SPEECH BY

TUN DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD

AT THE INAUGURAL LAUNCH OF OSDC.MY

AND OPEN SOUCE INDUSTRY GLOBAL LINKAGE

AT BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE

MONDAY, 1 JUNE, 2009

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 1.         Firstly I would like to thank OSDC.my for inviting me to this dinner and also to talk on a subject about which I cannot claim to know much.

 2.         I am 84 years of age, too old to learn new things.  It is an embarrassment.  I was among those who suggested Linux open source years ago.  I had almost forgotten about it.  And now you tell me you have an Open Source Development Club here in Malaysia.  I read your brief Charter on OSDC.my.  I must admit I can hardly understand it.

 3.         You talk in an entirely new language which I have difficulty in understanding.  This is made worse by the frequent use of acronyms which I always fail to remember what they represent.

 4.         I am amazed at the use of such words and terms like Foxie, Ubuntu, GNU, Perl, Ruby, Phyton, Fedora and many others, which are  the names of animals, precious stones and clothing – it goes to show that technology creators can be whimsical and relate to the mundane and the ordinary.  How else can a sophisticated thing like a computer be called Apple.  Then you have search engines called Yahoo and Google.

 5.         But the speed of progress in the information age is mind-boggling if we take for example the development of the telephone.  The cellular phone which initially was to be a replacement for a limited range radio phone is today a computer, a calculator, a TV and Internet receiver and dispatcher, a camera and about everything else that we can imagine an electronic equipment can do.  Its range now covers the whole globe, and the sound is fantastically clear.  It once saved a man’s life from a tiger attack because he could call for help with his versatile cellular phone.  I would have been eaten by the tiger because I don’t carry my cellular.  I depend on my staff.

 6.         The knowledge that we can access through the computer are limitless.  It is said that we can study for a post graduate degree simply by owning a computer.  Though not computer-savvy I have found the computer invaluable for verifying historical facts and data about almost any event that had taken place centuries ago or yesterday.

 7.         But like all things available to men, knowledge and its acquisition can be for evil as much as for the good.  The blogs for example can be used to demonize people, scare and frighten them and create panic.  The SMS can be used for similar purposes.

 8.         But we know how useful they can be for making the truth known and for individuals to air their views and feelings freely.

 9.         I was told by some people a long time ago that when we use the Internet, whatever you do or write would be recorded in some far away place.  There is no secrecy.  Since the Government was using the Internet a lot, it was frightening to think that some foreign persons would know all our so-called confidential records and correspondence.

 10.       Being naïve I suggested that we develop our own operating system.  I think a lot of savvy Government staff tried hard but got nowhere.   There apparently is no bypassing the Internet.

 11.       Then some started talking about Linux, about open source.  This opened up a lot of mind-boggling use of the computer.  Seems that everyone can develop software etc. etc.

 12.       At that stage I gave up.

 13.       Now you are telling me about the Global Open Source development Club.  I do not think I am qualified to be a member.

 14.       Still I appreciate the expertise and the knowledge that comes with it.

 15.       I was in Korea a few days back and I was amazed at this one-time hermit nation which has made use of modern technology to achieve what I would call wonders which changed its image completely.  Korea has the biggest percentage of people who are computer savvy.  They have trained a huge member of IT engineers so that Samsung, a name we have only recently become familiar with is now technologically as advanced as Sony Corporation. 

 16.       Under the Look East policy we have a number of young Malaysians studying engineering in Korea.  One of them had recently topped the class despite having to listen to lectures in Korean but read textbooks in English.

 17.       Japan’s development was very fast but the Koreans are faster.  Japan started its modernization during the Meiji Period more than 100 years ago.  Korea started to modernize only after World War II.  For the Koreans Japan is the benchmark.  They want to hit the benchmark, even go beyond it to become the benchmark for the world.  I think we can use Korea as a benchmark.

 18.       I have always believed that we can do what others can do.  When I asked the girl who topped the class, she had a simple answer for me.  “Malaysia Boleh” she said.

 19.       So we can. We can do what the Koreans or the Japanese can do.  All we need really is determination and the willingness to learn and do things repeatedly until we master them.  If we fail the first time we must try again, and again and again.  Believe me in the end you will succeed.

 20.       I may not be computer savvy but I believe the sum total of my knowledge today is far more than what it was before the Internet, Yahoo and Google.

 21.       I bought an Encyclopedia Britannica computer disc.  How silly.  Yahoo and Google can give me more information than the Encyclopedias.  And accessing the info is easier also.  Truly nobody should plead ignorance about anything now as you can get to know things via the computer.

 22.       So my congratulation to the OSDC.my.  Keep on enlarging your circle and all your knowledge and ideas for the open source.  Malaysia cannot but benefit from it.

SPEECH BY

TUN DR MAHATHIR BIN MOHAMAD

AT THE SEOUL DIGITAL FORUM

IN SEOUL, KOREA

ON 28 MAY 2009

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“Envisioning a New World Order and its Implications on the Digital Age”

 1.         Firstly I would like to thank the Seoul Digital Forum for this invitation to speak on Envisioning a New World Order and its implication on the Digital Age.

 2.         In my view envisioning is not about wishful thinking, or planning about what the future should look like.

 3.         Envisioning is about guessing or trying to foretell what the future is likely to be like, about predicting the future based on what we know from our observation of the happenings in the past and at present and upon the trends and where they are likely to lead us. No crystal ball will be needed for this but long experience may help.

 4.         For centuries now we have been living in a Eurocentric world.  Our thoughts and our ideas, our values, systems and ideologies, our overall behaviour are largely due to European influence if not of European origins.  The way we conduct our lives and we dress are basically European.  The way we manage our economy and our Governments are European, including of course the belief that Democracy is the only form of Government that everyone must have.

 5.         And when the Europeans went to war with each other the whole world was dragged in.  Like them we have come to believe that war is a way to settle dispute between nations. And like them we expend huge sums of money on armaments. This must have a bearing on any New World Order.

 6.         But not all the influence of the Europeans is bad.  The greatest contribution of the Europeans to the world is the introduction of systematic and universal education.  Prior to this education in even the most advanced non-European civilizations was about religion and philosophy.  They were important but they did not directly lead us to progress and development.  It is the Europeans who introduced what we may call secular education in which the focus is on facts and scientific truth together with mathematical accuracy rather than on spiritual and social values.  True much of this knowledge originated in Asia but the separation between truth and fantasy was made by the Europeans.

 7.         As secular education spread throughout the world the mystery of progress and development was resolved and it became possible for the rest of the world to develop.  To succeed in life one no longer had to rely on omens and fate but one can largely design the route by accessing the knowledge of the properties and the character of the resources around us.

 8.         Secular education is a great leveller and soon the rest of the world was able to catch up with the Europeans.  Very quickly the East Asians in particular became able to do almost everything that the Europeans can do.  Mastery of science, technology and mathematics enabled East Asians in particular to grow their industries and develop their countries until the gap between them and the Europeans was largely reduced.  As we shall see this equalisation between the capacities of the countries of East Asia and Europe will affect the shape and character of the new world, and the New World Order.

 9.         When Japan was defeated in the last Great War the condition imposed by the Europeans on Japan was that it may not spend more than 1% of its GDP on its defence forces.  That was 1946 when Japan was bankrupt because of the war.  1% of Japan’s GDP was practically nil.  Today 1% of Japan’s GDP is probably bigger than what most European countries spend on defence.   Japanese military power would therefore match its economic power and by extension its influence over the world.

 10.       There is no such restriction on other countries.  Thus if China for example spends just 1% of its GDP on defence it would already become a great military power.  The likelihood is that China would spend more than 1% on defence.  Again this means that China’s influence on the world and its future would be very considerable.

 11.       Japan, China, South Korea, India have all become richer than in the heyday of European domination and their wealth and thus their military strength and international influence would be able to match those of the West.  A military confrontation between East and West can literally destroy the whole world.  This is no longer an option.

 12.       The European powers, in particular the United States, presently the greatest military power in the world must accept that things have changed.  The old equation no longer holds true.  Western hegemony cannot be sustained.  Like it or not the ethnic Europeans must accept that if there is to be a New World Order, the emergence of the new powers in Asia must be given due consideration.

 13.       There must clearly be a sharing of power between East and West, between Europeans and non-Europeans.  There is now much talk about this among the Europeans and also the Asians.

 14.       Ideally the world would like to see a smooth devolution into a new world order without need for confrontation and violence.

 15.       There has been some talk about a 2-G world, a world dominated by the United States and China.  If our experience of the Cold War confrontations between the United States and the Soviet Union is anything to go by, a smooth sharing of power by the two is not likely to happen.

 16.       The third world had only recently gained their independence.  I do not think they would relish the idea of a world dominated by two great powers any more than they did a world dominated by one great power.

 17.       During the Cold War they had to seek protection from one or the other of the two superpowers.  Will they now have to align themselves with one or the other of the 2-G powers?

 18.       Besides there is still Russia, a resuscitated world power.  It is not going to stand on the sidelines and watch the Unites States and China shape the New World Order.  It will want to play a major role and be one of those whose opinions must be sought as the new World Order is shaped.

 19.       If the weak nations are to be asked their preference in a New World Order, I think they would prefer there being no world powers dictating to them.  They would prefer a truly democratic world centred perhaps on the United Nations with no one having veto powers.  They would opt for decisions based on majority interest rather then the might of the nations.  Unfortunately this is not what we can envision. The weak will still have to submit to the strong.

 20.       From what I think is the present situation and the trends we can envision a world that is slightly less Eurocentric but with European influence moderated somewhat by the emergence of powerful economies, and therefore military clout in Asia.  If common sense prevails the transition would be gradual and smooth.  But common sense has no place in international relations. The rivalry would still go on as each one of the three super powers manoeuvre to promote their interest. That is the way of the world.

 21.       How would this less Eurocentric World Order affect the Digital Age.  The Digital Age would mature whatever the shape of the New World Order.  This is because this new age has been able to resist pressures from the politically or militarily powerful.  But over the years it has been noticed that the brains which move the Digital Age are very mobile and much influenced by the compensation they receive.  As a result there has been an increasingly massive brain drain from the poor countries to the rich.  Without doubt this will result in the poor getting poorer and the rich richer. The Digital Age is thus going to see an even more lopsided development and greater disparity between rich and poor.

 22.       In the rich countries the digital age brains may be employed in developing new ideas for the general good. It may also be for the development of unhealthy ideas such as the financial markets or for inventing newer weapons to kill more people more efficiently. All these are already happening of course but as the digital age develops, we can expect more abuses of the digital age brains.

 23.       Currently we are facing a financial and economic crisis. Some of the best brains have used the computer to work out schemes for making money without producing any goods or creating any employment. By promoting freedom of the market place they have been able to abuse the financial systems and to make literally tons of money for themselves. Unless Governments restore their power to rule, the Digital Age will bring frequent disasters to the world.

 24.       But of greater consequence is the implication of the Digital Age on the New World Order itself.  Obviously the rich and the powerful would be able to make greater use of the knowledge of the Digital Age.  This is because money would be needed to do research in the applications of the Digital Age knowledge.  Digitization has enabled greater precision to be achieved in every product or application.  Thus it is possible for satellites to be located in a pre-designated location in outer space and for a shuttle to dock with it even as the earth from where the shuttle-bearing rocket is fired moves in space. The mathematics of the Digital Age is clearly very precise because finding the moving space station in the vastness of space is far harder than finding a needle in a haystack.

 25.       Just as miraculous is the digitisation of sound and colour so that their reproduction is perfect and does not fade even over very long periods of time.

 26.       Cameras are now carried by satellites which can take very high resolution pictures of earthly objects including human beings.  Already data on everyone is carried on microchips and electronic records.  With the ability to take clear pictures from satellites there will be no privacy for anyone.  The data collected on any person can be incriminating.  The Government or the agency which collects these data will be in a position to blackmail.

 27.       It could be like George Orwell’s “1984” where everyone would be under scrutiny, where Big Brother controls everything through the information that he gets.  Already we are being finger printed, undressed electronically and scanned by powerful machines, and tracked through GPS etc. Will the three big powers and the other rich nations collect and store data on people so as to control them?  What we are seeing today about the war on terrorism is not very reassuring.

 28.       These are the implications of having a New World Order in the Digital Age or of a Digital Age affecting a New World Order.

