MCA president dismisses the '1128 Declaration' mooted by Liow's faction

KUALA LUMPUR, Sun: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat has dismissed the 1128 Declaration mooted yesterday by supporters of MCA vice president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai in wanting fresh party polls to be held within 60 days.

Ong said any call for a fresh election must follow the party's constitution and be referred to MCA's central committee (CC).

"What is important is the constitutional provisions must be followed," he told reporters after attending an Aidiladha celebration in his parliamentary constituency of Pandan here today.

"If we love democracy in MCA, all quarters have to respect the due process.The wishes of the majority of the CC members must be respected.

The majority cannot bow down to the minority. That is not how a democratic party is run," said Ong, who is also Transport Minister.

As to the party's annual general meeting scheduled for Dec 5, he said any request for a postponement must be referred to the CC and that to his knowledge the Dec 5 date had not changed.

On the contention by Liow's faction that there was no need for MCA's Youth and Wanita wings to also hold fresh polls, Ong said grass root members felt otherwise and that they wanted the party constitution to be followed.

He also claimed that while he was in London recently, all kinds of slander were spread about him possibly because certain people were uneasy that he wanted wrongdoings in the Port Klang Free Zone controversy to be investigated. He added that he would not waver from doing what was right.

MCA has been wracked by a leadership crisis because of factionalism. Thereare three factions in the party, the president's, the deputy president's and Liow's, which wants a quick election to be held to resolve the crisis.

Deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek has said the earliest polls could be held would be in March. -- BERNAMA

Liow's faction wants fresh polls at CC level within 60 days

KUALA LUMPUR, Sat: The MCA special briefing today, unanimously passed a declaration to push for fresh polls at the Central Committee (CC) level.

In 'Declaration 1128', held in conjunction with today's date, some 1,600 representatives, including party members who attended the briefing organised by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's faction, are adamant that the polls be conducted within 60 days from today.

Liow said that this agenda (pushing for fresh polls) would now be his prime focus.

He also hoped that party president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat would stick to the consensus and the roadmap to hold fresh polls as soon as possible.

"I wish to stress here that the voice of the delegates and members who attended today's briefing is strong and clear (in urging for party elections to be held as soon as possible).

"I hope the party's top leadership will listen to the voice of the grassroots, and fresh elections will be held soon," he told reporters at a news conference after the two-hour session at Wisma MCA here. - Bernama

Disclose BTN course syllabus: Perak MB

IPOH: It is time for the government to make public the contents of the Biro Tatanegara syllabus to dispel suspicions by certain quarters about its objective.

Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir who himself had attended BTN or National Civics Bureau courses, said these courses were about educating public servants, students and other participating groups on their roles and responsibilities towards the country.

He said the Federal Government should not be too worried about making public the BTN curriculum to allay suspicions that its aim was an attempt to “indoctrinate” public sector servants and students to serve the interests of the political groups in power.

“This will prove that there is nothing malicious about the programme itself,” Zambry told the New Straits Times after Aidiladha prayers at the Sultan Azlan Shah mosque here yesterday.

He was responding to the move on Wednesday by the Selangor government to bar employees and students of state-owned companies and higher learning institutions from attending the BTN courses which it said was nothing but “brainwashing sessions”.

“Without reservation or doubt, I can tell you that these courses had helped me to identify and realise my goals, objectives, mission and responsibilities towards the nation.

“I can vouch that these camps help in instilling the spirit of sacrifice, commitment and patriotism for the country,” he said.

Following Selangor’s abrupt move, Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said BTN courses were not to instil hatred towards anyone or persuade participants to join any political party.

Muhyiddin, who is also deputy Barisan Nasional chairman and deputy Umno president, had stressed that the courses were held to instil the spirit of unity and love for the country.

Zambry said many members of Pakatan Rakyat had attended such courses in the past where they had learned about the importance of loving the country, respecting the system of administration as enshrined in the Federal Constitution and the cornerstone of racial interaction and integ ration.

“Today, they (the opposition members) are questioning the same curriculum.” Zambry, however, did not deny that that there were lecturers or speakers who were “over enthusiastic” in pushing for the idea of “serving the interests of the BN”.

He said the fact that the public was prepared to discuss, comment or criticise BTN camps showed that the public wanted it to be improved and that the government could be open-minded about the syllabus to make it more effective and wholesome.

MCA special briefing not necessary: Fong

KUALA LUMPUR,Fri: Former MCA vice president Datuk Seri Fong Chan Onn welcomed the decision to call off tomorrow's Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), but felt the special briefing session was not necessary.

"Upon canceling the EGM, the main thing now is for the leaders to work towards the new election and the briefing tomorrow is not necessary. Let the delegates decide during the election," said Fong, who is party central delegate, when contacted by Bernama today.

Yesterday, Wong Nai Chee, one of the key requisitionists for the EGM pushed by vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai's faction, had announced that the EGM would be replaced by a special briefing session for delegates after reaching a consensus with the party's top two leaders on a fresh election for the Central Committee (CC).

Meanwhile, MCA Central Committee member, Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai told Bernama that he was happy to see the conflicting factions reaching a consensus on having fresh polls.

