Apa Lagi Yang Rakyat Mahu?

Setelah mengalami ‘kejutan’ dalam PRU-13 lalu, BN terus mengharungi berbagai cabaran dalam usaha meneruskan pemerintahan.  Sejurus selepas PRU, BN perlu berhadapan dengan serangan dari pembangkang dalam bentuk demonstrasi dan fitnah yang tidak kunjung henti.  Bagaimanapun, setelah beberapa ketika, serangan pembangkang semakin reda.  Kalau adapun, ianya tidaklah sehebat mana, malah jelas terlihat seolah-olah ia hanyalah usaha untuk mengalih perhatian.

Sebaliknya, apa yang berlaku ialah BN menghadapi serangan dari pihak penyokong sendiri.

Serangan yang pada mulanya berupa persoalan, semakin hari semakin hangat sehingga mencetuskan ketegangan sama ada sesama blogger mahupun pihak atasan.  Akhir-akhir ini, serangan dari penyokong BN telah mencapai tahap tertinggi iaitu terus kepada Perdana Menteri dan mereka-mereka di sekeliling beliau.

Jika diteliti, serangan dari pihak penyokong BN ini bermula sejak barisan kabinet diumumkan lagi.  Jelas, ramai yang tidak berpuas hati dengan barisan kabinet yang menyenaraikan muka-muka yang pernah menjadi kontroversi.  Semakin hari, serangan semakin hebat sehingga hampir mengaburi segala kebaikan dan pencapaian BN sepanjang pemerintahan Dato’ Seri Najib Razak.

Untuk berlaku adil, rakyat harus menilai kepimpinan tanpa terbawa-bawa dengan emosi.  Di masa yang sama, kepimpinan juga perlu berlaku adil dengan mengambilkira resah hati rakyat tanpa terbawa-bawa dengan ego dan juga kepentingan diri.

Sehingga ke hari ini, kita tidak dapat menafikan bahawa Dato’ Seri Najib telah melakukan begitu banyak perubahan dan kebaikan kepada rakyat dan negara.  Antaranya:

·         11 Julai 2009 – Mengumumkan penubuhan Tabung Amanah Saham 1Malaysia.

·         7 Jan 2010 – Menubuhkan Klinik 1Malaysia untuk golongan berpendapatan rendah menjalani rawatan dengan bayaran RM1.

·         31 Jan 2010 – Menubuhkan Tabung Penyelenggaraan Satu Malaysia (TP1M) dengan peruntukan RM37.6 juta.

·         28 Jan 2010 – Memperkenal Program 1AZAM (Akhiri Zaman Miskin) bertujuan membina keupayaan golongan ini dan mewujudkan peluang pekerjaan melalui gabungan pekerjaan dan keusahawanan.

·         19 Feb 2011 – Lancar Program Transformasi Kedai Runcit Kecil (Tukar) sebagai usaha memodenkan peruncit kecil dan sekaligus membantu mereka meningkatkan daya saing.

·         22 Jun 2011 – Membangunkan Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia

·         7 Okt 2011 – Memperkenalkan Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) sebanyak RM500 diberi kepada isi rumah berpendapatan RM3,000 sebulan ke bawah yang kni menjadi inisiatif tahunan

·         4 Julai 2011 – Mengilhamkan Projek Perumahan Rakyat 1Malaysia (PR1MA).

·         7 Julai 2011 – Menu Rakyat 1Malaysia diperkenal dengan harga siling RM2 dan juadah tengah hari pada harga RM4
·         7 Julai 2011 – Lancar projek My Rapid Transit (MRT), kaedah pengangkutan utama Malaysia ke arah memperkukuh sistem pengangkutan awam negara.

·         19 Dis 2011 – Lancar televisyen Internet dan mobil pertama negara, 1Malaysia TV.

·         18 Feb 2012 – Menubuhkan Pusat Transformasi Luar Bandar (RTC) pertama di Gopeng, Perak dan beberapa lagi dibuka di Kelantan, Melaka dan Pahang.

·         23 Jun 2012 – Lancar Pusat Transformasi Bandar (UTC) pertama di Melaka dan pada 22 Sept tahun yang sama,sebuah lagi UTC dibuka di Pudu Sentral.

·         24 Jun 2012 – Lancar program Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia (TR1Ma) dengan insentif hampir RM35 juta untuk golongan pemandu teksi.

·         7 Julai 2012 – Memperkenal Pelan Induk Perusahaan Kecil Sederhana (PKS) bagi membawa pembangunan PKS ke peringkat lebih tinggi menerusi peningkatan produktiviti.

·         14 Julai 2012 – Lancar Kedai Kain Rakyat 1Malaysia (KKR1M) sebagai usaha berterusan kerajaan membantu meringankan beban rakyat.

·         7 Ogos 2012 – Memperkenal kad ’1Malaysia Privilege Card’ khusus buat 241,000 anggota dan pegawai polis dan tentera.

·         28 Sept 2012 – Melaksanakan pemberian pusingan kedua Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) dan diperluas kepada individu bujang berumur 21 tahun ke atas.

·         12 Nov 2012 – Memperkenal Pusat Panggilan 1Malaysia (1MOCC) yang beroperasi 24 jam sehari bagi melonjakkan perkhidmatan awam ke tahap bitara.