 29.       Actually present day human civilizations are quite unable to cope even with the technological advances which we have already achieved.  Certainly our superior knowledge of science and technology today has not created for us a world order worthy of the human race, a world order of peace and prosperity. Currently we are facing a financial and economic crisis of unprecedented proportion partly as a result of the abuse of the knowledge of the Digital Age.  As the Digital Age advances, as new knowledge becomes available to more and more people, our capacity to bring order in a New World may not be adequate.  The Digital Age has outstripped our civilizational capacities.

 30.       In envisioning the New World Order I wish I can be optimistic.  Unfortunately I cannot. We are really still a primitive people.  We still believe in killing people in order to solve our problems.  Right at this moment scientists are busy developing newer and more efficient ways of killing people.  This is the sum total of our mastery of the digital age, the age of knowledge, the age of science and technology.

 31.       There must be a radical change in our values and culture if we are going to see a New World Order enhanced by the advances of the Digital Age  or a digital age benefiting from a New World Order.

 

 

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Recently, much has been talked about Sixth Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s financial and capital liberalization policies. It was supposed to open up Malaysian markets to new opportunities, especially in these stormy global financial recession that many of the matured and saturated Western economies are fighting hard to weather through.

The Reuters has the story:

UPDATE 1-Malaysia sees recovery and ‘gradual’ reform

05.26.09, 01:09 AM EDT

KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Reuters) – Malaysia, Asia’s third most export dependent economy, expects growth to return in the third quarter of this year and will gradually open up its economy to boost long-term prospects, a top official said on Tuesday.

Malaysia will release first quarter gross domestic product data on Wednesday and economists in a Reuters poll expect it to show the economy shrank by 4 percent from a year ago, the worst quarter since the 1998 Asian financial crisis.

Article Controls

Official forecasts see the economy shrinking just 1 percent this year, a number that many private sector economists say is over-optimistic.

‘We believe that for the third quarter we will continue in terms of recovery…because in the third and fourth quarters, the stimulus package impact will be felt. Next year we believe will be very positive in terms of growth,’ the country’s Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah told journalists on the fringes of an economic conference. Malaysia’s government earlier this year unveiled a 60 billion ringgit ($17.21 billion) package of government spending and loan guarantees over two years to boost domestic demand.

It has also pledged to reform its economy, which is heavily dependent on oil and commodities exports and low-value-added electronics, produced by a low paid immigrant workforce.

Since taking office in April Prime Minister, Najib Razak has unveiled liberalisation measures on the country’s services sector and financial industry, although many of these measures were already planned as was his announcement that he aimed to boost services to 60 percent of the economy.

The Malaysian Insider website (www.themalaysianinsider.com) said on Tuesday that Najib would scrap the country’s foreign investment committee, undertake some reforms of government-linked companies and establish new rules for private finance initiatives.

Husni declined to comment on the report but said that Malaysia was looking at liberalisation to attract investment.

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There are obvious positive nodes to these liberalization policies. The opening up of the once ‘protected’ Malaysian market is supposed to improve on the productivity and products. Better processes and system are put in place. However, what is the extend on how this will effect and impair the Malaysian homegrown firms of the same industry and nature. Till now, they are able to provide the same products and services to Malaysian corporations but it seems they have to compete on the economies of scale which these multinational financial services enjoy for their size and network.

The first phase of this liberalisation policy is for service providers in the financial and capital markets. Americans and West European corporations prefer service provider firms who are associated to their own first. Even corporate advisory and consultancy work, goes to ‘preferred’ firms like McKinsey, Hays, Booze, Allen & Hamilton and Boston Consulting. The fact is that, many Malaysian firms, especially new investment banks in the market could do equally good, if not better for their understanding and ‘feel’ of the Malaysian and regional economy. Many Malaysian IP providers find it impossible to serve these ‘tightly controlled’ markets. The decision makers within GLCs are also too blinded by the ‘branding’ game.

A case in point is the recruitment industry. The global financial storm has now affected a lot of MNCs, particularly American and West European firms to downsize their operations. It means that, the Malaysian job market will be flooded with professionals, semi professionals, skilled and semi skilled workers. It is upto the recruitment firms to work hard on getting these displaced workforce, placed at the soonest opportunity available.

Some of the American and Singaporean recruitment firms which have offices here in Malaysia, should look into this. After all, they have enjoyed the accounts of major MNCs, like Intel, IBM, Dell and Western Digital and they have benefitted immensely on these ‘fat and highly lucrative’ accounts. On the other hand, Malaysian recruitment firms were never given the opportunity to penetrate these MNCs recruitment market, especially in the best times, despite 95% of the work force are Malaysians. It is simply because the Americans and Europeans favour their own and fully capitalize to provide all downstream and peripheral industries within themselves, as much as they can.

Now the times are bad and MNCs are downsizing, in fact some are uprooting themselves to a ‘cheaper’ market. These localized foreign recruit,rmy firms are now ‘hunting’ on the grounds where Malaysian indigenous recruitment firms roam and dwell. With their brand, network and economies of scale, Malaysian firms finds the competition all too stiff.

It was strongly rumoured that American recruitment firms like Kelly Services are now focusing on Malaysian GLCs, especially Telekom Malaysia, Celcom and TNB. They have also been said trying to edge themselves into Khazanah Holdings stable. As they are globally hurt by the American and Western European shrinking economy, they are now focused on lucrative and expanding Malaysian job markets. This is coupled with Federal Government induced recruitment programs, designed to stimulate the economy and address the unemployment issues, especially amongst the fresh graduates and recently retrenched workers from MNCs which downsized their operations.

It was said that they play unfairly in their bid to win. A senior Telekom executive was recently said to have been ‘entertained’ in Singapore, in their bid to win highly lucrative contracts. What baffles many is that these firms are known to defy these ‘dirty tactics’ in the past to win. Now, as they say, “Desperate times, people do desperate measures”.

Our contention is that, should we allow this ‘sacrifice’ of Malaysia’s own in favour of the Americans, who change goal posts at their convenience? Does firm like Kelly Services, Manpower, Select and Adecco have a ‘Malaysian agenda’ or better still, a ‘Malay agenda’?

Despite being the laissez faire economy of the world, Americans and Europeans have been very protective with their markets. The non price competition is really mind boggling and more often than not, it has been used strategically as an unended ‘bully tactics’. Malaysians have a moral obligation to look out for our own, especially in these trying times. The Malays have a saying, “Kera di hutan disusukan, anak di riba mati kehausan“. Khazanah and GLCs should favour Malaysian indigenous firms. After all, “Charity begins at home”.

The appointment of Ethos Consulting Supremo Omar Ong as a member of Petronas board of director (BOD) recently drew so much attention, here in bloggosphere, and now to people in the capital market and media. It was said that the appointment will take effect almost immediately (pending the ‘formalisation’ at Petronas BOD level, “any time soon”).

Our contention is that, there had been  so much bad presses which have plagued Sixth Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s ‘infant’ Cabinet and Leadership. The ‘kick-off’ of losing two by-elections was a blow, regardless how some people want that to be perceived as ‘baptism of fire’. Then the on going Perak political tug-of-war, which turned the whole episode into an unprecedented media circus.

At this juncture, it is paramount that the ‘institution’ be protected. The biggest challenges for PM Dato’ Seri Najib are the global financial storm, not yet reached our shores with the full wrath of fury and his own personal issue pertaining to public perception, especially amongst the more educated and IT savvy Malaysians. The nation has to move forward, in these most trying times.

PM Najib does not need another element to diminish public and even at some point, international confidence on him. Petronas being the nation’s most prize gem, contributes the most for the Malaysian Government coffer from taxes and dividends, for the last 30 years. It had been calculated that 55% of Federal Government revenue comes from Petronas. It is the world’s most profitable and productive state owned oil company and listed on the Fortune 500.

Omar Ong’s ultra close association to the ‘Level Four Boys’ is unmistakable. As far back when PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was still the Deputy Prime Minister and Omar and co-founder late Dr. Liew Boon Horng who were still in McKinsey, they were doing consultancy projects for then Special Function Officer to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zaki  Zahid.  His attempt to shred off the ultra close association is futile. The Malaysian public, especially people in the capital, financial and securities market are all too familiar of the name Omar Ong and Ethos & Co. When people make their mind up, it is a herculean task to change the public perception. Then again, the 12th General Election 8 March 2008, which saw BN’s humilating defeat in 5 + 1 states and worst ever performance since 1955, is attributed almost entirely on ‘perception’.

If Omar Ong is a real patriot, who selflessly puts the interest of the nation first before his own and being a true ‘friend’, as he claim to be to PM Dato’ Seri Najib, then he should do the right thing. Omar Ong should not accept the offer of the Petronas BOD appointment.

After all, shouldn’t Omar Ong focus and really build up the competencies with his success of Ethos & Co? Ethos should be the Malaysian McKinsey and sell our indigenous developed products and capabilities to compete in this exciting global consultancy game. Prove to the world, his ability to give PM Dato’ Seri Najib a sound advice on the strategy of this nation, as reflected on the success stories of the economic corridors, especially Iskandar Malaysia, NCER, ECER and specifically SDC, where Ethos & Co. was singled out and accorded in the speech during the launching.

More on the far reaching tentacles of ‘Level Four Boys’, despite PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi no longer in office. As many as relieved that these thirty-something-lack-of-macro-management-text-bookworms no longer can ‘influence’ the direction, policies and implementation processes, which also include public perception of the current sixth Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’s administration.

It seems that Fox Communications Sdn. Bhd., who was retained as the PR and media consultants for much of Khazanah Holdings Bhd. prized steeds which include the economic corridors, Sime Darby and even the Royal Malaysian Police. They are is also being ‘retained’ by the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) for a handsome fee of RM 40,000.00 monthly. Brenden Perreira, a former bureau Chief for Singapore Straits Times in Kuala Lumpur, turned Editor of NST and a partner-in-crime to much loathed spinmaestro Kalimullah “Riong Kali” Hassan, is the personality behind Fox Communications.

Perreira was said to have attended strategic EPU meetings where classified materials are presented and discussed. Conveniently, some of these issues and information mysteriously appeared Malaysian Insider and there onwards, reported in the media conglomerate Singapore Press Straits Times.

Perreira and Riong Kali are also thought to be the key players behind online newspaper Malaysian Insider. How two individuals could ‘damage’ so much of public perception on the Federal Government and Leadership is beyond comprehension and baffling. Some believe that they are implementing an ulterior agenda of a so-called ‘friendly’ neighbour. Malaysian Insider is truly a virtual media with serious ‘inside information’!

One the most recent Malaysian Insider reporting, which suspiciously has a tangy tinge of being seditious, is portraying the appointment of former Cabinet Minister Dato’ Ong Ka Chuan as Malaysian Ambassador to Beijing as being ‘controversial’.

These are the very issues that Malaysians to be worrisome about. Considering that Riong Kali ‘failed’ security vetting the week he was appointed Press Secretary to then Deputy Prime Minister En. Ghaffar Baba more that 20 years ago, for being “closely associated to Singapore”.

It is time to serious get rid of these ‘Level Four Boys’, once and for all, from any form of hand in any part of the Government. Malaysia has some serious business of nation building to do and these ‘Level Four Boys’, with their personal agenda, is making the process counterproductive.

Ethos Consulting Supremo Omar Ong is being bantered again in the blogosphere. This time, it is about a strong rumour that he would be or want to be appointed as Petronas director.

Omar Ong, once closely linked to the much talked about ‘Level Four Boys’, was bashed by bloggers, which include Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. As far back as 2006, someone posted how Omar was ‘linked’ to former abuse-of-power convict Anwar Ibrahim. It was not a much of a surprise because of his close association with then Deputy Chief of Staff in PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s private office, Khairy Jamaluddin. Khairy, was said to have the desire to be the Malaysian Prime Minister by the age of forty. Omar and Khairy shared the same alma matta, Oxford University and both read philosophy, politics and conomics.

Not too long ago, Another Brick in the Wall warned about Omar ‘weaving’ his way into Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak’ private office. Slightly earlier than that, A Voice commented and dissected clinically on Omar’s and Rohanna’s statements (what he calls “nauseating!”) on The Edge’s 13 October 2008 write up of “Tapping private equity amid credit crunch”. Earlier in the month, A Voice dared Omar to publicly disavow his relationship with Khairy.  A few days earlier, A Voice 1429H Hari Raya Aidil Fitri’s ‘gift’ for Omar, “If Pak Lah is leaving, why is a ‘Level Four Boys’ still in command?”.

We are not sure how reliable this rumour about Omar’s ascension on the nation’s most prized vehicle, which provided taxes and dividends for the Government’s coffer in size more than majority of the under developed nations’ annual GDP, on behalf of the rakyat. But for A Voice to be consistent about his warnings, much like scandals he uncovered like Sime Darby taking over IJN, AirAsia’s LCCT, ECM Libra –Avenue merger, Malaysia Airlines’ inner workings of the new management and others, are developments worth to be watched.

