Stay calm and stay cunning. Don’t react. For now.

Lil Hummingbird caught up with me at the lay-by heading out of KL last night.

‘Jaya, Shar and Chee Seng are spot on’, he said.

‘Who is Jaya, Shar and Chee Seng? And correct about what?’, I asked

‘Damn! Don’t you read the comments on your own blog? Are you sure you’re the one who administers The People’s Parliament?

The Hindraf ban? The Utusan siege of  Teresa? The Tabung Azan? Don’t imagine these to be unconnected!

Najib’s got so much dirt that’s chugging out on the conveyor belt that he desperately needs a diversion.

And he needs to portray himself as the champion of the Malays and Islam, in the hope that the Malays that get taken in with the the spectre being conjured by UMNO of Islam/Malay bashing, will gloss over the reports coming out of Najib’s misdeeds.

Any adverse reaction by Hindraf to the ban will play into the hands of Najib’s boys .

Now’s the time for Hindraf to show their worth in planning the end of the oppressors. No need to show bravery on the streets. Makkal Sakti goes beyond that’

‘Surely you don’t expect Hindraf to just sit at home and do nothing?’, I asked.

‘They went to two Raya open houses, didn’t they? They were badly treated at PWTC but were well received at Anwar’s house, weren’t they? So throw their fullest support behind Pakatan now. That’s not doing nothing! That’s working smart’, he replied, his tone revealing a growing impatience at my question.

‘What you’re saying is Hindraf should pin their hopes on Pakatan forming the federal government so that the ban comes to nought? Is that going to happen any time soon?’

‘Very soon’.

____________________________________________________________

The comments by Jaya, Shar101 and Chee Seng reproduced below.

Jaya :

Banning Hindraf is a “smoke screen” to divert the nation’s attention from the ‘private sms’ and ‘public Eurocopter’!!

Only hope Hindraf’s does not fall into the ‘trap’ by responding as they ‘expect’ the reaction to be!
Need for a rational but strategic response is paramount.

__________________________________

Shar101:

Never mind the legal technicalities, bro.

It’s become obvious the authorities did not bother to heed Hindraf’s call nor did they provide a proper avenue for Hindraf to channel their grievances.

Militant UMNO needs a bogeyman.

In Hindraf, they found one or putting it another way, the UMNO-led BN government and the MSM have manipulated/reported events since Nov ‘07 to paint Hindraf as such.

Things will get worse now.

Hindraf going ‘underground’ will create opportunities for the powers that be to set up state-organised covert groups masquerading as Hindraf to spread chaos.

Unless AI and PR have better options.

We seriously need a political solution to avert a social disaster from happening. Question is – Will AI take the lead?

________________________________

Chee Seng :

Is this a strategy to try and incite another May 13 or Ops Lalang?

Looks like it. Close observers of Malaysian politics have sensed a shift in the political climate since Dollah announced he decided not to seek re-election. The racism displayed by UMNO is no longer random. There seems to be more cohesion and focus in its expression.

It’s reminiscent of Ops Lalang i.e. a racially-charged scenario engineered by Mahathir who then swooped down on dissenters. Both situations also occurred when UMNO’s grip on power was under threat. Both situations cowed the nation into submission and allowed UMNO to weasel their way to a stronger grip on the nation.

It would seem that today the strategy has not changed, but tactics are a little more refined this time. Not because UMNO has become smarter, but because of their clumsy moves since March 8, they have to tread more carefully.

And since Najib, Muhyiddin and Mahathir seems to be one big happy family now, it’s pretty obvious Mahathir is calling the plays in the game.

So if we interpret everything that’s happening in our country now through the assumption that it’s all building up Ops Lallang 2 or May 13 pt 2, the strategies employed becomes obvious:

Step 1.  First neutralise the Generals of change – RPK and Anwar

Step 2.  Then incite the Malays to fever pitch – using Ahmad Ismail, Utusan Melayu, Khir Toyo, etc to paint everything uttered by non-Malays as anti-Malay

Step 3.  Antagonise non-Malays – blatantly lie about Teresa Kok, RPK, the Sin Chew reporter, demonise HINDRAF, rip up KTK’s photo, etc, etc, etc.

