(The Star) – 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) has urged Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua to “practise what you preach” by stepping down from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) while police investigations on him are ongoing.

“1MDB has consistently maintained that the appropriate forum to share information is to the lawful authorities investigating 1MDB, including the PAC.

“It would appear that YB Tony Pua, notwithstanding his role in the PAC, wants to be judge, jury and executioner for 1MDB,” 1MDB said in a statement on Thursday.

“1MDB is disappointed to hear of the alleged actions by YB Tony Pua.

“Whilst we have had differences of opinion with him, we respected his tenacity and focus. Now that YB Tony Pua is under investigation by the police, we urge YB Tony Pua to practise what he preaches to others and step down from the PAC, while he proves his innocence on the various allegations made against him,” 1MDB said.

It was reported that Pua was being investigated under Section 120 of the Penal Code for alleged attempts to topple the government following allegations that he introduced Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown to The Edge Media Group’s owner Datuk Tong Kooi Ong and chief executive officer Ho Kay Tat.

Earlier, Pua urged 1MDB to clear up the air on the USD$1.4bil deal and urged the firm to make public details of the bond arrangements and guarantee by Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).

1MDB said: “In a statement today, YB Tony Pua urged 1MDB to "come clean" on the bond arrangements and guarantee by Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).

“We remind YB Tony Pua that the key terms of the bond and the IPIC guarantee are contained in the notes to the 1MDB audited accounts dated 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014.

“These are publicly available documents. 1MDB had also provided a detailed answer to the Wall Street Journal report on 9 September 2015, defended its audited accounts and confirmed that it cannot comment on nor have knowledge of, the accounting arrangements of third parties such as IPIC or Aabar.

“However, YB Tony Pua is quick to respond to detailed answers with even more questions. One can only conclude he is not at all interested in the answers.

“We note media reports quoting IGP Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar as saying, in relation to YB Tony Pua, that the police had opened an investigation paper under Section 120 of the Penal Code to probe alleged attempts to topple the government.

“The IGP is quoted as saying “Mind you, we do not investigate based on newspaper reports… (but) this was what he (Pua) had actually said. As such, we need to call him (in) again. He (Pua) himself had admitted that he had left out a few things when he was first called in. He could have forgotten then. Now only he remembered. So we will call him in," 1MDB said.

On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that US$1.4bil that 1MDB claimed to have paid to a United Arab Emirates (UAE) state investment vehicle had gone missing.

1MDB had criticised WSJ for using confidential information allegedly from a parliamentary committee, possibly the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), probe which is yet to be presented to Parliament.

The international publication quoted sources as saying the UAE was asking questions on the US$1.4bil which is said to have never reached its investment fund, the IPIC.

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(Malay Mail Online) – Amid continued silence from the actual organiser of the highly-touted "red shirt" rally planned for September 16, an Umno grassroots leader said today the demonstration was to serve as a lesson to the ethnic Chinese who purportedly prevailed at last month's Bersih 4 not to be rude to the country's dominant Malays.

Sungai Besar Umno division chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos said Malay non-government organisations were compelled to rise now due to multiple acts during the Bersih 4 rally by the large Chinese turnout whom he accused of having "insulted the Malay leaders" after they were "brainwashed by DAP".

"The NGOs are thankful to Bersih which was banned. That rally helped the uprising of the Malay NGOs because of the insulting messages.

"Because of the rudeness of Bersih 4, that is why we are gathering at Bukit Bintang to give a clear message to the DAP Chinese not to be impudent to the Malay race," he told a news conference at a landmark of Malay culture, the Kelab Sultan Sulaiman here.

Jamal added that the participants in the Bersih 4 rally, which ran two days from August 29 to 30, had been indoctrinated to turn against Malays by federal opposition parties.

He singled out the predominantly Chinese DAP as the main factor, claiming that "90 per cent of those who were turned up for the Bersih 4 rally were Chinese DAP, which shows it was a rally for them".

"The other 10 per cent of other races is only a small amount whose thoughts have been brainwashed by the opposition," he said.

The organiser of the "red" September 16 rally is supposedly a Malay martial arts organisation called Persekutuan Silat Kebangsaan Malaysia (Pesaka), led by Senator Tan Sri Mohd Ali Mohd Rustam, according to information on its website.

According to Jamal, Pesaka has invited over 750 Malay NGOs to join in the rally on Malaysia Day.

He added that the organiser has also sent out invitations to all Umno divisions and other political parties including PAS, and claimed over 30,000 have pledged to attend to date.

"We had meeting with 750 NGO. We got agreement from all these Malay NGOs to join the rally organised by Pesaka.

