HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

WISHING ALL MY RELATIVES, FRIENDS & READERS

A

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

MAY THIS NEW YEAR

BRING HAPPINESS, GOOD HEALTH & PROSPERITY

From:

MOHD. KAMAL BIN ABDULLAH, WIFE & FAMILY

KOTA KINABALU, SABAH

No problem with Teo’s attire, says mosque

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 – A Masjid Taman Cheras Jaya official said today it had no problem with how Teo Nie Ching was dressed during an aerobics exercise programme recently in the mosque’s car park, even as Umno stepped up criticisms against the DAP MP for her “tight-fitting” clothes.

The Serdang MP(picture) was photographed recently in a T-shirt and track pants while taking part in the aerobics session, and this was seized on by the Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia to accuse her of violating the sanctity of the mosque for wearing allegedly tight-fitting clothes and not covering her aurat.

“We do not have any problem at all with YB Teo’s attire,” Masjid Taman Cheras Jaya committee chairman Azman Idris told The Malaysian Insider today.

“Covering the aurat is applicable only to Muslims. So, the issue of covering the aurat is not applicable to YB Teo,” he added.

The Malay daily published a front-page story yesterday with the headline “Teo Nie Ching makes trouble again” along with a picture of her exercising with men and women at Masjid Taman Cheras Jaya during a recent Maal Hijrah carnival.

Today, an Utusan Malaysia column said females were required to wear clothes which covered their aurat, and not “shorts or sexy clothes”.

Azman, however, claimed that the issue of covering the aurat in a mosque was not explicitly defined in Islamic teachings.

“When it comes to the mosque, it is called an in-house regulation,” said Azman.

“We also did this (exercise) activity in the car park area, not in the mosque. I don’t see any issue,” he added.

Azman also pointed out that some Muslim women, who had attended the Maal Hijrah carnival on December 12, did not cover their aurat.

“Some of them wore tight jeans. But we have no problem,” he said.

“We put up a signboard saying, please cover your aurat. But we cannot enforce it as it is an individual responsibility. We can only encourage,” he added.

Yesterday, the first-term parliamentarian told The Malaysian Insider that she would continue attending functions in mosques if invited, despite Utusan Malaysia’s renewed attacks.

In August, Teo was criticised by Barisan Nasional (BN) politicians and conservative Muslim groups over her controversial surau visit after Utusan Malaysia published a front-page picture of her addressing those who were praying at the Al-Huda surau in Kajang Sentral.

She was lambasted for entering the surau with her hair uncovered.

Women are required to cover their hair when entering a mosque.

Azman, however, said such requirements were not stated in Islamic teaching.

“About non-Muslims coming to the mosques and being required to wear the tudung, that is only an internal regulation,” he said.

“Nothing in Islamic teaching states that it is compulsory,” he added.

Utusan Malaysia quoted the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) today as saying that Teo’s “tight” dressing was tantamount to insulting the Selangor Sultan.

The Malay daily claimed that Teo had ignored the Sultan’s previous rebuke of her surau visit in August.

Teo’s controversial surau visit had allegedly displeased the Selangor Sultan and sparked a warning from Mais, who barred her from entering the prayer areas of any suraus or mosques in Selangor without its permission.

However, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders, including PAS spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, had defended Teo over her surau visit. - Malaysian Insider

Selangor’s 1-Depair Scenario

by Tunku Abdul Aziz @ Sin Chew Daily

The banning of the 1Malaysia logo is an act of mindlessness. It is an exercise in absurdity of the kind becoming all too common in Malaysian politics.

The real Idiot is in the Red

The decision to proscribe the display of the 1Malaysia logo within the jurisdiction of the state of Selangor is childish to say the least, and that is putting it as charitably as I can. It reflects particularly badly on the maturity of the Pakatan Rakyat state government of Selangor.

It was clearly a decision made without reference to the top Pakatan Rakyat national leadership whom I know would not have countenanced such action.

This one rash, potentially suicidal, political decision is bound to reinforce, and lend credence to, the growing conviction among many Malaysians that some Pakatan Rakyat politicians are totally incapable of shaking off their doctrinaire attitudes, including that of opposing anything and everything for its own sake. Even as they now don the mantle of the ruling elite in the Pakatan Rakyat governed states, they continue to behave in much the same way as they used to under less favourable circumstances.