·         15 Feb 2013 – Lancar Program Kebajikan Rakyat 1Malaysia (KARISMA @Hati Rakyat) inisiatif terbaharu bagi membantu rakyat berpendapatan rendah dan miskin dengan peruntukan sebanyak RM50 juta diagihkan kepada 200,000 penerima.

·         16 Mac 2013 – Mini UTC pertama dibuka di Kompleks Perniagaan dan Komuniti Bandar Baru Sentul, Kuala Lumpur.

·         28 Sept 2012 – Pemberian sumbangan RM1,000 secara sekali bayar kepada bekas tentera yang bersara kurang daripada 21 tahun perkhidmatan serta tidak berpencen. Seramai 224,000 bekas tentera mendapat manfaat.

·         15 Dis 2012 – Memperkenal Program Pengiktirafan Veteran 1Malaysia untuk kebajikan Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM).

·         23 Feb 2010 – Umum peruntukan sebanyak RM3.4 bilion kepada Sarawak menerusi NKRA bagi merancakkan semua projek pembangunan di negeri itu terutamanya di kawasan luar bandar.

·         23 Feb 2010 – Umum peruntukan khas RM35 juta untuk tiga projek memajukan kehidupan rakyat di empat skim penempatan semula Kawasan Pemerintah Keselamatan Rajang (Rascom) di Sibu Sarawak.

·         25 Mac 2013 – Meluluskan tuntutan Dana Pencen, imbuhan tetap perumahan, pembayaran sagu hati tamat perkhidmatan dan enyelarasan caruman Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) kepada tujuh agensi Badan Berkanun yang Diasingkan Saraan BBDS).

·         25 Okt 2010 – Lancar Program Transformasi Ekonomi (ETP) dengan 18 projek permulaan (EPP).

·         11 Jan 2011 – Umum 19 lagi EPP yang akan menjana pelaburan hampir RM67 bilion.

·         7 Okt 2011 – Memperuntuk bantuan tunai RM100 buat semua pelajar sekolah dan RM200 baucar buku untuk pelajar universiti.

Program-program yang disenaraikan di atas adalah yang melibatkan rakyat secara langsung.  Walaupun kelihatan begitu banyak sekali, tetapi entah kenapa masih terdapat rungutan di kalangan rakyat, terutama bumiputera yang merasakan diri mereka dipinggirkan oleh kerajaan.

Rakyat, terutama bumiputera yang menyokong BN, mempersoalkan kerajaan kerana tunduk kepada desakan pembangkang untuk menghapuskan Akta Pencegahan dan Keselamatan Dalam Negeri sekali gus membebaskan tahanan terus ke dalam masyarakat.  Keputusan ini ternyata salah apabila kadar jenayah meningkat secara drastik.

Sikap beberapa anggota kabinet yang angkuh, samseng dan tidak beretika turut menambah keraguan rakyat terhadap kerajaan.   Apatah lagi apabila rakyat telah terlebih awal melihat perlantikan mereka sebagai satu kesilapan.  

Justeru, terbentuklah persepsi bahawa kerajaan tidak punya kredibiliti, takut kepada pembangkang dan tidak mendengar suara rakyat.  Akibatnya, setiap satu yang dilakukan kerajaan semuanya diragui kerana rakyat telah memutuskan bahawa kerajaan hanya mementingkan pembangkang dan minoriti selain menjaga kepentingan sendiri. 

Dan nampaknya, setakat ini, masih tiada penjelasan yang mampu memulihkan persepsi negatif ini.  

Pengumuman pengurangan subsidi minyak baru-baru ini dilihat bagaikan simbahan petrol ke atas api yang sedang membara.  Rakyat kini mula memperinci keputusan kerajaan dari segi ekonomi.  Kejatuhan ringgit, kelembapan pasaran, penurunan kadar eksport, pelaburan asing yang tidak menggalakkan dan sebagainya diambil sebagai bukti bahawa kerajaan tidak cekap.

Walaupun pada dasarnya rakyat turut menyalahkan pembangkang kerana sering memburukkan Malaysia sehingga menyebabkan pelaburan asing jatuh tetapi alasan ini masih tidak mampu mengurangkan marah mereka terhadap kerajaan.  Bagi rakyat, alasan pelaburan asing semata-mata adalah tidak cukup bagi menjelaskan keadaan ekonomi Malaysia yang semakin merudum.

Rakyat tertanya-tanya, sejak bila Malaysia perlu bergantung kepada pelaburan langsung asing semata-mata?  Di mana projek-projek yang mampu menjana ekonomi negara?  Kenapa tidak dimantapkan ekonomi domestik?  Dan ke manakah dilaburkan hutang yang menjulang tinggi itu? 

Secara ringkasnya, rakyat tidak melihat sesuatu yang signifikan dalam usaha menjana ekonomi.

Lebih menyukarkan lagi ialah apabila rakyat turut maklum akan kewujudan begitu ramai konsultan dan pakar-pakar yang membantu dan menasihat kerajaan dalam urusan pentadbiran negara.  Persoalan yang menerjah minda mereka tentulah, apa gunanya semua konsultan dan pakar jika mereka tidak mampu membawa negara ke arah kecemerlangan sebaliknya semakin hari semakin menjunam, semakin merudum dari segala segi?

Namun, apa yang benar-benar membuat rakyat marah ialah apabila mengetahui bahawa semua konsultan dan pakar-pakar, termasuk dari luar negara itu dibayar berjuta-juta ringgit dalam keadaan ekonomi semakin merosot.

