EXPOSED : ILLEGALS OBTAIN MYKAD but Citizen deprived by issuance Red Mykad

Widely read newspaper EXPOSED that illegals obtain Mykad within 3 months while Malaysian citizens are deprived their Mykad when application for renewal was faced by the issuance of a Red Mykad (Non-Citizen).

Is the NRD going to investigate this latest allegation?

source : MiLoSuaM

From love letter to walking stick, everything 'SOLD' to help PR

Pakatan Rakyat leaders put some of their most cherished belongings last night under the hammer in an event to raise campaign fund for the upcoming general election, bringing in a total of RM182,000 within hours.

The fund raising session, on the sideline of a dinner with PR leaders at Stadium Malawati in Shah Alam, was attended by almost all top leaders of PAS, DAP and PKR, including supporters and donors who travelled from Sabah and Sarawak

An outpouring of love from behind the bars, written by PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim to his wife Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail when the former was imprisoned, fetched the highest price of RM50,000, sold to former deputy minister for Housing and Local Government Lajim Ukin, who quit UMNO earlier this year.

A caricature titled 'Kuasa Rakyat' (People's Power), drawn 'live' at the event by well-known activist-cartoonist Zunar, fetched RM32,000.

Other PR 'paraphernalia' which injected cash into the election coffers include a pen used in prison by Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng (RM23,000), a portrait of PAS president Tuan Guru Abdul Hadi Awang in a fishing trip (RM17,000), a graduation photograph of former PKR deputy president Dr Syed Husin Ali (RM15,000), and a walking stick that had long accompanied Kelantan Menteri Besar Tuan Guru Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

The event also managed to raise RM22,000 from sale of 255 tables, and another RM20,000 from donations by participants.

-Harakahdaily

'Now I have to sleep alone' Teresa auctions off teddy bear

PETALING JAYA - Seputeh MP Teresa Kok auctioned off her 'sleeping partner' on Friday during a Pakatan Rakyat fundraising dinner in Shah Alam.

The teddy bear, which has been in her possession for years, was handed over to a Lembah Pantai voter, Judy Tong, who was the highest bidder at RM10,000.

"This is the first time I donated a personal item for auction and it was fun. I have to 'sleep alone' from now on, but for the sake of Pakatan, it is worthwhile," she said in a statement today.

The auction was held to raise money for the coming general elections.

According to Malaysiakini news portal, another personal treasure auctioned off was DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng's pen, which he said he used to write letters to his wife during his stay in Kajang prison, for RM23,000.

Another notable item is the love letter written by opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to PKR president Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail which fetched RM50,000.

The auction added a total of RM182,000 to Pakatan's coffers.

-thesundaily

Budget snub a ‘blessing in disguise’

Although there is no Budget cheer for Sabah and Sarawak, the people in the two states can now plan for alternative solutions in the coming general election.

ANALYSIS

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and Sarawak, which have been treated as Barisan Nasional’s “fix-deposit”, have been sidelined in Budget 2013.

But it is a “blessing in disguse” because the people in the two states can now plan for alternative solutions.

It appears that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, his advisers and the ruling BN are very confident that both states won’t slip away from BN grip at the coming general election.

This explains why they could afford not to deal with the prevailing “touchy” issues in Sabah and Sarawak.

Otherwise, they would have addressed several “heartbeat” issues in Sabah and Sarawak..

Besides development projects, the basic needs here are houses, roads, water and electricity – all priorities with East Malaysians.

Important too is the abolishing of the chocking cabotage policy on transporting goods to the two states.

The cabotage policy generally stipulates that imported goods to Sabah and Sarawak must come through faraway Klang Port, even if there is a shorter route and cheaper vessels to the states from the source of the goods.

And to cap it all, in Klang, the cargoes must be unloaded onto Malaysian vessels only, many owned by proxies, to be brought to Sabah/Sarawak, across 1,000km of seas.

As a result, it has caused the prices of goods to soar higher in the two states than in the Peninsula.

