Dr M snubbed

Dr M rapped for abandoning Bangsa Malaysia

By Adib Zalkapli

August 25, 2010

Critics are asking if Dr Mahathir is preparing to openly confront Najib and his policies. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Opposition leaders criticised Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today for his warning to the Malay community yesterday, and accused the former prime minister of abandoning his own vision of uniting the nation. Dr Mahathir’s remarks were also seen as an attack on Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia and the New Economic Model (NEM), both of which promote national unity and meritocracy.
“In one fell stroke yesterday, Mahathir had backtracked and repudiated Vision 2020 and Bangsa Malaysia, causing a whole generation of Malaysians nurtured on Vision 2020 and the concept of Bangsa Malaysia to feel cheated by a national leader who had been the country’s longest-serving prime minister,” said Lim Kit Siang in a statement today.
“In 1990, beginning his second decade as prime minister, Mahathir spelt out Vision 2020 to achieve in 30 years a fully developed Malaysian nation made up of one Bangsa Malaysia with a sense of common and shared destiny, distinguished by the pursuit of excellence, fully aware of all its potentials, psychologically subservient to none, and respected by the peoples of other nations,” said the DAP leader citing the Vision 2020 objective which became the hallmark of Dr Mahathir’s administration.
Yesterday, Dr Mahathir mocked proponents of meritocracy in a blog posting, calling them racist and decried Malays who support meritocracy as having misplaced pride.
He also blasted advocates of meritocracy, calling them “meritocrats” pushing for dominance by one race in all aspects of the country.
Dr Mahathir added that the campaign for meritocracy was not a campaign against racism but a movement by racists against racists.
At a separate function last night, the former premier then warned Malays to be united or risk losing political power.
Today, Lim questioned if Dr Mahathir’s remarks signalled that the former prime minister was now ready to openly go against the Najib administration.
“Has Mahathir crossed the Rubicon to declare war on his second successor as prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak after successfully forcing out the his first successor Tun Abdullah (Ahmad Badawi)?” asked Lim.
“Mahathir had already publicly questioned Najib’s 1 Malaysia policy and his utterances yesterday marked a throw-back to the irresponsible and dangerous politics of race and religion,” he added.
Lim said by denouncing meritocracy, Dr Mahathir had declared his rejection to the NEM, which supports market-friendly affirmative action policy based on needs and merit.
DAP Youth chief Loke Siew Fook also expressed similar misgivings, adding that Dr Mahathir was detached from the reality in making what he called “racist remarks.”
“He introduced the concept of Bangsa Malaysia, has he forgotten his own vision?” said Loke.
“I think Dr Mahathir has turned into the biggest threat for Najib’s 1 Malaysia,” said the Rasah MP.
He added that DAP’s support for a meritocratic system was based on the reality of global competition.
“The competition is no longer between the Malays and the non-Malays — but Malaysians against the rest of the world,” said Loke.
PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub called Dr Mahathir’s remarks an indictment of the latter’s years in power as prime minister.
“I think he wants to remain in control of Malaysian politics, he would do and say anything to ensure that he remains relevant,” said Salahuddin.
“His statement is a reflection of the failure of his 22 years administration. It was during his administration that corruption and abuse of power reached its peak which led to problems inherited by his successors until today,” the Kubang Kerian MP added.
On Dr Mahathir’s allegation that PAS was being a political opportunist for not defending pro-Malay policies, Salahuddin said the PAS-led state governments have been protecting the interest of the community where possible.
“I think he was not being fair to PAS. We are not in control of the federal government. In Kedah and Kelantan where we are running the state government, do we see the Malays being marginalised?
“We have never questioned the special privileges, what we have been demanding is transparency and fairness in wealth distribution,” he added.
Meanwhile, Gerakan Youth deputy chief Oh Tong Keong has also joined in the criticism against Dr Mahathir.
“We respect Tun Dr Mahathir’s contributions to the nation, but we respectfully disagree with his contention to equate ‘meritocrats’ as racists,” said Oh in a statement.
“We believe meritocracy together with the need-based and market-friendly affirmation as envisaged in NEM are two pillars to achieve social justice, cohesiveness and inclusiveness under [the] 1 Malaysia concept,” he added.
UKM academic Professor Samsul Adabi Mamat, however, believed that Dr Mahathir had not contradicted himself when he criticised meritocracy.
“Bangsa Malaysia is about getting Malaysians of all races to be loyal to Malaysia. The Chinese in Malaysia, for example, must treat this place as their country as they are not like the Chinese in China,” Samsul told The Malaysian Insider.
He said that the idea of meritocracy as promoted by the opposition was only introduced as a reaction to government policies.
“Tun Dr Mahathir has always been very consistent, [while] political parties like DAP have never been clear about the meritocracy that they are fighting for,” said Samsul
“It is merely a criticism [of] government policy, a protest against [the] status quo,” he added.
He added that the DAP’s historical ties with Singapore’s ruling party, the PAP, also justified Dr Mahathir’s concerns over meritocracy leading to a marginalisation of the Malay community..
“Look at Singapore, the Malays are not protected. There is a widespread concern that that is where meritocracy is going to take us to,” said Samsul.
MI