"This is a democratic process that can resolve the party''s problem," he said.
Lim also said that he would not be attending the special briefing tomorrow. - Bernama

Mahathir-A Living Monument Of Shame

Mahathir is not only Malaysia's real dilemma but also a traitor of the highest degree. He'll be remembered as the one who institutionalised racism, corruption, nepotism, cronyism, destroyed our judiciary, democracy and freedom of the Press. He's truly a "Maha Koteh" & "Father of Corruption". Pity his children & grand children who might have to bear the brunt because of his shamed legacy later, even many years after he has died. He is now a living "monument of shame". Worse than Mugabe, Marcos & Suharto put together! - Anwar Ibrahim

'Dr M, you killed democracy in Malaysia'

'That is your legacy You silenced the voices of dissent in no uncertain terms. And in the end, the monsters your created devoured you in the process.'



Dr M on democracy and sore losers

Suhaimi Said: Dr Mahathir Mohamad, I remember you as a dictator. Hundreds of people were detained under ISA during your rule. So don't talk about democracy. I was a victim of your dictatorship.

Equaliser: Dr Mahathir, you killed democracy in Malaysia - that is your legacy. We don't need people like you anymore in this blessed country. You are a Malay nationalist, that's all. You didn't serve all of Malaysia's people, which include the Chinese, Indians, and other ethnic groups.

A statesman is one who has served his country's people well and promoted democratic values and principles within government institutions and society as whole. You silenced voices of dissent in no uncertain terms. And in the end, the monsters your created devoured you in the process.

Yes, you created monsters greedy for money and power, and who were willing to use any means necessary to acquire them. This country has failed to serve all its people and continues to do so. You began the trend of money politics and this is the result of your actions.

Just watch the news daily and you can see how lop-sided the coverage is in favour of the ruling party, and this right in front of our very own eyes. If only all Malaysians would open their eyes and ears to see and listen, they would know what to do come the 13th general election.

Kris: It has been estimated that during Mahathir's premiership, the amount of taxpayers' money allegedly misused by him and his cronies was in the region of hundreds of billions. To carry out this, he completely destroyed the judiciary and the enforcement agencies by replacing the honest top officials in these agencies with tainted officials who could be blackmailed into doing his bidding.

By having these people under his thumb and by controlling the media and the civil service, he ensured that he literally had dictatorial powers. To make sure that all the crooked deals that he made were not known to the public, he enacted laws like the Official Secrets Act.

In short, he was a premier who manipulated the democratic system to give himself dictatorial powers. That is why it is extremely disgusting to hear this man pontificating on democracy or corruption.
Playfair: It is sad but not surprising that Dr Mahathir continues to peddle half-truths to justify his opinions. He reduces democracy to a one-dimensional event - elections - and fails to refer to other equally important elements that constitute the package called democracy.

He speaks of "sore losers", but what about the 'tyranny of the majority' (which he should be all too familiar with)? A system cultivated and nourished through dubious means and made legal through a two-thirds majority and then used to subvert national institutions to do the bidding of the majority - sore losers are nothing compared to this tyranny.

Asian values were promoted as an ideology to restrict mass political participation, good governance, transparency and accountability. The sacking of Anwar Ibrahim could not have been more un-Asian, not to mention un-Islamic, un-Malay and un-Malaysian (if Umno will allow the use of such a term).

Please keep speaking, sir, so that we can find out how you worked your way to remain in power for so long.

TC88: Talk about sore losers. Mahathir is probably a hypocrite. When Umno was declared illegal and Mahathir's position as its leader and prime minister was sorely threatened, he sacked the then Lord President and the five Supreme Court (now called the Federal Court) judges when he knew the verdict was not going to be in his favour.

Dr Mahathir, you destroyed the very fabric of Malaysia's public institutions, its constitution, the judiciary, the enforcement agencies like the police, attorney-general, and the then ACA

This has been highlighted by Ku Li (Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah) in his speeches. Please do the honourable thing and retire, and just keep quiet like your anointed successor, Pak Lah (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi), the Father of Malaysia's Conscience. - MalaysiaKini

Muhyiddin meets Dr Chua, Liow

KUALA LUMPUR: MCA deputy president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek and vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai met with Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday, and expressed agreement for fresh party elections to be held.

Announcing the matter at a news conference at Wisma MCA here today, Dr Chua said the six-eyed meeting did not set any date for the elections.

Dr Chua said he proposed that the elections be held in March next year but Liow felt that the elections could be held next month or in January.

He said many delegates and leaders would be on leave next month and everyone would be preoccupied with the Chinese New Year in January and February.

"I understand that the party president (Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat) agrees that the elections be held after six to eight months. Maybe, he feels that the new election system (direct elections) would be suitable," he said.

Dr Chua said he hoped that all parties would compromise during discussions on setting the election date to maintain party stability and restore the members'' confidence in the leadership.

Asked for Muhyiddin's reaction over the meeting, Dr Chua said: "He hopes that all parties would engage in discussions with wisdom for the sake of the party and the Barisan Nasional (BN)."

Dr Chua also said that he hoped Liow would call off the extraordinary general meeting his side had set for Saturday as the EGM was contrary to the party constitution.

On direct elections, he said the discussions were on whether every MCA member should be involved or the number of central delegates eligible to vote should be increased.