Najib failed to address the cabotage issue. Instead, he planned to introduce more state-owned low-price stores in the states but the quality of their goods is unknown.

‘Easier to decide now’

Chairman of UK-based Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPi MaFo), Daniel John Jambun, said now that the two states have been sidelined in Budget 2013, it would make it easier for Sabahans and Sarawakians alike to think about alternatives in the coming election.

“While the budget is a good BN budget, we must bear in mind that Sabah and Sarawak contributed huge amount of revenue and yet we get nothing in return.

“This is why we are the poorest now in Malaysia as the focus of development has always been in the Peninsula. This budget confirmed it.

“If Najib is sincere, he should have listened to East Malaysia. Maybe he takes us for granted,” he said when contacted.

Jambun, who is also deputy chairman of the State Reform Party (STAR), said Sabah BN leaders would be heaping praises on the budget but right-thinking people would think otherwise and start looking for alternative solutions.

“It is a blessing in disguise… there is always a silver lining in the clouds…” he said from Kuala Lumpur where he was attending a political meeting.

Another issue of great importance to the coming general election is the oil royalty.

While Pakatan Rakyat in its shadow budget unveiled a few days ago announced an increase royalty from 5% to 20% to oil-producing states if it takes over the federal government, Najib chose to confidently ignore it.

Political scientist Dr Arnold Puyok, meanwhile, said Budget 2013 is a budget to expand or grow the economy in the face of the government’s “alarming” deficit.

“I would hope to see more measures to reduce wastage and to ensure financial accountability,” he said.

Nothing significant

He said the good thing is that more incentives were given to fishermen and paddy farmers.

“This will help grow the traditional economy and alleviate poverty in the rural areas.

“Goodies to young and single people is an indication that the ruling party is set to win the hearts and minds of first-time voters in the upcoming election,” he said.

Economist Jerome Majanil viewed Budget 2013 as a political budget and was surprised that no major announcements were made for the corporate sector.

“The prime minister should be giving more attention to the corporate sector as it is this sector that gives money to the country.

“This budget should have said something on corporate tax so as to make sure we are continuously competitive and also ensure companies would not close down as they do pay taxes,” he said.

Majanil was also shocked to see that nothing big was announced for Sabah and Sarawak, especially on perennial issues affecting the slow development of the two “poorest” richest states in Malaysia.

“There is nothing for Sabah and Sarawak. The cabotage policy, for example, was willfully ignored. The government didn’t abolish or liberalise it. What is 50% discount for ferry fares to Labuan? It is nothing compared to the cabotage issue,” Majanil told FMT.

‘Diverting attention’

He said the need for a bridge to Labuan was also not addressed.

“Some of the recommendations are very difficult to implement. This is just a way of diverting attention.

“This budget is throwing away money,” he said.

Veteran journalist, Joe Fernandez, said “no matter what the budget says, the prime minister cannot run away from the fact that his BN coalition has outstayed its welcome”.

“After 55 years of BN rule, people are waiting to move into the 21st century.

“The focus of the next general election will not be the budget but the growing realisation and awareness among the people that no party should be in power for more than two or three terms at a stretch,” he said, adding that the opposition could do better.

The lesson from Suaram episode

Something has gone wrong with the Scorpene deal that is now giving Najib sleepless nights not knowing how else he is being exposed by Suaram.

Funny how circumstances develop or are made out to be, like that in the case of electoral reform advocate Bersih and recently, the human rights defender Suaram.

When Bersih (Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections) took to the streets not once but thrice to pressure the federal government to clean up the electoral system, it was deemed as a traitor out to dethrone the Barisan Nasional government.

Supporters of BN even went to the extent of claiming that Bersih and the opposition under Pakatan Rakyat are working hand-in-hand to turn Malaysia into a republic, accusing the duo of taking a cue from neighbours Indonesia and Singapore.

Such claims hold no water but still BN loyalists continue their barrage of condemning the demands made by Bersih which wants elections in the country to be held in a clean and fair manner.

