise would have been smuggled.

 17.       Surveys to demarcate the borders had been carried out with Indonesia and Thailand.  It was a tedious process as both countries had to verify the location of the border markers.

 18.       For the most part it was easy to agree as to the line forming our borders.  But because the surveys were long delayed, the neighbours had encroached on Malaysian territory.

 19.       In Perak the Thais had actually developed rubber plantations in Malaysian territory claiming the land was part of Thailand.  It was difficult to settle this problem as the planters demanded to be paid compensation.

 20.       In Kelantan the border is represented by the bed of a small stream.  Unfortunately the river bed shifts when it rained.  I don’t know whether agreement has been reached between Thailand and Malaysia.

 21.       There is also an overlapping area of sea off the East Coast where the land border between Kelantan and Thailand meets the sea.  Tun Hussein solved this by agreeing on joint development – perhaps a unique way for settling border disputes.

 22.       The border between Indonesia and Malaysia involves Sarawak and Sabah.  We are still having problems especially offshore.  It is the same with Brunei.  I am afraid our people are not good at negotiations and I think we lost a lot.

 23.       Among the first thing I settled with Lee Kuan Yew when I met him after I became Prime Minister was the border between Singapore and Malaysia in the Tebrau Strait.  It was agreed that the deepest trench in the strait would be taken as the maritime border.  Once surveyed and marked it should be regarded as the permanent border.  Reclamations may cause the deepest points to shift but the border would remain.  It turned out that the deepest points were about midway between Singapore and Johore.  This was also regarded as the border on the causeway.  The northern half of the causeway workers is therefore Malaysian’s. 

 24.       It is not so easy with the concept of continental shelf.  Yet because of the possibility of finding oil the demarcation of the continental shelf is very important.  We are still faced with conflicting claims with neighbouring countries.

 25.       My experience with surveying and surveyors is as you can see limited mostly to determining the borders of our country.  Surveyors play a very important role in this matter. 

 26.       Today many new equipment and instruments have been invented to make surveying more precise.  I am sure that one day you will be surveying from outer space.  Already we have Google Maps.  In time I am sure all our maps will be through this frightening new technology.  The surveyors’ theodolite may get out of date.

 27.       Now I take great pleasure in declaring the 11^th International Surveyor’s Congress Open.

 

 

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DAP is a true-blue Lee Kuan Yew off-spring

The DAP this morning demonstrated the true colours of being a PAP off-spring here in Malaysia. Seretary General Lim Guan Eng parroted what Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew’s words about Malaysia in the Dewan Rakyat.

In the recent visit, Lee complained about Malaysia’s infrastructure and under-developmentness. Far worse than that, he explicitly touched on the unsubstantiated claims against Malaysia’s internal politics.

“In referrence to the recent Lee Kuan Yew visit. Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak would not give any assistance to Penang because Lee said that even under Gerakan, Federal Government did very little for Penang. I challenge PM Dato’ Seri Najib should prove Lee wrong”, the Penang Chief Minister said in a press coference at the Parliament lobby. Upon making this statement, Lim is defacing the maruah of the nation to an ultra arrogant tyrant of a little red dot city-state island off the coast of the southern most tip of continent Asia.

Being his usual kurang ajarness self, the former Prime Minister and PAP Secretary General come to Malaysia and conveniently insult the host and trying to teach how Malaysians to run this country. In any culture, it is most rude when a guest insults the host and try teaching the latter how to run his or her household. It is undoubtably an insult to the maximum from someone who ought to be statesman and behave in the mannerism befitting as one. Once a tyrant, Lee has actually done this over and over again in many countries. The irony is that, being a Chinese ethnic, he has not been invited in many places in China for his incurable and incorrigible kurang ajarness habit.

This is definitely something that a member of the Singapore Cabinet should never do. More over, when he is visiting the said country. Not only he unilaterally broke the ASEAN covenant of non-interference to a neighbour’s domestic politics, Lee Kuan Yew should observe his presence in Malaysia being accorded with a full diplomatic and visiting statesman status. This kurang ajarness could escalate into an ugly diplomatic conflict between very close neighbours.

What Lee Kuan Yew did and said during the eight day ‘walkabout’ could actually worsen what easily could be a volatile relationship between the two countries, which in the past have seen several ‘discomfort’ stance. The Chinese Chauvisnism that Lee demonstrated in this visit to a Malay hinterland is unacceptable. In fact, a current Political Secretary to a Pakatan Rakyat Menteri Besar and now PKR YB once blogged on Lee Kuan Yew’s racism. This proves the point that beng a lackey, the Chief Chauvinist DAP Chief Minister is magnifying the diplomatic level insult that the PAP Supremo is making.

DAP being an off-spring and Singapore’s anti-Malay ‘representative’ is very clear. Firstly, DAP carried on PAP’s anti-Federal Constitution campaign of “Malaysian, Malaysia”; to ask the dissolution of specific provisions for the Malays such as Article 153 of the Federal Constitution.