Suit against UMNO thrown out

Apex court throws out RM218m suit against Umno

August 25, 2010

PUTRAJAYA, Aug 25 — A merchandise supplier which sued Umno for RM218 million for non-payment over the supply of election paraphernalia during the 2004 general election, lost its appeal to reinstate its civil suit against the party.
The Federal Court today dismissed Elegant Advisory Sdn Bhd’s leave application to appeal over the Court of Appeal decision in affirming the High Court’s ruling.
On September 10 last year, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed Umno’s application to strike out the suit on the grounds that it did not follow the Contracts Act 1950.
Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Richard Malanjum, who presided over the hearing, said there was no question of law for argument for the Federal Court to determine as stated under Section 96 of Courts of Judicature Act 1964, for the court to grant the leave.
However, he advised the company as a “middle-man” (main contactor) with the sub-contractors to execute the contract agreement properly through signing of an agreement before proceeding with any project.
He said the company was lucky in that it was not sued by the sub-contractors, to which the company’s lawyer, Yusfarizal Yusof, replied “not yet”.
Malanjum, who sat with Federal Court judges Tan Sri Zulkefli Ahmad Makinuddin and Datuk Seri Md Raus Sharif, ordered the company to pay RM2,500 as legal costs to Umno.
In the suit, the company initially named former Umno treasurer Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi as defendant, but his name was replaced with that of former Umno administration and finance secretary Datuk Ishak Abdul Rahman after the High Court allowed the company’s application to amend the name of the defendant in the suit last year.
In its writ of summons, Elegant Advisory claimed that it was involved in supplying election merchandise, transportation and publications, and had supplied Umno with the items for the 11th general election in 2004.
The company claimed that it had sent invoices for RM218,013,475 and that the defendant had failed to pay up.
At the outset, Yusfarizal submitted there was an oral contract between the company and Umno, and that the goods had been delivered and used by Umno.
He told the court that the respondent also pleaded that they had received four delivery orders of the goods.
He said the company and Umno had discussed settling the case out of court, and reasoned that if there was no contract, the respondent would not have wanted to settle the case.
Yusfarizal submitted that Umno had paid RM8 million to four sub-contractors appointed by the main contractor, Elegant Advisory, for the project based on the delivery orders but refused to pay the amount sought by the main contractor.
Counsel Datuk Mohd Hafarizam Harun, representing Umno, replied there was no new issue of law raised by the company for the court to grant leave.
He said the company had also failed to furnish the terms of oral contact between both parties, in the statement of claim, or by way of affidavit. — Bernama

Treason?