Justeru, rakyat mula membandingkan Malaysia di kala menjadi Harimau Asia tidak memerlukan konsultan asing tetapi hanya bergantung kepada kepakaran anak Malaysia yang berpengalaman dan telah terbukti berjaya, untuk membantu kerajaan.

Keadaan bertambah buruk apabila rakyat mengetahui bahawa beberapa individu yang terlibat menasihat dan membantu kerajaan, mempunyai latarbelakang yang diragui iaitu cenderung menyokong pembangkang.  Malah ada juga yang mempunyai kehidupan peribadi liar, yang tidak sepatutnya bagi seorang yang terlibat dalam rahsia negara.  Akibatnya, rakyat tidak dapat mengelak dari terus meragui kerajaan apabila membayangkan bagaimana individu seperti itu mempunyai akses kepada maklumat sulit serta strategi keselamatan negara.   Mengambil mudah persepsi rakyat adalah satu risiko yang BN tidak mampu tangani.

Dalam era teknologi maklumat ini, tiada apa yang menjadi rahsia lagi.  Untuk pengetahuan, senario di syarikat-syarikat milik kerajaan atau GLC turut menyumbang kepada persepsi buruk rakyat terhadap kerajaan.  Apa yang berlaku dengan MAS-Air Asia sehingga kedua-duanya perlu membayar denda RM10 juta menguatkan persepsi ini.   Malah, di laman-laman sosial, rungutan dari mereka yang berkait dengan GLC cukup lantang memperkatakan tentang permainan halus untuk menyingkir para nasionalis dari jawatan atasan.  Rakyat kini memerhatikan apa yang berlaku di Petronas dengan dekat.

Tindakan kerajaan melantik personaliti yang mempunyai imej buruk di mata rakyat sebagai peneraju syarikat-syarikat yang berkait dengan kerajaan pula seolah-olah ingin membuktikan bahawa semua persepsi rakyat itu benar belaka.

Kecenderungan tunduk pada desakan pembangkang, keputusan yang berunsur liberalis iaitu mementingkan keterbukaan pasaran yang keuntungan golongan kaya, memujuk golongan miskin dengan BR1M yang tidak memberi apa-apa makna dalam persaingan ekonomi yang semakin sengit, perlantikan personaliti kontroversi ke kabinet dan GLC serta ketiadaan projek yang signifikan untuk menjana pendapatan menjadikan rakyat memandang kerajaan dengan pandangan yang sinis sekali.  Pengurangan subsidi hanyalah ‘alat kawalan jauh’ bagi sebuah bom jangka.

Perit untuk diakui bahawa segala konsultan untuk membina dan memulihkan imej, memperkenalkan slogan, ‘branding’ atau ‘rebranding’ yang bernilai berjuta-juta, telah akhirnya memburukkan lagi imej kerajaan.

Walaupun kerajaan berjanji tidak akan meminggirkan bumiputera biar apapun berlaku, namun persoalannya, bagaimanakah kerajaan mengatasi persepsi buruk yang telah terpahat kuat ini?  Rakyat inginkan bukti, bukan janji. Rakyat ingin melihat hasil, bukan persembahan ‘powerpoint’ yang hebat.  Rakyat ingin melihat ‘kerja’ bukan ‘politik’.  Hentikan tindakan melantik seseorang atau berbuat sesuatu atas alasan politik.  Kita ingin melihat BN memerintah selama-lamanya, bukan sehingga PRU-14 sahaja.

Akhir sekali, inilah diingatkan bahawa jika subsidi dikurangkan lagi tanpa terlebih dahulu  mengatasi persepsi buruk ini, maka BN pasti akan mengalami mimpi ngeri dalam PRU-14 nanti.
 

http://sebastianphiu.blogspot.com/2013/09/menghina-islam-akan-dijatuhkan-hukuman.html

DAP spliting up because of triads.

The Nanyang Siang Pau newspaper yesterday made a statement against Chinese triads with an article titled “Control and Destroy Chinese Triads”. We all know that Nanyang Siang Pau like any other Chinese newspaper are chauvinist in nature and loves to attack the government with all sort of stories.

Because of that there are usually opposition supporters and clearly carries DAP’s agenda. Without any good word for our police who are currently risking their lives to hunt down these triads, the newspapers ask the people to take this issue seriously. Their stand on this particular article is quite confusing with opposition stand that clearly supports the activities of Malaysian Chinese triads.

Up till today, the opposition are no longer able to deny that they are protecting these triads when a more than a few DAP leaders openly criticize the police for taking action against these criminals even though the police only acts in self-defence.

The situation got even weirder for the opposition when there are news that an ex-convict who is also a triad leader was appointed as a DAP low rank leader in Pulau Pinang. It was reported that the police caught the man in Thailand before being charged and sentenced in Malaysia.

This particular development shows that amongst their leaders and members, the DAP are getting restless by the minute. This restlessness can be detected in Nanyang Siang Pau where it said that “What shocked us the most is that, in the triad the Indian community proves to be much more superior to the Chinese”.

Because the triads are commonly associated with the Chinese, thus it is no surprise that Nanyang SiangPau thinks the triads is being championed by the Chinese.

Even if the DAP is denying all allegation made against them, Malaysian as a whole feels that the DAP are associated with gangster. The rising number of illicit businesses such as brothels, entertainment centre and gambling dens after the Pakatan Rakyat succeeded in taking over Selangor, it shows that DAP are closely connected with gangsters.

