Post GE13 Reform Agenda: in search of a win-win scenario (repost)

Repealing all draconian laws and returning state institutions back to the rakyat

Posted on October 23, 2011 by Haris Ibrahim

5

Najib, UMNO and BN will not do this.

We need a new non-BN government post the 13th GE to do this.

Repeal the ISA, the OSA, the PPPA, the UUCA, the Sedition Act.

All the laws that we’ve been asking to have taken off our statute books and from around our necks for so, so long.

Return the judiciary back to us.

The AG’s office.

Election Commission.

MACC.

PDRM.

And every other institution that ought to be protecting the interests of the rakyat, not UMNO and BN.

And to do all of this early on in their term of administration at Putrajaya.

[Read the rest here.]

Hercules flushing out the Augean
stables and fertilizing the land

I posted a comment to the above which warrants reproduction here, as I've long pondered how any new administration can best approach the Herculean task of cleaning up the Augean stables of moral filth and bureaucratic incompetence left behind by 54 uninterrupted years of Umno/BN mismanagement...

It may not be premature to contemplate an alternative scenario to what RARA proposes. Imagine you're a young Penan asked to choose between two developmental packages. The first involves clearing the forest and urbanizing your ancestral lands (so you and your kids can enjoy better schools and medical care); however, there will be no turning back, your way of life will be destroyed and your children will be forced into the rat race...

If you were a young Penan, would you trade this natural splendor for a Carrefour and a few 7-Elevens?

The second leverages on technological advances such as free (or affordable) helicopter and hovercraft services that bypass the necessity to build destructive highways through the rainforest ecosystem; and broadband internet access via satellite that provides access to the modern world, without destroying the serenity and majestic beauty of your natural environment; plus the benefit of cross-cultural volunteer programs wherein enthusiastic young professionals from all over the world can live amongst the Penan for a while, and impart various skills while documenting their traditional knowledge and wisdom - thereby creating a win-win scenario between traditional and modern cultures.

Let's say Pakatan Rakyat is now the federal government. For sure, oppressive laws must go pronto. The Umno Polis have, for too long, abused archaic laws like the ISA, OSA, Sedition Act, UUCA, PP&PA and the Police Act that outlaws public assembly without permits to browbeat, harass and thwart all political dissent. Twice, PDRM have used the 19th century laws against oral and anal sex to neutralize Anwar Ibrahim as a threat to their deadly stranglehold on power. What does it take, a parliamentary majority? The Agong's assent? 

However, overhauling corrupt and complacent agencies and institutions involves human beings and requires a lot of lateral thinking. Allow me to toss a few scenarios in the air for further contemplation, discussion and elaboration...

PDRM: do we really need such an unwieldy force? Quality over quantity is best, so we sack a few hundred irredeemable senior officers (Khalid Abu Bakar and Wan Bari will top the list, I'm sure) and streamline the police force to one-quarter of its present size. Those that remain in uniform will be given salary increases and refresher courses in how to serve and protect the public; while those who opt for re-education will continue to receive wages for at least 3 years while the new administration sponsors their acquisition of new skills in any field of endeavor or assists them to launch their own modest enterprises - whether it's opening a warung in their kampung, becoming a pasar malam trader, or studying a foreign language and upgrading their personal resumes. Some (particularly retrenched Special Branch officers) may opt to offer courses on self-defence and investigation skills to the public - so that the public will learn to look after themselves instead of relying on outside help to solve minor dramas like petty misdemeanors in the neighborhood.

MACC: assuming new brooms sweep cleaner and the new administration is far cleaner than its predecessor, we won't require an "anti-corruption" agency, as such. By abolishing the OSA and protecting, and even rewarding whistleblowers, every institution would have a built-in mechanism by which it can regulate itself and ensure minimal transgressions and infractions. Those currently employed by the MACC will probably have to be "disinfected" before being released to rejoin the community-at-large. Once cleansed of BTN contamination, these personnel can be offered jobs in any other government department - or opt to go on state-sponsored further studies.

EC: do we really need a massive organization to conduct polls? With existing digital tech it's feasible that public referendums and elections can be digitized. Every citizen that turns 18 becomes eligible to vote and can cast a vote from home, or from a cybercafe, or via the mobile voting service that may be necessary pending nationwide access to the internet. Electoral fraud can be easily prevented using available security software akin to what online banking entails (voter IDs, passwords, captcha, IP tracking, and so on). Election Commission top brass will be assigned to 6 months coaching by prominent comedy troupes like the Instant Cafe Theatre, Comedy Court or the Malaysian Association of Chinese Comedians - and then given their own TV sitcom series. If they refuse to cooperate, they face the prospect of 10-year exiles on the moon or the ocean depths.

As for the Attorney-General's office.... well, everyone serving the present BN regime will have to be retrenched, of course, as unusable bent nails - along with the entire top ranks of the judiciary. Once we have somebody straight and honorable appointed to the offices of AG and CJ, the overhaul can proceed with relative ease and minimal pain to all concerned.

Without the protection of Umno, the 9 rulers will quickly realize their fate lies in their own hands. If they wish to be acknowledged, respected and supported as symbolic monarchs, they have no choice but to discipline themselves, rein in their excesses, reassess their own track record - and resolve to serve as the conscience and spiritual cores of their respective states. 