"We give our full support to PESAKA for the rally on September 16 at Padang Merbok. We are expecting around 30,000 people only from NGO to attend the rally," Jamal said, adding that his Sungai Besar Umno division is mobilising 3,000 members for the rally.

The September 16 rally had raised a storm after word of it spread on social media networks in recent days, but no one had owned up as its organiser till now.

The rally has received unofficial support from some government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

It is ostensibly in reaction to the Bersih 4 protest on August 29 and 30, and is touted to see a turnout of 300,000 supporters. 

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The company urges the MP to "come clean" with the police on investigations against him on various allegations.

(Free Malaysia Today) – 1MDB has expressed disappointment in a statement that Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua did not acknowledge in his recent remarks on The Sarawak Report Editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown that she was "dealing in stolen goods". The statement described the Sarawak-born Rewcastle, who founded The Sarawak Report, as a "discredited journalist".

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) owned company, touted as a strategic investment and development arm, was referring to a statement wherein Pua disclosed that he introduced Rewcastle to The Edge Media Group owner Tong Kooi Ong and Publisher/CEO Ho Kay Tatt.

The company expressed the hope that Pua will not add insult to injury by failing to come clean with his answers to the police as he's currently under investigations. It noted that the MP had urged the company to come clean on the bond arrangements and guarantee by Abu Dhabi's International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).

"We remind Pua that the key terms of the bond and the IPIC guarantee are contained in the notes to the 1MDB audited accounts dated 31 March 2013 and 31 March 2014," said the company. "These are publicly available documents. "

"1MDB had also provided a detailed answer to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on 9 September 2015, defended its audited accounts and confirmed that it cannot comment on nor have knowledge of, the accounting arrangements of third parties such as IPIC or Aabar."

The company was commenting on Pua alleging, based on the WSJ report, that 1MDBs accounts showed that it paid USD1.4 billion to IPIC but this figure was not reflected in the latter's company's accounts, leading him and WSJ to ask what happened to the money.

READ MORE HERE

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Kua Kia Soong

Do racists and fascists have a human right to express their warped anti-social and anti-democratic rantings in public? Those who claim that racists and fascists should be allowed to assemble and spew racist and fascist filth in public have failed to recognize that the right to peaceful assembly has to be consistent with international conventions against racism, racial discrimination and incitement to racial hatred. More importantly, any appeal to human rights has to be consistent with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).

Clearly, the publicity by the so-called 'Red Shirts' for the September 16 rally calling for defence of "Malay dignity" and threatening the Chinese in this country with bloodletting goes beyond the pale of the democratic right to assemble and the freedom of expression.

Racial hatred or racial vilification is any statement by specified persons which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate. This includes racially offensive material; racially offensive comments or images in publications such as leaflets or flyers; racially offensive speeches at a public rally as well as racially abusive comments in public places.

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD)

Malaysia still does not have the moral courage or the gumption to ratify this vital international treaty to combat racism and racial discrimination and all forms of intolerance precisely because it allows racial discrimination and periodic demonstrations by racists and fascists who try to intimidate peace-loving Malaysians whenever they call for reforms and civil rights.

This is certainly not the first time that we are witnessing such expressions of such crude racism and calls for bloodletting. In the prelude to Operation Lalang, UMNO Youth organized a rally at the Jalan Raja Muda Stadium in Kuala Lumpur at which racist and fascist slogans were displayed calling for, among other things, 'SOAKING THE KERIS WITH CHINESE BLOOD'. This is documented in the Government White Paper on the October 1987 Affair.

By ratifying the CERD, the Malaysian government would be obliged to enact specific laws outlawing racism and racial discrimination as well as submit regular reports to the CERD Committee on how the rights are being implemented.

A Racial Discrimination or Equality Act

A Racial Discrimination or Equality Act that exists in countries which have ratified the CERD is aimed at ensuring that citizens of all backgrounds are treated equally and have the same opportunities regardless of race, colour, descent, national or ethnic origin, and immigration status. Such a law also outlaws racial hatred and protects anyone who is harassed because of his or her race.

Employers have a legal responsibility to take all reasonable steps to prevent racism and racial discrimination and should have policies and programs in place to prevent racial discrimination in the workplace.

Balancing the right to live free from racial hatred and the freedom of expression

To strike a balance between the right to live free from racism and the right to communicate freely, countries that have ratified the CERD make a provision for actions that are 'done reasonably and in good faith' even if they are done in public. These may include artistic works or performances in which racially offensive attitudes are expressed by a character; statements, publications, discussions or debates made for genuine academic or scientific purposes, or making fair comment about racially offensive conduct.

