Showing posts with label Lim Kit Siang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lim Kit Siang. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Dr M willing to face probe of his 22-year rule

Dr M willing to face probe of his 22-year rule
Dec 23, 2009
New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has welcomed Lim Kit Siang's proposal to set up a royal commission of inquiry to investigate whether he "burnt" RM100 billion (40.9 billion Singapore dollars) on grandiose projects and corruption during his 22 years as prime minister.

Dr Mahathir said the commission should not be made up of government nominees, but should have impeccable people as members, including foreigners and those of Transparency International.

He suggested that the commission should not focus on just one prime minister, but also Tun Abdullah Badawi, also a former prime minister.

Dr Mahathir wrote in his blog that the commission's probe should include how RM270 billion of Petronas money paid during Abdullah's five-year term was spent, what projects were financed by the huge fund and the cost of all the projects.

"It should also include how much money was lost due to the cancellation of the crooked bridge and the Johor Baru- Padang Besar railway project.

"What is the cost over-run in the construction of the Bakun Hydroelectric project, the financing of the second Penang Bridge and the procedure followed when giving out this contract?"

He also wrote that for the inquiry to be successful, the government must give an undertaking for full access to the commission of all the documents and accounts between the period of 1981 and 2009.

"There should be no cover-up of any kind. Barry Wain must provide documentary proof of any sum that he alleged I had burned."

Wain is the author of the book Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times.

Dr Mahathir also agreed with Lim, who is DAP adviser, that the investigation would reflect Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's commitment in combating corruption. He said he would cooperate with the commission.

"Depending on its result, I reserve the right to sue Barry Wain, Lim Kit Siang and Malaysiakini.com for libel for a sum to be disclosed later."

Dr Mahathir also requested that the book be released immediately.

"I am not in need of government protection."

Monday, December 7, 2009

Replace the BTN

Replace the BTN, which spent RM550 million in past ten years to incite racial hatred and animosity to create more racists than Malaysian nationalists, with an independent non-partisan institution answerable only to Parliament

Biro Tata Negara (BTN) spent RM550 million in the past ten years from 2000 to 2009 to incite racial hatred and animosity to create more racists than Malaysian nationalists and was a major push factor for the brain drain driving Malaysia’s best and brightest from Malaysian shores in the past decade.

The annual budget for the BTN in the past ten years, totalling RM548 million, is as follows:

Year Expenditure
(RM)
2000 28,928,500
2001 27,172,300
2002 34,199,700
2003 35,620,163
2004 86,165,889
2005 68,160,330
2006 43,097,076
2007 74,339,400
2008 76,348,700
2009 74,023,100


For next year of 2010, RM62.5 million has been budgeted for BTN.

These are huge sums of money. How can there be justification for the expenditure by such vast sums of money for an agency to continue its anti-national agenda to divide Malaysians with its divisive, racist and seditious indoctrination programmes, as further testified by student council representatives from several public universities yesterday.

University of Malaya Students Council president, Mohd Ridzuan Mohammad, described the BTN course as “unsuitable” as it “incites racial sentiments and does not help provide better representation to the student body”.

University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), student council member Hisyamuddin Che Ali said Faculty of Islamic Studies complained that racial sentiments were fanned at BTN courses…for example, they were told that the Chinese are lording over the country.

The RM550 million spent by the government on BTN have undermined nation building and national unity, resulting in the nation losing greater international competitiveness as it is a major push factor in driving the best and brightest Malaysians out of the country – contributing to Malaysia’s lagging in economic development to neighbouring countries in the past decade.

If the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak is serious about national reforms to “recatalyse” the country with the 1Malaysia concept, he should have no hesitation in closing down the BTN with its racist and anti-national agenda and replace it with n independent non-partisan national civics institution which is completely independent of the government-of-the-day and answerable to Parliament for its curriculum and management to foster national unity and Malaysian consciousness.

How many more lives? Kit Siang asks outgoing MACC chief

How many more lives? Kit Siang asks outgoing MACC chief

Written by Chua Sue-Ann, The Edge

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang today blasted outgoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan for dismissing the death of political secretary Teoh Beng Hock as "a very small case".

Lim took Ahmad Said to task over the latter's recent statements denying that political pressure or negative public perception sparked by the controversial death of Teoh had caused the MACC chief to opt for an early retirement.

Ahmad Said was quoted by The Star as saying on Sunday: "Teoh Beng Hock’s case is nothing. It is a very small case. We have handled much bigger cases".

"How can the head of an independent and professional anti-corruption agency dismiss Teoh’s mysterious and shocking death as 'a very small case' and of no consequence?"

"How many lives must be lost in MACC precincts before they become major issues?" Lim said in a statement today.

Teoh's death had sparked intense public uproar after the 30-year-old was found dead on July 16 on a fifth-floor landing of the Plaza Masalam in Shah Alam, next to an office block that houses Selangor MACC.

The aide to Selangor state executive council member Ean Yong Hian Wah had been held overnight at the state MACC for questioning into anti-corruption investigations on allegations of misappropriation of funds by several Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen.

The Ipoh Timur member of parliament also slammed Ahmad Said's remarks as "heartless and grossly insensitive" but pointed out that the latest comments were exceeded only by Ahmad Said's earlier "distasteful" statements implying Teoh had taken his own life.

Shortly after Teoh's death, Ahmad Said was quoted as saying, "If people investigated could not withstand the pressure and jumped from the building, there was nothing that MACC could do".

Lim demanded Ahmad Said to explain Malaysia's declining ranking and scores in the Transparency International (TI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) 2009 report and whether Teoh's "mysterious" death had contributed to a loss of confidence in MACC.

Lim also questioned whether MACC deputy commissioner Datuk Abu Kassim Mohamed, who is slated to take over as MACC chief on Jan 1, would dissociate himself from Ahmad Said's "outrageous" statements and attitude that "there is no difference between corruption involving a few ringgit and corruption involving a few hundred millions of ringgit".

Also read:

“Teoh Beng Hock’s case is nothing. It is a very small case.” – Ahmad Said’s guilty mind speaking

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Will Selangor fall in January?

Will Selangor fall in January?
3 Nov, 2009

http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/28284/84/

So, Pakatan Rakyat, beware. Your days in Selangor may be numbered. Umno has given itself until January 2010 to take over the state. And they are doing many things simultaneously to ensure that they succeed.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Two weeks before the Pakatan Rakyat Perak state government fell I suggested they seek an audience with the Sultan of Perak and request that the Perak State Assembly be dissolved to make way for fresh state elections.

I spoke to Anwar Ibrahim about it and he told me that my anxiety is unfounded because he had already spoken to Lim Kit Siang and Kit Siang had assured him that the problem with Hee had already been resolved and that everything is under control.

I was, however, still adamant that they should request permission for the dissolution of the Perak State Assembly while they still controlled the majority in the Assembly. Once they lose this majority the Sultan need not consider Pakatan Rakyat’s request because Pakatan Rakyat will no longer be the Perak state government.

As long as Pakatan Rakyat is still the government the Sultan will have no excuse to turn down Pakatan Rakyat’s request. Even if he did turn down the Pakatan Rakyat request to dissolve the Perak State Assembly he will have no legitimate reason for doing so and it would be very obvious that the Sultan is a tool of Umno and he would appear like a slime-ball.

Anyway, that is now all water under the bridge and we now all know that the Sultan was bribed to bring down Pakatan Rakyat plus he was blackmailed with the Nazrin succession issue. In short, they gave the Sultan both the carrot and the stick and like any donkey subjected to the carrot-and-stick treatment Tuanku was meekly led by the nose.

But there are other things I wrote about and which I cautioned Pakatan Rakyat to be alert about. Pakatan Rakyat may control the majority in the Selangor State Assembly. But this does not mean it is in control of the state government.

Many within the Selangor state agencies and government departments are Umno loyalists. They were in fact placed there and promoted because of their links with Umno. So, while Pakatan Rakyat may control the top, it will never be able to control the bottom. In short, the head will move in one direction and the body in the opposite direction.

And the first thing that Khir Toyo did when Selangor fell to the opposition (other than to shred all the evidence of wrongdoing) was to instruct the Selangor state agencies and government departments to sabotage the Pakatan Rakyat government. And this is what they are doing, every day of the week. Thus the ‘funny things’ that are happening in Selangor including the beer issue and the arrest of the ex-Perlis Mufti and the temple demolitions and whatnot.

You could say that not only is the head moving in opposite directions from the body but the left hand does not know what the right hand is doing as well.

And this is how they will eventually bring down the Pakatan Rakyat government in Selangor -- by creating discontentment by doing a lot of ‘unpopular’ things to make life difficult for the people -- which will result in the voters becoming disgusted with the opposition and eventually kicking them out like what happened in Terengganu in 2004 after only five years of an opposition government.

I warned Ronnie Liu about this. And Ronnie Liu’s EXCO portfolio is the most controversial and difficult portfolio of all as it deals with local councils and whatnot, where most of the problems lie.

All they need to do is to not repair the roads or collect the rubbish or replace the burned out streetlights or repair the busted water pipes and the people will become agitated. It just requires sabotaging the ‘small things’ and the people will fuck the state government good and proper. It is really not that difficult to sabotage the Pakatan Rakyat state government when you only control the top but have no control over the bottom.