However, when it was expose that Indians were the one who championed many of the triads, it may be hard for the DAP to control them.

It seems like as a DAP strategy to free triad members by pushing the government to abolish the prevention act has taken a new turn against their original plan. It is not a surprise if Nanyang Siang Pau seems to voice the opinion of the Chinese community against non-Chainese triads.

We realize that the DAP never did believe in other races in their own party. They are willing to lie, manipulate and use any other means to ensure that non-Chinese would not be elected as their central committees. Frankly speaking, the discrimination against the Chinese in the DAP has become some sort of written law, in order to bind the Chinese together.

Thus the existence of Indian triads which is more than the conventional Chinese triad is seen as a big problem by the DAP.

If before this DAP is so enthusiastic to attack of the government because of the ISA, now even the Nanyang Siang Pau too have voiced out the need for the crime prevention act 1959. It is also suggested that the government were to follow the footsteps of Operasi Helang Singapura (in Malaya) in the 1950’s and the 1960’ to oversee gangsters in this country.

It is now proven that the prevention act and internal security act is important to the peace and security of the country. It is proven that the opposition idea of destroying the act is not a good idea and will cause greatly for the people of this Country. .

Now the opposition have to “lick their own spit” as they are now asking that the prevention act to be reinforced back. Even if they have to change a lot of wording in the act and it have to contain the old clause that have been proven in curbing gangster’s activity and organized crime before this.

PETROL PRICE HIKE: Critics fuel negative image

THE increase in prices of R0N95 and diesel by 20 sen per litre has infuriated many people, who face rising costs of living. That there will be no change for R0N97 brought little respite.

However, many have chosen to look at the hike through distorted lens.The seriousness of the situation is a matter of perception. Some leaders have chosen to politicise the issue instead of providing an accurate picture of the situation. Before you start pointing fingers and blaming the government, get your facts right. Dispel the myths and remember the facts:

THE country's inflation rate is under control and there are fiscal and monetary policies to control inflation and its effects on the economy; THE increase in fuel price is because of the Syrian conflict. 

Twelve years ago, oil was a mere US$15 per barrel compared with the current times, where it could reach US$150 per barrel; 

THE Libyan crisis in April 2011 caused a spike in world oil prices, which, in turn, caused a sharp rise in the prices at the pumps; 

MALAYSIA is not an official oil-exporting country. About 90 per cent of our oil is used for domestic consumption;

THE reduction of the subsidy, which raised the price to RM2.10, will discourage smugglers from Thailand and Indonesia, who have been profiting from us;

THE government's petrol subsidies are meant for the low-income group;

THE government has allocated RM24.8 billion this year for fuel subsidies. The prime minister has said the country would save RM1.1 billion with the increase of 20 sen for RON 95 and diesel.

In a full year, the government will save RM3.3 billion, while still subsidising 63 sen per litre for RON95 and 80 sen per litre for diesel.

The increase of 20 sen will save the government RM3.4 billion (source: Transparency International Malaysia);

PUTRAJAYA has concerns about revenue and faces the likelihood of the country being punished by ratings agencies and foreign investors if no attempt is made to tackle structural problems, such as the high rate of subsidies. Therefore, this reduction is in the right direction;

THE government's target is to reduce the fiscal deficit to three per cent by 2015. Hence, the increase in fuel price is not political, but rather, about the country's economic status and survival. It is better to tackle economic issues in the country and take steps via fiscal consolidation to increase market confidence once fiscal deficit is reduced;

TO alleviate the burden of rising costs, there will be an increase in 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) next year, to be announced in the 2014 Budget. BRIM 2.0 cost RM2.9 billion early this year;
THE government is considerate in cutting back on subsidies slowly. Indonesia increased petrol price up to 33 per cent in one go three months back;

IF the government did not make this move, the other alternative is to increase taxes;

PETROL prices fluctuate according to the market and when it goes down, petrol prices decrease accordingly. However, this is not the same for goods and services because some traders and business sectors increase prices when the petrol price increases, but seldom decrease prices when fuel price is reduced. This is a cause for more action and monitoring;

EACH of us must be environmentally conscious, take steps to reduce petrol consumption and ensure a better quality of life via a reduction in pollution caused by car emissions. Explore alternatives, such as car-pooling, public transport, walking or cycling;

BETWEEN RM25 billion and RM30 billion is spent on subsidies to allow Malaysians and foreigners to enjoy cheaper fuel, gas and water. Such subsidies are enjoyed by groups which should not be benefiting from cheaper goods and services. While grumbling about the 20 sen increase in fuel price, many have forgotten that even though the pump price has doubled in 15 years, world oil prices have gone up 10 times in the same period;

THE main beneficiaries of subsidised diesel are owners of Vietnamese and Thai fishing vessels. Our fishermen sell their subsidised allocations to them. Reducing the subsidy is a vital move to arrest the leakage from our income; and, PETRONAS profits are down and the national oil company has warned Putrajaya that it cannot continue subsidising gas for industrial use.

The move to reduce subsidies shows that our prime minister is a realist and ready to forgo populist moves for the well being of the nation.

The premier and his team are on the right track.

Rusia Today expose : US tries to conquer Malaysia thru Anwar Ibrahim And Ambiga??

The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) leads the country’s ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, and has maintained power since Malaysian independence in 1957.

