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Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah interview as Petronas Chairman
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The 'go go years' are over and our 'oil lottery' money is fast depleting mainly due to mismanagement by the powers-that-be, decried veteran politician Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, According to the Petronas founder, the original plans of the oil giant did not include over-producing oil to pay for billions of ringgit worth of unnecessary government projects. "It started with this (defence equipment purchase) agreement with (then British prime minister) Margaret Thatcher, and suddenly the production of oil was doubled from 650,000 barrels per day to over a million barrels a day (to fund the purchase). That was too much for us," he said.

As one of the architects of the Malaysia oil blueprint, the Kelantan royal is now out to set things right, especially for his home state which he believes have the "sovereign right" to be paid royalty for oil found on its shores.

"It's not a complicated issue for as long as oil is found along the shore of Kelantan, whether it's in the joint development area or whether it is off-shore in the exclusive economic zone of the country, Petronas is obliged to pay," he said. Another matter which needs to be address is the arrangement between the states and the centre, which Razaleigh said is outdated and cannot provide the revenue required to meet the development plans of each state. The former finance minister, who met with Malaysiakini last week, was unfazed by the warning from Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin not to accept an opposition invitation to head a parliamentary oil royalty caucus.

Razaleigh said Muhyiddin can "climb to the top of the mountain" to warn him but it would not stop him from doing what is right. " I don't care who warns me. I'm doing this for the country; I'm not beholden to anybody. People can climb to the top of a mountain to warn me. I couldn't care less. I plan to see that the sovereign rights of the people are protected. The following are excerpts of the interview. Content has been edited for brevity.

Malaysiakini: You gave a stinging speech arguing that Malaysia has "squandered" quite a lot of our oil money. What prompted you to give that speech?

Razaleigh: It's because we will get caught flat-footed. What happens if the oil runs out? We have not planned to have substitute revenue in the event that we ran out of oil revenue in the years to come. Some economists have put the amount of money already lost (due to mismanagement of oil revenue) at about RM100 billion... some estimated about RM350 billion, while others put it as RM500 billion. I can't put my finger on the numbers precisely because I don't have access to the accounts. But Dr Mahathir (Mohamad) has said something to the extent that there are some huge sums of money unaccounted for... missing...

Malaysiakini: Was this in reference to the RM270 billion of oil revenue which Mahathir alleges to have been spent during the previous prime minister Abdullah Badawi's term?

Razaleigh: I can't quite remember... but he did come up with the statement querying Petronas, asking, 'where has this money gone to?' The amount I referred to in my speech, (was the amount spent during the) time when (Mahathir) was in control of the company and Petronas. The amount that was utilised for all sorts of expenditure, including defence equipment which was purchased from Britain, for instance, amounted to RM7 billion. This was the defence purchase made with (former British prime minister) Margaret Thatcher at that time after (Mahathir and Thatcher) patched up. This was after Mahathir threatened to 'buy British last'. Forward contracts were being made to satisfy these purchases.

Source: rakyat marhaen

Opening speech
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winding up speech by anwar ibrahim

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Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim declared this evening that his Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had now achieved something which Barisan Nasional (BN) could not – to have a common policy for all races in the country. Speaking at the end of PR's inaugural convention here, he said his fledgling coalition of DAP, PKR and PAS could no longer be accused of not having a clear policy. Anwar argued that the ruling BN coalition had been unable to come out with such a comprehensive policy statement.

Among the highlights of the common platform tabled today were pledges to introduce means-based affirmative action, to bring back judicial independence and to ensure what PR says is people-centric economic policies. “Many people have said, Pakatan is a weak coalition, with no clear policy. “Today our direction is clear, I urge my friends to study the document thoroughly, I was in Umno and BN before, let me tell you that BN cannot come out with something like this,” said Anwar.

In his speech, Anwar also said the policy framework was a dynamic document and allows mechanism on the implementation to be worked out later. “We the elders, we are giving the younger generation the space to improve,” said Anwar, in response to demands made some leaders who asked PR to commit to the restoration of local government elections. At the press conference after the closing of the convention, Anwar said members of the coalition only had problems with implementing the principles agreed. “In the three-party talks, nobody spoke up against the democratic process, what we discussed was the method to implement the process,” he told reporters.

“If there is any assumption that some of us are against it then, it is not true,” said Anwar referring to the opposition to the restoration of local elections. He added that there are many issues on local government elections that needed to be addressed, such as the structure of the councils and their boundaries. “We take this document seriously,” said Anwar adding that the coalition will also engage with civil society groups to work out the details of the policy framework. The policy framework was prepared collectively by all the three parties and coordinated by former minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who is a PKR supreme council member. It was endorsed and officially adopted by the three parties after a one-day debate by the convention delegates.

At 78 and now suffering heart problems, Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat is the subject of widespread speculation as to when he will step down as menteri besar, as well as the identity of his successor. While he has remained vague over both, his son Nik Abdul broached one subject in a blog-entry, in which he urged certain quarters not to stop his father from leaving office. Interviewed recently at his office in Kota Bharu, Nik Aziz said he is still capable of fulfilling his duties and that there is no need as yet for him to name a successor.

“(My health) is all right. If I stand for too long, I get tired. Doctors have told me not to (go on the ground) if I am tired. I’m old, and the ‘battery’ in my heart is weakening. “Other than taking medicine, I pray (for good health). Even the Chinese are praying for me. When they see me, they tell me Jangan mati lagi, (don’t die yet), Tok Guru,” he said with a laugh. “Even the Chinese are forbidding me from dying. They are more willing to listen to me than to the people from Umno.” Asked how his successor will be chosen, he said that one of the three deputy PAS state commissioners are likely to succeed him based on the hierarchy in the state and the party.

“It is ‘automatic’ according to party methodology. It is a form of preparation. We must have an umbrella ready before it rains,” said Nik Aziz, who has headed the Kelantan administration since 1990. Pressed further, he revealed that state executive councillor Ahmad Yakob is the front runner, by virtue of being the most senior of the trio. “Ahmad is the first layer. Whether or not he is accepted by the people, that is up to God. But he is deputy menteri besar. A lot of my duties have been delegated to him.” The other two are Nik Amar Abdullah and Husam Musa. The latter is widely deemed to be Nik Aziz’s protégé, although he has not received such endorsement.

Little is known about Ahmad, who like many Kelantan assemblypersons, shies away from the national political limelight. A religious scholar and long-serving state lawmaker, he is the Pekan Pasir state assemblyperson. However, Nik Amar has publicly endorsed Ahmad, as he wants Nik Aziz to name a successor quickly to prevent the likelihood of a power struggle in PAS.