Many Chinese businessmen in Selangor are exasperated. Corruption is as high as ever. Nothing has changed since Pakatan Rakyat took over. The Umno warlords still control the land office and local councils and whatnot. If you want approval for your projects, licences, permits, or whatever, you need to talk to the Umno warlords. If you deal through Pakatan Rakyat and bypass the Umno warlords your project or application gets jammed.

The Chinese businessmen have discovered, to their horror, that they still need to seek out the Umno warlords and pay off huge sums of money to these Umno warlords if they want ‘smooth running’ of their businesses. Even when they go meet the Pakatan Rakyat people the Chinese businessmen find that the Pakatan Rakyat people can’t do a damn thing. The Pakatan Rakyat people can make phone calls to this person or that person but nothing will happen. But if the Chinese businessmen go meet the Umno warlords and pay the required ‘fees’ then everything will be settled.

Let me make this very clear. Pakatan Rakyat is NOT running Selangor. Umno is. So, if you want things to happen, forget about going to see the Pakatan Rakyat people. Go seek out the Umno warlords and pay some money, a lot of money, and everything will be plain sailing.

No, the dog does not wag the tail in Selangor. The tail wags the dog. Speak to any Chinese businessman doing business in Selangor and they will tell you this.

Umno has told ‘their people’ in the Selangor state agencies and government departments that by January 2010 Barisan Nasional is going to take back Selangor. So everything is now on hold. All applications and approvals and whatnot are being jammed until Barisan Nasional takes over. And the Pakatan Rakyat state government, those people at the top, are powerless to get things moving.

When you go and meet the people in the Selangor state agencies or government departments they will tell you to fuck off. Even if you complain to the Pakatan Rakyat people at the top all they can do is make phone calls. And the more you get the Pakatan Rakyat people to push the more you will get stuck. It is like driving in the mud. The more you accelerate the deeper you get bogged down.

So, January 2010 is supposed to be the date that Barisan Nasional takes back Selangor from Pakatan Rakyat. This is what Umno is telling their people in the state agencies and government departments.

Further to that, many within the Pakatan Rakyat government are going to find themselves facing all sorts of criminal charges, corruption charges included and Anwar Ibrahim included. Umno has asked its election machinery to get ready to face at least ten new by-elections as there are going to soon be ten empty seats.

Further to that, Barisan Nasional has many moles or sleepers within Pakatan Rakyat, in PKR, PAS as well as DAP. Yes, DAP included. These sleepers or moles will be activated at the right time like what happened in Perak. And that will be the end of the Pakatan Rakyat state government in Selangor.

So, Pakatan Rakyat, beware. Your days in Selangor may be numbered. Umno has given itself until January 2010 to take over the state. And they are doing many things simultaneously to ensure that they succeed. We warned you about Perak and you laughed. Now we are warning you about Selangor. Still want to laugh? You lose Selangor like you did Perak and this time I am really going to fuck you through and through. And this is no threat. This is a promise.


Thursday, July 30, 2009

Let’s go back 25 years

Let’s go back 25 years
31 July, 2009

“Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers and four PKA Chairmen – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers from day one?” said Lim Kit Siang.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

To understand the present, one has to go back to the past. And in the case of the PKFZ, it has to be at least 25 years into the past.

25 years ago, MCA, the ‘number two’ partner in Barisan Nasional, was going through a crisis, like what is happening today. Neo Yee Pan, the new President, had taken over the party leadership in March 1983. He, of course, was ‘Team A’. And as soon as he took over, he ousted his opponents from ‘Team B’ led by Tan Koon Swan and his running mate Ling Liong Sik. With a stroke of the pen, so to speak, both Koon Swan and Liong Sik were out in the wilderness.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who himself had just taken over the leadership of Umno a couple of years earlier, was not too pleased. He wanted Koon Swan and Liong Sik to head MCA, not the man whom Umno called ‘the pork seller’. Yes, that was what Umno called Yee Pan, the pork seller, maybe because they thought he looked like one.

Plans were hatched to oust Yee Pan. Koon Swan and Liong Sik were told to cool their heels for a year or so while Dr Mahathir figures out his moves. They spent a short stint in Bolton, itching to get back into the political arena and grab back control of MCA.

Just before Dr Mahathir left for his overseas trip, he sent an emissary to meet Yee Pan with the message that he wants him out of MCA. And when he returns from his overseas trip he wants to see Yee Pan’s resignation letter on his table as a sort of ‘insurance policy’. The message was very clear. Go quietly and without any fuss or else get shoved out in a bloody and take-no-prisoners battle.

Yee Pan knew better than to take on Umno and Dr Mahathir. He decided that the best for his continued health would be to put his tail between his legs and exit with his head still attached to his shoulders.

In November 1985, Koon Swan and his running mate Liong Sik took over the leadership of MCA and Dr Mahathir was utmost pleased that at last MCA was being led by the people who he was most comfortable working with. Unknown to the MCA members at large, it was not the Chinese but Umno and the Prime Minister who decided their party’s fate and future.

Then Koon Swan suddenly found himself swamped with loads of legal problems. The 1985 recession had come without warning and to solve his financial predicament Koon Swan had done something illegal and the Singapore government caught him with his pants down. Dr Mahathir had no choice but to allow Singapore to send Koon Swan to jail and, in September 1986, Liong Sik found himself suddenly in charge of MCA as its new President.

Koon Swan was president of MCA for just ten months. He was in jail for longer than that.

A year later, Umno too went into crisis when it too saw the emergence of a Team A and Team B, just like MCA a couple of years before that. This crisis eventually led to the deregistering of the party by the Registrar of Societies and suddenly MCA found itself the lead partner of Barisan Nasional with Liong Sik as its new Chairman.

Umno no longer existed.

Dr Mahathir quickly registered a new party, which he called Umno Baru. But Umno Baru was not a component member of Barisan Nasional. The old Umno was. But the old Umno no longer existed. Umno Baru would need to apply to join Barisan Nasional just like any new party that wanted to join Barisan Nasional would have to do.

But the procedure to join Barisan Nasional is that all component members of Barisan Nasional must unanimously agree to admit this new member. A simple majority would not do. Even one dissenting voice would mean that the application to join Barisan Nasional would be rejected. And it would the Chairman of Barisan Nasional, Liong Sik, who would have to make sure that Umno is admitted into the coalition.

Liong Sik was a very crucial element for Umno. Without the lead partner of Barisan Nasional, now of course MCA, leading the charge, Umno is sunk. Umno would have to remain an independent party and Dr Mahathir would have to resign as Prime Minister as he would no longer command the majority seats in Parliament. Dr Mahathir, for all intents and purposes, was in fact now an independent Member of Parliament and legally no longer Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Yes, Liong Sik saved Umno. And he saved Dr Mahathir as well. Without him Umno and Dr Mahathir would be history while MCA would be the head honcho of Barisan Nasional with Liong Sik as Malaysia’s new Prime Minister. Dr Mahathir himself said that the Federal Constitution of Malaysia does not forbid a Chinese from becoming Prime Minister of Malaysia.

There is a special relationship between Umno and MCA’s past leaders that many Malaysians do not know about. MCA and Liong Sik are what the Malays would call talian hayat or lifeline. It was so more than 20 years ago. It is still so today.

In fact, today, it is even more so. Umno no longer holds more than 50% of the seats in Parliament. Without MCA’s 15 seats and another 30 from Sarawak, Umno is out of business. Sabah has another dozen or so and MIC and Gerakan another five combined. But these are not as crucial as MCA’s 15 and Sarawak’s 30. These 45 seats from MCA and Sarawak are what ensure that Umno remains in power.

The opposition wants to nail the balls of those involved in PKFZ to the wall. That would not be possible. If Umno allows the opposition to bring down all those behind the PKFZ then MCA and Sarawak will fall. And with them Umno too will fall. It is like all of them drifting in the same lifeboat. You can’t allow anyone to sink the lifeboat when you are also in it as that would mean you too would drown. So Umno needs to save MCA and the Sarawak politicians just so that it too will not fall. It is a case of survival and when your survival depends on others you have to make sure that they survive so that you too can survive.

The link between MCA and the PKFZ is clear. That is already public knowledge. The link between the Sarawak politicians and the PKFZ is also very clear because that too is public knowledge. But what many do not know is the link between MCA and the Sarawak politicians.

Many are perplexed as to why Ong Tee Keat (OTK) is trying to protect those behind the PKFZ. After all, those implicated are all ex-leaders of MCA and surely their downfall would not affect MCA. Actually, it is not just about the ex-leaders of MCA. It is also about the Chinese corporate bosses and the Sarawak leaders who have their hands dirty with the PKFZ fiasco.

The link between OTK and the Sarawak leaders may be a well-kept secret. But when OTK flies all over the place with Tiong King Sing’s private jet how can you keep this a secret?

As follows are some of the flight details we managed to get our hands on:

12 Feb G450 SZB/JB/KCH (ETD 11.00/12.00/17.00)
19 Feb G450 SZB/JB/SZB (ETD 7.30/22.30)
7 Mar Learjet 60 SZB/Kuantan/SZB (ETD 12.00/22.00)
24 Mar Learjet 60 SZB/JB/SZB (ETD 15.30/22.00)
20 Apr Learjet 60 SZB/JB/SZB (ETB 17.30/23.00)

“Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers and four PKA Chairmen – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers from day one?” said Lim Kit Siang.

