(Malay Mail Online) – The Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) had to take action against the mob outside Petaling Street this evening when they refused to budge and even resorted to shoving enforcers and pelting them with rocks, police explained today.

Senior Asst Comm Roslan Abdul Wahid, deputy director of commercial crimes, operations and intelligence, told reporters that in a face-off with demonstrators who insisted on marching through the popular shopping hotspot also known as Chinatown, at least two police personnel were injured.

He explained that the route to Petaling Street had not been listed in the permit to protesters and was to be cordoned off, which was why the police had insisted on holding the crowd back.

"The problem here was that there was no leader that could control them," said SAC Roslan, who was at Petaling Street this evening on orders from the deputy Inspector-General of Police.

"They pushed against the police twice, and the third time, they tried to push against us, our policemen fell back and two, three of them were injured. So we had to push them back to control," he explained.

In the scuffle, SAC Roslan said several protesters fell and retaliated by throwing rocks at the policemen blocking their entry into Chinatown.

The rocks, however, hit other protesters instead, causing them to react as they believed their friends were being attacked by the police, he related.

"What we did was use a very minimal force just to cool them down and disperse them," SAC Roslan continued.

He went on to say that earlier during the rally, the crowds that pushed through several police barricades in the Bukit Bintang area had been more cooperative as they stood back when they were stopped from entering Low Yat, which was also cordoned off.

"They only passed through Bukit Bintang, so we facilitated the marching by them to Padang Merbok."

Water cannons were fired at the large pocket of red-shirted protesters earlier this evening after several negotiations between the police and demonstrators failed to result in the crowd dispersing.

The mob still refused to leave, however, even as the FRU advanced forward.

They only dispersed after they were told to leave by Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, who was called in by the police to help defuse the situation. 

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(Malay Mail Online) – An Umno leader today admitted that he, along with today's "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu" was "racist" in nature, but insisted that this was still in line with Islamic teachings.

Tan Sri Annuar Musa maintained that acting in defence of Malay honour was permitted in Islam so long as other races were not oppressed in the process.

"Being racial is endorsed in Islam as long as you are not cruel towards other people. This rally if you say is racist, yes. What are you scared of? Islam has put in place guidelines, what is not allowed is racism that is cruel towards other races.

"In Indonesia, you cannot have a Chinese name but in Malaysia you can. If that is considered racial, then yes, I am racial. But my being racial is guided by religion. I am racist, Islamically," he said after the rally ended at Padang Merbok today.

He added that the Malays have done the other races a great service by sharing the country and its resources them.

"And when has the Malays even behaved cruelly towards other races? We share this country, we shared citizenship. We share all our rights. Who was the one who made thus county open to other races? It was the Malays," he added.

Thousands of red-shirted people were bussed into the federal capital this morning to take part in a rally officially called "Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu" or the United People's Assembly, but which drew concern among traders in the city centre and ethnic Chinese business leaders.

The protest was marred by sporadic outbreaks of racism, however, with one attendee recorded calling a reporter "Crazy Chinese pig", among other insults.

The "red shirts" first gathered at several points in the city, including Kompleks Kraf Malaysia in Jalan Conlay, the Putra World Trade Centre and the National Mosque before marching through major roads to converge at Padang Merbok near Parliament.

The rally, said to be in support of Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership, was to counter to last month's two-day Bersih 4 gathering calling for the prime minister's resignation.

The ruling Malay party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called "Himpunan Maruah Melayu", but has not prohibited its members from participating in today's demonstration organised by martial arts group Pesaka. 

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(The Star) – A series of measures will be introduced to empower Sabah and Sarawak.

Among the measures announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak are that 90% of teaching posts in both states are to be filled by locals within three years.

Najib said this meant that the number of Sarawakian teachers in that state would increase from the present 32,168 to 38,082 within that period.

"We will have a similar increase of teachers in Sabah as well," said Najib, who together with his Deputy Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, joined thousands of Sabahans at Padang Merdeka on Wednesday to celebrate Malaysia Day.

Similarly, the recruitment for Federal jobs such as policemen would be carried out in outlying districts of both states to encourage youths from rural areas to apply.

