It’s payback time

It’s payback time
15 Apr, 2009

Yes, it is payback time -- big time payback time. But it all depends on how far Tun Dr Mahathir wants to take these issues. The knife is in his hands. It is just whether he wants to use that knife to slit Tun Abdullah’s throat.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

There are 32 state assembly seats in Terengganu. 24 are under Barisan Nasional and the balance eight under Pakatan Rakyat. Yesterday was the second day of the three-day state assembly sitting but ten of the Barisan Nasional State Assemblypersons have refused to attend the session.

The ten Barisan Nasional State Assemblypersons, led by the previous Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh, said they are not boycotting the state assembly sitting as such. They just refuse to attend the state assembly until the police can guarantee their safety. It seems three of them have received death threats and they allege the death threats, which were sent via SMS, have been traced back to someone in the state government.

The Menteri Besar, however, says that the ten are boycotting the state assembly sitting and that he will not attempt to persuade them to end their boycott. In short, what the Menteri Besar is saying, the ten can go to hell. The Deputy Prime Minister has responded by telling the ten to not jeopardise the state government while the Prime Minister has ordered them to attend the last day of the session today.

PAS said if there is a vote of no confidence against the Menteri Besar they will support it. If that happens, then it will be eight opposition State Assemblypersons, plus ten from Barisan Nasional, to total 18 versus 14. That means Ahmad Said would be ousted from office through a vote of no confidence -- like what should have happened in Perak but did not because of the interference of the Perak Palace.

The ten, however, claim that there was never any intention to table a vote of no confidence against Ahmad Said in the Terengganu State Assembly. The reason they are not attending the assembly -- not to be interpreted as boycotting -- is because of the death threats they received from someone in the state government. The death threats, in turn, are because of the rumours that the ten intend to table a vote of no confidence against the Menteri Besar in the state assembly.

Very confusing isn’t it? Anyway, the long and the short of it is there is a crisis in the Terengganu State Assembly with ten on one side, 14 on another, and eight waiting to vote with the ten in the event there is going to be a vote of no confidence against the Menteri Besar.

Okay, forget about all that for the meantime. The issue that must not be forgotten is that Ahmad Said, head of the gang of 14, was personally appointed by the Sultan, in this case who is also the Agong. Idris Jusoh, on the other hand, head of the gang of ten, was rejected by His Majesty the Agong. Does this mean Umno is going to defy the Agong and oust Ahmad Said in favour of Idris Jusoh and risk triggering a Constitutional Crisis in Terengganu like what happened in Perak?

In the Perak Constitutional Crisis, Nizar Jamaluddin was accused of being a treasonous person (penderhaka) for opposing the wishes of the Sultan of Perak with regards to His Highness’ choice of Menteri Besar. What would we call Idris Jusoh and his band of merry men who also oppose the wishes of the Sultan of Terengganu with regards to His Majesty’s choice of Menteri Besar? Will, again, Umno carry placards labelling the Agong as ‘natang’ if His Majesty refuses to replace Ahmad Said with Idris Jusoh?

Yes, it’s payback time. But the question would be is it payback time for the Sultan of Terengganu or payback time for Umno or payback time for the Sultan of Perak who has just been shown that they don’t really need to agree to the Sultan’s choice of Menteri Besar after all -- like what they are doing in Terengganu?

And why does the Sultan not want Idris Jusoh as the Menteri Besar? The issue is quite simple really. From 2000 to 2008, Idris misused RM7 billion to RM8 billion of Terengganu’s oil revenue. The money did not go to the state. It went to Umno and Idris was the head of Umno Terengganu during that time. The Terengganu Monsoon Cup alone swallowed RM300 million a year over a period of three years. If you include the houses they built and so on, the total cost comes to RM1 billion.

Then there is the RM3 billion that is going to soon pour into the state, which the government promised the state during the recent Kuala Terengganu by-election. Whomsoever is the Menteri Besar can get his hands on that RM3 billion. Can you now understand why there is currently a big fight in Umno Terengganu? It’s all about the money. Repeat, loudly, after me: SHOW ME THE MONEYYYYYYYYYYY!

And talking about payback time, it is also payback time for Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. In 2006, Malaysia Today wrote about all those issues that Tun Dr Mahathir is not happy about. Bullshit! That was the response of many readers. They thought I was merely speculating or spinning a whole bunch of lies, or whatever.

As I always like to say: I just love it when I have the last word (or the last laugh) and can tell everyone, “I told you so!” -- even if it has to be three years later.

Top of the list of Tun Dr Mahathir’s pet hates is the cancelling of his Crooked Bridge. Rest assured the Crooked Bridge is going to be back on track and no one will be able to block it this time around -- unless the Tun keels over and dies from a heart attack or something like that. As long as he is still alive and kicking he will kick anyone who dares block his Crooked Bridge.

The next item on Tun Dr Mahathir’s agenda is the setting up of the Presidential Council -- with him as the head and Tun Daim and many others from his previous regime as Council Members. Way back in 2006 or 2007 I said this was on the cards. The Tun, however, personally denied this. In fact, not long after the 8 March 2008 general election, in his speech at the Singgahsana Hotel in Petaling Jaya, Tun Dr Mahathir announced the plan to set up the Presidential Council.

Almost as close to the cancellation of the Crooked Bridge, Tun Dr Mahathir’s next pet hate is the selling off of MV Agusta for Euro 1 or RM4.80. This was a write-off of Euro 70 million or more than RM300 million. Tun Dr Mahathir was furious as hell. He had plans for that company and Tun Abdullah’s decision to sell off the company was a slap in the face and a sort of vote of no confidence against Tun Dr Mahathir.

The reason given for selling off MV Agusta is that if they don’t sell it then the government would have to pump in another RM300 million to keep it afloat, on top of the RM300 million they already paid to buy the company. This is like saying whoever made that decision to buy the company, meaning Tun Dr Mahathir, was stupid and did not know what he was doing.

Now do you know why Tun Dr Mahathir took it very personal? He knew what he was doing and he knew that after paying RM300 million to buy the company they would need to pump in another RM300 million to keep it afloat. That was part of the plan and was no mistake. But RM600 million is considered still cheap and a good buy for what they were getting -- a motorcycle company that makes good motorcycles and has the technology to make small motorcars.

In a way Tun Dr Mahathir had a point. It all depends on how you want to look at it. The Germans spent more than RM1 billion on R&D back in the early 1980s to develop the 190E. R&D is not cheap. It cost billions. So paying RM600 million to own a company that has the ability to do R&D can be considered a good deal if R&D is what you are looking for and if you happen to have RM600 million sitting around doing nothing.

Whoever made that decision to sell the company was, however, looking at it from another angle. Why send good money after bad? You already wasted RM300 million. Why waste another RM300 million? You might as well cut your losses and save the RM300 million that is still in your pocket. And that was why they decided to sell off the company.

To Tun Dr Mahathir, however, the real issue is; who was it sold to? And at that price of Euro 1 or RM4.80 on top of it. And how much money did they make on the deal? This is what Tun Dr Mahathir wants to know and which has never been answered even how many times he posed that question. And this is what irks Tun Dr Mahathir the most. He feels someone did a scam and made big bucks by selling MV Agusta for a mere Euro 1 or RM4.80. And he wants to know who it is so that he can nail this person’s balls to the wall. And he suspects that that person is Khairy Jamaluddin. And he wants to nail Khairy’s balls to the wall plus the balls of all those others who were involved in the scam.

Yes, it is payback time. And it is going to be payback time in a big way. Those who ignored and sidelined Tun Dr Mahathir are going to feel the full weight of his wrath. And this includes Najib.

For a brief moment, Najib distanced himself from Tun Dr Mahathir and pledged undying loyalty to Tun Abdullah. This not only upset Tun Dr Mahathir but hurt him as well. It was not Tun Abdullah but Tun Dr Mahathir who gave Najib his job. If left to Tun Abdullah, Muhyiddin would be the number two instead of Najib. But now Najib regards Tun Abdullah rather than Tun Dr Mahathir as his boss.

That was when Tun Dr Mahathir decided that Najib needed to be taught a lesson and Malaysia Today was more than happy to help teach him that lesson. When Najib realised that his future lay in Tun Dr Mahathir’s hands and not in Tun Abdullah’s, he quickly did a U-turn and managed to save his ass in the nick of time. In fact, Tun Dr Mahathir had already written Najib off and was talking to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah as the possible successor to Tun Abdullah. Najib was that close to losing the job of Prime Minister.

Watch what is going to happen to Islam Hadhari as well. The government is reviewing Islam Hadhari and will probably abolish it in due course. Tun Dr Mahathir revealed his contempt for Islam Hadhari when he remarked that he does not know what Islam Hadhari means and that he knows only one Islam, the one that Prophet Muhammad taught.