Hishammuddin: Nurul Izzah bad mouthed country abroad

August 24, 2010

Hishammuddin: If there are actually problems in this country, why the need to exaggerate them on foreign soil...what is the purpose?

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament from Parti Keadilan Rakyat, Nurul Izzah Anwar’s criticism of Malaysia abroad proved that their struggles were not accepted in this country. Hishammuddin, who is also an Umno vice-president, said that after being given the chance to administer several states, the opposition pact clearly failed to win the hearts of the people to the extent that it had to go abroad to explain their struggles pertaining to national issues.
“If there are actually problems in this country, why the need to exaggerate them on foreign soil...what is the purpose?
“Does it mean that their struggles in their own country have failed to the extent that they have to go abroad to criticise their own country?” he said when approached by reporters at a breaking of the fast and handing over of aid to single mothers and orphans, here last night.
He was asked to comment on the action by Nurul Izzah, who is alleged to have issued a statement that affected the country’s image and integrity in an interview with an Indonesian newspaper recently.
In the interview, Nurul Izzah is alleged to have spread false information on the new economic policy and to belittle the capability of the country’s submarines.
Meanwhile on another development, Hishammuddin said police had obtained several leads on the incident where crackers stored in an abandoned house exploded in Kampung Makam Lama, Chabang Tiga, Terengganu.   
He said Terengganu Police Chief Datuk Mohd Shukri Dahlan had informed him that the police had gathered several leads on the case.
In the incident at about 12.30pm yesterday, Khairul Arif Ayob, 6, died after the force of the explosion threw him onto a 15-metre tall tree and suffered serious head injuries. — Bernama