One of Malaysia’s most recognizable figures is former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who has been credited with ushering in large-scale economic growth and overseeing the nation’s transition from an exporter of palm oil, tin, and other raw materials, into an industrialized economy that manufactures automobiles and electronic goods.

The opposition coalition, Pakatan Rakyat, is headed by Anwar Ibrahim, who once held the post of Deputy Prime Minister in Mahathir’s administration, but was sacked over major disagreements on how to steer Malaysia’s economy during the 1997 Asian financial crisis.

Today, the political climate in Malaysia is highly polarized and a sense of unpredictability looms over the nation. Malaysia’s current leader, Prime Minister Najib Razak, has pursued a reform-minded agenda by repealing authoritarian legislation of the past and dramatically loosening controls on expression and political pluralism introduced under Mahathir’s tenure.

Najib has rolled back Malaysia’s Internal Security Act, which allowed for indefinite detention without trial, and has liberalized rules regarding the publication of books and newspapers. During Malaysia’s 2008 general elections, the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition experienced its worst result in decades, with the opposition Pakatan Rakyat coalition winning 82 parliamentary seats. For the first time, the ruling party was deprived of its two-thirds parliamentary majority, which is required to pass amendments to Malaysia’s Federal Constitution.

In the run-up to elections scheduled to take place before an April 2013 deadline, figures from all sides of the political spectrum are asking questions about the opposition’s links to foreign-funders in Washington.

The question of foreign-funding

Malaysia’s former PM Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has long captured the ire of officials from Washington and Tel Aviv, and though he’s retired, he has channeled his energies into the Perdana Global Peace Foundation, which recently hosted an international conference in Kuala Lumpur calling for a new investigation into the events of 9/11 and has sought to investigate war crimes committed in Gaza, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Mahathir has been an ardent critic of Israel and organizations such as AIPAC, and has recently accused US-based organizations the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the Open Society Institute (OSI) of holding a concealed intention to influence Malaysia’s domestic politics through the funding of local NGOs and groups directly linked to Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Rakyat opposition coalition.

In an article the former prime minister published in the New Straits Times, a leading mainstream newspaper, Mahathir accuses financier George Soros and his organization, the Open Society Institute, of “promoting democracy” in Eastern Europe to pave the way for colonization by global finance capital.

Mahathir acknowledges how OSI pumped millions into opposition movements and independent media in Hungary, Ukraine and Georgia under the guise of strengthening civil society, only to have like-minded individuals nominated by Soros’s own foundation come to power in those countries.

The former prime minister has also pointed to how Egypt (prior to Mohamad Morsi taking power) has cracked down on NGOs affiliated with NED, namely groups such as the National Democratic Institute, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and Freedom House, which are all recipients of funding from the US State Department.

In Malaysia, high-profile NGOs and media outlets have admittedly received funding from OSI and satellite organizations of NED. Premesh Chandran, the CEO of the nation’s most prominent alternative media outlet, Malaysiakini, is a grantee of George Soros’s Open Society Foundations and launched the news organization with a $100,000 grant from the Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), another organization with dubious affiliations to the US State Department.

  Read more: http://sebastianphiu.blogspot.com/2013/09/lagi-rusia-today-bongkar-us-cuba-takluk.html#ixzz2dhv4H1w3  

Malaysiakini has come under pressure from local journalists for the lack of transparency in its financial management and hesitance in revealing the value of its shares. Additionally, Suaram, an NGO promoting human rights, has borne heavy criticism over its funding and organizational structure. The Companies Commission of Malaysia launched investigations into Suara Inisiatif Sdn Bhd, a private company linked to Suaram, and found it to be a conduit for money being used to channel funds from NED.

Suaram has been instrumental in legitimizing allegations of a possible cover-up of the murder of a Mongolian fashion model, Altantuya Shaaribuu, who was living in Malaysia in 2006 and associated with government officials that have been linked to a kickback scandal involving the government’s purchase of submarines from France. Senator Ezam Mohd Nor, himself a recipient of Suaram’s Human Rights Award, has accused the organization of employing poor research methods and attempting to disparage the government:

“Malaysians have the right to feel suspicious about them. They have been making personal allegations against the Prime Minister [Najib Razak] on the murder of Altantuya and many other cases without proof… their motive is very questionable especially when they are more inclined towards ridiculing and belittling the ruling government.”

The German Embassy in KL has reportedly admitted that it has provided funds to Suaram's project in 2010. Malaysia’s Foreign Minister Anifah Aman followed by making strong statements to the German Ambassador and declared that Germany’s actions could be viewed as interference in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state.

Since 2007, Bersih, an association of NGOs calling itself the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections, staged three street protests in which thousands of yellow-clad demonstrators took to the streets in Kuala Lumpur demanding electoral reform. After coming under heavy scrutiny for obfuscating funding sources, Bersih coalition leader Ambiga Sreenevasan admitted that her organization receives funding from the National Democratic Institute and the Open Society Institute.

Sreenevasan herself has been the recipient of the US State Department’s Award for International Women of Courage, and was present in Washington DC in 2009 to receive the award directly from the hands of Michelle Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. While Sreenevasan’s organization claimed to be non-partisan and apolitical, members of Malaysia’s political opposition openly endorsed the movement, and some were even present at the demonstrations.


