Bring back to spirit of the 1946 nationalism

Today marks the 53rd celebrations of Merdeka. Its time the spirit on the birth of this nation is relived and kept alive, as a motivation for us to move forward.

The next year will mark the 500th anniversary of a  Malay Empire on the Malay Peninsular being invaded and overan by a European nation using force. By early 20th century, Johor was the last state that when under the British Administration. In all, the Malay Peninsular had been under European (with a brief period 3 years 8 months under Japanese and 3 weeks under the Malayan Peoples’ Anti Japanese Army) occupancy for 446 years.

The spirit of nationalism became an integral part of the Malays to emancipate themselves being colonies of several states for over 400 years. Names like Dato Maharaja Lela, Dato Sagor, Laksamana Muhamand Amin, Dato Naning, Dato Bahaman, Tok Janggut are the legendary icon for th struggle.

The move to request for Merdeka was solidified after the first General Election where British allowed 52 out of 98 membership to the Federal Consultative Council be contested by the rakyat. Political parties staged their candidates in this first free democratic process to elected the representatives of the rakyat.

UMNO, which successfully campaigned to fail Malayan Union on 1 May 1946. The overwhelming support that was amassed amongst the Malays had never been seen before. The Malays, then comprises mainly by small holding farmers, odd job labourers, teachers and low grade civil servants gave the trust for aristocrats and technocrats to take the lead. The spirit of nationalism unprecendently emancipated the Malays and that motivated the masses to move further.

UMNO later in the 1950s fostered a co-operation with MCA and MIC to form the Alliance Party and contested in thw 1955 General Elections. The Alliance Party swept 51 of the 52 seats contested .The sole seat that lost was a PAS seat.  That gave UMNO President Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra the mandate to assume the Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya position and form the first self-ruling government by the rakyat. Depsite being a blue blood, Tunku embraced the spirit of Malay nationalism and drove the struggle there on with wit and wisdom.

This mandate allowed Tunku and his government to have a position to negotiate for independence. First was with HRH Rulers. Since British gave HRH Rulers the ‘first right of refusal’ to take over the governance of Federation of Malaya, Tunku had to convince HRHs to give up that right in favour of Westminster-style constitutional monarchy.

The ‘first right of refusal’ offered to HRH Rulers is not without precedence. First of all, British took over the management of most Malaysian states and were ‘annexed’ as British colony when HRH Rulers signed treaties. When Malayan Union was failed, British negotiated with HRH Rulers and the Treaty of Federation of Malaya (Perjanjian Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) came into force on 1 February 1948.

The Federation of Malaya Constitution that came into force upon Merdeka on 31 August 1957 evolved from the Treaty of the Federation of Malaya. Specific articles like Article 152 and 153 which provided special rights to the Malays were enacted in the spirit of HRH Rulers role in the Treaty of the Federation of Malaya and rights as the hereditary rulers of the land. At the enforcement of the Treaty of the Federation of Malaya, only the Malays are ‘subjects of HRH Rulers’ where else majority of the Chinese and Indian ethnics are considered ‘stateless persons’.

UMNO President Tunku who managed to convince HRH Rulers for the terms of the independence and brought the mandate of the rakyat of the Federation of Malaya agreed unconditionally to accept almost 1 million of these ‘stateless persons’ as citizens of soon to be the new born sovereign nation.

This is the ‘sacrifice’ of Tunku as the leader of UMNO and the Malays. During the 1955 General Elections, UMNO contested in only 35 out of the 52 seats (which translated to only 67% of the seats contested) despite 84% of the registered voters are Malays, as opposed to 11% Chinese and 3% Indians. UMNO managed to advocate the Malays to vote for the Alliance Party and gave MCA the 15 seats and MIC 2 seats in the Federal Consultative Council. UMNO only assumed 6 out of 10 Cabinet post.

Tunku via UMNO managed to convince the Malays to actually come out and voted the MCA candidates at the time where the Communist Rebels, which more than 95% of them are of Chinese ethnicity. His wisdom overpowered the hurt, pain and anguish that the Malays endure, especially persons involved in the security forces (majority of them are Malays) to give the MCA the votes they needed.

Nationalism was the fundamental of UMNO’s struggle for the Malays. The spirit of nationalism amassed the Malays to come out in full force which failed the Malayan Union. The same spirit was the basis when HRH Rulers agreed on the Treaty of the Federation of Malaya on 1 February 1948. The nationalism spirit that drove the Malays towards ‘Merdeka’ was also the basis of the strong mandate for the 1955 General Elections. Nationalism was the spirit when HRH Rulers consented for Federation of Malaya to be governed by the rakyat. Tunku also based the spirit of nationalism when he agreed on the unconditional citizenship of almost 1 million stateless persons.

The spirit of nationalism is the key success factor of the nation’s security ever since the struggle against communist armed rebellion officially declared on 16 June 1948 till the present fight against terrorism by the security forces.

The spirit of nationalism was also the underlying factor the New Economic Policy introduced in 1971 as a solution to transform and re-engineer the majority of the underdeveloped Malaysians, mainly in the rural areas. This socio-economic development plan was the key factor of the stability and harmony that enabled Malaysia to have economic growth and progress, till present stage and all the achievements throughout. This holistic stability, harmony, progress and growth was the underlying factor of Malaysia’s ambition in 1991 to be a developed nation by 2020.

Nationalism is the spirit that brought the rakyat forward in taking charge and deciding the fate of the nation. Nationalism is the ideology which will carry Malaysia through the next 50 years of nationhood. Its time to bring that spirit that emancipated Malaya (Malaysia) from the shackles of being colonised, fighting an imported armed rebellion and driven Malaysia and Malaysians to what she is, today.

SELAMAT MENYABUT HARI KEMERDEKAAN ke 53

Apakah Nik Aziz ada had untuk perkudakan Islam semata mata politik?

Murshidul Am PAS  Dato’ Nik Aziz Nik Mat mempertahankan tindakan MP DAP bagi Serdang Teo Nie Ching yang masuk kedalam Surau Al Huda, Kajang Sentral Ahad lepas tanpa menjaga adab menutup aurat dengan sempurna, sebagaimana protokol biasa wanita untuk masuk kedalam kawasan rumah ibadat Islam itu. Nik Aziz juga mempertahankan tindakan Teo yang memberikan ucapan/ceramah dalam kapasiti beliau sebagai seorang politikus DAP, satu parti Cina Chauvinis dan bersifat anti-Islam.

Laporan Bernama.com:

Isu tazkirah dalam surau: Nik Aziz pertahan Teo

28/08/2010 10:28pm

KOTA BHARU 28 Ogos — Mursyidul Am Pas, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat hari ini mempertahankan tindakan Ahli Parlimen Serdang, Teo Nie Ching menyampaikan sumbangan dan tazkirah di ruang solat Surau Al-Huda, Kajang Sentral, Ahad lepas.

Menteri Besar Kelantan itu berkata, tindakan anggota Parlimen tersebut tidak menyalahi hukum Islam, malah sebaik-baik cara untuk mendekatkan mesyarakat bukan Islam kepada Islam.

“Tidak salah orang bukan Islam termasuk wanita masuk dalam masjid sama ada untuk berucap atau apa sahaja asalkan berpakaian sopan bagi bukan Islam dan menutup aurat bagi orang Islam,” katanya kepada pemberita, di sini hari ini.

Beliau diminta mengulas tindakan Ahli Parlimen DAP itu yang menyampaikan sumbangan dan tazkirah di ruang solat utama surau terbabit.

Tindakan Teo itu menimbulkan kemurkaan Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah yang menitahkan Majlis Agama Islam Selangor menyiasat dan mengambil tindakan sewajarnya ke atas pengurusan surau tersebut. — Bernama

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Kenyataan Nik Aziz ini memang terbukti beliau sanggup memperkudakan Islam semata mata kepentingan politik sempit. Semenjak PRU 12, PAS mengambil strategi untuk memenangi hati pengundi Bukan Islam untuk menentukan mereka akan mula mendapat sokongan dalam kawasan yang pengundi majoriti Melayunya tipis dan kekal relevan dengan parti sekular PKR dan anti-Melayu/Islam Chauvinis Cina DAP dalam Pakatan Rakyat.

Nik Aziz in a Chinese Chauvinists anti-Islam/Malay DAP function with Lim Kit Siang

PAS bercita cita untuk mengembangkan pengaruh politik dan kedudukan dalam kawasan yang bukan tradisi majoriti Melayu (Malay Heartland) dan lebih progressif dan sofisktikated, seperti Selangor dan Lembah Klang. PAS juga ingin memperkukuhkan dalam kawasan dimana kuasa Pakatan Rakyat adalah memihak kepada undi Bukan Melayu, terutama Cina seperti Perak dan Pulau Pinang.

