Ideopolitik 'pelik DAP 

Kain rentang yang tertera gambar Perdana Menteri sempena ucapan Selamat Tahun Baharu Cina yang dipasang sekitar Pulau Pinang sebelum diturunkan .

KALAU dibaca komen-komen yang terpapar di facebook, twitter atau apa sahaja laman sosial waktu ini, akan tertera ayat- ayat sebegini: "... apa ni pembgkag (pembangkang), wat (buat) ni salah, wat (buat) tu salah, kalau tak nak (kerajaan yang ada), jgn (jangan) pangkah sudahlah."

Itu antara luahan yang boleh dibaca apabila melayari laman-laman sosial pada waktu ini. Memang sekarang masa pembangkang menidakkan segala kebenaran. Apa sahaja yang dibuat kerajaan semua tak kena.

Bercakap mengenai perkara ini, pensyarah Geopolitik Fakulti Sains Sosial dan Komunikasi Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Prof Madya Dr. Mohd. Fuad Mat Jali menarik perhatian mengenai tindak tanduk 'pelik' kerajaan DAP Pulau Pinang dalam isu sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina yang dirancang dianjurkan Barisan Nasional (BN) negeri itu pada 11 Februari ini.

"Dalam mana-mana sambutan perayaan kaum, tidak sepatutnya elemen atau sentimen ideopolitik dicampur- adukkan.

"Ini semacam satu perjuangan taksub untuk memastikan sokongan terhadap DAP sentiasa berada dalam minda seseorang," kata beliau kepada akhbar ini semalam.

Guan Eng, kata beliau, sebenarnya 'terperanjat' kerana sepatutnya sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina itu dianjurkan DAP tetapi BN pula yang menjadi tuan rumahnya.

Beliau juga menarik perhatian bagaimana di Bandar Baru Bangi ketika ini boleh disaksikan bendera-bendera dan sepanduk Pas dan UMNO berkibaran tanpa sebarang sekatan.

Kata Mohd. Fuad: "Kain rentang BN yang tertera ucapan sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina di Pulau Pinang itu biarlah digantung.

" Kalau diturunkan, nampak sangat tak dihormati. Tak ada demokrasi. Takkan pengikut tegar DAP yang setia parti itu boleh berubah pendirian sekelip mata hanya semata-mata tengok kain rentang itu.

"Tapi yang saya terfikir di sini, Guan Eng resah gelisah takut usaha DAP nak kekal di Pulau Pinang semakin tergugat pada pilihan raya umum nanti."

Senada dengan beliau ialah Naib Pengerusi Strategik MIC, Datuk R. Ramanan yang turut perasan akan elemen yang tidak kena ini.

"Saya lebih suka meminjam ungkapan daripada tokoh pejuang gerakan kemerdekaan India, Mohandas K. Gandhi.

"Katanya: "Modal bukanlah kejahatan, ia baru akan menjadi kejahatan kalau disalahgunakan," kata beliau kepada akhbar ini semalam.

Makna peribahasa itu, kata Ramanan, cukup mendalam kalau direnung dengan terjadinya isu-isu muktahir yang seakan-akan tidak menggambarkan keperibadian majoriti rakyat Malaysia yang berbudi pekerti.

"Dalam isu turunkan kain rentang ucapan Tahun Baharu Cina Perdana Menteri ini, walau apa pun alasannya, tindakan itu adalah biadap dan melambangkan keangkuhan kerajaan negeri pimpinan DAP.

"Saya sendiri mempunyai ramai kenalan daripada kaum Cina. Mereka cukup hairan dan pelik dengan perbuatan tak wajar ini... setakat nak beri ucapan perayaan, apatah lagi beliau seorang Perdana Menteri... sampai sanggup turunkan kain rentang itu. Inilah akibatnya sengaja nak tunjuk kuasa tidak bertempat," katanya.

Seperkara lagi, kata Ramanan, tindakan Guan Eng menyeru orang ramai yang mahu hadir ke Majlis Rumah Terbuka Tahun Baharu Cina itu supaya memakai baju kuning, merah atau hijau - jelas memperlihatkan sikap 'busuk hati' parti terbabit.

"Bukankah sepatutnya Guan Eng dengan rasa rendah diri bersama-sama Perdana Menteri meraikan majlis rumah terbuka itu.

"Cuba ambil contoh Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat yang sanggup berlapang dada ada ketikanya menyertai Perdana Menteri yang turun ke Kota Bharu.

"Bagaimanapun, saya masih tidak boleh lupa sikap keterbukaan seorang wakil rakyat pembangkang di satu kawasan Dewan Undangan Negeri di Selangor. Dalam satu majlis anjuran BN bertemu rakyat, dia tiba-tiba muncul dan duduk di kerusi yang disediakan sambil tersenyum menyatakan "saya ADUN kawasan ini, jadi saya anggap ini juga majlis saya," katanya.

Bagi Ramanan sendiri, dengan perilaku-perilaku sebegini yang ditunjukkan Guan Eng, membuatkannya terfikir - DAP tidak sesuai untuk kaum India bergantung harap.

"Antara perkara yang mungkin 'kecil' untuk sesetengah orang tetapi bagi kami kaum India cukup besar maknanya ialah kenapa kerajaan DAP Pulau Pinang tidak memasukkan sambutan Ponggal dan Thaipusam dalam kalendar peristiwa penting tahun ini.

"Tindakan mengetepikan dua perayaan itu samalah seperti tidak mengiktiraf tradisi, agama dan budaya masyarakat India," katanya sambil merujuk Ponggal, atau perayaan menuai disambut pada 15 Januari manakala Thaipusam disambut secara besar-besaran oleh penganut Hindu pada 27 Januari.

Bagi Ramanan, jika dilihat gelagat pelik Guan Eng dalam isu sambutan Tahun Baharu Cina anjuran BN itu, beliau percaya, mana-mana rakyat yang berkehendakkan kebebasan demokrasi dihormati serta tidak mencampur adukkan politik dalam budaya atau perayaan kaum, akan merasakan mereka tidak sesuai berada dalam DAP.

"Anda mungkin sering membohongi orang, bahkan sebahagian orang yang selalu mudah anda bohongi. Tetapi anda tidak akan boleh selalu membohongi semua orang," katanya merujuk kata-kata keramat bekas Presiden Amerika Syarikat, Abraham Lincoln.

Memahami ‘Psy-che’ pemimpin DAP 

Seorang petugas menurunkan kain rentang yang tertera gambar Perdana Menteri sempena ucapan Selamat Tahun Baharu Cina yang dipasang sekitar Pulau Pinang.

Oleh Khairuddin Mohd. Zin

ISTILAH psyche diterjemahkan oleh Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (rujukan dalam talian) sebagai membawa maksud ‘jiwa’. Salah seorang ahli politik yang mempunyai jalur psyche yang sangat berwarna-warni ialah Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, Lim Guan Eng.

Semenjak menjawat jawatan sebagai Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang, beliau gemar sekali mengaitkan bagaimana Pulau Pinang akan ditadbir dengan tiga asas penjanaan polisi dan pentadbiran, iaitu dengan menggunakan konsep ‘CAT’ - cekap, akauntabiliti dan telus.

Pada mata rakyat mana sekalipun, istilah-istilah yang muluk dan hebat ini memang mudah untuk diperkatakan, namun ia menuntut komitmen pelaksanaan yang berterusan. Itulah yang lebih diinginkan oleh rakyat.

Perbualan penulis dengan ramai rakan di Pulau Pinang, membayangkan bahawa mereka berada di bawah pentadbiran yang tidak mesra rakyat dan mempunyai imej yang sombong dan bongkak.

Adakalanya, psyche seorang yang dianggap pemimpin utama parti DAP itu juga tidak begitu tenang. Khuatir dengan kehadiran ribuan rakyat di jamuan Tahun Baharu Cina di Pulau Pinang, Ketua Menteri yang pernah mengatakan Pulau Pinang sebagai ‘oasis demokrasi’, mula mengajak rakyat hadir dengan memakai pakaian yang membawa mesej politik.

Inilah petanda bahawa ada sesuatu yang tidak kena dengan ‘jiwa’ pemimpin ini. Ini juga membayangkan psyche konfrontasi sememangnya tersedia ada dalam pemikiran pemimpin tersebut.

Ya, mana sahaja kerajaan di dunia ini perlu menjual ‘jenama’ mereka sebagai sebuah kerajaan yang kompeten. Kerajaan DAP di Pulau Pinang juga tidak terkecuali. Namun, sebagai rakyat biasa yang melihat politik Pulau Pinang dari jauh, mengikuti perkembangan kepimpinan Guan Eng melalui media sosial - tidak semua dasar yang dikemukakan oleh Guan Eng mencerminkan sebuah kerajaan negeri yang kompeten.

Malahan, jika kita rajin sedikit merujuk kepada paparan-paparan lama yang dikemukakan oleh pemimpin DAP, termasuk Lim Kit Siang sendiri mengakui bahawa orang Melayu sangat terasa bahawa mereka berada di bawah kepimpinan yang tidak mesra semua kaum. 

