Spell Found Underneath Pak Lah's Desk

KUALA LUMPUR: The last UMNO Supreme Council meeting before party elections will be held on 25 March. And at the height of tension over the party elections, two small pieces of paper which look like a spell have been found stuck underneath the desk of party president at the 38th floor meeting room in UMNO headquarters.

When the bomb squad from Kuala Lumpur police conducted a routine carpet search in the meeting room a few days ago, two small pieces of paper with Jawi script as well as a small piece of wood wrapped up in a piece of white cloth, were accidentally discovered underneath the desk of Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

The police have so far not detained any suspicious person for investigation, but it is understood that they have taken the statements of three individuals with electronic card access into the meeting room: two policemen and the assistant of a politician with Datukship.

No CCTV has been installed in the meeting room. Besides politicians, cleaners may occasionally be allowed to enter the room for cleaning.

The police conducted the search two weeks ahead of the Supreme Council meeting to ensure that the meeting will run smoothly.

These two objects have since been sent to the chemical department for analysis but no reports have yet to be received.

The police have sent the questionable objects for chemical analysis after failing to ascertain the actual content of the spell. (Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)

The below is nothing to do with the above story. It is about relating to the same individual.



Synopsis

This is Ooi Kee Beng’s third collection of commentaries on Abdullah Badawi’s five years in power. The first (Era of Transition: Malaysia after Mahathir, 2006 ISEAS) described a hopeful period following Mahathir’s retirement, while the second (Lost in Transition: Malaysia under Abdullah, 2008 ISEAS & SIRD) argued that Abdullah’s administration had gone astray, and had lost contact with the aspirations of the common Malaysian.

The forty-odd opinion pieces included in this third volume were written between November 2007, when the Hindraf demonstration took place, and December 2008, when Abdullah pushed through his swan-song reform Bills. These commentaries do not only collectively illustrate the downfall of Abdullah Badawi, but demonstrate how voters punished the country’s leaders for supposing that the fortune of the country did not extend beyond the fate and fortune of the dominant party, UMNO, and its allies.
After suffering its worst electoral results ever on March 8, 2008, the ruling coalition now has difficulty deciding the pace and the extent of political change in Malaysia.


Book Detail:

Title: ARRESTED REFORMS: The Undoing of Abdullah Badawi
Author: Ooi Kee Beng
Publisher: Research for Social Advancement (REFSA)
ISBN:
Soft cover: 978-983-43722-5-5
Hard Cover: 978-983-43722-6-2

Price : RM30 (soft cover)
RM50 (hard cover)

To order;

1. Pls SMS 019-2232002 (Type Arrested Reform )
2. After confirmation from the administrator, pay the amount to maybank2u.com or Maybank Kawanku to account Faisal bin Mustaffa (MBB 114179439605)

* choices: maybank.2u.com, Maybank kawanku ATM, or the nearest Maybank branches near you.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, UMNO

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Lagi Cerita Rampasan Kuasa Perak

Synopsis

The ongoing constitutional crisis in Perak, with the switch of Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional state governments, has shocked and angered many Malaysians. The forced resignation of Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, the defections of PKR (Parti KeADILan Rakyat) and DAP (Democratic Action Party) state assemblypersons, and calls of treason have all caused the mercury level to rise in the Silver State.

In light of these turbulent circumstances, we speak with Malik Imtiaz Sarwar to gain a legal and historical perspective on the issues at hand, as well as what Malaysians will need to pay attention to in the weeks to come.


Malik Imtiaz Sarwar is a leading Malaysian human rights lawyer and activist, and the current president of the National Human Rights Society (HAKAM). He is also the founder of Project Malaysia, a thematic online journal on Malaysian issues.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, DAP, Elections Commission, Human Rights and Arts, malik imtiaz sarwar, nizar jamaluddin, pakatan rakyat, Parti Keadilan Rakyat, perak, PKR, popteevee

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 2/27/2009 12:14:00 am ... 0 blast off

 

 

Tamparan kepada Institusi Demokratik*

Kepada mereka yang merasakan krisis politk di Perak sekarang berpunca dari Pakatan Rakyat (dengan merujuk kepada rancangan mengambilalih kuasa pada 16 September), mereka gagal untuk mengenalpasti perbezaan penting di antara keduanya.

