Forum Perdana Pakatan Rakyat

YB Goh Leong San (ADUN Kesidang and DAP Chairman) and I attended the Forum Perdana Pakatan Rakyat organised by PAS. Held in Telok Mas at the Cawangan Telok Mas HQ. The moderator was a friend of mine and fellow blogger Saudara Sofi Wahab who is the Information Chief PAS Melaka. Representing PAS is Ustaz Kamaruddin Sidek who replaced Ustaz Abdul Ghani Abdul Rahman who was in Perak, Saudara Khalid Jaafar (PKR Melaka Chairman) and YB Goh Leong San representing DAP.

It was a no holds barred forum with quite interesting question posed to YB Goh especially on DAP stand on Islamic State and protecting the rights of the Malays. YB Goh with its usual wittiness and eloquence spoke that DAP in it's principle have always fought for all Malaysian regardless of their religious and racial background and that DAP's stand has always been clear and transparent without any hidden agendas in wooing the electorates. As such the people have known DAP for years. As such Pakatan members should not doubt us or even fear us. YB Goh also stressed that with the current working relationship with Pakatan especially PAS, Malacca BN will be defeated in the next election. As DAP will in one voice make sure that even the Chinese community in the rural areas in Malacca will vote for our Pakatan partners.

On the issue of Islamic state, YB Goh state that whilst the issue is not within the Pakatan Agenda and should the issue is raised again, it has to be discussed openly by the leadership of Pakatan. YB Goh stressed that DAP is not against nor support the setting up of an Islamic state but instead there must be constant discussion and deliberation by the Pakatan partners. Should PAS intends to, PAS must convinced the other partners. However with the current mandate by the people, I believe, the people desire a cleaner government and a better check of federal government. What is more important, is the fight against the corrupted Barisan Nasional government.

This Is What I WANT To Hear

Kenyataan Akhbar
MAJLIS PIMPINAN PAKATAN RAKYAT

8 September 2008

Pakatan Rakyat Menjunjung Prinsip Perlembagaan Persekutuan

Majlis Pimpinan Pakatan Rakyat yang bersidang pada hari ini 8 September 2008 dengan ini menegaskan penolakan kami terhadap usaha-usaha menyemarakkan politik perkauman yang sedang dilakukan oleh UMNO akhir-akhir ini. Kami amat bimbang isu ini sekarang digunakan untuk mengelabui pandangan rakyat yang sebenarnya merupakan usaha terdesak untuk menyelamatkan kepentingan segelintir golongan elit politik dan kroni mereka.

Kami sekali lagi mengulangi pendirian menjunjung prinsip-prinsip dasar yang termaktub di bawah Perlembagaan Persekutuan. Ini termasuk soal-soal dasar seperti kedudukan Islam sebagai Agama Persekutuan dan menjamin kebebasan mengamalkan agama-agama lain, kedaulatan Bahasa Melayu sebagai Bahasa Kebangsaan dan mempertahankan hak bahasa ibunda, kedudukan dan kedaulatan Institusi Raja-Raja Melayu serta kedudukan hak-hak istimewa orang Melayu dan Bumiputera serta hak-hak semua kaum yang telah dijamin oleh Perlembagaan.

Berdasarkan prinsip-prinsip Perlembagaan ini kami menolak sekeras-kerasnya pendekatan politik perkauman sempit yang menjadi dasar UMNO-BN. Pendekatan inilah yang sengaja digunakan untuk memecahbelahkan perpaduan dan keharmonian masyarakat majmuk negara ini.

Sehubungan ini kami membantah ucapan yang dibuat oleh Dato Ahmad Ismail yang disokong oleh semua pemimpin UMNO Pulau Pinang. Isi ucapan itu mencerminkan dasar perkauman UMNO yang sebenarnya bertujuan hanya untuk mempertahankan kepentingan segelintir golongan orang kaya Melayu serta suku sakat mereka yang menggunakan kuasa politik untuk mengambil kesempatan mengaut kekayaan negara dengan berselindung di sebalik membela kepentingan Bumiputera dan orang Melayu.