Seperti yang dilaporkan oleh Kit Siang (http://blog.limkitsiang.com/2011/11/17/malays-feel-penang-under-chinese-rule-survey-shows/), melalui kajian yang dilakukan oleh Ilham Centre, secara jelas menunjukkan bahawa majoriti dalam kalangan orang Melayu di Pulau Pinang melihat kepimpinan Guan Eng melalui tingkap perkauman yang nyata. 

Sudah barang tentu, perkara ini tidak berlaku begitu sahaja. Mungkin ada agaknya ‘polisi dan pelaksanaan’ dan pentadbiran di Pulau Pinang yang tidak mencerap kepentingan semua kaum dan sebagainya.

Di dalam paparan laman sesawang yang sama, Kit Siang sekali lagi memaparkan kajian Ilham Centre yang merumuskan perkara berikut: “...Pas under (state chief) Salleh Man is too weak and has failed to make Pas popular and respected whether in terms of welfare, community and sermons. Pas is seen as DAP’s puppets."

Kit Siang dengan mudahnya menyalahkan proses indoktrinasi pemikiran politik di Pulau Pinang, sekali gus cuba memberikan gambaran bahawa persepsi salah terhadap kepimpinan DAP di negeri tersebut, adalah kerja politik.

Apa yang wajar menjadi persoalan yang lebih penting adalah: Apakah DAP sama sekali sudah gagal membentuk persepsi positif bahawa mereka turut memperjuangkan kepentingan orang Melayu? Apakah DAP berpuas hati dengan peranan feeder yang dimainkan oleh Pas dalam memastikan lambungan sokongan orang Melayu Pulau Pinang berada di tahap yang baik? Apakah pula peranan yang dimainkan satu lagi parti keluarga pembangkang yang sepatutnya membulatkan sokongan orang Melayu di sana?

Di sebalik kononnya penerimaan total masyarakat Cina di Pulau Pinang terhadap Guan Eng, Ketua Menteri tersebut sebenarnya sedang bergelumang dengan pelbagai masalah dan isu lain yang boleh meletakkan dirinya dan parti DAP dalam keadaan yang tidak menentu pada pilihan raya umum (PRU) akan datang.

Oleh sebab itu juga, isu kehadiran seorang artis Korea Selatan menjadi masalah kepada pentadbiran Guan Eng. Sedangkan, parti yang dinaungi Guan Eng jugalah yang sudah berbelanja besar untuk melakukan ‘parodi’ artis sama sebagai modal memasuki fasa pilihan raya nanti.

Apakah kehadiran ‘Psy’ ini yang menjadi masalah kepada Guan Eng - atau psyche dirinya sendiri yang semakin khuatir kehilangan momentum politik? Itu perlu dijawab sendiri oleh DAP dan Guan Eng dalam masa yang terdekat ini.

Dengan diikuti penjelasan bahawa kehadiran Psy adalah tajaan pihak swasta, DAP sudah semakin hilang bahan untuk dijadikan modal politik. Maka, keluarlah kenyataan Ketua Menteri kononnya kehadiran Psy bagus untuk industri pelancongan Pulau Pinang. 

Guan Eng pada hakikatnya sedang berhadapan dengan pelbagai persoalan dalam media sosial. Semakin banyak suara yang menginginkan Guan Eng memberi penjelasan mengenai beberapa projek mega yang diumumkan menjelang Tahun Baharu Cina ini.

Sebuah artikel yang agak menarik disiarkan sebuah platform media sosial bertajuk ‘Rebuttal against Guan Eng'’s RM8b CNY economy stimulus package’, tulisan Ong Eu Soon adalah contoh pandangan balas yang perlu ditangani oleh Guan Eng. Artikel sama turut diguna pakai oleh sebuah akhbar berbahasa Inggeris.

Apakah dengan menamakan beberapa projek besar menjelang Tahun Baharu Cina ini suatu bentuk ‘angpau mega’ yang mahu Guan Eng jual kepada pengundi di Pulau Pinang? Apa jadi dengan tuduhan kononnya kerajaan cuba membeli undi jika menjanjikan projek dalam masa yang terdekat ini? Di mana agaknya letak perbezaan antara janji Guan Eng; sebagai misal dan perbandingan, dengan janji yang dilakukan oleh Perdana Menteri di Kelantan?

Apakah mungkin kita mendengar kenyataan Menteri Besar Kelantan bahawa Guan Eng juga mengamalkan elemen rasuah. Menurut MB Kelantan itu, sewaktu memberikan pandangan mengenai tujuh projek rakyat yang bakal dilaksana oleh Barisan Nasional Kelantan: “... janji Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak mahu mengadakan tujuh projek mega di negeri itu, yang diumumkan ketika kunjungannya, umpama rasuah bagi memancing undi rakyat."

Di mana agaknya beza janji Guan Eng dalam kes ini? Apakah Pas sanggup mengeluarkan ayat bahawa Guan Eng dan DAP Pulau Pinang mengamalkan rasuah politik? Wajar diingat, Perdana Menteri tidak mengaitkannya dengan pilihan raya, sebaliknya Guan Eng secara jelas mengatakan: “...We will let the people of Penang decide whether they want this project or not," seperti yang dilaporkan oleh sebuah portal pro-pembangkang. Pas wajar tidak pilih kasih dalam mengemukakan kenyataan yang sedemikian sifatnya.

Apakah semudah itu Pas memberikan ‘sijil politik halal’ kepada Guan Eng, sedang Pas heboh mengkritik janji seorang Perdana Menteri yang wajar memberi khidmat bakti kepada rakyat?

‘Psyche’ politik jualah yang menyebabkan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang tersebut menggunakan kalimah Allah sebagai modal dalam ucapan Hari Natal. Menggunakan logik politik sebuah ‘pakatan’, ia tidak sepatutnya ditimbulkan ketika Pas perlu bersikap defensif dan mula main tarik tali dengan dasar dan asas politik parti tersebut. Mujurlah, Majlis Syura Pas membuat keputusan yang tegas - namun begitu masih cuba dicabar oleh pemimpin yang berkongsi ‘jiwa’ sama seperti Guan Eng.

Isu ini turut menjadi analisis penting dalam kalangan penganalisis politik menjelang PRU akan datang ini. Seorang ahli akademik, Farish A Noor, dalam analisisnya (boleh rujuk: http://www.eurasiareview.com/03022013-malaysias-13th-generalelection-prospects-and-challenges-for-dap-analysis/) turut membayangkan bahawa isu kalimah Allah secara jelas membuktikan hubungan dalam pakatan politik pembangkang boleh sahaja menjadi amat rapuh.

Pada pandangan penulis, ‘psyche’ pemimpin dan batang tubuh parti DAP amat sukar untuk dijernihkan. Keputusan pilihan raya parti DAP sendiri sudah memberikan gambaran bahawa model politik ‘rasis’ DAP akan kekal untuk tempoh waktu yang panjang.

Selagi DAP tidak mampu mengubah ‘jiwa politik’ bahawa mereka perlu lebih terbuka dan mesra semua kaum - DAP akan kekal menjadi parti yang sombong dan tidak mampu menjiwai semangat rentas kaum yang sebenar.

Isu sebenarnya bukan ‘Psy’ tetapi psyche seorang Ketua Menteri yang khuatir dengan kedudukan politiknya menjelang PRU akan datang. Benar, DAP masih mampu bergerak sendirian dalam mempertahan kemenangan di negeri tersebut - namun ia akan mengesahkan lagi kewujudan elemen kesombongan dan kegemaran mencari kemenangan politik secara solo.

Pulau Pinang pastinya menjadi medan dan pentas menentukan ramuan politik ‘pelbagai jiwa’ dalam pakatan politik pembangkang untuk berjaya dan berkesan. PRU 2008, Pas bertanding di 2 kawasan Parlimen dan 5 (DUN) di Pulau Pinang. PKR bertanding di 4 kawasan Parlimen dan 16 (DUN).

Jika menurut psyche dan amalan politik Ketua Menteri yang ada; nampaknya semua akan berpusat kepada diri dan partinya sahaja. Jangan sesekali kita lupa, Timbalan Ketua Menteri Pulau Pinang sendiri pernah memberi gelar negatif kepada ketuanya.

Tidak perlulah agaknya individu yang sudah berada di tahap seorang Ketua Menteri, memberi cadangan kebudak-budakan bagi mensabotaj program orang lain. Demikian juga kenyataan di dalam twitter seorang bergelar ‘Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri’, kononnya lagu Negeri Pulau Pinang akan ditukar hanya kerana lawatan seorang artis dari Korea.

Nampak gaya, psyche dalam kalangan pemimpin DAP ini lebih kurang sahaja tahapnya. Jiwa menentang, mensabotaj dan merendahkan orang lain cukup sebati dalam psikologi politik mereka.

PENULIS ialah pemerhati sosio-politik.

Dr M: Pinda perlembagaan untuk lucut kerakyatan Ambiga

Hazlan Zakaria 4:46PM Feb 9 2013

Kerajaan perlu meminda perlembagaan jika ia mahu melucutkan kerakyatan peguam, seperti Pengerusi Bersama Bersih, Datuk S Ambiga, yang menentang kerajaan.

