Malaysia Day Speech

Decision to form Malaysia helps Sabah, Sarawak: Najib

Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak (3rd L) presenting an award to Gani Gilong during the Malaysia Day celebrations at the Padang Merdeka, Kota Kinabalu, yesterday.Picture: Bernama

KOTA KINABALU

Friday, September 17, 2010

MALAYSIAN Prime Minister Najib Razak said the decision of the leaders and people in Sabah and Sarawak to join in the formation of Malaysia was a wise move which had seen significant changes in both states in terms of development.

However, he conceded that the path leading to the formation of Malaysia was not easy because of the many challenges that had cropped up including the claim by the Philippines on Sabah and the ensuing confrontation with Indonesia.

"When the claim made by the Philippines (on Sabah) did not materialise because of our stand to defend the sovereignty of Sabah in Malaysia and when Indonesia launched the confrontation against Malaysia in Sabah, the people from the peninsula and Sarawak had fought in Sabah to defend the state's sovereignty," he said at the Malaysia Day 2010 Celebration, at Padang Merdeka, here yesterday.

Also present were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah and Sabah Chief Minister Musa Aman.

Similarly, Najib said the situation before the formation of Malaysia was also not easy, where history had shown that leaders in the two states then had to work hard to convince the people to the extent that the Cobbold Commission was formed.

"The journey leading to the auspicious date of Sept 16 was not easy because the Cobbold Commission had been formed and the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and my father, Tun Abdul Razak had played a role to convince the people of Sabah and Sarawak that their future would be more secure, and their prosperity would become a reality if they became independent in the federation of Malaysia.

"In the efforts to convince the people of Sabah and Sarawak, more than 80 per cent had agreed that Sabah and Sarawak became independent in the federaton of Malaysia," he said.

The Prime Minister said he was also attracted to the statement by a citizen which was published in a local newspaper which he had read by coincidence, which stated that according to the observation by the writer, Aug 31 was independence day, while Sept 16 was a day of hope for a bright future for the beloved nation.

"In terms of the federal government, the continuity to champion the cause of the people of Sabah will be maintained, for example, under the NKRA (National Key Result Area), RM6.1 billion (2.62 billion) was allocated to Sabah to construct roads, provide electricity, water and houses for the poor excluding the allocation for other programmes and projects. "All these initiatives were taken so that the people of Sabah will benefit from the independence gained through Malaysia so that Sabah develops, Sarawak develops together with the progress achieved in the peninsula. Insyaallah, in the next few years, this will become a reality. Bernama

Najib versus Perkasa

Najib to blame for Umno blunder with Perkasa

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 10:08

By Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz

COMMENT If there is anyone to be blamed for the confusion about how Umno should treat Perkasa, it's the Umno president. Umno has forfeited its role as spokesman of Malay leadership by default. First because the Umno president is giving out ambivalent messages.
He hasn't given unqualified and absolute support to his foot soldiers. He is asking his people to distance themselves from Perkasa but undercuts this call by saying we are not at war with Perkasa.

And what does distancing mean exactly? It's not a question of at war or at odds. It's a case of stating clearly that Umno doesn't share the same ideals of Perkasa.

It's a case of saying that Umno has a better program and agenda than Perkasa will ever have. Right now, Umno hasn't done that!  (As such) we are better off shutting up.

The core element of Perkasa's struggle is the retention of NEP and of Malay rights. It is to this element that Umno leaders must argue. Unfortunately they don't have the grey matter to argue against the idea.

Malays in general are not averse to reason and sensibility. It is a mark of mental and cerebral deficiency if you resort to name calling as a means to counter Ibrahim Ali's Perkasa.

How would you argue against NEP? Start by asking what has NEP turned into at the hands of achievement- challenged Umno leaders?

* It stands for social immobility
* It stands for getting on in life by way of cutting corners, working less and wanting a free lunch.
* It stands for a system that does not match rewards with ability and hard work..
* It stands for a system that makes putting in less effort but getting more benefits, respectable.

Clueless Umno
But before that we have to state the following. If whatever privileges are already enshrined in our constitution- to wit article 153, then why do we need organizations like Perkasa to add validity to this article?