The logical question to ask is whether the Pakatan Rakyat, with its politically imbecilic camp followers in tow, could really be trusted to do a proper job of taking on a bigger and more demanding show – that of administering the Government of Malaysia.

On current showing, I should be less than honest if I did not say that they would have to be more savvy and sensible before they would get my vote of confidence. I should be careless in the extreme if I did not consider hedging my bets. The Pakatan Rakyat leaders have their job cut out for them – like knocking a modicum of common sense into some of their colleagues in the Selangor state executive council.

There is, to me, nothing fundamentally wrong with the express aim of 1Malaysia. Surely it is not a bad thing to want to unite all Malaysians. My quarrel with 1Malaysia, as articulated by Najib, with or without APCO’s hidden hand, is in its shallow, barely scratching the surface superficiality. It lacks focus, with the result that its true potential for serving the public good has been severely crimped, making 1Malaysia sound like one gigantic con job.

Najib would do well to remember, before throwing more good millions after bad, that the first syllable of the word “consultant” including APCO, is CON. But I digress. I am on record as being a fierce critic of 1Malaysia but I have not allowed my personal distaste for Najib’s cheap, hollow slogan to turn me into a foaming at the mouth, saliva dripping, bulging eyed, raving demagogue.

There are surely more important issues that the Pakatan Rakyat politicians can think of doing for the benefit of the people of Selangor. Instead they chose to fall over themselves to indulge in petty, immature grandstanding. The timing could not have been worse.

Their supporters and sympathisers, who had hoped for more sober and responsible behaviour after the very ugly public exhibition of unremitting internal squabbles in the recent PKR leadership elections, were, in the event, enormously disappointed.

While the crusade against the display of the 1Malaysia logo in Selangor is being justified on the ground that it is all part of the BN political propaganda, a message has arrived, via my mobile, as if on cue, as follows: “DAP cannot have double standards. The bylaws should apply to ALL.”

The sender alludes to the fact that DAP has used its party logo to publicise its Rocket Cafe in Petaling Jaya. Why, asks the gentleman, was no action taken by the local council? A fair point that requires an official response in the interest of transparency and accountability.

Pakatan Rakyat politicians have no business to claim the moral high ground and portray themselves as ethically and morally superior if they do not renounce hypocrisy and act strictly in accordance with the high ethical standards of behaviour expected of them by their supporters.

Putrajaya is many things to many people, but it is more than a shiny political trophy to be won by hook or by crook.

On balance, I daresay BN has made a reasonable go of it given the internal weaknesses inherent in a system of patronage with its infernal attendant preoccupation with rent seeking and cronyism. That system is set in a solid bed of unbridled corruption.

I understand the Pakatan Rakyat has its demolition team in the wings ready to smash the very foundation of corruption in our society. The Pakatan Rakyat has every right to set its sights on that glittering prize, but it first has to review and change, as appropriate, its whole range of attitudes before it can change Malaysia for the better. Otherwise Putrajaya will be a destination too far. It will merely be aspirational, a gleam in the eye, and a forlorn dream.

Lim Kit Siang’s “one-term wonder” should be taken to heart and reflected upon. It is a sobering thought and the best advice there is for the Pakatan Rakyat to act on.

2011 a year for Malaysians to unite and demand equal opportunity

The 2011 challenge of Malaysians – to unite and demand that they enjoy equal opportunity to earn a good living and provide a secure, happy life for each individual and the family

“Malaysia is at the crosssroads.” – 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme Road Map (January 2010).

“Malaysia has reached a defining moment on its development path.” – New Economic Model (March 2010).

“We need to see the reality for what it is: we are on a burning platform” – Tenth Malaysia Plan (June 2010).

However, the year 2010, which also marks 21 months of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s premiership, has not been distinguished by any conviction or sense of urgency that Malaysia is “on a burning platform”, “at the crossroads” or “a defining moment” – that the country has no choice but to forge ahead with a paradigm shift in national economic strategy and public policy.