"Untuk melucutkan kerakyatan seseorang, anda perlu meminda perlembagaan.

"Dan untuk meminda perlembagaan, anda memerlukan majoriti dua pertiga di Parlimen," kata bekas Perdana Menteri Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad hari ini.

"Jadi, saya meminta anda memberi majoriti dua pertiga kepada kerajaan BN," katanya ketika menjawab soalan selepas memberi ceramah mengenai keselamatan negara dan perlembagaan di Cheras, Kuala Lumpur hari ini.

Beliau ditanya bagaimana kerajaan hendak melucutkan kerakyatan peguam seperti pemimpin Majlis Peguam dan Ambiga, yang terus mencabar kerajaan dan mempersoalkan perlembagaan.

Bagaimanapun, Mahathir tidak menyatakan secara khusus apa yang beliau maksudkan dan bahagian perlembagaan yang perlu dipinda.

Pada masa ini, rakyat Malaysia boleh dilucutkan kerakyatannya jika dia mendapat kerakyatan dari negara lain atau melaksanakan hak eksklusif kepada warganegara negara lain selain Malaysia, seperti mengundi atau menggunakan dokumen perjalanan negara lain.

Ini diperuntukkan di bawah Perkara 24 perlembagaan persekutuan.

[Baca berita penuh]

Playing the right tune on the Xylophone

Detained senator has record of undermining country's harmony

KUALA LUMPUR (Feb 16, 2013): Independent Australian Senator Nick Xenophon was detained at the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) in Sepang near here today, after it was found that he had a record of undermining the country's harmony.

He was nabbed at 6.50am, under Section 8 (3) of the Malaysian Immigration Act, upon arrival on a flight from Melbourne, Australia.

Confirming Xenophon's detention to Bernama, Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said the senator was in the list of 'undesirables' and barred from entering the country because of the record.

He said Xenophon was merely confined at the immigration's LCCT office, and was not held in a cell or lock-up as claimed by some quarters. He further dismissed claims that Xenophon was denied his rights to meet or communicate with anyone.

"Xenophon was allowed to meet with Australia's High Commissioner Miles Kupa at the conference room at the immigration's LCCT office."

Alias said Kupa also met him over Xenophon's detention and expressed satisfaction with the Malaysian immigration's handling of the case, and that he respected the country's laws.

According to Alias, Xenophon who was reported to be among 50 Australian law-makers who had called for the sodomy charge against Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be dropped in February 2010, was expected to be sent back to Australia tonight.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Xenophon's detention was not politically motivated, adding that it was the prerogative of the immigration director-general to take such action based on existing provisions in the law.

"As long as the decision is made based on the law...does not make any senator special. As a minister, if I go to London and they do not let me enter and I have to return to Malaysia, it is not necessary for them to give any reason," he told reporters after closing the Jelajah Anak Malaysia programme at Stadium Mini Pancarona here today.

He said the ministry through Wisma Putra was constantly communicating with the Australian High Commission in the case.

In a related matter, Umno Supreme Council member Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said Malaysia did not need any external interference in its affairs, while Malaysian Young Journalists Club president Dzulkarnain Taib said the action against Xenophon was appropriate, describing the Australian senator as an alleged provo cateur in the coming 13th General Election.

On another issue, Hishammuddin said the armed Filipinos who had encroached on Lahad Datu, Sabah would be extradited to their country of origin as soon as possible.

"From intelligence sources, this group is not a militant or terrorist group but supporters of the 'Sulu Sultanate'," he said. – Bernama

Just realised he sounded overly cautious and funny or strange?

'Security risk' senator was envoy

February 17, 2013

Nick Xenophon in Malaysia

AN AUSTRALIAN senator detained and ordered to be deported by Malaysia as a ''security risk'' has acted as an emissary for Malaysian Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, carrying a letter warning of infringements on democracy to the federal government.

On Saturday the South Australian senator, Nick Xenophon, was detained after being told at Kuala Lumpur airport that there was a technical glitch with his passport and then escorted to an area of holding cells.

Senator Xenophon's detention has caused the cancellation of a visit to Malaysia by a delegation of Australian MPs from all major parties.

Speaking by phone from the airport, Senator Xenophon, an independent, described his detention as ''bizarre''.

''They have told me I am a security risk,'' he said.

In an separate interview with Sky News, he said: ''I was eventually told apologetically by immigration officials that I am on a watchlist, that there are orders from above in terms of security concerns and I have to be deported on the next flight out of here.''

Only hours before Senator Xenophon's arrest, Mr Anwar lashed out at Foreign Minister Bob Carr in an interview with Fairfax Media, revealing he asked in the letter for Australia to speak out about Malaysia's rigged political system.

Mr Anwar said his warnings of Malaysia's rigged political system had fallen on deaf ears.

Mr Anwar, who heads a three-party opposition alliance, said Senator Carr was ''ill-advised or clearly lacks an understanding'' of what is happening in Malaysia when he refused to act on the letter sent late last year asking for Australia's help.

Senator Carr on Saturday raised Australia's concerns with the Malaysian government about Senator Xenophon's detention.

''Senator Xenophon's detention is a surprising and disappointing act from a country with which Australia routinely maintains strong diplomatic relations,'' Senator Carr said.

Senator Carr said Australia's high commissioner in Kuala Lumpur, who had made direct contact with Senator Xenophon, was ''seeking an explanation from Malaysian authorities regarding the reasons for this detention''.

He said preliminary reports indicated Senator Xenophon had been held under Malaysia's national security laws.

Senator Xenophon was expected to leave Kuala Lumpur on a flight to Melbourne in the early hours of Sunday morning.

In a statement issued after Senator Xenophon's arrest, Mr Anwar condemned the Malaysian government's accusations against Senator Xenophon. ''Prime Minister Najib Razak has no right to treat visitors as enemies of the state merely because they are critical of his UMNO-led administration,'' he said.

''This act of detention and proposed deportation for partisan political reasons is therefore a gross abuse of power.''

Senator Xenophon was in Malaysia leading a bipartisan visit of Australian politicians for talks with the country's opposition party about electoral systems. The other MPs, Liberal Mal Washer, Nationals senator John Williams and ALP MP Steve Georganas were due to fly out on Monday, but have cancelled the visit.

They were to have met Mr Anwar, as well as Malaysia's minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Mohammed Nazri, and members of the group Bersih, a coalition campaigning for fair Elections.

''It seems that a member of the Australian Parliament is now not allowed into Malaysia because I am a supposed security risk,'' Senator Xenophon said.

''I just wanted to arrive here quietly and do our work. I didn't ask to be deported, believe me.''

In the interview that preceded Senator Xenophon's arrest, Mr Anwar lashed out at the Gillard government over its failure to speak out about widespread election fraud ahead of his country's fiercely fought election.

Mr Anwar told Fairfax Media it is hypocritical of Australia to speak out about democracy in other countries such as Afghanistan but not support Malaysia in what he described as its dirtiest ever campaign.

After a meeting and receiving the letter from Mr Anwar, Senator Carr told the ABC that Malaysia's elections are a matter for the Malaysian people.

''It's very hard for Australia to do anything about how they're run, as hard as it would be for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run… we're not the election authority for Malaysia,'' Senator Carr said.

Senator Xenophon said he had visited Malaysia previously at the invitation of Mr Anwar, participating in the elections observer group last year.

''We found there are some serious systemic concerns about the Malaysian elections that are coming up. They are due to be called any day,'' he said.

Analysts say Mr Anwar's opposition has a chance of ousting the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition that has ruled Malaysia for half a century since its independence from Britain.

Prime Minister Najib Razak must call the election within weeks, but parties have been campaigning for months.

EC defends Xenophon expulsion, says unfair to doubt Election 2013


By Boo Su-Lyn
February 16, 2013

Wan Ahmad said the EC was willing to meet foreigners who wished to monitor Election 2013 but that neither he nor the EC chairman had been contacted by Xenophon. — file pic

PETALING JAYA, Feb 16 — The Election Commission (EC) defended today Australian Senator Nick Xenophon’s deportation from Malaysia, saying that immigration authorities were merely performing their duty.

EC deputy chairman Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Omar also said that it was unjust to judge the fairness of Election 2013 based on Xenophon’s expulsion.

“I think it’s an insult to the intelligence of Malaysians,” Wan Ahmad told reporters here today.

“They don’t have to rely on the opinion of this one fellow to make a conclusion,” he said.

Xenophon was detained at the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal in Sepang this morning and will be deported later tonight.

Xenophon had planned to meet Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, de facto law minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz and EC officials next week to discuss the country’s electoral system, according to Anwar’s chief of staff, Ibrahim Yaacob.

Electoral reform group Bersih 2.0 co-chair Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan has lambasted Xenophon’s deportation as a move that showed the government’s “paranoia” about the coming national polls.

Several other Twitter users joined Ambiga in raining scorn on the government’s decision, with the subject spawning a hashtag #xenophon.

But Wan Ahmad stressed that there was nothing to hide as Malaysians were free to observe Election 2013.

Immigration Department director-general Datuk Alias Ahmad said earlier today that Xenophon was deported because the senator had made statements that allegedly tarnished Malaysia’s image.

