Macam dilanda tsunami...

Banjir - When lizard enters home 

and crocodile swims in police station...

Non-stop rain since Friday (Dec 17) has wrecked havoc in Klang Valley. The federal government has been sitting on its hands until today. It was only after complaints from the public and the Opposition that Prime Minister Ismail Sabri finally said he has instructed some ministries and agencies such as the army and the police to provide assistance to flood victims.

 

Charles Santiago, an Opposition MP of Klang, one of the worst areas affected in Selangor, said the government should proactively offer help and aid instead of adopting a “wait and see” attitude. He said – “The people who are faced with devastating material losses and misery are fellow Malaysians and part of the prime minister’s Keluarga Malaysia.”

 

“However, I haven’t heard a squeak from Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob or his Cabinet. We need urgent intervention in terms of food and other essentials. And we certainly need the works ministry to cough up RM6 million to clear the drains in Klang and about RM50 million to repair potholes,” – said Mr Santiago, referring to the Malaysian leader’s dubious “Malaysia Family” political propaganda.

Rakyat plead for help while Ministers 

and the gomen busy politicking...

Selangor saw at least 3,086 flood victims evacuated to 30 relief centres on Saturday. The state recorded over 308mm of rain distribution – more than twice the previous record of 180mm. In Setia Alam township in Shah Alam, main roads connecting Meru to Bukit Raja had been submerged in between 2-metre and 3-metre-deep floodwaters since Friday night.

By late Saturday, however, flood victims nationwide ballooned to 11,000 people, who were forced to leave their home or never had the chance to return to home after finished their work on Friday. Several major roads, including some parts of the Federal Highway, had been closed by the authorities due to the stunning floods, which is worst in decades.

While floods in Malaysia are common during the annual monsoon season between October and March, the state of Selangor and the federal territory of Kuala Lumpur are caught unexpectedly and unprepared this time because normally the monsoon would hit the country’s eastern coast. The Klang Valley didn’t expect an endless downpour since Friday morning.

Monitor lizard enters home...

Dozens of people in the Klang Valley had to spend the night in their cars or at their workplaces after roads became impassable. By late Saturday, the situation in the Kuala Lumpur city centre has gotten from bad to worse. The iconic Masjid Jamek, the oldest mosque in the city, was so badly flooded that the nearby Masjid Jamek LRT station was closed.

But Selangor and Klang Valley are not the only area affected. Melaka, Kelantan, Pahang and Terengganu were among the other states affected by the unprecedented heavy downpour. Two deaths were reported, one in Pahang and another in Terengganu. At 5pm on Saturday (Dec 18), the Meteorological Department issued a red danger alert for Kuala Lumpur and Pahang.

Except Sepang, the entire state of Selangor has fallen under red alert – the highest level on a three-tier scale. The authority has also issued an orange alert, the second-highest level, for Kelantan. In fact, most parts of the Peninsula Malaysia have been categorized under yellow rainfall alert – a warning to people to be cautious. So far, only Johor (the most southern part) and Perlis (the most northern part) are not affected.

Crocodile visits Police Station...

The floods have also forced animals to seek higher grounds. There were video clips of a monitor lizard entering and roaming the living room of a house affected by the flood. And there were viral videos of a family frantically trying to get rid of a snake that found its way to a home. Another 32-second video has gone viral showing a crocodile on a bridge over Sungai Linggi in the state of Negeri Sembilan.

 

But the most interesting video was perhaps of another crocodile happily swimming in an unknown police station. Other videos on social media showed overflowing rivers, landslides, and cars submerged on either abandoned streets or parking area. There were also videos of people being stuck for up to 6 hours in the traffic as the flood refused to subside.

 

The Malaysian Meteorological spokesman said the rain in Klang is expected to continue until Sunday (Dec 19). However, according to weather.com channel, a 10-day weather forecast shows thunderstorms or scattered thunderstorms will continue till next year – January 1, 2022. If the prediction is correct, it means the current flood could be just the beginning. - FT

Rejects Act 342 Amendments – After RM75 million in fines, the double standard govt wants more money from the people...

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin is pushing very hard to amend the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act (Act 342). Even PM Ismail Sabri has used his power to extend the current Dewan Rakyat (Lower House) sitting for another day just to allow the controversial amendments to be debated. In fact, the government is so desperate to get it approved that it smells a rat.

 

Backdoor Speaker Azhar Harun announced the House will meet for a final time on Monday (Dec 20) in order for the amendment bill to be tabled for the second and third readings before a vote. Opposition Pakatan Harapan, who has opposed the proposed amendments, which will see a higher compound rate and jail terms, should not think twice about rejecting it.

 

If the Opposition, for whatever reasons, supports this unfair Act 342 amendments on Monday, they can expect boycott and retaliation from the voters – guaranteed! The original amendments proposed that the compound rate be increased from RM1,000 to RM1 million for a corporation, while an individual fine be raised from current RM1,000 to RM10,000.

Worse, the “general penalties” in the revised Act included a maximum RM100,000 fine or 7-year jail or both (from current 2 years jail and a fine, or both) for individuals who break Covid-19 prevention rules. Meaning, if you are compounded for not wearing a face mask or not practicing social distancing, but are unable to pay, you will be charged and subjected to “general penalties”.