Making a complaint to the Equality & Human Rights Commission

Countries that are genuinely concerned about eliminating racism, racial discrimination and related intolerance would have instituted an Equality & Human Rights Commission and it would be incumbent upon the Commission to investigate any complaint by citizens and to resolve it. If the complaint is not resolved, it can be taken to the courts. The Commission undertakes a wide range of activities to build awareness about the rights and responsibilities that individuals and organisations have under the Racial Discrimination or Equality Act including national consultations, conferences, community and online forums.

Zero tolerance for racists and fascists

Apart from the appeal to international conventions against racism and racial hatred, our multi-ethnic society cannot tolerate any public expression of racial hatred or racial vilification which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate. There should be no platform for the so-called 'Red Shirts' September 16 rally calling for defence of "Malay dignity" and threatening the Chinese in this country with bloodletting. They cannot appeal to the democratic right to assemble and the right to freedom of expression simply because they have grossly violated the International Convention on the Eradication of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

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Opposition leader Wan Azizah says PAS president is entitled to his opinions as discussions about Pakatan Rakyat 2.0 are informal at this stage.

(Free Malaysia Today) – Pakatan Rakyat's top priority at the moment is to push for a no confidence vote on Prime Minister Najib Razak and not whether PAS wishes to be a partner in any new political coalition being formed.

She said this to reporters during PKR's peaceful walkabout in Low Yat plaza today when asked to respond to PAS President Abdul Hadi Awang saying that his Islamist party would not join Pakatan Rakyat 2.0.

"We are trying to look for a solution for the country, one of the solutions is to actually have a no confidence vote, and for that we need the numbers," she said about the move to ensure Najib steps down as prime minister.

She also said that Hadi had the right to voice his opinion whatever it may be as discussions to form a new coalition were at the preliminary stage only.

"We haven't formally formed the new coalition, so he (Hadi) has the right to say whatever.

"We have only had informal discussions at the moment, but the present goal is to bring down Najib," she reiterated.

Yesterday, Hadi was quoted by Ismaweb as saying the new pact had a hidden agenda besides having no plans whatsoever to uphold Islam, the main agenda of PAS.

READ MORE HERE

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Rosmah’s aide makes a reference to Hamid Bador’s ex-wife

(Free Malaysia Today) – The altercation between Abdul Hamid Bador and Rizal Mansor continued today with the former Special Branch deputy director accusing the aide to Rosmah Mansor of unprofessional conduct for raising a personal matter that he said had nothing to do with their quarrel.

Rizal told FMT through WhatsApp that the best person to talk about the ex-SB man would be "Datin Che Mah" without saying whom he was referring to.

"Please ask Datin Che Mah on the conduct of Dato Hamid Bador," he said. "I understand that she has a lot to tell about the true conduct of Dato Hamid."

Hamid, contacted by FMT for his response, disclosed that Rizal was referring to his ex-wife and said it was unprofessional of him to inject a personal issue into a matter involving the public.

He called for a debate aimed at "finding the truth," repeating a challenge he made yesterday.

"Please don't divert the issue," he said. "Why do you have to stoop so low that you have to bring up personal issues in responding to my statement?

"I did not talk about his family. I talked about the wife of the prime minister, who gave trouble to government officers. I talked about matters that could give implications to the public."

Hamid said "someone" sought his advice two years ago on how to improve Rosmah's image.
"I told that person to advice his boss, the wife, to keep a low-profile. Don't make the people feel annoyed with her. Do you still remember my advice?

"I gave that advice sincerely, to protect her image and to save her from being criticised by the public.

"So why are we talking about personal matters now? If that's what you want, I know about one of your family members in RTM."

READ MORE HERE

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Umar Mukhtar

Life-endangering acts of hooliganism at a public arena of sports and entertainment? That’s a no-no, no talk, no justification and no sense. Those acts were wrong and not to be condoned. But it is not that simple to just sweep the incident under the carpet after the perfunctory punishments are meted out to those who are willing.

It is not an exaggeration to liken what had happened to the increasing underlying paralysis suffered by helpless Malaysians in their everyday lives. The Football Association of Malaysia is an archaic organistation, run by old school remnants of the Tunku Abdul Rahman days, as their private fraternity of incestous patronage and ego-tripping.

Whilst having to line up for tickets is already unheard of in other developed countries, Malaysian football fans bake in the sun for hours in the morning of game-days, lucky to get to buy a couple of tickets. Where did the hundred of thousands of tickets go to? How nice to be football officials, and feel important to able to dispense tickets to relatives and friends!

That evening you see thousands of ticket scalpers selling blackmarket tickets under the noses of policemen who think they are there just for crowd-control. Maybe there then you have your answer. Electronic transactions and ticket-franchises don’t allow for this ‘fringe benefits’ to officials. So like sheep, Malaysians line up or be scalped. One feeds the other.