It suggests that we are not confident of our own constitution. Or Perkasa can clearly see that there is no longer Umno in the future. If there is no Umno then, the constitution can be changed. By the way article 153 provides for the Agung to ensure a few things pertaining to Malay privileges are protected.

To me then, it's not article 153 that we should focus our attention to. It's the paramount authority of the institution of the Agong as the final arbiter and veto power to ensure not only Malay privileges but to include other things as well such as how and why Petronas money is applied.

Two, Malays will forever be the majority group in this country. I find it impossible for Malays to forsake what is important to them regardless of whatever party they belonged to.

So where is the steam that pushes Perkasa? Ini pun orang Umno tak boleh debat.

This is the way we should argue why NEP must be abolished. It's not that the Malays will drop dead if the NEP is abolished.

I have long held the view that rights are what we fought for and earned and not gotten gratuitously. This is what the NEP is instilling - that rights are a given because they are so. Also because its written in our constitution.

The validity of NEP doesn't depend on article 153. That article provides for powers to be exercised by the Agung in matters concerning government positions, scholarships etc. even then, such powers are to be exercised with circumspect- the most important qualification being, in so far as they do not injure the legitimate rights of other Malaysian races.

NEP hogwash
I want to tell our Malaysian Chinese brothers, they are not the only ones pissed off with the NEP. The majority of Malays are equally angered. Because the NEP has turned out to actually be, a fight to control the turf by competing Malay elites, the superbumis, the puteras in the bumi.

The majority are treated as cannon fodder by these people in working out a solution with the elites of other Malaysians.

How many percent of the Malay population benefited from the RM 54 billion offer to take up offers in listed companies?

We know so many cashed out that the value held by bumiputeras is now only RM 2 billion. I have written sometime ago, let the government list out those who have cashed out and permanently bar them from even applying for new shares.

So I come to my first contention that NEP far from empowering the majority of Malays represent a hurdle for social mobility.

So when the majority is denied access to wealth creating resources, this breeds enmity and social tensions. The social mobility which the NEP sought to do, was enjoyed by the privileged few.

How many can play golf with the PM and brokered RM200k for the PM? Not everyone can become Low Taek Jho and redirect RM 5 billion to become 1Malaysia Development Fund and in the process, earned RM700k?

Not many people can equal an ex-sprint queen who arranges the hubby to become the umbrella contractor controlling so many JKR projects or become one of the partners selling train coaches to the Malaysian government?

Because the mobility meant for Malays are differentiated. For some, the privileged, the well connected, it's a program that allows cutting corners. Pink forms here and there, easy financing, sometimes free shares because of who they are. For the majority, the mobility has to be earned the hard way- work hard, toil the land, study harder.

The NEP represents unequal outcome through unequal opportunities. What we wanted were equal opportunities resulting naturally in unequal outcomes.

How can I be persuaded that NEP is good for the Malays?

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The writer is a former Umno state rep and this article first appeared in his sakmongkol47 blogsite.