Failing which, even Ibrahim Ali cannot save their skins. Their crowns and jewels can be placed in a public museum for posterity to gawk at and shake their heads in disbelief; their toy cars can be auctioned off; their palaces converted to boutique hotels like Carcosa.

[First posted 23 October 2011, then reposted 27 March 2014]

Haris Ibrahim ~ Cutting Through The Crap

I like Haris Ibrahim. More than that, I admire this man's guts and his innate integrity, lucidity, and nobility. He is undoubtedly a true patriot whose love for his homeland compels him to take a firm stand on behalf of social justice, freedom, and truth.

Umno/BN stands in the way of social justice, freedom, and truth. So Haris Ibrahim is cutting straight through the crap and gunning for meaningful regime change. He chooses to remain non-partisan. Someone has to keep an eye on how Pakatan Rakyat performs when they take over the reins of power. But Haris knows we have no other alternative at this juncture apart from ensuring that Pakatan Rakyat forms the next government.

The People's Government. That's what Ketuanan Rakyat means. Ministers will be constantly reminded that they are public servants - not privateers and profiteers.

More power to you, Haris, and thank you.

Hearing you speak reassures me that there are enough good people with heart and brains, waiting in the wings to restore the health, wealth and longevity of this beautiful and blessed land called Malaysia.

We hear you.

Morituri Te Salutant, Malaysia!

THOSE WHO ARE ABOUT TO DIE SALUTE YOU, MALAYSIA!


Late last night, a group of us met up and, very quickly, the conversation turned to RPK’s ‘Probably my last message’ post.

The discussion became very heated.

Tempers flared.

At the heart of all that was said was an earnest concern for a man who has come to mean so much to so many of us.

A man who has thus far displayed such tenacity in pushing for change, in pressing for greater transparency and accountability in governance, and tirelessly working to free so many from the mental bondage inflicted by a media so long subservient to their corrupt, political masters.

Yet, we feared that it was this same tenacity that would leave our friend dead in less than two weeks.

[Read the rest at Haris Ibrahim's blog, The People's Parliament.]


Monday, 23 February 2009 marks the day the would-be Malaysian emperor Najib Abdul Razak gleefully awaits word that his wishes have been faithfully carried out and that his archenemy, Raja Petra Kamarudin, would have his freedom curtailed under the grotesque operation of an obscene and archaic law, by order of an utterly despicable and unscrupulous home minister named Syed Hamid Albar.

Raja Petra Kamarudin - the only truly royal and noble personage in our midst in that he wholeheartedly loves his country and all its people, regardless of ethnic origin or cultural imprint - has vowed that, if he be rearrested under the obnoxious ISA, he will not let his persecutors have the pleasure of encaging his spirit. Instead, he will refuse all food and drink and sit silent in his cell until his soul separates from his physical body; and by those ascetic and non-violent means he will set himself forever free.

Is it any wonder that Raja Petra Kamarudin (or RPK as everybody calls him) has won the hearts of all honest, truth-loving citizens; and has become Malaysia's greatest living hero, mobbed by fans wherever he goes? RPK's indefatigable support for Anwar Ibrahim and the Pakatan Rakyat government in the making helped swing the votes against Barisan Nasional on 8 March 2008. A large portion of the credit for the political tsunami of 2008 therefore goes to RPK - and that is precisely why the nefarious Najib Razak and his Umno supporters want RPK safely locked away.

Would it trouble Najib's conscience if RPK died within a couple of weeks of being reimprisoned? Not at all. However, if this scenario were to happen in the coming weeks, RPK's may not be the only death that symbolizes the death of participatory democracy in Malaysia. A handful of RPK's loyal friends and ardent freedom-fighters have sworn to accompany him on his fast-to-the-death, in protest against the travesty of justice brought about by a neutered judiciary, subservient to the political order of the day.

This would focus international attention on the tattered state of justice in Malaysia and put the spotlight on Najib Razak's immense unpopularity as a potential prime minister, making his bid for power an accursed and illegitimate one in the eyes of the rakyat.

I salute the courage and fortitude of those who are about to lay down their lives for freedom, justice and truth in Malaysia. And I spit upon the cowardice of those who continue to carry out unjust orders rather than risk their jobs by making a moral stand at this critical juncture of our history.

Please sign this petition from the People's Parliament

I do not have confidence in Dato Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak as Prime Minister of Malaysia. Do you?

January 4, 2009

I thought it was pointless sending out good wishes for the year 2009.

If we want 2009 to be the beginning of real change in our country, we must make it happen.

We can’t sit back, leave everything to others and to chance, and just wish for the best.

We know that come March, 2009, UMNO will have a new president.

Yes, Najib.

And we know that if Pak Lah steps down as PM then, as Najib and so many in UMNO hope he will, Najib will be making a bee-line to His Majesty seeking to be appointed as PM.

Frankly, notwithstanding all the things I’ve written about Pak Lah in this blog, I’d rather he remain PM then inflict Najib upon us as the new premier of Malaysia.

Sure, I’d rather see a Pakatan Rakyat federal government come end-March, 2009, with Anwar as PM

If that happens, great.