Actually, it is not about incompetence at all. Incompetence means they do not know what they are doing -- which would mean they are stupid. These people know what they were doing all along. They were ripping off RM12.5 billion of the rakyat’s money. And Umno just can’t do anything about it. Umno does not want to do anything about it. If they do something about it then MCA and the Sarawak politicians will have to suffer a fall. And 45 Parliament seats that are propping up Umno will also fall. And when 45 Parliament seats fall, then Umno too will fall.

It is all about survival. And Umno’s survival depends on MCA and Sarawak surviving. And would Umno be the head honcho of Barisan Nasional today if not for MCA and Liong Sik? So how can Umno not cover their ass when 20 years or so ago MCA and Liong Sik gave Umno its second lease in life? MCA and Liong Sik made Umno into what it is today. If not there would no longer be any party called Umno.

And this is how Umno says ‘thank you’ to MCA and Liong Sik. It makes sure that the PKFZ issue remains a non-issue. And the rakyat will just have to carry the RM12.5 billion financial losses for the sake of Umno and MCA remaining in power. That is the price the rakyat have to pay so that these people can stay in office.

It is ironical how the Chinese whack the Malays for what Umno is doing to the country. If only the Chinese knew that Umno is still around today because of MCA and Liong Sik. But then these Chinese were never really that smart anyway. If they were smart they would have blocked Umno from getting admitted into Barisan Nasional 21 years ago back in 1988.

Bodoh punya Cina! They deserve Umno and MCA. And they deserve losing RM12.5 billion of their tax money, 90% of which comes from the Chinese anyway. And today Ong Tee Keat is what Ling Liong Sik was 21 years ago, the man who ensures that Umno stays in office. So do you think OTK will allow the PKFZ issue to get out of control? After all, if Tiong goes down then he would not get to fly around in a private jet any longer.

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Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers and four PKA Chairmen – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers from day one?

Lim Kit Siang

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman blamed the RM12.5 billion Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal on “a group of incompetent people” from day one. (NST)

The ad hoc committee on corporate governance probing the PKFZ fiasco, headed by Transparency International chairman Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan, denounced the PKA Board members for “gross negligence” in failing to discharge their fiduciary duties diligently, resulting in the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.

Both Azmi and Low are only half right. Could the PKFZ project become a RM12.5 billion “mother of all scandals” if the three Transport Ministers (Ling Liong Sik, Chan Kong Choy, Ong Tee Keat) and four PKA Chairmen (Ting Chew Peh, Yap Pian Hon, Chor Chee Heung and Lee Hwa Beng) – all from MCA – had not been equally incompetent and negligent as the PKA managers “from day one”?

Yesterday, the second Transport Minister mired in the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy appeared before the PAC in its inquiry into the PKFZ scandal, ensconced by a lawyer and two aides as well as lugging a box of relevant documents, giving the impression as if he is appeared as an accused in a public inquiry.

Chan created PAC history in 52 years in being the first to appear with counsel before a PAC hearing. Why was this necessary and why did the PAC Chairman allow Chan to appear with counsel? This is indeed most extraordinary and even self-incriminating.

Even more extraordinary was that Chan produced an opinion from a Queen’s Counsel in the UK that the three Letters of Support which he had signed in support of PKFZ were not letters of guarantee.

How much did it cost Chan to get the opinion of a Queen’s Counsel for him to go to the PAC with it to back up his argument? Easily over 10,000 sterling pounds i.e. RM60,000 to RM100,000.

Why didn’t Chan get a Queen’s Counsel opinion when he was the Transport Minister in 2007 to convince the Cabinet that his three Letters of Support were not government “Letters of Guarantee” for the RM4 billion bonds raised by the PKFZ turnkey developer, Kuala Dimensi Sdn. Bhd. (KDSB) as Malaysian taxpayers would have been spared being victims of the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal?

In 2007, the Cabinet was advised by the Attorney-General and Treasury that the four Letters of Support to KDSB to raise RM4 billion bonds were implicit government guarantees to the bond market.

As a result, the Cabinet gave retrospective approval for the four unlawful and unauthorized Letters of Support, one issued by Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik in May 2003 and three by Chan, creating the RM4.6 billion liability for the government in the bailout of PKFZ which is now set to become a RM12.5 billion scandal.

What is most shocking is that Chan did not formally table the opinion of the Queen’s Counsel to the PAC but only referred to it orally. This is most improper and irregular and Chan should be recalled to formally table the opinion of the Queen’s Counsel, so that it becomes part of the documentation of the PAC report in its inquiry into the PKFZ when submitted to Parliament.

As reported in the New Straits Times, Azmi said the PAC is expected to table its findings on the PKFZ scandal in the Dewan Rakyat by October when the House resumed its sitting. It will also prepare a report for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission to revisit the project and look into certain areas, which were not touched by the commission in its earlier investigation.

Azmi has got his parliamentary responsibilities as PAC Chairman all wrong. His duty as PAC Chairman is to report to Parliament and not to MACC or even the government. His job is to ensure that the PAC report and recommendations on the PKFZ scandal is first tabled in Parliament and not to submit any report to the MACC or elsewhere.

It is then for Parliament to decide whether to accept the PAC findings and recommendations, including whether the PAC report should be forwarded to MACC for necessary action, or whether to reject the PAC report because it is unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

In the latter circumstances, Parliament should invoke its full powers to hold an inquiry of the full House into the PKFZ scandal, should it arrive at the conclusion that the PAC report falls far short of parliamentary standards and expectations.

In which case, all the witnesses who had appeared before the PAC, including the current and previous Transport Ministers, Tee Keat, Kong Choy and Liong Sik can be recalled.

Azmi should not forget that PAC is delegated by Parliament to inquire into the PKFZ scandal and Parliament must decide whether to accept its findings and recommendations before further follow-up action is taken on the PAC report.

This point must be emphasized especially in a case of such great public interest and controversy like the RM12.5 billion PKFZ scandal.

As Parliament is reconvening on Oct. 19, and two weeks notice is required for a motion to accept or reject the PAC report on the PKFZ inquiry, Azmi should ensure that the PAC report on the PKFZ is circulated to MPs by end of September to allow MPs time to study it and decide whether a special motion on the PAC report on the PKFZ scandal should be moved – although formally, the PAC report would only be tabled in Parliament on Oct. 19 itself.

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Tiong dares Lim to repeat claims outside

BACKBENCHERS Club chairman Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing lost his cool with veteran MP Lim Kit Siang over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) issue, even challenging the DAP adviser to repeat his allegations outside the House “if he dares”.

The Ipoh Timur MP had spoken at length about the issue when Tiong came into the House to interject.

“Repeat it outside the Dewan if you dare,” the Bintulu MP repeatedly challenged Lim.

At one point, Tiong told Lim not to hide under the cloak of Dewan Rakyat immunity. Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN – Kinabatangan) and Datuk Ismail Kassim (BN – Arau) also stood to seek clarification several times.

While Lim went on speaking about the issue, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor (BN – Putrajaya) shouted “gila” (mad), Bung Mokhtar uttered that Lim was talking rubbish and Tiong accused Lim of misleading the House before they themselves left the chambers.

Earlier, Lim expressed disappointment with chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, who turned up at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting but offered no details of the investigation into PKFZ.

“He is not willing to work with Parliament? Isn’t it not Parliamentary contempt?” he asked.

PAC chairman Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid rebutted the accusation, saying that the committee might call Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail to attend its meeting.

He also told Lim that two of the Opposition MPs in PAC supported him when he received a letter from Lim urging him (Azmi) to resign as PAC chairman and not lead in the PKFZ probe.

However, Lim insisted that Azmi, who was in Cabinet between 2004 and 2007, should be a witness in the PKFZ probe as he was party to the Cabinet decisions on PKFZ. - The Star

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Tiong to file suit against Lee over PKFZ report
By LEE YUK PENG, The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Wijaya Baru Holdings Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said he will be suing Port Klang Authority (PKA) board chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng and several others within a few weeks over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) audit report.

Nanyang Siang Pau reported on the front page of its evening edition last night that Tiong would also be suing auditing firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) Advisory Services Sdn Bhd and several media companies.

Tiong told the daily that Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd had appointed a team of lawyers to study the audit report to draft the suit. Tiong is a 70% shareholder of Wijaya Baru Holdings, which is the sole proprietor of Kuala Dimensi Sdn Bhd, the turnkey developer of PKFZ.

Speaking after launching a Buddhist project in Petaling Jaya yesterday, Tiong said that he decided to sue Lee and not PKA.

Tiong also challenged Lee to use his money and not PKA funds to defend himself.

Tiong, who is also Bintulu MP and Backbenchers Council chairman, warned Lim Kit Siang (DAP - Ipoh Timur) that he may be sued too.

Kuala Dimensi also took up full page advertorials in Sin Chew Daily, Nanyang, China Press and Guang Ming Daily to explain its position.