On Interference

Actually, they took no action against ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan, because they know that the allegation is true. And if ASP Noor Azizul Rahim was arrested and charged in court then the truth would surface. So they chose to do nothing at all.
THE CORRIDORS OF POWER
Raja Petra Kamarudin
When I signed a Statutory Declaration back in June 2008, they arrested me and charged me for Criminal Defamation. And my Statutory Declaration is just against two junior army officers plus the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
The wife of the Deputy Prime Minister is not a government employee or an official position. She is just that, the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, of no ranking in the Malaysian government structure.
When P.I. Balasubramanian signed a Statutory Declaration two weeks later, they threatened the safety of his family and made him retract what he alleged by signing a second Statutory Declaration the following day. His second Statutory Declaration 24 hours later contradicted his first one.
This means one of the two Statutory Declarations is false. They did not, however, arrest Balasubramanian and charge him for Criminal Defamation. They did not even charge him for the more serious crime of signing a false Statutory Declaration under the Statutory Declaration Act 1960. Instead, they whisked him out of the country.
A year later, on 28 August 2009, ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC (aide-de-camp) of IGP Musa Hassan, signed a Statutory Declaration alleging many damaging things about his boss the IGP. (See the copy of the Statutory Declaration below).
A copy of this Statutory Declaration was given to one-time Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who in turn gave it to ex-IGP Tun Haniff Omar. ASP Noor Azizul Rahim also informed many other people about this matter, as mentioned in his Statutory Declaration.
Either ASP Noor Azizul Rahim is lying or he is telling the truth. Either ASP Noor Azizul Rahim signed a false Statutory Declaration or IGP Musa Hassan is guilty as alleged in ASP Noor Azizul Rahim’s Statutory Declaration.
Either way we will never know because nothing was done about the allegation. No investigation was launched to determine whether IGP Musa Hassan is really guilty as alleged or, instead, ASP Noor Azizul Rahim is guilty of the crime of signing a false Statutory Declaration.
Now IGP Musa Hassan is bellyaching, whining, grumbling and bitching like a crybaby about interference in the police force and about how ‘they’ directed him on how he should run the police force.
Actually IGP Musa Hassan is not totally wrong. The only thing is, according to the ten or so Statutory Declarations signed by various police officers as well as two underworld figures, it is the underworld that directed IGP Musa Hassan on how the Malaysian police force should be run.
Why were these many Statutory Declarations never investigated? If the Statutory Declarations are false then why did they not arrest and charge these police officers and underworld figures for Criminal Defamation like they did me?
More importantly, the Statutory Declaration below was signed by IGP Musa Hassan’s own ADC, not by just any police officer. And many senior police officers plus the ex-Prime Minister of Malaysia were given copies of this Statutory Declaration and are aware of the matter. But still nothing was done.
If the Statutory Declaration below is true then IGP Musa Hassan should by now be sitting in jail. If, however, they are implying that the Statutory Declaration below is false then why was the maker of the document not dragged into court and charged like what they did to me?
Note that my Statutory Declaration is against someone who is merely a wife of the Deputy Prime Minister and therefore someone of no official standing in the government. ASP Noor Azizul Rahim’s Statutory Declaration is against the top cop in Malaysia, the IGP. This makes it more serious and is covered under both the Criminal Defamation law as well as the Statutory Declaration Act 1960.
Let me repeat that. Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the then Deputy Prime Minister, has no official standing in the government. On the other hand, IGP Musa Hassan is the top police officer in Malaysia. You can’t be charged for Criminal Defamation for making an allegation against someone who is not holding a government post (although they did in my case). But you can be charged for Criminal Defamation if you make an allegation against Malaysia’s number one policeman.
Actually, they took no action against ASP Noor Azizul Rahim Bin Taharim, the ADC of IGP Musa Hassan, because they know that the allegation is true. And if ASP Noor Azizul Rahim was arrested and charged in court then the truth would surface. So they chose to do nothing at all.

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Musa's allegation not to be taken lightly
(Sin Chew Daily) - Outgoing Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan has made an allegation before leaving the office that there is a third party interference in police work.
Why didn't he mention it during his term of office as the IGP over the past four years? In addition, Musa also admitted that there are different factions in the police force and he has actually eliminated many of them.
Since the problems have existed for a long time, and an external force has prevented him from reforming the police, causing him to implemented only 48% of his five-year restructuring plan, as the head of a professional disciplinary force, Musa should report to the higher level once he found out the problems. It is because of the lack of a channel, or poor communication?
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Mahmood Adam have both denied Musa’s claims of third party interference in the police force.
However, it is a very serious allegation. The cabinet should make a thorough investigation to see whether there are people interfering in police work in the name of the Home Ministry. The police must carry out its tasks independently and freely. Any interference might prevent the cause of justice.
The inquiry should not only investigate the police but also extends the scope of investigation to protect the independence and professionalism of all law enforcement agencies.
For example, former Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) director-general Shafee Yahya claimed that former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had prevented the ACA in 1998 from investigating the then director-general of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) of the Prime Minister's Department.
In addition, former Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Ramli Yusuff, who has been acquitted of a charge of being involved in business when he was a civil servant, claimed in October 2007 that the high level officers in the ACA, the Attorney-General's Chamber and the police were unfair.
Ramli had accused the ACA of framing his subordinates while the police did not protect them. Three policemen were accused to have involved in forgery when conducting an investigation on a Chinese loan shark in Johor. Ramli claimed that the Commecial Crime Investigation Department took actions against the suspect based on the instructions given by the then deputy minister of the Internal Security Ministry (the current Home Affairs Ministry).
On the other hand, PAS has said that the police had received reports in 2002 and 2005 claiming that former Malaysia Airlines (MAS) chairman had involved in the RM8 billion loss. Ramli had suggested charging the person involved but the authority took no action.
The inquiry must investigate all similar allegations and incidents and develop a set of guidelines and laws to prevent third party interference in law enforcement and prosecution units.
Undeniably, the police has established a professional image, particularly in intelligence gathering, since the British colonel era. In particular cases, such as the destruction of religious places, the police have shown its capability in solving the cases and maintain social stability. In terms of wiping out violent criminals, the police have also shown a high efficiency.
The Malaysian police force is doing much better if we compare it to the error-prone approach used by the Philippine police in rescuing Hong Kong hostages on a bus hijacked in Manila.
However, the role of the police has been on dispute after the March 2008 general election. The government must uphold the images of the police force and other law enforcement units to restore public confidence.