If it doesn’t, though, I do not want Najib running my country.

I have no confidence in Najib.

Why?

If you don’t know already, my reasons are as laid out in this PETITION that is addressed to the 221 other MPs in our Dewan Rakyat, excluding Najib.

Well, 221 after the Kuala Terengganu by-election results on 17th January.

This is my gift to all my fellow anak-anak Bangsa Malaysia for 2009.

My dear friend, Nanda, helped me to put it together.

It’s long, I know, but that’s for the benefit of those who may not be very clear on the issues, including some of the MPs to whom the petition is addressed.

If you, too, like me, have no confidence in Najib as PM, give the petition a read and see if you will give it your support.

If we fail to stop Najib, at least we can look at the next generation of Malaysians in the eye and say, ‘God knows we tried to end the rape of this country.’

Haris Ibrahim

Martin Jalleh reports from the Shah Alam High Court

CHANGE HAS COME TO MALAYSIA

SHAH ALAM HIGH COURT, 7 NOV 2008 (approx 9:40AM): It was a very moving moment in time – one which your memory will forever hold and behold. I had thought that we only get to see this in a Disney movie. But it was happening right in a courtroom in Bolehland today.

The packed courtroom of Raja Petra (RPK) supporters could not contain their joy. They clapped and burst out into cries of excitement and elation even before Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad could finish delivering his judgment.

They were gently reprimanded by the judge that they were in a Court of Law. But for some it was impossible to be silent. You can’t be restrained when it is such a great and glorious victory! And so they whispered: “We have won! We have won! RPK is free!”

The judge ruled that the detention of RPK under the ISA was illegal (unconstitutional) and ordered his immediate release. The court found the (Home) minister had not followed proper procedure under Section 8 of the ISA.

As the judge left for his chambers, everyone sprung up... some with their clenched fists raised high in the air – speechless. Others grabbed the nearest person available to express their elation whether it be a stranger, supporter or Special Branch.

“Yes, yes, yes!” proclaimed Angela from Seremban who has attended every RPK-related court case with her son. Yes, justice is done; yes, the truth always wins; yes, let us continue the good fight!

“God bless the judge... What a brave judge! I hope nothing will happen to him and they won’t transfer him elsewhere...” a man who identified himself as Lim declared to his friends.

A visibly moved Ignatius Gomez, who was present with his wife and daughter to “lend our voices and presence to any movement that works towards the abolishment of the ‘barbaric’ ISA” proclaimed loudly: “Justice has prevailed!”

A brave woman

Marina was moved to tears. She hugged their two daughters, Suraya and Sarah – who have been her sturdy support and who have kept a very brave smile for their mother in the long struggle for their father’s freedom.

Without any hesitation Marina reached out next in deep appreciation to RPK’s lawyers – a team of young, dedicated, daring, diligent and determined attorneys who, time and again, won the admiration and acknowledgement of everyone. Lead lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar’s brilliance and humility in court will remain etched in the memory of many.

In fact, the team, together with other lawyers who had come to show their support, adorned in their court attire, and in all their distinguished shapes and sizes, abandoned their stoic and sage-like disposition and spontaneously hugged each other. Alas, lawyers are human too!

Some of the supporters sat still and smiled to themselves. It was a judgment they found too difficult to believe! Or they wanted to relish the moment and watched, enthralled by the unreserved show of emotion of the rest.

The doors of the courtroom swung open. Marina came out of the court and as the sea of people stood behind, she thanked each and everyone who had played an unique and vital role to get her husband free.

Surely each person, for having stood up for justice, served as a tiny “ripple”, that when put together, made up that giant wave of change that no person (definitely not the Home Minister) nor the powers that be could stop.

Fighting back the tears Marina said: “Though I was hopeful, I had not expected the decision. This is a very good sign that our country is changing and I hope that this change will continue...”

“I want to thank the lawyers, the supporters, the bloggers, the reporters... I am so overwhelmed by the decision that I am short of words... Thanks to the judge for his very courageous decision.”

The “celebration” continued on in the court’s foyer. It was only the beginning. The judge had ordered that RPK be brought (from Kamunting) before the court by 4pm, after which he would be released.

Free at last!

It was time for lunch, but none seemed hungry anymore. I followed a group of RPK supporters many of whom I was meeting for the first time. Robert Choo, a retired college lecturer told everyone: “Lunch is on me. Order anything you want. Very rarely do we get such a brave judgment!”

The diversity was amazing. It was a multi-racial group with ages ranging from 16 to 60 years. We were all middle-class. Except for the self-employed, the rest had to take leave to be in court. The group was predominantly women...very vocal ones too!

As I listened intently I realized the conversation was different from the usual. It was not centred on our obsession with food. They spoke about the candlelight vigils in Seremban, PJ and Ipoh. They shared their fears that RPK would be rearrested and what they could do to prevent it!

What made them want to attend the court case? What motivated them to take the risk? Why did they want to exchange a very comfortable and consumeristic existence for an involvement that is often thankless and even looked upon by the majority as being “stupid”?

It was much more than just giving support to RPK. They were angry with the arrogance and abuse of the BN government. They were fed up of being treated like kids and of a government trying to fool all the people all the time.

