28 March 2023

Pagoh met King Salman via zoom in Saudi...

 
Perikatan Nasional (PN) MPs have been reminded not to skip but to attend en masse the Prime Minister’s question and answer session (PMQ) today (March 28) after the opposition camp chastised Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s recent three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia as both a failure and wastage.

Ticking off the opposition block, the Prime Minister’s senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin said it is compulsory for all PN’s key leaders to attend to hear straight from the horse’s mouth “complete answers” to their impending queries.

“The Opposition and their supporters both fussed over and politicised PM Anwar’s visit to Saudi Arabia,” Shamsul penned on his Twitter account yesterday (March 26).


“My advice (to all PN supporters) is not to only express your grouses outside but instead be daring enough to get your party leadership to pose your questions directly in Parliament during the Q&A session with the PM without chickening out.”

The former Hang Tuah Jaya MP also included a video clip of him questioning several key PN leaders who often did not attend the PMQ session slated at 10am every Tuesday, hence questions for the PM were often asked by government MPs.

“For example, previously there was no PM who was willing to spend 30 minutes in Parliament over a Q&A session to answer any issue. But we see that the opposition is not keen to ask questions in the Malaysian Parliament,” lamented Shamsul.


“Where was the Opposition leader (Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin) when the PM answered questions on Tuesdays (previously)? Where is Pagoh (Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin)? Where is Marang (Tan Sri Hadi Awang)? Where is the PN leader who is supposedly outspoken in attacking the unity government?”

He added: “But when the PM was in the Dewan Rakyat they were not in the front row. That to me is hypocrisy of the highest level.”


In fact, the Community Communication Department (J-KOM) director-general Datuk Mohammad Agus Yusoff had on yesterday (March 26) denied that Anwar’s maiden visit to Saudi Arabia failed because he did not meet King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince-cum-PM Mohammed bin Salman nor was not brought into the Kaaba.

He explained that the leadership of Saudi Arabia has requested that the PM’s three-day visit be extended for two more days to hold a four-point meeting with the leadership of the monarchy. This is because the Saudi King and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had altered their schedule ahead of Ramadan.

However, Anwar had to decline because of his one-day official visit to Cambodia today followed by a courtesy call on Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Li Qiang next. – focusmalaysia





Muhyiddin is surrounded 
by stupid people...

Not everything is as rosy in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) as the leadership is telling the people, despite the screaming headlines saying they are winning the upcoming state elections with great confidence. At least two videos circulating on Twitter show the infamous blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin or RPK, one of the first soldiers of the reformasi movement in 1998, schooling PN elements on the weaknesses of their strategies.

RPK is heard advising the PN members, saying catchy phrases like ‘you pay peanuts, you get monkeys’ after a PN member said it is hard to get volunteers to do a 24-hour keyboard warrior job, as suggested by the blogger. “Forget about volunteers. You pay peanut you get monkeys,” Raja Petra is heard saying.

Twitter users are playing around with the statements by RPK, who also said former premier Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is surrounded by idiots.He also said the problem with Bersatu is the party itself, with its grassroots waiting for support, which makes the party weak.

Twitter user @NabilahAzharrr said...


In English, the user is saying the leader of the PN supporters, (known to Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporters as walaun, walauntit) gets a smack on the face from their own beloved ‘idol’ (RPK).

“The most piercing sentence, ‘you pay peanuts, you get monkeys’ saw the PN member cringe and fall,” regarding one of the participants in the video talk who is seen leaving his seat after RPK said you get monkeys for peanuts.

Another user @City01011 added...


“The PN members are living in Malaysia where there are laws that should be obeyed. If they get sued or need a bailout, it is not sure whether the teacher (RPK) will foot the bill.”

Meanwhile, user @MRLofficials said...


“So RPK is working 24/7 non-stop to slander others. No wonder there are always slanderous and hateful posts on his social media.

“Now he wants to teach the youths how to attack the government. Enough is enough. Come back (to Malaysia) and settle your court case, then vote. Only then you are powerful,” added the user in addressing RPK. — focusmalaysia

PM Anwar Ibrahim said he’s attacked by the opposition for fighting corruption, speaking to Malaysian diaspora in Phnom Pehn earlier today he vowed to fight on relentlessly. The problem the country faces is not about race or religion but a corrupt system of governance. - MelGoh

Ni baru betul undi PH dapat Zahid...

cheers.

25 March 2023

Four perspectives on the Jom Ziarah issue...

 
I would like to clarify to Malaysians on the Jom Ziarah issue as I understand it. I would like to offer four different perspectives of the issue and how these aspects paint Malaysia for the next 20 or 30 years or so. As a clarification, the Jom Ziarah program is said to have already been in existence before the formation of the Unity Government and was continued by the new Minister of Youth and Sports.

Hannah Yeoh was said to have given the go-ahead for an organizer to take youths of different faiths and races to visit different houses of worship to help create a more understanding, accepting and harmonious society in the future and in the present.

The issue came to light when a known opposition supporter accused Hannah Yeoh of the “Christianizing” agenda. After that, a Selangor exco and religious authority had banned any more visits to houses of worship by other faiths.

For me, this is a deep and terrible setback for Malaysia that should have progressed and not regressed to pre-Merdeka sentiments of racial and religious mistrusts. For my first perspective, I would like to deal with Hannah Yeoh and the Jom Ziarah program in this uncertain time and in a newly formed Unity government.

On the one hand, we must all applaud her clear intention of trying to make Malaysia a better home for all by instilling the young voting people with the right mindset and attitude towards living with diversity in faiths and cultures. This seems to be needed badly after GE15 showed the gullibility of some youths in making decisions based on TikTok nonsense and religiously vile messaging.


However, the minister can be seen to be questionable in her timing because any such event could trigger an attack by the conservative opposition always trying to create a narrative of Malay-Muslims being threatened by others in this country. She should have waited after the state elections perhaps, so that this excellent program could be of better use. At the moment, she has just presented one strong bullet for the opposition.

The second perspective is what a Sarawak minister has said regarding the issue of visiting houses of worship by all Malaysians. He reminded that Malaysia is a country of diverse groups and the key to living together is not isolating ourselves from each other. I commend highly this Muslim minister or else, if he were not a Muslim, his voice would be totally irrelevant to the Malays.

As such, it shows that the nations of Sabah and Sarawak are the only bastion left of a moderate Malaysia and a harmonious society representing the original intentions of our founding fathers of many races and faiths. 

The toxic narrative of Malay-Islam in Semenanjung will eventually destroy this country under such parties as PPBM and PAS, with possibly Gerakan as an “innocent” bystander or “comply-er.” We are living in extremely dangerous times when a whole opposition is made up of one race with one narrow agenda of weaponizing Islam to rule Malaysia.