Sekiranya anda masih dapat mengingati apa yang berlaku kepada Dato’s Seri Anwar Ibrahim yang mengakui mempunyai angka untuk menubuhkan kerajaan persekutuan, beliau telah mengutus surat kepada Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi memohon untuk adakan persidangan khas di parlimen. Permohonan tersebut ditolak oleh Perdana Menteri. Pilihan lain yang berlandaskan perlembagaan ialah untuk mendesak kepada pembubaran parlimen bagi mengadakan pilihan raya baru. Malangnya, desakan tersebut juga tidak dilayan.

Anwar lalu ketandusan cara bagi tindakan selanjutnya. Sekiranya Pakatan Rakyat bertindak tidak mengikut landasan undang-undang, kita sememangnya sudah pun mempunyai kerajaan yang baru. Tetapi, kita tidak melakukan sedemikian dan tidak mahu melakukan tanpa mengikut undang-undang. Jadi, adalah sungguh tidak adil sekiranya kita samakan rampasan kuasa Najin dan rancangan Pakatan Rakyat.

Ada juga yang mungkin pertikaikan, apakah pula hujah berhubungan dengan tindakan membelot Adun Bota, Datuk Nasarudin Hashim? Mengapakah Pakatan Rakyat menerima beliau? Mengapa tidak menggesa supaya beliau mengosongkan kerusinya dan member peluang kepada pilihan raya kecil? Kita lihat perkara ini dari sudut perspektif. Pembelotan Nasarudin adalah dari penggubal undang-undang pembangkang kepada menjadikan ianya sebagai penggubal undang-undang kerajaan. Pembelotannya tidak mengubahkan baki kiasa di dalam Dun. Status quo. Secara logik dan bijaksana, sesiapa sahaja boleh mengandaikan Pakatan Rakyat tidak perlukan sebarang wakil BN untuk membelot. Tetapi, beliau telah membelot atas usahanya sendiri dan tidak pun memenangi kerusi tersebut di bawah tiket Pakatan Rakyat. Kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat sebenarnya tidak mempunyai pendirian dalam memaksanya untuk mengosongkan kerusi yang tidak dipunyai Pakatan Rakyat pun !

Saya mesti menyatakan di sini bahawa saya amat menghormati Sultan Azlan Shah. Sehingga semalam, saya masih berfikir bagaimana Tuanku boleh mengambil keputusan untuk memperkenankan pembentukan kerajaan negeri di bawah BN apabila secara perlembagaan, sebuah kerajaan masih lagi wujud? Tuanku juga memperkenankan menteri besar yang baru apabila menteri besar yang dahulunya masih memegang kuasa? Bagaimana sesebuah negeri mampu untuk mempunyai dua ketua pada satu masa?

Menteri Besar hanya boleh dilucutkan jawatannya oleh Dun dengan mengemukakan undi-tak-percaya melalui pembubaran Dun. Dan tiada dalam perkara tersebut berlaku. Bagaimana seseorang boleh mendakwa Najib dan Anwar melakukan perkara yang sama?

Selain itu, DYMM Sultan menggesa kerajaan yang ditubuhkan oleh BN dan ahli Bebas mewujudkan kerajaan “perpaduan”. Dalam hal ini, ahli Bebas tidak terikat untuk mewakili BN. Sekurang-kurangnya, tidak sehingga mereka secara rasminya menjadi anggota di dalam parti komponen BN. Apa yang mereka perolehi daripada DYMM Sultan dan Najib ialah keyakinan secara lisan “kita akan menjadi sahabat kepada BN”. Dan hanya dengan menonjolkan diri di dalam sidang akhbar bersama Najib, adakah ia menjustifikasikan perubahan di dalam kerajaan? Apa akan berlaku sekiranya ahli Bebas ini kemudiannya dilihat berada di dalam sidang akhbar Pakatan Rakyat? Kerajaan “perpaduan” yang dimaksudkan DYMM Sultan haruslah secara inklusifnya melibatkan Pakatan Rakyat, BN, dan ahli Bebas.