This is moving the pawns into position for battle!

The next logical step would be:

Step 4.  Confound the lieutenants to eliminate the second-tier leadership of the movement for change.

This can be done by crackdown or distractions. Since they have seen the rakyat’s recent reaction to crackdown, distraction is the more likely strategy employed.

Is it being implemented now? I believe so.

Plenty of issues are being thrown out into the open that divert attention away from people’s clamour for change of govt have recently surfaced – Cabinet absent from Parliament, refusal to re-table Budget 2009, fuel price decrease, RPK’s trial postponement, Utusan’s spat with Teresa Kok, banning HINDRAF, rumours of Zul joining UMNO, etc etc etc.

This will throw up plenty of fires to keep the remaining civic leaders busy. So instead of a concentrated push for changing the BN govt, the people’s energy is diverted to defending and supporting RPK, Teresa Kok and HINDRAF and trying to make heads or tails of the whole plethora of senseless issues.

These issues cannot be interpreted or reasoned out because they are designed to be senseless! So while the PR & civic leadership are thus occupied, the real strategising is going on between TDM, Najib and Muhyiddin.

Step 5: Strike decisively – Shock and Awe

Dear friends, it’s been 7 months since the election and the BN/UMNO has not shown any inclination to change or reform. In fact, we see their position hardening against dissenters. Now that the unholy trinity is finally in charge, the game will be up very soon.

We need regime change in this country if we ever hope to see real reforms. And we need it more desperately than ever with the global recession bearing down on us. (One can only assume that the PM-to-be refuses to table a new budget because when recession hits this country, we’ll be too busy worrying about our rice bowl than regime change.)

Let’s not be distracted from that goal.

How can we play our part in all this?

Do not be drawn into their evil trap! Do not get angry by their actions/words – that’s exactly what they want! Do not flame websites or blogs with our reactions to their shenanigans. Do not counter their comments.

Let’s stay focused! Our leaders in Parliament and in civic society need all our support!

—-

A timely advise and strategy from  http://harismibrahim.wordpress.com

—-

COWARDLY ACT BY THE UMNO LED GOVERNMENT TO SUPPRESS AND OPPRESS MALAYSIAN INDIAN MINORITY

Declaring Hindraf as an illegal organization will in any case not banish the spirit that created Hindraf. Hindraf represents a very deep feeling experienced in the hearts and souls of millions of Indians both locally and Internationally.

This dastardly and ludicrous attempt by the Home minister to declare HINDRAF as an illegal organisation clearly indicates that the UMNO led government is at the end of their wit and shows that Malaysia is indeed a police state under the pretext of democracy.

The UMNO led government continued use of the sanctity of illegitimate laws such as ISA, Sedition Act, and now the Societies Act with their predatory acts against HINDRAF is a desperate attempt to silence legitimate voice of democracy.

The UMNO led government enjoys demonizing and bullying us on the pretext of law, public order, National security when all we are fighting for is to address the true and real condition of the downtrodden Malaysian Indians who have been systematically marginalized, suppressed and oppressed.

The UMNO government is not able to understand the phenomenon of Hindraf. Hindraf represents the Indian commoner, the hard working oily faced man who is made fun of in the streets, the man who people step on, the man who walks past you yet you notice him not. These are the people whom Hindraf represents – the marginalized and downtrodden Indians. They all do not wither away with this illegal declaration. The Government obviously has a primitive understanding of the situation, they cannot see a genuine problem within a significant section of the Malaysian society.

Look at the annals of history – when the people begin to demand what is truly theirs no governing elite have been able to stop them – take the French revolution, the American revolution, the anti-colonial and liberation movements through the first half of the 20th century and then the liberation of Africa in the late 20th century culminating in the abolition of apartheid in South Africa.

HNDRAF is peoples’ mass movement that seeks the moral and spiritual truth for the oppressed Malaysian Indians against the tyranny of the UMNO led government.

HINDRAF’s movement has raised the self worth of every individual in Malaysia and demand that the dignity and equality for each and every Malaysian cannot be abandoned and diluted for the glory of the UMNO led government whose only intention is to stir racial tension and maintain their status quo.