Whatever the murmurings among the grassroots, the question as to whether Nik Aziz should stay or go may be overtaken by another development. PKR politician Zaid Ibrahim, who is spearheading a move to register Pakatan Rakyat as a coalition, has suggested that it be chaired by Nik Aziz. Nik Aziz said he is open to the idea, when asked if he would accept such an appointment. “I am the spiritual leader elected by the PAS central committee. What is wrong with being the spiritual leader of Pakatan? If you want to listen to me, thank you. If not, then I’m sorry.

“It is not a burden. It will increase my following. I would be happier leading open-minded Chinese than narrow-minded Malays,” he said with a smile. However, he instantly brushed aside any idea that PAS would compromise on its goals, such as the implementation of hudud law and establishing an Islamic state. These policies have been formulated on PAS’ religious obligations, he said, and therefore cannot be compromised. He also insisted that these policies have been generally misunderstood, and invited his Pakatan colleagues to clarify the matter with PAS. “There is no need (to quarrel). Say what you want, but listen to our reply. Don’t make accusations and (then) when I reply, you don’t listen. Tak boleh! (This won’t do). Islam means you should ask questions. If you don’t understand (our policies), ask,” he added. Pakatan will hold its first national convention this weekend in Shah Alam, where thorny issues such as PAS’ goal of a theocratic state are expected to be thrashed out.

Source: malaysiakini.com

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Wacana perdana Islam di Malaysia – Realiti dan Harapan malam tadi bertukar menjadi forum politik apabila isu tuntutan royalti minyak Kelantan pula muncul sebagai topik perbincangan. Wacana berkenaan membariskan ahli panel Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pendidikan, Pembangunan Islam dan Dakwah Negeri, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, mantan mufti Perlis Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin, bekas Yang Dipertua Yayasan Dakwah Islamiyah Malaysia (Yadim), Datuk Mohd Nakhaei Ahmad dan Pengerusi Biro Agama Pemuda Umno Malaysia, Afandi Yusof.

Topik itu menjadi berlarutan selepas program yang dipengerusikan oleh Pensyarah Pusat Pengajian Sejarah, Politik dan Strategi, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Dr Muhammad Agus Yusuf itu mengutarakan soalan berhubung perkara berkaitan. Afandi mempertahankan keputusan kerajaan pusat yang mahu memberi wang ihsan berdasarkan undang-undang kononnya Kelantan tidak berhak kepada tuntutan tersebut. “Kelantan perlu ingat perjanjian baru dibuat pada 1990 sekali gus telah membatalkan perjanjian yang termaktub sebelum ini dalam Akta Petroleum 1974,” katanya. Perjanjian dibuat pada 1990 dikenali dengan perjanjian Kawasan pembangunan Bersama (JDA) antara Malaysia dan Thailand.

Bagaimanapun hujah Afandi itu disangkal Mohd Amar yang bertegas Kelantan merupakan sebuah negeri dalam Malaysia yang mana telaga minyak terdapat di kawasan perairan pantainya. “Maknanya jika tidak ada Kelantan maka tidak ada Malaysia yang mengusahakan projek pengeluaran bahan api itu pada hari ini. “Bahkan Thailand yang terlibat dengan perjanjian JDA itu memberi royalti kepada Songkla memandangkan berlakunya pertindihan antara perairan pantainya. “Jika kerajaan bukan Islam boleh bersikap adil dan telus berhubung perkara kepentingan rakyat, mana perginya integriti kerajaan pusat di negara kita dalam perkara ini?” soal Mohd Amar.

Hujah Afandi dilihat semakin tercorok ke belakang dengan penampilan Nakhaei yang cuba menyarankan agar royalti tersebut disalurkan mengikut salurannya. “Tak ada gunanya bergaduh dalam perkara ini. Berilah dulu... jika ia gagal diuruskan dengan baik, tarik balik,” kata Nakhaei disambut dengan laungan takbir penonton. Asri turut memukau ribuan penonton melalui hujah bernasnya lengkap bersama adat dan hukum. “Saya tidak menyebelahi mana-mana pihak. Sekadar mengemukakan hujah atau pandangan untuk dikongsi. Adalah baiknya isu ini diberi kepada yang berhak. Adilkan! “Menafikan hak seseorang merupakan satu perbuatan khianat,” katanya.

Wacana ini diadakan di dewan bangunan Kelantan Trade Centre (KTC) dengan dihadiri lebih 3,000 penonton. Ia dianjurkan Urusetia Penerangan Kerajaan Negeri dengan kerjasama Perbadanan Kemajuan Iktisad Negeri Kelantan, Jabatan Hal Ehwal Agama Islam Kelantan, Majlis Perbandaran Kota Bharu-Bandaraya Islam, Harakah, Kelantan TV dan Aura X-klusif Guest House. Pada majlis yang sama ketika menjawab soalan moderator, Umno menyentuh isu doa bala dicetuskan Menteri Besar Kelantan, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat. Afandi lantang mencabar ulama PAS mengemukakan nas dan dalilnya.

“Saya cabar sekarang... kitab mana yang membolehkan umat Islam membuat perkara seperti ini. Ini satu perbuatan mungkar,” cabarnya. Namun hujahnya ditangkis Asri yang mengemukakan dalil dari hadis soheh Muslim berkaitan perkara itu. Asri menjelaskan hadis berkenaan meriwayatkan seorang sahabat pernah mendoabutakan mata seorang individu tertentu lantaran perbuatan fitnah serta penipuan dilakunya. “Akhirnya dengan izin Allah matanya buta hingga ke akhir hayat,” jelas Asri membuatkan dewan sekali lagi bergema dengan laungan takbir penonton. Mohd Amar mencelah untuk memperbetulkan kontroversi doa bala Nik Aziz. Katanya, doa itu tidak diperjelas secara menyeluruh oleh pihak bertanggungjawab mengeksploitasi perkara itu menyebabkan orang ramai menjadi keliru. “Petik sepenuhnya doa itu. Baru dapat maksudnya,” ujarnya.

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PAS spiritual leader Datuk Seri Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat opened fire at Umno by claiming his political rivals are desperate to dislodge him from leading Kelantan in order to revive the troubled Barisan Nasional coalition. The long-serving Kelantan mentri besar explained that the Malay party's state of despair is akin to a drowning person desperate to do anything to say alive, including making unfounded accusations against him to unseat him. “The story is that Umno is drowning, willing to say anything including the accusations made against me. They know that they are weak. Terengganu is divided, there is Umno A and Umno B. Perak is worse, they are fighting for the speaker’s robe,” Nik Aziz told the 1,000-strong audience at Taman Melewar here.