Dr Chua, who heads the panel looking into the new election system, said the new format was expected to come into use only in 2011 as time was needed to make the switch.
-- BERNAMA

Kelantan is shaken and stirred

THE stronghold of Malaysia's opposition parties has always been Kelantan, the Malay-majority state in the east coast.

In the 2004 general elections when Umno-led Barisan Nasional was at its strongest - due to reform promises made by the then-new 'Mr Clean' Prime Minister, Abdullah Badawi - the opposition was in disarray.

Parti Islam SeMalaysia (PAS) lost Terengganu state, and was nearly wiped out in the Malay-majority states of Kedah and Perlis.

From 27 Parliament seats prior to the 2004 general election, PAS was left with seven. Still, PAS managed to hang onto Kelantan, with a slim majority of just two seats in the state assembly - PAS won 24 seats to 21 by Umno-BN.

If only two PAS assemblymen had defected, Umno-BN would have taken the state. Yet none did despite widespread speculation of multi-million ringgit promises to jump ship.

And after the March 2008 polls, PAS and its two partners in the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) alliance won five states.

Now four states are left with PR, after Perak was wrested by BN last February.

PAS has two menteris besar (chief ministers) in Kelantan dan Kedah.

Penang has as its chief minister a leader from PR's Democratic Action Party (DAP), and Selangor a leader from Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

PAS, DAP and PKR made up PR.

Selangor and Penang are the most industrialised of all 13 Malaysian states. Top industries are based there, both states have among the biggest ports in Malaysia and the highest-priced houses and commercial buildings.

Yet Kelantan remains the opposition's stronghold because it is seen as the most politically stable, after being under PAS for 19 years now. Its menteri besar is the aging, but revered, Nik Aziz Nik Mat, 77, who is also the spiritual leader of PAS.

Although cash-poor, PAS, Nik Aziz and the Kelantan government are seen as clean, ramrod-straight and the rock on which PR could build its 'church' (or mosque, if you prefer).

For the sake of opposition politics in Malaysia, everyone knows that Kelantan has to remain rock steady. Never mind the typhoons and hurricanes that have hit Kedah, Penang and Selangor.

But in the last few weeks, Kelantan PAS looks like a train wreck.

There are whispers of corruption, nepotism, back-stabbings and possible defections - albeit to another opposition party.

- First, there was the scandal involving the appointment of the son-in-law of Datuk Nik Aziz as CEO of the Kelantan state investment agency, Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman.

- Although seen as capable, Mr Ariffahmi has been accused of being pushy and brusque, and allegedly name-dropped his father-in-law's revered name too often to get things done his way.

- And then there was an investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission into the affairs of the investment agency, Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated.

- Mr Ariffahmi did himself no favour by getting his father-in-law, Mr Nik Aziz, to recently terminate the employment of a close aide of a top Kelantan politician, Datuk Husam Musa.

- The aide, Syed Azizi Syed Abdul Aziz, uncovered more worms in the state agency, thus putting pressure on Mr Nik Aziz to remove his son-in-law just two months into the appointment.

- There were also questions why Mr Nik Aziz accepted sponsorhip of a RM65,000 ($27,000) haj package by a staunch supporter. The sponsor who is close to the Menteri Besar also has a timber concession in Kelantan, which raised questions over the propreity of the deal.

- Mr Nik Aziz has since said that he will not perform haj this year, though he angrily retorted that there was nothing wrong with the matter only that mainstream media and new media had attacked him

- And now, there are rumours that Mr Husam has asked to quit his post as the economic, financial planning and welfare minister (state ministerial posts are called Excos).

Mr Nik Aziz has denied that his blue-eyed exco was quitting. And Mr Husam himself also denied the wild talk. In the halls of power in Kota Baru, the state capital, everyone knows that Mr Husam is Mr Nik Aziz's protege.

Mr Nik Aziz announced on Monday the removal of his son-in-law as CEO of the agency. This should reduce pressure on the menteri besar and cool the heads of thos in PAS who were angry about Ariffahmi's appointment and alleged bad moves in office.

- But on Sunday the spiritual leader went further, which would add to the intrigue in Kelantan.

- Mr Nik Aziz heaped praises on Mr Husam. Perhaps too publicly. And certainly by too many words.

- This was what he said, according to Malaysian media:

"I had refrained from praising him all this while to avoid hurting the feelings of other exco members who have done equally well in their respective portfolios.
"But truthfully, he is a unique leader who is instrumental in not only changing the Kelantan political landscape but also the national politics.
"Allah did not create Husam for Kelantan, but for all Malaysians."

That last praise: God created Mr Husam not just for the poor state but for all Malaysians, is being repeated and analysed by pro-PAS blogs - both by those who love him and those who don't.

The chattering classes within the conservative Islamic state cannot believe their ears.

And on Monday, there is news that PAS deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa - who defeated Husam to retain the deputy's post just five months ago in June - has been rushed to hospital. This could only add to the intrigue in PAS at a time when its rock-steady state is wobbling.

On the sidelines, Umno-BN is smiling, amid rumours that Prime Minister Najib Razak might call for snap elections around the middle of next year to get his own mandate.

But that's another story.

Kelantan MB's son-in-law relinquishes CEO post

2009/11/23

KOTA BARU: Kelantan Menteri Besar Incorporated chief executive officer Abdul Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman has been ordered to relinquish the post today.