HINDRAF will not flinch with these threats and will continue its struggle against the UMNO regime in Malaysia as we can no longer be cowed nor are we any longer afraid. It is the people’s mass movement for moral and spiritual truth on the basis of humanity against the tyranny of the current ruling government.

It is only fair for the Prime Minister to advise his Home Minister to revoke the order.

Waytha Moorthy
HINDRAF – CHAIRMAN

Hindu Temples & Crematoriums To Be Phased Out Of Kuala Lumpur ?

More than 120 temple representatives present at a meeting organized by Malaysia Hindu Sangam at the Dewan Tan Sri K R Soma, KL yesterday were shocked that their temples and 2 existing Hindu Crematoriams were not identified at the master Plan of City of Kuala Lumpur by 2020.

What is of great concern to the community leaders is whether there is a plan to erase off hundreds of Hindu Temples and 2 crematoriams at Jalan Loke Yew and Sentul by the year 2020.

There was a feeling of disappointment and disgust when they were briefed on the Master Plan. They were informed that they have to send their note of protest using the appropriate DBKL Form by 30th August 2008. About 100 forms were distributed at the meeting.

Briefings were made by MHS President Datuk A.Vaithilingam, IT Consultant Mr. Chin Meng Sun, MHS Temples Advisor Ir Ariathavaratnam, MHS Temples Affairs Committee Chairman Mr. G.gunaraj and Bukit Jalil Social worker Mr. Thiagarajan. All those who are not able to obtain the DBKL Master Plan Books are requested to go online and visit www.klcityplan2020.dbkl.gov.my and try and identify the location of their temple. It does not matter whether the temple is registered with ROS or with our MHS or is said to be illegal and of the temple is not identified in the plan please get the forms from DBKL or ring 012-392 5995 (Mr. Gunaraj), 012-328 7823 (Mr.Chin), 016-3674304 (Mr. Thiagaraj) or 016-277 1495 (Ir. Ariathavaratnam) for advice or on how to obtain the forms.

All temples are advised to immediately submit their protests to DBKL and send a copy of the protest form to Malaysian Hindu Sangam at No. 67, Jalan PJS 1/48, Taman Petaling Utama 7, 46150 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Fax 03-77847304

All protests must reach DBKL by 30th August 2008

Dated 20th August 2008

Datuk A Vaithilingam
President
Malaysia Hindu Sangam

Najib wants Indians to back BN !! Sodomy never ends!!

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak made a plea to the Chinese and Indian communities in Permatang Pauh – come back to the Barisan Nasional’s fold.

He admitted that voters from these two communities had deserted BN in the March 8 general election, blaming that on the communities being unduly influenced by the opposition.

It was time to support BN again, he said. But, that is his view, its up to voters to decide.

Permatang Pauh, a semi-urban constituency in Penang, has 58,459 voters, consisting some 69 percent Malays, 25 percent Chinese and 6 per cent Indians.

He promised that the BN would champion the Indian and Chinese communities’ cause in the constituency as they had been neglected by the opposition. But what is not known is that ,if BN is going to champion the Indian & Chinese cause as they did for last 50 years.

It was reported in malaysiakini that specifically for the Indian voters in Permatang Pauh – numbering some 3,500 voters – Najib said the government has agreed to approve scrap metal collector’s licence for them.

But these people are wondering how the Permatang pauh will look like with 3500 scrap metal collectors.What is Still not clear to many is that,did he mean scarp collector/tin collector?  May be its a new job opportunity for Indians to take over the job of present drug addicts. There is no better way of insulting the of Indian community in Permatang Paugh.

He also announced aid for three Tamil primary schools and six Chinese primary schools. It also looks like that Najib and BN only realized 2 days before that these has to be done for the communities..

Nobody has forgot his hatred for Chinese community and Indians dont expect any difference in approach of Najib and BN towards Indians.

Still, no actions or answers are there on the fate of The political ISA detainees which include the HINDRAF 5.

People of Permatang paugh is now waiting for the Offers from Samy Velu (MIC) and Gang. May be some hand outs and threats using his gang.