He added that the approvals for tenders involving Federal projects would be done locally by a committee comprising the respective state secretaries and other civil servants.

"A joint committee comprising Federal as well as Sabah and Sarawak officers will be set up to evaluate the administrative aspects of this empowerment so that it will be carried out in an orderly manner and to avoid duplication," Najib said.

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(Malay Mail Online) – Thousands of red shirts are thronging the city’s streets, pushing through several police cordons into the popular Bukit Bintang tourist hotspot, after they were previously allowed to march through the area.

As the groups charged through the barriers past shuttered shops, scores of uniformed enforcers are seen running helter skelter as they attempted to keep the situation under control.

Earlier, a minor face-off saw the police allow demonstrators march into the Bukit Bintang area but the group of red-shirted rally participants were later diverted to Jalan Sultan Ismail.

Reports on the ground indicate that the group then broke past at least four police cordons along Jalan Bukit Bintang, some chanting “Masuk, masuk” (enter, enter), despite a plea from organisers to stand back.

Participants eventually managed to march through Bukit Bintang. A police line has been formed along Jalan Bulan, which leads into the Low Yat Plaza area.

Outside the Putra World Trade Center, a large crowd of protesters have begun marching towards Padang Merbok, taking up both lanes on Jalan Kuching.

A large crowd has also arrived at Petaling Street but the police are trying to hold them back from breaking into the area.

Organisers tell the crowd not to break the police cordon, shouting: "We are Malays, we must show we are not like the Chinese in the DAP. We are dignified Malays who respect the police."

At Padang Merbok, at least 1,500 protesters have gathered for the rally. Organisers told reporters that groups have begun pouring in from their respective meeting points across the city.

The thousands of red-shirted protesters had started arriving by busloads into the capital here since early this morning, in preparation for the mass gathering.

The rally officially called Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu" rally is organised by martial arts group Pesaka and has received support by several Malay groups, as well as unofficial support from many Umno leaders.

The ruling party has insisted that it does not endorse the event, which has also been alternately called "Himpunan Maruah Melayu", but has not prohibited its members from participating.

The event is expected to kick off at 2pm at Padang Merbok, the venue that organisers Pesaka have successfully obtained permission to use from the City Hall and the police.

A central figure in the rally today is Sungai Besar Umno chief Datuk Jamal Md Yunos, who leads a coalition of 250 Malay groups that have been calling the event "Himpunan Maruah Melayu" (Malay Dignity Rally).

Jamal was also the one who gave rise to early fears of racial unrest with his warning for non-Malays to stay away during the rally to avoid provoking attendees, leading to murmurs of comparison with the 1969 race riots.

Although Jamal later retracted his warning, the remark along with posters promoting the event that alluded to violence already gave the rally an unshakeable image of aggression and hostility towards non-Malays.

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For the sake of the Malays Dr Mahathir must be opposed, Ku Li said. And to do that Ku Li set up his new party, Semangat 46, which will continue to fight for the Malays and restore the spirit of 1946, the year when Umno was formed as the defender of the Malays. Has Ku Li now changed his mind?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

According to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah a.k.a. Ku Li 30 years ago back in the 1980s, he was opposing Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad because of the Constitutional Crisis that would see the powers of the monarchy eroded.

This is very dangerous, explained Ku Li. We cannot assume that political power will always remain in the hands of the Malays. If one day a coalition dominated by the non-Malays, in particular by the Chinese, takes over the federal government, the Malays would be at risk, said Ku Li.

Ku Li explained that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's move to erode the powers of the monarchy, the last bastion and defence line of the Malays, would result in the Malays seeing their privileges, which are guaranteed by Article 153 in the Constitution, removed. It will also see Islam being removed as the religion of the Federation and Bahasa Melayu being removed as the National Language.

For the sake of the Malays Dr Mahathir must be opposed, Ku Li said. And to do that Ku Li set up his new party, Semangat 46, which will continue to fight for the Malays and restore the spirit of 1946, the year when Umno was formed as the defender of the Malays. Has Ku Li now changed his mind?