The third perspective is the statement of the Johor Sultan who reminded Johoreans to abide by the Bangsa Johor and honor the diverse heritage of our people. So it seems that we now have a Bangsa Sarawak, a Bangsa Sabah and a Bangsa Johor as against the Bangsa PAS and a Bangsa PPBM.

Both Bangsa PAS and PPBM have no place in Malaysia and hopefully these people should relocate or keluar Malaysia as they are too “holy” and “too fearful of their faith being compromised.” The Johor Sultan was right in saying that most Muslims’ faith is stronger, and visiting churches or temples will not result in them being converted to other religions.

Perhaps PAS and PPBM MPs have never visited churches in London. And I would recommend that Anwar send these people on a holiday paid by the people of Malaysia to Westminster Abbey to visit the incredible stone construction and sculptures of Gothic architecture.

Before these “uneducated MPs in the religions of the world” visit London, they should perhaps allow me to give an introductory lecture to the meaning and concept of houses of worship in various religions, especially the role of the mosque as a nation-building entity.


The fourth and final perspective is that of the Selangor exco who seemed to have gone half cocked and gave a knee-jerk reaction to the issue by outright banning the visits to other houses of worship.

On the one hand, his reaction is understandable looking at the strong narrative of mistrust created by PN on the Malays which won them an impressive number of seats in Parliament. If the exco had not reacted in that harsh way, Selangor may see Azmin Ali as the minister or worse, one of the PAS MPs. Habislah itu macam for this country!

If that happens, we all good Malaysians should ask the Sabahans and Sarawakians to accept us as citizens of their nations. There is no Malaysia in a PN Selangor! I would like to ask the exco not to be too quick in his pronouncement but politically he had probably saved Selangor with his quick but unpopular reaction. We are living in extremely dangerous times when a whole opposition is made up of one race with one narrow agenda of weaponizing Islam to rule Malaysia.

As public universities and their so-called intellectuals are probably comfortable with that agenda of PN, we Malaysians must stand fast, united and resolute to stop this political juggernaut from quashing all our dreams and our children’s future. We Malaysians must be smart and politically savvy in dealing with issues that seem to be “unfair” and “backwards.”

We must play the hunting game of waiting in silence and speaking only when it is strategically important and not emotionally governed. We cannot afford to make slip-ups like what Hannah Yeoh’s good intentions could have caused us. We must wait and bide our time. Malaysia is in peril and only we can save her, not the politicians. - Prof Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi 

The end of Mahathir’s trick,
legacy & political journey... 

When Mahathir Mohamad was asked in 2003 by Asiaweek how he would like his legacy to be remembered, he said – “Oh, I really don’t care. In 40 years, I’m not going to be around and when you’re dead, people will say nasty things about you. It doesn’t make a difference to me.” That was during his first stint as prime minister, whose iron-fist rule span for 22 years from 1981 to 2003.

He was asked the same question again in 2021 during an interview on radio station BFM. Aged 95, he had resigned about a year earlier as the prime minister for the second time, which lasted only 22 months. Again, he boastfully said – “I don’t care about my legacy. I am quite sure when I can dead and gone, people will still run me down. And all that will not seem important, I’ll be dead anyway.”

The dictator lied. He actually still cares very much about his legacy even till today. He was pretending that he didn’t care because during both interviews, he knew his legacy would be intact even after he was no longer the prime minister. Before he quit in 2003, he specifically handpicked Abdullah Badawi – a lame duck who slept most of the time on the job – as his successor.
Mahathir Mohamad, Abdullah Badawi, Najib Razak

Likewise, before Mahathir resigned in 2020, he had a secret meeting with the very same crooks from the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) whom he had condemned as corrupted, as well as with the same bunch of religious extremists and hypocrites from PAS Islamist party whom he had slammed as deviationists who would go to hell due to their false Islamic teachings.

Mahathir resigned in 2020 after he was satisfied that his most trusted lieutenant – Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin who had betrayed the democratically-elected Pakatan Harapan government – would ensure his legacy remained protected. That’s why the two-time premier did not bother to consult with allies in Pakatan before he resigned, leading to the collapse of his own government.

In both occasions, he made sure his successors were either incredibly incompetent or fabulously corrupted before he resigned. Exactly what was his legacy? To ensure people remember him whilst his families continue to benefit – both financially and politically – from the web of business proxies and cronies built over 22 years through the monopoly of Malaysia’s economy and award of government contracts.

The award of government contracts, licences and approved permits (AP) gave birth to a handful of billionaire cronies like AP King Nasimuddin, Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, Halim Saad, Wan Azmi, Amin Shah, Tajuddin Ramli, Mohd Razali, Vincent Tan, Ting Pek Khiing, Yeoh Tiong Lay, Loy Hean Heong, Ananda Krishnan and even his own sons Mirzan and Mokhzani Mahathir.

Ketuanan Melayu

His Vision 2020 was never meant to be achieved, not with racist and discrimination policy like the NEP (New Economic Policy) derived from “Ketuanan Melayu”, the ideology of Malay supremacy espoused by UMNO which had flopped and instead saw brain drain in the form of hundreds of thousands of technical skills migrated to other countries at industrial scale.

Interestingly, in an interview with the Financial Times during the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok in November 2019, Mahathir self-proclaimed that he considered himself as the only best person to lead the country. He claimed to be the only man with the necessary experience to solve the country’s financial problems – the clearest sign he trusted no one but himself to protect his legacy.

After 24 years running the country, including handpicked a leader who slept on the job while another who became the world’s biggest crook stealing tens of billions of dollars, Mahathir had lost his legitimacy to say he was the best man for the job. Yet, the old dog that can’t learn new tricks shamelessly tried to launch two new national car projects – even after the failure of Proton.

Mahathir could not explain why for 35 years since the establishment of Proton in 1983, the national automaker needed special protection and billions of dollars of subsidies. Proton was given a variety of government assistance – waived taxes alone totalled up to RM13.9 billion. In fact, by the mid-1990s, Proton had sucked up RM12 billion of taxpayers money in the form of subsidies.

The simple fact that Proton has turned profitable after his protégé-turned-nemesis Najib sold it to China’s Geely speaks volumes how Mahathir’s policy of mixing politics with business was a recipe for disaster. Proton was arguably one of Mahathir’s biggest pet projects and legacy which had failed spectacularly. He would not think twice about throwing good money after bad money for the sake of ego.

Like it or not, everything is being controlled in Malaysia through AP (approved permit), import and export permits, licenses, monopoly and whatnot. The system was designed in such a way to enrich only some selected Malay elites – from import of vehicles to monopoly of rice and sugar, and from import of meat to monopoly of energy and toll collections since 1980s.