Defenitly, they are offering a MP who can speak chinese to the chinese community. What a geat sacrifice from BN. BN is expecting their MP to sit and chat day in & out with old chinese people staying at home . Other than that, there is no benifit for the chinese by having a chinese speaking MP specifically.

Overall, BN is insulting the intelligence of the Malaysians of chinese and indian entinicity in Permatang Pauh.

Lets wait and see, how these people respond.

What happen to our Uni? Racial Polarization ?

” Racial Polarization Letter at University “

The racial card in Malaysia is never ending! Take a look below! - Malaysia Boleh

This is a letter from University Malaya’s head of Graduates to all the students (maybe certain race only). The first paragraph is okay.. Nothing much.. Wait till we get to the 2nd paragraph of this horrendous letter!

Here it is below! For those not bothered in stressing your brains too much in understanding the written malay

I’ll do the translation: Read Below

Therefore, I as the Head of Graduates of University of Malaya would like to advice all our fellow graduates of University of Malaya to combine forces and prepare ourselves together with all the necessary knowledge and preparation before we continue our fight in the actual battle field. This advice implies mainly to our Malay Graduates. We must treasure the sacrifices made by our ancestors which tried so hard to ensure that Tanah Melayu ( Malay Land ) is free from the intrusion of alien races. We must not fall into the category of those who forgets their roots until they will be taken over by other races. Graduates must prove themselves that we are capable and the best choice to take over the throne of governing the country in the future. This implies with the theme of MPMUM Progressive, Dynamic, Professional. There is nothing more important that can compared to our always-sensitive and improving Graduates. I also would like to advice all Malay Graduates to prepare ourselves in facing all sorts of unpredicted challenges that may occur in near future, relating to the rise of our fellow citizens, in particular to the non-Malay races. Don’t let ourselves slack and allow our “enemies under the blankets to attack us” (direct translation from the Malay idiom). Don’t allow our Malaysia to fall into the hands of those who are irrelevant.

After reading this, I became truly speechless! So stunned, so shocked! Why do I feel a one sided love for my country?

Malaysia …. I love you so.. but what have you become……..

The Liberals and Multi-racialists got to put a stop to it.

Abandonment of MIC – An open letter

An open letter to Dato S Subramaniam and others WHO want to resurrect the now dead MIC

The abandonment of MIC by Malaysian Indians is surely a reflection that MIC has failed itself significantly in representing the very people it serves.

MIC failed the Indians, when did barely nothing to prevent the temple demolitions. MIC failed when its leaders did not ensure that budgeted allocations actually went towards needy Tamil schools. MIC failed when it’s leaders did not negotiate for better salaries for Estate Workers, or find jobs for displaced Estate workers. May we ask what MIC did towards halting the rising rates of gangsterism within the Malaysian Indian community?

We did not hear a squeak from MIC leaders when time and again Indians died in police custody. Once again where was the voice of MIC leaders when our deserving students did not get placement in the Universities? Neither did we hear our MIC representatives clamour to give housing for poor urban Indians. Where were the MIC leaders when our community were deprived of jobs and when the number of Indians in Government dropped alarmingly?

Sir, sorry to say, that our MIC leaders together with the ruling Government wilfully neglected the Indian community. So now you tell us, why do we Indians need such category of self serving leaders?

Though we Malaysian Indians had MPs and other leaders in Government, rarely did anyone take up their cause, a case in point, the hundreds of Memos sent in by Hindraf went virtually ignored and unanswered by all in government. When in actual fact, the MIC should have taken onus to address the problems enumerated in the Hindraf demands, this being specific Indian issue. Instead leaders went all out to demonise us, resorting to all manner of name calling from penyangkak to extremists to murderers even to the extent of our esteemed police force’s vivid and imaginary terrorist links.

Why you too Sir, did not make any efforts to take up the Indian cause, surely with your connections you could have highlighted the Indian plight, but then I guess all of you very busy pursuing your own personal and business interests. Why did you not use your influence with the Government to speak on behalf of the thousands of Indians who came out on the streets in a voice of discontent? Were you lounging in one of the hotels on Jalan Ampang watching us Malaysian Indians being jetted with chemical waters and tear gas?