As the say in Malay, “Kalau tiada beruk, masakan pohon bergoyang“. Regardless if A Voice’s expose’ is wholesomely true, partially true or otherwise, the other pertinent issue here is, ‘perception’. Perception is very important nowadays, especially when the rakyat demand more transparency on Government’s spending. As 55% of the Federal Government income comes from Petronas, it is important that its directors are of selfless (non opportunistic) character.

“Bloggers are VIPs”. That was what Fourth Prime Minister, turned Malaysia’s most progressive blogger Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said today at B.U.M. 2009 “Bloggers need to behave”.

He agreed some sort of code of ethics is appropriate. Bloggers need to uphold their integrity, as providing views of the people.

“We should not victimise our target. As how we hate it to be victimised, ourselves”. Tun Dr. Mahathir was vehemently against bloggers who made up or skewed stories instead of dicussing the facts.

He said that in the context how he started blogging. As a politician in Government for almost 30 years, hew as used to the attention of the mainstream media. Somehow, when he retired, mainstream media eventually ‘refused’ to publish his thoughts and comments, which was systematically ‘blocked’. Of course, he was a strong critic of PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s administration.

His skepticsm was whether he could entertain all the comments made. He finally overcame the ‘mental block’, much with encouragement of noted bloggers at the time.

So he started blogging. And his blog became a sensational hit instantly, in the Malaysian bloggsophere scene. Especially amongst the SOPO surfers. Within less than 15 days, it hit its first million. Now, with commenters from all over the world, chedet.cc has had almost nineteen million visitors.

Many people the manner Tun Dr. Mahathir articulate onmuch complicated issues are made into very simple language and angle to understand. His intepretations of history is also refreshing.

Rocky, who was the founding pro-tem President of All-Blogs and now National Press Club President for the second round, noted that Tun Dr. Mahathir was the first Malaysian leader that gave bloggers the respect during the Perdana Global Peace Forum on ‘Criminalising War’, February 2007. The blogs carried various angles to expand the message of the forum.

The most wanted man in Singapore, Mas Selamat Kastari, who had been a fugitive since 27 February 2008 for the freak escape from Whitley Road Detention Centre was apprehended recently in Skudai, Johor. The Jemaah Islamiah (JI) operative has been in hiding in Malaysia since his daring escape and swam across the Johor Straits for find refuge here.

The Channel News Asia has the story:

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Singapore’s security challenge is to keep up its guard without getting fatigued or complacent.

In his first remarks on the capture of Mas Selamat Kastari, Mr Lee said Singapore must not think that the re-arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader is the end of its problem.

He said the terrorism situation in Southeast Asia is under control, but the threat is far from over. He added that the price of security is eternal vigilance.

In a statement to the media on Saturday, the Prime Minister also said information about the capture of Mas Selamat on April 1 was not made public earlier because of a prior agreement with the Malaysian authorities.

Mr Lee said he was told about the arrest by his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on April 11 during an impromptu four-eye lunch in Thailand’s Pattaya after the ASEAN meeting was called off due to demonstrations.

He thanked Datuk Seri Najib for Malaysia’s generous support and help, and told him Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Wong Kan Seng had earlier told him of the arrest.

Mr Lee said he was happy and relieved that Mas Selamat had been found and arrested before he could do any harm.

But Malaysia had asked Singapore to keep this information quiet for the time being, so Singapore respected this and held the information very tightly in order not to jeopardise the operation.

However, on the afternoon of May 7 during a weekly pre-Cabinet meeting lunch, Mr Wong received a phone call informing him that the Internal Security Department (ISD) had received a request from the The Straits Times to confirm a scoop that Mas Selamat had been arrested by the Malaysian authorities.

As the news had leaked, the Singapore government had no choice but to confirm the story.

Ministers who were present at the lunch were completely taken by surprise when Mr Wong told them that Mas Selamat had been arrested.

In his statement, Mr Lee also thanked all officers involved in tracking down Mas Selamat over the past year. He said he never had a doubt that Mas Selamat would be found because he knew the quality and commitment of the ISD officers working on this.

He said the ISD had recovered quickly from the mistakes which led to Mas Selamat’s escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in February last year.

Mr Lee also thanked the ISD and its Malaysian counterpart, the Special Branch, for working closely together.

- CNA/ir

**************************

Since the capture by an operations lead by the Bukit Aman Special Branch, Mas Selamat is now being held in Malaysia under the Internal Securities Act (ISA).

According to Singaporean authorities, the success of capturing Mas Selamat was a joint concerted effort by Malaysian, Singaporean and Indonesian security and intelligence agencies. Singaporean Prime Minister Brig. Gen. (NS) Lee Hsien Loong will discuss with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak when the latter is coming for a courtesy call on 21 May.

Another story from Channel news Asia:

PM Lee, Najib to discuss Mas Selamat arrest next week

By Channel NewsAsia’s Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh | Posted: 13 May 2009 2138 hrs

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to discuss the arrest of terror suspect Mas Selamat Kastari when he meets Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong next week.

Mr Najib, who was sworn in early last month, is scheduled to be in Singapore for an introductory visit from May 21-22.

Speaking at his office in Putrajaya, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein declined to say if Malaysia will hand over the terror suspect to Singapore.

The 48-year-old terrorist escaped from Singapore’s detention centre last year.

Mr Hishammuddin reiterated that the arrest of Mas Selamat – who escaped detention three times – would not have been possible without the cooperation of intelligence services from Singapore and Indonesia.

He said the Malaysian Cabinet has also approved the setting up of an Aseanapol permanent secretariat. To be based in Kuala Lumpur, the office will allow the intelligence agencies of ASEAN members to cooperate and share resources to better fight crime as well as terrorism.

Mr Hishammuddin said: “For instance, one recent issue relating to Mas Selamat – it involves three countries. If there was no cooperation between the three, it will not lead to the arrest of the person concerned.”

- CNA/ir

*********************************

This is a very good opportunity for the two leaders to discuss issues stalled between the two closest nations in the world. One of the issue which PM Dato’ Seri Najib should capitalize in this visit is the Bridge Replacing Johor Causeway.

Dato’ Seri Najib should now use the ‘brownie points’ from the success of recapturing Mas Selamat as an important bargaining chip. Singapore, which has been under ‘seize mentality’ and more chronic after the daring escape of Mas Selamat’, where they went into a ‘state of paranoia’.

The ‘state of paranoia’ only demonstrate how insecure the Singaporeans are, especially with JI terrorists looming actively in the region and the Singaporeans policies on and for the United States and Israel. The past eight years, many untoward and brutal incidences in Indonesia and the Phillipines have been blamed to the JI, which include kidnapping, execution and bombings.

It is expected since the recapture of Mas Selamat, other JI cells around the region would now be reactivated. And obviously, Singapore would be a ‘favourite’ target. Especially with many American interests based in the city state and the global financial meltdown already hit Singapore and beginning to show its effect. Singapore is not in a position to see American and West European investments pulled out and relocated elsewhere, due to psychologically damaging ‘security’ issues.

Hence, Singaporean authorities would definitely need closer co-operation with the Malaysian authorities, to ensure the security is intact and psychological effect on their own citizens and expatriates is good and uplifting. The fact that Mas Selamat managed to escape from Whitley’s and went on undetected to cross the border, demonstrate that the Singaporean security services, so-called highly trained and after deploying the latest surveillance technology,  is not that good after all.

This is despite the recent acquisition of strategic and offensive weapons that the Singaporean Armed Forces (SAF), now in the process of delivery. Lately, SAF acquired the F15 SG multirole fighters, AH 64 Longbow D attack helicopters (both from the US) and Leopard III main battle tanks (from Germany), on top billion SG dollars spending on sensors, surveillance and ICT technology. Singapore Technologies also developing their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), for surveillance purposes. With the alarming military buildup, it shows that the apparent threat Singapore is facing is actually terrorism in nature and not conventional warfare.

Singaporeans, claimed the 6% GDP, which is almost SG $ 12 billion annual spending on millitary as to provide ‘comfort for their citizens and investments’. Hence, they felt that the acquisition of strategic and offensive military assets, for the purpose of ‘defense’ is justified. Some analysts in the region see this trend as ‘worrying’ and reflective of the ‘kiasu’ness of what Singaporeans are noted for.

For the benefit of Singaporeans, it is now much better for them to be less ‘kiasu’ and adopt a more ‘accommodating’ attitude, especially with neighbours like Malaysia. They should work hard to ensure that their neighbours, who are of the Nusantara stock and noted for their selfless-ness, are treated as how close friends should be. A co-operation to build a straight bridge replacing the Johor Causeway is a good illustration of that dis-kiasu attitude, as the effort should promote better commerce, communications and social relationships between nations used to be ‘brothers and sisters’.

As they say, carpe diem. This is the perfect opportunity to seize the moment. The shortchanges should stop and tide turned into Malaysia’s favour.

Akhbar on-line Malaysian Insider nampaknya mempunyai niat jahat, untuk mengagalkan proses perpaduan dan kesefahaman antara kaum. Terutama dalam keadaan lewat ini dimana terlalu banyak berlaku keadaan insiden yang boleh menjadi pertelingkahan antara kaum, akibat dasar ‘Liberalisasi’ PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Dipetik dari Malaysian Insider:

 

Artikel ini menyebut dua keadaan yang menimbulkan keresahan dan kemungkinan perasaan syak wasangka dan kemarahan antara kaum:

1. Perlantikan seorang rakyat Malaysia etnik Cina sebagai Duta Besar ke Republik Rakyat China melenyapkan sebarang prasangka mengenai ketaat-setiaan etnik Cina kepada negara berbanding kepada negara ‘asal’ mereka
2. Sepanjang ujud Kerajaan Persekutuan Malaysia, yang dterajui oleh orang Melayu, pihak Kerajaan merasa ‘berat’ (reluctant) untuk melantik etnik Bukan Melayu, terutama Cina kejawatan Duta Besar atau Pesuruhjaya Tinggi

Ini merupakan ‘permainan bahaya’ Malaysian Insider. Ini kerana artikel ini seolah olah ingin ‘melaga lagakan’ dan menimbulkan keadaan prasangka antara kaum.

1. Orang Melayu keatas etnik Cina (kerana mempersoalkan ‘ketaat setiaan’ mereka kepada Raja dan Negara berbanding negara asal keturunan mereka); satu cara halus untuk menimbulkan ‘kebencian’ Orang Melayu keatas etnik Cina
2. Etnik Cina keatas Orang Melayu (kerana tidak memberi peluang dan kepercayan kepada etnik Cina untuk mewakili Malaysia, kenegeri yang dianggap kuasa paling besar dalam Asia)

Malaysian Insider, yang dipercayai di’kuasai’ oleh Kalimullah “Riong Kali” Hassan dan Brenden Perreira, suka mengambil pendekatan bias dan di’putar’ (spin), dipercayai dengan niat provokasi. Kedua personaliti yang pernah menjadi tunggak NST untuk seketika kerana persahabatan rapat dengan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah, merupakan personaliti media Malaysia yang amat akrab dengan Singapura. Malah, kedua ini pernah berkhidmat dengan Straits Times Singapura.

Banyak artikel dan sudut yang dipaparkan Malaysian Insider muncul dalam Straits Times, dengan sudut dan pendekatan yang hampir sama.

Ini merupakan perkembangan yang membimbangkan. Apakah Riong Kali dan Perreira merupakan ‘agen’ Singapura untuk menimbulkan keresahan, kegusaran dan perasaan ‘tidak mempercayai’ intra-etnik sehinnga memecah belahkan masyarakat majmuk dan muhibbah Malaysia? Bukankah ini unsur hasutan?

Untuk rekod, Riong Kali pernah ‘gagal’ tapisan keselematan apabila mula mula cuba diambil sebagai Setiausaha Akhbar Timbalan Perdana Menteri ketika itu, En Ghaffar Baba atas alasan “hubungan akrab dengan Singapura”. Kemudian, kerjaya beliau kembali dalam senario politik perdana menyerlah apabila dingakat sebagai Timbalan Pengerusi Kumpulan NSTP semasa PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah mula mula menjawat Perdana Malaysia V. ‘Kegagalan’ media arus perdana semenjak PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah mula mentadbir juga di’salah’kan keatas Riong Kali.