It is the exact reverse. Despite the 21 months of Najib’s premiership, based on his signature theme of “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now”, multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural Malaysia has suffered greater racial and religious polarization and loss of social cohesion, with the concepts of unity in diversity and inclusiveness, social justice, excellence, integrity and our international competitiveness receiving one setback after another.

The bad old days of “the government knows best” are back with a vengeance, as illustrated by the raft of developments in the closing days and weeks of 2010, eg:

• Catholic church officials told to remove crucifixes and to avoid hymns being sung when Prime Minister Najib Razak attended the Archbishop of Kuala Lumpur’s Christmas tea party last Saturday.

• Controversy over Cabinet decision to make history a compulsory-pass subject for SPM from 2013 when the history text books are antithetical to the principles of unity in diversity and inclusiveness reflective of Malaysia’s plural society.

• The appointment of Tan Sri Isa Samad, who had to relinquish his previous post as Cabinet Minister because of UMNO “money politics”, as the new Felda Chairman, rubbishing the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and National Key Result Action (NKRA) on fighting corruption.

• The ordeal of businessman Chia Buang Hin who alleged that he was beaten and robbed by police over the expired road tax of his wife’s car that he was driving which re-opened anew the question of the efficiency, incorruptibility and professionalism of the police to keep crime low and be the protector of the rights of Malaysians and the crying need for the establishment of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) as proposed by the Dzaiddin Police Royal Commission in 2005.

• The brewing constitutional crisis in Selangor over the appointment of the State Secretary, stemming from the refusal of the Barisan Nasional-controlled Federal Government to respect the democratic rights of the voters of Selangor to elect a Pakatan Rakyat state government of their choice.

• The unchecked racist and inflammatory incitement by irresponsible media like Umno’s Utusan Malaysia such as the targeting of DAP MP for Serdang Teo Nie Ching.

These developments are all inimical to the 1Malaysia concept of unity in diversity and inclusiveness propounded by Najib and not calculated to enhance public confidence in good governance and our international competitiveness.

The Talent Corporation is to start operation tomorrow to carry out a more effective brain-gain strategy to attract talented Malaysians and non-Malaysians to contribute to Malaysia’s knowledge-based economy.

But the Talent Corporation is set to become another expensive failure as how could it convince the return of the talented from the Malaysian diaspora when the present government is incapable to arrest the unchecked brain drain from the country.

Have more Malaysians migrated abroad in the 21 months of Najib’s premiership than the previous 21 months?

It is not that Najib does not have the answer. The New Economic Model had pinpointed the problem and the solution when it said:

“We are not developing talent and what we have is leaving. The human capital situation in Malaysia is reaching a critical stage. The rate of outward migration of skilled Malaysians is rising rapidly.” (p.6)

“Globalisation has created a fierce competition for talent, forcing companies and government to recognize that people are the most valuable assets. To compete on a regional and global scale, Malaysia must retain and attract talent. Malaysia must be seen by its people and others as a land of equal opportunity to earn a good living and provide a secure, happy life for each individual and family.” (p.8)

The Talent Corporation is incapable of giving such an assurance – that Malaysia is “a land of equal opportunity to earn a good living and provide a secure, happy life for each individual and the family”.

In fact, the developments of the past 21 months, and in particular in the closing days of 2010,which are completely detrimental to the 1Malaysia concepts of unity in diversity, inclusiveness and social justice, will destroy whatever chances of success the Talent Corporation might have.

Only a Malaysian government, with unwavering leadership and political will, can give such an assurance.

This is the national challenge for Malaysians in the new year 2011 – to unite and demand a government and leadership with the political will to convince Malaysians that they enjoy equal opportunity to earn a good living and provide a secure, happy life for each individual and family life.

Wishing all Malaysians a Happy New Year.

- (Lim Kit Siang is the MP for Ipoh Timur)

The government chief secretary is "kurang ajar"

The recent announcement made by the BN federal government's chief secretary Tan Sri Sidek Hassan to appoint the tainted Selangor religious department director Mohd Khusrin Munawi to take over the position of Selangor state secretary without informing the Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim has been unbecoming and Tan Sri Sidek has been seen as rude.

The rudeness of Tan Sri Sidek is, he did not even have the care or courtesy to consult the Selangor Menteri Besar on the state secretary's choice, instead choose to bypass Khalid and went straight to the Sultan of Selangor to present the appointment.