YB Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim
Ketua Umum
PKR

YB Dato’ Husam Musa
Naib Presiden
PAS

YB Lim Kit Siang
Ketua Ahli Parlimen
DAP

Breaking News

Wan Azizah quits Permatang Pauh for Anwar... more to come

A More Important Dialogue between DAP-PAS-PKR

I find the article below in the Star, as a timely and fresh after all the talks and rumours about PAS-UMNO dialogue, muzakarah, merger or in whatever name. I think what is more important for the sake of Malaysia unity is the dialogue and understanding between the Pakatan Rakyat states. This is more healthy and encouraging and it gives more understanding between the three Parties within Pakatan.

I must applaud Tok Guru Datuk Nik Aziz and PKR advisor DSAI for initiating this first ever dialogue between the Pakatan states.

-----

KOTA BARU: Kelantan has proposed next month for the inaugural meeting of mentris besar and chief minister of the five Pakatan Rakyat-governed states in a move designed to counter allegations of a split in the alliance.

It is proposed that such a meeting be held on Aug 8 and 9 here a few weeks before PAS' own annual muktamar (gathering) in Perak.

Mentri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat's political secretary Annual Bakri Harun confirmed the dates but stressed that the organisers were still finalising the details of the discussions.

State PAS secretary Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan is entrusted to head the organising secretariat for the historic high-level meeting.

It is learnt that following the spillover ''effects'' of the three meetings between three PAS decision-making leaders and Umno, namely its president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the proposed meeting would underline the commitment of PAS to uphold the pact agreed with DAP and PKR.

State PAS insiders said Nik Abdul Aziz is strongly supportive of it as the meeting can put to rest various allegations and suspicions which have emerged since the three began governing the states of Kelantan, Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor after the ''political tsunami'' of March 8.

All efforts are being made to ensure that the top leaders comprising of Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim attend the programme.

Kelantan Mentri Besar and PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat was chosen by PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to organise and chair such a meeting based on his seniority.

The tentative schedule is a star-studded ''ceramah,'' the mainstay weapon of the Opposition to be held on Aug 8, followed by a close-door meeting the next day between the leaders of the five states.

Among the proposed issues to be raised are streamlining of administrative policies, forming of joint-committees to study closer socio-economic cooperation between the five and development strategies.

......

DSAI ceramah in Sleepy Hollow Melaka

I attended DSAI’s ceramah in Melaka with my partner (not wife, not homo partner, my partner in a law firm). We reached about 5 minutes before DSAI. Personally, I want to hear for myself from what he has to say on the recent sodomy allegation against him. For the record the event started at 9.00pm sharp and finished about 9.45pm and thereafter another ceramah in Kesang Tua, Jasin, going down south to Muar.

It was his first trip outside Klang Valley just after his arrest and interrogation. For sleepy hollow Malacca, and the confusion as to who the remaining speakers and the place holding the ceramah is still very uncertain until the very last hour, the crowd turn out was quite expected with I believe about 5000 people in the surroundings of the house belonging to one Mr. Lim in Cheng.

Two folds in the ceramah. First is on the recent debate on the petrol price and the Other is OF COURSE, the sodomy allegation. Well, here I think I will be more interested to know what had happened to DSAI in the sodomy allegation and how the police treated him.

As everybody knows that there is an on going investigation on the sodomy case, DSAI questioned the police investigation by asking the police to first prove four main facts before allowing his DNA or blood samples be given to the police.

First, “siapa rogol siapa” as the accuser Mohd Saiful is a much taller and stronger person compare to DSAI. It was stated that DSAI allegedly sodomised him a number of times. I personally find it very strange the allegation by Saiful how DSAI a 61 years old man actually does it or capable of doing it. With a back ache since 10 years ago, it’s definitely difficult. More so why didn’t the accuser ran after the first 'act'. It doesn’t make any sense at all.

Secondly, where were the allegation took place. The last time it was in a condominium that was never in existence as it was only build later. So now WHERE?

Thirdly, which place? Mattress….that was the last time. DSAI joked probably this time the Prosecution would bring the whole bed. He also state on record his fear that his blood be fabricated like what had happen before.

And fourthly, who are the witnesses? Are there any witnesses in this present case.

AND ONLY then “I will give my blood” says DSAI with loud applause and agreement.