I can only bitch from the perspective of a football spectator. The ‘Ultras Malaya’, the organised activistic fan group whose interests in the game includes the country’s football development, competitiveness and administration, probably bears grudges against these football officials that weigh a ton. Everything has gone south for decades and their screams ignored. And do we blame? The Ultras, for their obvious indiscretions, and not the officials.

So why don’t football fans just changed these old farts? That’s a tough call when the deck is stacked against you. Just as in Malaysian politics, the voters and the fans should be the ones that really matter. But the practical structure of the political parties and organisations encourage in-breeding, patronage and corruption by the elites such that the masses are actually helpless and disenfranchised.

So they rebelled in the only way they can. It’s the easiest form of protest against stubborn deaf ears. Let not that kind of frustration spread to the political arena. But the parallels are there if you choose to see. Just because these actions are extreme for our society, and must not be tolerated, it does not negate their legitimate right to be heard and to be activistic.

What are these officials thinking of? You see them moving around with hangers-on and cronies, and they cling on to positions as if they and nobody else can attempt a better job, and as if their lives depend on this God-given birthright. So the decay continues, sliding downwards like the Ringgit and the corruption and the transparency indexes.

What about the people’s representative called the Minister of Sports? Ah, his comments were like sweet nothings of a frustrated lover, and his demeanour was like trying to disappear and be swallowed by the floor. We know how he feels after his pre-cabinet stint with FAM.  He can’t adopt a ‘take-charge’ stance. He is handicapped. He is a Malaysian politician.

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Nevertheless, the conspiracy does exist and the conspiracy is being led by a certain powerful figure. And Muhyiddin knows who they are. And if he has thus far not revealed their names he can at any time he so wishes to, subject to the reason why he would want to expose them.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Yesterday, Umno Deputy President and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin told the Umno supreme council that he is aware of the conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak but he is not involved in that conspiracy or is part of it.

Muhyiddin also said that he knows who the conspirators are because they had approached him and had informed him about the plot to topple the Prime Minister. Although Muhyiddin did not tell the supreme council who the conspirators are, it is not known whether he revealed their names to Najib confidentially outside the supreme council meeting.

Nevertheless, the conspiracy does exist and the conspiracy is being led by a certain powerful figure. And Muhyiddin knows who they are. And if he has thus far not revealed their names he can at any time he so wishes to, subject to the reason why he would want to expose them.

So, basically, the fate of the conspirators rests in Muhyiddin's hands and this information can be used as a powerful leverage or bargaining tool, to be used when it best suits him. Muhyiddin can keep quiet and allow the conspiracy to survive or he can expose them and allow Najib to wipe them out.

As they say, in a blackmail situation, the fear of being exposed is how blackmail succeeds. Once the victim of blackmail has been exposed the fear factor is removed and no longer exists. Hence you keep the victim in fear by not exposing the matter. And this is also how Muhyiddin is working, leaving the conspirators in fear of being exposed.

By openly declaring that the conspiracy does exist and that he knows who they are because they have approached him, Muhyiddin is telling the party that Najib was not wrong. When Najib said that the issue of 1MDB and the RM2.6 million are issues being used by the conspirators in their effort to oust him, Najib was correct.

The story does not end here, though. The move to oust Najib is not dead in the water just yet. It is just experiencing a temporary setback that will require them to go back to the drawing board and refine their plans. But it would mean that any planned vote of no confidence in Parliament might not see the numbers they thought they would see. And if the vote fails and Najib still remains in office then it would expose those who voted against him and they will be set up like ducks in a row to be shot at will.

One thing you never do is to wound your quarry. Either kill it off or do not attempt anything because a wounded animal is a vicious animal. And if you table a vote of no confidence and you fail, then you are a dead man (or woman) walking. Such is the nature of the beast in coups. Make sure you succeed or do not try one. A failed coup is something you do not want to be embroiled in, trust me on that one.

Yesterday I also mentioned that the Wall Street Journal published a new story based on information that came from the PAC. Someone from PAC had sold this information to Wall Street Journal and has made a lot of money on it. My deep throat tells me that the authorities might investigate the bank accounts of all the PAC members at that time, not only banks in Malaysia but in Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, etc., as well.

Although the prime suspect is Tony Pua, the bank accounts of all the PAC members, even those who have now been made Cabinet Members, will be investigated. Then Tony Pua cannot allege that he is being singled out or is being subjected to persecution. After all, there may be more than one person involved and some of those people could even be from Umno.

Any PAC member who shows an irregular transaction in his bank account may be in deep shit unless he can explain that transaction. Anyway, I will inform you about the latest developments once the shit starts hitting the fan but this whole episode promises to get more interesting as it goes along.

