Their headlines...

Anwar's public rallies against GE13 results, Haris Ibrahim's call for street demonstrations to topple the government and the court action against Pakatan's lawmaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad are fast getting international attention.

The kind of headlines by foreign media also incline more toward the opposition, a platform now fully-utilised by Pakatan Rakyat to gain world sympathy and support for their only legitimate mission - to 'crown' Anwar as prime minister.

No matter what Malaysian laws say about the illegal public rallies and regardless of whether it will lead to nationwide chaos, its not their main concern. As long as Najib is up there, they will continue breaking the law.

To them, no law binds them at the moment. The only law is in Anwar's hand, and that explains why they couldnt be bothered to give a 10-day notice to the police before organising such rallies.

Nik Nazmi case is well expected. In fact, it was well-planned, and they wouldn't mind if more are prosecuted because the whole world is with them. Its the attention that Anwar wants, and he is getting it.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

A fresh row began to brew between Malaysia’s government and its critics after an opposition lawmaker was charged with failing to provide police sufficient warning for a rally that drew tens of thousands of people.
Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, communications director in opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s People Justice Party blamed the government for selective prosecution, and said the charge undermines Prime Minister Najib Razak's call for national reconciliation after his ruling National Front won the May 5 elections by the thinnest margin ever.
“I don’t think this is a good sign of the new regime that we see here in Malaysia,” Mr. Nik Nazmi said.

The Business Standard:

A Malaysian opposition leader has been charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act for failing to give police the required 10-day notice for holding a post general election rally near here to protest against vote rigging.
Nik Nazmi, 31, the PKR lawmaker for Seri Setia state, was charged in the Petaling Jaya Sessions court.
Authorities had declared the May 8 opposition rally, attended by more than 50,000 supporters, illegal. The rally was called by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim to protest against the poll results.

The Oye! Times of Canada:

PKR communication director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has been accused of breaking the law by organizing a post-poll rally at Kelana Jaya Stadium on May 8. The 31-year-old was charged at the Sessions Court on Friday.

Nik Nazmi, who is also Seri Setia assemblyman, is charged with failing to notify Petaling Jaya police about the venue of the rally 10 days before the event. Nik Nizami is charged under Section 9(1) of the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012. If proven guilty, he might have to pay a fine of up to RM10,000.

There are more of these.

However, no foreign media published anything about the calls made by several senior politicians and Anwar's ex-aides for such rallies to be put to a halt. Only local newspapers carry it, hence giving a perception that there are foreign powers behind the opposition's thrust to overthrow Najib's Barisan Nasional government.

A New Straits Times story about Pakatan Rakyat's 'Malaysian spring' was not picked up by any foreign news agency.

Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim yesterday revealed that the opposition had long intended to initiate a 'Malaysian spring' to overthrow the government through street rallies. They had planned to create chaos since last year’s Bersih rally and was now building up to nationwide protests.

The former senator said he had evidence to back his claim in the form of an email which was sent out by DAP’s chief of staff Foo Yueh Chuan to all central executive council members on April 26, 2012. In the email, Foo informed the recipients that  she was coordinating the party members and leaders to participate in Bersih's sit-in rally at Stadium Merdeka on April 28 last year.

Such threats to the national security failed to gain world attention. If Malaysia succumbs to political chaos, they will have more opportunity to intervene in the country's domestic affairs and decide on its economy and social agenda, and of course its resources.

I hope Malaysians, especially those joining Pakatan realise this...

Tony Phua misinterprets Zahid

Zahid Hamidi's call to 'unhappy Malaysians' to leave the country was the simplest gesture to make the opposition, especially people like Tony Phua, Anwar Ibrahim, Rafizi and others to understand a simple thing - what would become of Pakatan Rakyat and the country if they go on protesting the 13th general election result.

PAS has accepted the simple fact that Pakatan lost the GE and everybody has to move forward. There is still time for Anwar to wait for another four or five years until the next national poll is held.