Raja Petra’s compulsion to lie, is perpetual. In his latest posting, “Open letter to the Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim”, he alleged that I called him on 5 September 2008 that the Special Branch would arrest him.

The truth is that, I have not called or spoken to Raja Petra for a very long time. Even at the time when he was picked up for investigation for seditions, which was in May, I was already no longer having the possesion of  his phone number. Most probably, the last time I spoke to him was at the All Blogs do, sometime early July at the Bloghouse.

On top of that, I was busy that Friday. In fact, I was busy the whole week. As a Head of Department in a financial services firm, I had a few of very important proposals to deliver within the month (since early October would be Hari Raya week and the whole month of October and November, many decision makers would be busy with their own thingy). Then again there is the Q4 business plan that must be done in a two weeks time. By end of office day that Friday, I was already on the way to Alor Setar, braving the torrential rain, during fasting time. I would not have time to talk to bloggers, especially people like Raja Petra.

Why would the Special Branch tells me information that Raja Petra is on any arrest list? Especially they know that I am a blogger as well and amongst the bloggosphere fratenity, Raja Petra is a friend and I have been seen with him in public, several times.

In fact, on the day Raja Petra was arrested, I was in Johor Bahru and Singapore for official company  business. By the time the Sin Chew Jit Poh lady was arrested in Penang, I was on the way to Changi International, to catch a flight back. Then I checked in and switched off my phone. When I arrived in KLIA, it was Maghrib. So I did my prayers first. By the time I switched my phone on, which right after iftar, there had been at least 22 missed calls. Most of them from journalists I know. Then one call came through moments after I got both phones on. Rumour has it, the Police was looking for me, after Raja Petra and the Sin Chew journalist. Then more calls coming in, asking me whether I am alright or already under Police custody.

By the time DAP Seputeh MP YB Theresa Kok was picked up, there exist a strong rumour about “a list of 12 bloggers wanted  in by the Special Branch, for investigations”. And BigDog was on that list!

Many mainstream and alternative media journalists knew of this so-called ‘list’ and called me the whole of the Friday night and early Saturday morning. They were very concerned and on top of wanting the latest news on who had been picked up by the Police, after Raja Petra, the Sin Chew lady and Theresa Kok.

How could I be a Special Branch informant, if I am also a ‘target’, on the same ‘list’ as Raja Petra? Shouldn’t the Special Branch be ‘taking care’ of their informants especially those “important enough to be passed a copy of an SD alleging the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister and two serving army Col.s in association of a murder of a foreign national”, instead hunting them down and hauling them up?

So, Ungku, I dare you again:

1. Name the Special Branch officer who is supposed to be my neighbour and passed me a copy of your SD alleging Datin Seri Rosmah and two army officers in the association of the murder of  Mongolian national Altantuyaa Shaariibuu

2. Please provide proof that I called you on 5 September 2008 and your allegations that I warned you that you would be picked up by the Special Branch, under the Internal Security Act.

Again, failing which will ONLY AFFIRM YOUR COMPULSION TO PERPETUALLY LIE!

Hitler’s Nazi Chief of Propanganda Joseph Goebbels once said “If you lie and continue to lie, it will become the ”truth’ “. Most likely, this is something that Raja Petra managed to achieve, with his gullible Malaysia Today conspiracy addicts.

It seems the Pakatan Rakyat never put their money where their mouth is. In Malay, “Cakap tak serupa bikin”. Case in point is Penang Chief Minister YAB Lim Guan Eng’s stance on the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

This is The Sun’s report on the story:

“During the previous state legislative assembly, it seemed that the Opposition was privy to some details including the minutes of the state executive councillors’ meeting which are supposed to be confidential, so there is a leak of information,” he said.

Lim said immediately after the state assembly, the state secretary had initiated investigations to uncover the leaks, adding that stern action will be taken against whoever found to have leaked information to outsiders.

While categorically stating that the state government has nothing to hide and that it was not worried about the Opposition having such information , Lim said he was more worried about other information being leaked out to interested parties for profit or benefit of other parties, especially business interests.

“I wish to remind all civil servants that they are under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) oath and they should know that they must not leak confidential information to outsiders,” he told a press conference after four of his new special assistants took the OSA oath at his office.

**************

However, like everything else about Pakatan Rakyat, there is never consistency on their policies. Not long ago, in a matter of fact, hardly two weeks ago, the DAP Chairman was against the OSA. This is what was chronicled in DAP-puppet former Perak MB Dato’ Seri Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin’s blog.

Pakatan Rakyat leaders just pick-and-choose what ever and when ever anything and everything is convenient to them. Now that Lim as a Chief Executive of a State Government finds the convenience of the OSA, they are all for it. When they are back as full time Oppositions, they vehemently are against it.

OSA is the second most dreaded “draconian” law, after the Internal Security Act (ISA). We here at BigDogDotCom are willing to bet: If and when PR gains control of the Federal Government fully, they would find it useful and religiously defend the law.

I find it very interesting, yet intriguing how Raja Petra could continuously lie. It seems that he has no decency of making things up, just so that he could look good amongst his avid readers.

I am baffled how Raja Petra could lie about who my neighbour is. The truth is that, I live in a matured Petaling Jaya suburban. My immediate next door neighbour is a former MARA Director. The other neighbour whom I share a common fence is a retired MP. Next to the retired MP’s house is a sixty plus year old retired Deputy Chief Secretary. Next to hers, is a retired Assistant Governor of Bank Negara. Next to the retired MARA Director, is a retired Accountant General’s senior director. Next to that is a retired General Practitioner. Immediate next is the widow of an ex-Malaysian Institute of Accountants Exco. Next to that, a very experienced underwriter of a foreign insurance firm. In front of my house is a retired senior MARDI researcher. Somewhere on the block, is a serving MIDA Director. 90% of the occupants in my neighbourhood are of Chinese ethnic origin, including a CEO of a securities firm and a CEO of a GLC.

My neighbourhood are houses at least 32 years old, with freehold titles. It is unlike Raja Petra’s 12-13 year old neighbourhood, which a fairly new development. I bought this house back in 2002, with the net proceeds from a house I sold, which is actually across from where Raja Petra is living at the moment (at least before he fled overseas and now considered as fugitive!). Of course, I have to take a large mortgage to top-up the rest of the purchase price. Outside the retirees and professionals in the private sectors, I don’t think there are many homeowners are in my age group or serving civil servants (which include Special Branch offiers) in this neighbourhood. I don’t think Raja Petra exactly knows where I live. I never invite bloggers to my home. So, how could he claim that a senior Special Branch is my neighbour?

His statutory declaration alleging Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and two Army officers, is actually a public document. It is a document to state one’s claim and  not  OSA is nature. The moment a Commissioner of Oath with Kuala Lumpur High Court admit the SD, it is a public document. The truth is that, it was e mailed to me by someone whom Raja Petra trusted and personally gave him a copy of the document. That is something, I can prove.

When the SD was published in the blogs, which caught him really by surprise. He intended to use the SD for something ‘big and planned’. When it was produced in public domain earlier than his plan, it somewhat disrupted his plan.

I am amazed of his ability to make up stories, to justify himself. What intrigue me more is some gullible alternative media addicts actually believe him.

Back to the Special Branch officer who Raja Petra alleged passed me his SD, who is supposed to be my neighbour. For a Police officer to afford to live in my neighbourhood, he must be a very high ranking officer. At least a Deputy Director, which is a Deputy Commissioner rank.

Now, I dare Raja Petra to reveal the name of the Special Branch officer, who passed me his SD alleging Datin Seri Rosmah and two other Army officers of witnessing the murder or destruction of the remains of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu and is supposed to be my neighbour. Raja Petra have exposed names in Malaysia Today before, so this would not be any different.

Failing which, either proves the point of him being a compulsive liar or he would make up more excuses to ‘cover for’ the lies, one after another, habitually.

From where I am standing, Raja Petra is an incurable habitual liar, just like one of my commenter said. He needs to continue to lie, to ensure that his previous lies are continuously believable by gullible alternative media addicts. Then again, he is just practicing William Shakespeare’s “The bigger the lie is, the more people will believe in it”. This is an art of techno-propaganda, some must have skill set of cyber-anarchist.

Raja Petra told me a lot of himself, these past three years. Now, I am beginning to doubt of there is any shred of truth in any of those, especially I now realized that his ability to lie. I am now beginning to think, his life (as he told me) was a sordid figment of his own wild imaginations.

I find it very interesting, yet intriguing how Raja Petra could continuously lie. It seems that he has no decency of making things up, just so that he could look good amongst his avid readers.

I am baffled how Raja Petra could lie about who my neighbour is. The truth is that, I live in a matured Petaling Jaya suburban. My immediate next door neighbour is a former MARA Director. The other neighbour whom I share a common fence is a retired MP. Next to the retired MP’s house is a sixty plus year old retired Deputy Chief Secretary. Next to hers, is a retired Assistant Governor of Bank Negara. Next to the retired MARA Director, is a retired Accountant General’s senior director. Next to that is a retired General Practitioner. Immediate next is the widow of an ex-Malaysian Institute of Accountants Exco. Next to that, a very experienced underwriter of a foreign insurance firm. In front of my house is a retired senior MARDI researcher. Somewhere on the block, is a serving MIDA Director. 90% of the occupants in my neighbourhood are of Chinese ethnic origin, including a CEO of a securities firm and a CEO of a GLC.

My neighbourhood are houses at least 32 years old, with freehold titles. It is unlike Raja Petra’s 12-13 year old neighbourhood, which a fairly new development. I bought this house back in 2002, with the net proceeds from a house I sold, which is actually across from where Raja Petra is living at the moment (at least before he fled overseas and now considered as fugitive!). Of course, I have to take a large mortgage to top-up the rest of the purchase price. Since this was a typical Petaling Jaya development of the mid 70s, most of the people who live in this neighbourhood are first owners and have now retired. Outside the retirees and professionals in the private sectors, I don’t think there are many homeowners are in my age group or serving civil servants (which include Special Branch offiers) in this neighbourhood. I don’t think Raja Petra exactly knows where I live. I never invite bloggers to my home. So, how could he claim that a senior Special Branch is my neighbour?

His statutory declaration alleging Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor and two Army officers, is actually a public document. It is a document to state one’s claim and  not  OSA is nature. The moment a Commissioner of Oath with Kuala Lumpur High Court admit the SD, it is a public document. The truth is that, it was e mailed to me by someone whom Raja Petra trusted and personally gave him a copy of the document. That is something, I can prove.

When the SD was published in the blogs, which caught him really by surprise. He intended to use the SD for something ‘big and planned’. When it was produced in public domain earlier than his plan, it somewhat disrupted his plan.

I am amazed of his ability to make up stories, to justify himself. What intrigue me more is some gullible alternative media addicts actually believe him.

Back to the Special Branch officer who Raja Petra alleged passed me his SD, who is supposed to be my neighbour. For a Police officer to afford to live in my neighbourhood, he must be a very high ranking officer. At least a Deputy Director, which should be a Deputy Commissioner rank. So who is the high ranking Special Branch officer, who is my neighbour? Lets be fair and give Ungku the leeway; who might the high ranking Special Branch officer be, who is even in my neighbourhood?

Now, I dare Raja Petra to reveal the name of the Special Branch officer, who passed me his SD alleging Datin Seri Rosmah and two other Army officers of witnessing the murder or destruction of the remains of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu and is supposed to be my neighbour. Raja Petra have exposed names in Malaysia Today before, so this would not be any different.

Failing which, either proves the point of him being a compulsive liar or he would make up more excuses to ‘cover for’ the lies, one after another, habitually.

From where I am standing, Raja Petra is an incurable habitual liar, just like one of my commenter said. He needs to continue to lie, to ensure that his previous lies are continuously believable by gullible alternative media addicts. Then again, he is just practicing William Shakespeare’s “The bigger the lie is, the more people will believe in it”. This is an art of techno-propaganda, some must have skill set of cyber-anarchist.

Raja Petra told me a lot of himself, these past three years. Now, I am beginning to doubt of there is any shred of truth in any of those, especially I now realized that his ability to lie. I am now beginning to think, his life (as he told me) was a sordid figment of his own wild imaginations.

* Updated Friday, 15 May 2009 1400hrs

Raja Petra’s compulsion to lie, is perpetual. In his latest posting, “Open letter to the Minister of Information, Communications and Culture, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim”, he alleged that I called him on 5 September 2008 that the Special Branch would arrest him.

The truth is that, I have not called or spoken to Raja Petra for a long time. Even at the time when he was picked up for investigation for seditions, I already no longer have his phone number.