Pakatan Rakyat dan BN masing-masing mempunyai 28 kerusi, dan tiga dari bebas. Oleh itu, tidak ada satu parti pun atau gabungan yang boleh membanggakan dengan mengatakan mereka mempunyai kuasaa majoriti. Sekiranya adanya kerajaan “perpaduan”, ia perlulah mendapat persetujuan daripada gabungan baru PR-BN-Bebas yang mana ianya agak mustahil. Oleh yang demikian, apa yang dititah DYMM Sultan ialah menamakan sesuatu tanpa pelaksanaan.

Apakah maknanya “perpaduan” sekiranya terdapat wakil rakyat yang berfikiran sama – untuk “menjadi sahabat kepada BN” ? ini bukannya kerajaan “perpaduan” tetapi kerajaan BN. Inilah yang dikatakan tamparan kepada kebijakan rakyat Malaysia. Satu permulaan kepada apa yang akan berlaku dengan PM baru.

* Diterjemah dari artikel bertajuk "A mockery of our democratic institution"

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Anwar Ibrahim, pakatan rakyat, Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya Malaysia

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 2/17/2009 05:43:00 pm ... 0 blast off

 

 

Kes Sharmila a/l Turaisingam: Mengapa Tiada Penangkapan?

Kenyataan Media

Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH) mempersoalkan kes yang diterima oleh BERSIH berkaitan dengan sdri Sharmila Thuraisingam (No KP: 73xxxx145444) yang cuba untuk mendaftarkan dirinya sebagai pemilih di pejabat pos pada Disember 2007 tetapi diberitahu bahawa dia sudah pun didapati namanya berdaftar sebagai pengundi di Wakaf Zain DUN Salor dan Parlimen Kubang Kerian di Kelantan. Sharmila membuat laporan polis berkaitan dengan kesnya.

Sharmila mengesahkan bahawa beliau tidak berada di negara ini pada 10 Mac 1998 apabila Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) mendakwa permohonannya sebagai pemilih.

Sharmila juga tidak pernah diambil kenyataan oleh pihak polis sejak beliau membuat laporan polis pada 12 Januari 2008.

Oleh yang demikian, BERSIH mendesak pihak polis segera menyiasat perkara ini dan pihak yang menyamar sebagai Sharmila perlu diambil tindakan tegas.

Berikut ialah jawapan Perdana Menteri pada 16 Oktober 2008 di Parlimen:

Tuan Gwo-Burne Loh [ Kelana Jaya] minta PERDANA MENTERI menyatakan hasil daripada siasatan polis berkaitan dengan laporan yang dibuat oleh Sharmila Turaisingam pada 12 Januari 2008 bahawa beliau tidak pernah berdaftar sebagai pengundi tetapi namanya terdapat di dalam senarai pemilih di Kubang Kerian, Kelantan.

JAWAPAN:

Saya mengucapkan berbanyak terima kasih kepada Ahli Yang Berhormat dari Kelana Jaya yang telah mengemukakan soalan.

Untuk makluman Ahli Yang Berhormat, pihak kementerian telah membuat semakan dengan Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) dan mendapati bahawa SPR telah menerima satu permohonan pemilih di atas nama Sharmila Turaisingam pada 10 Mac 1998. Memandangkan penama telah menggunakan alamat Kg Wakaf Zain di dalam permohonan tersebut, SPR telah menempatkan nama beliau di Parlimen P.024 Kubang kerian dan N.17 Salur, Kelantan.

Pada 12 Januari 2008 pula, SPR menerima permohonan daripada Sharmila Turaisingam untuk menukar alamat melalui Pejabat Pos. Berdasarkan alamat yang terdapat di dalam kad pengenalan beliau, nama Sharmila Turaisingam telah ditempatkan di Parlimen P.104 Kelana jaya dan N.31 Subang Jaya, Selangor. Penempatan nama tersebut di dalam daftar pemilih SPR sehingga kini.

Tuan yang Dipertua,

Mengenai laporan yang dibuat oleh pengadu (Sungai Way Report:35/08), perkara ini masih dalam siasatan pihak Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM).