Menteri Besar Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat said the decision to call for his son-in-law's resignation was made on the advice of the PAS central leaders.

The PAS leaders, who included party president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy spiritual leader Datuk Dr Haron Din, vice-president Sallahuddin Ayub and treasurer Dr Hatta Ramli had a meeting which lasted for about an hour with Nik Abdul Aziz at the Kelantan Menteri Besar's official residence, JKR 10, here earlier today.

"All of them advised me to safeguard the good name of Islam and PAS. Their advice is for my son-in-law to relinquish the post.

"When I appointed him before, the (state) legal officer did not say anything. So I appoint him," Nik Abdul Aziz, who is also PAS spiritual leader, told a news conference after the meeting.

The issue involving Abdul Ariffahmi surfaced after officers from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) raided the PBMK office to investigate allegations of cronyism and power abuse over his appointment by the Menteri Besar.

Meanwhile, Ariffahmi, who was also present at the news conference, said he accepted the decision and would tender his resignation. - BERNAMA

Pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand suspects Mr Teoh was murdered

The body of a Malaysian opposition activist who died in police custody has been exhumed after a pathologist said there was an 80% chance he was killed.

Teoh Beng Hock fell nine stories to his death from the offices of the Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission in July.

He was said to have committed suicide after being questioned over allegations that his boss had misused public funds.

The authorities will be conducting a second autopsy on the body, following suspicions of foul play.

Last month Thai pathologist Pornthip Rojanasunand said marks on the body suggested Mr Teoh had been tortured and strangled.

Her testimony had been sought by the opposition-led authorities in Selangor state - where Mr Teoh was an aide to a member of the state cabinet.

Abuse of power?

The BBC's Jennifer Pak in Kuala Lumpur says her story gave credence to a widely held belief that Mr Teoh's interrogation was part of a government drive to discredit opposition politicians after their success in 2008 elections.

The ruling coalition's confidence was shaken after it lost its two-thirds majority for the first time in four decades.

The country's anti-corruption commission has called on a British pathologist to observe the second post-mortem on Mr Teoh's body.

The Malaysian government has accused the opposition of politicising his death.

In July, a member of the governing coalition quit to join the opposition Pakatan Alliance.

Chua Jui Meng said he was concerned about alleged abuse of power and Mr Teoh's unexplained death.

Teoh’s second autopsy ends

Dr Vanezis arriving at Sungai Buloh Hospital for the autopsy. — Picture by Choo Choy May

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 22 — Sungai Buloh Hospital chief pathologist Dr Shahidan Md Noor has finished a second post-mortem on Teoh Beng Hock carried out today under the watchful eyes of experts engaged by both the Selangor and federal governments.

Teoh family lawyer Gobind Singh Deo said earlier the pathologists began about noon after completing the second computed axial tomography scan (CT) and X-ray scan. It was estimated that the autopsy would take between three and five hours to complete.

Teoh's body was exhumed yesterday following an order from the coroner's court investigating the DAP political aide's mysterious death outside the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) Selangor office on July 16.

The two experts observing the second post-mortem are renowned Thai pathologist Dr Pornthip Rojanasunand for Selangor while the MACC has engaged Dr Peter Vanezis, who had participated in Princess Diana's inquest.

Dr Pornthip's testimony that Teoh's death is 80 per cent homicide had contradicted the findings of the first post-mortem which suggested the 30-year-old had committed suicide.

Teoh's family had disputed the results as he was due to register his marriage on the morning he was found dead.

Magistrate Azmil Munthapa Abas, acting as coroner, then ruled that Dr Shahidan, assisted by Dr K. Saravanan in taking photos, will conduct the fresh post-mortem which is also being attended by pathologists from the first autopsy — Dr Khairul Azman Ibrahim and Dr Prashant Naresh Samberkar.

Teoh's body was exhumed from his tomb at the Semenyih Memorial Park after his elder brother and younger sister performed religious rites.

The casket with his body was then taken to the Sungai Buloh Hospital where Dr Shahidan and Dr Pornthip conducted X-ray examinations ahead of the autopsy.

Earlier this morning, Teoh's family members turned up at the hospital and conducted rites and burned offerings. Reporters were barred from the forensics department but Teoh's family members relayed news occasionally.

Weapons drawn for new battle

Even as Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s court trial looms close, he has been in top oratory form in the last few weeks while officiating at PKR gatherings around the country.

THERE was a flutter of excitement when Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak walked into the backbenchers’ lounge of Parliament.

It was a rare sighting because the Prime Minister almost never has time to lepak or hang out at the posh lounge.

One of the first persons to step up and greet him was Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was in his usual cluster of seats, which some MPs now know as “Anwar’s habitat”.

The Opposition leader was with several other MPs including Umno firebrand Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, the up-and-coming DAP MP for Rasah Anthony Loke and PKR’s Aziz Kadir of Ketereh.

It is not unusual for MPs from opposing sides of the floor to rub shoulders outside the House but this involved the PM and the Opposition leader, two adversaries whose opinions and feelings about each other are all too well known.

Moreover, it was the first time the two men had mingled in a situation as social as this.

Even the conversation was light and rather cheeky, with Anwar teasing Nazri about how loyal he had been to Najib inside the House earlier that day.

