You are currently browsing the monthly archive for January 2009.
All turning to Najib even before he is PM (from TMI)
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 – He is 62 days away from becoming Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister but Datuk Seri Najib Razak is already leaving his imprint on some important decisions in government.
More importantly, among the men and women in Umno, where the ability to scent a shift in power is part of the survival pack, there has been a discernible move towards him.
The most telling sign was when a delegation of Penang Umno leaders visited him at his office this week.
They came to brief him about rumblings in the state and warn him of the possibility of crossovers from Penang Umno to Parti Keadilan Rakyat, the opposition party led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. They wanted him to intervene.
This request presented an awkward moment for Najib.
Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi remains the prime minister and party president. He is also the senior most Umno leader from Penang.
If there was a need for intervention from the top, the request should have been made to Abdullah, not his deputy.
But this is the reality. Abdullah stopped being a factor in Umno the day he announced he was not defending his president’s position. Sure, he still controls the levers of power but the consensus in the party and government is that he has taken his foot off the pedal.
Umno/Barisan Nasional politicians sense this and have been beating a path to Najib’s office or home to lobby for positions in government-linked companies, contracts or just brief him on current developments.
When the controversy over the A. Kugan’s death in police custody threatened to boil over and accusations were lobbed at two deputy ministers over their alleged roles in leading a mob into the hospital morgue, Senator T. Murugaih made his way to Najib’s home.
He showed the deputy prime minister photographs of the dead detainee.
By then, Abdullah had returned home from an official visit to Bahrain, Qatar and Dubai.
Even in government policies and appointments, Najib’s influence has been growing.
For instance, there has been some disquiet in government circles over the possibility of former Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim being appointed as the chairman of Tabung Haji.
The Malaysian Insider understands that several government officials made representations to Najib who passed on their concerns to Abdullah.
Abdullah had apparently told Shahidan that he would be given the plum position in Tabung Haji, following the latter’s ouster as the Perlis Menteri Besar after Election 2008.
Till today, Shahidan has not been appointed as chairman of Tabung Haji.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that the deputy prime minister wants to ensure that people with the right credentials are placed in top positions in GLCs. They would not rule out changes at several GLCs after he becomes the prime minister.
Eyebrows were also certainly raised when Najib said that the government had not made a final decision on Air Asia’s plan to build a new low cost carrier terminal Labu.
This statement caught several ministers by surprise because the matter had been deliberated and decided by the Cabinet several weeks ago.
In fact, a letter of approval was sent to Sime Darby Berhad, the owner of the land on which the RM1.6 billion LCCT is supposed to be built.
Perhaps in deference of his soon to be acquired position as leader of the country, no one has corrected him, either in public or privately.
Tomorrow, Najib will hear representations by Air Asia’s Datuk Tony Fernandes and counter arguments by government officials before making a final decision on the new LCCT.
Sources told The Malaysian Insider that Najib was concerned over the fallout from the decision to approve the project and was also keen to understand how Air Asia was going to finance the RM1.6 billion airport and raise the RM700 million needed for supporting infrastructure, including road and rail connectivity.
“He wants to be fair to everyone and make sure that there is no drag on the government because of this,” said an informed source, noting that a possible solution could be for Air Asia to be allowed to build its own LCCT within the KLIA complex.
Still, many believe that Najib’s intervention in this issue could have been better scripted. They pointed out that if he had major reservations about the project, he should have made it clear during the Cabinet meeting when the idea was discussed and during several other discussions on the matter.
By reacting so late in the day, the impression created is that the administration is prone to changing its position when challenged by public opinion.
Najib’s supporters said that he is mindful that he is still the No. 2 in the party and is careful not to usurp the power or stature of Abdullah before the transition of power takes place. Abdullah’s supporters said that it is inevitable for party members to start looking beyond the prime minister.
In any case, Abdullah always wanted Najib to grow into the position, and they believe that he will be prepared to give his deputy even more room from now on.
—00000—
The ‘bad’ old days of political patronage within UMNO is still alive, kicking and obviously entrenched despite the warning signs of its irrelevancy after March 2008 plus two debilitating by-election losses within 10 months.
