By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad

1. Semasa bahagian-bahagian UMNO sedang menamakan calon untuk jawatan-jawatan parti, terdapat laporan bahawa Jawatankuasa Disiplin telah terima lebih daripada 900 aduan berkenaan dengan rasuah.

2. Tetapi hingga kini tidak ada apa-apa pun berita tentang tindakan yang telah diambil oleh Jawatankuasa Disiplin atau mana-mana pihak.

3. Sekarang kita dengar cerita lain pula. Wakil-wakil Bahagian yang akan hadir Mesyuarat Agong pada bulan Mac sudah pun ditentukan oleh bahagian-bahagian. Mereka terdiri daripada ketua bahagian, naib ketua bahagian, ketua wanita, ketua pemuda dan tujuh orang yang dipilih dalam mesyuarat bahagian yang lalu. Jumlah 11 orang semuanya.

4. UMNO mempunyai lebih kurang 190 bahagian, bermakna jumlah wakil ke Mesyuarat Agong adalah seramai 2,090 + ahli Majlis Tertinggi.

5. Sasaran rasuah ialah kepada 2,090 wakil ini. Saya dengar (tetapi saya tidak percaya) sudah ada calon bagi jawatan tertentu yang sudah beri elaun bulanan kepada sebilangan besar daripada 2,090 wakil ini. Bahagian mereka mencalon calon-calon tertentu tetapi yang akan undi dalam Mesyuarat Agong ialah perwakilan. Dan mereka yang dapat elaun mungkin (mungkin sahaja) akan undi calon yang memberi elaun kepada.

6. Jika yang menang adalah orang yang menghulur rasuah maka UMNO akan dipimpin oleh perasuah.

7. Dan Kerajaan Malaysia dan Kerajaan Negeri akan dipimpin oleh perasuah selepas Pilihanraya Umum ke 13 jika Barisan Nasional menang. Dan pemimpin jenis ini akan sauk duit Kerajaan dan duit siapa sahaja yang berurusan dengan Kerajaan.

8. Saya telah berbual dengan beberapa orang yang tidak berparti dan juga yang berparti. Pendapat mereka semuanya sama - mereka tidak ingin diperintah oleh Kerajaan pimpinan perasuah.

9. Saya tanya jika tidak ingin apakah yang mereka boleh buat?

10. Mereka akan perhati dengan teliti pemilihan pemimpin UMNO bulan Mac ini.

11. Jika perwakilan UMNO memilih orang yang diketahui umum mengguna wang untuk dapat undi dan menjadi pemimpin UMNO mereka akan tentukan UMNO dan Barisan Nasional akan kalah Pilihanraya Umum ke-13.

12. Bolehkah mereka berbuat demikian? Jawab mereka lihat sahaja keputusan Pilihanraya Umum ke-12. BN kalah di lima buah negeri dan tidak dapat 2/3 di Parlimen kerana mereka memberi undi mereka kepada parti lawan.

13. Undi mereka, kata mereka adalah undi penentu. UMNO tidak boleh menang kerana undi ahli-ahli UMNO sahaja. UMNO perlu undi pengundi yang bukan ahli.

14. Kata mereka bukan sahaja yang bebas tidak akan beri undi pada calon pilihanraya UMNO, tetapi ramai juga ahli UMNO yang kecewa kerana kelakuan ahli dan pemimpin UMNO yang tidak akan mengundi calon UMNO dan BN. Mereka yakin kalau mereka percaya pemimpin UMNO yang dipilih Mac ini adalah perasuah, mereka akan tentukan UMNO akan kalah Pilihanraya Umum ke-13.

15. Pendapat ini disuarakan juga oleh orang Cina dan India. Kalau yang akan pimpin UMNO lepas Mac ini adalah yang terkenal mengguna wang untuk jadi ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, mereka juga akan undi parti lawan.

16. UMNO tidak perlu ambilkira pendapat mereka ini. Bukankah UMNO parti yang terkuat di Malaysia? Takkanlah UMNO boleh dikalahkan!

(Sin Chew Daily) I feel sorry for Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen as his well-intended suggestion has been badly criticised.

He is an old-fashioned politician and he could not fit into today's political phenomenon. Many party members of the older generation have been addicted to money politics while the young ones learn from the elders and certainly, they will outperform their teachers.

Look at the crowd which demonstrated in front of the Putra World Trade Centre. They protested against the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) arrest of Umno members for fraud in the party election. They also protested against Tengku Ahmad's suggestion.

For them, frauds and corruption for power and money are justified. Right and wrong could be reversed and there is no difference between black and white.

They are young and they are having such thoughts, I believe that they are going to bring a greater national disaster when they grow older.

Isn't Tengku Ahmad's suggestion to abolish Umno's main wings, including Puteri Umno, Putera Umno, Umno Youth and Wanita Umno reasonable?

Many good children have been thrown into a huge dye vat, could they keep being themselves and not being affected?

Do the British Conservative Party and Labour Party have a youth wing? Do the American Republican Party and Democratic Party need a bureau for young women? Can you find a bureau for young men in the Australian Labor Party and Liberal Party?

In these countries, young people may concerned about or participate in the nation's politics. But they could not be made use by politics and at the same time, they are not allowed to use political parties as a platform for promotion.

The Communist Party of the Soviet Union and the Communist Party of China used to have these bureaus to attract young ones as they needed a huge number of enthusiastic members to start a revolution. They even wanted to set up a children bureau if they could, so they could have early brainwashing.

Radical political parties would make use of young people while speculative young people would as well make use of these political parties. Together, they turned the country upside down. I believe everyone would know what are the consequences.

Umno followed the mode of revolutionary parties to set up Umno Youth so that it could mobilise all available manpower to advocate Malay Nationalism and fight against colonialism. And other parties, including MCA, MIC, Pas, Gerakan, DAP and even PKR just followed the suit. These young people are supported by their parties and by calling themselves the racial pioneers, they dared to voice out many of the most radical and extreme remarks.

The revolutionary era is over, do we still need young people to make trouble? Today, the party with the most young members gets the least support from young people as the majority of young people no longer accept such concept.

Schools, instead of political parties are the paradise for children. They should concentrate in studies and when they reach their puberty, just go and date; those who wish to be a big star could take part in singing contests and those who are fetish, just hug their Hello Kitty. (By TAY TIAN YAN/ Translated by SOONG PHUI JEE/ Sin Chew Daily)

By Zaid Ibrahim

1. The call by Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen, Chairman of The Disciplinary Tribunal, for UMNO to disband its youth, wanita and puteri wings, as part of the measures to curb corruption, has attracted much flack from the party’s senior leaders including Dato Najib Razak. Instead of brushing aside the suggestion, as is the standard response of the party when confronted with something new, they should reflect and try to understand what Tengku Din was trying to tell them. Tengku Din was exasperated with the extent of the corruption permeating the party at all levels.

He was saying that the Disciplinary Tribunal alone could no longer cope with the practice and culture of corruption within the party. As a loyal party man he was trying to politely tell the party leaders that UMNO could no longer be salvaged under the present structure, and under the present crop of leaders I might add.

2. What makes it so difficult for the Tribunal to effectively carry out its functions is the selective prosecution it must practice in the discharge of its duties. Actions can only be taken if required or useful to certain top leaders. The Tribunal lacks clear mandate from the party management in dealing with money politics, UMNO’s euphemism for corrupt practice. When I was suspended for allegedly being involved in money politics, I knew that Tengku Din, although Chairman, was not involved in making the decision. Someone else in the management wanted me out. So an UMNO member will be subject to investigation and harassment if he does not belong to the right camp. Many others will escape with impunity and they can bribe the delegates as much as they want and not get the attention of the Tribunal. So even Tengku Din now realises the futility of having the Disciplinary Tribunal to deal with corrupt practice. I therefore urge Tengku Din to retire and resign from the Tribunal.

3. UMNO leaders who are critical of Tengku Din should also be mindful that they are not supposed to criticise him or the Tribunal. Look what happened to me for criticising the Tribunal and for not wanting to apologise when asked. I got suspended because they said I violated party ethics. UMNO got ethics? Well that’s the true story. So they same fate will fall on Dato Najib and his friends in the Supreme Council. They too may get suspended if they continue to criticise the Disciplinary tribunal or its Chairman.This is of course wishful thinking, as there are rules in UMNO that apply to some but not to others.

"Sudah berpuluh tahun rakyat kena buli dengan Umno. Hampir separuh abad Umno menjadi pembuli. Umno buli generasi pasca merdeka. Tanpa ada rasa belas kasihan Umno menjadi ketua buli dalam Barisan Nasional. Melayu kena buli dengan Umno, cina kena buli dengan MCA dan India kena buli dengan MIC. Paling lawak, Umno jugak sekali-sekala suka buli MCA dan MIC.

Ketika Umno sedang seronok buli rakyat yang baru terlepas dari cengkaman penjajah dan sangat mengharapkan sesuap nasi, Umno begitu seronok menakut-nakutkan anak-anak yang ketika itu masih kecil bertelanjang.