Anwar related how, when debating the V.K. Lingam video case, he had made references to the Prime Minister, whereupon Nazri had jumped to his feet to ask which Prime Minister he was referring to.

When Anwar said it was “the one I had served before”, Nazri rebutted that it was an old story which belonged to the History Channel, a pun on the fact that Astro’s History Channel is now running a bio-pic on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Nazri then proceeded to tell the teh tarik group that Anwar had slipped to third spot in Dr Mahathir’s hate-list. He joked that the top spot was held by the former Prime Minister while second place, Nazri claimed, belonged to none other than himself.

It looks like the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department is still smarting from Dr Mahathir’s remark that the younger man should have been dropped from Najib’s Cabinet.

The teh tarik session was a rare moment between the two nemeses and many MPs could not help but stare and strain their ears to hear what was being said.

But banter and laughter aside, the political divide between the two men remains as wide as ever.

One man intends to hold on to the prime ministership while the other aspires to unseat him; and only the fittest and most strategic will survive.

Just a week before the teh tarik session, Najib had been the prime target of attack at the PKR Selangor convention.

The Selangor government has been feeling under siege for months now, and they are afraid Najib will pull the rug from under their feet the way it happened in Perak.

Anwar was at his oratorical best at the Selangor convention, and he had challenged Najib “to try to touch us in Selangor”.

“He told us he is going to be a key player in Selangor from now on. His new role as economic advisor (to the Selangor government) will provide a platform for him to help defend the state,” said Selangor PKR Youth chief Khairul Anuar.

Anwar, or the ketua umum (supreme leader) as he is known in the party, has been on a road tour of sorts over the last few weeks, officiating at the various state party conventions.

New evidence on MCA snoop squad case arrives at doorstep

PETALING JAYA: The MCA snoop squad case should be reopened by the party’s presidential council in light of “new evidence” that literally arrived at the doorstep of Datuk Theng Book’s office.

The Puchong division vice-chairman said he received three volumes of the MCA investigation panel report on the existence of a “Three-Man Secret Committee” dated June 10, 2008 outside his office in a box about two weeks ago.

He said that after studying the books, he realised that there were elements which corroborated with MCA veteran Wong Leong’s claims that party vice-president Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Wee Jeck Seng and former Gerakan Belia Bersatu chairman Tee An Chuan were part of the snoop squad.

Wong had previously alleged that the three-man snoop squad was set up by former president Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting to oust his political enemies including former Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek.

“Many incidents in the report were left unanswered. We want justice to be upheld for Wong because the panel findings said he was uneducated, did not know anything and that there were other people backing him,” said Theng, who is also Wong’s lawyer.

He also urged the MCA president and presidential council to reform the disciplinary board, which had recently resigned en bloc, to open up the case and give Liow a fair chance to clear his name.

“If Liow has nothing to do with the secret committee, then we want justice for him too,” Theng told a press conference here yesterday.

He showed members of the media the three volumes of reports he received at Jaya 33 here.

Among the “elements” in the report which Theng pointed out was that the statements from several witnesses including Dr Chua, former vice-president Datuk Donald Lim, former Serdang MP Datuk Yap Pian Hon and former Damansara Utama assemblyman Lim Choon Kin had backed Wong’s claims.

He said some witnesses spotted Tee in Liow’s office when the latter was the Deputy Youth and Sports Minister.

“Tee had to wait for Liow for three to four hours so Liow had allowed him to use his room. This occurred not just once or twice but rather regularly. Is this normal practice for a visitor to see the deputy minister?” he asked.

Theng added that although Liow claimed that Tee was helping him with a youth national training programme at that time, the details of the duties assigned to Tee must be made known.

“Some witnesses also said Tee had travelled throughout the country to meet branch leaders and only asked about local politics such as who certain members were supporting. It was very strange that he seemed to know precisely the details of the membership of certain divisions,” Theng said.

“If Tee denied that he was receiving RM10,000 a month from Ong, then how would he have the means to travel around the country so often?” he questioned.

He said the root of MCA’s current leadership crisis stemmed from an “invisible force” which was controlling the party.

Asked whether he thought the Prime Minister’s intervention into party matters would help solve its problems, Theng said: “So far, there is no formula and both conflicting parties have not come together for a settlement. But I hope everybody will agree on being united.”

Tee Keat’s political secretary quits

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — Simon Lim, a top aide to MCA president and Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, has resigned after the MCA central committee (CC) meeting on Wednesday.

Lim, the political secretary to Ong, said he personally tendered his resignation letter, dated Nov 18, to Ong with a copy to the prime minister.

"I personally handed it to him at his office at the Ministry of Transport after the CC meeting. My resignation will take effect on Dec 1," he told Bernama today.

Citing personal reasons for his decision, Lim said he wanted to return to his law practice where he was once a senior partner in the law firm, Simon and Co.

"Actually I had planned to go back to my law practice after the MCA Extraordianry General Meeting (EGM) that day (Oct 10). Now I think it is the best time to do that," he said.

However, he declined to say whether his resignation was connected with speculation that he disagreed with Ong over the latter's decision to revamp the MCA presidential council recently.

Apart from being Ong's political secretary, Lim is also the MCA Special Task Force Bureau head.