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(The Star) – A "war" has erupted on social media between Teo Nie Ching (pic) and Azmin Ali over the Selangor Mentri Besar's decision to work with PAS.

The DAP assistant publicity secretary took issue with Azmin's comment calling her "childish" on Twitter, and hit back at him in a Facebook posting on Thursday.

"This is our Selangor MB. When Hadi refused to support Kak Wan to become Selangor MB, he didn’t call him childish.

"When Hadi said PAS would contest in DAP-dominated seats in next GE, he didn’t call him childish.

"When I raised a question that bother the mind of thousands and thousands of supporters, he called me childish," the Kulai MP wrote, attaching a screen capture of her Twitter exchange with Azmin.

She was referring to statements made in the past by PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang including his decision last year to reject PKR president Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as the next Selangor Mentri Besar.

Azmin, who is Wan Azizah's deputy in the party, has, however, been more welcoming in continuing the working relationship with PAS despite the Islamist party's fall out with DAP.

On Tuesday, Azmin said PKR had made a collective decision to continue its cooperation with PAS if a new Opposition pact was formed.

This drew criticism from Teo, who tweeted a link to a news article quoting Hadi as saying that PAS would not rule out attending the rally organised by the “red shirt” group on Sept 16.

"Selangor MB, is this the political partner that you are looking for?" she said in the sarcastic tweet.

Azmin shot back by telling her not to be childish.

"@TeoNieChing don't be so childish! Keadilan has always been the prime mover to strengthen the coalition to face Umno and BN," he wrote.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng later said that Azmin would need to explain to supporters his decision to continue working with PAS, especially as the Islamist party was now seen to be inclined towards Umno.

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(Malay Mail Online) – PKR deputy president Azmin Ali must take a clear stand on whether his party will continue to work with PAS as this will determine the makeup of the new opposition coalition that will replace the now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat (PR), a DAP lawmaker said today.

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh said Azmin cannot simply dismiss concerns raised by DAP’s leadership over the latter’s apparent preference to continue working with the Islamist opposition party.

"PAS had severed ties with the DAP in no uncertain terms. There can be no question of working with both DAP and PAS at the same time as common sense would dictate there no longer exists a working relationship between the two," Ramkarpal said in a statement.

Ramkarpal said Azmin, who is also Selangor mentri besar, must consider the "harsh realities" of working with PAS, which the DAP leader claimed would "very likely" contest against its two former partners come the 14th general election.

Ramkarpal claimed further that it was PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang who was responsible for the breakup of PR and the recent mass exodus from his own party of so-called progressive leaders, who have gone on to create Parti Amanah Negara.

The DAP man stressed that Abdul Hadi even said that PAS will not take part in a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and that PAS members are not barred from joining a September 16 counter-rally to the Bersih 4 demonstrations over the past Merdeka weekend.

"In the circumstances, I urge Azmin to definitively state if PKR is committed to work with PAS in the event a new opposition coalition is formed, in which case, there would be an urgent need  to reconsider the members of the said new coalition.

"That the relationship between PAS and DAP is now irreconcilable is very much a reality which Azmin and PKR must accept.

"Azmin must decide which of the two he chooses to work with in the future as it is clear that there cannot be a realistic alliance between PAS and DAP any longer," Ramkarpal said.

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Nazri Aziz says joining forces now would also mean sharing parliamentary and state seats with PAS, something that would not go down well with Umno.

(Free Malaysia Today) – Any thought of Umno and PAS working together before the 14th general election would be a wrong move as it could affect the party's chances of winning in the next general election, said Supreme Council member Nazri Aziz.

Speaking to Malay Mail Online, Nazri, who is also Minister of Tourism and Culture said that if any attempt at working together was to be considered, it would have to wait until after the next GE.

Appealing to his party members to stand firm on this score, he said, "Do not give them (PAS) an olive branch now, I would say go through the elections first and depending on our performance after that, we let the results decide what we should do, and whether there is a need (to work together)"

Another issue with making a pact now would be the likelihood of sharing parliamentary and state seats with PAS, something Nazri said was sure to create great discord within his party.

"They (PAS) are going to create problems in my party. Their voter base is the same as ours.

"If they join us now, we will have to share some of the seats. We are contesting the same seats," Nazri said, giving an example of him having to possibly give up his Padang Rengas parliamentary seat should PAS want it.

"This will cause resentment in Umno."

READ MORE HERE

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Hakim Joe

Looks likely that Hishammuddin's going to be the 2nd"second-generation" PM after Ah Gib Kor next year and our present DPM will be wondering why he isn't in line to being so. The answer may well be that he is perceived to be non-kulturny by the upper class Umno warlords.