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, BERSIH, SPR

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 11/11/2008 10:13:00 pm ... 0 blast off

 

 

Wide Angle 37 (spiked): The Malaysian Political Oscars!

Published with permission

WIDE ANGLE – Huzir Sulaiman


The Malaysian Political Oscars!
Our political situation is like something out of a movie – so here are the awards. The envelope, please…

The Wide Angle Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, headquartered for no particular reason in Skudai, presents this year's Malaysian Political Oscars.

The most widely watched television event in Malaysia, the Political Oscar telecast reaches over 1 billion viewers, some of whom are dead, some of whom are 130 years old, and most of whom are registered at the same address.

How does it work? Members of the academy (all Malaysian taxi drivers who despite being allegedly the worst in the world at driving taxis are remarkably good at political analysis) vote on these awards, and the results are tabulated by the auditors of some large accounting firm who would rather do this sort of thing than real accounting work, which might explain the state of the economy.

Here are the nominees and winners.

Best Supporting Actor

It is a crowded field this year, with many stellar performances from both veterans and newcomers.

The nominees include private investigator P. Balasubramaniam in Missing; Pusrawi's Dr. Mohd Osman in Rear Window; Zaid Ibrahim in Gone in Sixty Seconds; and Raja Petra Kamaruddin in An Inconvenient Truth.

But the Best Supporting Actor Oscar goes to Penang Umno leader Ahmad Ismail for his controversial performance in Pride and Prejudice.

Despite his recent success, which led to him being cast in Under Siege and Raging Bull, Ahmad has flatly refused roles in the films Anger Management and Atonement.

Best Supporting Actress

For her critically-acclaimed performance in Minority Report, this year's Best Supporting Actress Oscar goes to Sinchew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng.

Interestingly, immediately after that film completed principal photography, Tan was the unwitting star of Catch and Release, a film that may or may not have been directed by Syed Hamid Albar, depending on which version of the studio press kit you read.

Tan spent just 18 hours on location, before quitting, citing creative differences.

Best Cinematography

For his impactful camera work in the V.K. Lingam vehicle The Conversation, the Oscar for Cinematography goes to Gwo Loh Burne.

(Although The Conversation was shot some time ago, due to his refusal to be credited for many months, Gwo Loh Burne could not be given the award earlier. When he finally came forward, this legal thriller was re-released in some markets as The Burne Identity.)

The Conversation beat out Entrapment, starring Chua Soi Lek, which also features an anonymous cinematographer.

Best Foreign-Language Film

Agricultural Study Tour, a Taiwanese sleeper hit, was shot entirely by coincidence, supposedly with no director and no funding.

Nonetheless, a sequel, Exile on My Taiwanese Farm: Peeling my Taugeh might be filmed next year with some of the original cast.

Best Original Screenplay

Jumper, written by Anwar Ibrahim, wins this year's award. Although the film suffers from a cast of unknowns, whose number seems to fluctuate from scene to scene (though always at least 31), the script is undeniably original and exciting. It also has the potential for numerous sequels, which will prove profitable for the actors.

Best Adapted Screenplay

Written by a team of in-house screenwriters from the Attorney-General's Studios, The Accused, starring Anwar Ibrahim, is allegedly adapted from instructions given by political superiors. A remake of the 1998 flop, but with many of the same actors and production team.

Best Actress

Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok was competing against herself this year with sterling performances in a slew of releases: Election; Woman on Top; Supergirl; and, in cinemas until last Friday, the black comedy Enemy of the State.

She wins the Best Actress Oscar, however, for her most famous role, Miss Congeniality, which has earned her praise from audiences and critics alike.

Best Actor

The big stars of yesteryear dominated the Best Actor category this year.

Nominees include S. Samy Vellu in Gone With The Wind; Dr. Mahathir Mohamed in V for Vendetta; and both Najib Tun Razak and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in the comedy Trading Places.

The winner, however, of the Malaysian Political Oscar for Best Actor is Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for his flawless, nuanced, masterful performance in Eyes Wide Shut.

Best Picture

The nominees for Best Picture in the Malaysian Political Oscars are all gripping epics.