A New Role for Sabah and Sarawak

By their very nature, we cannot escape the fact that no matter where in the world, federal arrangements will lead sooner or later to ugly, acrimonious, and bitter controversies and confrontations.

The history of federations is littered with political stillbirths and abortions, and the Malaysian federation is beginning to show cracks with Kelantan, on at least two occasions, expressing unhappiness over the handling of oil revenues by the central government, and now Sabah, to a less extent Sarawak, complaining about not getting a fair crack of the whip in what they see as a hopelessly unequal partnership.

Sabah and Sarawak are the two survivors of the countries, (Singapore opted out after two years) that agreed to join Malaya to create a new country called Malaysia based largely on the Federation of Malaya constitutional model. Federation in the Malaysian context is a myth. We are a unitary state and governed as such from Kuala Lumpur with no pretence that it is otherwise. Without the entry of Sabah and Sarawak, agreeing to come in and lending their considerable weight to the Malaysia concept, there would have been no Malaysia to begin with.

Singapore saw very quickly that it was going to be treated no better than any of the Malay States in the Federation of Malaya and made a hasty exit. It has never looked back. Sabah and Sarawak did not at their then stage of development appreciate what they had got themselves into.

Today, in these two countries, there is a heightened awareness of the distortions and contradictions in the federal arrangements that leave Sabah and Sarawak, the second and third legs of the Malaysian body politic in a limbo.

Their position cannot by any stretch of the imagination be regarded as in any way subservient to the Malay States collectively known as Malaya or sometimes referred to as Peninsular Malaysia. Malaysia is in effect a tripartite arrangement that should confer equality of treatment. But in reality, the three component parties are not in all respects. Sabah and Sarawak deserve better.

This leads me to a consideration of the urgent need to recognise the importance of Sabah and Sarawak in the overall scheme of things by giving them their rightful place as equal partners and be treated as such. I repeat that they are not Malay states. They have their own proud traditions and identities and resent being exploited by Malaya-based political parties looking to bolster their chances of forming the federal government. Sabahans and Sarawakians have attained a level of social and political development when they may reasonably expect to play a bigger and more meaningful role in their countries' affairs.

They have benefited from their association with us, and we should be happy to let them develop on their own. They must be given a bigger voice in the running not only their countries, but also Malaysia as a whole. There is no place for overbearing condescension over people who more than four decades ago were persuaded against their better judgement to throw in their lot with a political arrangement they did not fully understand.

I cannot see these two countries not flexing their muscle and demanding a more just and equitable role for themselves consistent with their enhanced level of political maturity. It is better to be proactive in defusing their sense of injustice before matters go out of hand. We need to revisit the constitutional arrangements we have with Sabah and Sarawak and for this purpose a group of experts from Sabah and Sarawak, together with those representing the Government of Malaysia be appointed.

I believe there is still a great deal of goodwill for Malaysia, but it has to be a new Malaysia in which Sabah and Sarawak can see themselves playing a bigger role commensurate with their true worth and value as important lynchpins in the whole mechanics for sustainable growth of the nation.

If we cannot meet the legitimate aspirations of these countries, then we should let them go free if this is what they really want. I know the Malaysian Constitution does not allow states to secede from the federation, but the thing here is that if they want to part company and with our approval, why not? They might become tomorrow's Singapore, who knows. I have throughout this piece referred to Sabah and Sarawak as countries by way of emphasising their distinctive character. They are not to be treated as Malay states.

We hope it will not come to this, but we ignore their cries in the wilderness at our peril. Let it not be said that it is a case of too little, too late. (By TUNKU ABDUL AZIZ/MySinchew)

A Third Force In Malaysian Politics?

THE departure of the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) from the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition in recent days could have impregnated our body politic with far-reaching consequences, even if top BN leaders have brushed the incident aside as something they long expected to happen.

With only two Members of Parliament (MP) and four state assemblypersons, the SAPP may be regarded as a “mosquito” party. But it has played a critical role in Sabah’s complex state politics, ensuring thus far the continued grip on state power by the Sabah BN.
Yong Teck LeeThe president of the SAPP, Datuk Yong Teck Lee, is a particularly respected political leader in Sabah, especially among the Chinese community. To date, he is probably the most articulate spokesperson on the neglect of Sabahan woes by the federal government in the last few decades.

His insistence that the SAPP leave the BN, on the principle that prime minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has failed to fulfil his promise of solving the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah, is bound to strike a sympathetic chord among the multiracial population of the Land Below the Wind.

That the SAPP has chosen not to join Pakatan Rakyat is interesting.

While the parliamentary opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim continues to mesmerise and baffle Malaysians with talk of a regime change in Kuala Lumpur through mass defections of BN MPs to the Pakatan Rakyat, that process is mired in a sea of technical problems. The laws and parliamentary conventions simply do not have a clear-cut precedent for such a procedure.

With such uncertainties hanging over that possibility, the SAPP people are simply keeping their options open in these very muddied times. Perhaps they see no immediate advantage in joining the Pakatan Rakyat immediately.

After all, Sabah politics is a unique universe unto itself. What has worked so well for the Pakatan Rakyat in Peninsula Malaysia may not work at all in Sabah. Like Sarawakians, Sabahans are much more passionate about their state problems than national politics. In that sense, Sabah politics is localised, and this is an attitude often described by peninsular counterparts as “parochial”.