They expressed their disgust over desperate politicians playing the religious and racial card and gambling the country away. They looked forward to a new government of integrity, credibility and accountability.


They felt that it was time to take a stand, to say and do something, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant... like just by being present in court – even though at times they found it hard to comprehend what was going on!

They realized they were not alone... and their growing solidarity has helped them to soldier on. They spoke of their proud association with Haris Ibrahim, Bernard Khoo and a host of frontline exemplary leaders. They saw in each other a comrade for justice and they displayed an obvious synergy that has freed them from the culture of fear.

Finally, the moment came – the man of the hour appeared... looking tired and even in a daze, still stunned by the court’s decision. As soon as he left the warm embrace of his wife and children, his supporters mobbed and moved him all the way into the courtroom!

Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy ordered RPK to be released. He thanked the lawyers of both sides for their professionalism. The crowd stood in deep respect and reverence as the brave judge left the courtroom.

They garlanded their hero. There was another round of hugs. Some looked up to the heavens in prayerful thanksgiving. Tears flowed freely in celebration of the freedom of one who cared and dared enough to write so that others may be free.

Raja Petra looked as though he was “holding court” on the front steps of the Shah Alam Court. No fetters could extinguish the fire and fervour in the man. It fact, it had fanned the flame in him: “"We have to fight all-out and get the ISA abolished!"


The peerless Patriot and Prince was fittingly driven away in a red Rolls Royce. As his supporters parted, it was obvious that they were not going to rest on their laurels. They were already talking of meeting in the candlelight vigils in Seremban and PJ.

It was truly a historic day of hugs, heart and hope. In contrast to the cavalier attitude of Syed Hamid in the recent ISA arrests, there was the calibre and courage of Syed Ahmad Helmy, a glimmer of hope in the judiciary.

Compared to the arrogance of the Umno-dominated government which believes that might is right, there was the humility of ordinary citizens who achieved the extraordinary in their multi-racial solidarity!

The Home Minister wants to appeal the judge’s decision – which he claims he respects! We understand. Umno’s internal security is threatened and it is rapidly losing its appeal. Further Syed Hamid wants to be very "appealing" - he is standing in the coming Umno elections.

Former de facto Law Minister Zaid Ibrahim has said that Umno cannot change. And as can be seen from last night’s Anti-ISA gathering when the “uncivilized” police ran riot in the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre, the Police cannot change. They will continue to be arrogant.

Our hope for change lies in the rakyat. The people’s involvement in the process that resulted in RPK being free confirms this.

Martin Jalleh
10 November 2008



[Images courtesy of Malaysiakini & Zorro Unmasked]

EYEWITNESS REPORT: Orc Attack @ The PJ Uncivic Center

"None are more hopelessely enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe


Had a brand new pack of 6 candles ready & an improvised windproof holder, but arriving at Amcorp Mall around 9:15 I saw no activity on the padang. People were gathered in front of the Mall and it was great to be greeted immediately by a few fellow bloggers who recognized me. That's the nicest feature of physically attending these community events - every face you see, even if you haven't been introduced, is already a friend.

Of course a few could be undercover Mat Rempit, SB officers, or plainclothes defectives - I mean detectives - but they are easily sniffed out. Look out for the tell-tale signs: no sign of human vitality behind those humorless eyes. I bear them no ill will because their minds have been implanted during their rigorous and inhuman training, and the poor fellows had their empathy circuits removed so they are quite incapable of independent thought and lack human biofields. One could easily mistake them for Orcs or Uruk-hai .

Haris Ibrahim suddenly appeared and, this being our very first physical meeting, I just had to give him a big hug for inspiring so many with his gigantic spirit and outstanding mind.

Got a call from a friend who said the cops had forced her to turn back at a roadblock, so she decided to go home. She added that a few other buddies were with RPK at a club further down the street so I decided it would make my 3-hour commute to PJ worthwhile if I at least got to say hello to the national superhero in person. True enough, there he was, looking mellow and benign, a digital-age version of man-for-all-seasons Sir Thomas More, being interviewed by a couple of people with videocams. When they finished I gave him a very heartfelt hug (I've only met RPK once before, briefly, in 1999 when he was coordinating the KeADILan website, but after I dropped a hint he did remember our meeting).

Magnificent Marina was there too but got only a quick hug from me because Polis patrol cars were cruising up & down and the crowd started walking slowly towards the PJ Civic Center. Decided to WALK WITH RPK (literally) and when I got to the Civic Center, the Red Helmets were already lined up and beating their shields to scare people. Polis sirens were wailing just for effect. It appeared they had been instructed to intimidate & terrorize the peaceful rakyat gathered there simply because we value democracy and love this nation too much to allow it to be turned into a pirates' lair by a bunch of Scumno scoundrels.

I could sense the FRU guys pumping up their adrenaline - and for a moment thought it would be wise to not linger. But RPK was speaking under a cluster of yellow balloons and I moved closer to hear him describe what an emotional torture it is for some ISA detainees who don't even get one visit from family in 3 months - because the families are too poor or live too far to make regular trips to Kamunting.