If HH is anything like his father, Malaysia might still have a chance of being an accountable democratic society again, but then again, his keris waving performance (twice) might have been well received at Umno gatherings but not amongst the majority of people who voted Opposition, which is more than half of the Malaysian population and that might come back to haunt him, and BN, and Umno knows this.

MM is hoping that he might become the 2nd after Najib but he would be wise to KIV such lofty ambitions until his daddy builds up his reputation on the national level. Kedah alone does not equate to much. Only 4 years younger than HH, he might not even get the chance to be the 3rd second generation PM after HH. Case in point – Ku Li & TDM.

ZH is now the DPM, aspiring to be the next PM. His present words and actions convey to just about every one, of his "hidden" ambitions, expect perhaps himself. Maybe he is just being very supportive of his master, maybe he thinks that is what the DPM is supposed to do, and maybe he is just staking his claim. Whatever it is, he is not what the Umno warlords wants in any individual to lead them into the next election. The political situation is precarious as it is and the current DPM is not the right person to swing the Malay fence sitters, let alone the rest of the population who voted opposition in the last election.

The only one thing working in his favour amongst the Chinese voters is that the DPM was raised by his foster father, who is of Chinese descent, and at one time they sold ice cream together. But then again, he had to put his foot into his own mouth when he became the Defense Minister by stating that Malaysians who are unhappy with the country’s political system should leave the country.

HH on the other hand is a totally different proposition. Somewhat cultured except during his crazy keris wielding moments, his heritage is impeccable. His paternal grandfather is Onn Jaafar (Umno founder) and his father is Hussein Onn (3rd PM). A Master of Law (LL.M) degree, a princess for a wife and (sadly) cousin to Najib. However, HH is considered by many as being "lembik" and that is not what Umno wants.

MM on the other hand is not ready and he will never be ready under the shadow of his father. Could MM have become the MB of Kedah without TDM behind him? Nobody really knows. Could TDM call in all his chips to have the people who "owe" him support MM as the next PM? Nobody really knows but they also recognize now that TDM is just another citizen, albeit a former PM who might have the insider track inside Umno but not the clout any longer. Could NR make a deal with TDM? Nobody knows but the fact remains that NR did not "live up to TDM's expectations" after he became PM and TDM might instruct his son to do the same once he became PM.

Not something NR will be willing to risk.

With all the controversies surrounding NR these days, the PM would want to appoint a PM who is capable of looking after his back when he steps down and blood is always thicker than water no matter how obedient and loyal ZH might perceptibly be.

All these will be hypothetical should NR decides to stay put and lead BN into the next polls but indications are that he will step down in favour of HH next year. Even he knows the risk of BN losing Putrajaya to the Opposition.

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Not everybody who gathered there came together for a common cause. This in itself dents the supposed success of the rally.

Tajuddin Rosli

29 and 30^th August of 2015 witnessed a big street rally in Kuala Lumpur city central. Bersih organisers claim collectively about 500,000 people participated in the rally that was held over 34 hours. Pro-opposition media called it a huge success while pro-government media deemed it a failure.

So, was it really a success or otherwise?

First of all, the objective of the street gathering itself is unclear. Was it a gathering to call for clean and fair elections? Clean government? Or was the rally held to call for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's resignation? Pro-Opposition supporters would say all of the above. Some people would say the objective does not matter but the point is allegedly half a million people gathered on the streets of KL to protest against the government. Is that really true?

Pictures circulating the web showed some gathered to propagate gay rights. Some voiced for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's release from prison. The Opposition used it as a vehicle to spread their propaganda. While the public applauded the presence of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, it is equally important to note that Mahathir himself said he was not there to support Bersih or street rallies. Neither was he there to topple the government. He never even wore a yellow top. He specifically said he went there to voice for Najib's resignation. That means Mahathir appeared for his own personal vendetta against Najib, not anything else. He does not support Bersih nor condones the idea of toppling the BarisanNasional government.

All this simply means not everybody who gathered there came together for a common cause. This in itself dents the supposed success of the rally.

How's the attendance with regards to the population?

Klang Valley is reported to be populated by more than 7 million people. Generously taking 500,000 as the number that was present, it is still less than 10% of the population of Klang Valley. What about the remaining 90 plus percent? It is also important to note that of those attended, not everyone was from Klang Valley. There were representations from all over Peninsular Malaysia. Probably 5% or less of Klang Valley only participated in the calls against the government? With such low numbers, why should the demands of Bersih be met?

The gathering this time evidenced majority Chinese ethnic participation. Compare this with the first Bersih rally. The first Bersih rally had about 70-80% participation by Malays. The number of Malays that participated in subsequent Bersih rallies dwindled significantly and this time it was the least. Does this mean that the Malays are slowly returning their support to BN? Port Dickson housed more Malay visitors than Bersih rally during the Merdeka weekend. Even the Ops Blackout in 2013 had significantly more Malay support than this edition of Bersih. This brings back to the earlier question. Why should the government adhere to Bersih's demands?