On top of that, I was busy that Friday. In fact, I was busy the whole week. As a Head of Department ina financial services firm, I had few important proposals to deliver within the month. By end of office day that Friday, I was already on the way to Alor Setar, braving the torrential rain, during fasting time. I would not have time to talk to bloggers, especially people like Raja Petra.

Why would the Special Branch tells me information that Raja Petra is on the arrest list? Especially they know that I am a blogger as well. In fact, on the day Raja Petra was arrested, I was in Singapore. By the time the Sin Chew Jit Poh was arrested in Penang, I was on the way to Changi International, to catch a flight back. Then I checked in and switched off my phone. When I arrived in KLIA, it was Maghrib. So I did my prayers first. By the time I switched my phone on, which right after iftar, there had been at least 22 missed calls. Most of it from journalists I know. Then one call came through. Rumour has it, the Police was looking for me, after Raja Petra and the Sin Chew journalist. Then more calls come in, asking me whether I am alright or already under Police custody.

By the time DAP Seputeh MP Theresa Kok was picked up, there exist a strong rumour about “a list of 12 bloggers wanted  in by the Special Branch, for investigations”. And BigDog was on that list!

How could I be a Special Branch informant, if I am also a ‘target’, on the same ‘list’ as Raja Petra? Shouldn’t the Special Branch be ‘taking care’ of their informants, especially those who are ‘important enough to be passed a copy of an SD alleging the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister and two serving army Col.s in association of a murder of a foreign national”, instead of hunting them down and hauling them up?

So, Ungku, I dare you again:

1. Name the Special Branch officer who is supposed to be my neighbour and passed me a copy of your SD alleging Datin Seri Rosmah and two army officers in the association of the murder of  Mongolian national Altantuyaa Shaariibuu

2. Please provide proof that I called you on 5 September 2008 and your allegations that I warned you that you would be picked up by the Special Branch, under the Internal Security Act.

Again, failing which will ONLY AFFIRM YOUR COMPULSION TO PERPETUALLY LIE!

Hitler’s Nazi Chief of Propanganda Joseph Goebbels once said “If you lie and continue to lie, it will become the ”truth’ “.

After reading this, I must admit some of what Raja Petra Kamaruddin said is true. He and his dotting wife Marina Lee did buy me meals and drinks. They even at several times kind enough to host  I and all mentioned in the article, in their private home, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, Shah Alam. Selangor. Once, I brought Ahiruddin “Rocky” Attan and Nuraina A Samad to drop in on the both of them, unannounced and they welcomed us like relatives.

In many ways, Raja Petra is a gentleman in person. He is rather polite and mild mannered, even when we disgaree on many things, including sensitive issues. Especially on his interpretations of Islam and Islamic History, somewhat beleagured compared to what I was raised to believe and thought. Needless to say, despite his thoughts of these things are apprehensive, he was still being a gentleman at it when we disagree with him. One such occassion was the night before Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2007, at a mutual friend’s place in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. That is what I really appreciate about him. That is the reason, personal materials shared between the two of us were never brought here in public domain. Not until this moment.

Marina serving the both of us drinks at All Blogs inception night, NPC, April 2007

In person, I respect him, both as an elder and also a member of the Selangor royal bloodline. When everyone else casually calls him “Pete”, I address him as “Ungku”. He deserves to be addressed as such and my parents raised me not to defy traditions, heritage and protocol, even to our ‘enemy’.

In many UMNO occasions, I related all these about the man. I tell even in UMNO Committees that in person, Raja Petra is not like what he is in the cyber-world. Never the less, his writings are unmistakably unacceptable and very damaging.

Raja Petra contributed a lot in making BigDogDotCom popular. The blood donation campaign that he mentioned, which I asked him to help publicise in 2007 was really a life saver. In that sense, from the bottom of our hearts, we would like to express our utmost sincere appreciations and gratitude.

However, I can’t say I respect his lies and sordid attempts to create cyber-anarchism, through his writings. Raja Petra has this madman’s evil agenda to see Malaysia in peril and Malaysians on each other’s throats, on the pretext of universal values like ‘human rights’ and ‘freedom of speech’. On this, I vehemently think he is now a menace to society. He was reprimanded and had the book thrown at him, as he always wished to be challenged. Then honourable thing to do is stand by what he stood for when he has to face the music. Unfortunately, he decided to fled and now a techno-fugitive. Of course, he will cook up an excuse to justify not wanting to face the music.

Then again, Raja Petra never respected anything or anyone. He was sued several times in court and did not even have the audicity to appear, nor be represented in front of the judge. He now has several ex-parte judgments against him.

On the story about him meeting Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the Najibs’ residence in Taman Duta, it was quite the contrary. As the lady of the manor said it to me in my face, “Petra came here and asked me for money!”. I am very confident my ears have not failed me yet, especially when I just turned forty then. I am also sure that Raja Petra did not come to ask for donations. It was most probably, an extortion!

Money is important to Raja Petra. He is being funded by several NGOs from abroad, especially Germany for the cost of Malaysia Today, under the convenient excuse of ‘promoting democracy’. Right after the Malaysia Today talk in Century Club, Taman Malawati late June 2006, Raja Petra told me the story how he was slighted, then crossed swords with PKR leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali for the issue on ‘no money trickled down’ during the May 2006 Sarawak State Elections. He was angry because he knew George Soros and Erap Estrada gave Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Nurul Izzah Anwar millions, as the Sarawak campaign draws near. Raja Petra cited how top PKR echelon came to Sarawak, stayed in 5 stars inns along the Sarawak River, rented top-of-the-line SUVs but on the extreme, most PKR ‘hot posts’ can’t even afford to pay for drinks, mobilephone top-ups and fuel for the bikes for volunteers, let along party workers to function properly for the campaign.

This was the reason why at the time, Raja Petra abandoned Anwar Ibrahim and rallied behind Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad instead. Ledging onto Tun Dr. Mahathir’s crusade against PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the time means he was galvanising attention for his Malaysia Today. His popularity soared to unimaginable heights. Then it was time to make up with Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim and come back to the PKR fold. To summarise, Raja Petra was an excellent ’screen writer’ to the whole ‘drama’.

The last time I saw Raja Petra was in the Secret Recipe shop in Kuala Terengganu, with former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim. I  was waiting in a car, while a friend went in to buy a birthday cake. This was the P36 Kuala Terengganu Parliamentary by-election in January.

I shall leave the cyber citizens to judge for themselves, what sort of person Raja Petra really is in the blogosphere.

After reading this, I must admit some of what Raja Petra Kamaruddin said is true. He and his dotting wife Marina Lee did buy me meals and drinks. They even at several times kind enough to host  I and all mentioned in the article, in their private home, Bukit Rahman Putra, Sungai Buloh, Shah Alam. Selangor. Once, I brought Ahiruddin “Rocky” Attan and Nuraina A Samad to drop in on the both of them, unannounced and they welcomed us like relatives.

In many ways, Raja Petra is a gentleman in person. He is rather polite and mild mannered, even when we disgaree on many things, including sensitive issues. Especially on his interpretations of Islam and Islamic History, somewhat beleagured compared to what I was raised to believe and thought. Needless to say, despite his thoughts of these things are apprehensive, he was still being a gentleman at it when we disagree with him. One such occassion was the night before Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2007, at a mutual friend’s place in Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. That is what I really appreciate about him. That is the reason, personal materials shared between the two of us were never brought here in public domain. Not until this moment.

 

Marina serving the both of us drinks at All Blogs inception night, NPC, April 2007

   

In person, I respect him, both as an elder and also a member of the Selangor royal bloodline. When everyone else casually calls him “Pete”, I address him as “Ungku”. He deserves to be addressed as such and my parents raised me not to defy traditions, heritage and protocol, even to our ‘enemy’.

In many UMNO occasions, I related all these about the man. I tell even in UMNO Committees that in person, Raja Petra is not like what he is in the cyber-world. Never the less, his writings are unmistakably unacceptable and very damaging.

Raja Petra contributed a lot in making BigDogDotCom popular. The blood donation campaign that he mentioned, which I asked him to help publicise in 2007 was really a life saver. In that sense, from the bottom of our hearts, we would like to express our utmost sincere appreciations and gratitude.

However, I can’t say I respect his lies and sordid attempts to create cyber-anarchism, through his writings. Raja Petra has this madman’s evil agenda to see Malaysia in peril and Malaysians on each other’s throats, on the pretext of universal values like ‘human rights’ and ‘freedom of speech’. On this, I vehemently think he is now a menace to society. He was reprimanded and had the book thrown at him, as he always wished to be challenged. Then honourable thing to do is stand by what he stood for when he has to face the music. Unfortunately, he decided to fled and now a techno-fugitive. Of course, he will cook up an excuse to justify not wanting to face the music.

Then again, Raja Petra never respected anything or anyone. He was sued several times in court and did not even have the audicity to appear, nor be represented in front of the judge. He now has several ex-parte judgments against him.

On the story about him meeting Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in the Najibs’ residence in Taman Duta, it was quite the contrary. As the lady of the manor said it to me in my face, “Petra came here and asked me for money!”. I am very confident my ears have not failed me yet, especially when I just turned forty then. I am also sure that Raja Petra did not come to ask for donations. It was most probably, an extortion!

Money is important to Raja Petra. He is being funded by several NGOs from abroad, especially Germany for the cost of Malaysia Today, under the convenient excuse of ‘promoting democracy’. Right after the Malaysia Today talk in Century Club, Taman Malawati late June 2006, Raja Petra told me the story how he was slighted, then crossed swords with PKR leaders Anwar Ibrahim and Azmin Ali for the issue on ‘no money trickled down’ during the May 2006 Sarawak State Elections. He was angry because he knew George Soros and Erap Estrada gave Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Nurul Izzah Anwar millions, as the Sarawak campaign draws near. Raja Petra cited how top PKR echelon came to Sarawak, stayed in 5 stars inns along the Sarawak River, rented top-of-the-line SUVs but on the extreme, most PKR ‘hot posts’ can’t even afford to pay for drinks, mobilephone top-ups and fuel for the bikes for volunteers, let along party workers to function properly for the campaign.

This was the reason why at the time, Raja Petra abandoned Anwar Ibrahim and rallied behind Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad instead. Ledging onto Tun Dr. Mahathir’s crusade against PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at the time means he was galvanising attention for his Malaysia Today. His popularity soared to unimaginable heights. Then it was time to make up with Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim and come back to the PKR fold. To summarise, Raja Petra was an excellent ’screen writer’ to the whole ‘drama’.

The last time I saw Raja Petra was in the Secret Recipe shop in Kuala Terengganu, with former Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim. I  was waiting in a car, while a friend went in to buy a birthday cake. This was the P36 Kuala Terengganu Parliamentary by-election in January.

I shall leave the cyber citizens to judge for themselves, what sort of person Raja Petra really is in the blogosphere.

Hari ini merupakan ulang tahun ke 63 Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu – PEKEMBAR @ UMNO ditubuhkan secara rasminya dalam Istana Besar, Johor Bahru, Johor. UMNO tertubuh dengan mendapat restu perkenaan DYMM Sultan Johor dan DYTM Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Sir Ibrahim telah mencemar duli untuk memberi titah ucapan sempena konvensyen yang diwakili 29 NGO Melayu seluruh Persekutuan Tanah Melayu.

Peristiwa bersejarah UMNO ditertubuh di Istana Besar Johor. Barisan hadapan, ditengah (berkaca mata hitam) ialah DYTM Tunku Mahkota Johor, mewakili DYMM Sultan Johor mencemar duli merasmikan konvensyen dimana UMNO lahir ini

Penubuhan UMNO ini menjadi titik tolak politik Tanah Melayu apabila rakyat biasa, mula bangkit untuk mengambil peranan aktif dan signifikan menentang penubuhan Malayan Union. Sekiranya Whitehall berjaya melaksanakan Malayan Union, yang telah pun ditanda tangani oleh kesemua sembilan Raja Melayu dan diluluskan Westminister Palace (Parlimen Britain), maka kedudukan orang Melayu dalam tanah air sendiri hanyalah setakat mengiktiraf peranan DYMM Raja Melayu sebagai ‘Ketua Kadhi’ semata mata.

Sebelum orang Melayu bangkit untuk menentang secara aktif dan lantang gagasan Malayan Union dan bersatu, sehingga NGO yang mewakili pelbagai segmen orang Melayu berjaya dipadukan dengan jitu sebagai sebuah ketumbukan politik yang mampan; UMNO, politik orang Melayu terletak secara mutlak pada Raja Raja semata mata. Buat pertama kalinya semenjak penubuhan kerajaan Melayu Melaka awal kurun XV, politik orang Melayu sebagai rakyat biasa mengambil peranan aktif dalam politik Tanah Melayu.