Lumpur Politik

Tentera, polis tidak patut dipercikkan lumpur politik — Ramli Abdul Halim

August 21, 2010

21 OGOS — Berdasarkan kepada Perlembagaan negara, tentera dan polis serta jabatan-jabatan kerajaan persekutuan bernaung di bawah Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Justeru dalam urusan surat menyurat daripada pihak berkenaan dicatat dengan jelas "Urusan Seri Paduka Baginda."
Yang di-Pertuan Agong tidak berpolitik dan merupakan pihak yang berkecuali dan bertanggungjawab memperkenankan penubuhan kerajaan oleh parti politik atau pakatan parti-parti politik yang menerima mandat rakyat dan mendapat majoriti dalam pilihan raya.
Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong akan menaungi kerajaan yang diberi mandat oleh rakyat dan kerajaan serta jabatan dan agensinya kena bekerja atas nama kerajaan untuk memberi perkhidmatan terbaik.
Jika rakyat tidak berpuas hati dengan perkhidmatan kerajaan dan jenteranya, rakyat berhak menarik mandat dan menukar kerajaan bila pilihan raya diadakan.
Selagi rakyat terus memberi mandat, maka kerajaan yang wujud kerana mandat kena dihormati dan ditaati. Jika dikhianati, maka yang dikhianati adalah rakyat dan kedudukan Yang di-Pertuan Agong cuba dicabar.
Walaupun mungkin ada segelintir rakyat tidak berpuas hati terhadap perkhidmatan kerajaan atas alasan dan faktor tertentu, namun ia tidak boleh melakukan sesuatu tindakan bersifat mengkhianati kerajaan, sebaliknya jika perlu dan terdesak kerajaan kena ditumbangkan melalui proses pilihan raya dan kena bergantung kepada mandat rakyat.
Saya melihat kejahilan dan ketidak-profesionalan Puteri Reformasi, Nurul Izzah Anwar berpolitik apabila pasukan keselamatan cuba dipalitkan dengan lumpur politik apabila membuat dakwaan yang dikategorikan sebagai melemparkan perembohongan oleh Panglima Tentera Laut, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar berhubung dengan kapal selam pertama negara, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu yang terdedah kepada kemungkinan disaman oleh TLDM mendakwa kapal selam pertama negara tidak boleh menyelam manakala Panglima Angkatan Tentera Laut berkata kapal selam Scopene merupakan aset strategik pertahanan negara bukan alat untuk meraih keuntungan politik murahan.
Bagi Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, kapal selam itu mempunyai keupayaan tinggi, diiktiraf sebagai antara yang tercanggih di dunia dan telah terbukti dalam operasi tembakan hakiki yang dijalankan oleh TLDM Julai lalu.
Dari segi lojiknya kalau tidak boleh menyelam mana mungkin kapal selam itu boleh menyertai kerana kapal selam kena berada di dasar laut, bukannya di permukaan air.
Yang bercakap tentang hakikat sebenar KD Tunku Abdul Rahman adalah seorang yang berpengalaman dalam bidang ketenteraan dan beliau pasti lebih tahu tentang ketenteraan dan kelengkapannya, apatah lagi yang berkaitan dengan TLDM yang mana beliau adalah panglimanya.
Manakala yang memperlekehkan kapal selang itu adalah pemain politik yang masih terlalu muda dan mentah dalam gelanggang yang diceburinya dan tidak ada pengalaman dalam bidang ketenteraan, pertahanan dan keselamatan negara. Dakwaan Nurul Izzah barangkali hanya berdasarkan kepada dengar cakap.
Apa yang dilakukannya itu saya yakin boleh menyebabkan anggota keselamatan tidak akan ‘pecah liur’ untuk undi parti yang diwakili kerana bila TLDM dibohongi, semua unit tentera akan turut rasa dibohongi.
Pasukan tentera dalam pelbagai unit umpama satu anggota: bila paha kanan dicubit, paha kiri akan turut rasa sakitnya, kalau paha kiri dicubit pula paha kanan akan turut rasa sakit.
Bagi saya, silap besar kalau mana-mana tokoh politik sama ada yang menyokong kerajaan atau pembangkang cuba mempalitkan lumpur politik terhadap jabatan-jabatan kerajaan, khususnya pasukan tentera dan polis, lebih-lebih lagi kalau mereka diburuk-burukkan, ditohmah dan disalah sangka kerana mereka adalah penjunjung Perlembagaan yang akan mengutamakan keprofesionalan dalam memberikan perkhidmatan walaupun barangkali bertentangan dengan naluri sendiri. Tentera, polis tidak patut dipercikkan lumpur politik — Ramli Abdul Halim