Oleh demikian, PAS telah ‘mengliberalkan’ kedudukan natijah ‘Perjuangan Berlandaskan Al Quran dan Hadith’, semata mata memenuhi kepentingan politik. Ini termasuk memberikan ‘pengesahan’ (endorsement) kepada elemen anti-Melayu rantau ini, PAP dan ketua mereka Lee Kuan Yew yang semenjak 47 tahun dahulu, sebagai minoriti cuba mendominasi majoriti.

Nik Aziz a 'thumbs up' endorsement to anti-Malay/Islam Singaporean Supremo Lee Kuan Yew

Semasa Pilihanraya Kecil P094 Hulu Selangor, Tuanku Sultan Selangor menitahkan bahawa semua surau dan masjid adalah dilarang untuk dijadikan medan atau platform politik. Nik Aziz memberikan reaksi yang mengingkari secara memomokan titah Tuanku Sultan Selangor ini. Ketetapan Nik Aziz dalam pusingan ini jelas menunjukan beliau secara halus mengingkari titah murka Tuanku Sultan Selangor.

Dalam isu ‘Kalimah Allah’, pandangan Nik Aziz bahawa tidak salah menggunakanya bagi gantinama Tuhan. Tuanku Sultan Selangor juga menitahkan kemurkaan baginda mengenai isu ini.

Seorang ulama yang gagal menurut titah perintah seorang Pemerintah atau Khalifah (dalam isu ini Tuanku Sultan dimana Perlembangaan mendukung baginda mempunyai kuasa mutlak atas isu agama) menunjukan bahawa beliau adalah seorang yang tidak hormat pada sistem pentadbiran dan ini membelakangkan prinsip Islam. Ini lebih lebih lagi baginda Tuanku Sultan merupakan seorang Islam dan mengingkari perintah Tuanku Sultan adalah perbuatan ‘kurang ajar’.

Islam tidak pernah menggalakan umatnya untuk ‘kurang ajar’ kepada Pemerintah, selagi beliau tidak zalim dan mengancam perkembangan Islam. Islam juga tidak memperuntukan agar agama Allah ini boleh dijadikan modal dan dimanipulasikan semata mata kepentingan politik.

Kenyataan Karpal Singh pada 18 Oktober 1990, sebagaimana dilaporkan Utusan Malaysia

Sebagai Murshidul Am PAS, kini Nik Aziz telah meng’halal’kan kedudukan parti yang kunun kunun “atas dasar dan prinsip Islam” itu membelakangkan perjuangan ‘Menegakan negara Islam’ dan ‘Melaksanakan hukum Hudud’ dan kompromi ini adalah semata mata kerjasama dengan parti sekular PKR dan anti-Islam seperti DAP. Menjaga hati anti-Islam seperti DAP dan meletakan PAS sebagai parti yang boleh diterima masyarakat Bukan Melayu terutama etnik Cina adalah lagi utama.

Nik Aziz menyokong dan meng’halal’kan usaha sumbang-sastera yang ramai anggap mengecewakan bagi seorang Sasterawan Negara Shahnon Ahmad dengan buku ‘Shit’ pada tahun 1999, sehingga MB Kelantan itu tergamak menyebut “Allah pun mencarut”. Kemudian kerjasama dengan DAP yang ternyata anti-Melayu dan anti-Islam di’halal’kan dengan kenyataan “Boleh berkerjasama dengan syaitan”.

Amat malang bagi orang Melayu kerana ada segelintir yang masih menerima bahawa Nik Aziz merupakan seorang ‘ulama’, walaupun ketetapan beliau merupakan atas pertimbangan politik yang dimanipulasikan dengan kefahamansdan intepretasi sempit ugama Islam. Nik Aziz merupakan antara penyumbang terbesar perpecahan Melayu, 20 tahun kebelakangan ini. Perpecahan ini diburukan lagi apabila Nik Aziz memperkudakan sepenuhnya peluang untuk menyemai ‘politik kebencian’ dan ‘politik keyakinan palsu’, yang timbul setelah Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim dipecat dari Kabinet pada 2 September 1998.

*Perkembangan dikemas kini 1800hrs

Berapa kali Tuanku Sultan perlu murka?

MP DAP Serdang berucap dalam surau, betul betul ditempat imam sujud

Isu MP DAP untuk Serdang Teo Neo Ching menyampaikan ceramah tanpa menutup aurat dengan sempurna dalam Surau Al-Huda Kajang Sentral Ahad lepas menerima reaksi negatif DYMM Sultan Selangor Tuanku Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah.

Laporan Utusan Malaysia:

Sultan Selangor murka

Oleh AZIAN AZIZ
pengarang@utusan.com.my

SHAH ALAM 27 Ogos – Sultan Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah murka dan dukacita dengan tindakan Ahli Parlimen Serdang Teo Nie Ching menyampaikan sumbangan dan ‘tazkirah’ di ruang solat Surau Al-Huda, Kajang Sentral, Ahad lalu.

Sehubungan itu, baginda menitahkan Majlis Agama Islam Selangor (MAIS) melakukan siasatan serta mengambil tindakan segera terhadap pengurusan surau yang terlibat.

Pengerusi MAIS, Datuk Mohamad Adzib Mohd. Isa berkata, selepas siasatan dibuat, pihaknya membuat keputusan untuk mengambil alih Surau Al-Huda dan menguruskan pentadbiran surau itu serta-merta.

Ia kerana kata beliau, situasi berkenaan jelas bertentangan titah baginda yang mahu kesucian surau dan masjid dipelihara.

Selain itu, menurut Mohamad Adzib, MAIS juga akan mengeluarkan surat amaran kepada Nie Ching.

”MAIS telah memanggil pengurusan Surau Al-Huda hari ini untuk menjelaskan isu tersebut.

”Selepas meneliti penjelasan daripada pihak terbabit, MAIS mendapati bahawa ucapan oleh wakil rakyat itu di dalam dewan solat surau, berlaku seperti dilaporkan.

”MAIS memandang serius isu ini memandangkan ia adalah kes kedua seumpamanya yang membabitkan ahli politik dan orang bukan Islam memberikan ucapan di dalam masjid atau surau di Selangor,” kata beliau dalam kenyataan di sini petang ini.

Pada Ogos 2009, Exco Selangor, Dr. Xavier Jayakumar, berucap dalam satu majlis berbuka puasa di dewan utama Masjid Taman Sri Andalas sehingga menimbulkan perasaan kurang senang di kalangan Islam.

Sehubungan itu, Mohamad Adzib mengingatkan mana-mana wakil rakyat bukan Islam untuk tidak mengulangi perbuatan yang sama serta menggesa supaya semua pihak termasuk parti politik agar lebih sensitif dengan perasaan umat Islam.

Mereka juga, kata beliau, hendaklah menjunjung titah perintah Sultan Selangor bagi menjaga kesucian institusi masjid dan surau di Selangor.

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Kemurkaan baginda Tuanku Sultan Sharafuddin ini adalah kerana kebiadapan DAP yang memuncak kerana bukan sahaja mencemar kesucian masjid dengan masuk ke dewan ibadat tanpa menutup aurat dengan sempurna, malah memberi ucapan kerana kedudukan beliau sebagai pemimpin politik.

Mungkin baginda Tuanku  belum mengentahui aktiviti pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat lain yang begitu aktif muncul di masjid masjid sebagai sebahagian dari melunaskan peluangan atas kedudukan mereka sebagai wakil rakyat. MP PKR Selayang William Leong juga muncul dalam masjid untuk memberikan sumbangan.

Ini bukan pertama kali baginda Tuanku Sultan Sharafuddin murka, akibat tindakan dan kelemahan Pakatan Rakyat sebagai pemerintah dalam Selangor. Pada awal bulan ini, baginda menitah murka atas isu ‘Kalimah Allah’ yang tidak diselesaikan, malah menunjukan bibit bibit negatif makin menular dikalangan rakyat.

Isu ‘Kalimah Allah’ ini menjadi modal politik oleh pemimpin Pakatan Rakyat secara tidak langsung menyemai bibit bibit ‘politik kebencian’ dikalangan rakyat, dengan pendekatan mengelirukan rakyat. Sebagai contoh MP PAS Shah Alam Khalid Samad menyokong bahawa golongan Bukan Islam terutama Kristian menggunakan ‘Kalimah Allah’ sebagai gantinama bagi Tuhan. Ini digunakan sebagai modal segelintir minoriti Bukan Islam menyemai ‘politik kebencian’ terhadap UMNO, yang begitu tegar mempertahankan isu ini.