Consider the 12th General Elections and see for yourself how the Indians rallied with the opposition especially in constituencies where MIC candidates were contesting. Indians tirelessly worked to ensure that MIC candidates failed to get elected. Is that not proof in itself, that the very people MIC represents, in effect ensured its failure? Otherwise how do you attribute that even the CEO of MIC and his deputy failed to get elected, it was not by coincidence but the very intention of frustrated and marginalised Malaysian Indians.

One of the main reasons for the debacle of the BN in this elections, is that the Indians previously complacent openly came out in large numbers to assist the opposition candidates, be it DAP, PAS or PKR, it did not matter to them whether the candidates were Indian, Chinese, Malay or any other, nevertheless Indians gave their whole hearted support to any candidate other than BN.

By now you should know that the reason for the component parties’ devastation in the 12th GE was primarily because the minorities felt that their leaders failed to represent and voice out the discontent of the people. This in turn effected the rise of the elite UMNO and their racial policies. Just to illustrate, when the Keris was raised, those who mumbled and grumbled a bit, were seen in the next days papers, smiling and shaking hands, with the keris wielding leader who today unfortunately still sits in cabinet, while the rest of us were furious and feared our very future in this nation.

To your question on who will represent the Indians, there are enough Indians in Parliament and the State Assemblies to ensure the welfare of the Indians. Right now there is a strong Indian presence in five state governments, so to you we say we have sufficient representation of Indians in whom we have placed our trust and confidence.

For the development of respective Arts and Culture, there should not be a problem to initiate societies and associations for the promotion of language, literature, culture, arts, music and dance.

It is timely that big industrialists and entrepreneurs come forward to develop, train and mentor the younger generation. I am equally sure that you should not have a problem with your expertise and being a person of influence to establish ways to promote economic growth of marginalised and deserving Malaysians irrespective of race or religion.

To Samy Velu, who today said “who will represent the Indians”? Go and seek penance in Kasi and prepare yourself to meet your maker, your end is nearing. Be sure you have answers for your bad performance and your major role in the making of a powerful opposition, for certain, they have already thanked you for this. Meditate how your devious actions led to the sad demise of MIC. By raising the tolls, in amassing huge amounts of wealth. We ofcourse in the elections did not forget how the Hindraf assemblers were treated at Batu Caves and we gave you the answer by booting you out. Be gone. You have negated all the the efforts and the good done by the early founders of MIC, you have dragged all their work into the stinking muck.

By the way, Dato Subramaniam and others you could earn back some semblance of respect if you could get not just the Hindraf 5 but also all other ISA detainees released. However if you wish to serve,let it be all Malaysians, not just one community, that is our sincere advice to you.

We have now reached a mature stage whereby we the people, Malays, Chinese, Indians and others will directly involve ourselves with our elected representatives to ensure that all our interests are taken care of. We have made our voice heard in this elections and we say once and for all, be gone all yea who want to encourage racism and partisan politics in Malaysia, that was once and no more shall the people let self-serving politicians divide us.

Why have you not heard our loud “NO TO RACISM, NEPOTISM, WASTEFUL EXPENDITURE AND CORRUPTION.

Right now, there are stalwarts who are true patriots, working to ensure the success of the Barisan Rakyat.

Barisan Rakyat is the only way forward for Malaysia.

From:I am of one race – Malaysian

JOINT STATEMENT BY PKR, DAP and PAS

PAS, KeADILan, DAP setuju erat kerjasama, Wan Azizah Ketua Pembangkang

Dalam satu keputusan bersejarah malam tadi, para pemimpin KeADILan, PAS dan DAP bersetuju untuk membentuk satu barisan yang lebih padu bagi memenuhi tuntutan sebuah ‘kerajaan menunggu’ di peringkat Pusat dan negeri-negeri.

Sehubungan itu, parti-parti terbabit juga sebulat suara bersetuju mencadangkan Presiden KeADILan, Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail yang juga Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh sebagai Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia sehinggalah Ketua Umum KeADILan, Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim layak bertanding untuk kerusi Parlimen.