When will Anwar & Gang stop from demonstrating their disgust at Najib and Barisan Nasional? After six big rallies thus far, are they going to continue it in the next five years. If it fails, will they resort to a more intimidating tactic?

Tony Phua doesn't understand this 'simple language' issed by Zahid, the new Home Minister. He spoke for majority of Malaysians who are already fed up with the attitude of some Pakatan leaders who still dispute the GE result without trying to substantiate it.

KJ defends Zahid:

New minister Khairy Jamaluddin came to the defence of his senior Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today, saying the home minister was merely expressing his own opinion in telling Malaysians unhappy with the country’s political system to migrate elsewhere.
Ahmad Zahid, who had swapped his defence portfolio for home affairs, had come under flak from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat over his controversial writing published yesterday in Umno-owned Utusan Malaysia.
“He was trying to put across that we have a certain system in the country, first past the post.
“We don’t have a direct democracy. We don’t have a system where whoever wins the popular vote can form the government.”

Malaysians, regardless of their race, religion and political ideologies are being dragged into such a quagmire at a time when they are already forgetting the 'big battle' and settling down with the outcome. To them, life must go on no matter who rules.

The country's stability and progress depends much on our determinant to chart it. Whether BN or PR, both have to find ways to serve the rakyat better by sharing views and mind, and not by inciting the people to burn their own fingers.

What Zahid said is a non-des-cript as it was only a simple gesture to make the opposition understand that there is a standard law and procedure for them to contest the election result. Taking to the street and calling for rallies only reflects on Anwar's political immaturity and mounting desperation to become a prime minister.

However, Zahid didn't say it out of context.

I personally agree that if a Malaysian is not happy here - objecting to each and every step the government takes to develop the country and uplift the living standard of the rakyat; that all the government does is wrong - may as well he or she finds another country that can offer happiness and does all the right thing.

In lambasting Zahid, Tony Phua spoke of nonsense - comparing BN and PR's win in some constituencies, relating it to what the Home Minister said - but he himself does not have the package as a constructive opposition MP.

If Tony looks at other countries, the opposition's task is to work alongside the ruling party by providing new and better ideas as to how certain policies could be enhanced. They support what is good and right and oppose what is deemed as 'wastage'.

However in Malaysia, our opposition's job is only to object from A to Z anything the government does although some of it really augur well for national development and integration.

If everything about BN is wrong, what is so right about Pakatan Rakyat?

To Tony, what is your role actually as an opposition MP? Bring down the legitimate government via daily rallies and street demos? If Pakatan rules, will you allow BN to hold similar protest and public rally to bring you down?

I bet Pakatan government will bar public rally, just like Singapore!

Zahid's early sting...

That's the way to go, man!

Zahid Hamidi has painted the colors of how a true Home Ministers should be. After the announcement by PM Najib yesterday that he would be taking over the portfolio from Hishammuddin Hussein, he dropped a bombshell to 'unhappy' and 'ungrateful' Malaysians:

"If you are not happy, you may migrate!"

In his first opinion piece in Utusan Malaysia, the MP for Bagan Datoh and former Defense Minister said the illegal gatherings held across the country by Pakatan Rakyat was a form of escapism and the denial of the fact that it failed to take control of Putrajaya.
“Even if it is true that the opposition had claimed a greater majority, the measurement used by the opposition had been manipulated to follow the list system or the single transferable vote system,” he said in column entitled “Perhimpunan haram sebab tak terima hakikat gagal kuasai Putrajaya.” (Illegal gathering because refuses to accept failure in controlling Putrajaya)

“Malaysia inherited the political system from the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries also use the first past the post system where political parties contesting in the election will only have one representative in each constituency with the principle of a simple majority of votes."

Led by Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition has held several rallies (with no untoward incident thus far) in Kelana Jaya, Penang, Kuantan, Ipoh and Johor Bahru to protest what their alleged as 'a general election marred with fraud and vote-rigging', something that they couldn't establish with valid proof.

Zahid also said the opposition leaders, especially those from PKR and DAP, have been irresponsible in confusing young Chinese voters and their followers who are 'politically blind' to dress in black to protest against the result of the 13th general election which they believe is for them due to the popular vote.