Kegagalan Malayan Union membuka lembaran baru kepada politik Tanah Melayu apabila UMNO, mewakili rakyat biasa Bangsa Melayu, diundang untuk berunding bersama sama pihak British dan wakil Raja Raja Melayu. Tiada pihak lain diundang dan iktiraf,  untuk merumuskan garis panduan sebuah negara-bangsa yang dikenali sebagai Tanah Melayu ini. Hasil dari perundingan ini, maka Perjanjian Persekutuan Tanah Melayu 31 Januari 1948 dimeterai.

Sokongan rakyat Tanah Melayu, yang rata rata terdiri dari orang Melayu (kerana sebilangan besar Bukan Melayu yang menetap di Tanah Melayu pasca 1946 dan pra-1957 dianggap sebagai ‘Bukan rakyat baginda DYMM Raja Raja Melayu’ dan ‘Bukan warga British’ @ warga tidak berkerakyatan) keatas UMNO begitu mampan, sehingga semasa 1955, Perikatan (kerjasama UMNO-MCA-MIC) berjaya meraih 51 dari 52 kerusi Majlis Perundingan Tanah Melayu yang dipertandingkan. UMNO, dengan semangat muhibbah dan ‘sedia memberikan peluang’, mengorbankan 17 kerusi untuk diperuntukan kepada Bukan Melayu walaupun jumlah etnik yang layak mengundi amat kecil berbanding dengan orang Melayu. Dengan mandat ini, Presiden UMNO YAM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra berunding dengan Whitehall dan hasilnya, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu dimerdekakan pada 31 Ogos 1957.

Dalam perjalanan memegang tampuk pemerintahan negara selama hampir 52 tahun ini, UMNO melalui pelbagai kejayaan dan cabaran, termasuk krisis Kepimpinan berberapa kali. Namun begitu, UMNO makin dimatangkan dan ada kebaikan dan berlaku proses pembaikan, akibat terpaksa mengharungi pelbagai cabaran. Perebutan Kepimpinan pada April 1987 menyaksikan ujud dua ‘kem’ dalam UMNO dan akhirnya, pihak yang gagal mengheret UMNO melalui proses Mahkamah dan UMNO diisytiharkan haram pada Februari 1988. Parti serpihan Semangat 46 diujudkan dan berlaku cabaran pilihanraya besar bagi UMNO dan BN pada Pilihanraya Umum VIII November 1990 apabila BN kehilangan Kelantan.

Materialism mula menular dalam sistem UMNO dan ianya jelas pada pemilihan parti 1993 apabila Naib Presiden Anwar Ibrahim berjaya menafikan Timbalan Presiden ketika itu En Ghaffar Baba cukup pencalonan, termasuk dari UMNO Sabah (penubuhan UMNO Sabah ialah usaha keras Ghaffar) dan pemimpin veteran yang banyak berjasa itu ‘dipaksa’ berundur dalam keadaan memalukan. ‘Politik wang’ dalam UMNO menjadi penyakit yang sangat serious dan berjangkit mulai pemilihan ini.

Namun begitu, cabaran paling getir sekali sejarah UMNO ialah mengharungi proses pemecatan Timbalan Presiden UMNO Anwar Ibrahim pada 3 September 1998. Pilihanraya Umum X November 1999 menyaksikan UMNO ketirisan sokongan rakyat. Ianya berpusat sentimen pemecatan Anwar dan berjaya mengusik emosi hampir sebilangan orang Melayu. Walaupun keyakinan dan sokongan rakyat, terutama orang Melayu berjaya dikembalikan kepada UMNO pada PRU XI Mac 2004, namun begitu dasar ‘Liberalisasi’ Presiden UMNO VI PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebenarnya menjadi ‘senjata makan tuan’ dan UMNO menerima padah, berhadapan ‘mesej jelas’ rakyat pada PRU XII 8 Mac 2008. Prestasi UMNO menurun dari 110 MP sehingga 79, BN kehilangan 5 + 1 negeri dan buat pertama kalinya semenjak 1955, BN kehilangan kuasa 2/3 dalam Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar Ibrahim, melalui PKR, membuat gagasan baru Pembangkang, bersama DAP dan PAS untuk menubuhkan Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Konsep ‘Ketuanan Rakyat’ diperkenalkan, bagi modal agar rata rata rakyat Melayu menolak ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ yang menjadi tunggak Perjuangan UMNO. Berbekalkan 82 kerusi dalam Dewan Rakyat, Anwar menjanjikan tanggal 16 September 2008 merupakan titik tolak kuasa pemerintahan Malaysia akan ‘dirampas’ dari UMNO/BN buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah demokrasi dan rakyat Malaysia perlu sentiasa diingatkan mengenai tanggung jawab ‘kotakan janji’.

Namun begitu kegagalan melunaskan janji, Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim yang wajar dianggar sebagai ‘PEMBOHONG’,  masih berjaya mengaburi mata dan mendapat sokongan rakyat, terutama yang dahagakan Kepimpinan dan pembaharuan, dalam senario politik tanah air. Bukti mudah ialah BN telah gagal 5 dari 6 Pilihanraya Kecil (PRK) semenjak PRU XII. Episod ‘perebutan kuasa’ di Perak semenjak penghujung Januari 2009 merupakan contoh kedua, dimana kegagalan pihak media BN menjelaskan aspek sebenar sehinggakan berjaya dipaparkan sebagai ‘pihak jahat’ dan anti-aspirasi akar umbi rakyat Perak, walaupun melaksanakanya melalui peruntukan Perlembagaan dan mendapat perkenan DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan.

Pembaharuan, terutama dasar yang lebih komprehensif, perlaksanaan yang lebih effisyen dan telus, memerangi rasuah dan ‘politik wang’, pendemokrasian UMNO dan hubungan intra-etnik dan kepercayaan yang perlu dibaiki segera, merupakan ‘permintaan’ majoriti rakyat, termasuk dikalangan orang Melayu sendiri. Inilah cabaran utama Kepimpian Presiden UMNO VII Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak.

Strategi Pembangkang, terutama yang didalangi Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim perlu diambil perhatian serious, terutama apabila beliau didukung Yahudi Neo Con, Zionis Israel dan media Barat. Untuk mengekalkan momentum ‘drama’ agar dasar dan perubahan yang dijanjikan sentiasa segar dihati rakyat, Anwar akan menentukan bahawa akan berlaku PRK setiap 3 hingga 6 bulan sehingga PRU XIII yang dijangkakan perlu dilaksana dalam 36 hingga 42 bulan akan datang ini. Setiap kali berlaku PRK, terutama dalam kawasan BN tidak mendapat sokongan baik atau memang kawasan Pembangkang, PR akan terus membawa isu isu sensitive, provokasi dan ‘bermain drama’, agar sokongan keatas BN, termasuk perasaan ‘kebencian’ dan ‘meluat’ rakyat, akan sentiasa dibakar.

Namun begitu, masih terdapat isu isu yang Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim masih belum perjelaskan dan kemampuan beliau mengalih pandangan menyebabkan rakyat Malaysia sering kali terlepas pandang. Beliau yang sering dilihat sebagai ‘kekasih Amerika Syarikat’ dan selalu ‘bermain wayang’ untuk kaburi penglibatan sebenar dengan anasir luar, perlu disangsi sepenuh masa. Gerak geri Anwar dan Anwaritas perlu diwaspadai, yang mengambil strategi menjahanamkan kredibiliti Kepimpinan, terutama mengunakan propaganda dan pembohongan secara pendekatan ‘cyber-anarki’. Strategi menjahanam dan menguburkan UMNO dibuat dengan melenyapkan semua keyakinan rakyat terhadap Kepimpinan dan dasar UMNO, termasuk pembohongan dan manipulasi fakta, sejarah dan keadaan.

Sempena ulang tahun ini, kami mengesa agar Kepimpinan UMNO mengambil perhatian serious perkembangan akar umbi dan membuat perubahan dan pembaharuan sebagaimana yang diharapkan, terutama dipersimpangan dimana UMNO tidak lagi dilihat sebagai parti yang membawa aspirasi akar umbi Bangsa Melayu, malah parti elitis. UMNO memang ditubuhkan oleh golongan bangsawan dan dibawah naungi istana, namun Perjuangan membela kepentingan Bangsa Melayu dan memartabatkan rakyat merupakan roh dan nadi UMNO. Walaupun Presiden UMNO VII Dato’ Seri Najib mengutarakan mesej “Berani Berubah” dan ‘merakyatkan UMNO’ sebagai amanat ulungnya, pembaharuan yang dibawa perlu mengambil kira kepentingan strategik dan taktikal orang Melayu dipelihara, agar tidak berlaku keadaan “Kera dihutan disusukan, anak dibuaian mati kelaparan” dan sehinggakan ada pihak minoriti yang berani ‘naik tocang’.

UMNO perlu relevan dan produktif untuk orang Melayu dan rakyat Malaysia, DULU, KINI dan SELAMANYA.

Hari ini merupakan ulang tahun ke 63 Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Bersatu – PEKEMBAR @ UMNO ditubuhkan secara rasminya dalam Istana Besar, Johor Bahru, Johor. UMNO tertubuh dengan mendapat restu perkenaan DYMM Sultan Johor dan DYTM Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Sir Ibrahim telah mencemar duli untuk memberi titah ucapan sempena konvensyen yang diwakili 29 NGO Melayu seluruh Persekutuan Tanah Melayu.

Peristiwa bersejarah UMNO ditertubuh di Istana Besar Johor. Barisan hadapan, ditengah (berkaca mata hitam) ialah DYTM Tunku Mahkota Johor, mewakili DYMM Sultan Johor mencemar duli merasmikan konvensyen dimana UMNO lahir ini

Penubuhan UMNO ini menjadi titik tolak politik Tanah Melayu apabila rakyat biasa, mula bangkit untuk mengambil peranan aktif dan signifikan menentang penubuhan Malayan Union. Sekiranya Whitehall berjaya melaksanakan Malayan Union, yang telah pun ditanda tangani oleh kesemua sembilan Raja Melayu dan diluluskan Westminister Palace (Parlimen Britain), maka kedudukan orang Melayu dalam tanah air sendiri hanyalah setakat mengiktiraf peranan DYMM Raja Melayu sebagai ‘Ketua Kadhi’ semata mata.

Sebelum orang Melayu bangkit untuk menentang secara aktif dan lantang gagasan Malayan Union dan bersatu, sehingga NGO yang mewakili pelbagai segmen orang Melayu berjaya dipadukan dengan jitu sebagai sebuah ketumbukan politik yang mampan; UMNO, politik orang Melayu terletak secara mutlak pada Raja Raja semata mata. Buat pertama kalinya semenjak penubuhan kerajaan Melayu Melaka awal kurun XV, politik orang Melayu sebagai rakyat biasa mengambil peranan aktif dalam politik Tanah Melayu.

Kegagalan Malayan Union membuka lembaran baru kepada politik Tanah Melayu apabila UMNO, mewakili rakyat biasa Bangsa Melayu, diundang untuk berunding bersama sama pihak British dan wakil Raja Raja Melayu. Tiada pihak lain diundang dan iktiraf,  untuk merumuskan garis panduan sebuah negara-bangsa yang dikenali sebagai Tanah Melayu ini. Hasil dari perundingan ini, maka Perjanjian Persekutuan Tanah Melayu 31 Januari 1948 dimeterai.

Sokongan rakyat Tanah Melayu, yang rata rata terdiri dari orang Melayu (kerana sebilangan besar Bukan Melayu yang menetap di Tanah Melayu pasca 1946 dan pra-1957 dianggap sebagai ‘Bukan rakyat baginda DYMM Raja Raja Melayu’ dan ‘Bukan warga British’ @ warga tidak berkerakyatan) keatas UMNO begitu mampan, sehingga semasa 1955, Perikatan (kerjasama UMNO-MCA-MIC) berjaya meraih 51 dari 52 kerusi Majlis Perundingan Tanah Melayu yang dipertandingkan. UMNO, dengan semangat muhibbah dan ‘sedia memberikan peluang’, mengorbankan 17 kerusi untuk diperuntukan kepada Bukan Melayu walaupun jumlah etnik yang layak mengundi amat kecil berbanding dengan orang Melayu. Dengan mandat ini, Presiden UMNO YAM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra berunding dengan Whitehall dan hasilnya, Persekutuan Tanah Melayu dimerdekakan pada 31 Ogos 1957.