Isu kemurkaan salahgunakan masjid dan surau sebagai pentas politik oleh PAS ini bukan isu baru. Semasa Pilihanraya Kecil P094 Hulu Selangor, baginda menitah murka kepada PAS kerana ingkar larangan ini.

Tahun lepas, baginda murka kepada YAB Menteri Besar Pakatan Rakyat Selangor Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim kerana mencadangkan menggunakan wang zakat dari Baitul Mal bagi tujuan pembangunan. Masa yang sama, isu pengurusan isu sensitif mengenai cadangan pembinaan kuil di Seksyen 23 Shah Alam sehingga menimbulkan kemarahan pendudukan setempat mengecewakan baginda. Isu ini jelas merenggangkan hubungan antara baginda dan Khalid dan jelas apabila Khalid tiada mengiringgi baginda dalam upacara rasmi gilang gemilang menyambut kepulangan kapal selam sulung TLDM KD Tunku Abdul Rahman pada 3 September 2009 di Pulau Indah.

Awal bulan ini juga menyaksikan Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat Selangor membelakangi protokol apabila baginda tidak dijemput untuk menghadiri majlis International Islamic Music Festival dan kemudiannya ‘mengaibkan’ negeri dan rakyat Selangor dihadapan DYMM Raja Permaisuri Agong kerana persediaan dan perjalanan majlis yang gagal dan memalukan. Secara tidak langsung ini memalukan Tuanku Sultan Selangor, sebagai simbol mewakili rakyat dan negeri Selangor di peringkat nasional dan Raja Raja Melayu.

Jelas sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat tidak menghormati baginda Tuanku Sultan sebagai Raja Melayu Berpelembagaan dalam Selangor, maka mereka juga telah pun menunjukan kecenderungan untuk tidak menghormati dan menjaga perasaan orang Melayu, sebagai warga majoriti Malaysia.

Sikap angkuh, sombong dan biadap Pakatan Rakyat ini terhadap institiusi Raja Raja Melayu sebagai penaung masyarakat majoriti Melayu juga semakin menyerlah keseluruh negara. Pada 13 Ogos 2010 DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan Perak menitahkan agar golongan minoriti dan Bukan Melayu (yang rata rata menjadi tunggak penyokong Pakatan Rakyat) agar “Menghentikan tuntutan yang tidak munasabah”. Baginda juga pernah bertitah memberi amaran terhadap golongan yang “Menjual negara”, yang amat jelas ditujukan kepada Pakatan Rakyat terutama pemimpin seperti Anwar “Mat King Leather” Ibrahim dan keluarga yang sentiasa memburukan nama baik negara dipersada antarabangsa.

Baru baru ini baginda Tuanku Sultan Johor menarik balik darjah kebesaran SPMJ dan DPMJ dari Pengerusi PKR Johor Chua Jui Meng pada 10 Jun 2010 kerana cubaan memecah belahkan masyarakat Cina Johor. Oleh kerana sebagai kebiasaan, PKR mengambil reaksi berkempen secara negatif kepada rakyat mengenai keputusan dan hak mutlak baginda Tuanku dan menerima kemurkaan dan amaran baginda pada 10 Ogos 2010 semasa di Kota Tinggi dalam siri Kembara Mahkota Johor dengan menintahkan “Jangan jadi bodoh dan terpedaya dengan hasutan PKR”.

Siri perkembangan atas titah amaran dan kemurkaan baginda Raja Raja keatas Pakatan Rakyat ini wajar menjadi perhatian kepada rakyat, terutama orang Melayu. Walaupun berada atas tahap politik, amat jelas sekelian baginda Raja Raja telah menunjukan kecenderungan ‘tidak selesa dan berkenan’ kepada golongan yang tergamak menggunakan strategi ‘politik kebencian’ dan ‘politik keyakinan palsu’ untuk meraih sokongan dalam kekeliruan dan permainan emosi yang mereka jana. Sekelian baginda jauh diatas tahap politik tidak mahu rakyat Malaysia berpecah dan disemai dengan perasaan dan sifat kebencian hanya kerana permainan strategik politik Pakatan Rakyat.

What transparency?

UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin, who is the BN Youth Chief wants the Government to be transparent in their awards and projects issued, to attract for foreign investors and players into the country. The Rembau MP also believed that these investments and participations would be a boost for the Government achieving the ‘New Economic Model’.

The Star report on this:

Published: Thursday August 26, 2010 MYT 11:49:00 AM

Transparency needed to lure quality foreign investors, says Khairy

By ZUHRIN AZAM AHMAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Transparency in awarding government projects is the only way to get quality foreign investors into the country, said Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said while it was important that the Government created opportunities, it was equally vital to be transparent in giving out projects.

“If we are ready to show that opportunities are given to the best companies, it has to be done in an open manner.

“Project such as the (development of Sungai Besi) airbase or the MRT system, we must demonstrate how they were given out,” he said in a forum on the 10th Malaysia Plan – Bridging The Political Divide here on Thursday organised by The Leaders magazine.

“This is how it should go for the Government.”

Khairy also said time for “sweetheart deals” and providing guarantees to companies to cover the possibility of losses was long gone.

“We should no longer be providing guarantees. We cannot afford to bail out companies now,” he said.

“We also should no longer promote the country as a location for investment with everything the cheapest instead we should offer things that are of high value.”

Khairy also said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had not backtracked on the New Economic Model (NEM) due to pressure from Malay-based non-governmental organisation.

“That is certainly not the reason. The model is still with (Datuk) Idris Jala (Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department) and at the final stage,” he added.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who spoke earlier said despite the talk about transparency, many projects had been given out without much information

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What transparency is he talking about?

Maybe Khairy has conveniently forgotten that most of us actually did not forget; He was an integral part of PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s regime which made where and what this country is, today.

Malaysia was a prosperous and promising nation where all the business sectors were doing well, inter and intra ethnic and grouping relations were very good, the integral co-relation between Government and industries and private sectors were cohesive under the ‘Malaysia Inc’ and almost all Malaysians were bullish about able to achieve anything with the ‘Malaysia Boleh’ spirit. There were a lot of liquidity in the market and Government was able to fulfil all its commitments to projects already planned, initiated and being carried out, for the progress of the nation under various social and economic development programs.

Suddenly came PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah. Within two weeks of him taking over from Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, he already cancelled projects meant to stimulate the economy such as the ‘double tracking railway system’. A new manner of economic planning and decision making was formed in the Prime Minister’s Private Office known as ‘Level Four Boys’, where previous work done by various agencies such as the Economic Planning Unit and Implementation and Co-ordination Unit under the Prime Minister’s Department was taken over. Since PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah also was the Finance Minister, some of the decisions of the Treasury was taken over by these ‘Level Four Boys’.

Of course the Second Finance Minister Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yackop had his ‘reign of terror’, especially in the restructuring of the GLCs (previously, there was no term “GLC”. It is a term adopted from Singapore!). Khazanah Holdings Bhd. was restructured and so were all Federal Government investments. All the GLCs had a new focus; make money and bring ‘Return of Investments’ instead of serving the nation first, as what these GLCs were initially set up as Government agencies and later corporatised and turned private, which include IPOs.

Then the dismantling of other programs and projects such as the systematical slow death of Proton and the invocation of the ‘National Automotive Policy’, believed to be initiated by Ethos Consulting and Co. Of course by this time (mid 2005), the Federal Government had this fondness of hiring consultants which include foreign firms like McKinsey, Hays, BCG etc (being masquareded under the auspicious of new and upcoming indigenous firms) to evaluate, re-structure/re-strategize/re-package/re-branding, plan and form ‘blue prints’ of all sorts of’ ‘economic and transformation agendas’, to take the function of the Government planning arms such as EPU, ICU, MOF and others.

The same time, ‘economic corridors’ were born. First with South Johor Economic Region (then known as Iskandar Development Region), Nothern Corridor Economic Region and Eastern Corridor Economic Region. Big buzz words, exorbitant targets and fancy strategic jargons were thrown around as if it was a series of mega TV movie series made by James Cameron teaming up with Sir Richard Attenborough and Oliver Stone. For example, for the IDR the target was to have an investment of RM 115 billion by 2015.