While the onslaught on Bersih continues, no thanks to the propaganda of the BN-controlled press, another “sting” has caught BN’s attention; this time the attack is on Suaram, which has been championing human rights issues in this country for 23 years.

An irony that after two decades of doing good work, Suaram has become the BN government’s “top most priority” all because this human rights watchdog had the guts to initiate legal proceedings over alleged corruption over the purchase of Scorpene submarines.

Suaram is instrumental behind the Scorpene corruption trial in France, a deal which allegedly implicated Najib Tun Razak. The case also involved Altantuya Shaariibuu, a Mongolian interpreter and model who was murdered near Kuala Lumpur in 2006.

Needless to say, Najib is not amused; he is angry that a human rights non-governmental organisation has the gumption of wanting to see him punished for corruption charges.

So what does the premier do? He demands that no effort be spared in making sure Suaram “bites the dust” and that it goes down in history as an NGO that harboured the desire to create chaos in the country.

Attack on Suaram tells of Najib’s fear

Suaram has “been in business” for 23 years and why is it that only now has the BN government and “intellectuals” like Chandra Muzaffar discovered that something is amiss with this human rights group?

Chandra in an interview with Berita Harian published on Sept 20 had said that the United States-based National Endowment for Democracy had been known to lend financial support to NGOs in particular countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria with the objective of making people rise up against leaders who were allegedly deemed to be cruel.

Chandra had previously chastised Bersih 3.0, deriding it over its quest for human rights. Last year, Chandra, a former ISA detainee, said the 1987 Ops Lalang crackdown was not the work of former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and was purely a police operation.

Chandra, by the way, is the chairman of the Board of Trustees of Yayasan 1Malaysia.

Had Suaram not bothered investigating the unscrupulous deal involving the purchase of two Scorpene submarines at a staggering RM7.2 billion, there would have been absolutely no backlash of any kind from the government.

This can only mean that Suaram is on the right track and has ruffled some feathers, one of them being Najib; this is why he is going all out to malign Suaram’s reputation, his way of teaching the “suara rakyat Malaysia” to “mind its own business”.

BN must mirror itself first

BN accuses Suaram of receiving funds from currency speculator George Soros and to the morally “uptight” minds, it is “duit haram” or illegitimate money coming from Soros.

But then the conscience of this very government never pricks when its politicians or ministers engage in high-level corruption or other unsavoury acts.

That explains why there was not a whimper when Mirzan Mahathir, who is the owner of a new petrol and gas company, Petron, paid for the acquisition with money gained from the sale of shares in the San Miguel beer company.

Petron acquired oil refiner Exxon Mobil Malaysia Bhd in April this year when it bought 65% of the firm; Petron now has full ownership of the subsidiaries Exxon Mobil Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Exxon Mobil Borneo Sdn Bhd. (It has since rebranded 580 former Exxon Mobil fuel stations nationwide and will do so with 120 more stations by the end of the year.)

Not a murmur came from the BN camp condemning Mirzan for using money obtained from “illegitimate source” to acquire Exxon Mobil Malaysia. Can Najib or his team of “initiated” ministers enlighten the rakyat on this strange anomaly?

Then there was also the issue of Petron having inked a deal with Malaysia Airlines for the supply of fuel for the national carrier’s entire Airbus A380 fleet for six months.

Did Mirzan, a former investment banker, manage to save his skin simply because his father is Mahathir Mohamad?

The Suaram episode has taught the rakyat that the BN government is corrupt and shamelessly engages in nepotism and cronyism. Otherwise, why has BN been nonchalant to the fact that Mirzan’s Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd, a listed haulage and logistics company, controls almost half of Malaysia’s road freight market?

Something has gone wrong with the Scorpene deal that is now giving Najib sleepless nights, not knowing how else he is being exposed by Suaram.

Look at the bigger picture

The move by Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob to get six government agencies to take action against Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, the operating entity of Suaram, for breaching five sections of the Companies Act 1965, is not going to fool the rakyat.