Alias highlighted Xenophon’s remarks about the Malaysian government being “authoritarian” in handling last April’s Bersih 3.0 rally for free and fair elections.

Xenophon, who had observed the mass protest, noted that the police had fired tear gas and chemical-laced water in what had been a largely peaceful protest.

Alias added that the Australian senator was barred from entering Malaysia under the Immigration Act 8(3).

Ibrahim said today that other Australian MPs and senators, who were due to arrive here, have cancelled their plans.

Wan Ahmad, however, said that the EC was willing to meet foreigners who wished to monitor the coming Election 2013 as long as they contacted the EC directly.

“I’ve never received his (Xenophon’s) call. The EC chairman also did not receive any call,” said Wan Ahmad.

He added that Xenophon had made an appointment with a senior EC official through a third party, but did not specify further.

Wan Ahmad also questioned Xenophon’s intention in coming here, saying: “We don’t know what (is) the agenda in his mind.”

He urged foreigners not to disparage Malaysia’s democratic process as it was based on Malaysian law, not Australian or European law.

“I think we have laws in this country. If people don’t respect the laws, I think the majority of the rakyat will not like it,” said Wan Ahmad.

Australia’s Foreign Ministry has expressed its disappointment with Xenophon’s detention.

News of Xenophon’s detention has also been picked up by international press.

“I am effectively a prisoner here,” he was quoted as saying in the Australian newspaper The Sunday Mail.

The paper reported the Australian lawmaker managed to slip through a phone call when he was left unattended in the interrogation room.

“I’m being held in an area with all these holding cells which are full of women. They have basically told me I am an enemy of the state. They are trying to get me on the next plane out of here and back home.

“I was even meeting members of the government, I mean, the whole situation is ridiculous, we are meant to be the closest of friends with Malaysia,” he told the paper.

“We are meant to be having a people swap deal on asylum seekers but so far it looks like the only person being swapped is me,” he was quoted as saying.

The paper also reported Xenophon as saying he believed a recent piece he had written for Fairfax newspapers last month, which was critical of human rights here, may be a reason for the authorities to refuse him entry.

Xenophon came to Malaysia last April as an election observer after being invited by Anwar.

The Australian senator was part of a seven-member international team of election observers who later met Nazri.

Despite being invited by Anwar, the group insisted they were independent, claiming that their expenses for the fact-finding mission were borne by themselves or their respective governments.

Xenophon had said that fundamental concerns regarding Malaysia’s electoral roll, campaign period, media access and other issues pertaining to electoral reforms were raised with Nazri.

The senator was portrayed by local English daily the News Straits Times (NST) last year as anti-Islam in an article that falsely quoted him as calling Islam a “criminal organisation” during his 2009 speech in Australia’s Parliament.

Xenophon later said he would sue the NST after the newspaper admitted its mistake.

Carr: Xenophon's Malaysian detention surprising and disappointing

February 16, 2013

Foreign Minister Bob Carr says Malaysia's detention of independent senator Nick Xenophon is a surprising and disappointing act.

Senator Carr said Australian officials in Kuala Lumpur were seeking the immediate release of Senator Xenophon, who was detained and held pending deportation when he entered the country on Saturday morning.

As well, Australian officials have raised Senator Xenophon's plight at the highest level of the Malaysian government.

Senator Xenophon, who was participating in an unofficial delegation of Australian MPs, said he was told he was a security threat and would be deported.

Senator Carr said preliminary reports indicated Senator Xenophon had been held under Malaysia's national security laws.

"Our High Commissioner Miles Kupa has now made direct contact with Senator Xenophon at the airport and is seeking his release," he said in a statement.

He said Mr Kupa was also urgently pursuing an explanation from Malaysian authorities regarding the reasons for this detention.

"Australia's concerns have been raised with Malaysia's foreign minister and the minister for home affairs and the Malaysian high commissioner to Australia. Their support is requested in securing Senator Xenophon's swift release from custody," he said.

"Senator Xenophon's detention is a surprising and disappointing act from a country with which Australia routinely maintains strong diplomatic relations."

The delegation, including Senator Xenophon, Liberal Mal Washer, Nationals Senator John Williams and ALP MP Steve Georganas, have now called off their visit to Malaysia.

They were to have met opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, as well as Malaysia's minister in charge of parliamentary affairs, Mohammed Nazri, and members of the group Bersih, the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections.

Senator Xenophon has raised concerns about the probity of the upcoming Malaysian election.

AAP

Australia pursues Malaysian explanation for senator's deportation

(Reuters) - Australia is seeking further explanation from Malaysia about why an Australian senator, who went to politically sensitive Malaysia to discuss electoral reform, was denied entry and deported, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said on Sunday.

Malaysia refused entry on Saturday to independent Senator Nick Xenophon, with an immigration official saying the decision was made because he had participated in an illegal street rally for electoral reform in the Southeast Asian country last year.

The Malaysian government is bracing for an election within months that is expected to be the closest in the former British colony's history.

"We made immediate and strenuous representations on his behalf, not only in relation to him being detained, but into him being allowed to be in Malaysia," Gillard told reporters in Melbourne, where Xenophon had arrived earlier on Sunday.

"Clearly we didn't succeed. We will continue to pursue this issue with the Malaysian government."

Xenophon was part of an unofficial delegation seeking to discuss the coming elections with members of the Malaysian government, opposition, judiciary and election commission. The other three members of the delegation canceled their trip after Xenophon was detained on arrival in Kuala Lumpur.

He said he had been told he had been detained because he was considered "a security risk". The Malaysian government said he had broken the law on a previous visit.

Xenophon was invited to Malaysia last year by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and observed a major street rally for electoral reform in April that ended in violence. He later criticized the government's handling of the rally.

Anwar, a former deputy prime minister, wrote on his blog on Saturday that Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak should not treat visitors as "enemies of the state" because they had criticized the ruling United Malays National Organisation.

"While it is true that senator Xenophon has raised concerns about the probity of our coming general elections, he has neither violated any written law nor conducted himself in a manner which may be constituted as a threat to our society," Anwar said.

Razak must call the election by the end of April and the opposition holds a good chance of toppling UMNO, the anchor of a Barisan Nasional coalition government, after 56 years in power.

That prospect is unnerving some government officials, emboldening the opposition and raising risks for investors.

Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr said he had contacted his Malaysian counterpart, Anifah Aman, over Xenophon's deportation but did not think ties would suffer.

"He said Malaysia took strong objection to foreigners interfering in their election campaign," Carr told reporters.

Australia and Malaysia have had a sometimes rocky diplomatic relationship. The two countries clashed 20 years ago when former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating called former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad "recalcitrant" for boycotting the 1993 Asia-Pacific economic forum. - Reuters

MELBOURNE: One of Australia’s senior commentators has taken maverick independent senator Nick Xenophon to task for his "foolish or cynically self-promoting" episode in Malaysia at the weekend.

The Australian newspaper’s foreign editor Greg Sheridan said Xenophon’s call for the Australian government to monitor the forthcoming Malaysian elections was "stupid and impractical".

Sheridan also accused Xenophon of "campaigning for just one side of Malaysian politics -- the opposition".

Sheridan said Foreign Minister Bob Carr was right to make his response to Xenophon's deportation as low key as possible and to agree with his Malaysian counterpart that the issue would not affect relations between the two countries.

"Carr should take no further action on the matter, nor is he likely to," he said.

"They (Malaysia) should either have told Xenophon in advance he was not welcome or they should have let his visit pass unnoticed.

"However, if anything, having an argument with an interfering Australian politician will be of some small electoral advantage to the ruling coalition.

"He might reflect on the fact the side he supports contains as perhaps its strongest element the most extreme Islamist party in mainstream Southeast Asian politics.

"Xenophon wants the Australian government to send electoral monitors to the forthcoming Malaysian elections. This idea is stupid and impractical," Sheridan said.

Citing electoral problems in Vietnam and Cambodia, Sheridan said Malaysia "on any measure is one of the most democratic and freewheeling nations in Southeast Asia.

"Its elections are certainly not perfect, but they are better than in most parts of the world.

"Indeed, its very openness allows people such as Xenophon to grandstand there." -BERNAMA-

Immigration Act 8(3) ... bars “any person who is a member of or affiliated with any organisation entertaining or teaching disbelief in or opposition to established government” or/and “any person who, in consequence of information received from any source deemed by the Minister to be reliable, or from any government, through official or diplomatic channels, is deemed by the Minister to be an undesirable immigrant.”

Xenophon Not Happy With Carr

Independent Senator Nick Xenophon has lashed out at the Gillard Government's response to his weekend deportation from Malaysia.

The South Australian MP was kicked out of the country for his support of pro-deomcracy reforms in Malaysia.

Senator Xenophon has criticised Foreign Minister Bob Carr for suggesting his trip was a "low key unofficial visit".

"I just think it's just a little bit cute for the foreign minister to protray this as potentially some form of interference. I asked Bob Carr, and I've got a lot of time for him, he's a man of tremendous intellect but I think in this case he's on the wrong side of history."

"I'm being treated as though I have committed something that under the immigration act put me under the category of overthrowing the government or something along those lines... that is something I reject absolutely."