All hell broke loose after the Nov 2022 General Election. Mahathir was convinced UMNO-led Barisan Nasional would win big, allowing the return of the corrupt government, which in turn would see his legacy remained intact. However, when it was clear that Anwar Ibrahim, his former deputy whom he had sacked in 1998, has become the 10th Prime Minister, the old man was devastated.


Not only his legacy would be dismantled, Mahathir dynasty might collapse if PM Anwar is allowed to crack down on corruption, nepotism and cronyism. Anwar’s first target was Mahathir’s biggest crony – billionaire Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary – whose business empire included plantation, automotive, ports, power generation, postal services, news media, telecommunication and the list goes on.

It didn’t take much pressure from Anwar to see Syed Mokhtar quickly agreed to share 30% of net profit from his cash cow, Padiberas Nasional Bhd (Bernas) – with paddy farmers, on top of RM60 million for rice smallholders. The tycoon’s Bernas monopoly of the rice industry made a whopping revenue of RM4.67 billion and RM182.25 million in net profit in 2021 alone.

Anwar-led Unity Government’s latest target is the “bloodsucking” Touch ‘n Go monopoly on the public transport fare and toll collection payment system, another cash cow originated from Mahathir’s legacy.The joint venture between CIMB Group Holdings (52.2%) and PLUS Malaysia Bhd (20%) and MTD Equity (27.8%) subsequently saw CIMB acquiring all the shares (100%).

It was part of Pakatan Harapan’s election manifesto to dismantle the monopoly in the food and essential sectors to ensure competition so that unfair profiteering can be stopped. Unable to criticize the government’s crusade to demolish the decades-old monopoly system which he painstakingly built since 1980s, Mahathir has resorted to playing the race card to overthrow Anwar government.

First, the 98-year-old Mahathir expressed his doubts over PM Anwar’s ability to lead the country through the economic recession and post-Covid pandemic recovery challenges. The former premier then falsely claimed that the majority Malays “did not benefit” from the multi-ethnic unity government, suggesting the Malays cannot survive based on “meritocracy”.

As usual, his ranting saw attacks on vernacular Chinese and Tamil schools, blaming the minorities’ refusal to assimilate like the Chinese Indonesians, who had been compelled to abandon their Chinese names, language, culture and education. Of course, Mahathir conveniently ignored how the Chinese Indonesians, despite having surrendered everything, was still the main target during the 1998 riots.

 In 1998, as a result of an internal power struggle within the military elite to become Suharto’s successor, violent riots exploded in Jakarta. The May 1998 Indonesia racial riots saw at least 10,000 people were killed and at least 168 cases of rape – most of the victims were ethnic Chinese. Business owners had to pay local thugs to protect them from the anti-Chinese violence because security forces were largely absent.

Non-Chinese at SJKC vernacular school

Someone should give the senile old man a knock on his head to remind him that at least 80,000 Malay students are studying in Chinese schools nationwide. Malay parents are sending their children to vernacular Chinese schools out of preference for the quality of education there. Is Mahathir trying to say these Malay parents are stupid?

He also slammed non-Malays for their insistence to identify themselves as Malaysian Chinese or Malaysian Indians, allegedly unlike Malays who only identify as Malaysian. It was a big fat lie because like his last endorsed prime ministerial candidate – Muhyiddin Yassin – most Malays actually identify themselves as “Malay first, Malaysian second”, thanks to UMNO’s indoctrination.

It was absolutely hilarious when Mahathir tried to prove his “Malayness” with argument that he chose to identify himself as a Malay even though his ancestors were from Kerala, India. In truth, he was extremely ashamed of his Indian ancestry, so much so he admits there were only spoonfuls of Indian blood in him. He felt insulted – even deplorable – being known as the son of Iskandar “Kutty”.

He happily harboured and protected Indian Muslim hate preacher Zakir Naik, a permanent resident of Malaysia who ignorantly but deliberately said the Malaysian Chinese aren’t born in the country so they, as the “old guests”, must go back to China first before he (the “new guest”) can be asked to leave. The fugitive preacher had also questioned Malaysian Hindu’s loyalty to Mahathir.

Just because Mahathir is ashamed of his Indian blood, it does not give him the right to demand ethnic Chinese and Hindus to also forget their roots. The racist chose to protect religious extremist Zakir, who didn’t pay any taxes, rather than fellow loyal citizens of Malaysia – ethnic Chinese and Indians. But it appears his trick, legacy and political journey has come to its end.

Not only Mahathir-led Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition lost all the 121 parliamentary seats it contested in the 2022 General Election, the former premier and his son Mukhriz were among 369 parliamentary candidates who lost their deposits after obtaining less than one-eighth of the total number of votes. It was the most humiliating moment in the political career of Mahathir Mohamad.

Heck, the ex-PM had even lost the Langkawi constituency, supposedly his stronghold. In desperation, he quits his freshly established Pejuang, effectively abandoned his crusade under GTA. He has now joined Putra (Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia), the political extension of Malay supremacist group Perkasa, while telling his son to apply to join Perikatan Nasional.


Unfortunately, even religious extremist PAS and racist bigot Bersatu, two main components of Perikatan Nasional, has rejected Mukhriz Mahathir’s application to join the biggest opposition bloc. Mahathir thought he could impress Perikatan Nasional with his latest racist drama. He has forgotten that Muhyiddin and Hadi are 100 times more racist and radical.

Mahathir’s game plan was so outdated that the opposition could see miles away how the desperate old man wanted to piggyback on Perikatan Nasional for some free seats in upcoming six state elections. The problem is he has zero value propositions to offer. Exactly why should PAS or Bersatu sacrifice seats for Pejuang which they can win without Mahathir’s help?

The two-time premier should realize that his expiration date is long overdue. His attacks on non-Malays mean he cannot cooperate with Pakatan Harapan. His son’s desire to join Perikatan Nasional was seen as a desperate, opportunistic and unprincipled move. His sales pitch that Malays need protection – forever – has attracted not only very little interest, but was seen as competition to Perikatan Nasional.

You see, Mahathir believes he was superior and Malays have little or zero dignity. Hence, when he attended the so-called Malay Dignity Congress in 2019, he insulted and belittled them for being lazy, untrustworthy and weak and indoctrinated them with the belief that they badly needed a leader like him to protect them. He had no clue that it was an admission of his own failure during his 22-year-rule.

Malays might have been hoodwinked by Mahathir in the 1980s. But the community is a lot smarter since the day the government lost the control of mainstream news media to alternative media. Now, the former dictator has accused Anwar administration of being a cruel dictatorship after his “Malay Proclamation” gathering to incite and provoke Malays to overthrow the government was called off.

If Mahathir does not care about his legacy, he would have retired after his recent humiliating defeat. If he still has some tricks up his sleeve, he would not have panicked and labelled Anwar a dictator without looking at the mirror. And if he still commands meaningful support from the Malays to continue his political journey, he would not have joined Ibrahim Ali’s party. You can’t fool all the people all the time. - FT





cheers.