It said the PWC’s report, which was incomplete, had tarnished the company’s reputation.

When contacted, Lee said: “I have to wait for the suit and will inform my lawyers to file a defence. Whatever I did is on behalf of PKA and for the good of taxpayers.”


Sunday, May 10, 2009

RM12 billion PKFZ scandal - six times bigger than RM2.5 billion BMF scandal of Mahathir

RM12 billion PKFZ scandal - six times bigger than RM2.5 billion BMF scandal of Mahathir

MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat should stop running from the question why he had failed to honour his repeated public undertakings to “tell all” and make public the full report of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) audit into the mega-billion ringgit Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal. Malaysians want to know what he is hiding.

The PwC audit report into the PKFZ scandal has been described in the media as “a damning disclosure of mismanagement, clandestine deals, conflicts of interest and a total disregard for transparency and accountability” for a project which was supposed to cost RM1.845 billion in 2002 under the then MCA President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik but ended up at RM4.6 billion under MCA Deputy President and Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Chan Kong Choy.

Now, horror of horrors, it is reported that the final cost of the PKFZ scandal under MCA President and the third MCA Transport Minister, Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat is the frightening figure of RM12 billion, which would have to be borne by the Malaysian taxpayers although the Cabinet had been assured in 2002 that the PKFZ project was a feasible, self-financing project that would not require a single sen of government financing!

If the PKFZ scandal had ballooned from RM1.8 billion in 2002 to RM12 billion in seven years under three MCA Ministers, it will be six times bigger than the first Mahathir mega financial scandal – RM2.5 billion BMF scandal!

RM12 billion of public funds is no chicken feed – it could build three Penang Bridges at RM4 billion each, 120 hospitals at RM100 million each, 1,200 schools at RM10 million each or 300,000 low-cost houses at RM40,000 each!

The MCA national leadership must fully account as to how three MCA Ministers in the past seven years had presided over one of the biggest financial scandals in the nation’s 52-year history.

The latest excuse of a “technical issue” preventing the full publication of the PwC report – that the Port Klang Authority Chairman Datuk Lee Hwa Beng had only written to the PcW on April 30 to seek its consent to release the report – is most laughable and a terrible reflection of Ong’s Ministerial irresponsibility to honour his 14-month pledge to reveal the whole truth about the PKFZ scandal.

(Dinner speech in Sungai Lalang, Sungai Patani on Saturday, 9th May 2009 at 9 pm)

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Herds galore

Herds galore
4 May, 2009

Let’s see what the lembu Umno will do to the babi MCA. I bet RM1,000 they will just keep quiet and nothing will happen. Umno is not trying to defend Islam. It just wants DAP and PAS to fight even if MCA has to whack Islam to achieve this. Munafik!

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Star! Oh Star! At least be a smart party hack!
Lim Kit Siang

Yesterday, the MCA paper, the Star, gave prominent coverage to the challenge by MCA Vice President and Health Minister, Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, that I clearly state my stand on the Cabinet’s recent decision that minors follow the common religion of their parents at the time of marriage when one spouse opts to convert.

In the Star report headlined “State stand on religion ruling, DAP told”, Liow even said that I am at odds with the DAP National Chairman Karpal Singh over the matter on the ground that Karpal had clearly stated his support for the Cabinet’s decision, implying that I had opposed the Cabinet decision.

When I replied to Liow, Star just blacked out my response.

Reason? Because Liow would be shown to be a fool who does not understand simple English as I expressed support for the Cabinet decision in several statements on my blog.

Either Liow has a big problem with the English language, in which case he should undergo a quick refresher course so as not to disgrace the government and country when he appears in the official capacity as Health Minister whether inside or outside the country, or he is downright dumb.

If he is neither, and had been misled by untrustworthy aides to issue such a challenge, then he should know what to do to salvage the situation.

My offer to give Liow a free tutorial on the English language stands.

By blacking out my statement and refusing to accord me the right to respond to the irresponsible and baseless challenge from Liow, which it had given prominent coverage, the Star has gone against all canons of responsible and professional journalism and made a mockery of the World Press Freedom Day yesterday.

The overwhelming majority of the Star journalists are honourable, professional and self-respecting men and women who do not agree with such prostitution of sacred journalistic principles.

Let me advise those responsible for the blackout of my reply to Lai – at least be a smart party hack!

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

Some time around 1997 or thereabouts, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said something that made a lot of sense. Okay, there is quite a bit he said that makes sense. But when you hate the man, as many readers of Malaysia Today do, whatever the Tun says, even if it makes sense, is rejected outright merely because it is the man who is talking.

I know, I know……at this point, many are going to rush to the bottom of this page to post comments whacking me for being pro-Mahathir. Then, after the first comment, others are going to follow suit, like herd, and jump onto the bandwagon to heighten the anti-RPK-who-is-pro-Mahathir bashing.

And that is what today’s piece is all about -- the herd mentality. And that was what Tun Dr Mahathir said some time around 1997 or thereabouts -- that people are like a herd and that they have herd mentality.

In spite that it was Tun Dr Mahathir who said it and in spite of you hating the man like hell, is what he said wrong? Is this not also what George Soros said? And George Soros and Tun Dr Mahathir are arch-enemies. Yet they both agree on that point.

Okay, this piece is not about supporting Tun Dr Mahathir or about singing his praises. It is also not about how much of what the man says is sometimes true because most of you will never agree that what he says could probably be true if it comes from him. However, if it comes from someone you like or adore, then what he or she says is almost like a revelation from God. And if someone else also says the same thing, and then many others after that agree with what he or she says, then we will also agree that what was said is the Gospel.

That is what is meant as herd mentality.

After Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi took over as Prime Minister, everything that Tun Dr Mahathir said or did was wrong because he is no longer in power. The Crooked Bridge is wrong. The Italian motorcycle company, MV Agusta (http://www.mvagusta.it/_vti_g2_1.aspx), is wrong. Proton is wrong. You name it, as long as it has Tun Dr Mahathir’s dobby-mark on it, then it is wrong.

Why is it wrong? Because Tun Dr Mahathir is no longer the Prime Minister. And since the new Prime Minister says the old Prime Minister, who is no longer in power, is wrong, then the new Prime Minister, who is in power, must be right while the old Prime Minister, who no longer has any power, just has to be wrong.

That is the criteria we use in evaluating anything. And the second criteria would of course be herd mentality -- we follow the crowd even if the herd is falling off a cliff in a stampede a la Western Cowboy movie-style.

Today, the Crooked Bridge is on again. The Crooked Bridge, which was a stupid idea when Tun Dr Mahathir was out of favour, is now a fantastic idea. Did I hear Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak defend the Crooked Bridge back in 2006 when the Tun Abdullah Badawi government decided to shelve it? Najib was Tun Abdullah’s number two back in 2006. Did Najib agree with Tun Abdullah that the Crooked Bridge is a stupid idea and should be shelved or did he defend Tun Dr Mahathir’s Crooked Bridge and argue the merits of continuing with it?

Yes, even Najib suffers from herd mentality. When the then Prime Minister says cancel the Crooked Bridge, then the Cabinet, which Najib was a part of, agrees to cancel it. Now that Tun Abdullah is no longer in power and Tun Dr Mahathir is back in the driver’s seat, or at least sitting in the seat immediately behind the driver, then the Crooked Bridge is on again.

Have they forgotten the arithmetic worked out then? The cost to cancel the Crooked Bridge worked out higher than the cost to proceed with its construction. No one disagreed that the cost to cancel the project works out higher than the cost to build the bridge. But did anyone argue that the government might as well proceed with the project since it has already been started anyway and it works out cheaper to finish what you started?

And what about MV Agusta? It cost RM300 million or thereabouts to acquire the company. Then everyone argues that to retain the company would involve injecting another RM300 million or so to keep it afloat. So better get rid of it rather than send good money after bad. This is called cutting your loses.

And, just like herd, we all jumped in and agreed that this was a wise decision. Sell it and save RM300 million of the taxpayers’ money. Why waste another RM300 million after already blowing RM300 million?

Good argument -- except that when they spent RM300 million to buy over the company they already knew they would need to pump another RM300 million into it. So, actually, the plan was to spend RM600 million on the company. That was anticipated. That was no accident. It is not that they bought the company for RM300 million and then discovered later, oops, they now need to pump in another RM300 million which they did not realise at the time they bought the company.

The spin was that ‘someone’ boo-booed. ‘Someone’ spent RM300 million to buy a motorcycle company without realising that, after they buy the company, they would need to spend another RM300 million to keep it afloat. No, that ‘someone’ knew bloody well that they would be spending RM600 million -- RM300 million to buy the company and another RM300 million in capital injection.

Okay, now we can pop that RM600 million question: is it worth spending RM600 million to acquire an Italian motorcycle company? Honestly, I don’t know. It all depends on what you expect from that RM600 million investment. Even if it is merely RM60 million instead of RM600 million, but if we are not getting any ROI (returns on investment), then I would say it is a bad deal.

The issue is not RM6 million, RM60 million, RM600 million or even RM6 billion. The issue is: what will we see in terms of profit, benefit, etc., for that investment of ours? No one talked about this. No one was interested to know. They were only concerned about the fact that the ex-Prime Minister made this decision and the current Prime Minister wants to reverse that decision so our vote is with the current Prime Minister and not with the ex-Prime Minister, for obvious reasons.