In short, the ridiculous new proposed law says if you are caught and too poor to pay, leading you to be charged in court and convicted, you may end up being slapped with maximum RM100,000 fine or 7-year-jail or both. In comparison, former PM Najib Razak is still walking around like a free man, despite convicted and sentenced to 12 years in prison by the courts for stealing RM42 million.

So, does that mean a person who forgot to wear a face mask has actually committed an offence half as serious as stealing RM42 million? Proportionately and for argument’s sake, does that also mean it’s much worthwhile to steal RM21 million because the jail terms is the same as not wearing a face mask or not practicing physical distancing or having visited a crowded place like a pub or nightclub?

The RM10,000 fine for individuals...

After public outrage and criticism, the government of Ismail Sabri has halved the maximum compound for companies to RM500,000, but maintained the RM10,000 fine for individuals. General penalties have also been revised to a maximum RM50,000 fine or imprisonment not exceeding 3 years, or both. Obviously, even after being revised, the punishments are still excessive and unacceptable.

For example, on the same day PM Sabri attended a self-praised event at the KLCC, a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur was reportedly fined RM25,000 while 44 patrons were slapped with RM5,000 compounds each for a total of RM245,000. Based on the new amendments, the nightclub could be fined RM500,000 and each of the 44 patrons fined RM10,000 each, bringing the total to RM940,000.

That is as good as telling the nightclub to shut down its business. Exactly how many times can the entertainment centre subject to a RM500,000 compound ticket before closing down? Even if it has deep pockets, its business is likely to suffer as customers will think twice about patronizing the nightclub due to the excessive fines. If you think you’re not affected because you don’t go clubbing, think again.

The new Act 342 revisions apply to everyone, regardless whether you’re having lunch at Bistro, enjoying “teh tarik” at a Mamak restaurant, working at a factory, entertaining clients at a cafe, buying food or fruits at a stall, shopping at a mall, or even attending a private birthday party. At the end of the day, it’s always their words against yours.

The biggest reason people are rejecting these amendments is double standards. And the biggest reason the government is insisting on the new laws is to collect more money from the people. Mr Khairy revealed in September that the backdoor government had collected a whopping RM75 million in fines for Covid-19 SOP (standard operating procedure) violations.

But how much did the government collect from the ministers and their families for breaking their very own Covid-19 SOPs? Crucially, not a single minister was sent to prison for obvious reason, despite having violated multiple health SOPs meant to curb the spread of the virus. Therefore, the health ministry and the double standard government should stop insulting people’s intelligence.

It’s laughable when Health Minister Khairy insisted that the amendments would act as an additional “weapon” in facing the Covid-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah claimed that amendments to the Act 342 are important to be approved to ensure continuity in enforcement and to increase its effectiveness in curbing the spread of Covid-19.

 

Terengganu MB Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar 

broke lockdown MCO law...

Do they think the people have forgotten how former Plantation, Industries and Commodities Minister Khairuddin Aman Razali was allowed to quietly skip quarantine after his holiday in Turkey? How about Lisa, a Malaysian single mother who spent 8 days in jail for breaching the government’s movement restrictions, only to see the daughter of UMNO president Zahid Hamidi enjoyed a discount for an even bigger offence?

Lisa was arrested by police after she went to buy a packet drink and stopped to chat with three neighbours in her nearby apartment unit. She was initially sentenced to 30 days in jail, but had her sentence reduced to a RM1,000 fine. Zahid’s precious daughter, Nurulhidayah, on the other hand, was given a RM800 fine for travelling to visit Minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri.

Thousands of Malaysians were thrown into jail while awaiting trial, after being caught at roadblocks for breaking the MCO (movement control order). Yet, in Perak, Deputy Health Minister Noor Azmi Ghazali and fellow Perak executive councillor Razman Zakaria were pictured sitting down to lunch with some 20 people. They were not similarly thrown into jail.

In another photo, Deputy Development Minister Abdul Rahman Mohamad happily cut a cake while closely surrounded by his supporters in Pahang. Then, there was Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, who proudly posted on Twitter of him having lunch with former Menteri Besar Ahmad Said in the latter’s home. All of them too were not thrown into prison.

Under the “Stay At Home” restrictive orders last year, no mass gatherings were allowed, and only one family member was allowed to go out to buy groceries, medicines or food. But all the ministers appeared to be immune to the laws. For example, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa happily uploaded a photo of him and two colleagues walking side by side without a mask.

In fact, the defiant and arrogant Annuar Musa had repetitively violated the MCO, but the government and police chose to close one eye, preferring to arrest and jail ordinary folks instead. So, what type of “weapon” that Khairy was babbling about? In truth, the Act 342 revision will essentially give the clueless and incompetent government a new weapon to make people’s life more difficult.

Ismail Sabri 100-Day self-praised event 

RM1000 fine for violating SOP...

In the same breath, Health director-general Dr Noor should be ashamed for twisting the truth about the reason the pandemic had spread beyond control. Since the pandemic spread last year, the real culprit was the government, especially the power-crazy (former) Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. Everything started when he tried to seize power in Sabah, leading to a state election.