We felt a ripple of aggression emanating from the Red Helmets - some Polis officer must have received a call with instructions to nab a truckload of law-abiding taxpayers just to show the Rakyat you can't mess with the Biggest Bodoh in Bodohland. A voice said, "Let's sing Negaraku before we disperse!" and with surprising sweetness & authentic sincerity, the national anthem was sung wholeheartedly by the 250-300 souls gathered around RPK. Before we could finish, I heard batons banging on shields and knew the Red Helmets were about to charge.


"Let's split," I said to my companion, "it's rather inconvenient to spend the night in the copshop!" As we turned to walk away, what sounded like Orcs on the rampage reached our ears. I turned around and saw the crowd being shoved around like waters in a lake being churned up by a descending helicopter. Good thing I was wearing a black shirt over my red No Holds Barred T-shirt. I remembered to blow out my candle so as not to draw unwanted attention and vanished into the shadows between some large bushes and then got back onto the path leading towards the main road. I could hear harsh voices and the sound of batons smashing on shields (or heads, I couldn't be sure and wasn't inclined to turn around and find out).

We managed to get safely back to New Town and found a coffee shop still open - a few of my friend's friends were already there. They, too, had been at the vigil and were outraged and shaken at the unnecessarily violent turn it had taken.

Home minister Hamid Albar vehemently denied any knowledge of the heavy-handed Polis action until this morning. What an incompetent home minister, to be entirely clueless about an event so politically significant - and to have so little control over the behavior of his own Polis force! Deserves to be sacked on the spot! Everybody knows that only a couple of days ago Hamid Albar suffered the humiliation of being ticked off by an honest judge, when the home minister was accused of abusing his power and bending the law to malicious and partisan political ends. It was nothing less than a public slap in his fat face.

No doubt the Usual Suspects were frothing at the mouth because RPK had the audacity to even exist - what more as a free man and evidently the most beloved, respected and celebrated Son of Malaysia!

Within 15 minutes I was receiving SMSes filling me in on the details - two DAP MPs pulled in (heard Tony Pua and Lau Weng San had been roughed up). Abolish-the-ISA activist Angela Ooi nabbed, along with a Malaysiakini videographer, and around 20 others, including Ashok Kandiah, a member of the legal team that had sprung RPK on Friday. One guy had apparently made a run for it but was chased by eight Red Helmets who knocked him down and pinned him to the ground before whacking him up. Now this is what the public would like to see being done to child rapists, snatch thieves and kidnappers - not to peace-loving citizens doing their democratic duty; assembling to call for the repeal of a tyrannical & oppressive law by lighting candles and singing the national anthem.



This video reveals that the red-helmeted Orcs not only failed to show respect for the national anthem by standing to attention - they actually attacked unarmed citizens in the middle of expressing their patriotism and rudely clobbered some of them, arresting others. I know a few of us did sing Negaraku offkey but is there a law that says the punishment is to be kicked in the stomach and truncheoned in public? Selangor Chief Police Officer Khalid Abu Bakar stated that those arrested were wearing red and yellow T-shirts. I know those are the colors of the Selangor state flag - but since when has it been a crime to wear those colors on a Sunday night?

What now, Malaysia? From Bodowiland to Mahathirville via Najibia? Or will the Sun break through the clouds sooner than we expect, signalling a New Dawn?

Re: THE SIXTH PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

A letter from Haris Ibrahim, dated 31st October, 2008, to:

1. YB Tan Sri Bernard G. Dompok,
President,
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation,
Ibu Pejabat UPKO,
Lot 9 & 10, Tingkat 2 & 3,
New World Commercial Centre,
Pekan Penampang,
Peti Surat 420,
89507 Penampang, Sabah.

2. YB Dato' Seri Ong Tee Keat,
President,
Malaysian Chinese Association,
8th Floor, Wisma MCA, 163,
Jalan Ampang,
50450 Kuala Lumpur.

3. YB Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon,
President,
Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia,
Level 5, Menara PGRM,
8, Jln Pudu Ulu, Cheras,
56100, Kuala Lumpur

Dear Yang Berkhidmat – Yang Berkhidmat,

Re: The Sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia

God’s peace be with you.

I am a Malaysian citizen. I also moderate a blog called ‘The People’s Parliament.’

I am writing to you because you are the only leaders within Barisan Nasional in whom I dare place my hopes that my concerns relating to the person who aspires to soon be appointed as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia will receive genuine attention and, hopefully, positive action.

Yang Berkhidmat Tan Sri Bernard, allow me to say that I have long admired and appreciated your willingness, when your colleagues in the Barisan Nasional chose to remain silent for reasons best known to them, to speak up and remain steadfast on issues of national concern. Many of us remember how, in early 2006, you were the only non-Muslim minister who did not retract the memorandum earlier submitted by you and nine of your other non-Muslim colleagues in the cabinet to the Prime Minister following upon the controversial refusal of the civil High Court to adjudicate on the matter of the faith of the deceased Everest climber, Sarjen Moorthy. We have also not forgotten how, when the Deputy Prime Minister rather irresponsibly and baselessly declared last year that Malaysia is an Islamic state, yours was the lone voice that publicly disputed this groundless claim.