Yes, we know the state secretary's position is under the jurisdiction of the Public Service Department (JPA), but as that position is a state based, the chief secretary should have at least demonstrate his proper manners and professionalism in getting the Selangor Menteri Besar's acknowledging the appointment first. Again we wish to point that Tan Sri Sidek is being rude and unprofessional in discharging his duties and responsibilities.

See! What have the chief secretary Tan Sri Sidek Hassan caused? He purposely bypassed the Menteri Besar and appointed his own candidate for the state secretary's position while the Selangor state government is still in process of identifying the most suitable candidate through proper channel and procedures.

Or perhaps, if Tan Sri Sidek says it is not his fault, then who instructed him to create all these chaos in Selangor? Is the prime minister who is also the Umno president Datuk Najib Razak pulling the strings from behind? We are sure that Najib would soon come out to push the blame back to Tan Sri Sidek by saying that the appointment was with JPA and not him. In the end Najib would just wash his hands and pass the buck back to Tan Sri Sidek.

So, Tan Sri Sidek, what do you have to say for now? You had definitely sabotaged and indeed jeopardized the relationship between the state and federal governments with your rudeness and being unprofessional in your duties.

Well, you had already shown your great powers to step on the Menteri Besar's head. You helped the Umno president by acting on his behalf and now you have to take ownership of the "kurang ajar" title.

By the way, are you going to do the same on Kedah, Penang and Kelantan states as well?

BN making people hates them!

I believe the regular readers of my blog, would have sensed that off late my write up has been more accommodating in defending BN and whatever they have been doing. That is my character. If you do good I say you do good but if you do bad, I will scorn you. I have criticized PR quite a fair bit because of the party polls fiasco. I got myself closer to the BN folks in the process. Like millions of others in this country, I am fed up with the unfinished politicking in this country especially when it comes to petty issues which are aimed at scoring political mileage and not focusing on the people.

My researched on Gapurna/Puncak Wangi/Azmin Ali shows me how dirty Malaysian politics are. It is my conclusion that FMT was used by AA recent enemies from the heart of Damansara to tear him down. That case actually straightens my thinking a fair bit. I have decided that I will not join politics and will remain as an NGO to championed people issues. I don’t have the necessary skills to be a politician in Malaysia.

Since the issue of the appointment of Selangor SS was highlighted, I sensed a strong Déjà vu of the Perak episode recurring here in Selangor. The many legal eagles who have been giving their comments about the issue in my blog have their own view. I am not a lawyer but I appreciation of the issue of law is simple. From the moral and constitutional point of view, I am clear in my mind the current Perak government is illegal. The former MB loss of support has not been established in the state assembly and Sultan has acted beyond his powers under the law. I have no doubt about that and for that reason my banner remains black.

This morning, I was shocked to read that the Selangor Palace has sent out invitations to Kushrin appointment as the SS which is to be witnessed by the Sultan. The yearend shocking news shows how the palace has interfered in the administration of the State. The people interest has been placed secondary and no respect has been given to the due process and the laws. The law is clear that the SS is to be sworn in by the MB and not the Sultan. The Sultan is interfering in the administrative process.

In my mind, the Selangor palace has gone overboard with their actions. It is not much different than in Perak and these two royals has initiated dangerous precedents which threaten the long term survival of the monarchy system in Malaysia. Now I begin to appreciate why Mahathir took steps to control the monarch. The monarch failed to take into account that BN may not rule this nation for ever. It takes an endorsement in the State Assembly and change in constitution to further limit their powers. Mahathir has given the people the unobstructed path to the legislators just to do that. One wrong move, I sensed that if PR wins the next GE, the powers of the Sultan will be further defined. There will be a long list on what they cannot do!

The law clearly states that the SS swearing in to be done by the MB and not by anyone else. I guess what will happened is that the palace will invite Khalid to the event and automatically Khalid presence can be interpreted that the MB was present during the swearing in of the SS and therefore it is legal. His failure to attend will played by the media as disrespecting the Sultan. It is a catch 22 position. Maybe the MB should consider falling sick and get himself hospitalized on that day?

