Fairus quits Penanti, forces by-election

Malaysian Insider

GEORGE TOWN, April 16 — Embattled Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who quit as the Penang deputy chief minister 1 last week after allegations of graft, today resigned his Penanti state seat to force a by-election that could decide his replacement.

In a four-paragraph statement today, Fairus said his decision is best in the interest of PKR and would also allow him to continue his post-graduate studies and spend time with his family.

“This will also allow me to focus on clearing my name from all the allegations thrown at me,” the double-master’s holder said in the statement issued by the PKR information bureau.

The 34-year-old assemblyman also thanked Penanti voters for their support since Election 2008.

“This decision is for the good of all, PKR and the struggle with the leadership under Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as party adviser to ensure truth and justice,” he added.

Anwar said last week that Fairus would remain as Penanti assemblyman until the end of his term but it is not known what transpired over the past 24 hours for Fairus to change his mind.

State assembly speaker Abdul Halim Hussain said yesterday he had not received any notice of absence from Fairus for the assembly sitting between April 20 and 28.

His resignation will lead to a by-election within 60 days in Penanti, which is under Anwar’s Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency.

It is learnt that Penang PKR chief and Bayan Baru MP Datuk Zahrain Mohamed Hashim is the frontrunner to contest the by-election. The other candidate is deputy state PKR chief Dr Mansor Othman, who was recently named as one of two senators from Penang.

Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who has yet to name a replacement for Fairus, was not available for comment.

In a curt statement yesterday, Lim had alluded to a possible by-election in Penanti after he asked Anwar to solve Penang PKR’s internal problems and nominate a Malay PKR assemblyman for the post.

The only two Malay PKR assemblymen are Batu Maung’s Abdul Malik Abul Kassim and Sungai Bakap’s Maktar Shapee.

Abdul Malik, who is a state executive councillor, is seen as the frontrunner but Anwar did not pick him last year when Pakatan Rakyat took the state from Barisan Nasional, opting instead for the inexperienced Fairus.

Fairus sent his resignation letter on March 21 after a fellow PKR member claimed he was involved in illegal quarrying activities. Lim later froze three quarrying operations but denied it was linked to the allegations.

The Malaysia Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) picked up Fairus on March 26 at the Causeway and questioned him for three hours before releasing him. Lim and his other deputy, Professor Dr P. Ramasamy, gave their statements to the MACC on April 6.

The MACC said it has completed its investigations and has handed over the findings to its prosecution division but Fairus has yet to be charged with any offence.

In Putrajaya, the Election Commission said it was awaiting official notification of Fairus’s resignation as Penanti assemblyman before planning a possible by-election.

The state assembly speaker will have to inform the commission which will then organise a by-election within 60 days of the vacancy.

Utusan ruins Najib’s One Malaysia’s concept

 

Once again, I was deeply disappointed of how arrogant the UMNO controlled Utusan Malaysia is. This newspaper today’s headline news was an article entitled “Bangkitlah Melayu!”. The news called for cooperation among Malays to face the increasingly excessive demands from the non-Malays.

How could the editor allow such kind of racist call to be published in a multiracial country? Would not the call ignite the racial sentiment of non-Malays and even among Malays? Who knows if the readers would not be emotionally fired and the consequence could not be another May 13 incident?

What is the slogan of our new PM that has been so widely promoted through the mainstream media since his swearing in? Wasn’t such news of calling Malays to target non-Malays as enemies a blunt attempt to reverse the concept of “One Malaysia”, which aims to provide fair and equal policies for the nation? Unless what the PM really meant was “One Malaysia” under “One Race” or “One Man”?

Recently we have heard of so many two cents such as “Chinese appeared to be ungrateful”, “Chinese as squatters”, or even “UMNO alone gained independence for Malaysia”. All these are indeed racist enough that could potentially create hatred among the citizens. If another racial riot takes place, who should be responsible?

Talking of racism, Najib definitely will remain his faithfulness to his father’s legacy, which is the New Economy Policy for eradication of poverty irrespective of the race. However this policy has been so much criticized by many as a tool that leads to today’s serious corruption among the ruling coalition leaders. And the result of the policy is that many Malays still live under poverty today! More importantly, an eradication of poverty regardless of race means that the same opportunity should be offered to every race of the citizens. There are poor people among Malays, and certainly there are also poor people among Chinese and Indians. Since we are all Malaysians, why can’t we be equally and fairly treated under the concept of a truly “One Malaysia”? Should we again be yelled to leave this country, who would think that China or India will welcome the return of Chinese Malaysians or Indian Malaysians?