And, last but not least, let’s see if Tun Dr Mahathir launches an investigation into the Oil-for-Food scandal. This is another thing that Tun Dr Mahathir feels is an issue that should not be allowed to be swept under the carpet. The Oil-for-Food scandal has already been reported by the UN Committee and US Congress and the report has been published so you really do not need any fresh investigation. The name of ‘Abdullah Badawi’ is mentioned in those two reports as the beneficiary of the Iraq oil quota and there is even bribery involved.

Yes, it is payback time -- big time payback time. But it all depends on how far Tun Dr Mahathir wants to take these issues. The knife is in his hands. It is just whether he wants to use that knife to slit Tun Abdullah’s throat.

But what I find most interesting about all this is that I can recap what I wrote in 2006 and 2007 and shout, at the top of my voice, with glee: Didn’t I tell you so?

Dr M unwanted, says Zaid

Dr M unwanted, says Zaid
Friday, 10 April 2009 15:43

By Shannon Teoh, The Malaysian Insider

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had no effect on the April 7 by-elections and this shows that people do not want him anymore, says Datuk Zaid Ibrahim.

The former law minister, who has had a running feud with the former prime minister since his move last year to compensate judges sacked by Dr Mahathir in the 1987 judicial crisis, said this in an interview on the “Fairly Current Show”, a short programme that aired on the Internet yesterday.

Zaid, who is widely expected to join Pakatan Rakyat — most likely PKR — soon, also added that his former party, Umno, was too weak to stand up to Dr Mahathir and members were afraid of being ousted like Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who stepped down as prime minister last week after years of criticism by his predecessor Dr Mahathir.

"There were thousands of people in Sungai Petani they say, but clearly there was no effect," he said of Dr Mahathir's stop in Bukit Selambau in a two-stop blitz that included Bukit Gantang on the last day of campaigning in the by-elections.

PR, in fact, increased its majority in the two seats which, Zaid said, was an indicator of Dr Mahathir's unpopularity.

"He feels that people still want him. This is the problem with strongmen who some call dictators. Sometimes, they don't know they are surrounded by people who tell them their leadership is still needed," he said.

He added that it was the same throughout history, citing Suharto, the former president of Indonesia, and Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, who also "do not know when they are unwanted".

However, in a recent blog posting, Dr Mahathir continued to insist that Abdullah was still "entirely responsible for all the ills" in Barisan Nasional which led to the electoral defeats as "a leader plays a big role especially in Malaysia and the quality of his leadership affects the behaviour and performance of his subordinates."

Zaid also mocked the idea that Umno wanted its longest-serving president back.

"It is not that Umno wants to take him back but he wants to rejoin. But nobody is brave enough to stop him. This shows Umno is very weak and its leaders are not brave enough to stand up to him because they are afraid of ending up like Pak Lah," he said of Abdullah, who was handpicked by Dr Mahathir but then suffered years of harsh criticism from him.

Zaid cited, as an example, the fact that Khairy Jamaluddin, Abdullah's son-in-law, won comfortably ahead of Dr Mahathir's son Datuk Mukhriz in the Umno Youth chief contest because "he interfered. If not it would be a tougher fight".

Zaid and Dr Mahathir most recently clashed in a war of words over the appointment of Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister, with Dr Mahathir calling Zaid's plea to the King not to appoint Najib "very stupid".

Minister Tormentor of Malaysia

Minister Tormentor of Malaysia
9 Apr, 2009

Would Najib dare offer the new Umno Youth Leader, Khairy Jamaluddin, a Cabinet post? Or would the Cabinet post go to Mukhriz Mahathir instead? By convention, Khairy, the winner, should get that post instead of Mukhriz, the loser. But Tun Dr Mahathir is not one to follow convention. He is one who breaks from tradition.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Dr M denies deal with Najib

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday denied making any deals with Datuk Seri Najib Razak to appoint his son Datuk Mukhriz as a minister. Dr Mahathir said it was entirely up to the prime minister to name his cabinet.

He spoke to reporters after launching an autobiography by the first director-general of the Malaysian Cocoa Board, Datuk Hashim Abdul Wahab, In Search of Happiness.

Dr Mahathir said Najib needed to have a corruption-free cabinet to avoid a Barisan Nasional loss in the next general election. He said Najib had a lot to do to change the mindset of the people who are now more inclined towards the opposition.

On BN's by-election loss in Bukit Selambau, Dr Mahathir said it was not caused by non-Malay votes, as the majority of voters comprised Malays. "There are a lot of Malays who are not happy with the government as well, not just the non-Malays." -- New Straits Times

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Jika Kerajaan pimpinan UMNO dianggotai ahli dan pemimpin UMNO yang perasuah, rakyat dan juga sebahagian daripada ahli UMNO yang kecewa akan tentukan BN dan UMNO akan kalah juga. Oleh kerana sebab-sebab ini saya berpendapat Najib akan cuba bersihkan parti dan Kerajaan daripada rasuah dan perasuah. Tanda-tanda ini akan diperlihat apabila beliau menubuh Kabinetnya pada 8 April, iaitu esok. Walaupun Abdullah tidak lagi memimpin UMNO, jika ternampak kuasanya keatas UMNO masih ada, saya akan anggap syarat saya tidak dipenuhi. -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad

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

Singapore has its Minister Mentor in the form of ex-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Malaysia has its Minister Tormentor in the form of ex-Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. And who better to confirm this than Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who held onto power for a mere five and a half years and then had to relinquish his post to Najib Tun Razak after suffering a rain of torment from the very man who made him Prime Minister.

“Walaupun Abdullah tidak lagi memimpin UMNO, jika ternampak kuasanya keatas UMNO masih ada, saya akan anggap syarat saya tidak dipenuhi,” said the Grand Old Man of Malaysian politics in his latest Blog posting.

Yes, Tun Dr Mahathir does not want any remnants or residual of Tun Abdullah Badawi’s era in Najib’s new Cabinet, due to be announced at 3.00pm today. That is his syarat (terms and conditions). And what Tun Dr Mahathir wants, Tun Dr Mahathir gets, as Tun Abdullah Badawi discovered the extremely hard way. Is this what will happen later today when Najib announces his new Cabinet line-up? Or will Najib make the same mistake as his predecessor in not listening to what Tun Dr Mahathir wants?

Make no bones about it. Tun Dr Mahathir is a survivor. He has bounced in and out of Umno many times. And he can continue bouncing in and out of Umno if required to do so. And each time he bounces in and out of Umno he has shaped the Malaysian political scene in the form he wants it to take.

Tun Dr Mahathir was the one who led the charge against the First Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, in the late 1960s. Of course, that resulted in him getting sacked from Umno. But that did not stop him. He just walked over to the opposition and for almost three years he worked with the opposition to force the Tunku’s resignation. Eventually, Umno had to invite him back just to silence him. He was more dangerous outside the party.

That was also exactly what Tun Dr Mahathir did in 2006 when he wanted to force Tun Abdullah Badawi’s resignation. Again, for almost three years, Tun Dr Mahathir worked with the opposition until Tun Abdullah Badawi threw in his resignation last week. Then Tun Dr Mahathir bounced back into Umno, yet again.

Twice in history Tun Dr Mahathir left Umno and worked with the opposition for almost three years. And twice in history Umno begged him to return like the prodigal son that he is just so that he would not damage the party from the outside. And every Prime Minister, except for Tun Abdul Razak who was ‘saved’ by death, found that their careers were in the hands of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Eventually, totally heartbroken and utterly devastated by the May 13 tragedy, the Tunku resigned as Prime Minister and handed the country to Tun Razak. But Tun Razak was fated to rule for just over five years. And that too was the fate of Tun Abdullah Badawi who also ruled for just over five years. But Tun Razak was overtaken by death while Tun Abdullah Badawi was overtaken by events, a political death of sorts if you like.

Tun Razak may not have made Prime Minister if not because of Tun Dr Mahathir. But Tun Razak did not choose Tun Dr Mahathir as his successor as he lay dying in the Harley Street clinic in London in 1976. He chose Tun Hussein Onn with instructions that Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was to be his Deputy.

It was Tengku Razaleigh, however, who chose to forgo his turn. Next in line would have been Tun Ghafar Baba. But Tun Ghafar did not have the right academic credentials. So Tun Ghafar was bypassed in favour of Tun Dr Mahathir. Tengku Razaleigh would come into the picture once Tun Dr Mahathir takes over as Prime Minister.