However, it was not Muhyiddin alone who was responsible, even though he admitted that the Sabah elections had contributed to the surge in Covid-19 cases. Dr Noor was equally guilty when he justified that 14-day quarantine was not mandatory for Sabah arrivals because according to his logic, not all arrivals returned from red zones – triggering a new wave of Covid cases.

To impress the Malay voters, the clueless government started another wave when the daily infections shot from 2,000 to almost 10,000 thanks to Ramadan bazaar and the traditional “balik kampung” exodus for Hari Raya celebration. Then-Senior Minister Ismail Sabri even had the cheek to say he had no idea how 200,000 people managed to evade the police roadblocks to return to their home towns for the festival.

And was it not Gaylord Azmin Ali, the Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI), who initially approved 95,142 dubious companies out of 517,144 companies to operate during the so-called national full lockdown in June, only to expand the list to 128,150 companies? So, why target corporations with higher fines when it was the government that poured fuel to the fire, and spread the virus?

 

Even as recent as the 4-day event at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, which was launched by PM Ismail (Dec 9) to mark his administration’s achievements in its first 100 days and to self-praise the government for scoring self-awarded 90% score, it was tainted with double standards. Khairy only slapped his own government with a RM1,000 fine, despite 100,000 people breaching SOPs.

From the beginning, it has been the clueless and incompetent governments of Muhyiddin Yassin and Ismail Sabri that were the “super spreader” of Covid-19. It was their half-baked policies that saw close to 3-million cases and more than 30,000 deaths due to Coronavirus today. To increase the fines at a time when the people on the street are struggling to put food on the table is extremely irresponsible.

To make matters worse, unlike the existing Act 342 which states the penalties for first or repeat offenders, the proposed revisions only specify different maximum punishments for individuals and companies regardless of whether they are first or repeat offenders. Hence, it is open to abuse and misinterpretation and even encourage corruption. - FT

cheers.

Projek 5G DNB & Banjir sana sini...

Banjir sana sini...

Kampung Kebun Bunga Seksyen 22 Shah Alam... 

Korban Banjir...

Deputy minister blasts ex-boss 

over ‘secret talks’ on 5G rollout...

 

Deputy multimedia and communications minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin said his former boss, Saifuddin Abdullah and finance minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz were involved in secret talks on the nation’s 5G network rollout and Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB).

Last week, Zahidi told the Dewan Rakyat that the finance ministry decided to appoint DNB to manage the country’s 5G network and had not discussed DNB’s appointment with his ministry – which Tengku Zafrul and Saifuddin both then denied.

“I’m a bit disappointed as the previous minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, said he had discussed this with the finance minister,” said Zahidi at a press conference in Parliament.

“So, the two ministers spoke among themselves and implemented this DNB project that involves almost RM20 billion without discussing it with their subordinates. Even the deputy didn’t know.

“… I hope it was not just a discussion between two people where Saifuddin talks to Zafrul and both of them say ‘OK, OK, OK’, and then, the project is implemented.

“Let us not be secretive, because I have to answer in Parliament and I also have to be responsible to the Opposition, who also have to know about this. We have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with them.

“Our MPs have to know. The rakyat have to know. Don’t make this a secret between two ministers, a RM20 billion secret project.”

Saifuddin Abdullah &Tengku Zafrul Aziz

He also sarcastically said that Saifuddin might not have informed him about the talks as he was from a different party – Zahidi is from Umno and Saifuddin is with Bersatu, which he joined from PKR.

Zahidi also said his ministry had received complaints from companies who bid on the 5G contract and had claimed that the tender process was not done transparently. He added that secrecy in such matters would cause the public to think that “personal interests” were involved.

DNB, an agency wholly owned by the finance ministry, has been tasked with building and managing the country’s 5G network, but has run into problems with poor take-up by telcos. Swedish telecommunications giant Ericsson won a RM11 billion contract to serve as DNB’s network equipment provider after an open tender process.

DNB says the rollout will cost RM20 billion over 10 years, with the funding coming from bank loans and sukuk funds.

“This project is the rakyat’s project, and it involves RM20 billion. So, the rakyat want to know about all the details, like why DNB and Ericsson have been given a monopoly.

“What is the mitigation plan, the risk management? If Ericsson goes bankrupt, what will happen to this project? The rakyat want to know,” said Zahidi. - fmt

No takers for Malaysia's 5G plan as major

 telcos balk over pricing, transparency...

None of Malaysia's major mobile carriers have agreed to use the government's 5G network yet due to transparency and pricing issues, ahead of a rollout planned for next month, a state agency and industry executives said. However, state-owned network wholesaler Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) told Reuters it still hoped to launch 5G services in three urban centres, as talks continue with mobile operators.

The Southeast Asian country, a regional laggard in 5G rollout, unveiled a plan for a single shared network in February, hoping it would help accelerate nationwide infrastructure buildup. Similar state-led approaches have been tested in some other markets including Mexico, but largely stumbled.

The lack of industry support for the Malaysian initiative underscores corporate concerns over state meddling and transparency in a country still reeling from a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Malaysia has been losing foreign investor confidence recently amid political instability, with the third administration in as many years coming into power in August. The 1MDB scandal also tainted its reputation and implicated a former prime minister.