The still-born bottom-up management style of AAB will no doubt be replaced with the tried and tested, but ’still need more testing’ top-bottom BN administration which NTR appears to favor. His forthcoming takeover of the Perak UMNO chief position by 1st February ‘09 is a clear signal on how things will get done after the UMNO GA in March ‘09, provided he’s allowed to assume the premiership.
Civil society’s increasing political awareness, including those from the younger generation which potentially accounts for about 5-6 million newly eligible voters by the next GE in 2013, plus the apparent voter empowerment realised during the last GE will present a major shift in Malaysian real-politics.
The Web 2.0 Net fraternity with access to almost real-time alternative news and UGC (user generated content) information have spilled over to the grassroots, out-reaching to the general citizenry through modern technologies like SMS, MMS and Facebook. Some have in fact went further by creating ‘pressure groups’ to address specific issues of bad governance e.g. the abolishment of the ISA.
The recent KT by-election won by PAS of Pakatan Rakyat brought about a slew of MMQ analysis and it’s fair to surmise, the inherent local factor was the tipping ingredient. That said, PAS, in my opinion, knew its significance but chose to keep their real candidate AWE ‘hidden’ by floating other personalities and thereby ‘duped’ UMNO to show its hand. WAF was a plan that failed because UMNO failed to plan strategically i.e. listening to the grassroots (local folks) and I’m definitely not referring to just hearing out the local warlords whilst sitting cosily in Putrajaya either.
Added to this was the BRB (Barisan Rakyat Bloggers) contribution in engaging the so-called kingmakers in KT, the chinese community, which brought about two cogent outcome. One, UMNO was blindsided and decided to split their resources to counter the BRB initiative which in a sense ‘orphanised’ the malay voters. Two, the KT chinese applied their gamblers’ gambit of maintaining the status quo to avoid repercussions (TOL issue) later from the state BN-run administration while ensuring a malay swing towards PR.
Was NTR privy to the choice of WAF and did he have any say on the matter? We are made to believe that it was the best choice by consensus but it contradicts my ‘bird in hand‘ analogy. Therefore, can we assume that political pragmatism was not exercised and instead, worn out political patronage was practiced. Inversely, NTR played along with the gameplan since WAF’s eventual loss can thereafter be attributed to AAB, leaving NTR smelling like a rose because he did his best at KT to flog a lame horse.
Meanwhile, we have another predicament looming i.e. the seemingly ‘kluk-kleking’ status on the Labu LCCT. If the BN administration have given the earlier approval to Air Asia and Sime Darby to proceed with the project, why is NTR now intimating an opposite position? He’s after all the DPM and therefore must have been consulted when a cabinet decision was made.
Was his deference to AAB ala UMNO tradition so great and must be kept in earnest for the sake of UMNO solidarity that common sense gets thrown out the window? Or will NTR cancel the Labu project in order to seemingly acquiesce to public outcry, similar to the IJN about turn, thereby ensuring his safe passage to the premiership?
In other words, the entire ‘Sime Darby Chronicles’ were somehow elaborately concocted to detract public attention away from the real plan of making NTR look good for the the nation’s top job.
Whether NTR gets his ultimate prize or not should depend on all of us, the Malaysian voters. Not the wheeling and dealing within the UMNO corridors of power and certainly, not in the hands 2000 plus UMNO delegates.
And whether NTR likes it or not, we do not want a leader who has the propensity to shoot blanks in the dark.
Besides which, I’m also longing to hear these words being uttered in a high pitch scream – “Waaahhhttttt!!! I can’t be 1st Lady ahhh, daahhleenk?”
—00000—
Update: 2200HR 30/01/09.
Well, well, whaddaya know. KLIA-East is off the table. Just like IJN. And NTR comes up smelling like a freshly plucked rose. I’m reproducing below the last three paragraphs of TMI’s news report -
“The DPM played the role of an honest broker. He did not take sides but wanted to make sure that national interest was served. This could only happen if the new LCCT was built in KLIA but Air Asia’s legitimate interests and concerns were addressed,” a government official told The Malaysian Insider.
It may have been a happy ending for all parties but this episode certainly raised some serious questions over decision-making in the government.
And begs the question on why MAHB and Air Asia could not be forced to the negotiating table earlier.
Here’s a photo of him looking smugly honest.
