E Contrario

A friend sent me a sms today (25 Feb), he said:

I went 2 Pudu police sttn… (to) make a police report, I c the duty white board written,
“Notis: jika ada repot polis berkenaan MB Perak atau Speaker Perak, sila hubung ASP XXX 019-xxx.”

It seems that Perak Speaker is a big time criminal. Police now has a file on him.

Next time when I encounter any problem with Parliament Speaker, I hope police too will investigate.

In the year of cow, our anti-corruption agency has started a series of cow chase. The scientific/Latin name for cow is bos, which originated the term “big boss”.

The new anti-graft agency law only been passed by Parliament in December 2008 and the newly established Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has become super-efficient. The MACC chief Ahmad Said prefers to speaking publicly to the press and engaging in cross-sword with opposition.

In this new episode the MACC has even lost interest in catching the small fries, instead they are now chasing after cows. It is indeed a great improvement: from small fish to “bos”.

Besides the 46 cows of Tan Sri Khalid, the agency is also hunting after another cow, indeed a holy cow in the BN hierarchy.

A few days ago, newspapers reported that the police and MACC have initiated investigation into Samy Velu on AIMST fund. I wonder the inquiry has anything to do with Samy’s determination to stay on as MIC President.

Coincidentally, the police also begin a new probe into Chua Soi Lek’s video. Again, it is rather strange that the old issue resurfaced at this point of time. We suspect this might have to do with Soi Lek bullish rise in the MCA.

Deja vu? Are we returning to the days when all law enforcement agencies and government institutions again controlled by one invisible hand? Could this be a clean-up exercise to clear the path for the new power-to-be?

Elizabeth Wong becomes the latest victim of BN dirty vicious attack. BN and its cohorts again resort to its usual lowest of the low tactic to undermine their opponents.

The most immoral are now singing the tune of morality. Khir Toya, Syed Hamid and the gang wait for no time to assault her personality.

Is morality is the issue here? Eli suffers such humiliation and pains not because of her ‘immoral’ private life but because she has chosen the struggle for change. If she chooses to hang around in the bar or nightclub all night all, spending all her time enjoying hedonistic lifestyle, she can be assured that she would be perfectly all right.

Her crime is not having an ‘immoral’ lifestyle. She was punished and attacked because of her choice—viz. to fight along side with Reformasi, with Parti Keadilan Rakyat, and with Anwar Ibrahim.

On 17 February, Eli offers her resignation from Exco and Adun. However our enemy will not stop here. They will continue to strike and to abuse until the victim is totally crushed.

Eli does not have the strength to face this alone. While we respect her decision to quit, we should also give her our sympathy and backing.

All of us, civilized Malaysians must stand up to condemn unethical, filthy politics. We must demand all parties and the media they controlled to stop exploiting private life for political gains.

Malaysians are fast maturing, we deserve a clean political competition.

The Malaysian Insider quoted some internal sources that claimed Najib will take over premiership from Abdullah on April 1.

Good timing. Coincidentally, the Election Commission set the two by-elections on 7 April. The EC really know how to help Najib out.

I remember when I was in my primary school, I once went to a birthday party on April 1. Needless to say, I was the only fool in the party.

From what I know, Abdullah can be a man with a good sense of humours. If Najib is lucky, he might eventually assume power on April 1.

According to the tradition in Europe, on the Festival April 1, the masses would cheer and run amok in the streets to celebrate a newly crowned the King of the Fools.

On Feb 5, after a long stalemate, Najib finally emerged from behind the curtain. A coup d’état against Pakatan Rakyat-led Perak state government was swiftly executed.

We can call this power struggle. However power is not the ultimate aim, neither for us nor for UMNO-BN. Power is only a means for something else.

For Pakatan Rakyat, the struggle is about defending a legitimately earned popular mandate in order to implement a new political agenda. In a short period of 11 months, Pakatan was able to carry out a series of reforms.

UMNO cronies need to grab state power to recapture their lost privileges and wealth. They are starving for contracts, funding and awards that had been denied for so long.

The cronies cheered for Najib, the long awaited messiah who is now seen as the lifeboat for passengers in the sinking Titanic. Najib’s intervention let UMNO cronies regained hope, came in just in time before they jumpship en masse.

Najib still can’t open his champagne yet. The battle is not over. The coup outraged thousands of people inside and outside Perak.

In the evening ten thousand people assembled in Menteri Besar Nizar’s official residence. We declared this struggle a crusade! All out to fight UMNO!!

Last night (4 Feb) after the Biro Politik meeting, Anwar Ibrahim gave me a hand-written note to be mass circulated to the people. The message has been sent out as sms to appeal to activists and supporters to participate in the rally at MB official residence at 19:30hr tonight (5 Feb).

Anwar calls on the masses to stand up for their right and to defend democracy:

Pertahankan kuasa rakyat. Saya bersama MB Perak dan Pakatan Rakyat esok (Khamis) (5 Feb) 7:30mlm di Ipoh. Saya yakin insya Allah rakyat yang menentukan.