Today’s professional Malays not longer support UMNO’s political rhetoric of “UMNO’s uniting or protecting Malays policy”. You would think that the increasing support from young Malays towards Pakatan Rakyat would have sent a loud and clear message to UMNO that racist call will not lead the party any where; somehow we still hear the same old story repeating again and again.

If Najib’s fair and responsible media calling allows Utusan Malaysia’s headlines news of damaging the unity of Malaysia’s citizens, then for sure Najib is digging the grave, together with the help of his Utusan Malaysia, to bury UMNO or actually BN in the next general election!

Fairus quits Penanti

The Malaysian Insider

PENANG, April 16 — Embattled Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin, who quit as Penang deputy chief minister 1 last week, today resigned his Penanti state seat, paving the way for a by-election.

In a three-paragraph statement today, Fairus said the decision will allow him to continue his post-graduate studies.

“This will also allow me to focus on clearing my name from all the allegations thrown at me,” Fairus said.

Utusan Malaysia Jangan Jadi “Penyebar Perpecahan Rakyat”

Kenyataan Media
Kelab Anwar Ibrahim (AIC)
16 April 2009

Tanggal 8 Mac 2008 menyaksikan rakyat Malaysia telah meletakkan satu batu asas penting di dalam sejarah sosio-politik negara: yakni penolakan ke atas politik perkauman sempit. Ini bersesuaian sekali dengan iltizam Almarhum Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj lewat Pemasyhuran Kemerdekaan yang dilafazkan beliau tatkala laungan merdeka bergema di udara pada pagi 31 Ogos 1957:

Tanah Melayu (kini Malaysia) akan kekal menjadi sebuah negara demokrasi yang merdeka dan berdaulat serta berdasarkan kebebasan dan keadilan dan sentiasa menjaga dan mengutamakan kesejahteraan dan kesentosaan rakyatnya dan mengekalkan keamanan antara segala bangsa..

Semangat dan roh perpaduan ini jelas sekali melangkaui sempadan ras dan agama. Integrasi sosial adalah sesuatu yang luhur dan perlu dibentuk melalui perpaduan dan persefahaman yang utuh di kalangan masyarakat Malaysia yang berbilang bangsa.

Seruan Utusan Malaysia melalui siaran 15 April 2009 antara lain menyeru agar bangsa Melayu bersatu untuk ‘berhadapan dengan bangsa lain”. Apakah rasional Utusan tergamak untuk mengeluarkan berita sedemikian rupa yang sangat tebal sentimen perkaumannya?

Kelab Anwar Ibrahim (AIC) bersetuju bahawa Melayu perlu bersatu, tetapi bersatu di dalam konteks bersama-sama bangsa lain untuk memajukan dan mengekalkan keamanan negara. AIC yakin dan percaya bahawa segenap lapisan generasi muda rakyat Malaysia menolak sama sekali unsur penyatuan hanya untuk menindas dan bersaing secara tidak adil dengan bangsa lain.

 

Utusan Malaysia, sebagai lidah rasmi pemerintah khususnya Umno sewajarnya bertanggungjawab untuk mengajak rakyat agar keluar daripada kepompong perkauman, sejajar dengan konsep “Satu Malaysia” yang digagaskan oleh Perdana Menteri yang baru. Tetapi adalah sangat mendukacitakan, dalam keadaan Malaysia hampir menjangkau 52 tahun kemerdekaan, Utusan Malaysia masih lagi memainkan polemik perkauman sempit sebagai modal politik murahan.

Utusan Malaysia harus mengambil iktibar sejarah Si Kitul, pencacai yang bertanggungjawab di atas kejatuhan empayar Melaka pada tahun 1511. Politik adu domba dan menyemai kebencian adalah faktor utama jatuhnya empayar terhebat Melayu satu ketika dahulu. Apakah Utusan Malaysia mahu menobatkan diri mereka selaku Si Kitul Moden?

Justeru, AIC menolak sebarang usaha menyemai benih kebencian antara kaum yang ligat dimainkan oleh mana-mana pihak sekalipun. Sudah sampai masanya muafakat antara Melayu, Cina, India, Iban, Kadazan, Bidayuh dan lain-lain bangsa dipupuk secara sihat dan segar tanpa ada elemen penindasan ke atas mana-mana bangsa mahupun agama sekali pun.