Suggested caption : Ehh! You want your ’spinning’ cheque now ah? Aiyah, you can trust me lah, Bru.. errr.. bro. Ada banyak kerja lagi ni and don’t risau about Riong OK. My tie looks spiffy tak?
January 27, 2009 21:09 PM
Trouble-makers At Kugan’s Procession Or Funeral Face Stern Action
AMPANG JAYA, Jan 27 (Bernama) — Do not provoke or cause trouble.
That was the warning issued by Deputy Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar to those who wished to take part in the funeral procession of A. Kugan, who died while in custody at the Taipan, USJ 8 Subang Jaya police station on Jan 22.
He said those taking part in the procession from Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) to Bt 14, Puchong, should not provoke racial sentiments that may spark untoward incidents.
Ismail cautioned that stern action would be taken against “trouble-makers” at tomorrow’s procession, scheduled to start at 2pm.
“I really hope the procession will be a peaceful one and one that is in accordance with Kugan’s faith, and done with proper rituals and rites. Police respect the deceased family’s needs and thus we have allowed the procession from UMMC to the Hindu Crematorium in Bt 14 Puchong.
“However if people try to divert the procession or start a demonstration, we will initiate action. I urge them remain calm and not be emotional and please stop spreading unwanted messages which does not benefit anyone,” he said.
He told reporters this at the Ampang Jaya Police Headquarters, after chairing a coordination meeting on the investigation of Kugan’s death, in the presence of Selangor police chief Datuk Khalid Abu Bakar.
He also warned those who may take advantage of the procession for their own mileage.
Kugan who was detained on Jan 15 on suspicion of being involved in luxury car theft cases, collapsed and died at the station on Jan 22, while being questioned by police.
Police initially classified the case as sudden death but the 23-year-old’s family later released photographs of the deceased with bruises and severe marks on his body, deep cuts on his wrists and bruises on his legs, apparently taken at the Serdang Hospital mortuary, while awaiting a post-mortem.
This then prompted the family to request for a second post-mortem at the UMMC.
Subsequently Attorney-General (A-G) Tan Sri Gani Patail, ordered the case to be reclassified as murder after the photographs were made public.
Asked on Majlis Permuafakatan Ummah’s (Pewaris) decision to gather at the UMMC tomorrow to protest the procession, Ismail said: “I would like to make it clear again, don’t take things for granted.”
“We have said it many times, do not create any chaotic situation or else be prepared to face the law if you want to break the law,” he added.
Asked if any police personal would be charged with Kugan’s death, he said the police would await the A-G’s directive before initiating any action.
Meanwhile, deputy minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, senator T. Murugiah today urged everyone to restrain from any form of demonstration, including displaying banners condemning the police.
“Since the government has fulfilled the family’s request for a second post-mortem and also pledged an in-depth investigation into the matter, there should be no demonstrations,” he told Bernama.
He added that everyone must respect the law of the country and let the investigation take its course.
“Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and the Attorney General had given assurance that there will be no cover up and that a thorough investigation will be carried out. So we should respect the government’s initiative,” said Murugiah.
(Bold emphasis is mine)
—00000—
TMI have the same report but entitled “Deputy IGP – Keep Funeral Procession Trouble-Free“.
It kinda had me wondering to whom the warning was meant for unless you read through the entire report.
Perhaps, the Deputy IGP was referring to Pewaris, an UMNO-linked organisation masquerading as an NGO which is Pro-ISA. Did Pewaris know that the majority of the ISA detainees are in fact malays and if they do, what were THEIR efforts to seek justice for their brethren in the name of Islam?
And who the heck is Pewaris to issue a statement which read -
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 27 (Sourced from Bernama) –
Pewaris, a non-governmental organisation, today appealed to MIC president Datuk Seri Samy Vellu to urge the Indian community not to get involved in any protest demonstrations during tomorrow’s funeral procession for A.Kugan, a suspect in a car theft case who died while in police custody.
Pewaris deputy chairman II Rahimuddin Md Harun told a press conference here that any protest during the procession was inadvisable as it might offend the sensitivities of others.