23 March 2023

Guan Eng didnt revoked Albukhary's tax-exempt status...

 
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has denied claims that Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, as then finance minister, revoked the Albukhary Foundation's tax-exempt status. Anwar told the Dewan Rakyat that under sub-section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967, the Inland Revenue Board's director-general has full power over matters related to tax exemption, with no interference from the finance minister or prime minister.

"The Albukhary Foundation has been given approval for tax exemption under subsection 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967, and the government has confirmed based on finance ministry's records that YB Bagan (Lim) as then finance minister had never revoked the status as alleged," said Anwar during the Prime Minister's Question Time.

"Therefore, the allegation that he (Lim) revoked the tax exemption is not true because the fact is that the unprecedented approval for tax exemption involving the Albukhary Foundation and Albukhary Group was only given on Feb 25, 2021," said Anwar, who is also the finance minister.


DAP national chairperson Lim Guan Eng has warned Perikatan Nasional chairperson Muhyiddin Yassin against mounting a racially charged election campaign based on alleged slander linked to the Albukhary Foundation's tax-exempt status.

Speaking to reporters outside the Dang Wangi district police station, Lim said his police report against Muhyiddin was intended to prevent the matter from being used as campaign fodder for the upcoming six state elections. "If we don't stop these (lies) then, they (PN) will use it in the next state elections. I think that's extremely dangerous. "It is something that we must stop. Please campaign based on fact.

"Don't be like Donald Trump. Campaigning on lies," said Lim in reference to the US former president's 2016 presidential campaign known for its right-wing message to “Make America Great Again”.

On March 9, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin accused Lim of revoking the tax exemption granted to the Albukhary Foundation when the latter was finance minister. Muhyiddin made the claim after he was summoned by the MACC to have his statement recorded, and among the issues raised by the anti-graft agency was the appeal against the cancellation of the tax exemption granted to the Albukhary Foundation. Lim has since denied the claim.


Lim, who was accompanied by Jelutong MP RSN Rayer as his lawyer, as well as other DAP MPs present in solidarity, said Muhyiddin has refused to retract the accusation even after Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's statement in Parliament yesterday.

Furthermore, Lim noted there could be consequences of alleged attempts to play up racial sentiments with a false narrative that a "non-Muslim finance minister is cancelling the tax-exempt status of a charitable Islamic institution".

"That is very sensitive. One, if it's true, and worse if it's not true [...] No matter how much explanation we say 'this is not true', the damage is done."People believe it because it comes from a former prime minister," he said. Lim in his police report urged police to probe Muhyiddin for criminal defamation and also attempt to incite a breach of peace. - mk


Dr.M the peddler of lies,
unless history lies...

Former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come out with some startling statements without batting an eyelid. That is typical of him! But these are nothing but blatant and unvarnished lies – and Dr Mahathir is a master at this! What he recently said and claimed left many flabbergasted and in shock. He painted PM Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim “as an oppressor – one that is worse than the British colonials”.

“During the British era, we can speak out, form parties, and fight for the Malays. During my time Malays could speak out too but in Anwar’s ‘democratic’ era, Malays can’t speak up” was Dr Mahathir’s outlandish and outrageous claim.

When he asserted that “in Anwar’s ‘democratic’ era, Malays can’t speak up”, wasn’t Dr Mahathir speaking up as a Malay? Or has he gone back to his roots in order to speak boldly? Has there been any consequence for Dr Mahathir when spewing his lies?

He refers to Anwar’s ‘era’. What is an era? It is “a long and distinct period of history”. But Anwar has been in office for hardly four months and Dr Mahathir refers to that as an era! Can these four months be referred to as an “era”? Is there any substance in Dr Mahathir’s reference?

Anwar has declared an unrelenting war against corruption. People without a clean past have reason to fear. For them, each day Anwar continues to be in office is a long period of time! And they feel threatened! They feel entrapped!


Spewing lies

The atrocities the British committed in Malaya cannot be compared or equated to Anwar’s time in office. The British had all the time at their disposal to do whatever they wanted – and they did a lot to oppress, to rob the country of its wealth, to live as they pleased and lord over us. They discriminated against us even after our independence. Certain clubs were barred to Asians. It was common to have “whites only” clubs and spaces – even certain urinals were exclusively for whites only!

We must ask Dr Mahathir, did Anwar outdo them in all this in less than four months? During the British era, there was the infamous Batang Kali massacre of innocent people. Did Anwar massacre anyone within these four months? Dr Mahathir boasts vainly, “During my time Malays could speak out too ….”

But Dr Mahathir, do you remember what happened on Oct 27, 1987 to those who did? You locked them up without any charge and robbed them of their freedom. A total of 106 (or more) of them! Let me refresh your memory, Tun. Some women who were locked up on that day of infamy had their period while in detention, and they faced difficulty getting sanitary pads. How callous and cruel could one be!

Tun, do you remember your inspector general of police IGP) Tan Sri Rahim Noor’s cowardly assault on a blind-folded Anwar with his hands tied behind him? Anwar appeared with a black eye in court on Sept 29, 1998 to face charges of corruption and sodomy.


Tun, you and Rahim Noor explained that Anwar’s black eye was “self-inflicted” by “pressing a glass over his eyes”. It took a royal commission of inquiry to expose that both of you had lied! How shameful it was that the PM and the IGP back then were exposed as liars!

Tun, has any political opponent been beaten up in the lock-up during Anwar’s term in office? Has any adversary of Anwar been detained for speaking up? Name them if it is true! You can’t because nothing of that sort has taken place under Anwar’s watch.

Tun, do you recall how thousands of Reformasi protesters were brutally treated by the police with water cannons and baton charges? In contrast, have any protesters been assaulted cruelly during Anwar’s term in office?

Tun, you have lost your credibility and your followers. We understand your desperate situation and your helpless position. But that should be no excuse to resort to blatant lies – unless you are a compulsive and pathological liar! – P. Ramakrishnan 

Mahathir’s dilemma...

There is only one dilemma. Mahathir’s! Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s longest serving prime minister, is faced with the dilemma of whether or not to abandon his political ambitions. Age is against him and political support has waned.

He lost his deposit at GE15 and should not have contested, but left on a high, and been remembered for his past good deeds to Malaysia. Instead, he allowed his ego to get the better of him. He would like history to judge him as the leader of the Malay community, but if truth be known, many Malays have rejected him.

Despite ruling Malaysia in two separate sessions, the first for 22 years and the second for 22 months, Mahathir views himself as the Malay savior. He refuses to accept that he has become an irrelevance to the Malays. His book, “The Malay Dilemma,” is a reflection of his muddled thinking.