There are another area I am wondering, as DSAI’s DNA was taken before, I am sure there must be previous records on it. Why can’t the police look at those previous records and made comparison? DNA is just one of the corroborative evidence and is not something that finalized the guilt of the accused. DNA is permanent, the records are permanent.

He further storied about the high handedness of police in arresting him before the deadline as though as the police is arresting Osama bin Laden together with motorcades of tens and twenties police vehicles to the police headquarters in KL.

Sometimes I wonder, whether can I ‘tahan’ all these allegations of fraud and lies to be Prime Minister. Is it worth it?

Sodomy the 'In Thing" or words to that nature....

First you have this :

"A police report has been lodged against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly sodomosing one of his aides - the second time that such an accusation had been made in over 10 years.

The report was lodged by the 23-year-old victim at the Jalan Travers police station at 6pm.

KL police chief DCP Muhammad Sabtu Osman has confirmed that the report had been made.

It is learnt that Anwar met with a number of party leaders at an emergency meeting late tonight.

At 11.15pm, PKR sent out an SMS message stating that the police had detained Anwar’s special aide Saiful Bahari this afternoon and forced him to lodge a police report about being sodomised by his boss.

It added that the police are expected to arrest Anwar soon."

Then you have this :
And now this :

KUALA TERENGGANU: Two police lance corporals have lodged reports alleging that their chief, an OCPD of a rural district in Terengganu, attempted to sodomise them, on two separate occasions.

In the first report made on Thursday, the 22-year-old cop claimed that he was sleeping at the OCPD’s house in mid-May when someone grabbed him from the back.

In his report, the cop alleged that the OCPD embraced and kissed him at about 3am.

The lance corporal also alleged that the senior officer dragged his boxer shorts down and attempted to sodomise him.

The subordinate claimed that he fled and hid in one of the rooms before deciding to lodge the police report.

The second report against the OCPD was made at 5.15pm on the same day by another 21-year-old cop who claimed that his chief had ordered him to accompany the OCPD to a bedroom on the second floor of a rest house here, early in March.

The policeman claimed the OCPD also tried to molest and sodomise him.

Both the reports were lodged at the Kelantan police headquarters in Kota Baru.

Senior police officials confirmed that the reports were lodged, adding that the two lance corporals had been transferred out of the district to facilitate investigations.

Sodomy Again?

The 10 years cycle and it happened to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. A police report was lodge by an aide of DSAI. The below is reported by Malaysiakini.

"A police report has been lodged against PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim for allegedly sodomosing one of his aides - the second time that such an accusation had been made in over 10 years.

The report was lodged by the 23-year-old victim at the Jalan Travers police station at 6pm.

KL police chief DCP Muhammad Sabtu Osman has confirmed that the report had been made.

It is learnt that Anwar met with a number of party leaders at an emergency meeting late tonight.

At 11.15pm, PKR sent out an SMS message stating that the police had detained Anwar’s special aide Saiful Bahari this afternoon and forced him to lodge a police report about being sodomised by his boss.

It added that the police are expected to arrest Anwar soon."

Below is the press statement by DSAI stating that the report lodged was a complete fabrication which I now reproduced here.

June 29, 2008, SHAH ALAM, MALAYSIA

The police report lodged against me earlier today is a complete fabrication. I believe we are witnessing a repeat of the methods used against me in 1998 when false allegations were made under duress. This is clearly a desperate attempt by the Barisan Nasional regime to arrest the movement of the Malaysian people towards freedom, democracy and justice.

The report has been organized by interested parties to attack me in retaliation for evidence I have recently obtained implicating IGP Musa Hassan and the AG Gani Patail in misconduct including fabrication of evidence in the cases launched against me in 1998-1999. This vile attack will not prevent me from releasing this dossier to the public.

I urge the Malaysian people to stand against the repressive forces that will be unleashed by the government in the coming days and weeks. We expect the media, the judiciary and the police force to all come under the direct and unchecked control of the executive.

My fellow Malaysians - we took a bold step forward on March 8th towards a new dawn for freedom and justice for all of our citizens. This people’s movement for change must go on with all of our strength and conviction.

ANWAR IBRAHIM

Ezam joining UMNO...from the Star

For what he has fought almost 10 years. Started with the cry of Reformasi. Went into jail for what he principally believed in. Went against the ISA, OSA (of which he was jailed for it before) and the likes of it and NOW suddenly back in UMNO.