Generasi ketika itu sangat takut kepada Umno. Apa yang Umno buat betul belaka. Putih kata Umno, putihlah pada rakyat. Sesiapa yang berani membangkang ketika itu, pasti akan mendapat azab dari Umno. Mereka akan di 'raging' secukup-cukupnya oleh Umno.

Jika yang menentang pegawai kerajaan, bersiap-siaplah mereka untuk di poskan ke kawasan pendalaman. Mereka akan dihukum berkerja di wilayah persekutuan jin bertendang.

Sebaliknya jika mereka yang membangkang itu berkerja sendiri, jangan haraplah nak merasa baja subsidi, tanah, jalan raya, atau apa-apa kemudahan prasarana dari kerajaan. Mereka akan dibuli oleh tali barut Umno yang bergelar YB, Tok Sidang, Tok Penghulu, atau Pengerusi JKKK. Dan jika yang membangkang itu pelajar, jangan mimpi nak dapat biasiswa atau apa-apa bantuan. Silap-silap kena humban di dalam ISA.

Itu dulu. Ketika Umno sihat dan muda. Kini usia Umno lebih 62 tahun. Umno sudah tua. Oleh kerana banyak masa mudanya digunakan untuk buat jahat, Umno cepat kena penyakit tua. penyakit nyanyuk dan mudah lupa. Barangkali berkat doa orang yang dizalimi membuatkan Umno terlalu mudah dihinggapi pelbagai penyakit tua yang kronik.

Kini tiba giliran Umno kena buli. Dalam keadaan sakit tua Umno telah dibuli oleh generasi muda. Pengundi muda inilah yang telah buli Umno melalui saluran peti undi pilihanraya. Generasi muda yang lahir di era 70-an ini telah dibesarkan dihadapan Umno sendiri. Generasi ini telah lama meluat melihat gelagat dan telatah Umno ketika membuli ibu bapa mereka.

Generasi muda ini telah menjumpai formula kelemahan Umno. Selaku orang tua, Umno mudah dikalahkan jika pertandingan pilihanraya berlaku dengan satu lawan satu. Selama ini Umno kuat sebab tiada pakatan di kalangan pembangkang. Akhirnya Umno mudahmendominasi pertandingan. Lalu setiap pilihanraya Umno dan BN akan buli parti-parti pembangkang secukup-cukupnya.

Dan sekali lagi, itu dulu. Ketika Umno masih boleh membuli. Ketika SPR, Polis, media, dan pegawai-pegawai kerajaan cari makan dengan Umno. Ketika Umno boleh memperbodoh-bodohkan rakyat.

Kini giliran Umno kena buli. Rakyat telah bangkit untuk buli Umno dan BN. Dan rakyat semakin bersedia untuk mencari pembuli-pembuli datuk nenek mereka. Selepas ini tiada siapa yang terlepas. Baik kerajaan atau pembangkang tetap tidak terlepas jika masih membudayakan perangai pembuli seperti Umno.

Seronok tengok Umno gelabah beruk kena buli dengan generasi muda. Dan yang lawaknya, dalam diam sekali sekala dilihat MCA dan MIC juga ambil kesempatan untuk turut buli Umno. Maklumlah mereka juga pun dah lama bengang dengan Umno.

Bagi semua ahli politik ingatlah, sejarah tidak pernah berulang, yang berulang hanyalah kesilapan manusia itu sendiri! - Tranungkite

"Adegan ikrar dan Sumpah taat setia kini menjadi peluru getah Umno untuk menunjukkan kekuatannya. Malangnya ia tidak sedikit pun mampu mencalarkan keutuhan Pakatan. Bermula dengan kekalahan teruk dalam Piliharaya ke-12 Mac tahun lalu. Semua pemimpin ahli dan pimpinan BN tuduh menuduh. Gerakan, MCA, MIC bergaduh besar dengan Umno hingga Hishamuddin hampir-hampir mencabut kerisnya lagi.

Kepercayaan pada Abdullah merosot teruk hingga terpaksa mengumpulkan semua pemimpin dan wakil rakyat Umno-BN di PWTC untuk menyatakan ikrar taat setia pada Dollah Badawi.

Kemudian dengan paksa rela Abdullah mengumumkan persaraan pada bulan Mac akan datang iaitu genap setahun beliau menerima Kekalahan paling teruk dalam sejarah Politik beliau memimpin Umno-BN.

Seterus kecoh pula isu Ahli PArlimen Sabah Sarawak nak masuk Pakatan. Mereka dipanggil membuat kenyataan Ikrar dan Sumpah taat setia pada BN, Malangnya SAPP tekad keluar BN membawa dua orang ahli Parlimen untuk menjadi wakil rakyat bebas.

Saat Pilihanraya Kecil Permatang Pauh tiba, Pemuda BN pula mengigau ditengah hari. Semua ahli Parlimennya dipanggil lagi untuk membuat sumpah taat setia sebelum turun bertarung menentang Anwar dan bala tentera Pakatan.

Setelah mengalami Kalah teruk di Permatang Pauh, Calon BN yang kalah, Ariff Shah dikatakan ingin beralih kepada Pakatan. Namun dengan pantas Umno-BN mengirimkan wakil memujuknya untuk terus bersama Umno. Maka sekali lagi beliau terpaksa angkat Sumpah taat setia.

Kemudian kecoh pula Ketua UMNO Bahagian Petaling Jaya Utara Selatan Kapten (B) Datuk Zahar Hashim yang menyertai Pas-Pakatan bersama ahli-ahli hingga sanggup menukarkan Pejabat Umno Bahagian itu menjadi Pusat Khidmat Wakil Rakyat Pas.

Terkejut dengan tindakan itu, Wakil Rakyat dan Pimpinan Umno Selangor bermuzakarah.Sumpah taat setia dan ikrar untuk terus bersama Umno-BN berkumandang lagi di Selangor.

Kemudian sewaktu Pilihanraya Kecil Kuala Terengganu, senyap-senyap Umno-BN merayu agar pimpinan dan ahli Umno-BN berikrar untuk memenangkan Calon BN yang akhirnya terpaksa berputih mata kerana terlepas jawatan Timbalan Menteri, senator dan tak layak jadi Ahli Parlimen.

Dan terkini Kes Adun Bota, Nasruddin yang mengumumkan perceraian beliau dengan Umno dan pernikahan beliau dengan Keadilan. Ia umpama halilintar yang membelah keangkuhan Umno Perak kerana sebelum itu Ahli Parlimen Umno Perak, Zahid Hamidi mengarahkan agar Jentera Kerajaan Persekutuan untuk tidak bekerjasama dengan Kerajaan Negeri.

Selain itu isu perkauman dan juga hak strata menjadi isu Umno Perak hingga masyarakat berpecah belah khususnya kalangan kaum Melayu dan Cina.

Maka dengan tindakan Nasruddin itu, memeprjelaskan lagi kelemahan dalaman Umno Perak yang akhirnya terpaksa dipanggil Najib ke Kuala Lumpur untuk melafazkan Ikrar dan sumpah taat setia yang sudah lali diucapkan.

Maka jadilah Umno-BN ini parti sesumpah yang mana sumpahan itu akhirnya bakal memakan diri mereka dan Umno hanya tinggal kenangan sahaja tak lama lagi. - Tranungkite

Pada 27 Jan 2009, TV3 menyiarkan berita tentang UMNO Baling menyerahkan peruntukan RM 50 ribu untuk perlaksanaan program agama di seluruh masjid dalam Parlimen Baling. Turut hadir dalam majlis tersebut ialah Ketua Putera UMNO Malaysia, Dato' Abd.Azeez Abd.Rahim dan Dr.Mashitah Ibrahim.

Dalam wawancara, Abd.Azeez memberitahu kepada media bahawa selama ini UMNO yang membayar segala bil elektrik dan air untuk seluruh mesjid dalam daerah Baling ini. Nampak macam 'bagus' puak-puak UMNO ni kerana beri duit untuk program mengimarahkan masjid. Bayarkan bil. Cuma ada satu persoalan yang bermain dalam fikiran ini, sejak bila pulak UMNO ni dah insaf dan nak balik pada agama ???

Saya nasihatkan kepada seluruh umat Islam di Baling agar berhati-hati dengan 'permainan' golongan MUNAFIQ ini. Bagi saya, apa yang dilakukan ini adalah bertujuan untuk meraih simpati dan sokongan dari penduduk Baling yang telah menolak mereka dalam Piliharaya Umum yang lalu. Jangan kita gelap mata dan mudah hilang pendirian bila mendengar pemberian peruntukan puluhan ribu ringgit untuk program masjid seperti yang berlaku di Baling ini.

Jangan kita lupa. Allah SWT telah menceritakan di dalam Al-Qur'an bagaimana perangai golongan MUNAFIQ di Madinah yang bertindak membina sebuah masjid (Masjid Dhirar) dengan tujuan untuk menghalang kerja dakwah Rasulullah serta mahu memecahbelahkan umat Islam pada ketika itu. Golongan munafiq Madinah berharap dengan adanya Masjid Dhirar yang cantik ini, maka umat Islam akan berpecah kepada dua golongan. Satu golongan bersembahyang di Masjid Nabi dan satu golongan lagi bersembahyang di masjid mereka. Kerja jahat ini dilaksanakan apabila mereka melihat semakin ramai masyarakat Islam Madinah menyokong dan bersama perjuangan Rasulullah SAW.