Instead, the unremitting efforts by Suaram in disclosing the suspected irregularities found in the submarines deal have left a mark with the rakyat.

Pathetic that BN is desperately looking for ways and means to nail Suaram to the extent that even Mahathir has decided to chip in, saying American tycoon Soros’ intention to fund several NGOs and companies in Malaysia via his Open Society Foundation is because he wants to control the Malaysian political scene and select his people as prime minister.

But then Mahathir is an opportunist who has taken this opportunity to hit back at Soros for calling the former a “loose cannon” and “menace to his own country” 15 years ago.

If receiving global funding is wrong, then Najib should pay heed to the request from Women’s Aid Organisation executive director Ivy Josiah who has urged the government to provide more funds for work against domestic violence.

Ivy had said that this year, WAO received only RM30,000 to carry on with its efforts to champion women’s rights. She called on the government to muster the political will to be pro-active in the protection of women, adding that while the Welfare Department and the police had stations all over the country, they lacked the resources to combat crimes against women.

“Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak should pay attention to this,” she had said.

So it’s best Najib looks at the bigger picture and not turn revengeful towards Suaram for exposing the truth that he and his cronies allegedly pocketed sinful amounts of money through the Scorpene deal because they got too greedy.

Now, is that not haram?

Jeswan Kaur is a freelance writer and a FMT columnist.

Najib, debate Anwar if Buku Jingga worthless

YOURSAY 'We cannot understand how Najib can market something as good, but yet be afraid to have a one-on-one debate.'

PM: Buku Jingga not worth the paper it's printed on

Starr: It's ludicrous to think that in this world only Umno-BN can come up with 'doable policies' and nobody else; it borders on absurdity.

This is the biggest problem of the Umno-BN government for the past 55 years, that they only see the 'speck of dust in others' eyes but not the log in their own'.

Let's remind Prime Minister Najib Razak and his cohorts in Umno-BN that they don't have the 'monopoly of truth' and the 'divine right' in running the country.

If Umno-BN has been so correct in its policy prescription for the country, how come we are lumbered with so many ills and problems today?

How did we land ourselves into having to borrow so much - to the extent of RM503 billion and edging closer to the statutory debt ceiling of 55 percent of GDP? If Najib is honest enough, he should face up to the truth that the country has been badly run.

Anonymous #09339782: Ah Jib Gor (Brother Najib), don't just talk. Go take on Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim in a debate since you are so confident of your doable policies. Dare you?

Fair Play: If Buku Jingga (Pakatan Rakyat's master plan) is not worth the paper it is written on, why bother to comment, Najib?

Wira: Dear PM, the rakyat would like to see you debate Anwar your so-called proven economic policies against Buku Jingga.

We cannot understand how, as a political leader, you can market something as good, but yet be afraid to have a one-on-one debate.

Versey: To our honourable PM, since you are so confident to 'point out' that the Buku Jingga is not worth the paper it is printed on, and the opposition's alternative Budget 2013 is not workable, why not accept Anwar's repeated invitation/challenge to debate on the government and opposition policies, manifestoes and national budgets, etc?

If you are so sure of yourself that your party's policies are the better ones, the debate will only be to your advantage.

Firstly, Malaysians aren't stupid, we know how to compare and are discerning. Secondly, it is an opportunity to show that your transformation programmes are genuine and that you are a determined reformer.

Thirdly, you can give us an opportunity to 'evaluate' you directly, this would be far better and more effective strategy than those offered by your public relations consultants to boost your image.

Finally, you can take this opportunity to silence all your critics, even those within your own party.

#27342##65#: Ah Jib Gor, don't be like a spoilt boy yelling here and there. Try to be like a civilised man.

Look at the world's oldest democracy, the United States, where President Barrack Obama and his opponent, Mitt Romney, are debating till the 11th hour before the general election so that Americans can judge and vote for the better president.

Just build up a little confidence and face Anwar who has been calling for a debate. After all, you have been saying that Malaysia is the world's best democracy.