After acting as the catalyst in forcing the Tunku’s resignation just six years earlier, Tun Dr Mahathir, again, became the catalyst in forcing Tun Hussein’s resignation. Of course, by then he was already the number two. So, in the event Tun Hussein resigns or dies, he would automatically take over. And he did take over when Tun Hussein resigned in 1981. But Tengku Razaleigh was not appointed as his number two even though this was the deal agreed upon five years earlier. Tun Dr Mahathir broke away from tradition and decided to allow Umno to choose its number two.

The contest for number two was thrown open. And both Tengku Razaleigh and Musa Hitam staked their claims. Let Umno decide, said Tun Dr Mahathir. But the Grand Old Man of Malaysian politics very cleverly and deviously let it be known that he favoured Musa over Tengku Razaleigh.

And Umno is such. Whomsoever the President backs will surely win. And since the President was backing Musa Hitam, then Musa Hitam it shall be. And Musa Hitam won. Tengku Razaleigh lost. But Tun Dr Mahathir very skilfully allowed Musa to become number two not because he was the better candidate but so that he could keep Tengku Razaleigh in check. Nevertheless, Tun Dr Mahathir allowed Tengku Razaleigh to remain in the Cabinet so that he (Tengku Razaleigh) could, in turn, check Musa.

It was a superb divide and rule strategy that Tun Dr Mahathir played.

Three years later, Tengku Razaleigh, again, made a bid for the number two’s post and, again, lost. But this time it was not two contenders fighting for a vacant post like the first time around. This time it was a bid to topple someone from his post. This infuriated Musa and he wanted Tengku Razaleigh punished. He wanted Tengku Razaleigh sacked from the Cabinet.

But that would just make Musa very powerful and, therefore, a threat to Tun Dr Mahathir. Tun Dr Mahathir needed Tengku Razaleigh around so that he could continue to keep Musa in check. So, Tun Dr Mahathir did not sack Tengku Razaleigh as what Musa wanted. He just demoted Tengku Razaleigh. The Finance Minister was now the Trade Minister. This can be considered a turun pangkat of sorts. And that meant Tengku Razaleigh would still be around to ensure that Musa would not be strong enough to make a bid for the Umno Presidency and, in that same context, a bid for the Premiership of Malaysia.

Tunku Abdul Rahman, Hussein Onn, Musa Hitam, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, Ghafar Baba, Anwar Ibrahim, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and many other lesser mortals learned the hard way as to who the Boss is. And the Boss is none other than the Grand Old Man of Malaysian politics, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Would Najib Tun Razak dare forget this? He forgets this at his own peril.

Would Najib dare offer the new Umno Youth Leader, Khairy Jamaluddin, a Cabinet post? Or would the Cabinet post go to Mukhriz Mahathir instead? By convention, Khairy, the winner, should get that post instead of Mukhriz, the loser. But Tun Dr Mahathir is not one to follow convention. He is one who breaks from tradition.

Rosmah Mansor would like to believe that she is the new Boss and that she decides what the Prime Minister does. Well, Khairy Jamaluddin thought so too back in 2003. And yesterday’s Khairy Jamaluddin can easily be today’s Rosmah Mansor. Would Rosmah Mansor also like to be as history as Khairy Jamaluddin?

That is a most interesting question indeed. As the Chinese say, there can be only one tiger on the mountain. And that tiger is Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Rosmah can be the feline that she wants to be. But it would be safer for her if she chose to meow rather than roar like a good little pussy that she is. Okay, maybe not little. But fat cats too must learn how to meow like pussies and not roar like their cousins.

Anyway, we shall talk more about that later on. So stay tuned for the continuation of this story about what goes on in the corridors of power.

Tug-of-war in Umno

Tug-of-war in Umno

27 Mar 09 : 8.52PM

By Zedeck Siew
zedecksiew@thenutgraph.com

Muhyiddin Yassin (pic courtesy of theSun)

IF the Umno general assembly debates of the past two days are any indication, there is a grave disconnect between what the party leadership is publicly indicating change to be, and what the party grassroots themselves feel.

Talking to the press this afternoon, newly-minted Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin continued the talk of reform he espoused before party polls.

"We want to address all the pertinent issues post-2008 general elections to meet the demands of a multiracial society," Muhyiddin said. And, since Muhyiddin will also be deputy prime minister, his talk about Umno's need to reclaim "political and psychological ground" may be extended to encompass the entire Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition. Since the 12th general election, the BN's stranglehold on Malaysian politics has waned considerably.

Implicit in this admission of renewal is an acknowledgement of the party's need to shift towards a more centrist position in the Malaysian discourse, and ability to practice a more inclusive brand of politics. This would mean a consolidation of the BN coalition, which party leaders such as Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin now admit is in shambles.

In his opening address, Najib (left) suggested that the Umno constitution be reviewed (pic courtesy of theSun)

The new Umno leadership seems to support concrete internal reform, such as the suggestion in new president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's opening address that the Umno constitution be reviewed with regards to the quota system. The suggestion was to ensure the selection of Umno leaders will be more inclusive.

By giving votes to more Umno members, the party polls' reliance on delegates will decline. This would be a strong step to reducing the incidence of "intense lobbying", — an euphemism for money politics, as observed by the likes of United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) president Tan Sri Bernard Dompok.

Citing developments such as Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal's election as vice-president, Muhyiddin styled Umno delegates as being mature. "This is a strong representation and reflects that our delegates are adopting a Malaysian outlook instead of confining to their respective regions," he said.

Challenging Umno's political will

With a line-up that is favourable to Najib, observers think that the new Umno will be able to make some good changes. This is, of course, provided that Umno actually has the political will to do so.

However, speeches made at the Umno general assembly today demonstrate that this may be unlikely.

Debates on the motion of thanks for the presidential policy speech, motion on economy, and the motion on education and religion have been the general assembly's main agenda from last night and throughout today, 27 March 2009, in the Merdeka Hall of the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

The addresses, delivered by representatives from various states and the party wings, saw delegates urging the party for consolidation. Umno Puteri representative Mazlina Mohammad Lazim said that "If Umno doesn't help Umno itself, how can it help others?" Such a statement might appear to represent a call towards introspection.

But it was really a call for more free gifts. Mazlina said that the government must ensure Umno loyalists are given positions in government-linked companies (GLCs). The day before, Penang representative Musa Sheikh Fadzir echoed this, saying that Umno division chiefs should be appointed to GLCs.

Musa also called for the dissolution of Umno's disciplinary board, as the action taken against some leaders convicted of money politics had caused internal strife. Further, the board's investigations had brought bad press to the party. It was shameful, Musa believed, for the party to have been so shamed in public.

"We should deal with the question of money politics amongst ourselves," Musa told delegates. "No need to talk about it in the papers!"

Defending racial superiority

The speeches also resisted inclusiveness. Today, Selangor representative Datuk Ismail Tijo played up the need to defend the racial supremacy of Malay Malaysians, saying that some quarters were willing to "insult the Malays, as if we have no dignity".

"And then there is Anwar Ibrahim, [who] wants to put us on the same level as other races," Ismail said, taking a dig at opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, and the Pakatan Rakyat (PR)'s overtly multi-cultural rhetoric. "If we are not careful, this country will be the next Palestine," Ismail asserted.

"We have to go to Selangor and take back Selangor!" Ismail added, alluding to the state, which is currently under PR rule.

Surely this would be a bad move for Umno, considering the public relations disaster its take-over of the state of Perak has since become?

The speeches showed that reform for Umno, to its delegates, meant that the party had to become even less transparent and practise more patronage.

In other words, the party appears to be far from cognisant of the reasons behind past failings. It appears unwilling to transform itself, despite what Umno's new leaders seem to want to believe.

Check Khairy, mate

Check Khairy, mate

MARCH 29 - Sometimes, if not always, pawns have to be sacrificed to make way for a powerful queen in a chess game.

And in the arcane 64 squares of Umno politics, the players themselves are often unawares if they are playing black or white.

At this juncture, with a new grandmaster stepping in to play the game, more pawns might have to yield to keep old grandmasters happy — as chess is played one move at a time.

One such pawn could be the winner of the hotly-fought Umno Youth chief contest, Khairy Jamaluddin. The Rembau MP may turn into a loser as part of the play initiated by new president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak to close ranks and consolidate the party.

Khairy may end up being discarded in order to bring Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad back to Umno, the party he founded in 1988 when it replaced the original one — after it was deemed illegal at the end of a vicious chess game.

Despite the smiles and feel-good atmosphere in the Dewan Merdeka yesterday, Dr Mahathir will not accept Khairy as minister or deputy minister.

His followers have indicated and stated their views in no uncertain terms to the new party president’s camp, who are now finalising the new cabinet — chosen from the president’s men and new faces thrown into the fray by the 2,500 delegates.

The boos for Khairy have also underlined the outgoing prime minister’s son-in-law’s Pyrhhic victory against Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo.