“If these people wish to adopt the list system or the single transferable vote used by countires with the republic form of government, then they should migrate to these countries to practise their political beliefs.

“Malaysia is not a country to translate their political beliefs, even if they are really loyal to this country, they should accept the political system and the existing system to form a government as enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” he said.

He also pointed out that PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang had already accepted the results  and disagreed with the illegal gatherings by PKR and DAP.

“People are getting fed up with the behaviour of a number of opposition leaders who are dragging in the young, especially those of Chinese descent, by fanning the flames of hatred and racism in a pluralistic society which has already fostered a sense of harmony.

“The opposition is also questioning the authority of the Election Commission (EC) which had allegedly manipulated the votes. It is an outrageous accusation when the EC have observed most of their demands including the use of indelible ink that is only used by the third world countries,” he said.

As the new Home Minister, Zahid will have to study and review some 'failed' policies implemented over the past four years, and introduce a new working strategy in handling some major issues like illegal immigrants, the stateless people and Rela status.

A Cabinet to serve...

UPDATE 1.30am May 16: Former Information, Communication and Culture deputy minister Joseph Salang has turned down the offer as deputy tourism minister post under Najib's new Cabinet... here

In announcing his new Cabinet lineup - the first in Malaysian history that saw no MCA rep - Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak has well taken into account the balancing factor that would lead Barisan Nasional into the next term before facing the opposition again, four or five years from now.

With more minister posts given to Sarawak and Sabah for the two States' major contribution in the just concluded 13th general election, it will augur well in BN's 'healing process' to win back the votes it lost on May 5 polling.

And the strong BN Youth representation both as full ministers and deputies signals the ruling party's hope and Najib's wisdom to rejuvenate the administrative approach of the public sector in all major policy undertakings.

I must congratulate Khairy Jamaluddin, Kamalanathan, Ahmad Shabery Chik, Ahmad Maslan and Azizah Mohd Dun among few, to provide Najib with fresh and vibrant idea as to how the government could serve the rakyat better.

The exclusion of Noh Omar, Shaziman Abu Mansor and a few more did not mean their service is no longer needed. They had served well in their respective portfolio and its time to give their hands to their successors.
Financial Times' comment:

The new government called the line-up “a mix of technocrats and civil society representatives, who bring valuable experience from outside government, as well as experienced ministers and younger faces”.
Mr Najib said: “Over the past months and years, divisions have opened up in Malaysian society. Now it is time for all of us, in government and beyond, to put the bitterness behind us, and work towards national reconciliation – and national unity.
The new cabinet members included Paul Low, head of the Malaysian arm of Transparency International, a Berlin-based anti-corruption campaign group; Abdul Wahid Omar, chief executive of Maybank, one of Malaysia’s two biggest banks; and Khairy Jamaluddin, a 37-year-old rising star in Umno and son-in-law of Mr Najib’s predecessor as prime minister, Abdullah Badawi.
Mr Najib retains the finance ministry portfolio.

KJ as Umno Youth chief deserves the Youth and Sports portfolio. Although some parties still dispute his role and the 'Pak Lah stigmata', many support him and believe that he has reached that level of maturity to hold a Cabinet position.

For Ahmad Shabery, it is a 'home coming' for him as he used to hold Information portfolio under Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's era. He left Youth and Sports Ministry 'clean' for KJ to continue. The way he developed the ministry like a profit-making corporation has earned him a lot of credits.

Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Hishammuddin Tun Hussein took each others' portfolio, Defense and Home respectively. Both Umno vice-president will leave their achievement to be assessed by the members at the party's general assembly later this year.

The new Cabinet lineup also saw the 'comeback' of a few once-called 'the deadwoods'.

Among them are Barisan Nasional sec-gen Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor who is appointed Federal Territories minister, and former Perlis Mentri Besar Shahidan Kassim as minister an the PM Dept.

'Ku Nan', the member of parliament for Putrajaya, was a deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department in January 2001, and in November 2002. He was later re-appointed Tourism Minister in February 2006, until the 2008 General Election.