Of course all of these were not without the free reign of projects issued which had little benefits for the rakyat or nation. Top of the head would be names like ‘Moonsoon Cup’, ‘Crystal Mosque’ and others. Projects believed to be much higher value of the original budgeted cost were being thrown around, mostly to cronies dished out in the most clandestine manner. An example is a PR project for the Inland Revenue Board dished out to Kalimullah “Riong Kali’ Hassan for a cool half a billion ringgit.

Of course there were scandals like Parkway acquistion, Telekom Malaysia hiving off shares to Temasek Holdings, Scomi being awarded a large contract to supply Prasarana with really low quality China made buses and the list is bottomless. Then again there are ‘Khairy linked’ names like ‘Syed Azman’ and ‘Haniff’, who in aggregate got tens of thousand of Approved Permits to import cars from abroad. The monies that they got were so huge that Weststar could afford to acquire a Eurocopter Dauphin helicopter, which Khairy used for trotting around the peninsular when campaigning for his UMNO Youth Head job.

Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad wrote in his blog that during PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah’s ‘reign of terror and recklessness’, Petronas issued a total of RM 263 billion in taxes, dividends, royalties, subsidies and other instruments for and on behalf of the Government, as compared to the former’s 22 years of Premiership with an aggregate of RM 170 billion. And yet nothing substantial could be seen with the quarter of trillion Ringgit as compared to the North South Highway and other highways, ports and harbours, KLCC, KLIA, LRT system and the expansion of agencies like the military and acquisition of strategic assets.

Seriously, Khairy statement in this press report really stink to high heaven. Khairy was an active promoter and participant of the scandal of ECM Libra acquiring the much larger MOF Inc controlled Avenue Capital, where issues like “impairment of goodwill, gross disparity of evaluation value, violation of minority shareholders’ rights (no mandatory general offer) and the acquiring company son-in-law relationship to the acquiror company father-in-law”, who was then as the Finance Minister is the Chairman of MOF Inc.

Again, what “Transparency” is Khairy talking about? In 2004, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Private Office at the raw age of 27 years old. He is was at the heart of all these project scandals and clandestine awards. He was in the heart of several Federal Government commitments to shoddy deals. Khairy can’t even be ‘transparent’ about him able to win the UMNO Youth Head contest 25 March 2009, when he polled last of the Division level nominations, which is a true reflection of who the grassroots wanted as the leader.

No, Minister!

On the way to Putrajaya for iftar recently, we saw a Police outrider clearing traffic for the Government official limousine (Proton Perdana V6 Executive). We also noticed that a pair of men in dark leather jacket riding by the side of the limousine. We wonder who might the passenger be.

Then we learnt that the passenger is none other than the Home Minister.

On the same day, we saw a Military Police was riding escort for another Goverment limousine. A four-wheel-drive was following closely to that limousine. Apparently, it was the Minister of Defense.

Are these Ministers entitled to such escorts?

We were made to understand that the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Ministers are the only Federal Government public office holders who are given Police escorts and outriders. It is understandable because these are the highest office bearers in the Government. Even for protocol purposes, their stature that they are being acknowledged as ‘Yang Amat Berhormat’ instead of ‘Yang Berhormat’  as per the Ministers, Deputy Ministers and MPs, Backbenchers or Oppositions.

Ministers are not accorded with Police outriders. They maybe issued with one or two policemen assigned as a  bodyguard. But that’s it. Nothing more. F0rmer Prime Ministers on the otherhand have been issued with Police outriders and even a security detail, which include UTK personnel. Probably it is their stature as Statesmen, in the same category as Tuan Yang Terutama Governors. For the record, UTK personnels were assigned to a former Prime Minister on top of the ADC and two police bodyguards after Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad was attacked in Kota Bahru Airport on 28 July 2006.

If that is bad, what till you learn of this: The Mayor of Kuala Lumpur has a DBKL outrider! The outrider stops oncoming traffic, to clear the way for the Mayor. Can he do really that? Is that lawful?

So, what is next? A fire truck escorting the Minister of Housing and Local Government, an ambulance clearing the road for the Health Minister, a JPJ Proton Waja patrol car paving the way for the Transport Minister, a JKR land rover riding escort the Minister of Works or Pos Laju delivery van escorting the Minister of Communication and Multimedia?

How about Ministers without enforcement or uniformed body agencies, like the Minister of Foreign Affairs or Minister of Natural Resources and Environment? Does he get the Game Warden (Perhilitan Ranger) to ride on a cub motorbike to follow the Minister?

For the record the Chief of Defense Forces, Inspector General of Police and Armed Forces service chiefs are accorded with bodyguards. It is the nature of their jobs and inherent security threats that come with it. On 7 June 1974, IGP Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ismail was assassinated in his official car on the way to work, near Jalan Raja Chulan Kuala Lumpur.

These ‘new’ practices by the Ministers are undoubtedly abuses. It was learnt that Police outriders were requested by the Home Minister when Syed Hamid “Kodomo Lion’ Al Bar was in the Cabinet seat. And they must stop. Ministers should not use departmental resources for these unnecessary ‘luxuries’. Of course traffic is bad. They should manage their engagements and time really well. We are sorry but the rakyat would not stomach these sort of nonsensicalness.

P/S: The title is a phrase that Permanent Under Secretary of State Sir Humphrey Appleby never used against Minister of Administrative Affairs James Hacker, MP of Birmingham East

Kapal selam bukti keupayaan operasi persenjataan

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman belayar bersebelahan KD Tun Razak, berdekatan Pengkalan TLDM Teluk Sepanggar, Sabah Julai 2010

Dewasa ini, terlalu banyak tohmahan mengenai kapal selam Scorpene Perdana Class KD Tunku Abdul Rahman dan KD Razak yang tidak mampu menjalankan kepuayaan operasi, termasuk menyelam dengan baik dan kemampuan persenjataan yang diragui. Pembangkang amat konsisten menggunakan berita palsu ini dalam kempen politik, termasuk baru baru ini MP Lembah Pantai Nurul Izzah Anwar membuat kenyataan yang sama semasa di Jakarta.

Nurul Izzah diberitakan membuat kenyataan bahawa kapal selam Perdana Class tidak boleh menyelam dan berada dalam keupayaan yang amat lemah. Ini jelas percubaan untuk mengaibkan negara, terutama TLDM pada kacamata antarabangsa.

SM 39 Exocet keluar dari bawah permukaan Laut Cina Selatan

Namun, ianya jelas amat meleset malah TLDM telah membuktikan keupayaan dan keberkesanan operasi kedua dua kapal selam yang telah dibina oleh konsortium yang diketuai Armaris atas kontrak yang dimeterai pada Jun 2002 dengan kos berjumlah RM 3.4 billion itu.

Misil Exocet SM 39 Blok 2 keluar dari perut Lautan Cina Selatan dan terbang menuju sasaran dengan kelajuan sub sonik

Ini adalah kenyataan media Panglima Tentera Laut Laksmana Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Hj Jaafar pada 26 Julai 2010 atas kejayaan latihan melancarkan misil SM 39 Blok 2 dari KD Tunku Abdul Rahman dari kedalaman 55 meter bawah paras permukaan laut:

KD TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN BUKTI KEUPAYAAN

Kota Kinabalu, 26 Jul – Kapal Selam Pertama Negara, Kapal Diraja TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN hari ini telah membuktikan kebolehannya apabila berjaya melancarkan misil bawah permukaan ke permukaan air jenis Exocet SM39 Blok 2. Misil tersebut telah mengenai sasaran permukaan berukuran 40 meter panjang pada jarak 40 km(22 batu nautika).  Misil telah dilancarkan sewaktu KD TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN berada pada kedalaman 55 meter di mana ia sukar dikesan oleh sistem penderia bawah air mana-mana kapal permukaan.  Penembakan ini dilaksanakan sebagai sebahagian aktiviti kontrak uijian tropika.

SM 39 hampir mengenai barge latihan (sasaran)

Misil Exocet SM39 Blok 2 yang dilancarkan tepat pada jam 10.15 pagi tadi di kawasan Laut China Selatan telah membuktikan keupayaan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) dan sekaligus membuktikan kapal selam negara mampu melancar serangan dari bawah permukaan.

“Misil yang dilancarkan mengenai tepat ke sasaran yang berukuran 40 meter pada kedudukan 40 km/22batu nautika dari kedudukan kapal selam” kata Panglima Tentera Laut, Laksamana Tan Sri Abdul Aziz bin Hj Jaafar yang turut sama menyaksikan penembakan tersebut.

Sasaran berjaya dimusnahkan

Penembakan ini juga bertujuan mengesahkan keberkesanan Misil Exocet SM39 Blok 2 dan keupayaan sistem persenjataan atau lebih dikenali sebagai SUBTICS KD TAR di Kawasan Laut Beriklim Tropika.

