Day 2 passes, with no real suprises.

Mr. Muhyiddin wins Deputy President and so will become our Deputy Prime Minister. Looks like Mr. Ali ‘Datuk SRK’ Rustam did not ask his men to vote for Mr. Muhd2 Taib after all. Such a good party man this Mr. Ali. Screwed royally, but still so loyal.

The three Vice Presidents also had no surprises. The extremely popular (but extremely far right) Mr. Dr. Zahid Hamidi gets a slot. Must have been his religious credentials (he is de facto Islam minister) and his role in the Perak fiasco.

Mr. Hishamuddin, formerly of the keris,  also wins a slot. There were worries that the whole PPSMI issue would effect him but with Mr. KJ’s open declaration to vote for him yesterday, the former Youth head have somehow pulled through.

Mr. Shafie Apdal? Not much comments on him. Err… he’s from Sabah.

Now for the Majlis Tertinggi. There’s many of ‘em, so I won’t bother commenting on all. Just some noteworthy ones.

There’s two Kelantanese on the MT, Mr. Mustapha Mohamed and Mr. Awang ‘I was supposed to become Kelantan MB’ Adek Hussain. There might be others, but I don’t know them. Talking about Kelantan, do you think the UMNO branches and divisions there get many applications post political tsunami?

Mr. Ismail Sabri Yaakob strategy of parading celebrity son Dafi around seemed to have worked as he has been elected into one of the posts.

Mr. Idris Jusoh get a spot. If you remember, the Sultan of Terangganu (who is also the Yang Di Pertuan Agong) did not want him as Terengganu Mentri Besar. But it seems UMNO wants him. So is UMNO considered derhaka? Now that is a debate better left on it’s own.

Also on the subject of Terengganu, everyone’s favourite ‘orator’ Mr. Shabery ‘Saliva’ Cheek has also been elected. Maybe it’s UMNO’s way of acknowledging his testicular fortitude in going up against the great Petualang (as Mr. Hishammuddin calls him) in that debate.

Mr. Jamaludin Jarjis is back on the radar, after being unceremoniously dumped out of the cabinet (so sad was he that he ‘accidentally’ groped someone, or so the rumours say). Maybe UMNO wants to thank him for wasting our money in the whole angkasawan thing.

Mr. Abdul Azeez of Putera UMNO is also elected. One of those ‘lebih Melayu dari Melayu ‘ types.

Oh and let’s not forget Mr. Bung’s exploits in Parliament, from making comments about leaks, to calling Mr. Karpal a big monkey and just generally bringing shame to every Malaysian has also been endorsed by the UMNO delegates.

What kind of a Malay name is ‘Lajim Ukin’?! He’s an MT as well.

Anyways, we’ve thus far averted national disasters, like a Khir Toyo or Muhd Taib win. It’s a predicatable lineup, but whether it signals a change for UMNO remains to be seen.

Next up for politics: the battle of the two Bukits and one Batang.

this is an article from news straits times. published on saturday, January 10, 2009.
Just a little diversion from the heavy and tense current issues.

True, it is too early to make conclusions. Give Ahmad Shabery a chance. But why can’t RTM concentrate on improving the quality of its programmes and equipment? The road to full digitalisation as announced by the minister is the right way to go. Perhaps the minister has big plans for the future. But for now, with diminishing viewership, TV1 is fast becoming the Titanic of the broadcasting industry. The rakyat needs a better TV1, not a carca merba (haphazard) one.

- no offence people, but i am so with you johan. as the oldest station TV in the country, RTM should not let the fast-track development of broadcasting industry made it look somewhat left behind, and so boring. despite the rebrandings, there are so many wrong things that we can spot when we watch RTM channels. for me, actually RTM can be better than media prima and astro. it just need a shift in its paradigm, especially at the top management level. well, they better do something now before its too late!

Yes, I know another 15 cents will be reduced from our present fuel price…..but I wouldn’t jump for joy just yet lah. As far as our fuel price is concerned, it’s a permanently fluctuating figure. But no, it’s not about this price cut that I am talking about.

1) Good news #1 - We Still Have Journalistic Ethnics To “Boast” About

Our dear Minister of Information revealed that, in comparison with some other countries, our standard of journalistic ethics is “not as bad as many believed”. WOO HOO!!!!

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said yesterday the standard here was, in fact, better than in many other countries

Now, one wonders which countries he is referring to, because he declined to name names……..but knowing our BN government, they have this fondness for making references to countries that are usually much much worst off than ourselves, never comparing up, but always comparing down. An excellent example would, of course, be them comparing our petrol price with those in other non-oil producing countries.