Herd mentality.

And one even more crucial question that no one bothered to ask in all that euphoria to run down Tun Dr Mahathir and show support to Tun Abdullah Badawi is: who was MV Agusta sold to and why for only RM4? We buy a company at a cost of RM300 million and sell it off for merely RM4 after a very short space of time. And the company that bought MV Agusta for merely RM4 is a newly registered company that was formed specifically for the purpose of buying over MV Agusta. But the owners of that company are phantoms. We do not know who they are.

Why did no one ask this question, not even Najib Tun Razak? Herd mentality.

Let’s look at another herd mentality scenario. Someone in PAS said they want to contest the Penanti by-election. Someone then says PAS can’t be trusted. Someone else says PAS wants to merge with Umno to form a new Malay political party. Then everyone jumps onto the bandwagon and, like the typical herd mentality, whack PAS to kingdom come. And when people like me put in a word of support for PAS, we get whacked and are accused of being PAS apologists.

Then the top leaders of PAS publicly declare that Penanti is a PKR seat and PAS does not intend to contest that seat. Then the person who made so much noise asking PAS to contest the seat resigns. Do we hear anything from all those who had earlier whacked PAS and said that PAS is a traitor and turncoat who is preparing to merge with Umno to form a new Malay political party?

Some even posted comments in Malaysia Today challenging me personally to say something about the matter. “Aha, gotcha, PAS has sold us out. Now what do you have to say, Raja Petra bin Raja Kamarudin, you PAS lover?”

Nothing. I have absolutely nothing to say. I have already said what I wanted to say a long time ago -- just like I already said what I wanted to say about the Crooked Bridge and MV Agusta back in 2006. The only thing is, back in 2006, I swam against the current. Everyone was swimming downstream while I swam upstream. Now, I am resting on the riverbank and watching with great amusement everyone doing a U-turn and swimming back upstream. And that is because of herd mentality. That is because Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is no longer Prime Minister so we have to quickly swim in the opposite direction.

Okay, forget about Tun Dr Mahathir. I know most of you hate hearing his name. Let’s instead talk about PAS. PAS is not contesting Penanti. The faggot who made so much noise about the issue has resigned. So, what now?

Melayu mudah lupa. No, not Melayu, all Malaysians mudah lupa. I wrote some time back about Trojan Horses in Pakatan Rakyat. Remember that article? And do you know what Trojan Horses do for a living? And do you also know why, from time to time, issues are raised that tests the solidarity of Pakatan Rakyat to the limit?

If you don’t get what I am trying to say then you are just too dumb and I need no longer waste my time trying to educate you. Believe what you want to believe. Believe the world is flat and the moon is made from green cheese if that makes you happy. After all, as they say, ignorance is bliss.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Read the statement by Lim Kit Siang above. What do you see? The stupid readers can stop reading at this point because this is going to be too taxing on your brain and you may get a headache if you try to figure this one out.

What? You see MCA trying to provoke DAP to make them fight with PAS? That would be what those not so smart and what the herd mentality types would see. What I see is MCA demonstrating its hostility towards Islam.

It’s simple, really. MCA does not want to make any statement considered negative towards Islam as that might antagonise Umno. So they are provoking DAP to do that instead. What I now want to know is: what is Umno and all those so-called Muslim NGOs going to do about it? Are they going to make police reports and organise anti-MCA demonstrations in front of Wisma MCA in Jalan Ampang?

Hello…..Umno…….NGO-NGO Islam……..MCA cabar Islam lah. You orang buat apa? Kayu ke? Takde batu ke? Podah! Islam konon!

Let’s see what the lembu Umno do to the babi MCA. I bet RM1,000 they will just keep quiet and nothing will happen. Umno is not trying to defend Islam. It just wants DAP and PAS to fight even if MCA has to whack Islam to achieve this. Munafik!


Thursday, March 19, 2009

Najib Countdown – double meaning for “N” in the RAHMAN prophecy

Najib Countdown – double meaning for “N” in the RAHMAN prophecy
Friday, 20 March 2009 12:25

Speech by DAP MP for Ipoh Timor YB Lim Kit Siang at the DAP Damansara/Paramount Garden Dinner “Moving Selangor Forward” at Damansara Palace, Kota Damansara, Selangor on 19th March 2009

This is countdown time for Datuk Seri Najib Razak – with a week to go to his anointment as UMNO President next Thursday to be followed by his ascension as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia in the first few days of April.

What is clear is that Najib’s takeover as Prime Minister of Malaysia will not be on April 1 so that it would not go down in history as “April Fool’s Joke”!

As it is, Najib’s impending takeover as the sixth Prime Minister is sufficiently dogged, hounded and haunted by grave doubts and allegations about his integrity and legitimacy, to the extent that for the first time in the 52-year history of Malaysia, strong objections are being raised publicly about the suitability of the Prime Minister-in-waiting, hardly a fortnight to his ascension to the highest political office in the land – and which is growing stronger by the day.

There are so many so skeptical and cynical about Najib’s suitability, integrity and legitimacy to become the next Prime Minister that they have spawned an increasing chorus of calls to stop Najib from becoming the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia.

The latest to join this chorus is the former Law Minister, Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who called on the Yang di Pertuan Agong to reject Najib if UMNO puts him forward as Prime Minister to replace Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and to appoint someone who would “bring us back from the brink”.

There are online campaigns to get Abdullah to remain as Prime Minister even after the UMNO General Assembly next week, not because Abdullah is an effective and successful Prime Minister but because his replacement, Najib, is “evil”.

Although Abdullah’s popularity rating had plunged from a record high of 91 per cent in November 2004 to 61 per cent in January 2008 (just before the March 8, 2008 general election), down to 46 per cent in Dec 2008, he was at all times more popular than Najib, as demonstrated by the following surveys by Merdeka Centre:

Popularity rating Abdullah Najib

Feb. 08 62% 45%

Mar. 08 54% 46%

Jul. 08 42% 34%

Sept 08. 43% 40%

Oct. 08 45% 43%

Dec. 08 46% 41%

I do not think anyone will dispute that if an opinion poll is now conducted, Najib’s popularity would have fallen further even below the lowest point of 34% recorded in July last year, while Abdullah would have improved in his popularity rating.

However, there are others who feel that asking Abdullah to remain as Prime Minister is not the real option and propose that a more suitable candidate should be chosen from the present UMNO ranks, with Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah’s name most often mentioned in this context.

There is of course another scenario, which is for Pakatan Rakyat to replace Barisan Nasional at the federal government, but as the numbers are not present, this option is not really available.

Putting aside for the moment the question as to how real or realistic are these growing rumblings to stop Najib from become the next Prime Minister, the inescapable fact is that such public opposition to a Prime Minister-in-waiting is happening for the first time in the 52-year history of the nation, as was never the case in the nation’s history, whether Tun Razak, Tun Hussein Onn, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad or Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In fact, such doubts and objections to Najib taking over as the new Prime Minister seems to growing stronger by the day, the nearer to Najib’s ascension to the highest political office in the land.

This is why Najib’s RM60 billion second economic stimulus package have failed to rally confidence, as he is seen as the most divisive and distrusted Prime Minister-designate, who will not enjoy the customary political honeymoon of “First 100 days” for new Prime Ministers, as his Machiavellian machinations in his pre-100 days, like the undemocratic, unethical, illegal and unconstitutional power grab in Perak, the selective and malicious prosecution of DAP National Chairman Karpal Singh for sedition and the arbitrary and high-handed one-year suspension of DAP MP for Puchong, Gobind Deo Singh without pay and parliamentary privileges, have created widespread concern whether Najib’s ascension as the sixth Prime Minister marks the start of a national nightmare.

This also raises the question whether the “N” in the most famous political prophecy in the country, RAHMAN about the first six Prime Ministers in the country, has a double meaning – that it signifies Najib as Prime Minister after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Razak, Hussein Onn, Mahathir and Abdullah, but it also marks the “end” of the line of Umno Prime Minister, UMNO hegemony and Umno government in the next 13th general election.

Lim Kit Siang

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

People’s Power, Kuasa Rakyat, Makhal Sakhti, Ren Quan

People’s Power, Kuasa Rakyat, Makhal Sakhti, Ren Quan
18 Mar, 2009

If Zaid Ibrahim is prepared to spearhead a People’s Movement with a view that it would be a platform for a new ‘People’s Party’ -- whether registered or otherwise -- then we must give him our support to enable this new ‘informal’ party to flourish.

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

First read this piece that I picked up from YB Lim Kit Siang’s Blog:

BTN communal poison again

Yesterday, I received an indignant email from a recent participant in the course of the Biro Tata Negara (BTN) -- funded by taxpayers but acting as the propaganda arm of UMNO -- pumping communal poison instead of spreading the message of national unity.

Despite criticisms against the BTN, both in and out of Parliament, invariably followed by denials by the Minister or Deputy Minister concerned, it is clear from this email that BTN has not changed one whit its irresponsible ways.