Lost confidence

A third force in Malaysian politics?
(© Sam LeVan / sxc.hu)The departure of SAPP must have inflicted deep wounds within the BN coalition in Sabah. Whether their bold move will trigger a domino effect of successive departures of other component parties in the state and national levels of the BN is unclear. Nobody in Malaysia nowadays dares to claim to be a prophet, with dramatic and unimaginable developments unfolding before our eyes daily.

What is certain is that the SAPP may not be the only component party that has lost confidence in the concept of the BN.

After the 8 March political tsunami, the MCA and Gerakan have been grumbling about how they had become victims of Umno’s racial posturing throughout the years. Many of the leaders of MCA and Gerakan, at various party levels, have attributed their electoral demise to the voters’ disenchantment about Chinese representation in government.

In the case of Gerakan, they have been wiped out of their power base in Penang. In recent months, there has been a lively debate in the Chinese press on whether the party should quit the BN. There have been calls for leaders and members to revive the original spirit of Gerakan’s multiracialism as envisaged by their founding members in the 1960s.

In this soul-searching exercise, some Gerakan leaders have proposed that the party need not join Pakatan Rakyat upon departure from the ruling coalition. The born-again party can seek alliance with like minded Malaysians to constitute a third force in Malaysian politics.

The SAPP could very well be kick-starting that third-force alliance outside the two dominant coalitions, the BN and the Pakatan Rakyat.

Pros and cons of a two-party system

With this talk of Pakatan Rakyat emerging as the government-in-waiting of Malaysia, commentators extol the virtue of a two-party system to replace the old virtual one-party state. Less discussed are the pros and cons of a two-party system as opposed to a multiparty system, as is the case in Germany, Israel, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom.

A multi-coalition system is still something to be explored, and may not come to pass in the end. But the prospect nonetheless presents some very interesting possibilities.

A third force in Malaysian politics?
(© Diego Medrano / sxc.hu)For one thing, small parties within all the three coalitions could play the king-maker role in determining who shall hold the reigns of power. This will be to the great advantage of many small political parties in Sabah and Sarawak. No small political party will ever be a mere “mosquito” party anymore.

Furthermore, the emergence of a third force will also decentralise further the monopoly of power at the centre.

Let us suppose that this third force joins hands with a victorious Pakatan Rakyat in a future election to form a new government. If the new Pakatan Rakyat government turns out to be as repressive as the old BN, then there is no reason why this third force cannot use that leverage to check and balance the new political masters. Their most effective weapon is to threaten to join forces with the old BN again!

Then, political narratives will be much more diversified and hopefully much more dynamic than at present. A multi-coalition political system would then be good for the progression of healthy democratic culture in Malaysia.

I am getting ahead of myself, of course. It all goes to show that all sorts of vibrant possibilities have surfaced only after the 8 March general election.

Whatever our uncertainties at the confusing turn of events, we at least have ample evidence that Malaysians are increasingly alienated by the divisive communal politics of the past, and that we cannot accept on faith alone the kind of soft totalitarian patriarchal politics that has dominated our country for half a century.

There is still hope for Malaysia yet!

End

Shafie's Advice For Those Who Want To Join Umno

Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal on Sunday advised young people and professionals who faced restriction in joining the party at branch level to forward their membership application directly to the party headquarters.

"The processing of the membership application can be expedited then," he said after attending a meet-the-people session, here.

He was asked to comment on the claim by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that some Umno branch leaders restricted young people from joining the party for fear that these new members would eventually pose a threat to their positions at the branch level.

Shafie said branch leaders should not prevent young people and professionals from joining the party as these people would be of benefit to the party and country in the long term.

"Recent amendments to the party constitution have simplified the membership application procedure. An application only needs the signatures of the divisional chief as well as the heads of the various wings at that level," he said.

Shafie said a meeting of the Umno Membership Committee, of which he is chairman, would be held on Dec 17 to discuss efforts to increase the party's members.

He said the party would attempt to draw more members from among young people and professionals in the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Anwar Admits Crisis Exists In Opposition Pact

Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) advisor Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Sunday admitted that a crisis exists among parties in the opposition pact on the ground due to their political differences.

"In the opposition pact, it is understandable that not all parties will agree with each other. In PKR, we will find a crisis even at the branch level.

"If they feel that they cannot agree with something, they will get angry and act like they are ready to launch a war.

"I would like to remind those on the ground that we have our own channel to voice our opinion," he said when opening the Kelantan PKR Convention here today.

Anwar said the dispute among PKR leaders on the ground would also prompt them to turn their backs on other parties in the opposition pact.

He expressed disappointment with certain quarters in PKR who sensationalised their dissatisfaction in the media as it would only jeopardise ties among opposition parties.

PAS Crisis: EGM The Final Solution

Conversations with several PAS leaders on the leadership crisis affecting the party indicated that the issue is anything but resolved.

While some view the matter as no longer an issue as it has been left to the party's disciplinary committee to resolve, others feel that it should be discussed and that the best platform to do so will be at the party's political seminar scheduled for Saturday.

There are also those who feel that an extraordinary "muktamar" or general meeting (EGM) will be the best way forward to resolve the impasse should the disciplinary committee and the one-day seminar fail to break the deadlock.