This has always been the fear of Najib’s camp, to balance the wants of Dr Mahathir and not give the impression that he is running the government.

In the aftermath of the party polls for all wings four days ago, Najib’s aides have made hints that Wanita Umno and Puteri Umno winners might not get cabinet positions.

This is ostensibly a move to rebuild the party, widen support and regain the people’s confidence.

It is easier as Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil lost in Election 2008 and the Puteri Umno leader is not seen as a party heavyweight.

In reality, it might be an elaborate effort to exhibit that Khairy is not being victimised or shunned in the party — when is omitted from the cabinet line-up.

Check Khairy, mate, would be the gambit of the day if the new grandmaster wants the queen to remain powerful.

The ball is now at Khairy’s feet

The ball is now at Khairy’s feet
28 Mar, 2009

No, Khairy did not win because he bribed the delegates. He won because the Mahathir-Najib forces fielded two candidates and this resulted in split votes.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

First, let us see what the delegates to the recent Umno General Assembly want.

Musa Sheikh Fadzir, Bukit Mertajam, Penang

“People always say don’t play money politics. But this is a political organisation. If we don’t have money, how are we supposed to come to this AGM in Kuala Lumpur? Those days, an application for a taxi permit would require the endorsement of an Umno branch or division chief. If the branches and divisions are strong, then Umno will be strong again.”

Hasnoor Sidang Hussin, Bukit Katil, Malacca

“High-ranking appointments in government-linked companies and higher learning institutions should be reserved for Umno members. So, just like the president said about returning Umno to its roots, let’s bring Umno back to its glory days where we controlled everything.”

He also urged the government to ensure that only Umno loyalists be appointed to senior positions in public universities. “Please make sure the faculty members are all Umno men, and the same goes for other civil servants.”

Johor Umno Wanita chief Halimah Sadique

“They have questioned the social contract, Malay rights and Malay rulers’ privileges, and the lies do not stop there.”

Kelantan delegate Mohd Affendi Yusof

“Umno has been very lenient and patient towards Pakatan’s antics. In Islam, there is no forgiveness for those who commit treason against the sultan. The sultan is considered as God’s representative on earth.”

“Now is not the time for Umno to be soft and patient. It is time the party uses force to crush Pakatan Rakyat. We cannot be soft anymore. We must use force. And we will use it immediately after the annual general assembly ends.”

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The recently concluded Umno General Assembly was an event full of contradictions. The rhetoric that emitted from the PWTC did not give any indication that Umno was standing on a platform of change. The message that was sent to Malaysians was that Umno is going to come down harder on its critics and the days ahead will see an Umno that is going to rule this country with an iron first.

Sure, Umno will change. But it will be for the worse, not for the better. Umno is like a trapped animal and trapped animals are known to hit back ruthlessly out of sheer desperation. And Umno is one desperate animal.

Khairy Jamaluddin was booed, yet again, three days in a row. Even Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit out at him and initially refused to attend the assembly because he does not want to give his blessings to a corrupt Umno by gracing its general assembly. Eventually, however, they managed to persuade him to attend. Umno just could not afford Tun Dr Mahathir boycotting the general assembly with three by-elections around the corner.

Khairy cheated, they screamed. He played money politics, they allege. In short, what they are saying is Khairy bought the votes by paying off the more than 700 Umno Youth delegates. According to the allegation, Khairy paid RM5,000 per vote plus a cell phone to buy his win. Basically, what they are saying is Khairy paid more than what his rivals paid, which was merely RM2,000 per vote.

I don’t know whether Khairy did pay RM5,000 per vote or not. That, to me, is not the issue because the truth of the matter is everyone paid, even Hishammuddin Hussein who paid RM2,000 per vote to the 2,500 or so delegates to win his Vice Presidency. If not for the RM2,000 per vote do you think that wimp would have won? No one is exempted from the crime of vote buying, except maybe Shahrir Samad. And that is why he is resigning, because he is clean.

Anyway, as I said, Khairy did not win because of the money -- even if the allegation that he paid RM5,000 per vote is true. He won because it was a three-corner fight. Khir Toyo is Najib’s boy. Can you remember ‘MB X’ that was revealed in the last episode of The Khairy Chronicles back in 2005-2006? If not then go read it again.

Many, at that time, pleaded with me to reveal who that ‘MB X’ who went to Najib’s house late one night to discuss contesting the Umno Youth post so that Khairy can be blocked from becoming the new Umno Youth Leader is. Being the cock-teaser that I am, I just smiled and told them to be patient and wait, and when Khairy wins the Umno Youth leader post I will reveal his name. I had expected the Umno general assembly to be held in 2007. I did not think they would drag it to 2009 like they did.

Anyway, ‘MB X’ is Khir Toyo and he was Najib’s nominee to contest the Umno Youth leader’s post so that Khairy can be denied that post. But something happened that was not part of the plan. And that something is they did not expect Mukhriz Mahathir to also contest the post.

Khir wanted Mukhriz to withdraw. Mukhriz, however, wanted Khir to withdraw instead. Both refused to give in so it became a three-corner fight. If it had been a straight fight then Khairy would have lost.

All Khairy needed was 40% of the votes. And he got slightly more than 40%. And since Khir and Mukhriz were both fishing in the same pond, the Mahathir-Najib pond, then their votes would be split almost equally and Khairy would win.

I am very surprised Tun Dr Mahathir and Najib could not see this. I am even more surprised that both Tun Dr Mahathir and Najib had no control over Khir and Mukhriz and were not able to tell one of them to withdraw so that it could be a straight fight -- whereby Khairy would be assured of losing.

No, Khairy did not win because he bribed the delegates. He won because the Mahathir-Najib forces fielded two candidates and this resulted in split votes. Khairy did not really win. The Mahathir-Najib forces lost because they applied the wrong strategy and shot themselves in the foot by fishing in the same pond, thereby splitting their votes and allowing Khairy, who had only 40% of the votes, to walk in.

Nevertheless, Khairy is now the Umno Youth Leader. In the past, Umno Youth was a party within a party. However, over time, Umno Youth became the wimp rather than wing of Umno. Will Khairy restore Umno Youth to what it once was before the time of Suhaimi Kamaruddin? That was in the days when Umno shuddered every time Umno Youth opened its mouth. It was a time when the tail wagged the dog.

Khairy has two choices. He can do what the delegates want -- make Umno Youth more radical, racist, intolerant of free speech, criticism and dissent, and whatnot. Or he can push for reforms and restore Umno’s lost fortunes. Will Khairy push for draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act, Sedition Act, University and University Colleges Act, Societies Act, Publication and Printing Presses Act, Official Secrets Act, and whatnot, to be repealed and replaced with the Bill of Rights, Freedom of Information Act, Anti-Discrimination Act, Race relations Act, etc.?

Time, of course, will tell. Khairy can either play to the gallery or, seriously and sincerely, push for reforms. The rhetoric during the recent Umno General Assembly is unsettling. Instead of moving forward, the Umno delegates want to turn the clock back and take us back to 1520 rather than move forward to 2020.

In the minds of the Umno delegates, Malaysia is a Malay country and the non-Malays are treasonous for questioning this. Questioning Islam, the Rulers, Malay rights and privileges, and so on, is an act of war that must be met with force. The Social Contact is supreme and all other considerations take back stage. The Rulers are appointed by God and questioning the Rulers is an act of treason and tantamount to questioning God Himself. And so on and so forth.

What fucking crap! How can we even stand by and do nothing and allow this to perpetuate? The ball is now at Khairy’s feet. I have said in an earlier article last month that I will support Khairy if he wins the Umno Youth leadership and pushes for change. If not then I will make it my life’s work to bring him down.

I shall start by requesting for a meeting between Khairy and the Bloggers. He can choose to say yes or he can choose to say no. The choice is his. I just want to see change and I don’t care a damn who I work with to bring about these changes as long as we see these changes. I will even work with Tun Dr Mahathir if need be to force changes, which I have done so since 2006.

I don’t like what I heard at the recent Umno General Assembly. The country is going to go backwards if Umno does what the delegates want it to do. The ball is now at Khairy’s feet. Will he propose reforms or will he follow the current just to protect his position?

Khairy wants to be Prime Minister by the age of 40. That is not too long away. I have no problems with that. I just want to know what kind of Prime Minister he is going to be. And what kind of Prime Minister he is going to be will all depend on what kind of Youth Leader he is going to be. So let’s hear what Khairy has to say about which direction he is going to take Umno Youth.

In the meantime, while we await Khairy’s response, read the following piece by The Economist which sums up in a nutshell my concerns about the future.