Photo:Getty/Getty Images News/Scott Barbour/Stringer

“No Mate!” Aussie Foreign Minister Rejects Anwar’s Latest Election Stunt

It must have seemed like a good idea at the time. Earlier this month Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim wrote to Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr asking him to ensure free and fair elections in this country.

Anwar's proposal was for Australia to commit to an election observer mission, with or without a request by our Government. And given that Anwar is always looking for his next headline, he was surely hoping that Carr would say something in response that might embarrass our Government.

But Carr was never going to be sucked into Anwar's little games. The veteran politician, who is married to a prominent Malaysian-born businesswoman, is more in tune with the politics of this region than any Australian politician in the last 20 years.

He knows the electoral reforms that have taken place here. He knows that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is a man he can talk to (they met at the start of the month). And as he told the Australian Senate in October, he also knows that GE12 was free enough for the Government to "lose its two-thirds majority in the parliament". Bob Carr is no ignorant mat salleh.

So it's unsurprising that Carr didn't just ignore Anwar's letter, he virtually tossed it in the bin.

Speaking on Australia's ABC radio Wednesday, Mr Carr made it clear that it would be inappropriate for Australia to interfere with Malaysia's elections just as it would be "for Malaysia or another government to have a say in how Australian elections are run". Indeed.

Pressed on the issue of Australia "helping" us run our elections he snapped back: "What help are you proposing we provide? Do you want an amphibious landing on the east coast of Malaysia?"

Mr Carr's rejection of Anwar's letter couldn't have been more emphatic if he had set fire to it on his desk.

The fact is the Opposition and Bersih's crowd of international friends is dwindling fast. This isn't because they don't care anymore, but because they are no longer taken in by the sob story about "oppressive" Malaysia. They can see that things have moved on.

Even Bersih's Australian friend Senator Nick Xenophon, the man who boosted his career Down Under with his tale of being tear-gassed at Bersih 3.0, is now getting cold feet.

When Bersih co-founder Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan arrived in Australia in September, she expected Xenophon to announce he would be putting together an election observer mission to Malaysia, whether Putrajaya liked it or not. But Xenophon publicly snubbed her by not only refusing to come here for GE13, but by simply deferring the matter to Bob Carr in the Senate. Bersih's Australian friends have all but vanished.

Meanwhile Carr is personally a supporter of the Malaysia Solution for dealing with Indian Ocean asylum seekers, but his Government has opted for far more controversial solution for boat people, which is to fly them to the Pacific Island of Nauru for off-shore processing at a makeshift tent city in the rain forest.

This week that detention camp drew stinging criticism from Amnesty International which was granted permission to inspect the site.

Amnesty's Dr Graham Thom described the camp as "completely unacceptable". He told of cramped conditions with up to 14 men living in a single tent. He said the tents leak, leading to skin conditions arising from sleeping on wet bedding.

This is hugely embarrassing for Australia, given that one of the reasons for rejecting the Malaysia Solution was concern over the way we might treat refugees. Australia's option, designed to prevent refugees from stepping on Australian soil at all costs, is clearly failing.

Ultimately Carr will be hoping he can revisit the Malaysia Solution as the best way of breaking the business model of people smugglers.

Until then Australia would do well to get its own house in order before making judgements about other nations.

MANILA, Philippines - The more than 100 fully armed Filipinos holed up since Wednesday in a remote coastal town in Sabah were on a mission to press the claim of the Sultanate of Sulu on Sabah, an official of the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) said yesterday.

“They went there because they wanted to go back to their homeland Sabah, which is part of the Sultanate of Sulu,” said Habib Mujahab Hashim, MNLF central committee member and chairman of the Islamic Command Council.

“However, they were rounded up by the Malaysian security forces because close to 100 of them were armed,” Hashim said, citing reports he received from the field.

He said there were more than 200 Filipino Muslims involved in the standoff. He stressed the armed men were not detained but were merely invited for questioning.

He said the group was sent back to Tawi-Tawi “after hours of negotiation.” It was not clear as of press time if the group had indeed left the secluded coastal village of Lahad Datu some 500 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu.

A ranking military official said MNLF chairman Nur Misuari orchestrated the standoff to attract the attention of the Philippine government and the international community.

“It has something to do with Misuari’s continuing claim of Sabah being part of the Philippines. Misuari just wants to show off. The MNLF may have forged a peace agreement with the government but Misuari has not given up on his claim of Sabah,” the military official who declined to be named said.

He said the so-called Royal Sultanate Army began to recruit members in the early 2000s.

“The following years they never gave the Philippine government any problem until this standoff in Sabah. The Royal Sulu Sultanate Army has been behaving well since then, until they went to Lahad Datu and declared they have the right to stay in Sabah,” the source said.

The source also linked the Sabah standoff to MNLF’s attacks on Abu Sayyaf strongholds in Patikul, Sulu.

The idea of a Sulu Sultanate was a hoax according to The Star's Phillip Golangai. [Read here.]

When it was announced by Dato Najib of the peace agreement between MILF and Phillipines government in October 2012, Anwar had met Nur Misuari. Anwar was hatching a plan to sabotage. [Read Jailani here.]

Five Soldiers Killed in Southern Thailand

PATTANI, Thailand—Suspected militants killed five soldiers and wounded five others in two roadside attacks Sunday in Thailand's insurgency-plagued southern provinces, police said.
Earlier

In one of the attacks, insurgents detonated a car bomb on a road in Raman district in Yala province as a truck carrying six soldiers passed by early Sunday, Police Maj. Torphan Pusanthia said.

The militants then opened fire on the soldiers, killing five of them, and took away the dead soldiers' rifles, he said. One wounded soldier was rushed to a hospital.

The six soldiers were on their way to guard a group of local farmers on their way to work.

In the other attack, insurgents set off a bomb on a road in Ra Ngae district in Narathiwat province and wounded four soldiers, Police Col. Jiradet Phrasawang said.

He said the insurgents hid an improvised bomb under the road surface and detonated it as a pickup truck carrying the soldiers passed by.

More than 5,000 people have been killed in Thailand's three southernmost provinces since an Islamic insurgency erupted in 2004.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Sunday that the government would examine whether curfews are needed in the restive south, especially in the areas where attacks frequently occur.

"Authorities are looking into details," Ms. Yingluck told reporters. "Any areas that are peaceful, we don't want to announce curfews, but any areas that remain problematic, we will look at it on a case-by-case basis."

Officials from security agencies are scheduled to meet Friday to discuss safety measures for the southernmost provinces.

Teachers as well as security officials have been targeted as government representatives by the insurgents, who have made no public pronouncements but are thought to be fighting for an independent Muslim state. The area used to be an Islamic sultanate until it was annexed by Thailand in the early 20th century.

Muslims in Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat and part of Songkhla provinces have long complained of discrimination by the Buddhist-dominated central government.

It is Malaysiakini now raising the spectre of May 13

Malicious plan behind May 13 film, claims Bersih
Tuesday, 19 February 2013

(Malaysiakini) - The Bersih coalition has condemned the closed-door preview of the film Tanda Putera yesterday, saying that it perpetuates the politics of fear and is “a step backwards” in the nation’s political discourse.

“Although we have yet to watch the film, we understand there are parts of the film that are unhealthy that could trigger interracial hatred and distrust."

“We feel that there is malicious intent behind the airing of the film, such as scaring the voters so that they would continue to support BN."

“We feel that this practice is unhealthy. What we want is competition that is healthy, based on policies regarding change, health, education, development and others. That is what we want – debate,” said Bersih steering committee member Toh Kin Woon (picture) at a press conference today.

He added that this would be better than inciting fear, because it enables voters to make their choice after comparing the policies of contesting parties.

The controversial film, which has yet be aired publicly, was shown to some 3,000 Felda settlers yesterday at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s request.

Post-May 13 National Operations Council

The film was about the relationship of Najib’s father and then Prime Minister Abdul Razak Hussein and his deputy, Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, in the aftermath of the May 13, 1969 racial riots.

However, critics have said that the film’s depiction of the riots was too reliant on the official version of the events.

The film’s director Shuhaimi Baba had defended the film, saying that it would help the nation to recover from its May 13 trauma.

Bersih should blame themselves for opposition's dwindling support

Academic fiction written based on a weak class theory

1) The RM30 Million logging contract given by Kelantan State Government to company owned by YB Nga Kor Ming of DAP, Perak.

2) The sand mining contract given by Selangor State Government to its elected state rep YB Amirudin bin Shari from PKR.

A high-ranking Malaysian government source with direct knowledge of the situation told Reuters the gunmen were suspected to be from a faction unhappy with the Philippines' recent peace deal with the main Muslim rebel group.

Raul Hernandez, a spokesman for the Philippine Foreign Ministry, said his government was trying to get information about the incident and was in touch with Malaysian officials.

A senior Philippine military official said navy boats and an aircraft had been sent to the border area. He dismissed the Malaysian account of the group, saying they were unarmed Filipinos who had been promised land in Sabah.

He said a meeting over the land claim had attracted a large crowd and drawn the attention of Malaysian authorities.