He added that both of Umno’s main allies in Barisan Nasional are also in a state of disorder. “MCA, which is Umno’s right crutch, is in chaos. So is MIC, who is Umno’s left crutch. So they have nothing to do but make accusations against me. He advised Umno to stop ‘dreaming” of trying to capture Kelantan. “What are they going to do in Kelantan? They want to create a religion? They want to create a religion because they don’t have Islam. It is simple to build a mosque but religion and mosque are different,” the popular PAS leader said.

Nik Aziz said that Umno is pretending to build a mosque so that they can pretend that they are praying. He has been a trenchant critic of Umno and has protested any unity with the traditional political foe following the party's brief membership in Barisan Nasional between 1974 and 1977 that resulted in PAS losing Kelantan in the 1978 general election. “They don’t fight for Islam. They want to fight for people, country and race? Who taught them this? The white man. Who is the white man? Like the Prophet Muhammad no longer exists,” said the Deoband-trained cleric who was voted the 42nd most influential Muslim by a Jordanian institute recently.

He added that Islam does not differentiate between the different races. “Can a Malay movement save the religion? Malay is different. Islam is different." Nik Aziz stressed that Islam is key towards achieving 1 Malaysia. “Umno claims that Islamic is chaotic and divisive. They tried Islam Hadhari but it did not work and now comes 1 Malaysia. "Malaysia is the best place to have Islam because there are Chinese, Malays and Indians. They want to unite the people with what? With Islam,” he said to a loud applause from the crowd. The mainstream media has accused Nik Aziz of asking the people of Kelantan to pray for misfortune to befall the prime minister if the federal government refuses to give oil royalty to the state.

He has also been bogged down by accusations of cronyism and corruption since last month over the controversial appointment of his son-in-law Ariffahmi Abdul Rahman as the CEO of Kelantan Mentri Besar Corporation (PMBK) and for receiving sponsorship to perform the pilgrimage in Mecca from a businessman. He later cancelled the religious trip this year and ordered his son-in-law to leave the state investment arm following pressure from party leaders and the public. Last month, a debate on the Kelantan succession plan began when a senior state executive councillor, Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah, urged Nik Aziz to name his successor, arguing that a succession plan would stabilise the Kelantan government. The discussion on the succession plan has also been seen to be manipulated by Umno leaders to weaken Nik Aziz’s position. However, the Islamist party has dismissed the suggestion and said that the influential spiritual leader can continue to rule the state without naming a successor.

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Any reasonable person would draw the conclusion that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak is somehow linked to the disappearance of P Balasubramaniam, according to the private investigator’s lawyer. “The facts seem to point to the possibility that they wanted him out of the way and delegated this job to others close to them to execute,” said Americk Singh Sidhu (left) in an interview with Malaysiakini. “As matters stand, I am concerned about the involvement of Nazim (Razak), Najib’s younger brother. The question is why would he have an interest in Bala’s disappearance if it were not to protect his brother?” asked Americk.

Balasubramaniam recently emerged from hiding to reveal that he had met Nazim, an architect, the night before he made a dramatic reversal and recanted his first statutory declaration in which he alleged that Najib had close ties with murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu. Balasubramaniam also claimed that he was offered RM5 million by one Deepak, a businessman close to Najib’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, to retract his first statutory declaration. Najib had repeatedly denied speculations that he was behind Balasubramaniam’s retraction. In the interview, Americk recounted how he was introduced to Balasubramaniam, on his reaction to the retraction of Balasuubramaniam’s first statutory declaration and his subsequent meeting with the former police officer after he emerged from hiding a year later.

The lawyer also revealed that the video recording of his interview with Balasubramaniam three months ago was secretly taken as an “insurance in the event he was apprehended by the parties involved in his departure from this country over a year ago”. “He did not know he was being filmed at that time but we did inform him of this later and he understood why we did it,” said Americk. According to him, while Balasubramaniam may have committed an offence under the Statutory Declarations Act 1960 for giving conflicting statutory declarations, he could nevertheless defend himself against the charge as it “would appear he was coerced, intimidated and/or forced to sign the second statutory declaration under duress”. But those who allegedly instigated the swearing of the false second statutory declaration – Deepak, one ASP Suresh and lawyer M Arunampalam – are also liable to criminal charges for abetment and conspiracy, added Americk. “In so far as Nazim is concerned, he was involved in criminal intimidation of Bala besides a possibility of being roped into the abetment/conspiracy charges arising from the creation of the second false statutory declaration.”

Malaysiakini: When did you first meet Bala?

Americk: I first met Bala sometime in April or May 2008. I was having some early evening drinks with some lawyer friends of mine at ‘Fogles’, which is a delicatessen/bar at Plaza Damas. We were later joined by ASP Suresh and Bala. One of the lawyers I was with, M Puravalen, introduced me to them. I had no idea who they were before that. I had not been following the Altantuya case very closely so I had not realised that Abdul Razak Baginda had a private investigator assisting him and this was Bala. I then started enquiring about this whole saga out of curiosity. Puravalen had been involved in the Altantuya case as he was the first counsel Abdul Razak Baginda had engaged before he was discharged and a new counsel engaged, and so he enlightened me as regards the more salient facts. I am not sure how ASP Suresh featured in all this but he appeared to be a good friend of Bala’s and appeared to have his interests at heart. Eventually some of the other lawyers left and the restaurant started closing so we decided to move on to ‘The Backyard’ pub in Sri Hartamas, which is only a short distance away from Plaza Damas. There were four of us Bala, myself, ASP Suresh and Valen.

We were drinking and still discussing the whole Altantuya murder case as I found it fascinating. Sometime later (Subang MP and lawyer) Sivarasa Rasiah walked in. I know Siva as he is also a friend, but we are not very close. We asked him to join us. He also listened to what Bala had to say and after that suggested Bala get someone to record everything. Somehow I was chosen to do this as everyone felt I was the one lawyer who did not have an agenda in this matter as I was someone neutral. I agreed and that was when I made an appointment for Bala to come to my office so that I could record all he had to say. The recordings occurred about two or three times over a period of about two months and lasted a few hours each time.

Malaysiakini: How did you feel when Bala came out with the second statutory declaration? Did you attempt to contact him?

I received a call from a member of the press at about 9.30am on July 4, 2008 asking me why my client, Bala, had called a press conference for 11am that morning at the Prince hotel. I was a little surprised as I had no idea what this was about so I proceeded to call Bala, who did not answer his phone. I then proceeded to make further enquiries only to find out that Bala had purportedly been represented by another lawyer, one Arunampalam who had spoken to the press at that press conference on behalf of Bala and had said that Bala was retracting the contents of his first SD as he had been forced to sign it under duress. When I came to know of this press conference and what transpired thereat, I was absolutely flabbergasted. Bala and I had spent two months and many hours over the first SD to ensure it was absolutely correct and for him to deny the contents in the space of 24 hours did seem incredible to me.