21 OGOS — Berdasarkan kepada Perlembagaan negara, tentera dan polis serta jabatan-jabatan kerajaan persekutuan bernaung di bawah Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Justeru dalam urusan surat menyurat daripada pihak berkenaan dicatat dengan jelas "Urusan Seri Paduka Baginda."
Yang di-Pertuan Agong tidak berpolitik dan merupakan pihak yang berkecuali dan bertanggungjawab memperkenankan penubuhan kerajaan oleh parti politik atau pakatan parti-parti politik yang menerima mandat rakyat dan mendapat majoriti dalam pilihan raya.
Baginda Yang di-Pertuan Agong akan menaungi kerajaan yang diberi mandat oleh rakyat dan kerajaan serta jabatan dan agensinya kena bekerja atas nama kerajaan untuk memberi perkhidmatan terbaik.
Jika rakyat tidak berpuas hati dengan perkhidmatan kerajaan dan jenteranya, rakyat berhak menarik mandat dan menukar kerajaan bila pilihan raya diadakan.
Selagi rakyat terus memberi mandat, maka kerajaan yang wujud kerana mandat kena dihormati dan ditaati. Jika dikhianati, maka yang dikhianati adalah rakyat dan kedudukan Yang di-Pertuan Agong cuba dicabar.
Walaupun mungkin ada segelintir rakyat tidak berpuas hati terhadap perkhidmatan kerajaan atas alasan dan faktor tertentu, namun ia tidak boleh melakukan sesuatu tindakan bersifat mengkhianati kerajaan, sebaliknya jika perlu dan terdesak kerajaan kena ditumbangkan melalui proses pilihan raya dan kena bergantung kepada mandat rakyat.
Saya melihat kejahilan dan ketidak-profesionalan Puteri Reformasi, Nurul Izzah Anwar berpolitik apabila pasukan keselamatan cuba dipalitkan dengan lumpur politik apabila membuat dakwaan yang dikategorikan sebagai melemparkan perembohongan oleh Panglima Tentera Laut, Tan Sri Abdul Aziz Jaafar berhubung dengan kapal selam pertama negara, KD Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai itu yang terdedah kepada kemungkinan disaman oleh TLDM mendakwa kapal selam pertama negara tidak boleh menyelam manakala Panglima Angkatan Tentera Laut berkata kapal selam Scopene merupakan aset strategik pertahanan negara bukan alat untuk meraih keuntungan politik murahan.
Bagi Tan Sri Abdul Aziz, kapal selam itu mempunyai keupayaan tinggi, diiktiraf sebagai antara yang tercanggih di dunia dan telah terbukti dalam operasi tembakan hakiki yang dijalankan oleh TLDM Julai lalu.
Dari segi lojiknya kalau tidak boleh menyelam mana mungkin kapal selam itu boleh menyertai kerana kapal selam kena berada di dasar laut, bukannya di permukaan air.
Yang bercakap tentang hakikat sebenar KD Tunku Abdul Rahman adalah seorang yang berpengalaman dalam bidang ketenteraan dan beliau pasti lebih tahu tentang ketenteraan dan kelengkapannya, apatah lagi yang berkaitan dengan TLDM yang mana beliau adalah panglimanya.
Manakala yang memperlekehkan kapal selang itu adalah pemain politik yang masih terlalu muda dan mentah dalam gelanggang yang diceburinya dan tidak ada pengalaman dalam bidang ketenteraan, pertahanan dan keselamatan negara. Dakwaan Nurul Izzah barangkali hanya berdasarkan kepada dengar cakap.
Apa yang dilakukannya itu saya yakin boleh menyebabkan anggota keselamatan tidak akan ‘pecah liur’ untuk undi parti yang diwakili kerana bila TLDM dibohongi, semua unit tentera akan turut rasa dibohongi.
Pasukan tentera dalam pelbagai unit umpama satu anggota: bila paha kanan dicubit, paha kiri akan turut rasa sakitnya, kalau paha kiri dicubit pula paha kanan akan turut rasa sakit.
Bagi saya, silap besar kalau mana-mana tokoh politik sama ada yang menyokong kerajaan atau pembangkang cuba mempalitkan lumpur politik terhadap jabatan-jabatan kerajaan, khususnya pasukan tentera dan polis, lebih-lebih lagi kalau mereka diburuk-burukkan, ditohmah dan disalah sangka kerana mereka adalah penjunjung Perlembagaan yang akan mengutamakan keprofesionalan dalam memberikan perkhidmatan walaupun barangkali bertentangan dengan naluri sendiri. — Utusan Malaysia
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or the publication. The Malaysian Insider does not endorse the view unless specified.