Adalah lebih wajar bagi Utusan Malaysia, selaras dengan tagline mereka iaitu “Penyebar Fikiran Rakyat” menyebarluas agenda integrasi nasional yang memupuk semangat cintakan negara melangkaui sempadan perkauman, bukannya berkelakuan sebagai “Penyebar Perpecahan Rakyat”.

Muhammad Shukri Saad
Presiden
Kelab Anwar Ibrahim (AIC)

THIS IS GUTTER POLITICS AT ITS WORST

For months these three despicable individuals were my PET hates. I just hate people who lie.

zorro-unmasked

 

Today, I include Khir Toyo in this category. Man you can not only smell the gutter in him he oozes that particular odor of foulness. No opposition leader in any assembly can resort to such infantile tantrums. He is classless when you compare him to personages like Datuk Seri Mohd. Nizar, Zaid Ibrahim, Khalid Samad and Doctor Zul of Kuala Selangor. I thought that if he had any sense he would just keep quiet now that chances of him and his wife being jailed is a yes-yes. No?

To read more please go to : http://zorro-zorro-unmasked.blogspot.com/2009/04/this-is-gutter-politics-at-its-worst.html

Mohammad Hassan dicabar letak jawatan MB!

KUALA LUMPUR, 15 April (Hrkh) – Pesuruhjaya PAS Negeri Sembilan, Zulkifli Omar mencabar Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan, Dato’ Seri Utama Mohammad Hasan untuk meletak jawatannya selepas kalah dalam pemilihan Umno baru-baru ini.

“Beliau seharusnya mengikut jejak langkah bekas Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri dan Hal Ehwal Pengguna (KPDNHEP) Dato’ Shahrir Samad yang meletak jawatan setelah tidak mendapat tempat dalam Majlis Tertinggi Umno,” ujar Zulkifly kepada Harakahdaily hari ini.

Memandangkan Mohammad Hasan merupakan sebelum ini disebut sebagai proksi kepada bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, maka lambat laun kedudukannya sebagai menteri besar akan tergugat, katanya.

“Jika Najib melakukan rombakan Menteri Besar, maka ini merupakan satu malu besar kepada Mohammad Hasan,” katanya.

“Apatah lagi di Negeri Sembilan sendiri kedudukan pengaruh Mohammad Hasan tidak kukuh.Ramai orang Mohammad Hasan yang memegang jawatan sebagai Exco dan Adun telah kalah dalam pemilihan Umno di peringkat bahagian,” katanya.

“Maka sebab ini saya melihat eloklah beliau melepaskan jawatan beliau sebagai Menteri Besar sebelum beliau dimalukan oleh Najib dengan menggugurkan beliau,” katanya./wannordin_

MALAYSIAN UNIVERSITY USIM FORCES LECTURER TO PASS STUDENTS!

The Might Of The Pen

UNIVERSITI Sains Islam Malaysia lecturer who passed only four out of 157 of her law students claims she was forced to resign so that the university could protect its reputation, a well-known portal reported.

Nor (not her real name) said the reason she left was because she could not stand the pressure from the university management on her to give “sympathy marks.”

To read further please go to :

http://sjsandteam.wordpress.com/2009/04/16/malaysian-university-usim-forces-lecturer-to-pass-students/

Nizar’s star shines bright in PAS

The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, April 16 — Just how much has Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin’s profile grown in the past 13 months?

He was a relative unknown on March 17, 2008, when he was appointed Perak mentri besar.

Today, he is PAS’s rising star and a symbol of its possible future where the stigma of Islamic extremism no longer retards its political ambitions.

At the time of writing, the new Bukit Gantang MP has collected vice-presidential nominations for the June party polls from all three divisions that have had their general meetings so far.

The Feb 5 toppling of his government, which has led to a gripping constitutional crisis, has paved the way to a paradigm shift within the party, that for decades, suffered under the perception of Islamic extremism, rendering it “unelectable” to non-Muslims, in the words of research chief Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

Dogged by the constant controversy over its espousal of hudud, which prescribes punishments such as amputation of limbs for offences like robbery, and an Islamic theocratic state, Nizar’s overwhelming popularity with non-Malays due to his moderate and inclusive stance may further open the floodgates for PAS if he is elected into the vice-presidency.