Yang Berkhidmat Dato' Seri Ong and Yang Berkhidmat Tan Sri Dr. Koh, it is my sincere hope that as you have both only recently been elected to the pinnacle of your respective parties, both of which have demonstrated, since the 12th General Elections, a greater sensitivity to the wishes and concerns of the electorate and a willingness to speak up on those wishes and concerns, you will now lead your parties with the requisite courage to address the concerns which I now wish to draw your attention to.

We are soon to see a changing of the guard in UMNO.

Barring any surprises, it is expected that, unless brought forward to December this year as is being speculated by certain quarters, the UMNO general assembly will take place in March 2009 whereafter, it appears to be a foregone conclusion that Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib will take over the presidency of UMNO from Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

That is not my concern.

My concern, and that of a great many, is the assumption and assertion by many in UMNO, and the seeming acquiescence to the same by the leaders of the other component parties in Barisan Nasional, that if and when Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib takes over the presidency of UMNO, he will, as a matter of course, take over the Prime Ministership of this country because, so the argument seems to go, he will then be the president of UMNO and the Prime Minister of Malaysia has and will always be the president of UMNO.

I perceive two difficulties with this argument. One is constitutional, the other one of perception of, firstly, the general public, and secondly, Members of Parliament, as to the suitability of Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib for the office of Prime Minister.

In truth, the second difficulty will become immediately apparent when the first difficulty as mentioned above and detailed below is fully appreciated.

The argument that the Prime Minister has always to be the president of UMNO is, with respect, flawed and contradicts Article 43(2) of the Federal Constitution which, in the most unambiguous language, stipulates that His Majesty the Yang Di Pertuan Agong shall appoint as Prime Minister, the one who in his judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of’ the Dewan Rakyat.

The Constitution does not stipulate that His Majesty shall appoint the president of UMNO as Prime Minister, but the one who, in the judgment of His Majesty, is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of’ the Dewan Rakyat.

No doubt, the previous three Prime Ministers were and the current Prime Minister is the president of UMNO. What must be noted, though, is that at the time of their respective appointments, no one seriously thought to question, let alone doubted, whether any of the previous three Prime Ministers or the current one commanded the confidence of the majority of the members of’ the Dewan Rakyat.

The notion that the Prime Minister must always be the president of UMNO is, therefore, plainly misinformed. The president of UMNO can only be appointed Prime Minister if His Majesty forms the view that that president was likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Dewan Rakyat.

It is most important that this false notion be set right and set right immediately. No doubt you will face tremendous opposition from your counterparts in UMNO when you assert the correct, constitutional position as I have laid out above, but in this regard, I must remind you that your oath of office as Members of Parliament behoves you to act without fear and with one aim, that is, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution.

I turn now to the more thorny matter of the second difficulty of perception I have alluded to above: whether Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib is suitable for the office of Prime Minister.

Allow me to put this matter differently.

Given the matters that I will shortly narrate below, can you, in all honesty, say that you would have the fullest confidence in Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib as Prime Minister of our country?

The matters that I ask you to take note of.

1. Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib has maintained that he neither knew, was ever acquainted with nor had any dealings whatsoever with murdered Altantuya Shaaribuu, the central figure in the ongoing murder trial in Shah Alam. Yet:

1.1 on 29th June, 2007, Mongolian national, Burmaa Oyunchimeg, a prosecution witness in the abovementioned murder trial, testified that she had seen a photograph of the victim, accused Razak Baginda and a government official. Newspaper reports give the impression that both the prosecution and some of the defence went to great lengths to try and not allow this witness to continue with this line of testimony. However, when she was examined by Mr. Karpal Singh, who finally managed to get leave to ask the witness who the government official was, she replied, “Najib Razak. I remember the name Najib Razak because the name Razak is the same. I thought maybe they were brothers.” Subsequently, when Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib was asked to comment on this evidence, he declined to do so, on the grounds that it would be inappropriate for him to comment further as any statement he made might be deemed to be on a matter sub-judice, given that the trial was still ongoing. To this date, Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib has never categorically denied this piece of evidence. To the best of my knowledge, no effort has been made by the authorities to investigate this piece of information.

1.2 On 3rd July, 2008, private investigator Balasubramaniam a/l Perumal publicly disclosed his own statutory declaration made on 1st July, 2008 in which he gave details that categorically pointed to Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib knowing Altantuya very, very well. A careful analysis of the statutory declaration will reveal that whilst details contained therein related also to the accused Razak Baginda and the victim, amongst others, the most damaging details contained therein related to Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib. The very next day, in the most suspicious of circumstances, Balasubramaniam publicly disclosed a newer statutory declaration made by him retracting the contents of his earlier statutory declaration. Balasubramaniam and his family have since disappeared and have not been seen by family and friends. A news report dated 10th July, 2008 has it that Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin confirmed that a team of police had taken a statement from Balasubramaniam in a "neighbouring country," declined to say which country he and his family were in but confirmed that Balasubramaniam had said he left Malaysia because he feared for his life. Mohd Bakri also confirmed then that police were investigating both of the contradictory statutory declarations and asked for time to complete the investigations. To-date, we have not heard on the outcome of those investigations. Meanwhile, as reported in a media report on 15th July, 2008, the nephew of Balasubramaniam, R. Kumaresan, startlingly disclosed that whilst he had been in contact with his uncle, he had declined to inform the police of Balasubramaniam’s whereabouts when asked to do so by the police because "I cannot reveal the full details to the police and by doing this I understand what the consequences are... but if I do reveal everything I know what will happen to them."