Ferdtan: Beginning next week, Americans will be able to gauge the ability of the next head of state to be elected in the November presidential election between Obama and Mitt Romney in a series of three debates.

Here, what have we? Anwar has many times challenged Najib for just one debate. Najib can find fault with the Buku Jingga but he dares not debate.

Najib, have courage to have a debate which could make yourself legendary. At least, history may treat you kindly for that one brave decision.

Changeagent: Whether the Buku Jingga is worth the paper it's printed on is a matter for the voting public to decide.

Your task, Najib, should you choose to accept it, is to come up with your own set of policies on how to advance the country and its human capital, improve the economy, and fight corruption that has been endemic in the BN government since the days of Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Leave the critiquing job to us, the public. Otherwise, we will ensure that you self-destruct by the next general elections.

Headhunter: So why is Najib stealing idea after idea from Buku Jingga? The BN is bankrupt of ideas of their own and apart from bribery, Najib is as clueless as ever in moving the country forward.

Mushiro: The impact of helping the rakyat through BR1M 2.0 or the RM250 for students' books will not last even half a month.
Abolishing or reducing tolls and PTPTN (National Higher Education Fund) will definitely help - but I guess Umno cronies will suffer.

Najib's budget has failed to address inflation, education, healthcare, transportation, cheaper cars, lowering housing cost and crime rates, which are the issues looming over our heads every day.

So this cannot be a people's budget. Najib's speech was also silent on the GST (Goods and Services Tax) which everyone is very worried about. This silence can only mean that Najib is going to introduce GST should BN win the next GE.

#27342##65#: How is one to live with just about RM40 a month? We can't even pay toll monthly to companies owned by Umno cronies.

Meanwhile, former minister Shahrizat Abdul Jalil and her family received RM250 million. Her young kids are drawing monthly salaries of up to RM60,000.

With this free money, they have bought posh apartments locally and overseas, which could earn them rental income monthly. So much for Najib's slogan ‘Rakyat di Dahului' (People First).

Righteous: Najib says the BR1M is for those earning under RM3,000 and not the rich. Does anyone else have an issue with being considered rich for earning over RM3,000 a month?

Does anyone have an issue with being lumped with the likes of politicians and BN cronies that earn, I mean get, far, far more than that?

Righteous: The PM should have his pay cut to RM3,000 a month and try to live on that himself.

NX: In Malaysia, when you are caught stealing small time, you are arrested and imprisoned. If you rob big time and rape the country through lopsided contracts to enrich your cronies and family members, you become a minister.

This is what BN has achieved and yet the PM has no qualms in preaching righteousness.

Jean Pierre: "Thankfully, Pro-Aspirasi, who supports the government, won in 18 out of 20 campuses without having to buy votes," said Najib.

What? Truth comes out glibly. - Malaysiakini

Ahmad Zahid's '3-3-3-1 formula' to regain Penang

Umno Penang needs to defend its 11 state assembly seats and achieve the '3-3-3-1 formula' if BN wants to regain Penang at the 13th general election.

Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the formula involved Umno, MCA and Gerakan adding three seats each and MIC one seat to the existing 11 state assembly seats.

"We can form a BN government in Penang by a majority of one seat if we achieve this.

But if the BN component parties work harder I'm confident we can win more state assembly seats here," he said.

Ahmad Zahid, who is also defence minister, was speaking to reporters after the launch of the 'BN, The Choice of the Youths' state-level programme in Butterworth yesterday.

'PKR being used by DAP'

In the 2008 general election, BN won only 11 of the 40 state assembly seats contested while DAP dominated with 19 seats, PKR nine and PAS one. 

Commenting on the tiff between Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng and Deputy Chief Minister 1 Mansor Othman, Ahmad Zahid said the crisis was due to the PKR leader beginning to realise that his party was being used by DAP.

The crisis between Lim and Mansor was sparked by a leaked audio recording of the state PKR chairman criticising Lim as cocky and arrogant during a closed-door party meeting in March.

- Bernama