"We know that these people arrived there five days ago and most of them are from nearby islands," said the official, who asked not to be identified.

"Some of them were already residents in Sabah for a long time and they normally cross the border without any problem."

Another Philippine military officer said the men were followers of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu - an island group off the southern Philippines - who had been invited to Sabah by a Malaysian opposition politician to discuss land issues.

Malaysia pays a token amount to the Sultanate each year for the "rental" of Sabah state - an arrangement that stretches back to British colonial times.

The number of illegal Muslim immigrants from the impoverished southern Philippines has surged in recent decades, stirring social tension with indigenous Christian inhabitants in Sabah.

The Philippine government signed a landmark peace deal with Muslim rebels late last year to end a 40-year conflict in the south, but some factions have voiced opposition.

A ranking military official said MNLF chairman Nur Misuari orchestrated the standoff to attract the attention of the Philippine government and the international community.

“It has something to do with Misuari’s continuing claim of Sabah being part of the Philippines. Misuari just wants to show off. The MNLF may have forged a peace agreement with the government but Misuari has not given up on his claim of Sabah,” the military official who declined to be named said.

He said the so-called Royal Sultanate Army began to recruit members in the early 2000s.

“The following years they never gave the Philippine government any problem until this standoff in Sabah. The Royal Sulu Sultanate Army has been behaving well since then, until they went to Lahad Datu and declared they have the right to stay in Sabah,” the source said.

The source also linked the Sabah standoff to MNLF’s attacks on Abu Sayyaf strongholds in Patikul, Sulu.

“It was even what we call in the military an acoustic war as no bodies of the dead turned up but only sounds of weapons being fired,” The STAR source said.

He said Misuari attempted to seek refuge in Sabah after his men launched attacks in Zamboanga City.

[Read also this report here where he justified his action and passed the responsibility on the Malaysian and Phillipines government.]

“But always the Malaysian government turned him over to the Philippine government,” the source said. “That is why Misuari would always be bitter against Malaysia.”

Foreign affairs officials said they were informed by Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman yesterday morning of the ongoing negotiations with the armed men, who identified themselves as members of the “royal army” of the Sultanate of Sulu.

Malaysian officials earlier suspected the intruders to be members of a Moro rebel group, but Philippine officials said they were unarmed Filipinos who had been promised land.

The drama on Borneo island has threatened to stir tension between the Southeast Asian neighbors whose ties have been periodically frayed by security and migration problems caused by a porous sea border.”

Meanwhile, our Mindanao Correspondent Al Jacinto’s report, also confirms that the “intrusion” is being handled competently by officials of both Philippine and Malaysian governments.

Jacinto’s writes that “reports said the men are members of the Sultanate of Sulu and North Borneo and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), and that some of them were armed, who are active in the campaign to reclaim the Malaysian oil-rich island which is part of the Sultanate.”

Jacinto also disturbingly writes that “The intrusion occurred just as former Malaysian leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, also Pakatan Rakyat de facto leader, proposed that Sabah be granted autonomy.” 

We trust ANwar. YOur propaganda made Anwar looks like superhero capable of doing so many thing. He is the agent of US, China, SIngapore or even Israel. Make him looks like a James Bond. Also you make Dr M like stupid fool or someone incapable of knowing what his subordinate action.

First issue is about Anwar's involvement with the Ladah Datu intrusion. Mind us for the speculative piece in "Anwar's last straw" but his intention for an Arab Spring-like Malaysia Spring is unmistakeable and fairly conclusive. The various reports are there in our previous posting "In Anwar or Reuters we trust?".

Secondly, it about Anwar's international links and acting as agents for the superpower. Allow us to correct the commentator. It is just with the US, in which the condition has to be in tandem with US policy with Israel.

No for Singapore. Despite being an ally of the British and providing services to the US Navy fleet, Singapore can be diplomatically described as a concerned neighbour and observer. Definitely, Anwar is not linked to China. 

Thirdly, it is his comments on Tun Dr Mahathir. 

 ULTIMATUM IN SABAH
PH asks KL to extend deadline
By Marlon Ramos, Michael Lim Ubac, Tarra Quismundo
Philippine Daily Inquirer5:07 pm | Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario

MANILA, Philippines—The Philippines has asked Malaysia to extend by “several days” the grace period it has given to armed followers of the sultan of Sulu to leave Sabah peacefully.

Malaysian security forces were set to end the standoff on Wednesday as the group ignored last-minute attempts by Malaysian and Philippine authorities to get them to leave the village of Tanduao in Lahad Datu town peacefully and return to Sulu.

The group, led by Agbimuddin Kiram, a brother of Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, remained defiant and had rejected the latest request by President Aquino and Malaysia’s emissaries, although three deadlines given to them were extended, with the last ending on midnight Wednesday.

There were reports that military troops had replaced the police forces encircling Tanduao, but the fresh Philippine request for an extension of the grace period may have delayed action to round up the sultan’s followers.

President Aquino appealed to Jamalul on Tuesday to order his followers home or “face the full force of the law.”

Aquino reminded Jamalul that under the Constitution, the Philippines renounced war as a policy to assert territorial claims.

The President said he had ordered a study of the Philippine claim to Sabah.

On Wednesday Jamalul told reporters that he was thankful about the presidential order to study the Sabah claim, but resentful of the threat thrown at him.

“What crime did I commit?” he asked.

“I did not order my brother to go to Sabah. It’s their own free will to go there and to settle down there, believing that the area is part of their homeland,” he said.

Read more here.

Gov’t intel eyes 3 groups abetting Sulu sultan’s claim

By Nikko Dizon
Philippine Daily Inquirer
1:29 am | Friday, March 1st, 2013

Whether the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu acted on their own to reclaim Sabah or were instigated by an external force to do so, one thing is certain, according to government intelligence sources: It was a business that proved too big for the heirs to handle on their own.

The sources said that the Philippine government’s policy on Sabah is to keep it in the back burner.

But apparently “some people” want to push it forward now. And why now, at this time, is one of the questions government intelligence is looking into.

The sources consistently mentioned three groups that appear to have taken advantage of the decision of the Kirams to pursue their Sabah claim.

“These are groups that wanted to ride on the Kirams’ pursuit with their own interests in mind,” one of the sources said.

Another source added: “There are a lot who can gain from this, not just in the Philippines but in Malaysia as well.”

These “external factors,” as an Inquirer source described the groups, are one small faction that is in it for the money, an anti-Aquino administration group, and the Malaysian political opposition.

“The Kirams planned to pursue their claim as early as last year. But they went to Lahad Datu also on the instigation of these groups,” the intelligence officer said.

The small group supposedly goaded the Kirams to ask Malaysia for a higher rent on Sabah. If Malaysia gives in, this small group would allegedly have a share of the increase.

The anti-administration group simply wants to discredit President Aquino and is using the peace process as a cause of disenchantment for the Kirams.

“All those who do not like P-Noy (the President’s nickname) have joined forces. This is one way to really test how this administration will react (to such an issue). Whatever happens in Malaysia, there will be a backlash on us,” one source said.

“In a way, whoever wants to disrupt the peace process or the gains of President Aquino has already won,” the source added.

The third group is allegedly the Malaysian political opposition, which is gearing up for general elections that may be called before June.

 

The intelligence officer said that one member of the Malaysian political opposition allied with Anwar Ibrahim was running for a post in Sabah.

“Apparently, this politician was one of those who spoke with the Kirams. He supposedly gave the opposition’s support to the Kirams’ claim to Sabah,” the source said.

November meeting

The source also believed that in their meeting in November last year, the Kirams decided to “reclaim Sabah or at least ask for a compensation for Sabah that is commensurate to the land’s value today, and for the royal family to be given due recognition by Malaysia.”

But it is being Tausug that is keeping Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, his family, and their subjects stubbornly pressing their renewed claim to Sabah, even to the extent of defying President Aquino, one of the Inquirer sources said.

“This is the last stand of Sultan Jamalul. Being Tausug, they already gave their word they would pursue their claim. This is now do or die for them just to keep their word of honor,” the source, a senior military officer, told the Inquirer.

But for another security administrator analyzing the events of the past three weeks, the Kirams appear to be quite edgy of late.

“They are confused. The government is hopeful that we can buy more time, find a diplomatic way out,” the source said, referring to the government’s efforts to help settle the standoff between Malaysian security forces and an armed group led by Jamalul’s brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, in Tanduao village in Lahad Datu town now in its third week.

Kiram unity

The Inquirer’s sources are from the diplomatic and defense establishments. They asked not to be named as they were not authorized to speak to journalists about their analysis of developments in the so-called journey home to Sabah of the Kirams.

The source said the Kirams decided to unite because they felt left out of the peace negotiations between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a premilinary peace deal last October.

Calling gov’t attention

“The Kirams wanted to get the attention of the Philippine government,” the source said.

“For so many years, the family felt they have been exploited in politics. Sultan Jamalul was goaded to run for senator in 2010 but he lost. Then their letter to President Aquino (in 2010 before he assumed office) got lost,” the source said.

The source said the Kirams and their followers “conceived the details of the plan to go to Lahad Datu” in late January this year.