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

Ruling party chooses a new leader, but not a new direction - by The Economist

Party conferences are seldom thrilling but this week’s gathering of over 2,500 ruling-party faithful in Kuala Lumpur has the eyes of the nation upon it. For, as Umno goes, so goes the country.

Since Malaysia’s independence from Britain in 1957, Umno’s chosen leader has always become the country’s leader. This year the torch is passing from Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the prime minister, to Datuk Seri Najib Razak, his deputy, who is standing uncontested as Umno leader and due to be sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth prime minister next week.

But his ascension to the top has its difficulties. A resurgent opposition is riding a wave of discontent as the country slides into recession. Some types of old-fashioned repression, like the decision to suspend two opposition newspapers, no longer work in a digital age. The party is widely seen as corrupt and self-serving. Its record on economic growth and maintaining order still attracts support from older Malaysians but counts for much less with younger voters. Everyone in Umno agrees that trouble lies ahead. Can it be averted?

Najib talks of “massive changes”. But Malaysians have heard it all before, most recently in March 2008, after Umno’s dreadful showing in a parliamentary election. The spasm of introspection soon turned into a blame game and Abdullah was forced to say he would resign. The ensuing scramble for positions in Umno has done little to change a widespread view that the party has been in power too long. The only person willing to stand against Najib, the consummate insider, was Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, a veteran outsider. Such a contest might have produced a debate about the party’s direction. Instead, Tengku Razaleigh’s candidacy was quashed by party chiefs.

The underlying problem — for Umno and Malaysia — is, to use the favoured euphemism, “money politics”, meaning backhanders paid for public-sector contracts or, where Umno is concerned, seats at the high table. On March 17 the party’s disciplinary board said it had found 15 members guilty of money politics. They included Datuk Ali Rustam, chief minister of Malacca, who was campaigning to become deputy party leader. He was duly disqualified. Ali did not, however, step down as chief minister, nor is he facing criminal charges. Such episodes make talk of reform ring hollow. For all his fumbling, Abdullah seemed to recognise this. It is unclear whether anyone in the new ruling circle does.

Win by Abdullah's son-in-law shows shift in balance of power from Mahathir's family

Win by Abdullah's son-in-law shows shift in balance of power from Mahathir's family

Written by Baradan Kuppusamy of South China Morning Post

Friday, 27 March 2009 11:04

He was once the most disparaged young man in Malaysia. But today, 33-year-old Khairy Jamaluddin, son-in-law of outgoing Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, is being touted as a future leader after his stunning victory in the race to take the reins of the Umno party's powerful youth wing on Wednesday.

Mr Khairy defeated both Mukhriz Mahathir - the son of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad - and a third contender, powerful former chief minister Mohamad Khir Toyo. The race between Mr Khairy and Mr Mukhriz had been closely watched as an indicator of the shifting power balance between the two feuding families.

Mr Khairy's victory has elevated him to national attention, and he is expected to be made a cabinet minister next month.

"He is the new rising star to watch in Malaysian politics," said Denison Jayasooria, a political scientist with the National University of Malaysia. "He is clearly prime minister material and could be one 20 years down the line."

The victory is all the more sweet for Mr Khairy and his father-in-law because of the strong public backing that Mr Mukhriz had enjoyed from his father.

"The delegates have given me a new lease of life," Mr Khairy said yesterday. "Emotions were running high during the campaign, [but] now that the election is over, my priority is to heal the wounds."

The son of a Malaysian diplomat who lived and studied in the Middle East and Europe, Mr Khairy graduated from Oxford University and returned to Malaysia in 1999 to enter politics as a member of the Umno youth wing. In 2001, his ambitions received a big boost when he married Mr Abdullah's only daughter, Nori. They now have two sons.

Mr Abdullah took Mr Khairy under his wing, appointing him to various posts before engineering his elevation to the position of deputy Umno youth leader in 2005. Since then, Mr Khairy has come under near-constant attack, described by Dr Mahathir and others as the Machiavellian power behind the Abdullah throne.

"He was young, tall, blue blooded, dashing and articulate - and also took to power easily, like a birthright," said Hassan Ibrahim, a veteran Umno member. "Naturally he generated envy and hatred."

Last year's elections — in which the Umno-led National Front coalition lost its two-thirds majority in the national parliament and lost power in five states — were a low point for both Mr Khairy and Mr Abdullah.

"Khairy was blamed by anti-Abdullah factions in Umno for making all the wrong decisions that led to the disaster at the polls," said Ramon Navaratnam, director of the Centre of Public Policy Studies, an independent think-tank. "The knives were out... especially for Khairy."

By December, Mr Abdullah had announced his retirement — leaving Mr Khairy isolated. "His friends urged Khairy to step back, take a break and let the storm blow over, but instead Khairy took the bull by the horns," Dr Navaratnam said.

He re-engineered himself as a champion of Malay rights and a defender of Umno, and took the lead in various political battles, finally earning kudos from some Umno members. That, coupled with the tacit support of deputy prime minister Najib Razak, paid off on Wednesday. The very delegates who had once jeered him now see him as a future leader.

"He is definitely a man to watch under any circumstances," Dr Denison said. "The challenge now is how he manages his victory, whether he can consolidate and lay down firm roots in Umno and the country." — South China Morning Post

Mob protests Khairy's win

Mob protests Khairy's win

27 Mar 09 : 8.41PM

By Deborah Loh
deborahloh@thenutgraph.com

IT was a significant victory for 33-year-old Khairy Jamaluddin on the night of 25 March 2009 when he won the Umno Youth race to become its new chief.

Significant because Khairy beat favourite Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir by 72 votes and former Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo by 50 votes. This was despite what seemed like a waning political future for him following Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's loss of support as both prime minister and party president.

But significant also because Khairy, who is Abdullah's son-in-law, had just been slapped with a warning by the party's disciplinary board for money politics.

Despite his victory, it would seem that hordes of Umno members, at least outside the Putra World Trade Centre where the party general assembly was held, were unhappy and unconvinced.

A mob of Umno members yelled, "Khairy! Rasuah!" and "Penipu!" outside the hall where Khairy gave his acceptance speech. The crowd was so angry it pushed against the human barricade of security personnel that was blocking them from entering the hall.

Despite the intensity of the protests, Khairy has since dismissed the accusations of money politics in his campaign as "all part of politics". Still, dissatisfaction at his victory remains thick, and it is left to be seen if Khairy — his political career now revived — will survive his own party.

Read article here

Anwar, Razaleigh union could wreck BN

Anwar, Razaleigh union could wreck BN
27 Mar, 2009

Khairy is said to be anti-Malay culture and is not seen as a leader who will inspire Malays to become nationalists Malays. In the opposition grouping, Khairy is seen as a hurdle to their own Malaysian Nationalistic agenda. That makes Khairy the person to watch and the young leader that may become the deciding factor in the future of the Umno.

Ali Cordoba http://wfol.tv/index.php

Malaysia is in a state of transition with a new Prime Minister taking over the helm from the outgoing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. The writing on the wall however indicates it will be the toughest transitory period in Malaysia and a familiar name emerges with unprecedented hopes for Malaysia: Tengku Razaleigh Hamza.

It is clear that a union of Anwar Ibrahim with the hostorical baggage that Tungku Razaleigh Hamza, a member of the United Malays National Organization (Umno) carries, could make a difference but the ball is in the camp of the opposition. The opposition union Pakatan Rakyat (PR) must plan a winning strategy that could possibly include the leadership of Tungku Razaleigh in a bid to draw more support among the public.

It is almost certain that a survey on who has more popular support in Malaysia to become Prime Minister will end up with Anwar Ibrahim the winner but rest assured that Tengku Razaleigh still hold sway in local politics. It will not be surprising, as it is showed on this website’s polls on who would be PM of Malaysia, that Tengku Razaleigh comes second with some 26% of votes cast. A realistic poll carried out among the public would surely deliver a similar result, with the BN leaders, including Tun Mahathir far behind.

Najib Tun Razak, despite his superb victory in the Umno General Assembly, does not carry the same weight in the public and the Umno intelligentsia is aware of this element. The Umno is banking on the return of Tun Mahathir as shadow power player within the Umno itself and the BN at large in order to portray Najib Razak as the Malay unifying factor. This may work for sometime for the Umno but the country will find it tough to move on forward from the transition due to the overriding feeling in the public that the Umno is not in the capacity to run the affairs of Malaysia anymore.

With Khairy Jamaluddin as the Umno Youth Chief, the Tun M clicque will have a hard time pushing the Umno into the Malay nationalist arena and any difficulties for the Umno. Khairy is said to be anti-Malay culture and is not seen as a leader who will inspire Malays to become nationalists Malays. In the opposition grouping, Khairy is seen as a hurdle to their own Malaysian Nationalistic agenda. That makes Khairy the person to watch and the young leader that may become the deciding factor in the future of the Umno.