With the witdrawal of MCA and Gerakan from taking up any government post, Chinese representation in the cabinet now comes from Senator Datuk Paul Low Seng Kuan and Mary Yap Kain Ching, the Member of Parliament for Tawau.

DAP against street demo? Ha ha ha...

Street protests is not the way to topple BN governments, says DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

"DAP is against it. It may lead to violence if not properly managed," he said in rebuking activist Haris Ibrahim for calling for street protests to bring down Najib's government within a year.

“I agree there were fraud during the general election but we must address this using the court process,” he said.
Yesterday, Haris was reported as saying that pro-Pakatan Rakyat NGO’s would topple the federal government through massive street rallies.
He said that the people could not wait for another five years to dislodge BN as democracy is not working in Malaysia.
However, Haris qualified his statement by saying that he was not talking about violent street protests against BN.
Karpal, who is also Bukit Gelugor MP, said that his party is against street protests to topple a government.
Although he commended Haris for opposing violent demonstrations, Karpal warned that a street protest may cause unrest if it was not handled properly.

Haris, while denying he was advocating violence, has forgotten what happened during Bersih 2.0 and Bersih 3.0 although the organiser had promised a peaceful march.

His idea of massing about 1 million people will definitely go out of control as majority of those taking part are youth and radicals from the opposition and anti-BN organisation. They had proven their 'capability' during Bersih 3.0.

However, Karpal also did not say anything about DAP leaders and supporters joining Anwar's nationwide rally. If the party is against it, he should tell Lim Kit Siang and others to stay away from Anwar's 'mad strategy'.

Our new IGP

It was decided that Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar is replacing Tan Sri Ismail Omar as the new inspector-general of police from May 17.

After much speculations about it, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak finally doused it off by making the announcement to Bernama today.

Some individuals have been spreading false information on Facebook and blogs that Ismail was pressured to resign by a political party. However, Bukit Aman was fast to refute it.

Ismail who turns 60 on May 17 is the country's ninth Inspector-General of Police. He assumed the post following Tan Sri Musa Hassan's retirement on Sept 12, 2010.

Ismail started as a trainee police inspector at the Kuala Kubu Baru Police Academy in 1971 and is known by his personnel to be a strict and a highly disciplined police officer.

Khalid, 56, was promoted to the Deputy Inspector General of Police post on April 14, 2011 following the retirement of his predecessor, Tan Sri Hussin Ismail.

The father of three was the Internal Security and Public Order director at that time. He joined the police force in 1976 as an inspector and worked his way up the ranks.

Congratulations, Khalid... and thank you Ismail!

A short Umno story...

About: An Umno division
State: One of the East Coast States
When: Few days before and after 13th general election
The players: Division head, his deputy, state Umno chief

And the story goes like this:

The division head won the parliamentary seat in 2004. In 2008 general election, he was dropped for poor performance. His deputy replaced him and won the seat in the 12th general election. It soured their relations. Some said the head told his supporters not to vote for his deputy. Could be true, could be not.

When the state got a new mentri besar in 2008, the division head quickly rubbed shoulder with him, bought him new expensive attires. So, they became good buddies.

Days before nomination for the just concluded general election, the head went to see the mentri besar, asking for the parliamentary seat again.

Felt indebted, the mentri besar fulfilled his request. At the same time, the incumbent Member of Parliament was slotted for a State seat. Fine.

The mentri besar's list was approved and endorsed by the party president who was not aware of the bickering as he was fed by a bunch of liars who said everything was perfect with the State Umno. Okay lar, the president is not to be blamed.

So came polling day on May 5.

Fed up with the three of them (the State Umno chief, the division head and his deputy), most of the Umno members in the division voted for Pakatan Rakyat's candidate.

That's how both candidates for the parliament and state seats lost... and they deserved such a punishment by the electorates.

I don't know about other places but this is the kind of scabs Umno has to deal with. My immediate reaction upon getting the election result from that division on May 6 was:

"PADAN MUKA!"