If we are to juxtapose the above statement against what was published at Pewaris blogsite on 26th January ‘09, we’ll get an inkling of what can happen -
Jika seseorang pemimpin merasakan dirinya bertanggungjawab dan peka kepada sensitiviti perkauman di negara ini, PEWARIS ingin menyarankan agar dua orang Timbalan Menteri tersebut termasuklan Presiden MIC, Dato’ Seri Samy Vellu membuat pengisytiharan kepada masyarakat India agar tidak berkumpul beramai-ramai di Hospital Universiti atau berarak dan menimbulkan sebarang huru-hara sewaktu majlis pengebumian jenazah mendiang saudara A.Kugan esok. (28 Januari 2009). PEWARIS merasakan tanggungjawab menentukan keamanan di Negara ini tidak terletak di bahu pasukan Polis sahaja.
Perarakan bersifat perkauman dan provokatif seumpama ini mampu menimbulkan perasaan benci masyarakat Islam dan Melayu di negara ini. Jika ini berlaku, pihak PEWARIS tidak teragak-agak untuk keluar dan berkumpul beramai-ramai menentang perarakan ini. Kami juga sanggup ditahan oleh pihak polis demi mempertahankan keamanan dan kemakmuran di negara ini..
—00000—
I’ve personally witnessed the likes of Pewaris and its ilk, Pekida and GPMS barging through police lines at the Bar Council forum in August ‘08 and if they are to be present during the funeral procession and burial for A.Kugan, I sincerely hope that the PDRM keep their eyes on these blokes. The PDRM can have a glimpse of the usual suspects here.
And for good measure, there will be other sensitive eyes keeping watch on the PDRM, at every single step and from every angle.
Update: 1900HR 28/01/09.
I find the following words by ‘kraznyoctbyar’ a fitting end for this posting (taken from the sjsandteam website) -
- Info received from reliable source that the crowd was in excess of 10 thousand Malaysians comprising the average man in the street to Pakatan Rakyat MPs. But due to FRU action, the crowd couldn’t group together as a whole, and are now in a few separate clusters of people numbering 75 – 150 each. The hearse made it’s way from Taipan Police Station thru Damansara – Puchong Highway (LDP). Traffic police are finding it very hard to manage the traffic combined with the taunts from some members of the crowd venting their anger. At the LDP, two toll gates were allocated for the passage of the hearse and the ensuing motocade without the need to pay the toll charges. As the hearse made it’s way thru Puchong, people from the numerous kampongs lining the highway came out and gave their endorsement of support. It was a truly heart warming event, considering all these people are our average Malay abangs, adiks, pakciks and makciks. The was also a delegation representing PAS party from the area. It is now raining at the cemetery but the crowd did not disperse to seek shelter. Even YB Gobind is drenched now. I believe that we as Malaysian have effectively delivered a point to the government that we are certainly taking this issue head-on in the context of the death of a Malaysian son, not an Indian. I believe that would really matter for something, from this point forward. Thank you to all Bangsa Malaysians who answered the call in this time of need. You make me proud.Comment by kraznyoctbyar — January 28, 2009 @ 5:25 pm
- As of now, burial is already carried out and the family with realtives are going thru the Hindu post-burial rites. Speeches are being made by our MPs and politicians present there addressing the medias, some are foreign medias, as well. So we can safely conclude that the atrocities and brutality against a young boy will see the light of the day, worldwide. It couldn’t have come at the right moment considering Malaysia will be coming under the review of UN Human Rights Commission on the 11th February 2009. Another nail in to the coffin of umno is delivered today, not by the Indians but the collective Malaysians, as a whole.Comment by kraznyoctbyar — January 28, 2009 @ 5:35 pm
Najib indicates rethink over AirAsia’s Labu terminal (via TMI).
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 23 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today the government has yet to decide on whether to allow the go-ahead for the proposed new low-cost carrier terminal to be built in Labu, Negri Sembilan.
His remarks today is the clearest indication yet that the government is considering a reversal of its earlier approval for budget carrier AirAsia to built its own LCCT in light of mounting controversy and an escalation of hostilities between various government-linked companies.
“No formal decision yet, we are studying the matter from all angles, to see if we should go ahead or make a different arrangement,” Najib told reporters after witnessing the handing over of an amphibious aircraft by Bombardier Canada to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.