With such a scenario, the division in the Umno today means an easier path for the PR. The PR must set its agenda with a high note. That will be to take good advantage of the slow but inevitable disintegration of several Umno components. The groups that does not want Malay nationalism to win in the Umno and to influence the decision making process of the country will try to disturb the peace within the party. This will bring trouble to the leadership. The groups that are not benefiting from the Malay Bumiputera economic policies, and they are many, will put more pressure on Najib Razak to either review the policies or abandon them completely. The pressure will also be on Tengku Razaleigh Hamza to make a clearer stand within the party. If the stalwart politician remains silent and allows the Umno to go back into the path of repressive methods and the clamp down on freedoms in the media and in the streets, he will become a lost cause.

At his juncture in the political history of Malaysia, it is once again Tengku Razaleigh Hamza who appears to be the person who can change the course of this nation’s future. In the 1990’s he played a major role in the nation’s history when he re-joined the Umno and that helped the Tun Mahathir group in battling Anwar Ibrahim, trouncing him out of the Umno and of the government. The result was the ‘reformasi’ and today it is has evolved into the PR. To progress further, the PR must evolve again and this time with the support of Tengku Razaleigh Hamza.

The PR must show to the elderly Malay leader that his role is salient in bringing down the Barisan National in the next General Elections. Though the elections are far away, it will be of great importance to the Opposition to gain the support of royal politician. The PR has to plan on how to bring Tengku Razaleigh out of the Barisan National (BN), that is out of the Umno. This will be a tremendous task as the Tengku is still in the belief that the Umno will change and that things will be better in Malaysia. The PR must draft a sound political proposal that will be exposed to the Tengku, a plan that will show the dire need for the Tengku to be on the side of the majority of the Malaysian public and to support the opposition agenda.

The situation in theUmno is still not clear after the electioneering process in the party. There are a lot of hard feelings and this will be translated into more divisions within a party that has ruled the country since the independence. The division in the Umno will fissure the BN further and will also put intense pressure on the Malaysian cabinet which will be formed by Najib Razak. These will be fodder on which the opposition must pile in order to bring Tengku Razaleigh to understand the historical role that he can play in the national interest.

A union between Anwar Ibrahim and Tengku Razaleigh will solidify the PKR and the PR altogether. It is imperative for the PKR to open its doors to leaders like Tengku Razaleigh altogether. With his presence among the opposition, the balance of power in the country will tilt and it will do so largely in the favor of the PR.

As for the BN and the Umno, it is massive change in their policies that will help them counter the possibility of a change of regime in Malaysia. By and large, it appears that the BN is not able to press for change, bogged down by theUmno which is consistent in its belief that with 50% Malay support, it will keep running the affairs of the country and will win in any GE. The party has reached the point where only a total defeat in a GE will make it realise it was on the wrong path. With the GE set for another 4 years, the Umno will find it difficult to change to adapt to the needs of change in Malaysia. This is where the PR will find it easier still to press on the fissures within the BN and the Umno.

Khairy as future leader?

Khairy as future leader?

Fri, Mar 27, 2009 my paper

Analysis by Woon Wui Tek

AS SON-IN-LAW and confidant of a supposedly-unpopular premier, Khairy Jamaluddin was thought by some to have no hope of taking the Youth chief post in Malaysia's Umno polls.

He stunned observers with a hugely symbolic victory on Wednesday night, seeing off strong challenges from a son of former premier Mahathir Mohamad and a former Selangor menteri besar.

The youngest Youth chief, at 33, now holds a post traditionally a springboard to great things.

The incoming Umno president and premier, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, is said to have preferred Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir - even using a phrase, "dare to change", in his speech that was also Mr Mukhriz's campaign slogan. Mr Khairy was also singled out for a warning letter over money politics.

Still, it is hard to see Mr Najib refusing to name him as a Cabinet minister, as is traditionally done. How powerful the post is is a different matter.

As Mr Khairy goes about ascending the power ladder on his own steam, he must ensure the Youth wing does not fracture.

Though he had the advantages of incumbency as deputy Youth chief, he won only a plurality of votes after a fierce tussle.

His No. 2, Datuk Razali Ibrahim, is not linked to any faction and handily beat a candidate who was, like Mr Khairy, one of the "fourth-floor boys" who advised retiring premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi - and became a lightning rod for hatred.

"Khairy's win was an upset, and there's a big question mark over whether he can hold the youth movement together," political analyst Khoo Kay Peng was quoted as saying.

But the Oxford graduate - despite recent moves to play to the conservative Malay base - is believed by many to be a moderate at heart. If he can tack to the centre without losing his base, he may just be what's needed as Umno strives to regain the support of non-Malays who deserted the once-invincible coalition it leads.

Mr Khairy is also sensitive to today's Internet-savvy electorate.

He gave extensive interviews to often-critical online media during the campaign and spoke out against a decision to ban the online media from Umno proceedings.

It has long been said that he sees himself as a future prime minister. His father-in-law can no longer protect him. But, if he can make himself the indispensable leader - bridging races, generations and even Umno factions (yes, that's a lot of "ifs") - the sky could well be the limit.

After all, Mr Najib was also Youth chief once.

Abdullah pans Umno

Abdullah pans Umno
26 Mar, 2009

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia's outgoing premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Thursday issued a damning indictment of the ruling party, saying it was contaminated by greed, complacency and internal rivalries.

In his last speech to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) before handing over as party leader to his deputy Najib Razak, Abdullah lamented the decay that has set in after a half-century in power.

"We were intoxicated by our own achievements and we became complacent. We believed that we had become all-powerful. We have put our own positions within the party first," he told delegates at its annual meeting.

Abdullah said that elections a year ago, which handed the opposition control of a third of parliamentary seats in an unprecedented result that effectively ended his career, were a sign that "UMNO's glory has dimmed".

"Materialism has seeped into the party, making a number of party members greedy and avaricious," he said.

"The path that we choose will determine whether we continue to remain relevant or whether we are reduced to a forgotten footnote in the pages of history."

The 66-year-old drifted through a lacklustre term in power after taking over from veteran premier Mahathir Mohamad, who led Malaysia for more than two decades and publicly undermined his successor after the 2003 handover.

Abdullah was punished at the ballot box for failing to implement reforms he had promised, including overhauling the police force and tackling corruption which is endemic in UMNO and Malaysian society.

However, he won some measure of praise for giving more space to free expression after the repressive Mahathir years, and on Thursday he warned the party not to resort to a hardline approach.

"If we revert to the old path I believe we are choosing the wrong path, one that will take us to regression and decay. It is a path that I fear will hasten our demise," he said.

Najib has promised a radical overhaul of UMNO, but commentators say his political baggage - including low popularity ratings and unsubstantiated allegations of corruption and links to a sensational murder - will weaken his position.

Najib has appealed to party members, who are voting this week to fill a range of key posts, to install a strong new leadership team to help him effect the turnaround.

There was an upset late Wednesday when Abdullah's son-in-law, 33-year-old Khairy Jamaluddin, seized the position of chief of UMNO's youth wing - a nurturing ground for future leaders.

Pundits had expected him to lose, saying he was seen as having too much influence over Abdullah and partly to blame for the disastrous polls, and his prospects were further damaged when he was rapped over vote-buying.

But in a shock result he won by a narrow margin, edging out other candidates including Mahathir's son, 44-year-old businessman Mukhriz Mahathir.

In another high-profile contest, former cabinet minister and political veteran Rafidah Aziz was knocked out as leader of UMNO's women's wing, in favour of her deputy Shahrizat Jalil.

Shahrizat is also seen as close to Abdullah, potentially creating problems for Najib who inherits a party leadership packed with allies of his predecessor who is being forced out reluctantly.

"Khairy's win was an upset," said political analyst Khoo Kay Peng.

"It has disrupted the power balance within Najib's team. He definitely wanted people from his own faction."

Najib, the son of a former prime minister and the nephew of another, was Thursday formally declared president of UMNO in a handover that by party tradition was uncontested.

No date has been set for the formal transition of power, but the king is expected to swear Najib in as the nation's next leader on April 3.

Malaysian political dynasties battle for key post

Malaysian political dynasties battle for key post
Mar 25, 2009
AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - The scions of Malaysia's top two political families faced off Wednesday as the party which has ruled the nation for more than 50 years reshuffles its leadership after a disaster at the polls.

The son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is vying with the son of his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad, as well as a third candidate, to become youth leader of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO).

The heated contest spilled over into a show of force Wednesday at the party's annual meeting before delegates cast their votes, with hundreds of supporters of the rival candidates staging an impromptu rally.