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

Malays forget other communities contributed to Malaysia's development, says Ku Li

(The Malaysian Insider) – The Malays have conveniently forgotten that other races in the country has contributed to the country’s development, said veteran Umno leader Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, just hours before the planned ‘red shirt’ rally is held to supposedly unite the community against threats.

In describing the Malays as having a “blinkered view” of other Malaysian communities, the Gua Musang MP said the community chose to forget that other Malaysians have accepted the Malay hierarchical stacking order with the ruler at the apex.

“In our desire to remain on top of things, we conveniently forget that our other Malaysians have contributed more than their fair share in the service of the country.

“We choose to forget that there are other Malaysians, who upon coming to these fair shores, adapted and assimilated themselves into the dominant native culture,” he said in his keynote address at a conference on national unity in Kuala Lumpur today.

“But the Malays, to my mind, are short on confidence and this makes us a scared lot, especially in our relationship and interaction with other Malaysians.”

In a harsh assessment of the community which formed 50% of the country’s 30 million population, Tengku Razaleigh, better known as Ku Li, said the Malays are given to jealousy and are not above harbouring ill will among themselves.

This, he said, had become a marked characteristic of the Malay psyche which had found its way into politics.

The Kelantan prince also said it was common for religion to be used in Malay politics in an effort to attract mass support.

However, he expressed sadness that religious issues are sometimes given different explanations by the ulama to suit their political leanings, and these often lead to confusion.

“It does not help that these religious scholars sometimes do not fully explain the backgrounds to such issues, which leaves those who are not familiar with the intricacy of the religion having wrong ideas about it,” he said.

As such, he said it is time that the ulama addressed issues of religious concern with clarity and avoid the confusion that befuddles the people.

“More importantly, these ulama, cannot willy-nilly make religious pronouncements which are in effect fatwas. Such an authoritative ruling of Islamic law can only be made with the assent of the Sultan who is the head of Islam for his state,” he added.

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This is just like blaming the rape victim for getting raped rather than blaming the rapist. So what game is Ku Li trying to play here? Has he forgotten what he said 30 years ago?

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

What Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah a.k.a. Ku Li said today (SEE BELOW) is something that I had been writing about for many years now. The only difference is Ku Li lamented about the lack of separation of powers between the three branches of government — the executive, the judiciary and the legislative. I, however, spoke about the FOUR branches of government — the executive, the judiciary, the legislative and the monarchy.

Maybe Ku Li forgot that Malaysia has a fourth branch of government that is meant to maintain checks and balances and ensure that there is separation of powers between the four. And that fourth branch of the government, the monarchy, is supposed to be Malaysia's last bastion in the event everything else fails.

What Ku Li failed to mention is that in the early days these four branches of government worked well and democracy was more or less upheld during the time of the first three prime ministers from 1957 to 1981. It was after that, during the time of the fourth prime minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, that this entire thing was dismantled and power became concentrated in the hands of the executive.

This has been my bone of contention and also of those who felt that Malaysia was heading towards a very dangerous precedence. The erosion of the powers of the other three branches of government and the concentration of powers in the hands of the executive was turning Malaysia into a dictatorship. And this was the main reason, explained Ku Li, why he opposed Dr Mahathir during his Team B days.

So it is not, as Ku Li said, the three branches of government that let us down. It is Umno, back in the 1980s, which let us down by muzzling the three branches of government and allowing the executive absolute powers. And Ku Li decided to rejoin Umno back in the 1990s, the party that is the cause of all these problems. And Dr Mahathir was still Prime Minister and the Umno leader when Ku Li decided to rejoin Umno.

This is just like blaming the rape victim for getting raped rather than blaming the rapist. So what game is Ku Li trying to play here? Has he forgotten what he said 30 years ago?

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

3 branches of government badly let down nation, says Ku Li

(The Malaysian Insider) – Malaysia’s first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman wanted a country where the separation of powers between the executive, judiciary and legislative are practised, but Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah said the nation has been “badly let down” by the three branches of government.

The Umno federal lawmaker said the executive had often been browbeaten by the head of government, while the judiciary had been weakened in the past and is perceived to be less effective.