I read out the complaints in the email in Parliament yesterday during the debate on the 2008 Supplementary Estimates, viz:

Their purpose is to convey THEIR Message to us but I think they are absolutely wrong. It made us more irritable towards BN government and make us more stronger to vote opposition.

Here are their messages:

(1) Kontrak sosial about Kerakyatan and Hak Istimewa Orang Melayu

Effects: Non-Malays should appreciate and cannot expect more. They use Malay toleransi us and also “Terhutang Budi terhadap mereka”.

(2) The country is not safe after 308. The government is not strong enough to maintain the safety. The oppositions is creating chaos in the country. They give a lot of examples. If we continues like this, it might explode another 513 or war in Malaysia like in Iraq. They show us the pictures and videos of Iraq. Therefore we need to vote BN for the peace.

(3) To protect Islam and Malay special rights Malays have to bersepadu for Ketuanan Melayu.

(4) Indians and Chinese contribute nothing to this country. It is the non-Malays who wants to join the Pakatan that time and we beg for that. Throughout the course they only emphasize on Malay’s contribution and say nothing on non-Malays.

(5) Their perpaduan means Ketuanan Malay and never sama rata because they said this is according to Kontrak Sosial. They conducted every facts on Chinese Malay and Indian and not mentioning Malaysian.

(6) They claim oppositions is a spy from America and going to attack Malaysia soon.


In allowing BTN to continue such communal poison in its courses, Umno and the other Barisan Nasional component parties are proving in Parliament, the Cabinet, and to Malaysians at large, that they continue to be blind, deaf and mute to the message of the March 2008 general election for reform and that they deserve further punishment by the Malaysian electorate.

Lim Kit Siang (http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2009/03/18/btn-communal-poison-again/ )

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


I have not edited the contents of the above e-mail to Lim Kit Siang in spite of quite a few grammatical errors as I thought it would be better if I reproduce it as it is rather than be accused of ‘doctoring’ it. Anyway, the message is clear enough, grammatical errors notwithstanding.

The point is, BTN is, and always has been, the propaganda unit of the government. It’s job is to brainwash Malays into believing that the non-Malays want to rob the Malays of their rights, the opposition leaders are all traitors who works for foreign governments, Anwar Ibrahim is an American stooge and a homosexual to boot, liberal Malays are Muslim deviants who have distorted Islamic teachings, the Christians want to mislead Muslims and get them to leave Islam, and whatnot.

The BTN is a government body. Therefore, the Malaysian taxpayers are paying for its running cost. And, according to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the non-Malays are paying 90% of the personal income tax, in particular the Chinese. This is what the ex-Prime Minister said and I assume, since he was Prime Minister of this country for 22 years, he must know what he is talking about.

Imagine the Chinese paying for the cost to upkeep something that is used to demonise them? I suppose at this point of my article most of you are expecting me to scream ‘Cina bodoh’! Yes, it is tempting to do that. But I really don’t blame the Chinese. I mean, Malays too pay billions of Ringgit of their hard-earned money to the religious department in the form of zakat, and this money is also misused and squandered. The Malays are only doing what they thought was their religious duty and what God ordered. How do they know the so-called trustees of Islam are screwing them and their money?

So, would I be correct in screaming ‘Melayu bodoh’? Hey, they were just doing their religious duty. How would they know they are being conned by the Malaysian government? In that same spirit, the Chinese also have no choice but to pay their taxes. If not, they would end up in court. So, how can I scream ‘Cina bodoh’ even if they are? Anyway, even if you do not pay personal income tax, you still pay taxes in other ways. Everything in Malaysia is taxable. And that money too goes to the government and is misused.

We, the Malaysian rakyat, pay tax. So we have a right in determining what the government does with our money. We can’t avoid paying tax even if we wanted to -- unless we live in the jungle and live off the land. Then, if we do not earn money and do not spend money, we would be exempted from paying tax. (Hey, that’s an idea. Maybe I will go live in the jungle and save myself from paying taxes. Gunung Tahan, here I come!).

Okay, let’s get serious. The government works for us. We are paying them to serve us. We, the Malaysian rakyat cum taxpayer, are the bosses. It is Ketuanan Rakyat, not Ketuanan Melayu. The fucking exponents of Ketuanan Melayu do not pay tax. They live off the taxpayers. They receive money. The Chinese pay money, 90% of it, according to Dr Mahathir, and this money goes to those who scream ‘Ketuanan Melayu’.

It is time we taught the government who’s the boss. We are the boss, not the government, not the Ketuanan MelayuKetuanan Melayu slime-balls and scumbags are robbing the nation -- money that we, the taxpayers, the rakyat, are paying the government.

It is time we taught the government the meaning of People’s Power, Kuasa Rakyat, Makhal Sakhti, Ren Quan. Call it by whatever name (in Iban, Dayak, Bugis, Kadazan, Bajau, Dusun, etc., language) the meaning is the same. It means: we, the people, call the shots.

Enough wastage of public funds! Enough corruption and abuse of power! Enough persecution, discrimination, oppression and selective prosecution! Enough racism! We must stop this rot. And only the rakyat can do this. The politicians, both sides of the political divide, appear to have failed us.

The economy is crumbling. By year-end about one million Malaysians will be unemployed. The government quotes figures of only 50,000. Bullshit! It is going to be more than that -- much, much more. As it is now, the unemployment rate is already more than 100,000. However, instead of focusing on the economy, they spend all their time over a hapless tree in Ipoh. Talk about fiddling while Rome burns.

I am proposing that Zaid Ibrahim spearheads a new political movement. Never mind if the government will not allow the new movement to get registered into a political party. The movement does not need to be a registered political party. After all, Pakatan Rakyat is not registered either. So what’s the difference?

The new political movement -- registered or otherwise -- must be people-centred. It must be people-oriented. It must be about People’s Power, Kuasa Rakyat, Makhal Sakhti, Ren Quan! It must be about bringing reforms to Malaysia. Let the Manifesto be the People’s Declaration that was launched and accepted by seven political parties back in February 2008, three of these parties from Pakatan Rakyat. We do not need to invent another manifesto. Why the need to re-invent the wheel when the present one already works fine?

The agenda of the new movement must be to abolish all repressive laws -- and there are many in Malaysia. We must introduce new laws such as the Anti-Race Act, Freedom of Information Act, Bill of Rights, and much more. We must set up an Ombudsman that is headed by people with the characteristics and reputation of Ghandi and Mother Teresa both rolled into one. The Police Force Commission, Judicial Commission, Human Rights Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission and whatnot, must be totally independent and headed by personalities such as those heading the Ombudsman, people with an unblemished and squeaky-clean record.

We must have a People’s Parliament. While the Parliamentarians are elected during the general election, the Senate must function as it was originally intended, as a ‘second-layer’ Parliament. The Senators must come from the rakyat, not from the political parties, like now. The Senators must be representatives from the various councils, organisations, movements, societies, associations, and even from the Blogging community and whatever.

The Senate must have the power to review all bills and laws introduced and passed by Parliament. And whatever is not acceptable will be sent back to Parliament, unsigned and unapproved. Parliament will then have to debate these bills and laws again until they get it right and the Senate is happy with them.

Another possibility would be for 10% of the seats in Parliament to be reserved for the minority groups. We will have to determine who these minority groups are, but the objective is to ensure that there would be no way any one party can have hegemony in Parliament. If there are 222 seats in Parliament, then another 20 seats must be given to the minority group. So we shall have 222 Parliamentarians representing their constituencies and another 20 representing minority interests.

Okay, the arithmetic and mechanics need to be worked out. But the long and short of it would be only 90% of the seats in Parliament will be under the control of political parties. The balance 10% would go to representatives of minority interests who hold no political affiliations or sit in any political party. These would be the ‘direct’ rakyat’s representatives -- a sort of ‘People’s Parliamentarian’. They would therefore not have to vote along party lines since they hold no political party position.

Yes, there are many reforms required and much that can be done to reform the system. We need to think outside the box and break away from tradition. Forget about what we have been doing these last 52 years. The system sucks and we are seeing it break down. Get out of the rut of the traditional system and venture into new territory. Why do we need to do what is normally done? Why can’t we do new things even if they may appear unorthodox?

We talk about democracy and democratically elected representatives in Parliament. That is bullshit. The 222 Parliamentarians that we now have are not representatives of the people who voted them into office. They represent the political parties that allowed them to contest the seat under its party banner. Their loyalty is not to the voters. It is to the parties they represent. The 222 Parliamentarians are not Wakil Rakyat. They are Wakil Parti.

If Zaid Ibrahim is prepared to spearhead a People’s Movement with a view that it would be a platform for a new ‘People’s Party’ -- whether registered or otherwise -- then we must give him our support to enable this new ‘informal’ party to flourish. That would be our only hope for the future. And that too will be the only hope for People’s Power, Kuasa Rakyat, Makhal Sakhti, Ren Quan to succeed.