Bala had anticipated that he would be arrested by the police after releasing the first statutory declaration and he told me so. This is why he had handed over his mobile phone to me for safe keeping before he left my office the evening before as he did not want the police to download information from it. We were therefore preparing for his arrest and then to go to the police station he was being held at to represent him. I never expected him to have been ‘hijacked’ by the personalities involved, and I am sure, neither did he. It is also worth mentioning here that this lawyer, Arunampalam, was not engaged by Bala to represent him at the press conference at the Prince hotel despite the fact that Arunampalam has said Bala called him and asked him to do so. This is a blatant lie. Bala does not know this man and had never met him prior to that press conference. In fact, it is well-known that Arunamalam does legal work for Deepak and this can be substantiated quite easily. There is no doubt in my mind that Bala was forced, coerced, threatened and intimidated into signing the second statutory declaration.

read more on http://anwaribrahimblog.com/2009/11/25/lawyer-najib-linked-to-balas-disappearance/

Anwar Ibrahim
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Azmin Ali


Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim last night continued to shore up the spirits of PKR members by reminding those attending the party’s Federal Territory convention here that Kuala Lumpur was the birthplace of “Refomasi”. Refomasi was the “battle-cry” of the movement which took to the streets to support Anwar after he was sacked as deputy prime minister in 1998. The de-facto PKR leader, who was speaking to members at the De Palma Hotel, reminisced about the early struggles, his arrest and subsequent detention. He urged PKR members to stay the course and warned them against betraying the party, now plagued by infighting.

Anwar has been attending PKR conventions across the nation to shore up the party. He pointed out that Barisan National (BN) was almost wiped out in Kuala Lumpur in the last general elections because voters wanted to punish them and wanted change. “Change or we will undertake change on your behalf,” warned Anwar. The federal opposition leader also continued to defend his appointment as economic advisor to the Selangor government. He said the move was to aid Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim defend against the continuous BN onslaught led by the prime minister, who had indicated their desire to win back Selangor.

Due to the attacks, Anwar said he had Khalid — who was formerly PKR chief for both Selangor and Kuala Lumpur — concentrate his efforts on governing the state. Besides being Ijok state lawmaker, Khalid is also member of parliament for Bandar Tun Razak, in Kuala Lumpur. Gombak MP Azmin Ali was recently appointed as Kuala Lumpur chief. The end of Anwar’s speech was marked with loud shouts of “Refomasi!.

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PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang today told the party faithful that they will remain in Pakatan Rakyat as it has gained more with the opposition pact than by struggling alone. He explained to a crucial party seminar that PAS will cast its fortunes with PR due to the political reality of both Muslim and non-Muslim voters in Malaysia. "PAS will remain in Pakatan Rakyat due to the realitiy of politics where there are Muslim and non-Muslim voters," Hadi told the 1,000 party delegates at the PAS Markaz Tarbiyyah in Gombak here. The party president also pointed that PAS had previously formed a mixed government but had failed, thus requiring the need to be part of PR.

"PAS has gained more ground with Pakatan Rakyat even by just losing one by-election in Bagan Pinang," he added, alluding to the alliance's first by-election loss in the peninsula since Election 2008. He earlier said PAS was formed to fulfll the orders of Allah and it had long struggled on its own. The seminar will discuss PAS's future direction but could well throw up the need for an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to decide the fundamental issue of whether to co-operate with Umno to advance Islam and Malay unity or stay with PR and hope to capture federal power in the forthcoming general election.

The seminar is unlikely to resolve the fundamental difference over the issues and which course to take to safeguard the future of PAS — how best to capitalise on the new forces at work in the political system to stay ahead. Abdul Hadi was flanked by spiritual adviser Datuk Nik Aziz Nik Mat and party vice-president Salahuddin Ayub when he opened the seminar. Nik Aziz later left as he is unwell. Among those speaking at the seminar is UIA law academic Professor Dr Abdul Aziz Bari, who had started the debate when he criticised the party leadership's ambivalence to issues. Abdul Aziz pointed out the seminar was not about unseating Abdul Hadi but about PAS's direction as an Islamist party.

"The pattern in the next general election will be different, it won't be ABU, Anything But Umno," the law professor said. UM lecturer Dr Abu Hassan Hasbullah also told the seminar that his survey before the last general election showed youths preferred Nik Aziz over Abdul Hadi. Another vice-president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man is also on the list of speakers. Tuan Ibrahim is also heading the disciplinary committee probing Selangor PAS over allegations that the leaders have bad-mouthed the party leadership.

t’s easy to speculate why Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin was arrested last night for preaching in Selangor without a permit. A raft of reasons has already circulated, and even the maverick scholar alludes to hidden hands in his detention. Is it because he is closer to PAS than Umno? Or has it anything to do with Asri’s purported appointment as chief of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim)? Perhaps because he is seen to be a Wahhabi, the austere and puritanical school of Islam practised in Saudi Arabia. Perhaps he is too progressive for Muslim Malaysians? Perhaps he is seen as a threat to other muftis?

After all, Asri is young and popular, gliding and mixing among the liberal Muslims and the political elite in Kuala Lumpur, despite his short stint as the Perlis mufti. It could be for one or all of these reasons that Asri now finds himself on the wrong end of the Syariah law last night. His crime, ostensibly, is to have given lectures without authorisation — despite it being in a private house, and in a country where hundreds preach daily with or without similar “blessings” in houses, suraus, schools or mosques. His greater crime is just being who he is — a maverick scholar who speaks about Islam without all the fluff. Perhaps like the Wahhabis who don’t even celebrate Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday or consign their ruler to an unmarked grave upon his death.

Truth is, he has never been liked by his fellow muftis, who saw him as an upstart, not yet grey enough in the head or beard to be taken seriously. He is simple, direct and has a weblog; a superstar preacher shaking the authority of his peers. Even the man ambivalent about the religious elite, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has taken a liking to Asri and has told him to remain bipartisan and equidistant among Muslims politicians divided between Umno and PAS. But PAS has been courting Asri. And so has Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who has recommended him to head Yadim, the state-sponsored missionary group. It is currently led by the PAS-turned-Umno man Datuk Mohd Nakhaie Ahmad, and his replacement — especially Asri — would be a boost for Umno’s Islamist credentials in the next general elections.