Apa bezanya kerja yang dilakukan oleh puak-puak munafiq UMNO ni dengan kerja yang dilakukan oleh golongan munafiq Madinah itu. Tak ada bezanya. Bezanya hanya dari sudut perlaksanaan tetapi matlamat mereka adalah sama sahaja, yaitu mahu menghalang orang ramai daripada menyokong PAS. Sebab UMNO tahu bahawa PAS memang ikhlas untuk melaksanakan pemerintahan Islam. Cumanya mereka tak cakap terang-terang.

Kita melihat senario 'ketakutan UMNO hilang kuasa' ini semakin ketara sejak kemenangan PAS di Kuala Terengganu pada 17 Januari lalu. Ditambah lagi dengan pengisytiharan ADUN Bota, Dato' Nasarudin Hashim yang keluar dari UMNO dan menyertai Pakatan Rakyat.

Inilah balasan terhadap UMNO yang mendustakan ayat-ayat Allah. Mereka hanya beriman dengan sebahagian daripada Al-Quran dan mengingkari sebahagian yang lain. Yang mana ada kepentingan untuk mereka, mereka ikut seperti zakat. Sebab zakat menghasilkan duit.

Jangan kita percaya dengan cakap-cakap golongan ulama' UMNO yang ada hari ini. Mereka ini digelar oleh Allah sebagai Ulama' Jahat. Golongan inilah yang menjadi punca ramai umat Islam dalam negara berada dalam kesesatan yang tidak disedari. Golongan ulama' sebeginilah yang sengaja menyembunyikan ilmu dan kebenaran yang mereka ketahui demi menjaga kepentingan peribadi.

Allah SWT melaknat golongan ulama' pengampu ini sebagaimana yang disebut dalam Al-Qur'an. Sila rujuk pada Surah Al-Baqarah (2) : ayat 159.

Saya menyeru kepada seluruh umat Islam di Malaysia dan khususnya di Baling agar jangan sekali-kali terpedaya dengan segala 'permainan' UMNO ini. Mereka sanggup berbuat apa sahaja demi mencapai 'matlamat jahat' yang tersembunyi. Beringatlah bahawa golongan munafiq ini cukup pandai berbicara sehingga menarik perhatian orang yang mendengarnya. Bak kata orang 'Lembut gusi dari lidah'.

Sekian, Jazakallah.

Jom Sertai PAS. - Monazmuslim

SEORANG ahli UMNO membuat laporan polis mengatakan bahawa beliau dikasari semasa dalam tahanan oleh pegawai Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) negeri Pahang pada 23 Januari lalu.

Halimi Kamarulzamman, 46, mendakwa kejadian tersebut berlaku di dalam lokap tahanan Tingkat 10, Wisma Persekutuan di pejabat SPRM Kuantan, Pahang.

Dalam laporan polisnya, Hamidi berkata beliau telah menyerah diri pada pagi 23 Januari berhubung siasatan rasuah melibatkan pemilihan UMNO di negeri tersebut.

Menurut laporan polis yang tersebar melalui email itu, Halimi, seorang kontraktor, mendakwa beliau dipukul oleh tiga pegawai SPRM semasa proses soal-siasat.

Selain dipukul, mangsa juga mendakwa dibogelkan dan di minta berguling-guling di atas lantai.

"Bakul sampah yang kotor telah diletakkan di atas kepala saya, dan saya dipaksa untuk menyanyikan lagu Negaraku berkali-kali, lagu UMNO berkali-kali dan disuruh menyebut Rukun Negara berulang kali. Semasa saya dipaksa berbuat demikian bakul sampah di atas kepala saya diketuk berkali-kali," katanya dalam laporan polis yang dibuat pada 28 Januari.

Menurut Halimi, pada 24 Januari, sewaktu di bawa untuk tahanan reman, beliau sudah memaklumkan kepada Majistret di Ibu Pejabat Polis Kuantan dan dinasihatkan untuk membuat aduan kepada Biro Pengaduan Awam selepas dibebaskan.

Katanya lagi, beliau dipaksa untuk mengaku bahawa seorang pemimpin UMNO, Datuk Norza Zakaria terlibat dengan politik wang.

Jelasnya lagi, biarpun didera dan disiksa, beliau tetap memberitahu perkara yang sebenar dan menafikan pembabitan Datuk Norza Zakaria dengan politik wang.

"Sepanjang masa saya dipukul dan didera, mereka telah memadamkan kamera CCTV yang berada di dalam bilik tahanan itu dengan menggunakan plaster," kata beliau.

Di akhir laporan polisnya, Halimi mendakwa, jenayah yang dilakukan oleh pegawai SPRM tersebut kepada beliau adalah mirip peristiwa yang sering berlaku di Abu Gharib (penjara di Iraq).

"Saya amat terkejut dan takut bahawa perkara ini juga berlaku di bawah SPRM yang baru ditubuhkan ini," katanya.

Parlimen akhir Disember lalu memberikan kuasa yang lebih besar kepada SPRM untuk membenteras rasuah di negara ini. Dulunya SPRM di kenali sebagai Badan Pencegah Rasuah (BPR). - KLPos

PETALING JAYA, Jan 29 — Umno disciplinary board chairman Tengku Tan Sri Ahmad Rithaudeen’s call to abolish Umno’s Wanita, Youth, Puteri and Putera wings to curb money politics in Umno is insufficient but the entire party should be done away with, says DAP Parliamentary Leader Lim Kit Siang.

“Just as no one expects Rithaudeen’s proposal would be taken seriously by an Umno leader, nobody believes that it is possible to eradicate corruption in the country’s most corrupt institution, Umno, because of the sheer absence of such political will,” the opposition stalwart said.

“Rithaudden’s sense of despair and futility in the impossible battle against corruption and money politics in Umno caused him to make the radical proposal to abolish the various Umno wings.

“When will an honest and upright Umno leader make the next logical proposal – that UMNO be abolished altogether?” Lim asked rhetorically in a press statement.

Rithaudeen’s proposal has met immediate objection from vice president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Youth chief Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein, Wanita chief Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz and Puteri chief Datuk Noraini Ahmad.

Today, the top two in the party also rejected the idea as deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that Umno will not abolish any of its wings as they are important in nurturing future leaders of the party while president Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi said that money politics would be dealt with other means.

“If Rithaudeen is right — and he is right — that the many elections for the Umno Youth, Wanita, Puteri and Putera wings created opportunities for money-making, all that Najib meant about ‘nurturing future leaders of the party’ is to give them opportunities to be adept in the art of corruption in Umno party elections,” Lim added.

The DAP supremo also questioned Rithudeen’s justification for not allowing the newly-minted Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) full jurisdiction over alleged corruption in the party.

In a New Straits Times report, Rithaudeen used the analogy of a doctor trying to operate while drunk, stating that the doctor can be charged for criminal negligence but also sued in a civil suit and stripped of his ability to practice by the Malaysian Medical Council.

In the same way, Umno’s disciplinary board conducts its investigations with the option of suspending a member independently of any action by the MACC.

Investigations by the MACC and the board will be done separately by each body and any sharing of information will be done on a case-by-case basis, he said.

However, Lim stressed that the board would be violating the law and committing crimes themselves if they withhold from the MACC any case of Umno money politics — which MACC Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan had categorically called “corruption” in a separate New Straits Times interview on Jan 25.

IPOH: Datuk Seri Mohd Tajol Rosli Ghazali is expected to resign as chairman of the Perak Barisan Nasional and state Umno liaison committee to take responsibility for the defection of Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim.

Party insiders told the New Straits Times that the former menteri besar had conveyed his intention to quit to Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a meeting at the latter's residence in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

It is learnt that Tajol Rosli, a supreme council member, will officially step down this week, with Najib assuming both posts effective Feb 1.

Tajol Rosli was supposed to vacate the posts after the party elections in March but decided to leave immediately following Nasarudin's defection to Parti Keadilan Rakyat.

He has held the two posts since 1999.
"Tajol Rosli was not asked to do so, but as a good leader he has decided to step down and take responsibility for his failure (to prevent the defection)," said a source.

"Najib is calm about this and will probably take over the helm of the Barisan Nasional in Perak."

It is learnt that Lintang assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam and Pengkalan Baharu assemblyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar were also present at the four-hour meeting.

The presence of the two men was due to rumours that they were also leaving Umno for the PKR.

"However, both pledged their loyalty to the party and gave their assurance that they would not jump ship, as widely speculated," the source said.

Kubu Gajah assemblyman Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar, who was linked to the two men, also called Najib from abroad to affirm that he would not be crossing over to the opposition.

"All of them had a heart-to-heart talk on this matter and everything has been resolved for now," said another source.

With Nasarudin's defection to the PKR, Pakatan Rakyat now has 32 seats in Perak to BN's 27. - NST

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno disaran supaya memansuhkan semua sayap partinya bagi memastikan gejala rasuah politik dapat dihapuskan dengan lebih berkesan.

Pengerusi Lembaga Disiplin Umno, Tan Sri Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen Tengku Ismail berkata langkah penstrukturan semula parti itu penting kerana pengurangan sayap parti akan mengurangkan proses pemilihan bagi membendung gejala politik wang.