He said as far as he knew, the Malaysian media did not practice “envelope journalism” (Yes, but of course……and UMNO does not practise money politics too) but were tightly controlled under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (Wah……is he aware that he’s just contradicted himself here? Envelope Journalism doesn’t mean there must be a physical envelope present lah!!)

“Just because we have curbs on sexually-explicit materials like gay and lesbian rights or sensitive religious issues like caricatures on the Prophet, we have been unfairly atatcked as having oppressive media environment. (Not displaying direct oppression doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, you goat.)

“We need to ensure that sensitive issues do not get out of hand and cause unnecessary social conflicts.” (So, is that why Utusan Malaysia, Ahmad Ismail and the rest of them screaming sissies are still running around?)

2) Good news #2 – Someone’s Been Acquitted.

No, unfortunately, it’s not Raja Petra. However, I’m glad for this person and his family, as I do believe he had no hand in the order of the brutal murder of the poor Mongolian lass, even though he’s walking out a very very rich man (taxpayers’ money in commission?)

Shah Alam High Court Judge Mohd Zaki Md Yasin this morning acquitted Abdul Razak Baginda of the charge of abetment in the murder of Altantuya Shaaribuu.

The judge however ordered that the two other accused, Chief Inspector Azilah Hadri and Corporal Sirul Azha Umar, enter their defense to a charge of murdering Altantuya.

So, that sms between Mr. Rosmah and Shafee is yet another coincidence? RPK’s prediction also merely a coincidence? Can strike lottery lah like that!!

Any guesses whether the master mind behind this will ever be arrested and punished? Will hell ever freeze over?

So, while I leave you good folks with thoughts of what good hands our country is in, do have a Good Weekend and Happy Holloween!!

A Holloween Costume or For Real?

The government coalition of ‘Be End’ is really going nowhere nowadays.

Not only did they lose heavily in the just concluded by elections, their MPs are coming out with all sorts of moronic ideas in their desperate attempt to hang on to power. Just lookat how their wasted taxpayers money for them to table those baseless Bills to be discussed in the house of Parliament. I’d say pleaseeeeeeee get on with your job to discuss something more practical and beneficial rather than going after some Bills on DNA – a clear attempt to victimise some individuals who were threatening ‘Be End’s grip on our country.

Meanwhile, our HM “Honey AllBar” has to work overtime to deny this, deny that when terang terang, even the blind could see that all the dirty works bear the emblem of the ‘Be End’ parties. Just look at how they block our access to Malaysia Today Internet news portal. Read my sis Lilian rants on such idiotic measure by MCMC who reports directly to the “Be End” leaders.

By using some lame excuses such as “we found that some of the comments on the website were insensitive bordering on incitement,” the ‘Be End’ government asked all Internet Service Providers (ISP) to block their users access to such popular site. HEY!!! Who are they to determine for us which is good to read and which is not? We are customers who PAID for those ISP services. We are not those 3 year old babies that form the backbone of “Be End” youths movements ok?!

Hey, we know what we read from Malaysia Today ok?! All Malaysians are not stupid! We know how to differentiate which is TRUE and which is not. But still, ‘Honey Allbar’ defended his “Be End” actions by saying Malaysia Today had been banned because it published “libellous, defamatory and slanderous” content. Aiyoooo dear ‘Honey’, admit it lah… the ‘Be End’ government wants to clam down on Internet news! Don’t be shy. Why went sooo much trouble to find those lame excuses. Statistic shown that Malaysia is placed at No.124 out of 169 on its worldwide press freedom index while bloggers have been threatened with the use of draconian ISA which allow detention without trials.

However, at least there is still a tiny ray of Hope when at last, after struggling against the might of a Goliath, our courageous David in the form of PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim is today officially parliamentary opposition leader as he was sworn in this morning at the Dewan Rakyat.

Anwar arrived at Parliament at 9.45am wearing a songkok and a black baju Melayu, and took his oath at 10.05am immediately after prayer recitals at the House.

Soon after, he took the corner seat reserved for the parliamentary opposition leader, vacated by his wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, three weeks ago. 

But being a damn sore loser, the “Be End” decided to ask their propaganda Doggie aRTiMm to cut the oath taking session off from their LIVE coverage on tv. Many Malaysians who were eager to watch their HERO Dato Seri Anwar taking the significant oath were left disappointed to find the cut. Then came our punching bag in the form of IM – ‘Strawbery Cheek’ who explained that DSAI would not be accorded special treatment and thus, his swearing-in session would not be telecast live.