Mostly supporters of Abdullah's son Khairy Jamaluddin, and the third candidate Khir Toyo, they brought proceedings at the party's annual congress to a standstill as they squared off to chant and sing songs at each other.

Political commentators say that Khairy has likely lost his lead in the race after his representatives were rapped for vote-buying, and that either Khir Toyo or Mahathir's son Mukhriz are likely to be victorious.

UMNO's youth wing is a nurturing ground for future leaders, and the results due to be announced late Wednesday will be seen as determining which of the clans will control Malaysia's future.

The two patriarchs have had a very public falling-out since the 2003 leadership handover, and Mahathir's constant sniping after disastrous elections a year ago helped force Abdullah to agree to quit.

On Thursday he is to stand down as party president in favour of his deputy Najib Razak, who will be formally sworn into power in coming days.

Also up for grabs at the conference, which concludes Saturday, are the posts of head of the party's women's wing, three vice-presidencies and 25 seats on UMNO's policy-making supreme council.

The UMNO-led coalition, which has run Malaysia since independence in 1957, suffered its worst-ever setback in elections one year ago, when the opposition gained control of one-third of the seats in parliament.

Abdullah had been criticised as weak and ineffective, but many Malaysians believe a major factor in his downfall was the role of his 33-year-old son-in-law.

The Oxford-educated Khairy was an aide to Abdullah before marrying the boss's daughter in 2001, sending him on a meteoric rise that landed him the deputy youth chief position in 2004.

Eloquent and expensively dressed, Khairy's big ambitions and alleged influence with his father-in-law have seen him vilified on political websites.

Mahathir has accused Abdullah of pandering to the demands of Khairy, whom he said was influencing government policy, contracts and appointments - charges he denies.

'I've gotten used to it. As far as I'm concerned, nobody has substantiated any of this innuendo with any facts or evidence,' Khairy told AFP in an interview last year.

Mukhriz Mahathir, a 44-year-old businessman, wants to be seen as his own man but remains under the colossal shadow of his father, whose controversial two-decade rule brought prosperity to Malaysia.

He said Wednesday he was 'cautiously optimistic' of a victory.

'My chances are good. Since it is a three-cornered fight, I can win by a slim majority,' Mukhriz said.

Although Najib has declined to throw his support behind any candidate, some delegates said he was believed to favour Mukhriz.

'It is apparent that the deputy president is supportive of Mukhriz and to many this appears like a blessing for the job,' said one delegate, Rashiddin Haji Ahmad.

Remember Khairy Chronicle? Will Omar Ong Dare To Publicly Disavow Khairy?

Remember Khairy Chronicle? Will Omar Ong Dare To Publicly Disavow Khairy?
7 Oct, 2008

If my posting entitled If Pak Lah is Leaving, Why is a ‘Level Four Boys’ Still in Command? on October 3rd reached the occupants of Ethos Consulting, there must be commotion there.

The boss is being considered as Principal Private Secretary for DPM's office and given time, sooner or later, may mean Principal Private Secretary for the PM. Ethos will effectively be the new Tingkat Empat boys and girls. The gang remain to rule.

You can bet last month's paycheck that the whole office is scrambling to deny, justify and spin message of my post. Don't be surprise if Omar Ong and his Ethos staff are the commentators in these blogs; here, here, maybe here and other UMNO bloggers in this aggregator here.

In the meanwhile, with the Raya open houses, they would probably be busy miggling and interjecting conversations to explain to friends and sedara that Abdullah did not heed or son and son-in-law changed one's proposal, advise and recomendation. And, they are not part or linked to Tingkat 4. Fine, but how do they expect people to believe such claims?

It takes more than that. The image and impression was built over so many years. And here is one tricky bit. The Khairy Chronicle, believed by many meant to make Khairy bigger than life, is filled with intricate details of the links between Omar Ong and Khairy.

Remember Khairy Chronicle? The book, which the claimed author is in trial in a PJ court for sedition charges and the real author is believed dead, based on a column in Malaysia Today. The column hit MT in mid 2005 and was made into a book. It have been in circulation for quite a few years.

Throughout the period, Omar Ong never denied his involvement in Khairy's schemes. Much of the details tally with events and talk along the Corridors of Power.

The ship of Abdullah, Kamaluddin and Khairy hit an iceberg and is waiting time to sink. How about publicly disavowing Khairy and reveal some sexy details now, Omar Ong? You will do a great favour to the nation to help Mukhriz, deny Khairy the coveted Youth Chief post and send him packing to Perth.

READ MORE HERE: http://anotherbrickinwall.blogspot.com/

Khairy makes a tilt for Umno Youth chief

Khairy makes a tilt for Umno Youth chief

REMBAU, Sept 17 - Khairy Jamaluddin today announced that he will contest the Umno Youth chief's position, ending months of speculation and setting the stage for one of the most ferocious battles in party elections in December. His decision to contest will surprise many, including those in the ruling party. In the aftermath of Election 2008, it appeared that the No. 2 in the Youth wing ~ who was among those blamed for Barisan Nasional's lack of popularity with voters - would give the top job the miss.

He was advised to keep a low profile, concentrate on his work as the MP for Rembau and rebuild his image among Malaysians. But in recent months, there has been growing support among Umno Youth executive committee members and heads of the state youth wings for his candidacy. He will join Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir and Datuk Seri Khir Toyo as candidates for the top position in Umno Youth, usually a stepping stone for greater things in the party. At this point, there is no clear favourite for the top position and the final outcome of nominations could depend on who the current leader Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein supports. The talk in Umno Youth circles is that the Education Minister is not a fan of the former Selangor Menteri Besar, whom he blames for a host of problems including the demolition of temples which led to the rise of the Hindu Rights Action Force. So, in all likelihood, it will be a straight fight between Khairy and Mukhriz, a mouth-watering prospect given the antipathy between the two of them and their mentors, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Anwar returns - as the alternative

Anwar returns - as the alternative

Thu, Aug 28, 2008 The Star

DATUK Seri Anwar Ibrahim returns to Parliament today still flushed from his victory in Permatang Pauh

For a start, he had better be prepared to be lionised by the media. He is quite used to that by now, but it is going to happen on an even more frenetic scale now that he has returned as Permatang Pauh MP.

He will also be the centre of attention inside the House.

Across the plush carpeted floor that separates the two coalitions will be familiar faces, many of whom Anwar said once used to rush to shake and even kiss his hand but who now run away when they see him.

There is no running away for them now. They will have to take him on.

Moreover, he told a ceramah crowd during the campaign in Permatang Pauh that when he enters Parliament on Aug 28, he intends to gaze directly and deeply into the Prime Minister's eyes. All eyes will be on him when he actually does that.

"It's going to be rather awkward for those on the Barisan Nasional bench. His presence will change the atmosphere in Parliament, things are going to be quite different," said Batu MP Tian Chua.

Then of course there is the fact that there will be two Prime Ministers-in-waiting inside the House. Anwar and Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's path crossed only once over 11 days in Permatang Pauh and that was on nomination day. But now they will be sitting just several metres across from each other.

It should also be awkward for Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin who had declared in grand Shakespearian style that Umno had gone to Permatang Pauh to bury Anwar in the by-election.

Instead Anwar has arrived in Parliament as the new Opposition leader.

But Anwar is probably planning behave to himself. There are unlikely to be any unseemly pot shots taken at the other side, at least for the time being.

Anwar, for those who have yet to notice, has begun adopting a statesman-like demeanour.

He has discarded his fiery oratory for a more sober and mature speaking style and demeanour. He is still as witty as ever but he has scaled back on the jokes and his penchant for breaking into P. Ramlee and Elvis songs on stage.

Every single image of him on the thousands of posters, banner and billboards in Permatang Pauh portrayed him looking like a man on the way to Putrajaya. It has really sunk in for his supporters who celebrated his win on Tuesday night with chants of, "Anwar PM" and "Putrajaya."

Wherever he went in Permatang Pauh, he was accompanied by four burly, crew-cut bodyguards in dark bush-suits and wearing conspicuous ear-pieces. The chief bodyguard wore a jacket that had "A Team" printed on it. The whole rigmarole was more amusing than impressive.

Many also noted that he looked serious, even grim, when he arrived at the Tuanku Bainun Institute to wait for the official election results. It did not help that he was wearing a baggy and rather colourful batik shirt.

Apparently, his advisers had told him to be magnanimous and to refrain from any outlandish triumphal gestures.

But form and style aside, Anwar is joining Parliament with quite impressive credentials.

The former Deputy Prime Minister won the by-election with a huge majority and against the mighty Barisan.

He retained a grip on the Chinese and Indian vote with the help of the DAP and made significant inroads into Malay ground with the help of PAS.