Then, continuously there is no Malay office bearers in the composition of DAP Leaders. This pattern is exactly like how the Malays are regarded in Singaporean politics. At best, former MTUC President Ahmad Nor was once made the DAP Vice Chairman. Even that, was not for long. In fact, when Lim Guan Eng assumed the premiership of Penang after the 12th General Elections, no Malay official was given a political appointment on a DAP ticket.

How the DAP run their organisation is very much reflective of their ‘parent’. Both parent and bastard son advocate and jealously protect their ‘dynasty’. Lee Kuan Yew’s eldest son Brig Gen (NS) Lee Hsien Loong was appointed Minister of State of Trade and Industry in 1984 (at the age of 32), six years before his father retired. In 1986, he was the Acting Minister of Trade and Industry and Minister of Defense II. That means the current Singapore Prime Minister and PAP Secretary General served as a Cabinet member to his father for four whole years!

Same with Lim Kit Siang. Son Lim Guan Eng was elected as Melaka MP in 1986, when the father was still DAP Chief Executive. Had the DAP was in power back then, rest assured Lim Guan Eng would have been given executive position. Now, while the father is still very much active in mainstream politics and as an elected representative, Lim Guan Eng is the DAP Secretary General.

The dynastic behaviour of both families is also very similar. Lee Kuan Yew’s second son, Brig. Gen. (NS) Lee Hsien Yang was made the SAF Director of Operations in his raw age of early thirties. By the time he was 38, he was already the CEO of major Singaporean GLC, Singtel. Lee Kuan Yew’s daughter in law was once the Temasek CEO. Lim Kit Siang’s daughter in law was once a DAP State Assemblywoman in Melaka.

The ‘Thirteen million Ringgit’ (or SG Dollar – which ever is applicable) question: aren’t there any other personalities besides the Lees and Lims, worthy enough to be considered and assume leadership and play strategic roles in their respective turfs?

The DAP, exactly as the parent PAP, are suffering from this acute incurable phobia when the Malays are united. Despite that Ketuanan Melayu is constitutional and not repressive of anyone’s rights. The fact is that, the Malays are very tolerantand accomodative  towards immigrants, to a point where the immigrant behave unbecoming of an accepted guest.

The autocratic pattern of both ‘control freak’ dynasties is very clear. If and when DAP is given power, they will definitely ‘rule and opress’, just like Singaporean PAP did. DAP is now emulating the parent; as a minority, insult the majority as much as one possibly can.

Rakyat reject Anwar’s sordid attempt to bring back “Butcher of Malaya”

Rashid Maidin, Chin "Butcher of Malaya" Peng and Chen Tien representing Malayan Communist Party at Baling Talks, 28 Dec 1955 which they refused to surrender and lay down arms now that Britain agreed to allow Malayans to negoatiate for independence

It seems Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim’s latest circus stunt to bring CPM Secretary General Chin “Butcher of Malaya” Peng back  as a sordid attempt to  pacify his much needed support of the Non Malays and playing to the gallery, ‘died’ within two solid days. Survey made by Ministry of Information shows that 80% Malaysians vehemently rejected the idea of validating a terrorist Supremo.

Bernama.com has the story:

People Reject Chin Peng’s Return

YAN, June 15 (Bernama) — A study carried out by the Malaysian Information Department reveals that the people do not want the government to allow former Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) leader Chin Peng to return to the country.

Information Department Director-General Datuk Abdullah Morad said the result of a survey carried out on 10,000 respondents of various ethnic groups showed that 80 per cent did not want Chin Peng to be allowed to return or to be granted citizenship.

He said the survey was carried out nationwide following a suggestion from certain quarters that Chin Peng should be allowed to return on humanitarian ground.

“The survey revealed that the people of all ethnic groups could not accept Chin Peng because of the atrocities committed by him during the emergency period and after the country attained independence,” he told reporters after attending a function at Kampung Singkir Laut, here Monday.

He said the statement by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim that Chin Peng should be allowed to return, because of the permission granted by the government to several members of the CPM members to return home previously, would only create confusion.

“There can be chaos in the country and the people can become confused if the issue on Chin Peng continues to be played up by opposition leaders to gain sympathy although the people have rejected Chin Peng’s intention to return,” he said.

He said the people of all races who loved the country should respect the Rukun Negara and the government’s decision not to allow Chin Peng to return.

— BERNAMA

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 The 10,000 respondents is a good sampling size to illustrate the sentiments of the rakyat on this issue.

Typical of Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders off late under party-less Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim’ tutelage and leadership, has turned to somewhat cheap circus stunt performance to gain attention. Being a compulsive liar and a lousy ‘short seller’ Anwar “charge for sodomy every ten years” Ibrahim managed to make Malaysian politics uglier by the day. These democratically elected people suffering of acute lackofattentionitis will do anything and everything to gain attention, in their sordid brand of very low politics to remain relevant. This also means that these PR Primates are ever willing to prostitute themselves to cheap stunts not befitting Yang Berhormat, especially in the augur house of the Dewan Rakyat or Dewang Undangan Negeri.