DNB confirmed that no agreement with carriers has been reached and acknowledged its initial timeline for negotiations had been "too optimistic".

The agency will now seek to have formal long-term agreements early next year and continues talks to deploy 5G services in three central areas, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, next month.

"The target now is to have a live network, covering... a total of 500 sites by the end of December, with at least some operators on board to provide a 5G network to end-users," Chief Technology Officer Ken Tan said. DNB did not say what would happen if no operators agreed to be part of the deployment.

Carriers, which had already invested in infrastructure upgrades to support 5G services, are concerned the 5G network plan would result in a nationalised monopoly, hurting their business and limiting their access to future technology, said seven current and former industry sources. They declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Three sources estimated the government plan could destroy up to 45 billion ringgit ($10.8 billion) in market value across all mobile operators including Axiata Group (AXIA.KL), DiGi.com (DSOM.KL) and Maxis (MXSC.KL). The sources did not specify over what period the losses would be incurred.

"By 2030, the majority of the network will be on 5G, then there are enforced limitations on our existing (non-5G network) assets," one of the sources said. "Valuations (of our business) will go down over time and it will go back and hurt our shareholders."

Under the plan, DNB would hold all 5G spectrum rights as well as build and maintain the entire network, with operators using the infrastructure to provide mobile services.

Axiata and DiGi declined to comment. Maxis said in a statement that it has long been ready to roll out 5G in the country.

"We will continue to focus on our purpose to serve the people and enterprises of Malaysia, and playing a key role to support the digital ambitions of the nation," it said.

The company sources said under the proposed pricing plan, the telcos could end up paying more than they would have if they rolled out 5G on their own. The plan did not take into account additional requirements related to traffic volumes and contingency costs, among other issues, they said.

According to internal documents reviewed by Reuters, the carriers have asked for "extensive revisions" to DNB's pricing proposal, saying it did not demonstrate the cost efficiencies promised. "The price is a function of how much assurance we can get on quality of the network," a source said.

The sources said the companies had also sought assurances that DNB would operate solely as a wholesale provider and would not reserve 5G capacity for itself or harbour any retail ambitions. The concerns highlight investor worries about the Malaysian government's influence in corporate issues, with most large cap public companies in the country counting state-linked investment firms as top shareholders.

DNB said share prices of leading telcos have been stable since the plan's announcement eight months ago. It also said a fast rollout would lead to an increase in data traffic that would boost operator revenues, while the wholesale plan will help carriers save billions of dollars of investment.

DNB Chief Operating Officer Dushyan Vaithiyanathan said the plan would likely cost only around 16.5 billion ringgit, around half the 30-35 billion ringgit carriers would have needed to spend to build the 5G network themselves.

"The government isn't trying to take away (telcos') rice bowl... We want to deliver the highest quality of services at the lowest price, so that it gives us more certainty in terms of recovery costs as we kickstart the 5G rollout," Dushyan told Reuters.

DNB however acknowledged its transparency has been questioned, adding that the country's communications regulator would put in place stringent guidelines in public to ensure fair pricing and a smooth rollout.

"We are working closely with (the regulators). We want the scrutiny, so that people cannot come in and change the principles of what we are aiming with 5G," Dushyan said. - Reuters

Another scandalous Sarawak Election

 has unfolded - No surprise...

The latest police report lodged Wednesday by the PKR in Asajaya depicts an abuse that is typical according to widespread complaints made by the barely resourced opposition candidates against the brazen and corrupted flaunting of wealth and clout by Sarawak’s ruling boss-men, who have been criss-crossing the state in government funded helicopters surrounded by civil servants to offer ‘projects’ and inducements.

The subject of the latest scandal is the GPS candidate Karim Hamzah (above), one of the established cronies of the regime who once proudly announced he saw no problem with a chief minister abusing his position to conduct business whilst in office.

A video (below) has emerged of him enticing voters with a promise of major prizes in a lucky draw after the election if they hand in their copy of a GPS personalised voting leaflet printed with all their details back to GPS after they have voted. “This is not to buy votes” he protests self-revealingly, then goes on to explain.

“After you have voted, your slips will be kept in boxes at our partner’s place. We will hold a Lucky Draw .. with huge prizes – Large screen TVs, refrigerators etc. We will have the Draw 3-4 days after the Elections.  It is to encourage people to come out to vote. My hope is that it is US who come out to vote on the day”

Just one such prize would account for the entire budget of many an opposition campaign. In this case PKR’s candidate has justifiably complained the inducements are a disgraceful breach.

“Exciting prizes have been offered to individuals who get a lucky draw. I as a candidate feel dissatisfied with the essence of the video which seems to be buying votes”, goes the police complaint.

Karim Hamza Lucky Draw...

Whether the police will do anything about this standard form of GPS behaviour is moot. If they do slap a fine it will be a painless sanction for members of a thugocracy who are steeped in cash from endless privileged sources after a half century of abusing their absolute control of the resources of the state.

Such are the battles faced by their opponents who have been kept deliberately bare-foot by outrageous Malaysian practices that make a mockery of any claim to genuine democracy. These include a system where ruling party YBs are allocated huge sums of money to distribute among their constituents to bolster their position, whilst opposition representatives receive no grants and their areas are threatened with punishment for voting for the ‘wrong party’.