Misil Exocet SM39 Blok 2 telah diperolehi dari negara Perancis pada pertengahan 2008.  Ia merupakan peluru berpandu bawah permukaan ke permukaan yang mempunyai berat keseluruhan 2,100 kilogram, panjang 6 meter dan diameter 35 sentimeter.  TLDM telah mula menggunakan misil jenis Exocet sejak tahun 1979 lagi yang bertujuan memusnahkan kapal permukaan bersaiz besar.

Unit-unit yang terlibat dalam penembakan ini juga akan terlibat dalam latihan gabungan TLDM yang dinamakan Operational Sea Training(OSTEX) dan Submarine Fleet Integration Training (SUBFIT) yang akan berlangsung selama seminggu.

*************

Untuk rekod, beberapa gambar foto ini tidak pernah disiarkan sebelum ini untuk kegunaan umum.

Kapal selam Perdana Class ini berukuran 67 meter dan berupaya membawa campuran 18  laras senjata (Torpedo Whitehead Allenia Blackshark II dan misil MDBA SM 39 Exocet Blok 2), dimana 6 akan berada dalam laras tiub torpedo dan 12 lagi disusun atas rak. Exocet merupakan sistem missil yang diuji kemampuan dan keberkesananya, kali pertamanya masa Perang Falkands dimana Tentera Udara Argentina berjaya melancarkan misil dan menenggelamkan kapal pemusnah Tentera Laut DiRaja Britain HMS Sheffield dan HMS Coventry. TLDM mula menggunakan sistem misil ini semenjak tahun 1979 lagi.

Kapal pemusnah TLD Britain HMS Sheffield terbakar sejurus selepas dibedil misil Exocet semasa Perang Falkands (Mei 1982), sebelum tenggelam.

Penembakan ini bersejarah bukan sahaja kepada TLDM, malah kepada angkatan laut Asia Tenggara. Ini pertama kali penembakan misil pertana dari bawah permukaan laut. Kejayaan ini merupakan testimoni keupayaan TLDM untuk menjadi angkatan laut yang mampu menguasai asset pertahanan strategik dan melakukan serangan tanpa dikesan musuh.

Rakyat Malaysia wajar merasa bangsa kerana pertahanan negara makin mantap dengan squadron kapal selam Perdana Class ini. Ini kerana mana mana angkatan laut yang mempunyai keupayaan kapal selam dianggap kelebihan sebagai  bersamaan faktor 10 kali ganda kapal perang permukaan. Ini bermakna secara kasar jika berlaku konflik peperangan di lautan, dengan dua buah kapal selam ini memberikan TLDM kelebihan ‘kegerunan’ kepada musuh seumpama 20 buah kapal perang kelas frigat dan korvet.

Frigat F2000 KD Lekiu, yang mempunyai senjata meriam utama 57mm (220 rpm), misil MM40 Exocet, misil pertahanan udara Sea Wolf dan torpedo 321mm, adalah kapal tempur paling canggih dan berkuasa dalam Armada TLDM. Bayangkan kapal selam Perdana Class mampu mempunyai faktor 'kegerunan' 10 kali berbanding frigat ini

Applikasi kapal selam bagi sesebuah angkatan laut ternyata memberikan kelebihan strategik. Asset ini melonjak TLDM sebagai angkatan laut yang dihormati dalam rantau ini. Malaysia mempunyai kawasan perairan yang amat luas, zon ekonomi eksklusif yang menjamin kesejahteraan ekonomi negara terutama kawasan pelantar pertroleum dan perikanan dan amat penting sebagai sebuah negara maritim, laluan perdagangan antara terpenting dan sibuk global melalui kawasan operasi bawah TLDM untuk menjamin kedaultan negara.

Latihan penembakan ini menunjukan warga Angkatan Kapal Selam TLDM yang dilatih oleh pasukan kapal selam tentera laut Perancis lebih 5 tahun secara intensif, mampu mengendalikan asset strategik ini dengan baik. Siri latihan dengan angkaran kapal selam nuklear tentera laut Perancis sebelum KD Tunku Abdul Rahman dan KD Tun Razak belayar pulang ke tanahair adalah bukti pengiktirafan kemampuan warga anggota angkatan kapal selam ini.

Lencana angkatan kapal selam Perancis: Pengiktirafan bagi warga angkatan kapal selam TLDM

* Perkembangan dikemas kini Rabu 25 Ogos 2010 1700hrs

PR mahu jadikan Mandarin dan Tamil bahasa rasmi

P Ramasamy, Timb Ketua Menteri DAP Pulau Pinang

Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang Prof. P Ramasamy dipetik sebuah akhbar Cina menyebut bahawa Pakatan Rakyat berhasrat untuk menjadikan Bahasa Mandarin dan Tamil sebagai bahasa rasmi, sebagai ‘merangkumkan’ kedudukan Bahasa Melayu yang menjadi bahasa rasmi negara (sebagaimana diperuntukan dalam Perlembagaan Persekutuan), sekiranya berjaya mengambil alih kuasa tampuk pemerintahan negara.

Ramasamy merupakan seorang ADUN DAP bagi Perai dan MP bagi Batu Kawan. Beliau juga merupakan ‘Menteri Bayangan’ (Shadow Minister) bagi portfolio Luar Negara dalam Kabinet Pakatan Rakyat.

Ini jejas sikap pemimpin anti Melayu dalam Pakatan Rakyat, terutama DAP ingin menafikan kepentingan majoriti dan sejarah semata mata untuk menunjukan keangkuhan minoriti mereka mampu menguasai golongan majoriti, apabila berkuasa. Ini merupakan sikap yang sama Kepimpinan PAP di Singapura.

Untuk rekod, DAP merupakan ‘anak didik’ dan agenda anti Melayu dan sosialis PAP Singapura di Malaysia, apabila mereka dinyah keluar oleh Perdana Menteri Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra pada 9 Ogos 1965 kerana sikap ‘minoriti-cuba-menguasai-majoriti’ dan anti Melayu yang makin terserlah dan mula menggugat kestabilan politik dan harmoni negara dan rakyat.

Ini jelas percubaan DAP cuba mengubah Artikel 152 yang memperuntukan Bahasa Melayu merupakan bahasa rasmi negara dan sekiranya ini berjaya, makan minoriti anti Melayu ini makin berjaya mengorak langkah untuk menafikan peranan orang Melayu sebagai pribumi tanahair ini dan ciri ciri Melayu dan Islam merupakan asas pembudayaan Bangsa Malaysia seperti Bahasa Melayu ialah bahasa rasmi, Islam merupakan ugama Persekutuan Malaysia, sistem mahkamah syariah mempunyai kedudukan sama taraf dengan mahkamah sivil dan sebagainya.

Rakyat Malaysia wajar sedar hasrat strategik DAP ini, sebagai golongan minoriti yang cuba menguasai majoriti dan menafikan kedudukan orang Melayu secara komprehensif apabila berkuasa.

* Perkembangan dikemaskini 800pm

Perdana Menteri Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak telah dihalang untuk bersembanhyang dalam masjid oleh penduduk tempatan yang dipercayai ahli dan penyokong PAS di Kampung Medan, semasa lawatan siri ‘walkabout’ di Petaling Jaya Selatan minggu lepas. Inilah sikap pemimpin dan penyokong Pakatan Rakyat tempatan yang tidak boleh membezakan politik dan kehendak ugama Islam(persaudaraan antara umat Islam) kerana ‘tertutup hati’ kecenderungan ‘politik kebencian’ yang disemai oleh pemimpin PAS, bermula ‘Amanat Hj Hadi’ hampir 30 tahun lampau.

Nyata kedudukan dan kepentingan orang Melayu sebagai majoriti dan asas pembudayaan Bangsa Malaysia sedang diancam secara sistematik. Namun amat malang apabila ada segelintir dikalangan Muslim Nusantara ini yang terpengaruh dengan ‘politik kebencian’ dan memecah belahkan orang Melayu sehinggakan golongan majoriti ini terbahagi sehingga menjadi ‘minoriti’ dan kuasa politik yang ada pada mereka ter’gadai’ kepada minoriti sebenar negara ini, seperti Bukan Melayu terutama etnik Cina.

Maka minoriti Bukan Melayu seperti Chauvinis Cina DAP ini menangguk di air keruh dan berusaha untuk secara berterusan menghakis kedudukan dan kepentingan orang Melayu, seperi soal bahasa, ugama Islam dan Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu.