The Star has the story:

Tuesday June 16, 2009

Commotion as Speaker orders ‘headstrong’ MPs out

KUALA LUMPUR: The Dewan Rakyat kicked off its meeting yesterday with a 25-minute commotion minutes after Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin took his oath as the new Bukit Gantang MP.

The former Perak Mentri Besar was ordered out for violating the House’s dress code – he put on a black headband bearing the words “Bubar DUN (dissolve the (Perak) state assembly)”.

He had donned the headgear right after taking the oath, shouting “Hidup rakyat, bubar dewan! (Long live the people, dissolve the state assembly)”. Several Pakatan Rakyat MPs followed his example and put on similar headbands and armbands.

 

Nizar putting on the headband after being sworn in as MP for Bukit Gantang

Some at the public gallery, believed to be Nizar’s supporters, also put on the headband as they shouted “Bubar, bubar” as backbenchers retaliated with “Keluar! Keluar! (Get out! Get out!).”

Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia ordered Nizar out, banning him for two days from the meeting, citing him as the person who had started wearing the headgear. It didn’t matter that he had obliged the Chair’s request to take it off.

Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (DAP-Beruas) and Nga Kor Ming (DAP-Taiping) were also ordered out of the Dewan when they refused to obey the same request. The others who got the marching orders were Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena), N. Gobalakrishnan (PKR-Padang Serai), Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (PAS-Kuala Selangor) and Dr Mohd Hatta Ramli (PAS- Kuala Krai).

Opposition MPs Nurul Izzah Anwar (PKR-Lembah Pantai), Khalid Abdul Samad (PAS-Shah Alam) and Teo Nie Ching (DAP-Serdang) left the Dewan on their own accord.

The Speaker reminded the rest: “This is not a market place. Please sit down, don’t join them. This is how children argue in the streets. We have many issues to discuss for the rakyat’s interest.”

A visibly miffed Pandikar Amin said he would not give any welcome remarks after the swearing-in this time around, saying: “Look at what has happened. Is this the conduct of a mentri besar?”, which was greeted by thumps of support from Barisan MPs.

The commotion delayed the reply of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who attended the meeting for the first time as Prime Minister. He was there to answer a question on 1Malaysia.

At one point, Ngeh returned to the Chambers when Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein spoke about the chaotic Perak state assembly meeting on May 7.

But Pandikar Amin spotted the DAP MP and ordered him out again, saying: “If I have not told you how long the suspension is, I am telling you now that it is for two days under Standing Order 42.”

Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PKR-Permatang Pauh) said Pakatan Rakyat would be writing to Pandikar Amin to reconsider his decision to evict Nizar and the others.

“If they can’t show their protest in Parliament, where else can they do it? They will be restricted to gaining public support by going to the streets.”

PAS deputy president Nasharuddin Mat Isa, meanwhile, tried to distance the party from the whole fiasco, saying Nizar had acted in unison with his opposition colleagues from Perak without informing party leaders.

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The recently re-elected PAS Deputy President Nasharuddin Mat Isa, who is also an MP, was quick to disassociate the party from the PR Primates and most importantly court-displaced DAP-puppet Perak MB Nizar Jamaluddin. This only shows that being a DAP puppet, Nizar acted on ‘instructions’ of his puppet master Ngeh Koo Ham, who is Perak DAP Chairman.

It clearly shows that these PR Primates are not even interested to be a credible and worthy Oppositions in Dewan Rakyat, the highest house to voice the rakyat’s aspiration and laws made. This is also the place where the rakyat question the Government how the taxpayers money being spent and budgets approved. However, the PR Primates are only simply interested to monkey-around playing gutter politics instead of seriously addressing issues worthy of Yang Berhomat who are supposed to be ‘First amongst equals’.

PR strategy to remain relevant by playing politics such as conveniently make sure that there is by-elections periodically only shows that to move on and work is never in their agenda but to purely play politics. These PR Primates are not represetative of the rakyat. They are simply “street performers” in legislative houses, pretending to be ‘leaders’ that the rakyat chose.

Rakyat should seriously conisder their position to throw support and place their hopes on these PR Primates. It it obvious that former abuse-of-power-convict Anwar “Liar, Liar” Ibrahim and his band of bandits PR Primates do not have any nation building agenda at all, but purely the crave and craze for power, at any cost. They have done incredibly very little to help this nation progress in these trying times of global financial crisis but systematically trying to disrupt the smooth running of the Government. At the end of the day, the rakyat will suffer for all these politicking that the politicians in Government need to do, instead of focusing on the management, development and nation-building objectives and processes.