“With regards to the legislature, it is not unknown that matters which are within the purview of the Dewan Rakyat had often been discussed by the executive committee of the ranking party within the coalition forming the government of the day," he said in his keynote address at a conference on national unity in Kuala Lumpur today.

This, said Tengku Razaleigh, better known as Ku Li, amounted to usurping the power of the lower house of Parliament. The Gua Musang MP also said politics in Malaysia has long been colluding with businesses, which had led to unbridled corruption.

“It would seem that honour has deserted our leaders and insatiable greed for wealth has taken over its place.”

Later, Tengku Razaleigh told reporters that interference in the three branches of governance has been taking place quite often lately.

“It never happened last time, but now, we can see lots of it happening, repeatedly,” he said without going into details.

“I feel we should give serious attention to this and it should be discussed, but the decision should be made at the appropriate level.”

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(The Star) – The body of deputy public prosecutor Kevin Morais (pic) has been found.

Following the arrest of seven suspects, one of them led police to a river along Jalan Subang 3 here where they are alleged to have dumped an oil drum containing his body filled with cement.

Federal CID director Comm Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh said they were led to the scene at around 6am on Wednesday.

“The oil drum was found in the river after divers went in to confirm it.

“A forklift was called to hoist the oil drum out so that work could be carried out to remove the body from it,” he told reporters at the scene on Friday.

He said following the arrests of seven including a woman and a child, police got crucial information which led to the discovery.

“Initially CCTV footage showed that Morais’ car was trailed by a Mitsubishi Triton who rammed into his government issued Proton Perdana.

“He was abducted after the collision and a suspect drove Morais's car off while he was taken in the Mitsubishi Triton,” he said adding that the body has been sent to Hospital Kuala Lumpur for post mortem.

Comm Mohmad said one of the suspects, a 52-year-old armed forces medical officer, was involved in a corruption case that was prosecuted by Morais in Shah Alam recently.

“We believe the other suspects were contracted by this suspect to kidnap him.

“The suspects have been remanded for 14 days to help investigations,” he said adding that the woman and child are the wife and child of one of the suspects.

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The MP looks forward to the International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) providing a full public disclosure to be published on the website of the London Stock Exchange.

(Free Malaysia Today) – Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua has disclosed that he has sent a letter to the United Kingdom Listing Authority (UKLA) ‎requesting it to seek clarification from International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) on USD1.4 billion missing from its financial statements.

"I have decided to write the letter because it appears that the financially distressed 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was not at all concerned that its USD1.4‎ billion pledged as collateral with IPIC in exchange for a USD3.5 billion guarantee was reportedly missing," said Pua who is also DAP National Publicity Secretary.

"This matter was exposed by the Wall Street Journal last week but was met with disdain from 1MDB. The company was more interested in victimizing the mystery whistleblowers than discovering the truth behind its funds."

His letter, according to Pua, expressed the concern of Malaysian taxpayers over the missing funds belonging to the wholly-owned Ministry of Finance subsidiary. "It is important for IPIC to make a public disclosure with regards to the USD1.4 billion to provide 1MDB and its stakeholders the assurance that our interests are fully protected."

The UKLA should give due consideration to the request for clarification, said Pua. "We look forward to IPIC providing a full public disclosure to be published on the website of the London Stock Exchange."

Pua said that he explained to the UKLA that the financial statements ‎of 1MDB audited by Deloitte Malaysia stated clearly that the Company placed USD1.4 billion of funds with IPIC as a "refundable deposit". "It is classified as a non-current asset, under 'other receivables, deposits and prepayments'."

READ MORE HERE

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(Malay Mail Online) – Defending a pro-Malay gathering in the city today, a columnist with Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia asserted today the Malay community is a pitiable lot as Malaysia's dominant race is tarred as racist even when their demands have good intentions.

Zulkiflee Bakar in his column entitled "Let the Malays rally peacefully" called the criticism against the Himpunan Maruah Melayu (Malay Dignity Rally) unfair, and gave the impression that the right to assemble is reserved only for Malaysia's minorities.