They include the moving story of the many members of Parti Sosialis Malaysia, The Magnificent Seven; the Khairy Jamaluddin biopic Million Dollar Baby; the Hindraf saga, Out for Justice; and the tale of Gerakan in the Barisan Nasional, The End of the Affair.

The winner for Best Picture, however, is the story of the MCA's struggle against the Internal Security Act, Look Who's Talking Now.

Lifetime Achievement Award

For his astonishing film career spanning many decades, and including both commercial hits and small but critically-acclaimed art-house movies, Anwar Ibrahim wins the Lifetime Achievement Award.

His roles, in chronological order, include: Wild at Heart; The Young Guns; The Great Debaters; Sleeping With The Enemy; The Insider; The Sweet Smell of Success; Reversal of Fortune; Cast Away; The Accused; The Cell; Cry Freedom!; Into the Wild; Back to the Future; Mission: Impossible; The Perfect Storm; and, most recently, Eastern Promises.

Depending on the outcome of contract negotiations, Anwar's next movies may include The King and I; Top Gun; and Great Expectations.

Alternatively, he may take roles in Crash; The Departed; and The Forgotten. That's the thing about show business – you never know what the big stars will do next!

That's all for this year's edition of the Malaysian Political Oscars. See you on the red carpet next year!


Copyright © Huzir Sulaiman 2008. All rights reserved.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Anwar Ibrahim, huzir sulaiman, khairy jamaluddin, Loh Gwo Burne, najib tun razak, samy vellu, teresa kok

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 9/21/2008 09:06:00 pm ... 0 blast off

 

 