Over to you Zaid! I hope you will agree to this People’s Movement and develop it into a People’s Party in time to come. And this new People’s Movement or informal People’s Party can also one day contest the general elections. Whether a three-corner fight will emerge or whether it will be a one-to-one fight depends on Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat. If they agree to ‘give way’ to this new People’s Party, say 20 Parliament seats and maybe 50 state seats, then it can remain a one-to-one fight. If not, expect a three-corner fight and we will let the rakyat decide whether they want the traditional ‘two-party’ system or they want to see a true People’s Party emerge. The rakyat, after all, are the boss and we are talking about People’s Power, Kuasa Rakyat, Makhal Sakhti, Ren Quan.
slime-balls and scumbags. The


Monday, March 2, 2009

Perak State Assembly under a rain-tree – history made today

Perak State Assembly under a rain-tree – history made today

History has just been made in Perak with the Perak State Assembly convened and held under a rain-tree.

Twenty-one years ago, the doctrine of separation of powers among the Executive, Judiciary and the Legislature suffered a grievous blow in the “Mother of Judicial Crisis” on 1988, from which Malaysia has not yet fully recovered.

Today, the doctrine of separation of powers has suffered another grievous blow with the powers and privileges of the legislature in Perak, attacked by the executive, both federal and state, which is also seeking to invoke unprecedented judicial interference with the legislature.

The Perak Speaker, V. Sivakumar, the legitimate Perak Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin, the legitimate senior Exco Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, and all the Pakatan Rakyat Assembly men and women have done Perak and Malaysia proud.

They have written a glorious chapter in the history of democracy in Perak and Malaysia.

Despite the show of excessive and unnecessary force by the Police and FRU, the Pakatan Rakyat Assembly representatives were undaunted and were able to conduct its short but historic proceeding under a rain-tree.

Shame to the Barisan Nasional and UMNO leaders. They are afraid of the Perak State Assembly meeting. They are also afraid of returning the mandate to the people with the holding of state general elections.

There is no stronger proof of the illegitimacy of Zambry as Perak Mentri Besar as a result of the illegal and unconstitutional power grab in Perak orchestrated by Najib Razak.

Under-tree Assembly
The Malaysian Insider

IPOH, March 3 – 10.35am The Perak State Assembly, convened under the shade of a rain tree, has been adjourned.

10.28am The state assembly has passed a vote of confidence in Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as mentri besar of Perak. The assembly has also passed another vote calling on Nizar to seek a dissolution of the legislature and pave the way for fresh elections

Meanwhile, Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim has ruled that five lwayers, including constitutional expert Tommy Thomas, have no locus standi to represent the Perak Speaker in court.
He says the Speaker must be represented by the state legal advisor because he is part of the state government

10.20am Perak V Sivakumar has put on his robes by the roadside near the state secretriat and appears to be preparing to convene assembly right there under the shade of a rain tree. They are now tabling the first motion.

Meanwhile, across town, lawyers fro BN are attempting to stay the proceedings of the state assembly until a suit on the suspension of BN exco members is heard later today.

9.58am Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen have decided to leave the scene to avert violence. They will hold a press conference shortly where they are likely to announce new venue for assembly sitting.

9.52am Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen are now standing toe-to-toe with riot police at the entrance, while supporters have linked hands behind the lawmakers.
At the side two trucks with water cannons are poised for action

9.44am Nizar and Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen are now being stopped by police from entering the building. Police apparently allow Speaker V. Sivakumar apparently to enter.

9.40am A scuffle has broken out between five men and Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen trying to enter the state secretariat compound.

The five men claim to be independent and are trying to push Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin and Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen away from the entrance.

9am More than 100 people now have gathered at the Perak state secretariat, which is cordoned off by a similar number of riot police with shields.

8.45am Lawyers representing Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are gathering at the Ipoh High Court where a series of lawsuits have been filed against the Perak Speaker.

Emergency assembly convened in car park
Malaysiakini | Mar 3, 09

At an emergency assembly meeting held under a tree in a car park next to the state secretariat, the Pakatan representatives passed motions to support Nizar as the menteri besar as well as to dissolve the state assembly.

Meanwhile at the Ipoh High Court, a new twist developed when judge Ridwan Ibrahim told Speaker Sivakumar’s lawyers that they had no legal standing to represent the speaker, who should be represented by the state legal advisor.

See below as developments unfolded.

LIVE REPORTS

10.57am: Nizar also urged the people to stay calm and follow the law. He urged them not to emulate the troublemakers who had tried to stop him and the other representatives from entering the state secretariat earlier today.

10.53am: Ngeh also said that Speaker Sivakumar will initiate contempt proceedings against the police and the state secretary.

10.50am: State DAP chief and senior exco member under the Pakatan government Ngeh Koo Ham: “It is a very sad day. We have descended into a police state.”

10.49am: Nizar says that he will try to get an audience with the Sultan of Perak to inform him the decision of the House. He insisted that the sitting was held in accordance with the rules and regulations.

10.46am: Nizar at the press conference: “We held sitting under a tree based on the doctrine of necessity because we were prevented from entering the assembly but we had to fulfil our duties based on the notice issued by the speaker”.

10.35am: A new twist at the Ipoh High Court. Speaker Sivakumar’s lawyer Tommy Thomas held a press conference to say that the judge had ruled that private lawyers have no legal standing to represent the speaker.

Thomas said that according to judge Ridwan Ibrahim only the state legal advisor can act for the speaker since he (the speaker) is part of the state government.

With this ruling, Thomas and the other lawyers withdrew themselves from representing Sivakumar. Thomas said that they would be taking instructions from Sivakumar on the next course of action.

Thomas also said that their arguments that it would be a conflict for the state advisor to represent the speaker was dismissed by the judge.

He also said that the judge dismissed their application to conduct watching brief with the right to submit on behalf of the speaker.

The issue of legal standing was raised by Zambry’s lawyers.

10.31am: Sivakumar is now heading towards the DAP headquarters nearby where he will be holding a press conference to explain the next course of action. Nizar is also expected to hold a press conference there. The DAP HQ is located right opposite the state secretariat’s rear entrance.

10.30am: The speaker has adjourned the historic assembly meeting. Sivakumar will now have to present the motions to the Sultan of Perak for further action.

10.25am: The second motion to dissolve the state assembly was also mooted, debated and passed unanimously.

The emergency sitting under the tree also passed a third motion - to adopt the decision of the rights and privileges committee headed by Sivakumar to suspend Zambry and his six exco members.

10.23am: The first motion was passed unanimously. Every present Pakatan representative shouted ’setuju’ (agree) when a vote was taken on the motion.

10.20am: The first motion to express confidence on Nizar as the menteri besar is being tabled now.

10.18am: Sivakumar is in his full speaker’s robe to chair the meeting. It is held in a very formal manner. He told the viewing crowd not to clap or cheer and to respect the meeting.

10.15am: The meeting starts with a prayer session, It is held under a tree, without any chairs for the state representatives and the speaker to sit.

10.13am: Speaker Sivakumar has decided to hold the emergency meeting right at the car park. All Pakatan representatives are present. Some 300 people are watching this historic proceeding.

10.08am: Speaker Sivakumar and Nizar are also seen with the other state representatives at the car park. The impromptu meeting is still proceeding there.

10.05am: Meanwhile at the Ipoh High Court, lawyers from both sides are learnt to have been in the judge’s chambers for the past 30 minutes.

10.01am: The Nizar entourage has stopped at the car park located some 50 metres away from the state secretariat’s main entrance and are huddled in a meeting. Speaker Sivakumar is not in this group.

10am: Nizar and the state representatives are leaving the area. They are headed to the DAP headquarters and will be holding a press conference there.

Some 200 Pakatan supporters are still waiting at the state secretariat entrance.

9.55am: Ipoh police chief Azisman: “I have spoken to both Ngeh and the state secretary (Abdul Rahman Hashim) and the state secretary said no one is allowed to enter the state secretariat”.

9.53am: Senior state exco member under the Pakatan government Ngeh Koo Ham is still trying to negotiate with Ipoh police chief to allow them to enter the state secretariat.

9.50am: Eye-witnesses are saying that the police have asked Speaker Sivakumar alone to enter the state secretariat. This could not be confirmed.

9.49am: The police are ordering the crowd to disperse. The crowd is shouting ‘Hidup Rakyat!’.

9.45am: Ipoh OCPD Azisman Alias refuses to negotiate, says no one is allowed to enter. The police are pushing away the Pakatan state representatives away from the main entrance. The situation is very chaotic.

9.40am: Nizar’s people are negotiating with the police now as the FRU are not allowing anyone inside the state secretariat. The crowd now stands at about 200, most of whom are Pakatan supporters. The water cannon in pointed towards the crowd.

9.35am: A group of people numbering about 30 are blocking Nizar and gang from heading towards the main entrance. No police interference. Nizar and group just walked past them to the main entrance.

9.30am: Ousted Menteri Besar Nizar and his state representatives arrive at the state secretariat.

9.25am: A slanging match ensues between BN and Pakatan supporters at the main entrance of the secretariat. The BN supporters showered profanities at the Pakatan lot who had been shouting ‘reformasi!’.

9.21am: The police and FRU trucks are blocking the main entrance to the state secretariat. The Pakatan state representatives are expected to try to get into the building to go to the state assembly through this entrance.

9.20am: The crowd - a good multi-racial one - at the state secretariat has swelled to about 100 now.

9.15am: Pakatan state representatives who had earlier met at a nearby hotel are on their way to the state secretariat.

9.10am: Lawyers from both sides are in the court house.