Ptuiiii… As if wanted to prove their loyalty to “Be End” leaders, one by one came out to defend their very own stupidity! We just bombarded Honey Allbar and now come another Strawbery Cheek who shamelessly admitted their own ignorance and sour grapes by trying to find reasons to support their stupid acts!

The Malaysiakini reports that when DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, who is former opposition leader, greeted Anwar from the parliamentary benches. He said, “I would like to welcome the member for Permatang Pauh who is back in the house after a second political tsunami. The government is like the Titanic which is going to sink.”

Indeed… the “Be End” Titanic is going nowhere but down down down into irrelevance.

Fuel Price debate: Anwar Ibrahim VS Shabery Cheek

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

Tahniah kepada Datuk Shabery Cheek yang berani berhadapan dengan Anwar Ibrahim dalam debat terbuka semalam.  Terima kasih juga kerana memberi peluang untuk siaran di televisyen.

Jelas sekali dalam debat itu, Anwar Ibrahim begitu mendominasi tajuk dengan fakta yang jelas ditambah dengan idea yang bernas.  Layaklah beliau untuk menerajui negara dalam bidang ekonomi demi kepentingan kita semua.  Jika sudah ada penyelesaiannya seperti yang dijelaskan Anwar, kita semua menuntut kerajaan melaksanakan penurunan harga minyak 50 sen.  Jika tidak, sila jelaskan mengapa tidak boleh.  Usah terus membiarkan rakyat mencemuh kerajaan.

Seperti rakan bloggers yang lain, saya juga bersetuju bahawa Shebery hanya menghentam peribadi Anwar seperti mengajak mahasiswa berdemonstrasi, perjanjian IPP pada zaman Anwar, ketundukan kepada IMF serta menentang Tun Razak yang menubuhkan Petronas.  Shabery juga tidak menjawab persoalan daripada Sdr. Zulkifli berkaitan penggunaan penjimatan subsidi termasuk ketika kenaikan 30 sen yang lepas.

Yang nyata, Shabery hanya menekankan kemiskinan yang bakal dialami Petronas jika harga minyak diturunkan.  Dan berkali-kali Anwar menjelaskan bahawa kita tidak menganggu kewangan Petronas untuk menurunkan harga minyak sebaliknya wang yang digunakan ialah dana yang diperuntukkan kepada kerajaan oleh Petronas.  Namun, dalam hujah seterusnya, Shabery terus mengatakan yang Petronas akan miskin – sesuatu yang jelas menyimpang daripada hujah Anwar.  Jika ada juri, rasanya tiada markah untuk Shabery.

Shabery bertindak menyerang peribadi Anwar adalah untuk mengajak Anwar membicarakannya, tetapi Anwar tidak terjerat sebaliknya memberikan hujah yang hebat berkaitan penurunan harga minyak kerana peruntukan masa hanya singkat.  Sikap sebegini amat popular dikalangan UMNO termasuk ketika aku berhadapan Timbalan Naib Canselor semasa berstatus pelajar iaitu taktik provokasi agar kita dilalaikan dengan hujah mempertahankan diri hingga lari daripada tajuk asal persoalan.  TNC aku orang UMNO?  Yes, jelas terpampang dalam bilik rasminya logo UMNO.

Kredit yang diperolehi Anwar cukup besar dalam debat itu dan aku merasakan amat silap sekali di pihak kerajaan kerana menyiarkannya di televisyen.  Moderator, Johan Jaafar juga terkedu dengan hujah Anwar dan soalannya juga seakan tidak menyengat pembangkang seperti yang berlaku dalam program debat perdana. Begitu juga dengan NC UUM, Nordin Kardi yang telah menjatuhkan imej para intelek apabila mempersoalkan apa kaitan IPP dengan harga minyak seperti yang dihujahkan oleh Anwar.  Sungguh memalukan dan aku cukup terkejut dengan tarafnya sebagai NC sebuah universiti apabila Nordin mengeluarkan soalan sebegitu.  Soalan terakhir Nordin kepada Shabery juga tidak masuk akal.  Bagiku ia sepatutnya diajukan kepada Anwar.

Juga menarik perhatianku ialah istilah subsidi.  Shabery menyatakan kenaikan harga minyak adalah untuk mendidik rakyat agar tidak bergantung dengan subsidi kerajaan lagi sebaliknya harus berdikari merasai harga minyak sebenar.  Lantas dihujahkan Anwar bahawa kerajaan sering menggunakan istilah sudsidi (sesuatu yang negative) dalam soal minyak sebaliknya istilah itu ditukar untuk perkara lain.  Memang betul, dalam perkara lain kerajaan mneggunakan istilah seperti rebat tunai, wang ehsan, bantuan, dana dan peruntukkan yang sama kaedahnya iaitu menyalurkan wang kepada rakyat.  Namun dalam isu minyak, kita ditekankan dengan istilah sibsidi yang negative bunyinya.