"Lagi banyak pemilihan, lagi banyak berlakunya masalah politik wang.

"Saya fikir perlukah ada Puteri dan Putera kerana lagi ada Puteri dan Putera banyak lagi main (guna) duit.

"Saya juga memikirkan barangkali Pemuda dan Wanita juga perlu dipertimbangkan kerana di England rasanya tidak ada pertubuhan wanita baik dalam parti Konservatif mahupun Parti Buruh," katanya dalam sidang media di Ibu Pejabat Umno di sini hari ini.

Beliau turut mengakui gejala politik wang turut berlaku dalam pemilihan peringkat Puteri dan Putera Umno namun hingga kini masih belum ada pihak yang tampil membuat aduan secara rasmi.

"Saya dengar-dengar Putera, Puteri pun dah pandai main (guna) duit," katanya.

Jelas beliau ahli Puteri dan Putera Umno yang terdiri daripada golongan muda seharusnya memberikan tumpuan terhadap pelajaran dan bukannya bergiat aktif dalam bidang politik.

Ditanya pandangan beliau mengenai objektif penubuhan kedua-dua sayap parti itu adalah bagi memberi pendedahan awal terhadap politik, beliau berpendapat pendedahan tersebut masih terlalu awal.

"Mereka sepatutnya pentingkan pelajaran dahulu, mereka masih belasan tahun dan awal 20an.

"Kalau nak bagi pendedahan pun janganlah terlalu awal kerana sekarang ini bukan masanya lagi mereka aktif berpolitik," katanya.

Tambah beliau lagi kepimpinan hari ini memerlukan golongan muda yang akan menerajui negara pada masa akan datang.

"Kita bergantung kepada orang muda untuk membawa negara kita pada tahap yang tinggi dan bertanding dengan negara lain," katanya.

Tengku Ahmad Rithauddeen turut mencadangkan agar sistem kuota yang diamalkan untuk tujuan pemilihan dalam parti dimansuhkan kerana ia dilihat menyumbang kepada gejala politik wang.

Mengulas mengenai tindakan Ahli Dewan Undangan Negeri (ADUN) Bota, Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim yang keluar daripada Umno dan menyertai Parti Keadilan rakyat (PKR), beliau kecewa dengan tindakan itu.

"Saya sebenarnya kecil hati dengan tindakan seperti itu terutamanya bila ada masalah.

"Kita boleh selesaikan masalah yang timbul dari dalam parti," katanya. - MSTar Online

(The Malaysian Insider) - Following the defection of Perak state assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim to PKR, Umno representatives in the state are now complaining of being sidelined by the party leadership.

They told The Malaysian Insider today that the Umno leadership must keep the people’s interest ahead of the party if it was serious about taking over Perak from Pakatan Rakyat.

They said infighting in Perak Umno has led to some of the party’s representatives being unable to perform their duties effectively.

The rift within the state Umno started soon after the party’s divisional meetings late last year, where some assemblymen lost their positions and it became public with Nasarudin’s defection.

The crossover also came as a blow to Perak Umno chief Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, who was said to be having problems working with some of the party’s assemblymen, as he had promised to topple the PR-led government through defection, by Aug 31 last year.

“I am disappointed with the leadership at the divisional and state level as they are not doing anything for the next election.

“We will end up like Kelantan, where they are very happy to lead the divisions, but do not want to win elections,” said Pengkalan Baharu assembyman Datuk Hamdi Abu Bakar.

The former Beruas Umno chief who lost his post in the party election last October, however, denied that he was thinking of crossing over, adding that the situation in Perak has calmed down after a meeting with party deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

“But they must not be complacent,” said Hamdi.

Another assemblyman, Hamidah Osman, said the sidelining of elected representatives in favour of division chiefs would further erode the people's confidence in the party.

“There should be more room for the people, for their representatives. What is going to happen if the people’s confidence in Umno continues to decline?” said the Sungai Rapat assemblyman, who is Barisan Nasional’s (BN) sole representative within the Gopeng federal constituency.

“If they want to win the people’s support, they should not be focussing only on Umno members,” she told The Malaysian Insider, admitting that she has been contacted by a PKR official to defect but had rejected the offer.

Hamidah added that Umno divisional leaders were only interested in protecting their positions within the party instead of focussing on strengthening the party.

Lintang state assemblyman Datuk Ahamad Pakeh Adam claimed that many Umno representatives in the state are facing the same problems, but he added that they were not ready yet to defect to PR.

Still, he did not rule out the possibility.

“There will be more,” said Ahamad on Perak Menteri Besar’s remark that three Umno assemblymen would be joining PR.

Soon after Bota assemblyman Nasarudin joined PKR, Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin claimed that three more Umno representatives would defect to one of the PR parties.

The defection of the former Parit MP brought the number of PR representatives to 31 against BN’s 27.

The Malaysian Insider understands that the police have completed their probe into his comments about Malaysians of Chinese origin and the veteran politician is likely to be charged with sedition.

This move is going to be applauded by many Malaysians who were upset at his boorish behaviour in the wake of that episode but will upset Umno members who believe that his three-year suspension from all positions in the party was sufficient punishment.

His court date could also reignite the debate on race and religion in the country, and polarise the country further.

Ahmad became the talk of the country when he allegedly said that Chinese were immigrants and squatters and therefore could not expect to have equal rights as the Malays.

His comments were reported in Sin Chew Daily and sparked off a furious debate on the position of non-Malays in the country.

It led to several component parties in the Barisan Nasional calling for Ahmad to be disciplined.

Ahmad remained unrepentant and warned Chinese not to “try the patience” of the Malays.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tried to calm the tense situation by apologising on Ahmad’s behalf to the Chinese.

In September, the Umno Supreme Council suspended Ahmad from all party positions for three years.

But that was not the end of the drama.

The Sin Chew journalist who reported Ahmad's allegedly seditious comments was detained under the Internal Security Act. The government defended the move by saying that it was for the protection of the reporter.

Following public outcry, she was released after 18 hours in the lock-up.

This detention only served to frame the episode in them versus us terms, with several commentators wondering why the police were quick to act against the messenger and not the individual who uttered the allegedly seditious comments.

Those found guilty of sedition in Malaysia can be jailed up to three years, face a RM5,000 fine or both. The law classifies speech or comments as seditious if it, among others, promotes ill feeling between the races.

Ezam Mohd Noor: A moribund character
Ahmad Kadir | January 23, 2009

I refer to the Malaysiakini report Ezam vows to ‘diminish’ Anwar’s influence.

Ezam Mohd Noor was the most juvenile and vulgar element of PKR during the reformasi years. He called Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad unprintable names. All is captured in video and writing. Why was Ezam behaving like this? The reason is because he didn’t have higher ideals.

He was literally worshiping Anwar Ibrahim. He was a young man who was angry that he was ejected out of power. Of course, he didn’t have power but walking on the red carpets laid down for Anwar was too tantalising.

Ezam paid the price for his Anwar worship and went to jail. Mahathir left office and Abdullah Ahmad Badawi riding on a ‘Oh…Mahathir left’ popular wave cruised to a crushing BN victory. In the process, Ezam’s dubious character of eating from both camps was unearthed.

Anwar Ibrahim was released. He went abroad both for medical reasons and also as he said, to ‘give Abdullah enough space to operate.’ He started rebuilding a tattered party, building alliances, bridging gaps and formulating policies. It was here that Anwar was forced to choose his soldiers wisely.

Having learnt from his 1998 episode, Anwar became stealthy and very cautious. Though accommodative to all, he trusted few. Despite going to jail for his worship, Ezam was not part of the trusted lieutenants in the new era despite being one in the past. Though I’m not a PKR member, I generally support PAS and PKR and have many good friends in both parties.

A highly placed PKR man told me: ‘Anwar opted for cautious people like him and it was here that Azmin Ali carried the day.’ Ezam quit PKR. As we remember, he said Anwar was ‘a dictator’ and Azmin Ali a chief manipulator (in that he manipulated Anwar into becoming his right hand man - a job Ezam wanted).

During the Permatang Pauh by-election, Ezam reveals his inherent jealousy and said: ‘I have not been accommodated in PKR as I wanted which I suffered for.’ No need to explain this.

Ezam formed GERAK (ironically bankrolled by UMNO’s most corrupted man). He languished in obscurity and irrelevance though he continued lashing out at UMNO and claiming that he will lodge report after report on its ‘massive corruption’. It remained so until the March 2008 came when Anwar led three disparate parties to a historical win. Then Anwar started courting BN MPs, and UMNO went into panic overdrive.

Khairy Jamaluddin brought in Ezam in the hope that he will blunt Anwar’s advances. The problem was that Ezam was not a leader of any group or society. He has never been a state assembly person let alone an MP. His only claim to office (and fame ) as his being an Anwar’s clerk.

During the Permatang Pauh by-election he went round inventing every imaginable calumny against Anwar. The trouble was he had done the same to others before and people knew this. So his rants didn’t hold water. His and UMNO’s politics were rejected in a resounding manner. He went underground and was only found when the Kuala Terengganu by-election arose.