Dari Ketua Umum, Anwar Ibrahim

Defend the people’s power – I will join Perak Chief Minister and other Pakatan Rakyat members to attend tomorrow (Thursday, 5 Feb) gathering at 7:30pm in Ipoh. I am confident, God willing, the people will decide!

The people’s power returns! Return power to the people!

Najib is showing his true colour earlier than scheduled. Beside money politics, abduction appears to be a repeated pattern — It seems that people often go “missing” in the hand of Najib.

People must now stand up and speak up. This morning, MB Nizar had announced his intention to dissolve the state assembly and the decision of the Pakatan Rakyat government had been conveyed to the Ruler at 17:00hr today (4 February).

Malaysians remembered Perak Ruler Sultan Azlan Shah a righteous and dignified Lord President. We have no doubt His Majesty understand the role and power of the monarch well. The institution of constitutional monarchy is must always be the guardian of democracy.

Whoever study laws and constitution of Malaysia must be familiar with the following quote:

Under normal circumstances, it is taken for granted that the Yang diPertuan Agong would not withhold his consent to a request for the dissolution of Parliament. His role is purely formal.

The writer is none but Raja Azlan Shah. The paragraph is taken from his book “Constitutional Monarchy, Rule of Law and Good Governance” (2004).

The people of Perak are waiting eagerly to see how their King preserve the integrity of the State.

Perak people will rise up to defend their choice. We believe the people want their choice respected.

People all over Perak as well as Malaysia will begin to flood into Ipoh tomorrow (5 Feb). Tomorrow evening, from 19:30hr onwards Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Anwar, Khalid Ibrahim, Kamarudin Jaafar, Lim Kit Siang will join thousands of common folks at MB’s official residence.

We anticipate a crowd of 100 thousands will converge. We have struggled hard and sacrificed for a decade to gain a new hope for the nation. We will not give up easily.

I also urge all democratic conscience people, starting from tomorrow to wear an armband of black and yellow as a sign of solidarity with Perak. Even if you are unable to attend rallies or any gatherings, at the very least wear the armband to express your support for a fresh state-wide election.

There has been some confusion today on the status of Perak government.

This afternoon, TPM Najib held a press conference in Putrajaya claiming that BN has obtained sufficient majority to recapture Perak. Together with him were two turncoat KEADILAN ADUN Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi and Osman Jailu, DAP defector Hee Yit Foong, plus the double-traitor Nasarudin.

Depite the claim by Najib, Pakatan Rakyat is still the legal and legitimate state government as of now. MB Nizar met Tuanku Azlan Shah this afternoon at the Palace and advised His Majesty our intention to dissolve the state assembly.

Nizar left the Palace, still the MB of Perak, and he told the reporters the decision of Pakatan Rakyat had been conveyed to the Sultan.

In the system of Constitutional Monarchy, the King acts according to the advice of the democratically elected MB or PM. In this case, Pakatan Rakyat’s recommendation is return to the people for a fresh mandate.

Najib too has not able to demonstrate a clear-cut majority in forming a BN government. He himself admitted that the majority is obtained through the support of 3 independent ADUNs. How stable or competent would it be if BN ever form a new government.

The Pakatan Rakyat was given a mandate to rule, and we will fight to defend this. In a situation of uncertainty, the people should be given the right to choose.

The call for fresh state election is not about defending Pakatan Rakyat power, but it is a struggle to defend the people’s democratic rights.

Parti Keadilan Rakyat will hold our Chinese New Year Open House on the First Day of Chinese New Year (26 January 2009) at Klang Hokkien Association (along Federal Highway) from 13:00hr-15:00hr.

The function will be attended by Anwar Ibrahim and other multiracial leaders of the party.

All welcome!

Bahagian Batu will hold our New Year celebration at Taman Tasik Indah, Batu (near KL Metropolitan Park) on 31 January (Saturday), from 19:00hr to late.

Urban poverty is a serious problem in Malaysia. It is particularly prominent in inner city area like Sentul.

Marry is a single mother who had lived in Sentul for all her life. Her house was located behind the Pasar (market) and was in a appalling condition. She is currently living with a 16 year-old daughter who is schooling in Sentul.

Her case is typical profile of urban poor, especially women without income. Her issue was highlighted in the media two months back. As Member of Parliament for Batu, I visited and gave some small assistance.

The conditions of Marry’s house, more like a shed:

Marry’s plight had also caught the attention of a non-profit organization known as Habitat for Humanity. The NGO advocates housing for the people. Its projects involve the community in building houses as well as preserving heritage sites.

In our discussion, Habitat suggested to build a new house using a type of cheap durable material that would last up to 10 years.

It would also mobilizes volunteers to build the new house as a showcase. Thus we decided to launch the project as a Christmas and New Year gift to the poor family.