His age-old rivalry against his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim has consumed him and left him a bitter old man. He simply cannot accept the fact that Anwar is now the prime minister and is making sweeping changes in an effort to introduce the reforms he promised the rakyat, undo many of Mahathir’s unjust policies, and in particular, eradicate corruption, especially in Putrajaya.

Last week, the nation saw how dangerous Mahathir had become in his latest attempt to scupper Anwar’s leadership and destabilize his administration. Mahathir issued a 12-point proclamation and laid several plans to lead a Malay rally in Kuala Lumpur, but these had to be canceled when various organizations refused to allow him to hold his event at their establishments. Mahathir issued many provocative remarks which had the potential to cause unrest in the rakyat, in particular the Malay community. Shame on him!

One would have thought that age would have made him wiser and more inclusive, instead we find that he is more vindictive than ever. Instead of thinking of the nation and the well-being of the rakyat, Mahathir acted irresponsibly and only had his own selfish agenda in mind.


Another point in his proclamation was that the “Malays have never controlled the nation’s economy. Even their little stalls have been taken by others.” What did he expect? Affirmative action policies kept the Malays dependent on government handouts. Why work hard when aid just lands on your lap? Why work and learn the skills of the trade when it is easier to get others to do it for you?

That is when Malay stall-holders sublet their stalls and shops to mostly Indonesians. They were then freed from problems with workers, poor sales, compliance issues and competition. They were content receiving a hassle-free regular income every month.

Mahathir is aware that non-Malay traders face additional difficulties because, unlike the Malays, they cannot access government aid for small traders. Malaysia should have become a high-income nation by 2020, but we fell short of that too. We encouraged migrant workers because they accept low wages (which translates to higher profits). We deny adequate insurance to cover their health and accidents at work.

Malay politicians fueled by their affirmative action policies stole the bulk of the nation’s wealth for themselves and their cronies instead of distributing and sharing their wealth fairly. Past Malay leaders placed conditions on non-Malay companies, demanding that they split their profits with the Malays besides demanding that ownership be shared. What did Mahathir expect because this is the behavior exhibited by many Malay leaders and Malay elites?

He also said that “the only power the Malays possessed, political power, has also slipped out of their hands” and that “the fate of the Malays at present and in the future can no longer be determined by them.”


This is classic Mahathir. He excels in sowing seeds of discord. He knows that the PM and his deputy are both Malay. The major ministries like defense, finance, home and education are all helmed by the Malays.

The heads of GLCs, various government departments, Bank Negara, vice chancellors of public universities, and police and the armed forces chiefs are all Malay. The civil servants are majority Malay. Despite Mahathir’s remarks, the Malays occupy a position of strength.

Another point in his proclamation was to say that “Malays are so weak that even the sovereignty of their homeland will slip from their hands. Their future is bleak. Poverty is forcing the Malays to sell their lands.” Why blame the Malays? Blame the politicians, their affirmative action policies and how they dumbed-down education.

In many cases, the Malays are not taught about hard work and discipline, or how to invest for the future by spending time, effort and money on the present. Instead, the Malays discover that they can make easy money by selling valuable assets like land for quick profit.

Mahathir claimed that “the Malay party built on the foundation of religion, race and nation has been turned into a party to enrich oneself” and that “jostling for power and money has destroyed Malay unity.”

The irony is that Mahathir is the architect of all that has gone wrong in Malaysia today, and he will neither admit nor acknowledge the role he played in dividing the nation, in making the country a poorer place, socially, financially and morally, and worst of all, making many Malays extremely insecure and entitled. - Mariam Mokhtar 



cheers.

21 March 2023

Does Dr.M have a motive to undermine Anwar’s unity govt?

 
Former PM Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad who laid the groundwork for the infamous Sheraton Move contributed to the collapse of his own Pakatan Harapan (PH) government after a mere 22 months in power. If he had no qualms of bringing down his own government, then what do you expect him to do with governments that he is not part of it?

“Proklamasi Melayu” was just another attempt from a frustrated leader to undermine the government headed by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He labelled Anwar as the dictator and the person responsible for the alleged cancellation of the two events organised for the “Malay Proclamation” gathering. Dr Mahathir was expected to be the keynote speaker. A man who used the infamous internal security act (ISA) to detain hundreds of political opponents has the temerity to label Anwar as the dictator.

Even the former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak has weighed in on the matter by saying that Mahathir should be the last person who should be calling others dictators and oppressors. He went on to describe Dr Mahathir’s condemnation of Anwar as a case of the pot calling the kettle black. It is not whether there is proof or not that Anwar ordered the cancellation of events marked for the declaration on Malays but there is something more sinister behind the move.


Tun M’s worries heightened?

Anwar’s crackdown on corruption relating to the Jana Wibawa stimulus financial package has resulted in the arrest and charging of three Bersatu leaders, including the head honcho Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

Since there is no let up on the part of Anwar, there is concern that more corrupted leaders might be charged by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). There is lingering fear among those who were the recipients of the ill-begotten wealth that Anwar might cast his net wider to bring in those who enriched themselves and their families in the name of assisting the poor Malays.

In this respect, Anwar might even be contemplating about going after earlier leaders who had hand in robbing the country of billions. Dr Mahathir who has often being accused of assisting his cronies and relatives might have reason to be concerned. Perhaps this is the reason why he wants to destabilise the unity government in the name of “Proklamasi Melayu”.

Anwar might have oscillated on some matters earlier but he is taking on the bull by its horns. He has made it clear that there would be no compromise on corruption and other forms of malfeasance.


He has instructed the security agencies to monitor and take the appropriate measures to nab those using race and religion. No right-thinking Malaysians would want to disagree with Anwar. Ethnic and religious extremism must be curbed before they flare up to engulf the nation as a whole.

When Dr Mahathir was in power, he lambasted the Malays for not taking advantages of the economic opportunities that presented themselves. However, when he is not in power, he harps continuously on how the Malays have lost out to the non-Malays.

My question is simple: Why did he do to address the plight of the ordinary Malays for he was PM on two separate occasions – first, for a 22-year period and second, for 22 months. One thing is for sure: his cronies and family members amassed considerable wealth.

His contradictory politics has no traction in the Malaysian political arena. The fact that he and many others lost their deposits in the 15th General Elections (GE15) should be stark reminder that hate politics is no place in Malaysia. I think Anwar is doing the right thing. – Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy


Meanwhile, after two cancellations of his bookings to hold a “Proklamasi Melayu” gathering, the frustrated former prime minister told a press conference that Anwar was complicit in the matter, though he offered no proof.

Authorities at the venues who did not give reasons for their cancellations obviously preferred silence to saying something that would only give the spiral of expostulation and reply a nudge.This would open the floodgates to a back-and-forth that would lead to nowhere.Instead of taking their circumspection as a cue, Mahathir came out swinging at Anwar. He branded Anwar a “dictator”, saying the current PM is more oppressive towards the Malays than the British colonials had been.