TEPUK DADA, TANYA SELERA!

The fight against terrorism, since Aug 1945

The past week, Astro History Channel 555 has been airing two very important episodes of the Malaysian history against terrorism; “Malayan Emergency” and “VAT 69″. Later tonight, it will be about the “Al Maunah arms heist”, which in history was recorded as the only bandits ever charged, found guilty and hanged for ‘waging a war against HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong’.

MCP bandits armed with M3 Carbines

The terrorism in Malaya significantly recorded upon the Japanese Imperial Army laid down arms on 15 Aug 1945. Before the British Military Administration reached these shores from India, the Malaysian Peoples’ Anti Japanese Army (Bintang Tiga) brutally ‘reign’ certain districts for three weeks, including invoking torture on civilians and assassinations on community leaders. The objective is to gain control of Malaya and uphold communism ideology.

A quarter of million dollars bounty for Chin "Butcher of Malaya" Peng, from a 1950s Straits Time headline

“Malayan Emergency” is about  the Malayan Communist Party armed rebellion (via the Malayan Peoples’ Liberation Army) under Chin “Butcher of Malaya” Peng, which killing of three planters in June 1948 got the British Administration to declare ‘Emergency’ on 16 June 1948. Quickly, British brought Commonwealth troops from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Nepal and other countries to combat the battle-experienced guerrillas, who had direct linkages with mainland Chinese communists under Mao Ze Dong. The war escalated into very serious situation that drew national attention when 25 persons were murdered in cold blood, which include women and children when the Bukit Kepong Police Station was attacked on the early morning of 23 February 195o.

The final journey of High Commissioner to Malaya Sir Henry Gurney on 9 Oct 1951

The highlight of the war reached all time high when British High Commissioner Sir Henry Gurney was assassinated by communist rebels led by Siu Mah on 6 October 1951, few miles approaching Frasers Hill. Gurney’ assassination brought upon a veteran World War II experienced Corp commander, Gen. Sir Gerald Templer. New measures were put in place and the military, with intense co-ordination of the Commonwealth forces went very aggressive. Templer introduced the resettlement of Chinese communities into new villages (with far reaching political effect) and national registration in the form of identity cards.

Commonwealth and Malay security forces, fighting the Malayan Emergency 1948-60

For intent and purpose, it was an all out war against the Communist Terrorists. The reason its called ‘Emergency’ because if it was called a ‘War’, the properties owners would not able to claim from the insurance companies. Despite of the on going ‘war of insurgency’, after in 1955 General Elections UMNO leaders managed to led a tri-party-civilian-authority-government to get HRH Rulers to waive the right-to-rule in favour Westminister Style constitutional monarchy and convince the British for a independence. Merdeka came on 31 August 1957, when the Federation of Malaya still under direct communist rebellion. Eventually, in 1960 HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Hishamuddin Alam Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Abdul Samad declared ‘Emergency’ was over.

However, the communist rebellion did not end. The guerrilla warfare continues, but mostly in the jungles and deep interiors. The hunt for the communist rebellions arrived to a defensive mode for them, where a lot of booby traps were laid for the army and policemen who conducted continuous military operations.  Hence, the military and police decided to opt for a special forces unit being formed, for these specific purposes.

VAT 69: Crack commando unit of the Field Force Police

The brutal attack on Police convoy in Kroh (near the Thai border), got the Ministry of Home Affairs to upgrade the strike-ability of the Police Field Force. “VAT 69″ is about the paramilitary Police Field Force own commando detachment, formed in October 1969 with the help of British Special Air Service for specific misisons such as ‘search and destroy’. The detachment was quickly despatched to hunt down the communist rebellions along the Titiwangsa Range, who were conducting raids in the deep interiors of Kedah, Perak, Kelantan and Pahang from their camps in Southern Thailand.

The armed rebellion of the communist terrorists changed when they slowly lost their control of the jungle and their numbers waned, due to their personnels surrendering, died or simply lost their ability to fight. More over when their supply lines and operational camps were systematically crippled and destroyed. Despite communism gained better footing all over Indo China upon the fall of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos to communist forces in mid 1970s, the armed struggle of the Malaysian communist rebels reduced termendously. Never the less, it did not damper their effort to wage their armed struggle and their tactics changed to meet their objectives: To continuously strike fear and the same time paralyse the security forces.

IGP Tan Sri Abd Rahman Ismail: Gunned down by communist assassins on 7 June 1974

The jungle warfare was traded to urban hits of selected strategic targets. Two senior Police Officers were assassinated in the 1970s. Former Director of Special Branch in the 1960s IGP Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Ismail, who was involved in many anti-communist operations was shot in his official car on the way to work, 7 June 1974 deep in the heart of Kuala Lumpur business district. Perak CPO Tan Sri Khoo Chong Kong shot in Ipoh on 13 November 1975. What is sad that Khoo’s assassin Lim Woon Chong was actually defended by DAP Chairman Karpal Singh.

The armed communist rebellion ended when the MCP agreed to lay down arms and end the rebellion, after the Special Branch succesfully negotiated the armstice. The Hadyaii Accord was signed in Hadyaii on2 December 1989, Thailand between the Malaysian Government and Chin Peng.

Hadyaii Accord, signed 2 Dec 1989

The war of terrorism did not end when the Hadyaii Accord was signed. A new breed of terrorist arisen in 1980s and 90s, especially after the successful campaign of rogue ‘ Jihad’ as an outcome from the awareness created with Iranian Revolution and war against Soviet Union occupancy of Afghanistan. Suddenly, a new form of terrorism grew in the form of ‘Jihad Warriors’ within the civilian population of Malaysia.

The skewed and wrong interpretation of ‘Jihad’ could be attributed to Haji Hadi Awang’s (now PAS President) sermon ‘Amanat Haji Hadi’ in 1981 where he justify the struggle against infidel-ways of the legal and administrative system. This fueled the divide between UMNO and PAS and further emphasised in smaller intense religious teachings with deviant motives such as politics.

FRU units deployed to control public order upon the warrant to arrest Ibrahim Libya

The first was when the Police tried to arrest deviant militant religious teacher Ibrahim Libya in his village of Memali near Baling Kedah, where armed ‘Jihad Warriors’ battled a group of arresting Police Officers with the protection of a Field Force unit detachment. 18 persons were killed in the fight on 19 November 1985, which include 4 Policemen.

The Army Commandos closing in on Al Maunah deviationist-rebels on Bukit Jenalik

The trend of these new breed of Jihad by these devianists continued. Another ‘Jihad’ deviation group Al Maunah did an arms heist near the Malaysian-Thai border and retreated to Bukit Jenalik, Sauk near Kuala Kangsar, Perak. These men claimed that the Malaysian Government and Malaysia is not an Islamic state and its their calling to assume power by force to install a true Islamic government. This rebellion was overpowered and the leader Muhammad Amin Razali and three others were sent to gallows for ‘waging a war against HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong’ where else 6 were sentenced to 10 years jail. 15 others were detained under ISA and were rehabilitated whilst in detention.

A similar device designed to explode along Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar on 'Millenium New Year'

Little that anyone knew, another group planted pipe bombs in Jalan Telawi 3, Bangsar for the ‘New Millenium’ party on 31 December 1999. These were co-ordinated bombings within the region, which include the Bali Bombing.

These deviant groupings grew into various active cells, now with international network in an intricate web of organised terrorism, namely Al Qaedah and Jemaah Islamiah. Some of the 9 September 2001 World Trade Centre bombers were seen in Malaysia with a known terrorist Yazid Sufaat, between 5 to 8 January 2000.  Two Malaysians will carve important mentions in terrorism in the region; Azahari Husin and Nordin Md Top.

Regional terrorism also affected Malaysian security. The insurgency wars and separatist movements in the Phillipines and Southern Thailand over spilled into our borders. The damning example is the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group, which prowl on civilian population within Southern Phillipines for ransom. The raid on Sipadan Island was a scar in the nation’s security landmark. Many of the home grown deviant militants who wrongly subscribe the ‘Jihad’ made their way into Souther Thailand cessation activities.

The most wanted man in SEA: Mas Selamat Kastari in different looks

The arrest of most wanted terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari in Johor after escaping Singaporean detention last year, moved the Police to form a Anti Terrorist Division, led by very experienced former Special Branch Officers. The new division quickly earned acknowledgments and respect from international security and intelligence agencies.