“In February, a small group of the Kirams’ followers left for Lahad Datu, followed by Raja Muda Agbimuddin,” the source said.

The estimated 70 firearms now in the hands of the group holed up in Tanduao are owned by residents in Lahad Datu, Tausug and Badjao holding Malaysian identification cards, the source said.

Malaysian security forces have encircled Agbimuddin’s group but are holding action, with the grace period for the group to leave having been extended three times and a fourth being requested by the Philippine government.

Malaysians careful

The Inquirer’s military source said the impasse continues because the Malaysians are extra careful in dealing with Agbimmudin’s group.

“They are all Muslims and they know that if there is violence, it would go on forever. There are 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah. It would be a huge problem in Sabah if violence erupts. The Malaysian security forces may end up dealing with guerrillas or a rido,” the source said, using a Muslim term for clan war.

Allahyarham Inspector Zulkifli bin Mamat with his family

1. Insp G/17992 Zulkifli bin Mamat (death)
2. Kpl 113088 Sabaruddin bin Daud (death)
3. Kpl 135383 Azman bin Ampong (death)
4. Kpl 152133 Mohd Tarmizi bin Hashim (injured hand and feet at the Lahad Datu Hospital)5. Kpl 176533 Mohd Qaiyum'aiqal bin Zolkifli (injured right shoulder and both feet at Sandakan Hospital)

Published: Saturday March 2, 2013 MYT 10:28:00 PM
Updated: Saturday March 2, 2013 MYT 10:54:15 PM

Sabah police chief: Two cops shot in shootout with gunmen in Kg Simunul

LAHAD DATU: Two policemen were shot and injured during a shootout with gunmen at Kg Simunul island at 7pm on Saturday.

Sabah police chief Datuk Hamzah Taib said late Saturday that a team of policeman had gone to the island in search of several personalities' following reports that they were in possession of firearms.

“The policemen entered the village and were walking on the stilt boardwalk when they were fired upon and two of our men were injured,” Hamzah said as fear gripped people in Sempoorna and Tawau that a group of gunmen had attacked security forces.

Hamzah said that follow-up operations are ongoing.

“For now, we believe it is unrelated to the situation in Lahad Datu,” he said.

He denied that any police station had been attacked.

The situation is tense in the east coast of Sabah after Malaysian security forces clashed with Sulu gunmen near Lahad Datu on Friday, leaving two police commandos and 12 gunmen dead.

Amid ultimatum,cops drop leaflets urging Pinoys in Sabah standoff to surrender

March 2, 2013 9:09pm

 

Malaysian police escort dead comrades killed by mortar fire. Malaysian police escort the body of dead police commandos killed in a mortar attack during a standoff with Sulu gunmen in Tanduo village near Lahad Datu on Sabah Friday. Fourteen people including two police officers were killed on March 1 as Malaysian security forces ended a standoff with Filipino gunmen over a territorial dispute in Sabah. AFP PHOTO / BERNAMA NEWS AGENCY

Amid an ultimatum from Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to surrender or face the consequences, Malaysian police on Saturday dropped leaflets from a helicopter telling Filipinos still holed up in Sabah to surrender.

State-run Bernama news agency quoted Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib as saying the leaflets bore messages in English and Suluk.

"Warning. Lay down your arms. Surrender. Surrender. Surrender," the message read, according to the Bernama report.

Earlier, Najib said the time to consider the demands by the followers of Sulu Sultan Jamalul Kiram III had lapsed.

Najib said the armed intrusion into Malaysia and the killing of two security forces personnel and injuring of three more was a "serious crime."

He said he called up Philippine President Benigno Aquino III Friday night to "state the stand of the Malaysian government on the matter."

"I said the government felt that the time to consider the group's demands had lapsed, and that they had the option of surrendering or facing the action of the authorities and security forces," he said.

Aquino on Saturday issued a statement telling the Filipinos in Sabah to surrender without conditions.

Najib also disclosed the Filipinos used a white flag as a ruse to open fire on Malaysian police commandos Friday.

"The two slain commandos had seen the white flag and did not think that there would be other intruders waiting to open fire on them," he said.

Najib said he is not discounting the possibility the white flag was a "trap by the intruders," adding that if it was the case, it was "an act of cowards."

For his part, Hamza said the police were collaborating with the army to resolve the matter.

But he advised people not to speculate on the number of security forces' personnel killed or injured in the gun battle, adding no curfew had been imposed in the area.

"I have to make this clear because there have been announcements of a curfew in social websites and blogs. I am in charge of issuing the order for a curfew, but I have not issued any order following yesterday's incident," he said.

On Friday, "10 to 12" Filipinos were killed along with two Malaysian police personnel during the gun battle that followed a standoff that lasted almost three weeks.

Malaysia said its police had cordoned off the armed Filipino on Feb. 12, after they arrived there and laid claim to Sabah.

In Lahad Datu, Bernama reported many business premises remained closed Saturday, with only few shops and restaurants open for business.

Bernama said few people were in the town even though it was the weekend, and there were fewer vehicles than normal on the roads.

A separate report on Malaysia's The Star online quoted Sulu Sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani as saying the Filipinos in Sabah will maintain their position but want a peaceful resolution.

It quoted Idjirani as saying Sultan Kiram wanted to discuss the issue of their supposed territorial claim to Sabah.

"We will sit down and plan it out, he is still hopeful for peaceful negotiations," he said.

He added the sultan's brother Raja Muda Azzimudie Kiram, the leader of the group, is "alive and well."

But Idjirani said he had not been in contact with Azzimudie since Friday's battle. The Star online said it made "numerous calls" to Raja Muda but failed to get to him.

Idjirani also said he knew nothing about Najib's discussion with President Aquino. "We are not aware of this," he said. — LBG, GMA News

Kwn2, allow me a moment of indulgence to clear the foul stench of stupidity amongst the malaysians.

Kes kat LD is nothing new to us sbhns, in the 90s they abruptly came to the shore at Semporna and immediately bombed the police stations, and went amuck at the town.

They are smart people, some left at the sea naik dr kwsn bakau and lived 4 6 mth b4 start to mingle with locals and married them.

The tausugs in LD now didn't came all at once, instead they came in batches, with inside helping frm their family at the village.

Trust me they have been there at least 2 3 mth b4 the group bcomes complete, then they decide its time to wage war.

Klu tak paham rules of engagement, jgnlah menunjuk pandai ckp bukan2 kata kerajaan lemau, ada hati nak banding dgn bersih.

Polis kene masuk dulu sbb dorgtrained as negotiators,tentera is the last resort as they will not spare anyone once commanded.

They need time to ensure all the locals are out of the village and then cut their food and finance sources, hoping the tausugs will surrender.

That is our rules of engagement. We are not barbaric stoic like the american soldiers.

Jika Polis sebagai pemerintah operasi bermakna

1) kita masih anggap mereka itu penjenayah dan penceroboh bukan combatant perang.

2) Polis kita akan menangkap dan menahan (perkatannya untuk polis ialah menahan bukan menawan - Menawan ialah perkataan Tentera ada beza di antara keduanya)

3) Untuk mengelakkan mereka menjadi Tawanan Perang. Cukup sekadar sebagai tahanan penjenayah. Maka tuduahn di Mahkamah Awam boleh di lakukan. Seperti tuduhan yang boleh kita buat di atas lanun Somalia yang kita tahan sedikit masa lalu. Mereka tidak di anggap tawanan perang.

4) Boleh di ektradisikan dengan lebih mudah ke Filipina. Kalau tindakan ketenteraan atau kita anggap perang susah nak bicara dan mana nak tempatkan mereka dan diklasifikasikan mereka ini? Maka jadilah macam kisah CIA dan Black Sitenya untuk WAR on TERROR mereka. Kita kena la buat macam Guantonamo BAy juga. Susah macam tu.

Itu sebab kita mengambil langkah Polis dahulu. Jika tentera ambil alih sudah jadi kes lain.

Jika keadaan tidak boleh di kawal lagi maka LOCAL AREA EMERGENCY (darurat setempat) boleh di isytiharkan

Ianya seperti darurat waktu ribut banjir New Orleans dahulu- tentera USA ambil alih bukan lagi polis tempatan)

Dalam keadaan ini bermakna bukan satu negara Malaysia darurat dan bukanlah bermakna perang kerajaan Malaysia dan Sultan Sulu. Darurat hanya untuk keselamatan sahaja dan LOCAL AREA SAHAJA. Rasanya bukan seluruh Lahad Datu pun.Hanya kawsan pencerobohannya sahaja. Nampak hati-hatinya dan telitinya Kerajaan dalam hal ini? Menurut langkah satu persatu?

The coronationceremony. of the Mohd. MahakuttahA.Kiramasthe Sultan of Suluin 1974.Seen walking towards the Sultan is his son,MuedzulLailTanKiram, whowas appointed as sucessor Raja Muda. The intruding group is the followers of IsmaelKiramII, who had neverbeen installed as theSultanof Sulu, twhowas recognizedby the Philippine government.

SultanPalace at administrationcentre inMaimbung,Jolo.'The Sultanate ofSulu' does not haveanypoliticalpowerinJolobutwant to claimpoliticalpower on the state of Sabah.