Dalam perjalanan memegang tampuk pemerintahan negara selama hampir 52 tahun ini, UMNO melalui pelbagai kejayaan dan cabaran, termasuk krisis Kepimpinan berberapa kali. Namun begitu, UMNO makin dimatangkan dan ada kebaikan dan berlaku proses pembaikan, akibat terpaksa mengharungi pelbagai cabaran. Perebutan Kepimpinan pada April 1987 menyaksikan ujud dua ‘kem’ dalam UMNO dan akhirnya, pihak yang gagal mengheret UMNO melalui proses Mahkamah dan UMNO diisytiharkan haram pada Februari 1988. Parti serpihan Semangat 46 diujudkan dan berlaku cabaran pilihanraya besar bagi UMNO dan BN pada Pilihanraya Umum VIII November 1990 apabila BN kehilangan Kelantan.

Materialism mula menular dalam sistem UMNO dan ianya jelas pada pemilihan parti 1993 apabila Naib Presiden Anwar Ibrahim berjaya menafikan Timbalan Presiden ketika itu En Ghaffar Baba cukup pencalonan, termasuk dari UMNO Sabah (penubuhan UMNO Sabah ialah usaha keras Ghaffar) dan pemimpin veteran yang banyak berjasa itu ‘dipaksa’ berundur dalam keadaan memalukan. ‘Politik wang’ dalam UMNO menjadi penyakit yang sangat serious dan berjangkit mulai pemilihan ini.

Namun begitu, cabaran paling getir sekali sejarah UMNO ialah mengharungi proses pemecatan Timbalan Presiden UMNO Anwar Ibrahim pada 3 September 1998. Pilihanraya Umum X November 1999 menyaksikan UMNO ketirisan sokongan rakyat. Ianya berpusat sentimen pemecatan Anwar dan berjaya mengusik emosi hampir sebilangan orang Melayu. Walaupun keyakinan dan sokongan rakyat, terutama orang Melayu berjaya dikembalikan kepada UMNO pada PRU XI Mac 2004, namun begitu dasar ‘Liberalisasi’ Presiden UMNO VI PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi sebenarnya menjadi ‘senjata makan tuan’ dan UMNO menerima padah, berhadapan ‘mesej jelas’ rakyat pada PRU XII 8 Mac 2008. Prestasi UMNO menurun dari 110 MP sehingga 79, BN kehilangan 5 + 1 negeri dan buat pertama kalinya semenjak 1955, BN kehilangan kuasa 2/3 dalam Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar Ibrahim, melalui PKR, membuat gagasan baru Pembangkang, bersama DAP dan PAS untuk menubuhkan Pakatan Rakyat (PR). Konsep ‘Ketuanan Rakyat’ diperkenalkan, bagi modal agar rata rata rakyat Melayu menolak ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ yang menjadi tunggak Perjuangan UMNO. Berbekalkan 82 kerusi dalam Dewan Rakyat, Anwar menjanjikan tanggal 16 September 2008 merupakan titik tolak kuasa pemerintahan Malaysia akan ‘dirampas’ dari UMNO/BN buat pertama kalinya dalam sejarah demokrasi dan rakyat Malaysia perlu sentiasa diingatkan mengenai tanggung jawab ‘kotakan janji’.

Namun begitu kegagalan melunaskan janji, Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim yang wajar dianggar sebagai ‘PEMBOHONG’,  masih berjaya mengaburi mata dan mendapat sokongan rakyat, terutama yang dahagakan Kepimpinan dan pembaharuan, dalam senario politik tanah air. Bukti mudah ialah BN telah gagal 5 dari 6 Pilihanraya Kecil (PRK) semenjak PRU XII. Episod ‘perebutan kuasa’ di Perak semenjak penghujung Januari 2009 merupakan contoh kedua, dimana kegagalan pihak media BN menjelaskan aspek sebenar sehinggakan berjaya dipaparkan sebagai ‘pihak jahat’ dan anti-aspirasi akar umbi rakyat Perak, walaupun melaksanakanya melalui peruntukan Perlembagaan dan mendapat perkenan DYMM Paduka Seri Sultan.

Pembaharuan, terutama dasar yang lebih komprehensif, perlaksanaan yang lebih effisyen dan telus, memerangi rasuah dan ‘politik wang’, pendemokrasian UMNO dan hubungan intra-etnik dan kepercayaan yang perlu dibaiki segera, merupakan ‘permintaan’ majoriti rakyat, termasuk dikalangan orang Melayu sendiri. Inilah cabaran utama Kepimpian Presiden UMNO VII Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak.

Strategi Pembangkang, terutama yang didalangi Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim perlu diambil perhatian serious, terutama apabila beliau didukung Yahudi Neo Con, Zionis Israel dan media Barat. Untuk mengekalkan momentum ‘drama’ agar dasar dan perubahan yang dijanjikan sentiasa segar dihati rakyat, Anwar akan menentukan bahawa akan berlaku PRK setiap 3 hingga 6 bulan sehingga PRU XIII yang dijangkakan perlu dilaksana dalam 36 hingga 42 bulan akan datang ini. Setiap kali berlaku PRK, terutama dalam kawasan BN tidak mendapat sokongan baik atau memang kawasan Pembangkang, PR akan terus membawa isu isu sensitive, provokasi dan ‘bermain drama’, agar sokongan keatas BN, termasuk perasaan ‘kebencian’ dan ‘meluat’ rakyat, akan sentiasa dibakar.

Namun begitu, masih terdapat isu isu yang Anwar “Drama King” Ibrahim masih belum perjelaskan dan kemampuan beliau mengalih pandangan menyebabkan rakyat Malaysia sering kali terlepas pandang. Beliau yang sering dilihat sebagai ‘kekasih Amerika Syarikat’ dan selalu ‘bermain wayang’ untuk kaburi penglibatan sebenar dengan anasir luar, perlu disangsi sepenuh masa. Gerak geri Anwar dan Anwaritas perlu diwaspadai, yang mengambil strategi menjahanamkan kredibiliti Kepimpinan, terutama mengunakan propaganda dan pembohongan secara pendekatan ‘cyber-anarki’. Strategi menjahanam dan menguburkan UMNO dibuat dengan melenyapkan semua keyakinan rakyat terhadap Kepimpinan dan dasar UMNO, termasuk pembohongan dan manipulasi fakta, sejarah dan keadaan.

Sempena ulang tahun ini, kami mengesa agar Kepimpinan UMNO mengambil perhatian serious perkembangan akar umbi dan membuat perubahan dan pembaharuan sebagaimana yang diharapkan, terutama dipersimpangan dimana UMNO tidak lagi dilihat sebagai parti yang membawa aspirasi akar umbi Bangsa Melayu, malah parti elitis. UMNO memang ditubuhkan oleh golongan bangsawan dan dibawah naungi istana, namun Perjuangan membela kepentingan Bangsa Melayu dan memartabatkan rakyat merupakan roh dan nadi UMNO. Walaupun Presiden UMNO VII Dato’ Seri Najib mengutarakan mesej “Berani Berubah” dan ‘merakyatkan UMNO’ sebagai amanat ulungnya, pembaharuan yang dibawa perlu mengambil kira kepentingan strategik dan taktikal orang Melayu dipelihara, agar tidak berlaku keadaan “Kera dihutan disusukan, anak dibuaian mati kelaparan” dan sehinggakan ada pihak minoriti yang berani ‘naik tocang’.

UMNO perlu relevan dan produktif untuk orang Melayu dan rakyat Malaysia, DULU, KINI dan SELAMANYA.

The Perak pandemonium is all about Pakatan Rakyat (PR) people only want to play the rules that they like and pick, whenever and what ever is convenient to them. That’s all! Completely nothing about order, respect, procedure, protocol and minimal decency behaviour, even in the presence of a Ruler and in the most formal occasion, some more in an augur house! For the PR people, who is worthy to be called as ‘Primates’ as yesterday and the series of incidences qualified them, there is no such Constitution nor convention they play by.

Think about it. All of these started when Bota Barisan Nasional (BN) ADUN Nasaruddin Hashim announced crossing over to PKR and UMNO had to immediately take necessary steps to rectify the situation from detiorerating further. The PR leaders welcome him with the biggest open arms as this action struck a blow to UMNO’s face.

Then a week later, the two PKR ADUN, who were State Excos and one DAP women decided to denounce their support for the loosely formed PR Perak State Government and instead supported BN. The Bota ADUN re-crossed back into UMNO. This opportunity was a carpe diem BN waited and gave them the mandate to form the new Perak State Government.

The DAP-puppet MB Dato’ Seri Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin sought audience with HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Perak and requested the immediate dissolution of the State Assembly. Instead, HRH decided to wait and ascertain for himself what and where is the actual position of the support of ADUNs. He found out that the four ADUNs were willing to throw the support behind BN and there should be a changeover of State Government.

The all hell broke loose. Suddenly, PR leaders are not willing to play by their own rules of the game they wanted to create in the first place, which is ‘jumping ship and crossing over’. The moment they had face the music, they want to change the rules and steps. DAP-puppet MB Nizar contradict his own earlier statement and they are willing and ready to defy HRH Paduka Seri Sultan’s titah and be in state of ingkar and derhaka.

All these mumbo jumbo about trying to stop the swearing in of Pangkor ADUN Dato’ Dr. Zambry Abd. Kadir as the 10th Menteri Besar, calling for DUN sitting without proper notice and consent of HRH Paduka Seri Sultan, taking the matter to court and the series of drama-in-disgrace which highlight was yesterday, is all about people who cannot accept their own bitter medicine being served back to them, cold. These PR Leaders and supporters, now proven themselves worthy of being classified as ‘Primates’, even illegally convene a State Exco meeting and unlawfully pass resolutions.

Now, the Pakatan Rakyat Primates really illustrated what they truly are; animals and the resort to the ‘Laws of the Jungle’ whenever things don’t go alon their way. Regardless what the situation and occassion is, despite taking their side of the story to the Courts, these PR Primates reflected their ape-like behaviour in augur house. These PR Primates ‘attacked’ the BN ADUNs and crossed over to the BN side, placed themselves through out the sitting and attempted various stunts to create drama and disrupt to proceedings. All the four BN ADUNs were actually manhandled, including the disabled Jelapang ADUN. In fact through out the sitting, the PR primates were at the BN side of the State Assembly and that shows how they are unable to maintain decorum as distinguished gentlemen should be.

The fact that the DYTM Raja Muda Perak was ‘detained and delayed’ from carrying out his ceremonial duties till a point he has to side stepped protocol and call the DAP-puppet Ex-MB Nizar Jamaluddin and DAP-puppet-master Ngeh Hor Kam to the dais, just to get their PR Primates to behave for one moment as distinguished gentlemen and sit down like how ADUN should be in  State Assembly sitting, so that the proceding in accordance with protocol and order of the augur house could be carried out. That by far, is the first in Malaysian 52 years of Constitutional Monarchy history and nothing short of Damning Disgrace!

All these ape-like behaviours showsthe true colours of who the people Perak rakyat voted into power 8 March last year. As they say, “You deserve the Government you elect”. Should Perak people still be subjected to the animalistic behaviour and ‘Laws of the Jungle’ OR for once, listen to HRHs Paduka Seri Sultan and Raja Muda and behave like true gentlemen, who play and conduct themselves by the said and universally expected rule, even when they lost the grounds and game?

The even in State Assembly robes and ceremonial dresses, PR Primates chose to be agressors and managed to turn the augur house of the Perak State Assembly into somewhat a ‘Gladiator Ring’; where man Vs beast! It has all the ingredients; tension, stunts, anger, drama and most of all, at the end of the day, there will be victims (the weaker being submitted into ‘torture’ and utmost humiliation).

Look at DYTM Raja Muda Perak's obvious expression, when shaking the hands of the PR Primates

If the someone were to make a civil notion that the State Assembly yesterday was like rugby, think again. Then again, rugby is about gentlemen playing the barbaric game. In Perak State Assembly, it is the barbarians playing the game of gentlemen. And to one upon of time not too long ago, these same PR Primates and the their ardent primatettes shouted “Daulat Tuanku”, is making the whole pandemonium into a spinning endless migrane!

Can anyone remember if any of this ‘Gliadiator’ drama was EVER in any part of Malaysian 54 years history? BN lost control of State Assemblies before; Sabah in 1985, Kelantan in 1990 and Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor in 2008. BN conceded and NEVER RESORTED to these behaviours. Then again the behaviours of elected representatives changed. Or some of us expected even these PR YBs could qualify fully as ‘distinguished gentlemen’. It has been very different since 6 February 2009. It was because, we never had any PR Primates, backed by one-time communists Perakians now turned DAP, allowed the taste of power and when they lost it, they turn into wounded and ferocious wild beasts!