Ezam’s desperate antics went a notch higher in KT. He came up with another joke. ‘The six boxes are kept outside the country’ by Anwar he claimed. Subhannalah! Now that was the biggest joke he had made in one decade.

‘The boxes contain evidence against Anwar’s cronies and because of that I left PKR’ he said. Ya Allah! Never mind what he has been saying for years and years that the boxes were in relation to Mahathir and UMNO!

Then came the most base move he could make - the Anwar Ibrahim letter. He threatened to reveal a letter in which Anwar sought to make peace with Mahathir. His paralysed personality and feeble mind was on display for all to see. For one, the letter he showed was published in 1999 in the ‘Free Anwar Ibrahim’ Campaign website. It was also published in many other personal blogs and was also published in ‘Malaysia-Today’ last year.

But the shock was when Ezam claimed that he sought the permission of Abdullah and Najib to reveal the letter. I couldn’t believe what I read. If that’s true, then it proves that Dollah and Najib are beyond salvation. How can you seek permission for a letter that has been in the public domain for 10 years?

And the letter showed the positive nature of Anwar more than any anything else. What is the wisdom behind ‘revealing’ it? But that’s what you get when you rely on scandalous minds.

When Pakatan Rakyat was using dignified people like former UMNO Petaling Jaya Selatan division leader Capt (R) Zahar Hashim and Zaid Ibrahim, UMNO (or rather Najib and Abdullah since ordinary UMNO members avoided him) were using Ezam.

You think people fail to make comparisons? To compare notes? Who told you badmouthing your opponent, particularly over a case of ‘sour grapes’, makes you gain ground? Who told you employing dubious elements convinces people?

Remember, voters have dignity and they have issues and questions. They want those answered and they want the ones who are answering to be impeccable.

Ezam was there vomiting on the shoes of UMNO and its leaders before and he was there doing the same in Kuala Terengganu. He even dared PAS Vice-President Husam Musa. As usual, Ezam swore and challenged Husam to do the same and meet for a swearing session. Knowing his diseased ego, Husam answered that swearing was for those who weren’t sure of themselves and that he (Husam) was not a tokoh unlike Ezam. It was a devastating sarcasm.

Finally, this is my advice to Ezam. You claim to be fighting for Islam and the Malay people. Sir, neither Islam nor the Malays have ordained you to speak on their behalf. Islam has its Protector in Allah the Almighty. Furthermore, Islam is about ideals, dignity, trustworthiness, shyness, humility, manners, patience, benevolence, forgiveness, humbleness and you exhibit none. Go and learn Islam before you ‘defend’ it.

I hope that you will do some good for your wife, children and parents by carrying yourself with dignity. I doubt you can, but I really feel disturbed that you are putting your own parents and children in the line of disdain and ridicule. Go and do something good with your life.

"Mengapa dan kenapa Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri mengeluar arahan melarang pegawai kerajaan persekutuan menghadiri mesyuarat rasmi kerajaan negeri Perak yang dikuasai oleh pakatan rakyat.

Kerajaan Pusat tidak mengiktiraf tandangan dan cop rasmi JKKK atau penghulu yang dilantik oleh kerajaan negeri Perak.

Datuk Zahid Hamidi bagaikan seorang pengikut setia Abu Jahal dan Zahid Hamidi contuh seseorang yang bersifat "JAHILLLIYAH MODERN", yang digambarkan oleh pengarang buku "interlekual dalam Islam yang dikarang oleh Al-Syahid Ali Syariati.

Jahilliyah modern amat sukar untuk diberi nasihat atau amat sukar untuk menerima kebaikan. Hatinya cukup keras malah biasanya terjadi pada seseorang yang tahu tentang ugama atau seseorang cerdik dan ada ilmu malah berpelajaran. Amat sukar untuk menembusi hatidan sanubari malah selalu membuat halangan dan berhujah dengan akal tidak berpandukan konsep Islam dan taqwa.

Zahid Hamidi terlupa dan membuat lupa tugas kerajaan persekutuan dan negeri dari sudut undang-undang perlembangan. Memang Zahid Hamidi membuat buta dan tuli walaupu matanya dan hatinya tidak buta. Celik dalam buta.

Ingat rakyat benci pada pemimpin yang bersifat angkuh dan tidak mesra rakyat. Jadi betul apa yang dikatakan pemimpin umno yang lain, Pemimpin umno sendiri merosakan perjuangan umno.

Zahid Hamidi mengapa anda bersifat dengki dan mulut celupar dan membuat arahan seperti dizaman Abu jahal dan angkuh seperti Firaun?.....Cuba renung kata-kata pemimpin umno......

Umno hilang daya tarikan....Tan Sri Muhyuddin Yasin.....

Kami meminta Zahid Hamidi dan Kerajaan Persekutuan menarik kembali arahan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan kabinet . Anih dalam tangkapan ramai orang membenci pemimpin umno ada suara nakal membaut arahan sperti zaman kerata lembu. " - ALISYARIATI/Tranungkite

The Malaysian Insider

Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali will quit as Perak Umno chief soon while three Barisan Nasional state reps have hinted at following Datuk Nasarudin Hashim into Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as discontent grows over Umno’s recent divisional polls, The Malaysian Insider learnt today.

The state Umno is in turmoil now after the Bota state assemblyman repudiated the party to join his Universiti Malaya campus mate Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Sunday and revelations by Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin that he is negotiating with the trio to cross over to Pakatan Rakyat.

Among the trio are state representatives within the Larut and Bruas parliamentary constituencies, sources told The Malaysian Insider.

“Tajol Rosli has indicated to the party leadership that he will relinquish his post soon,” a source said today.

Tajol Rosli, who was Perak Menteri Besar before BN lost the state to Pakatan Rakyat in the March 2008 polls, had met with Umno deputy president and deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday to discuss Nasarudin’s defection.

He alluded to problems within the Parit Umno division that led to the former Parit MP’s decision to quit.

It is learnt that the other state assemblymen mulling their future in Umno voiced out concerns about similar problems within their divisions.

They are also unhappy that the national leadership have ignored their problems and felt that several national leaders are behind moves to oust them from party politics. Politicking and jockeying for key posts have increased since Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s exit plan was brought forward to this March.

Najib has been elected unopposed as Umno’s new president and will have to face a party rife with factional interests and ambitious warlords conspiring for their own interests rather than that of the dominant Malay party that has led the nation since Merdeka.

“Its a zero-sum game. When some lose party positions, they lose everything. The only way up could be through another party,” an Umno leader said, alluding to Nasarudin’s loss in party division elections a few months ago.

The veteran Perak leader has seen his influence diminish when he was moved from the Parit parliament seat constituency to the Bota state seat in the last elections. While he won the state seat, he lost his Felcra chairmanship, a position normally given to an MP.

The Parit Umno deputy chief’s failed challenge for the divisional top post was the last straw, sources added.

Several other divisions are facing similar problems, with the most prominent being Larut Umno’s imbroglio between current chief Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar and challenger Larut MP Datuk Hamzah Zainudin.

Raja Ahmad has charged that Hamzah, who is Deputy Housing and Local Government Minister, is ineligible to contest for the division post due to procedural issues but Tajol Rosli has referred the matter to the party supreme council for a decision. No decision has been made and the division has yet to hold its elections.

Anwar, who is Parliamentary Opposition leader, yesterday also hinted of more cross-overs but Najib has denied it, calling it “rumours”.

Nasarudin’s defection is seen by many as a blow to Najib just weeks before he assumes the party presidency as it reflects a lack of faith in his leadership.

“It’s a blow to Najib as some don’t think he can handle the party well. Nobody will attribute this to Pak Lah as he is already on the way out,” a Umno veteran said.

While Perak Umno is in turmoil, Tajol Rosli maintained yesterday that the party was confident of wresting back the state from the Pakatan Rakyat electoral pact in the next elections.

“We have three years to do it and the BN has put in motion all measures especially to get the votes of the youth,” he said.

Tajol Rosli also said he has yet to meet Nasarudin, who has been avoiding his calls.

ABDULLAH AHAMAD BADAWI DEMAM....!!!

Bagaimana pula dengan Najib Tun Razak yang masih terus membuat kenyataan tidak akan berlaku sebarang penghijarahan lagi kalangan wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional menyeberang ke gagasan Pakatan Rakyat?

KAMAL AMIR MENULIS

NASHARUDDIN HASHIM Adun Bota,Perak telahpun Mengistiharkan dirinya keluar dari Umno untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat (Keadilan) selepas mantan Ketua Umno Bahagian Petaling Jaya Selatan Lapten (B) Datuk Abu Zahar mengumumkan secara terbuka meninggalkan parti tersebut untuk berada dalam sab kepimpinan Pas anggota Pakatan Rakyat saat Parlimen P.36 Kuala Terengganu mengadakan pilihanraya kecilnya.

Khabar semakin tersebar meluas Ketua Umno Larut yang juga Adun Selama pasti akan meninggalkan siasah Umno untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat seandainya kemelut di bahagian tersebut masih gagal diselesaikan oleh pimpinan parti peringkat tertinggi.