TheManilaTimesreported thatintrusion by the Sulu Sultanate army occured after Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahimsuggested thatSabahbe givenautonomy.

A Philippine military officer interviewed by Reuters also said the men were followers of the heirs of the Sultan of Sulu – an island group off the southern Philippines – who had been invited to Sabah by a Malaysian opposition politician to discuss land issues.7

ABS-CBN News melaporkan seorang pegawai tentera Filipina memberitahu Reuters bahawa kumpulan penceroboh telah diundang seorang ahli politik pembangkang.

Who is the one who gave it?8

1. Louisiana wasceded to theUnited Statesby France for a sum ofUSD15million, orapproximatelyUSD0.03per acre.
2. Alaska was ceded to the United States ,cededbyRussiato theUnited Stateswithpayment ofUSD7.2million, orUSD0.02per acre.

MemorandumOrder No.427is thelastevidence from the Philippine government that recognisethe Sulu Sultanate. There is nomemorandumissuedtoany individualwho claims to'sultan'afterwards.Philippinesdoes not recognizethe Sultanate of Sulubutneverclaim the territories that supposedlyremain as theSultanate of Sulu.

Grant of a lease that become a source of conflict has been signed by the Sultan of Sulu, Sultan Jamalul that was drawn up by Gustavus Baron de Overbeck and Alfred Dent, representing the British North Borneo Company, on January 22, 1878.

The Spanish Government relinquishes as far as regards the British Government, all claim of sovereignty over the territories of the continent of Borneo which belong, or which have belonged in the past, to the Sultan of Sulu (Jolo), including therein the neighboring islands of Balambangan, Banguey and Malawali, as well as all those islands lying within a zone of three marine leagues along the coasts and which form part of the territories administered by the Company styled the ‘British North Borneo Company’.

"Wahai Isteriku, maafkan abang seandainya abang tersalah cakap mahupun terkasar perbuatan..jagalah dan didiklah anak-anak kita menjadi orang yang berguna..

Wahai anak-anakku, maafkan ayah kerana acapkali ayah tiada disaat anak-anak ayah memerlukan kasih sayang seorang ayah..

Wahai mak & abah, ampunkan anakmu dari hujung rambut hingga hujung kaki, sesungguhnya mak & abah telah mendidik aku menjadi insan yang berguna pada negara..

Wahai Ibu & Ayah Mertuaku, maafkan anakanda kerana memilih kerjaya yang memungkinkan anak ibu & ayah menjadi balu sebelum usia..

Oh Malaysiaku, maafkan aku andai aku gugur dimedan perang. Demi Allah aku telah berusaha sedaya upaya.."

[SMS terakhir seorang Vat69 sebelum terkorban... Al fatihah] 

"Kami orang2 polis tdk akn berundur...biar­ putih tulang.. Jgn putih mata....."

Teringat kata2 terakhir salah seorang pejuang bukit kepong... Dan hari ini....semangat­ yg sama msih mengalir dlm diri kami...... Kpd yg terus pertikaikan... Ucapkn lah seribu tomahan..cercaa­n... Katalh apa shj semahu kalian..yg nyata...

PERJUANGAN KAMI BUKAN SANDIWARA...kam­i POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA... Siapa saja kerajaan yg memerintah..kpd­ mereka kami taati.... N

YAWA YG MELAYANG KRN PERTAHANKAN NEGARA BKN SANDIWARA... BUKAN LAKONAN...BUKAN­ TEATER UTK TONTONAN KALIAN...

BERHIJAB LAH SEDIKIT BILA BERBICARA...SAB­AH NEGERI DIBAWAH BAYU...BIAR BAYU MENJADI TAUFAN..TIDAK AKAN SEKALI KAMI SERAHKAN KALIAN KEPADA PETUALANG...

BIA­R BERMANDI DARAH..BIAR HANCUR LUMAT TULANG BELULANG....KAM­I PDRM DAN ATM......BUKAN SEBARANG... kpd semua rakyat malaysia..

Meski kami xselalu dihargai... Meski jasa kami tidak terpandang...tp­ ketahuilah... Andai kata petualang negara sudah berdiri dihadapan kamu menghunus senjata mengalirkn darah kalian... Ketahuilah.. Darah kami sudah terlebih dahulu kering dimedan tempur.

Dan untuk itu...doakanlah­ yg terbaik untuk kami wahai teman wahai sahabat... Jgn terus memfitnah tanpa belas.. Krn negara kami ikhlas..

Krn negara kami tinggalkn segala kepentingan dan keluarga... Kalaupun tiada penghargaan mampu diberi.. Hentikanlah mengeji... Jagalah hati keluarga mereka.. Terakhir kalinya... KAMI POLIS DIRAJA MALAYSIA.... bkn polis beraja politik...

Siapa pemerintah kpd mereka setia bersumpah....

JANGAN MEMPOLITIKN TUGAS KAMI... fikir dgn akal yg waras.. Bukan menyukat dgn sukatan dangkal...

MANILA: A Malaysian Opposition politician allied with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is believed to have met with the Sulu Sultan late last year and gave the Opposition’s support to the Kirams’ claim to Sabah, a Philippine intelligence source revealed.

In a special report by the Philippine Inquirer, the intelligence officer said that one member of the Malaysian political opposition allied with Anwar Ibrahim was running for a post in Sabah.

“Apparently, this politician was one of those who spoke with the Kirams. He supposedly gave the Opposition’s support to the Kirams’ claim to Sabah,” the source said.

The source also believed that in their meeting in November last year, the Kirams decided to “reclaim Sabah or at least ask for a compensation for Sabah that is commensurate to the land’s value today, and for the royal family to be given due recognition by Malaysia.”

According to the Philippine Inquirer, the intelligence sources consistently mentioned three groups that appear to have taken advantage of the decision of the Kirams to pursue their Sabah claim.

“These are groups that wanted to ride on the Kirams’ pursuit with their own interests in mind,” one of the sources said.

Another source added: “There are a lot who can gain from this, not just in the Philippines but in Malaysia as well.”

These “external factors,” as an Inquirer source described the groups, are one small faction that is in it for the money, an anti-Aquino administration group, and the Malaysian political Opposition.

“The Kirams planned to pursue their claim as early as last year. But they went to Lahad Datu also on the instigation of these groups,” the intelligence officer said.

The small group supposedly goaded the Kirams to ask Malaysia for a higher rent on Sabah. If Malaysia gives in, this small group would allegedly have a share of the increase.

The anti-administration group simply wants to discredit President Aquino and is using the peace process as a cause of disenchantment for the Kirams.

“All those who do not like P-Noy (the President’s nickname) have joined forces. This is one way to really test how this administration will react (to such an issue). Whatever happens in Malaysia, there will be a backlash on us,” one source said.

“In a way, whoever wants to disrupt the peace process or the gains of President Aquino has already won,” the source added.

The third group is allegedly the Malaysian political Opposition, which is gearing up for general elections that may be called before June.

Whether the heirs of the sultanate of Sulu acted on their own to reclaim Sabah or were instigated by an external force to do so, one thing is certain, according to government intelligence sources: It was a business that proved too big for the heirs to handle on their own, the Philippine Inquirer reported.

The sources said that the Philippine government’s policy on Sabah is to keep it in the back burner.

But apparently “some people” want to push it forward now. And why now, at this time, is one of the questions government intelligence is looking into.

It is being Tausug that is keeping Sultan Jamalul Kiram III, his family, and their subjects stubbornly pressing their renewed claim to Sabah, even to the extent of defying President Aquino, one of the Inquirer sources said.

“This is the last stand of Sultan Jamalul. Being Tausug, they already gave their word they would pursue their claim. This is now do or die for them just to keep their word of honour,” the source, a senior military officer, told the Inquirer.

The source said the Kirams decided to unite because they felt left out of the peace negotiations between the Aquino administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a premilinary peace deal last October.

“The Kirams wanted to get the attention of the Philippine government,” the source said.

“For so many years, the family felt they have been exploited in politics. Sultan Jamalul was goaded to run for senator in 2010 but he lost. Then their letter to President Aquino (in 2010 before he assumed office) got lost,” the source said.

The source said the Kirams and their followers “conceived the details of the plan to go to Lahad Datu” in late January this year.

“In February, a small group of the Kirams’ followers left for Lahad Datu, followed by Raja Muda Agbimuddin,” the source said.

The estimated 70 firearms now in the hands of the group holed up in Tanduao are owned by residents in Lahad Datu, Tausug and Badjao holding Malaysian identification cards, the source said.

Malaysian security forces have encircled Agbimuddin’s group but are holding action, with the grace period for the group to leave having been extended three times and a fourth being requested by the Philippine government.

Malaysians careful

The Inquirer’s military source said the impasse continues because the Malaysians are extra careful in dealing with Agbimmudin’s group.

“They are all Muslims and they know that if there is violence, it would go on forever. There are 800,000 Filipinos in Sabah. It would be a huge problem in Sabah if violence erupts. The Malaysian security forces may end up dealing with guerrillas or a rido,” the source said, using a Muslim term for clan war. - http://newsinfo.inquirer.net