The thuggish ex-Deputy Chief Minister (now that the Assembly is dissolved) Awang Tengah was issuing those same threats again just earlier this week in Opar where he warned voters in his speech that their area would lose out on the annual RM8 allocation handed to the local GPS man if the opposition was voted in.

And, yesterday, Tengah took himself off by helicopter once more to another needy rural area Kuala Tutoh together with the usual army of officials to impress his overlord status on a local longhouse. The headman (who are now imposed and salaried by the state rather than being elected) had decked the place out in expensive GPS posters and flags and lined the population up side by side, all dressed in freebie GPS t-shirts, to greet him.

Opposition candidates, who barely have the cash to struggle round their local areas in the beating rain (whilst Tengah and his boys helicopter round the state) have been complaining time and again that their attempts at campaign visits have by contrast been obstructed, as in previous years, by the paid headmen. Security and even police have been put in position to harass and follow opposition workers and to severely limit the numbers they can meet with.

This time Covid is again of course the  handy weapon and excuse to ensure there is one rule for the ruling party and one for the opposition.”Even if they let us in they will restrict the number of people who are allowed to come to hear us to a handful” explains one local campaigner.

Thanks to rules drawn up by the Health Ministry and UMNO’s Khairy Jamaluddin there are a slate of ‘health restrictions’ in place under the Covid SOP, which officials have selectively used to hamper opposition campaigners (certain senior figures have been barred from entering Sarawak) whilst top GPS folk move around with ease.

Indeed, as yesterday’s video shows, Tengah was able to swagger unimpeded through the crowded longhouse, shaking hands and receiving garlands round his neck. This at a time when the super-spreader Omicron virus has now been detected in Malaysia. This Election Is Different As The Abuses Are In Plain Sight...

He is no exception. This is a WhatsApp election and whilst the Greedy Old Men of this tired regime have just continued to do what they always do, bribing and bullying and acting as if the rules do not apply to them, the nation has been watching.

One video that has circulated is of Snowdan Lawan presiding over another crowded GPS longhouse election party where maskless party workers and local folk are being encouraged to dance by the party giving YB. Once again the elite of GPS can flout the rules bringing the danger of infection and disease with such practices into the very homes of the people they seek to represent.

Indeed, the single biggest thing that GPS and their UMNO protectors in the federal government could have to avoid the spread of the pandemic during this selfishly timed election would have been to encourage postal and mailbox voting. Yet that would have enabled thousands of migrant younger voters to add their votes and the old men of GPS, who have crafted the electoral map to suit them over very many years, had no intention of risking victory to save lives.

Of course, if they had cared about lives at all they would have continued to delay the election till it was safer. However, they have instead rushed the ballot to avoid the youth vote which would have come into force if they had waited two more weeks owing to the ruling of the courts.

As in so many previous years GPS are hoping to sweep to victory through the dozens of tiny seats they have allocated to captive ageing communities of rural voters dominated by their paid headmen. Swooping round in their government helicopters they have been showing up to remind these folk who’s boss.

Turnout is expected to be minuscule as the rains fall and young voters are trapped away from home by the pandemic and crippling travel costs. Calculations are that GPS can win on just 17% of the vote thanks to their gerrymandering and boss man tactics.

GPS buying votes with pau cake...

Wake up Sarawakians...

Of course, it is not just bullying involved. As plenty of visual evidence circulating the state has shown the traditional cheap bribes have been offered everywhere and impoverished locals have naturally accepted all that has been offered.

The longhouse communities who have lost so much of their traditional way of life and means of living as the jungles and rivers around them have been destroyed are effective hostages after all, dependent on whatever is on offer in return for their obedience.

Protests against logging have been met across the state with harsh police and court action, gangster attacks and the raw power of the massive bulldozing machinery important to tear out the trees and mow down anything in their way.

However, at election time, these intimidated and resourceless communities are offered some little treats. A pork feast, crisp bank notes, beer and cigarettes and parties are the normal offering, donated at the same time as the reminder is delivered of punishments to be expected if they vote the ‘wrong way’.

And these handouts have not just been on the part of GPS but also the highly suspect ‘opposition party’ PSB, which is headed by ex-ministers and the timber cronies of the present government with the likely intention of splitting the opposition vote.

Urbanites and West Malaysians who complain at the ‘mentality’ of longhouse folk or claim these simple people have a ‘culture of money politics’ and have yet to learn the meaning of the uneven bargain in selling their votes for pittances betray their own lack of understanding of the predicament of these  subdued indigenous communities.

It is the agents of the colonialist regime that West Malaysia operates in the Borneo States who have inculcated the mentality of bribery and pepper corn rewards to those who have no other choice apart from outright rebellion against the armies of the state. Where there is no rule of law there can be no democratic election, so what can the longhouse do but accept their guests and accept their ‘gifts’?

Until the people of Malaysia find their own awareness about the nature of the oppression in Sarawak which is being raped for its oil and natural resources for the benefit of a ruling elite and West Malaysia’s development, there will be insufficient pressure on their government to act.

The failure is with governance. Criminal kleptocrats were imposed under emergency conditions by the federal government during 1970s in a determined bid to secure Sarawak’s oil. In return central government has allowed freedom to the thug leaders of the state to raid the remaining resources from the native people.