2. On 26th June, 2007, another Mongolian national, Uuriintuya Gal-Orchir, who testified at the murder trial, complained in the course of her testimony that local immigration records of her, Altantuya and their friend Namiraa Gerelmaa’s entry into Malaysia on 8th October, 2006 had mysteriously vanished. Lead prosecutor Tun Abdul Majid Tun Hamzah and the defence lawyers protested that this evidence was irrelevant. To the best of my knowledge, this matter of the disappearing immigration records of Altantuya and her friends has never been investigated to verify if correct and, if found to be correct, who might be responsible for the same and if it might have a bearing on the murder trial.

3. Paragraph 52 of the first statutory declaration of Balasubramaniam details an sms that was allegedly sent by Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib to Razak Baginda on the day that the latter was arrested. The sms reads: “I am seeing IGP at 11am today ... matter will be solved ... be cool.” The correctness or otherwise of this sms is presumably the subject of the police investigation referred to by Bukit Aman CID chief Mohd Bakri Zinin. However, in another series of sms’es supposedly between Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib and senior lawyer Muhd Shafee Abdullah, the authenticity of which Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib has impliedly admitted, the former sent the following sms to the latter on the morning of 16th November, 2006, the very morning that Razak Baginda was charged in court in connection with the murder of Altantuya : “Pls do not say anything to the press today. i will explain later. RB will have to face a tentative charge but all is not lost”. These sms’es were publicly disclosed on 11th October, 2008 with an immediate public outcry for an investigation whether an abuse of power by an interference with the administration of justice had occurred. On 14th October, 2008, Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib, in reference to this series of sms’es, publicly denied that they evidenced any abuse of power, without ever refuting the authenticity of the same. To-date, there has been no public statement by the relevant authorities whether these sms’es are the subject of any investigation to ascertain if indeed any abuse of power has occurred. If in fact an investigation has been done, no results of the same have been announced. Incidentally, even as write this letter, I have just received word that Razak Baginda has been acquitted of the charge that Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib categorized as ‘tentative’.

You will note that whilst there are many allegations of corruption and secret commissions circulating, I have not sought to trouble you to take note of the same as, to date, these appear to be without any factual or evidential basis. The matters listed above, however, are all matters on record.

It may well be that the matters that I have raised above do not occasion any concern on your part because you are privy to other information that fully vindicates Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib of any and all inferences and aspersions that might reasonably be drawn or made from the matters abovestated. If so, then I must ask, for the peace of mind of the great number who are now burdened with these concerns and, so that an innocent man in the person of Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib should not have to unfairly suffer such inferences and aspersions, that you make public at the soonest possible such other information as you may have.

However, if, like the rest of us, you too, are left to draw the same inferences and aspersions that might reasonably be drawn or made by the rest of us from the matters abovestated, I ask again how you and every other decent member of the Dewan Rakyat might, in all good conscience, say that you have the fullest confidence in Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib to lead this country as Prime Minister? Would not every man and woman in the Dewan Rakyat who has sworn to act in the best interests of this country, be under an obligation to disclose to His Majesty that by reason of the matters stated above remaining unsatisfactorily answered, you cannot lend your support to Yang Berkhidmat Dato Seri Najib to lead this country as Prime Minister?

I fully understand and appreciate that the matter that I seek to bring to your attention vide this letter is a difficult one. However, if these serious matters which relate to the leadership of our country and which now greatly trouble the people are not to be taken back to our political leaders, then I am truly at a loss as to who these grave concerns should be taken to.

Finally, I am obliged to inform you that this letter will also be displayed on my blog. You may wish to instruct your staff to note the sentiments of readers and commentators to the same.

Your duties will no doubt afford you little time to respond to this letter. I shall be grateful if you would give the matters and concerns raised herein your fullest attention and to take such action as your conscience dictate.

I thank you for taking time out from your busy schedule to read this letter.

I am, as always, anak Bangsa Malaysia,

Haris Ibrahim

Dear Haris

I read this lucid and heartfelt letter dated 18 August from Haris Ibrahim on his People's Parliament blog:

Dear Anwar

I write to you as one anak Bangsa Malaysia to another.

My friends and I were pleased to read in the Malaysiakini report of 14th August that you have forgiven your enemies for what they have done to you over the last ten years, but that you will never forget what they have done to you.

It is good that you have found it in your heart to forgive them, for otherwise you will end up bitter and vindictive like a certain ‘past the shelf-life’ politician who just simply refuses to fade away.

No, you don’t want to carry bitterness within you.

And indeed you must never forget, for it is the remembrance of what you have gone through that will serve you well in two ways.

One, to never do to others or allow to be done by others what has been inflicted upon you.

Two, so that you will not allow those who have wronged you the opportunity to do again what they have done to you before.

My sister, I like Chopin, has asked me to tell you that she has forgiven you your 16 years of involvement, at least by association and failure to dissociate, with the autocratic, dictatorial, corrupt Mahathir administration.