I (I believe others as well) am now waiting to know what is the price and when is the price..... so to safeguard his belief, fight a position in UMNO through the democratic process of UMNO, errrrr, is there democracy in UMNO, that I dunno LAH. But anyway, to stay clean, contest a position and show that you are truly a leader to be reckon with.

----- The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno has accepted former PKR Youth leader Ezam Mohd Nor back into the party but has not promised him any position.

Prime Minister and Umno president Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who welcomed Ezam back to the party said:

“What’s special about him is that he left he party to lead another party but he decided to come back, knowing that Umno is still the better party".

Ezam handed over his application form and RM100 in lifetime membership fee at a press conference at Parliament House, after a brief meeting with Abdullah.

Food Supply? It is enough?

I am in a PAS flyer. Never dreamt before that I' will be speaking in the same podium with YB Mahfuz Omar (Member of Parliament for Pokok Sena). Beautifully, last week I spoke with Mohamad Sabu or better known as Mat Sabu.

It is interesting to engage with PAS leaders so as to know their intention and mind. And yes I am impressed with the two PAS leaders. Both spoke very well and I am so glad that YB Mahfuz Omar spoke in length on the Food Security (Keselamatan Makanan). I am of the opinion that the motion by Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah is very apt, urgent and important for the safe guarding of food supplies especially rice in the country. Stock piling of rice MUST be advocated so as to see continue supply of rice. The motion in English is reproduced below:-

Datin Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Binti Wan Ismail [ Permatang Pauh ] to ask the MINISTER OF AGRICULTURE AND AGRO-BASED INDUSTRY to state :-
(a) measures taken to guarantee food security in the country especially for the country to have a sufficient rice supply at an affordable price; and
(b) the guarantee that the Government is able to control Bernas policy in supplying rice and that Bernas will not take advantage of the crisis.

I am crossing my fingers, that at least, there should be stock piling of rice for up to a year. If anything less than a year, we are in deep trouble, which I think we are in deeper troubles now. I got a strong feeling that we have only the most 3 months of stock pile. If this is the case, then there will be a food crisis looming in Malaysia. Evidenced can be seen in the price of rice these couple of days.

It is so unfortunate, that the country is run by 'dungus'. There is no foresight (tiada wawasan) by our government. Strict and quick measures and policies must be drawn up or it will be the survival of the fittest. We cannot deny this threat of shortage of food supplies in Malaysia.

Opposition and Anwar Ibrahim - Make no mistake on your sincerity and integrity

by Foong Wai Fong

(I have cut and paste from Kit's blog. I think this letter is timely and it should be read with an objective mind)

The events in the next couple of weeks, leading to whether Anwar will contest a by-election will demonstrate to the People of Malaysia whether they have indeed make the right choice, by voting in the Opposition. The People are troubled by these post-election developments.

A message to the OPPOSITION:

1. Many people voted you in not because how good you were or will be, but more they just wanted to throw out the other guy, deny the 2/3 majority given to the ruling coalition.

2. If you walk your talk, you MUST NEVER do what the other guy has been doing in the past decades.

The electorate wishes to see REAL Change, sincerity and integrity; not making deals and bargains wrapped in exchange of cabinet positions for alliance — this makes the OPP no different from the incumbent ruling class. Any mistakes on the part of the OPP in strategy will bring serious backlash, that mistake has the high risk of throwing Malaysia into a state of chaos and instability. This is SERIOUS matter.

On the other hand, if the OPP and Anwar Ibrahim can be a little patient, taking things one step at a time, act with integrity and sincerity, THIS IS A HISTORIC OPPORTUNITY. Any tactic that involves trading of bargains of power would diminish all hope that we are entering a new era. For we believe any of those MPs or state assembly members out there who cross over because they did not get the so-called “rewards” in position would do no good for the OPP. All cabinet and government positions are positions to provide service, not positions for reward of winning the election! It serves the OPP well to remember that.

Does the people of Malaysia has the assurance with PAS and DAP balancing the ambition of Anwar and PKR?

Can Anwar rise to be a true leader for all Malaysia, and that his present struggle is a fulfilment of his long time political vision to make Malaysia truly multiracial and progressive, not that he is getting even with UMNO. By and large it was not the BN or UMNO that wrong him, it was Dr Mahathir who did.