Right now, the short sighted move by BN is damaging all the good work that Najib does. Perception index on Najib has improved in certain segment of the society. I guess APCO people have done their homework in forecasting the outcome and preparing a counter strategy in controlling the damage. They must have done the scenario planning and comes out with plan A, B, C etc. I am watching the development of the SS closely. If Kushrin does get appointed and sworn in by the Sultan than BN will lose my vote. I would encourage the Sultan to stand for election in any constituency that he chose.

courtesy of Rights2Write

Selangor row heading for constitutional impasse

Karpal has been asked to help on behalf of the MB. — File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 31 — The controversial appointment of Datuk Mohd Khusrin Munawi as the Selangor state secretary may lead to a constitutional crisis if the Selangor Sultan carries out a planned swearing-in ceremony for the post on January 6.

Constitutional experts argued today that the ceremony, scheduled for next Thursday, was “unlawful” as the state constitution dictates that the oath of office has to be done in front of the Selangor mentri besar, and not the Selangor Sultan.

The Selangor government has insisted it has the final say in deciding the state secretary, after the Selangor Sultan agreed with Putrajaya to appoint Mohd Khusrin as state secretary despite Khalid having his own list of names for the top civil service post in the country’s wealthiest state.

It is understood however that outgoing state secretary Datuk Ramli Mahmud’s official oath of office was done in the presence of Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah back in March 2006, during the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) Selangor government.

“The Sultan has to seek legal advice from the state legal adviser before proceeding with this ceremony. On a matter like this, the Sultan acts on executive advice, His Highness cannot do it on his own. The concern is that if the ceremony is carried out, it can be declared null and void by a court of law. This is unconstitutional, as it is not within the provisions of the state constitution. The state constitution does not allow for this.

“It could lead into a constitutional crisis because it is not in line with the state constitution... but I hope this does not happen, that is why the Sultan must be extra careful before going through with this,” Karpal Singh told The Malaysian Insider.

The veteran lawyer revealed that he had been asked by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim to look into the legal aspects of the matter personally.

“I am actually looking at the laws right now... I have been asked to help on behalf of the MB,” said the DAP lawmaker.

“The act of the Sultan can be taken up in a court of law,” added Karpal.

Article 52 (4) of the Selangor state constitution stipulates that the state secretary “shall take and subscribe in the presence of the Mentri Besar the following oath of secrecy.” There is no mention that the state secretary’s oath of office has to be done in the presence of the Sultan.

Aziz claimed that the swearing-in ceremony in front of the Selangor Sultan was a ‘new practice’. — File pic

Constitutional expert Prof A. Aziz Bari claimed that the swearing-in ceremony of the state secretary in front of the Selangor Sultan was a “new practice,” saying that he was not aware that such a ceremony existed.

“As far as I know this is the first time such a ceremony is being held, even though I feel that it is only an official function and such a ceremony is not needed,” he toldThe Malaysian Insider.

The law expert echoed Karpal’s stand on the matter, saying that there was nothing in the state constitution which supported the basis for the planned ceremony.

“I don’t think this logic can be used, it is like a state assembly Speaker not having the power to take action against state lawmakers but the Parliament Speaker being able to do otherwise,” said Aziz.

The political secretary to the Selangor MB, Faekah Husin, confirmed today that the MB’s office received invitation letters for the January 6 ceremony three days ago.

Khalid has himself indicated that he will not accept Mohd Khusrin as Selangor’s new state secretary.

During a solat hajat function last night at his residence in Shah Alam, the Selangor MB had stressed that he still had the option to not accept Mohd Khusrin by not agreeing to him taking the oath of secrecy.

“If Mohd Khusrin does not take the oath of secrecy in front of the MB, then he cannot perform his duties as state secretary fully. He cannot attend state exco meetings or be privy to state secrets. Sure he will be state secretary in name but not by duty. MB is implying that this is the option Selangor has, to not allow the state secretary to angkat sumpah (take the oath),” Khalid Samad told The Malaysian Insider.

The Shah Alam MP was among those present during Khalid’s function last night, where the Selangor MB made his first public statement on the matter.

The Chief Secretary to the Government announced on Monday Mohd Khusrin’s promotion to replace Ramli, who leaves on December 31. - Malaysian Insider