With the startling success of Nizar in sweeping the non-Malay — 85 per cent of Chinese in the state constituency of Kuala Sepetang voted for Nizar — votes in the April 7 Bukit Gantang polls, PAS now has a clear path from being a Malay belt party, to a truly national and mainstream one.

But whether it chooses to embark on this journey is a question that will only be answered in the June muktamar in Shah Alam.

Observers have long spoken of two main factions existing within the party. The side supporting closer ties with Umno, led by president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, are labelled the ulama faction, while those who support Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim are tagged the Erdogans because of the opposition leader’s close ties with the Turkish leader.

The former is synonymous with a more conservative Malay Muslim view of the party’s objectives while the Erdogans, who have the blessing of spiritual leader Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat, believe that Islamic principles can complement an equitable multicultural society.

Nizar, although not a member of any faction, clearly shares the sort of moderate views espoused by the Erdogans.

When contacted by The Malaysian Insider, he said that he has not thought about the possibility of contesting for one of the three vice-president posts but should nominations continue to stream in, admitted that he “will have to consider contesting.”

Modest, as usual, Nizar preferred to analyse circumstances as an “opportunity for PAS’s true colours to emerge” and with Erdogan man Datuk Husam Musa set to take the step up from vice-president to deputy president, the post-June Islamist party could very well be the sort of partner that PKR and DAP can finally be comfortable with.

Husam has so far been reluctant to signal any intent to contest for the No. 2 post but it is understood that like Nizar, he will respect the party’s wishes if it decides to push for his candidacy.

Dzulkefly told The Malaysian Insider that he is confident that the party is beginning to take a more pragmatic view of how the party should operate, and step away from pure dogmatism that has in the past stopped it from making the sort of inroads with non-Muslims that it has managed to make in the past year or so.

“Of several candidates considered for Bukit Gantang, eventually Nizar was chosen as he was the most ‘winnable’ despite our studies showing there would be a reduction of Malay support. But the party understood that what was important was to win, so the party is now able to conceptualise its priorities differently,” he said.

Perak DAP chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, who was Nizar’s No. 2 in his 11-month-old administration, told The Malaysian Insider that PAS’s inclusive policies, if continued and affirmed, would create greater cooperation within Pakatan Rakyat.

“For PAS to be a national party, it must continue with its open attitude,” he said, adding that it would quash what he calls Umno’s demonisation of PAS as a party of extreme ulamas (religious scholars).

Ngeh’s hopes may soon be realised as Nizar’s candidacy as vice-president is not the only brow-raising trend in the nominations so far.

While it is accepted that Hadi will retain the presidency uncontested, it appears that his deputy Nasharuddin Mat Isa has not impressed the grassroots.

Out of the three divisions, the ulama leader has only received one nomination, the same as Husam. But with heartland Malay division Temerloh nominating Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak instead, Nasharuddin could be in trouble.

Indeed, developments so far will give PAS’s Pakatan Rakyat partners some joy. Besides Husam’s candidacy for No. 2, the favourites for vice-president are dominated by more moderate voices such as Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub, firebrand vice-president Mohamad Sabu and Nizar.

For those who feel that a strong Pakatan Rakyat is crucial for the political future of Malaysia, the PAS muktamar, and not last month’s Umno general assembly, may well be the highlight milestone for 2009.

Millions of Indians due to vote

BBC NEWS

Some 714 million people – more than twice the population of the United States – are eligible to cast ballots in the five phases of the election

 

Millions of Indians are due to vote in the first round of the country’s 15th general elections.

Voters in 124 constituencies will be taking part in the vote. There are four other phases between it and the last phase on 13 May.

More than 700 million Indians overall are eligible to vote for seats in the lower house of parliament.

The incumbent Congress-led coalition government is facing a challenge from the main opposition BJP-led alliance.

It is also competing against a third front of communist and regional parties in a poll that is too close to call.

Results are due on 16 May and a new parliament must be in place by 2 June.

Local issues

The first voting takes place in constituencies spread across the country, including volatile areas in north and central India.