Sekali lagi aku mengucapkan tahniah kepada Shabery.  Aku rasakan, dalam kalangan ahli UMNO, jawatan paling rendah pun yang layak bagi Shabery ialah Presiden.  Kerana kepetahan pidatonya dan keberanian serta perubahan dalam kementeriannya telah mengalahkan Presiden, Timbalan, Naib-naib Presiden UMNO yang lain.

Maka Shabery tidak perlu letak jawatan walaupun tewas tetapi Pak Lah yang perlu letak jawatan.  Khaleed Nordin yang menyatakan hasrat bertanding jawatan Naib Presiden pun sepatutnya rasa malu dengan shabery.

]]> http://malaysianpolitics.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/transportation-woes/ Wed, 16 Jul 2008 02:10:15 +0000 Michelle http://malaysianpolitics.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/transportation-woes/ http://hikmatun.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/debat-antara-dato-seri-anwar-ibrahim-dan-dato-shabery-cheek/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:39:03 +0000 Ahmad Nizam http://hikmatun.wordpress.com/2008/07/16/debat-antara-dato-seri-anwar-ibrahim-dan-dato-shabery-cheek/ http://freeweelee.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/anwar-vs-sapadia-cheek-debate-vs-personal-attack/ Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:39:53 +0000 mylittlesnow http://freeweelee.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/anwar-vs-sapadia-cheek-debate-vs-personal-attack/

Well well well, not bad at all. At least DSAI was given the chance to debate live on National TV, well, if you consider TV9 as national TV la. Seriously, i was expecting some warrant arrest at the very last minute and voila, tarak live debate no more. But as i said, kudos, and i really appreciate the opportunity given for the live debate to go on smoothly as planned.

So what’s interesting about the live debate? Nothing much la, end of the day, don’t see any changes happening at all. Early on, during the first round if i’m not wrong, i recalled that one question was forwarded to Sapadia Cheek, asking about gov’s previous pledge that the fuel subsidy savings totalling about RM4b will be used to improve public transportation, but only about RM700m was spent so far (p/s: i am quoting rough estimate of the numbers, i did not write down the actual figures). The question was, with this round of petrol increase, it will be about RM14b worth of savings, so how does the gov actually plan to do on this? Are we really able to spend the total RM14b saved on transportation or will it be another forgotten issue? And i remember this very clearly that Sapadia Cheek snake his way out of this question. He just tai chi away and mumbled some useless answer. Not bad eh?

All in all, i can only recall that time and again, personal attacks were launched at Anwar but no facts were really presented. I remember Anwar did present facts that with increased of USD1 in petrol only, Petronas will be earning some XXX amoung of money. Anwar also did bring up about the effort needed to prevent wastage such as the diesel issue, where we lost hundreds of millions of ringgits. And also Anwar emphasize that why gov can bailout MAS and many other GLC companies amounting to lots and lots of money but the gov cannot bailout rakyat, instead telling us that they have to reduce the subsidy? I can’t agree more! What the fcuk you high post idiots are thinking about?

Next, i also remember about the inflation rate being quoted at Malaysia, which is about 6% now. Hell fcuk you! That guy who give out this number should be fcuked by a dog! A teh tarik which cost about RM1 previously is now RM1.10. That is 10%! I almost bought a mattress before 1st of July because i was told that the price will increase between 15% to 30%. Hell no, construction material cost has already gone up as well and it’s definitely around 15% to 30% region. So where the fcuk does the 6% comes from? Fuuyoh, kanasai betul la.

And lastly, this is the best part. Sapadia Cheek asked Anwar one question, if Anwar bring down the price of petrol and come 2015 when we became a net importer of oil, will Anwar raised the petrol price secara mendadak? Aha, GOTCHA !!! Hello brother Sapadia Cheek, you should be defending like hell that the gov have no choice at all and it’s a matter of life and death that you guys have to raise the petrol price by 78cents. But by asking this, are you implying that actually the gov choose to increase the price of petrol secara mendadak now so that the rakyat will not be burdened or it will not be a complete shock for the rakyat when the price increase to actual market value in the future when Malaysia becomes the net importer of oil? So are you saying that what you guys do is for the good of rakyat in the future? To ‘marinate’ us properly so that we will get accustom to the high petrol price? hmmm… i wonder…