9am: About 40 FRU personnel in full gear position themselves at the rear entrance of the state secretariat. Some of them are armed with rifles and tear-gas launchers.

8.55am: At the Ipoh High Court - no crowd, no police. Only lawyers for the speaker are present so far. This defence team is led by constitutional expert Tommy Thomas, Chan Kok Leong, Philip Koh Tong Ngee and Augustine Antony. Several other lawyers are expected to join them.

Perak MB Zambry Abd Kadir’s two applications will be heard today. The first is on the Speaker Sivakumar’s use of the undated resignation letters of three BN-friendly independents to vacate their state seats. The second is over the suspensions of Zambry and his six exco members.

The matters will be heard before Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim at High Court 4.

Zambry and Co are not expected to be present in court today. Their defence team is led by Mohd Hafarizam Harun with Badrul Hishah Abd Wahab, Faizul Hilmy Ahmad Zamri.

8.50am: About 50 curious onlookers have gathered at the rear entrance of the state secretariat. “No signs of any trouble,” says Malaysiakini journalist Andrew Ong.

8.30am: Roadblocks have been set up since yesterday along the main road leading to the state secretariat. No vehicles are allowed near the building.

More than 100 police personnel are on standby at the state secretariat. Dozens of journalists are also ready for action.

8.15am: The main entrance to the state secretariat building in Ipoh is shut, denying access to anyone wanting to enter the secretariat. A huge police presence is also visible around the state secretariat.

The police have also cordoned off the road at the back of the state secretariat. Federal Reserve Unit trucks and water cannons are on standby as well.

Yesterday state police chief Zulkefli Abdullah had warned people not to gather at the state secretariat.

The Pakatan Rakyat state assemblypersons have planned to gather at the main entrance of the state secretariat at 10am before going into the state assembly located in the secretariat to conduct their emergency meeting.

Meanwhile Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir’s legal suits against Speaker V Sivakumar is expected to be heard at 9am at the Ipoh High Court.

Perak drama: Emergency sitting at vacant lot ends
The Star | 3rd March 2009

(10:40am) At the High Court, Sivakumar’s lawyers withdraw from the case after Judicial Commissioner Ridwan Ibrahim rules that private lawyers have no locus standi and cannot represent the Speaker.

Ridwan says that under the Government Proceedings Act, the Speaker can only be represented by the state legal advisor, or lawyers appointed by the latter, because he is part of the state government.

Sivakumar’s lead counsel, constitutional expert Tommy Thomas, says they will await further instructions from the Speaker. He said they were refused speaking rights under Ridwan’s ruling.

(10:35am) Nizar proposes that the emergency sitting of the assembly be adjourned. Sivakumar adjourns.

(10:25am) Titi Serong rep Dr Khalil Idham says Nizar is the rightful mentri besar and wants him to continue. Canning assemblyman Wong Kah Woh says that Pakatan has ruled the state well since taking over last March.

Teja rep Chang Lih Kang proposes a motion asking for the dissolution of the state assembly to call for a new election.

Both motions are agreed to by all Pakatan reps.

(10:20am) After “doa selamat” prayers, the meeting commences with the hearing of the first motion from Titi Serong assemblyman Dr Khalil Idham Lim Abdullah.

He says the trust and support have been given to Nizar as mentri besar. Sivakumar asks for the motion to be debated.

(10:15am) Although allowed entry into the state secretariat building, Sivakumar did not go in. Attired in the official garb of the Speaker, he declares a vacant lot about 200m from the building as the venue for the emergency sitting.

(10:05am) Nizar gets into his car. Discussions going on between PAS, PKR and DAP assemblymen and Members of Parliament (MPs) on their next course of action. One MP is in the car with Nizar.

They are expected to head towards the DAP state headquarters where they might hold a press conference.

(10:00am) Pakatan assemblymen and Nizar not allowed into building, but police allow Sivakumar to enter. A policeman says, “YB tidak boleh masuk (Yang Berhormat is not allowed in).”

Pakatan supporters make a protective ring around their assemblymen so that they will not be chased away. Assemblymen start moving away however.

(9:45am) At the High Court, lead counsels for both sides are briefing the judge in chambers. They emerge from chambers at 10:17am to brief their legal teams.

(9:40am) Pakatan Rakyat assemblymen, including former mentri besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, arrive at state secretariat building for emergency sitting of Assembly called by Sivakumar to vote on two motions related to the constitutional crisis in Perak.

Barisan Nasional supporters have lined up to prevent them from entering. Some pushing and shoving going on.

(9:00am) Federal Reserve Unit personnel have been deployed in front of state secretariat building, at least seven trucks being used to block main entrance. Police had already set up roadblocks on roads leading to the building earlier this morning.

A small crowd has gathered, comprising party members, lawyers, supporters and many members of the media.

(8:45am) Lawyers from both sides start arriving at Ipoh High Court in preparation for hearing of lawsuit filed by Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir against State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar.

Dr Zambry is seeking a court declaration that Sivakumar’s suspension of Dr Zambry and his six excos from the state assembly is unconstitutional.

IPOH: All eyes are on Perak Tuesday as the former Pakatan Rakyat state government, which maintains it is still the legitimate administration, attempts to oust the newly-formed Barisan Nasional government through an emergency sitting of the state assembly.

The emergency sitting was called by State Assembly Speaker V. Sivakumar, saying he was invoking Standing Orders 8 and 11 so that the assembly could vote on two motions.

While he declined to reveal what the motions were, except to say that they involved the constitutional crisis in Perak, former senior executive council (exco) member Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham later said the two motions involved seeking the dissolution of the State Assembly and reaffirming support for Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as mentri besar.

The current Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir of Barisan has described the emergency sitting as “invalid and unlawful” because it had not received the consent of the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah.

“He has used his powers unfairly to achieve his own political agenda and he had ridiculed the proceedings of the House,” he said.

Pakatan lawyers say the Ruler’s consent was only needed to summon a sitting by way of royal proclamation if the assembly had been dissolved or prorogued (adjourned by royal prerogative). But because the last sitting was adjourned, the assembly could carry on its usual business in an emergency session.

Sivakumar had earlier barred and suspended Dr Zambry and his six exco members from the assembly.

To prevent the sitting from taking place, the current administration issued orders for the entrance to the state secretariat be barred. Police and Federal Reserve Unit personnel were already deployed late Monday to prevent anybody from entering.

Snap polls
Pakatan, which took over the state after the 12th general election last March, has been trying to call for new state elections after it begin to see its rule slipping away earlier this year.

The crisis began on Jan 25 when Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim resigned from Umno to join Pakatan component party PKR, which led to rumours of many more cross-overs to and from both sides of the political divide.

The crisis deepened after Behrang assemblyman Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Changkat Jering assemblyman Mohd Osman Mohd Jailu, both from PKR and both facing corruption charges, went “missing” for a few days, only to resurface after a few days to announce they were quitting their party.

At the same time, Jelapang assemblyman Hee Yit Foong announced she was quitting DAP, another Pakatan component party.

All three declared they would remain independent but pledged their support for Barisan.

At the time, Sivakumar said that he had received letters from the three reps saying they were also vacating their seats, but the Election Commission decided that the resignation letters were not valid as they were undated and that there was no need for by-elections in their constituencies.

To add salt to Pakatan’s wound, Nasarudin announced he was switching back to Umno after fewer than 10 days as a PKR man.

With that, both Barisan and Pakatan held 28 seats each in the state assembly, but the three independents’ pledge of support to Barisan tipped the balance enough for Sultan Azlan Shah to declare Barisan as having the support of the majority and he refused Nizar’s request for the state assembly to be dissolved and snap elections be called.

Court battles
The tussle will also play out in the courts, with Nizar having filed an application for a judicial review to challenge the legitimacy of Dr Zambry as Perak mentri besar.

The case will be heard on Tuesday before High Court (Special Powers and Appellate) Court judge Lau Bee Lan, six days after Judicial Commissioner Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof recused himself from hearing the suit.

In his application for a judicial review, Nizar is seeking an interpretation of the Perak state constitution on whether the mentri besar’s post can be vacated in a situation whereby:

* THE mentri besar had advised the ruler on the dissolution of the state legislative assembly;
* THERE is no dissolution of the assembly;
* THERE was no motion of confidence performed against him at the state legislative assembly;
* THERE was no resignation made by him.

He is also seeking a declaration that he is the legal mentri besar of Perak and asking for an injunction to stop Zambry from carrying out the duties and functions of the mentri besar; and also punitive, aggravated and exemplary damages and costs.

On Monday, Perak executive councillor Mohd Zahir Abdul Khalid served an originating summons on behalf of the three independent reps — Jamaluddin, Mohd Osman and Hee — seeking a court declaration that they were still elected representatives of their constituencies.

The three were challenging the Speaker’s decision that they had resigned and that their seats were vacant. This case will be heard on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Dr Zambry has sought a court declaration to make illegal Sivakumar’s suspension of him and his six exco members. This case will also be heard on Tuesday morning.

Dr Zambry said he was seeking a declaration that Sivakumar’s decision was unconstitutional and ultra vires the state constitution.

He sought declarations that he and his exco members had the right to attend sittings and that the House was not to be bound by any rules by, or instructions from, the Speaker.