But the Syarie Lawyers Association (PGSM) has opposed Asri’s appointment on grounds he has defamed some of Islam’s illustrious imams, a charge the scholar has denied. He also appears to have rejected the Yadim appointment due to the blatant opposition towards him. It well maybe that his arrest yesterday was for petty and private reasons related to Yadim, and old scores being settled now that he has returned from his post-graduate studies in the United Kingdom. Many thought Asri would stay on in the West or return to teaching in Universiti Sains Malaysia. But his popularity and lectures among the capital elite has probably turned them green with envy.

And what better way to cut him down to size than by arresting him for the simple offence of preaching without a permit. After all, if a man can’t follow the law, can he be trusted to enforce the law? Who knows? What is clear is that baser instincts and motives govern those who enforce Islamic religious laws in Malaysia, making them as human as the ones they think are sinning against the faith and Allah.

“What doesn’t break you only makes you stronger”. The phrase serves as a guide for the ousted Perak Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government as they move on from one gruelling battle to the next to regain power. And if anyone should think that the coalition no longer has any fight left in them, then they are far from right. The events of the Oct 28 sitting has done nothing to dampen the spirits of the PR brigade. In fact, according to the troop’s general, former Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin, they were now even more inspired to persevere. Next week, top PR leaders will congregate to discuss their next course of action, which Nizar says will encompass taking on their political foes “in a different realm this time”.

“Whatever obstruction the Barisan Nasional (BN) dares to impose upon us only makes us more and more determined. “In fact, we have become stronger, we have become wiser — it is from these trying times that we draw our greatest strengths from. They cannot break our unified front,” he told The Malaysian Insider today. Nizar admitted that support for the Perak PR was waning as many felt the ousted government should just lay down arms and wait for the next general election to launch its attack against BN. He has, however, chosen to look at the advice in a different manner, saying that such belief was born out of sympathy over the violent injustices inflicted upon PR assemblymen. “They are saying that because they are feeling sympathy for us. They are worried for our safety. They have seen what was done to us and they are aware of all the persecutions we have had to endure,” said Nizar.

He said PR lawmakers would not be disheartened by such comments but were instead proud that their supporters sympathised with them and were willing to accept it if their leaders loosened their ties and called it a day. “But we cannot stop this fight — it will go on. We want to change the political landscape, not just in Perak but in all of Malaysia. “Perak is very important because we can set the example for all the other states, which are now taking hard hits from BN,” he said. Nizar said that PR could not afford to take a break from the fight or even sneak a swig of water when the half-time whistle is blown. He knows the people may forget. They may forget how the government was “stolen”; how the PR’s Speaker V. Sivakumar had been forcible removed from the Speaker’s chair on May 7; how the police had supposedly manhandled the opposition before Wednesday’s sitting; and most important of all, they may forget how well the PR had done when they held on to government for 10 months last year.

This is why, Nizar said, the PR assemblymen had continued spreading their wings across the state through countless ceramahs and dinners, making sure the people remembered. “Yes, support is waning. But we need to prevent that. We need to remind the people of why we are fighting and whom we are fighting for. “We need to tell them, explain to them, keep them informed of the violence we have had to endure and why we cannot just give up and let go,” he said. Nizar noted that PR’s fight was not a selfish one, for they were not in the battle to regain control of the state. “What we want is to return democracy to Perak. To give the people back their right to choose their own government. I am not here because I want (Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr) Zambry (Abd Kadir) to leave the mentri besar’s room so I can sit there,” he said.

Despite his bravado however, it is clear that Nizar, like most of the other PR assemblymen, are tired of fighting. Not because they have lost their spirit but simply because they feel they have had no choice but to walk into most battles with their eyes closed. A former state executive councillor Thomas Su said that the PR assemblymen may seem strong on the outside, but were really humans inside, too. “It is quite scary to walk into something without knowing what the outcome would be. On Wednesday (during the sitting), we did not know what they had planned for us. We did not know how we would walk out of there — whether we would be safe or hurt.

Batu MP Tian Chua was today jailed six months and fined RM3,000 after he was found guilty by the magistrate's court of biting a police constable and preventing the officer from discharging his duty in December 2007. Chua, 46, whose full name is Chua Tian Chang, committed the offence against PC Rosyaidi Anuar, 21, in front of Parliament House in the incident on Dec 11, 2007. Chua, the PKR strategic director, was charged under Section 332 of the Penal Code and could have been jailed up to three years.

He faces the possibility of losing his parliamentary seat as the fine exceeds RM2,000. Chua was granted a stay of execution pending appeal. Chua committed the offence during a Bersih gathering to protest against constitutional amendments extending the retirement age of Election Commission members from 65 to 66. Earlier, magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu said he found Chua not to be a credible witness as his defence was a mere denial. In an immediate response, Chua said the judgment was not fair as the judge and prosecution had relied on the evidence of the constable and based it on circumstantial evidence. "It did not prove the biting took place," the MP said.

PKR Batu lawmaker Tian Chua said today his team of lawyers will appeal in 14 days his conviction by the Magistrate’s Court today for biting a police constable’s ear, in a bid to keep his MP post. The 46 year-old was sentenced to a six-month jail term and a fine of RM 3,000 for the offence committed on policeman Rosyaidi Anuar during a protest organised by poll reform group Bersih in front of Parliament two years ago. Should he lose his appeal, the country is set to stage the 10th by-election since Election 2008, and the first to be held in the country’s capital city. The Batu MP was charged under Section 332 of the Penal Code and could have been incarcerated up to three years.

When approached by reporters outside the court, Chua insisted on his innocence, saying that the conviction by magistrate Mohd Faizi Che Abu was unfair as he and the prosecution had relied solely on proof given by the constable, and was therefore based on circumstantial evidence. Appearing calm and composed in Parliament later, Chua said the conviction will not affect anything and that it was business as usual for him. “I will continue to serve the people and perform my duty as the people’s representative,” he told reporters in Parliament. “The work of Bersih to pursue reform in the electoral system to ensure that free and fair elections takes place will also go on,” added a smiling Chua. The PKR leader is member of the Bersih steering committee.

In a move to calm fears among its supporters that Pakatan Rakyat (PR) was yielding to a resurgent Umno and its own differences, the coalition’s leaders announced dates for its inaugural convention in December where it hopes to unveil its common platform. Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim played down the troubles that have plagued his own PKR and among the PR parties , and promised to reveal soon the coalition’s common platform. Umno and other BN parties have successfully taken advantage of PR’s lack of cohesiveness to paint the coalition as one which has too many ideological differences to take federal power.