Federal authorities have failed to act on year of blatant corruption, to curb abuses at elections, to prevent outrageous gerrymandering or the abuse of the bloated civil service to promote the interests only of the ruling party. So, don’t blame the victims for accepting cigarettes and doing what they are told. Just remember that through these captive seats the mafia who run Sarawak are also holding the nation hostage against reform. .

What is striking about this Sarawak election is just how few changes there have been in the ranks of GPS candidates, mainly now old men who have enjoyed a life in politics treating their positions mainly as a sinecure which they plan to keep for life. Of the few seats that have changed hands at least one has been handed as an inheritance to the son of Adenan after Adenan’s wife decided not to bother to inherit it herself.

What is different is that this time round their actions are being watched. Do the old men stuck in their ways understand the significance of so being watched? Across Sarawak their cheats and deeds are for the first time being widely followed and recorded. Then they are being viralled together with the angry comments of the observers on the ground.

More news of the dirty GPS tactics, for example, has circulated from Marudi where once again under the guise of ‘voter education’,  personalised leaflets are being handed out to every voter with instructions on where to find the polling station and which box to tick.

Handed out together with these leaflets, to focus the voters’ minds, are a duo of crisp RM50 notes. All money looted from the public purse – doubtless a further bribe was promised for after the ‘right result’.

In return for such humble pennies GPS aim to secure ‘permission’ to loot the remaining billions from the lands of the people of Sarawak. They have played the same game for 50 years.

Yesterday another faint-hearted opposition leader announced (amid fanfare) that she was changing sides to go to GPS. Her reasons were selfish but pragmatic – the opposition had given her ‘no help at all‘ she said, whereas GPS was plainly flush with cash to satisfy her dependency.

But, don’t blame the longhouse for money politics and the cheap dependency culture where impoverished communities swap the great wealth of their lands to kleptocrats who wave cheap gifts. Blame federal Malaysia and its dirty colonial secret in Sarawak.

And with awareness there will be change. The GPS campaign helicopters commandeered from the state for party political purposes have been blocking traffic landing on main roads and causing havoc. The whole state has been receiving the angry reactions of the frustrated drivers on their whatsapps about these ‘mafia’ leaders and that includes the longhouse voters.

Even the distant ‘backward’ rural voter are hearing through daily messages and from their younger generations in the towns how the GPS bullies are taking them for a ride and plundering their homelands. There could be some upsets this weekend. - Sarawak Report

cheers.

Kebenaran terserlah akhirnya...

 

Who wants a snap election?...

There is an intense campaign on the part of UMNO’s core leadership to pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament as soon as possible.

The front page of New Sunday Times blasts “No Rush” with an intro that reads “the PM has indicated GE15 will not be called anytime soon as there is much ‘unfinished business’, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and ensuring political stability and party preparedness.”

Consequent to the Melaka state election on 20 November and the Appeal Court judgement on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s SRC case, there is an intense campaign on the part of UMNO’s core leadership to pressure Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to dissolve Parliament as soon as possible.

To understand the current political scenario, one must know that Ismail Sabri is only “50% UMNO” as he is very close to Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional coalition – a rival to UMNO in their race to gain support of the Malays.

The greatest threat to Ismail Sabri’s premiership, which has just passed its 100 days’ mark, is from the UMNO core leadership, and not any other political players.

The troika’s insistence

When I say UMNO’s core leadership, I mean the troika of Najib, President Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi and Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan. (pix,above) The troika wants an immediate election for these three reasons:

First, the only way that Najib and Zahid can get out of jail is to ensure that UMNO wins the general election with one of them, or Mohamad Hassan, as the next Prime Minister. Najib and Zahid have caused the collapses of two governments - Pakatan Harapan and PN. Now they have no qualms to do it again, even if it is ostensibly led by an UMNO Prime Minister, as long as the two can escape jail.

Second, the troika wants GE15 to be held before UMNO’s party election, which had been postponed for up to 18 months from 30 June 2020 to 31 December 2022. 

They know Ismail Sabri would use his premiership to win control over UMNO. Therefore, the only way to frustrate Ismail Sabri is to avoid party elections before GE15.

This is to enable selection of candidates under the prerogative of Zahid as party president, and not Ismail Sabri who is only one of the three vice-presidents.  If the GE is called, Ismail Sabri is unlikely to be nominated as PM even if UMNO won a majority. 

Third, to avoid Undi18 voters, especially when higher voter turnout would mean less chance for UMNO to win. The Melaka state election results had shown that young Malay voters swung to PN.

Ismail Sabri puts it well, “if we go ahead with it (to call an immediate election before 31 December), we will be punished…although those aged between 18 and 20 cannot vote, those aged 21 and above will punish us.”

I wrote in Citizen Tong on 28 September that:

“As a matter of fact, the parliament is due for dissolution on 16 July 2023 and election must be held before or by 16 September 2023.

“As something less serious, I would say that Malaysia’s accidental PM Ismail’s current life goal is to serve at least a day more than his predecessor.

Muhyiddin was in office for 534 days. Surely Ismail wants to avoid being “the shortest serving PM ever”. So, this could probably take us up to at least February 2023 for the next general election to be held.”