Adakah Polis Akan Buat Siasatan? Aku Cabar

'Komplot' 3 Tan Sri batal dakwat kekal

Jimadie Shah Othman & Zahra Hamdan | May 22, 08 1:42pm

Pembatalan dakwat kekal menjelang pilihanraya umum lalu hasil "komplot" tiga badan utama negara untuk "menggagalkan usaha memastikan pilihanraya tidak dicemari penipuan", dakwa Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (Bersih). Dalam laporan polisnya, jurucakap gabungan itu Faisal Mustaffa mendakwa usaha terancang itu melibatkan pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, peguam negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail dan ketua polis negara Tan Sri Musa Hassan. "Saya meminta agar pihak berkuasa Polis Diraja Malaysia untuk membuat penyiasatan ke atas pengerusi SPR, perdana menteri, peguam negara dan ketua polis negara demi kepentingan seluruh rakyat Malaysia," kata Faisal. Aduan polis itu dibuat di ibu pejabat polis daerah Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur pagi tadi susulan kenyataan beberapa tokoh ini sejak minggu lalu. Sabtu lepas, Abdul Rashid mendedahkan, kabinet memutuskan pada hari pembubaran parlimen pada 13 Februari, untuk menolak penggunaan dakwat kekal di jari pengundi dalam pilihanraya umum 8 Mac. Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, mengulas kenyataan SPR, bagaimanapun menafikan kabinet mengarahkan suruhanjaya itu berbuat demikian. Tahun lalu, SPR bersetuju melaksanakan langkah tersebut dalam pilihanraya umum ke-12 tetapi kemudian membatalkannya empat hari menjelang hari pengundian atas alasan keselamatan. Abdul Gani dan Musa turut hadir di sidang media SPR sewaktu mengumumkan pembatalan tersebut, pada 4 Mac lalu. Kira-kira RM2.9 juta dibelanjakan untuk membeli 48,000 botol dakwat tidak mudah padam dari India tetapi penggunaannya dibatalkan kerana bimbang wujud unsur sabotaj seperti yang telah dikesan oleh polis. Menteri keselamatan dalam negeri Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar bagaimanapun memberitahu Dewan Rakyat minggu lepas bahawa SPR membatalkan cadangan dakwat kekal berdasarkan "bukti khabar angin". Bercakap di satu seminar di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM), Abdul Rashid juga mendedahkan bahawa kabinet telah terpengaruh dengan maklumat polis bahawa wujud parti-parti politik yang membeli sendiri dakwat-dakwat kekal dari luar negara. "Saya dimaklumkan bahawa PAS di pantai timur membeli dakwat dari Thailand. Kemudian Umno mendapat tahu (mengenainya) dan Umno juga membeli dakwat tersebut. "(Maklumat) ini diberikan kepada saya secara hitam putih oleh polis dan laporan yang sama diberikan kepada kabinet dan mereka (menteri) percaya ia memang benar-benar wujud," kata Abdul Rashid. Turut hadir di balai polis, pengarah eksekutif Institut Integriti Pilihanraya Kebangsaan (NIEI) Amin Iskandar. Bersih dan NIEI dalam kenyataan bersama turut menyebut penglibatan perdana menteri dalam kontroversi ini. Menurut mereka, ketua polis mendakwa terdapat laporan polis dibuat di Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis di antara 16 hingga 21 Februari lalu. Namun, tambah mereka, jawapan bertulis yang dikemukakan oleh Syed Hamid ketika menjawab soalan ahli parlimen Batu Gajah, Fong Poh Kuan mengesahkan "sebenarnya tiada sebarang bukti berkenaan penyeludupan dakwat kekal dari negara jiran." Membacakan kenyataan bersama itu, Faisal (foto atas, kanan) berkata, percanggahan dakwaan keempat-empat pihak ini menunjukkan bahawa "Abdul Rashid berada di bawah telunjuk ahli kabinet". Sepatutnya SPR membentangkan pindaan kepada Parlimen bagi membolehkan pelaksanaannya mengikut undang-undang, tambahnya. "SPR hanya merujuk kepada Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan untuk mendapatkan kelulusan berikutan penggunaan dakwat kekal tanpa ada pindaan (akta) kepada Parlimen," tambahnya. Bersih dan NIEI juga mendesak pengerusi SPR meletakkan jawatan serta-merta berdasarkan sikapnya yang didakwa "tidak profesional". Amin (foto, kiri sekali) pula berkata, alasan untuk membatalkan penggunaan dakwat "tidak masuk akal" kerana prosedur pembelian dakwat itu amat ketat. "Dakwat ini bukan boleh dibeli di kedai alat tulis. Kena ada surat, kena ada suruhanjaya. Bukan boleh senang-senang pergi beli," katanya. Mengulas tentang dakwaan terdapat pembelian dakwat ini dari negara jiran, Amin berkata: "Thailand sendiri mengimport dakwat kekal dari India." Menurut pemantau pilihanraya itu lagi, India adalah pengeksport utama dakwat kekal untuk pilihanraya di rantau ini. "Dakwat (kekal) yang dikemukakan kepada pihak (majlis) mufti itu sendiri adalah dari India," katanya, yang turut memantau pilihanraya umum di Nepal baru-baru ini. Dalam aduan polisnya, Bersih melampirkan 12 keratan akhbar berhubung kontroversi ini, termasuk laporan Bernama, The Star dan Malaysiakini.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, BERSIH, dakwat kekal, indelible ink, niei, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 5/23/2008 01:18:00 am ... 0 blast off

 

 