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Scrambling for posts in PKR about to begin

PKR incumbents bowing out, mad scramble possible

Regina Lee
Sep 16, 10

Now that the PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim and the party deputy president Syed Husin Ali have stepped aside in the upcoming party elections, a bloodbath may be in the offing.

While party president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has yet to announce her stand in defending her position, it appears that she will be left unchallenged.

In a party where Anwar and his wife have achieved almost cult-like status, to go after either one of them could be a sure-fire way to end your political career with a bang.

Ask Abdul Rahman Othman (better known as ARO), PKR's deputy president who challenged Wan Azizah for the top post in the last party elections in 2007, only to pull out at the eleventh hour.

He then left the party for PAS shortly afterwards, maintaining a relatively low profile ever since.

And now, questions have risen if the sudden turn of events will throw a spanner into a supposed "succession plan" for the party.

Facing a possible jail term in the current sodomy trial, the party grapevine has been working overtime speculating who would be the next in line, especially when Anwar has been keeping his cards close to his chest.

Sources close to him also said that with his recent neutral stand, coupled with a stern warning to potential candidates not to exploit his name, the issue of succession will only arise after the 400,000 members have chosen their leaders.

Contest hotting up

But even before the announcements by Syed Husin and Anwar on Tuesday, contenders, or the supposed contenders for the deputy presidency are not exactly shying away from making the rounds shoring up subtle support.

Maverick lawyer Zaid Ibrahim, (right) and vice-presidents Azmin Ali and Mustaffa Kamil Ayub's supporters are already engaged in a flood of press conferences and in running blogs.

Although one can already expect a three-horse race with the nominations just looming tomorrow, what is eagerly anticipated is the battle between Zaid and Azmin, whose rivalry dates back to as early as last October, just three months after the former had joined the party.

From their well-documented feud over control in Sabah, to the Hulu Selangor by-election in April when Zaid's camp had accused Azmin of sabotaging campaign efforts, their disdain for each other has been very apparent.

Mechanisms ranging from poison pen letters to nasty text messages are part of the realpolitik goings on in the PKR.

"But I don't think it is ugly. It is as it is. It is the process of democracy," said PKR communications chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

He also refuted the notion that the very nature of PKR's own direct elections, the first of its kind in the country, is the cause of it.

"Even without direct elections, there will still be tension during any party elections," he said.

But while pro-Zaid and pro-Azmin(left) supporters are busy bickering with each other on the blogs, it is easy to overlook underdog Mustaffa Kamil, the current vice-president who by no means, is dwarfed by the giant presence of the other two in the race for the deputy presidency.

He has not thrown in his hat as yet, but the grassroots man famed for his ceramah and motivational talks appears to have the solid backing of PKR Perak of which he is chairperson.

In the 2007 party polls, he also managed to garner the third highest number of votes in the race for the vice-presidency, beating three others.

Party members may also be impressed by his gritty style of soapbox campaigning and the hard work he has put in as the party's international bureau head.

However, many have dismissed him as one who is unlikely to become a serious contender.

Zaid 'not a team player'

Meanwhile, while Zaid's entry into the party has grabbed national attention and awed party observers at his meteoric rise, a year later, many party insiders have been left unimpressed.