The proposed LCCT, planned to be operational by 2011, is a joint-venture project between AirAsia and Sime Darby Bhd and would cost RM1.6 billion.
The airline says the new airport is necessary as it is expected to serve close to 20 million passengers by 2011, four million more than the current LCCT can handle after its expansion.
Although a private project, it has been sharply criticised.
The government investment arm Khazanah Nasional has also opposed the construction of the airport, citing connectivity problems.
The proximity of the airport, dubbed Terminal Rakyat by the airline, to the existing Kuala Lumpur International Airport has also raised safety concerns, but AirAsia has rebutted the claim, saying that the distance between the two airports’ runways is in accordance with the international standard.
One way or another, the dispute will be resolved next week after AirAsia meets Najib.
—00000—
Isn’t a DPM an important integral post within the Federal Government who should in fact be very, very privy to Cabinet decisions? Especially if such a decision entails a project costing RM1.6 billion, presumably a PFI, which apparently will not cost a single cent of taxpayers’ monies.
The more I read of this Sime Darby Chronicles, firstly the IJN takeover bid which vanished within a few days prior to the KT by-election and the ongoing Air Asia LCCT in Labu, the more I smell an elaborate scheme to make NTR look damn good for the job as PM by March ‘09.
I wonder which PR firm got this job and whether it pays RM250,000 per month like what I hear Fox Media got from Sime Darby. Heck, there might even be a ’sub-con’ service involved. Honor among thieves, some would say.
Anywayz, it’s good to see the DPM following the footsteps of his boss. That’s what I call true loyalty, at least until the right ‘kaching’ comes through.
Oh well…… Gotta run and check where the pong is coming from.
Pix taken from Haris’s blog.
A. Kugan is dead and he died in a police station, a not unlikely place to die nowadays it appears.
In fact, Mkini reported that there were 1535 deaths during police custody by the PDRM between 2003 and 2007.
Barely two weeks earlier, in another case of criminal abuse where hot water was used on a suspect was brought to court, the police personnel pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The IPCMC mooted a couple of years back to address civil society’s concerns on infractions committed by the police never saw the light of day, and instead, will be presented in parliament by AAB in its watered down version called the Special Complaints Commission (SCC).
The AG announced that Kugan’s death is now classified as murder but the Selangor CPO have declared that the onus of getting a 2nd autopsy must have a court approval.
In other words, KAB will only cooperate if the Judiciary gives its blessings.
It can also mean KAB is sticking to the findings of the 1st autopsy i.e. Kugan died due to water in his lungs. Why was there no mention of the numerous visible external injuries as shown on photos taken by his family? And was there any ‘internal’ inquiry by the PDRM into the interrogation methods used to extract information from the suspect? Both are relevant questions which members of the MSM, print or electronic, appear not to have asked the CPO.
Can the findings of an authorised government medical officer in the 1st autopsy be the final arbiter on the conclusive cause of death? Is not a second evaluation justified under the circumstances?
If so, why is KAB, being a senior police officer who apparently is in line to be the next IGP, showing conduct unbecoming of his duty to uphold the law which, in turn, provide remedy to justice.
In withholding voluntary compliance to a 2nd autopsy, KAB and the PDRM are in fact impeding an investigation into a murder case, as advocated by the AG.
It calls into question the CPC used by the PDRM whereby antiquated legislative hindrances are placed as the upper hand, rather than a conduit for justice to quickly prevail.
Why?
Meanwhile, will we ever know the truth on this matter and ultimately, whether AGEOs are capable of murder, unintended or otherwise.
—00000—
Note: AGEO – Authorised Government Enforcement Officer. Of relevance to the IGP’s usage of ‘authorised government medical officer’ as reported in the NST bulletin linked above.
Archived literature - A very long article on police brutality and abuse on civilians.
—00000—
To Jerry – If there is an iron-clad case for Kugan’s death leading to a successful conviction of the perpetrator, then we can rightly call the culprit, a MIB i.e. a M******* In Blue.
Click here for more photos.
I have no words to describe this tragedy but I sincerely wish DEMAND that the perpetrators of this heinous crime be brought to justice post haste.
The PDRM should not have any difficulties to find the culprits.
Recent Comments