Watch recorded at Malaysiakini.tv

Indelible ink 'conspiracy': Report lodged

Rahmah Ghazali | May 22, 08 4:36pm

Two polls watchdog groups today lodged a police report against Election Commission chief Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for the last-minute cancellation of the indelible ink in the March 8 general elections. MCPX Also named in the police report are two other key individuals who were allegedly responsible for the abrupt reversal in the use of the ink - inspector general of police Musa Hassan and attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail. The groups - Coalition for Free and Fair Elections (Bersih) and National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) - claimed that the cabinet led by Abdullah had “conspired” with the EC under Abdul Rashid to suspend the use of the ink. “This is a conspiracy between the prime minister and the EC chairman to rob our rights (as voters),” said NIEI executive director Amin Iskandar after lodging the report at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur. Last Saturday, Abdul Rashid unwittingly revealed that the cabinet had objected to the use of the indelible ink and that he was ordered to take the blame for the decision. Hours after Abdul Rashid (right) dropped the bombshell, the prime minister took pains to explain that the scrapping of the indelible ink was a cabinet's suggestion to EC, and not a directive. The EC had last year agreed to use the ink in the 12th general election to put to rest the claims of cheating in the polls. Subsequently, the commission spent RM2.4 million to buy 48,000 bottles of the ink from India. However, four days before the election, the EC chief announced the scrapping of the indelible ink, citing public order and security reasons. Also present at the press conference where Abdul Rashid made the controversial announcement were police chief Musa and AG Abdul Gani. Musa had revealed that four people were under investigation for buying the indelible ink from neighbouring countries and they were planning to use it on unsuspecting voters to create chaos on polling day. However, two weeks ago Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar told Parliament that the EC’s decision to cancel the use of the indelible ink was based on ‘hearsay evidence’ received by the police. He revealed that the EC’s move to call off the use of the ink was based on “unsubstantiated claims that elements of sabotage had been detected by the police”. EC’s reasons absurd NIEI’s Amin described the reasons given by EC in the suspension of the ink as absurd. “I’ve been to Afghanistan and Nepal (to observe elections) and these are post-conflict nations, yet they never had such nonsensical excuses,” said Amin, who has participated in missions to observe elections in a number of countries for over 10 years. He showed reporters his thumbnail, marked with indelible ink in his last observer mission at the April 10 elections in Nepal. The ink remain intact despite that his thumb was marked more than a month ago (right). “This proves how strong the ink is,” he added. Badrul Hisham Shahrin, an opposition PKR candidate who contested in the March 8 elections, said the conflicting statements given by the four parties involved - the cabinet, EC, IGP and AG - indicated a conspiracy behind the cancellation of the ink. “They have received inside information that BN would lose government if the indelible ink were to be used, hence its cancellation,” said Badrul (left), who ran for the Rembau parliamentary seat but lost to Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin. “We are calling for a royal commission to investigate this matter,” he added. Badrul later stated that the commission could probe, among others, the government’s failure to amend the election laws to enable the use of the ink and the real reasons for its last-minute cancellation. Also present when the police report was lodged was Bersih secretary Faisal Mustaffa.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, BERSIH, dakwat kekal, indelible ink, musa hassan, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 5/23/2008 01:14:00 am ... 0 blast off

 

 

Perdana Menteri, Ketua Polis Negara, Peguam Negara dan Pengerusi SPR Perlu Disiasat

Kenyataan Media
22 Mei 2008

Isu Pembatalan Dakwat Kekal:Perdana Menteri, Ketua Polis Negara, Peguam Negara dan Pengerusi SPR Perlu Disiasat

Gabungan Pilihanraya Bersih dan Adil (BERSIH) dan National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) berpendapat Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihanraya (SPR) Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Hj Ab Rashid bin Ab Rahman, Peguam Negara Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail dan Ketua Polis Negara (IGP) Tan Sri Musa Hassan bertanggungjawab dalam pembatalan penggunaan dakwat kekal semasa pilihanraya umum 12 yang diadakan pada 8 Mac 2008 yang lalu.

SPR telah menggunakan RM2.4 juta wang rakyat untuk membeli dakwat kekal dari India untuk digunakan semasa pilihanraya umum yang baru lalu dan membatalkan penggunaannya empat hari sebelum pilihanraya diadakan.

Alasan yang diberikan ialah kerana terdapat usaha untuk menyeludup masuk dakwat kekal dari negara jiran ke Malaysia.

Ketua Polis Negara mendakwa bahawa terdapat laporan-laporan polis dilaporkan di Kelantan, Perlis dan Kedah di antara 16 hingga 21 Februari 2008 dan telah menjalankan siasatan.

Tetapi menurut jawapan bertulis yang dikemukakan oleh Menteri Dalam Negeri, Dato' Seri Syed Hamid bin Syed Jaafar Albar ketika menjawab soalan Parlimen Batu Gajah, Fong Poh Kuan mengesahkan bahawa sebenarnya, tiada sebarang bukti berkenaan penyeludupan dakwat kekal dari negara jiran seperti yang didakwa oleh Pengerusi SPR itu.