Anatomy of Malaysia’s political opposition

Malaysia is a multi-cultural and multi-religious state, and both the ruling and opposition parties attempt to represent the nation’s three largest ethnic groups. Approximately 60 per cent of Malaysians are either ethnic Malay or other indigenous groups and are mostly listed as Muslim, while another 25 per cent are ethnic Chinese who are predominantly Buddhist, with 7 per cent mostly Hindu Indian-Malaysians.

The United Malays National Organization, the Malaysian Chinese Association, and the Malaysian Indian Congress head Barisan Nasional. The opposition, Pakatan Rakyat, currently controls four state governments and is led by Anwar Ibrahim’s Keadilan Rakyat, the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party (DAP), and staunchly Islamist Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).

While a large percentage of urbanites with legitimate grievances are quick to acknowledge the government’s shortcomings, many are hesitant to back Anwar Ibrahim due to his connections with neo-conservative thinkers in Washington and general disunity within the opposition.

Ibrahim maintains close ties with senior US officials and organizations such as the National Endowment for Democracy. In 2005, Ibrahim chaired the Washington-based Foundation for the Future, established and funded by the US Department of State at the behest of Elizabeth Cheney, the daughter of then-Vice President Dick Cheney, thanks in large part to his cozy relationship with Paul Wolfowitz.

While Ibrahim was on trial for allegedly engaging in sodomy with a male aide (of which he was acquitted sometime later), Wolfowitz and former US Vice-President Al Gore authored a joint opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal in support of Ibrahim, while the Washington Post published an editorial calling for consequences that would affect Malaysia’s relations with Washington if Ibrahim was to be found guilty. Ibrahim enraged many when he stated that he would support policy to protect the security of Israel in an interview with the Wall Street Journal; this is particularly controversial in Malaysia, where support for Palestine is largely unanimous.

Malaysian political scientist Dr. Chandra Muzaffar writes:

“It is obvious that by acknowledging the primacy of Israeli security, Anwar was sending a clear message to the deep state and to Tel Aviv and Washington that he is someone that they could trust. In contrast, the Najib government, in spite of its attempts to get closer to Washington, remains critical of Israeli aggression and intransigence. Najib has described the Israeli government as a ‘serial killer’ and a ‘gangster’”.

Members of Barisan Nasional have addressed Ibrahim’s connections to the National Endowment for Democracy in the Malaysian Parliament, including his participation in NED’s ‘Democracy Award’ event held in Washington DC in 2007. Independent journalists have uncovered letters written by Anwar Ibrahim, two of which were sent to NED President Carl Gershman in Washington DC that discussed sending an international election observer team to Malaysia and general issues related to electoral reform.

A third letter was sent to George Soros, expressing interest in collaborating with an accountability firm headed by Ibrahim. Pakatan Rakyat’s Communications Director, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, verified the authenticity of the documents. This should come as little surprise, as Ibrahim’s economic policies have historically aligned with institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, in contrast to Mahathir, whose protectionist economic policies opposed international financial institutions and allowed Malaysia to navigate and largely resurface from the 1997 Asian financial crisis unscathed.

An issue that concerns secular and non-Muslim Malaysian voters is the role of the Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) as part of the opposition. In sharp contrast to the moderate brand of Islam preached by UMNO, the organization’s primary objective is the founding of an Islamic state.

The PAS has spoken of working within the framework of Malaysia’s parliamentary democracy, but holds steadfast to implementing sharia law on a national scale, which would lead to confusing implications for Malaysia’s sizable non-Muslim population. The debate around the implementation of Islamic hudud penal code is something that other Pakatan Rakyat coalition members, such as figures in the Chinese-led Democratic Action Party, have been unable to agree on.

The PAS enjoys support from rural Malay Muslims in conservative states such as Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu in northern Malaysia, though they have very limited appeal to urbanites. While certain individuals in PAS have raised questions about NGOs receiving foreign funding, Mahathir has insinuated that PAS’s leadership has been largely complicit:

“They [foreign interests] want to topple the government through the demonstration and Nik Aziz [Spiritual leader of PAS] said it is permissible to bring down the government in this manner. They want to make Malaysia like Egypt, Tunisia, which were brought down through riots and now Syria…. when the government does not fall, they [Pakatan Rakyat] can appeal to the foreign power to help and bring down, even if it means using fire power.”

Protestors form a human chain in the city center of Kuala Lumpur during April 2012 protests in support of the Bersih coalition (Photo by Nile Bowie)

Feasibility of ‘regime change’ narrative

It must be acknowledged that the current administration led by Prime Minister Najib Razak has made great strides toward improving relations with Washington. At a meeting with President Barack Obama in 2010, Najib offered Malaysia’s assistance to cooperate with the United States to engage the Muslim world; Najib also expressed willingness to deploy Malaysian aid personnel to Afghanistan, and allegedly agreed on the need to maintain a unified front on Iran's nuclear program.

Najib has employed a Washington-based public relations firm, APCO, to improve Malaysia’s image in the US and has seemingly embraced American economic leadership of the region through his support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. Some would argue that Najib is perhaps the most pro-American leader Malaysia has ever had – a stark contrast to the boldness of Mahathir.

Despite Najib having good rapport with formal Western leaders, it is clear with whom the thank-tank policy architects, Zionist lobbies, and foundation fellows have placed their loyalties.