"But at the end of the day, it was very much about Anwar's presence. He has their support," said Malik Kassim, the PKR assemblyman for Batu Maung.

Perhaps the most worrying thing for Umno was how poorly the party fared among young voters. Voting stream data showed a PKR sweep of votes among those in their 20s and 30s. Umno did well mainly among the older generation.

In that sense, Anwar can lay claim to the generational shift that is taking place among the Malays.

"Logically speaking, I don't buy the Sept 16 claim (to form the federal government). But if Barisan continues to lose ground like this, then more people are going to believe it," said DAP strategist and Bukit Bendera MP Liew Chin Tong.

But, said Penang state exco member Phee Boon Poh, the most important message that Permatang Pauh voters sent out is that they see Anwar as an alternative.

Khairy: 'Anwar will sell the country'

2008/08/23

Khairy: 'Anwar will sell the country'

Khairy Jamaluddin

BUTTERWORTH: Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin said the very first thing Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would do if he was able to form the government on Sept 16 would be to finalise deals with his foreign financiers on what benefits they would enjoy.

He said Anwar would also immediately sign a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

"He would also agree with US intentions to set up a naval base in Sabah. I obtained all this information from very reliable sources," said Khairy at a ceramah at the Barisan Nasional Youth operation centre near here.

"We would like to know how Anwar is obtaining huge funds for his by-election campaign. Just look at the posters. I'm sure it would have cost him millions. We do not want him to sell off the country.

"If PKR is in power for the next five years, I'm sure they can sell the country. Anwar is a hypocrite of the highest order."
Khairy also lambasted Parti Keadilan Rakyat for the way its members and supporters behaved on nomination day for the by-election.

"PKR claimed that Umno practises the samseng culture. However, they are the ones who resort to such methods as could be clearly seen on nomination day and in Anwar's campaigns."

Khairy said although he did not want to resort to personal attacks, he had to bring up certain issues regarding Anwar as it involved his credibility as a leader.

"We are talking about the future of the country and we want a leader who is credible and responsible to the people."

He said Anwar claimed corruption was practised by the BN leaders but it was during his time as finance minister that many of hiscronies had benefited.

Khairy said the BN government was committed to fighting corruption and this was obvious when, three years ago, Perak executive council member Datuk Azman Mahalan was charged with corruption although he was a good friend of the prime minister.

He also claimed he had been informed that Pas no longer trusted Anwar and did not want him as the prime minister.

"Pas is not here to campaign for Anwar. They have rejected him. It is just that they are reluctant to inform him of their decision."

Khairy said he was willing to resign as Umno Youth deputy head on Sept 16 if Anwar fulfils his promise of being able to form the new government.

"However, if he fails to do so, he must then be willing to resign as PKR de facto leader," he added.

KHAIRY CHALLENGES ANWAR TO EMULATE NAJIB IN SWEARING THE ISLAMIC WAY

Bernama - Saturday, August 23

BUKIT MERTAJAM, Aug 22 (Bernama) -- Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin today challenged Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to swear the Islamic way to clear his name on a sodomy charge, in the manner that Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak had done over allegations that he (Najib) had links with murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu.

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He said the move by the deputy prime minister to swear at the Guar Perahu Jamek Mosque to deny he had known or was linked to Mongolian woman was made after repeated personal attacks by Anwar.

Khairy was speaking to reporters after attending a ceramah organised by Umno Youth at Permatang Pasir.

Earlier tonight, Najib had sworn at the mosque that he had neither known nor had any connection with Altantuya who was found murdered in 2006 in Puncak Alam, Selangor.

Khairy also challenged Anwar to resign as PKR adviser if he failed to become prime minister by Sept 16, saying he (Khairy) would quit as Umno Youth deputy chief if Anwar succeeded in forming the next government by then.

Also present at the ceramah were Anwar's former allies Ezam Mohd Noor and Datuk S. Nallakaruppan.

Earlier, while Khairy was giving a speech, Anwar's entourage coincidentally passed by and slowed down to hear what he and other Barisan Nasional leaders were saying, which led to a minor commotion.

-- BERNAMA

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Raja Petra Kamarudin

21 July, 2008
Raja Petra bin Raja Kamarudin is a controversial Malaysian editor. Born in 1950, on September 27, the editor of the famous Malaysia-Today website is a very much personal blog that publishes a trail of commentary references. Widely known in his initials as RPK or to some quarters Peter, Raja Petra’s articles predominantly encircle around the areas of the Malaysian politics. Raja Petra received his early education at the Alice Smith School and was born in England. He then went on to the Kuala Kangsar Malay college before finishing high school at Victoria Institution (VI). Raja Petra, as his name states, is a member of the royal family of the Selangor state. His uncle is the eleventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, and the seventh Selangor state’s Sultan, Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. He is of mixed parentage as his mother Barbara Mable Parnell is Welsh and carries the name Che’Bariya Kamarudin.

Raja Petra got married when he was 23 to the then 18 year old Marina Lee Abdullah who is a book publisher and together they have 5 children who are Raja Suraya, Raja Azman, Raja Shahril, Raja Azmir and Raja Sara.

Raja Petra Kamarudin involvement in politics are nothing new in the scene. He was one of the leading members of the then Parti Keadilan Nasional which was set up in 1998. He and some 10 other activist were then held under the ISA (Internal Security Act) for allegedly trying to overthrow Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the Prime Minister then.

Raja Petra then went on to cyberspace where he created the Malaysia Today.net portal where he writes about the happenings in the political scene, often providing some insights that are not reported in the mass media. This has brought him much trouble over the years as he advocates more transparency, accountability and equal rights in his blogs.

While most of his entries in his blog are on the current happenings in the political arena, which he so often draws attention to his controversial statements and insights to what is happening, a few events stand out. One of them is his entry in his blog that prompted Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib, the Information Chief of Umno to lodge a police report against him for insulting, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, degrade Islam and was deemed seditious to create hatred among local ethnic groups. Raja Petra who would not be silenced slammed Taib for hypocrisy and corruption which prompted another report against him. He was then called in for questioning by police for 8 hours and stated that Taib made the report because the government wanted to silence the bloggers before the general elections to be held in March.

Perhaps one of the most significant events that Raja Petra was involved in would be his claims on the involvement of Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in the murder trial of Mongolian translator Altantuya Shaariibuu. For the claims, he has been charged under the Seditious Act which saw him held under the ISA again.

In detention, he denied the bail of RM5,000 as it was reported by his wife that he could not afford to do so. She then tried to raise funds by asking for donations of RM1 from the public, in a few hours, the campaign raised over RM30,000 which prompted her to call off the event.

Raja Petra later made a statutory declaration on his website, this time attacking the Deputy Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor as being involved in the murder trial. According to Raja Petra, there were 3 individuals present at the murder scene when the Mongolian was killed, and one of them is the DPM’s wife. He also claimed that the event was then compiled into a Military Intelligence report and has been submitted to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and his son in law, Khairy Jamaluddin.

Zen - Malaysia Today

Police to quiz Raja Petra today

Police to quiz Raja Petra today

KUALA LUMPUR, July 5 — The authorities are striking back.

A day after the country’s top military intelligence official denied the existence of a report allegedly detailing Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s link with the murder of a Mongolian model, the police have summoned a prominent blogger for questioning.

Raja Petra Kamarudin has been asked to show up at the Sentul police station this evening to have his statement recorded.

In late June, he swore a statutory declaration alleging that the deputy prime minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, was among three individuals who were present when Altantuya Shariibuu was murdered on Oct 19, 2006.

He also alleged that the military intelligence prepared a report on the matter and handed it to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who subsequently handed it over to his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin.

Abdullah, Najib, Khairy and Rosmah dismissed the allegations and several police reports were lodged against Raja Petra, who operates the Malaysia Today website. Umno officials said that the statutory declaration was aimed at driving a wedge between the country’s top two leaders, and creating suspicion between their supporters.

Initially, the DPM appeared prepared to ignore Raja Petra’s allegation, believing that any engagement on this statutory declaration will only give the blogger more credibility. Rosmah also said that she was innocent but did not want to take action.

But that approach changed when silence did not end the swirling speculation over the statutory declaration.

On Friday, Military Intelligence director-general Lt-Jen Datuk Mohd Salleh Ismail denied the existence of any military intelligence report on the Altantuya murder case.

“This is strictly a matter for the police as it is a criminal case. I wish to reiterate that the statutory declaration made by Raja Petra Kamarudin on a military intelligence report is not true, ‘’ he said.

This is not the first time that the blogger has had a date with the police. He was charged with sedition in May for implying in an article that Najib and his wife were involved in the murder of Altantuya.

The trial is set for October.