Anwar, after chairing the coalition’s meeting in Parliament here today, said 1,500 delegates – 500 each from PKR, DAP and PAS – will be attending the two-day convention that begins on Dec 12. He said the pact had been working hard to draft a common platform. “We will reveal it in the nearest time,” said Anwar, who is also the parliamentary opposition leader. No details on the progress of the draft have been given so far. The Permatang Pauh MP, however, said the common platform could be seen in the party’s streamlined approach to debating the Budget to be tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak this Friday. “All the party whip chiefs have been instructed to work with MPs on the debate so that we can increase and strengthen the quality of our debate on the Budget,” said Anwar.

Sometimes it is very difficult to reconcile between what politicians say and what they do. It is a sort of ‘tradition’ that politicians must always do the opposite of what they say. In layman’s terms this would be called hypocrisy. In political terminology, however, it is called expediency. The Muslim Middle East regards the United States as a Jewish ‘tool’. The US is the ‘Great Satan’. It is the US, after all, that is propping up Israel. If not, Israel would have been destroyed long ago. And day in and day out we can hear verses of the Quran being chanted in the two holiest mosques in the Muslim world, Mekah and Medina, cursing the Jewish enemies of Islam.

There is no mistaking it, as far as Muslims are concerned. The Jews are the lifelong enemy of Islam. They must be exterminated from the face of this earth. But when it comes to the oil money, the Muslim Arabs do not trust their fellow Muslims. They would rather hand over the trillions in oil money to the Jewish banks in Europe and the US. Where is the so-called ‘Muslim brotherhood’? What happened to the ‘Jews are the sworn enemy of Islam until doomsday’? It appears that Muslims prefer Jews to fellow Muslims when it comes to making money. And even Malaysia as early as the 1970s appointed the Jewish banks to advise Petronas on what to do with the oil money. Yet Umno claims it is the largest Islamic party in the world, far bigger than PAS.

Umno screams Ketuanan Melayu. They spread fear amongst the Malays that without Umno the Chinese would inherit the country. Only Umno can guarantee that the Malays would not become slaves in their own country (hamba di negara sendiri). But Umno can’t rule without the Chinese and Indians and East Malaysians. Umno, alone, can never win enough seats to form the federal government. Maybe, at best, Umno can form state governments in the four or five northern states in West Malaysia. In the rest of the country and at federal level Umno would be in the opposition aisles.

MCA, MIC and PPP are in turmoil. Would it not serve the ‘Malay agenda’ if all these non-Malay parties collapse? Then Umno would need not to ‘share power’ with the non-Malays. Umno need not allocate any seats to the non-Malays. Umno can contest all the 222 parliament seats and the more than 500 state seats. But no, Umno is worried. It is worried that if MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan and all the other East Malaysian parties collapse or leave the ruling coalition called Barisan Nasional then Umno can never form the government. Umno needs the non-Malays. Without the non-Malays Umno is out of power. Even Tun Dr Mahathir said yesterday that if Barisan Nasional were to become weak then Umno would be in trouble. So they need a strong MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan and whatnot so that Barisan Nasional can also be strong and which would mean Umno will remain in power.

So what Ketuanan Melayu are we talking about? And how does Umno serve the Malay agenda when it needs the non-Malays more than it needs the Malays to remain in power? Only half the Malays support Umno -- slightly over 50% to be exact. The other 50% support the opposition. And Umno can do nothing to bring back Malay support. So Umno needs the non-Malays more than it needs the Malays if it wants to remain in power. See what is going on in the Bagan Pinang by-election where the voting is going to end soon. It is Malays who are whacking Malays. Fights have erupted and heads are being broken. Malays are spilling Malay blood. Umno regards the fellow Malay PAS as its greatest enemy. And PAS too regards its fellow Muslim Umno as its greatest enemy.

So it is Malay-Muslim Umno versus fellow Malay-Muslim PAS. Without the heavy presence of the police, by now there would already be a few bodies in the mortuary. The only reason no Malay-Muslims have killed fellow Malay-Muslims in Bagan Pinang is because there is no opportunity to do so. Withdraw the police from Bagan Pinang and see what happens. The mortuaries in and around Port Dickson would be stacked with bodies, all Malay-Muslims killed at the hands of fellow Malay-Muslims. No, there is no Malay brotherhood. There is not even Muslim brotherhood. In spite of the rhetoric from the Malay-Muslims from both Umno and PAS, Malay-Muslim brotherhood does not exist. Umno as well as PAS need the non-Malay ‘infidels’ to win elections. And they spill the blood of fellow Malay-Muslims just to win the election.

While on the subject of the Bagan Pinang by-election, and since the voting is almost over, let me reveal that this by-election is probably the opposition's worst managed by-election since the March 2008 general election. Has the opposition become too arrogant or become over-confident? Does Pakatan Rakyat think it can win elections without trying? Just because the opposition rallies (ceramah) attract ten times the crowd that Barisan Nasional rallies attract does not mean you are assured of a win. We have been saying this for the last 20 years or more. Opposition rallies or ceramah always attract huge crowds. But in many cases the opposition loses that constituency when it comes to votes.

Many of the people who attend these rallies are not even registered voters in that constituency. Most are outsiders. And many attend these rallies just for entertainment purposes. They love to hear the speeches of the better orators from the opposition. Many within the crowd of spectators are even Umno members who come to get entertained but will never vote for the opposition. Gauging your chances of success by the crowd you can attract to your rallies is foolhardy. And we have been saying this for more than 20 years but the opposition never listens. Embarking on a voter registration exercise instead of wasting your entire resources organising rallies or ceramah would be better. Don’t forget, only 50% of eligible voters actually vote. And 60% of the 50% who do not vote are not even registered to vote.

Only eight million people come out to vote when those who are eligible to vote total about 15-16 million. So we do not need more people attending ceramah, especially if they will not be voting in that constituency. We need more people coming out to vote. Why can’t the opposition get this through its thick head? In Bagan Pinang, the opposition is so disorganised. There are allegations that Kuala Lumpur has taken over the Bagan Pinang election campaign while the locals from Negeri Sembilan are being sidelined. It was not until the fourth day after Nomination Day when PAS invited the other component members from Pakatan Rakyat for a meeting. In the end, PAS did their own thing while PKR and DAP, who were left out in the cold, organised their own programmes independent of PAS. PAS did not even arrange for the Wakil Rakyat from PKR and DAP to speak at the ceramah.