Sentiment among Malaysia’s youth and “pro-democracy” activists, who constitute a small but vocal minority, tend be entirely dismissive of the ‘regime change’ narrative, viewing it as pre-election diversionary rhetoric of the ruling party. While bogeymen of the Zionist variety are often invoked in Malaysian political discourse, it would be negligent to ignore the effects of Washington-sponsored ‘democracy promotion’ in the global context, which have in recent times cloaked mercenary elements and insurgents in the colors of freedom fighting, and successfully masked geopolitical restructuring and the ushering in of neo-liberal capitalism with the hip and fashionable vigor of ‘people power’ coups.

As the United States continues to militarily increase its presence in the Pacific region in line with its strategic policy-shift to East Asia, policy makers in Washington would like to see compliant heads of state who will act to further American interests in the ASEAN region.


Let’s not ignore the elephant in the room; the real purpose of America’s resurgence of interest in the ASEAN bloc is to fortify the region as a counterweight against Beijing.

The defense ministries of Malaysia and China held a landmark defense and security consultation in September 2012, in addition to frequent bilateral state visits and enhanced economic cooperation. It was the father of the current leader, Malaysia's second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, who made the landmark visit to Beijing to normalize relations in 1974, and under his son Najib, Sino-Malaysian relations and cooperation have never been better.

Following the global economic crisis of 2008, Najib looked to Beijing to revive Malaysia's export oriented economy, emphasizing increased Chinese investment into Malaysia and expanding the base of Sino-Malaysian trade in areas like education and student exchange, finance, infrastructure development, science and technology, yielding lucrative and mutually beneficial results. China has been Malaysia's largest trade partner, with trade figures reaching US$90 billion in 2011; Malaysia is China’s largest trading partner among ASEAN nations.

In asking the question of regime change in Malaysia, Dr. Chandra Muzaffar reflects on Washington’s moves to bolster its military muscle and dominance over the Asia-Pacific region:

“Establishing a military base in Darwin [Australia], resurrecting the US’ military alliance with the Philippines, coaxing Japan to play a more overt military role in the region, instigating Vietnam to confront China over the Spratly Islands, and encouraging India to counterbalance Chinese power, are all part and parcel of the larger US agenda of encircling and containing China. In pursuing this agenda, the US wants reliable allies – not just friends – in Asia. In this regard, Malaysia is important because of its position as a littoral state with sovereign rights over the Straits of Malacca, which is one of China’s most critical supply routes that transports much of the oil and other materials vital for its economic development. Will the containment of China lead to a situation where the hegemon, determined to perpetuate its dominant power, seek to exercise control over the Straits in order to curb China’s ascendancy? Would a trusted ally in Kuala Lumpur facilitate such control? The current Malaysian leadership does not fit the bill.”

'Backwards' and forwards

Pakatan Rakyat, the main opposition coalition pitted against the ruling party, has yet to offer a fully coherent organizational program, and if the coalition ever came to power, the disunity of its component parties and their inability to agree on fundamental policies would be enough to conjure angrier, disenchanted youth back on to the streets, in larger numbers perhaps.

What is ticklishly ironic about reading op-eds penned by the likes of Wolfowitz and Al Gore, and how they laud Malaysia as a progressive and moderate model Islamic state, is that they concurrently demonize its leadership and dismiss them authoritarian thugs.

Surely, the ruling coalition has its shortcomings; the politicization of race and religion, noted cases of corrupt officials squandering funds, etc. – but far too few, especially those of the middle-class who benefit most from energy subsidies, acknowledge the tremendous economic growth achieved under the current leadership and the success of their populist policies.

Najib’s administration would do well to place greater emphasis on addressing the concerns of Malaysia’s minorities who view affirmative action policies given to Malay ethnicities as disproportionate; income status, not ethnicity, should be a deciding factor in who receives assistance. The current administration appears set to widen populist policies that make necessities affordable through subsidies and continue to assist low-income earners with cash handouts.

Najib has acknowledged the need for broad reforms of Malaysia’s state-owned enterprises over concerns that crony capitalism may deter foreign investment; this should be rolled out concurrently with programs to foster more local entrepreneurship. To put it bluntly, the opposition lacks confidence from the business community and foreign investors; even the likes of JP Morgan have issued statements of concern over an opposition win.

It should be noted that if Islamists ever wielded greater influence in Malaysia under an opposition coalition, one could imagine a sizable exodus of non-Muslim minorities and a subsequent flight of foreign capital, putting the nation’s economy in a fragile and fractured state. And yet, the United States has poured millions into ‘democracy promotion’ efforts to strengthen the influence of NGOs that distort realities and cast doubt over the government’s ability to be a coherent actor.

Malaysia does not have the kind of instability that warrants overt external intervention; backing regime-change efforts may only go so far as supporting dissidents and groups affiliated with Anwar Ibrahim. No matter the result of the upcoming elections, Najib appears to have played ball enough for Washington to remain more or less neutral.

According to Bersih coalition leader Ambiga Sreenevasan, Malaysia’s electoral process is so restrictive that a mass movement like Bersih is required to purge the system of its backwardness. These are curious statements, considering that the opposition gained control of four out of 13 states in 2008, including Selangor, a key economic state with the highest GDP and most developed infrastructure.

In response, Najib has adhered to Bersih’s demands and has called for electoral reform, forming a parliamentary select committee comprising members from both Pakatan Rakyat and Barisan Nasional.

As elections loom, Bersih coalition leader Ambiga Sreenavasan is already dubbing them “the dirtiest elections ever seen” – unsurprising rhetoric from a woman being handed her talking points by the US embassy.