"Pity the Malays. Even to assemble with good intentions, they are still viewed as having no right and freedom to gather. Rights and freedom are only for other races.

"If the Malays want to gather they are racists. But if others want to rally it is called democracy," the columnist wrote.

Zulkiflee also insisted that the "red shirt" rally -which came with a "preview" that demonstrated the participants "fearlessness" through a martial arts presentation held a few days before the pro-reform protest Bersih 4 took place – would be peaceful as "the Malays are a community that respects the law".

"Therefor do not fear when the Malays assemble. The Malays know their limits, unlike the rude acts of some Bersih participants. The Malays know how to exercise their rights in accordance with the law," he said.

The writer also dismissed suggestions that a low turnout for the rally would deal a huge blow to the organisers’ agenda.

He argued that what mattered is that the rally sends a signal that the Malays have the right to assemble and not the numbers.

Today’s rally, organised by an unnamed group and alternatively called Himpunan Maruah Melayu or Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu, is ostensibly to counter the alleged Chinese domination of last month's Bersih 4 rally for institutional reforms.

Despite the organisers’ insistence that the rally would be peaceful, critics say the messages coming from its spokesman Datuk Jamal Md Yunos have clear racial undertones.

Among them was a warning to non-Malays against being near the rally "to avoid provocation".

The rally have also met opposition from leaders from the ruling Malay party Umno, including its former president and prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and current party number two Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Jamal is Umno Sungai Besar division chief.

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(Malay Mail Online) – Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) rejects the doctrine of Malay-Muslim supremacy or "Muslim nationalism" and will instead push for a more inclusive Islam in politics, party president Mohamad Sabu said today.

In his presidential speech at Amanah’s launch here, Mohamad who is popularly known by his moniker Mat Sabu, said that a "tolerant" and more "open" version of Islam should be practised here in a multiracial country like Malaysia.

"The Islam which we will fight for is different from the ideology of ‘Muslim Nationalism’ which displays a doctrine of Malay-Muslim supremacy.

"It is confusing for an Islamic political party to join forces with parties or NGOs which  promote a Malay-Muslim agenda," Mohamad said.

He added that it is important for Islam to be portrayed as a system which provides justice and peace for all Malaysians irrespective of race or creed.

But Mohamad also stressed that Amanah was still a party which based its policies and agenda on Islam.

"The concept of Malay-Muslim supremacy gives an impression as though Islam or Malays are always under attack by other races and religions.

"It is as if the country will be christianised and that the Chinese are plotting to take away political power from the Malays," Mohamad said.

He also pledged that Amanah would work hard to ensure the success and continuity of the new Pakatan Rakyat (PR) coalition.

Mohamad made no remark about PKR’s attempts for PAS to join the new PR coalition.

Amanah was made an official political party on August 31, founded by PAS splinter group Harapan Baru (HB) made up of former progressive PAS leaders ousted of their party posts in the party elections earlier this year.

Amanah, which was established by HB's taking over of previously dormant Malaysian Workers' Party, aims to secure 35,000 members by the end of this month.

Its member claim that they are intent on presenting a more universal and inclusive form of Islam in Malaysian politics as a counterpoint to their former party's conservative take on the religion.

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(Malay Mail Online) – Investigators have confirmed the discovery of a body in the oil drum that was found in the USJ1 suburb earlier this morning, Berita Harian reported.

According to The Star Online this morning, the special police task force searching for government lawyer Anthony Kevin Morais hopes to find a major lead into his disappearance with the discovery of the body.

Police were in the area since 6am but have yet to issue any statement.

Berita Harian reported that the Fire and Rescue Department personnel have since managed to break open the oil drum that was filled with cement.

It also said the body found in the oil drum will be sent to the Hospital Kuala Lumpur for forensic tests.

No official statement on the identity of the body has been reported to be made yet.

Morais was last seen on September 4 leaving his condominium at Segambut for his office at the Attorney-General's Chambers in Putrajaya and the government lawyer's elder brother filed a missing person's report the next day.

The police are still probing a burnt car that was found on September 6 at an oil palm plantation in Hutan Melintang for links to Morais case.