We would have imagined that after the March 2008 general election, and the many by-elections since then, the opposition would improve itself because of the experience it has gained. This does not appear to be so in Bagan Pinang. It appears like they have gone backwards and act like this is their first election. What has happened to Pakatan Rakyat? The Bagan Pinang by-election is not a PAS by-election. It is a Pakatan Rakyat by-election even though the candidate is from PAS. And how can Kuala Lumpur just walk in and take over while sidelining the local Negeri Sembilan boys? Maybe it is good that PAS loses this by-election. Maybe this is what is needed to wake them up. Umno cannot make it without the other 13 component members of Barisan Nasional. What makes PAS think it can make it all on its own without PKR and DAP -- and worse, without the involvement of the local boys on the ground?

I would not be too disappointed if PAS gets massacred good and proper later today. Maybe they need this wake up call. But what hurts is the fact that they would get massacred not because Umno is strong but because Pakatan Rakyat conducted themselves like a bunch of amateurs. Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat both realise that only through group effort can they make headway. The turmoil in MCA, MIC and PPP worries Umno. They know that a weak MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan and so on will result in a weak Barisan Nasional and which, in turn, will result in a weak Umno. So they scream about Ketuanan Melayu but they know that Ketuanan Melayu will not send them to Putrajaya. Umno needs MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan and the rest more than the non-Malays do.

The Indians and Chinese do not care a damn what happens to MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan and the rest. But Umno does because Umno needs their non-Malay partners to be able to stay in power. Umno, alone, can’t do it. They can never win enough seats on their own. Without the seats from MCA, MIC, PPP, Gerakan and the rest Umno can never form the government. Pakatan Rakyat is even weaker than Barisan Nasional. Even a united Pakatan Rakyat is not good enough to march to Putrajaya. What more a Pakatan Rakyat that does not understand the meaning of working together as a united coalition like what is happening in the Bagan Pinang by-election.

http://mt.m2day.org/

Bagan Pinang By-Election: Zulkefly Mohamad Omar (Candidate) 08/10/2009


Bagan Pinang By-Election: YB Nizar Jamaluddin 04/10/2009


He made muruku and carried babies in his attempt to convince the Indian community in Bagan Pinang to continue backing PAS. Zulkefly Omar visited two estates with a high concentration of Indian voters yesterday and also made house-to-house visits in Bradwall and Siliau estates. The two estates are home to almost 1,000 out of the 13,664 voters in the constituency. The visit was made significant by the revelation of a survey yesterday that Datuk Seri Najib Razak's approval rating among the Indians remained high at 68 per cent.

But the Indian votes look uncertain for Pakatan Rakyat (PR) as the Barisan Nasional (BN) events held at the estates have been well-attended, with party leaders giving away goodies to the voters, ranging from rice cookers to sarees and hampers. The ruling coalition had also promised to revive the six-year-old public housing project in Siliau which has been delayed.

“That was a lie. The project is an old project, after so long there is still no sign of construction, how to believe them now, and the workers earn only about RM400 a month; they cannot afford the house and are not qualified to get loans unless the government wants to give the houses for free,” said PKR's M. Ravi. However, the Port Dickson assemblyman admitted that there will be a slight drop in PAS's share of Indian votes.

“Because this time Muhyiddin is making the promises, some of them might take him seriously, but it won't be more than five per cent as the younger generation is solidly behind us,” Ravi told The Malaysian Insider, referring to Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's repeated visits to the estates throughout this campaign. In the last general election, the majority of the Indian voters in Bagan Pinang, who form 20 per cent of the electorate, voted for PAS.

Campaign for the Bagan Pinang by-election begins today with Umno’s strongman Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad facing Negri Sembilan PAS chief Zulkefly Omar in a straight fight. Returning officer Abdul Wahab Samsuddin announced the acceptance of their nominations at 11.20am, saying that the Election Commission received only two objections and both were rejected. Former PKR member Shahruddin Abdul Wahab, who had announced his intention to stand, failed to submit his papers as his proposer is not a voter in the Bagan Pinang state constituency.

PAS is expected to manipulate Isa's tainted past and the fact that the former Negri Sembilan mentri besar's candidacy was also opposed by Umno veteran Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. “The basis of a clean government is a clean candidate,” said PAS's Datuk Husam Musa, adding that he does not see bringing up Isa's past as a personal attack. “If it is related to governance, the public has the right to know,” added the Kelantan state executive councillor. Umno deputy president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin told the press the party will handle all issues raised by the federal opposition including on corruption. He reiterated his stand that Isa is the best candidate who understands local issues.

“I am not a recycled candidate, I only did not contest in 2008; the PKR leader did not contest for six years, so who was recycled,” said Isa, referring to opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who was imprisoned for six years. “I'm here only to serve the people,” he added when asked if he will seek to be reappointed as mentri besar if he wins. Zulkefly, who had contested and lost three times before, also defended his candidacy just minutes after it was confirmed. “I was born and raised in Negri Sembilan,” he told reporters when asked about his chances as he is a registered voter in the Lenggeng state constituency.

Earlier, supporters of both parties started gathering as early as 7am at their respective meeting points just outside Port Dickson to march to the nomination centre at the municipal council building.vPolice too started blocking the road leading to the nomination centre and traffic along the major federal road connecting this coastal town to Malacca was reduced to a crawl.The thousands of supporters who were marching to the nomination were then greeted by heavy rain just before the nomination began at 9am.

Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim arrived with Zulkefly at about 8.30am amid heavy rain. While Isa arrived just a little before 9am accompanied by BN election chief Muhyiddin, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and BN component party leaders Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat, Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon.

RPK Speaks His Mind - Insulting Islam? Please!


RPK Speaks His Mind - Altantuya Statutory Declaration


RPK Speaks His Mind - Meeting Altantuya's Father


RPK Speaks His Mind - ISA and Solitary Confinement


After absconding from his sedition and criminal defamation trials, fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin appears to have begun his own defence through the first in a series of video interviews of him on the Internet. Hosted on Youtube, RPK, as he is popularly known, renewed his attacks against the police and the Attorney-General for deciding to prosecute him over allegations he made regarding the prime minister and his wife’s involvement in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. He also compared his case to the vigour shown in the investigation of alleged corruption by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.

“The government raids the offices of a Selangor exco based just on Internet reports. Somebody publishes a story accusing an exco member of taking money and they raid the office. “The source of the information and the allegation is anonymous but it is enough for government to spring into action,” he said in the short video clip of just over six minutes. Speaking about his own troubles with the government, he pointed out that he did not make an anonymous declaration about the Altantuya murder, but signed a statutory declaration. The allegations have been dismissed a number of times by Najib. Altantuya, a mistress of the PM’s former associate, was killed in late 2006, and her body blown to bits with explosives in a secondary jungle area just outside the city.