Tiger Wood Divorce Settlement

This time last year, Tiger Woods could reasonably have been described as having it all: a billion dollars in the bank, a wife and children at home and a place in history as one of the most successful sportsmen of all time.
Yesterday, things looked rather different for the world's number one golfer when he was divorced by his wife, Elin Nordegren, after a spectacular fall from grace.
The news that Woods and his wife were divorcing was not entirely unexpected. In the nine months since his life began to unravel, Woods has been the subject of more "kiss and tells" than the Premier League's worst philanderers.
But whether it was alleged dalliances with a Playboy bunny, a lingerie model, a former porn star, a current porn star, a club promoter, a sex worker or cocktail waitresses which persuaded Nordegren to call time on her five-year marriage was unclear. Divorce papers simply described the relationship as "irretrievably broken". Now Nordegren could be in line to receive an enormous divorce settlement, with speculation beginning at $100m (£66m)and soaring to $750m (£500m) last night.
Confirming their divorce, the former couple issued a statement which read: "We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future. While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance.
"Once we came to the decision that our marriage was at an end, the primary focus of our amicable discussions has been to ensure their future well-being.
"The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern."
The couple will share custody of their two children, their lawyers said.
The cracks started to appear in Woods's previously flawless image last November when he crashed his car into a fire hydrant in his Florida driveway in the middle of the night. What, on the surface of it, could have been an unremarkable accident took an unexpected turn when police reported that Nordegren had been spotted at the scene brandishing a golf club, and neither she nor Woods would talk to them.
The rumour mill quickly shifted to turbo as US gossip websites linked the incident to reports in the National Enquirer alleging Woods had an affair with a New York nightclub hostess, Rachel Uchitel.
Two days after the accident, Woods released a statement. He said at the time: "I'm human and I'm not perfect. I will certainly make sure this doesn't happen again. This is a private matter and I want to keep it that way."
But it did nothing to stem the number of women waiting to tell reporters how Woods had got them pregnant, paid for their liposuction or slept with them on his stag do. He released a further statement on 11 December, apologising for his infidelity and announcing he would be taking an "indefinite break" from golf. He lost sponsorship deals with Gatorade and Accenture, while other endorsement deals were scaled down. An attempt to rebuild his commercial reputation was criticised when he filmed an advert for Nike in which he appeared to be receiving advice from his late father – a marketing ploy dismissed as "cheesy" by his furious wife.
Woods went into therapy, staying away from golf for five months, and he kept his counsel until 19 February. It was then that the 14-time major winner made an emotional apology for cheating on his wife in front of selected journalists and colleagues. "I was unfaithful, I had affairs, I cheated," he said then. "What I did is not acceptable and I am the only person to blame. I stopped living by the core values I was taught to believe in.
"I knew my actions were wrong but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply.
"I never thought about who I was hurting, instead I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries a married couple should live by.
"I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. "I felt I was entitled thanks to money and fame. I didn't have to go far to find them. I was wrong and I was foolish."
Woods faced media questioning for the first time on his return to golf at the Masters at Augusta in April. He finished joint fourth behind Phil Mickelson, who has subsequently threatened to end Woods' run as world number one. Woods remains without a win so far this year and missed out on automatic qualification for this year's US Ryder Cup team for the tournament at Celtic Manor in October. He will require a captain's pick from Corey Pavin to play.

Dangerous liaisons: 'I have let my family down'

Tiger Woods timeline27 November 2009
Tiger Woods is injured in a car accident near his home in Orlando, Florida. US websites speculate it may be connected to allegations that he had an affair with nightclub hostess Rachel Uchitel.
30 November
Florida Highway Patrol reveals they have still to speak to the golfer who pulls out of his own Chevron World Challenge tournament. The following day Woods receives a traffic citation for careless driving and is issued with a $164 fine.
2 December
US Weekly interviews cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, who claims to have had a 31-month affair with Woods. He says: "I've let my family down and regret those transgressions with all my heart."
4-11 December
A porn star, a waitress and a Las Vegas club promoter claim to have had flings with him.
11 December
Woods takes an "indefinite break" from golf to focus "on being a better husband, father and person," he says.
30 December
Checks into a sex addiction clinic in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
16 February 2010
Porn star Joslyn James claims to have been one of Woods' mistresses.
19 February
Woods apologises at PGA headquarters.
8 April
Features in a Nike advert – one of the few sponsors to stay with him – listening to advice from his late father, Earl.
April 11
Returns to competitive golf at the Masters at Augusta and finishes fourth.
August 15
Trails 28th in USPGA championship, failing to earn automatic place on America's Ryder Cup team.
August 23
Joint statement announces divorce.
Guardian UK