What about Bersih in other states?

If you recall the initial press conference of Bersih, the organiser said this installment of the rally was targeting three locations – Kuala Lumpur, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu. However, during the entire course of the gathering and post-event, nothing much was reported on what happened in Sabah and Sarawak. We all know that East Malaysia has been BN's backbone and the Opposition coalition have been targeting that part of Malaysia for the longest time. This rally was meant to strike fear in BN about the uproar in Sabah and Sarawak against the government. Was the objective met?

In Sarawak only about 1000-1500 people attended the rally that was held in the Song Kheng Hai ground. This is despite the Chief Minister of Sarawak giving a green light to the gathering and the Member of Parliament for Kuching is a representative of DAP. People did not stay there for 34 hours either. People came in stages, spent some time and went back home. Similar scenario was witnessed in Sabah with a poor turnout. The gatherings in East Malaysia locations did not even last 24 hours. This clearly shows that Bersih was out-rightly rejected in East Malaysia.

After the Bersih rally, Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz mocked the entire event. Although netizens ridiculed and condemned them for making such statements, deep inside BN is celebrating the failure of Bersih. What was aimed at striking fear and unrest amongst BN has simply presented BN with the last laugh. This was the most peaceful rally against the government ever in Malaysia. Did the government see what Bersih and the Opposition failed to project that they ensured the gathering was uneventful? Did the government call the Opposition’s bluff when the Armed Forces Chief stated a possibility of an emergency in the event of violence?

The final outcome of Bersih 4.0 showed us how many steps ahead the government is compared to the Opposition. While the Opposition slams the government for racial division, it was Bersih and the Opposition who fell into their own trap and caused an evident racial split. More such street rallies and the disparity between races would only grow further. No wonder BN representatives are requesting for Bersih to be an annual event.

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What The Star did not report, however, is that Muhyiddin informed the Umno Supreme Council that he is aware of the conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak but he is not involved in the conspiracy or is part of it.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Many expected Umno Deputy President and ex-Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and a couple of other Umno leaders to get sacked today. At least that was the rumour that had been flying around and what the media had been playing up over the last few days.

This was what The Star reported:

Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal retain their positions in Umno, putting to rest speculation that they would be shown the door following their removal from the Cabinet two months ago.

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said both deputy president Muhyiddin and vice-president Shafie expressed their full commitment to the party and he appreciated their presence at the Supreme Council meeting Wednesday.

"The meeting took place in a pleasant setting and everyone showed a spirit of camaraderie. Both have also expressed their loyalty to the party and ensure its win in the next general election," he told a press conference after chairing the meeting.

Najib also said the four-hour meeting also touched on issues pertaining to 1Malaysia Development Berhad, which the Government was doing its best to settle.

"We have requested six months for the 1MDB rationalisation plan to take place, in order for it to reduce its debts. So far we have received encouraging offers, but I cannot mention the details as it is still in the process of due diligence. Once this is done, we will make an official announcement," he said.

What The Star did not report, however, is that Muhyiddin informed the Umno Supreme Council that he is aware of the conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak but he is not involved in the conspiracy or is part of it.

In one sweep Muhyiddin confirmed what was being denied these last few months — that there is a conspiracy to topple the Prime Minister. And this conspiracy involves a few agencies, or key people from a few agencies, such as MACC, AGC, BNM, PDRM, and so on.

Meanwhile, the IGP announced that PDRM has launched an investigation into this allegation of a conspiracy to topple the government. Hence this is being treated not just as a conspiracy to topple the Prime Minister but a conspiracy to topple the whole government.

What is interesting is that while Muhyiddin admitted that he is aware of the conspiracy, he did not explain why he kept quiet and did not bring it to the attention of the Prime Minister considering that the number two should be covering the number one's back.

It is like a security guard at the bank telling the police that he was aware that a robbery was going to take place but he is not involved in the robbery — he just did nothing to stop the robbery.

What was the reason Muhyiddin kept his mouth shut? Did they threaten him that if he revealed the conspiracy then he, too, would be brought down? Or was he promised that if the conspiracy succeeds then he would become the beneficiary by taking over the job of Prime Minister?

Anyway, if they do go ahead with the plan to table a vote of no confidence against Najib in Parliament next month the answer to those questions would be revealed. If Muhyiddin refuses to join the vote then he is definitely not involved in or is part of that conspiracy. If, however, he joins the no confidence vote, then he is definitely with the anti-Najib group.