Badan Pencegah Rasuah juga bagaikan tidak lagi mahu menoleh kebelakang untuk mengheret siapa sahaja yang didapati terlibat dalam percaturan politik wang musim pemilihan Umno diperingkat Bahagian hujung tahun lalu.

Dan hari ini pimpinan kerajaan baru mula membuka mulut untuk bercakap benar berhubung kemelesetan ekonomi yang melanda negara selepas begitu lama berbohong kononnya negara ini tidak akan menghadapi sebarang kesan dari permasalahaan ekonomi global. (Lihat beberapa kali kenyataan memanda wazir Abdullah Ahmad Badawi dan Najib Razak).

Setelah hampir satu juta rakyat mengelami kehilangan pekerjaan kesan penutupan kilang serta syarikat besar dari luar negara baru kelmarin Tan Sri Muhayuddin Yassin menyatakan kemelesetan ekonomi dunia semakin hebat menyerang negara hingga mengakibatkan begitu banyak syarikat bakal gulung tikar.

Memanda Timbalan Perdana Menteri pula barulah mahu mengakui secara terbuka bahawa negara bakal menghadapi situasi payah kesan krisis ekonomi global. Ertinya selama ini beliau berbohong kepada rakyat dengan menyatakan bahawa rangsangan serta kekangan ekonomi bakal menyaksikan negara terus memacu kemantapan ekonominya.... hempeh sungguh kenyataan dan pembohongan yang dilakukan selama ini.

Berbalik kisah penghijarahan beberapa orang pemimpin Umno menyertai Pakatan Rakyat, akhbar arus perdana sekali lagi melakukan pembohongan tersohor seperti yang dengungkan musim pilihanraya kecil di Kuala Terengganu tempoh hari apabila kenyataan Timbalan Perdana Menteri Mohd Najib Razak dipetik sebagai berkata berita penghijrahan tersebut adalah khabar angin semata-mata.

Malahan mantan Menteri Besar Perak Datuk Tajul Rosli yang memimpin Umno di Perak hingga terlingkup di tangan Pakatan Rakyat juga turut menyatakan bahawa apa yang berlaku di negeri tersebut hanyalah sekadar cerita seorang pemimpin kerdil sahaja menyertai pakatan Rakyat, malahan dia menyatakan Umno masih kukuh dan relevan lagi di negeri Perak....kononnya!!!!!

Mantan Menteri Besar Selangor Dato’ Seri Mohd Khir Toyo pula diberitakan semakin lancang menuduh berlakunya penyelewangan dalam kerajaan Pakatan Rakyat di negeri tersebut dalam isu agihan 49 ekor lembu untuk sambutan hari raya korban tahun lalu.

Maka sayapun terfikir apakah Khir Toyo masih mahu membuka tin yang penuh dengan seribu kebusukkan pernah dilakukan oleh kerajaan Barisan Nasional musim mentadbir negeri Selangor sebelum merudum dan terjunam di baham kebangkitan gelombang “ Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat” hingga mengakibatkan pemimpin dari BN ditendang keluar darianjung kuasa di Shah Alam?

Terlupakah olehnya bagaimana rakyat merasa begitu meluat melihat angkuhnya beliau merobohkan rumah rakyat bertaraf setingan di Kampong Berembang serta beberapa kawasan lain? Atau Khir Toyo yakin rakyat sudah lupa cerita satu lori ayam yang didermakan olehnya musim sambutan hari raya tahun pertama beliau menjadi Menteri Besar yang tidak diketahui dari mana datangnya biaya pembelian ayam-ayam tersebut?

Apakah Khir Toyo bersedia untuk memulakan perang hingga memaksa Tan Sri Khalid segera mendedahkan bagaimana cerita sebenar disebalik ceretra syarikat Lebar Daun memperolehi tanah di Shah Alam? Begitu juga dengan aduan rakyat dalam kisah seribu satu malam penganugerahan tanah kepada syarikat Metro Kajang?

Dalam situasi tersebut Tan Sri Khalid yang sudahpun memperolehi pelbagai bentuk laporan serta kertas keputusan exco kerajaan Selangor yang terdahulu sewajarnya segera menyampaikan cerita sebenar kepada rakyat. Musim untuk selindung menyelindung, tutup menutup sudah berakhir. Hari ini rakyat menuntut agar pimpinan kerajaan Selangor mendedahkan hal sebenar serta segera mengheret mereka yang mengkhianati kepercayaan rakyat kemuka pengadilan.

Menurut laporan dari berita arus perdana petang tadi, Memanda Wazir Abdullah Ahmad Badawi diberitakan tidak dapat menghadiri rumah terbuka anjuran parti MCA sempena menyambut tahun Baru China atas alasan kesihatannya terganggu.

Apakah beliau masih keletihan selepas seminggu berada di negara Teluk atau mungkin dengan berlakunya penghijarahan saudara Nasaruddin Hashim keluar dari Umno untuk menyertai Parti Keadilan membuatkan imam besar mazhab Islam Hadhari itu demam kepanasan?

Bagaimana pula dengan Najib Tun Razak yang masih terus membuat kenyataan tidak akan berlaku sebarang penghijarahan lagi kalangan wakil rakyat Barisan Nasional menyeberang ke gagasan Pakatan Rakyat? Mampukah beliau tidur nyenyak setelah menyaksikan mimpi indahnya untuk bertandang ke Seri Perdana semakin suram dan samar?

Khabar yang diterima dari Sabah sudah terdengar akan berlakunya pilihanraya kecil kerusi Pensingan yang tentunya bakal menjelmakan lagi “Suara Rakyat Kuasa Keramat” untuk membenamkan sekali lagi bahtera Barisan Nasional.

Begitu juga di Sarawak, saya menerima beberapa kiriman sms menyatakan bakal berlakunya ahli Parlimen meninggalkan Barisan untuk menyertai Pakatan Rakyat. Sejauh mana benar cerita tersebut masih belum dapat dipastikan namun menyaksikan kenyataan demi kenyataan pemimpin hari ini terlalu sukar rasanya menolak kebenaran tersebut.

Quovadis Umno!!!!!! Mampukah pimpinan menyelamatkan bahtera Umno dan Barisan Nasional?

Datuk Nasarudin’s ex-comrades and ‘friends’ from Umno have been to see him to persuade him to re-crossover to Umno. “Altantuya is dead,” they remind him. “Bala is missing. We don’t want anything happening to you as well.”

NO HOLDS BARRED

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Item 1

The Selangor police have warned those attending the funeral of A. Kugan, who died whilst in police custody, not to participate in any illegal gathering or carry banners and posters. The funeral is scheduled on Wednesday.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar said the funeral should not be politicised or turned into an illegal demonstration as it would disrupt public order and lead to chaos. He believed that plans were underway by certain groups to turn the occasion into an illegal gathering to protest against alleged police brutality.

Khalid said the police learnt the funeral procession would be organised in such a manner that it would involve certain parts of the city before arriving at an undisclosed burial ground in Selangor.

"Cards and banners are also expected to be carried by members of the procession," he said in a statement here Monday.

The police chief advised the public not participate in the illegal gathering as the force was not against a normal funeral procession and respected the grieving family. (Bernama 26 Jan 2009)

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

Item 2

Two deputy ministers are likely to face action if they are found to have broken the law in the incident where a crowd raided the mortuary of Serdang Hospital in Selangor on Tuesday, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar.

Datuk K. Devamany and Senator T. Murugiah, both deputy ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, were present at the mortuary when the crowd entered the premises to examine the body of suspected car thief A. Kugan who had died while in police custody.

"No minister or member of the administration is above the law and if you have committed an offence then you have to face the consequences," Syed Hamid told reporters before attending a public forum on the Internal Security Act (ISA) here last night.

He also said that the 11 policemen being investigated for allegedly causing hurt to Kugan would not be spared action if they were found to have abused their powers.

Kugan, 22, who was detained on Jan 15 at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya on suspicion of being involved in the theft of luxury cars in Sungai Chua, Kajang, died while being questioned on Tuesday.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said a post-mortem found that Kugan had died due to fluid in his lungs but Kugan's family sought a second post-mortem, insisting that Kugan had died of injuries.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said later that Kugan's death had been classified as murder. (Bernama 26 Jan 2009)

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Item 3

The MIC will defend the two deputy ministers if the authorities find them to have broken the law in the incident where a crowd raided the mortuary of Serdang Hospital last Tuesday.

"We will hire as many lawyers to defend them if they are charged in court," MIC president Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said in a statement issued here today.

He was commenting on Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar's statement yesterday that Datuk K. Devamany and Senator T. Murugiah, both deputy ministers in the Prime Minister's Department, might likely face action if they were present at the mortuary when the crowd barged into the mortuary to examine the body of suspected car thief A. Kugan who had died while in police custody.

The MIC president said it did not matter from which party the two deputy ministers hailed from as long as they were Indians "because the MIC represents the Indian community in Malaysia".

While Devamany is a MIC member, Murugiah is from the People's Progressive Party (PPP).

Devamany was among nine people quizzed by the police yesterday over the incident. It was also reported that 11 policemen being investigated for allegedly causing hurt to Kugan would not be spared action if they were found to have abused their powers.