It is as clear as daylight that Ismail Sabri does not want a GE now, or even after 31 July 2022 – the expiry date for the Memorandum of Understanding that he signed with PH on 13 September.

The MoU’s discord

There are agitations that PH should withdraw from the MoU, the latest being my friend Datuk Darell Leiking of Warisan who claimed that the understanding arrangement caused the Opposition to be weak in opposing the government. I am glad that my party colleague Kota Kinabalu MP Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin has provided a very good reply. 

I hope Warisan will not distance itself from PH by blaming our coalition for agreeing with the MoU. To cause the MoU to fail is akin to turkeys asking early Christmas to come. It is a self-defeating act.

The moment the MoU collapses, there will be a snap GE - a dream comes true for Najib, Zahid and Mohamad Hasan. If the troika win a majority, the two senior leaders will walk free from jail.

To avoid this and to steer Malaysia towards the right direction, there is a need for all including PH, PN and those UMNO leaders who are not aligned with Najib and Zahid to work out a compromise.

This deal is needed to carry the Ismail Sabri government, whether in minority or majority, until the end of Najib’s Federal Court judgement and the conclusion of Zahid’s cases. The nation needs a closure before going for GE.

There is also a need to ensure genuine electoral reforms are implemented in a bipartisan manner to create a level playing field for all parties to contest in GE15.

Malaysia is in uncharted waters. As leaders, we must navigate with a strategic mind. Doing otherwise may hand our opponents the gift they crave for, and shooting ourselves in the foot is still considered not a smart thing to do. - Liew Chin Tong

cheers.

Melayu sibuk dengan politik, isu perkauman, & DAP...

Can “Twice Convicted” Najib 

Contest In Election?

Based on the verdict delivered by the Court of Appeal on Wednesday (8 Dec), former Prime Minister Najib Razak is as guilty as hell. Judge Abdul Karim Abdul Jalil, who was leading the three-man bench, not only upheld Najib’s conviction, but also laughed and ridiculed the ex-PM’s claims that he (despite stealing money) was acting in the national interest, calling it a “national embarrassment” instead.

Arguably, another man who probably could not sleep well the night before the sentencing was perhaps Mahathir Mohamad. A twice prime minister, Mahathir was responsible for bringing down the once invincible Barisan Nasional government, which led to the defeated PM Najib charged for corruption, money laundering and abuse of power in the infamous 1MDB scandal.

While 96-year-old Mahathir was glad that the Court of Appeal has maintained the guilty verdict slapped by the High Court on his protégé-turn-nemesis Najib, the old man was obviously upset that the country’s second highest court has granted a stay of execution for the world’s biggest crook. It has been Mahathir’s personal mission to see Najib behind bars.

Expressing his fear that the “stay of execution” would allow Najib to contest in the 15th General Election, which could happen as early as next year, Mahathir said it could take at least another year for the Federal Court (the highest court and the final appellate court in the country) to decide the final verdict. Already, the Court of Appeal had taken some 17 months to deliver its decision.

Responding with his trademark sarcastic wit, Mahathir wrote on his blog – “If he wins, he will remain as the MP and can also become a prime minister too. Alhamdulillah, Malaysia might create another record by appointing a convict as a prime minister”. So, can Najib, after being convicted “twice” by four judges (High Court and Court of Appeal), still contest in the coming national election?

That’s a tricky question. Most lawyers argued that while Najib would not be disqualified as a lawmaker due to the stay of execution, he is not eligible to stand for election so long as the conviction is not overturned. Others, however, are not too sure. After all, in an exclusive interview with Reuters in September, Najib maintained that he was still qualified to contest, despite the corruption conviction.

The possibility of ex-PM Najib Razak making a political comeback to helm 

the country can not be ruled out , anything is possible in Malaysia Boleh...

The Article 48(1) of the Federal Constitution disqualifies a person from being a member of either House of Parliament (Lower House and Upper House) if he has been convicted of an offence by a court of law and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of not less than one year, or to a fine of not less than two thousand ringgit and has not received a free pardon.

But the simple fact that Mahathir, the man who practised dictatorial-style leadership and gerrymandering and misused institutional tools to manipulate an electoral process to stay in power for 22 years (from 1981 to 2003), has voiced his concern over the possibility that Najib can still contest speaks volumes about “loopholes” ready to be exploited and manipulated.

 

Was grandmaster Mahathir playing mind games when he threw the idea that the “stay of execution” will allow Najib to contest? Was Najib planning to use his family’s close relationship with the Sultanate of Pahang by virtue of Sultan Abdullah being the current Agong (King) to solicit a royal pardon, which will allow him to contest and become the prime minister again?

Exactly what Najib meant when he told Reuters that his qualification actually depends on the “interpretation” in terms of the law and the Constitution? Yes, it appears the “stay of execution” bitched by Mahathir is the same “interpretation” that Najib plans to use in order to contest in the coming nationwide election. It’s debatable whether a stay of execution also means a stay of conviction.

A stay of execution would mean Najib is still a lawmaker (till the Federal Court says he is guilty), but he can’t participate in the next general election. On the other hand, if the stay of execution also means a stay of conviction, it means he may contest. But is there such thing called “stay of conviction” in the first place? There’s none, of course.