Never the less, the fight of terrorism still goes on. Terrorism had been murderous avenues for certain parties to meet their objectives, which include wanting power. Terrorists are enemies of the rakyat, tanahair and faith. Only in different forms, compared to 65 years ago when the Bintang Tiga ruled the nation in brutal force for three weeks.

One of Malaysia’s most effective method of curbing terrorism in volatile variables such as multi ethnic, political ideology, faith and geo-political influence is the Internal Security Act. It is undoubtedly a tool put in place through the democratic process designed to preserve democracy, from the angle of management and prevention of threats to national security.

MCA controlled The Star agenda to wedge Selangor BN apart?

Sunday political columnist Joceline Tan came up with an analysis of the Selangor politics and the fight for control of the State Government probably 2012, which actually started now. All stakeholders got their machineries already in motion. However, the special attention and focus is on Selangor UMNO.

Sunday August 22, 2010

Battle for Selangor hots up

Insight
Joceline Tan

Events in Selangor over the last few weeks may have resembled a James Bond movie but it is actually a very real fight for control of this premier state.

TAN Sri Khalid Ibrahim may not have the James Bond look but the events erupting around him over the last few weeks have been as fast paced and dramatic as a 007 movie.

There has been the discovery of a hidden camera in the Selangor Mentri Besar’s office, a bullet in the mail for a Selangor MP, allegations of corruption and deceit flying around and a sandstorm blowing in the background.

And Mr Bond is never without the mandatory villains who, as far as Khalid is concerned, have to be Datuk Seri Dr Mohamad Khir Toyo and Datuk Noh Omar.

But for some, Khalid seems more of a floppy-haired Austin Powers trying to find his mojo, rather than Mr Bond, international man of mystery with a licence to kill.

Unfortunately, what is happening in Selangor is no movie.

The race for control of Selangor has begun in earnest. Pakatan Rakyat has arrived at the critical mid-term of its administration while Barisan Nasional’s Selamatkan Selangor campaign is heating up.

Umno has recovered from its inertia and there is a sense of purpose about winning back Selangor.

A well-matched battle lies ahead. Given that, the spate of issues, from sand-mining to cronyism, could not have come at a worse time for the state government.

The dust from the Ronnie Liu episode is still swirling and the issue will get bigger before it subsides because some of these letters of support apparently went to questionable businesses like slot machine operators.

Said a Pakatan insider: “Pakatan in Selangor is under siege, partly as a result of their own doing and partly because of pressure from Barisan. Something will have to give soon.”

Umno, said the insider, can only get stronger from here unless Pakatan quickly comes up with significant and visible action.

Pakatan’s branding as a clean coalition that advocates good governance is under scrutiny.

“It has to quickly do something to demonstrate its policy of zero tolerance for corruption. The MB should also quickly introduce one or two people-friendly initiatives to soften public opinion,” said the Pakatan insider.

House cleaning

One of the more drastic measures being floated in Pakatan is a house-cleaning exercise that includes a state executive council reshuffle.

The current state exco was formed in a hurry. Khalid had picked the PKR exco members without consulting his party, and a few of them have turned out to be problematic.

A reshuffle would enable Khalid to phase off those bogged down by controversy and personal baggage and bring in those who have shone as state assemblymen.

There is also pressure on Khalid to quickly come up with a code of ethics for his administration.

Some want him to go even further by getting the Government out of business, that is, dissolve the GLCs or government-linked corporations. They said some GLC directors are paid between RM200,000 to a couple of million ringgit a year and the money should be diverted to people-oriented projects.

But whether Khalid will respond to the new pressure and feedback is anybody’s guess. The former Guthrie big gun has a mind of his own or what some call a “hearing problem” when it comes to party dictates.

“I like my MB, it’s just that he is not good at politics. But I think people still like him very much, he has done better than the previous regime. We’re happy with the direction he has taken although some expectations have yet to be met and there are still things we want to achieve,” said Tony Pua, the MP for Petaling Jaya Utara.

Pua readily admitted that the Ronnie Liu issue did not reflect well on DAP but pointed out that overall there had been less hanky-panky.

Or, as Khalid said in an interview, he would always be able to do better than his predecessor. But as some of his own party people pointed out, anybody could do a better job than the former mentri besar.

Dr Khir has bristled at such remarks and the two have been trading verbal blows, flowered with stinging Malay proverbs.

“They are still struggling as a government but they have some smart, hard-working and sincere YBs (Yang Berhormat),” said Juhaidi Yean Abdullah, a former aide to an Umno minister who now runs a restaurant.

Juhaidi, who is also chairman of a shelter home in Subang Jaya that takes in abandoned babies and teen mothers, has singled out the area’swakil rakyat Hannah Yeoh as one of them.

“She has been helping us and even sourced out special milk powder for some babies who were lactose intolerant. They are the new breed,” said Juhaidi.

Pakatan has its share of black sheep but it also has some stand-out YBs who reflect the times.

For instance, Pua is one of the most-watched faces in Parliament today, the way Umno’s Datuk Seri Husni Hanadzlah and PAS’ Datuk Husam Musa were noticed when they started out as MPs. Barisan, despite or because of its long tenure, seems to be short of such contemporary voices.

“Umno is not short of talent. We have our Tony Puas and Nik Nazmis (PKR assemblyman Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad) but do you know how difficult it is for a younger person to move up in Umno?” said Subang Umno Youth chief Datuk Harrison Hassan.

While the senior generation in Umno is still humming the same old tune, the younger set like Harrison and his Petaling Jaya Utara counterpart, Latt Sharizan Abdullah, have tuned in to the new political landscape.

This cohort of young, educated Umno politicians talk of new politics for the Malays. They have friends from all races and they know Selangor’s urban electorate are not afraid of change and want the best from their politicians.

“Selangor is going to be even more complex than before the 2008 elections. Voters demand more of us, they want less rhetoric and more action,” said Latt Sharizan.

Discerning electorate

The Selangor electorate is the most sophisticated and discerning in the country. The high Internet penetration means that they are going to be bombarded by all kinds information from the factual to the absurd. Of the 59 state seats, 60% are solidly Malay-majority constituencies while the rest are either Chinese-majority or mixed seats.

The signs in many places are that the Malay ground has begun to turn in Umno’s favour.

Harrison admits some people give him funny looks when he says Barisan can win back Selangor.

He is not talking out of turn because Barisan, which has 20 seats, needs only nine more to regain power. But as any politician would know, it looks simple but can be so difficult.

“We hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up,” said MCA central committee member Loh Seng Kok who is from Selangor.

But the Chinese make up a sizeable proportion of voters and Barisan will need their support to do well.

“The keris rhetoric had its greatest impact in Selangor. The Chinese middle class and professionals are still lukewarm about us but they are independent, not mindless voters. They are critical of wrongdoing whether in Barisan or Pakatan,” said Loh.

The new breed of YBs have set a trend. Other things being equal, candidates, or rather the quality of candidates, will be important in Selangor.

The Umno political bureau recently discussed the need for new faces without baggage for the next round.

Pakatan will be scouting for better quality candidates following its experience with defections. DAP is said to be on the lookout for Malays with credentials, especially in Perak, so that they do not have to turn to PAS or PKR for a mentri besar in the event of victory.

A great deal of what happens next in Selangor depends on Khalid’s follow-up to feedback and advice. He will have to focus on the job hence the concern that he may be eyeing the PKR deputy post. Not many people think he can juggle it.

Moreover, the sodomy trial looks like it will finally take off again now that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has almost exhausted his string of applications.

Anwar’s attention will be on the trial or as one PKR man put it: “It is like a fish trying to wriggle off the hook, you can’t think of anything else but getting free.”

There is a bright side, though.

The world, according to a visiting Indian guru, is not going to end in 2012 and that means the general election will take place and life will go on. He dismissed the end-of-the-world scenario as a Hollywood movie and claimed there would be more spirituality and love in 2012.

The dear guru has evidently not been through a Malaysian general election which tends to have lots of everything except love and spirituality.

For sure, the battle for Selangor will not be a love fest.

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Why is the fight for Selangor is only about Selangor UMNO Vs Pakatan Rakyat? What about Selangor BN?

UMNO has two other very active partners in Selangor BN, namely MCA and MIC. The relationship of UMNO with the coalition partners is good. In fact, the April Hulu Selangor by-election was about UMNO defending the decision to appoint MIC Information Chief P Kamalanathan and later very hard fought for BN to win.

This analysis sends a strongt signal that Selangor BN is all about UMNO and other component parties are so ineffective that when their non involvement is not really missed.  Selangor MCA, MIC and Gerakan may be slighted since The Star highlighted their observation and analysis in the open depicts the apparentness of the below-average performance of these Non UMNO Selangor BN components.