Berikut disiarkan kenyataan penuh tiga perenggan pemimpin-pemimpin parti terbabit:

Adalah diumumkan bahawa kami Anwar Ibrahim, Lim Kit Siang dan Ustaz Abdul Hadi Awang pagi pihak Parti Keadilan Rakyat (KeADILan), Parti Tindakan Demokratik (DAP) dan Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) bersetuju dalam satu pertemuan pada malam 18 Mac 2008 bahawa hasrat rakyat sebagaimana yang ditunjukkan dalam pilihanraya ke-12 baru-baru ini perlulah dihormati dan dilaksanakan oleh kami dan parti-parti kami.

Kami bersetuju bahawa kerjasama yang lebih erat perlu dipertimbangkan dengan serius dengan mengambil kira hasrat rakyat untuk mewujudkan kerajaan Persekutuan dan negeri-negeri yang baru dan boleh membawa perubahan-perubahan besar kepada rakyat.

Kami juga bersetuju mencadangkan YB Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Presiden Parti Keadilan Rakyat, iaitu parti pembangkang terbesar di Parlimen ke-12, sebagai Ketua Pembangkang Parlimen Malaysia yang baru, sehingga Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim layak bertanding untuk kerusi Parlimen

Anwar Ibrahim
Lim Kit Siang
Ustaz Abdul Hadi Awang - tajdid

Source:Harakah Daily

Gerakan wants Hindraf 5 released

Mar 19, 08 4:36pm

Gerakan today called upon Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to release the five Hindu Rights Action Force leaders presently being detained under the Internal Security Act.

The party’s assistant secretary KK Supramaniam urged all political leaders under the Barisan Nasional coalition to request the prime minister to release the five as soon as possible.

“Majority of the Indian Malaysians are upset that the five Hindraf leaders are still being detained under the ISA,” he said in a statement today.

The five Hindraf leaders – P Uthayakumar, M Manoharan, R Kenghadharan, V Ganabatirau and T Vasantha Kumar – were arrested on Dec 13 and placed under two-year detention at the Kamunting detention centre for allegedly being a national threat.

Hindraf became a household name on Nov 25 last year after a rally it organised drew some 30,000 disgruntled Indians to the streets and made headlines the world over.

While numerous quarters agreed with the issues the movement raised, Hindraf also drew criticisms for alleging that a state-sanctioned ethic cleansing of Indians was taking place.

The government condemned the movement as an extremist outfit and subsequently detained these five leaders under the ISA.

Immunity to Waythamoorthy

The movement’s chairperson P Waythamoorthy however escaped detention as he was away in India canvassing support for the movement at that time. He is presently based in London, directing the movement from there with the help of several coordinators in Malaysia.

Supramaniam also said that Abdullah should grant immunity to Waythamoorthy to allow him to return to Malaysia.

“If the self-exiled leader is to be charge for treason, then I request that other opposition leaders, who have committed the similar offence should also be charged,” he added.

The awareness created by Hindraf among the Indian community turned into a huge swing of disapproval against the BN government, resulting in massive losses for parties such as Gerakan, MCA and MIC.

Gerakan, a senior component member of the BN, suffered a humiliating blow when it lost its grip of the Penang state government to opposition party DAP.

Similarly the anti-establishment wave among the Indian community also resulted in big defeats for MIC, the sole Indian representative in the government, including the defeat of party president S Samy Vellu in Sungai Siput.

Gerakan has always advocated for the abolishment of the ISA.

Source: Malaysiakini 

No NEP ,says UMNO! Then,Why only for IDR ??? Double Standards ???

Why is the very same UMNO making a fuss,when the DAP government says that it wont use the NEP in the way it is Now.

UMNO is using NEP for political purpose ??? Its clear!!

—————————————————————————————————————————-

Musa: Brief Umno on why it has to give up NEP

By MEERA VIJAYAN,Friday March 23, 2007

JOHOR BARU: Umno should have a special briefing to explain to its members why it was time to give up the New Economic Policy (NEP) for the success of the Iskandar Development Region (IDR).

Iskandar Development Region Authority (IRDA) advisory council member Tun Musa Hitam who proposed this also volunteered to be one of the speakers at the briefing.