An application for a stay of execution means that the party is applying to postpone the sentence pending hearing at the appellate court. However, if a stay of execution also means a stay of conviction, it means Najib has not been convicted (or is still innocent), which is not true at all because the High Court and Court of Appeal had both decided that he is “GUILTY”.

High Court Judge Nazlan Mohd Ghazali...

In short, before the High Court delivered the guilty verdict, Najib was considered innocent. The moment High Court Judge Nazlan Mohd Ghazali decided on 28 July 2020 that Najib was guilty, Najib is no longer innocent. From 28 July 2020 onwards, Najib is considered guilty – till either the Court of Appeal or the Federal Court says otherwise, or a Royal Pardon is granted.

Therefore, when deputy public prosecutor Mohd Ashrof Adrin Kamarul said that the stay is on both execution and conviction, either he was high on grass or the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) being led by Attorney General Idrus Harun had no idea what they were talking about. Now, do you understand why former A.G. Tommy Thomas wrote in his book about the incompetence of the AGC?

In fact, convicted Najib should be sent to prison effective 28 July 2020, and not allowed to walk around like a “free man”, as complained by Mahathir. It screams double standards of the highest order when a man found guilty was allowed to enjoy free police escorts, and rewarded with RM100 million worth of land the size of two soccer fields along with a mansion to be built with taxpayers’ money.

In truth, whether Najib is disqualified to contest or otherwise is in the hands of the Election Commission. In addition to the Article 48(1) of the Federal Constitution, regulation 7(1) of the Elections Regulations 1981 requires a returning officer to reject a candidate’s nomination paper if that candidate is disqualified from being a member of the House of Representatives under the Constitution.

Thus, when Article 48(1) of the Federal Constitution and regulation 7(1) of the Elections Regulations 1981 are read together, not only a person can be disqualified from being a Member of Parliament, but can also disqualify that person from contesting in a Parliamentary or State election (or by-election). Exactly what is the position of Najib today?

 

This is where the magic works in the extremely corrupted Election Commission after more than 60 years of indoctrination to help Barisan Nasional government stays in power – by hook or by crook. The returning officer of the Election Commission has the ultimate power to accept a candidate or to disqualify a candidate. If the officer says Najib can contest, not even the God can reject him.

Tian Chua...

For example, during the highly explosive 14th General Election in 2018, at least six Opposition Pakatan Harapan candidates were disqualified even before the battle begins. The most high-profile case was the disqualification of Opposition PKR vice-president Tian Chua, an incumbent MP of the Batu parliamentary constituency for 10 years since 2008.

Returning officer Anwar Md Zain said he was advised by the Election Commission to disqualify Tian Chua’s nomination due to a RM2,000 fine. Tian Chua was convicted for insulting a police officer in April 2014 and was fined RM3,000 and jailed 6 months by the Session Court in March 2017. However, the High Court reduced the fine to RM2,000 in March 2018 after an appeal.

Hence, Tian Chua was perfectly qualified to contest the May 2018 General Election. The Election Commission, however, deliberately and falsely interpreted the law – a fine of not less than RM2,000 – to disqualify Tian Chua. Even Parliament Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had earlier ruled in 2011 that Mr Chua was not disqualified as a Batu MP as he was fined below RM2,001.

When grilled, the despicable Election Commission chairman Mohd Hashim Abdullah said the rejected PKR candidate can file a petition in court. On November 2019, the High Court declared that the Election Commission’s move to bar the PKR candidate from contesting in the 14th General Election in 2018 was unjust and unlawful. Of course, by then, it was too late for Tian Chua.

Fortunately, the backup plan was to endorse independent candidate P Prabakaran, who later won the seat and joined PKR, and has remained loyal to the party ever since. But the fact that Tian Chua had fought all the way to the Court of Appeal and Federal Court before his lawsuit was remitted back to the High Court for trial goes to show how dirty and corrupt the Election Commission is.

Using the same shameful trick, the Election Commission can definitely reverse what it did to the legitimate candidate Tian Chua by approving an illegitimate Najib to contest in Pekan constituency. Sure, everyone can scream and cry over the flawed eligibility of the UMNO crook. By the time you sue the commission for abuse of power, it will be water under the bridge.

The returning officer of the Election Commission can stage a stupid drama, conveniently twist and spin that since the Court of Appeal has granted Najib a “stay of execution”, the ex-PM is considered innocent, when in reality he is guilty as per both verdicts delivered by the High Court and the Court of Appeal. When Najib wins and becomes the PM, no judge will dare to nullify his illegitimacy.

The Election Commission still has tons of dirty tricks under its sleeve, including using the police and election officers to physically prevent opposition from entering the nomination centre, as in the case of PKR candidate Dr Streram Sinnasamy in the state seat of Rantau. By making life difficult for the Opposition, Mohamad Hasan (current UMNO deputy president) shamelessly won unopposed.

There were also many instances where the commission unilaterally declared bankruptcy on candidates during nomination day in attempts to sabotage the Opposition. Like it or not, when the Parliament is dissolved, the Election Commission becomes the kingmaker who will make or break Najib. Ironically, it was Mahathir who corrupted the independence of the institution. - FT

cheers.