PM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak as the Selangor UMNO Liaison Chief understands the importance of Non Malay roles in the Selangor politics. More than 24 seats in the Selangor DUN are not Malay majority. It means that Non Malay BN component members have a herculean task to win the confidence and support of the Non Malays, particularly the Chinese. UMNO could not possbibly work on these seats without the Non Malay BN component parties, particularly the MCA.

These areas are constituencies within Klang Valley such as Petaling Jaya Utara, Petaling Jaya Selatan, Subang, Kelana Jaya, Ampang, Serdang, Puchong, Klang, Shah Alam and others, which now being classified as part of ‘Greater Kuala Lumpur’ under one of the National Key Economic Area focus. The importance of MCA in working within areas is very much recognised by PM Najib, now starting to bounce back after the 12th GE defeat. As such in the recent Cabinet reshuffle, Selangor MCA Boss Dato’ Donald Lim was given the honour to be appointed as a Senator and Deputy Minister.

However the recent MCA leaders talking aloud their Chinese Chauvinism stance apparently becoming somewhat DAPish did not go down well with UMNO Leaders, which include  DPM and Deputy President of UMNO Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yasin. MCA President Dato’ Seri Chua Soi Lek got a lot to do to mend the PR with UMNO.

For The Star to present the fight for Selangor is UMNO centric, then it suspiciously in abstract illustrating that some quarters within the MCA-controlled largest English daily wanted to wedge the divide further between UMNO and MCA. If this is true, then The Star actually has a strategic agenda to prolong the Pakatan Rakyat control of Selangor, despite their on going multiple level issues and inter and  intra-party squabbles.

Pakatan Rakyat cuba berbohong soal doa LGE

Episod khatib mendoakan Ketua Menteri Chauvinis Cina Lim Guan Eng semasa Sembahyang Jumaat di kawasan Tasik Gelugor, Permatang Pauh dan Jelutong tidak boleh dinafikan lagi. Beberapa laporan Polis dibuat untuk menyiasat kejadian, kerana khatib termasuk adinda kepada Mufti Pulau Pinang gagal mendoakan TYT Tun ABdul Rahman Abas dan DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong Tuanku Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Ibni Almarhum Sultan Mahmood.

Utusan Malaysia menyediakan laporan:

Doa dibaca dalam bahasa Melayu – Shabudin

SHABUDIN Yahaya (kanan) bersama sebahagian daripada kariah Padang Menora menunjukkan laporan polis mengenai khatib membacakan doa untuk Lim Guan Eng di Balai Polis Tasek Gelugor, Pulau Pinang, semalam.

ASEK GELUGOR 21 Ogos – Doa yang dibacakan oleh khatib pada khutbah kedua solat Jumaat di Masjid Jamek Padang Menora 25 Jun lalu dibuat dalam bahasa Melayu.

Kandungan doa itu adalah meminta Ketua Menteri, Lim Guan Eng terus kekal dan berjaya mentadbir negeri Pulau Pinang selain tidak menyebut nama Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin dan Yang Dipertua Negeri Tun Abdul Rahman Abas.

Perkara itu dijelaskan oleh Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri Permatang Berangan, Shabudin Yahaya yang menafikan dakwaan kononnya berlaku salah faham dalam kalangan jemaah yang tidak memahami doa kerana ia dibacakan dalam bahasa Arab.

Menurut Shabudin, biasanya doa di dalam khutbah dibaca untuk ketua agama negeri seperti Yang di-Pertuan Agong atau Yang Dipertua Negeri dan tidak melibatkan unsur-unsur lain.

“Tetapi tindakan menyebut nama Guan Eng dalam doa khutbah itu seolah-olah ada agenda politik dan membawa imej beliau.

“Etika khutbah juga dah tak betul apabila melebihkan Guan Eng berbanding pemimpin agama Islam yang lain,” katanya ketika mengiringi kariah Masjid Padang Menora membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Tasek Gelugor di sini hari ini.

Ditanya tentang khatib yang bertugas, Shabudin mengesahkan Zakaria Ahmad tidak memiliki tauliah untuk membaca khutbah yang dikeluarkan oleh Majlis Agama Islam Pulau Pinang (MAIPP).

Malah jelasnya, jika sesiapa yang tiada tauliah tetapi dijemput membaca khutbah, mereka juga perlu mendapatkan keizinan daripada pegawai tadbir agama daerah yang berkenaan.

“Saya harap MAIPP ambil pendekatan yang lebih tegas mengenai perkara ini dan tidak membiarkan ia terus berleluasa bagi mengelakkan perkara lebih buruk berlaku.

“Jadi laporan polis yang dibuat hari ini adalah supaya semua pihak mengambil iktibar untuk mengawal perkara ini serta mengelakkan tercetus perkara tak diingini,” ujarnya.

Shabudin menambah, setakat ini sebanyak enam masjid telah mengesahkan perkara itu dan mereka membawa saksi-saksi yang mengakui mendengar sendiri doa yang dibacakan dalam khutbah itu.

Ahli kariah katanya, sangat terguris dengan apa yang berlaku dan berharap polis dapat menyiasat perkara itu.

Sementara itu, biarpun khutbah Jumaat yang mendoakan Guan Eng mendapat bantahan daripada banyak pihak dan dinafikan oleh kerajaan negeri, perbuatan yang sama didakwa berulang lagi di negeri ini semalam.

Tindakan itu didakwa dilakukan oleh khatib yang sama, Zakaria Ahmad yang sekali lagi membacakan doa untuk Guan Eng ketika menyampaikan khutbah Jumaat di Masjid Jamek Kubang Buaya di sini.

Doa yang dibacakan Zakaria didakwa berbunyi “Ya Allah Ya Tuhanku, Kau selamatkanlah pemimpin kami Lim Guan Eng dan rakan-rakan kepimpinan kerajaan negeri,” dan tiada doa kesejahteraan untuk Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin dan Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Rahman Abas.

Perkara itu disahkan oleh seorang saksi, Mohd. Radzi Husaain, 34, yang mengakui terkejut dengan doa yang dibacakan khatib terbabit.

“Ramai jemaah yang terpinga-pinga kerana khatib juga tak mendoakan Yang di-Pertuan Agong dan Yang Dipertua Negeri sebaliknya lebih mengutamakan pemimpin bukan Islam seperti Guan Eng. Perkara seumpama ini tak pernah berlaku di masjid ini sebelum ini,” katanya.

Seorang lagi rakannya, Mohd. Shahril Harun, 36, yang turut bersolat di masjid sama menjelaskan, dia tidak pernah mendengar doa seperti itu sebelum ini.

Ekoran kejadian itu, Pemuda UMNO Bahagian Bagan hari ini membuat laporan polis di Balai Polis Butterworth.

Laporan itu dibuat Ketua UMNO bahagian itu, Sheikh Hussein Mydin bersama beberapa Ketua Pemuda UMNO bahagian negeri Pulau Pinang.

Menurut Sheikh Hussein, beliau juga kesal dengan Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Agama negeri, Abdul Malik Abul Kassim yang dilihat gagal melaksanakan tanggungjawab memelihara kesucian institusi Islam seperti mimbar masjid.

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Timbalan Ketua Menteri I Mansor Othman menafikan laporan terdapat beberapa imam mendoakan kesejahteraan CM Lim dan membelakangkan Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong dan TYT Pulau Pinang. Jelas beliau telah berbohong,

Tindakan ini bukan sahaja luar adab dan protokol atur cara upcara sembahyang Jumaat, malah ianya wajar disifatkan menghinaIslam sebagai ugama Persekutuan Malaysia dalam doa upcara semabahyang rasmi mingguan. Ianya juga menghina kedudukan DYMM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong dan TYT Yang DiPertua Pulau Pinang, pemimpin perlemabgaan negeri dimana kedua dua pemimpin ini berugama Islam.

Sekiranya tindakan ni menimbulkan kemarahan orang Melayu Pulau Pinang kerana marah dan emosi tergugat, maka Ketua Menteri Lim dan keseluruh Exco wajar disiasat dawah Akta Hasutan.

Orang Melayu Pulau Pinang wajar mengambil iktibar serious mengenai episod ini dan keputusan Kerajaan DAP Pulau Pinang keatas orang Melayu seperti Kg Melayu Tanjung Bungah, Kg Assam dan Jelutong kerana orang Melayu juga menyumbang kepada kumpulan China Chauvinis dan anti Islam ini berjaya merampas kuasa tampuk pemerintahan negeri pada 8 Mac 2008.