Yes, most of my friends and I, like my sister, have long forgiven you for your involvement in the atrocities committed by Mahathir during his reign of destruction and pillage, even if only by association and your failure to dissociate with his regime.

But like you, we, too, have not forgotten.

Just as remembrance will serve you well, so too us.

Will we ever forget?

I cannot speak for the others, but for me, I think that is really up to you.

Before I proceed further, so as to lessen the hurt, if any, of what I am about to say, let me first say that whilst I have the highest regard for YB Lim Kit Siang and YB Lim Guan Eng, yet in the matter of the politics and governance of this nation, I do not trust them implicitly and without question, because they are politicians and 50 years of BN politics has delivered a hard and painful lesson to many of us.

Don’t trust politicians completely.

Many times last year, I wrote in this blog that I wished you would give me a reason to trust you.

Whilst I have to be frank and tell you that I still do not trust you, three things have persuaded me to ‘take a chance’.

First, and this is the only rational factor of the three, this nation needs to be rid of the racist, divide and rule politics of BN. UMNO will not change, and the other component parties have shown themselves to be helplessly subservient to UMNO.

You and your party leaders, together with the leaders of DAP, have been taking policy positions or making policy statements that, by far and large, seem to be in line with the aspirations of the people.

I say ’seem’ because much still remains to be seen.

I had actually wanted to say all the Pakatan leaders but, truly, PAS has been giving us some serious concerns of late.

The second and the third factors are, in truth, ‘gut’ reactions.

[Read the rest here.]

I left a long comment on Haris's blog by way of a spontaneous response...

BRAVO, HARIS, BRAVO INDEED!!!

What took you so long to see the solid core of spiritual integrity in Anwar Ibrahim? Speaking for myself, I was just as disdainful of the man's politics... right up till 2 September 1998 when Mahathir sacked him from Umno and from both his official positions.


Anwar's fierce rebellion aroused the dormant warrior spirit in me and I began to track his moves closely. In all those years while Anwar was incarcerated in Sungai Buloh, not once did he say anything foolish or undignified. He carried himself impeccably and with astounding stoicism, forcing me to rank him alongside national heroes like Jose Rizal, Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mandela.

And when Wan Azizah and Nurul Izzah rose to the occasion like true royalty, my heart opened wide to the HUMAN dimensions of this incredible, homegrown political drama. I feel a twinge of shame now that I never made the effort to visit Anwar in Sungai Buloh or when he was warded at Hospital KL for his back pains. However, he was very much in my thoughts and I kept a clear vision of Anwar being released from prison, exonerated of all accusations, and ready to continue doing battle with injustice.


So you can imagine my great joy to see all this unfolding before my eyes in the build-up and aftermath of GE12. I have viewed almost every Anwar speech on YouTube and not once has he given me pause or caused me to wince. As an orator and public figure, the man is 100% the genuine article. Naturally, my feelings for Anwar are now more on the soul level than the mental. Indeed, I see Anwar as the person I would wish to be if I had chosen to be in politics. (My parents named me "Xie Fang" at birth, which means "Fragrant Hero" - hence the internal resonance with Anwar Ibrahim, whose name means "Inner Light" or "The Luminous One").


What's even more impressive - Anwar has earned the profound love, admiration and respect of veteran warriors and sages like Kit Siang, Karpal, Guan Eng, and Nik Aziz. Their feelings of solidarity with Anwar are tangibly real - that's why March 8th 2008 was possible. And that's exactly why Pakatan Rakyat can - and will - become the next government of Malaysia.

To me the September 16 date is Anwar's way of maintaining his focus, intention, and will-power. Setting a definite target activates and charges up the field of potentiality and probability. Ultimately it matters not if Pakatan Rakyat takes over in September, October or November (the sooner the better, of course!) - but my instincts tell me Anwar might just pull it off. His return to Permatang Pauh and Parliament is undoubtedly the important first step to Putrajaya.


Once Anwar is Opposition Leader, the momentum of transformation will accelerate. What used to take generations will be accomplished within months, weeks, days.

I know the Bumno Bunch are using big-time black magic to try and put Anwar behind bars for traumatizing that poor "innocent" catamite Saiful Bukhari. I believe RPK has once again foiled their plans by exposing Shafee Abdullah's role in the plot. To stage another balaclava terrorist-style arrest at this stage would plunge the entire country into overwhelming darkness and precipitate military rule. I doubt any of our Sultans will allow that to happen. They have wisdom enough to know it would spell the ignominious end of Malaysia as a parliamentary "democracy." If those bloody Sai-fools* in BN try to bring down Anwar by brute force, the whole ceiling will collapse and kill everybody, including the conspirators.

It has been much harder to pin anything on KJ & Co - as things stand Najib is absorbing most of the bad vibes from this ludicrously Kafkaesque plot, but that's precisely the whole wicked idea. Now let's consider this: if we can get at least 1 million Malaysians to anchor a clear vision of Anwar remaining free and Pakatan Rakyat taking over the federal government, we can all look forward to a very meaningful, glorious and wonderfully joyful destiny for Malaysia.

----
Sai - "shit" in Hokkien