The Wall Street Journal has just published another story regarding 1MDB based on information that came from the PAC. That can only mean someone in the PAC sold that information to Wall Street Journal for a sum of money that has not been determined yet.

Of course, top of the list of suspects is DAP's Tony Pua. No doubt it is still just a suspicion and the police are calling him in again to record his statement. But in Malaysia you are considered guilty until and unless you can prove your innocence. Even the Prime Minister is subjected to this standard of Malaysian justice.

So until and unless Tony Pua can prove that it was not him who sold the confidential PAC information to Wall Street Journal then we have to assume that he is the scoundrel who is using his position in the PAC to make money. That is how the Malaysian justice system works, even for Prime Ministers.

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(Bernama) – The police have opened an investigation paper under the Penal Code on an alleged attempt to topple the Malaysian Government, following a revelation by Xavier Andre Justo, a former executive of Petro Saudi International (PSI).

Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said the police would recall Petaling Jaya Utara Member of Parliament, Tony Pua to record his statement following his admission, as reported by The New Straits Times (NST) newspaper today.

"But we do not investigate based on the newspaper report, just what he (Pua) had said. We have to recall him and record his statement.

"He (Pua) had admitted that there were some things he did not mention. Since he has now remembered, we will recall him to record a statement," he told a press conference after a ceremony involving the presentation of the Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara today.

A total of 136 recipients who served during the Emergency period received the medals to mark the 77th birthday anniversary of Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas at Dewan Sri Pinang here.

The NST today frontpaged a report in which Pua admitted to introducing Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown, the individual who launched a campaign to smear Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to the senior management of The Edge Media Group.

Pua made the admission following the emergence of proof in Justo's case, but at the same time insisted he had nothing to do with the leaked information or any transactions.

On another note, Khalid said he would send his officers to record a statement from former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for uttering defamatory remarks at the Bersih 4 rally in Dataran Merdeka recently.

Asked when Dr Mahathir's statement would be recorded, he said: "We will see when Tun Mahathir is free. We will seek an appointment to see him."

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(The Star) – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal retain their positions in Umno, putting to rest speculation that they would be shown the door following their removal from the Cabinet two months ago.

Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said both deputy president Muhyiddin and vice-president Shafie expressed their full commitment to the party and he appreciated their presence at the Supreme Council meeting Wednesday.

“The meeting took place in a pleasant setting and everyone showed a spirit of camaraderie.

“Both have also expressed their loyalty to the party and ensure its win in the next general election,” he told a press conference after chairing the meeting.

Najib also said the four-hour meeting also touched on issues pertaining to 1Malaysia Development Berhad, which the Government was doing its best to settle.

“We have requested six months for the 1MDB rationalisation plan to take place, in order for it to reduce its debts.

“So far we have received encouraging offers, but I cannot mention the details as it is still in the process of due diligence.

“Once this is done, we will make an official announcement,” he said.

Asked on Umno party elections, Najib said this was not discussed in the meeting.

The party elections, which were to be held in June next year, was postponed for another 18 months.

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LDP strongly condemn the organiser of the so-called red shirt rally on September 16 and the police must put a stop to this gathering as it is full of racial overtones thus will destroy the racial harmony of this country.

LDP is disappointed with the statement from the IGP that the police is unable to do anything to stop this rally. LDP is also disappointed with the statement from the Deputy Prime Minister that he will not stop UMNO members from participating in the rally.

We are not against any legal gathering to voice the people's grievances. Although the BERSIH 4 gathering is said to be illegal, it was organised in a peaceful manner with clear messages. It is wrong to label it as a Chinese gathering as it was joined by people from all races and from all walks of life who are mostly urbanites.

However, the so-called red shirt rally is without any clear objective and full of racial overtones. It is clearly an attempt by certain group of people to create racial tension between the Chinese and Malay to achieve their selfish agenda. What is even more appalling and worrying is circulation of promotional poster through the social media depicting a keris-wielding warrior charging at another with the caption "Cina turun bersih, sedialah bermandi darah". The hands behind such poster blatantly seek to create fear, provoke racial conflict and incite crimes. Such poster has degraded Malaysia as a civilised nation. If such act is tolerable, where is Malaysia heading as a nation?

As a leader for all Malaysians, the Prime Minister must stop such event from going ahead.

This red shirt rally will surely further dampen our economy, especially at a time when it is slow and the ringgit is continuing to slide.

I believe all the Barisan Nasional component parties in Sabah and Sarawak will not support this kind of rally which promotes confrontation and stand-off between two races.

LDP will continue to stand firm for racial harmony and defend the rights of all races in the country as enshrined in our Constitution.

DATUK HO JIA LIT

Deputy Secretary General

Liberal Democratic Party

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