Kugan, 22, who was detained on Jan 15 at the Taipan police station in Subang Jaya on suspicion of being involved in the theft of luxury cars in Sungai Chua, Kajang, died while being questioned on Tuesday.

Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar had said a post-mortem found that Kugan had died due to fluid in his lungs, but Kugan's family sought a second post-mortem, insisting that Kugan had died of injuries.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said later that Kugan's death had been classified as murder.

Samy Vellu also urged Syed Hamid to ensure that the police probe into Kugan's death was transparent.

"The MIC will be monitoring the case but we are confident that the police will leave no stones unturned in their investigation," he said. (Bernama 26 Jan 2009)

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Item 4

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has described Bota assemblyman Datuk Nasarudin Hashim’s decision to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) as “not surprising”.

“I am not surprised ... but he might have his own reasons (to defect) and we should know the reasons,” he said yesterday.

Ahmad Zahid who was met by reporters after the closing of the Islamic Economic Development Festival 2009 (I-Fest 09) here, said the Barisan Nasional needed to look not only into Nasarudin’s reasons for making the decision, but also that of other assemblymen and MPs who intended to do the same, especially in the opposition-ruled states.

“Perhaps the problem is about allocations, where we (federal government) can help. Maybe they find it difficult to fund activities, which they often do as the people’s representatives.

“So, assistance should be extended to them so that personal pressure does not become political pressure for these elected representatives,” added Ahmad Zahid, who is an Umno Supreme Council member.

Yesterday, Nasarudin announced his decision to join Parti Keadilan Rakyat which he said was made after due consideration. (Bernama 26 Jan 2009)

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Item 5

The Terengganu state government will investigate if there were any misdeeds by chairmen of village security and development committees (JKKK) in distribution of aid.

Terengganu Menteri Besar, Datuk Ahmad Said, said detailed investigation had to be done as perhaps the allegations were just that. He however admitted that there were cases where JKKK chairmen had given aid to their own family members.

"There have been cases when if someone challenged the JKKK chairman, he (the chairman) would not provide aid...he would give it to his family members," Ahmad told reporters at the MCA Terengganu Chinese New Year celebration at Dewan Tunku Abdul Rahman here today.

Ahmad said the appointment of the JKKK chairman and members was done twice a year by the district office after names were suggested by the local representatives.

"We will study the performance of the JKKKs...how many times they meet a year, what activities they have to benefit the people. All this will be considered before new appointments are made," he said. (Bernama 26 Jan 2006)

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Yes, that was what Bernama reported yesterday, the first day of the Year of the Ox. And, going by the Bernama reports, it is going to be an extremely turbulent year for Barisan Nasional and Umno.

Incidentally, someone told me that the Year of the Ox is also dangerous for those born in the Year of the Tiger. The Year of the Ox, I was told, is full of pitfalls for those born in the Year of the Tiger. And I was born in the Year of the Tiger -- 1950 to be exact. So I expect this spells bad news for me considering the many court cases and trials that I will be faced with the next 12 months.

But then I was born a few minutes after midnight -- on 27 September 1950 -- and those born around midnight are supposed to be ‘Midnight Tigers’ because tigers come out late at night to search for food. Well, that is what my late Chinese mother-in-law told me. “Midnight Tigers are very fierce,” she told me. “They will ‘eat’ their parents. Both your parents face the risk of dying young because of you.”

I never did believe these old wives’ tales -- Malay, Chinese or Indian -- and I never took a second take on the matter. But then both my parents died in their mid-40s and it set me wondering if old wives’ tales could have some element of truth in them after all. Did I ‘eat’ my parents, as my mother-in-law said would happen?

Anyway, Barisan Nasional’s and Umno’s problems are bigger than mine, so it appears from the Bernama reports. MIC is in crisis. MCA is in crisis. Umno is in crisis.

Tomorrow, at 2.00pm, Kugan’s funeral procession will commence from the University Hospital mortuary and will end up at the 14th-mile Puchong cemetery. Will members of MIC also join the funeral? If they do not then it will be seen as if MIC has abandoned the Indians. But if they do join then they would be seen as ‘anti-government’.

Damned if you do join the funeral and damned if you don’t. And if the Malays and Chinese join the funeral, as I have been told will happen, then MIC is double-damned if they don’t also participate. And they will also be double-damned if they do participate considering PAS, DAP and PKR leaders will also be in the funeral procession.

Hah! I hate to be in MIC’s shoes tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Umno is pretending that Datuk Nasarudin Hashim’s crossover to PKR is a non-issue. Well, why then did Najib call all the Barisan Nasional Perak Wakil Rakyats for a meeting and force them to swear to God that they will not also crossover? And why were eight Barisan Nasional Perak Wakil Rakyats absent from the meeting? Is it maybe true after all what the Perak Menteri Besar said that two more Barisan Nasional Perak Wakil Rakyats would also soon join Pakatan Rakyat?

Umno has ‘counter-offered’ Datuk Nasarudin a tasty carrot. If Barisan Nasional forms the Perak State Government then he would be made Menteri Besar if he leaves Pakatan Rakyat and rejoins Umno. Datuk Nasarudin had a good laugh at the offer.

Tasty carrot, maybe, but no thanks, he replied. He said he has his principles and once he spits he never drops to the ground to lick it up again. Yeap, not all pray to money. Some do treat money as their servant and not instead become a servant to their money, even some in Umno -- Datuk Zaid Ibrahim being another case in point.

Other than tasty carrots, Datuk Nasarudin is also being given the stick. Datuk Nasarudin’s ex-comrades and ‘friends’ from Umno have been to see him to persuade him to re-crossover to Umno. “Altantuya is dead,” they remind him. “Bala is missing. We don’t want anything happening to you as well.”

Hmm…is this ‘friendly advice’ or a veiled threat? Take it how you like but Datuk Nasarudin is not succumbing to whatever it may be, advice or threat. And even the six cars parked in front of his house are not making him change his mind, although he does admit it is making him a bit worried.

Finally, on the JKKK issue. All the JKKK officials are Umno branch and division committee members. You can’t be in the JKKK otherwise. And they get tons of money, which is supposed to be dished out to the kampong people -- but only to the Umno kampong people, not the opposition people. This is how they buy support and ensure that the kampong people remain with Umno.

No one accounts for the money. As long as Umno wins the elections no questions are asked even though everyone knows hundreds of millions are siphoned out through this ‘scheme’. But now that Umno lost the Kuala Terengganu by-election they want to start ‘auditing’ how the money was spent and find out what happened to all those millions of Ringgit.

Malaysia sure is funny is it not? The government can tolerate mismanagement of public funds as long as Umno wins all the elections. But the instant they begin losing then they want to audit the expenditure. And while Umno leaves no stone unturned in its effort to buy over Pakatan Rakyat Wakil Rakyats, what happens instead is Barisan Nasional Wakil Rakyats cross over to the opposition.

I just love this country. - Malaysia Today

by M. Bakri Musa

It is not enough for Najib Razak and other UMNO leaders to lament the loss of their party’s “wow” factor, or for them to endlessly exhort the party faithful to “re-invent” or “re-brand” their organization. Reform is like sex; merely talking about it is not enough, for without the necessary accompanying actions it will only increase your frustration.

To regain voters’ confidence, the change in UMNO must begin with its top leaders, specifically Najib. He has to demonstrate it through his actions; anything less and he risks frustrating voters and replicating the electoral disasters of Permatang Pauh and Kuala Trengganu nationally.

First and foremost Najib must legitimize his rise to the party’s top position. Being “promoted” by Abdullah Badawi is no endorsement, being that he is a discredited leader. Likewise, being nominated unopposed is no ratification either, especially when the process is hopelessly riddled with “money politics,” otherwise known as corruption.

Second, Najib must display a sense of enlightened leadership. For example, expending his precious time and political capital by intensively campaigning in a by-election that in his own words “would not alter the nation’s political landscape” was neither necessary nor prudent. With the nation facing many critical crises, he should focus on more substantive matters.

Last, Najib must demonstrate that he has the personal qualities and moral integrity to lead the nation. Merely denying that he had nothing to do with Saiful Bukhari, that college dropout who alleged that he had been sodomized by the opposition leader, or that Najib knew nothing of the brutal murder of that Mongolian model Altantuya and the attendant involvement of his hitherto closest advisor Razak Baginda, is not enough. The public deserves better; we demand a more thorough accounting.

Until then, any utterance by Najib Razak about reforming UMNO will ring hollow; do not frustrate voters by unnecessarily raising their expectations. That is dangerous.

Legitimizing Najib’s Leadership

Najib’s only claim to his party’s leadership is that he is currently unopposed for that position. Where the process is open and transparent, being unopposed signifies unanimous approval. That is certainly any leader’s dream and rightful claim of legitimacy.

UMNO’s nominating process however, is deeply flawed, apart from being corrupt. The “unanimous” choice of Najib is anything but. The process is hollow and meaningless. With “money politics” rampant, Najib’s nomination “victory” is irredeemably tainted.

The current nominating process is designed specifically to discourage or more correctly, prevent challengers. It is not a genuine contest. Requiring candidates be nominated by at least 30 percent of the party’s 191 divisions effectively means that at most there can only be three nominees. That is an unnecessary barrier, meant not to get the best talent but to protect the incumbent.