He said that there were already hundreds of Malays who had the capability to do business and on merit.

As someone who had been active in Umno for several decades, Musa said, he realised that there was a need to have a change in mindset to draw investors to the country.

“The briefing should explain what the IDR is, its implications to the country and to the Malays,” he said during a press conference at Danga Bay after the book launch of The Reluctant Politician: Tun Dr Ismail and His Time.

In the last few decades of the NEP, the country used to have an Ali Baba way of doing business where Ali would give his name and Baba would do all the work.

“As time went on, Ali and Baba became equal and Ali was able to deliver as much as Baba. Now, there are even Alis who are using the Babas not as sleeping partners but as equals,” he quipped.

Musa also said that foreign investors who came to the country were not interested in the NEP, cronyism or nepotism as their primary focus was on making money.

He suggested that instead of imposing conditional approvals, a more palatable method would be to provide potential foreign and local investors with a list of Malay entrepreneurs who were capable of doing business and leaving it the investors to decide.

Musa said that he had already asked for a computerised master list of all Malay entrepreneurs to be drawn up and the list would include their current grades as well as their past performance and track record which would be made available to any investor.

“The IDR is an opportunity to demonstrate that we have arrived and we are able to do this,” he said.

Source: http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/3/23/nation/17229214&sec=nation

Release The HINDRAF 5

A while ago, we heard from the Government (of the Federation) of how the rakyat wanted the Internal Security Act to remain on the books. I have my reservations about the truthfulness of that assertion. Whatever the case, I believe that if the Barisan Nasional component parties are sincere in their self-declared aim of wanting to re-evaluate themselves, they must question their continued support and use of anti-democratic legislation like the Internal Security Act, the Official Secrets Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

In voting as they did this year, Malaysians were not only protesting, they went in search of a viable alternative. The Barisan Nasional must realize that it had allowed itself to become, or perhaps be portrayed as, a corrupt regime that considered itself above the law. This had largely been driven by the repressive methods that were allowed for by these self-serving laws. So much so that the rakyat had come to understand that the use of these laws, in particular the ISA, were not so much aimed at protecting the security of the rakyat and the nation but rather the interests of the Barisan Nasional.

If the Barisan Nasional wants to remain relevant, they will have to confront reality. The rakyat have spoken. They have not only signaled their rejection of the selfish ways of the coalition, they have also signaled their rejection of the methods the coalition has employed to its own ends.

Last December I wrote of how there was no justification to detain the HINDRAF 5 under the ISA. If they had committed crimes, the only proper thing to do was to charge them in a court of law and let due process run its course. I maintain this position.

In this context, the outcome of the General Election proves two things. Firstly, how deeply the issue of marginalization resonates with the rakyat. Whatever the posturing and the rhetoric, marginalization was the primary cause that underlay HINDRAF efforts.

Secondly, the outcome clearly establishes how Malaysians have matured far beyond May 13th 1969. If the Barisan Nasional government were to be believed, Malays would have only voted for Malays, the election result would have led to severe reactions and there would have been blood flowing through the streets as Malaysians turned on each other. As we saw, that was not the case. Malaysians transcended the parochial expectations of the Barisan, forging together in a common cause.

It is on the premise that I once again question the truthfulness of the stated belief of the Barisan Nasional government that the HINDRAF 5 are a threat to national security. The groundswell we experienced last Saturday clearly shows that they are not. Their detention cut, and continues to cut, into the consciousness of Malaysians of all ethnic backgrounds.

Mr Karpal Singh has called for the release of M Manoharan (Malaysiakini; ‘Karpal: Release Manoharan now’). He says, in effect, that by having voted for him in the context of GE2008, the people have declared that he is not a threat to national security. I agree with Mr Karpal but go further. The logic applies equally to the other detainees.

The step of releasing the HINDRAF 5 is an obvious choice in determining which of the series of conciliatory measures that the Barisan Nasional government will have to undertake first in order to win back the trust of the rakyat. Repealing the OSA and permitting publications of newspapers without permits follow closely behind.

Release the HINDRAF 5.

MIS

Source: malikimtiaz