Zaid rose from the ranks into becoming one of the most successful of members of his community in his time, setting up the biggest law firm in the country, and strolling into the top echelon of the federal government.

He raised hopes and set a high benchmark of personal integrity when then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (right) handpicked him to become the de facto Law Minister to oversee judicial reforms in 2008, only to resign almost six months later when an MP, a blogger and a journalist were detained under the Internal Security Act.

But after joining the PKR July last year, he had already stepped on a lot of the other PKR leaders' toes with his 'my way or the highway' stand on numerous issues.

A top party leader told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity that Zaid is "at best, a loose cannon".

"One of Zaid's strengths is that he has attracted a lot of outsiders with his ideals and his liberal, vocal appeal.

"But those who have seen him work up close and personal will know that he is highly egotistical. He doesn't even come to most of the political bureau meetings but he will get upset if we try to advise him," said the source.

Though Azmin, his rival, has an unblemished record as a party loyalist, his shrewd calculative personality has turned off many.

In fact, quite a number have dubbed him Anwar's "gatekeeper", often cold shouldering those not in agreement with him.

Several party leaders also said that while Azmin is almost a shoo-in by the fact that he has been with the party through thick and thin, he still lacks the leadership qualities that could carry the party in the event that Anwar is imprisoned for the second time.

"He is still seen as someone who is too attached to Anwar. He needs to wean himself off Anwar and to become a leader in his own right," said a party source.

And while the battle between Zaid and Azmin appear to be one that can be described as of a do-or-die nature, party elections are never a zero-sum game.

As one party leader put it, "once someone wins and the other loses, they will still have to work together".

Zaid-Azmin fight begins

Zaid unfazed by Azmin's 'shock and awe'

Aidila Razak
Sep 16, 10

PKR deputy president's post contender Zaid Ibrahim today took a swipe at Azmin Ali for the apparent “outlandish” manner in which his opponent announced his candidacy.

"He did it in style," he quipped on the sidelines of the UCSI University National Congress on Integrity in Kuala Lumpur today.

Azmin (left) announced his candidacy at the Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort in Kota Kinabalu this morning, flanked by a sizeable number of top PKR leaders.

Asked for his reaction, Zaid sarcastically said, "It's an awesome display. Very frightening."

Commenting on this, Zaid, who is PKR Supreme Council member, said the tactic of flexing muscle would cause strains within the party.


"If we keep showing that we are strong, show off our gang, it would be difficult (to close ranks later).


"That's why I didn't bring 20 people to accompany me when I made my announcement (to contest)...I too have parliamentarians behind me but I don't show it


"The nominations have not even been announced. There is a lot of time, we should campaign slowly," he said.


Smear campaign


Although no name was mentioned, all eyes were on Azmin when Zaid claimed that a smear campaign against him was under way.


Asked about this today, the seasoned politician said that he would not lodge a formal complaint on this with the PKR election committee.


"If we lodge complaints, it'll create tension," he conceded.


He added that he would not do so, unless matters became worse.


Last week, Zaid confirmed with Malaysiakini that he had lodged a police report about claims that a blogger was offered money to write disparaging posts about him.


He said he had taken this drastic step to avoid being framed by his detractors, particularly on allegations of money politics.

Disappointed with Anwar

Zaid also felt let down over de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's decision to not contest, saying that it is "not healthy" as political parties "must have certain office bearers".


"I am disappointed. I thought he should contest the president post because de facto leader is not a recognised position in a political party constitution" he said.


Zaid's opinion favouring Anwar for president echoes the stand of the Majlis Muafakat Kepimpinan Keadilan Selangor (Selangor Keadilan Leadership Consensus Council) who backs Anwar for the post and wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as number two.


But the Pakatan Rakyat coordinator said that one should not be too swayed over what certain groups say as there are divergent opinions in the party.


"There are even people who want me to be president, it depends on who you talk to," he said jokingly.

PKR's 218 divisions will hold two separate meetings - the first to elect divisional leaders beginning this weekend, and a second meeting to vote for 26 supreme council members as well as president, deputy president and four vice-presidents.

The divisions will vote for top national leaders over four weekends from Oct 29 to Nov 21.

Malaysiakini