The burnt car was said to resemble the make of the government-issued grey Proton Perdana car which Morais was last seen in when leaving his condominium on the morning of September 4.

Last Wednesday, police confirmed that the mysterious disappearance of Morais had been reclassified as an abduction case, saying that the abduction probe under Section 365 of the Penal Code was based on a new lead from close-circuit (CCTV) recordings of major roads from Kuala Lumpur to Perak's Hutan Melintang area.

Morais, 55, was seconded to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission nearly 10 years ago to aid its prosecution division, but returned to the Attorney-General's Chambers in July as deputy head of its appellate and trial division.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has previously denied Morais was involved in any government probe on controversial state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

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(FMT) – Get up-to-the-minute reports on the goings-on in downtown Kuala Lumpur today as the Red Shirts rally, demanding the restoration of Malay dignity, goes into full swing.

10.40am: An estimate crowd of 200 gather at Padang Merbok to the strains of the 1Malaysia song being played in the background.

10.32am: Supporters from Felda receive free red T-shirts.

10.30am: Government assets in the form of buses for the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), are being used to ferry supporters to the Red Shirts rally.

10.28am: A group of youth from Cheras sing "Inilah barisan kita" while marching towards Petaling Street.

10.25am: It is learnt traders in front of Dataran Merdeka started selling drinks as early as 6am today. When asked why they came so early, one said, "For the Malays".

10.24am: Supporters from Batu Pahat are heard chanting "Hidup Melayu!" (Long live the Malays); "Takkan Melayu hilang di dunia!" (Malays will never disappear from this world); "Allahuakhbar!" (God is great).

10.22am: Supporters from Batu Pahat are seen holding placards saying, "Ini Tanah Melayu" (This is Malay land); "Jangan cabar Melayu" (Don't challenge the Malays); "Bangkit Melayu Bangkit" (Rise Malays Rise); "Jangan cabar bangsa dan agama kita" (Do not challenge our race and religion); "Jangan cabar hak Melayu" (Do not challenge Malay rights).

10.15am: Most of those gathered at the National Mosque come from the north i.e. Perak, Kedah, Pulau Pinang and Perlis. When asked by FMT why they were there, they said they came to support the fight to restore Malay dignity. "Don't mock the Malays. We came from afar to show our support for the Malay race," one rally goer said.

10.13am: Six police trucks and one van are spotted at Low Yat Plaza. Police say over 20 police trucks will be stationed there.

10.06am: Ahmad Maslan says, "Outstanding response in just this one spot. I want to visit all five gathering points."

10.05am: Only one stall selling fish and vegetables, owned by Kadir Hussin, stays open at the Petaling Street Market located in a side lane. He however says there are no customers today.

10.00am: Also spotted is Umno Information chief Ahmad Maslan. Groups from Perak and Perlis have also arrived. It is learnt rally goers dressed in red started to gather in the vicinity of Masjid Wilayah from as early at 7.00am. There are almost 50 buses parked there.

9.57am: Malay rights group Perkida has arrived.

9.39am: One trader defies orders to close shop today and lays out his merchandise in anticipation of customers.

9.33am: Only one hotel has its doors open for business – the Radius Chinatown Hotel.

9.19am: Petaling Street resembles a ghost town with all shops closed for business today. There is however a strong police presence.

9.00am: Police also take up position at Petaling Street.

8.59am: Police have already gathered in front of Padang Merbok and are taking a briefing by their superiors.

8.58am: A stage dressed in red at Padang Merbok is ready to receive rally goers. All's quiet as there are only traders at the moment taking their place along the empty roads selling red T-shirts, drinks and snacks in anticipation of rally goers later in the day.

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(The Sun Daily) – Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali (pix) has to do a careful balancing act as the parting of ways between PAS and the DAP could just well destabilise his government, said political analysts.

They said he needs DAP and PAS in addition to the new kid on the block – Parti Amanah Negara – to ensure his government enjoys a strong mandate although PKR only controls 13 seats in the 56-seat assembly.

In Johor the DAP, together with PKR, announced a new coalition on Friday – Pakatan Rakyat Baru – with Parti Amanah Negara, completely alienating PAS.