The people of Malaysia ought to pray and work to see a reformed BN — in spite of the difficulties within the ruling coalition to change. We are striving to have two strong parties; only in having credible choices could the people’s wellbeing be safeguarded. BN would need to act swiftly to reinvent and prove itself; much time and opportunity has been wasted, for example naming the new cabinet presents real opportunity; but BN misses that.

The People of Malaysia wishes to see gradual change; the OPP settles in and build its governing team. Many of the candidates in the OPP do not have the credentials to be government leaders; they were put together and got voted in by the wave for change; this these new YBs must know. They must now accelerate their learning and find out exactly what is expected of them and rise up to the occasion. Anwar must further consolidates its power and assure the people of his intentions; at the same time give BN time to change; the next election would present people with the real choice. If the current OPP does get to form the government; it would be very credible because people voted them in to form the government. For this election; by and large, the People of Malaysia only wanted to deny BN its 2/3 majority; not all the way to have the OPP running the country yet. Events have its own turn; the people however, while willing to give the OPP a chance to govern 5 states, but are still tentative in its feelings about the outcome.

All eyes are on the OPP government in the state. Waiting for one more term may be the right thing to do before going for the Federal Government.

There is real opportunity here for Anwar Ibrahim. If he succeeds to bring about democractic change to Malaysia in an honest, clean and credible way; he would go down in world history as a national leader who could go beyond racialism to embrace the larger interest. If Anwar does that, the People of Malaysia will nominate him for the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE — for setting the world on the right track and for bringing hope to all societies plagued by racial struggle; putting Anwar Ibrahim in the company of Gandhi, Martin Luther King and the like. This would rekindle the fire for truth and ideals; key values to building a sustainable world.

There YOU go again

Very unfortunate to see these things happen again and again. Only happen in Malaysia because Malaysia memang boleh. It is disheartening to note that the authorities is now going after the whistleblower. This is very uncalled for by those in government agencies. I wonder what do people think on public confidence towards these agencies. How unfortunate.

© The Sun (Used by permission)
by Llew-Ann Phang

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 4, 2007): The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has compelled Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR)'s vice-president Sivarasa Rasiah and party adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s political coordinator Sim Tze Tzin to reveal the source of the eight-minute video clip, or face action under the Anti-Corruption Act 1997.

Sivarasa and Sim were served with a notice to provide information under Section 22(1)(c) of the Act in the ACA office, here today. It was signed by ACA headquarters Special Action Branch enforcer Chua Lay Choo.

"We understand from the attachment to the notice that they want to know the identity and full details of the source," Sivarasa said.

Both Sim and Sivarasa have one week to comply or face two years jail, a fine of RM10,000 or both.

He said they had not responded yet but will discuss with their lawyers and the party leadership before deciding on their next move.

"They are using the law to reveal the source and ACA justifies it to their need to compile evidence to determine the authenticity of the clip," he said, adding that this will further reduce the public’s confidence in the government agency.

The recording was of a telephone conversation purportedly between a senior lawyer and a "Datuk" believed to be a senior judge.

PKR released the clip – originally 14 minutes long – in a Sept 19 press conference and Sivarasa lodged a report with the ACA the next day.

He said PKR gave the source a guarantee of protection from the start and added that he (Sivarasa) and Sim were willing to take the penalties in efforts to protect the source.

PKR, he said, was disappointed over the directions of the investigations and questioned ACA’s technical investigations to determine the authenticity of the clip.

Investigations in the technical sense can be done if the tape is handed over to its video experts or they could even call the people in the video but they are asking for the details of the source, he said.

Sivarasa said investigations had taken a wrong direction - similar to the nude ear-squat recording in 2005.

Investigations in that incident, he said, were centred on the person who captured the video and not the offence of misconduct where the woman was made to strip and carry out the act.

"I told Chua it is the same here. Instead of investigating the root of the problem – corruption (within the judiciary) – they are going after the source of the video," he said.

Sivarasa and Sim both said that without the formation of a Royal Commission, the source would not be revealed because of a lack of immunity.

Sivarasa and Sim were accompanied by lawyer Amer Hamzah Arshad.