Shah Alam member of parliament Khalid Samad said the option to hold the EGM is open for consideration by party members as the matter is allowed for under the constitution.

"It is an extraordinary move but if that can provide the solution, or if the solution sought through the seminar or the disciplinary committee is not forthcoming, then I think party members have the option to call for an EGM," he told Bernama here.

Ironically, PAS vice-president Salahuddin Ayub stressed that the seminar was to replace the EGM.

The seminar, however, would not discuss the leadership crisis in the party as the purpose was to get the views of members and two political observers on steps PAS should take to strengthen its role in the opposition pact, Salahuddin said.

The two political observers invited to share their views are Prof Dr Abdul Aziz Bari of the International Islamic University Malaysia and Prof Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah of the University of Malaya.

"This (leadership crisis) does not arise anymore; we consider it settled. We leave the issue regarding (Selangor PAS commissioner) (Datuk) Dr Hassan Ali to the party's disciplinary committee to investigate," Salahuddin said.

Another vice-president, Datuk Mahfuz Omar, concurred with Salahuddin's statement, saying the leadership issue would be thrashed out by the party's disciplinary committee.

But Mahfuz appears to be sidestepping the issue when asked about the fact that other leaders described by a political observer as "problematic leaders" have not been referred to the disciplinary committee.

"How would you know? Are you the disciplinary committee?" asked Mahfuz.

The party's central committee, at its meeting on Oct 28 which was also attended by spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, had instructed the party's disciplinary committee to investigate the Selangor PAS leadership on grounds that they made decisions contrary to the spirit of consensus of the opposition pact.

However, several names like president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, deputy president Nasharudin Mat Isa and secretary-general Datuk Mustafa Ali, who were mentioned by Prof Abdul Aziz Bari as "problematic leaders" and prompted Nik Abdul Aziz to call for an EGM to rid the party of them, are not subjected to any investigation.

Attention is focused instead on Hassan and Selangor PAS leaders who are said to have acted contrary to the interest of the opposition pact in the state.

"Prof Abdul Aziz, in his analysis, said that Selangor is in trouble. He said that these leaders (Nasharudin, Mustafa and Abdul Hadi) are protecting Hassan because they concurred (with the stand taken by Hassan on several issues including his call for a ban in the sale of alcohol).

"If the disciplinary committee takes action (against Hassan), then there is no truth to the claim and there is no reason for any quarters to allege so," he said.

The Selangor PKR-DAP-PAS government has been treading on shaky ground on numerous occasions due to the stand taken by Hassan on certain issues.

He has also been adamant in defending his stand even if it runs contrary to the stand taken by the opposition pact.

Among them was his call to ban the sale of alcohol in Malay-majority areas in Selangor, a move seen by political observers as having the potential to erode the support of non-Muslims towards the party.

Hassan also came under fire for openly criticising the investigation methods employed by the Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency (Selcat), a body established by the Selangor opposition pact.

Hassan and several PAS leaders in Selangor may be facing disciplinary action.

However, there is also the question of the fate of other leaders whom Nik Abdul Aziz is not too happy with.

Political observers agree that PAS will remain intact despite the severity of the crisis.

They also see that the current impasse is nothing more than a manifestation of the power play between Nik Abdul Aziz and Abdul Hadi.

But their observation is based on history and on different generation of leaders. In reality, the party is divided into two -- on one side is the conservative ulama, on the other is the liberal professional ulama.

Can PAS withstand the force of crisis until the next party elections or will a new chapter in its history be written, which will force the party to call for an EGM?

BN Government Must Always Be The Champion For All Malaysians, Says Najib

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 8 (Bernama) -- The Barisan Nasional (BN) government must be deeply committed in championing the cause of the ordinary people if it wants to remain in power in the next general election and beyond, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

He said the fall of some of the established parties in other countries, particularly the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan, should be a lesson for the BN to constantly serve the people better.

"I was made to understand that one of the reasons LDP lost (in the recent general election) was because the government was said to be out of touch with the people.

"This reminds me and the BN government including LDP in Sabah of the need to always subscribe to our ideals, that is to serve the people and not to be served.

"Let the BN be the champion for all Malaysians," he said when opening the Sabah-based Liberal Democratic Party's (LDP) congress at 1Borneo, near here on Sunday.

Also present was LDP president Datuk VK Liew.

Najib, who is also BN chairman, said the opposition in the country made an impact in the last general election because the BN then was weak.

"It is not because the opposition is popular but it is because we lost popularity among the people," he said.

In this respect, he called on the BN component parties to work hard to serve the ordinary people.

"We must be committed and not just pay lip service to the people. This is the only way for us to win the hearts and minds of the people," he said.

On development, Najib assured that the Federal government was going all out to minimise disparity in terms of development between Sabah and Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia.

"That's why we give big allocations for Sabah and Sarawak with regards to development in rural areas," he said.

Najib said the Federal government also recognised the wishes of the people of Sabah and Sarawak to celebrate the formation of Malaysia and declared that Malaysia Day, which falls on Sept 16 annually, would be a national public holiday from next year.

"We recognised that the formation of Malaysia as an independent and sovereign country was an important chapter in the nation's history," he said.