But in Selangor the DAP is reluctant to do the same.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said his party will cooperate with Azmin's government, which includes PAS, to keep PAS in line and keep it from doing things like Islamising the state.

This, according to analysts, is a just a convenient excuse as both Azmin and the DAP are reluctant to part with PAS completely, unlike in Johor, as this has to do with political expediency and simple arithmetic.

Azmin clings on to both DAP and PAS which have 15 seats each in the 56-seat assembly. He needs their support to keep functioning.

"PKR is weak with only 13 seats while his allies between them collectively control 30 seats. He needs both of them badly," said political analysts Dr Sivamurugan Pandyan.

"For him it does not matter what the new Pakatan Rakyat is called or how many political parties eventually join up, as long as they all support his government," he said.

But if you sack PAS, as the DAP had done in Johor, Azmin's government loses its superior majority and ends up controlling only 29 seats.

"Thus, this proposition is simply untenable … who would want his majority reduced from two-thirds to a bare minimum and still function," said Sivamurugan.

Thus, he added, it is in Azmin's interest not to alienate anyone – either PAS nor DAP or even the new Parti Amanah.

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If we read all his previous postings which were solely focused on hatred of the non Malays especially the Chinese, we would not have any doubt that these postings had a profound influence on the Red Shirt episode.

Choo Sing Chye

It seems that  it is safe for Ridhuan Tee to be stupid in his number 4 idea.  In fact none of his other ideas proffer any intellectual wisdom that we keenly seek in him as a lecturer. All his proposed ideas, I supposed  had  certainly found a niche in the yelling-right politicians and NGOs.

Now his voice changes and he is trying to sneak his way to the centre with his recent posting telling the Red Shirts not to go out.

Too late, if we read all his previous postings which were solely focused on hatred of the non Malays especially the Chinese, we would not have any doubt that these postings had a profound influence on the Red Shirt episode. The burning of Lim Guan Eng and Lim Kit Siang’s effigies bears testament of this.

What did he say about the numerological belief of the Chinese towards the digit 4 that manifest in his inability to write or say things intelligently – a kindergarten intellect?

"The Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin lecturer also went on to say that the Chinese who joined Bersih 4 no longer believed in the superstitions attached to the number "4", which is said to symbolise death. He said these Chinese rally-goers were no longer "afraid to die" as they now want to "bring death" to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang. (Malay Mail Online – September 7 2015)

Just the digit, "4," Riduan Tee had managed to beat, hamper and forge it  into a raw and hateful premise with the malicious intention to enrage the Malays.  To say that the Chinese rally-goers’ motive is to bring death to Najib Razak and Hadi Awang is  dangerous talk.

If there is an opportune time to explain to the people the need to have the Sedition Law in Malaysia – this is the time!

Now, let's shift our attention to one article posted in the blog – OutSyed The Box:

"Did you know that Malaysia is the ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD where all the 90 odd gomen universities (IPTA) do not have even one School of Philosophy? … Philosophy is learning about how to think and how to debate or argue a subject". (September 9, 2015)

Anyway, Philosophy is much more than "learning about how to think and how to debate or argue a subject". Logic, one of the components of  Philosophy teaches us to be inquisitive so as to detect FAULTY arguments similar to the one put out by Ridhuan Tee and company.

One interesting fact about  Logic is that we can easily pair Ridhuan Tee's argument with another similarly premised piece in order to bring out the stupidity of his argument with more clarity.

In Ridhuan Tee's dim-witted argument we can see the parallel premised piece below:

"Alexander the Great stopped a beer barrel.

Alexander was buried; he who is buried becomes dust; what becomes dust is earth; earth is probably made loam; what probably made loam would stop a beer-barrel; therefore Alexander stopped a beer-barrel."

It is time for the politicians and academics to reflect logically when verbalising their arguments.

"Whenever men debate, discuss, and argue, Logic is a court of appeal in the background …. Logic trains the mind to draw the right conclusion, and to avoid the wrong, to make the true inference and not the false." (A.A.Luce – Logic)

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