People like these are MENACE TO DEMOCRACY!

 *Updated

Also read Another Brick in the Wall’s personal account, who was present at the Perak State Assembly wholeday on Thursday.

The ‘political standoff’ in Perak since January is really mind boggling to the majority of the rakyat. This morning, the State Assembly will convene since 13 November 2008 and one of the agenda is to endorse the appointment of Pangkor ADUN Dato’ Seri Zambry Abd. Kadir, who was sworn in by HRH Paduka Seri Sultan  Perak Tuanku Sultan Azlan Shah on 6 February 2009.

Unlike the previous ’sitting’, deemed illegal, which was called by the Speaker Suvakumar without proper notification period and expressed consent from HRH Paduka Seri Sultan and had to be conducted under a tree (to create the drama effect), this morning’s sitting is in accordance with provisions of the Perak State Constitution and protocol of the State Assembly.  Proper notice from the State Assembly Secretary  was issued and with explicit consent of HRH Paduka Seri Sultan and conducted in the augur house in full regalia and traditions.

The previous Menteri Besar, DAP-puppet MB Dato’ Seri Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin lost his qualifications as the state Chief Executive when  HRH Paduka Seri Sultan personally interviewed the three Pakatan Rakyat (PR) ADUNs, who denounced their support for the former and the latter was convinced that BN had the majority support in the State Assembly.

Yesterday, Fourth Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad cautioned about the nation should observe what is provided and stated within the Federal and State Constitution. These are the basis of any legitimate decisions and/or actions that anyone could and should make.

The Star has the story:

Thursday May 7, 2009

A ruler can’t remove head of state govt, says Mahathir

PUTRAJAYA: The head of a state government cannot be removed by the state’s ruler if provisions under the state constitution are the same as those under the Federal constitution, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.

He said the Federal constitution stated clearly that the monarch could decide on whether or not to appoint an individual as the Prime Minister, but did not have the power to remove the premier. The Prime Minister can only be removed through a vote of no-confidence in Parliament.

“I think the provisions in the Federal constitution should apply to Perak but I do not know (the Perak state constitution). If Perak is different, then I stand corrected,” he said at a press conference after delivering his keynote address on ‘The Role of the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary and Constitutional Monarchy’ at the ninth Perdana Discourse Series here yesterday.

Asked if he thought there had been any abuse of the system in the removal of former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin by Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, he said the matter had been referred to court and the court should be allowed to decide.

Dr Mahathir said he also felt Barisan Nasional had rushed into taking over the Perak state government when it should have taken the time to consider the decision properly before acting.

“When we are in too much of a hurry, we always make mistakes. In any situation, always give yourself time to think,” he said.

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What happened in Perak in February 2009 is the same thing that happened in March 2008. The 12th General Elections saw BN only managed to win 28 seats of the 59 seat State Assembly. The other 31 seats went to DAP, PKR and PAS. Since BN was the only party constituted as a coalition between several political parties and the other 31 newly elected ADUNs comprises of three different political parties, which working relationship has not be formalized, HRH Paduka Seri Sultan decided to not hastily appoint the 9th Menteri Besar.

After meeting up with the 31 Non BN ADUNs, HRH Paduka Seri Sultan is convinced that BN no longer have majority control of the house and the position of the Perak Menteri Besar was offered to the three loosely ‘co-operating’ parties. After much horse-trading, the three political parties nominated Pasir Panjang ADUN Ir Mohd. Nizar Jamaluddin as the Menteri Besar and HRH Paduka Seri Sultan sworn him in.

That is exactly what HRH Paduka Seri Sultan did in February when DAP-puppet MB Nizar sought audience and requested to dissolve the State Assembly, after the 2 PKR and 1 DAP ADUNs openly threw their support behind BN. HRH Paduka Seri Sultan did not automatically honour the request but instead personally interviewed the three ADUNs and was convinced that DAP-puppet MB Nizar no longer enjoy the majority control of the Perak State Assembly and ruled within the provisions of the Perak Constitution that DAP-puppet MB Nizar lost his qualifications as the Menteri Besar. Someone with the support of the majority should be appointed instead. Hence,  after consultation with then DPM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak, who was acting in the capacity of Perak UMNO and BN Liaison Chairman, Pangkor ADUN Dato Dr. Zambry  Abd. Kadir was offered the position.

The fact is that, it was said that HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Shah acted in accordance to the Article 16 (6) of the Perak Constitution and was very consistent in the approach and method to ascertain which party has the constitutional right to power in the state. Despite reminding that everything should be done in accordance with the Federal and State Constitutions his speech and media conference yesterday, Tun Dr. Mahathir also admitted that he was not conversant with the Perak Constitution. He also ask for everyone to wait for the Courts’ decision on this landmark case.

Being the former Lord President of the Supreme Court of Malaysia, HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Azlah Shah must have considered all the provisions within the Perak and Federal Constitution before making any decision, be it in March 2008 or February 2009. Since he was the Lord President before Tun Salleh Abas’s expulsion from the Bench in 1988, his credentials as someone who can interpret the law should be somewhat of nothing short of an illustrious standing (The Oppositions have been very rabid on how everyone post Tun Salleh Abas’s expulsion as the Lord President in 1988 are ‘of doubtful standing and qualifications’). Everyone must take in good faith that HRH Paduka Seri Sultan Azlan Shah carefully considered all points and arguments before making a decision, as how it was when he sat as the Lord President, Chief Judge of Malaya, Supreme Court Judge and High Court Judge. By far, Raja Azlan Shah was the youngest person ever appointed as a High Court Judge in Malaya, at the age of 37 and had an illustrious career on bench, only to leave because of the ascension to the Perak throne. He was also the eighth HM Seri Paduka Baginda Yang DiPertuan Agong.

We share the same concern of what Tun Dr. Mahathir reminded, for the second time. UMNO and BN should carefully plan on their strategies and actions. This is important as any changeover control and management of any state must be in accordance with the Constitution. The Federal Constitution encompasses any provisions of the State Constitution and the practice of ascending to power. In the essence of carpe diem that spun off from the defection of BN Bota ADUN (which suspiciously look like there was no careful planning and execution), BN may not be able to hold grounds as the way of the ascension into power is not within the constitution and when it is overturned, the disgrace that UMNO and BN have got to face up could be strategically devastating.

The case is now being heard in the Courts.  For the first time in Malaysian 52 years of constitutional history as a sovereign state, the interpretation of a state constitution and action of a Ruler is being challenged. As for the PR biadap and ingkar trouble makers, the authorities should decisively reprimand them in accordance to the limit of the law and HRH Paduka Seri Sultan should seriously consider to revoke all the state awards. If they do things that are detrimental to national security, which include sedition, then throw the book at them. Even invoking the dreaded Internal Security Act is constitutional.

Semasa memenangi pemilihan jawatan Ketua Pemuda UMNO Malaysia pada 25 Mac 2009, kenyataan ulung YB Khairy Jamaluddin merupakan “untuk merapatkan barisan Pemuda UMNO”, setelah berlaku satu proses pemilihan yang dianggap getir dan sengit. Kesan perebutan menampakan kesan, terutama reaksi penyokong yang kecewa apabila Khairy diumumkan sebagai pemenang. Apa yang tersurat adalah sesuatu yang wajar dilakukan oleh orang yang menang.

 Laporan Utusan Malaysia:

 ARKIB : 26/03/2009

Kembali rapatkan barisan Pemuda – Khairy

KHAIRY Jamaluddin yang diumumkan sebagai Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO yang baru dijulang oleh para penyokongnya di Pusat Dagangan Dunia Putra, malam tadi. Beliau menewaskan dua pesaingnya iaitu Mukhriz Mahathir dan Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo.

 KUALA LUMPUR 25 Mac – Ketua Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO yang baru, Khairy Jamaluddin mahu seluruh ahli pergerakan itu terutama para penyokong dua pesaingnya merapatkan kembali barisan untuk mengukuhkan sayap kanan tersebut.

Beliau menyifatkan pemilihan jawatan Ketua Pemuda UMNO hari ini berlangsung dalam suasana demokrasi yang cukup matang.

‘‘Yang menang tidak menang semua, yang kalah tidak kalah semua. Saya dapat 304 undi daripada 793 perwakilan yang ini bukan satu majoriti. Ini hanya majoriti calon tiga penjuru.

‘‘Walaupun (saya) bertanding atas (slogan) Setiakawan, ada Berani Berubah (slogan dibawa oleh Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir) dan Pemuda Berani (oleh Datuk Seri Dr. Mohamad Khir Toyo), kita sebenarnya berani menuntut perubahan demi setiakawan Pemuda UMNO,’’ katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika mengulas kemenangannya dalam ucapan penggulungan pada Perhimpunan Agung Pemuda UMNO di sini malam ini.

Difahamkan dalam pertandingan itu, Mohamad Khir memperoleh 254 undi manakala Mukhriz meraih 232 undi.

Dalam ucapannya pada majlis yang turut dihadiri Mukhriz tanpa kelibat Mohamad Khir itu, Khairy mengungkapkan:

‘‘Dalam kepimpinan Pemuda baru ini, ada Berani Berubah, jadi saya rayu supaya Berani Berubah berdiri bersama saya untuk berdepan dengan kubu-kubu pembangkang pada tiga pilihan raya kecil nanti (Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau dan Batang Ai).

‘‘Kepada Pemuda Berani, apabila pikul amanah seperti mana kata Timbalan Presiden (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak) semalam kalau tidak berubah, kita rebah, maka tuan-tuan kena bersama-sama saya.’’

Kepada Pemuda Setiakawan (para penyokongnya), Khairy secara sentimental mengungkapkan:

‘‘Satu ketika dulu ada yang tulis kata saya tidak ada masa depan tanpa Yang Amat Berhormat Perdana Menteri (bapa mertuanya)…habis, pencalonan (yang diterima saya) nyawa-nyawa ikan.

‘‘Bila turun ke bawah, arus menentang (kata mereka) tapi saya kembali kepada asas perjuangan, kalau tidak kerana Setiakawan (para penyokongnya), lama dah kita tinggalkan (UMNO).’’

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Namun begitu, keadaan sebenarnya ‘Jauh panggang dari api’. Exco Pemuda UMNO dan Pengerusi Biro yang baru dilantik merupakan mereka dikalangan yang dianggap sebagai ‘Penyokong Kuat KJ’. Mereka bukanlah pemimpin Pemuda UMNO yang dilihat mampu untuk ‘merapatkan saf’, setelah ramai akar umbi Pemuda UMNO dikatakan tidak bepuas hati keatas kemengangan MP Rembau itu.

 “Cakap Tak Serupa Bikin”. Itulah komen seorang Exco Pemuda UMNO mengenai barisan Exco Pemuda UMNO yang menduduki jawatan Pengerusi Biro dan Unit, yang diumumkan Ketua Pemuda UMNO YB Khairy Jamaluddin baru baru ini.

 “Mereka yang dilantik KJ merupakan illustrasi sebenar apa yang dimaksudkan sebagai “Setia, Kawan”, komen seorang lagi Exco Pemuda UMNO. “Kawan yang ‘setia’, itulah yang diangkat”.

Persoalan sekarang, apakah akar umbi Pemuda UMNO akan terus memberikan kerjasama kepada Kepimpinan Pemuda UMNO, setelah hanya 304 Perwakilan Pemuda UMNO membuat keputusan yang dianggap bertentangan dengan aspirasi sebenar akar umbi.

Missi utama Pemuda UMNO ialah memenangi hati, keyakinan dan paling penting sokongan golongan muda dalam Pilihanraya Umum (PRU 13) XIII, yang dijangkakan menjelang dalam tempoh tiga tahun lagi. Mesej jelas pengundi saluran 3 dan 4 dalam PRU 12 ialah menolak BN.

Setakat ini, kemampuan Khairy Jamaluddin dan saf baru Pemuda UMNO meraih keyakinan dan sokongan golongan muda, yang dijangkakan akan bertambah sehingga 40% dari jumlah pengundi amatlah diragukan. Lebih lebih lagi keyakinan Kepimpinan PM Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak sendiri keatas Khairy amat jelas apabila MP Rembau itu tidak diberikan sebarang jawatan walaupun berjaya menduduki Ketua Pemuda UMNO Malaysia yang bertaraf Naib Presiden, semasa pengumuman Kabinet ulung beliau pada 9 April lepas.