Anwar’s defence against Mahathir’s brickbats gained support from an unexpected quarter. Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak weighed in with a Facebook posting that pointed out the irony in Mahathir’s branding of Anwar as a dictator. Najib’s criticism was of the “see who is calling the kettle black” variety. “Mr ISA calling others a dictator” chimed in the now-jailed former PM from his eyrie in Kajang Prison.


Najib was reminding the public that someone like Mahathir. who had used the now-rescinded colonial-era law, the Internal Security Act, to detain more than a hundred politicians and social activists during his time as prime minister, has to have much gall to accuse Anwar of being a dictator.

Mahathir cannot hope to win his battle of one-upmanship with Anwar, given the range of critics of him and what he had done during his two stints as PM. They say the reason Mahathir has long feared Anwar’s rise to the premiership is precisely because he expects this scrutiny once Anwar reaches the top post. - Anil Netto

The battle for Penang: 
PH will hold the citadel...

The latest possible election date for Penang is October 1, although it maybe held before then. Perikatan Nasional (PN) is approaching the coming six state elections aggressively. PN will hold Kelantan and Terengganu. It will consolidate Kedah even further, and have some show in Negeri Sembilan.

Selangor will be a battle royale, with Pakatan Harapan and Umno expected to win with a reduced majority. PN is hoping that the “green wave” will prevail in the coming state elections. However, Penang will be a very different case, with a number of other factors that will influence the results.

Back in the 2008 electoral tsunami, the then Pakatan Rakyat opposition swept to power by winning 29 out of 40 seats in the Penang legislative assembly. The Lim Guan Eng-led opposition routed the Barisan Nasional which lost 27 seats. Gerakan, MCA and MIC were completely wiped out. Umno was left with 11 seats to become the opposition.

In 2018, Pakatan Harapan consolidated its hold by winning 37 seats in the legislative assembly, losing four after the Sheraton Putsch in February 2020. PH goes into the coming election with 35 seats (including two from Umno). PAS has just one seat (Kepala Batas) in the current legislative assembly. There are also four vacant seats (Bertam, Seberang Jaya, Sungai Acheh and Telok Bahang) with the Speaker exercising his power under the Penang anti-hoping law.


Penang is a DAP citadel...

Penang’s 1.7 million inhabitants are both ageing and shrinking.Penang was traditionally thought of as a Chinese-dominated state, but now the Malay and Chinese populations are fairly even at 40 percent each, with the Indian community contributing 10 percent.

On Penang Island, there are 18 seats which are primarily Chinese-dominated with the exceptions of Bayan Lepas, Pulau Betong, Telok Bahang and Batu Muang. Most of the Chinese-dominated seats are held by DAP or PKR with massive majorities and are extremely safe. Seats like Bagan Jermal, Bukit Tengah and Perai have high Indian populations, and could be swayed by any changing trends in the Indian vote. On the mainland, there are 22 seats which are Malay-dominated, except Bagan Jermal, Bagan Dalam, Perai, Padang Lalang, Berapit and Jawi.

Thus, it can be expected that DAP and PKR will almost certainly hold onto 26 seats at a minimum. PAS will hold onto Penaga in the northern part of the mainland, and PN should pick up Permatang Pasir, Beragan, Sungai Acheh and have a very good chance in Bayan Lepas and Telok Bahang, giving the PN six seats.

That leaves eight seats which are too hard to call. These include Bertam, Pinang Tunggal, Sungai Dua, Telok Ayer Tawar, Seberang Jaya, Peranti, Sungai Bakap and Pulau Betong. Even if PH doesn’t win any of these tight seats, they can still form a government with a simple majority. However, if PN can win them, that would give it an opposition of up to 14 seats in the new legislative assembly.


Potential surprises...

The recent arrest of Muhyiddin Yassin on corruption charges could create an “Abah effect,” something similar to what was seen with Najib Razak in the Johor state election last year. If this effect eventuates, then PN may perform much better in the tight seats.

If the Indian vote either turns against PH or fails to turn out to vote, this could disadvantage PH. Gerakan is planning to contest three seats they held up to the 2008 state election, including Pantai Jerejak, Batu Uban and Batu Muang. With a moderate percentage of Chinese voters in each seat, Gerakan is likely to be punished for collaborating with PN, (the opposite side to the “Abah effect”).

Voters are sophisticated in Penang and have a clear understanding of state verses federal issues. Penang has been run reasonably, but there is some grassroots pushback against what is sometimes perceived as arrogance by the state administration. We will only know how strong these feelings are with the results on election night.

In this state election, it’s DAP that will prop-up PKR, which is going through a patch of unpopularity at this time. This will be a strong message to prime minister Anwar Ibrahim as to the importance of DAP in supporting his administration.

34 seats will be a massive win for PH in Penang. 26 seats will be a disappointment. Likewise, six seats for PN should be expected, but 14 seats should give credence to the “green wave” factor. Penang will be an interesting state to watch. - Murray Hunter

Dulu kafirkan UMNO,
kini PKR lawan koran pula...

Hadi Awang kata dia sedang saksi pesta kezaliman kerajaan Perpaduan dengan menganggap pendakwaan terhadap Mahiaddian sebagai zalim. Alasan digunakan pendakwaan terhadap Mahiaddin dibuat selepas burukkan Mahiaddin di media massa?

Pesepsi Hadi itu langsung tak hormat badan siasatan dan kehakiman. Beliau tidak meletakkan kepercayaan langsung kepada kehakiman dan SPRM. Suatu sikap sungguh melampau.

Kan bible tu terpesong dpd ajaran Kitab Injil, 
pi ambil pula & jadikan dalil... 

Anehnya Hadi sedar dan becoh menuduh kezaliman orang tetapi lupa kezaliman yang sedang dilakukan oleh puaknya sendiri. Puak² Hadi jadikan Quran sebagai perca kertas sahaja bila dibaca sekerat untuk fitnah orang dan ayat kebenaran menimpanya disembunyikan. Dia lupa perbuatan terkutuk itu mencemari agama.

Presiden Pas itu nampak pesta kezaliman dari sudut mata nafsu politiknya semata² namun lupa perbuatannya menunggang ayat² Quran secara murahan. Hadi sudah hilang nilai ulama yang memperjuangkan haq. - mso.



cheers.

19 March 2023

Anwar - You picked the wrong PM to threaten...

 
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he will not be cowed into silence by threats made by certain quarters aimed at toppling him from federal power. 

Addressing thousands of delegates at PKR’s special congress today, the party president said he will no longer allow the previous practice by past leaders, protecting the corrupt and enriching a few to go on. 