INDIAN ELECTION AT A GLANCE Eligible voters: 714 million Polling centres: 828,804 Voting days: 16, 23, 30 April; 7, 13 May Vote counting: 16 May Leading candidates: Manmohan Singh (Congress), LK Advani (BJP), Mayawati

States where voting takes place are Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Lakshwadeep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

More than two million security personnel are expected to be deployed, especially after a string of recent attacks by Maoist rebels who have threatened to disrupt the vote.

Thousands of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed across the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, which will vote for both national and state assembly representatives.

“We have taken every necessary measure to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. Now you go out and vote,” state director general of police AK Mohanty said in the state capital, Hyderabad.

Thousands of troops have also been placed on alert in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which has the most seats in the national parliament. Polling will take place for 16 of the state’s 80 seats.

Security concerns are also likely to be high in the eastern state of Bihar, where heavily armed Maoist rebels on Wednesday attacked a paramilitary camp set up for the elections, wounding one soldier, senior police official Vikas Vaibhav told the Associated Press news agency.

The district where the attack took place is 140km (87 miles) south-west of the state capital, Patna. It too goes to the polls Thursday.

Neither of the two main parties in the election – Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – is expected to gain a clear majority.

Both may have to depend on the support of smaller parties to form a government – and correspondents say the campaign rhetoric in recent days has become increasingly bitter.

While security and the economy are key election issues, especially after last year’s attacks in Mumbai (Bombay), global economic meltdown and local and regional issues are all expected to be key issues.

Afghans Throw Stones at Women Protesting Rape in Marriage Law

 April 15: Afghan Shiite counter protesters shout slogans in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Fox New.com

KABUL —  Dozens of young women braved crowds of bearded men screaming “dogs!” on Wednesday to protest an Afghan law that lets husbands demand sex from their wives. Some of the men picked up small stones and pelted the women.

“Slaves of the Christians!” chanted the 800 or so counter-demonstrators, a mix of men and women. A line of female police officers locked hands to keep the groups apart.

The warring protests highlight the explosive nature of the women’s rights debate in Afghanistan. Both sides are girding for battle over the legislation, which has sparked an international uproar since being quietly signed into law last month.

The law says a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days, unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse. It also regulates when and for what reasons a wife may leave her home without a male escort.

Though the law would apply only to the country’s Shiites, who make up less than 20 percent of Afghanistan’s 30 million people, many fear its passage marks a return to Taliban-style oppression of women. The Taliban, who ruled Afghanistan from 1996-2001, required women to wear all-covering burqas and banned them from leaving home unless accompanied by a male relative.

Governments and rights groups around the world have condemned the legislation, and President Barack Obama has labeled it “abhorrent.” Afghan President Hamid Karzai has remanded the law to the Justice Department for review and put enforcement on hold.

A host of Afghan intellectuals, politicians and even a number of Cabinet ministers have come out against the law. But those who decry the legislation face quick criticism from conservative Muslim clerics and their followers, as Wednesday’s protests showed.

“You are a dog! You are not a Shiite woman!” one man shouted to a young woman in a head scarf.

The woman, who held a banner reading “We don’t want Taliban law,” replied quietly: “This is my land and my people.”

The demonstrators chose a risky spot to hold their protest — in front of the mosque of the legislation’s main backer — and were easily outnumbered by supporters of the law. They said many women had been stopped on their way to the protest.

In the end, more women demonstrated in favor of the law than against it: A few hundred Shiite women marched with banners to join the angry men. They blamed foreigners for inciting the protests.

“We don’t want foreigners interfering in our lives. They are the enemy of Afghanistan,” said 24-year-old Mariam Sajadi.

Sajadi is engaged to be married, and said she plans to ask her husband’s permission to leave the house as put forth in the law. She said other articles — such as the one allowing husbands to demand sex — have been misinterpreted by Westerners prejudiced against Islam. She did not elaborate.

On the other side of the shouting, Mehri Rezai, 32, urged her countrymen to reject the law.

“This law treats women as if we were sheep,” she said.

Both sides say they’re defending their constitutional rights — but Afghanistan’s constitution is unclear. It defers to Islamic law as the highest authority, but also guarantees equal rights for women.

Abbas Noyan, a Shiite lawmaker who opposes the law, said he is hopeful it will be changed. But others are less sure, and even the country’s minister of women’s affairs, who is female, has declined to comment on the law.

New York-based Human Rights Watch maintains that the judicial review ordered by Karzai is unlikely to be truly independent because those leading the process come from a conservative Shiite background.