This requirement was put in place only 20 years ago, following the bitter and divisive Mahathir-Tengku Razaleigh rivalry. Before that, and for the first 40 years of UMNO’s existence, its leaders including Bapak Merdeka Tunku Abdul Rahman and the much-revered Tun Razak (Najib’s father) were routinely challenged at the party’s leadership convention.

The party can do without this burdensome nomination “quota rule” as well the equally damaging no-challenge “tradition” for its two top positions. The party’s Supreme Council however, could override both. While many of its senior members are in favor of dumping this onerous rule, Najib remains “neutral.” That is not the mark of someone confident of his leadership ability.

If Najib were to introduce a motion at the next Supreme Council meeting to remove this “quota rule,” that would greatly enhance his legitimacy even if the Council were to vote against it. If the Council were to vote for it, then the party would benefit by opening up the process and the delegates getting to preview many more potential candidates.

Such an open process would also effectively blunt the current corrosive influence of “money politics” as there would be no need to bribe divisional leaders in order to secure your nomination. And at the party’s elections, with over 2,000 delegates, it would be difficult if not impossible to bribe them all. You could influence them only with your ideas and talent, as it should be.

Removing the quota would of course invite challengers to Najib. Tengku Razaleigh would definitely be one; there may be others. There would also be additional candidates for all the other positions.

If Najib were to survive a challenge from Tengku Razaleigh for example, Najib’s stature and legitimacy would be greatly enhanced. That would effectively shut up his many critics.

Of course Najib could lose, and with that, his political career. That may explain his reluctance to tamper with the current quota rules which work in his favor. While such a maneuver would secure his immediate political survival, he would critically jeopardize his party’s chance in the next national elections. Presently many, and not just those outside of UMNO and Barisan, question his ability and legitimacy. Najib would be sacrificing his party’s future just to ensure his short-term political survival.

Articulating His Vision

Even if Najib were to prevail in an open contest, he still needs to articulate his vision for the future of our nation. He has to convince us that he has “the right stuff.” He has to give us his personal manifesto, as it were. And he has to do that now before his party’s convention in March, for at that time he would be more concerned with rallying his troops.

The prevailing perception is that Najib owes his current position merely by being the son of a famous father. To non-Malays specifically, Najib has yet to erase the ugly image of the keris-taunting antics of his UMNO Youth’s days. Additionally his career, while long, is very narrow; he spent his entire adult life in government, getting his paycheck from taxpayers.

Like his immediate predecessor Abdullah Badawi, there is nothing substantial to Najib’s career in politics despite his overflowing resume. His tenure as Defense Minister was marked by the collapse of the Pularek Naval Base just before its official opening, the gross breach of security by the Al Muanah gang at the Grik Army base in Perak, and the now evolving scandal with the French submarine purchase. As for his legacy as Education Minister, good luck in discerning that.

Now as Finance Minister, he remains disturbingly quiet; he has nothing to offer on how to solve the grave economic challenges facing us except to issue bland, meaningless reassurances.

In contrast, Tengku Razaleigh bravely outlined his views of the current economic crisis and his bold strategies to deal with it. Compared to the towering leadership of the Tengku, Najib looks like a novice Boy Scout troop leader constantly looking to his manual on how to lead.

Demonstrating His Integrity

Lastly, Najib must clarify the many sordid allegations and rumors implicating him. Bland denials alone are not enough.

The most damaging, and which requires the most detailed explanation, is his role in (if any) or knowledge of the murder of the Mongolian model and the involvement of his confidant Razak Baginda. That Razak Baginda was acquitted does not clear the matter.

The accusations leveled at Najib are too specific and detailed (including specific SMS texts and cell phone numbers) that they demand a more complete explanation from him. Hiding behind client-attorney privilege as Najib did in trying to dismiss the many SMS between him and Shafie Abdullah, the attorney who was at the time representing Razak Baginda, is inappropriate. For one, Najib was not Shafie’s client, then or now. Indeed at that time Shafie was representing Razak Baginda, until he (Razak) dismissed Shafie. For another, such a “cover” would not sell in the court of public opinion.

Those details of the Altantuya murder, as well as the sordid mess of the Saiful Bukhari sodomy allegation, will eventually be revealed bit by bit in their respective criminal trials. A full disclosure now by Najib would help preempt the inevitable excruciating and embarrassing details.

Najib Razak may become the leader of UMNO and thus Malaysia’s next Prime Minister come this March without bothering to address these three issues. However, the next General Elections will be less than 48 months away after he becomes Prime Minister. If not addressed frontally and openly now, these questions about his ability, integrity and legitimacy would only get worse. Yes, Najib may get his wish, but he could also end up being the nation’s shortest-serving leader, for come the next national election, Najib and UMNO will be buried.

That would be quite a legacy for the son of a great patriot. Perversely then, Najib’s political demise would of necessity trigger and be instrumental in UMNO’s reform. By that time it may be too late to alter UMNO’s fate, but at least you would have fun knowing that you are doing something productive.

IPOH, Jan 26 – The Perak Umno Liaison Committee will meet party deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur on Monday evening to discuss Bota Assemblyman Datuk Nasaruddin Hashim’s defection to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).

Its chairman Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali said Najib was expected to issue a statement after the meeting.

“I am also asking Datuk Nasarudin to meet the Umno president (Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) as there is nothing that cannot be resolved. If he is free, he can also meet Najib tomorrow,” he told reporters yesterday after chairing an emergency meeting of Perak Barisan Nasional (BN) assemblymen, here.

Tajol Rosli also hoped that Nasarudin would “think deeply” about his action and return to Umno.

Tajol Rosli also dismissed rumours that a number of BN assemblymen would be joining Pakatan Rakyat, saying such talk was mere speculation.

Asked whether Nasarudin had before this voiced out any problems to him, he said the assemblyman had never done so.

“Perhaps problems could have cropped up since the divisional elections last October when Nasaruddin contested the Bota Umno division chief post against the incumbent Datuk Mohd Zaim Abu Hassan and lost,” he said.

Tajol Rosli also said that Nasaruddin had not contacted him so far and his phone calls to him (Nasarudin) had gone unanswered, although some Umno members were in contact with him.

“Perhaps he feels embarrassed to speak to me after what happened, but I hope he will reconsider the decision (of joining Pakatan Rakyat) he made,” he added.

Twenty of the 28 Barisan Perak assemblymen attended the emergency meeting which ended at 11pm. The rest – other than Nasaruddin – were out of the state at the time. – Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 – As many as 3,000 Umno members or supporters in Kuala Terengganu may have abstained from voting during the recent by-election – in protest against the choice of Datuk Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh as the candidate, and as a result of factionalism in the state.

This startling information was thrown up during a study by Umno following the defeat of its candidate to Abdul Wahid Endut of Parti Islam SeMalaysia (Pas) by 2,631 votes. Some 79 per cent of the electorate turned out to vote, down from the nearly 83 per cent during the general election in March 2008.

Umno officials were surprised at the lower turnout on Jan 17, believing that they would have retained the parliamentary constituency seat if their party members and supporters had come out in full force.

Even Pas had said any turnout more than 85 per cent would be in Umno’s favour.

Since then, an internal survey has shown that some members boycotted the polls because of factionalism in the party. They did not agree with the choice of Wan Ahmad Farid as the candidate because he was perceived to have been:

a) Unfriendly to Datuk Razali Ismail, the popular incumbent whose death from a heart attack made it necessary for the by-election to be called.

b) Close to former Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh. This was an issue with supporters of the current MB, Datuk Ahmad Said.

c) Aloof.

This is not the first time that Umno members have been prepared to see their candidates fail in an electoral contest with the Opposition over internal issues.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi blamed internal sabotage as one of the major reasons why seats fell to Pakatan Rakyat in the Malay heartland in Election 2008.

He noted that party members were unwilling to rally around candidates selected by the national leadership, preferring instead to show their displeasure by not voting for the Umno candidate or not going out to campaign.

Abdullah and other Umno leaders warned party members that if they continued to adopt this approach, the Opposition would continue to make inroads in territory held by Umno/Barisan Nasional.

The message was lost in Kuala Terengganu. And yet it could have been worse, much worse.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in a posting on his blog, said that he held back publishing a damning article on Abdullah and Umno in the run-up to the by-election for fear of being accused of influencing how the electorate voted. He posted the article six days after the by-election.

Dr Mahathir noted that Umno had lost its way, with members no longer putting the party’s struggle above everything else. He took aim at his favourite target – Abdullah, rattling off a litany of accusations against him, his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin and his team of advisors.

He noted that, under Abdullah, Umno had become so weak that other races were openly criticising the political party.

“After being chastised, Umno leaders apologise and bow down to their critics. On the other hand, when Umno members criticise other parties, they are suspended,” he said, referring to Penang Umno warlord Datuk Ahmad Ismail.

“All the signs point towards Umno being defeated and destroyed in the next general elections. Just because I was a former Umno leader does not mean that I must continue to support Umno,” he said. “Umno has now become a party owned by the corrupt.”

Imagine how damaging this article would have been if it had been posted a few days before the by-election. - The Malaysian Insider