He said although he was accused of political persecution against the opposition, Anwar vowed that his government would continue to protect the rakyat and take on those guilty of graft. 

“You want to threaten me by (conducting) an assembly? You want to threaten me from acting against corruption? You chose the wrong prime minister!  “I will not be influenced by these threats. If we have power, we will act. If you want to try to attempt a coup, by all means. But it will not be easy,” he told PKR delegates.


Anwar’s remark today comes ahead of a planned “Malay proclamation” gathering, which has since been cancelled. It was supposed to be held tomorrow and led by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

It is also in light of recent statements and actions by opposition members attempting to stir up racial and religious sentiments, which threaten to harm the fabric of the country’s harmony. 

This follows recent corruption charges against several opposition leaders, including Perikatan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. 

Fearing possible unrest stemming from this, Anwar had yesterday instructed security forces in the country to be on alert, adding that he would not tolerate any action that is aimed at increasing the racial and religious temperature. 


In his speech today, Anwar again urged Malaysians to be alert of certain quarters who have lost power and fearing criminal action against them for graft and tax evasion, have resorted to religious bigotry, playing up issues of patriotism and racism to gain support. 

“They asked me to be the prime minister, but then what? I should just play dumb and allow this (corruption and tax evasion) to happen and only collect taxes from the rakyat? 

“Yes, I will collect taxes from the rakyat, but I will not let go of the tycoons and super-rich from evading payment. And this is why we are investigating.” 


Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, also took a dig at a certain former prime minister over his recent hypocritical statements claiming to champion the rights of the Malays, when he had syphoned public funds himself. 

“There is someone who was in power for 22 years and later another 22 months, complaining that the Malays have lost everything. They lost because you squandered everything for yourself and your children. 

“Yet you talk about the rakyat. Don’t think the rakyat are stupid. They must rise to defend their rights.” – The Vibes

‘Jangan bodohkan rakyat’...

Setelah hilang tampuk kuasa, barulah sedar dan mengeluh tentang nasib orang Melayu. Demikian sindiran Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim terhadap pihak yang mendakwa kononnya orang Melayu semakin ditindas dan hilang kuasa bawah pentadbiran kerajaan perpaduan.

Tanpa menamakan pihak itu, Anwar dipercayai merujuk kepada Dr Mahathir Mohamad yang menurutnya, tidak memperjuangkan nasib orang Melayu ketika menjadi perdana menteri, sebaliknya hanya mengayakan diri dan keluarganya.

“Ada orang dulu, 22 tahun campur 22 bulan pegang kuasa, sekarang mengeluh Melayu hilang segala-galanya, hilang harta, hilang saham,” kata Anwar, yang juga presiden PKR semasa ucap tama di Kongres Nasional Khas PKR 2023 di Stadium Malawati. “Bagaimana tak hilang kalau kamu bolot untuk kamu, untuk keluarga kamu dan anak-anak kamu. Sekarang bila hilang kuasa, bicara soal rakyat.”

Anwar mengingatkan individu tersebut supaya berhenti memperbodohkan rakyat, mereka cerita kononnya kuasa dan hak Melayu semakin lemah bawah kerajaan hari ini. “Jangan perbodohkan rakyat, rakyat harus bangkit pertahan hak mereka,” katanya.

Mahathir sebelum ini memberi amaran bahawa kaum Melayu akan hilang kuasa sepenuhnya di negara ini selepas dua kali PRU akan datang. Bekas perdana menteri itu menyuarakan perkara itu ekoran suasana politik ketika ini di mana menurutnya kekuatan dominan bangsa itu semakin teruk terhakis sejak PRU15 lepas.


Anwar dalam ucapannya juga membidas gabungan terdahulu yang kononnya mahu memperjuangkan hak orang Melayu Islam, namun gagal membawa sebarang perubahan untuk masyarakat itu selepas tiga tahun mentadbir negara susulan Langkah Sheraton.

“Kamu pegang tampuk kuasa, termasuk 3 tahun menjadi kerajaan. Mana dia RUU355? Mana projek meningkatkan dana untuk (negeri majoriti Melayu Islam) Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis dan Kedah?

“Belanjawan 2023 tahun ini yang meningkatkan (dana) untuk Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis dan Kedah, lebih sikit untuk Sabah dan Sarawak, kerana mereka ketinggalan dalam banyak perkara,” katanya.

Anwar juga mengulangi beliau tidak gentar dengar sebarang ugutan pihak pembangkang yang mahu menumbangkan kerajaan pimpinannya kerana yakin beliau akan kekal menerajui negara sehingga habis penggal Parlimen. “Mereka mahu ugut kita dengan perhimpunan, saya tak makan ugutan itu. Ada kuasa kita laksanakan,” katanya. 

“Kamu cuba nak rampas kuasa, silakan, tetapi (kita) tidak kisah, kita siap dengan keris..membujur lalu melintang patah.” - fmt

Why PM Anwar should consider “Operasi Lalang 2” to neutralize all religious extremists...

Operation Lalang (Operasi Lalang in Malay), which means “Operation Weeding” was a major crackdown launched by the Royal Malaysian Police in 1987 to prevent the repeat of racial riots in the country. It was the biggest operation of its kind under Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad after racial tensions had reached a dangerous level, forcing the government to act.

The operation saw the arrest of 119 people, including opposition politicians, activists, students, intellectuals and others. News media like The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan were among four newspapers that had their publishing licenses revoked. However, many believed it was an excuse by Mahathir to silence critics through draconian measures, whose 22 years iron-fist rule began in 1981 and ended in 2003.

In truth, the crackdown was engineered after a split within the dominant ruling party – United Malays National Organization (UMNO) – as a result of party election in 1986-1987. Team-A, led by Mahathir was challenged by Team-B led by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah. Even though Mahathir won narrowly, the party was declared illegal and dissolved, leading to the formation of today’s UMNO Baru .

The political drama also saw the deputy president of MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association), Lee Kim Sai, raising the issue of vernacular Chinese school personnel where 100 non-Chinese educated staffs were deployed to Chinese-medium primary schools. The protest eventually involved a call to boycott in Chinese schools for 3 days, only to be called off at the eleventh hour.

Orchestrated by Mahathir, UMNO Youth Chief Najib Razak retaliated with a Malay rally in Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur, where Najib had threatened to soak a “Keris (Malay dagger)” in Chinese blood, evoking the fear of a repeat of the May 13, 1969 racial riots. To make matters worse, a Malay soldier known as “Prebet Adam” ran amok with an M16 rifle, killing a Malay and injured two others in Chow Kit.

On October 27, 1987, PM Mahathir, who was also the Minister of Home Affairs, launched the Operation Lalang under the pretext of defusing racial tension. He argued the country was facing an economic recession and high unemployment, hence could not afford racial riots. His loyalist, Inspector General of Police Haniff Omar, said the operation was for the sake of national security.