The former associate of Najib, Razak Baginda, was acquitted of conspiracy to murder. Two policemen were found guilty of the sensational crime. Although he provided no concrete evidence, RPK’s allegations had fed roiling speculation surrounding the murder. In his video interview posted today, RPK spoke of a conspiracy and selective prosecution by the authorities. “I didn’t publish it on the Internet,” he said of his statutory declaration. “I got my lawyers to send a copy to the prosecutors. They leaked it and it came out on an Umno website.” He claimed that the police initiated investigation and charges against him based on what was published on an Umno website.

RPK asked why the government did not detain the owner of the website that published his statutory declaration, as he was not unknown. “As soon as it came out on the website, the AG says he (RPK) has signed a false declaration. The next day the IGP says the cops will take action on the false declaration. “How did the police and the AG know I made a false declaration when no investigation was launched to determine if the information is true or false?” He claimed this showed selective prosecution. It is unclear where the video interviews were recorded. RPK’s whereabouts remain a mystery.

Malaysian police are seeking the help of Interpol to apprehend him, suggesting the authorities believe he is overseas. RPK went on the lam in April when he failed to turn up for his sedition trial. There is also a second warrant of arrest issued against him for failing to turn up for his criminal defamation trial in May. Despite being a fugitive, RPK continues to taunt the authorities and remains a thorn in the side of the Najib administration. RPK continues to write regularly on his Malaysia Today website, giving his take on political developments and criticising the police and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

According to a news report in May, police said they believed RPK was in Brisbane, Australia, together with his wife. But in July, a Sessions Court was told that RPK was believed to be in the country and not in Australia as reported by the media. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said police investigation revealed that RPK, 59, had never left the country.

Anwar Ibrahim


Dr Hatta Ramli


The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) last night launched its campaign for the Bagan Pinang by-election with its leaders expressing confidence that the coalition will win the decisive postal votes should polling in army camps and police stations be conducted fairly. There are 13,664 voters in the state constituency, with postal voters making up more than one-third or some 4,600 of the electorate. The Bagan Pinang vote is widely expected to end PR’s winning streak in all by-elections in the peninsula since last year's general election due to the high number of postal voters which are traditionally considered a reliable vote bank for the Barisan Nasional (BN).

“I have a lot of friends in the army, I know where they stand,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim told a rally in the coastal village of Kampung Si Rusa near here last night. The opposition leader reiterated PR’s stand for greater transparency in the postal voting process, traditionally conducted without the presence of polling agents from political parties. “They want to vote Umno or they want to support us it’s their right; the Election Commission should defend this right,” said Anwar to some 1,000 villagers. Negri Sembilan PAS chief Zulkefli Omar said he was confident the party would obtain more postal votes this time to win the ninth by-election since last year’s general election.

“On March 8 we managed to get 1,189 or 25 per cent of the postal votes; this time we are going to win the postal votes,” said Zulkefli, who is one of the potential candidates for the by-election. The federal opposition is expected to face highly influential former Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad, making the fight even tougher. Despite his tainted past, PR leaders did not touch on Isa’s suspension from Umno for vote buying, suggesting the coalition’s acknowledgement of the Teluk Kemang Umno chief’s strong grip on the constituency. “Whether he becomes the candidate or not is not an issue for us,” said Anwar, repeating his stand that PR will only attack BN on policy matters.

Nomination for the Bagan Pinang by-election will be on Oct 3 while polling has been set for Oct 11. The by-election was called following the death on Sept 4 of Umno’s Azman Mohammad Noor, who defeated PAS’s Ramli Ismail by some 2,000 votes last year. Bagan Pinang is an Umno stronghold situated within the Teluk Kemang parliamentary constituency represented by PKR’s Datuk Kamarul Baharin Abbas. Apart from Bagan Pinang, Umno also won the neighbouring Linggi state seat in last year’s election, while PR controls three other state seats in Teluk Kemang — Chuah (PKR), Lukut (DAP) and Port Dickson (PKR).

After absconding from his sedition and criminal defamation trials, fugitive blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin appears to have begun his own defence through the first in a series of video interviews of him on the Internet. Hosted on Youtube, RPK, as he is popularly known, renewed his attacks against the police and the Attorney-General for deciding to prosecute him over allegations he made regarding the prime minister and his wife’s involvement in the murder of Altantuya Shaariibuu. He also compared his case to the vigour shown in the investigation of alleged corruption by the Selangor Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government.

“The government raids the offices of a Selangor exco based just on Internet reports. Somebody publishes a story accusing an exco member of taking money and they raid the office. “The source of the information and the allegation is anonymous but it is enough for government to spring into action,” he said in the short video clip of just over six minutes. Speaking about his own troubles with the government, he pointed out that he did not make an anonymous declaration about the Altantuya murder, but signed a statutory declaration. The allegations have been dismissed a number of times by Najib. Altantuya, a mistress of the PM’s former associate, was killed in late 2006, and her body blown to bits with explosives in a secondary jungle area just outside the city.

The former associate of Najib, Razak Baginda, was acquitted of conspiracy to murder. Two policemen were found guilty of the sensational crime. Although he provided no concrete evidence, RPK’s allegations had fed roiling speculation surrounding the murder. In his video interview posted today, RPK spoke of a conspiracy and selective prosecution by the authorities. “I didn’t publish it on the Internet,” he said of his statutory declaration. “I got my lawyers to send a copy to the prosecutors. They leaked it and it came out on an Umno website.” He claimed that the police initiated investigation and charges against him based on what was published on an Umno website.

RPK asked why the government did not detain the owner of the website that published his statutory declaration, as he was not unknown. “As soon as it came out on the website, the AG says he (RPK) has signed a false declaration. The next day the IGP says the cops will take action on the false declaration. “How did the police and the AG know I made a false declaration when no investigation was launched to determine if the information is true or false?” He claimed this showed selective prosecution. It is unclear where the video interviews were recorded. RPK’s whereabouts remain a mystery.

Malaysian police are seeking the help of Interpol to apprehend him, suggesting the authorities believe he is overseas. RPK went on the lam in April when he failed to turn up for his sedition trial. There is also a second warrant of arrest issued against him for failing to turn up for his criminal defamation trial in May. Despite being a fugitive, RPK continues to taunt the authorities and remains a thorn in the side of the Najib administration. RPK continues to write regularly on his Malaysia Today website, giving his take on political developments and criticising the police and the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

According to a news report in May, police said they believed RPK was in Brisbane, Australia, together with his wife. But in July, a Sessions Court was told that RPK was believed to be in the country and not in Australia as reported by the media. Deputy public prosecutor Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar said police investigation revealed that RPK, 59, had never left the country.