Read more: http://sebastianphiu.blogspot.com/2013/09/lagi-rusia-today-bongkar-us-cuba-takluk.html#ixzz2di0SWLHT

   

BELIA CINA WAJAR TONTON TANDA PUTERA

Filem sejarah, Tanda Putera, arahan Shuhaimi Baba menjadi kontroversi apabila DAP menuduhnya sebagai membangkitkan ketegangan.  Kita faham kebimbangan DAP kerana filem tersebut telah menyerlahkan warna sebenar parti itu yang bersifat perkauman dan angkuh.  DAP merupakan pencetus tragedi 13 Mei 1969 yang menyaksikan kaum Cina dan Melayu berbunuhan sehingga membawa kepada keadaan darurat.

Hakikat inilah yang cuba dinafikan oleh DAP.  Untuk itu DAP telah berusaha sedaya upaya sejak sekian lama untuk mengubah sejarah dan menuduh bahawa 13 Mei dicetuskan oleh UMNO.

Malangnya, sejarah tidak mungkin diubah-ubah dan hakikatnya DAP merupakan parti yang lahir dari fahaman komunisme dan bertonggakkan perkauman.  Mereka-mereka yang telah melalui tragedi 13 Mei mampu menjadi saksi kepada sejarah ini.

Roh DAP sentiasa membenci Melayu, memusuhi Islam dan menentang Institusi Raja-raja.  Matlamat akhir mereka ialah menegakkan Ketuanan Cina serta meminggirkan kaum-kaum lain.  Kita percaya bahawa matlamat ini terus dipegang oleh DAP sehingga ke hari ini.

Oleh itu, apabila filem Tanda Putera berjaya melepasi halangan dan bakal ditayangkan pada 29 Ogos ini, DAP mencuba sekali lagi untuk membersihkan namanya.  Setiausaha Publisiti DAP, Tony Pua membuat kenyataan bahawa filem tersebut boleh saja ditayangkan asalkan ia diisytiharkan sebagai filem cereka.

Soalnya, siapa Tony Pua untuk memberi syarat kepada sesiapa?

Sepatutnya Tony Pua menggalakkan kaum Cina menonton filem ini bagi menghayati sejarah negara ini.  Biar betapa pahitpun kebenaran itu, ia wajib ditelan oleh semua kaum Cina negara ini yang mengaku sebagai warganegara.  Menerima kebenaran merupakan langkah pertama ke arah perubahan kepada kebaikan.  Melainkan, Tony Pua atau DAP tidak pernah dan tidak ingin  berubah dan masih membawa roh yang sama iaitu membenci Melayu, memusuhi Islam dan menentang Raja-raja.

DAP tidak mungkin akan begitu gelabah jika mereka benar-benar tidak bersalah dalam tragedi 13 Mei.  Segala keresahan mereka adalah bukti bahawa mereka benar-benar terlibat dalam mencetuskan ketegangan kaum.  Malah, sifat perkauman dan perangai angkuh serta gemar menghasut DAP masih kekal sehingga ke hari ini dan boleh dilihat dengan jelas oleh semua rakyat Malaysia.

Dengan sifat dan perangai yang sama masih terserlah, pastinya sukar bagi pihak DAP untuk menafikan bahawa merekalah dalang pencetus 13 Mei.

Hujah Tony Pua lagi, walaupun filem ini mungkin memaparkan kisah benar tetapi ia mampu mencetuskan ketegangan kaum.

Kita tidak faham kenapa sebuah kisah benar yang berlaku berdekad lalu mampu mencetuskan ketegangan kaum?

Apakah Tony Pua cuba berhujah bahawa sejarah bagaimana kulit putih Amerika menindas dan merampas tanah puak Red Indian tidak wajar difilemkan kerana bimbang menyebabkan kaum Red Indian memberontak?  Atau kisah Jepun menyiksa rakyat China tidak boleh dipaparkan kerana takut menyebabkan orang Cina hari ini bertindak ke atas orang Jepun?

Sebenarnya kebimbangan DAP hanya membuktikan yang segala kebencian DAP terhadap Melayu masih belum menjadi sejarah tetapi merupakan sesuatu yang berkekalan sehingga ke hari ini.
Oleh itu, ia memberikan alasan yang jauh lebih kukuh agar masyarakat Cina menonton filem ini bagi menimbulkan kesedaran betapa pentingnya kita semua menjaga keharmonian.   Perbuatan menghasut dan menyebar kebencian hanya menjurus kepada kemusnahan.  Sifat angkuh dan perkauman kaum Cina perlu diubah segera atau ia mampu mengulangi sejarah 13 Mei.

Sesungguhnya, keangkuhan kaum Cina tidak akan membawa kebaikan mahupun keuntungan kepada sesiapa.  Sudah sampai masanya kaum Cina bersama-sama dengan kaum lain menghayati sejarah negara ini serta menerima hakikat kebenaran akan asal usul mereka mahupun sejarah nenek moyang mereka seadanya.  Belajarlah dari kesilapan dan bukannya menafikan kesilapan.   Sebagai permulaan, tontonlah filem Tanda Putera agar mendapat sedikit pengetahuan.

 

KERAJAAN PERPADUAN : PMO TOLAK DAKWAAN ANWAR

 

Berapa kali Anwar ingin menipu? Janganlah kerana kegagalan Anwar, maka permainan politik kotor dan pembohongan dijadikan keutamaan...