Lim Kit Siang - Ops Lalang detainee

Opposition leaders like Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh were among those arrested and locked up without trial under the now-defunct Internal Security Act (ISA). Interestingly, MCA Lee Kim Sai, having been tipped off, left for Australia for a few months before the crackdown began. Of course, Najib was never arrested, even though IGP Haniff said the UMNO rally was the reason the crackdown was launched.

Fast forward 36 years later, Malaysia is again facing the prospect of a repeat of bloody racial riots today. Anwar Ibrahim, the education minister responsible for the appointment of non-Mandarin educated principals and senior assistants to vernacular schools in 1987, is now the 10th Prime Minister. Najib Razak, the 6th Prime Minister, is currently serving 12 years’ jail for corruption related to 1MDB scandal.

Mahathir, now 98 years old, continues stirring up racial and religion sentiments among the Malays that they have lost power to the “Chinese, Christians and Communists”. Joining him are religious extremist Hadi Awang, president of Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS – Parti Islam Se-Malaysia) and racist bigot Muhyiddin Yassin, president of Bersatu (Malaysian United Indigenous Party).

Unlike 1987, when Operation Lalang was designed by Mahathir to get rid of all critics and opposition to stay in power, Anwar is today facing the real danger of losing power due to racial riots being inflamed by opposition Perikatan Nasional, comprising PAS and Bersatu. While the actors are playing different roles, the storyline remains the same – use racial and religious cards to get power.

And unlike 1987, when Mahathir instructed MCA and UMNO to start a political drama to divert attention from a divided UMNO, Anwar is today leading a Unity Government comprising multi-racial Perikatan Nasional and UMNO-dominated Barisan Nasional coalitions. In fact, unlike 1987, it’s the opposition who attacks non-Malays almost on a daily basis today.

In 1987, Mahathir controlled the narrative and created the perception that Malays were being threatened by ethnic Chinese. Today, Anwar is being controlled by the narrative and the perception cooked up by PAS and Bersatu that Malays are being threatened by the Chinese. The question is whether Anwar has the balls to decisively and boldly launch “Operasi Lalang 2” to save the country from disaster.

Dr.M - 1987 - Operation Lalang

Yes, the time has come for the Anwar-led Unity Government to make some tough decisions after relentless provocations and threats by radicals to seize power. What premier Mahathir and police chief Haniff said 36 years ago, which were arguably excuses to justify Operation Lalang, has today become so real that a crackdown on the Opposition should be seriously considered.

Malaysia is facing high inflation due to geopolitical reason, with upcoming economic recession and high unemployment on the table. The national security is under threat – for real – as racial riots being drummed by Perikatan Nasional will see investors, both domestic and foreign, fleeing and never returned for a very long time. This is not the time for pussyfooting.

Ordering security forces to be on alert for possible unrest stemming from irresponsible parties playing up racial and religious sentiments, PM Anwar has today said his government would not allow any statements that could threaten harmony. He said – “Any attempt made by anyone to pit one race against another, or to increase the racial and religious temperature in this country will not be permitted.”

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani, in response to the premier’s warning, claims that the security level is under control. Hilariously, the police chief urged any individual with information on those committing such offences to report the matter immediately to police. What grass has he been smoking lately? Has he just woken up from slumberland?

Anwar can talk till the kingdom comes, but it will be nothing but empty rhetoric if his own lieutenant, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution, is sleeping on the job and cannot control the security forces. Where was IGP Acryl Sani when former backdoor PM Muhyiddin spread fake news that Christians were working with “Jews to Christianise” Malaysia during the Nov 2022 election campaign?

And where was the police chief, an errand boy promoted by Bersatu during Muhyiddin regime, when Abdul Hadi Awang falsely accused non-Muslim and non-Malays as being the root of corruption, only to keep his silence after Muhyiddin was arrested and charged for corruption involving RM92.5 billion in the Covid-19 Stimulus Programme?

What type of information that the clueless and incompetent IGP Acryl Sani needs when every Tom, Dick and hamster knew how PAS president Hadi deliberately challenged and ridiculed multiple royal decrees, including Sultan Terengganu’s latest order prohibiting politicians from using mosques to deliver religious lectures or “ceramahs” – which are actually political propaganda?

It’s a matter of time before PAS extremists, already testing the water with an army of fanatics proudly flashing swords, spears and shields as if they were on a Jihad crusade against Islam enemies during the ancient Medieval Age, launch a violent “Iranian Revolution” to topple the Malay Sultans and the democratically-elected multi-racial government. So, what has the police done to protect the Malay Rulers?

PAS Armies Of Spears and Swords - Hadi Awang

Heck, power-hungry Hadi has even perverted his right to “overthrow” Anwar government, claiming that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s (King) decree for a unity government cannot stop a coup d’etat. Isn’t this a national security threat, as proven when a local group involved with the ISIS terrorist group was spreading propaganda on the social media to take over the country?

Perhaps the police force can explain why there has been no arrest despite overwhelming “death threats” on the director and screenwriter of the film “Mentega Terbang”, as well as threats on his family members. Even Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh has been accused by Perikatan Nasional of proselytising Christianity to Muslim youth.

Mahathir, desperate to protect his legacy and families’ interest, could use this Sunday’s “Malay Proclamation” rally to spark the flame of Malay anger, the same way he used “Malay Dignity Congress” in Oct 2019 to provoke the Malays. This could be followed by PAS and Bersatu’s rally to incite racial riots in the coming days – a plot to destabilize and eventually topple Anwar government.

The Star newspaper, owned by MCA, along with other news media has already started undermining the unity government with dubious polls and news. Social media like TikTok, Facebook and Twitter were being weaponised by Perikatan Nasional to spread disinformation and fake news. The goal is to get rid of Anwar so that the corrupt politicians can return to power.

Muhyiddin has been slapped with 7 charges of corruption and money laundering. His party accounts have been frozen. Wolf in sheep’s clothing Parti Islam Se-Malaysia, struggling without free flow of funds as opposition, could see the party’s account frozen too for money laundering. And Mahathir wants to piggyback on both Muhyiddin and Hadi to revive his appeal among the Malay community.

Like it or not, the prime minister cannot play nice forever in his effort to win praise. He should realize that he can never win the contest to become more Islamic than the PAS Islamist party. He should show who’s the boss and his willingness to use the power in his possession to guarantee national security. He has to send shivers down the spine of extremists determined to destroy the country.

Obviously, there were concerns that any action against the untouchable PAS leaders like snake oil salesman Hadi could turn him into a martyr. But it won’t matter if Anwar loses power and the unity government collapses because the indecisive government could not decide how to best handle the radicals, who keep pushing the buttons to start racial riots. -FT





cheers.