Pada 17 Mei 2008, Pengerusi SPR, telah mengeluarkan kenyataan yang berlainan dengan mengatakan bahawa beliau menerima arahan daripada kabinet untuk membatalkan rancangan untuk melaksanakan dakwat kekal.

Perdan Menteri pula keesokan harinya memberitahu bahawa kabinet tidak mengarahkan SPR untuk membatalkan rancangan untuk menggunakan dakwat kekal pada pilihanraya ke12 akan tetapi hanya mencadangkan sedemikian.

BERSIH dan NIEI berpendapat kenyataan yang bercanggah di antara keempat-empat pihak ini perlu disiasat dan perlu diambil tindakan.

Berdasarkan kepada laporan-laporan media, jelas menunjukkan bahawa terdapat komplot di antara keempat-empat pihak yang dinamakan di atas.

Mengikut laporan-laporan berikut, jelas menunjukkan bahawa Pengerusi SPR berada di bawah telunjuk ahli kabinet.

Laporan-laporan tersebut juga jelas menunjukkan bahawa kenyataan Pengerusi SPR bahawa badan itu bebas adalah tidak benar.

Justeru, pihak yang bertanggungjawab dalam hal ini perlu menjelaskan perkara sebenar supaya isu yang berkepentingan rakyat ini mendapat penjelasan dan tindakan yang sewajarnya dan perlu diambil berdasarkan kepada undang-undang Negara.

BERSIH dan NIEI juga berpendapat SPR telah gagal untuk membentangkan pindaan kepada Parlimen pada sessi Parlimen pada Ogos-Disember 2007 bagi pelaksanaan tersebut termaktub di bawah undang-undang.

SPR hanya memainkan isu penggunaan dakwat kekal ini dengan menuding jari kepada Majlis Fatwa Kebangsaan bagi mendapat kelulusan tanpa melihat kepada kesahan dari segi undang-undang.

Sikap yang tidak professional yang ditunjukkan oleh pegawai-pegawai SPR dalam hal ini amat mendukacitakan dan mendesak supaya Pengerusinya, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Hj Ab Rashid bin Ab Rahman meletak jawatan serta-merta.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, BERSIH, dakwat kekal, gani patail, musa hassan, niei, Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 5/22/2008 06:10:00 pm ... 1 blast off

 

 

My Appearance in Malaysian Insider

I was disturbed (again) by morning phone call by another reporter. This time it is from one of the new news portal, Malaysian Insider.

She's kind of cute though. She quoted my at her last three paragraphs.

Read here

She also interviewed me for almost one hour for one of her exclusive interviews. Will post in this blog when it is published.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Anwar Ibrahim, black 14, malaysian insider

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 4/10/2008 11:37:00 pm ... 0 blast off

 

 

Lost in Transition: Malaysia Under Abdullah

DESCRIPTION
“This is a significant collection of essays on recent tumultuous political developments in Malaysia written by scholar who is proving to be one of the most perceptive observers of the intricate politics of the country and the cmplex intermeshing of social, cultural and economic issues with political events and happenings.” Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Director, Centre for Public Initiatives “Shifting with ease between politics, economics and history, Ooi has drawn a clear picture rich with facts as one would expect from an analysis that has both the impassioned plea of the insider and the academic detachment of the outsider.” Dr Azmi Sharom, Faculty of Law, University Malaya

PRODUCT DETAILS

Publisher : SIRD
ISBN : 978-983-3782-39-0
Author : Ooi Kee Beng
Number of Page(s) : 196

Item price : RM30.00 (excluding postage cost)
Item weight : 0.36 lb(s)

To order;

1. Pls SMS 019-2232002 (Type )
2. After confirmation from the administrator, pay the amount to maybank2u.com or Maybank Kawanku to account Faisal bin Mustaffa (MBB 114179439605)

* choices: maybank.2u.com, Maybank kawanku ATM, or the nearest Maybank branches near you.

Labels: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Centre for Public Initiatives, Dr Azmi Sharom, Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Jabatan Rekacipta dan Inovasi Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Lost in Transition, Prime Minister

Anonymous merepek ... permalink ... 2/09/2008 01:07:00 am ... 0 blast off